Shadow of the Batgirl (Graphic Novel)

So this is a bit of an odd one, considering I don't have a track record of being a huge DC fan. Not because I don't like the characters or the storytelling, because I do. But because like most long running comic series, it isn't obvious what good starting points are. The modern comics industry is...weird. It seems like it is designed to reward the types of people who are habitual comic readers and buy new issues every month. Unfortunately for me, it just wasn't something I grew up doing and I just missed the boat on comic reading being a hobby of mine. Maybe one day I will find an easily accessible way to get into more DC comics and learn about a lot more lore and whatnot. But with that digression out of the way, how come I decided to read this particular graphic novel? Well...Cassandra Cain's Batgirl is a personal favorite character of a very dear friend. I watched her nostalgically reflect on reading the original comic series staring the character than ran from 2000-2006 and her passion for this series was self evident. I genuinely just wanted to be able to share in that experience with her and give her the opportunity to talk about the series with someone who also knew the story. So I set out on a mission to read all about Cassandra Cain which lead me down a rabbit hole of trying to gain access to reading the original comic run, but since I was also working at a used book store at the time, I noticed Shadow of the Batgirl in the graphic novels section and read on the back that it also stared the character so decided to pick it up. I finished it right before the day I had intended to tell my dear friend about my scheme to read all of these comics. 

So what did I think? I definitely enjoyed it. It was a short, easily digestible story that seems to be a consistent portrayal of this character. The first thing I noticed when I opened the book is the introduction by author Sarah Kuhn. She spends the introduction talking about how much she LOVES this character and feels unbelievably blessed to have the opportunity to write her. That already gives the story a sense of authority, like you couldn't have picked a more qualified person to write about this character because they get it. The art, done by Nicole Goux is definitely unconventional for DC comics and you can tell that this specific graphic novel is rated for younger, YA audiences. But I really enjoyed the art style because it was colorful, strikingly different and the more uncanny aspects of it seemed like they might have been intentional. Like, this is what it looks like through Cassandra's eyes, not literally of course, but in the abstract sense because she just sees the world differently. Her origin story is that she is the daughter of crime boss David Cain. He intentionally deprived her of a proper education as a child, raising her to be nothing more than a killing machine. So she has a very limited understanding of language, Cain only teaching her key words that she would need to remember. She's also very desensitized to violence. On a routine mission, beating up some guys, one of the men says as his final words "Tell my daughter...." Cassandra only used to hearing that word in the context of her duty. Hearing it in a familial, loving context shakes her to the core and makes her question what she's doing. Knowing that Cain won't accept failure, she has no choice but to run away and try to make it on her own. An older woman sees her struggling for survival on the street and offers her food and shelter. Cassandra doesn't really know what to do when people offer her generosity, so she accepts the food, but quickly freaks out and leaves. This is a running theme throughout the story. Cassandra is extremely awkward. But you can't really blame her considering her circumstances. She makes up for it by being unbelievably perceptive with her other senses like sight and hearing as seen when she then takes refuge in the public library and starts taking note of all of the different types of people in the library. 

The library would become her home for the rest of the story. She spends a lot of time to herself until she hears Barbara Gordon reading to children....about Batgirl...she must have been feeling nostalgic or something. I didn't initially understand why Barbara is in a wheel chair as that is something consistent with the serialized comic series but I was told which other DC comic it is explained in. She takes quite an interest in Cassandra and develops a bit of a mentor relationship with her. Cassandra also develops a friendship with a boy named Erik, who feels like he can confide in her with his interests and be free of judgement. Whereas he indirectly helps her understand different types of emotions that she's never experienced or been able to make sense of before. It's a cute dynamic even if it's not nearly as fully realized due to the short length of the book. Cassandra develops quite a fascination with the stories about Batgirl, she starts prying Barbara for more stories which does lead to one of the funniest panels in the book. 

Cass: "Um..anyway this blob, what's it made of?"

Barbara: "Um. Frozen yogurt? there was this yogurt factory and an accidental toxic waste dumping incident and...any. Boom! Big-Ass sentient frozen yogurt monster! toppings not included"

We then start to see Cassandra's incredible ability to read people through their body language. Initially a skill she learned just for combat, she finds it useful to understand people's emotional state and the intent behind their words too. Like how the tone of your voice can impact the meaning of what you say, in her eyes, so can your posture and movements. Later on when she finally tries her hand at heroism, it doesn't initially go well for her and she ends up making some humbling mistakes and getting some people hurt. I will avoid spoilers for the last third of the book. But it has a pretty concise story arc and it works as sort of an alternate origin story for the character in the comics. I don't know if there are any other books or comics that continue from this that feature Cassandra as fully fledged Batgirl. But even so, from what I have read from the original 2000s comics, this origin story could potentially fit right in if you're reading it in the order that I am. I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of Cassandra's story in the serialized comics and coming to a more full understanding of the character. 

Lots of times we end up adapting traits or interests from our friends and people we spend a lot of time with. Usually by accident or by virtue of spending time with them. But I feel like showing interest and curiosity in what your friends like and are passionate about is very important to any friendship. I'm certain  this won't be the last time I consume a piece of media purely because a good friend enjoys it. I am extremely glad I took the time to read this and get into this series. I'm highly looking forward to many more occasions where my friend and I get to talk about it. 

Thanks everyone for reading, til next time.