Warning: Spoilers for Birds of Prey #15The question of which member of the Bat-Family will inherit the Batman mantle is highly contested among DC fans, but Cassandra Cain’s Batgirl It’s long been a fan-favorite option. Her last fight shows her employing some of Batman’s tried and true tactics and shows how she followed in his footsteps as a fighter. One sentence said during this battle proves, without any doubt, that Batgirl deserves to be the next Batman.
In preview for Birds of Prey #15 by Kelly Thompson, Sami Basri, Adriano Lucas and Clayton Cowles, Cassandra Cain continues her investigation into the Ninth Day cult. She has gone undercover, trading in her Batgirl costume for a new design as “Shen,” all to gain access to the inner workings of the cult. Things get worse, however, when the cult suspects her and tries to kill her. Fortunately, as a highly trained martial artist, Batgirl is able to fight back.
Batgirl’s quick thinking in the heat of battle allows her to easily gain the upper hand, and one of the cult members’ lines shows just how threatening she is: “She’s even scarier when you can’t see her!” This phrase draws a fascinating parallel between Cassandra Cain and Batman’s fighting styles, thus solidifying her potential as a future Batman in DC lore.
Batgirl channels her inner Batman using her most iconic battle tactic
Cassandra Cain uses Batman’s strategy better than he does
During his fight with members of the Ninth Day cult Batgirl employs tactical maneuvers that are more commonly associated with Batman. Like Batman, Bruce Wayne often remains hidden in the shadows until the moment he strikes in order to leap out at unsuspecting enemies. His dark bat suit allows him to camouflage himself like this, which is why he operates at night rather than during the telltale daylight. Batgirl’s costume grants her a similar ability, and after working alongside Batman as a member of the Bat-Family, it looks like she’s taken one of his most useful tricks and made it her own.
In her fight with members of the Ninth Day cult, Batgirl uses her environment to her advantage, as Batman would, hiding in the gas cloud to avoid detection. What it does Cassandra’s use of this strategy here is arguably more impressive than Batman’s, however, she can do it without the costume. Her all-white outfit doesn’t make camouflage easy, so she must improvise with the limited options at her disposal. She rips off her shirt sleeve to use as a mask and stays close to the ground, using kicks to sweep away opponents. Her surprising ingenuity cements Batgirl as Batman’s most worthy successor.
Cassandra Cain’s Batgirl deserves to be DC’s next Batman
Batgirl is officially the most promising successor to Batman in the Bat-family
Batgirl utilizing Batman’s signature strategy more effectively than him is one of the many reasons why she is the ideal choice to be DC’s next generation Batman. Her proficiency in martial arts is one of her most notable assets, with Batgirl considered one of the best fighters in the DC Universe. Furthermore, Cassandra Cain’s loyalty to the mantle of Batman and what he represents makes her well suited to embody him in the same way as Bruce. With these and other reasons in mind, Batgirl is irrefutably the best choice to make Batmanhis place in Gotham when the time comes for him to step down.
Birds of Prey #15 is available November 6, 2024 from DC Comics.