One of the most pivotal members of the modern Bat-family is Cassandra Kane, the current one Batgirl. Cass, making her on-screen debut in 1999, emerged as a complicated mute running away from a parentage of villains. She falls into the lap of the Bat family and makes a path to heroism for herself, proving that she is more than her blood.
The positive reception to Cassandra Cain over the course of more than 20 years has earned her another lead Batgirl solo series run, arriving on November 6th just in time for a new era of DC Comics, the All-In era. While long-time fans are all-in on picking up the series, newer readers may be eager to learn more about the character in time for the premiere of her new series. This list exists for new fans to get to know Cassandra Cain, while old fans have the opportunity to take a trip down memory lane and recall 25 years of rich history.
10
Batgirl’s debut, saving Jacob Gordon’s life
Batman #567 by Kelley Puckett, Damion Scott, John Floyd, Greg Wright and Todd Klein
Meanwhile, Helena Bertinelli holds down the mantle, but Huntress’ forgotten, underrated run as Batgirl would soon end. This issue would be the first to set Cass’ journey by establishing her as a student under speech teacher, Barbara Gordon. On the day of one of their sessions, it is learned that her biological father is David Kane when Cas saves Commissioner Jim Gordon’s life in David’s attempt to assassinate him.
Cass further shows her drive to be a hero when she locks herself in a room with David in order to stop him. The confrontation also gives readers a glimpse into Cass’s origins, where David forced Cass as a child to kill, traumatizing her for life. This one comic sets the stage for the hero Cass would become, along with her driving motivations.
9
Become Batgirl, co-signed by Batman to the Bat-Family
Legends of the Dark Knight #120 by Greg Rucka, Mike Deodato, Sean Parsons, Pam Rambo, Wildstorm FM and Willie Schubert
In the following months, Cassandra Cain would be instrumental in helping the Bat-Family before officially becoming a member. Batman would take notice, and was ready to reward her. Earlier in the issue, Helena and Bruce would have a nasty argument, with Wayne and Bertinelli losing each other’s trust and the latter refusing to take orders from the old man.
Instead, he takes her Batgirl costume and is ready to give it to someone he trusts: Cas. This initially does not sit well with the rest of the Bat-Family since they all met Cas the same issue, especially Nightwing. He questions if he can trust a stranger who has been integrated into the team, but without hesitation, Batman and the former Batgirl, Barb, co-sign Cass. The family approves, officially introducing Cas into the fold as a superhero.
8
Discover Batman’s secret identity
Batgirl (2000) #24 by Kelley Puckett and Damion Scott
While Batman trusted Cas enough to bring her into the Bat-family, it took time for her to fully earn his trust to let her into his secret identity, even during her Batgirl run. Cass never even bothered to ask his real name. However, Cain proves himself to be Gotham’s real greatest detective when She uses basic clues to find Batman’s secret identity.
In a tie-in issue of the “Bruce Wayne: Assassin?” Ark, the billionaire is in police custody when he is framed for murder. Barb sends Cass to Wayne Manor, where she suspiciously lingers on Bruce’s face when he is arrested. Later, she overhears two detectives talking about Bruce Wayne’s childhood trauma and how it can drive anyone crazy. This compels Cass to investigate the trauma further. Some papers and a familiar look confirm Cass’s suspicions.
7
Stephanie and Cass officially become friends
Batgirl (2000) #28 by Kelley Puckett, Damion Scott and Robert Campanella
In modern comics, Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain became the best of friends, but they were not always friends. That changed when Batman distanced himself from the Bat-Family during the “Assassin/Fugitive” storyline, and Stephanie needed a new training partner.
Cas would rather train alone, and she doubted Steph could keep up with her. She is delightfully proven right, and Since Cas communicates best through violence, Cas has a liking for Steph. The feeling became mutual when they bonded post-training to have supervillains for dads. They would help each other open up as people, starting a beautiful friendship between the Batgirls.
6
Batman gifts Cass a birthday present on her new birthday
Batgirl (2000) #33 by Kelley Puckett, Damion Scott, Robert Campanella, John Costanza and Jason Wright
When Batman would come out of seclusion in the aftermath of “Bruce Wayne: Assassin? / Fugitive,” he would take steps to rebuild his individual relationships with the Bat-family, especially Cas. Now that she learned his secret identity, it was time to build an alliance outside of crime fighting. The opportunity came on the one-year anniversary of Cas becoming a superhero. For additional context, because of her father’s strict training in childhood, Cass never knew or celebrated her birthday.
An impromptu visit to her father’s prison cell for intelligence led to Cass blaming her father for the trauma he had created, and learning her birthday was January 26. Knowing the trauma surrounding her upbringing, Batman encourages her to treat her anniversary as her birthday, providing a gift to mark the occasion. It’s a sweet gesture opening the door for her and Batman’s father-daughter relationship today.
5
Show the importance of the bat symbol to Batman
Batgirl (2000) #50 by Dylan Horrocks, Rick Leonardi, Jesse Delperdang, Jason Wright and Clem Robins
After a mission gone wrong, Batman deems Cas too irresponsible to be a hero. He confiscates her costume and sends her away, setting up an apartment for her. When Doctor Dead gets the soul medicine back on the streets, she steals Barbara’s old Batgirl costume and hits the town.
When she and Bruce are affected by the effects of the drug, they fight under its influence, but also unexpectedly bond. It’s basically family therapy when Cass’ love language is violence. Cass expresses that her loyalty lies mostly not to Batman or the Bat-Family, but to the Bat-symbol, something that is bigger than any of them, even Bruce. It signals to readers that, Despite Batman’s concerns, Cass fully understands the role she plays in the war on crime and what the logo means as a symbol of hope..
4
Admitting she wants to be Batman
Batgirl (2000) #59 by Andersen Gabrych, Ale Garza, Jesse Delperdang, WILDSTORM FX and Rob Leigh
Cassandra Kane and Tim Drake working together during the four-part “Fresh Blood” storyline exposed the tension they have with each other. The ending sees the two get to the bottom of their enmity and it ultimately boils down to both heroes aspiring for the same goal: becoming the next Batman.
Batgirl has always admired Batman and thought highly of the Dark Knight. however, This is the first instance that establishes just how far that admiration goes, stepping a step further into aspiration for wanting to be Batman.. To this day, Cass’ character has been portrayed as wanting the goal for himself. This planted an idea in many critics’ minds, strengthening an argument for Cas being Batman one day, something even DC can’t deny anymore.
3
Defeat her mother, Lady Shiva
Batgirl (2000) #73 by Andersen Gabrych, Pop Mhan, Jesse Delperdang, Adam Dekraker, Jason Wright, and Nick J. Napolitano
Almost all of ​​Batman’s psychics have beaten the world’s top assassin, Lady Shiva (even if Batman could never beat her), but the psychic most consistent in defeating her is Cassandra Kane. This is fitting, because although she did not raise or train Cas, Lady Shiva is Cas’ mother and aspires to a dream duel to the death with her daughter. The first time they got in Batgirl #9, both parties refused to kill the other, but their inevitable death duel ensues Batgirl #73, the last issue of the series.
Cass wins by breaking Shiva’s neck, but against her mother’s wishes, Cass saves her life by hanging her dying mother’s body by her cloth above the Lazarus pit, knowing that eventually, the cloth would tear, and Shiva would fall. In the pit, reviving her. She proves herself as the better fighter without sacrificing her morals or becoming the killer of her parents.
2
Batman officially adopts Cas
Batgirl (2008) #6 by Adam Beechen, J. Calafiore, Jack Purcell, Nathan Eyring, and Sal Cipriano
This is the moment that is really, truly indoctrinated into the Bat-Family. Batman watches Cass fight her father, David Cain, and despite how much hatred is in her heart for him, she saves him from falling to his certain death. This convinces Bruce that Cas is deserving of the highest Bat-family honor: being legitimately adopted by him.
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The Bat-family has always been something of a found family for lost souls, but few members are legitimately legally adopted into the family. Given Cas’ origins of coming from a broken home and a neglectful father, this is an extremely significant moment for Cas. It solidifies her as a permanent staple of the Bat-family, and whether she stays a superhero forever or not, she’ll always have a family.
1
“I got it for him”
Detective Comics #1082 by Ram V., Stefano Raffaele and Riccardo Federici
In the more recent comic book issue, Batman is banished from Gotham City courtesy of the city’s supernatural family, the Orghams. This leaves Gotham in Cassandra Cain’s hands, and she passes her biggest test to date with flying colors. In a world without Batman, Batgirl continues to represent his mission perfectly.
When critics have argued for Cassandra to eventually adopt the Batman mantle and when a legitimate argument can be made for it with supporting evidence, the history circle solidifies that she deserves to succeed Bruce Wayne in the role of Batman one day. It even suggests that she might actually surpass him in the role. For now, though, Cassandra Kane A hotter expected Batgirl Solo series to look forward to releasing.