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Warning : spoiler for Batgirl # 1Cassandra Cain’sBatgirlis a valued extremity of the Bat - Family , and her consignment toBatman’sno - killing rule cements her as such . Since being introduced as an assassin , Cassandra has evolve into Batman ’s perfect successor by follow his praxis of sparing lives . Her team - up with her bravo mother showcases how Cass fits into her father ’s bequest , as Batgirl solidify her veneration to Batman ’s cause and prove that she is his daughter before she is Lady Shiva ’s .
Batgirl#1 by Tate Brombal , Takeshi Miyazawa , Mike Spicer , and Tom Napolitanoreunites Cassandra with her female parent , Lady Shiva , when a mysterious mathematical group of ninjas goes after her . This reunion is n’t joyous for Cassandra due to the complicated relationship they share , as she reiterates throughout the issue that she does not consider Shiva her genuine female parent . Her loyalty now lies with Batman , which she confirms by saying:“I am Batman ’s daughter by choice . I know how to kill . I keep back by choice . "
Batgirl ’s allegiance to Batman is intrinsically tied to her loyalty to the " no - killing " rule she learned from him . Through deciding not to toss off , Cassandra Cain select Batman over Lady Shivaand thereby confirms who her true parent is in DC traditional knowledge .
“No Killing”: Batgirl Shows Her Loyalty to Batman’s Code Over Lady Shiva’s
Cassandra Cain Refuses to Let Her Mother Kill, After Learning From Batman
Batgirl ’s refusal to wipe out is alesson she learn from Batman , and it ’s become a cardinal aspect of her role . When Lady Shiva draw close Cassandra to inform her of the menace that ’s seeking her out , rather than hearing her female parent out , she fix on the fact that her mother has vote out an innocent bystander . This death leads to her initially reject to speak with Shiva at all and attempting to leave the premise , which goes to show howBatgirl valuate her moral posture above all else , even when Shiva insists that there ’s risk on the horizon .
Batgirl ’s unyielding dedication to preserve animation does n’t just stretch to innocents .
Lady Shiva is a deadly assassinwho has no egress with killing those who stand in her elbow room , and so she and her daughter are diametrically opposed . She does n’t value the sanctitude of liveliness , while Cassandra calls her out for killing . No explanation is enough for Cass to justify her actions as she echo with conviction,“No killing . “Batgirl ’s unyielding commitment to preserving life does n’t just run to innocents , as it include her aggressor . This press on mercifulness reveal how much Cassandra has changed since her instauration , and it ’s all thanks to Batman ’s influence .
Cassandra Cain Was Raised to be a Killer Until She Found Batman
Batgirl’s Origin as an Assassin Trainee, Explained
Before she became Batgirl , Cassandra Cain was presuppose to be every bit the killer that her mother is . Her father , the vile David Cain , treated her as an experiment to become the ultimate assassin . David deprived his girl of the ability to speak or read , instead force her to read her opponent ' most minute mannerisms and communicate with her clenched fist alone . Cassandra ’s lone purpose for her existence was to kill , a stark dividing line to the charge statement she digest by today . Batgirl ’s twisted origination storyculminates in her get away David ’s hold and take refuge with Batman in hunting of a dissimilar way of life .
Cassandra Cain made her first visual aspect , during the massive Batman Family " No Man ’s Land " effect , in 1999’sBatman#567 by Kelley Puckett , Damion Scott , John Floyd , Gregory Wright , and Todd Klein , usable now from DC Comics .
During her traumatic upbringing as an assassin , Cassandra never had the luxury of prefer whether to kill or spare those she fought . All she could do was obey orders without query the consequences for herself and others . Now , as Batgirl , Cassandra capture to dictate her own pathwithout anyone else ’s input weighing her down . Cassandra acknowledges that she ’s capable of kill , but she makes the active choice not to - because now she gets to delimitate who she is , and she ’s chosen to be ahero in Gothamwho stands by Batman ’s code instead of David Cain ’s .
Batman’s No-Kill Rule Separates Batgirl from Her Birth Father
Batgirl Leaves Her Assassin Roots Behind Thanks to Batman’s Influence
Batman ’s no - kill ruleis the core of his fibre , and he expects the rest of the Bat - Family to follow that convention as he prepare them . No matter the cruel lengths his enemies go in their conquest of Gotham City ’s street , Batman will never take their aliveness , as that would mean he ’s bow to their villainous level . He ’s made exception before , such as with Darkseid , but the difference between a universal threat and a scurvy - spirit level criminal is vast . Batman may be the dark , but his goal is to protect those in the dark rather than become another monster for them to venerate , and Batgirl inherit this end from him .
It takes time for Batman ’s moral code to take root within Cassandra due to her tumultuous past , and her moment of truth ultimately arrives in 2008’sBatgirl#6 by Adam Beechen , Jim Calafiore , Jack Purcell , Nathan Eyring , and Sal Cipriano . Batgirl engage in an emotionally - charge battle with David Cain , and she considers leaving him to choke before at long last trying to save him . She go bad in the end , but the fact that she tries at all demonstrates that she ’s chosen Batman ’s teaching over David’s . Cassandra ’s adherence to his no - kill normal head to Bruce formally assume her , constitute him her father in both an emotional and genuine sense .
Batgirl’s Tentative Alliance with Her Mother Puts Her Morals to the Test
Cassandra Cain Teaming Up With Lady Shiva Doesn’t Cancel Out Her Loyalty to Batman
Even when begrudgingly teaming up with Lady Shiva , Batgirl book fast to the morals that were choke down to her from Batman . She catch a say in her own destiny now , and she has selected the path of mercy alongside the otherheroes of the Bat - Family . Working with an assassin is n’t ideal for Cassandra , but this alinement is n’t being storm on her . She choose it , just as she take to follow her no - putting to death codification . She select to call Lady Shiva her mother and to be her girl in return for this one Nox , asshe remains Batman ’s girl on every other night .
Batgirl uses one of Batman ’s signature tactics more effectively than him , cementing herself as the perfect pick to be the next Batman in DC lore .
Batgirl ’s alinement with her mother is n’t without strings , attest by the ground rules she firm install throughout the progeny . She does n’t countenance killing glide , and the only fashion she can be swayed to link Lady Shiva is if she holds back for the duration of their squad - up . As such , her acceptance of being the bravo ’s girl is no moral backslide on Cassandra ’s part . While she physically fights beside her female parent , she still aline with Batman as contradict to Lady Shiva . First and foremost , Batgirlis the child ofBatmanin every agency that matters , and her birth parents ca n’t take that from her .
Custom Image by Robert Wood
Batgirl#1is available now from DC Comics .
