To see three strong women love and support each other throughout the story is truly lovely. Cassandra must learn to trust others, and to find out what in the city is worth fighting for. Even as she begins to mistrust everything she knew, however, she finds two new friends: library worker Barbara Gordon and noodle shop owner Jackie Fujikawa Yoneyama. At its heart, Shadow of the Batgirl is a story, not about fighting, but about finding one’s self.Ĭassandra’s relationships form the core of the story as she begins to question whether her father loves her, or is merely using her to achieve his own supervillain ends. It also moves fairly quickly and is fairly tasteful about the violence, choosing to focus on Cassandra’s cool moves more than on the bloody results of those moves. As such, it depicts a young, teenage Cassandra Cain and even a young Barbara Gordon (at least, she is drawn to look nearly the same age as Cassandra, which I think cannot be right). Shadow of the Batgirl is a graphic novel aimed at a younger teen audience. I can only describe how I, as a new fan, reacted to the book. Consequently, I cannot speak to how avid fans might react to this story line or the character depictions. I did know that comic book Barbara Gordon had been in an accident and so I was not surprised to see her take a supporting role in this story, but I am completely unfamiliar with Cassandra Cain.

Featuring the edgy art style of Nicole Goux, Shadow of the Batgirl tells the harrowing story of a girl who overcomes the odds to find her unique identity.My knowledge of Batgirl is limited pretty much to the 1960s Batman show. Sarah Kuhn, author of Heroine Complex and I Love You So Mochi, takes on one of her favorite heroes for a new audience of readers. But Batgirl hasn't been seen in Gotham for years, and when Cass's father threatens the world she has grown to love, she'll have to step out of the shadows and overcome her greatest obstacle-that voice inside her head telling her she can never be a hero.

But with Batgirl missing from Gotham City, can Cassandra defy her destiny and take on a heroic mantle of her very own? She'll have to go through an identity crisis of epic proportions to find out.Īfter a soul-shattering moment that sends Cass reeling, she'll attempt to answer this question the only way she knows how: learning everything she possibly can about her favorite hero-Batgirl. Cassandra Cain, teenage assassin, isn't exactly Batgirl material.not yet, at least.

Shadow of the Batgirl by Sarah Kuhn