“Mother” – Part 1 of 6
Writer: Tate Brombal
Artist: Takeshi Miyazawa
Color Artist: Mike Spicer
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Review by Fay Clark
It’s finally here! We have been waiting for this since the end of the Batgirls run, and the anticipation has been killing me. Batgirl #1 showcases one of my favourite DC women, and there is an extensive list of those, Cassandra Cain. It’s been over 15 years since Cass had a dedicated run, let’s see what chaos she can bring to the table.
Don’t Forget… Body Language
I have never come across Tate Brombal, so I am interested in how they write such a layered character. Batgirl #1 will set up the tone for the rest of the series, or at least this six part arc. There is so much going on already in this first issue that I can only imagine Tate has some major things he wants to set up. You have to have a tiny bit of knowledge on the character of
Cassandra Cain before jumping into this run. The setup is almost non-existent as we just immediately start crashing through windows and beating up bad guys.
Cas is one of, if not the most loved member of the Batfam. She is such an interesting character in her own right, and I am looking forward to getting more of her in this run. I am a little apprehensive about how she will be portrayed, but from Batgirl #1 I can see Tate knows the character well enough to get her thought process and inner monologue down. Seeing her interact with Lady Shiva is a delight, as two strong woman characters with opposing views coming together normally is.
Mask on Always
Takeshi Miyazawa has already set the president of Batgirl not taking her mask off in Batgirl #1. I am super intrigued to see if that is something that stays during the whole series. I love the fluid lines of Cas’s fighting style being mixed with the sharp linework of Takeshi’s art. Adding in Mike Spicer’s color work, shifts the tone. Working with shadows and highlights to enhance the black suit worn by our heroine. Seeing the depth of color you can get from a black suit is always madness to me, but artists like Spicer work it out brilliantly. Getting to add in a pop of color for Lady Shiva’s outfit makes her stand out in any situation, but must be fun after working on dark Gotham and dark suits!
Conclusion
Anything I can do to get more of Batgirl/Black Bat/Cassandra Cain, I will do it. I think people really sleep on this character, and I love that she is getting a chance to shine in her own run. Here’s hoping that Tate and his team can keep this going for a very long time, as I foresee some major plotlines coming up!
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment