Spoilers Batgirl #2

[michealdark]

SPOILER. Highlight below text to read

Picks up where the last issue left off, with Cass coming upon Marque after killing several of the Daughters of Cain. Cass isn't exactly happy at the sight, but doesn't seem that surprised as well. She tries to convince Marque to help her, because they're on the same side, but Marque doesn't want to hear it in words, she wants to hear it in the language Cain taught them. They fight. Marque leave some blood on the back of Cass's cowl. Cass wins. Marque agrees to meet her at the same spot the next night. Cass feels the blood, but doesn't suspect it's hers. She takes a sample back to the Batcave to have Babs analyze it. Babs and Cass talk, Babs trying to talk Cass out of it. She knows she can't though, but trusts Cass'll in the end make the right choice. She refuses to analyze the blood though, just send back raw data on it. She wants to help of course, but doesn't want to get too involved. Cut to Cass the following day in a cafe, doing some research. She finds a connection between Cain and Slade, but gets interrupted. A boy she met in her language classes has spotted her, and says he wants to talk to her some more before he goes back home to Jakarta for a visit with family in 2 weeks. He leaves her his number. Cute. Next we have Cass meeting up with Marque again. Before they meet up, Cass is internally talking about the boy. She's a little taken aback by him wanting her to call him. But she seems to like it. She says she hasn't felt this way since Zero. I don't know who Zero is, but I'm assuming that it's someone from her series that she cared about alot. Help me out guys. She lands by Marque, who's washing blood off of her hands after getting some info out of someone. It's about a mercenary mission from 1975, and Cass informs her about the name in both files. Cass is also quite upset that Marque apparently killed her source. She feels the issue is just between them, Cain, and Slade. No one else needs to get hurt over it. Marque on the other hand disagrees. Seems to me that while Cass has a vendetta, Marque's willing to wage a war. But anyways, they meet up with the name on both files, a chemist who was selling stimulants to mercenaries in Congola (the country both Cain and Slade were doing mercenary work in) at the time. He's an old man now, living in a prison nursing home and certainly on the senile side now. Although his mind's quite gone, with a little calm and gentle prodding from Cass, he's able to recall the meeting Cain and Slade had, how they fought eachother into a mutual respect for one another. This info is enough to satisfy them, so they leave the old man to himself, where he instantly turns around to the quite sane, and gets a guard to get him a phone so he can call someone. It has to be either Slade or Cain, because the Daughters of Cain lay a trap for the both of them.

Much, much better than last issue. **** actually happens this time. The character interactions are acceptable this time, with the contrasts between Marque and Cass being quite nice. And the inclusion of a friend/possible love interest for Cass is a very nice touch. The kid seems sweet enough, and he'd certainly give Cass a nice grounding in reality that I think would do her good. While still not great by any means, this is more than passable, and even a little bit enjoyable.

7.5/10

[seth]

agreed. better than last issue. still frustrated over the unnecessary bollixing of the character in the past few years.

[michealdark]

Editorial wanted to try something different with her, but handed it to the wrong writer, who proceeded to butcher the edict to all hell. A number of very vocal fans reacted very poorly to it, so now they're letting the same writer try to make it up to the fans, and bless his heart, he sure is trying. I won't say he's succeeding, but he is trying.

[ConnorFan]

I think this was a solid comic book, not as great as the Gabrych run but worth reading. I really enjoyed the mention of Zero the guy she met in Bludhaven. That little scene really allowed us to see the youth of Cassandra again, something that can get lost easily. Marque is an interesting character though I don't know the whole of the daughters of cain stuff, she makes for a nice dark ally type. I was glad to see Cassandra speaking through her actions, even though Beecham has gone away from that concept somewhat it's good to see it there and not handled as clumsily as last issue. Oracle/Batgirl dynamic was well done, including the part where Oracle was willing to hide some stuff from Batman, and saying that Cassandra is alone on this of her own chosing. That had some impact and will play out nicely later imo.

I'm thinking that the mystery person is Ravager which would be a great additional element to the mix as we will have the daughters of Cain and Slade together. I'm looking forward to the next installment. It's not blowing me away but as far as modest redemption stories go it's a good one in my book.

[seth]

i'm intrigued by the connections between slade and cain. it adds another level to the weird triangle that we have going on between the deathstroke/cain/bat families. i really liked Johns' explanation for slade's interest in batgirl as revenge for nightwing un-brainwashing ravager, and the twist that cain and slade go back even further gives that a nice foundation.

[michealdark]

I think the mystery person is Rose as well. Which, given the bad blood between her and Cass, it would be interesting to see how they work as allies.

[SageShinigami]

Editorial wanted to try something different with her, but handed it to the wrong writer, who proceeded to butcher the edict to all hell.

michealdark

There's no way to NOT butcher any edict that remotely starts off as, "x hero goes evil". There's nothing to butcher--its f'ed from the start.

Not a bad issue. I'd say its a 7 rather than a 7.5, but for me a 5 is passable, so at 7 its well worth the buy and the read.

Anyways. Guess I'll be following this all the way to the end. Love Jim Caliafore's art, by the way. Maybe after this he can work on Aquaman, whenever they get done with that? I loved his work on it back when PAD did his run, and honestly I think he's improved a lot since then.

[Blight]

I think the mystery person is Rose as well. Which, given the bad blood between her and Cass, it would be interesting to see how they work as allies.

michealdark

Hopefully wackiness ensues.

[michealdark]

I don't think humor is what Adam's going for in this series, but I think Rose's sarcasm would bring a greater sense of levity to this book, much like Babs did this issue.