Friday, February 3, 2017

Book Watch: Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown's Batgirl Comic Book Series

I don't often dole out praise to DC Comics but I am when it comes to republishing older series. And for fan who didn't get a chance to read Cassandra Cain or Stephanie Brown's Batgirl comic book series when they were originally published you will now be able to. The first three volumes of Cain's Batgirl series are already out while the first volume of Brown's Batgirl will not be out until June.

I always felt like Cass and Steph never got the attention they deserved they were sort of treated by some fans as placeholders until Barbara Gordon would one day return to that mantle. These two were great in the role with both series reflecting their contrasting personalities. Yet, what I loved the most was that writers gave the readers something new and different in regards to Batgirl. It was a wonderful rebranding of the hero each time the mantle was handed down.


Batgirl: Cassandra Cain


Book: Batgirl volume #1: Silent Knight (issues #1-12 and Annual #1) by Kelly Puckett with illustrations by Scott Peterson

Description:

Cassandra Cain is a fighter like no other. At only 17, the teenage assassin takes down enemies three times her size without batting an eye. But her incredible skills come at a cost: unable to speak or write, Cassandra instead reads body language as naturally as breathing—an ability that makes her even deadlier.

After Batman witnesses her save the life of Commissioner Gordon during the events of No Man’s Land, the Dark Knight sees in Cassandra the successor to the Batgirl name. Now, under the tutelage of Barbara Gordon—the original Batgirl herself—Cassandra Cain must find a new purpose and make amends for her violent past.

But can someone who was born to kill ever be worthy to take up the cowl of a fallen legend?






Book: Batgirl volume #2: To The Death (issues #13-25) by Kelly Puckett with illustrations by Damion Scott

Description:

Cassandra Cain is Batgirl: vigilante crime-fighter, protégé to both Batman and Barbara Gordon, and the ultimate martial arts master. Her near-superhuman fighting abilities are so much a part of her identity that when they failed her, she was willing to make an unthinkable bargain to get them back.

Impressed by their first encounter, the unbeatable assassin Lady Shiva agreed to help restore Cassandra’s incredible skills. In return, exactly one year later, Lady Shiva would return to challenge Cassandra to a rematch.

Only this time, it’s to the death.






Book: Batgirl volume #3: Point Blank (issues #26-37 and Batgirl Secret Case Files & Origins #1) by Kelley Puckett with illustrations by Damion Scott

Description:

Cassandra Cain returns to Gotham’s streets as Batgirl. Raised to be a perfect fighting machine, Cassandra has vowed to use her unrivaled combat skills to protect the citizens of Gotham. After defeating the feared assassin Lady Shiva in a harrowing battle, Cassandra must prove that she’s more than just an incredible fighter as she trains with Batman to become a detective.

Batgirl’s detective skills are soon put to the test when she must help an amnestic secret agent recover his memory in time to stop a mysterious catastrophic event threatening Gotham City! Time is quickly running out and Cassandra must fight harder than ever before, using both her wit and strength to solve the mystery. Can Batgirl save Gotham before it’s too late?




Batgirl: Stephanie Brown


Book: Batgirl: Stephanie Brown volume #1 (issues #1-13) by Bryan Q. Miller with illustrations by Lee Garbett

Publication: June 20, 2017

Description:

Bryan Q. Miller's critically acclaimed run takes Stephanie Brown a.k.a. former Robin, a.k.a. Spoiler, to new heights as Batgirl!

Battling both inner and external demons, Stephanie must learn to balance school and crime-fighting or face the wrath of Barbara Gordon! With guest appearences from Batman and Robin and villains like Man-Bat and Clayface, Batgirl must step up to the mantle!

Batgirl must battle the Calculator and stop his plan to unleash a nanovirus upon the citizens of Gotham City that will turn them into mindless techno-zombies, enter the FLOOD!

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