Batgirl #3 is written by Tate Brombal and published by DC. Artwork is by Takeshi Miyazawa and colours by Mike Spicer, letters are by Tom Napolitano. Main cover art (left) is by David Talaski.
Batgirl #3 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
The train ride out of Gotham proves more difficult than expected for Cass and Lady Shiva as dangerous new players enter the field. With the Unburied still hot on their trail—and seeking blood—can Batgirl actually trust her mother? Or will it lead to her certain death…?
Review
How about we start 2025 is style with Cassandra Cain and her mother, aka Lady Shiva, on the run from a cabal of ninjas. Escaping Gotham City on a trail filled with both friends and enemies whilst neither feels fully able to trust the other. Tate Brombal is using this month’s one-location issue to really dig even deeper in to the well between mother and daughter. Exposing all of the cracks which have kept them apart. Whilst really challenging Cass’ perceptions as Batgirl gets to the mid-point in its first arc.
Once again we’re picking up right where we left off with an unmasked Cass and Lady Shiva escaping the city on a train. Whilst Cass is reluctantly running from The Unburied she was given little choice but to accept that her mother was right. There was no other option. But making that choice to follow Shiva doesn’t sit well with Cass and informs most of the first half of Batgirl #3.
In both my reviews of this series so far I’ve praised Brombal for his ability to tap in to who Cass is. Until now we’ve only had brief moments to see her assess her mother. Each time they’ve been together they’ve been interrupted by the arrival of The Unburied. Whilst those moments of seeing the two in battle together have helped develop what passes for a bond between them. Now having the chase to spend extended time reflecting on what has brought them to this moment allows for some riveting character work.
There’s been a fair amount of balance across the first two issues of Batgirl. Brombal has built in moments to challenge how Shiva perceives her daughter as well as the opposite. The dual exposition has allowed Brombal to fold Shiva in to a story under the Batgirl banner as a co-lead. It was absolutely needed in order to make give her more presence and agency within the story. But in this moment, on this train, this is the moment to give Cass all of the agency. Brombal is no doubt aware of the in-built audience this character has and so chooses this moment to really hone in on how she is feeling and how that impacts on her decision making.
There’s an absurdly rewarding character arc for Cass which is already tangible across the three issues of Batgirl so far. In issue one her distrust of her mother was fairly placed when The Unburied first attacked. It meant Cass used her natural instincts to seek refuge from Ba Bao at the restaurant in issue two, misjudging just how much of a threat The Unburied and their muscle, Kalden the Unseen. That misjudgement resulted in a devastating attack which lead to their current situation and so the entirety of issue three feels like a natural reaction to all of that storytelling.
READ MORE: Talking Cassandra Cain’s BATGIRL With Writer Tate Brombal (EXCLUSIVE)
The first half of Batgirl #3 is unavoidably dialogue-heavy but the story requires it. But for those who are invested in seeing these two women working through their issues will be rewarded. There are plenty of interesting personalities on the train including more of Shiva’s followers. But when confronted by a member of the League of Shadows, Cass follows her gut instinct once again and runs head first in to a fight. Brombal had teased there was a visually striking scene in issue three and this was most certainly it.
Takeshi Miyazawa is flexing all of the muscles this issue. We’ve got the posed, tense character work as mother and daughter confront each other. But then there’s the frenzy of Cass taking on the League of Shadows ninja in a splash which I could happily have seen continue for several more pages. The two-page cutdown of the train looks incredible. Encapsulated in these brief moments is so much energy and movement that it feels cinematic even on the page.
It brings us to yet another unexpected and enticing cliffhanger. Brombal certainly knows how to end an issue with a huge jumping off point. Where issue two left us on a low note for Cass. Issue three has brought to a moment of strong confusion. No spoilers but it certainly blows much of the story wide open, expanding the Batgirl supporting cast and setting up plenty more investigation to come next month.
Verdict
Tate Brombal takes Cass’ complex relationship with her mother to the next level in Batgirl #3. A fascinating and gloriously written chapter which balances its action against outstanding character work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
