Batgirl #2 Review

• Written by: Tate Brombal

• Art by: Takeshi Miyazawa

• Colors by: Mike Spicer

• Letters by: Tom Napolitano

• Cover art by: David Talaski

• Cover price: $3.99

• Release date: December 4, 2024

Batgirl #2, by DC Comics on 12/4/24, sends Cassandra Cain and Lady Shiva into a refuge under the caring watch of Bā Bao. The respite gives Lady Shiva a chance to give Cass a history lesson.

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Is Batgirl #2 Good?

First Impressions

Writer Tate Brombal continues Cassandra Cain's solo adventure with a sophomore issue that builds out the background of the conflict, strong character moments, and a fair bit of action. Readers who were positive about the first issue will get the same and more in Batgirl #2.

Recap

When last we left Cassandra Cain in Batgirl #1, Lady Shiva arrived in town to warn her daughter that an ancient sect of ninjas called the Unburied had emerged from hiding, and they were determined to kill Lady Shiva. What followed was a series of cat-and-mouse battles that ended with mother and daughter sighting side-by-side.

Plot Synopsis

In Batgirl #2, the push and pull between mother and daughter continues as the pair of fighters desperately try to stay alive. The two fight their way through a group of low-level ninjas and escape into the alleys and side streets of Gotham City. Cass decides to contact Batman and the family for help, but Lady Shiva convinces her to hold off for one night because anyone else involved is in mortal danger.

Cass leads her mother to the kitchen of Bā Bao for rest and medical attention away from prying eyes. Cass uses the respite to train Bā Bao's children in martial arts while Bā Bao stitches up Lady Shiva's wound. During the stitching, Bā Bao gives Lady Shiva motherly advice on how to get through to Cass with honey instead of vinegar.

Lady Shiva takes Bā Bao's advice and sits with Cass to explain the history of the Unseen, an ancient sect of ninjas who gained enhanced strength, speed, and sight by ingesting a special blue flower only they possess. The ninjas they defeated earlier are nothing compared to what's coming.

Suddenly, a new batch of ninjas explode into the kitchen, led by their blind leader, Kalden the Unseen. The attack is swift and brutal. Cass finds her ability to read body language and subtle gestures useless against Kalden's enhanced body. The issue ends with Cass and Lady Shiva forced to flee, leaving Bā Bao and her family behind.

What’s great about Batgirl #2?

Tate Brombal takes everything that worked about the first issue (a good sense of Cass's personality, copious action, and a straightforward plot) and gives you more of the same with extra icing on top.

Cass's interaction with Bā Bao is endearing. The mother-to-mother chat between Bā Bao and Lady Shiva is unexpectedly mature. And the history lesson about the Unseen paints a formidable picture of the antagonist.

What’s not great about Batgirl #2?

The outstanding question remains unanswered, which is a sore point of frustration. Why, exactly, are the Unseen after Lady Shiva? The longer Brombal refuses to answer that question, the more the "mystery" becomes a distraction that undoes the journey and stakes. The goal of "staying alive" works in Slasher movies, but not here.

How’s the Art?

Takeshi Miyazawa's artwork is an excellent choice for the mix of fighting and family taking place in Brombal's script. Miyazawa's inks are sharp and precise when they need to be in the subtle glances but rough and hectic during the kinetic action scenes. Overall, the art looks great.

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts

Batgirl #2 is a super-solid entry in the miniseries that takes everything that worked about the first issue and builds on it. Tate Brombal's script is a pleasant mix of fighting and heart, and Takeshi Miyazawa's art style suits the story beautifully. That said, Brombal's lack of clarity about the nature of the conflict is a sore spot.

8/10

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