Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Vol. 1 Silent Running by Scott Peterson Batgirl: Silent Running (Collected) This storyline takes place after the events of No Man's Land. In the midst of No Man's Land, gave a nameless girl with a violent past called Cassandra Cain the costume and title of Batgirl. Exceeding his expectations, the new, silent Batgirl quickly made the role her own, earning the trust of the Dark Knight's allies, including the first Batgirl, Oracle. Now, in post-No Man's Land , Batgirl struggles to learn the lessons of how to live a normal life, lessons she never learned from her mentor, the deadly assassin known as Cain. A mercenary from her past resurfaces, bent on revenge. Batgirl must therefore bury her own violent tendencies and break the cycle of death and destruction that has dogged her since childhood. Batgirl, Vol. 1: Silent Knight. 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 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 -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? Collects BATGIRL #1-12 and BATGIRL ANNUAL #1. . more. Get A Copy. Friend Reviews. Reader Q&A. Be the first to ask a about Batgirl, Vol. 1. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. This is the spoiler free review for the entire run of Batgirl as written by Kelley Puckett and starring Cassandra Cain as Batgirl. If you would like to read the spoiler full review please visit https://amanjareads.com/2020/05/27/ba. I am disappointed in this run as a whole. As is far too often the case an interesting character gets diluted to be just like every other character you see over and over again. It's frustrating. This run of Batgirl started out with a lot of promise. Cassandra Cain is This is the spoiler free review for the entire run of Batgirl as written by Kelley Puckett and starring Cassandra Cain as Batgirl. If you would like to read the spoiler full review please visit https://amanjareads.com/2020/05/27/ba. I am disappointed in this run as a whole. As is far too often the case an interesting character gets diluted to be just like every other character you see over and over again. It's frustrating. This run of Batgirl started out with a lot of promise. Cassandra Cain is being trained by Batman and Oracle to be the new Batgirl. She was raised to be an assassin by super bad guy Cain. He raised her without language or any other distractions from fighting and killing. Since she was raised with zero human communication she is mute and has a very difficult time getting along with fellow humans. That's interesting! I haven't seen this character before! Give me more! Well, you'll get that character for 3 whole issues before everyone wussed out and found a super lame way to give her the power of communication. It's so lame. Just all of a sudden she comes across some random guy who happens to be able to to re-wire her brain to give her language but is unable to turn it back. He does this all without her permission and of course giving her language wrecks her fighting skills. Who the heck is this guy who thinks it's his place to go around changing people's brain patterns like he knows what's best? Doesn't matter apparently because he only shows up to ruin the only thing that made Cassandra Cain stand out in overcrowded Gotham City. The rest of volume 1 still had some promise so I remained hopeful that it could turn around by the end. Short story, it doesn't. It gets worse and worse as it goes along and by the end I didn't even know what was happening anymore. As with many comic books this one assumes that you have a lot of previous knowledge. Good luck with deciphering several issues if you're unfamiliar with Stephanie Brown. I barely know who she is and those issues got very confusing for me. As well as several weird mystery plots that came out of nowhere and then got solved just as quickly. Also for some reason ancient Rome gets into the mix. I honestly don't know why this bothers me so much but it does. Why does Rome need to be involved in anything in Gotham? This book certainly doesn't explain it very well so I still don't have an answer for that question. I would love to see this run finished in a totally different way. Keep the initial 3 issues, keep the premise, but change the rest. Keep Cassandra Cain interesting! By the end of this one she's just another mask in the Bat Clan. . more. I love 90's art. Fuck you if you don't. Kidding. I know most dislike 90's stuff in general in the comic world. Especially the art, which is just big muscled guys and ass shots on the women. Still, something about the more cartoony feel makes me just love it soooo much more. So this volume is 300+ pages of Batgirl. Not Barb but Cassandra Cain. Right off the bat (no pun intended) I really dug this character. She barely speaks, she's a trained assassin, and fights like a motherfucking badass. Think I love 90's art. Fuck you if you don't. Kidding. I know most dislike 90's stuff in general in the comic world. Especially the art, which is just big muscled guys and ass shots on the women. Still, something about the more cartoony feel makes me just love it soooo much more. So this volume is 300+ pages of Batgirl. Not Barb but Cassandra Cain. Right off the bat (no pun intended) I really dug this character. She barely speaks, she's a trained assassin, and fights like a motherfucking badass. Think Damien Wayne, but not as much back talk. Also her costume is on f'ing point, I love it so much. So through the issues we see her begin her days as Batgirl. Batman follows her around, trying to harness her skills, and throughout you see the mentor situation which is always a highlight for me with Batman and his underlings. Another great part about this volume is she doesn't always win the situations. She loses fights, she loses people, and it makes this character grow in unexpected ways througout the first volume. I was surprised how much I grew to really love her as Batgirl. Should you check this out? Well it's 10 bucks for 300+ pages of awesome 90's funness. I'd say YES very much so. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. . more. SUPER FAST REVIEW: I’m not sure if I consider this book bad-ass or ridiculous. So this ain’t Barbara Gordon Batgirl, she’s still in a wheelchair here. This is Cassandra Cain who was trained to be a super killer, so much so that the language part of her brain was replaced with fighting skills (see what I mean by not sure if ridiculous or bad-ass) but she doesn’t kill, she’s just a slightly grittier (though not super over the top) Bat-family member. So this book has some very high quality art and fas SUPER FAST REVIEW: I’m not sure if I consider this book bad-ass or ridiculous. So this ain’t Barbara Gordon Batgirl, she’s still in a wheelchair here. This is Cassandra Cain who was trained to be a super killer, so much so that the language part of her brain was replaced with fighting skills (see what I mean by not sure if ridiculous or bad-ass) but she doesn’t kill, she’s just a slightly grittier (though not super over the top) Bat-family member. So this book has some very high quality art and fast paced action scenes throughout. The story itself though is really nothing great, it’s very standard DC (which isn’t bad but don’t expect anything particularly extraordinary). I honestly didn’t care about the characters as much as I probably should have. There are a few kinda lame parts including the end of this book. Overall, it’s not bad but don’t expect greatness. It’s really in the “eh, it’s fun I guess” category. I’ll add book 2 to my reading list but ain’t really recommending it to anybody. You can definitely tell comics have change a good bit since this was originally published. It's not bad by any means, just different to what I'm used to. I like Cassandra a lot, so I had fun reading this, but the plot was a little scattered. I didn't care much for the annual included in this trade. I don't have much else to say really. The art could be weird sometimes, but I think that's just because the art style is different now for DC. I like Cassandra's costume a lot tho. You can definitely tell comics have change a good bit since this was originally published. It's not bad by any means, just different to what I'm used to. I like Cassandra a lot, so I had fun reading this, but the plot was a little scattered. I didn't care much for the annual included in this trade. I don't have much else to say really. The art could be weird sometimes, but I think that's just because the art style is different now for DC. I like Cassandra's costume a lot tho. . more. Ever since I started reading Batfam comics, I've been hearing all about Cassandra Cain, but I've never actually read anything starring her before. So I made a special effort to find a copy of her first trade, and I'm very glad I did. I quite enjoyed Silent Knight and there are only a couple things I can really complain about in it. Most of it was a really great, tightly told story with great characters and themes throughout, which is really the #1 thing I want from a trade. When the book begins, Ever since I started reading Batfam comics, I've been hearing all about Cassandra Cain, but I've never actually read anything starring her before. So I made a special effort to find a copy of her first trade, and I'm very glad I did. I quite enjoyed Silent Knight and there are only a couple things I can really complain about in it. Most of it was a really great, tightly told story with great characters and themes throughout, which is really the #1 thing I want from a trade. When the book begins, Batman has already brought the new Batgirl into the fold. Despite the fact that she can't speak and Batman doesn't even know her real name yet, she's already shown both her dedication and her prowess at fighting, so she gets her turn to don the cowl. Throughout the book both Batman and Oracle are working to train her not only in the fighting arts, but also in the realms of interpersonal interaction. Cass was raised without ever being exposed to language, and as a result she can't speak, read, or understand most words, but she has a high-level understanding of body language and communicates and understands others through actions. Cass bears a strong resemblance to Bruce himself, and it's even pointed out a few times in the book. But what's most interesting to me is how although both of them are very direct and action-oriented, both of them also don't tend to show much emotion, despite having very deep emotions under the surface. But because of Cass's unusual way of communicating, there are a few very interesting moments when these emotional barriers very suddenly come down through non-verbal communication. It's an interesting side of Cass, but it's also a really interesting side of Batman that I really enjoyed seeing: It was kind of great to see Batman so relatively expressive, even if it was reluctant, accidental, and brief. The main highlight is Cass's growth as a character, especially her struggles with her speech and her past, which are tangled together in so many ways that they're really inseparable. We also have a storyline where Batman himself has to come to terms with Cass's past and learn to accept who she wants to be rather than who she was. What's especially interesting to me is how the writing reflects the content. It's an emotional journey for all involved, but the writing isn't overly emotive; rather, everything is perfectly understated, letting events and actions speak for themselves. Puckett strikes exactly the right chord, allowing the book to express itself in a way that perfectly reflects its main character. The plot isn't very complicated--the book is more about Cass's personal journey than any large overarching plot or villain. We do have the figure of as a villain, but all his crimes are in the past, and as such it's really just the memory of him and the repercussions of his past actions that both Batgirl and Batman need to overcome. also makes an appearance, but very similarly she doesn't really act as a villain, but stands in as a physical representation of a personal obstacle Batgirl needs to overcome. (view spoiler) [Once Batgirl gains the ability to speak and understand words through a psychic intervention, she also loses her ability to read people's bodies. Her inability to defeat Lady Shiva really represents her struggles with the loss of her former abilities and her struggle to gain them back. Why Shiva is even in Gotham isn't even clearly explained; rather, she's just there both as a way of representing Cass's struggle to regain what was a lost and as a means to regain it. (hide spoiler)] But what the plot lacks in detail it more than makes up for in character growth. But despite how much I enjoyed this book, I did have a few criticisms. First of all, I think the book includes too many issues. It collects issues #1- 12 and the first annual, but I think the book would have been better served if it ended after #11. Number twelve, written by , was actually one of my favorites in the book, but it ends without a resolution. It begins a new plotline where Batgirl is investigating the shooting of Commissioner Gordon. (Sidebar--how many times has this guy been shot now anyways?) I loved that Batgirl has to learn how to be a detective rather than just a fighter, (view spoiler) [and also she's relying on her language skills to do it, eavesdropping on the local news, Detective Bullock, and stealing the police file on . (hide spoiler)] It was really interesting to see, but the story just stops before we get any sort of conclusion. I'm not sure if it will be picked up again in #13 in the second volume or if this ties into some crossover event, but either way, it felt strange to have the last regular issue be this one. But even if #12 didn't end satisfyingly, at least it was a good issue. The book ends on what's possibly the weakest note ever with Batgirl Annual #1. Batgirl and Batman fly to India to investigate the disappearance of a missing Bollywood actor. Why? We don't know. Apparently they were investigating something else that's never divulged and just decided to drop it and head to India when they heard about the missing actor. Once there, the plot gets more and more ridiculous and vaguely racist, taking on the tone of an after school special about the plight of untouchables in India, but it never examines the issue on a deep level and never even offers any suggestions or conclusions; all it does is condemn unequivocally. We also meet a new character, Aruna Shende, whose name magically changes to Aruna Ramanan two pages later. Ramanan is actually the last name of the missing actor. What's worse than the implication than the Goddamned Batman can't even remember a suspect's last name for five minutes, worse than whoever copyedited this clearly dropped the ball, is the fact that the writer (Scott Peterson) clearly couldn't even keep his own character's names straight. Then halfway through the investigation Batman randomly disappears--yeah, that's right, he just peaces out--leaving Aruna and Batgirl in charge. Aruna continually says things are Batgirl's idea when they were really Aruna's--it's actually unclear why Batgirl is even sticking around at this point. We never hear anything from her or get any development of her--she just kinda tags along until Aruna needs her to beat somebody up. The way Aruna is drawn is also really sexualized, which is really annoying because up until now, none of the women in this book had been overly-sexualized. Aruna is a potentially interesting character, (a shapeshifter who's also gender fluid) but I found the writing in this issue to be too sloppy. Aruna could have been a lot more interesting, but I know DC also hasn't done anything with them outside this oneshot, so that's unfortunate as well. Anyways--the annual is entirely skippable, has nothing to do with Batgirl as a character, and tonally doesn't fit the rest of the book. But ignorning the annual, I really enjoyed Batgirl: Silent Knight . Cass is a great character, the writing and character development are on point, and I can't wait to read more of this series. . more. Graphic Novelty² During the No-Man’s Land arc, Barbara Gordon plucked a girl out of the rubble and took care of her. After gave up the mantle of Batgirl, Barbara passes the girl, Cassandra Cain, onto Batman, to train as the new Batgirl. There’s very little to teach her. Cass was once the adoptive daughter of a ruthless assassin, David Cain. She is so proficient at fighting that she can read your body and understand it like a language. It’s the only way she knows how to communicate. She seems perfect, but there’s a catch. Bruce receives a video of what appears to be a young Cass – assassinating someone at the guidance of her adoptive father. And a man that Cass rescues one night happens to be a psychic who accidentally rearranges her brain, “fixing” (for lack of a better word) the language center in her brain so she has words, but at the expense of her fighting prowess. Can she get it back? Can she continue to be Batgirl if she can’t fight? The cartoony art reminded me of the JSA book I reviewed a while back. The art of this book was in kind of the same style, and in some ways, it was improved. The shading was much better in this book. The anatomy in some of the panels really started to weird me out though. There’s a bit where Barbara looks like she’d gotten lip implants from one panel to the next. For all the problems I had with it, it was actually kind of impressive. Because Cass is mute, a good portion of the book has no words. The art really had to carry the story, and for the most part it did a good job. It amazed me how expressive Cass was in her Batgirl suit, which has the eyes completely obscured and the mouth sewn shut. I wanted to try to broaden my horizons by reading this, as I’m not too keen on any Batgirl other than Barbara. After finishing, though, I find that to be truer than ever. I was too put off by the weird art. This cartoony stuff just really isn’t my style. I also didn’t like how Cass gained language so early. She didn’t need “fixing,” and it felt like a cop-out of truly trying to tell her story without words as much as it did a plot device. It was okay to read but I have too many problems with it to continue the arc. Where to Start Reading Batgirl. While we at the Panels take some time off to rest and catch up on our reading, we’re re-running some of our favorite posts from the last few months. Enjoy our highlight reel, and we’ll be back with new stuff on Monday, January 5th. This post originally ran October 8, 2014. This week, Batgirl got herself a new creative team. With Batgirl #35, Brenden Fletcher and Cameron Stewart took on the writing duties while Babs Tarr handled the art. It’s a major change for the youngest female member of the Bat Family as she’s shedding her spandex for leather, her tied-on cape for one with snaps, and sleek knee-highs for chunky hiking boots. It’s a refreshing change for Batgirl and it’s one fans seem to be responding heartily to. Beyond the latest issue, here are a few recommendations for those wanting more Batgirl in their lives right now. 1. Batgirl: The Greatest Stories Ever Told by Various. This is as good a place as any to start as this book contains the very first time Barbara Gordon took on the mantel of Batgirl all the way back in 1967. Most of the rest of the book contains stories from the early 1970s, with a few stories pulled from as late as 1998. If you’re looking for classic Batgirl action, this is the place to find it. 2. Batgirl: Year One by Scott Beatty, Chuck Dixon, Marcos Martin, and Alvaro Lopez. The first thing that needs to be said about this nine-issue miniseries is that it’s gorgeous. Marcos Martin and Alvaro Lopez create a vibrant, highly stylized world for Barbara to inhabit as this retelling of Batgirl’s early adventures unfolds. It also features guest-stars and . If you only get one of these books, make it this one. 3. Batgirl Vol. 1: The Darkest Reflection by Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf, and Vincente Cifuentes. When the New 52 launched in late 2011, Barbara Gordon regained the mantel of Batgirl. She’d been out of the costume for years, but this relaunch got her back into her tights. The series is fairly dark and gritty, as were many of the titles at the launch of the New 52, but writer Gail Simone managed to inject Barbara with real feeling. Several volumes followed in this series, which lead up to this week’s relaunch. 4. Batgirl: Silent Running by Scott Peterson, Kelley Puckett, Damion Scott, and Robert Campanella. After the events of Batman: The Killing Joke in 1988, Barbara Gordon was forced out of the role of Batgirl due to a spinal injury. Twelve years later, the role was finally filled by someone else. That is when Cassandra Cain, the silent former assassin, took the Batgirl mantel. This volume, long out-of-print and now out-of-continuity in the New 52, contains the first few issues of her ongoing series. All is not lost however as the series’ entire 73 issue run is available digitally at comiXology. 5. Batgirl: Batgirl Rising by Bryan Q. Miller, Lee Garbett, and Trevor Scott. Cassandra held the role of Batgirl until 2009. Soon after appeared to die, she dropped the mask and Stephanie Brown, the former known as Spoiler and one-time , picked it up. Barbara Gordon mentored Stephanie as the young hero did her best to fill the shoes of the various members of the Bat Family that came before her. It’s a deft coming-of-age story. Sadly, it too is no longer in-print or in-continuity. But, like Cassandra before her, Stephanie’s entire series is on comiXology. Seek it out. 6. Showcase Presents: Batgirl by Various. For die-hard fans only, there’s this out-of-print volume. It contains the entirety of Barbara Gordon’s career as Batgirl from 1967 to 1975. It’s wonderful that it’s all in one place but the paper it’s printed on is rather cheap and the pages are all in black-and-white. The 400+ page count and original $17 price tag make up for it. This volume traces Barbara’s story from being the daughter of a police commissioner to a librarian to a congresswoman. If you can find it, try it out. Batgirl has had plenty of other appearances in her 47 year career. Chime in with some of your favorites below!