#if you haven't read the cass cain batgirl that came out over a decade ago

[fancyfade]

just read batgirl #23 (where batman and oracle are talking about if Cass is going to go through with Shiva’s fight, and how they don’t think Cass can beat Shiva and she wants to commit suicide-by-martial-artist)

I think Batman is very invested in his image of Cass (the one where the tape is faked and she never killed anyone). He says she can’t be a killer because Cass is just like him (she understands the mission perfectly).

And Oracle says “what if she’d just like you... and she’s a killer?”

which is kind of ... not 100 percent true IMO because Cass killed someone before she even knew what death was, as far as we know (Alfred said from the tape there’s no way she had any idea what she was about to do, and knowing Cass’s nature that’s probably true). So I’m not sure if you’d say “she’s a killer” like it’s a continuing, intentional aspect of her personality. The instant she knew what she did she ran away and never did it again. 

But I still think she’s got a point in that she did kill someone and is just like Bruce in some regards, but Bruce isn’t willing to accept it. I think he isn’t sure though, or at least suspects the truth, because if he was sure she didn’t do it, he could ask her to confirm. But he’s afraid of what answer he’ll get if he does.

Anyway

Batman seems very invested in Cass as a mini-me. He seems pretty enthusiastic about setting her up with a cave and no secret ID (she is wanted by government guys for something - batman only says she should attempt to recover her secret ID when Babs points out someone can connect her to Batgirl).

Also Cass’s just... intention to commit suicide-by-Shiva is really freaking depressing. Like I know why she feels such self-loathing but it’s like come on, Cass’s friends, maybe stage an intervention? Tell her she’s not an inherently bad person? I know she hasn’t voiced practically any of her concerns to you, but you can still tell something is going on.

granted I know if tehre’s any intervention, it won’t be successful because the comic is going to go up to the Shiva fight for Drama. writing wise, it would be an anti-climax if Cass just didn’t show.