Warning: Contains potential spoilers for Birds of Prey (2023) #9!

As the Birds of Prey travel through mysterious dimensions, Cassandra Cain’s Batgirl gets a dark costume change. While the birds search for Barbara Gordon, they crash into a black-and-gray world where they all receive updated suits to reflect their unknown setting. While the rest of the costumes have a sort of gothic glamour, Cassandra’s new look highlights the character’s troubled past, with a slightly eerie and unsettling fashion choice.

Birds of Prey #9 finds the team following Barbara Gordon through a portal, after she is abducted. Black Canary and the Birds of Prey bravely attempt rescue the team’s creator, though they’re seemingly unprepared for the dimension-hopping adventures that await them, as they fall into this strange new world.

The issue is also set to debut new looks for the team – on the heels of their Vixen-brand lingerie outfits from last issue’s fashion show – as the preview depicts them wearing costumes fit for the smoky noir environment they’ve landed in. In particular, Cassandra Cain’s new mask has strange and dark features, with lines that resemble tears falling from her eyes.

Cassandra Cain’s New Costume Highlights Her Tragic Upbringing

Birds of Prey #9 – Written By Kelly Thompson; Art By Jonathan Case & Gavin Guidry

While the details of Cassandra Cain’s new Batgirl mask make for a cool redesign, the new look also spotlights the character’s tragic past. Cassandra was mentored by Barbara Gordon, and saved her and Jim Gordon from her own father. The daughter of two assassins, David Cain and Lady Shiva, Cassandra was raised by David to be the ultimate weapon, and he neglected to teach her how to speak or interact socially. After her father’s brutal training, she finally escaped him, after being forced to kill – all before becoming an essential DC hero.

Although her assassin upbringing molded her into a powerful superhero, Cassandra was trained to be an ultra-violent killer against her will. Cassandra’s costume in the preview for Birds of Prey #9 is a dark redesign illustrating her complicated emotional journey. She may now be the Bat-family’s strongest fighter, but it wasn’t an easy journey to get to her heroic destination. While her found families of the Bat-family and Birds of Prey have helped Cassandra out of her shell, the tearful costume signifies a lingering sadness from her tortured past.

DC Will Introduce More New, Exciting Looks For The Birds Of Prey

The new costumes being bestowed upon the Birds of Prey as they enter a new universe will seemingly continue as they search for Barbara Gordon and hunt down her abductor. While they enter a setting that could be out of Nosferatu and get matching mysterious looks to match, future solicitations for the series preview other looks, as they explore even more worlds, like jungle costumes as the team battles dinosaurs. With updated fashion choices to accommodate their adventures, the Birds of Prey’s personalities could be reflected in each new look, like Cass’ in Birds of Prey #9.

While Cassandra Cain is perhaps the Bat-family’s deadliest fighter, she also has a strong moral compass that makes her past indiscretions on her father’s orders continue to haunt her. As the Birds get new costumes for their upcoming romp in a strange world, Cassie Cain’s emotional journey is written on the tear-stained face of her new mask. Though the costume may be one-and-done for the issue, it highlights Batgirl’s evolution from lethal assassin to virtuous superhero and the guilt she still carries from her harrowing upbringing.