Warning! Contains spoilers for Birds of Prey #10!

The Bat-Family are taught a wide variety of skills, from lock picking and stealth to the ability to solve crimes — to martial arts. After all, since the entire Family is banned from using guns, martial arts are the easiest way to defeat enemies. But one moment proved that Batgirl Cassandra Cain is such a skilled superhero that she doesn’t need to use her fists to win.

In Birds of Prey #10 by Kelly Thompson and Robbi Rodriguez, Cassandra shows off her true power. Even though Cassandra Cain is officially the Bat-Family’s best fighter, she’s also able to win fights without her fists. When Big Barda, a god-like being, is taken over by a malevolent force, Cassandra doesn’t beat Barda physically but instead talks her down with kindness.

Cassandra Cain is able to see the best in people, and instead of trying to fight Big Barda, as Black Canary does, Cass is able to talk Barda down by reminding her of who she is. With Cassandra’s urging, Barda expels the evil force inside of her, regaining her abilities, and Cass avoids hurting her friend in the process.

Batgirl Cassandra Cain Proves Kindness Is Her Best Weapon

Batgirl’s Faith in Big Barda Changed the Course of Her Possession

Cassandra Cain grew up as a weapon trained by her father to become a bodyguard to Ra’s al Ghul. Cass was trained from birth to be nothing more than a weapon and a villain, yet she managed to grow past that upbringing. That Cass was supposed to be a weapon and managed to be a hero made her believe in other people, so Batgirl is far more willing to give second chances when possible. While Black Canary only saw Barda as a threat to her team that needed to be defeated, Cassandra knew that offering Barda compassion was the real way to save her.

Cassandra has been through a lot of fights in her life, and she’s gotten enough experience to know that some fights are won with words and not fists. Knowing this difference is a perfect evolution of her character: the person born to be an assassin — who wasn’t even taught how to speak — eventually learns how to “win” through words instead of violence. While Big Barda is a threat in the moment, she wasn’t in control of her actions. She wasn’t lashing out because she could control it, which is why Black Canary attacking her was only making the situation worse — but Cass was able to diffuse the threat with kindness.

Cassandra Cain Beats Barda Without a Single Punch

Big Barda Could’ve Taken Down the Entire Birds of Prey Team

Being in the Bat-Family isn’t just about solving crimes or using violence to solve problems. It’s also about having the skills and the knowledge to resolve situations when violence isn’t necessary. This truth is something that Cassandra Cain has been shown to excel at recently, especially in the current Birds of Prey run written by Thompson. While Cassandra is certainly one of DC’s best fighters, it’s her ability to know when violence is needed — and when it’s not — that makes Batgirl a real hero.

Birds of Prey #10 is available now from DC Comics!