Even Without Batman’s Influence, 1 Bat-Family Member Perfectly Represents His Mission

Warning: Spoilers for Detective Comics #1082!

Even in a world without Batman, Cassandra Cain echoes his mission perfectly across Gotham. While every member of the Bat-Family carries Batman’s legacy in their own unique way, the third woman to carry the Batgirl mantle in official DC canon — behind Barbara Gordon and, briefly, the Huntress — may do so better than anyone else. Arguably DC’s most dedicated hero, Cass might be the most dedicated to Batman’s mission in particular.

Batgirl does Batman’s legacy proud in Detective Comics #1082 by Ram V., Stefano Raffaele, and Riccardo Federici. In a world where Batman has been erased from Gotham City courtesy of the Orgham family and their Reality Engine, the Batman still haunts Gotham through the guise of his understudy, Batgirl.

Cassandra being able to successfully conduct what Batman is all about without Batman having to exist speaks to a few things about her character. Not only has she successfully replicated Batman’s crimefighting formula, but her pursuit of vengeance began long before Cassandra Cain ever met Batman.

Batgirl’s Urge for Vengeance Began Before Joining the Bat-Family

Cassandra Cain makes her on-panel debut in Batman #567, during the “No Man’s Land” storyline and Helena Bertinelli’s brief time as Batgirl. Before ever joining the Bat-Family, Cassandra suffered her own childhood tragedies. From a young age, she was trained by her parents, Lady Shiva (the one villain Batman can’t beat) and expert marksman David Cain, to become the perfect assassin. The more she ran from this vision her parents had for her, the harder the abuse she suffered — to the point where she was even deprived of her ability to speak.

Her desire to escape her parents eventually leads Cass to meet the Bat-Family and, in time, leads her to the Batgirl mantle. For all the pain she suffered as a child, Cassandra learned all about anger, vengeance, and the dangers that criminals offer long before Batman took her under his wing. Despite Batman’s erasure, she can’t forget the feelings she’s had practically since birth, which explains why she hasn’t fallen victim to the Reality Engine. Her pursuit of vengeance helps her remember Batman’s mission, but as she tells the Question, “I had it before him.”

Batgirl Comes Closest to Honoring Batman’s Mission

If this should tell readers anything, it’s that Cassandra Cain comes closer to honoring Batman’s mission and legacy than any other Bat-Family member without even trying. Cassandra Cain and Bruce Wayne have always lived similar lives, something Batman has admitted himself in the past. Few (if any) members of the Bat-Family match Batman in sheer ability, to the point that Batgirl may actually surpass him as Gotham’s real greatest detective. Each member of the family has suffered tragedy in a way that lends to their pursuit of vengeance, but not like Bruce and Cass.

Their respective childhood traumas have led both Cass and Bruce to dedicate their lives to crime fighting almost to the point of obsession. Cass merely adopts Batman’s moral code to guide a furious vengeance she’s always had, but carrying his code allows her to keep his memory alive. That memory remains alive in her mind and through the fear she dishes out on the streets. Cassandra’s version of Batgirl being such an accurate reflection of Batman becomes all the more important in a Gotham that’s lost its original Dark Knight. Despite the loss, it almost feels as if he never left thanks to the Bat-Family’s most dedicated member.

Detective Comics #1082 is available now from DC Comics.