Batgirl #7

A satisfying and much appreciated attempt to update an iconic character's storied history without sacrificing what made previous iterations work. Read Full Review

We're seeing this story of Shiva's origin for the first time through Cass' eyes, and that adds a lot of emotion to the fantastical tale as it unfolds in bloody and fast-paced fashion. Read Full Review

Batgirl #7 is one of the most emotionally resonant issues of this run so far. It digs deep into what it means to be shaped by your pastand whether you're doomed to repeat it. It doesn't just tell you who Lady Shiva is; it shows you why she matters, and in doing so, it adds another dimension to Cassandra Cains journey. Read Full Review

Once again, we have another great issue of Batgirl. While there wasn't that much Cassandra Cain in the issue, the focus on Lady Shiva's origin was interesting and revealed certain aspects of her life and how it correlates to the dynamic of the relationship between Cass and her mother. Kudos to the entire creative team on this solid issue, and I can't wait to see how they tackle David Cain's involvement in the next issue. Read Full Review

Batgirl #7 is a neat change of pace for the book. Exploring Shiva's past, especially discovering it alongside Cass, adds to the series pursuit of bringing new depth to their mother-daughter relationship. Isaac Goodhart brings new life to Shiva's history even as some of its fundementals do become a little predictable. Read Full Review

Granted, I would have loved a bit more Cassandra in this story, as I just adore the character, and it is her book after all. That said, this still feels incredibly important to the previous arc that set a new understanding for Cassandra about who her mother really is, and as that looks to be a continuing part of the series, this all feels important and worthwhile as well. I didn't necessarily expect to be as captivated by The Book of Shiva as I was, but I'm glad to be wrong about that assumption, and I'm pretty much completely invested from here on out. Read Full Review

I enjoyed this much more than the last few issues of Batgirl, which were feeling a bit drawn out. As the first part of Lady Shiva's origin story, this is an entertaining and exciting read impressively presented by the creative team. Isaac Goodheart's art style makes a nice change from Takeshi Miyazawa's, although I'm a fan of both artists' work. Unless you are only here for Cassandra Cain, I'm sure that, like me, you will enjoy this deeper dive into Lady Shiva's past. Bring on part two next month! Read Full Review

I must once again admit to heavy bias when it comes to Shiva, and lend clemency to Brombal for putting so much time into reestablishing her for this new era of DC. To each their own. We're going to get into her history with Richard Dragon and Bronze Tiger soon, which will really threaten to endanger the original elements of her creation. It will also show what parts of her character Brombal enjoys, and what parts he just throws out for simple retooling. Either way, I'm looking forward to more Isaac Goodhart artwork! Read Full Review

Theres still the possibility for Brombal and company to explore something truly interesting with the origins of Lady Shiva in the pages of Batgirl, but it really should have been more of a back-up feature than something that was going to dominate the entire issue. As it is, it just doesnt feel like theres enough Batgirl in Batgirl. Cassandra Cain is a really cool character. She definitely deserves the center of the panel in her own title. Read Full Review

motorik

May 10, 2025

I was introduced to Tate's work via his releases with wonderful Jeff Lemire. His ability as a storyteller continues to blossom. I'm not sure I'd say he is great yet but there is greatness in him that I feel will be realised fully one day.