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Tweak says, "ROSE GIMME THE KEYS ROSE NOW"

zechs27 (zechs27) wrote in scans_daily,
@ 2009-08-28 00:08:00

Entry tags:

char: batgirl/cassandra cain, char: lady shiva/sandra woosan, creator: damion scott, creator: kelley puckett, publisher: dc comics, series: martial arts week, title: batgirl

Martial Arts Week: Cassandra/Shiva
The Fabled First and Second Meetings from two of the greatest Martial Artists in the DC Universe.

Dial Uppers Beware!!

I know this is less fighting then to be suggested. But I still love this meeting of two of the greatest martial artists in the DC Universe. It's funny in a way how connected Shiva is with the young people of the Bat Family. She was thought to be a suspect in being Jason Todd's mother, she taught Tim, and of course her relationship with Cassandra as shown here and the later revelations of an even more parental relationship with the later. Of course I'm posting the first and second death match in Batgirl #25. But anyone want me to post round 3?

Anyway, onto the show from Batgirl #7-9 (though from said trade of said issues aka A Knight Alone). Seven scans for the first two issues, six for the last. For context on why Cass isn't in her Batgirl costume during this encounter. In a previous arc, she and Batman protected a low level psyhic who restorted an area of her brain. The cost however was her ablities. Thus Batman decided she needed to relearn and put her out of the field.

Yet Cass can't help but continue with her vigilanting. Barbara finds out but doesn't report it Bruce. However, on the second outing of Cass's little vigilatne stint she see's someone familair. Someone from Batman's case files that Oracle has warned her TO STAY AWAY FROM, Lady Shiva.

Of course Cass doesn't heed the advice.

#8 picks up where we left off. After the smack Shiva take's a gun from one of the guards who where pointing it at her and now points it at the princess. Like she would sully her hands by using one, still what choice does Cass have. Shiva's forcing her to say those little words:

Given Cass isn't at full strength, Shiva easily bests her.

And then Cass wakes up alive in an ambulance, utterly stunned she's still among the living. More she see's an article of jewelry that belongs to Shiva. Busting out of the ambulance, Cass quickly heads to the rooftops. Still her thoughts are very much still on her "last" moments when:

Not soon after Cass grips her broken shoulder staring down the now out Shiva. Cass can't help but smirk a little that she pulled a good cheap shot on Shiva. Next issue, Cass still isn't making any progress with Bruce's teaching videos. She knows she can never be Batgirl at this rate. She decides only one person can help her. She asks Oracle to send a message:

Cass accepts.

Where's Bruce during this? Paying David Cain a personal visit on the mater of a film that was sent to him of young Cassandra murdering a man. Awesome father Bat moment when he confronts David with what he's shaped Cass into and watches another film of him "training" her. I.e. shooting her with a gun and not flinching or feeling any pain.

(Post a new comment)

	mxlm 2009-08-28 06:42 am UTC (link)
	Kelley Puckett, come back to us! Er, I guess he did. And got the axe for low sales. Okay, okay: Kelley Puckett, come back to us again! (Reply to this)

	runespoor7 2009-08-28 10:16 am UTC (link)
	Come, now, Cass, Babs and Bruce aren't completely insane. Also: pearls in blood. Yay for Bruce-symbolism being used for Cass! Mottoing the "come back to us, Kelley Puckett" so very hard. (Reply to this)

	lyraeinne 2009-08-28 12:09 pm UTC (link)
	...mediocre for a lifetime. Or perfect for a year. Oh wow. That actually gave me chills. I'm really regretting now that I only own scattered issues of this series. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	scottyquick 2009-08-28 06:49 pm UTC (link)
	God, yes. The series Batgirl had so many of these kind of lines that really rang and stayed with you. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	proteus_lives 2009-08-28 11:14 pm UTC (link)
	It is a damn good line. Worth remembering. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	meatwhichdreams 2009-08-31 04:14 am UTC (link)
	Brr. Me too. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ladymirth 2009-08-28 04:33 pm UTC (link)
	Hey, wasn't Kelley Puckett the one who wrote Bloodborne. Best. Nightwing. Story. Ever. Even with the hideous art. God, that whole Batgirl run was awesome! Of course, all the decent DC writers get kicked out and get supplanted by idiots who have no idea what their characters are even about. sigh (Reply to this) (Thread)

	runespoor7 2009-08-28 04:54 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah, that was him. Of course, all the decent DC writers get kicked out and get supplanted Agreed. Who decided it'd be a good idea to replace Winick by Tony Daniel on Batman? Pssst, I think your last comment may come a little close to the s_d rule of no personal insult, though. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ladymirth 2009-08-29 01:34 pm UTC (link)
	What last comment? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	runespoor7 2009-08-29 01:49 pm UTC (link)
	I meant the "idiots" comment. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ladymirth 2009-08-29 01:57 pm UTC (link)
	All right then, their writing is idiotic. And if they're not really idiots, then I don't think they even have an excuse. (Reply to this) (Parent)

jaybee3
2009-08-28 05:00 pm UTC (link)

It could just be me (or maybe Shiva is just that good an actress) but it seems obvious that at this early stage of the Batgirl title Kelley Puckett had no thoughts of Shiva as Cassandra's mother and that was later ret-conned in via editorial decision or Anderson Gabrych (who was great on the title too).

Also, Sandra Woosan's characterization previously didn't strike me as the type to have sex and get pregnant by the guy (as part of a business deal) who purposely shot her beloved sister. At least after the training and the baby you would think she would (try to) kill Cain for Carolyn's sake. But no. She just moved on.

But thanks for more examples of how awesome Cass is.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	darthnat 2009-08-28 05:56 pm UTC (link)
	Nah, I actually think it was planned from the beginning, given the "we have the same coloring" comment that Shiva makes about Cass. It's sort of a pointless comment to make otherwise, since it'd just be like her going "HEY WE'RE BOTH ASIAN WHAT ABOUT THAT" without the family link. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jaybee3 2009-08-28 06:40 pm UTC (link)
	Good point. The Shiva/Cain pairing still squicks me out though. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	unknownscribler 2009-08-30 03:59 pm UTC (link)
	DC is all about the bonds and indefeatable destinies of familial blood. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	scottyquick 2009-08-28 06:52 pm UTC (link)
	It was because Carolyn was holding her back from becoming the force of nature that she is now. When Cass was born, Sandra became Shiva. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	zechs27 2009-08-28 08:11 pm UTC (link)
	I don't think she's moved on. There's a part of her in that final issue of Batgirl that make's me believe otherwise. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	thandrak 2009-08-28 07:52 pm UTC (link)
	I got this issue. It was fantastic. But I never saw the second meeting... if it ever happened. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	majingojira 2009-08-29 02:45 am UTC (link)
	Not only did it happen, but there's a third confrontation. I would post scans if I had them so--SOMEONE! AID US! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	zechs27 2009-08-29 04:48 am UTC (link)
	Yes the death duel shall be posted tommorrow. :) (Reply to this) (Parent)

pepperspray101
2009-08-30 07:00 am UTC (link)

Can someone explain the deal with Cass's face paint mask thing? What was that all about?

Anyhoo...I always wondered at the image of the pearls. Is it canon that Bruce hates pearls? Or is that all fanon? I keep wondering what he'd think if she came home wearing those pearls. XD;

and *happy sigh* You posted my favorite scene where Shiva's talking as we get a close up of her face when she finally asks, "why do you keep play fighting?" Then we see Cass standing still with perfect abs and face in shadows resembling a silent lioness, who finally looks up as wind-swept dark hair and shadows cross her cool face and responds with what becomes her ultimate motto: "I don't kill."

*tragic sigh* Oh DC, may you burn in hell for making her break her vow. She was such a friggin cool character. T-T

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	zechs27 2009-08-30 04:25 pm UTC (link)
	Bruce forbidded her to be Batgirl during this period due to her not being up to par to her usual levels. It didn't stop Cass from vigilanting. Hence the face paint. (Reply to this) (Parent)