Cassandra Cain Reading Guide Part 1: General
So you want a reading list for Cassandra Cain? I'm gonna split this into various sections. So, if the urge increases of "I WANT TO READ MORE!" Then there are other tiers to help feed that great need.
And it all begins with this one.
Part II reading guide (Modern) you can find here.
Part III reading guide (Random) you can find here.
Part IV reading guide (Alternate versions) you can find here.
Part V reading guide (PAIN) you can find here.
The starting point is No Man's Land particularly these issues.
Batman #567 + Detective Comics #734 - Mark of Cain aka Cass's first appearance and her intro arc (Puckett/Scott/Peterson).
Legends of the Dark Knight #120 - First as Batgirl.
Batman #569 - first solo story
Azrael #56-57, #60-61
Gotham Knights #2
Batman Chronicles #18
Robin #73
There are more appearances of Cass in No Man's Land than these and the one above, but these are highlighted by her interactions with Jean-Paul Valley, Bruce, Tim, and Leslie Thompkins.
Batgirl Vol. 1 #1-11, #13-25
The first half of the Kelly Puckett/Damion Scott run. If you're wondering why #12 isn't mentioned, it's a crossover issue for Officer Down (basically Jim Gordon is shot, and the aftermath is him stepping down as Commish). It's totally up to you completist wise if you want to go into that story.
For key portions, #7 is Shiva/Cass meeting for the first time, #11 is a spotlight on David Cain, #18 & #20 are her first actual team-ups with Tim & Stephanie, Not her first meetings (she first met Tim in #120, and Stephanie in Robin #88).
During #24 we have another crossover, this event being Bruce Wayne: Murderer? This leads into the next crossover which hits in #27 & #29 Bruce Wayne: Fugitive. Bruce is the main suspect of a murder leading the Bat Family to investigate it. It is optional BUT--
The primary antagonist of the crossover has a critical role in Cassandra's life. So if you want-- Batman #605 (reveal of the antagonist of Bruce Wayne: Murderer?/Fugitive) Batman #606-607 (aftermath to the reveal) Cassandra only appears in #605 and has a two-panel cameo in #607.
Batgirl Vol. 1 #26-37
The second half of the Puckett/Scott run. Again, #27 & 29 are x-overs. #30-32 is an arc drawn by Scott but written by Chuck Dixon. #33-37 is the closeout of the run.
For issues going on while this run, there were four specials published that featured Cass.
DC First- Batgirl/Joker #1 (Cassandra fights the Joker.)
Batgirl Annual #1 (one linear story of Cass/Bruce on an adventure)
Batgirl: Secret Files & Origins #1.
Batgirl/Ghost: The Resurrection Machine #1-4.
It's up to you if you want to read the last one. It's Cass's only crossover comic, But yeah.. I’m not particularly fond of the story.
#38 features Stephanie exiting the supporting cast and features the first Batgirl issue by Andersen Gabrych.
Superboy #85 is where you need to read next. It has Cass teaming up with Conner Kent/Superboy. This issue helps leading into----
Batgirl Vol. 1 #39-57
Dylan Horrocks’ run.. #39-42 deals with Superboy and a villain called Black Wind (#39-40). Black Wind shows up again in #43-44 with Cass also tangling with an OLD Batman villain Dr. Death.
#45 is when Rich Leonardi arrives as artist for the comic. This is also the same issue Cass dons Babs' Batgirl costume. #46-49 continues the build-up of tension Cass has with Bruce (starting in #39) which leads to #50 Cass vs. Bruce! Horrocks/Leonardi's crown jewel of their run.
#51-52 Cass takes on Poison Ivy. #53 Stephanie returns to the comic as Robin. #54 sadly is when Barbara exits the title as a supporting character. #55-57 is War Games x-over resulting in Stephanie being killed off, and Barbara leaving Gotham, gutting Cassandra's supporting cast.
During this near the middle of this run, another maxi-series is published by DC that features Cass:
Justice League Elite #1-12
- Kasumi (Cass in disguise and spying for Batman). If you're looking for Cass tangling with threats beyond her usual street fare than by all means.
Nightwing #81
- features Cassandra's first encounter with Deathstroke the Terminator. A gorgeous choreographed fight by Devin Grayson and art by Rich Leonardi.
Detective Comics #790 - a War Games prelude with Cass helping Bruce on a mission while both reflecting on Stephanie Brown who is at a crossroads.
Robin #132
Batgirl #58
Robin #133
Batgirl #59
- the Fresh Blood story which features Cass teaming up with Tim both reeling from the fallout of War Games crossover event and their new status quos.
- #58 is the start of Andersen Gabrych's run on the comic.
- An epilogue to this story occurs in Batman Allies: Secrets & Origins #1 in a tale (written by Gabrych).
Batgirl Vol. 1 #58-73
#60-62 is Cassandra's new status quo. Ale Garza/Pop Mhan provide art for most of Gabrych's run (save one issue). These three issues have Cass tangle with the Brotherhood of Evil and a "ghostly" Stephanie continues to shows up too!
#63-64 is Cass having a rematch with Deathstroke who brings Ravager along for the ride. This is basically Gabrych tying up a subplot introduced in Teen Titans comics happening at the same time period (i.e. Rose posing as Cass), but you don't really need to read that to understand the why. So I’m not going to give the issue # to that.
#65-73 is the Destructions' Daughter arc. Everyone who has history with Cass shows up in this arc. Bruce, David Cain, Babs, Black Canary, a few villains of her past (Shrike and Alpha), and of course Lady Shiva in #68.
It's here Gabrych has to juggle a lot of tie-ins. Infinite Crisis was looming on the horizon and Cassandra was dealing with parts since the beginning of her run. #66, and #69-70 are considered the "lowest" points of the run and the Vol. 1 series.
#71-73 is when the action ramps up again with Gabrych having to speed his way to the ongoing's conclusion in #73.
I know I left out appearances (Supergirl, Batman/Superman, Harley Quinn, Young Justice, Birds of Prey, Robin, and Gotham Knights). Also a mini (Batman: City of Lights). But they're just sprinkles. Added goodies to the toppings that is this entire run. Okay, save the last one and maybe Batman/Superman... You will see them on other lists I have for Cass (mostly part 3 and 5).
DC Festival of Heroes: The Asian Superhero Celebration #1
- contains TWO stories centered on Cassandra. Along with this neat variant cover by Artgerm. "Sounds" literally feels like a story during or just after the Puckett/Scott run (#37) written by Mariko Tamaki and drawn by Marcus To.
"What's in the Box?" is the other story that features Cassandra written/drawn by Dustin Nguyen. Though shorter than the prior one it is still a gorgeously drawn story. Not mentioned, but alluded based on the art/timeline Cass is in her Black Bat attire. So you can place this story after Gates of Gotham in the old canon.
Batman: Urban Legends #7 (Hunter or Hunted...)
- The story/art by Guillaume Singelin provides a truly UNIQUE tale starring Cass. The action is top-notch, we're given probably the best fight sequence from start to finish involving the character in a LONG TIME. The story is a literal feast for the eyes.
Batman: Wayne Family Adventures Episodes 32-33 "All Seeing"
- The second major arc that focuses on Cass showcases the many qualities of the character on why there are so many passionate fans of hers. A good starter or introduction for new readers on the character.
All season 1 episodes of WFA are free and available here:
Episodes 90-91 "What I Want"
- The third major story arc focuses on Cass's comic origin while also giving us a team-up gone awry between her and Damian Wayne. Gives new readers a further understanding of Cass building upon Episodes 32-33.
Shadow of the Batgirl
- a Young Adults graphic novel written by Sarah Kuhn and drawn by Nicole Goux. Kuhn gives Cassandra a modern origin taking elements from Puckett and James Tynion IV/Scott Snyder’s Batman & Robin Eternal origin to give us something newly unique on it’s own.
A highly recommended story!
Batgirls #14
- The best issue of the Batgirls ongoing series. Artist Jonathan Case pulls off a masterclass of art, inking, and coloring in this special “silent” issue. There’s no need to read any prior issues. You can go in without reading the prior two arcs (Batgirls #9-12, 2022 Annual, and #13), but it adds to the payoff of this issue.
Yes, writers Michael Conrad and Becky Cloonan cheat in the format, but the way they sneak the dialogue in is absolutely perfect. After years of being denied the special format, Cass gets it and showcases WHY the character just works so well.
Detective Comics #1069-1073, #1077-1080, #1082, & #1084-1088
- Ram V's Detective Comics run. His run begins on Tec #1062, but Cass shows up in #1069. This is the best "modern" Batman run that features Cass in a supporting role, and a long-standing theme in the run: legacy.
Batgirl Vol. 6 #1-6 “Mother”
- Cass’s current solo ongoing series. The first six issues involve Cass traveling outside of Gotham and being thrown into an adventure with her mother, Lady Shiva. We get the next stage of Cass/Shiva characterization with one another.
We get NUMEROUS callbacks to Batgirl Vol. 1 along with new characters. Some allies, and A LOT of new foes. The newest being a group called the Unburied. Exceptional art by Takeshi Miyazawa, colors by Mike Spicer, and the writing by Tate Brombal ties it all in a nice bow. Highly recommended for long-time Cass fans/readers!
