Review – Batgirl #9: The Secret of Jade Tiger
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: The last few issues of Batgirl have been very intriguing, taking us deep into the past of Lady Shiva – her escape from a hidden village and her pursuit by assassins, as well as her close relationship with her sister, with fellow master martial artists Richard Dragon and Bronze Tiger, and her tragic eventual coupling with the monstrous David Cain. But now the flashbacks are over, as Cass departs from her train in Whitefish, Montana – in search of her mother's last words, to search out the mysterious Jade Tiger. And that leads her to the door of Ben Turner, the man once known as Bronze Tiger. The former assassin and Suicide Squad member is now broken, abandoned by even his closest friend, and no longer willing to fight. Which is a shame – because Cass is very willing to fight him, remembering him from his time as one of her trainers under Cain (although he was brainwashed then).
Cass is generally known for being a very controlled fighter, so it's interesting to see her here so obviously out of control. She's been through hell and lost one of her earliest human connections, and she needs someone to take it out on – and Ben's words of reason aren't hitting home for her right now. But the reveal of Jade Tiger's identity throws everything she knows for a loop – and is likely to cause quite a bit of controversy, given what it means for Cass and how it's similar to a twist in another Bat-book from a few years back. I think it works, although there are a lot of things related to the timeline that will need to be cleared up. The character work this issue is fantastic, but it also has some of the best fight scenes in the DCU at the moment, with amazing martial arts choreography. This continues to be one of the best new books in DC's lineup, giving Cass a much-deserved spotlight. Could just use a bit more of her fellow Batgirls.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
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