| Batgirl | |
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 Variant textless cover art of Birds of Prey vol.5 #13 (November 2024). Art by Ejikure. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
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| Created by | |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Cassandra Wu-San Cain |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | |
| Partnerships | |
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Cassandra Cain (also known as Cassandra Wayne and Cassandra Wu-San) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. Created by Kelley Puckett and Damion Scott, Cassandra Cain first appeared in Batman #567 (July 1999).[1] The character is one of several who have assumed the role of Batgirl. Over the years, she has also assumed the names of Black Bat and Orphan.
Cassandra's origin story presents her as the daughter of assassins David Cain and Lady Shiva. She was deprived of speech and human contact during her childhood as conditioning to become the world's greatest assassin.[2] Consequently, Cassandra grew up to become an expert martial artist and developed an incredible ability to interpret body language to the point of reading complex thoughts, while simultaneously developing limited social skills and remaining mute and illiterate. She also becomes the adoptive daughter of Bruce Wayne/The Batman after she turns on her father and is one of Bruce's five children in current continuity (as well as his only daughter).
Cassandra was the first Batgirl to star in her own ongoing Batgirl comic book series. She was replaced as Batgirl by Stephanie Brown in a 2009 storyline. She returned in late 2010, where she was shown working as an anonymous agent of Batman in Hong Kong before adopting the new moniker of Black Bat. The character was brought back to mainstream continuity after the company-wide reboot in Batman & Robin Eternal, using the code name Orphan, previously used by her father, David Cain. The character's full history was restored in DC's 2021 Infinite Frontier relaunch.
The character made her cinematic debut in the DC Extended Universe film Birds of Prey,[3] portrayed by Ella Jay Basco.
- ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 224. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 71–73. ISBN 9780345501066.
- ^ "Margot Robbie Reveals Full 'Birds of Prey' Title: 'The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn'". thehollywoodreporter. November 20, 2018. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.