Batgirl (2024-) #6

Batgirl (2024) #6

by Tate Brombal, Takeshi Miyazawa (Artist)

The truth behind the Unburied finally comes to light as Kalden reveals a hiddenhistory of betrayal and vengeance. But as the sins of the past threaten to consumethe present, Batgirl and Lady Shiva must first survive a dangerous cave and…eachother! With nowhere else to run, it’s the end of the line for Cassandra Cain. Will shejoin Lady Shiva in battle or destroy her mother herself?

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Superheroes

Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2025

Reviews

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this arc got monotonous, I really love everything about the relationship between Cass and Shiva

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good conclusion to the first arc. This is easily the best Cass series in a long time. I really liked her inner thoughts here, focusing on choosing, instead of born into. The ending was pretty epic, and I don't even like Shiva. Overall excited to see where we go next.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a phenomenal issue, I can’t even begin to describe how fantastic the relationship between Cass and Shiva is handled. Don’t get me wrong, I am still going to summarize the events of this issue to look back at later, but the intricacies of their relationship is so well done, the slightest touch the change in heartbeat from shiva to communicate with Cass on a level she is incapable of…wow.

We pickup this issue where we left off, with Cass and Shiva roped up and hanging in a cell in the unburied underground city. Cass is still confused why the unburied has gone after Shiva, and that’s when Kalden comes in to provide some insight. It turns out she was the one who woke them up. From the start they were a peaceful civilization, living under the sun…until they welcome Ra’s Al Ghul into their lands. He spilled their blood and the blue poppies grew…he then returned with his league and the blood of Wu to take them for themselves. War swallows their people and they favored peace, deciding to find refuge in the shadows and rebuild. They chose darkness over the Sun that favored them. Then some time ago Shiva discovered them, they were cautious but it had been generations and they wanted contact with the surface. Shiva ate their food, earned their trust, trained in their ways…then stole their sacred poppies and betrayed them. They wee just another obstacle for Shiva to overcome. Following their history, war would come next…so they chose war first. What is buried will always come to light, and they now plan for both of them to meet with their sublime leader.

This revelation immediately prompted Cass to argue with Shiva, they are in this mess because of Shiva. Cass brings up a lot of questions about what it means to be a mother and a daughter in this issue…and she knows she did not choose this. Shiva’s only defense: “I am what I am.” But as they are arguing it is revealed that Jayesh has snuck in and left the getaway vehicle bike to save them and take out the guards. They are ready to leave, but shiva wants to bring the place down before they go. Cass argues that there will be no more death…but as they are arguing they don’t even see as the giant scissor wielding unburied assassin kills Jayesh. So brutal. Cass throws down smoke bombs and shiva grabs her to run. They come across an underground river roaring through the caverns and shiva grabs and pulls Cass in.

Shiva is able to pull Cass to the side to safety from the water as the foolish unburied who tried to follow them her swept away in the current. As they have another moment to talk they talk their exit strategy. Shiva also reveals that there will leader of the unburied is the strongest, and only determined through combat…so she prays Cass never meets them. But once again shiva wants to burn the place down to make their escape, but Cass is having know of it…Shiva has toyed with her for too long and the unburied were at peace until Shiva came along. Shiva thinks Cass has grown pacified by her “family,” but that is the family she chose and she will not see shiva ruin it like she does with every other sacred thing…and that’s when Shiva passionately reveals that Cass is her sacred thing and she will not loose her. Shiva asks why Cass would continue to resist her after doing everything to save her. Cass reveals that it is because Shiva is her mother…but she was born a wound and she wants to trust her but every single time there is only pain that she is tired of…”some wounds never heal. We are what we are.” And because of that, once Cass helps Shiva escape…she never wants to see her again. Shiva claims she will do as she wishes. But now it is time to take a play out of Batman’s playbook to get out.

The unburied barely saw it coming as bats flew through and flooded the passageways towards the exits. With so much chaos, Shiva and Cass were able to eloquently shift through the bars and take down the unburied members, finally using a grapple to get out and to the exit. But when the got to the bike…Shiva refused. Shiva claims that she will yield no more and that going with Cass is not where her path leads. Shiva claims that Cass is right and that this is a wound only she can close, she then surprisingly tells Cass to go and find Bronze Tiger to help her further, and to ask about the Jade tiger. Which is a really cool tease. Cass tries to convince her otherwise, telling her that she will choose her and doesn’t want to see her die, but Shiva sees death in the face of Cass living as the greatest challenge. As the issue comes to a close Shiva can only cry and look back as she drives away and sees shiva cut down. This issue was such a good close to the 6 parter, and they really do so much with so little pages. But this issue ends so tu a particularly special monologue, from Cass that I want to quote:

“What is a mother? Simply the person who birthed you? No. Something more is owed. A mother protects. A mother teaches. She causes pain, yes—just as she nurtures. A mother always sacrifices…in the name of her child. So her child may live—even if she dies.

What is a daughter? Merely a relation demanded by birth…or is something more owed? There are the ties that bind us—in life and in death.”

[cauldronofevil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice cover on #6

”Batgirl Mother Part 6 of 6” has Kalden the Unseen talking to the tied up Batgirl and Lady Shiva. He tells them that Ra’s al Ghul brought violence to their peaceful people and they hid underground, under the Himalayas. Then Shiva discovered them. They welcomed her, then she stole the blue poppies from them.

Jayesh comes to rescue them but then he is killed by Big Key Lady. Nergui the Unknown. Batgirl and Shiva run.

They are certainly trying to make meaningful mother/daughter conversations. And maybe they are - I’ve never been either. But honestly they were just better done before and they’re a little disjointed her. Batgirl already knows her mother is bad. It’s hard to believe she still thinks there’s a connection. But maybe that’s how it is with family. Beats me.

They are chased and they fight a lot of Unburied ninja types.

The art and battle scenes are especially good here.

They get away and get outside to Jayesh’s motorcycle. But then Shiva decides to stay and fight. She tells Batgirl to find the Bronze Tiger and Benjamin Turner.

”Next: The Definitive History of Lady Shiva!”

Wait, I thought this was the last of a six issue mini series?

This was very weak in a lot of ways. I can see what it was going for, but it just didn’t really work for me. I’ll give it 3 stars, but I honestly don’t think it gave us anything new about Lady Shiva or Batgirl that we didn’t already know. And if we are supposed to think Shiva was killed in this issue, it’s even weaker.

So the series as a whole. #1 = 1, #2 = 3, #3 = 4, #4 = 2, #5 = 4 and #6 = 3. So the whole series is 3. Which I think is fair. Not essential Batgirl (Cassandra) but an okay read. I’m glad she’s still be written.

There is inexplicably (except for gaping lack of story in this issue) a Fire & Ice #1 preview. I know who they are but I’ve never read much of them (I did just yesterday buy JLA: A New Beginning TPB so I’ll probably run into them).

Okay, it was actually pretty cute. I might look for that one.

[Jadyn❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know how I feel about this one. I don’t know that I agree with Cass’s conclusion that a mother is owed something more than the relation of birth, especially as it doesn’t necessarily feel earned to me. Lady Shiva chooses to listen to Cass and do the right thing one time. It’s hard to feel the weight of her sacrifice when it’s hard to believe a character like Shiva ever dies. She causes Cass pain, time and time again. She shows up just to drag Cass down with her. No, I don’t think Cass owes her any more than the chances she’s already given her, but I’m not surprised that Cass continues to give her these chances. Cass is her softness, after all. In the end, I still like this issue and this arc, because I understand what that’s like.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queda la sensación de una miniserie alargada en su tesis aún siendo solo 6 entregas. Es cierto que el climax sigue funcionando en cómo hacer resonar una vez más lo profundo pero sútil de la cruda relación madre/hija de Cass y Shiva. Pero en lo referente a arquitramar una amenaza coral, Tate Brombal no ha conseguido mucho. El acto final sí que deja un buen panorama para que cualquier otro autor lo aproveche en la nueva posición de Cassandra Caín como la gran Batgirl del Universo comiquero DC actual.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright. I really love the art in this is it is absolutely beautiful how they draw Cass and the Unburied are intriguing but I can’t really get behind Shiva. Idk maybe that’s just me but yea. I don’t like that she keeps going back to her even though Cass keeps saying how much pain Shiva brings.

[Ragan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to Cassandra’s 2025-2025 batgirl solo. We get to see further characterization of both Cassandra and her mother Lady Shiva. We also get more story about this mysterious organization underground

[alejandro galvez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad its over.

The back and forth with Batgirl and Lady Shiva got stale and tiresome. Lots and lots of dialogue. It was an above average series that should have been shorter. The story was a bit lacking in substance. The art was beautiful to look at.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Fantastic end to this arc. Not gonna lie, this issue definitely had me in my feelings. Especially with the sacrifice Shiva made for Cass in the end. That got to me. Excited to see what's next for Cass.

[Yasser Maniram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story. Good art. This would have made a better Batgirl television adaptation than what we had.

[Chris Loan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still an incredible series!

[Richard A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is become one of my favorite reads and I hope they can keep up the excellent writing and art.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Joaquin · Rating 4 out of 5]

cassandra cain te amo

[Alexis Moreno · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was fine. not earned enough for me.

[nerdsiren · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What is a mother? Simply the person who birthed you?
No. Something more is owed. A mother protects. A mother teaches. She causes pain, yes-just as she nurtures. A mother always sacrifices...in the name of her child. So her child may live-even if she dies.

„What is a daughter? Merely a relation demanded by birth...or is something more owed? There are the ties that bind us—in life and in death."
❤️‍🩹

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the focus on the inner psyche of Cass. Her bond with Shiva is done SO well, I feel like it really describes the conflict that comes with an estranged parent well. Very relatable. The art is once again great. The scene with the bats? Amazing. The ending really fitting and kinda sweet.