History ComicBook / ShadowOfTheBatgirl

Published under DC Comics' DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults imprint, the novel is retelling of Cassandra Cain's origin for new audiences. Once a trained killer under her father, Cassandra turns his back on him after her latest killing causes her to have a change of heart. Having nowhere to go, she takes up residence in Gotham Library and makes new friends as she seeks to learn about Gotham's vanished hero, Batgirl. However, once she sees her father on the move, Cass decides that if she's going to protect her new friends and home, she will have to become a hero herself, even if that means having to face her own self-doubts.

* ParentalSubstitute: Barbara to Cass as in the main universe, but also Jackie towards her as well. Indeed, as Jackie essentially provides food, a bath,clothing, and [[spoiler:by the end an actual home for Cass]], she is likely a more direct example here then Barbara is.

Published under DC Comics’ DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults imprint, the novel is retelling of Cassandra Cain’s origin for new audiences. Once a trained killer under her father, Cassandra turns his back on him after her latest killing causes her to have a change of heart. Having nowhere to go, she takes up residence in Gotham Library and makes new friends as she seeks to learn about Gotham’s vanished hero, Batgirl. But, once she sees her father on the move, Cass decides that if she’s going to protect her new friends and home, she will have to become a hero herself, even if that means having to face her own self-doubts.

* AdaptationalNiceGuy:Barbara is much kinder and more patient with Cass this time around, and has had much of her abrasiveness made to be non-existent.

* AdaptationalVillainy:Cass in this universe has killed several times before her redemption, and only stopped, and initiated her redemption, because she heard her last victim say the word “daughter”. This is in contrast to her mainline counterpart who stopped killing after the experience of her first kill was extremely unpleasant for her.

* CoolOldLady:Jacqueline is this as while she’s an older woman, she knows how to fight and immediately gives free food to Cass after she finds her eating garbage. Later on, Jacqueline hands down her old, but really fashionable, clothing to Cass, gives her advice, and [[spoiler:even takes her in by the end. Jackie is also good friends with Barbara and even knows the latter’s former identity as Batgirl. She's even cool enough to directly join Barbara and Cassandra in fighting Gotham's latest crime wave]].

* MissingMom: While Cass’s mother is not shown in the book, she's implied to still be Lady Shiva as while Cass doesn’t know much about her, she does know that she likely isn’t a good person. Though on the positive side, the Japanese-American Jackie is able to deduce that Cass, through her mother, is Chinese-American and uses their shared Asian heritage to connect with Cass.

* TykeBomb:As in the main universe, this is Cass’s origin, and much of the story is about her trying to grow out of that role and be a hero. She actually spends much of the novel trying to resist the impulse to kill that was forced into her by her father. Whether it be resisting to kill a mouse or trying to avoid hurting those who try to touch her, even though her instincts tell her to respond violently.

* LighterAndSofter: Almost literally thanks to the art style, which has much brighter colors and cartoonier character and set designs compared to Cass’s original comics. This can be especially seen when one compares Cass’s costumes here, compared to what she has worn in the original universe.

* CoolOldLady:Jacqueline is this as while she’s an older woman, she knows how to fight and immediately gives free food to Cass after she finds her eating garbage. Later on, Jacqueline hands down her old, but really fashionable, clothing to Cass, gives her advice, and [[spoiler:even takes her in by the end. Jackie is also good friends with Barbara and even knows the latter’s former identity as Batgirl]].

* AdaptationalEarlyAppearance: Barbara’s Batgirl outfit is shown to be the Burnside version of her outfit which she wore Post-Flashpoint after her initial (and more traditional) suit had been destroyed. But, the Burnside costume only appeared after in-universe years of Barbara having been Batgirl, then Oracle, and back to Batgirl again. Here, Barbara Burnside outfit shown to be what she wore prior towards becoming Oracle, instead of the other way around.

* CoolOldLady:Jacqueline is this as while she’s an older woman, she knows how to fight and immediately gives free food to Cass after she finds her eating garbage. Later on, Jacqueline hands down her old, but really fashionable, clothing to Cass, gives her advice, and even takes her in by the end. Jackie is also good friends with Barbara and even knows the latter’s former identity as Batgirl.

* FirstKiss: Cassandra has hers with Erik in the book.

* AndTheAdventureContinues: The book ends with Cass taking up the mantle of Batgirl and fighting crime alongside Barbara (in the role of Oracle) and Jacqueline.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Cass has this reaction after breaking Erik’s arm after she mistook him for one of her father’s henchmen.
* ParentalSubstitute: Barbara to Cass as in the main universe, but also Jackie towards her as well. Indeed, as Jackie essentially provides food, a bath,clothing, and by the end an actual home for Cass, she is likely a more direct example here then Barbara is.

* AbledintheAdaptation: Cass’s initial inability to speak is presented here as less of a neurological impairment, so much as simply her lacking the education and language exposure to speak and read. Once she starts hearing people speak and attending Barbara’s reading classes, Cass picks up both skills rather quickly.