One Powerful DC Villain Understands Bruce Wayne Better Than the Bat-Family

Summary In Detective Comics #1084, Cassandra Cain's mother, the assassin Lady Shiva, offers a unique perspective on how the current Batgirl can honor Batman in his absence, at a time when he is believed to have been killed.

Lady Shiva's deep understanding of Batman's wishes for Cassandra prove, in a roundabout way, that she shouldn't be underestimated as an antagonist – even as she uses her powers of perception and keen psychological insight in this case to comfort her daughter.

Detective Comics #1084 marks Batman's return to Gotham, though not before exploring how Batgirl coped in his absence, and using his alleged death to give DC readers a fascinating moment between Cain and her mother, Shiva.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Detective Comics #1084!!

Batman's extensive gallery of villains are always ready for a fight, but one DC villain knows the Caped Crusader even better than his family. As Batgirl mourns Bruce's (supposed) death in her unique way, she's redirected by an unlikely source. Lady Shiva sees how sloppy grief is making her daughter, and tells Cassandra exactly what Batman would want instead, and her interference is as heartwarming as it is surprising.

Detective Comics #1084 marks Batman's return to Gotham after the Orghams engineered his death and began purging all memory of him, while also offering a glimpse into how Cassandra Cain, aka Batgirl, coped in his absence.

She's shown confronting her mother, Lady Shiva, though Cass doesn't arrive in her typical stealthy fashion. Instead, in her grief, she is fighting more like Batman than herself. After a brief fight, Shiva's final words offer a clear understanding of Batman, as she tells Cass that she can honor him by being "that which he wished [her] to be."

Related "The Most Proficient Killer on Earth": DC Officially Replaces Lady Shiva As Its Deadliest Person Alive DC finally confirms that the only person who could surpass Lady Shiva as the deadliest assassin in the DC Universe is the person who trained her.

Lady Shiva Offers Cassandra Cain Some Keen Insight Into Batman

Detective Comics #1084 – By Ram V., Javier Fernández, Dave McCaig, & Ariana Maher

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[Shiva] "read" [Batman] well enough to see what he would want for Cassandra in his absence, and knows he wouldn't want her to replace him, but to be the best version of herself that he always knew she could be.

Lady Shiva is among the deadliest villains in the DC Universe. She is often hailed as the best martial artist in the world, and has bested fighters no one else could hope to defeat. Her prowess comes mainly from her unique "language", which has allowed her to completely master body signals, in order to "read" the tiniest fragments of information from others. Cassandra Cain shares this language with her mother, though she sometimes loses touch with it when she's going through a period of high emotion – like the grief she feels for Batman in Detective Comics #1084.

Shiva sees what her daughter is doing, and is able to work with what she knows about Cassandra and her adoptive father. The villain respects her daughter's dedication to Batman, and on some level finds him worthy of the devotion. She has "read" him well enough to see what he would want for Cassandra in his absence, and knows he wouldn't want her to replace him, but to be the best version of herself that he always knew she could be. Not many can claim to understand Batman, let alone speak for him, yet Shiva's observation is starkly accurate.

Shiva is one of the most prolific assassins in the world, but can use her incredible talent for good when she sees fit.

Shiva Understands Batman Better Than His Closest Allies

Batman's Legacy Isn't Lost In "Death"

Lady Shiva, or Sandra Wu-san, has long been known have a superhuman sense of observation, but her willingness to use it for comfort is new. Shiva is one of the most prolific assassins in the world, but can use her incredible talent for good when she sees fit. While it would be bad news for Bruce if she chose to fight him relentlessly, her current interest lies in protecting her daughter, who happens to love Batman like a father, in her own strange way. Lady Shiva demonstrated her deep understanding of Batman to make his death easier for Batgirl, but it proves she shouldn't be underestimated.

Detective Comics #1084 is available now from DC Comics.

DETECTIVE COMICS #1084 (2024) Writer: Ram V.

Artist: Javier Fernández

Colorist: Dave McCaig

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artist: Evan Cagle