Summary
One of my many, many favorite parts of DC’sBirds of Preyrevival has been the instantaneous friendship that has sprung up betweenBig BardaandCassandra Cain: two characters who have long struggled to connect with others. While every hero on the team is worthy of praise, my own struggle to connect with my peers makes the Barda/Cass dynamic particularly noteworthy to me.
One doesn’t have to go far to notice the bond between Barda and Cassandra; as early asBirds of Prey#1 by Kelly Thompson and Leonardo Romero, Barda affectionately calls Cassandra “little bat” as they brawl together against a horde of vampires. It’s not untilBirds of Prey#10 by Thompson, Robbi Rodriguez, and Gavin Guidry, however, that the strength of their bond is fully shown when Barda becomes possessed by an evil entity.
Cassandra stands before Barda and reminds her of who she is instead of running, placing her full faithin the New God. Cassandra’s impassioned speech is the only thing that empowers Barda to break free from being possessed.
“The Beefcake Is Bad, Barda”: This Hilarious Birds of Prey Fight Scene Takes on a Controversial Trope
The Birds of Prey turn the male gaze on its head in this fashion-packed undercover operation that sees them taking on mind-controlled male models.
Cassandra Cain and Big Barda’s Friendship Is My Favorite Part ofBirds of Prey
Cassandra Cain Created by Kelley Puckett and Damion Scott; Big Barda Created by Jack Kirby
Big Barda and Cassandra Cain share a common background despite coming from, quite literally, different worlds. Raised on Apokolips as a Female Fury,Big Barda knew only warand violence until she escaped Apokolips with Mister Miracle. Likewise, Cassandra Cain was raised as a living weapon, taught to parse the most minute aspects of body language — but never to read or write. Cassandra’s slow emergence from her shell through the love of her found Bat-Family — especially duringher time as Batgirl— is one of the best character arcs from DC’s history and makes her a much-beloved character.
Ngozi Ukazu’s original graphic novelBardais an excellent primer on the character, conveying the deep emotional strength behind the warrior in a way that condenses Jack Kirby’s New Gods universe into a story appropriate for all ages; I highly recommend it as a way for new readers to familiarize themselves with the character.
Speech and communication separate Barda and Cassandra from the rest of the Birds. Barda is very literal-minded in this series, speaking in short, declarative bursts and prone to misunderstandings; likewise, Cassandra has always struggled with speech and making herself known. As someone who has likewise struggled to socialize, I get how ostracizing it can be when trying to join a conversation only to be met with silence — or worse, blank stares. Processing differently can make things very lonely, and when I was small, I quickly grew to prefer the company of books and comics to my peers.
The story “Sounds” by Mariko Tamaki, Marcus To, Sebastian Cheng, Janice Chiang fromDC Festival of Heroes: The Asian Superhero Celebration#1 manages to encapsulate Cassandra’s triumph in a mere ten pages. It’s a story I cannot recommend enough.
Birds of Prey#8 Main Cover by Leonardo Romero
I love how Barda and Cassandra immediately “click” with each other; not only do they deserve to have someone they can relate to, but it gives me hope that one day I will find my people, too. I want to emphasize how Cassandra and Barda’s ability to communicate with each other is what sets Barda free in issue #10 - proof that having even just one person who understands you makes a world of difference.Cassandra CainandBig Bardaare kindred spirits who are finally united, and watching them persevere together in each new issue ofBirds of Preyalways makes me smile.
