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Batgirl (2000) - Original TPBs
Batgirl, Volume 4: Fists of Fury
Volume four in this outstanding and innovative new Titan series continues the incredible evolution of the new Batgirl, Cassandra Cain - the successor to original Batgirl Barbara Gordon. Having been brought back from the dead and fought demigoddess Shiva to a standstill in a bitter, savage brawl, Batgirl is beyond exhaustion.
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2004
4 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Kelley Puckett
249 books40 followersKelley Puckett is a comic book writer. He is the creator of the character Cassandra Cain, the Batgirl who succeeded Barbara Gordon and who was succeeded herself by Stephanie Brown, as well as the second Green Arrow, Connor Hawke.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 11, 2019
This collection weaves together a number of different Batgirl/Spoiler adventures, but mostly focuses on the aftermath of Batgirl's fight with Lady Shiva and the ongoing manhunt for Bruce Wayne, accused of murder. It's interesting to see what the two girls have in common, as well as what sets them apart, and see the ways Spoiler deals with her excellent but exasperating new teammate--by being driven to do better, even if she knows she'll never be the fighter Batgirl is.
January 30, 2018
This book collects Issues 15, 16, 21, and 26-28 of Batgirl with Cassandra Cain. The first three issues were cut from the previous book so Volume 3 could conclude with her mother Shiva.
Issue 15 finds her seemingly help Batman take on the Joker after some random murders. This is somewhat deceptive and for it to be sold that way with references to a fight with the Joker on the back cover is a bit deceptive.
Issue 16 finds a little boy appealing to Batgirl to stop her Dad from hurting someone in a crime. It's a good story and also shows her growth as a character and her compassion.
Issue 21 is a tie in to a story where the Joker has turned criminals out and set them on a rampage and Oracle has Batgirl and Spoiler stay inside for safety but Batgirl has to go into action against Shadow Thief. It's a solid issue that shows how cool she is.
Issue 26 has her worn out by her battle with Shiva and someone needs to go back to the temple of Shiva. It's a Spoiler story with her imaging Batgirl with her. It's an okay story.
Issue 27 is a story that ties into Bruce ayne being wanted for murder. Batman tries to get her to beg off, but she looks into it on her own with a method that no one else would use.
Issue 28 saw Spoiler wanting to train with Cassandra and a guy's coming after Cassandra with robots because.
Overall, I liked the book, but it feels very disconnected. If you were reading this when it first came out along with all the other Batbooks, you might have gotten it, but we have up to three crossovers involved in this book. Issue 28's ending is due something that was going on in Robin's book that we don't know about. A really good comic book should mostly be able to stand on its own. Yet, I feel like I'm missing something just reading Batgirl.
It's a shame because she's a great character. She does grow in this book as a person. She is unpredictable both in battle as well as how she navigates life. She's fun to read and I can only hope that other books give her a more independent storyline.
Issue 15 finds her seemingly help Batman take on the Joker after some random murders. This is somewhat deceptive and for it to be sold that way with references to a fight with the Joker on the back cover is a bit deceptive.
Issue 16 finds a little boy appealing to Batgirl to stop her Dad from hurting someone in a crime. It's a good story and also shows her growth as a character and her compassion.
Issue 21 is a tie in to a story where the Joker has turned criminals out and set them on a rampage and Oracle has Batgirl and Spoiler stay inside for safety but Batgirl has to go into action against Shadow Thief. It's a solid issue that shows how cool she is.
Issue 26 has her worn out by her battle with Shiva and someone needs to go back to the temple of Shiva. It's a Spoiler story with her imaging Batgirl with her. It's an okay story.
Issue 27 is a story that ties into Bruce ayne being wanted for murder. Batman tries to get her to beg off, but she looks into it on her own with a method that no one else would use.
Issue 28 saw Spoiler wanting to train with Cassandra and a guy's coming after Cassandra with robots because.
Overall, I liked the book, but it feels very disconnected. If you were reading this when it first came out along with all the other Batbooks, you might have gotten it, but we have up to three crossovers involved in this book. Issue 28's ending is due something that was going on in Robin's book that we don't know about. A really good comic book should mostly be able to stand on its own. Yet, I feel like I'm missing something just reading Batgirl.
It's a shame because she's a great character. She does grow in this book as a person. She is unpredictable both in battle as well as how she navigates life. She's fun to read and I can only hope that other books give her a more independent storyline.
March 27, 2019
Batgirl: Fist of Fury picks up where the previous volume left off, collecting six issues (Batgirl #15–16, 21, and 26-28) of the 2000 on-going series.
Cassandra Cain as Batgirl faces the deadliest of Gotham's villains, The Joker, who gets the last laugh when Batgirl and Spoiler must also defeat a jokerized Shadow Thief. Afterwards, Lady Shiva gave Batgirl a year to train and get better and continue their death-match. Stephanie Brown as Spoiler and Barbara Gordon as Oracle features heavily in this trade paperback with cameo appears of Bruce Wayne as Batman, Dick Grayson as Nightwing, and Tim Drake as Robin, albeit only the first has any interaction with Cassandra Cain.
With the exception of one issue written by Scott Peterson (Batgirl #26), Kelley Puckett penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well, the first part deals with the Joker and the second half deals with Lady Shiva, but most of it deals with the relationship between Cassandra Cain as Batgirl with Stephanie Brown as Spoiler and Barbara Gordon as Oracle. There were two issues that were tie-ins to an multi-series event included in this trade paperback Joker: The Last Laugh (Batgirl #21) and Bruce Wayne: Fugitive (Batman #27), while decent as a one-shot, it was difficult to discerned the greater plot of these events from these issues.
Damion Scott (Batgirl #15–16, 21, and 28), Vincent Giarrano and Phil Noto (Batgirl #26 and 27 respectively) penciled the trade paperback. For the most part, the penciling style meshed well with each other, making the flow of the trade paperback rather smooth. However, it could be a tad too cartoonish for my taste at times, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the narrative.
All in all, Batgirl: Fist of Fury is a wonderful continuation to what would hopefully be an equally wonderful series.
Cassandra Cain as Batgirl faces the deadliest of Gotham's villains, The Joker, who gets the last laugh when Batgirl and Spoiler must also defeat a jokerized Shadow Thief. Afterwards, Lady Shiva gave Batgirl a year to train and get better and continue their death-match. Stephanie Brown as Spoiler and Barbara Gordon as Oracle features heavily in this trade paperback with cameo appears of Bruce Wayne as Batman, Dick Grayson as Nightwing, and Tim Drake as Robin, albeit only the first has any interaction with Cassandra Cain.
With the exception of one issue written by Scott Peterson (Batgirl #26), Kelley Puckett penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well, the first part deals with the Joker and the second half deals with Lady Shiva, but most of it deals with the relationship between Cassandra Cain as Batgirl with Stephanie Brown as Spoiler and Barbara Gordon as Oracle. There were two issues that were tie-ins to an multi-series event included in this trade paperback Joker: The Last Laugh (Batgirl #21) and Bruce Wayne: Fugitive (Batman #27), while decent as a one-shot, it was difficult to discerned the greater plot of these events from these issues.
Damion Scott (Batgirl #15–16, 21, and 28), Vincent Giarrano and Phil Noto (Batgirl #26 and 27 respectively) penciled the trade paperback. For the most part, the penciling style meshed well with each other, making the flow of the trade paperback rather smooth. However, it could be a tad too cartoonish for my taste at times, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the narrative.
All in all, Batgirl: Fist of Fury is a wonderful continuation to what would hopefully be an equally wonderful series.
November 23, 2025
Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) has just defeated Batman level martial artist Lady Shiva and is exhausted. However when Batman's alter-ego, Bruce Wayne, is accused of murder rest looks unlikely any time soon!
This is a mix of adventures, heavily featuring Spoiler and Oracle. This adds to a great dynamic between the three, as former, present and wannabe batgirls work together. With low dialogue this not only works for Cassandra's back story of being non-verbal (for most of her life) to adding to the action heavy orientation of the stories. Cass and Steph's friendship is particularly well portrayed as they train each other in their different arenas.
While there is a fair amount going on in the periphery of the book the central story is strong with Puckett and Peterson having a great handle on the main cast and lore, ably supported with stylistic art of Scott, Noto and others that blend well together.
This is a mix of adventures, heavily featuring Spoiler and Oracle. This adds to a great dynamic between the three, as former, present and wannabe batgirls work together. With low dialogue this not only works for Cassandra's back story of being non-verbal (for most of her life) to adding to the action heavy orientation of the stories. Cass and Steph's friendship is particularly well portrayed as they train each other in their different arenas.
While there is a fair amount going on in the periphery of the book the central story is strong with Puckett and Peterson having a great handle on the main cast and lore, ably supported with stylistic art of Scott, Noto and others that blend well together.
August 31, 2022
Mostly fight vignettes and I feel like I’m missing part of a Batman story… I liked the relationship with Batgirl and Spoiler. Sad to see that coming to an end. It humanized the character a little more and was nice to see her have a life outside of crime fighting.
Just realizing I read this out of order so that’s probably why I was so confused with the Batman storyline… haha
Just realizing I read this out of order so that’s probably why I was so confused with the Batman storyline… haha
June 11, 2017
Not as good as I had hoped. Spectacular art but mediocre stories with average villains and even less story development than I would expect from a collection of comics that are supposed to be in order.
April 5, 2019
Not much story. I actually thought graphic novels contained the complete story. I should have read several before and after so while the story line was somewhat intriguing, I will probably never finish this story line. So I was disappointed in this graphic novel.
December 14, 2025
i guess this is the end of puckett’s run 🥹 it definitely ranks among my fave superhero comics ever. to end w an issue on cassandra’s relationship w her father felt very meaningful. i’m hopeful the last volumes will be as good, but i’m really not sure how they can be…
August 31, 2017
An improvement over the last collection but not by a huge amount.
March 12, 2018
Some loose threads but it was good.
May 4, 2018
combining the jumpy and dicey story events with scattered and jumbled design format, I had absolutely no idea what was going on. I couldn't even enjoy reading it
August 24, 2018
ive seen the light and that light is stephcass
May 19, 2021
A nice collection of issues. I enjoyed Stephanie and Cass bonding.
August 7, 2025
STEPHCASS 😭😭❤️❤️ i miss reading batgirl I almost cried re-reading it, I'm so glad i was lucky to come across this volume and bought it for like.. 2€..??? I LOVE THIS RUN SO FUCKING MUCH UGHHHHHHH
February 24, 2026
Guys Bruce obvi didn’t do it
January 23, 2012
The only thing that ever bums me out about these graphic novels is their frenetic--borderline erratic--pace. Sometimes the shift from one panel to the next is abrupt and confusing, as well as from storyline to storyline. Or, in this case, Joker is introduced as having broken everyone out from Arkham in order to kill everyone. But Batgirl just fights a guy who wants to prove himself. What?!
The main reason this gets 3 stars instead of 2 is that Stephanie Brown is brought in (in the last volume) and this shows her growing relationship with Cassandra Cain. I appreciated that, and they have some pretty great moments.
The main reason this gets 3 stars instead of 2 is that Stephanie Brown is brought in (in the last volume) and this shows her growing relationship with Cassandra Cain. I appreciated that, and they have some pretty great moments.
January 31, 2010
A few well written one shot issues and a few Spoiler heavy ones. I don't mean they will tell you too much about other things taking place in DCU, I mean Batgirl makes friends with Stephanie. Steph is then angry, unthinking, and not great at fighting. Spoiler just gets the bad end of the stick a lot of the time. For instance, when comparing their childhoods with their respective abusive fathers, Spoiler confesses that the Cluemaster used to lock her in the closet when he was angry. When Cain was angry with Batgirl, of course, he use to shoot her.
July 23, 2010
I was looking through the teen books at the library and decided to take home a superhero graphic novel. I have read graphic novels sporadically before but have never really pulled from the superhero selections.
In honor of Batgirl being a librarian I picked this volume, but this batgirl is not the Barbra Gordon that I remember from my childhood. This is a young, kick-ass Batgirl who can take care of things on her own and is never the damsel in distress.
In honor of Batgirl being a librarian I picked this volume, but this batgirl is not the Barbra Gordon that I remember from my childhood. This is a young, kick-ass Batgirl who can take care of things on her own and is never the damsel in distress.
July 6, 2012
A much better offering than its predecessor. Kelley Puckett does a much better job of showing the innocence and also terror that Cassandra possesses in her soul. The plot was fun and had some twists. Spoiler works so well with Batgirl that those two playing off each other is fantastic. I still don’t like the art at all but not so much to dislike the book. Overall a very good book.
January 17, 2013
This is my least favorite piece featuring Cass Cain so far. It had it's moments especially with developing Stephanie Brown as a companion. But other than that, there seemed to be random fight sequence with very little meaning to them. It proved Cass Cain as the best, but we've already seen her in action.
June 6, 2013
Stephanie Brown is my girl. I first met her as Batgirl in 2011, when I first got into comics. (We do not talk about what happened in September 2011.) So I was pleased to see her pop up in this trade in her Spoiler identity. I love her relationship with Cass, and I've come to love Cass almost as much as I love Steph. I miss them boty, and DC should bring them back.
May 31, 2015
Part of my massive Barbara Gordon Re-read which I had a glorious amazing time with. The art in the early Batgirl stuff was very touch and go to me, which made me wince a while reading through it, but I definitely appreciated the beginning of Cass' story, and Bab's involvement in that with Cass and with/against Bruce.
February 27, 2018
Maybe I wasn't into this because it's volume 4?
June 10, 2014
Didn't realize that I was reading the fourth volume and not the first, but the character development just wasn't there for me.
December 17, 2014
The artwork continues to be impressive in this volume. The fights are engaging and clear. The story will work well even for those who aren't very familiar with Batgirl.
July 28, 2018
Pretty neat like the previous one. Tons of action and less talk. Really do like Cassie. C+
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews