She’s one of a long list of Cassandras in DC Comics. Cassandra Cain is known for a lot of things, but this year, she’ll be making her big screen debut in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).
Cassandra Cain is an ally of the Bat-family. She might be lesser known than Barbara Gordon or Dick Grayson, but she also packs a punch. She was born to assassins and is taken in by the world’s greatest detective to become an expert in reading body language.
FULL NAME: Cassandra Cain
NICKNAME(S): Cass (Birds of Prey movie)
ALIAS(ES):
- Cassandra Wayne
- Batgirl
- Kasumi
- Black Bat
- Orphan
COMIC BOOK FRANCHISE: DC Comics
CREATOR(S): Kelley Puckett and Damion Scott
FIRST APPEARANCE(S):
- Cassandra Cain – Batman #567 (July 1999)
- Batgirl – Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #120 (August 1999)
- Kasumi – Justice League Elite #1 (September 2004)
- Black Bat – Batman Incorporated #6 (May 2011)
- Orphan – Batman & Robin Eternal #26 (March 2016)
ALLIES:
- Birds of Prey (Birds of Prey movie)
- Young Justice
- Bat Family
- Outsiders
- Justice League Elite
- League of Assassins
- Titans East
- The Spoiler
- Justice League
- Batman Incorporated
POWERS/ABILITIES:
- Highly skilled martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant
- Able to read body language and anticipate opponents’ actions
FAMILY:
- David Cain (father)
- Sandra Wu-San/Lady Shiva (mother)
FRIEND(S):
- Barbara Gordon
- Conner Kent
- Bruce Wayne
- Tim Drake
- Rose Wilson
TEAM(S):
- Birds of Prey (Birds of Prey movie)
- Young Justice
- Bat Family
- Outsiders
- Justice League Elite
- League of Assassins
- Titans East
- The Spoiler
- Justice League
- Batman Incorporated
BIOGRAPHY
Cassandra Cain was born to David Cain and his lover, Sandra Wu-San to be the perfect bodyguard for Ra’s al Ghul. Cain murdered Sandra’s sister, Carolyn because he felt he was holding her back. He spared her life in exchange for birthing his child. After their daughter’s birth, Sandra became Lady Shiva.
From birth, Cassandra was taught to be an assassin by her father. She was not taught to read or write but was taught to read body language as her only form of communication.
PAST MEDIA APPEARANCES
Cassandra Cain has appeared on television in both animation and live-action.
She appeared in the Justice League Season 1 finale “The Savage Time”.
Cassandra has also appeared in various video games.
RECENT MEDIA APPEARANCES
A male version of Orphan appeared in the Batman origin series, Gotham.
Cassandra Cain also appeared the third season of Young Justice entitled Outsiders as Orphan.
Cassandra will make her cinematic debut in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).
PORTRAYALS – LIVE ACTION
Cassandra Cain will be portrayed by Ella Jay Basco in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emanipation of One Harley Quinn).
PORTRAYALS – ANIMATION
As the character is normally mute, she does, she appears but does not speak when she appears in Young Justice.
