New Lady Shiva Design, plus Confirmation on Cass' Status in the DCnU?

[espanolbot]

Looks MARGINALLY less silly than what she looked like on the previous issue.



From the Source,
“When writer Kyle Higgins needed a breather to gear up for the Joker’s monstrous return in issue #15, I turned to Tom, who pitched in on issue #0,” series editor Brian Cunningham told THE SOURCE. “I’ll just come out and say it: Tom ranks among the best ever at writing street-level heroes. And Tom really delivered with his first solo trip to Gotham, following the narrative that Kyle has developed without skipping a beat, and helping to set up the Joker arc. And it felt natural for Tom to continue exploring the character of Lady Shiva, who first appears in NIGHTWING #0."

"In this story, both Dick and Shiva have grown up some since their first encounter—they’re not teenagers anymore—so it’ll be fun to see how each fares in a fair fight. Wait, did I say fair fight? Forget it—Shiva remains by far the better fighter, so it’s up to Dick to find a way just stay alive!"


So Dick and Sandra are now the same age, ie early to mid-twenties, so by simple logic,

- Cass exists and isn't Lady Shiva's daughter, meaning a huge chunk of her backstory has been changed.

- Cass does exist, but she's a small child so she won't be appearing for many, many years in-universe.

- Cass just flat out doesn't exist anymore.
http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2012/08/08/announcing-the-guest-creative-team-for-nightwing-13-14

Comments

[mrstatham]

To be honest, Cass even being Shiva's child is a retcon of Shiva saying she had no children years beforehand. Of course, that's an easier pill to swallow than the current one, because of course a martial artist like Shiva wouldn't want to talk about the child she gave up in favour of honing her own skills more.

As it is, if they do bring Cass in - and I still think Morrison might as things progress in Batman Inc - they don't necessarily need the backstory of Shiva as a mother, which was one of those things they only hinted at right up until the end of her series. As it is, I think saying Shiva's her mother gives TOO MUCH of an explanation for her martial arts skills - I think Cain training Cass in the rather horrible manner that he did is more than enough. By depriving her of other things, he made her a superior fighter. She's meant to be unnaturally good, which to me means she doesn't need a skilled warrior of a mother; I don't think that kind of thing's hereditary anyway, is it?

It might be a huge chunk of her backstory, but I don't think it's the most vital one. Not like the stuff with Cain and her training.

[jlbarnett]

hasn't Black Bat been at least seen in Batman Inc?

Maybe they can make Cass her sister instead

[icon_uk]

Steph was seen in Batman Inc too, so it's debatable how canonical elements of it are

[okkult3000]

The worst part of Shiva's design is that the artist probably isn't even ashamed.

[icon_uk]

I'm rarely the best judge of fashion (since I like Dick Grayson's various costumes) but what exactly is there for the artist to be ashamed of?

She's an assassin, she's wearing dark clothing (but not jet black, layered grey is better for stealth) and has her skin covered, that's more practical than most assassin costumes comics have given us (Spymaster always springing to mind in such cases.

[okkult3000]

I didn't say anything about her costume. Her hair symbolizes everything wrong with DC Comics.

[daningram.insanejournal.com]

Well, it's a good idea to make Shiva young, I think. Who ever heard of an old kung-fu master?

*cough*

[icon_uk]

In fairness, whoever heard of an old martial arts master still making a living as an international, super-hero sparring, assassin?

[icon_uk]

Personally, I like the idea that there has been an anti-Grayson that he has sparred with over the years, both growing up in their respective fields. Sounds like she will be what Shrike SHOULD have been but was never properly established as, and I like that it's a Bat-foe (sort of, I know she started in Richard Dragon's title) who Dick has for himself.

And I have to say that losing the "Lady Shiva is Cass' mother" subplot (which flew in the face of a plot point in "A Death in the Family" is not something I'll lose sleep over.

[nyadnar17]

I know as a Lady Shiva fan I should be mad that she got an age downgrade, but as a Nightwing fan I am super-hype that she is going apparently part of Nightwing's rouge gallery now. If nothing else I think she will get more respect as a high end Nightwing villain than she did during her final days of the DCU.

[eyz]

....
...
just...blah...just blah...

[filthysize]

I can honestly say that I had completely forgotten that they made Shiva Cass' mom.

Yeah, I don't really care if they retcon it out. I probably forgot it because it's so inconsequential.

[mrstatham]

Again, the more important stuff to me was what we knew from the very start. The brutality of Cain's training and the fact that Cass ran away after she realised she'd killed someone. Adding Shiva into the mix just felt unnecessary, because I didn't think it was necessary that Cass had two incredibly skilled people as her parents. Bruce didn't. Tim didn't. Steph didn't.

To me, her time with Cain and the manner in which he trained her, that was what mattered the most, not the fact her mother suddenly turned out to be the best martial artist in the world.

[shadowpsykie]

to me it seemed like the only "really" important one was Cain.

now the reason being: He was there. He was the one that trained her, he is the one who made her into a weapong.

Shiva was important to her personal journey yes. but really she is the way she is (skill wise) because of david cain. and while Shiva being her mom was interesting, to me it didn't seem like a huge loss...

also.... i just noticed that Eric Notham is staring at me while licking his fingers...O_O

[aeka]

Somehow I'd have to go with Option "C" for Cass but Option "B" is also likely if the rest of the reboot is any indication. And ugh! The whole changing of origins is what I hated about the first reboot. Why does DC insist on changing everything we know and love?

[donnblake]

Do Shiva's eyes normally glow green? I don't remember that...

Also. Dat hair.

Is silly hair.

[icon_uk]

No, the glowy eyes are new, it might be this new Shiva is a metahuman, or she's using some sort of night vision contact lenses.

[eeemkaaayy]

I miss the old Lady Shiva :/

Come. The Fuck. ON!

[big_daddy_d]

Seriously, what is the point in making Shiva that same age as Dick? Unless Cass grew up in a tube like Damian, "Option C" seems way more likely and that pisses me off. I swear, Marvel and DC reminds me of how pro wrestling companies sometimes insult the intelligence of fans by ignoring what they like and want and trying to tell them what they want.

Re: Come. The Fuck. ON!

[aeka]

Your gif is absolutely perfect and sums up all of my feels with regards to this retcon. ♥

Also, I completely agree with this. All of this.

Re: Come. The Fuck. ON!

[icon_uk]

To break the fairly pointlessly retconned-in link between Cass and Shiva?

CALL THE FASHION POLICE!

[blue_bolt]

Two words, just two words.

That.
Hair.

[bariman]

I must assume that her hair-flail is not actually her real hair, but in fact some sort of detachable secret ninja weapon. Because that would be too silly to be anything but.

[kraesil]

Shiva: Yes, putting spikes in an attempt to look more Viking-y in your waaaaaaay overlong hair is a good idea. And you have an anchor at the end of it. How is that not a health hazard to yourself?

Um, hey. LEFT FOOT. DO YOU HAVE TO KEEP POINTY TOEING ON ACCOUNT OF YOUR FOOTWEAR.

[ap0cryphal]

Oh god now I can't unsee it. The moment Shiva stands flatfoot, her ankle's busted. As in pierced with

Not even going into the hair flail, because that's just dumb and terrible design ruining an otherwise bland super-ninja-assassin costume.

but still OH GOD HOW DOES SHE WALK WITH THAT METAL THING ON HER FOOT

[runespoor]

DC Comics: where women can't be over 30. Or overweight. Or disabled.

Hey guys, isn't this new ~diversity thing soooooo awesome?