Spoiler, Orphan Learn About Their Pre-Flashpoint Lives

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for Detective Comics #980 by James Tynion IV, Scot Eaton and Wayne Faucher, on sale now.

As seen last issue, Tim Drake has been consumed by the OMAC nanotech, becoming a new, Batman-looking Brother Eye, yet still claiming to be in control of his decisions. The first of these actions was to create a horrific new incarnation of The Belfry in the heart of Gotham to serve as the new headquarters for his, or Brother Eye's, base of operations. In James Tynion IV, Scot Eaton and Wayne Faucher's Detective Comics #980, Batman, Orphan and the newly rejoined Spoiler have infiltrated The Belfry 2.0, in order to try and stop Tim/Brother Eye's machinations.

In doing so, revelations by Tim himself regarding some familiar past incarnations for Orphan and Spoiler just might play a part in his defeat. Those revelations? That both had adopted the role of Batgirl at one point in an alternate reality – an alternate reality that's actually the very familiar pre-Flashpoint era.

Welcome to Rebirth, Batgirl(s)

As Batman fends off an OMAC'd Azrael and Batwing, it's up to Stephanie and Cassandra to find a way to stop Tim. With Cassie largely serving in a protective capacity, Stephanie deduces a way to possibly cut the connection between Tim and Brother Eye. Stephanie recognizes the new Belfry's futuristic technology as Tim's, and therefore confidently concludes she can quickly reverse-engineer his tech to defeat him. Apparently striking a nerve with Tim, despite his Brother Eye upgrade, the former Red Robin attempts to lessen Stephanie's confidence by reminding her of her fragile standing within the Bat-family.

Tim's masterstroke is to show both Stephanie and Cassie what they could have become, or more precisely, what they did become in another reality. Tim provides images of both women in their respective identities of Batgirl – identities neither have adopted within the confines of either Rebirth or the "New 52," but instead within the longstanding pre-Flashpoint continuity. The mention is the first time either incarnation has been referenced post-Flashpoint.

The point of Tim's emotional manipulation is to weaken the resolve of both, but in Stephanie's case, the move only galvanizes her. Long considering herself a sort of outcast from the Bat-family, Stephanie's self-realization instead strengthens her with the knowledge that she does indeed have the potential to wear the symbol of the Bat. As she pulls the trigger on her plan to sever Tim's connection to Brother Eye, the issue concludes not with her confidence shattered, but with her instead stronger than ever.

Cassie, too, is impacted by the image of her as an alternate version of Batgirl. Noting that she also sports the Bat-symbol in this holographic image, she is seemingly surprised that by the notion that Batman allowed her the honor of bearing the symbol. The full impact on her remains to be seen, but in light of her recent uncertainties regarding the symbol's meaning, the revelation stands to also potentially cement her place within the Bat-family.

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The Long, Strange Trip of Batgirl

Stephanie had given up her identity as Spoiler and assumed the role of Batgirl in the wake of Final Crisis, after the apparent death of Batman. She maintained this role right up until DC Comics relaunched its entire publishing line with its "New 52" initiative. Batgirl was among the titles the publisher restarted, but Barbara Gordon was shown to have returned to the role at that point, with Stephanie having no presence at all in the new continuity until several years down the line.

Pre-Flashpoint, prior to becoming Spoiler, Stephanie took on the role of Robin for a short time. This storyline led to a controversial arc involving her apparent death, albeit one that was later revealed to be staged. Her time as Robin is also acknowledged via Tim's images for the first time in Rebirth continuity.

A decade before Stephanie became Batgirl, though, Cassandra had first taken on that role – the first to do so since Barbara Gordon's incarnation of the character was retired. Cassie held onto that identity for several years, before relinquishing it and putting the character on hiatus, to eventually be picked up by Stephanie. Cassie's time as Batgirl has also gone unmentioned in Rebirth, up to this point.

Rise of the Batgirls?

Rebirth already has a Batgirl, and Barbara Gordon seems pretty comfortable in her return to the role. Her character, in fact, recently played a brief albeit major part in Tynion's previous arc. It doesn't appear that she's going anywhere soon, indicating the unlikelihood that either Steph or Cassie will again take on that identity. Still, it's Rebirth – the continuity with two Wally Wests and three reported Jokers – so the idea of a return can't be completely ruled out.

If either of the two were to take on the mantle alongside Barbara, it would probably be Cassie – "Orphan" just doesn't evoke the name of a hero who should rightfully and formally be welcomed into the Bat-family. Although, neither does "Spoiler," but at least that moniker has historical meaning – especially if she spoils Tim's plans.

The issue's cover, by Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez and Brad Anderson, though, seems to portend some kind of future for Steph and Cassie with the word "Bat" in their names. Or, the image might simply serve as a subtle hint as to the revelations contained within Tynion's story.

Detective Comics #981 – the final chapter in "Batmen Eternal," teased as "Rise of the Batmen" and Tynion's final issue of his run – goes on sale May 23.