Mirror of the Bat

See what I did there? See, I combined Mirror’s Edge with Shadow of the Bat, and the only other option was Shadow of the Edge, and this isn’t an article about the Shadow the Hedgehog game, so that was out of the question.

Anywho, did anybody order a conspiracy theory?

Yes? Great! So, I was looking at a render of Faith in Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst earlier:

Render done by Amia2172 on deviantART, by the way, so check his account out, it’s great.

Back on track, however, I couldn’t help but notice I’d seen basically that exact face somewhere else. It took me a while to realize: That’s Lady Shiva (Or, Sandra Wusan, if we’re going by her real name). From Arkham Origins.

Well, in the concept art, anyway, in-game she looks like a completely different person, which is just the start of what that game did wrong with Shiva, but that’s a discussion for another time. For now, however, let’s look at Shiva and Faith’s similarities! Exhibit A: the eyes.

Take note that while their eyes point in the same direction, Faith’s eyes are slightly taller. Now, whether or not this has to do with the fact that Sandra’s scowling is up to debate. Also worthy of note is the difference in eye color. But now that we’ve covered the eyes, let’s move onto exhibit B: the noses.

Now, there isn’t much to say on this, as they are noses, but note that they have the same long, narrow quality to them. Once again, Faith is only slightly off from Sandra’s. Next is the mouth

Upon observation, we see that each lip is approximately the same size in terms of height, however, Sandra’s mouth is slightly wider than Faith’s. Finally, (aside from having the exact same haircut, which shows some kind of like-mind, even if you don’t believe fashion sense to be hereditary) I want you to look at an outline of Sandra’s outer face and jaw.

Now, look at that exact same mold, applied with no changes, save for angle, to Faith’s face.

Now, I can’t exactly compensate for the fact that they’re facing slightly different angles, but you’ll notice it’s almost a perfect fit.

So, where am I going with this? Consider if you will that Faith is half-Asian.

Lady Shiva’s actual daughter is also half Asian.

Now, in the interest of playing Devil’s Advocate, Erika Connors (you know, Faith’s mom) is presumably Japanese, or at least according to the Mirror’s Edge Wiki entry, but the thing is, that doesn’t matter for what I’m getting ready to throw your way.

in actual DC continuity, Lady Shiva (who is Chinese by the way) had a daughter with master assassin David Cain, in a series of events that basically ended in a proposition of “bear my child or die”, and we’re gonna just jump past the uncomfortable part of that little situation, and move to the important part. After the child was born, Shiva’s part of the deal was over, and she went off to fight people around the world, which left her daughter with David. Now, as comic fans are so accustomed to, I’m going to ask you to envision a different universe. One where things went a little differently. Now, let’s go a little further, and say this is the Arkhamverse, which houses the Batman: Arkham games.

In this universe, Sandra’s daughter was still born, but under different circumstances (much in the same way that Sandra’s sister dies in two different continuities, but in much different fashions, or how Damian Wayne was born in New Earth, and Prime Earth continuities, but in slightly different fashions). In this world, Sandra has a child with a man while she is in America. As those who played Arkham Origins will remember, however, she was a part of the League of Assassins (a member of which may have even been the father of her child), and they had a goal of cleansing the Earth of sinful people. Shiva, in a moment of what was perhaps weakness, or clarity, or some other kind of emotion she has yet to truly come to terms with, decided that this wasn’t the life she wanted for her daughter, and gave her up for adoption. That she doesn’t entirely believe in this life is further supported by the fact that by the time of Arkham City, Shiva is no longer with the League of Assassins.

Now, what becomes of her daughter? Why, she is adopted by a married couple, named Erika, and Martin Connors. From there, she is named Faith, and grows up having no idea the life she almost had. And now, we understand that the slight discrepancies between the two of them are due to the traits Faith takes from her birth father.

It is clear, however, that she inherited her mother’s fighting spirit, and aptitude for martial arts, both of which, she uses for the good of the people. Does that last sentence remind you of anyone? If you read Batman comics, it should, because that is exactly the case for Shiva’s in-continuity daughter, Cassandra Cain, otherwise known as Batgirl.

In conclusion, I would like you to consider the possibility that Faith Connors is in truth, an alternate-continuity version of Cassandra Cain, and that the Mirror’s Edge reboot, Catalyst, actually takes place in the same universe as the Batman: Arkham series. Thank you, ladies, gentlemen, and all willing to listen. I bid you farewell.