[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Kelly Thompson
Art: Jonathan Case and Gavin Guidry
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Clayton Cowles

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary 

Part 1 “Worlds Without End” begins in Birds of Prey #9- just where did Dinah, Barda, Sin, Cass and Mari go when they followed Barbara into that portal?

Positives

The fourth art team debuts on this series and Jonathan Case and Gavin Guidry have another style to strut on the pages of Birds of Prey #9.  It’s adjacent to Leonardo Romero’s, but remains distinct.  Jordie Bellaire’s colors go along way in maintaining a consistency.  The atmosphere in this story is communicated quite well through the art as we explore this strange world.

Negatives

The latest issue of Doom Patrol puts the team in a routinely bizarre situation…oh, er… uh…this isn’t Doom Patrol?  Tone has been an issue with this series since issue #1.  In that issue, Harley was rightly feared to distract from the tone of the series, and Kelly Thompson has managed to do that to an even greater degree with Birds of Prey #9 without Harley even being mentioned in the issue.  Thompson has Dinah mention Danny the Street and that makes it clear that this series has veered into Doom Patrol territory.  That’s exactly how this issue feels.  There’s almost nothing in this issue that feels like a Birds of Prey comic.  Despite Dinah and Barbara being a part of the story…it’s gone off in such a strange direction that it reads like a Doom Patrol comic.  As a Doom Patrol comic it has some potential.

That tone is reinforced by some of the awkward humor in the opening sequence.  This was apparent in parts of Birds of Prey #8 as well.  It doesn’t land the way Thompson thinks it does and just comes off as a juvenile.  Thompson also brings back the picking between Mari and Dinah over Dinah’s costume choices.    Would they really pick like that when thrust into an unknown, confusing and dangerous situation?  Thompson also is having trouble with Dinah’s voice, she’s more and more detached as “too cool to care,” despite what we get of substance with the character indicates the opposite.  There’s no secret to be revealed that Dinah genuinely cares for Barbara.  The decision to include it is misplaced, unnecessary and superficial.  It’s just an odd thing to bring up.

Negatives Cont’d

There’s a strange moment when Meridian comes to- she was knocked out and left behind.  She goes to Star City and goes to the home of … Oliver Queen?  There’s an additional attempt at awkward humor before Zealot steps out from another room.  It’s not clear, but this must be Grifter, right?  He and Zealot were together in issue #1, but a blond man with facial hair in Star City is going to be taken as Ollie.  

There are unanswered questions as Dinah, Sin, Barda, Cass and Mari find a way out of this world and it seems rushed.  It comes off as a contrived moment to make the reader think, “oh wasn’t that fun!”  However, it really just makes the story feel like it’s going nowhere.  Almost nothing of real significance happens.  Everything is to cutesy.  Is this Thompson’s style or just a poorly conceived approach to this series?  

Verdict

Birds of Prey #9 strays further from the what makes the Birds of Prey the Birds of Prey.  Ill suited humor and a tone and milieu that resembles the Doom Patrol are the biggest culprits.  Coupled with the fact that the story barely moves forward, the issue is relies on the out of place elements to carry it.  There’s little substance to what transpires and it seems to set up a meandering arc that will end in a “surprise.”  There are some elements that have potential, but not in within the pages of Birds of Prey.

The post Review: Birds of Prey # 9 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review CONTAINS spoilers]

Writer: Kelly Thompson
Art: Leonardo Romero
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Clayton Cowles

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Dinah’s team “saves” Sin and Dinah learns more about Maps’ mysterious methods for contacting Dinah to begin with.

Positives

Starting at the end of Birds of Prey #6, Thompson’s big surprise reveal (we’ll get to it) DOES make this title seem more like an actual Birds of Prey comic instead of simply being one in name only.  It’s not a lot but it does feel like the possibility is there that it might eventually become a Birds of Prey comic.  Romero’s art is still enjoyable, even if the script doesn’t give him room to show off his layouts and action bits.  His faces and what he communicates with them are wonderful and do the job in telling that aspect of the story.

Negatives

What really stands out about Birds of Prey #6 when Thompson hits the reader with the big reveal in the sequence with Maps and Dinah is that this story was told completely out of order.  It contributes greatly to the feeling that this series has never really felt like a Birds of Prey comic.  Barbara Gordon finally makes an appearance to talk to Dinah at the end, and while it’s great she’s there, Dinah’s inability to give her a real reason for not including her on the mission (I mean, BoP IS Barbara’s after all) is awkward and unnecessary.  Dinah and Barbara have a more open/ honest friendship.  Dinah’s pulling a Batman, here.  This leads to another conversation, this time between Dinah and Maps.

Maps reveals (spoilers now) that Dinah tried eleven previous times to save Sin and in every attempt with Barbara included, both she and Sin died.  We also learn that Dinah told Maps not to let her have Barbara on the team for this final mission that succeeded.  From a storytelling perspective, if the reader had known all this ahead of time, everything Dinah does or doesn’t do would’ve been much more interesting.  Understanding there’s something larger at stake that actually relates to the core concept of BoP ( relationship between Babs, Dinah and Helena).  It would’ve felt like something approaching a BoP comic, and it would’ve been much more interesting and engaging.  Furthermore, Maps reveals that she thinks that someone from the future is trying to kills the Birds of Prey (despite the fact that they’ve never been a team that calls themselves that).  Thompson’s decisions continue to indicate that she doesn’t really understand the Birds of Prey concept, though at least tangentially she seems to understand Barbara’s importance to it.

If this arc had begun with seeing Dinah’s failures and then her telling Maps to make sure Barbara wasn’t included, then this whole mission would’ve felt very different for the reader.  It would’ve been clear there was more at stake, and heightened the intensity of the drama. 

Negatives Cont’d

Unfortunately, this idea that Thompson introduces of a time traveling attack on the Birds of Prey feels derivative of the first arc in the current Justice Society comic.  Helena Wayne travels back in time chasing the as yet to be revealed Per Degaton in his attempt to kill the JSA in ALL time periods.  Helena’s already failed in some time periods and her final stop is the present day DC Universe.  Going forward, it appears that this will be a subplot that will play out in this title after Birds of Prey #6.

I normally wouldn’t critique a lot of standing around talking if the talking is good, but a lot of the talking in this issue could’ve been handled differently if the story arc had included some of the info dump as part of the plot instead of dialogue.  Had we known all about their 11 previous attempts to save Sin, the conversations at the end would not have been necessary.  There’s a rushed quality to finish things up and part of it is seen in all the talking.

Additionally, the actual finale was also rushed and anti-climactic, and it didn’t really resolve the issue.  Sin and Megaera are not actually separated.  Megaera has ceded control of Sin’s body back to her so that she can “just live in the world.”  This creates a couple of inconsistencies.  First, as the team is trying to draw Megaera out with this magic jar, they feel like it’s working and Megaera is being pulled into the jar.  It’s not clear why the team stop trying to recapture Megeara in the jar.  It just seems like they stop…because.  Secondly, if Dinah had the foreknowledge to keep Barbara out of the mission, why didn’t she have the foreknowledge to have magic users on the team to fight a mystical magic based adversary? Since she didn’t, Sin is not completely saved, but instead running around with Megaera inside her.  This comes off as contrived and not a genuine result of simply not being able to separate them.  Dinah had eleven other tries…and she didn’t think to also have Maps tell her to bring magic users?  The real reason is that Thompson has other plans down the line…that’s obvious.  However, for the internal logic of the story, this could’ve been set up better, as this mission still has the feeling of bringing a knife to a gun fight.  The finale isn’t unsatisfying in a “wow, it’s unresolved because of cool plot points,” but rather, “it’s unresolved because the characters were stupid!”  It falls into that category of storytelling in which the more one thinks about it the less it makes sense.  If the reader just read it and didn’t think about it, it would be better.

Verdict

While the ending of Birds of Prey #6 indicates there may be some hope for this title in future issues, the finale of this first arc reinforces the notion that Thompson isn’t all that interested in the Birds of Prey  concept.  It’s a disappointing first arc for the relaunch of a Birds of Prey title.  The magic, mystical and time travel elements push the title further away from that core concept of the grounded, hand-to-hand combat, espionage, undercover mission that is central to the Birds of Prey concept.  It would be better for Thompson to create a new team without damaging the Birds of Prey.  A complete restart is the best option for this series, either as a proper Birds of Prey title, or a new team concept that fits what Thompson actually wants to write about.

The post Review: Birds of Prey #6 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Kelly Thompson
Art: Leonardo Romero
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Clayton Cowles

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Dinah and Co. make it onto Themiscyra and find Sin, though not without some help from Oliver Queen back in America who tries to delay Wonder Woman’s arrival on the island.  

Positives

Leonardo Romero continues to be the bright spot for this series.  Romero has a fun style that lends itself to the tone of the book.  While the script for Birds of Prey #3 doesn’t have the action sequences we’ve seen in the previous two issues, Oliver Queen’s “distraction” allows Romero to show what he can do.  The weathered look on the cover is a cool touch.  There’s no reason to think this issue is old and beaten up.  It’s not an homage cover or throwback to classic Birds of Prey, but it is still a nice effect.

Negatives

If we were to pretend that this comic was Harley and Friends #3, then we could skip this first section of the review.  However, this comic is Birds of Prey #3, and a comic with that title should be significantly different than what we get.  Even if we take the premise that Dinah had to use a team made up of these characters it could still feel like Birds of Prey.  However, Thompson seems to be revealing that her real interest is not Birds of Prey, but rather Harley Quinn and change suspicious readers’ minds that Harley is just the best thing.  Now, that’s great stuff for a Harley Quinn comic.  I mean that’s MAIN STREET.  But for a comic whose core concept has absolutely nothing to do with Harley Quinn, then it’s quite bad.  It doesn’t matter what the cover says, the substance of this comic is Harley Quinn and Tenuous Alliances.

Harley’s influence on the tone can be seen almost from the very beginning as they have to ride inside the belly of a megalodon in order to get to Themiscyra.  It’s silly, it’s weird and definitely feel like Harley.  It does not have the same grounded feel that Birds of Prey is known for with clandestine, undercover, espionage vibes.  This trick Harley pulls off with King Shark’s help also gives her a chance to get compliments from Dinah and the others on how great an idea she had to get on Themiscyra undetected.  This sequence feel out of place like the magic bits from Birds of Prey #2 with John Constantine.  

Negatives Cont’d 

We see “how great” Harley is near the end of the issue when Dinah thinks to herself that Harley wouldn’t be a bad role model for Sin…let’s see: crazy, former sidekick of the Joker, mentally, physically and emotionally traumatized by him, groomed to act like him and despite claiming to have “moved on” she still dresses and acts like he developed her to be…sounds healthy to me!  Thompson is bending the logical to the ridiculous to push Harley.  It’s fine if you want to do that, but don’t do it at the expense of other characters and concepts.  Harley doesn’t belong here and it’s frustrating to see her pushed so hard.  It’s all Harley all the time!  The tone that she brings is diametrically opposed to what has made Birds of Prey comics great in the past.  The decision to include Harley at all and exclude Barbara Gordon demonstrates that Thompson doesn’t really understand the core concept of Birds of Prey.  For her it seems like her definition is that Birds of Prey is simply a group of female characters.  This is a massive dilution of the concept.  This couldn’t be further from the truth, but it’s how Birds of Prey has been rebranded since the horrific Birds of Prey (And the Fabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) film from 2020.

For the longest time the “team” never referenced themselves because they weren’t that kind of team.  They were what Barbara Gordon did as Oracle, Birds of Prey was the manifestation of overcoming her own mental, emotional and physical trauma and getting back her agency.  She not only healed, but reinvented herself.  Birds of Prey was the title of the comic…but, they group never referred to themselves as such.  In this current issue, twice it’s used as a team name for Harley and Friends.

Negatives Cont’d

So, even if you’re enjoying this series and you like Harley and Friends and you think Harley is the greatest, there’s a plot point that just doesn’t make a bit of sense.  And, it’s not something ridiculous like riding in the belly of a megalodon.  It’s something that seems to be at the crux of the plot itself.  Since issue #1, it’s been suggested that Dinah couldn’t contact Wonder Woman for help in rescuing Sin because of the events going on in her own book.  The understanding has been that Diana is too tied up in those events and would be unavailable to help Dinah.  However, this issue presents something altogether different.

Apparently, they were worried about Diana interfering with Sin’s extraction.  This comes off like Thompson forgot what she had already written.  Would it make any sense at all that Diana under any circumstances wouldn’t help Dinah?  If that’s the conflict then that’s the real story and we’ve wasted three issues on mostly Harliness to get to the point where Diana escapes Oliver Queen’s distraction and teleports? (yes it’s that fast) to Themiscyra to confront Dinah and Co.  That’s a huge story if that’s the play…Diana is apart of what’s going on.  There’s no way, no matter what’s going on with Diana that she wouldn’t help Dinah in some way, even if she couldn’t physically be a part of it.  Yet, she’s willing and able to get to Themiscyra to apparently help stop Dinah and Co.  From what we’ve seen so far, this doesn’t make any sense either plot wise or in the characterization of Diana.

Negatives Cont’d

This isn’t the only characterization problem in Birds of Prey #3 either.  We’ve already seen Dinah’s lack of judgement in considering  Harley a role model for Sin, but  for whatever reason Thompson doubles down on this idea that Zealot believes Dinah wants her to kill Amazons.  The question isn’t really answered satisfactorily in a manner that demonstrates whether it’s Thompson or Zealot that doesn’t understand Black Canary’s character.  Dinah’s not a killer.  Sure seems like Zealot is though, and she almost makes my wish come true when she runs Harley through with her sword.  However, it’s not all it seems.

This could be a “positive” for this issue, but the neat aspect of it is undermined by that Harely-tone that is pervading the series.  Zealot performs a ritual when they arrive on Themiscyra that prevents her from being killed OR killing.  It helps her stay alive but it also prevents her from killing anyone for Dinah.  (That’s such a strange take on Dinah).  In order to show that this ritual is in play she runs Harley through, YAY!  Alas, she doesn’t die.  This could be a really cool element to develop, a character who has killed, but now doesn’t want to.  That’s pretty cool and interesting, but by stabbing Harley and making a joke out of it the deeper psychological aspect is overwhelmed by the tone that permeatesthe book with Harley’s inclusion.  Harley Quinn ruins everything.

Verdict

Birds of Prey #3 is not a good Birds of Prey comic, however, it is a pretty good Harley Quinn comic. If you’re here for Harley and how great she is then you will flip that score around, probably.  If you’re a fan of the Birds of Prey, this isn’t it.  Whith each successive issue this title feels less and less like a Birds of Prey comic.  Additionally, the issue with Wonder Woman throws the whole thing off.  Tonally it flips back and forth between serious and silly and it just doesn’t seem like it knows what it wants to be besides an argument for how great Harley Quinn is- which she’s not.  It feels like Thompson is auditioning to write the Harley Quinn animated series on MAX.  Romero’s art can only do so much to make this book enjoyable.

The post Review: Birds of Prey #3 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Kelly Thompson
Art: Leonardo Romero
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Clayton Cowles

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Dinah struggles to keep her team together while Harley saves the day!  Of course Harley knows how to get the team on Themiscyra secretly!

Positives

Birds of Prey #2 starts with a touching flashback with Dinah and Sin.  It reminds the reader why this team has been assembled with a solid character moment.  Leonardo Romero brings another excellent performance on the art chores.  He displays a range from intimate to exaggerated which are both appropriate in their respective scenes.  Dinah and Sin in the opening sequence both exhibit a genuine fondness that Romero captures.  Additionally, in the span of 2 pages Dinah displays, confusion, anger and resignation in succession as she tries to keep her team together.

There are moments in this issue as Dinah struggles to get things going that this feels like a Birds of Prey comic.  They are few, however.

Negatives

Like it or not, your enjoyment of Birds of Prey #2 hinges on how much you like Harley Quinn.  If you’re a fan, you’ll probably enjoy this comic.  If you you’re not, then…this will be a frustrating read.  Harley just sucks the concept of the Birds of Prey out of the issue.  The moment it starts to feel like a Birds of Prey comic, Harley pops up and just becomes annoying.  Now, if Harley were to die by the end of this arc, it might be worth it, but what happens in issue #5 or #6 can’t make this issue any better.  There’s always hope for the next arc, right?  As long as Thompson gets Harley off the team, that is.  You can’t make readers like Harley if they don’t like Harley and Harley is written like Harley.

As Thompson has stated, Harley is the wildcard.  Will she also be the Harley ex machina- the out for plot corners?  She already feels like she dominates this issue with her solution to getting on Themiscyra.  It could prove to be an interesting moral quandary for Black Canary to get assistance from a villain like King Shark, but there’s no sense of that in the script at all.  Thompson realizes this is not the Harley Quinn animates series on MAX, right?  This just seems to shove character aside so Thompson can do something zany with Harley.  I get that Harley’s personality and characterization push her forward and dominate an issue, even if it’s not intended.  This knowledge doesn’t improve the issue, however.  I don’t know if it’s possible to write Harley accurately without this happening.

Negatives Cont’d

With John Constantine and the magic angle, it feels less and less like a Birds of Prey comic.  It’s true, one can imagine Barbara arranging using magic with an appearance by Zatanna, or I suppose even Constantine, but there’s something about the haphazard way it seems to come about that detracts from the tone of what a Birds of Prey series should be.  It almost feels like Thompson didn’t have a better idea so she had to go the magic route to get out of another plot corner.  I think it would’ve come off better had we seen Dinah go through the thought process of her plan instead of seeing it play out.  Again, it feel like she decided she wanted to use Constantine and wrote it that way instead of Constantine being a creative solution to a problem.  Good thing Constantine owed Dinah a favor.  How many people will owe Dinah a favor in this series?  And, it appears King Shark owed Harley a favor, too!  As it is, it is difficult to follow Dinah’s plan.  There’s a “hurry up and get there already” feel.  It’s a necessary step in the plot for the team to get to Themiscyra, but it’s more boring than interesting or exciting.

Furthermore, Dinah’s attempts to keep the team together seem to be proof that she hasn’t built a team that is “impeccably trustworthy.”  The readers knew this, why didn’t Dinah?  It just makes Dinah seem stupid for trusting them instead of going to true friends like Helena and Barbara- Meridian be damned!   That falls on Thompson’s shoulders for forcing this team together.  She shouldn’t have included the premise that Dinah was assembling them with the belief that they were all “impeccably trustworthy.”  If Dinah had taken a different approach, more of a  “I’ll do whatever it takes,” then her struggles would feel genuine.  As it is, this conflict feels contrived and there simply for the sake of conflict.  With Birds of Prey #2, it feels like Thompson is really interested in writing a Suicide Squad title.  This isn’t the Birds of Prey, it’s Dinah stuck with a couple people she can trust, two villains, and a couple chancers.

Verdict

Harley Quinn ruins everything she’s in.  She doesn’t play well with others and it’s no different in Birds of Prey #2.  She doesn’t mesh well with the rest of the team tonally.  Her ridiculousness detracts from what at times begins to feel like a Birds of Prey comic.  There’s far too little time spent on character which leaves too much time for Harley.  Thankfully, Romero does a really nice job with the art on this issue.  Script-wise it feels messy and cobbled together, you just sort of want to get through it so the plot can move forward.  It’s definitely a step backwards from last issue.

The post Review: Birds of Prey #2 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Tom Taylor and Michael W. Conrad
Art: Stephen Byrne and Serge Acuna
Colors: Adriano Lucas
Letters: Wes Abbott

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Dick Grayson’s time as “Ric” Grayson finally catches up with Nightwing when he learns the secret of Bea Bennett.  Plus, Dick and Cassandra Cain are cooking up something in the back up story.

Positives

With crossovers and events out of the way, we finally get back to what was introduced in Nightwing #99.  Nightwing had learned of The Hold, a mysterious storage center that is run by a fellow named The Quartermaster.  In Nigthwing #106 we learn that Nightwing has had previous dealings with the Quartermaster when he was going by “Ric” Grayson.  It would’ve been easy to completely forget about “Ric,” but Tom Taylor has come up with a way to connect that part of Dick’s recent past despite the current run doing everything to make the readers forget it.

The revelation about Bea is a surprise and certainly has the potential for more development.  It extends an olive branch to those fans of the “Ric”/ Bea relationship while connecting Bea to the intriguing introduction of The Hold and the Quartermaster back in Nightiwng #99.  What “Ric” stored in the hold that is missing will of course drive the storyline.  Taylor has a plot element as well as character set up for this story arc.  The opening of Nightwing #106 also incudes a nice transition back to normalcy that includes a lighter moment with both Barbara and Beast Boy from the Titans.The inclusion of Heartless integrates this arc with the larger tale that Taylor has been telling.  Will this be the resolution to Heartless saga or is Taylor going to keep Heartless around as an arch nemesis for Dick Grayson?

The backup story in this issue is a nice treat as Dick is paired with Cassandra Cain in a return to the milieu of Batgirls.  It’s a fun change of pace story that sets up a continuing plotline.  Stephanie Brown also makes an appearance.  One can only hope that we’ll get a full on Nightwing/ Batgirls team-up as this story plays out!

Negatives

Nightwing has been one of DC’s best series for the past couple years, so it’s no surprise that this issue is short on negatives.  One can hope that Bruno Redondo will get back to regular interiors soon.  His work is missed.

Verdict

Nightwing #106 is a great start to a new story arc with a balanced approach between plot and character.  This issue continues to prove why this comic continues to be one of DC’s best.  Hopefully, this will be the start of an uninterrupted run of tales.  As Dick says in this issue, “We’ve had a lot going on.  But, it’s finally time to ask…What’s in the box?”

The post Review: Nightwing #106 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Kelly Thompson
Art: Leonardo Romero
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Clayton Cowles

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Dinah (Black Canary) Lance has to put together a team to rescue her sister, Sin.  Who will she recruit and will they all say, “yes?”

Positives

The art by Leonardo Romero is simply fantastic.  Romero has a clean, uncluttered style that looks great.  There are some great action sequences that he approaches in different ways and they all work.  It’s clear what’s going on and he brings a dynamic flair to the pages.  In the quieter moments he also shines as he is able to communicate emotion effectively through body language and an economy of line.  Plus, there are some interesting angles he chooses in telling the story.  Jordie Bellaire chooses lighter tones of colors that compliment Romero’s style, which elevates the look of the issue as well.

Thompson focuses the story around Dinah and her character and it works well.  The play here uses DC continuity with the inclusion of Sin who hasn’t been seen since before the New 52 line wide reboot.  It’s a nice touch that makes the series feel connected to the DC Universe as a whole as well as the greater history of the DC Universe.  The character that contacts Dinah for this rescue mission is a well-played surprise that will remain such.  However, the inclusion of this character is a fun and interesting reveal that brings about more questions than it answers.

Positives Cont’d

There was a lot of speculation and internet discussion of this new line up when it was first teased teased.  The proof is in the pudding, and with Birds of Prey # 1 in stores, we get to examine that pudding, now.  As stated above, it’s great to have Dinah be the focus.  Thompson puts her and her family at the center and this works well.  Cassandra is a logical and believable choice for a rescue mission.  She’s stealthy, a known quantity to Dinah and maybe THE best fighter in the DC Universe.  As stated in the opening pages, Dinah needs a team that will make the adversary, “$@#% their pants.”  Cassandra fits this bill.

Next up we have Big Barda.  Barda is definitely a heavy hitter.  For a fight she’s a good choice, but on the stealth side of things, maybe not.  She could’ve learned some things from husband, Scott (Mr. Miracle) Free in this area.  Even so, she’s the muscle of the team and that works well enough.  This is a solid start to the team and the path that Dinah takes to recruit these two is done well, especially as it continues to rely on Dinah’s relationship to the target, Sin.

Negatives

Things start to go in a different direction with the next two choices Thompson has included for this story arc.  Zealot is totally unknown to me, and as a longtime fan of Dinah and the Birds of Prey, it’s seems odd that Dinah would go outside her previous teammates for a mission that is this important and for one she herself says she needs people who are “impeccably trustworthy.”  Cass fits that, and Barda ‘s been in the Birds of Prey before.  It’s alluded that Zealot owes Dinah a favor, and while she may think that Zealot has the skills (whatever they are) for the mission, is Zealot the best choice if it’s only a favor?  Is Zealot really invested in Dinah’s sister or anything that matters to Dinah?  The details in Birds of Prey # 1 are not convincing in this matter.

Thompson herself admitted in the release publicity for this book that she knew Harley Quinn would be divisive.  As with Zealot, the argument Thompson makes for her inclusion is not only unconvincing, and illogical, but…laughable.  It would be one thing to have a character argue that some element of Harley’s skills make sense for the plan, but Thompson has put the team before the plan, so it’s not clear how Harley would fit into this.  What makes even less sense is the argument we do get for her inclusion.

Negatives Cont’d

Cassandra shares a story with the others claiming that Harley is such a good fighter that Harley almost beat her in a confrontation recently.  It’s simply bad writing to suddenly imbue Harley Quinn with this sort of skill level.  It’s just as hard to imagine that Dinah would believe it.  So, even if Cass has an ulterior motive in convincing the team, Dinah should see through that fairly quickly.  It also doesn’t make sense that Dinah would go against her instincts on Harley’s trustworthiness that Thompson does include in the issue.  The bottom line is that Harley will always feel forced when included on a Birds of Prey roster.  There’s an argument coming up below that will claim this isn’t the Birds of Prey, just a team Dinah’s putting together for a mission.  However, Birds of Prey or not, like Zealot, Birds of Prey # 1 doesn’t make a convincing argument for Harley being on the team or for Dinah to go against her instincts. 

The idea that Harley is a “wildcard” is nothing more than Thompson not having a real reason to include her that makes sense.  It sounds cool, but is ultimately shallow.  Unless of course, like her newfound fighting ability Cassandra describes, Harley manifests whatever Thompson needs for the plot to work!  Thompson wants to use Harley, but it doesn’t add to the plot in any way or even make sense.

Here’s a real wildcard for you:  The individual that contacted Dinah about Sin’s abduction claims she can’t tell Barbara.  which is then the in-story reason for Barbara not being included.  What if, the Harley they recruit isn’t Harley at all, but Barbara in disguise as Harley?  That’s about the only way that it would make sense for Barbara not being on Dinah’s handpicked team, or Harley being on it!

Negatives Cont’d

Perhaps, the single greatest negative with this issue is that Barbara Gordon is not part of the team Dinah puts together.  I’ve argued before that Barbara is essential to the Birds of Prey, she’s what makes the team THE Birds of Prey, otherwise it’s just a collection of female heroes/anti-heroes or whatever. (The Birds of Prey aren’t always female either, just ask Hawk, Savant or Creote). 

Additionally, and as mentioned above, it doesn’t make sense that Dinah wouldn’t include her closest allies.  She’s got Huntress marked off the list on page 2!  While the final reveal of who’s abducted Sin implies that Dinah needs some heavy hitters, it also suggests that this team will need to be committed to Dinah (trustworthy!) and it stands to reason that those closest to her would be the best choices, friends and former teammates like Babs, Helena, Nightwing, Ollie and Roy, Zinda (Lady Blackhawk) Blake etc…. 

Verdict 

This issue is a bit of a mixed bag.  The art on Birds of Prey # 1 is  great.  The plot and focus on Dinah is interesting and engaging.  It’s the details that detract from the overall big ideas.  The line up of the “team” is obviously the biggest with some of the sub-details that go along with that which logically follow, the inexplicable reasoning for including Harley for example.  The line up ends up being confusing instead of exciting.  This line up might be interesting if Dinah fell into the situation and had to make do with them to get the job done.   This suggests that if this were not called Birds of Prey, it would get a higher rating because it could be viewed as its own thing.  Or, if Barbara Gordon (as Oracle OR Batgirl) and Helena (Huntress) Bertinelli were in the line up it would feel like the Birds of Prey and  it would’ve been a 9/10.

The post Review: Birds of Prey #1 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad
Art: Robbi Rodriguez
Colors: Rico Renzi
Letters: Becca Carey

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

It’s the conclusion to The Hill shooter storyline as well as the finale for this title.  How will the Batgirls catch the sniper and who is the sniper…or are there two shooters?

Positives

Batgirls #19, like every other issue of the series, is just plain fun.  There’s some great action, adventure and art along the way, and some heart, but we never lose sight of the fact that Cass and Steph are having fun.  Is it wrong for comics to be fun? No, it’s not.  There some more serious things touched on in this issue, but it’s hard not to connect with the pure enjoyment of reading a comic about characters that are fun- it’s what the original Robin, Dick Grayson was all about.

Cloonan and Conrad have built this series very effectively.  The stories rely on the characterization of Cass, Steph and Babs.  This issue brings to close a subplot that’s been running- Steph’s desire to be a better fighter.  She’s had some rough experiences of late, but she’s come through them and we see the results in this issue.  She’s gained some confidence and skill and it pays off in Batgirls #19.  Plus, her own natural talents in combat come to the fore as she takes down one of the shooters.  Who knew trash talking could be so effective?

Positives Cont’d

Robbi Rodriguez gives a stellar performance on the art this issue.  There are some great action and “pin-up” worthy shots throughout the book.  Be it the last page, one of the shooters taking a bullet or the fight choreography, Rodriguez brings his “A” game and stands out this issue perhaps more so than any other.  The choice to put Officer Brooks in the Ben Cooper Batman mask is a brilliant call back- more fun!  The unique color palette that’s been a mainstay of this title from both Sarah Stern and Rico Renzi keep the look of the book consistent here.  It’s a very exciting approach to use a limited yet specific set of colors to create a special feel and visual appearance for the series.  When I say it’s art I mean Art.

Conrad and Cloonan sign off with a couple of special moments.  First, Grace O’Halloran has faced a drinking problem throughout this series and this issue see’s her hard work come to fruition.  She’s honest with Roky about how hard it’s been, but she’s held on.  It’ a nice moment when Roky acknowledges that hard work.  It’s also a nice bit of personal growth and healing that’s not often shown for a supporting character.  It’s an adult theme handled well in a serious manner, and it’s a mature touch that is quite unique.

The final page gives the reader a true “goodbye.”  And, it’s something greater than a “thanks and farewell.”  It’s a mini treatise on shared experiences.  The idea that everyone is a Batgirl is an important plot point these final two issues.  This final page includes the reader.  All of us reading together over the past year and a half have shared these issues together and we, like Steph, Cass and Babs are now Batgirls as well because of this shared experience.  This is another mature piece of writing as it is something that can be applied to all experiences and teach us something about life.  So, think about the people with whom you’ve shared unique experiences, high school, college, work, military service, trauma, natural disaster…you are connected because of this.  The lesson is that we are more alike than different, we are all people here together, to think about how you treat your fellow man.  What would Batgirl do?  After all, we are all Batgirls, now.

Negatives

The obvious negative is that this is the last issue of Batgirls.  It’s difficult to understand why some books sell and why other don’t.  Every comic can’t be a best seller, but it hurts to see the books you love get cancelled, while other titles you will never read keep on going either continuously or via perpetual reboots.  Batgirls is a book that offers something different, something with more heart, more sensitivity, more…cleverness….  Recently I’ve been rereading the 2009 Power Girl series by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner.  Throughout the issues I’ve noticed house ads for a lot of series that I was loving back then that all got cancelled when DC rebooted with the New 52- Adventure Comics, Zatanna, and of course Power Girl.  Batgirls will be missed for all the reasons it’s been a great series, and especially because it isn’t just like everything else.

Verdict

Get out a few tissues for the tears you’ll have to wipe away as they roll over your smile as we say good by to Batgirls.  Batgirls #19 goes out with an inspiring and thoughtful message coupled with some great action, excellent art and beautiful colors.  Perhaps, one day we’ll meet again, this could be just the beginning.

The post Review: Batgirls #19 (Last Issue) appeared first on DC Comics News.

Check out all the details in the official press release below!

DC’S NEW COMIC BOOK SERIES ‘BIRDS OF PREY’ IS UNVEILED

Comic book writer Kelly Thompson reveals the brand-new Birds of Prey character lineup in the ongoing “Dawn of DC” series debuting in September

As part of the “Dawn of DC” storytelling initiative, DC’s new ongoing comic book series Birds of Prey debuts September 5, led by an all-star creative team and featuring fan-favorite characters. Series writer Kelly Thompson (Black Widow, Captain Marvel) has been revealing the Birds of Prey character lineup throughout the week, teasing that leader Black Canary will be joined by Cassandra Cain, Big Barda, Zealot, and Harley Quinn for a dangerous new mission. In her DC comic book series writing debut, Thompson herself has teamed up with her Eisner Award-nominated Hawkeye partners-in-crime, artist Leonardo Romero (Batman) and colorist Jordie Bellaire (Wonder Woman), alongside letterer Clayton Cowles for the electrifying series.

Birds of Prey character lineup art by Leonardo Romero

In this new series, Dinah Lance is one of the DC Universe’s most elite fighters, and combined with her sonic scream, she’s a fearsome foe in any scenario…but sometimes even the Black Canary needs help. Faced with a personal mission brought to her by a mysterious new ally, and up against near-impossible odds, she re-forms the Birds of Prey with an unrivaled group—Cassandra Cain, Big Barda, Zealot, and Harley Quinn—with only one goal: extraction of their asset at any cost. What could possibly go wrong? This all-new, all-deadly Birds of Prey is still breaking hearts and faces after all these years!

Birds of Prey #1 triptych gatefold variant cover art by Frank Cho

“When I say this is a dream come true for me, I mean not just working on the iconic Birds of Prey title, but also the characters we were able to fold in, and the creative team we assembled,” said Birds of Prey writer Kelly Thompson. “Leonardo Romero and Jordie Bellaire were two of my first partners-in-crime making superhero books and I’ve been trying to make this happen ever since. It won’t surprise anyone to learn that Leonardo and Jordie are even better than they were the last time we worked together—and working together on this wild book is pure magic.”

“I couldn’t be happier to announce my first monthly project for DC! With this book, I’ve had the opportunity to not only draw some of the most badass women in the DC Universe, but also to work once more with the best people in our industry, Kelly Thompson and Jordie Bellaire” said Birds of Prey artist Leonardo Romero. “I missed the dynamic we had on Hawkeye, so I’m very excited to have our team back together! Can’t wait to show you all what we’ve been doing!”

Birds of Prey #1 will be available at local comic shops on September 5 with a main cover by series artist Leonardo Romero, variant covers by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau and Chris Bachalo, a 1:25 variant by Nick Bradshaw paying homage to the first Birds of Prey series cover by Greg Land and Brian Stelfreeze from January 1999, a 1:50 variant by Chris Bachalo, a 1:100 variant by Leonardo Romero, and a triptych gatefold variant cover by Frank Cho. There will also be a blank sketch cover available.

Fans can read more Birds of Prey comic books with a DC UNIVERSE INFINITE ULTRA subscription. DC UNIVERSE INFINITE subscribers can download comics for unlimited offline reading on their favorite iOS and Android devices. For more information on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE Ultra, download the app from the Apple App and Google Play stores. DC UNIVERSE INFINITE is not intended for children.

For the latest information on everything DC, visit www.DC.com and follow @DCOfficial and @TheDCNation on social media.

The post New ‘Birds of Prey’ Series Revealed With Brand-New Lineup appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad
Art: Robbi Rodriguez
Colors: Rico Renzi
Letters: Becca Carey

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

After last issue’s events of the Aparo Park Shooter, the Batgirls are compelled to step away…?  It’s a surprising choice, but what’s really going on?

Positives

It’s great to see the Batgirls trying to solve a mystery.  and a pretty difficult one at that.  Plus, we get to see how the Bat-family relies on one another.  It’s small details that elevate books, and it’s Batman’s approval of the Batgirls that reveals the underlying truth of the relationships in the Bat-family.  It’s a short quick scene, but it has the element of reality and connects the reader with one’s own feeling of inadequacies or lack of confidence.  It brings out the human quality in the characters that last long beyond the “villain of the month.”  Robbi Rodriguez has some striking images, especially Barbara Gordon in the first few pages.

The plot in Batgirls #18 is quite strong, as well.  It’s not just the mystery aspect, but the interesting way the plot serpentines around.  The concept sets the Batgirls against the Gotham PD and as a reader you just aren’t sure what the right approach is.  What’s particularly wonderful is the end of the issue when the citizens of The Hill rally around the Batgirls.  There’s certainly a lot of potential in exploring a population and its resident costumed guardians.  It’s not clear how far this will be developed in upcoming issues, but Batgirls #18 is an infusion of emotions that ignites the concept.  A major player in this aspect of the story is Grace O’Halloran who’s quietly gone through quite an emotional and personal journey throughout the life of this series.  Has she found her true purpose finally?

Negatives 

There’s no obvious negative to this issue, but knowing that the last issue of this series is coming soon, it does cast a tinge of sadness over the events.  Sure, these characters aren’t going to die or be decommissioned, but it’s unlikely that whatever comes next will treat them in the same way that focuses on their friendship and camaraderie.   

Verdict

Batgirls #18 is an interesting issue with a fun plot that provides an interesting idea for the relationship between the citizens of the Hill and the Batgirls.  There’s really strong images as well and the issue leans into its strengths of relationship and characterization even down to the small details.

The post Review: Batgirls #18 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad
Art: Neil Googe with Geraldo Borges (Finishes p. 16-22 )
Colors: Rico Renzi
Letters: Becca Carey

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

The Batgirls are invited to a tea party, and as you might imagine these things never turn out well in Gotham.  A big “change” comes over Steph courtesy the Mad Hatter’s use of Kirk Langstrom‘s infamous formula.

Positives

After about half-way through Batgirls #16, it becomes apparent that this comic feels different from the average issue on the stands today.  This is a good thing, and it’s not necessarily the same thing that has made this such a great series.  (Although, that’s there , too.  We’ll get to that shortly!)  Back in the Bronze Age, storytelling was different.  Single issues contained much more content.  A LOT could happen in one 32-page comic.  There was often an emphasis on the adventure and comic booky-ness.  What I mean by that is the sort of strange sci-fi/ fantasy elements that are unique to comics.  Batgirls #16 does this extremely well.  Cass and Steph get right to it in this issue as they have to respond to this invitation by the Mad Hatter.  The plot sizzles along as the duo have to figure out what Tetch’s trap is?  You knew it was a trap right?  

The story is paced quickly, but it doesn’t feel like it’s a disappointingly quick read.  Once the trap is sprung, Cassandra has to figure out how to not only save Stephanie, but also find Tetch and take him in.  And this where the aforementioned “thing” that has made this series so great comes in.  Batgirls has focused a lot on character to great effect.  Character and the relationships between the characters is what drives this series.  This issue doesn’t rely on it to move the story forward, but rather uses it to affect the outcome.  Conrad and Cloonan have just spent the last story arc demonstrating the depth of Cass and Steph’s friendship.  In Batgirls #16, they uses this efficiently, without having to overwork it, because we already know from what’s come before.  Normally, one might expect a sub-plot to payoff, but here we have characterization/ relationship exploration pay off.  So, while we get the adventure and excitement on top, we get this quick shot of emotion underneath that’s the true payoff.  It’s executed brilliantly and the perfect use of a “set up.”

Positives Cont’d

There are some other details that work well and that are just plain fun.  Firstly, Babs running the mission always conjures up  thoughts of the excellent Birds of Prey comics of the past.  While this series isn’t BoP, it’s a sibling , a welcome sibling at that!  The very mention of “Kirk Langstrom” in the story also brings up another set of associations.  Langstrom’s legacy takes us back to the Bronze Age is part of the wild sci-fi/ fantasy element that are representative of the comic book medium.  These nostalgic aspects dovetail with the storytelling style perfectly.

Negatives

Maybe, maybe the theme of Steph in danger so soon is too soon?  I can see that, but the issue is executed so well it just doesn’t feel that way.

Verdict

Batgirls #16 strikes the perfect balance between action, plot, character, nostalgia and emotion.  We shouldn’t be surprised that it’s yet another great issue in this series.  Inductive reasoning should tell us that!  We didn’t even get to mention the fun use of all the expected Alice in Wonderland motifs one would expect in a Mad Hatter story!

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