DCU Comic Book Reviews

BIRDS OF PREY #95

Progeny, Part Finale:  A Cup Of Kindness Yet

August 2006

Written by Gail Simone

Pencils by Joe Prado

Inks by Dick Giordano

Cover by Brian Hurtt

Synopsis

Dr. Matthew Thorne (aka Crime Doctor) recalls his beginnings as a surgeon that led to his eventual turn to evil, in which he learned he liked torturing people.  He just never expected to be the one tortured.  The Birds of Prey have come to rescue him, but Prometheus stands in their way.  In Southeast Asia, Dinah Lance attempts to teach Sin how to play hopscotch, but she thinks it is a training exercise.  Dinah recalls her reasons for training under Shiva and realizes this is not what she wanted.  She tells “Mother” that she wants not part of further training and that she is going home.  Meanwhile, Huntress and the Birds attack Prometheus, but they are not having much luck until Huntress punches him in the crotch.  Even though momentarily weakened, Prometheus tells the Birds that it is time to end it.  Thorne, however, decides to end the battle himself.  Since Prometheus was supposed to kill Thorne’s daughter while he watches, Thorne cuts out his own eye and then dies.  With that, Prometheus leaves.  Later, Dinah returns home, with Sin.  She has decided to take her away from “Mother’s” influence.  Elsewhere, Lady Shiva finds Thorne’s daughter and tells her she has job for her.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“Ah.  Remind me to...ah.  Add more padding to that region.”

This was a very nice ending in which all of the lose ends are tight up nicely in a neat bow.  Both Dinah and the Birds were busy trying to save a young’s girl life, except they lost one to Shiva.  Having Shiva take the Crime Doctor’s daughter under her wing was a nice touch to the end of the story, but when I read it I groaned a little.  Not because I didn’t like it, but because it just seems too pat of an ending.  I wouldn’t say it was expected, but this is the best way to end the story arc.  The arc was basically Shiva and Dinah trading places.  So, naturally, Dinah takes a little piece of Shiva’s old life while Shiva takes a little piece of Dinah’s old life.  And in this case they are both little girls who will learn a different life from their new guardians.  As I said, the proverbial storytelling circle is completed.  In terms of craft, the ending makes sense.  Yet, I am not really excited at all by the ending.  A lot of that has to do with the fact tat I think both little girls will be forgotten and in a sense this ending will amount to nothing.  The other fact is that I really liked Shiva and enjoyed her presence during her brief time as a bird of prey.  I felt as if Shiva was better characterized than the other new member, Gypsy, although I suspect this is because the story arc focused on her and Dinah.  Regardless, I liked her character and I am disappointed she will no longer be around.

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