DCU Comic Book Reviews

BIRDS OF PREY #100

Blood & Circuits:  Part 1.  A Chance To Do Good

January 2007

Written by Gail Simone

Pencils by James Raiz

Inks by Robin Riggs

Cover by Jerry Ordway

Synopsis

With Black Canary deciding to leave the Birds of Prey, Oracle goes on the search for suitable replacements.  The first test for the new recruits is a mission in Mexico to rescue a mob bosses’ daughter who was illegally arrested.  In Mexico, Kate Spencer (aka Manhunter) poses as the girl’s lawyer while Big Barda poses as a cantankerous inmate.  While Manhunter is in the girl’s cell, Barda pretends to get angry and rips open the cell door.  While the girl makes her escape, Judomaster takes down the guards below while Huntress takes down the guards on the wall.  Huntress then pretends to kill the girl, allowing for Zinda to fly the team away without the Mexican police to give pursuit.  While on the helicopter, when the girl is returned safely, her father agrees to turn state’s evidence against the mob.  At the pentagon, a high ranking official who calls herself Spy Smasher orders Zinda’s helicopter to be shot down.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

For a one hundredth issue, this was absolutely fantastic.  When this series began, it really started as a team up book between Oracle and Black Canary.  Over the years it has change slightly with the addition of various other characters, but it still remained the Oracle and Black Canary show.  Now, we can new blood and this is the first time I can recall Babs really expanding the team.  This is not finding one character to replace Dinah, but finding a whole plethora of people to use interchangeably based on the situation.  I have no idea if the characters used in this issue will be permanent members or not (and for the case of Manhunter, I would she returns to her own book).  If they are, I think the selected group has a lot of dynamic interplay and a lot can be done with them.  But if they are not, I hope Simone is going to be able to continue to use the large group of characters at the beginning of the book.  I like the idea of Oracle remaining in the background (with Huntress the leader for each mission), so that she can sue whomever she needs for a particular mission rather than relying on the same operatives.  The rotating cast of characters would make for some interesting reading. 

As I said, the interchangeable use of characters would create interesting reading and I think this issue demonstrates that admirably.  From Manhunter’s legal expertise to Big Barda’s size and strength to Judomaster’s skill, everything blended well together.  Simone’s trademark wit is on display here, as well.  The story was somewhat self-contained; although the last page cliffhanger suggests a continuation of the story, I think it takes the story in a different direction than the mob boss and his daughter.  What really makes this intriguing is that Katrina seems to have connection to every political organization in the DCU; with those type of connections, I think she will be a worthy opponent for Oracle. 

The recruitment of Manhunter poses a few problems, all of which are centered around Babs’ strict no killing policy, which obviously Manhunter does not follow.  If Manhunter remains with the team, I hope this is addressed at some down the road.

What was the deal with the damn Batgirl visible in the background on Page 11?  It seems like a very odd appearance. 

The original Spy Smasher was Alan Armstrong.  He was originally created by Fawcett Comics, but was purchased by DC Comics (which was related in some to the Captain Marvel lawsuit).  Spy Smasher last appeared in the Power of Shazam! series back in the 90s.  Could Katrina Armstrong be his daughter? 

The heroes Oracle contacts: 

Dr. Light

Skyrocket from the Power Company

The Jannisary (last seen in Planet DC)

Firehawk

Unknown from Gotham City (Batwoman, Jessie Quick, Flamebird?)

Grace from the Outsiders

Acrata (last seen in Planet DC)

Madame Xanadu

Hawkgirl

Bumblebee from Doom Patrol

Wonder Woman

The Thorn

Phantom Lady from the Freedom Fighters

Power Girl 

 

Power Girl’s anger stems from an incident when she was working with the Birds of Prey and Oracle decided to save a politician rather than save a boat load of innocent people.  Apparently Power Girl has never forgiven Babs.

Keepsakes

Written by Tony Bedard with Gail Simone

Pencils by Paulo Sequiera

Inks by Robin Riggs

 

Synopsis

While Dinah and Sin either toss their old stuff or pack their new stuff for the upcoming move, Dinah shares a little bit of her past relationship with her mother and then with Green Arrow.

 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

As a coda to her time with the Birds of Prey, this story worked perfectly.  It was both a look back at her past as well as a glimpse into her future with a sense of who she has become in the present.  Once the willful daughter, she is not the parent.  This issue shows how much the way she will raise Sin depends on how she was raised, a common thread for all parents.

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