DCU Comic Book Reviews

BIRDS OF PREY #101

Blood & Circuits:  Part Two.  Broken Wing

February 2007

Written by Gail Simone

Pencils by Nicola Scott

Inks by Doug Hazelwood

Cover by Stephane Roux

Synopsis

After freeing a Senator’s daughter from a Mexican prison, the Birds of Prey are flying away in the Blackbird, but are being chased by American fighters.  At the department of defense, Katarina Armstrong (aka Spy Smasher) watches as the Blackbird is blown to smithereens.  In Mexico, Kate Spencer (aka Manhunter) watches the Blackbird blow up and then returns to the prison.  Meanwhile, the Birds of Prey emerge safely, thanks to a boom tube from Big Barda transporting them to safety moments before the explosion.  Once she gets confirmation, Oracle calls Spy Smasher to tell her to back off.  Spy Smasher refuses and informs Oracle her operatives will be dead or in jail.  Afterwards, Oracle leaves her command post to greet a visitor:   Lois Lane.  In Mexico, Manhunter watches as the real target of the prison break and taken for transport.  Manhunter stops the truck and attacks the guards.  Elsewhere, the rest of the birds of Prey are met by federal agents ready to take them into custody.  Huntress calls Oracle for help, but instead gets Misfit, the wannabe Batgirl.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“You know it’s bad when even I know y’all are talkin’ dirty.”

This was another good issue from Simone and company.  As usual, Simon offers her usual witty banter from the team and a few good twists and turns along the way, including the appearance of Lois Lane.  Does Lois know Babs’ secret identity and if so why is she there?  And if she doesn’t know, the question remains the same, why is she there?  I am also glad the wannabe Batgirl is back.  I thought her appearance a few issues ago ended too abruptly and, to me at least, did not really resolve anything.  So seeing her return makes sense as it shows Simone has definite ideas on where she is taking this character.  It will be fun to read. 

But really got me intrigued with this storyline is the competition between Katarina and Babs.  Too often, as Babs herself states in the story, the action occurs between the agents, either Black Canary or Huntress, while Oracle provides the necessary backup to help with the outcome.  This time, however, it looks as if Babs will have to take a direct role in circumventing Katarina’s plans.  And I like that.  For once let’s give Babs an opponent to face, someone she must defeat rather than helping Black Canary do the job.  Add the fact that Bab’s opponent knows who she really is, we can bypass those annoying scenes of, “I am this close to find out who Oracle really is,” but then it all falls apart.  Not only does Katarina already know the identity of Oracle, but judging by the conversation, they are friendly with each other, or at the very least former teammates.  It is that last little detail that should give this rivalry that extra zing. 

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