DCU Comic Book Reviews

BIRDS OF PREY #104

Whitewater, Part One:  Crystal Ascension

May 2007

Written by Gail Simone

Pencils by Nicola Scott

Inks by Doug Hazelwood

Cover by Stephane Roux

Synopsis

In Baku, the capitol city of Azerbaijan, Huntress and Big Barda are attending a large gala thrown by Feodor Kerimov, a Russian drug lord looking to recapture Russia’s glorious past.  The Birds Of Prey are at the gala at the request of Spy Smasher, who wants to retrieve an item in Kerimov’s possession.  Also at the gala are members of the Secret Six who were hired to protect Kerimov and the item.  Just as the item is unveiled, Rocket Red One’s suit, Knockout of the Secret Six spots Big Barda.  The Birds then grab the suit and run for it.  The Secret Six give chase, but are stopped by the arrival of Hawkgirl.  Meanwhile, Huntress and Big Barda decide to open the Rocket Red suit.  Inside the find Tora Olafsdotter (aka Ice), apparently alive. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

I liked this issue and I liked how Simone integrated the Birds with the Secret Six in the plot, especially the interaction between Huntress and Catman.  It was also a pleasant surprise to see Hawkgirl in a small cameo; I hope she plays a bigger role in the rest of the story.  The downside to this issue, however, is that Simone spends an inordinate amount of time recapping events.  The scene on the plane was extraneous to the main action, unless Big Barda’s ability to heal comes into question later in the story.  Personally, I would have loved to see more of the gala ball, especially the conversation between Huntress and Catman.  It is obvious (at least to me) that Catman’s soul mate (in a non-sexual way) is Deadshot, so it would have been interesting to see Floyd react to their flirtations.  I would also like to see more of Spy Smasher taking over Oracle’s position, seeing how she commands and how Oracle takes the orders.  Simone naturally keeps the focus on the mission for the last half of the issue, but the first few pages seem better fitted to the ending of the previous arc rather than the beginning of this arc. 

Ultimately, this issue will be best remembered for the ending.  As a newer fan to comic books, I don’t remember Ice except for her short cameo in the death of Superman storyline.  Her return to the living doesn’t really mean that much to me as it might someone else.  However, I am curious to see how this will be explained, if at all.  I don’t doubt that is truly Ice and she really is living; the question is whether or not Simone can do a good job explaining it without resorting to Superboy’s Punch. 

The Republic of Azerbaijan is located in Eurasia, just south of Russia and to the west of the Caspian Sea.  Most of the population are Muslims with Iranian, Turkish, and Caucasian elements. 

Ice’s supposed death occurred at the hands of the Overmaster in the first series of the Justice League of America in 1985. 

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