DCU Comic Book Reviews

BIRDS OF PREY #121

Bring On The Bad Guys

October 2008

Written by Tony Bedard

Pencils by Michael O'Hare

Inks by John Floyd

Cover by Stephane Roux

Synopsis

In Platinum Flats, the Joker barges into the offices of the Visionary, who attempts to erase the Joker’s memory of him, but fails in the attempt.  The Joker then tells Visionary that he was going to kill him, but now he has other ideas.  At Clocktower Systems, Oracle introduces Infinity to the team and provides them with information Infinity gathered on the Silicon Syndicate.  Meanwhile, Misfit enrolls into Babbage High School and manages to get into a fight on the first day.  The fight is broken up by new teacher Helena Bertinelli.  Elsewhere, the Silicon Syndicate gathers for a meeting.  Visionary introduces their newest member:  the Joker.  When Wizkid objects, the Joker kills him.  In school, Misfit makes friends but is at a loss for words when she realizes that Black Alice is at the same school.  And is insanely popular. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“I mean, I did whippets with Scarecrow’s fear gas, but this is a much cleaner buzz.”

I liked this issue.  I am a little worried about what is going to happen to this book in the future, but for right now Bedard is doing a great job with this book and all of the characters, including the Joker.  I loved the opening sequence with Visionary, including the moment quoted above.  For some reason that line made me laugh.  It also made me think that perhaps Bedard will write a good Joker and I wasn’t disappointed with the later scene involving Wizkid.  As for the rest of the issue, it is good stuff as Bedard returns Black Alice to the book to follow-up on the sister thing from a few issues ago and Oracle continues her research into the Silicon Syndicate. 

But, a I said, I am worried about this comic.  I am worried that this will turn into the Misfit story and even though I like the character and I like the dynamic she brings to the book, I am not interested in this comic being focused on young teen hero.  There is Blue Beetle if I want that type of story.  But it doesn’t quite work in a title featuring a team of super heroes.  This should not turn into 90210 for the super hero set.  The story should focus on the mission for the birds.  And I understand that the school, with the nerds treated like royalty, could be part of the mission, part of the Silicon Syndicate, so I am fine with what is going on right now, but Bedard should not take it too far. 

I am also worried about the upcoming confrontation between Babs and Joker.  I can understand the appeal such a confrontation would have for Bedard, especially given the amount of tme that has passed with the two of them ever coming face to face.  But I think there are just too many ways in which it could go wrong that Bedard is setting himself up for some venom from the fans for not handling it correctly.  Frankly, I am not sure what would be the right way to handle the conversation.  Forgiveness. Anger.  Sadness.  Pity.  And therein lies the problem.  Babs has done so much to overcome her disability that perhaps the amount of time that has passed (if in the wonky DC universe time) has rendered such a meeting as meaningless.  I guess we’ll find out in a couple of issues. 

I would like to commend Bedard for good use of continuity by bringing in Huntress as a teacher at the new school.  I can’t remember the last time she was seen in her secret identity, so to see it now is a nice shot of continuity.  Plus, the scene kills two birds with two stones since it provides Bedard with an excuse to have a Bird of Prey close to Misfit. 

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