DCU Comic Book Reviews

BIRDS OF PREY #123

A Woman Of Backbone

December 2008

Written by Tony Bedard

Pencils by Michael O'Hare

Inks by John Floyd

Cover by Stephane Roux

Synopsis

At Clocktower Systems, The Joker is searching for Oracle.  Barbara Gordon (aka Oracle) is able to convince him that Oracle isn’t there until the police arrive, forcing the Joker to flee.  Afterwards, Oracle decides she needs to contact the Calculator, the one who has been supplying Oracle with the information she needs on the Silicon Syndicate.  Oracle devises a scheme to bring the Calculator to Platinum Flats in order to draw out the Syndicate.  Calculator sends an e-mail to the Syndicate and they agree to meet with him.  Except for the joker, who suddenly realizes it had been Barbara Gordon he has been talking to.  As he heads back to find her, the Joker wonders how much it cost to send a head to Gotham City. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This issue was (somewhat) saved by the ending.  And I don’t mean to suggest that ending was anything spectacular or was a major cliffhanger that changes the plot in some way.  No, the ending (somewhat) saves this issue because Bedard as been inching towards the Oracle/Joker confrontation for several issues and if that moment was the scene at the beginning of the issue, then it seems like an opportunity missed.  By planting the seeds for that confrontation in next issue, it doesn’t make the initial scene a (complete) waste.  And while I liked the scene and I liked the way it played out (and I can understand if the Joker might not recognize Barbara), it was infuriating that it lead to nowhere, which is why I keep adding the “somewhat” qualifiers in this review.  Frankly, I am annoyed at the bait and switch tactics.  Or the delay tactic.  Or the decompression or what ever you want to call it.  Essentially this issue ends much like the previous issue:  with the promise of a showdown between Oracle and the Joker.  That makes this issue kinda useless; you could skip over it and not miss anything. 

Actually, what you would miss is the air leaking out of the Silicon Syndicate.  Up until now, they were portrayed as corporate villains, with a metahuman Visionary designed to make sure they get what they want.  In previous issues they were finally pictured and now we get to learn who they are.  And, frankly, it sucks.  All of these characters are horribly lame.  Are you telling me this is the best they can cam up with?  I actually think it would be better to keep them as faceless suits rather than try to turn them into meta villains or super villains.

However, I do like the Calculator scenes.  Bedard’s depiction of the Calculator works for me and I like the way Oracle tricks him into thinking he is seeing her for the first time.  Plus, I like the ambiguity of the ending.  Is Calculator setting up Oracle and the Birds or is this just part of the plan to set up the Syndicate.  I just wish the rest of the issue was more like this. 

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