There are a lot of comics out there, but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we take flight with the “Birds of Prey,” and see what makes this team of DC’s assorted power gals such a great read.
Who’s This By?
“Birds of Prey” is written by Kelly Thompson, perhaps best known (at least among Multiversity staff) as the co-creator of Jeff the Land Shark.
Do I need to say any more? … I’ve just been informed that I do. Kelly Thompson has written some of the most entertaining comics Marvel has seen in ages, including a Kate Bishop-focused run of “Hawkeye,” “West Coast Avengers,” and 50 issues of “Captain Marvel.” And of course, she keeps Jeff the Land Shark in focus in both her run on “Deadpool” and the “It’s Jeff” Infinity Comics.
Outside of Marvel, she’s known for her run on “Jem and the Holograms” for IDW, “Nancy Drew” for Dynamite Comics, and “Mighty Morphin’ power Rangers: Pink” for Boom! Studios. “Birds of Prey” is her first full foray into DC Comics, outside of a story in “Harley Quinn: Black, White, and Redder.”
Leonardo Romero provides the artwork, drawing from his experience on comics like “Black Hammer: Visions,” “Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor,” and “Shuri,” to name a few. His artwork has a unique style to it, almost old-school in its general aesthetic, but still overflowing with detail. His action scenes are particularly notable, creating incredibly dynamic fights that make full use of the page and panel to make each impact count.
The colors by Jordie Bellaire complement Romero’s illustrations nicely, using a selection of paler shades that add to the old school aesthetic of the art. The color work makes good use of contrasting shades, making the reds, blues, and yellows of the protagonists’ outfits stand out against the backgrounds and enhancing the action.
What’s it All About?
Black Canary needs a team to rescue Sin, her sister. Except she’s being held by the Amazons in Themyscira, which is currently more or less at war with the United States. And if she fails, the world is doomed.
So naturally she assembles a team of some of the toughest gals the DC Universe has to offer, consisting of Cassandra Cain, Big Barda, Zealot, and of course, Harley Quinn. This also brings us a version of Mia Mizoguchi from a probably apocalyptic future (now going by “Meridian” instead of “Maps”), which came as a surprise to fans of her character from “Gotham Academy” and “We Are Robin.”
This leads to a mission to infiltrate Themyscira, plenty of amazing fight scenes, and big threats that this team must unite to overcome. Oh, and banter, plenty of banter as they clash with each other and learn to work as a team.
What Makes it So Great?
In short? It’s fun. There’s a lot to enjoy, both narratively and artistically. Kelly Thompson has gathered an assortment of both fan-favorite and underrated characters to put into a team, and we get to see how they work together or fall apart. Sure, we’ve got Harley Quinn being herself to add a sense of irreverence, but we also get to see Cassandra Cain and Big Barda working together, Zealot fighting against multiple Amazon warriors, and Black Canary struggling to make it work as a team leader.
All the while, the threats keep growing, and we begin to see what it is that’s truly putting the world at risk.
The dialogue is solid, with every character having a strong voice that comes through in every line and overflowing with personality. The story balances plot, stakes, and a bit of humor as necessary, including some amazing scenes that are only possible in comics, from clashes in a magic marketplace to infiltrating an island via megalodon. But the internal conflicts are there adding extra tension to the team and giving them room to grow as we go. And of course, every character gets a chance to shine; no one is left out or made weak to make the others look better, whether they’re part of the team, assisting them, or opposing them.
Continued belowVisually, Leonardo Romero brings his distinct artistic stylings to “Birds of Prey,” enhanced by Jordie Bellaire’s color work. Where it really shines is during the action scenes, where the dialogue takes a backseat and Romero’s artwork is allowed to shine. We get everything from a series of consecutive panels showing a character in action to full-page spreads showcasing multiple characters fighting across a single scene, with each moment flowing nicely into the next. When an impact needs to hit hard, it hits so hard the entire page shows it. And when something needs to look big and intimidating, it’s given all the space it needs to really make the effect sink in.
Great characters with fantastic team dynamics, artwork that makes the action stand out above the crowd, and color work that makes the characters pop all work together to make “Birds of Prey” a must-read.
Where Can I Read it?
“Birds of Prey” issue #4 is out today at your friendly local comic shop, as well as online on the DC Comics website and Comixology. You can also catch up on the first three issues wherever comics are sold. While there’s no trade paperback yet (because, well, it’s only up to issue 4), now’s still a great time to get started and see what makes this “Birds of Prey” team one well worth following.
