Archive for the ‘Birds of Prey’ Category
So that’s it, you’re breaking up the group…
When you’re only given one issue to conclude a major story line and break up a growing team of kick-ass women, there are worse ways to do it.
Or – “What Happens When I Continue To Fall Behind On Everything?”
What’s the scraping noise? Looks like the raccoon done busted out the heavy weapons, which means it’s time for another look at some of the comics that were too esoteric, too weird, or too numerous to look at individually: RAPID FIRE REVIEWS! BRAKKA BRAKKA BRAKKA! Make sure that the release lever is elevated, and that the debris shield is down, put on your safety goggles and PREpare… to REview!
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Well this can’t be good if it is true. Newsarama is reporting Robin, Nightwing, and Birds of Prey will all be ending their series in February 2009. Is this because of the Morrison RIP Batman title, or something else? It can’t be sales, because Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, and many other titles sell a lot fewer issues than these big supporting Batman tie-ins titles.
If the rumors of Robin being somehow behind R.I.P., that could explain why Chuck Dixon left the series in a very bizarre fashion, and why the Robin series may be coming to an end. Nightwing ended up on the operating table in Batman #680, awaiting a lobotomy, so that could point to an end there. Joker makes a return appearance in Birds of Prey, but I doubt DC would be foolish enough to carry the current storyline out for another three months just to see the torture of Barbara Gordon. Of course if Batman #666 is any clue, Barbara does eventually become commissioner of Gotham City, so that could be an out for this series as well.
The three series – coincidentally all originally written by Chuck Dixon, fleshed out the world of Batman in the comics, showcasing the original Robin, Dick Grayson, as Nightwing, Tim Drake as Robin and Barbra Gordon in Birds of Prey.
Sounds like DC may be lashing out at Dixon on this one…
Is everything Morrison’s doing? Will fans react in favor or opposition to these changes if DC has really drunk the Morrison Kool-aid?
Is this the end of all good things Batman, or will we see these series relaunch with new number ones in a few months?
It’s so bizarre…
Robin #183, Nightwing #153, and Birds of Prey #127 will end the Batman-related titles era, leaving only Batman and Detective Comics carrying on DC (and Warner Bros.) top selling property.
Sigh, it’s times like these that make me glad I’m reading more and more indie titles, and why I like what Frank Miller is doing in All-Star Batman and Robin. Don’t let this ruin your day completely, as we all now reboots are just around the corner following the Battle for the Cowl storyline.
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Or – “Three Weeks Of Comics In Handy Bite-Sized Servings!”
A side-effect of reading as many comics as I do comes when, after a particulary heavy week of reads, you find all the stories kind of blurring together into one. It makes for some pretty entertaining nightmares as well, like the one where Wonder Woman was guarding the galaxy against marauding zombies who wanted to shape-shift into teenagers and make out while simultaneously refitting all of our cars to fly and emit fire, and also giving our grandparents cyborg limbs that glow in the dark. So, I got that going for me… which is nice.
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Or – “I Think We Can Be Certain It’s Not Really Final…”
I started to try and write a big clever open, but y’know what?
RACCOON WITH A HEAVY MACHINE GUN!!!!!
How am I s’pose to top that?
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Or – “Because I’ve Fallen Further Behind Than Ever Before…”
I have to tell you, two weeks of being unable to type without crying like a little girl really makes your work pile up. The last couple of weeks of comics have been a tumultuous ride, with a whole lot of minor things happening that made me happy. An old favorite disappoints, while a surprise contender impresses the heck out of me. British vampires, time-lost Arcturans, underground civilizations, the chupacabra, and a fifty-foot stalk of marijuana await you, beyond the fold!
Or – “Hell, Man… I Only Have So Much Free Time!”
There seems to be a thing out there called “Real Life.” It’s composed mostly of things to annoy you and drain your wallet of cash, but sometimes it also feeds on your free time. One of the joys of this gig is getting to share the wondrous things that happen in comics and split the burdens of that which is terrible, which means I usually bite off more than I can chew in terms of comics that I’d like to review. Since this has happened yet again, it’s time to play catch-up (because mustard stains the carpet.)
Or, “From Giant Transforming Mafia Princess To Magic Hockey Stigmatism Geeks…”
Is it just me, or does Manhunter look remarkably like she’s telling that mysterious figure to knock off the bad Tor Johnson impersonation? “Would you please just get me my Pina Colada with an umbrella in it, please? Ed Wood is dead and I don’t feel so great myself, dangit!” Still, this issue heralds the return of Kate Spencer, Manhunter, to the ranks of the Birds of Prey, while another operative makes her graduation to the big leagues and Oracle has to evaluate her strategies… What are you waiting for? Click the link, wouldjas?
Or – “A Chick Fight? On The COVER? Gail Simone, Wherefore Art Thou?”
Lately in the DCU, I’ve seen a trend that I don’t really like. Gail Simone left Birds of Prey in order to handle a higher profile book, Wonder Woman. (In her defense, it’s apparently one of her dream gigs…) Now, Sean McKeever has revealed that he’ll be leaving the title as well, to better concentrate on Teen Titans and higher profile gigs. There’s no announcement as to who will take over the book when he leaves with #117, but I have to say that I’m disappointed with the seemingly cavalier way BoP is being treated, especially since it used to be among the best books that DC put out on a monthly basis…
Sean McKeever announced on his website Sunday that he was leaving DC’s Birds of Prey with issue #117, due out in April.
I was offered both Teen Titans and Birds of Prey at the same time. It became clear that I was going to be a bit behind on Teen Titans from the outset, and I unfortunately took longer to get up to speed than I would have liked. Because of this, I kept putting off Birds of Prey, where my debut was set for the end of the year. The thing is, I generally pride myself by being timely with my work, so the lateness on Teen Titans was stressing me out. The stress bred more lateness, which in turn bred more stress…and by late fall I was behind schedule on both series.
Due to these circumstances, I’ve had to leave Birds of Prey. My last issue will be April’s #117. I miss the characters already, especially considering the long-term plans I had for the title, but I’m pretty proud of the five issues I did write.
Birds of Prey #117
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Nicola Scott & Doug Hazelwood
Cover by Stephane Roux
Misfit and Manhunter are captured by the man responsible for the bizarre magical technology that has been threatening the Birds and all of Metropolis…leading Oracle to decide to relocate the team to try to take this new nemesis down for good.
Word on the street is Tony Bedard will be returning to the series as writer for issue #118 (cover after the jump.
Or – “A.V. Skills That Even Neil Goldman Would Envy…”
Barbara Gordon. Sooooper-geeeenius. Multiple degrees in everything, photographic memory, smart enough to give even the mighty Batman a run for his money. Used to dress up as a bat (albeit a super sexy spandexy go-go-boot-wearing bat) in an attempt to fight crime. Noah Cuttler. Evil sooooper-geeeenius. No degrees that we know of, a wicked case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, with a criminal mind sharp enough to vex nearly the entire Justice League. Used to wear a calculator on his chest (and make boxing gloves out of dust particles to punch people) in an attempt to prove that no crime-fighter could stop him. Two sides. One coin. Their usual M.O. is to combat one another remotely via servers and firewalls, but they’re about to get up close and personal…
Or – “Why The Huntress Is Not Black Canary In Five Easy Lessons.”
Howdy! I usually don’t go off on personal tangents in these recaps (because, really, why the #$&* would you care?) but much like the butcher who backed into the meat grinder, I’ve gotten a little behind in my work. Mea culpa… This issue came out LAST week, but I was busy runnin’ an’ runnin’ an’ runnin’ like a constipated weiner dog, I missed it in the pull list. But, nil desperandum, dear friends, I’m not going to let something like being an idiot deter me from my appointed rounds. After several superlative years of Gail Simone’s Birds of Prey, various powers have removed Gail and Black Canary from the book, to be replaced by Tony Bedard and The Huntress. One is a borderline Batman character, the other is DC’s new workhorse, and this issue is one of those “jumping-on points” you always hear about in Previews… Read the rest of this entry »
Or – “This Kind Of Awkward Conversation Actually Precedes MOST Marriages…”
I remember right before my wedding, when my pal Bruce (of Otter Disaster infamy) took my aside, and shared with me words of wisdom that I will never forget. It was March 31st, and he looked me in the eye and said, “If at any point tomorrow you say the words ‘April Fools…’ I will KNOCK YOU OUT.” Serves me right for getting married on April 1st, I suppose. Still, I don’t have any problem getting restaurant reservations on my anniversary every year, so who gets the last laugh now, ey? Hah? Anyway, now that Tony Bedard is writing the ENTIRE DC UNIVERSE, he’s tying up a few threads, and since Birds of Prey has ties to the Batman family, to Apokalips, and to the upcoming nuptuals of the Chairperson of the JLA, there’s a few bits of business that need dealing with.
Or – “Sometimes You Use Your Brain… Other Times, A Called Shot To The Spleen.”
There are a few characters in the DC Universe that everyone agrees you shouldn’t anger. Starfire. Batman. The Martian Manhunter. But, in my opinion, the most impressive displays of wrath have come from those whose tempers are less feared, but no less formidable. Recall the moment where Superman awoke and said that single word to Mongul: “Burn.” Or the moment where Buddy Baker found the man who killed his family. I can now add to those fearsome displays the moment where Babs Gordon shook off the influence of Spy Smasher’s intimidation tactics and decided to fight for her friends…
Or – “There Are Some Resurrections That You Just Don’t Complain About…”
Normally, I tend to rant about bringing characters back from the dead. It’s a convention that generally doesn’t work, and I think it’s no coincidence that the two forms of entertainment most guilty of using it (Comic Books and Soap Operas) have stigmas attached to their fanbase. But, frankly, Ice’s death was a cheap 90’s sales ploy carrying just about as much emotional weight as a chromium-embossed Bloodshot cover, and as hypocritical as it might make me seem, I’m gonna chalk up her return in the win column. Of course, she’s currently crazy, and ready to kill both Birds of Prey and Secret Six, so I supposed we have to call it a mixed blessing.
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