Birds of Prey #13 Reviewed

As always my review contains spoilers - if you don't want to know what happens in this issue of Birds of Prey then stop reading now!

Birds of Prey #13

Picking up immediately as the previous issue closed this second, and closing, instalment of Hostile Takeover - No Sentence Shall be Commuted - opens with Huntress urging Barbara Gordon - Helena Bertinelli and Barbara Gordon - to abort the Birds of Prey's latest mission: unfortunately due to a breakdown in communication with Black Canary and Dove Babs explains that isn't going to be possible.

From the tunnels deep below Gotham City Huntress, accompanied by The Question Renee Montoya, explains that whoever 'Junior' is they need to proceed with the utmost caution: after all she - Junior - "made Catman afraid. Catman".

With a heavy heart Babs explains that yes, she's heard a little about Junior - she once ran the west coast organised crime syndicate but stayed 'off the radar' by relying on basics like a telephone and a note book ... there's little or no trace of her.

Reaching street level Huntress announces that if they can't warn the Birds to make their exit then the only thing they can do is fetch them and get them to safety. With that she and The Question jump on Huntress's motorcycle and head across the city.

Back at Kord Tower and Barbara is looking for an answer - how can she find out more about Alex Merkel, also known as Junior. Almost out of nowhere her moment of reflection is broken by Creote who quickly offers his and Savant's assistance ... an offer that is initially rejected before Babs realises that an answer may be closer to home that she initially thought.

Savant and Creote have their own criminal connections of course.

Elsewhere and Black Canary and Dove, Dinah Lance and Dawn Grainger, are literally in the dark trying to contend with blade-wielding Junior. Despite their undoubted combat skills - including Dinah's Canary Cry and Dawn's ability to fly - they are certainly coming off second best as feet, fists and blades fly.

With both women grounded Junior moves in for her final act - the "Mercy killing" as she calls it - and using the darkness to her advantage she surprises Dove and stabs her in the back. As her partner falls to the ground Dinah believes that the battle has been lost.

Many floors above and Zinda Blake, Lady Blackhawk, is receiving a beating of her own from the odorous Mr Tripe, in terms of day to day activities the head man. Demanding to know who sent her and what she and her team want Tripe reminds Zinda that there's nothing - nothing - that he can be threatened with and he won't allow anyone to touch his employer.

Down on the ground floor Hank Hall finds himself held at gunpoint by Tripe's assistants - sisters Trissa and Somnia Lachess. Realising that the phone call Trissa has received is unlikely to be good news he transforms into Hawk as the two women open fire. Through what appear at first to be inconsequential verbal jibes the sisters reveal that their clothing, as well as being very stylish, has a practical function: it isolates them from the electric charge that they subject Hawk to.

Recovering from his 'shock' Hawk surprises the women by getting back to his feet and telling them that now he's really, really, not happy.

Returning to the basements and Dinah senses that following the attack Dawn is fast fading. Gathering her in her arms Dinah is in no doubt that if her friend is to survive she need medical attention - but with Junior lurking in the shadows how can that be possible.

Moments later Dinah's words of encouragement and comfort for Dawn are broken as their attacker runs at them - and not a moment too soon the room is filled with her Canary Cry ... an act that buys them a little breathing space at least.

Back at Kord Tower Barbara is on the telephone - and it's clear she's not having an easy or enjoyable conversation. On the other end of the line is Catman - Thomas Blake - and Babs appears to have touched a nerve with him: she realises that two of the most important things in his life are money - which he declines - and Huntress.

With Huntress in trouble Catman reveals that he's prepared to listen.

Across the city and Huntress and The Question are on their target buildings roof-top discussing their next actions. Understanding that contrary to security at ground level their best entry point might be from the roof the women are sent flying to the ground as a helicopter rises from the side of the building, opening fire on them. Seizing the moment Huntress runs, leaps and grabs onto the aircraft before climbing up and taking out the gunman and taking the pilot captive.

Down below her friends and team mates appear to be making some progress - Zinda knocks Tripe to the ground with a well placed head butt as Dinah, carrying Dawn makes way up the stairs towards safety. Realising, however, that with Dawn's condition worsening time was very much against them Dinah decides it's time for one, possibly final, stand. With Junior hidden by the darkness Dinah calls her forward ... "Come on and try your luck, why don't you?".

As Junior steps forward the basement is flooded with light - intelligence courtesy of Catman and Barbara - which momentarily gives Dinah an advantage - an advantage that's doubled as she's joined by Huntress. With The Question now holding the helicopter pilot prisoner Huntress sets about Junior and with one swift kick knocks her off the staircase and down and down back into the bowels of the basement.

Gathering Dawn into her arms and heading for the roof Huntress explains that it was thanks to the Canary Cry she was able locate her - and the fact that she's the Huntress of course.

Half an hour or so later Dinah, Zinda and Helena are debriefing with Barbara back at Kord Tower. Realising that things didn't exactly go to plan, and recognising Helena's actions in rescuing the team, Babs 'promotes' her to new field leader - an appointment that understandably smarts with Dinah, initially at least. Zinda sounds a further word of caution by reminding the team that with no body there's no proof that Junior is actually dead.

With such a dangerous opponent who will now have both allies as well as weapons, Barbara explains, there's only one reason why they would go back.

"She hurt my girls".


End. Thirteen issues of Gail Simone's Birds of Prey series and that's it now before the much publicised DC reboot. Rather like the series as a whole this current two-part story-arc was at times enjoyable - particularly through issue #12 - at other times frustrating and just a little unsatisfactory - most of this issue I felt - and overall best summed-up as okay with a sense that okay just hasn't been good enough.

Whether it's me projecting what we know about this titles future but this issue felt like it was rushed, a compromise. Issue #12 did a great job, in my opinion, of setting up what was promising to be an engaging, thrilling story. This issue - again for me, others will no doubt feel differently - left me with a sense of 'what could have been', a feeling of frustration.

One of my first frustrations was to see another new artist on the book - ironically I rather liked Diego Olmos's work (one or two somewhat inconsistent panels aside) but this simply added to my regret that the publisher hadn't settled on a good artist to work on the title and stick with them.

I appreciated Olmos's subtly when capturing the emotions our central characters were experiencing - the almost blind panic of Huntress, Barbara feeling helpless as she believes she's run out of ideas, Zinda's 'never say die' attitude, Dinah's sense that for once she has found herself out of her depth. Emotions captured not just through facial expressions but through implied movement and fluidity of body language.

As always, much credit for the look and feel - and therefore my enjoyment - of this issue goes to colourist Nei Ruffino for his magnificent work.

The story just felt rushed - maybe it was and had to be - and this was probably my greatest frustration. There were too many 'conveniences', too many aspects that went unexplored: I'd have liked to seen the Birds extraction from the building ... what happened to Tripe? ... and the sisters Lachess? ... why hadn't Dinah used her Cry sooner? ... did Barbara really need Catman to prompt her to turn on the lights? (!) ... wouldn't Huntress, or someone, look to check whether Junior was actually dead?

Some or all of these aspects may well have been areas that writer Gail Simone would have liked to explore given more time and pages but, as we know, that isn't the case in the current DCU unfortunately.

I did approve of the decision to appoint Huntress as the teams new "field leader" - in Barbara's own words she's certainly "earned it" I'd agree. Recent issues of Birds of Prey have served as a showcase for Huntress and, as I've said before, I've been reminded what a fantastically complicated character she is.

Banner advertisement aside (see my comments for Batgirl #22!) I enjoyed this issues cover - covers have undoubtedly been a strength of this series and this image very much continued the feel of 'Mission: Impossible' that I took from the previous issue.

Finishing as I started, and in summary, this was a decent read - certainly not bad but by the same token not quite as good as I'd hoped and expected.

Would I recommend picking up the series at the moment? With everything that's happening at the publisher over the coming months then I'd have to say no. Will these single issues make for an enjoyable read when collected? Yes, I believe they will.

Birds of Prey #13
Written by Gail Simone, art by Diego Olmos, colours by Nei Ruffino, letters by Carlos M. Mangual, cover art and cover by Jesus Saiz
Published by DC Comics, August 2011

[Interior artwork source: IGN]

Birds of Prey #12 Reviewed

As always my review contains spoilers - if you don't want to know what happens in this issue of Birds of Prey then stop reading now.

Birds of Prey #12

Our story opens three weeks ago as two young women - "Misses Lachess" - stand in an office in an impressive-looking building before a smartly dressed, elderly businessman known as Mr Tripe.

Tripe refuses the women the opportunity to sit as he explains he enjoys disadvantaging others on first meeting. Lighting a cigarette he produces an ink-blot image and asks what they see.

The answers - a bunch of flowers, pretty flowers - disappoint. Rather surprisingly the women are asked to temporarily remove their blouses, an act that reveals several unsightly scars they they refuse to talk about.

What relevance do these scars have when they are interviewing for jobs as receptionists one of the woman demands.

Mr Tripe, by now losing his patience, explains in no uncertain terms that these aren't receptionist jobs - they are there to interview for the role of personal assistants to the owner of the firm: a Mister J.

Showing the ink-blot once again this time the women give Tripe the answer that he wanted to hear - it's a woman's crushed skull; a woman's entrails. Clearly impressed Tripe immediately hires the pair and explains that they must start this evening ... but they won't be working in this office.

Elsewhere, Renee Montoya - aka The Question - crouches over a manhole cover with crowbar in hand. As she's about to lift the cover she's joined by Huntress aka Helena Bertinelli and after a brief exchange - "Q", "H" - they get down to business ... is The Question really going into the underground tunnels with a storm on the way? Doesn't Huntress have something else she could be doing? Someone else she could be troubling?

With neither woman being known for their patience these questions go unanswered as Montoya drops down the access chute and in one swift movement takes out an armed lookout. As Huntress joins her Montoya explains that there's a "buy going down tonight" - weapons for drugs.

Drawing her flash light Montoya brushes aside Bertinelli's remark that she has something to ask her, something that will make a difference, as she sets off into the tunnel complex. Failing to take the hint that her prescence isn't required Huntress continues after her, demanding to know why her help on this case isn't welcome - the answer, we learn, is that everyone involved in the "buy" is a police officer: and The Question wants to go it alone.

Returning above ground and to the entrance to the earlier city office building Mr Tripe, joined by his two new female employees, welcomes a Miss Hargison and her entourage. Miss Hargison, we learn, is none other than Lady Blackhawk, also known as Zinda Blake, and her entourage consists of Black Canary aka Dinah Lance, Dove aka Dawn Grainger, and Hawk aka Hank Hall.

Shamelessly flirting with Tripe while passing through the buildings security "Miss Hargison" asks Tripe if they can be alone, after all she feels safe in his presence. Despite their protestations Tripe dismisses his own security personnel - the aforementioned Miss Lachess, Triss and Somnia - and as he and Zinda enter the lift alone Dinah activates her comms link to Oracle - Barbara Gordon - who confirms that they now have two minutes during which the security cameras will be off line.

"And Zinda's laying it on a bit thick, isn't she?"

Now that they are alone Zinda pauses the lift, turns to grab Tripe by his suit lapels and kisses him firmly on the lips before explaining that she's being blackmailed about events earlier in her life ... and she needs his help. At exactly the same time Dawn and Dinah pry open the lift-shaft doors and swing out into the void, heading down the shaft using a series of access ladders while carefully avoiding the motion detectors.

Back in the tunnel complex below Gotham City Huntress and The Question continue their conversation - The Question isn't concerned for her or Huntresses safety - she's concerned for the safety of the officers. Issuing one final warning that their prey must not be harmed - "punctured" as she puts it. Leaping into the crowded chamber where the deal is being done Huntress catches the men unaware, swiftly taking several of them down. As others try to make their escape The Question joins her friend and likewise disarms a number of the startled policemen.

As a flurry of bullets rip into a soft canvas bag bank notes fill the air before settling on the surface of the water and being swept away. At the same time The Question disarms an officer and knocks him out using the butt of his gun ... meaning she's left holding the weapon. Fearing that one of their visitors is now armed one of the men focuses his attention on this new threat as "Bam" she's knocked off her feet and into the water pool.

This proves to be one act too far for Huntress as with a swift kick and a strong headlock she disarms two more threats before forcing the shooter into the water and threatening to drown him in revenge for his attack. As her patience is running out she feels a firm hand on her shoulder, looks up before hugging The Question with a mixture of joy and relief.

"Bullet wound. Bullet wound".

Recovering from his own water ordeal the shooter pleads with the two women that they kill him. That they kill them all. Continuing, he explains that his wife's sister had been kidnapped before being tortured for three full hours - and he and his wife had been forced to watch the gruesome events on video afterwards.

Back in the upmarket office building and Mr Tripe thanks his guest - Zinda - for such a "charming moment", and expressing his willingness to take things further. As Tripe goes on to explain that he is in fact dying that same moment Triss and Somnia Lachess, realising that everything is not as it at first seemed, draw their weapons on Hawk demanding to know what he and his friends are up to.

Elsewhere in the same building Dinah and Dove have finally found their way to the basement floors and as the lights go off they are taken aback by what they've seen - graffiti covers the walls and dolls hang from the ceiling. In another area of the basement the two women come across another curious sight - a wooden chest, a telephone and a notepad.

Back with Zinda and Tripe is explaining that he's not afraid of death because he's found his "saviour" - and she has remarkable abilities. "Alexa Deborah Merkel ... daughter of the mass murderer, The Ragdoll".

Returning to Huntress and The Question in the tunnels deep beneath street level and Huntress has heard enough. Over the comms unit she urges Barbara to get Black Canary and the team out and away from Tripe and his people.

"Get them all out now!"

Amid the darkness of their basement neither Dinah or Dawn realise that they have been joined by a third party ...

'Hostile Takeover, A Thin Edge Directly to the Brain' continues.


Regular readers will know that, as much as I've been enjoying Birds of Prey over the past dozen issues, it's fallen short in a number of areas for me. I think this latest issue from Gail Simone and Jesus Saiz may just have been, for me, the best for a good while.

Jesus Saiz's dynamic, confident cover immediately set the tone - as many of the earlier issues had it "... when the heroes are in trouble they call the Birds of Prey" - with the team casually strolling away from a burning, crumbling building: an image straight out of the original A Team (and I mean that in a good way!). Gail Simone's story had a 'Mission Impossible' feel about it, her dialogue in places sparse, in places rich and elaborate.

It cannot be a coincidence that as the book has focused more on Helena Bertinelli/Huntress my enjoyment has risen. In this story Huntress appears at first to be featuring in something of a 'backup' feature as she ties in with Renee Montoya/The Question to break up a ring of crooked police officers - by the end of the issue it was obvious that this thread is to be integral to the larger story. I find it hard to believe that Huntress doesn't have a significant role to play in the new DC Universe.

I particularly enjoyed the introduction of several new characters - Mr Tripe and the sisters Trissa and Somnia Lachess. Tripe - very appropriately named I thought - came across as a vile yet equally charming man: indifferent, hard, uncaring with his own people yet personable, welcoming, humble even towards others.

The sisters clearly have a wider history than we're currently privy to - I found myself wondering what's brought them to Tripe's office, obviously how they received their horrendous scars and precisely what did they need to do to 'serve their time'. I'm looking forward to finding out more.

The sense of 'Mission Impossible' was captured through the scenes involving Zinda, Dinah, Dawn and Barbara and their elaborate plans to penetrate the 'inner sanctum' of Tripe's headquarters. With Barbara back at base calling the shots these pages held a genuine sense of excitement and tension for me - if, as we are told, the relaunched Birds of Prey is to draw more heavily on the 'dark ops' aspects then I may, after all, be picking it up.

If I've got one gripe about the story, it's the name of our 'master villain'. While I appreciate it must be incredibly difficult to keep creating new, larger-than-life, characters the name "Junior" failed to deliver the sense of fear that the closing scene truly deserved. In fact, I'd go as far as to say it undermined that scene.

Both the cover and interior art from Jesus Saiz were very much to my liking. For me one of Saiz's strengths is his ability to portray emotion through facial expressions. The sisters Lachess appeared at times weak and brittle, at times strong and confident; Zinda was captured as playing both a confident and yet vulnerable woman; I was reminded that Helena is both determined and playful. All of these personalities captured through facial expressions.

Once again credit must go to colourist Nei Ruffino for the wonderfully deep tones throughout the book - the scenes set in the underground tunnels felt cold and dank to me; those set in and around Tripe's offices had a warmth and comfort to them that was in complete contrast to that on the basement floors. Along with Guy Major on Batgirl these guys have really helped me appreciate the work of the colourist.

Over recent issues this title has been, for me, at best a decent read. This latest issue, however, was hugely enjoyable and suggests that this short story-arc could be one of the most enjoyable yet. Having struggled somewhat, in my opinion, to find its feet over the past year or so, it would be ironic, and a great shame, if it finally stands tall just as the series is coming to a close.

Birds of Prey #12
Written by Gail Simone, art by Jesus Saiz, colours by Nei Ruffino, letters by Carlos M. Mangual, cover by Jesus Saiz
Published by DC Comics, July 2011

Magdalena #1 / The Brave and The Bold #33

When my fortnightly comic book delivery arrived earlier this week - somewhat delayed by a combination of volcanic ash and the May Day public holiday - there were a couple of titles that particularly caught my eye.

First up, is The Magdalena #1, the new ongoing series from Top Cow. I'd been looking forward to reading this issue for a while - I'm a big fan of Top Cow in general as regular readers will know and I'd enjoyed the previous Magdalena stories that I'd read: this first issue certainly didn't disappoint.

I was initially a little apprehensive about the book to be honest - early page previews (albeit unlettered) that I'd seen didn't quite connect with me: I thought the art looked a little 'cold' in places, some of the figures appeared a bit 'starchy'.

Thankfully, on the printed page my concerns were dispelled as I was treated to a fantastic read - what else would you expect from Ron Marz? - complemented by some impressive, distinctive interior art and a stunning cover (of the seven different covers I received cover A).

The book will satisfy, I suspect, readers new and old, those that have a history with the character and those that don't - there was just enough explanation that it didn't feel laboured whilst at the same time enough story progression that this didn't feel like an 'origins' issue.

With a hefty dose of intrigue, cynicism, danger and the depth of back-story I've come to expect from books set within the Top Cow Universe this book was a treat from cover to cover and I'm already looking forward to the second issue.

The Magdalena #1
Written by Ron Marz with art by Nelson Blake II, Sal Regla and Dave McCaig, cover A by Ryan Sook
Published by Top Cow Productions, April 2010, $3.99


From one female lead to three and The Brave and the Bold #33 - not a book I usually pick up and as such I started reading with little or no expectation of what to expect: I'd hoped to be entertained and have some fun ... and that's exactly what I got - plus plenty more.

This particular 'lost story of yesterday' - Ladies' Night - featured Wonder Woman, Zatanna and Batgirl - Barbara Gordon's Batgirl no less - coming together for a girls-night out on the town. Led initially by Zatanna the three women put aside their regular 'duties' and head for the nightclub where we see an initially shy, somewhat timid Barbara finally letting her hair down in the company of her friends.

Expecting little more than a light-hearted story - dare I say a 'romp'! - I didn't, on first read at least, pick up on some of the strange behaviour and comments from both Zatanna and Wonder Woman and it was only when the name Oracle started to be bandied about that I realised there was something going on ... and even then I just assumed it was nothing more than a clumsy nod to young Barbara's future: I really should have known better.

I'm not going to say much more about the storyline, as I wouldn't want to lessen the impact of the 'punchline', other than to say I've found my mind wandering back to this story countless times since first read and feeling a curious mix of enjoyment, sadness and regret.

Superbly written by JMS - of course - with some delightful interior art from Chiang - who I've not always been a huge fan of but in this book, for me, he's found the right combination of 'light-hearted' without being too 'cartooney'. The cover, by Jesus Saiz, is also particularly eye catching - another candidate for a great looking poster I think.

Very much a bitter-sweet tale - if you wouldn't usually read The Brave and the Bold but have even just a passing interest in the three central characters I heartily recommended picking up this book.

The Brave and the Bold #33
Written by J. Michael Straczynski with art by Cliff Chiang and cover by Jesus Saiz
Published by DC Comics, June 2010, $2.99