Birds of Prey (comic book)
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- For other meanings of the term, see Birds of Prey (disambiguation).
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Birds of Prey is a comic book published by DC Comics that features the adventures of a group of superheroines who initially are based in Gotham City and later in Metropolis. The series was conceived by Jordan Gorfinkle and originally written by Chuck Dixon. As of 2007, it is scripted by Gail Simone (whose first issue was #56). Artists include Ed Benes and Joe Bennett; Nicola Scott began a stint as an artist with issue #100.
Despite the title of the series being Birds of Prey, the term is not mentioned in the title until issue #86, when Zinda suggests it as a fitting name for the team. However, the other characters get sidetracked and do not respond to her suggestion. Oracle refers to the group by that name in a conversation with the new Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes[1] and later within the series.[2]
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[edit] Main characters
- Oracle (Barbara Gordon) — formerly known as Batgirl, who was wheelchair-bound following an attack by the Joker. She is the founder and brains of the team, possessing a massive information network and expert hacking skills.
- Black Canary (Dinah Lance) — a tough, but good-natured and idealistic streetfighter. Barbara and Dinah are best friends (Barbara having helped Dinah through low periods in Dinah's life) and form the nucleus of the team. In addition to her meta-power, an ultrasonic attack known as the "Canary Cry", she is also a highly skilled martial artist. However, in Issue #99 she announces her departure from the team, issue #100 discussed her reasons for departure.
- Huntress (Helena Bertinelli) — avenger-turned-vigilante. Prone to use of excessive force, this former mafia princess was devastated at a young age when her family was killed in a mob hit. Trained by her assassin cousin in the art of violence, she declared war on the mob in the name of justice.
- Lady Blackhawk (Zinda Blake) — A time-displaced 1940s character, Zinda serves as the team's aviatrix and pilot of the Aerie One. She is an expert marksman, well trained with handling various types of firearms.
[edit] Recurring characters
- Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) — A former Justice Leaguer with a crush on Barbara. Kord is murdered in Countdown to Infinite Crisis, and the main characters visit his grave in Valhalla Cemetery in Birds of Prey #96.
- Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) — The daughter of assassin David Cain and Lady Shiva, she is her mother's equal as a martial artist. Cassandra has apparently abandoned the role of Batgirl and returned to her life as a wanderer and/or assassin.
- Catwoman (Selina Kyle) — A feline-styled anti-heroine, Selina has co-operated with the team on several operations. With Kyle having retired as of One Year Later, it is unknown if the new Catwoman (Holly Robinson) will join in Kyle's place.
- Creote — A former KGB agent, Creote is a devoted servant and only friend to Savant; he is also secretly in love with his master.
- Gypsy (Cindy Reynolds) — Gypsy debuts at the end of Birds of Prey #92. She is a metahuman and her powers include creating illusions, camouflaging herself, and others near her, to blend into any background.
- Jade Canary (Sandra Wu-San) — The assassin more commonly known as Lady Shiva took Dinah's spot on the Birds of Prey team as of One Year Later, calling herself the Jade Canary. After the conditions behind the switch she arranged with the Black Canary had been met, she departed from the team. In a final act, she acquired a new apprentice to train, in the form of Bethany Thorne, Crime Doctor's daughter.
- Josh — A rental car agent who bargained with Huntress — information in exchange for a date. After reluctantly agreeing and (surprisingly) sleeping with him, Huntress has used Josh as an agent in some of her easier tasks against the mob.
- Nightwing (Dick Grayson) — Dashing crimefighter and the original Robin, Dick enjoyed a mutual teenage crush on Barbara that once blossomed into a steamy romance, but has crumbled despite continued strong feelings on both sides. Recently, Barbara and Dick reconciled. As they did, Dick dropped to one knee and proposed; a tearful Barbara said "yes." As of One Year Later, the engagement appears to be off.
- Power Girl (Karen Starr aka Kara Zor-L) — Power Girl was Oracle's first operative, before she took in Black Canary. This first partnership was doomed since Power Girl was unable to save a shipload of people. She has worked occasionally with Oracle in subsequent episodes but the two have a very poor relationship; she was invited to return to the team in Issue #100 but stated she would do so "when Hell freezes over".
- Savant (Brian Durlin) — Spoiled heir to an enormous fortune, Savant moved to Gotham to become a self-styled vigilante. After kidnapping and brutally torturing Black Canary, he was defeated by the Birds. Oracle made the questionable decision to rehabilitate him, mainly in order to keep his data files on hundreds of real villains. Like his namesake, he is a genius; however, due to a chemical imbalance he exhibits a non-linear memory. Savant has also exhibited feelings for Oracle, probably rooted in his envy of her computer skills.
- Vixen (Mari Jiwi McCabe) — An international supermodel and former Justice League and Suicide Squad member, Mari was born in Africa. She inherited her family's "Tantu" totem, a necklace granting the wearer the ability to channel the skills/abilities of any animal. Vixen has been a field agent for Oracle, accompanying Huntress to the Pacific Northwest to stop a meta-human worshipping cult.
- Wildcat (Ted Grant) — Former professional boxer and current member of the Justice Society, Ted serves as a mentor to Dinah and has helped her on several missions.
- In issue #100, Big Barda (Barda Free), Judomaster (Tatsu Yamashiro), and Manhunter (Kate Spencer) are invited by Oracle as new team members.
- Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders) - Oracle solicits her assistance in issue #104 in dealing with the Secret Six, for which Oracle rewards her with a car.
[edit] Running Gags
Birds of Prey features several running gags involving team members:
- Black Canary has little proficiency – and even less interest – in computers.
- Lady Blackhawk has a strong like for (but not addiction to) alcoholic beverages; in Birds of Prey #100 she claims she can order beer in 30 languages.
[edit] Comic Book Appearances
- Showcase 96 #3 (Mar 1996)
- Black Canary/Oracle: Birds of Prey #1 (1996)
- Birds of Prey: Manhunt #1-4 (Sep-Dec 1996)
- Birds of Prey: Revolution #1 (1997)
- Birds of Prey: Wolves #1 (Oct 1997)
- Birds of Prey: Batgirl #1 (Feb 1998)
- Birds of Prey: The Ravens #1 (Jun 1998)
- Birds of Prey (monthly series, Jan 1999 - ongoing)
- Birds of Prey: Secret Files and Origins 2003 (Aug 2003)
[edit] Other media
[edit] TV series
The comic was also loosely adapted to a television series, Birds of Prey. Set in an alternate future of the DC Universe, the show starred Dina Meyer as Oracle and Ashley Scott as Huntress, established partners in New Gotham. Meyer's Oracle was the paralyzed former Batgirl; Scott's Huntress was the daughter of Batman and a meta-human Catwoman, and as such exhibited feline powers.
Joined in the pilot episode by a young psychic runaway named Dinah (played by Rachel Skarsten), the team spent 13 episodes stopping various meta-human threats such as Huntress' old high school friend Shiva and a thinly-veiled Nightwing knockoff, the dangerous "Darkstrike" (previously known as "Nightstrike" until the similarity to Nightwing prompted the change). Other main cast members included Shemar Moore as Huntress' love interest Detective Jake Reese, and Mia Sara as the villainous Dr. Harleen Quinzel (Harley Quinn). Lori Loughlin was a notable guest star, playing Dinah's meta-human mother: the Black Canary.
The theme song was "Revolution" by Aimee Allen, and the show was developed by Laeta Kalogridis.
[edit] Justice League Unlimited
Gail Simone scripted the Justice League Unlimited episode "Double Date." She originally intended the episode to feature a temporarily house-bound Batgirl contacting Huntress and Black Canary to complete a case for her, but the "Bat-Embargo" necessitated the removal of Barbara from the story and taking it in a different direction (showcasing the Huntress/Question team).[1]
[edit] Collections
- Birds of Prey (2002) - collects Black Canary/Oracle: Birds of Prey, Birds of Prey: Manhunt, Birds of Prey: Revolution and a story from Showcase '96 #3.
- Birds of Prey: Old Friends, New Enemies (2003) - collects Birds of Prey: Wolves, Bird of Prey: Batgirl and Birds of Prey #1 - 5.
- Batman: Bruce Wayne - Murderer? - includes material from #39 - 40.
- Batman: Bruce Wayne - Fugitive - includes #41 and 43.
- Batman: Officer Down - includes #27.
- Birds of Prey: Of Like Minds (2004); (#56 - 61).
- Birds of Prey: Sensei & Student (2005); (#62 - 68).
- Birds of Prey: Between Dark & Dawn (2006); (#69 - 75).
- Birds of Prey: The Battle Within (2006); (#76 - 85).
- Birds of Prey: Perfect Pitch (2007); (#86 - 90 and #92 - 95).
- Birds of Prey: Blood and Circuits (2007); (#96 - 103).
[edit] External links
- Canary Noir (Birds of Prey fansite)
- Cosmic Teams entry
- THE SIMONE FILES I: BIRDS OF PREY
- GAIL SIMONE ON BIRDS OF PREY #104
[edit] References
- ^ Blue Beetle #4
- ^ Birds of Prey #101
