Black Canary has always been an interesting character for me. She’s always been more of the very edge of the mainstream DC world with a few notable stint in the JLA. Writers have put her through so much over the years in her various incarnations, so when DC announced a solo book for the character I was pretty excited. As this is my first review with the site I didn’t get to cover issue one, but I did read it. Can this month’s tale hold up under pressure, and can writer Brenden Fletcher weave a tale worthy of our Black Canary? The short answer is yes; The long answer is yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssss.
In the wake of their first major fight, Dinah’s realized that her new band-mates are completely unprepared to keep themselves alive in a scrap…so it’s time for a training montage! (Cue the squealing guitars!) Plus: Who is Bo Maeve, and why does she hate Black Canary so much?
While this is essentially a new Black Canary book, the world of comics never truly “reboots” no matter how hard it may try to convince us it does. Black Canary is still a rock and roll singer picking up where she left off in the previous Batgirl series. Still, she makes mention early on in the book about once being married (A callback nod to vintage Green Arrow I assume) and learning how to shoot. While her age is never given in the book, the art style makes her seem pretty young, especially if you remember her from Batgirl. Still, the book does a really great catch-up in the guise of a news report plastered over a colorful two-page spread.
Things get off to a slow start, so if you are expecting some action it’s not here. If on the other hand you are looking for some character development and fleshing out of story in an engaging way, then you won’t be disappointed. Everyone’s past is shrouded in mystery within this band with Dinah having her own share of issues. Mixing the super-powered world under the guise of internal band drama is pretty awesome from a writing perspective. Sure, it’s the same thing we’ve seen before, but it’s done in a way that seems fresh and engaging.
When the book does get to the action bits the artwork really comes alive. Dinah is all about her vocal prowess and when a mysterious ne’er-do-well suddenly attacks her with a vocal inhibitor we know he means business. I really like when a book cuts with all the text and dialogue and just shows me the action. This is cool because we get to see the artist interpret the writers desires and we get to see their work front and center. I also really love that Dinah pulls down a pair of flutes from the music store this is all taking place in and use them like her more classic batons.
What’s cool about these last few pages is how the colors shift as the battle progresses. It’s really a sight to behold and gives the fight this really cool energy about it. While I won’t spoil the ending, I will say that there is a pretty surprising revelation to be had. I already am really enjoying this book so having this unexpected turn is definitely making me come to again next month. If you get the chance Black Canary #2 is a must read series and comes highly recommended.
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