Birds of Prey #9

           This series started out so promising and went down hill very fast, The arc was boring, and not very well written. Then this new arc came and the first issue was as promising as the first issue of the series, but I didn't have much hope for the arc, but since last issue was also good, I now have a lot  hope for this series.
           In this issue Black Canary is still having nightmarish visions because of Mortis. She sees her mother, Green Arrow, Speedy, and Sin. Batman brings her back to Oracle where Savant can work on her. The rest of the Birds of Prey (Huntress, Lady Black-Hawk and Dove) are on a bus with the Calculator's cronies, Lady Black-Hawk eggs them on until they start hitting each other. Hawk confronts Oracle about finding Dove, and then he gets mad at Batman, after Batman told him to calm down. Oracle takes him down with her nightsticks. Black Canary continues to have visions, but breaks out which makes Mortis have a seizure. Dove breaks out of her chains, but then is subdued and the Birds of Prey are now near a firing squad, and Oracle comes in a helicopter, and the Calculator blows her up.
           This was another good issue. It's not a great issue, nor is this a great series, but this series has moved from terrible to slightly above decent. I have finally come to terms with Hawk being in this series, I will still hope that Simone gets rid of him, but I can see future possibilities that could make him a good character. Dove has gone from a good character in this series, into a great one. The conscience she has plus her raw power makes her a fun and interesting character. Mortis attacking Black Canary is a cool idea but we just went through an arc where she relived past decisions, and past experiences. I know this arc primarily focuses on Oracle, but it deals to much with Black Canary. The next arc should focus on my new favorite character, and my long time least favorite character: Hawk and Dove. They joined the series out of no where in the beginning of the series, and there should be more of an explanation, plus I just want to hear more about Dove, and I really want to like Hawk.
          So this was another good issue, but I really want Dove to become a bigger character in this series, and when that happens, Birds of Prey will become a great series.



Grade: 8/10
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Birds of Prey #8

        I loved the first issue of this series, and hated the rest of the last arc. The art was okay, the writing was okay, the story was bad, it was just a terrible arc. I was very exited to read the first issue of this arc, hoping that once Gail Simone got in the hang of this new series that her talent would kick in and the series would be good again. I was correct. I loved the last issue and I had high hopes for this one.
        In this issue the Birds of Prey are still being attacked by Mortis, who is looking for Oracle, who is not there. Oracle is talking to Batman and tells him not to interfere, because this is her team. After a little "creepy talking" from Mortis Dove says that she is Oracle. Calculator thinks he's dying and thats why he now wants to kill Oracle, because if he's going down she's going down with him. Oracle tells Batman to "go into the fray" and take a dive, which Batman does. But Mortis grabs Black Canary, and now Black Canary is having horrible flashbacks. Also somewhere in the middle of the issue is something with the Penguin and Hawk that just isn't that important.
        I can see why having the Hawk and Penguin thing should be in there, because it gives closure to both of those characters in the series, but it wasn't important to the series. This issue was sadly not as good as the last one, but it was still really good. I have to wonder why anyone would ever refuse Batman's help. I get the whole "It's my team" bit, but this is the original, Bruce Wayne Batman, I don't see why you wouldn't just send him in and hope for the best. I do wish that Gail Simone would stop working so much with Black Canary and do something with Huntress, Lady Black-Hawk, or even Dove. To be honest one of the reasons I didn't like last arc so much is because it circled around Black Canary, who is one of those characters that kind of bore me. Mortis is a very cool character, and would have been great if her powers were used on Huntress or Dove, but because they were used on Black Canary, this arc is turning into and extended version of when Green Arrow had his own Blackest Night issue. I put a very negative spin on this issue, but all of the complaints that I just mentioned were all very minor. This was still a good issue, and I hope there are more like it to come.






Grade: 7/10
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Birds of Prey #7

           I didn't like the previous arc. They did too much too fast. On top of that I wasn't a fan of the plot, story, or writing. I was really exited for this series. Oracle has always been one of my favorite characters in Batman's world, mix her with Huntress and Black Canary and you have a really good team. I didn't like that Hawk was included in the team, but Dove I thought was a great move. I'm going to stick with this series for a while and hope that it will get better, because this team and writer show so much promise.
           In this issue the Calculator meets with Savant. The entire event with Savant and Oracle was planned so that Savant could get Oracles exact location. The comic then goes to Oracle. She's going down an ally and a gang attacks her. Oracle handles herself well, but Batman comes in and finishes it. Batman comes down and asks Oracle for a hug. They then go to Kord towers and meet Creote who is the bouncer of sorts for Oracle. Savant comes in an Oracle asks if the Calculator believed what he said, and Savant said he thought so. In another part of the city, the rest of the birds of prey are celebrating Doves birthday. Dove has a drink and passes out. Hawk is wondering the streets alone and throws his present for Dove in the trash.Then some super powered criminals bust in. Mortis, who was hired by Calculator is trying to find and kill Oracle.
           A lot happened in this issue. This is the arc I wanted to see before the one that just finished. It brings in the Calculator who is a big-time Birds of Prey villain and it covers Savant and Creote. If this arc came first there would have to be some editing pertaining to Savant and Creote's roll in this arc but it would have been worth it. The character Mortis looks like she could be a very interesting twist in this and other Birds of Prey story lines. I am also very happy that this could be the end of Hawk in the Birds of Prey series. I don't like the character Hawk, he's very much a Punisher, but his attitude, or at least the way he is written seems very contrived. I really liked the incorporation of Bruce Wayne into this issue. Oracle and Huntress are both characters in the Batman arena and it is fitting that Bruce Wayne entered the series. I liked how he acted like he was seeing an old friend again, because that is what he was doing, but also because a lot of times when Bruce Wayne is Batman, he's no longer human. As Bruce Wayne the character is filled with emotion, but as Batman, he's essentially a crime robot, and it's nice to see some emotion while Bruce Wayne is Batman.
          I wouldn't consider this a perfect issue but it was very well done. I hope this doesn't go the same way as the last arc, and be really good for one issue, then start slipping, but so far this arc is off to a great start.




Grade: 9/10
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Birds of prey #5

          This series has been going down hill since issue one. I really hate this story arc, I don't like White Canary, nor do I like Hawk, and both of them are galavanting around this series where they don't belong. What I want is a starting arc that utilizes all of the characters, I can understand adding someone (just why did it have to be Hawk) and bringing back a common enemy. For instance the Calculator, or doing more with the thing they have about Savant and Creote, that is by far my favorite part of this arc, if they had done more of that and replaced the whole White Canary thing with a perticularly devious Penguin plot, I would be happy.
         This issue starts off with more Savant and Creote, which I like, they say sorry and they're going to get through this and all of that stuff. Then it goes to Black Canary who announces she's leaving the team to go work with White Canary. So Huntress and Lady Black-Hawk fallow her. Lastly there is a little bit where Hawk Dreams that his brother is alive.
         Again, I do not like the White Canary thing, I understand that Simone is trying to make this issue shocking so that people will be wondering if Black Canary is really staying, but of course she is, if this were a mini series I wouldn't be so sure, but you don't get rid of the poster girl for a team in issue five. I also found the Savant and Creote thing just a little disapointing this issue, it was a lot of just making up lovey dovey stuff. I have to admit though, that had to come sometime, and Simone did a great job with that scene, which could easily be messed up in a catostrophic way. This series has still been on a down hill, I will not renew my subscription when it runs out, I just really don't like this series. I loved issue one which sold around 50 thousand issues, but then I just really hated the fallowing issue which sold around six to seven thousand issues fewer,  this series had just been a dissapointment, and this issue was no prize.



Grade: 5/10
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Birds of Prey #3

The past two issues of this series have been one of the most exiting things in the past year. (besides Shadowland) But I found this issue really disappointing. It was mainly just recap and fighting. It did have one or two unexpected twists, but not enough. I'm very much looking forward to the end of this story arc. Recently I've noticed writers aren't starting off series in the way that they should. They're all trying to jump right into the middle of a series apposed to starting off with an introductory arc where the villains come back. Birds of Prey, X-Men, and the Flash are all good examples of this. While I love Birds of Prey and the Flash series I would just like some action with the Calculator, and Captain Cold instead of things like a hero going to jail or an identidy being revealed. In this issue the Birds of Prey are hiding in the Iceberg Lounge. When a group of rogue cops blow it up. After that fight, Black Canary goes to confront White Canary.

         I really didn't see why Penguin's perverted thoughts were necessary. It was just a tool to be shocking. Maybe three panels would have been acceptable, but an entire two page spread? That's a little rediculouse. The art was also bad, most of the faces looked distorted. Plus I'm very disappointed that Hawk is becoming a major player in the series, and Dove is very underplayed. I really wish it was the other way around. I hate Hawk, I understand that his character is supposed to be annoying but I really can't stand him. As I said before, DC is pushing to hard to make him the new Punisher and it is looks very contrived. I did like the end when Black Canary says she won, but then White Canary explains that she was wrong and that she, had won. I'm not very exited about next issue (unless it is the conclusion of this arc) but I am more than psyched for the next arc, but the only reason I would recommend this comic is so you know what happens in this series which I have very high hopes for.

Grade: 6.5/10
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Birds of Prey #2

               Gail Simone continues the series that had the best first issue I've ever seen. So naturally I had very, very high expectations for this issue. This issue began with the continuation of an epic fight between the Birds and White Canary. Every panel in the entire fight looks like it could be on a poster. My only complaint is there was one panel where Black Canary punched White Canary in the face, and I saw the panel I've seen so many times in so many different books. The same nose crunching panel. I've seen it in every comic universe I've ever read, and it is always there. The comic  was drawn very well, this time it wasn't the colorist, it was the penciler. Especially when they zoomed in on White Canary's face to show the hatred in her eyes, you could see the genuine loathing in her eyes. It was done very well. After that Oracle calls in Lady Black-Hawk who brings Hawk and Dove. Hawk being in the Birds of Prey is my least favorite part of the series, he just doesn't work in the story, mainly it is because I don't like his character. I said this in an earlier review, but I will say it again. DC is trying to make Hawk the DC equivilant of the Punnisher, but they are trying to force him to be edgy.  Black Canary said it right, I also enjoyed it when Hawk got thrown into a wall.
               So after the fight scene, you figure out that White Canary was stalling so the press and the police could get there and Black Canary would be filmed resisting arrest. Now Black Canary's identity is public. That is the flaw. Why? Why? Why? Why? I hated that they did that with Green Arrow, now they have done it to Black Canary! On the Second issue! I think all of the Birds are going to the Iceberg with the Penguin. That will be cool for a couple issues, the Birds being mixed with the law. Trying to be good but relying on the Penguin. So this issue wasn't as good as the last one, but this series has so much promise.


Grade: 8.5/10
Buy at: www.mycomicshop.com

Birds of Prey #1

          I had always know that this team existed, but I never really knew anything about them. I knew enough to understand this comic. The issue starts out with Black Canary and Lady Black-Hawk rescuing a child from in Iceland from a guy named Chasco. The comic then goes to Oracle who is calling all of the former members of the Birds of Prey together for some unknown reason. Huntress and Black Canary both get to Oracle, but Lady Black-Hawk goes to a bar where Hawk and Dove are. They have  just taken out a group called the "Sick Cheerleaders." (yah it's exactly what it sounds like) Later in the comic it makes it pretty clear that Lady Black-Hawk recutted them.
              Anyway, Oracle is explaining to Huntress and Black Canary that someone has files on every one. They don't know who possesses them, but they are in existence. "He knows when and where my dad takes his morning walk... Says he's going to kill one of the names on these files every hour until we stop him." When they go to confront this enemy, they find that she is already threatening Penguin. When she sees that the Birds of Prey are there she stabs Penguin in the neck takes Black Canary and Huntress down. She is then revealed to be a villain by the name of White Canary.
            Really, Gail Simone couldn't think of a more original name than White Canary? Otherwise this comic was really good. The fight scene at the beginning with Black Canary and Chasco, was so cool. Although in most of the comics I read someone gets punched in the nose, and it always looks the same. I doesn't matter who punches whom, it always looks the same. Lastly, I don't like Hawk being in the Birds of Prey. They are one of the best Girl teams, with Hawk that just ruins it. I understand Simone only did it because she wanted Dove, but it would of been interesting to see Dove with out Hawk. It's not like they are bringing in Green Arrow, Question, Nightwing, and one of the other Black Hawks. No Dove can live one series without Hawk. I can also tell that the DCU is trying to make Hawk the equivalent to the Punisher, but they're trying to hard to make him gritty, it seems forced and stupid.

Grade: 9/10
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Brightest Day #1

           This comic is just a bunch of separate stories, and I'm guessing thats how the series is going to be, and they make it work but it is hard to review.The sword and the stone has reached the Detective Comic Universe. Will, Love, not even fear can lift the white lantern power battery. After attempts by Sinestro and Hal Jordan the comic shifts to Deadman who is busy destroying his own headstone. (remember he is alive now) A white ring forces its self onto his ring and takes him to see the ex-black lanterns. It looks like Deadman is going to be the white lantern, which is just very cool. After that there is some stuff about people finding Hawkman and Hawkgirl's original bones, what I found surprising was that Hawkman's original bones were the famous pharaoh Khufu. Also there is Aquaman fighting on a ship, but for some reason he can only summon dead aquatic creatures. (like when he was a black lantern) To be honest I have no idea what is happening with Firestorm, I don't know that much about him, but I'm happy he is back. Lastly you see Black Manta go berserk and kill several people who are admiring Aquaman, but thats about it. Oh...I almost forgot, Martian Manhunter found a water supply on Mars and is nurturing it and trying to bring life back to Mars. I hope he fails, If there were more Martians he would lose his loneliness which is a big part of his character. I hope they don't make the same mistake that they made with Superman.

Grade: 8.5 / 10
buy at: www.mycomicshop.com