Birds of Prey #13

            This arc is definitely better than the previous ones. It is a shame that this series is going to be re launched, because while I couldn't say any more bad things about it in the beginning this arc is incredible, and what is being done with the Question, The Huntress, and Oracle is outstanding. Gail Simone really came back with these past couple issues.
            In this issue Huntress and the Question go run off to help Black Canary while she's fighting Junior. Dove gets stabbed and is out of the fight. Hawk and Lady Black Hawk both get attacked by other people in the building, but they both fight back. Oracle calls Catman to find out Junior's weakness which is exposure. Eventually the Birds get out, and when they are back in the headquarters Oracle makes Huntress the new field commander. Then Oracle declares they are going back to find and get Junior,
          I loved this issue. There was a lot of fighting at the beginning which i didn't mind too much because even though i don't like comics that are completely fighting, these are superheroes so there is going to be a lot. Also because the person the Birds were fighting was so scary the fight was not just a normal superhero brawl, I actually thought that maybe one of the members of the Birds of Prey might die. I am also thrilled that Huntress is the new field commander, because it is no secret that I am not a big fan of Black Canary, but I am a huge fan of the Huntress. Judging mainly off of the cover for the relaunch of Birds of Prey I'm not sure who all the members will be, but I don't think I saw Huntress in there. I am a little worried it's going to turn into something a little close to Gotham City Sirens so this relaunch could go either way and I'm really excited for it. However I am upset that Gail Simone is gone.
But this issue and this arc was fantastic, I hope the arc ends as strong as it has been.





Grade: 9/10
Buy at: www.mycomicshop.com

Birds of Prey #11

          As I've said many times before: This series started off great, but went down hill fast. It could be that I'm just not a fan of Black Canary and that is who Gail Simone likes to work with the most. The first six or seven issues of the book were devoted to Black Canary, and that just really got me off to a bad start with the series. The Death of Oracle arc was good, it was nothing special, and not something that I'm going to remember in many year, but it did improve my view of this series, although, it's still not even in my top 15 series that I'm reading, or go in and out of.
        In this issue Huntress is chasing down someone who stole some jewels. She starts fighting him, when Catman comes and stops it. He picks up the jewel thief and holds him off of the edge of the building asking who else was in the heist. He gave the name Rickie Lowlife. Huntress and Catman then go over some of their relationship history and problems. Then they go to find Rickie. They find him, interrogate him, and then he gives the name of his cousin Markie who has a hostage. They go and find him. Catman goes over to the hostage, but she gets scared for a second, thinking that he was one of the criminals. Huntress takes down Markie and then pulls her crossbow on Catman. The woman thought Catman was one of the criminals because he was. She recognized his green eyes. Catman then apologises profusely, and explains he has a son who was kidnapped, and also that he (Catman) is trying to reform and asks for Huntress's help. Huntress turns him down, and feels bad about it.
       I liked this issue a lot more than I thought I would. Again, it wasn't fantastic, and is not one of the best comics I've ever read, but it was pretty good. I even found the relationship between Huntress and Catman enjoyable. This was one of those fun read comics, its story was not complicated, or thoughtful, but it had some good fight scenes, some good banter, and great art, so it was still enjoyable. I'm debating with myself whether or not to renew my subscription to this comic, I'm leaning towards no, but I really did like this comic. It could just be that I'm surrounded by long story arcs, and every so often I just have a really good time with simple comics, but I don't know.
I recommend this comic as a fun read, if you are looking for a series or arc that you can really get into, this is not the right comic for you. But if you are looking for just a good story, than this is the perfect comic for you.





Grade: 7.5/10
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Birds of Prey #10

         This series has gone back and forth for me. The last arc is something that I dreaded reading, but for some reason I read it anyway. This arc has gone back and forth from mediocre to amazing, and then back again. My main problem with the series was Hawk, I didn't like the character, or how he was in the team, but now I'm beginning to cope with Hawk, and that is no longer an excuse to not like the series.
         In this issue Huntress toys with the Calculator while in handcuffs. The Calculator tries to shoot Huntress, but Dove jumps in the way and gets knocked unconscious. Mortis tells Calculator that they need to get out of there, because Black Canary is free. Black Canary starts beating all of the Calculator's henchmen up. When a big guy grabs her, Hawk comes to save the day. Then Huntress and Lady Black-Hawk take advantage of the opportunity and chase after calculator. Black Canary goes through how Hawk was in the helicopter and Oracle is alive. Huntress says that Calculator "pissed off Superman" also that Oracle is never dead, and has ghosts. Then Oracle (who is alive) calls a conference with both Batmen, Red Robin, Batgirl, and Misfit saying that she won't help everyone anymore, because that makes villains to couscous. Then Catwoman comes to talk to the birds of prey, and finds out Oracle is alive, and then leaves after mentioning a team up.
       This was a mildly bad comic. The first part when the birds were chained up was dull, and I just wanted it to end. Even Huntress' clawing at Calculator was dull. I must admit that I did like Huntress messing with the Calculator especially the "you pissed off Superman" bit. When Black Canary came, the comic got better. I also liked it when Hawk came. I wouldn't say I like the character, but I do think that I'm starting to. Then when I got to the actual Oracle giving her speech, then things went down hill. It wasn't just the whole idea, which I will talk about in a moment, but also a little thing, Robin isn't there. This could just be because I am a huge fan of Damian Wayne. But the whole idea was also not great. Oracle is a superhero. Superhero's help each other, and that was pretty much Oracle's whole gig, and what made her such a powerful person. I understand that Gail Simone wants to keep Oracle in the birds of Prey, but this seems ridiculous. Also Catwoman's appearance was apparently useless. When I was reading I thought for sure that the next arc would be a Gotham City Sirens, Birds of Prey team up, but the next issue is about Huntress and Catman, which is really just something I don't care about. So this series is still disappointing, and it wasn't helped by this issue.




Grade: 4/10
Buy at: www.mycomicshop.com

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
Buy at: www.mycomicshop.com

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
Buy at: www.mycomicshop.com

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
buy at: www.mycomicshop.com