Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Black Canary #1

By Hervé St-Louis
July 7, 2007 - 13:43

DC Comics
Writer: Tony Bédard
Penciller: Paulo Siqueira
Inker: Amilton Santos

Here is a modern take at DC Comics’ second lady in the waiting. Trying to decide whether to marry Green Arrow or not Black Canary thinks about her future and that of her adopted daughter, Sin. But Black Canary and a mysterious villain have plans for the heroine and her charge. Will mother and daughter be safe?

Bédard provides readers unfamiliar with Black Canary a good introduction, discussing her ties with the justice League, her mother and Green Arrow, while not seeming like a necessary plot exposition. He also ties in previous plot elements from The Birds of Prey series, like her previous husband, Craig Windrow. There is a lot of humour in this issue and promises for more action. As a set up issue, it is a good one that wraps up some loose ends from Black Canary’s world.

Then only criticism I have is that although Green Arrow makes non flashback appearances, his presence as the motivation for the villain overwhelms the story. Bédard seems to know he’s walking on a fine line in not letting Black Canary seem as an appendage of Green Arrow, yet having villains of her own would be more interesting.

Siqueira has worked on the characters before in Birds of Prey, so his rendition of Sin and Black Canary seem very familiar. Important with any series featuring a female lead is drawing good-looking women. Siqueira does that well.

7/10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12