Birds of Prey # 81 - Mobile Edition

DC Comics
Birds of Prey # 81
By Hervé St.Louis
August 14, 2005 - 23:38

DC Comics
Writer(s): Gail Simone
Penciller(s): Joe Bennett
Inker(s): Jack Jadson

Wildcat replaces the Huntress for a storyline, allowing new readers to understand why he’s Black Canary’s favourite uncle as they try to infiltrate a Singapore drug ring. There they face the twelve brothers, each more deadly than the other. Will Wildcat and the Black Canary survive their encounter? Meanwhile, the Huntress and her new ally, Savant reclaims her family’s crime heritage.

In this issue, Simone ties up some Identity Crisis themes with the Birds of Prey by showing the effects it had on some characters who now fear for their loved ones. It’s always impressive to see how much research Simone does before she creates a new villain or situation for the Birds of Prey. Instead of playing in the same old continuity as many other writers, she always expands the characters’ world.

Bennett has been doing two shifts for DC Comics yet, it doesn’t show in his work. He’s the traditional DC Comics’ artist, not elaborate or fanciful, yet a solid illustrator and storyteller. Series like Birds of Prey need strong artists who can tell stories and not be the stars of the book. Although his style is less captivating than Ed Benes, the previous artist, Bennett’s work shows greater care and a better handle on delivering a story with images.