Dinah Lance -- Black Canary -- is one of the DCU's most elite fighters. But even she can't face everything alone. On a personal mission against near-impossible odds, Black Canary is assembling a new Birds of Prey team designed to make criminals cower on sight. This new roster consists of Black Canary, Big Barda, Zealot, Harley Quinn, and Cassandra Cain, aka Batgirl. Their mission is simple: Extraction without bloodshed. But simple doesn’t necessarily mean easy. Birds of Prey #1, written by Kelly Thompson with art by Leonardo Romero, colors by Jordie Bellaire, and letters by Clayton Cowles, is a propulsive, face-breaking, pulse-pounding reformation for the Birds of Prey.
This first issue has a super simple premise, focusing on Dinah assembling her team. Black Canary has a very specific mission and needs to bring together the perfect roster of badass women to get the job done. The resulting story brings readers through a series of character introductions and action sequences that bring each character into the fold. The banter between team members and the fluid action are the real highlights of this first issue. It's all about nailing the vibes inherent to those unexpected team dynamics. The groundwork is laid for the larger story arc with a couple of killer cliffhangers. There's also a rock-solid emotional core that grounds the story, all gelling together to make a stand-out introduction.
Thompson strikes gold with the elevator pitch for this series. It's all about an extremely capable group of women coming together to save another woman in trouble. It's a straightforward concept, but the cast of characters brings this book to life. Thompson nails the introduction and voices for each of Canary's teammates. Readers are made instantly aware of the capabilities of each member in combat. The script also highlights many of their key personality traits. It is slightly odd to see Dinah refer to Sin as a sister when Dinah's relationship with her has historically been more maternal. That said, the emotional core baked into the series -- highlighting how nothing is more important than a sisterly bond -- is wonderfully conveyed.
Romero is a powerhouse in this issue. The art is packed with jaw-dropping images panel after panel. The action is kinetic, expressive, and dynamic. Fights sprawl across pages with a crystal clear geography. Nuanced expressions convey the thoughts of each character perfectly, while body language conveys personality in a more subtle way. Costumes and environments are rendered with crisp, precise detail. It's a stunning work through and through.
Bellaire takes an incredible approach to the coloring of this issue. The colors leap off the page with incredible vibrancy. There's a retro-fueled pop art-inspired look to the application of colors here that makes the book truly stand out. Colors and hues shift out of her natural tones in beautiful ways. Cowles' lettering is characteristically excellent. Overlapping back-and-forth speech bubbles guide readers through the brisk dialogue while letting the art shine. Emotive sound effects pepper the backgrounds throughout, adding an extra layer of stylistic craft to the action.
This issue reintroduces the Birds of Prey with style and power. Black Canary's deep-seated loyalties give the story high personal stakes. It's a no-nonsense premise that manages to maintain a ridiculously fun tone. It's a first issue that tells readers exactly what kind of book this is going to be. It promises a great time, and succeeds as an opening salvo. With Birds of Prey #1, Thompson and the rest of the creative team deliver an action-packed, thematically prescient, and emotionally grounded first issue.