Birds of Prey has fully returned to the pages of DC Comics , with a new series launching for the team to critical and fan acclaim. The new era for the team has already provided a different but familiar flavor, bringing together characters from different corners of DC . In the process, the issue replaced a villain who had been absent from the comics for quite some time.
In the issue, Dinah Lance/Black Canary recruits a team for her new top secret mission – rescuing Cynthia “Sin” Lance from the Amazons before they accidentally cause the end of the world. After getting Cassandra Cain/Batgirl involved in the case, Dinah asks Cass to recruit Big Barda, who she found kicking ass in a bar in California. Cass and Barda team up to fight vampires in a bar. With vampires who are the subordinates of Barda’s “former teammate”, Bloody Mary.
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Who is DC’s Bloody Mary?
While the name Bloody Mary has been used numerous times in DC – by the short-lived Helix Comics hero, the Batwoman villain, and the Dakotaverse villain – Barda’s comment about her “teammate” confirms which version she’s referring to. Created by Karl Kesel and Barry Kitson in 1991 ‘s Hawk and Dove #21, Bloody Mary fought alongside Barda in Female Furies and had the ability to absorb the energy of her victims. She appeared in DC Comics twelve times before her death in 2008’s Wonder Girl .
What is the new Birds of Prey series about ?
In Birds of Prey , Dinah Lance is one of the most elite warriors of the DC Universe, and combined with her sonic scream, she is a terrifying foe in any scenario… but sometimes even Black Canary needs help. Faced with a personal mission brought to her by a mysterious new ally, and against near-impossible odds, she re-forms the Birds of Prey with an unrivaled group – Cassandra Cain, Big Barda, Zealot and Harley Quinn – with only one goal: to extract their assets at all costs. What could go wrong?
The thread is called “Megadeath” and we said it’s a very personal story, and it’s a very dramatic, dangerous band that seems very grim and brutal, but I don’t know… that’s just not how I write. I feel that even in the darkest stories there is humor. This is how we survive the worst things! So yes, I like tragic situations and writing big action and super coordinated fights. But I also like to let my characters really feel like they know each other – so I’m big on banter, which naturally makes things a little lighter. A character like Barda – who is kind of a fish out of water who tells the truth – is so fun to play against the more laconic Cassandra Cain Batgirl. I found that when you start breaking these characters down together, magical things happen. You just can’t let so that it overwhelms the actual plot you’re trying to accomplish. I think we’ve found a balance here – but I’m obviously biased!
– said Thompson
