Little Turn On The Catwalk: Reviewing ‘Birds Of Prey’ #8

Hey Oracle, how do you know when Beefcake has gone bad? Pretty sure Black Canary and friends need that answer.

Turned Beefcake, lingerie, naked battles, a superhero trap, and mysterious swirling energy are just part of the wild fun of Birds Of Prey #8. A concluding but also beginning chapter from Kelly Thompson, David López, Javier Pina, Jordie Bellaire, and Clayton Cowles.

I’m one of those that really enjoys series having more one-off style issues or little, short arcs, to break things up between the far longer arcs of the modern era. A two-part arc full of sexy fun that actually turns around and builds right into the next arc, that’s the good stuff.

When Batgirls, the title I once tagged as the best fun emotional series on the shelves, ended, I wasn’t sure something could take its place. This series is truly just it. The thing. What’s been missing. I could go on and on.

Books that are just really heartfelt with room to really do lots of character swimming while being outlandishly fun are not always easy to find. Big books at Marvel and DC often have to fit into certain niches that are often determined before a creative team is even approached. Some of the creative team’s energy always comes into play, but it’s known that some books allow more leeway than others.

Big Barda getting to fight evil Beefcake fully nude with her own face being used as the censor can only happen in a book like that. A book like this. The world is better for it really.

Thompson completely understands these characters and how to play them off one another. So much solid banter, quipping, and weighty emotional deliciousness. As silly as things are, see the Barda mention or Sin/Megaera’s champagne argument, there is a lot of seriousness still woven through. It’s perfectly balanced, and not in the Thanos sort of way.

Leonardo Romero and Bellaire set a visual tone for the series, and those who have stepped in since have grabbed the baton handedly. There is an energy that this series embodies that is very much classic and modern at the same time. Pina and López really nail it here, making things feel so flowy and entertaining on every page. Characters have weight to them and feel like they are genuinely moving through the spaces.

Paneling really helps change the flow of books. Standard style has its place and brings a particular energy to the party. Switching to decreased panels or ones that shift around can amp things up or bring it down. We get a lot of that here as the tight paneling choices work hard to enhance every tonal energy we’re meant to consume. Bouncing us around at certain moments before pulling back to a more normal level at other times.

Color-wise it’s still Bellaire’s domain. While a bit less pronounced this time, the Ben Day Dot stylistic flourishes are still in play. Helping really highlights that classic meets modern vibe referenced previously. A very almost neonesque filter is heavy in places, letting vibrant colors really pop fantastically.

Bellaire comes in with a heavier touch in moments, letting the darker tones playfully move through every piece of the artwork. It creates a deeper feeling, while also allowing the characters to feel even more so larger than life than they already did.

Voices come in swinging as Cowles captures them so smoothly, letting each character’s personality shine through their words. Delivering various modifiers that create realistic voices that play out in the reader’s mind smoothly. Visually things get a kick from alterations to balloon styles or shapes, or colors such as Oracle’s trademark striking green. I love a good block letter codename logo in the middle of dialogue, even if it’s a silly made up on the spot one like Caterer.

Birds Of Prey #8 is now available from DC Comics.