The Birds Are All-In For New Adventure: Reviewing ‘Birds Of Prey’ #14

Black Canary’s latest team of badass women formed to save her sister by taking on all the Amazons of Themiscyra. With all that behind them, seems fair that the Birds owe the Amazons a favor.

That favor has come due as Birds Of Prey #14 kicks the team (with a few swapped members) into the shiny new DC All-In era. Just like the team on the page itself, stalwart creative team members Kelly Thompson and Clayton Cowles welcome aboard newcomers Sami Basri and Adriano Lucas.

Gosh, it’s been a bit since I’ve dived into a review for this series. It almost feels like coming into a fresh book. In a way, it is a fresh start with the new line-wide initiative and a new story arc.

My silence on the past arc was more timing crunch than anything else. Overall, with some quibbles, I enjoyed those pocket dimension-jumping issues. All that being said, I’m pretty glad we’re onto something else. There is a pickup of energy that I can’t quite put my finger on that seems to be brewing here, and I’m digging it.

Is there a ton happening in this issue? Yes and no. We learn that Cass Cain is undercover in a group that has kidnapped Amazons and is doing…something to them? We also get a moment with Canary & Oracle talking to Queen Nubia, laying out why the Birds are doing this (that aforementioned owing situation). A giant chunk of the issue is Cass Cain fighting guys as a “tryout” for the work with this group, and new members Grace and Onyx throwing down with Barda.

Honestly, it’s just enough. Sure, a bit more about this group and the whys of it all would be nice, but I can’t argue with an issue that heavily focuses on a Barda, Grace, and Onyx throw down. As usual, Thompson understands her characters and has a lot of fun (literally) throwing them against one another. While I miss Zealot and Vixen, and even Harley, the idea of the rotating cast spots based on mission is a solid one. Having Canary, Oracle/Batgirl, Sin/Megara, Barda, and Batgirl as our stable cast works.

One things is true of this title. It keeps netting some beyond solid artistic teams. Barsi’s work is one that that I came to fall in love with during his time with the Aquamen, Catwoman, and some recent dabbling over in Nightwing (where he worked with colorist Lucas). Particular artists have their styles of course, but those styles come with different energy. Something about Barsi’s work, no matter the tone or focus, just has this big bold heroic energy baked right in.

All the characters feel weighty, larger than life, with so much emotional resonance pouring out of them. Tons of shifting focuses, from close up to wide, gives us the feeling of being right in the middle of things. Tons of details allows the spaces, whether the middle of a city or somewhere else, feel more authentic and like characters in their own right. All of his action is smooth and dynamic, creating an impact of its own with every single panel.

Paired with Lucas helps a lot with that too since those colors are truly next level. As noted, Nightwing was Lucas’ previous port of call with the Bat-related types of books. Just like that series, there is a lot of really vibrant tones that give hopeful and enlivening feeling to everything on the page. Much of the chosen palette skews towards the more toned down, or neutral if you will, quality which gives those spaces and backdrops their more firm and familiar sensibility. Allowing the more fantastical things to really pop and stand above the rest, as they are meant to do.

Lush. That’s a good word to use here, because the colors just seem to make everything feel big and bold and lush. Welcoming and powerful at all times.

Snappy and witty jabs and banter are part and parcel for the Birds. They fly around the page and hit hard thanks to the work that Cowles always puts into any lettering gig. Really letting things sink in, build up their energy, and then pouncing or dancing around at the right time. Little shifts here or there help to make sure the right tone or volume are delivered alongside allowing emotion and personality to ring true.

Birds Of Prey #14 is now available from DC Comics.