Batgirl and the Birds of Prey: Rebirth #1

   As a fan of the Birds of Prey, I'm glad to see the team making a comeback, this time with Batgirl headlining.

   Of course, most of Barbara Gordon's involvement with that team was in a supporting role as the computer wizard Oracle, back when she was partially paralyzed (she, uh, got better).

   This Rebirth issue brings back Black Canary (who's busy these days, as she also guest stars in Green Arrow) and introduces a new Huntress (well, she's new to me).

   This version of the character is different from the Earth-2 version - Helena Wayne, who crossed over with Power Girl and co-starred in the most recent version of World's Finest.

   The new one is very much a throwback to the original version of the character - a tough as nails vigilante.

   The question is: is this version a hero?

   The team is gathered by a new menace with a familiar name and a new mystery - just who is playing the part of Oracle now?

   So, lots of questions to be answered as the new series starts up. It's a promising (if somewhat dark) start for the new series.

Grade: B+

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Birds of Prey #2

I picked up this issue because I really enjoyed the first issue.

The second issue of Birds of Prey isn't quite as good as the previous adventure, but that's mostly because we're at the point in the story where everything has to go wrong for our heroes - and by the end of the issue, things are looking bleak indeed.

The story begins with the Black Canary and the Huntress facing off against a mysterious opponent - a masked woman dressed in white, and apparently able to hold her own against two of the better hand-to-hand fighters in the DC Universe.

The team of heroes who make up this incarnation of Birds of Prey is an odd one, including the heroes you would expect - Oracle and Lady Blackhawk, for example - and several that seem an odd mix - Hawk and Dove and (sorta) the Penguin.

The story by Gail Simone is rushing along nicely so far, although I'm not crazy about some of the events in this issue. But I'm willing to hold final judgment until the story wraps up - there's plenty of room to grow here.

The art by Ed Benes and Adriana Melo is very good, especially from a technical viewpoint - the anatomy is excellent, the layouts fresh, the women beautiful and the fight scenes are strong. The only failing is a lack of emotion in the characters - they all just seem to be angry all the time.

Overall, the comic still seems to be feeling its way along, and it's still too early to say if this approach is working. Time will tell, and I'm interested enough to keep hanging on - for now.

Grade: B

Birds of Prey #1

This is a comic I first picked up (back when it first appeared) because it was written by Chuck Dixon, and I try to pick up as much of his work as possible.

I enjoyed Birds of Prey and stayed with it for a long time, because the stories were action-packed, loaded with drama and lots of fun to read. And it didn't hurt that the comic starred an assortment of beautiful super-heroines.

But after Dixon left I drifted away from it - but now the comic is back and I decided to give it a try - and so far, I'm glad I did.

Now under the guidance of writer Gail Simone, this issue is all about bringing the group back together (apparently they'd disbanded at the end of the last series). It moves along briskly, re-introduces the characters and sets up a very impressive challenge for them to confront.

I like the characters included, most of them long-time favorites, including Black Canary, Oracle (Barbara Gordon), Huntress, Lady Blackhawk, Dove and the only dude in the group (so far), the newly-resurrected Hawk (via Blackest Night).

Rounding out the creative team is artist Ed Benes, about whom I am conflicted. His art is very good, and he's especially adept at drawing beautiful women, but for some reason his work feels - I don't know, antiseptic, if that's the right word. The characters just never seem to show much in the way of emotion. But perhaps I shouldn't feel that way - his figures are outstanding and his pages are well laid-out - thoroughly professional.

So this comic is back and with its original vibe - what I'd say is certainly a good start.

Grade: B+