A mysterious person calling themselves Oracle has been helping and hindering the Birds of Prey since issue #1, but Babs is certainly not doing it! This issue reveals who they are finally, but is it good?
Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #5 (DC Comics)
So what’s it about? The summary reads:
“WHO IS ORACLE?” part five! The new Oracle has led the Birds of Prey all around Gotham City, forcing them to deal with the worst of what the city has to offer. Now Batgirl, Black Canary and Huntress will learn the reason when this impostor’s secrets are revealed! But Oracle isn’t the only one with a secret past…where did the mysterious Fenice come from, anyway?
Why does this book matter?
Aside from revealing the big thing we’ve been waiting on for weeks it also delivers on the fantastic character work by Julie Benson and Shawna Benson. The team is interesting precisely because their dynamics are so interesting.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Hitting the nail on the head with that one.
The mysterious Oracle is revealed and it’s a fun and meta idea that’s intriguing in our celebrity obsessed culture. A similar reveal occurred over in Batgirl when she was in China, so I guess she’s the envy of many! The writing team does a good job with the dialogue as this new Oracle explains themselves while at the same time Black Canary and Huntress are totally on board to kill his ass. There’s a funny moment as the character appears to be a conspiracy theorist and Batgirl gets to take charge as she should.
This issue also contains a flashback to reveal who Oracle is and why they have been messing with the Birds of Prey and considering the hacker culture, it makes sense. There’s also a fun “What could have happened to Oracle” montage that Roge Antonio makes fun and adventurous. This issue also contains an empowering moment for Batgirl that invigorates her heroic nature.
It can’t be perfect can it?
Aside from a fawning fan, the new Oracle doesn’t get much character work in this issue. The flashbacks help show their determination and skill, but I’m not sure how much longer this character can last as the obsessed Batgirl geek. Huntress and Black Canary don’t trust him and why should they given how little we get to know them here.
Be afraid!
Is It Good?
A fun issue that’s both meta and culturally aware as Oracle is revealed and Batgirl is reinvigorated. I wish there was more to this character, but it’s still early yet.
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