This Birds of Prey volume has been such a confounding book from its inception and with every issue I find myself with more questions than answers. Issue #5 certainly is consistent in that regard and manages to squander any interesting pieces the book introduced in prior issues.
The design for Megaera and the last panel of the previous issue had my hopes up for this showdown, but issue #5 makes it clear that what made the setup so good was ultimately just due to Romero’s (fabulous) art. The concept behind Megaera and the design for this villain were really cool and definitely feel like this character could have been both ominous and frightening, making for a really interesting element to this story. Anything threatening about this character is sadly removed the minute she talks. Why does this ancient evil talk like a Zillennial? It feels like she’s the inception of a comedy skit rather than the villain of this arc. It’s a really confounding choice.
But as I said before, this whole run really could be boiled down to “confounding choices” so perhaps it fits. Why are the Amazons like this? I kept thinking I was missing something because the Amazons’ characterization — and particularly Diana’s at that — doesn’t line up with what’s going on in the current Wonder Woman run. I literally have no idea why the Amazons — especially Diana, who is Dinah’s friend — wouldn’t help in the first place. It feels like this story takes place in some parallel universe where 2007’s Green Arrow and Black Canary book is still ongoing and that’s why Dinah and the Amazons are on shaky ground with each other.
DC Comics
And speaking of odd choices: Zealot. Her inclusion on this team is actually a really smart choice and I still think she could be in great Birds of Prey stories like characters before her were, but she also feels like she’s had a personality transplant in this title. I’ve been dipping my toes into Wildstorm content this past year, particularly for Zealot, and while I’m certainly no expert on that cast yet, I know she seems starkly different from the character I read in ’90s Wildstorm and Rosenberg and Segovia’s more recent WildC.A.T.S.
Harley’s inclusion is just as frustrating as ever, feeling like a punishment more than anything. Kelly Thompson certainly isn’t to blame for the neutering of her character but I’ve never understood why companies defang their villains once they become popular. The X-Men movies tried it with Mystique once Jennifer Lawrence became a Hollywood darling off the success of Hunger Games and Harley Quinn had her “anti-hero” makeover once her popularity soared too. She feels so out of place on this team and in this book and I can’t help but read Birds of Prey and think “Wouldn’t it be fun to have another Gotham City Sirens book for her instead?” Her character has become so one-dimensional in recent years and any interesting interactions these characters could have with her is tossed away for her to be a gag for how annoying she is to everyone else in the book. And that’s what her entire existence within Birds of Prey boils down to: one-dimensional. She is a punchline and a quick gag rather than there being any real story for her. It’s sad to see what’s become of Harley Quinn, really, and how these changes to her character ultimately go unrealized and unexplored within the current scape of whom she is interacting.
It feels like that opening scene where Dinah crosses Huntress’ name off the list of potential teammates and tells Oliver about everything really was a precursor to what this story would be. Why did she cross off Huntress’ name when Huntress was heavily involved in the original Sin story and was ready to die to ensure Dinah could keep her safe? Why does Oliver Queen have top billing here instead when he was the one who removed Sin from Dinah’s care in the first place by placing her at a monastery? Who knows! It hasn’t been addressed either so I think we’re just supposed to forget it happened. Or if you don’t know any of that happened, maybe this book is for you and is something you’re enjoying — and in that case, I’m glad you can enjoy this story.
DC Comics
It doesn’t seem like half of these characters are being used to their full potential, nor is the story. It’s disappointing because Kelly Thompson is a much better writer than this. She’s an amazing writer who wrote some of the best Marvel stories of the last decade and this feels so out of place in her body of work. It feels out of place as a Birds of Prey title too, managing to capture none of the spark and none of the heart of what makes this team who they are. It feels like a book that’s so far beneath both Thompson’s talent and the Birds of Prey as a team.
In all honesty, this book just feels like something that would make more sense as one of DC’s YA novels or YA graphic novels at Barnes & Noble than a monthly comic book within DC’s continuity.
I don’t know much of Arist Deyn’s work prior, but they take over in this issue. The art is certainly serviceable but it’s not my cup of tea either. The colors are more lively this time around and give for a more pleasant atmosphere where Themyscira feels like Themyscira instead of the greenish/yellow overlay of the previous issues. The darker hues and green/yellow are relegated purely to the Megaera scenes this time which are far more fitting. Deyn’s Megaera keeps up the creepy atmosphere the previous issues set up and fits the bill for this villain even when the writing doesn’t. The distinctness in coloring between Megaera’s den and Themyscira is a welcome change that issue #5 brings, adding more personality to the issue overall.
Dinah and Sin’s reunion is a high point for the issue and hopefully is something that can remain even for a short while across DC titles. While I don’t expect Green Arrow to incorporate her, it would be a neat thing to see even for a short while. A lot of promise lies in the idea of Sin Lance returning to DC continuity and opens some doors for interesting future stories.
Another high point of this issue is Romero’s cover art featuring Dinah and Sin falling into the grasp of Megaera. It really can’t be said enough that the artists on this book really do a good job of making this villain look imposing and creepy in such a cool way.
The story isn’t over yet, but the unsatisfying rush towards the finish line of its first arc seemingly concludes next month so we’ll see where this goes. And for what it’s worth, I hope Kelly Thompson can prove me wrong and make the final play work.
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