With the third issue of Black Canary: Best of the Best hitting shelves on January 22, writer Tom King and artist Ryan Sook sat down with me to discuss the making of this emotionally charged and action-packed series.
From raw fight sequences to the emotional complexities of Dinah Lance’s family dynamics, the creators shared how they’ve crafted a story that’s as gripping as it is heartfelt. Get ready for insights into their inspirations, a look at the twists to come, and a deep dive into the artistry that makes this series a knockout.
Courtesy DC Comics
Big Twists and High Stakes
At the core of Black Canary: Best of the Best is a moral dilemma that intensifies with each issue. King explained, “Dinah’s mother is dying of cancer, and Savage offers a cure if she throws the match in the sixth round. But doing so would betray everything her mother raised her to be.”
This internal and external conflict drives the narrative. “There’s a big twist in every issue,” King teased. “The unveiling of how Dinah solves this dilemma, or if she even can, is the focus. Issue #4, in particular, takes the match in a surprising direction, with plenty of big moments involving Green Arrow and other characters.”
The Art of Training and Relationships
King delved into the emotional metaphor at the heart of the story when asked how he depicted Dinah’s intense training and matches. “Superhero comics can act as story metaphors, taking things to extremes to show us what our real lives are like,” he explained. “In this one, the intense training is a thrilling, compelling way to present the complicated dynamic between a mother and daughter. It’s about raising a child, having expectations for that child, and navigating the ambiguity of those expectations.”
Sook mirrored this sentiment when describing his artistic approach. “I didn’t want to do comic book shorthand with speed lines or splatter. We stripped away the superhero elements and put them in a ring—bare-knuckle, fight it out,” Sook said. “It’s raw, and you feel every connection, every punch. It’s brutal in a way that’s unique because it’s grounded in reality.”
Courtesy DC Comics
Emotion on Every Page
Sook’s art captures more than just the physicality of the fights; it’s the emotional stakes that make the story resonate. “We don’t have a lot of talking in the ring. The narrators handle the comedy and storytelling, leaving the emotion to the characters’ faces and body language,” Sook explained. He credited King’s scripts for making this possible. “The emotion you see is implied in the script. It’s about what’s going through Dinah’s mind during these brutal moments.”
Sook also revealed his unique process for capturing those emotional beats. “I’ll use my wife and oldest daughter as models,” he laughed. “They’re probably annoyed by it, but they’re willing, and it really helps bring authenticity to the art.”
From Boxing to WWE
King’s inspiration for the story came from a variety of sources. “The title is from Best of the Best, an old Eric Roberts movie I watched on repeat as a kid,” he shared. “But a lot of this comes from watching WWE with my son. I’m in awe of how much storytelling happens in the ring. This story asks, ‘What if wrestling moves really hurt like they look they do?’ It’s a magical, different fighting style that only superhero comics can deliver.”
Sook’s research leaned heavily on UFC and MMA fights. “Watching female fighters, in particular, was eye-opening,” he said. “It’s brutal and raw, and it served as great reference material for this project.”
Courtesy DC Comics
A Different Kind of Hero
As the series progresses, readers gain deeper insight into Dinah’s character. “This issue shows whether she’s like her mom or if her upbringing has shaped her into someone entirely different,” Sook said. “It’s a journey of self-discovery under the most intense circumstances.”
The emotional complexity extends to the supporting characters, including Batman, in issue #3. “Batman’s trying to solve the mystery of why Dinah is doing this,” King explained. “It creates tension because she’s technically breaking the law to save her mother. Watching how she manipulates him is fascinating.”
Courtesy DC Comics
Iconic Visuals and Humor
The series doesn’t shy away from humor amidst its intensity. From absurd one-liners from sports announcers like “Oh my, and apple pie” to iconic visuals like a shirtless Batman in his cowl, the book balances its dark tone with moments of levity.
“I’m a huge NFL fan, and a lot of the narrators’ quips are inspired by sports commentators,” King said. “It’s about finding unique ways to describe the same thing and keeping it engaging.”
Courtesy DC Comics
The Art That Carries It All
King couldn’t praise Sook’s art enough. “Ryan’s pages are jaw-dropping,” he said. “They’re cinematic and brilliant. The art carries the book.”
Sook, in turn, teased that the best is yet to come. “If you think the first issues look good, keep going. The language of this series is so different, and the action just keeps getting better.”
As Black Canary: Best of the Best heads toward its dramatic conclusion, the series promises more twists, emotional stakes, and jaw-dropping art. Don’t miss issue three, out January 22, and prepare for a story that redefines what superhero comics can do.
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