Black Canary: Best of the Best has been an intense miniseries, to say the least. Dinah’s put herself in the ring with Shiva in a no-holds-barred match where she’s being pummeled with no end in sight. She’s been ordered to dive, and other superheroes have no idea why she’s done this. Intercut with her match are scenes with her mother, who is dying of cancer, but that won’t stop her from punishing Dinah with nonstop training. Her daughter won’t lose in this match if she can help it. Like the best fighting movies, the intensity is high, and the stakes are very real.
The stakes are real largely thanks to Ryan Sook’s art, which has incredible lifelike detail, facial expressions, and attention to backgrounds. This book is a stone’s throw away from being a film, right down to the cinematic angles on the action and a sense of urgency that never lets up.
Black Canary: Best of the Best #3 opens on a ringside interview with Dinah’s coach, who says very little while the announcer can’t stop yapping. The stone-cold trainer has no interest in the pomp of the match, which only adds to the mystery behind it all. Is he in on Dinah’s plan to take a dive in the sixth, or is he worried for her safety? Based on the events on this issue, the coach should be worried about his own safety.
That must hurt.
Credit: DC Comics
This issue has two subplots, one involving Batman and another with Vandal Savage. The latter helps piece together why Dinah would listen to Vandal, with a fun cameo of Green Arrow for good measure.
Batman’s inclusion makes logical sense since he’s confused about why Dinah would take on a prize fight. His inclusion reinforces Dinah’s mother’s desire for Dinah not to skimp on training, forcing Batman to spar with her. These scenes add to the overall reading experience since they add tiny clues and morsels that hype up our need to know why Dinah took the fight at all.
If you’re wondering why Dinah doesn’t just answer Batman’s question, I think the larger mystery explains well enough. She’s not talking in the ring, nor is she clueing the reader into what her plans are, so keeping it from Batman has something to do with her intentions.
Shiva, who positively crushes Black Canary in the ring, is the show-stopping element of this issue. The fight moves are impressive by Sook, with Black Canary taking some brutal battle damage. Shiva, meanwhile, is loving her domination, which comes off as cruel, adding to her villainous element. Not since Bloodsport have I hated a villain so much.
Black Canary: Best of the Best #3 masterfully blends high-octane action with emotional depth, delivering a visually stunning and narratively gripping chapter. While the unanswered questions surrounding Dinah’s motivations leave readers eager for resolution, the issue excels in its raw intensity, memorable characters, and layered storytelling, making it a standout entry in this thrilling miniseries.
You must be logged in to post a comment.