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Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Thoughts on Possible Changes in BoP

I've been reading around here and there and came upon a reaction that startled me. There were a few sentiments doubting that Birds of Prey would last without the Babs-Dinah relationship to keep it afloat.

This, frankly, blows my mind. Because, yes, the friendship between Barbara and Dinah is a very important part of the series appeal to me and I'd hate to see it go...

But the idea that Birds of Prey couldn't survive without Dinah AND Barbara strikes me as utterly ridiculous. Barbara and Dinah are wonderful characters together, but they're also wonderful characters apart. Whether Dinah is in the story or not doesn't change that Barbara Gordon is one of the most brilliant and empowering characters in comics. Whether Barbara is in the story or not doesn't change the fact that Dinah's a warm, charming, confident person. Sure they're better together than they are apart, but they can survive without each other.

Honestly, I'm a bit shocked by the idea that Dinah wouldn't remain in Birds of Prey. That honestly never occurred to me. I mean...she's been in JSA and Birds at the same time before. And she was showing up in post Identity Crisis JLA as well, without any sort of problem. She's a character that works amazingly well as liaison to any team. Her role as a Bird of Prey means an instant connection between her new team and Oracle as well which is always a good thing.

I remember the hints before OYL about not getting attached to the first Canary we saw, but I'm pretty sure that had to do with Shiva's Jade Canary than Dinah herself. Given the huge soul searching affirmation quest that we saw when she was tracing Shiva's steps and then coming back with a daughter...

Well, it just doesn't seem likely that she's going to be leaving Birds to me. It seems like Ms. Simone's invested way too much in her to lose her now.

But even if Canary does leave, we've got Barbara and we've got whoever Barbara's new team will be. The OYL team of Oracle, Huntress, Shiva and Gypsy was very entertaining. I can only imagine that the new team will be too. I enjoy Gail Simone's writing, she's staying on the book. I've got a lot of faith that no matter what happens, the series will be fun to read.

There's no guarantee that the loss would be permanent anyway. And heck every one of the main Three were replaced at one point or another in their comic career and lasted, so I've a hard time believing that BoP wouldn't survive the loss of an important, but hardly the central, member.

I just get confused by the negativity I've seen. Maybe it's just me, but when I saw the solicit for the new cover, I was busy going: "Oooo! Bulleteer! Bulleteer would be awesome! Or Holly! She should pick Holly! No wait! BARDA. Barda would be the awesomest move EVER!" I was quite surprised to see so much trepidation. This just seems like it has the potential to be incredibly great!

Just my opinion of course. We'll see soon enough. :-)

18 Comments:

  • At August 22, 2006 9:10 AM, Blogger joncormier said…

    I looked at the cover and I felt like I was hit with a speeding truck of obvious - Hawkgirl or Hawkwoman, whichever Hawk character that is - I don't really know my hawks.

    Go with the "bird" theme, I say.

     
  • At August 22, 2006 10:33 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hmmmmm...Barda? Actually that's a really good idea! Unless Didio decides to have her and Scott killed off like all the other JLI'ers. Sorry, but I'm feeling a little bitter about Booster and
    Beetle. But Barda would be fun.

     
  • At August 22, 2006 11:01 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    This is another anon. I agree with you. Black Canary and Oracle are strong characters on their own. I think Barda would be interesting, but Bulleteer would be even more so. She is a product of her dead husband's fetish, and it would be cool if she were in a more empowering environment. She needs it.

     
  • At August 22, 2006 11:12 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I'm a Barda booster! She'd be great. I wish Flamebird would join up, too.

     
  • At August 22, 2006 11:20 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I worry that Barda would drag in too much Fourth World cosmic stuff - would that fit? But Hawkgirl - yes! Holly - yes! Bulleteer - YES! I really want to see Bulleteer in an ongoing somewhere. Alix is extremely grounded and I think she'd naturally gravitate toward someone like Barbara, someone with a solid sense of self given Alix's life being filled with upset of late.

     
  • At August 22, 2006 11:34 AM, Blogger R.Nav said…

    IF Dinah leaves... well, that's dissapointing (And I don't see a good reason why she'd do that) but IF she does. I'd rather it not be a falling out between them.

     
  • At August 22, 2006 12:01 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I can't imagine that, even if we see less of Dinah in BoP, that Dinah will be gone forever. Her friendship with Babs is too important.

    I actually like the existing team with Dinah, Babs, Helen, Gypsy and Zinda and would hate to lose any of them. But, like you said, Gail Simone has not disappointed yet on this title, so I trust her to make the appropriate changes and I'm sure I'll like them.

    But, I still stick to my guns for non-powered (or, at least non-energy weilding and flying) heroes. While I see what people are saying about Manhunter joining the team, I still like the idea BECAUSE of the conflict it can bring in. At the very least, I'd like to see her make guest appearances. I love the title Manhunter and I'm all for anything that will bring more attention to this fabulous character and her world. Then again, she's based all the way across the country and I don't know how she would end up on the east coast. I don't want to take her out of Los Angeles. So, now that I'm typing this, maybe not Manhunter.

    But, Grace Choi would be a fabulous addition and I would love to see how Gail Simone handles her character. And, again, all for Holly as Catwoman joining!

     
  • At August 22, 2006 12:42 PM, Blogger Marc Burkhardt said…

    I'm on board for Birds Of Prey as long as Gail Simone and Barbara Gordon's on board.

    In fact, I was less worried about Canary and more intrigued if the split up has something to do with the Batgirl we saw last issue.

    I think this Batgirl is Barbara, the result of a major secret she's kept from her team. Result? Canary and Huntress leave ... for now, at least.

    I just hope Gypsy and Lady Blackhawk stick around.

     
  • At August 22, 2006 3:16 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hm, something I realized while reading your post, Kali -- I don't really look at BoP as a "team" as much as a partnership (between Babs and Dinah) with associates. Taking Dinah out of BoP would require explaining how the partnership ends or goes on a trial separation.

     
  • At August 22, 2006 6:06 PM, Blogger kalinara said…

    jon: Ooo, good thought.

    anon: Barda would be a blast!

    another anon: That's what I was thinking. Bulleteer's got relatively non-standard powers too, so she won't seem quite as gratuitous in the Birds as some. And I want to see her move beyond her husband's actions.

    vincent: Ooo, fun!

    ben: Hmm, I think since Barda's not in anything right now, they could probably keep the cosmic stuff to a minimum. A one-shot or something or annual. It would possibly be tricky, I admit. But Bulleteer would be an awesome fit for me.

    r.nav: Me too. Hopefully they'll make it work if it does happen.

    loren: That's true, regarding powers. I think Bulleteer could work personally. She's more...kinetic than she is an energy wielder/flyer, which means she'll only be as good as her application. And her personality would, like ben and the second anon described, seem to suit.

    keeper: Now that would be a good motivation for leaving. And it'd be recoverable when they want the characters to join up again!

    lyle: that's true. But I don't think it's unsalvageable...definitely needs explanation though!

     
  • At August 22, 2006 7:14 PM, Blogger Evan Waters said…

    I'm very conflicted about Barda. I'm not sure she'd fit the street-level feel of the book, but on the other hand- she's BARDA!

     
  • At August 22, 2006 8:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Now, Manhunter guest appearances would be awesome.

     
  • At August 22, 2006 8:36 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    My vote is for Mia "Speedy" Harker. She sure isn't getting any exposure over in Green Arrow and I can so see her and Helena getting a student/mentor thing going.

     
  • At August 23, 2006 12:59 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    The thing is, I'd actually like to see Barda doing cosmic stuff. If a solid team came on to do a Mister Miracle/Big Barda (equal billing, I hope) series I'd be all aboard for it. BoP -is- supposed to be more street-level, right?

     
  • At August 23, 2006 9:26 AM, Blogger kalinara said…

    evan: Yeah, me too. :-) Barda wouldn't necessarily be a good fit...but it's Barda!

    ununilium: I wouldn't complain. :-)

    starman: I'd like to see Mia get some time away from Green Arrow myself. :-) And it would be a cute relationship!

    ben: Yeah, that's true. Barda's best with the cosmic stuff...

    But she's *Barda*!

    Yeah I'm torn. :-)

     
  • At August 23, 2006 9:44 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Honestly, I'm a bit shocked by the idea that Dinah wouldn't remain in Birds of Prey.

    I have a tough time envisioning that, too...especially after the previous issue. As you may recall, that story had a ton of Black Canary voiceovers emphasizing how much she adores the BOP gang...certainly not giving the impression she's ready to bolt for the JLA.

    Sadly, I think Canary's return to the JLA (if the spoiler-cover image is accurate) is a step back for the character. I prefer her in the international espionage/black-ops environment over the supervillain-of-the-month experience of the JLA.

     
  • At August 23, 2006 7:44 PM, Blogger kalinara said…

    mark: Honestly, me too. But I wouldn't mind if she's in both.

    And the prestige of being in the JLA is pretty neat. :-)

     
  • At August 24, 2006 12:30 AM, Blogger Amy Reads said…

    When I first saw that the team was shifting up, and the OYL cover of the new BOP lineup, I immediately thought "Diana." Of course, I always immediately think "Diana," but that's neither here nor there. I just wondered if they would move her to the BOP lineup to make her more human.
    re: Babs, I *still* want to know what happened with her and Dick. He proposed at the end of last season (how I think of the end of the runs before OYL), and then it opens up, one year later, with no engagement in sight....
    I don't know if Babs is the new Batgirl, as another poster suggested, but I don't want to lose sight of her. And darnit, I want Cassandra back as Batgirl.
    Ciao,
    Amy Reads (formerly EC)

     

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