Birds of Prey #5 (DC Comics)
Writer: Gail Simone; Pencillers: Alvin Lee & Adriana Melo; Inkers: Jack Purcell & J.P. Mayer; Colorist: Nei Ruffino; Letterer: Swands; Editor: Janelle Siegel
This issue spins the adventures of the Birds in new directions, in the “Aftershock” of their confrontation with White Canary (Sister in Silk). And alas, it feels like a let-down. I do trust Simone as a storyteller, but when Dinah decides to ditch Gotham and the Birds, to go with the White Canary to Bangkock, I don’t get it. And I really do not like Dinah’s “I can’t explain it right now” (to Oracle) stop-gap in the storytelling. If the reveal of why would ruin the story-ending, then I need a stronger reason to go along with Dinah’s bizarre behavior. She’s leaving the dear friends she only just rejoined and she’s doing it without the courtesy of explaining it to her friends.
This all makes me suspect mind-control, especially since the last panel reveals Dinah in the White Canary outfit and talking in sentences unlike her usual rhythms.
But like I said, I do trust Simone’s writing, so I’m willing to wait on it. But I’m not wild about how easily the various characters let go of discussion, or how dismissive Dinah is of inquiries.
When it comes to the artwork, I’m not sure how the division of labor whent down, but the earlier part is somewhat better than the later. The artist on the later part of the book makes the faces of the Birds look like teen girls, and apparently didn’t bother to check the character models on hair (ie, Zinda’s hair should not look like Dinah’s). And again, what woman who is not a showgirl or wearing a bikini wears anything with the top of the leg-hole at her waist? I am so sick of seeing that illogic on Dinah’s outfit!
As for the cover — is this “art”? The composition on the most basic level works, yes, but everything after that is poor. Huntress’ hair is terrible and does not actually convey motion. It merely indicates that Huntress is a mess. Zinda is posed aiming her gun “gangsta” style, ignoring the fact that she is an out-of-time WW II warrior who takes her guns seriously. In case the artist (Alina Urusa) doesn’t know: you can’t aim accurately holding the gun that way (something Zinda-the-sureshot would know), on top of which, the automatic weapon she’s holding would, at that angle, kick out the burning hot cartridge right into her face. (Yeah, what woman wants that?) Also, the color scheme is terrible: it looks like mud. You can barely distinguish Huntress’ mask from her face (and the mask is supposed to be purple. I’d be embarrassed as an artist to let this go out in the world, especially as a cover.
