Out of Context #11: "Scaredy Bird"

From Birds of Prey (vol. 1) #1, art by Greg Land.

Every Thursday, Flowers & Fishnets provide a panel that--when taken out of context from the rest of the page--may be funny, suggestive, or just dumb.

Out This Week: BIRDS OF PREY #19 and TPB 2

Coming this Wednesday, April 17, 2013:

BIRDS OF PREY #19

There is a traitor on the team--so who is the member that threatens to tear the Birds of Prey apart?

Written by Christy Marx
Art by Romano Molenaar, Vicente Cifuentes
Cover by Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes
32 Pages
U.S. Price: 2.99










And…

BIRDS OF PREY Vol. 2: Your Kiss Might Kill

In this second collection new villains threaten to expose Black Canary's dark secret, and the Court of Owls sets its sight on the team!

Plus, the girls bring an injured Poison Ivy to the Amazon to help her recover.

Collects Birds of Prey #8-13.

Written by Duane Swierczynski
Art by Javier Pina, Jesus Saiz, Travel Foreman, Jeff Huet
Cover by Travel Foreman
144 Pages
U.S. Price: 14.99
Softcover

Carmine Infantino Dies at 87

Black Canary co-creator Carmine Infantino died today at the age of 87.

Infantino was a legend in the comics industry, co-credited with reviving the superhero genre and the Silver Age of Comics with his creation of the Barry Allen version of The Flash.

The major comic book news sources are covering this story.  For more information on Infantino's passing, head over to Newsarama, Bleeding Cool, and CBR.

Go Buy JUSTICE LEAGUE #18

This was a pleasant surprise this week.  Black Canary appears in the latest issue of DC's Justice League.  After the crisis of "Throne of Atlantis" crossover demanded the assistance of more heroes than the heavy hitters of the League, Batman and Cyborg have convinced the rest of the team to start a recruiting drive.

And look who they summon to the gathering:

You guessed it -- Nightwing in da hizzay!!!

However, Dinah vanishes after the double-page splash welcome of all the potential Leaguers.  She doesn't play any part in the action later in the issue, and from the sounds of it, the League is really focused on Firestorm, Element-Woman, and the all-new(er) Atom.  Plus, Shazam will be joining in a couple months.  I guess Black Canary is too experienced and competent for the Justice League.

What I found most interesting was Dinah's prologue to the story on page 2.

The League offers an assist in the form of a distraction as Black Canary is fighting with Copperhead.  Dinah's interaction with Batgirl over her comm/radio system jumped right out at me as a classic Birds of Prey moment with Barbara being the voice in her ear.  I don't know if Johns deliberately tried to evoke that sensation or if it's just so intrinsic to the characters now that it cannot be avoided.

Barbara Gordon might be the iconic Batgirl, and I prefer her to Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Caine, but Barbara was infinitely stronger as Oracle and the DC Universe is missing that presence.  Birds of Prey for sure is.

Justice League #18 is written by Geoff Johns with art by Jesus Saiz, who drew Black Canary in the New 52's Birds of Prey for a while.

Guest Playdate #4: "Dinah Gets Angry"

Time again for another installment of The Yoda and Dinah Show.  Thanks as always to The Irredeemable Shag for donating these pics.

The Yoda and Dinah Show part 4, courtesy the Irredeemable Shag.

You can follow Shag over at Firestorm Fan and listen to the epic Fire and Water Podcast which you can download and listen to anytime you're craving the kind of high-minded discussion that only Aquaman and Firestorm fans can provide!

Playdate #12: Black Canary & Mr. Miracle

Guest Playdate #3: "Her Type of Guy"

Time again for another installment of The Yoda and Dinah Show.  Thanks as always to The Irredeemable Shag for donating these pics.

The Yoda and Dinah Show part 3, courtesy of The Irredeemable Shag.

You can follow Shag over at Firestorm Fan and listen to the epic Fire and Water Podcast which you can download and listen to anytime you're craving the kind of high-minded discussion that only Aquaman and Firestorm fans can provide!

Playdate #11: Black Canary & Hourman

Out of Context 10: "Killer Legs"

From Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters #1, art by Mike Grell.

Every Thursday, Flowers & Fishnets provide a panel that--when taken out of context from the rest of the page--may be funny, suggestive, or just dumb.

Go Buy JUSTICE LEAGUE #17

Black Canary doesn't play a large part in the concluding chapter of "Throne of Atlantis" in this week's issue of Justice League, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it.  The first ever crossover between Justice League and Aquaman ends with all of the action and pathos you'd expect from Geoff Johns and the law firm of Reis, Prado and Reis.

Black Canary with Firestorm, Zatanna and Black Lightning. Art by Ivan Reis.

Even though Team 7 is getting canned, this issue wraps up with a tease of three new teams.  The Justice League of America, which also debuts today, doesn't seem to include Black Canary, but maybe she can find her way into the ranks of the expanded Justice League.  Or The Legion of Doom!

Trauma Tuesday #7

From Flash Comics #94, art by Carmine Infantino.

Disclaimer:  While reading my copy of The Black Canary Archives Volume 1, I discovered the ridiculous trend that Dinah got knocked unconscious every single issue.  Now, I've been knocked cold before, and that $#@% is really dangerous.  Kanigher and Infantino either didn't realize how unhealthy it was, or they didn't care, because Black Canary would have been reduced to a drooling vegetable by her third solo adventure.

I dedicate a regular blog update to the panels showing these injuries to spotlight the ridiculousness and repetitiveness--and laziness--of the kind of storytelling common during this era of comic book publishing.  In no conceivable way do I endorse any sort of violence against women (or men).

Guest Playdate #2: "Size Matters"

Time again for another installment of The Yoda and Dinah Show.  Thanks as always to The Irredeemable Shag for donating these pics.

The Yoda and Dinah Show part 2, courtesy of the Irredeemable Shag.

You can follow Shag over at Firestorm Fan and listen to the epic Fire and Water Podcast which you can download and listen to anytime you're craving the kind of high-minded discussion that only Aquaman and Firestorm fans can provide!

Playdate #10: Black Canary & Robin

Click image, see bigger.

Preview of JUSTICE LEAGUE #17

The conclusion to the Justice League/Aquaman crossover, "Throne of Atlantis", hits shelves next week.  A preview of the first five pages has hit several news sites.  Of note for Black Canary fans is the double-page splash (heh) on pages 4 and 5 featuring the replacement Justice League members fighting off hordes of Atlanteans led by Ocean Master.

From Justice League #17, art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado & Rod Reis.

Never fear surface dwellers.  You're safe in the hands of Firestorm, the Element-Woman, Black Lightning, Vixen, Zatanna, and -- right smack in the middle -- our own Dinah herself!

Gives a whole new meaning to her fishnet stockings.

No sign of Hawkman or Atom on these pages, but Hawkman got pretty well banged up last chapter.  And the image might just be too pixelated to see Atom.

Out of Context #9: A Little Grundy Goes A Long Way

From Justice Society of America (1991) #2, art by Grant Miehm.

Every Thursday, Flowers & Fishnets provide a panel that--when taken out of context from the rest of the page--may be funny, suggestive, or just dumb.