Playdate #6: Black Canary & Batgirl vs. Killer Moth

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Black Canary by Chris Bachalo

One of my favorite comics in the '90s was Marvel's X-Men spinoff Generation X.  I fell in love with Scott Lobdell's idiosyncratic characters, and the equally idiosyncratic artwork of Chris Bachalo.  He's always been one of my favorite artists, so I was thrilled when a Google image search landed this Bachalo drawing of the Black Canary demonstrating her "Canary Cry".

Trauma Tuesday #4

From Flash Comics #92, 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).

Playdate #5: Black Canary & Team Green

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Out of Context #5: Black Turkey

Thursday is regularly reserved for Out-of-Context updates, but in lieu of the major holiday that we Americans know as Thursday-Before-Black-Friday I decided to offer the full page from the panel above.  Savor it!

From Birds of Prey (vol. 1) #56, art by Ed Benes.

One of the many, many, maaaannny things I love about Gail Simone's work on BoP is that she infused her characters with an authentic love of life and pleasure and, yes, food.

As a connoisseur -- as an aesthete -- as a glutton, I am thankful for this comic!

Black Canary, Her Best Friends, and Five Other Women by Ed Benes

Ed Benes draws some good looking women, as evidenced by today's Whatever Wednesday entry.  Black Canary was a subject of Benes' talents for years as he drew Birds of Prey and Justice League of America and then Birds of Prey again.  However, for this ensemble image of DC's most prominent female heroes of 2008, he must have worried that Dinah wouldn't stand out enough in the company of Wonder Woman, Power Girl, Zatanna and others.  So he drew her--noticeably--without a bra.

Click image to embiggen.

Hers is the most covered up torso of the six women depicted, and yet her nipples are the focal point of picture.

Trauma Tuesday #3

From Flash Comics #91, 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).

N'Rama Interview with Ladies of ARROW

For today's Media Monday, we're going back a couple weeks to a Newsarama interview with the ladies of CW's Arrow, Willa Holland and Katie Cassidy.  Holland plays Thea Queen, sister of the heroic Oliver Queen, I think (I haven't watched any of the series yet, though I'm told it's pretty good and that I would enjoy it).  More germane to this blog, however, is Cassidy, who is credited--in the interview, at least--as Dinah "Laurel" Lance.

Having not seen the show, I don't know anything about the Dinah character in this series.  I don't know if she has any vigilante tendencies, or whether we'll see her become the Black Canary during the run of the show or what.  I don't even know why the name "Laurel" is in quotation marks in her credit.  Does she go by the name Laurel?  Would that possibly leave the name Dinah free to to be used by her mother, Dinah Drake?  I guess time will tell.

Look at all the pretty people...

Playdate #4: Black Canary & Hawkwoman

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Out of Context #4

From Green Arrow/Black Canary Wedding Special #1, art by Amanda Connor

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.

JLA by JLGL

For today's "Whatever Wednesday", a classic piece showing all my favorite DC heroes (and Red Tornado) done by the master of stock and merchandizing art, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Praise Be His Name!

click to embiggen

Trauma Tuesday #2

From Flash Comics #91, 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).

Black Canary Solicits for February '13

BIRDS OF PREY #17Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art and cover by ROMANO MOLENAAR and VICENTE CIFUENTES
On sale FEBRUARY 20 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• The Birds are trapped fighting Basilisk—in total darkness!
• Something strange is happening to Black Canary…and only one man can be responsible. But Kurt Lance died years ago—right?

TEAM 7 #5

Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by PASCAL ALIXE
Cover by GARY FRANK and CAM SMITH
On sale FEBRUARY 13 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
• The secret history of the DCU’s original Cyborg Program!
• Who is Spartan? And what is the threat of the Majestic Program?
• Slade Wilson takes his first steps down the path that will lead to his becoming Deathstroke!

Not final cover, according to dccomics.com

Playdate 3: Black Canary & Batgirl 2

Out of Context #3

From Green Arrow/Black Canary: Wedding Special #1, art by Amanda Connor.

Wait, her eyes are confusing me!  Is she staring at Green Arrow's ass... or Batman's crotch?

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.

Black Canary by Richard Cox

For today's "Whatever Wednesday", a drawing of Black Canary by Richard Cox.  Her face looks a little Francis Manapul-esque, I think.

Trauma Tuesday #1

From Flash Comics #87, 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).

Playdate 2: Black Canary & Wonder Woman

Out of Context #2

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.