Previously in Birds of Prey...
Birds of Prey #13: "Apokolips Express" is written by Chuck Dixon with pencils by Greg Land and Patrick Zircher, inks by Drew Geraci, and colors by Gloria Vasquez. The cover was done by Land and Brian Stelfreeze.
Black Canary boarded a military train full of U.S. Marshals transporting a group of super-villains--and Catwoman who snuck aboard to spring the villains. But then a mysterious evil-doer who has been manipulating Oracle for some time triggered a Boom Tube sending the train and its occupants across time and space to a distant world.
Dinah and Dina, the head of the marshals, climb out of the wrecked train trying to figure out what happened and where they landed. Black Canary realizes pretty quickly where they ended up.
Marshal Dina shoots down some of the aircraft coming to investigate the train's sudden arrival and derailment. The rest of the marshals secure the location and the prisoners on board, all except for Catwoman of course.
The mystery villain in the hat and trench coat makes his presence known and Marshal Dina opens fire and blasts him. Black Canary freaks out, knowing that whoever that strange-o is he transported them to Apokolips and he can send them back to Earth. So Black Canary and Catwoman head out looking for the mystery guy.
Back on Earth, Oracle has enlisted the aid of Power Girl to help her find Dinah and the mystery train.
Black Canary and Catwoman watch a flight of parademons soaring overhead toward the marshals' location. Then the women find the damaged exo-suit of their mystery villain, which means whoever is behind this is actually really small and trying to hide his appearance.
The parademons attack the train, but the marshals are able to fall back and reposition. Marshal Dina realizes she needs heavier weapons to defend the train and its cargo of villains.
Meanwhile, Catwoman wonders why Canary can't call Oracle for help.
As Black Canary and Catwoman skulk around Apokolips, they find a mining pit operated by slaves. Catwoman is more interested in what the mine is producing than who is working it; she likes the shiny blood diamonds.
At the train, Dina fires a big honking bazooka weapon that blows away most of the parademons. For the moment, the marshals have held them off but a prolonged defense will require a lot more power on their side.
Black Canary and Catwoman find the mystery villain crying behind a rock. He turns out to be an unusually small parademon who wanted to kidnap the super-villains in order to lead a revolt.
At the train, Dina frees the five captives and tells them they all need to work together in order to survive.
Uh... I'll do more analysis when this arc is over, 'kay?
Come back next Tuesday for a review of Birds of Prey #14.
Only Greg Land could make the hellpits of Apokolips look like the girls were taking a holiday at Club Med. It dosent look that bad!
ReplyDeleteAnd for all their predicament, youd think even Catwoman wouldn't treat it like just another caper - shes on another world for God's sake, with Darkseid just round the corner.
Dinah and Selina climbing up that rockface reminds me of the sword-and-sorcery arc in the late 60s Wonder Woman where Catwoman guest-starred and they had a similar climb.