Broken Frontier

"We're putting the band back together."  Famous words spoken by Elwood and Jake Blues now take on entirely new meaning in Gail Simone's relaunch of Birds of Prey #1. 

This has been an exceptionally strong week for DC Comics with the release of a new Batman mini-series and follow-ups to last month's Doc Savage, First Wave, and Flash titles.  With numerous retailers selling-out of the premier issue, Simone's latest work belongs alongside those and in some ways sets a new standard for team centric books.

Simone has returned home with this series but not lost any of her trademark wit and humorous banter that fans of Secret Six have come to love.  It's sad that DC felt the need to remove one of Simone's best jokes from this issue.  From the "Sick Cheerleaders" to the back-and-forth between Black Canary and Lady Blackhawk, readers should acknowledge that comics can be fun and funny at the same time without losing any of their power and significance. 

Usually, in comics with a nearly-all female cast or for that matter any group of non-Euroamerican men, concerns of "soap-boxing" when topics of gender or race are discussed are thrown at the writer.  That is definitely not the case here as Simone nicely transitions between comedic interplay and the serious, emotional resonance these characters have for each other.   Simone rarely falls into cliché or pastiche without her trademark commentary and readers will find numerous examples throughout.

This issue also marks the triumphant return of Ed Benes and his art has never looked better.  Aided by colorist Nei Ruffino, Benes' style has evolved considerably and while the cover may not illustrate it, the panels themselves showcase the variation in form, facial expression, and anatomy that some readers have criticized him for lacking in the past.  As a result, Benes and Ruffino nicely compliment the energy and pacing of Simone's prose.

Tied more thematically into the return of Bruce Wayne saga in the various Batman books through Barbara Gordon's inner monologue, Birds of Prey #1 appears to have a relatively weak link to the "Brightest Day" banner gracing several DC books in May.  Resurrected in Blackest Night, Hawk and Dove make a few appearances in the issue, but their connection to the Birds is unclear, as it should be in a first issue that is laying the foundation for the series.  However, Birds may also serve as an important bridge between DC's two major summer events. 

While readers of Simone's first run may appreciate subtle character references and interactions better than newcomers, little to no experience with Oracle, Huntress, or the others is required.  This issue hits strong and fast and leaves both audiences anxiously awaiting the second installment.