***Contains Spoilers***
Here’s my review of the one-shots that serve as the prelude to the Birds of Prey 1998 series. These stories focus on Oracle recruiting Black Canary, setting the stage for their partnership, and exploring their dynamic through a series of standalone adventures.
The premise of these one-shots varies but centers on Oracle (Barbara Gordon) reaching out to Dinah Lance (Black Canary) during a transitional phase in both their lives. From eco-terrorist infiltrations to villain introductions and team-ups, these stories build the foundation of their friendship and partnership while exploring the growing “Birds of Prey” concept.
What I enjoyed most about these preludes was their focus on the friendship and mutual respect between Barbara and Dinah. Each story builds their dynamic step by step. For example, in Birds of Prey: Revolution, I loved the tension in the final moments where Barbara chews Dinah out—a scene that perfectly encapsulates the give-and-take of their relationship. It was also refreshing to see Dinah’s perspective, which offered a slightly different tone from her usual interactions with Green Arrow. Stories like Birds of Prey: Wolves and Revolution highlight how the women complement each other and need this partnership as much for emotional support as for their missions. The exploration of their personal struggles—romantic or otherwise—gave them more depth, especially in Wolves. The camaraderie really shines, and the setup smoothly transitions into the full series.
On the flip side, some of the stories felt uneven in quality. For example, Birds of Prey: Batgirl was disappointing, mainly because it leaned on a spell-induced hallucination rather than advancing the relationship or plot. The concept of a Batgirl/Canary team-up was promising, but the execution left me wanting more. I also found Birds of Prey: Manhunt fun but a bit dated. The “girl power” moments are charming yet come off as a little corny by today’s standards. However, I appreciate how Barbara’s interactions with Huntress and Catwoman reflect her Batman-inspired skepticism.
Birds of Prey: Ravens was a solid introduction to Cheshire’s Ravens, but as a villain-centric story, it lacked the emotional weight of the others. Still, it’s intriguing enough to make me curious about their future role in the ongoing series.
In conclusion, these preludes were an enjoyable read that effectively established the partnership between Oracle and Black Canary while setting the stage for the Birds of Prey series. However, the quality varied across the stories, with Batgirl being the weakest and others like Revolution and Wolves standing out. These one-shots are worth revisiting for fans of the characters, though they fall just short of being must-reads. Overall, I give the collection 3 stars—solid, enjoyable, and something I’ll reread, but not without its flaws.
Feature Image Birds of Prey: Manhunt #3 cover art by John Dell and Gary Frank
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