Customer Reviews

Birds of Prey, Vol. 1: Of Like Minds

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A strong first outing for Gail Simone and Ed Benes on this title. Simone injects a wry sense of humor and everyday, real-life details (like where to eat dinner) into a skillfully plotted and BEAUTIFULLY DRAWN book. The twists of story are compelling but character-driven, like how far Oracle is willing to go to protect Black Canary from further harm. I especially enjoyed the way Simone brought Huntress--the Bat family's resident outsider--into the fold and gave readers some wonderful and unexpected moments where we see her as more than just a callous enforcer.
The book also includes some brief but illuminating appearances by Nightwing and Batgirl, and though you never see him, the shadow of Batman looms large over this book, which is I think an appropriate homage to the character, but also reveals how central to the lives of all his allies he must be.
The villain Savant is an excellent foil for both the brains (Oracle) and the brawn (Black Canary and Huntress) of the Birds of Prey. His sociopathy and short-term memory loss make him unpredicatble enough to be scary, though I would like to know more about his past--which I assume will be revealed in subsequent books.
My one complaint is not specific to this book but rather the Bat-world in general: why do they bother to put people in Arkham Asylum if they ALWAYS escape?
A great read. BUY THIS BOOK.

Birds of Prey are a team of women who prove that they are just as good, if not better, than the male superheroes of the DC universe.

Gail Simone, the genius writer of BoP, writes these three woman (Oracle, Huntress and Black Canary) as not just a team of superheroes but as real women. While these women can kick all kinds of supervillian ass, they also come across as real women because they joke, laugh, talk about guys, fall in and out of love and discuss their feelings. It's a refreshing change from the majority of women superheroes who are drawn with large breasts and very little emotion. The story arc in this TPB is also very gripping as Black Canary is captured by an insane information broker (and blackmailer) named Savant while Oracle and Huntress do whatever they can possibly do to rescue her.

If you're looking for a fun and entertaining read, Birds of Prey: Of Like Minds is the book for you.

Never read a BoP before but I'm hooked now! The story was engaging and fast paced (it does taper off a little towards the end). The art was good - Huntress was especially well drawn, though unfortunately, the book really isn't about her.

The concept for the villian was cool. I instantly liked and despised him and that, really, is the most important part of any good superhero story....

The story also raises moral/ethical issues that are relevent to our time. It doesn't beat you over the head with them and it doesn't preach - nice balance there.

All in all, a good, fun read. I just ordered the next BoP tpb...

I'm currently reving up for a review of the recently released DVD set of the television series of this extremely underrated DC comic property and I thought I'd share my thoughts on the source material first. "Birds of Prey" follows the post-Killing Joke exploits of Barbara Gordon: former Batgirl and current paraplegic. Most crimefighters would slow down after receiving a bullet in the spine. Babs kicked it up about ten notches. Commissioner Jim Gordon's daughter became The Oracle, the world's most powerful hacker able to bend nearly every electrical system and network on Earth to her will. She's the go-to girl for any number of superheroes and vigilantes -including The Dark Knight himself- when they need an all-seeing eye for backup. Justice League co-founder Dinah Lance aka The Black Canary was down on her luck and aimless until she got a special delivery in the form of a pair of earrings. These put her in contact with Oracle and the two have been partners ever since. Canary does the legwork and travels around the world performing acts of espionage and rescue while Oracle runs the show. The two never even met face-to-face for a very long time. Those were the old days. Now, Dinah and Barbara are close friends and the danger is right in their own backyard. Gotham's got a new player who fancies he can out-think The Oracle and out-fight The Black Canary and he's got a grudge that needs serving.

Contrary to the "Volume 1" title, this is not even close to the beginning of the BOP storyline (it compiles issues 56-59 of the series and there were several stand-alones prior to issue 1), but this the best that I've read so far and a fantastic place to start for anybody who's curious about DC's finest superheroine team. The art is beautiful, the writing top-notch with loads of humor and a whole heap of bada$z on top of it. Women will enjoy the quippy girl-talk and female independence theme and men will love the violence and gorgeous character art. The villain in this arc is Savant, an incredibly talented wannabe vigilante inspired by Batman who -after being severely reprimanded by The Caped Crusader in an inspired moment that flawlessly illustrates the difference between a true hero and a self-absorbed attention hound- decides to take his frustrations out on the one person who knows everything, The Oracle. Having captured Black Canary after a hell of a fight that leaves Dinah without her powerful sonic Canary Cry, Savant offers Barbara a deal: her partner for Batman's identity. Entering the storyline at this point is hot-headed Gotham loose cannon The Huntress, daughter of a slain mob boss and crimefighter extraordinaire. Barbara has always had an odd dislike for Huntress, but she's forced to put that aside and invite her into the fold for Dinah's sake. Savant does have one weakness: a kind of time dyslexia where he knows what has happened, but he has no idea WHEN. An interesting trait. So in addition to great art and fantastic dialogue the story is strong and the cast of characters is great. Sold yet?

There are also strong political overtones in this story that were echoed in The Dark Knight movie about the danger of one person having unlimited power to intrude on other people's privacy. Barbara and Dinah clash over this as Oracle seeks to dispense her own justice using files on corruption in high places that she stole from Savant's blackmailing operation. Due process or swift justice? It's a great debate and one more thing I love about this book. Black Canary is my favorite comic superheroine, Oracle is a truly unique and powerful character in ways Batgirl could never be, and Huntress is just hardcore. The Birds of Prey make for a great team-up comic and I strongly recommend "Of Like Minds" to anybody who isn't opposed to the notion of girls who kick tail. This is as good as comic books get.

The star of the show is certainly Gail Simones writing, there is nobody working in US comics today who writes better female characters and more enjoyable dialog in general. The artwork is very capable and slick, though tending towards the cheesecake poses rather too often.
If you like well made US superhero comics then you will like this.

This should collect issues 56 through 59 of Birds of Prey, and that being the case, this doesn't cover the story where Huntress investigates the religious cult and meets Vixen (that would be Between Dark & Dawn). Instead, it deals with blackmail and intrigue.

These are the first issues of BOP in which Gail Simone has taking over writing duties and served as a jumping-on point for many readers, including me. The book has never been this good. Whereas the series meandered before, it has now become an ongoing story. There is action, humor, great characters, and usually great art (there have been a few filler artists during Gail's run which is still ongoing in issues numbered in the 90s). Gail has also taken steps to add Huntress to the regular cast. She is a favorite of mine, and I'm glad she's here.

This is the first two graphic novels to feature art primarily by Ed Benes. Few people draw the female form as well as Benes. You'll either love him or hate him, depending on your feelings for "good girl" art.

People were not kidding when they told me how great Gail Simone's writing is. I loved the story to bits. The artwork made me a bit embaressed though. It is very high quality, but the ever-visable nipples feel really... high school, you know?

This volume is the start of writer Gail Simone's long run on the Birds of Prey. She picks an interesting way to start, veteran heroine Black Canary is beaten, kidnapped and handcuffed to a bed so a psychotic villain can blackmail her partner the computer expert Oracle. Initially it sounds like the sort of misogynistic plot she once mocked with her famous 'Women in Refrigerators' essay.

But she inverts the cliches, Black Canary, Oracle and their new partner Huntress eventually manage to turn the table on their foes. But it's not that easy, there are tense fights, scary threats and an interesting new foe -- Savant. Savant is more interesting than the usual villain, his mental problems are written more realistically than the usual psycho and his origins are a bit more three-dimensional.

Artist Ed Benes has some problems, he basically draws one face for men, one for women and reuses them throughout the book. Black Canary and Huntress are saddled with some of the most impractical and ridiculous costumes in comics and Benes' love of T&A doesn't help. But he does good action, decent expressions and keeps the book moving.

It's worth a read.

This is the first compilation of the Birds of Prey series by Gail Simone. This set introduces the inclusion of the Huntress into the BoP group. Black Canary is kidnapped during a mission gone wrong, and Oracle (Barbara Gordon)is forced to rely on the Huntress to help rescue her. Gail Simone's writing is the hook to this series. Ed Benes' artwork is fantastic (see his work on JLA). Some don't like it, but you have to remember; which demographic is the largest purchaser of comics?
I think that pretty much sums it up. I have purchased 3 books in this series so far, and will get the entire series, as well as now receiving the new volume.

Yep, I'm a feminist that reads comics. I first associated with the three leading ladies through Batman, Justice League Unlimited, and other random sources online and via Cartoon Network. Huntress is her lovable, violent self, while Black Canary is every bit as fiesty and fun as she always is. Ladies, just because there is cheesecake doesn't mean you can't read it! This stuff is full of empowering, well-written female characters and I highly encourage you to pick it up. Gail Simone, now writing Wonderwoman, is a fantastic writer that emulates the ways of womanhood perfectly; "700 sit-ups a day." She captures the essence of feminism and strength while the artist keeps the story appealing to men as well. It is rare that something this good comes along in the history of women protagonists and while I love Supergirl, her skinny blonde self can't hold a candle to these fierce ladies!