Birds of Prey, Vol. 1: Of Like Minds (Paperback)

by Gail Simone (Author), Ed Benes (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Stars of their own TV show, the most sultry and glamorous additions to the Batman family takes flight once more! As swift and powerful as any raptor, they certainly live up to their name when it comes to crime-busting! Using a corrupt businessman as bait, blackmailers capture Black Canary to extort Batman's real identity from Oracle - the scalpel-sharp brains of the Birds of Prey. Her wings clipped, Oracle has to call on the one person she doesn't want help from and whom she hates - The Huntress! This latest addition to Titan's ongoing Birds of Prey series proves you don't have to be a big man in a cape to dish out the rough stuff! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author
Gail Simone is a relative newcomer to comics but has written for The Simpsons and X-Men Unlimited. Ed Benes has pencilled such varied titles as Gen 13, Iron Man, Uncanny X-Men, WildC.A.T.S, Silver Surfer and Wonder Woman. Alex Lei is another newcomer to comics whose work has only previously been seen on Supergirl. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140120192X
• ISBN-13: 978-1401201920
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #194,153 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 3 in The Birds of Prey Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular! Dazzling writing and art!, February 25, 2004

By	Invisiboy2001 "invisiboy2001" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This trade paperback compiles issues 56 through 59 of the "Birds of Prey" comics series. But don't be afraid to pick this book up if you have never read a "Birds" story before: writer Gail Simone provides a thought-provoking, smart, humorous ride into the world of Oracle (formerly Batgirl), Black Canary and Huntress in such a way that you don't need to know the specific history to appreciate this collection. While I won't go into the whole story of the book, I will state that if you appreciate smart, beautiful, competent superheroes and EXCELLENT writing and art, this book is for you! Highly recommended!!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story for an Underappreciated Part of the Bat-world, February 24, 2004

By	John A. League (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gail Simone should be cloned so that her brilliance lives on!, November 16, 2005

By	Steel Spider (Ireland) - See all my reviews

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.