Birds of Prey #10 – Kelly Thompson, Writer; Robbi Rodriguez, Gavin Guidry, Artists; Jordie Bellaire, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: As if a battle against a cosmic God in the middle of Themyscira wasn’t out-there enough, Kelly Thompson’s Birds of Prey seems determined to push the bounds of the DCU even more. After being forced to leave Barbara Gordon behind in a strange gothic dimension last issue, the heroes emerge into a technicolor ’50s-inspired superhero world—one that, it’s revealed by a mysterious warrior who greets them, is actually the same world as the one they just left. It’s just folded around the perception of the hero who enters it first, and this time that’s happy warrior Barda, whose aesthetic is very influenced by the era’s sci-fi properties. But she doesn’t have time to enjoy her world, because it’s not long before she’s infected and possessed by the demon who seems to rule this world—Maia, who it’s revealed is actually the sister of the woman who greeted them as soon as they arrived—and they weren’t the only ones once.
There’s an intense and intriguing story about seven superpowered sisters who formed a parallel dimension here, even if it’s maybe a little too much to cram into a twenty-page team book. The whole setup here is more cosmic than I’m used to seeing in a book like this, and it easily could have collapsed with a lesser writing at the helm. As it is, it’s the strangest issue of the series but still an enormous amount of fun with some great visuals by two very different artists who are both used well. Barda and Cass, who have developed an odd bond over the course of the series, get a great scene together here. If there’s a weak link, it’s our new lone-survivor hero who feels VERY ’90s inspired, while here evil sister lurks in the background. The cliffhanger reveals who will be shaping the next world, and that’s a fascinating possibility. This is easily the most ambitious book coming out of DC right now.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
