Written by Sarah E. Byam
Art by Dick Giordano; Trevor Von Eeeden; Steve Haynie; & Julia Lacquement
Cover Art by Dick Giordano
SUMMARY:
Published by DC Comics for November 1991, the lead-off of this four-part mini-series is entitled “Part I: Domestic Troubles.” In Seattle, a defiant Vietnamese-American radio talk show host, Gan Nguyen, runs afoul of local mobsters. Exasperated by Ollie “Green Arrow” Queen’s financial neglect of their relationship, Dinah “Black Canary” Lance goes off to the mountains. Meeting Gan through a mutual friend, she gives him a ride back to the Seattle ferry. The mob sends thugs to dispose of Gan. While Gan deduces Dinah’s secret identity, another assassination attempt is set in motion.
REVIEW:
In vintage form, Dinah Lance’s solo vehicle is in solid hands. Bolstered by Dick Giordano’s capable artwork, the realistic storyline that writer Sarah E. Byam has devised makes terrific use of a powerless Dinah (keeping in mind, at the time, she has lost her sonic ‘canary cry’). Her fearsome martial arts skills, however, are put to impressive use in a fight scene against two thugs on the pier. Also, the brief sequence where Dinah tells off Ollie for his recent freeloading is spot-on storytelling. Black Canary: New Wings # 1, overall, is a worthy treat for Dinah’s fans.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Series editor Mike Gold pens an interesting page-and-a-half analysis of solo female super-heroes, including Black Canary’s impact on the genre.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
