Written by Gail Simone
Art by Michael Golden; Mike Manley; Scott Hanna; Hi-Fi Design; & Rob Leigh
Cover Art by Dan Brereton
SUMMARY:
Published by DC Comics for June 2004, this fifth installment of the “Sensei & Student” storyline stars both Black Canaries in “Murder & Mystery.” In the present-day, Dinah Laurel Lance reviews her late mother’s confidential files in hopes of finding evidence to track down an elusive serial killer. A flashback depicts a Gotham City luncheon fund-raiser where Dinah’s future parents, Larry & Dinah, mingle with undercover cop James Gordon and a hodge-podge of high-society mobsters. On the dance floor, the Lances tease their imminent plans to start a family until the discovery of a server’s ritualistic homicide disrupts the event.
Before changing into costume, the semi-retired Golden Age Black Canary researches the culprit’s ominous crime scene clue (the word, ‘Preda,’ scrawled in blood) at a downtown library. It’s also implied that she is also contemplating baby names. Another grisly homicide sends the Black Canary desperately full circle to the library to thwart the night’s third slaying. The sadistic culprit escapes, but the inspiration for the modern Black Canary’s middle name is revealed. In the present-day, Dinah reads the killer’s taunting letter to her mother, realizing that the psychotic culprit isn’t who she thought it was.
REVIEW:
As this noir-like homage to the Golden Age Black Canary, writer Gail Simone and the art team deliver a spot-on murder mystery. Wisely, Simone focuses the ritualistic serial killer concept (a fixation on blondes and/or fake blondes) more on the masked culprit’s chauvinist and sexually-suggestive dialogue instead of resorting to gory visual details. To the art team’s credit, much can be construed from what little carnage is actually seen.
Including a terrific cover image, this issue’s artwork perfectly matches it dark ambiance. Also, the flashback works well, as do its book-ends where the modern-day Dinah searching her mother’s copious case notes. Perhaps its best ambiguous element is whether or not Dinah’s mother is perhaps newly pregnant in this flashback. In addition to the series’ fanbase, Birds of Prey # 66 also makes a solid read for adult mystery buffs.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The single-page “DC in Demand” column hypes various DC projects (including Identity Crisis # 1) and offers a cover reveal for Birds of Prey # 67.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
