Written by Sarah E. Byam
Art by Trevor Von Eeden; Bob Smith; Steve Haynie; & Julia Lacquement
Cover Art by Trevor Von Eeden
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Blynde Woman’s Bluff,” this 32-page installment was published by DC Comics for May 1993. It’s the first half of a two-parter that concludes in the next issue. Leaving Oliver Queen in Seattle to watch over her flower shop, Dinah takes a security gig overseas guarding a priceless black tulip for the Dutch Royal Floral Society. A sinister client sends the vengeful female assassin, Blynde, and her brother after the black tulip, knowing that Black Canary is also on her hit list.
Infiltrating the Dutch Royal Floral Society, an undercover Blynde chillingly leaves a trail of corpses in her wake. In Holland, a suspicious Dinah faces off vs. Blynde, who deploys the advantage of a hooded invisibility cloak.
REVIEW:
Though Dinah’s pre-trip training regime sequence is evidently padding, writer Sarah E. Byam generates a well-played opener for “Blynde Woman’s Bluff.” In particular, Byam ensures that readers get a confident Dinah, whose independence as a heroine is likably confirmed. This issue further enjoys the art team’s consistently solid visuals. Amidst a cliffhanger ending, Byam sets up the chillingly ruthless Blynde as a worthwhile nemesis for Dinah. While Blynde’s invisibility is gimmicky, Byam capably incorporates this assassin’s ruthlessness in a way that counters Black Canary’s sassy martials arts/sleuth adventuring style. Catching Dinah Lance in one of her best solo gigs of the Early ‘90s, Black Canary # 5 makes a surprisingly good read.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There is a two-page letters-and-answers column (actually, it’s one long fan letter). The last page is DC Universe # 7 serving as a news-and-notes column.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
