Birds of Prey #2 is written by Kelly Thompson and published by DC Comics. Art is by Leonardo Romero, colours by Jordie Bellaire and letters by Clayton Cowles. Main cover art (left) is by Romero and Bellaire.
Birds of Prey #2 is available now, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold.
Synopsis
Black Canary has built an all-new team with a very specific and very dangerous first mission: extraction! Their target: ! She’s being held on and guarded by a battalion of . Sounds simple enough, right? Well, then we’re explaining it wrong! It’s a terrible mission! And before it can even be launched, the Birds have to gather a few mysterious supplies and see some old familiar faces…that they punch!
Review
The Birds of Prey are back in comic book stores today. After a brilliant first issue there’s more talking to be done as the team lays out their plans to break in to Themyscira to rescue Sin. But whilst the series continues to be a slow burn it’s every bit the page turns a BoP book deserves to be.
Kelly Thompson has done an incredible job in pulling together a formidable team. If issue #1 were the forming stage of Tuckman’s team model then issue #2 is absolutely the storming stage. There’s arguing, a lack of clarity to team roles, power struggles and very nearly a lack of progress. But it’s all in service of a larger story. Once which Thompson isn’t going to reveal before she’s good and ready.
So by now you’re probably aware of the secret sixth member of the team, Meridian. This older version of Mia “Maps” Mizoguchi arrives from the future with plans to help the team. Maps was created by Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl, first appearing in the pages of their Gotham Academy book. It’s going to be interesting to see how the fan favourite character plays in to the story going forwards. But for now its a wonderful connection to a much-loved series.
With Meridian introduced, the team needs to find a way to Themyscira and that will – most likely – require magic. Thompson breaks the team up in to smaller groups and sends them off to collect their thoughts, weapons and to cause collective mayhem. Once again it’s nice to see Cass paired with Barda. Last month we glimpsed these two together in a dynamite action sequence and funnily enough the same happens again here. Meanwhile Harley pairs up with Zealot to make another interesting pairing. With an ensemble cast, especially one this large, there will be inevitable times that they need to break away from the pack. Thompson knows this and is putting in the work early to make sure those interpersonal relationships exist for when the time is right.
Circling back to Tuckman’s model for team design what’s next is norming. What better way to start the process than with a big group action sequence. Especially one which plays to the strengths of your already brilliant artists. Who was it that said friendships are easily formed in battle? Maybe that was just me… but with this month’s big fight out of the way it’s time to head to Themyscira and introduce a cool cameo which you’ll never see coming.
What more is there to say about Romero and Bellaire? These two are a dynamite team. I loved being introduced to this version of the Birds of Prey last month. This month it was amazing to return to that achingly stylish 70s aesthetic.
Verdict
With issue #2 Birds of Prey continues to forge a path as one of 2023’s most original series from the big two. A scintillating slow burner story and sensational artwork are the recipe for a sure fire hit.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
