Birds of Prey is a comic book published by DC Comics that features the adventures of a group of female superheroes who are based in Gotham City (and later Metropolis). The series was conceived by Jordan Gorfinkle and originally written by Chuck Dixon. As of 2006, it is authored by Gail Simone. Notable artists include Ed Benes and Joe Bennett. DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to the date or issue of a characters first appearance. ... Chuck Dixon is an American comic book writer, perhaps best-known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s. ... Comic book artist, notable for his work with J. Michael Straczynski on Midnight Nation and Supreme Power. ... Black Canary is a DC Comics superheroine character. ... Gypsy is a DC Comics superheroine. ... The Huntress is a superheroine from DC Comics. ... Lady Blackhawk is the alias used in Quality Comics and DC Comics comic books by two fictional characters. ... Oracle is a fictional character, the nom de guerre of a superhero appearing in the publications of DC Comics. ... Catwoman is a DC Comics character, associated with the Batman franchise and created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this comics-related article or section may require cleanup. ... Power Girl (real name Kara Zor-L, also known as Karen Starr) is a DC Comics superhero. ... Vixen is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... DC Comics is one of the largest American companies in comic book and related media publishing. ... Batman and Superman, two of the most recognizable and iconic superheroes. ... Gotham Citys skyline, as it appears in the 1989 Batman movie. ... Metropolis as depicted in the Superman Returns video game For other uses, see Metropolis (disambiguation). ... Chuck Dixon is an American comic book writer, perhaps best-known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gail Simone at the 2002 SDCC. Photo copyright 2002-2005 Lea Hernandez Gail Simone is a popular American writer of comic books. ... José Edilbenes Bezerra (born in 1972 in Alto Santo, Ceara Brazil) is a Brazilian comic book artist, better known as his pen name Ed Benes. ... Joe Bennett Joe Bennett is head of the Music Department at Bath Spa and the organiser of the annual UK Songwriting Festival. ...

Currently, the comic has a very solid following and fanbase. Fans praise the portrayal of strong female characters, both as heroes and as villains, and Gail Simone's skill in bringing even minor characters to vivid life, as well as Gail's use of humor.

Despite the title of the series being Birds of Prey, the term isn't even mentioned until issue #86, in which Zinda suggests it; however, the other characters get sidetracked and do not respond to the suggestion. The title has not been mentioned again in the series, though Oracle refers to the group with that name in a conversation with the new Blue Beetle. ^[1] Lady Blackhawk is the alias used in Quality Comics and DC Comics comic books by two fictional characters. ... Jaime Reyes, a fictional character from DC Comics, is a Hispanic teenager who became the third person to take up the legacy of the superhero Blue Beetle. ...

Story

Originally based in a clocktower in Gotham City, events led team leader Oracle to move the team into a moving headquarters, a state-of-the-art jet known as Aerie One. The team now considers itself based in Metropolis.

Core members

• Oracle (Barbara Gordon) — formerly known as Batgirl, who was wheelchair-bound following an attack by the Joker. She is the founder and brains of the team, possessing a massive information network and expert hacking skills.
• Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance) — a tough, but good-natured and idealistic streetfighter. Barbara and Dinah are best friends (Barbara having helped Dinah through low periods in Dinah's life) and form the nucleus of the team. In addition to her meta-power, an ultrasonic attack known as the "Canary Cry", she is also a highly skilled martial artist. However, in Issue #99 she announces her departure from the team, issue #100 will feature a backstory on her new role in the DC Universe.
• The Huntress (Helena Rosa Bertinelli) — avenger-turned-vigilante. Prone to use of excessive force, this former mafia princess was devastated at a young age when her family was killed in a mob hit. Trained by her assassin cousin in the art of violence, she declared war on the mob in the name of justice.
• Lady Blackhawk (Zinda Blake) — A time-displaced 1940s character, Zinda serves as the team's aviatrix and pilot of the Aerie One. She is an expert marksman, well trained with handling various types of firearms.
• Gypsy (Cindy Reynolds) — Gypsy debuts at the end of Birds of Prey #92. She is a metahuman and her powers include creating illusions, camouflaging herself, and others near her, to blend into any background.

Oracle is a fictional character, the nom de guerre of a superhero appearing in the publications of DC Comics. ... Art from Wizard Magazine (2006), featuring Barbara and Cassandra as Batgirl. ... The international symbol of access depicts a person in a wheelchair A wheelchair is mobility device that takes the form of a chair on wheels, used by people for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to illness or disability. ... Cover to Batman: The Killing Joke. ... Hackers are sometimes portrayed as mysterious and strange. ... Black Canary is a DC Comics superheroine character. ... Sonic and ultrasonic weapons (USW) are weapons of various types that use sound to damage, incapicitate, or kill an opponent. ... The Huntress is a superheroine from DC Comics. ... Lady Blackhawk is the alias used in Quality Comics and DC Comics comic books by two fictional characters. ... Gypsy is a DC Comics superheroine. ...

Recurring characters

• Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) — A former Justice Leaguer with a crush on Barbara. Kord is murdered in Countdown to Infinite Crisis, and the main characters visit his grave in Valhalla Cemetery in Birds of Prey #96.
• Cassandra Cain (Batgirl) — The daughter of assassin David Cain and Lady Shiva, she is her mother's equal as a martial artist. Cassandra has apparently abandoned the role of Batgirl and returned to her life as a wanderer and/or assassin.
• Catwoman (Selina Kyle) — A feline-styled anti-heroine, Selina has co-operated with the team on several operations. With Kyle having retired as of One Year Later, it is unknown if the new Catwoman (Holly Robinson) will join in Kyle's place.
• Creote — A former KGB agent, Creote is a devoted servant and only friend to Savant; he is also secretly in love with his master.
• Jade Canary (Sandra Wu-San) — The assassin more commonly known as Lady Shiva took Dinah's spot on the Birds of Prey team as of One Year Later, calling herself the Jade Canary. After the conditions behind the switch she arranged with the Black Canary had been met, she departed from the team. In a final act, she acquired a new apprentice to train, in the form of Bethany Thorne, Crime Doctor's daughter.
• Josh — A rental car agent who bargained with Huntress — information in exchange for a date. After reluctantly agreeing and (surprisingly) sleeping with him, Huntress has used Josh as an agent in some of her easier tasks against the mob.
• Nightwing (Dick Grayson) — Dashing crimefighter and the original Robin, Dick enjoyed a mutual teenage crush with Barbara that once blossomed into a steamy romance, but has crumbled despite continued strong feelings on both sides. Recently, Barbara and Dick reconciled. As they did, Dick dropped to one knee and proposed; a tearful Barbara said "yes." As of One Year Later, the engagement appears to be off.
• Power Girl (Karen Starr aka Kara Zor-L) — Power Girl was Oracle's first operative, before she took in Black Canary. This first partnership was doomed since Power Girl was unable to save a shipload of people.
• Savant (Brian Durlin) — Spoiled heir to an enormous fortune, Savant moved to Gotham to become a self-styled vigilante. After kidnapping and brutally torturing Black Canary, he was defeated by the Birds. Oracle made the questionable decision to rehabilitate him, mainly in order to keep his data files on hundreds of real villains. Like his namesake, he is a genius; however, due to a chemical imbalance he exhibits a non-linear memory. Savant has also exhibited feelings for Oracle, probably rooted in his envy of her computer skills.
• Vixen (Mari Jiwi McCabe) — An international supermodel and former Justice League and Suicide Squad member, Mari was born in Africa. She inherited her family's "Tantu" totem, a necklace granting the wearer the ability to channel the skills/abilities of any animal. Vixen has been a field agent for Oracle, accompanying Huntress to the Pacific Northwest to stop a meta-human worshipping cult.
• Wildcat (Ted Grant) — Former professional boxer and current member of the Justice Society, Ted serves as a mentor to Dinah and has helped her on several missions.

Edward (or Theodore) Ted Kord, was created by Steve Ditko, and first appeared as a back-up feature in Captain Atom #83 (Nov. ... Cover to Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1, May 2005. ... Valhalla Cemetery is a fictional cemetery featured in various DC Comics works. ... Cassandra Cain, is a fictional character in the DC Universe, and was the most recent Batgirl. ... Art from Wizard Magazine (2006), featuring Barbara and Cassandra as Batgirl. ... Jack Ruby murdered the assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, in a very public manner. ... David Cain is the name of a comic book character associated with the Batman mythos. ... Catwoman is a DC Comics character, associated with the Batman franchise and created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. ... Holly Robinson is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. ... Creote is the name of a comic book character from DC Comics. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this comics-related article or section may require cleanup. ... 52 is the title of a comic book limited series published by DC Comics, which debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis. ... The Crime Doctor (Dr. Bradford Thorne) is a supervillain appearing in the DC Comics universe, primarily as an enemy of Batman. ... Richard John Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics Universe. ... It has been suggested that Just Imagine Stan Lees Robin be merged into this article or section. ... Power Girl (real name Kara Zor-L, also known as Karen Starr) is a DC Comics superhero. ... For Wildstorms character of the same name, see Savant (Wildstorm). ... Vixen is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe. ... Wildcat is the name of four DC Comics characters, three of them superheroes. ... The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a team of fictional superheroes whose adventures have been published by DC Comics. ...

TV series

Main article: Birds of Prey (television series)

The comic was also loosely adapted to a television series, Birds of Prey. Set in an alternate future of the DC Universe, the show starred Dina Meyer as Oracle and Ashley Scott as Huntress, established partners in New Gotham. Meyer's Oracle was the paralyzed former Batgirl; Scott's Huntress was the daughter of Batman and a meta-human Catwoman, and as such exhibited feline powers. Birds of Prey was a live action US television series produced in 2002. ... Birds of Prey was a live action US television series produced in 2002. ... The DC Universe (DCU) is the fictional shared setting where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. ... Dina Meyer (born December 22, 1968 in Queens, New York) is an American film actress. ... Ashley Scott in WBs now-defunct series, Birds of Prey Ashley McCall Scott (born July 13, 1977 in Metairie, Louisiana) is an American actress. ... Metahuman is a term, coined by the fictitious alien Dominators (in DC Comics Invasion! miniseries), used to describe any human being with what are commonly described as super powers. The justification for this alternate phrase is that super implies a value judgement – is super-strength somehow better than normal...

Joined in the pilot episode by a young psychic runaway named Dinah (played by Rachel Skarsten), the team spent 13 episodes stopping various meta-human threats such as Huntress' old high school friend Shiva and a thinly-veiled Nightwing knockoff, the dangerous "Nightstrike". Other main cast members included Shemar Moore as Huntress' love interest Detective Jake Reese, and Mia Sara as the villainous Dr. Harleen Quinzel (Harley Quinn). Lori Loughlin was a notable guest star, playing Dinah's meta-human mother: the Black Canary. Rachel Skarsten as Dinah Lance Rachel Skarsten (born April 23, 1985, Toronto) is a Canadian actress of Norwegian origin, musician (piano), athlete and dancer. ... Shemar Moore Shemar Moore (born April 20, 1970) is an American actor and model. ... Mia Sara (born June 19, 1967) played Ferriss girlfriend Sloane in Ferris Buellers Day Off. ... Harley Quinn (real name Dr. Harleen Quinzel) is a fictional character, a supervillainess in the animated series Batman: The Animated Series, as well as the DC Comics Batman series and its spin-offs, and subsequently in various Batman-related comic books. ... Lori Loughlin in In the Line of Duty: Blaze of Glory. ...

The theme song was "Revolution" by Aimee Allen, and the show was developed by Laeta Kalogridis.

While the series was short-lived, many fans praised Dina Meyer's portrayal of Barbara Gordon/Oracle, and hope that the comic may some day be more successfully adapted.

Collections

• Birds of Prey (2002) - collects Black Canary/Oracle: Birds of Prey, Birds of Prey: Manhunt (4 issues), Birds of Prey: Revolution and a story from Showcase '96 #3.
• Birds of Prey: Old Friends, New Enemies (2003) - collects Birds of Prey: Wolves, Bird of Prey: Batgirl and #1 - 5 of the series
• Batman: Bruce Wayne - Murderer? - includes material from #39 - 40.
• Batman: Bruce Wayne - Fugitive - includes #41 and 43.
• Birds of Prey: Of Like Minds (2004) - collects #56 - 61 of the series.
• Birds of Prey: Sensei & Student (2005) - collects #62 - 68 of the series.
• Birds of Prey: Between Dark & Dawn (2006) - collects #69 - 75 of the series.
• Birds of Prey: The Battle Within (2006) - collects #76 - 85 of the series.
• Birds of Prey: Perfect Pitch (2007) - collects #86 - 90 and 92 - 95 of the series.

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External links

• Canary Noir (Birds of Prey fansite)
• Cosmic Teams entry

References

1. ^ Blue Beetle #4