Summary

• Big Barda subverts comic tropes by stripping down for battle against mind-controlled male models.
• Birds of Prey addresses comics' legacy of appealing to a certain image, while empowering female characters.
• Barda's unblushing nudity presents an intimidating rather than provocative image, showcasing the team's strength.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Birds of Prey #8Big Barda, a New God and member of the Birds of Prey, bares all in a battle that subverts one of comics' oldest tropes. The new team led by Black Canary has been called on to investigate an issue with some mind-control clothing. The Birds of Prey, a team canonically comprised of DC's most finely-feathered female heroes, turn the male gaze on its head in this fashion-packed undercover operation.

When Vixen's fashion line is linked to a series of crimes, she goes to Black Canary and Batgirl for assistance. In Birds of Prey #8, by Kelly Thompson, Javier Pina, David Lopez, and Clayton Cowles, the Birds enact Vixen's unorthodox plan by infiltrating a fashion show as its runway models, with the 16-year-old Sin acting as a caterer in the crowd. As Barda looks over the male models, noting that the "beefcake" is her favorite part of the mission, she needs to be reminded that "the beefcake is bad, Barda." When backup "beefcake" arrives clothed in telepathically manipulative shorts, the Birds find themselves dogged.

Responding to the threat of mind-control lingerie, Barda does the most sensible thing, and strips down.

The Birds Of Prey Have A History of Appealing to A Certain Kind of Image

When Black Canary was created in 1947, writer Robert Kanigher reportedly asked artist Carmine Infantino to draw her as "...your fantasy of a good-looking girl," according to the book Carmine Infantino: Penciler, Publisher, Provacateur by Jim Amash and Eric Nolen-Weathington. With Black Canary at the lead of a team that includes Big Barda (a Jack Kirby creation based off of Lainie Kazan's appearance in Playboy,) Harley Quinn, and Zealot (a member of an alien race similar to the Amazons), the current Birds lineup certainly could populate a pinup calendar. Though different runs of the series have included other female heroes such as Huntress, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Powergirl, the appealing nature of the covers and costumes has remained a staple.

At first glance, this appears to continue in Birds of Prey #8, where the heroes find themselves on stage in swimwear and feathered masks. These outfits bare more skin than even their regular costumes allow. Combining a classic comic-book art style with this traditionally feminine setting, the heroes walk the runway in swimwear as they survey the scene. However, what might have, in the past, been a story written for the sake of seeing this much skin manages to make a casual statement of empowerment.

Big Barda Bares All To Battle Beefcake

Barda's casual objectification and violent defeat of the mind-controlled male models is an impressive turn on the pinup trope. Though she strips to fight the symbiotic monsters hijacking Vixen's fashion line, an unblushing Barda gets dressed only when asked. The use of "beefcake" to refer to the scantily-clad men even stands in ironic contrast to the titular team being called "birds." As Barda throws herself into battle in the buff, she presents not a provocative image, but an intimidating one.

As artist Kelly Thompson states in her newsletter 1979 Finalist, "I wanted to do it in a really fun way that doesn’t feel exploitative and is very self aware of itself and really makes sure the ladies are in control of their choices."

Despite Barda's immense size, Canary's banshee-like abilities, Harley's insanity, and Cassandra Cain's reticent silence, the Birds of Prey retain a sultry yet powerful presence. The power of female friendships, found family, and the breadth of expertise among female heroes are driving forces behind the success of this team. Big Barda's choice to dive unclad into the fray might have been strategically unnecessary, but it makes a strong point. While this story strips these heroes down to their skivvies and puts them on display (especially Big Barda), even the imagery sets the Birds of Prey high above the crowd.

Birds of Prey #8 is available now from DC Comics.

Source: Kelly Thompson