Spoilers for Birds of Prey #11

Summary

• Black Canary showcases her power in Birds of Prey #11, tearing apart a dinosaur's head with her sonic scream.
• Writer Kelly Thompson is nominated for a 2024 Eisner Award for her work on Birds of Prey and other comics, highlighting the evolution of Black Canary's character.
• Black Canary's leadership, martial arts skills, and powerful voice prove she's more than just a pretty voice.

Black Canary has long been overlooked in DC Comics, either as only a love interest to Green Arrow or as a temporary member of the Justice League. But it's time Dinah Lance was appreciated for the powerhouse she is: from her leadership, to her martial arts skills, and especially to her sonic scream. Especially considering a single canary cry from her can rip a dinosaur's face clean off.

In Birds of Prey #11 by Kelly Thompson, Javier Pina, Robbi Rodriguez, and Gavin Guidry, these powerful Birds of Prey find themselves whirled away to an stone age pocket dimension, where they're up against the original birds of prey - raptors. This leads to a massive power feat as Black Canary literally tears apart a dinosaur's head with her classic sonic scream.

The hunt for Barbara Gordon soon turns into these heroines being the ones hunted by dinosaurs. But as a founding member of the Birds of Prey, Black Canary can protect them with both hands tied behind her back.

Black Canary's Voice Is Finally Being Heard (as It Tears Apart a Dinosaur)

Flash Comics #92 Cover by Carmine Infantino

Black Canary is breaking out of her character's original role as Dinah Drake, a sexualized-yet-strong heroine who debuted in 1947's Flash Comics #86 by Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino, Joe Giella, Frank Giacoia, and Gaspar Saladino. Meant to be a model of the noir's femme fatale, her evolution has taken its sweet time — including a few revamps of her character, like Dinah Lance's debut in 1969's Justice League of America #75 by Denny O'Neil, Dick Dillin, Giella, and John Costanza — but it's finally come full circle. Finally, she is allowed to be fully powerful, regardless of how she looks in black leather and fishnets.

Black Canary's voice has always been strong. The other heroes have just been covering their ears.

Thanks to Thompson, Eisner award-winning writer of Marvel's Black Widow, a strong female character is being written by one of the most celebrated women in comics. Thompson even uses controversial tropes in Birds of Prey to poke fun at society. As Dinah survives in the prehistoric jungle, her outfit is soon torn to shreds, but it has nothing to do with the power of her voice, which, as a leader of this team, is the voice of all women. It's not that Dinah is suddenly growing in power - Black Canary's voice has always been strong. The other heroes have just been covering their ears.

Kelly Thompson is nominated for a 2024 Eisner Award for "Best Writer" in consideration of her work with DC — including Birds of Prey — Marvel, and her creator-owned series like Black Cloak and The Cull.

Black Canary Is More Than Just a Pretty Voice

Birds of Prey #13 Variant Cover by Nicola Scott

Often sidelined by the non-powered heroes in her family, as with her complicated love affair with Green Arrow, Black Canary has just as much to offer. She is experienced at espionage and is a master in martial arts, holding her own against the likes of Bronze Tiger, Lady Shiva, and Cheshire. The spotlight in the Justice League, however, often goes to the likes of Superman, when Black Canary can handle just as much as he can. Prehistory now knows it, and it's time the modern world knew it too.

If there was ever any question as to the validity of Dinah Lance's leadership or as to her superpower being too one-note, her battle in Birds of Prey #11 puts those questions to rest. To give an order to a teammate as though it were nothing immediately after screaming a dinosaur's face to shreds shows that Black Canary is not only a powerhouse, but that this is just a walk in the park to her. Let all the other male heroes hit things with their fists - all Black Canary has to do is hit a high C.

Birds of Prey #11 is available now from DC Comics!