Black Canary is one of DC's best fighters, and with her new comic coming out, she's getting to prove just that - with a twist that involves Ronda Rousey. With feats that show she can stand against any hero or villain, Dinah Lance is put to the test against DC's deadliest assassin, Lady Shiva. With six issues showing six rounds, Black Canary follows in Rousey's footsteps to become the best of the best in the ring.
In an interview with Black Canary: Best of the Best, writer Tom King and artist Ryan Sook reveal more about their process and how they came to the decision to put Black Canary in the ring without her powers. In being able to bring this Lance vs. Shiva match to life, Sook reveals that he took inspiration from Rousey, one of the greatest American wrestlers and martial artists of all time.
Ryan Sook: Yeah, absolutely. As a matter of fact, Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm were major references that I would look at all the time. But, you know, someone asked me the other day if I was a fan of UFC and WWE and stuff like that. And I think I said yes, but truthfully, I'm a fan in a way that an art nerd is a fan, because I'm an art nerd, that's what I am. I didn't really know this until I was doing this, but for this book, when I watched those fights, I did tons of research and tons of references on them and stuff like that. But I'm watching the fight to see how the fighters move like. I don't pay attention to the names, and I don't really pay attention to who's winning the fight, I'm just looking at those physiques and that athleticism and how to bring across onto the page.
In order to pay homage to the real fighting style of real women, Soon took inspiration from the UFC and the WWE, which have become huge spectacles in the 21st century. But the success of Black Canary's fighting style in the comics came first.
Black Canary Defends Her Title as the Best Fighter in Comics, Becoming DC's Ronda Rousey
Dinah Lance Steps into the Ring in Black Canary: Best of the Best
Before Black Canary ever got her sonic scream, she was a fighter. First debuting 1947's Flash Comics #86 by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino, she grew from a martial artist with an expertise in infiltration to a superhero with special powers that gave her name a whole new meaning. Eventually, Dinah Lance became a pillar of the Green Arrow family and even leads the all-female Birds of Prey team in current DC continuity.
King and Sook made the right choice in putting DC characters in the ring and applying actual knowledge of the intricacies of a fight to the art style.
King has also spoken on the power of legacy in this story, discussing how Dinah Lance is upholding the Black Canary title that her mother held before her - much like Rousey holds WWE wins and titles. Black Canary: Best of the Best is not only a story about mothers, but a story about the power of women. King and Sook made the right choice in putting DC characters in the ring and applying actual knowledge of the intricacies of a fight to the art style, giving Black Canary that Rousey feel.
Ronda Rousey Is Black Canary Come to Life, a Real-World Superhero Fighter
Ronda Rousey Defends Her Title Belt in the Ring
A major piece of the wrestling and martial arts' appeal is the drama of pitting the best fighters against each other. Rousey is the real life Black Canary, with her being the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo as well as becoming UFC's first Women's Bantamweight Champion. Black Canary herself is that accomplished, as she's able to fight against killers like Deathstroke. Now, she's getting her Rousey treatment with a brutal match against DC's deadliest fighter, Lady Shiva.
DC Reveals The Upgrade Black Canary Needs If (And When) She Returns to the Movies
Black Canary gets an awesome new ride that puts the Batmobile to shame, and she deserves to keep it when she makes her eventual return to live action.
Life imitates art, and art imitates life - the brilliant fighter Black Canary eventually came to life in champion Rousey, and now Black Canary is Rousey's talent immortalized in comics. With Lady Shiva as her opponent, the match will be close, but if Black Canary is taking any inspiration from Ronda Rousey, then she really will be the best of the best.
Black Canary: Best of the Best #1 is available now from DC Comics!
Source: CBR
