Birds of Prey: should a reader like me try it?

[CURSD BLADE]

I am an 18 year old comic book fanatic. I have read comics since I was four years old, but most of that time, I was a devoted Marvel Zombie. Once I entered high school, I began my "I am too old for comics now" phase and stopped following them.

I became diagnosed with anorexia in the beginning of my 11th grade of high school (fall 2003) and had to spend 2 straight months in a hospital, isolated from the world and unable to enjoy any media except for magazines and books. It was then that I rediscovered comics when I found that the hospital I was being treated at (University of Michigan's Mott Child Psych Ward) would allow my family, during their weekly visitation hours, to bring me comic books. I learned that Jim Lee was doing monthlies again and was on Batman. Having nothing to do between physical and mental therapy sessions, I consumed the whole Hush run and became addicted to the DCU. Since then, I have collected all the greatest TPBs and ongoing series of Post-Crisis DCU, especially the Bat-Family of titles.

Yet, I have never taken the dive on Birds of Prey. I found Gail Simone through her work on Agent X and have enjoyed her writing ever since. I have been so close to picking up this title but, I am a guy, and am afraid that this book may be a bit to "girl power" for my tastes. I love strong, intelligent women in my comics, yet BoP seems a bit "cheesecake", or at least that is the impression I have taken from what I have heard.

I love Barbara Gordon, Huntress, and Black Canary but, now being a freshmen attending Central Michigan U., money is tight and my pull list is enormous yet, I am really wanting to check this title out. So, is it a solid, superhero read? Is it intelligently done? Is it cheesecake? Should I spent my hard earned cash on it? Thanks in advance.

[Selina Quinzel]

Well it's easy for me to say YES it's full of great action, VERY intelligent and just an all-around great read. It's also very funny and filled with wonderful characters who are developed well issue to issue. There is a reason this book has so many fans and does so well critically! But for a one time payment of $2.50 you can find out yourself. Last month's issue is a great recent starting off point too. I've yet to meet anyone that didn't dig this title- let alone hate it- so it's a pretty safe buy. Good luck!

[Kyuubi]

I'm a 22 year old male and I absolutely love this book. Anything you've heard like "BoP is Sex in the City in comic book form" or "BoP is all about Cheesecake" are both completely wrong. It is about strong women that can take on guys with biceps bigger than your head and kick their asses. Today's issue started a new arc that promises to be great.


Don't let my avatar fool you, I'm a manly man. YOU WANNA ARM WRESTLE?

[sk716]

I love Barbara Gordon, Huntress, and Black Canary but, now being a freshmen attending Central Michigan U., money is tight and my pull list is enormous yet, I am really wanting to check this title out. So, is it a solid, superhero read? Is it intelligently done? Is it cheesecake? Should I spent my hard earned cash on it? Thanks in advance.

By all means start picking up Birds starting at issue #56. I can't really speak for the series prior to that because I've only read a couple of issues prior to #56. But I'm a huge Bat Family fan myself, and over the last couple of years, BoP is the only "Bat" Title that is consistantly satisfying. Okay, BoP and Gotham Central. There, I said it, nothing in Gotham Central has ticked me off, is everybody happy now.

[Phoney Bone]

After reading the scene in the most recent issue between Oracle and Doctor Midnight... I can't think of a single reason anyone shouldn't be reading BoP.

That was a really beautiful scene, Gail.

[Cam63]

Jump right in with any issue of Birds of Prey, mate !

...and may your health continue to improve. :)

[roguespirit]

Let me see

you like Gail's writing
you like Barbara Gordon
you like Huntress
you like Black Canary

well hell yea dive on in man.

It is quite girl power but I don't see that as a negative and the only thing thats really cheescake about it are a few of the covers.

In fact don't just dive in get some back issues Gail has written some quality story arcs.

What are you still there? Go to the shops man

[CURSD BLADE]

Jump right in with any issue of Birds of Prey, mate !

...and may your health continue to improve. :)

Why thank you, but no need to worry: after two years, I am at a stable weight and am fighting those anorexic spells quite well. Thanks for the input people. I am still holding out hope a few more might recommend this as well though.

[rismo63]

I echo all that's been said (including the good wishes re. your health). Go for it, ASAP. I find Birds of Prey consistently satisfying; the book gives you strong characters with developing relationships, as well as the requisite superheroics.

[hellokittykat]

This is great how many new people are coming to this forum and (hopefully) giving BOP a try.
Cursed Blade, you will loooooove BOP :)
Prior to last year, I didn't really pay attention to who was writing the comics that I picked up(only WW and BOP at the time). I was almost like I was just picking them up out of habit.
I picked Rose and Thorn when it came out because someone suggested it to me since I read BOP, and R&T was by the same writer. Sure, why not.
I really enjoyed R&T and it dawned on me that I had actually been thoroughly enjoying BOP lately too. Wow this is some great writer! Before I knew it I was searching around the forums to find out more about Gail Simone and eventually ended up here.
So the point of that long story is that BOP is written so well that it has made pay attention to who the writer was when I never had before.

[Gaz]

Birds is always an above average, often great superhero read, lots of fun and humor, but never to the detriment of the action and plot. The art can have cheesecake-y elements, but it's about hot chicks kicking ass in tight spandex oufits, you expect them to do that and be demure?:p
Put it this way, if I had to drop every DC comic but one, it would be... LOSH, but if it was but two, then BoP would be the other one.:D

[Gail Simone]

Cursd, I'm really glad to hear that your condition has stabilized. I've had friends in your boat and it's no laughing matter, so good for you for making this work.

As for Bop, I really can't say. I love these characters, so I'm obviously biased as hell.

Gail

[CURSD BLADE]

everybody, especially those who wish me well after the illness. I will go ahead a give the series a shot, I mean, afterall, Gail IS writing it.

Thanks Gail for the response as well as the well wishes. I will be giving BoP a try, and if its even a fraction of the quality Agent X or Villains United were, I will be hopelessly addicted.