Birds of Prey #91

[matterconsumer]

BIRDS OF PREY #91
Written by Jim Alexander
Art by Brad Walker & Jimmy Palmiotti
Cover by Jesus Saiz
Guest writer Jim Alexander (BATMAN: 80-PAGE GIANT)
teams up with guest artists Walker and Palmiotti (MANHUNTER, CATWOMAN) for a stand-alone tale of a sought-after organ donor whose plight is personal to two of the Birds!

---

When I read written by someone other than Simone I ----

Can we speculate that this is a one issue tale and that Gail will return to BoP for #92?

[Oracle_0128]

I was just going to post this same thread...glad someone beat me to it.

It does say it's a stand alone issue....so maybe Gail will be back on #92????

Though we will have our fix of Oracle in NW #117 it appears... :)

[TCJohnson]

Where did you get this?

[Oracle_0128]

TC.... I sent ya a PM....

[David Bedlam]

I think this is only for an issue or two.

After all, Gail has been writing Bop, Action Comics, Villians United and getting that Gen13 relaunch ready, so I can see why this would happen. I'm sure she'll come back after the One Year Gap fists swinging and hair flaming!

[matterconsumer]

One should never forsake one's first love...BoP!

And I'm certain that she wouldn't do it willingly :)

[TCJohnson]

It is right before 50% of the comics are supposed to change creative teams.

[Lester C.]

I think this is only for an issue or two.

After all, Gail has been writing Bop, Action Comics, Villians United and getting that Gen13 relaunch ready, so I can see why this would happen. I'm sure she'll come back after the One Year Gap fists swinging and hair flaming!

Villains united is a mini and due to the rotating creative teams on the S books Gail and John will shortly be gone from Action so hopefully her schedule isn’t too busy for BOP.

[Lester C.]

It is right before 50% of the comics are supposed to change creative teams.

Is it going to be like War Games where only a set of books will be effected or will it be all of DC’s titles?

[Gail Simone]

This fill-in thing was not my idea, I have to say.

Gail

[Lester C.]

This fill-in thing was not my idea, I have to say.

Gail

It now time stand down and turn the red alert off. Gail just said it’s a fill in issue which means she will be back after that issue.

[Justin D.]

It now time stand down and turn the red alert off. Gail just said it’s a fill in issue which means she will be back after that issue.

She also said it wasn't her idea. I think this may be some of the same editing style Grayson has had to deal with on Nightwing.

[Dr Ray Palmer]

I know guest writers seem to be all the rage at DC these days, but this makes me nervous.

[Corrina]

Anyone know anything about Jim Alexander?

Nevermind. I found a short bio:

http://www.bulletproofcomics.co.uk/creatorshowcase/jimalexander/jimalexander.htm

[Lester C.]

Anyone know anything about Jim Alexander?

Nevermind. I found a short bio:

http://www.bulletproofcomics.co.uk/creatorshowcase/jimalexander/jimalexander.htm

I actually remember “Gotham Roulette.” That was one of the better stories in the Batman stories in an 80 page giant issue that shipped years ago.

[matterconsumer]

This fill-in thing was not my idea, I have to say.
Gail

I think that if others want to write BoP that they should just run off and do their own mini.

Now I wouldn't suggest that others can't write an enjoyable BoP but they should wait their turn. As in when Simone is gone...and she better not leave until she's good and ready!

[blackcanary_416]

This fill-in thing was not my idea, I have to say.

Gail

It's cool. We better see you for issue 92 or there will be an "Obsidian Age"

[Cam63]

...or I'll be smashing a troll about the room !

[Cam63]

...Having said that, good luck to Alexander.

[Cam63]

...the bugger.....

[Lester C.]

I think Cam thinks he's in the Never ending thread.

[Cam63]

*sniggers like Muggsly*

[Kyuubi]

Gail loves to tease us.



This, however, is TORTURE!

[Lester C.]

This fill-in thing was not my idea, I have to say.

Gail

Relax it is just a fill-in.

[CitC]

My local LCS still hasn't received its shipment of newest BOP. I don't get a lot of monthlies, so I am kind of annoyed that it hasn't arrived yet. Not Sleep Loss annoyed, but annoyed.

Check out my new all ages comic site for parents/teachers/librarians http://comicsintheclassroom.net/

[Kyuubi]

Relax it is just a fill-in.

But she still likes to tease us.


I have a theory that shes holding a dominatrix whip whenever she posts here.


Or is that one of my fantasies...







I'm gonna stop typing now.

[Cam63]

But she still likes to tease us.


I have a theory that shes holding a dominatrix whip whenever she posts here.

Just as long as it's not one of those plaited leather bastards.

They bring tears.

[Lester C.]

But she still likes to tease us.


I have a theory that shes holding a dominatrix whip whenever she posts here.


Or is that one of my fantasies...







I'm gonna stop typing now.
I think you’re thinking of the cuddly dominatrix WhiteRose, and yes it's one of your fantasies.

[Gail Simone]

I think that if others want to write BoP that they should just run off and do their own mini.

Now I wouldn't suggest that others can't write an enjoyable BoP but they should wait their turn. As in when Simone is gone...and she better not leave until she's good and ready!


That's what I think, too, frankly.

Gail

[sk716]

That's what I think, too, frankly.

Gail

The Simone is not pleased.

And Virtue is down so she can't go take it out on Trolls.

[Monkey Boy]

I don't want to read a BoP thats writen by some fluff. I want Gail BoP. This make Monkey Boy sad. :(

[Justin D.]

That's what I think, too, frankly.

Gail

I'm not sure if that's a good sign, a bad sign, or a yield sign.

Actually, I've often thought that some of the minis put out by DC could fit in the regular book. There was a time when there was at least one or two JLA minis a month going on besides the regular series. Same thing with Batman. It made sense to me to just fold them into the series instead of having a separate mini just for them. However, over the years, I've taken to understanding the different reasons for having separate books now.

I sincerely hope you're not leaving the book, Gail.

[TCJohnson]

I am sorry but I don't see what is wrong with a guest writer once in a blue moon. After all, Gail was just a guest writer on Teen Titans.

And let's not hold any ill feelings against the guest writer. If anybody is to blame (if blame is necessary) it would be the editor. I can hold wanting to write an issue of a great series against them.

[matterconsumer]

This reminds me that it can be a good thing to let DC know.

Companies hear those who are unhappy.

But perhaps not so many words have been heard from those who enjoy Simone's Birds...

[Corrina]

This worries me.

At one point, Ed Brubaker was my favorite DC writer. I enjoyed his run on Batman & Detective (love his issue dealing with the cop who investigated the Wayne murders), loved his Catwoman, really liked Gotham Central.

When he left 'Tec, Ed gave an interview where he talked basically about some difficulties in trying to write around editorial dictates. Not in a slamming way, but a tactful way. Also, what Catwoman ultimately became at the end, especially with a move toward more cheesecaky artwork, were not what Brubaker said he wanted at the beginning of having the series. ("Smaller breasts" is a quote.)

Ed Brubaker eventually went over to Marvel exclusively, to write Captain Marvel, leaving two DC books he talked about with incredible enthusiasm in the beginning, books that had obviously had altered due to some editorial dictates.

So when I hear DC editorial hasn't consulted Gail about blowing up the clocktower, that they put out a fill-in issue that she's not pleased about, that the Outsiders writer didn't consult Devin Grayson or Gail Simone about the Dick/Babs romance (which Devin said in her interview)....

Well, guys, it makes me really worried that Gail's not going to be at BoP or even at DC much longer. I hope I'm wrong. I really do. I just love BoP as I haven't loved a book since I first fell in love with the Wolfman/Perez Titans back in the day.

[matterconsumer]

It can happen for any number of reasons but creator continuity doesn't seem to be in vogue...(Like Madonna)

It would be one thing if the various creators could implement a smoothe ongoing experience but it seems that it's one bounce or reboot after another.

Sometimes a bounce and/or a reboot can be necessary but there's to my taste too much bouncing/rebooting going on...

[Drumore]

I was sad to see Gail wasn't writing the issue also, especially leading right up to the One Year Jump.

But putting on my "Neutral Party Speculator" Hat:
Often editors will have an Inventory Issue ready, in case the regular creative team falls behind schedule for any reason. It gives them an issue ready to go, and gives the regular team a chance to catch up. (Frankly, with all the delays in several series in recent years, I wish this was done more often).

It also allows editors to test out new talent and run them through the paces. If it isn't good enough, it simply isn't published. It's written off and a regular series isn't delayed.

Maybe it's possible that this was an Inventory Issue which they want to use up before the One Year Jump happens, because things will change making it unusable One Year Later.

Just a theory.

Drew taking off his Speculator Hat (and it REALLY does look nice :)

[Cam63]

Let's hear it from Simmo before jumping to anything.

[Weetomuncher]

I feel that DC have been too heavily set on crossovers recently and their editors have begun throwing their weight around too often.

If this keeps up then creative staff and readers will eventually get fed up and leave.

[Azrael52]

Fill-in guy and no Gail equals :( and :mad: , but if Gail is coming back, then I'll be :D If gail saw me in the shower, I'd be :o

[Tink!]

I feel that DC have been too heavily set on crossovers recently and their editors have begun throwing their weight around too often.

If this keeps up then creative staff and readers will eventually get fed up and leave.
Just like what happenned with writers at Marvel in the early 90's?!

[TCJohnson]

Just like what happenned with writers at Marvel in the early 90's?!

Which is one of the reasons I left comics...but yeah, I see it happening at DC as well.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Shame that the best BoP cover i've seen in ages isn't over a Gail script.

I'd love to see Saiz be regular cover artist. Fab stuff.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

If gail saw me in the shower, I'd be :o

Redheads have very powerful sight. :p

[Beacon]

Well, I guess I can skip this one seeing as the only people who've managed to tell good BoP stories are Chuck and Gail.

Gail, please tell me you're still going to be on this book after the gap. Your BoP is the one "mainstream" DC ongoing I can still stand to read

[PatrickG]

I feel that DC have been too heavily set on crossovers recently and their editors have begun throwing their weight around too often.

If this keeps up then creative staff and readers will eventually get fed up and leave.

What weight? They're all swapping books soon.

Every major decision or creative team was doled out at the executive level.

I question whether individual editors are really that relevant anymore or whether they're essentially talent agents now if they're lucky.

Both Marvel and DC have been headed towards a Jim Shooter style of management for the last five years.

Granted, Didio and Quesada seem more talent friendly and nicer than Shooter but I'm not sure that anything major since 2001 can be chalked up to an individual editor at EITHER of the big two. Image doesn't necessarily have editors in the conventional sense.

The editors are nice guys who bring stuff to the table but an awful lot of the books are no longer at their discretion anymore, it would seem. They help put the books together but I'm not sure they even necessarily set the tone in a majority of cases these days.

Dark Horse may be the last bastion of the traditional editorial model.

[PatrickG]

Let me just elaborate to say that I find it frustrating that for the last six years or so, really, editors at the big two have made big promises and set up storylines which (after being run through the corporate channels) were later changed or nixed or delayed or reshuffled.

I find this frustrating as a reader.

Has anyone else noticed a lot of "red herring" moments that don't wind up paying off or stories that seem to have altered endings either due to fan response or to play more into upcoming stories?

It's like... a lot of books seem to have momentum for awhile and then keep detouring halfway through, either to crossover with another book or to fit a company direction.

It could be a fun experience for a writer, possibly. If you make it into this business, you know to expect some things like this and the change is part of the fun.

But it looks to me, as a reader, like the car is cruising down the interstate and somebody keeps grabbing the steering wheel. And every time the car straightens out, it happens again.

And nobody talks about it because fans have a short attention span and creators/editors don't want to admit that their bosses can be pushy backseat drivers sometimes.

And often, the detours may lead to better outcomes or good things. But they're still detours. And I would differentiate that from plot twists.

Every so often, there are these "corrections". Characters or subplots disappear. Clues don't add up. Creative teams change.

And in the end, maybe a better product does result but I'd rather the books progress towards a better product rather than constantly being detoured there.