EXCLUSIVE: Jim Zubkavich Takes On "Birds Of Prey"

[CBR News]

Batgirl and Black Canary take on a new writer as "Skullkickers" creator Jim Zubkavich picks up DC's "Birds of Prey," and he tells CBR why he's focusing character first as Mr. Freeze calls after Strix from the Court of Owls.


Full article here.

[Rakzo]

Great, I'm glad that Duane is off the book. The new writer seems to have the right vision for the team but I have'nt read Skullkickers, was it good?

[thewarning]

I hope Starling stays on the team.

[InformationGeek]

Sounds interesting, I'll be sure to check it out when the new writer is aboard. Hopefully it's good.

[deClench]

Starling's the best character on the team. If she goes, I'm out.

[BrotherUnitNo_4]

Sounds like it's going to have a tighter focus on Canary and Batgirl.

[eh_ver]

I had gotten to issue four buying this series off the shelf, then found 5 and 6 at a discount book store long after four failed to hold me. I gave up pretty much completely when, after issue 7, the villain had still been playing mind games with the team. I like long form as much as the next guy, but the story just wasn't pulling the trigger fast enough (especially for a first arc). I say root the characters and establish them with the reader, THEN work out a sprawling epic. I may try this book again with a new writer (not too familiar with his work), but I keep thinking my interest in this book comes from the amazing work Dixon did in the beginning. Maybe I should just leave it at that.

[Rakzo]

I hope Starling stays on the team.

Starling's the best character on the team. If she goes, I'm out.

Starling is indeed a good character but unfortunately his creator has been writing her as a Mary Sue, hopefully if she stays on the team the new writer will give her a more balanced portrayal.

[batGRRRl4ever]

First I'd like to recommend to a mod to switch this thread into the Bat-Forum, as Birds Of Prey is under the bat-umbrella of titles with DC.

As to the new writer, I'll just have to dive in as I've never read anything by him before. What I liked when I read it was:

Dinah’s an optimist who keeps ending up on the wrong side of conflict. She’s a fighter who doesn’t know how to stop even when, by all rights, she should give up. In the New 52 she’s the glue that holds the "Birds of Prey" together. That leadership role is at the core of Dinah’s personality, whether she wants it or not.

Batgirl in the New 52 wants to be a part of the Birds and support Dinah’s vision for a team that looks out for each other, but she’s quite used to “going it alone”, especially since she has her own solo series. Barbara will struggle with that “individual vs. team” dynamic and the choices she makes, especially after bringing Strix to the team, will affect everyone.

It's so cool first that Dinah and Batgirl are going to be front and center in the book again. I also find interesting that Batgirl has completely flipped from being the leader as Oracle to now sounding like she's filling the Huntress role from Pre-Flashpoint in the New 52 version of the book.

Also interesting was the plans for Stryx and how there was so little mention of Starling. Sounds like Batgirl is finally getting fully reincorporated into the book, and Starling won't be so much the focus anymore. Which is good as it is supposed to be Black Canary's book more than any of the other team characters anyway.

Well I like what I've heard and am looking forward to reading this soft reboot of the team starting in #18.

YAY, it sounds like I FINALLY have a New 52 team book for Batgirl that I can read!

[Billy Batson]

That's good news for BoP :)

[new_onslaught]

My favorite characters in this book were Starling and Katana. Seems like Starling will be gone and Katana is sure to leave. Nothing I read in the interview got me interested. I was planning to drop this after #15, but I might stay for 2 more issues, to see if the plot holes from the previous arcs get covered. Also din't Batgirl join after #3? So from the start the book was about Canary & Starling, not Canary & Batgirl.

[Zub]

Hey Everyone,

Jim Zub here. Thanks for the enthusiastic responses so early on a Friday morning. Very, very cool.

If you want to check out more of my work, feel free to check out my blog here:
http://www.jimzub.com/

and Twitter:
http://twitter.com/JimZub

Although Starling wasn't mentioned specifically in the interview, she's still very much on the team and crucial to my future story plans. She'll be in the mix, shooting and sassing up the place. Don't worry about that. :)

I have a really busy day ahead of me with multiple project deadlines I'm balancing, but if you comment here in this thread I'll try to get back to it over the weekend.

Thank you for your support! Good times ahead.
Jim

[Godlike13]

Gotta admit, sounds good. I think this could work out well.

Also, am i the only one who really likes the yellow ripping on Batgirl?

[PiercedMonk]

The new writer seems to have the right vision for the team but I have'nt read Skullkickers, was it good?

I enjoy SKULLKICKERS enough that I'll be checking out BoP now that Zubkavich is on it.

[LoneNecromancer]

Well I like what I've heard and am looking forward to reading this soft reboot of the team starting in #18.

""Birds of Prey" #18 is written as an ideal jumping on point for new or lapsed readers, but it doesn’t get rid of anything that’s happened in previous issues. It sets a new baseline and reintroduces the team while building on the foundation that’s been solidly set up.

Duane developed some great plotlines I intend to utilize as the story moves forward. In addition to creating a bunch of new material I’m also picking up threads from Duane’s run that will re-emerge in new and unexpected ways. As far as I’m concerned, everything’s in play."

Deosn't really sound like a soft reboot.

Anyway, to anyone interested, the zero issue of Skullkickers is free on Comixology and it comes with a preview of #1.