Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artists: Sami Barsi and Vincente Cifuentes
Color Artist: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Review by Fay Clark
Leaving Cassandra Cain in trouble is one of the worst ways to cliff-hanger something. Don’t get me wrong, I’m with the Birds on this… we love Cas and we protect her. Then again, she is one of, if not the most capable Bird of Prey there is. So, let’s not worry and see how she gets out of this mess in Birds of Prey #16.
Small Bat and Dog Beast
There is a new dynamic duo on the prowl, and Kelly Thompson is using every chance she gets in Birds of Prey #16 to make sure we know Cassandra Cain is a freaking GOD. Everything about Cas is amazing, whether she is under the mantle of Batgirl or Black Bat or just undercover. You would have to get up VERY early, to pull one over on Cassandra Cain. Kelly Thompson has always written her perfectly, a bunch of sass wrapped up in a very intelligent and astute person who is learning that feelings are good, and family is not something to be afraid of.
Thompson keeps smashing these plots out of the park. Seeing the Birds all individually worried about Cas, but trying to make sure they don’t step on her toes as she is scary and will not forgive them for thinking she needs rescuing is hilarious. Kelly can make a situation seem fraught with danger and really funny at the same time, this is showcased in Birds of Prey #16.
Hench Bat has entered the chat
I very rarely talk about the letters who work on these comics, on this occasion though… they have made an impression that lasts! Clayton Cowles really said “hold my drink” and went crazy, but in a very good way. There is one particular panel in Birds of Prey #16 that made me do a double take. I was grinning the entire time and yelling “you tell ’em Barda” to no one, as I was the only one in the room. I love it when the art team has me making comments to myself and the visuals are so good they cause physical reactions. Sami Barsi works with Vincente Cifuentes for the artwork, and adding in the color work of Adriano Lucas you get explosions of awesomeness all throughout the issue.
Conclusion
Everything about this series keeps ramping up faster and further than before. You think we’ve hit normal pacing and then all of a sudden massive plot things happen and we go crazy. I love these ladies and all of their shenanigans. Thompson has her hooks deep in me.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
