“Round Two”
Writer: Tom King
Artists: Ryan Sook
Color Artist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Review by Kendra Smart
Black Canary: Best of the Best #2 is upon us readers and boy was this part worth waiting for. I am amazed by how quickly this part of the story was devoured, the time flew quickly. Tom King, Ryan Sook, Dave Stewart, and Clayton Cowles have brought readers a deeply hitting story. That canvases’ the who and what Black Canary is. They have done so in a milestone hitting way and all one needs to solidify is to look at the beautiful jaw dropping, hard hitting moments showcasing the essence of Dinah Laurel Drake.
The main cover is done beautifully by Ryan Sook. The beautiful moment of young Dinah dressing up and seeing herself as grown in her reflection. Seeing herself as the hero she will become, is a touching moment for a fan. Also, a great representation of what level of art and emotional heart strings will be pulled inside, so let’s get down to the business in the ring.
She Call?
Rejoining our ringside announcers John and Mike, we rejoin Black Canary: Best of the Best #2 at the height of round two getting ready to start. Six minutes have passed but it has already been a titan of a match. There is much debate as both Shiva and Dinah have shown not only their prowess but also their resilience. We get to see not only why distance is a dangerous gift to give to Lady Shiva but also just how much punishment Dinah has trained herself to take, and there hasn’t been a dent just yet.
Meanwhile, interwoven beautifully as the story goes on, we see two stages of Dinah’s life unfold. The training not only from her Mother to prep for the fight, but also the training her Mother left for her as a young girl. A young girl watching her Mother ready herself night after night for what she believed was her purpose and duty. Never providing a true shield for her daughter. Only instilling strength. As Black Canary: Best of the Best #2 comes to a close, we see that strength will be needed in far more ways than against Lady Shiva.
Mama Said Knock You Out
Tom King has delivered an edge of your seat, fast paced, and delicious in emotional driven story in Black Canary: Best of the Best #2. The sections of the story are woven together so fluidly that they all flow. The narration crisply calculated by letterer Clayton Cowles plays a vital part in ensuring these transitions give the right effect. Dave Stewart and Ryan Sook also deliver the most exquisite scenes that give you an in depth at parts that make Dinah’s life real, raw. The good and the hard to witness on full display.
The complex relationship between Dinah and her Mom is certainly a relatable one. It isn’t always easy to maintain and seeing the scene in which her Mother, as Black Canary, gets hurt and seeing little Dinah watching the news cast with her Father. The way he is utterly unmoved or concerned is heartbreaking. Made worse only when one ponders on how it must have felt to see that be the catalyst for the donning of the wig in the first place. How hard it must be to acknowledge the will for duty but having to deal with the pain of knowing what donning the mask entails.
Conclusion
Black Canary: Best of the Best #2 is an amazing addition to what will be a pivotal part of the Black Canary legacy. It will most certainly be one of the tales people will reference when wanting to showcase Dinah to new fans, and is everything current fans could ask from a story spotlighting the wonder that is Black Canary. I am on the edge of my seat for “Round Three”.
Images Provided Courtesy of DC Entertainment.