Birds of Prey #29 Review

Written by: Christy Marx
Art by: Robson Rocha
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 19, 2014

Kill and Kill Again

Condor is a real a-hole, Canary just wants her husband back and Strix is the geek squad's worst nightmare. The war between Ra's and Eve is going down and don't think of bringing a gun to a sword fight.

Let me start this review by telling you a fact.  I really want to like Birds of Prey.  I like the characters (except for one whose name begins with Condor) and don't get many team books in my lineup of reviews.  That being said, Birds of Prey has not been good.  In fact, it has downright sucked.  It hasn't all been the fault of the creative team, though.  It seems that every time the book makes a little stride forward, it is hit by a tie-in (Zero Year and Gothtopia, I'm looking at you) that does nothing to help it.  It's like MC Scat Cat sang with his homegirl, Paula Abdul, two steps forward, two steps back.  This month is a bit different.  Christy Marx gets us back on track and things may be looking up.

The Birds of Prey are heading for a showdown.  Mother Eve versus Ra's al Ghul.  It's time to get hazardous for the Lazarus.  Ra's needs Mother Eve's technique of immortality and will stop at nothing to get it.  Last issue we saw him "ask" Canary to look the other way when the fight goes down for a little favor..  He gave her some lazarus pit (that sounds odd to me...he gave her some lazurus pit??) and when she gives the drop to her husband he regains brain function.  Of course everyone, including Mother Eve, knows what's what.

Since Ra's likes to swing the odds his way even more, he also strikes a deal with Condor.  If he helps, assassins will kill Kurt Lance and he can have Canary all to himself.  What a dick.  How about this for a deal?  Kill Condor so we can read a book without a complete jerk in it.  He is the worst part of the book and just brings it down issue after issue.

The issue ends as Ra's and his assassins reach Mother Eve's ship just as she is recharging and most vulnerable. Oh yea, Canary is her last defense.  

Guess what?  I really liked this issue.  I'm as surprised as you.  Christy Marx is setting up this fight in all the right ways.  Ra's has a sense of honor even while he is cheating and Mother Eve has the wisdom and kindness that is so good against him.  Then we have the unknown factor of what Condor and Canary will do when the fighting starts.  I want to see how it plays out and that is something I haven't said much when it comes to this book.

Robson Rocha's art is also good this month.  The straight forward clean style made everything flow and a couple panels really stood out.  This last page in particular had me wanting more.  I also really liked Jorge Molina's cover this month.

Bits and Pieces:

With Birds of Prey #29, Christy Marx finally gives us a book worth following.  There is action, intrigue and mystery.  The battle between Ra's al Ghul and Mother Eve has started and I really want to see how it plays out.  I hope this trend continues.

8.0/10