Black Canary: Best Of The Best #1, by DC Comics on 11/27/24, catches up with Dinah Lance as she begins a grueling MMA match against Lady Shiva with no round limit, but it's not what you think.
Is Black Canary: Best Of The Best #1 Good?
Whatever pre-conceived notions you had for Black Canary: Best Of The Best #1, you're probably wrong. Writer Tom King forgoes the copious wingdings, typical child death, and complex plot wrapped around a lie for a personal story that pits Dinah Lance against her greatest fighting challenge, in and out of the ring. The big twist has an obvious plot hole, but the first issue of the miniseries shows promise.
Black Canary: Best Of The Best #1 begins with narration between two ringside commentators as they set the stage for a sanctioned MMA fight between Black Canary and Lady Shiva. Each commentator contributes to the tale of the tape, but all signs point to Lady Shiva winning handily in a no-power-allowed submission bout. The fight ends when one competitor gives up.
As the dialog-heavy first issue progresses, we see Dinah go to stay with her mother, the first and original Black Canary, to help her train weeks before the fight. Their reunion is warm but troubled. Over the course of their first day together, we learn Dinah's mother is suffering from an aggressive form of cancer, giving their reunion and time together to prepare for the fight layers of meaning.
In the present, the fight begins. Lady Shiva comes out swinging and appears to gain a decisive upper hand almost immediately. In the past, we see Dinah agreeing to the fight from a slimy racketeer in exchange for a lot of money and a cure for her mother's condition... as long as she makes it six rounds.
The issue concludes with a dive off the turnbuckle that doesn't go well.
What's great about Black Canary: Best Of The Best #1?
Most typical Tom King trappings (wingdings and dead kids) are blessedly absent. The unexpected twist that Dinah is fighting for her mother, in and out of the ring, is a deeply emotional twist, and the (almost) bare-knuckle brawl is brutal.
What's not great about Black Canary: Best Of The Best #1?
In typical Tom King fashion, he twists the characters and scenarios to match his plot idea without recognizing where that twist doesn't make sense. Dinah is a partner with Oliver Queen and a member of the Justice League. As such, she should have no trouble getting all the money and access to the most advanced medical assistance in the galaxy without trouble.
In short, the story is a powerful read once it gets going, but the foundational setup to explain why she agreed to this fight in the first place doesn't make a wit of sense.
How's the Art?
Well, well, well. Where has Ryan Sook been hiding this whole time? Sook's a well-respected artist, and this first issue is a strong reminder of why that respect is fully deserved. The small, personal moments hit just as hard as the knocks Dinah takes in the ring against Lady Shiva, so King's reputation for partnering with the best artists around is fully intact.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Black Canary: Best Of The Best #1 begins a seemingly impossible fight for Black Canary, in and out of the ring, when she accepts an offer to fight Lady Shiva for a very important reason. Tom King's laundry list of quirks is blessedly absent in favor of an emotionally impactful tale, and Ryan Sook's art is immaculate.
8.3/10
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