In the world of comics, epic crossover events and cosmic battles often take center stage. But sometimes, the most powerful stories are the most personal ones. That’s the case with the six-issue miniseries, Black Canary: Best of the Best, a visceral and emotionally charged journey into the life of one of DC’s most iconic heroes, Dinah Lance. This series is a masterclass in blending high-stakes action with deeply human drama, delivering a knockout punch that will stick with you long after you’ve finished reading.
At its core, Black Canary: Best of the Best is a single, brutal fight: Dinah Lance vs. Sandra Wu-San, the legendary Lady Shiva. The prize? The title of the world’s greatest martial artist. But writer Tom King and artist Ryan Sook, joined by colorist Dave Stewart and letterer Clayton Cowles, don’t just give us a blow-by-blow account of a match. They weave a narrative tapestry that is as intricate as it is intense, using the fight as a backdrop for a much more significant battle.
From the very first page, the creative team establishes a unique rhythm. The series cuts between the present-day brawl in the ring and flashbacks to Dinah’s past. The brilliance here is how seamlessly these two timelines are intertwined. The lively and often over-the-top commentary from fight announcers Mike Berg and Johnny Sunter perfectly bridges the gap, their words often having a double meaning that reflects the emotional turmoil Dinah is experiencing in her memories.
But what is Dinah fighting for? Not just pride. The real fight is the one she’s having with her past and her family. The series reveals that this match is a Hail Mary to save her mother, the original Black Canary, who is battling cancer. Dinah has made a deal with the devil, specifically, the villain Vandal Savage, who has promised to cure her mother if Dinah can make it to the final round of the fight and then surrender. This adds an incredible layer of tension, as Dinah must endure a physical and psychological beating from Shiva while also wrestling with the moral weight of her decision.
The flashbacks are where the series truly shines. We see Dinah’s childhood, not as a fairytale of superhero legacy, but as a grueling, often traumatic, training regimen. Her mother, the original Black Canary, pushed Dinah relentlessly. This paints a complicated and deeply realistic picture of their mother-daughter relationship. It’s a powerful exploration of how love and trauma can coexist, and how the “legacy” we inherit isn’t always something we want to live up to. The comic doesn’t shy away from the hard truths, revealing that Dinah was forced to train under intense circumstances and witnessed the horrors her mother endured as a superhero.
The series also takes time to explore other significant relationships in Dinah’s life. Ted Grant, the boxing legend known as Wildcat, makes a fun appearance that adds some much-needed levity and wisdom. The romantic relationship between Dinah and Oliver Queen is also given a loving, thoughtful update. Their meeting, as tweaked by King, is rendered in a uniquely beautiful way, with Dinah’s conversations with her mother happening via text, the words of which are mirrored over a backdrop of her memories with Ollie. These moments are full of emotional depth and highlight the people who make Dinah who she is, reinforcing that her fight isn’t just for herself.
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of the art in this series. Ryan Sook and Dave Stewart’s work is nothing short of breathtaking. Sook doesn’t flinch from showing the brutal punishment Dinah endures in the ring. The facial expressions are incredibly detailed, adding so much emotional weight that you can feel every punch, every grimace, and every moment of doubt. The art makes the action feel visceral and real. You can almost hear the audible “oof” when Dinah takes a blow to the gut.
But the art is just as effective in the quieter moments. A full-page shot of Batman in a forest or a subtle smirk on Lady Shiva’s face speaks volumes. The use of a cool blue color palette for the flashback sequences is a stroke of genius, immediately setting them apart from the fiery intensity of the present-day fight. The stunning cover for issue #4, with Dinah pulling a surprised Ollie up for a kiss in the ring, is an immediate classic that perfectly captures the strength and confidence of her character.
Black Canary: Best of the Best is a poignant examination of the burdens we carry and the complex relationships that define us. The series is a testament to the power of intimate storytelling, proving that a story with a simple premise can have the biggest impact. The final issue delivers a satisfying conclusion that stays true to the character and the themes explored throughout. While some might find the relentless commentary a little repetitive by the final issues, it’s a minor quibble in a series that gets so much right.
Ultimately, this series is about the strength it takes to face a different kind of monster: the one we inherit from our past, the one we fight in the ring, and the one we grapple with in our own minds. Black Canary: Best of the Best is a comic that earns its place among the best of the best.
‘Black Canary: Best of the Best’ HC Review: The Fight of Her Life
This series is about the strength it takes to face a different kind of monster: the one we inherit from our past, the one we fight in the ring, and the one we grapple with in our own minds. Black Canary: Best of the Best is a comic that earns its place among the best of the best.
