REVIEW: ‘Black Canary: Best of the Best’ Issue #1

Black Canary: Best of the Best #1 is published by DC Comics. Written by Tom King, art by Ryan Sook, colors by Dave Stewart and letters by Clayton Cowles. An epic televised fight is set up between Lady Shiva and Black Canary, forcing Dinah to seek help from her mother.

This miniseries is in the same vein as some of King’s best. The fight set-up is brilliantly paced and structured. The concept of the fight may seem allegorical, but it is as literal as it gets. Black Canary must best Lady Shiva in the ring, in front of the whole world. The first half of this issue is all about setting up and introducing the fighters, succinctly setting out the parameters before the first punches start to get swung.

The other part of the comic is much more personal, as Dinah goes to her mother. Initially, sweet and homely, hidden truths reveal the real reason behind the battle. It’s not an unrecognizable surprise, and the readers may start to worry due to the tone of the comic. But to have it spelled out in such a way still makes it devastating.
Black Canary: Best of the Best #1 boils down to a mother and daughter story.

There are two fighters involved in the fight. All of the focus is on the protagonist and her mother. While an army of ninjas trains Shiva, Dinah goes to her mother, also called Dinah. Her mom was the original Black Canary, a skilled spy and brawler in her own right. The fight is secondary in this story; the relationship between Dinah and her mom comes first. The reasons for this are clearer later in the book.

There are occasional references to other heroes, but they are not in costume. Throughout the book comes a commentary by the announcers at the fight. While they are respectful, there is a constant suggestion that Black Canary is the underdog in the fight. This will allow her to rise to the top, but not without pain.

The art is excellent and grounds the story. Sook instills domesticity into the first issue. Like the writing, the Black Canaries are the stars of the show. The familial connection is always present. The two Dinahs are so alike, though Dinah’s mother shows signs of aging. Their surroundings are rural and cozy, with a boxing gym built out of a barn. Then, the glamour and the spectacle take over, placing Black Canary and Lady Shiva in an actual arena. They look resplendent in their costumes, muscular and formidable. This is also where the physicality comes to the fore. It is already clear that the fight is going to get messy.

The colors are fantastic. There is a calm, natural approach. The issue is bright but not excessively vibrant, which fits the ranch that the Canaries train in. The spotlights and the costumes come out in the title fight, highlighting Dinah’s iconic blonde hair and Lady Shiva’s red outfit. The lettering has to contend with a lot of dialogue from the commentators, but the placement of the captions and the color coding make it easier to read.

Black Canary: Best of the Best #1 is what King does best. It’s a small-cast miniseries that focuses on one character and their family. His particular brand of storytelling, so intently captivated by characters, comes to the fore when there is such a streamlined idea. This comic is barely a superhero comic; instead, it’s a family drama with a Rocky mentality.

Black Canary: Best of the Best #1 is available where comics are sold.