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Dinah Lance. Legendary heroine whose reputation speaks volumes. Lady Shiva. The most dangerous fighter in all the DCU.
The pair is now pitted against each other in a championship bout for the ages. Who will be crowned “the Best Of The Best”?
BLACK CANARY: BEST OF THE BEST #2 by Tom King, Ryan Sook, Dave Stewart, and Clayton Cowles gives fans an impactful second round.
Let’s take a closer look at what is happening now.
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
King throws two conflicts at readers for this series. Lance has the current bout with Shiva along with the relationship with her mother. The first has provided a hard hitting affair.
Readers watch as Lance endures much punishment from someone outclassing her. One thing Lance utilizes is her drive not to quit. The writing allows this to grow and is reinforced by the addition conflict.
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Lance’s relationship with her mother comes into the forefront. Taking a trip back in time, the elder Canary leads her young daughter on a new path. King never shies away from the dangers of being a vigilante. Seeing young Dinah watch her mother deal with a gunshot wound is impactful. When the child puts on her mother’s wig, Readers know that the “tough love” has created a heroine in training. This is reflected in the current time.
King’s writing strength has always been (imo) the way he tackles personal relationships. The training regime Dinah is put through is unforgiving. It also mirrors the role reversals of the pair. Dinah has relied on her for training. She now must be the catalyst for her mother’s health.
This ultimately comes full circle in the final page. Both are damaged from what’s happening but both are ready to fight. There’s no way after the last panel readers can’t get behind that notion.
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Sook and Stewart open up the issue with excellent staged panels of Dinah getting corner advice. This mirrors what her mother pushed on her for training. It prepares readers for the intense in-ring combat. Shiva’s opening attack is a half panel brutal shot which launches the issue forward. There’s a great full page image of a temporary victory that compliments the great action as well.
The bout does step aside for the flashback moments. Seeing Dinah Drake in a full page costume image will be a big hit. Lance’s reaction travels from happy to sad as things progress. It is capitalized by the young child eating a TV dinner and watching the news. The full page shot (with great detail) takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Lance watching her mother deal with the gunshot sparks an unexpected response. The full page image of Dinah with the wig speaks loudly. It takes a new direction in the present. The closing panel hits like an overhand right, sending events into the 3rd round.
FINAL POINT: 9.1
The fight of Dinah Lance’s life takes another turn as the rounds add up. King’s writing digs into Dinah’s soul with a deep dive into her past. Sook, Stewart and Cowles don’t leave it in the judges’ hands with the excellent art. The series continues to impress with no signs of tapping out soon.
Hit me up on ODPHpod social media to talk comics. Let me know your thoughts on BLACK CANARY: BEST OF THE BEST #2. Thanks for reading!
