Publisher: DC Zoom
Release Date: October 23, 2019
Price: $9.99
Creator(s): Meg Cabot (writer); Cara McGee (illustrator)
Format: 144 pgs., Full-Color, 5.5"x8", Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-4012-8620-0
Age Rating: N/A
ICv2 Rating: 4.5 Stars out of 5
This graphic novel is a prequel to the regular Black Canary comics, with the character at the age of 13. During the journey of discovery in this story, she learns not only that she has a superpower, but that her mother was a superhero in her own right. In most homes, that would be a startling revelation, and that is the case here.
One of the great things about this story is that the adult Black Canary is in some great stories involving her interaction with other characters. Meg Cabot has done something similar and has created two new characters as her friends who provide both exposition and counterpoints to some of Dinah’s personality quirks.
Her parents are both interesting and weird as portrayed, and the whole "Black Canary" name is given a sort of origin. For a character that’s been around for 70 years, that was a little surprising, but it worked, as did the use of the name in relation to her music.
The manga influences on the art were a little jarring, but for the intended audience they might turn out to be a plus. The filler pages promoting a similar book for the new Green Lantern might not be as good an idea, since the intended audience for that one seems very different.
This is a good book that will appeal a little more to female readers, but boys and men who do pick it up will find a good story, and everyone will find a fun introduction if they’re not familiar with the Black Canary character from other sources.
--Nick Smith: Library Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California.