At first, The Birds of Prey is a partnership between Black Canary and Oracle, which has expanded with time to include additional superheroines. The relationship between the two characters was established in Showcase ’96 #3, written by Jordan B. Gorfinkel — who is also the one who gave the team the name of Birds of Prey in the pages of the first issue of the series from writer Chuck Dixon and artist Gary Frank.
Chuck Dixon described this relationship as a clash of values, and “Dinah’s more idealistic approach is at the heart of this book.” Black Canary alias Dinah Laurel Lance is presented as more passionate and idealistic than her partner in crime Oracle alias Barbara Gordon who has a strong sense of morality but, is also less morally conflicted, per Dixon’s words who described her as a woman who knows that, sometimes, you have to kill to save lives–even if she’s not comfortable with that fact.
If Babs and Dinah made up the core team of The Birds of Prey, the two heroines are joined by other crimefighters throughout the series, including Huntress alias Helena Bertinelli who will become one of the most prominent members during Gail Simone’s run. The team was also re-imagined following the events of Flashpoint and the New 52 relaunch with Black Canary (Dinah Drake), and new character Starling (Ev Crawford). Barbara Gordon had recovered her mobility and was Batgirl once more, but didn’t join the new team until later. The line-up also added Poison Ivy and Katana. The New 52 was also a period in which The Bird of Prey, despite being an all-female team, was often assisted by male allies and had their first male member, Hawk, when Hawk and Dove briefly joined the team.
The Birds of Prey were originally based in Gotham City, with Gotham City Clock Tower serving as their base of operations. Some events made them relocate, and the team has also operated in Metropolis and California. But they also came back to Gotham.
Birds of Prey Reading Order
Introducing the Birds of Prey
If you want to delve more into each of the core members of the Birds of Prey, we have you covered with the following reading orders:
- Barbara Gordon Reading Order
- Black Canary Reading Order
- Helena Bertinelli Reading Order (though not part of the original team, she’s a staple member)
I. Birds of Prey Volume 1 (1999-2009)
After Showcase ’96 #3 which introduced the Birds of Prey, the team starred in a limited series and several one-shots before headlining their own ongoing series. The title runs for 127 issues, from January 1999 to April 2009. The series was first written by Chuck Dixon until issue #55. Gail Simone took over as the sole writer from issue #56 to #108. She was followed by Tony Bedard (#109–112, #118-127) and Sean McKeever (#113–117).
Birds of Prey Vol. 1
Collects Black Canary/Oracle: Birds of Prey #1, Birds of Prey: Manhunt #1–4, Birds of Prey: Revolution #1, a story from Showcase ’96 #3, Birds of Prey: Wolves #1, Bird of Prey: Batgirl #1- Birds of Prey Vol. 2
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #1–11, Birds of Prey: Ravens #1 - Birds of Prey Vol. 3: The Hunt for Oracle
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #12–21, Nightwing #45–46. Includes The Hunt for Oracle crossover with Nightwing.
Birds of Prey Vol. 1Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #22–38 are not collected for now, at least…
Except issue #27, available on Batman: Officer Down
Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive! Bruce Wayne is arrested for murder in this Batman event and his allies must discover who is the true killer. The Birds of Prey plays a little role in it.
- Bruce Wayne: Murderer?
Collects Batgirl #24, #27, Batman #599-602, Batman: Gotham Knights #25-29, Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure #1, Birds Of Prey #39-41 & #43, Detective Comics #766-770, Nightwing #65-66, #68-69, and Robin #98-99. The story continues in Bruce Wayne: Fugitive
Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #42-#55 are not collected. For now, at least…
During this period was published the one-shot Birds of Prey: Catwoman/Oracle, the follow-up to Birds of Prey: Batgirl/Catwoman.
Writer Gail Simone and artist Ed Benes take over Birds of Prey, where Huntress becomes one of Oracle’s full-time agents in Birds of Prey #68.
DC began to reprint Birds of Prey at the start of Simone’s run in 2020 and it’s still ongoing. Some old editions are included in the following list and will be replaced by the new ones when those trade paperbacks will be released.
- Birds of Prey: Murder and Mystery new printing
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #56–67
Like all members of the Batfamily, Barbara Gordon helped Batman when the chaos took over Gotham during War Games (see reading order). But following this event, Babs cut ties with The Bat and goes to live more adventures with her team outside Gotham, before relocating to Metropolis.
- Birds of Prey: Hero Hunters
Collects Batgirl #57, Batman #633, Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #68–80. Takes place before and after War Games. - Birds of Prey: Fighters by Trade
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #81-91. Lady Blackhawk joins the team in #75. - Birds of Prey: Progeny new
Collects Birds of Prey #92-103. Black Canary leaves the team in issue #99 for personal reasons but appeared in a few issues afterward. Still more shakeup to the lineup in those issues. - Birds of Prey: Whitewater
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #104-112. Gail Simone’s run on Birds of Prey ends with #108. Tony Bedard took over for the rest of volume 1 except for an arc written by Sean McKeever. - Birds of Prey: Metropolis or Dust (old edition)
Collects Birds of Prey #113–117. Written by Sean McKeever - Birds of Prey #118
Collected in Birds of Prey: Club Kids (old edition). This is a tie-in to Final Crisis. - Birds of Prey: Platinum Flats (old edition)
Collects Birds of Prey #119–124.
Birds of Prey LogoBirds of Prey Vol. 1 #125 is not collected.
For now, at least…
- Oracle: The Cure (old edition)
Birds of Prey #126–127, Origins and Omens: Oracle, Oracle: The Cure #1–3.
II. Birds of Prey Volume 2 (2010-2011)
Under the Brightest Day banner in 2010, Oracle, Black Canary, Huntress, and Lady Blackhawk all returned to Gotham City for a Birds of Prey Volume 2. Gail Simone was also back as a writer, with Ed Benes providing the artwork. Hawk and Dove were also added to the team as new members.
- Birds of Prey: Endrun (old edition)
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 2 #1-6. Tie-in to Brightest day. - Birds of Prey: The Death of Oracle (old edition)
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 2 #7-15. The last two issues were written by Marc Andreyko.
III. New 52: Birds of Prey Volume 3 (2011-2014)
Following Flashpoint (see reading order), the DC Universe was reset and we entered the New 52 era (see also a complete reading order). The Birds of Prey were re-imagined with writer Duane Swierczynski at the helm. Christy Marx took over creative duties from issue #18 until the end of the title.
This new team is put together by Dinah, who recruits Starling, Katana, and Poison Ivy. Though Batgirl initially refused to join this new team, she also became a member. The roster team changed during the series, following the departure of Poison Ivy (issue #12) and Katana (issue #15). After that, the Birds of Prey are joined by Strix and Condor (issue #16).
Birds of Prey Vol. 1: Trouble in Mind
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 3 #1–7- Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Your Kiss Might Kill
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 3 #8-13. Issue #9 is a Night of the Owls tie-in. - Birds of Prey Vol. 3: A Clash of Daggers
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 3 #13–17, Batgirl Annual Vol. 4 #1. - Birds of Prey Vol. 4: The Cruelest Cut
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 3 #18–24, 26, Talon #9 - Birds of Prey Vol. 5: Soul Crisis
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 3 #25, 27–34, Birds of Prey: Futures End #1. Issue #28 is a Gothtopia tie-in.
Birds of Prey Vol. 1: Trouble in MindIV. Rebirth: Batgirl and the Birds of Prey (2016-2018)
The Birds of Prey had once again their own title in the Rebirth era, called now Batgirl and the Birds of Prey. Written by Julie Benson and Shawna Benson (and penciled by Claire Roe, Roge Antonio, and Marcio Takara), it follows Batgirl, Black Canary, and Huntress as the three women work together again to take down mutual foes.
- Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 1: Who is Oracle?
Collects Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #1-6 and the Batgirl and the Birds of Prey: Rebirth one-shot. - Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Source Code
Collects Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #7-13. - Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 3: Full Circle
Collects Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #14-22.
In February 2020, the Bird of Prey movie with Harley Quinn, Helena Bertinelli, and Dinah Lance was released and DC tried to capitalize a little bit on it with A giant-sized special reprinting new and classic tales, and a limited series under DC Comics’ adult-oriented Black Label imprint.
- Birds of Prey Giant #1
One-shot with new and classic tales, including a Harley Quinn/Birds of Prey team-up - Harley Quinn & the Birds of Prey: The Hunt for Harley (Black Label/out-of-continuity)
Collects Harley Quinn & the Birds of Prey #1–4 and a short story from Harley Quinn Black + White + Red #12.
V. The new Birds of Prey in Infinite Frontier (2022-)
A new Birds of Prey lineup is introduced in the anthology series Batman: Urban Legends, almost forcing you to ask why the team is called Birds of Prey in the absence of any of the core members? Lady Shiva and Katana lead this new team joined by two recently-introduced DC characters: Miracle Molly and Ghost.
- Batman: Urban Legends Vol. 3 (Release date: September 6)
Collects Batman: Urban Legends #11-16. The Birds of Prey are in #14-16.