The Birds of Prey believe they have found Choke, the mastermind behind their recent troubles and it turns out to be Trevor Cahill, the scientist that has been “helping” them on this case!  While his brainwashed minions distract Black Canary, Katanna, and Poison Ivy, Trevor manipulates Starling into shooting Batgirl.  (She just clips her shoulder.)  Black Canary is forced to unleash her Canary Cry, disabling both the people they are fighting and her own teammates.  Then she and Batgirl pursue an escaping Cahill.  After they subdue him, Batgirl tells Black Canary that she can’t trust the brainwashed Starling.  Canary impetuously retorts, “Ev’s the only one I DO trust!”  Oops!  Batgirl exits in a huff.

Canary reassembles the remaining Birds and they interrogate Cahill.  He then reveals that Poison Ivy has also been corrupted by his programming and she collapses, her plant shell flaking off.  Once more, he possesses Starling and she attempts to shoot Katanna, but Canary tackles her.  (SPOILERS!)  Katanna takes matters into her own hands and beheads Cahill, so that her husband, whose soul resides in her sword, can interrogate him.  The girls go their separate ways, but when Canary talks o Ev about her actions under Choke’s hold (okay, sorry about that) she laughs it off and dismisses her words.  Canary goes to Cahill’s apartment and starts trashing it out of frustration.  Batgirl arrives and they bond and make more vague references to their past association.  Then Katanna calls and reveals some important information.

This book is entertaining and features great depictions of strong, intelligent and likeable female leads.  The story line is interesting, but is it seven issues’ worth of interesting?  No, it’s really starting to drag.  Even after Katanna lops Cahill’s head off, the final scene reveals that this isn’t over with.  But… it’s a good book, so I’m going to forgive that for now.  But really, can we please wrap this up next issue and move on to something else?

Jesus Saiz’s art is perfect for this title.  It works on every level, detail, storytelling and delightfully free of cheesecake.

I like this book, but this introductory storyline is just too long.  The editor should have demanded it be whittled down.  Strictly for that reason…

Verdict: Borrow

BIRDS OF PREY #7
Written by Duane Swierczynski
Art by Jesus Saiz
Cover by Saiz and Santiago Arcas