The Birds of Prey get thrown in the deep end of Batman’s “Night of the Owls” storyline as a Talon kidnaps Poison Ivy and then goes after Black Canary and Katanna who fare very poorly against this seemingly unstoppable force.  Not even Black Canary’s Canary Cry at point blank range phases him.  The two heroes retreat to the same cathedral that appeared in ‘BoP’ #1.  Canary has a slight break down, remembering the death of her husband, but doesn’t have much time as the Talon approaches.  Luckily they are rescued by Starling who once again crashes a car through the Talon and the wooden door of the cathedral.  She unmasks him and his skin is black and he has an old fashioned hair and mustache.  She unloads several rounds into him as he squeezes her throat, but it barely phases him.  Things look bleak before Batgirl arrives on the scene and disables the Talon.

They retreat to the train station where the attacker catches up to them.  Batgirl explains that Batman has figured out how to disable them.  Luckily, Poison Ivy rejoins them to take her revenge.

Travel  Foreman steps in to illustrate this issue and does a fine job.  The story is a tad disjointed simply because we and the Birds are simply flung into the “Night of the Owls” crossover event with little explanation.  To be honest, I don’t read the other Batman books, so what I understand of this event is from ‘Batwing.‘  But it was still a decent issue and I comprehended it enough to enjoy it.  And I was glad to be on with a new storyline.  Overall, not a must have issue, but enjoyable.

Verdict: Borrow

BIRDS OF PREY #9
Written Duane Swierczynski
Art by Travel Foreman
Cover by Jesus Saiz and June Chung