Black Canary: Best of the Best #1 is a comic book that I have been looking forward to. Even though I haven’t been a big fan of Tom King’s Wonder Woman run there is no doubt that he is at his best with mini-series. Telling a contained story is where King has maximized his writing style. Pairing up with Rya Sook in this series where the “single greatest hand-to-hand fighter in the universe” will be decided on should be a great mix. Let’s find out if that is the case with Black Canary: Best of the Best #1.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Ryan Sook
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
BLACK CANARY: BEST OF THE BEST #1 SOLICITATION
“The match of the millennium! It’s Black Canary versus Lady Shiva to determine who is the single greatest hand-to-hand fighter in the universe! Who will walk away with the title? Find out as writer Tom King (WONDER WOMAN, SUPERGIRL: WOMAN OF TOMORROW) and Ryan Sook (LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES) go six rounds to see if our hero has what it takes to be… the best of the best.” – DC Comics
REVIEW
Black Canary: Best of the Best #1 is possibly the greatest example of Tom King’s writing style at its best and worst. There is not in between when it comes to this comic book. There are all the elements here that deliver on what is promised. Though the potential of that promise is never fully tapped into because of certain narrative decisions made on the writing side that hold it back.
The mix bag when it comes to the narrative decisions in Black Canary: Best of the Best #1 is seen right away. There is a tone that is set of a fighter in Dinah Lance who is mentally getting ready for a fight. While she is preparing for a one-on-one fight Dinah shows an understanding that she can’t just be physically ready for this. To fight Lady Shiva she has to be mentally and physically ready.
Its in this set up where you can’t help but wish King let Ryan Sook’s incredible artwork do more of the heavy lifting. Sook inserts so much detail in the way he frames Dinah in every panel. You get her full story in the way she acts throughout the flashback. It’s something that should be the primary focus. Unfortunately, it is not as King does his typical hand-holding with his writing. He wants to always make sure that the detail in the writing is the star. That is something that works in some scenes and doesn’t in others.
The best example of this is how ever present the announcers for the Black Canary vs Lady Shiva fight are throughout Black Canary: Best of the Best #1. Having an announcing team is a cool touch to add to the how epic this fight is. Though the deeper we get into this issue the announcers go from being a cool touch to annoying. There broadcast used in place of inner monologue during the flashback scenes took a lot away from what those scenes were trying to get across.
It was especially disappointing because Sook does so much to inject genuine emotion in the interactions between Dinah and her mother that the announcers just get in the way. Its time when your left wishing King allowed the flashback scenes to breathe so the interactions can be the focus. It is a problem King has in his Wonder Woman run and a big disappointment that narrative direction is carried here.
To King and Sook’s credit, when Dinah and her mother are allowed to have their relationship carry scenes the flashbacks work well to enhance the present-day fight. There is attention paid to how the more time they spend with each other we see why it’s been a while since mother and daughter last met. It is a very organic way of showing their relationship that any reader would relate to. Because of the quality of their interactions it makes the injection of the present-day fight announcers to the flashbacks hurt rather than enhance these scenes.
All of this goes back to King trusting Sook more that the artwork can carry the story. Especially with the “single greatest hand-to-hand fighter in the universe” angle the fight choreography should have a chance to shine. Let the impact through the silence as the artwork gets across the impact of each punch, kick, and submission thrown get over how Black Canary and Lady Shiva are elite fighters. It will do wonders that will add greater weight to the character focus scenes.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Black Canary: Best of the Best #1 has all the elements to live up to its title. Unfortunately, certain narrative decisions hold the story back. It’s only thanks to the creative chemistry Tom King and Ryan Sook have there is enough here that leaves you hoping the problems can be ironed out so this series can reach its full potential.
Story Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
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