evie´s drawing board

Woo, boy, did DC ever catch the flak for this one.

Not that the Boy´s Club there ever had the faintest clue about what to do with their female cast without wading neck deep into dickery territory, but this time I guess the Black Canary´s fans just got exceedingly tired of seeing poor Dinah always get patronised by the male hero (which would usually be Green Arrow whose default mode is Male Chauvinist Pig anyway) or forever play the Damsel in Distress - or both, like in this story.

Penguin has escaped Arkham and is killing off stool pidgeons who have sought safe haven in Star City. Batman and Star City´s own heroine, the Black Canary, team up in a frantic race to find the stoolies before the Penguin can.


Well, to be realistic, how scary would a cute little blonde in a bathing suit and fishnets appear to Max, the hardened heavyweight criminal scumbag? How intimidating is even THIS cleavage in comparison to a guy with a monster mask whose every flexed muscle spells "ouch"?
You know what? I think size does matter. O_O

Well, on we go.
Our team is too late, two men die at the Penguin´s slimy flippers. But then our villain decides to take a break from the goons and kill Batman first because it´s more fun that way.



Ha, small wonder they were able to fit a whole story into 17 pages in the good old days: thought-bubbling the whole detective work part to the rhythm of Batman clobbering goons and the melody of half naked Black Canary eye candy does the trick.
Yes, right, Dinah ends up being Penguin´s pretty hostage, and not even establishing the fowl fiend as a seriously ruthless killer (in drag no less!) makes that part any better.


Brave and the Bold #166, Michael L. Fleisher, Dick Giordano, Sept 1980

At least Dinah makes herself look a bit useful. And she gets to kiss Batman. And wear his cape. What a weird back Batman has, though.
Some girls have all the luck. :(

Currently drinking: hot lemon tea. Made by my baby :-p