Black Canary Appreciation Thread 2020

[kjn]

Couldn't agree MORE! Though she needs to be fleshed out more this is the most accurate version of the character that most closely resembles her comic book counterpart that had been put on film.
She's fierce, goofy, loyal, protective and yes, I think she looks like the comic book character as well. I hope and pray we get more of her on the big screen

Some other things that I think the movie Black Canary got right, and which gave her more depth as a character than superheroes usually get.

A working class sensibility. Dinah knows she needs to make a living, an emotional connection to work, and is loyal to her employer. Heroism doesn't pay the rent or put food on the table. Instead it killed her mother.

Conflicts between values, and inaction that leads to action. There is an emotional development between Dinah witnessing Roman tormenting the poor girl in the night club to her beating up Harley's would-be abductors to her deciding to become an informer to Renee Montoya. I think it's also important that she is the first to see, advise, and assist Cass. If there is one character who embodies deliberate action in the movie, it's Dinah.

[WonderScott]

I love Black Canary and besides being a member of the Justice League and BoP, I’ve always wanted to write a maxiseries for her that includes a team up with other martial artists like; Onyx, Huntress, Batgirl, Batwoman, Catwoman, Flamebird, Judomaster, Katana, Huntress, Manhunter, Ravager, Black Bat, Arrowette, Spoiler, etc.

This one of my favorite covers with Dinah.

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[Ascended]

It's her Future's End costume:

Oh okay. Never read that.

Can't say I like the cape.

[Stromberg]

Some other things that I think the movie Black Canary got right, and which gave her more depth as a character than superheroes usually get.

A working class sensibility. Dinah knows she needs to make a living, an emotional connection to work, and is loyal to her employer. Heroism doesn't pay the rent or put food on the table. Instead it killed her mother.

Conflicts between values, and inaction that leads to action. There is an emotional development between Dinah witnessing Roman tormenting the poor girl in the night club to her beating up Harley's would-be abductors to her deciding to become an informer to Renee Montoya. I think it's also important that she is the first to see, advise, and assist Cass. If there is one character who embodies deliberate action in the movie, it's Dinah.

You can definitely tell that those making the film and especially Jurnee Smollett really cared about getting the character right.

[Frontier]

Oh okay. Never read that.

Can't say I like the cape.

It was Futures End. They had a lot of crazy ideas .

[Robanker]

It was Futures End. They had a lot of crazy ideas .

And none of 'em good.

I'm joking, but yeah, capes don't work for Dinah. Really, aside from Neal Adams or her costume during Gail's BoP, Rebirth is just the tops. Hard to beat.

[Frontier]

And none of 'em good.

I'm joking, but yeah, capes don't work for Dinah. Really, aside from Neal Adams or her costume during Gail's BoP, Rebirth is just the tops. Hard to beat.

Yeah, Classic, Simone BoP, or Rebirth are probably her definitive looks.

[Stromberg]

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It has been firmly established, even as early as the 70's and early 80's, that Black Canary is as good a fighter, if not better than Batman. Why do people argue this? Just cuz here's BATMAN?

[Tzigone]

IMG_20200427_112727.jpgIMG_20200427_112543.jpgIMG_20200427_112758.jpg

It has been firmly established, even as early as the 70's and early 80's, that Black Canary is as good a fighter, if not better than Batman. Why do people argue this? Just cuz here's BATMAN?

I very much agree with and like Canary as his peer in fighting ability (while acknowledging the likely biological reality of him being stronger). But I also don't really like either of them as top-50-in-the-world fighters. Both should be very good. I'd probably say she's better. But neither should be treated magically good to me. I think Batman should be the world's greatest detective, and a good fighter, but not best. I don't really care for his leader/tactician brilliance either - he should be best as a detective, not at at other thing, IMO, but it's not relevant to this thread.

A working class sensibility. Dinah knows she needs to make a living, an emotional connection to work, and is loyal to her employer. Heroism doesn't pay the rent or put food on the table. Instead it killed her mother.

I have no strong historical/canonical reason (from the eras I most like the character) that Dinah should have a particularly working class mentality or be especially loyal to an employer. I thought she was fine self-employed, and flower shop or dojo or fine and neither actually require any sort of emotional connection to work (which many people, including working class people, do not have). And loyalty to one's employers is a nebulous term to me (I haven't seen the movie and don't intend to mostly because of Harley). Means different things to different people, and can sometimes be used to screw the employee to the benefit of the business. If it's just doing the job and not stealing from an employer, that's just basic honesty to me. Maybe giving notice to not leave someone in a lurch.

[kjn]

I have no strong historical/canonical reason (from the eras I most like the character) that Dinah should have a particularly working class mentality or be especially loyal to an employer. I thought she was fine self-employed, and flower shop or dojo or fine and neither actually require any sort of emotional connection to work (which many people, including working class people, do not have). And loyalty to one's employers is a nebulous term to me (I haven't seen the movie and don't intend to mostly because of Harley). Means different things to different people, and can sometimes be used to screw the employee to the benefit of the business. If it's just doing the job and not stealing from an employer, that's just basic honesty to me. Maybe giving notice to not leave someone in a lurch.

There is a scene where Renee Montoya asks Dinah to become an informer against Roman Sionis. Dinah declines, and in no uncertain terms. She is loyal to the person who gave her not one but two good and steady jobs, not to the police or to some higher principles. Do your job well and don't make waves.

Seeing the Dinah in the movie, and comparing her with the Dinah of Dixon's and (especially) Simone's Birds of Prey, at least I could see the clear connections, and even more how Simone would embrace this take on the character.

[Frontier]

IMG_20200427_112727.jpgIMG_20200427_112543.jpgIMG_20200427_112758.jpg

It has been firmly established, even as early as the 70's and early 80's, that Black Canary is as good a fighter, if not better than Batman. Why do people argue this? Just cuz here's BATMAN?

Who argues it? Most people seem to treat her as a top tier martial artist .

There is a scene where Renee Montoya asks Dinah to become an informer against Roman Sionis. Dinah declines, and in no uncertain terms. She is loyal to the person who gave her not one but two good and steady jobs, not to the police or to some higher principles. Do your job well and don't make waves.

Seeing the Dinah in the movie, and comparing her with the Dinah of Dixon's and (especially) Simone's Birds of Prey, at least I could see the clear connections, and even more how Simone would embrace this take on the character.

I honestly don't see Dinah with that kind of tunnel vision, especially for someone as scummy as Black Mask, but that's just me.

[Stromberg]

Who argues it? Most people seem to treat her as a top tier martial artist .

I honestly don't see Dinah with that kind of tunnel vision, especially for someone as scummy as Black Mask, but that's just me.

Many people argue it. Never really understood why.

And in general Dinah doesn't have that kind of tunnel vision but she has before...Ra's Al Ghul...until her eyes are opened and within the context of the story it makes sense.

[The no face guy]

IMG_20200427_112727.jpgIMG_20200427_112543.jpgIMG_20200427_112758.jpg

It has been firmly established, even as early as the 70's and early 80's, that Black Canary is as good a fighter, if not better than Batman. Why do people argue this? Just cuz here's BATMAN?

I think it's just lack of knowledge, outside of Wonder Woman, Black Canary is probably DC's most iconic heroine, but despite that she's never really had her own long running series outside of Birds of Prey.

They might also be taking biological limitations into account as well when it comes to fighting. As a male, Batman's muscle mass, reaction time, and ability to absorb a hit better, gives him an advantage in striking and blocking, so he would most likely win when you take that into account. As a huge Black Canary fan that was a bit of a bubble buster for me, but realistically speaking, you don't see men fighting women in boxing and UFC primarily because of physiological differences.

[Frontier]

Many people argue it. Never really understood why.

I'm not necesarilly doubting you, but I've never really seen it come up as much. But those people probably haven't read or seen a lot with Dinah in it.

And in general Dinah doesn't have that kind of tunnel vision but she has before...Ra's Al Ghul...until her eyes are opened and within the context of the story it makes sense.

It's a very rare thing to see with her is what you're getting at .

[Electricmastro]

Justice League of America #12 (October, 2007). Art by Alex Ross: