Some Kickbutt Moments from BoP 6, starring Helena Bertinelli (plus some possible Babs/Dinah subtext)

[bluejaybirdie]

This issue of Birds of Prey was really good, and full of kickass moments. I highly recommend getting it. Also, no more Benes artwork! I don't know if it was that the story got a lot better all of a sudden, or if his pencils detracted so much from my enjoyment of the comic, but this issue was back to almost feeling like the old Birds of Prey.



First up, we have Helena dealing with the guy who punched her in the stomach last issue, in typical no-shit-taking Bertinelli fashion.





Oh, Hel. And lines like that are why I love Zinda.

Not one to give up being awesome after one moment in the issue, Helena then proceeds to take on Lady Shiva. With a cold drink.





I believe the expression you're looking for is "owned", Shiva. (Oh, and the kid Helena's referring to is Sin, by the way)

And now, what you've all been waiting for: the Babs/Dinah shippy moment! A little context here: Dinah (still with the broken wrist) has agreed to fight Shiva to death to save Sin. She knows she's got no chance, and fully expects to die.



Yeah, that's right. "Tell Babs and Ollie I love them." Notice that Babs' name comes first, and that she's being grouped in with Dinah's former lover. Also, in movies, it's always telling the person you're romantically involved with that you love them before you die. Significant? I think so.

(Okay, maybe I have my femslash goggles on a bit tight. But seriously it's my OTP, and Dinah is saying she loves Babs. My shipper heart is singing with joy)

Comments

[q99]

What's the context? I didn't know Shiva was in the Bird's current story.

[bluejaybirdie]

White Canary brought in Shiva to fight Dinah to the death, with Sin's life on the line. Shiva is apparently participating out of respect for Dinah and Sin (I don't really get it, but I'm a bit tired tonight).

[starwolf_oakley]

I am not surprised Sin is involved.

I am surprised Sin is involved and the League of Assassins aren't. Don't they think Sin is their new "The One Who Is All" or something?

[q99]

Ra's is back, so the One Who Is All thing is no longer a priority like it was when there wasn't a Demon's Head to tell them what to do.

[thebigapricot]

When I told Gail on Twitter I appreciated that line she said "Babs is Dinah's more reliable boyfriend ;)"

[bluejaybirdie]

I <3 Gail so much

[bwhahahabeck]

♥ yesss.

[swatkat]

Aww. <3

[xammax]

This... was an awesome fight scene. My Huntress respect points just went up. Gail must be sad that this came out just after that Toughest Women in the DCU poll.

[shadowpsykie]

OMG YES that fight was awesome! both fighters came out looking good. and i like that she had Helen pray before the fight, im catholic, but more spiritual than religious, however, if i was fighting lady shiva to the death, i would be praying to EVERYTHING

[sinisterlink]

Wow, in that first page she punched the guy so hard his suit changed color. :p

[bluejaybirdie]

Helena's just that badass ;)

[big_daddy_d]

Seeing Helena challenge Shiva like that, I can't help but think of a high school scenario.

"You. Me. 3 o'clock. School parking lot. Next to the flagpole. Got it?!"

[bariman]

"I have Glee Club at 3 o'clock. Will 3:40 do?"

[jarodrussell]

Oh, it is true. That's so cool. We now have evidence that suggests Damian Wayne could take out Shiva, since being blinded doesn't impair his ability to fight. Sweet!

[stolisomancer]

Helena didn't win the fight. If it hadn't ended shortly thereafter, Shiva was about to kill her.

I don't think Helena being able to land a hit on Shiva does anything to minimize Shiva's ability, particularly since Shiva spent the pages before that kicking her up and down the room.

[stig]

"Late, as in the Late Dentarthurdent?...It's a sort of threat, you see. I'm not very good at them, myself."

[angelophile]

But I hear they can be terribly effective.

[lieut_kettch]

POSSIBLE subtext? Nuh-uh. It's out there plain as day, in twenty foot high blinking neon letters.

Ah, Gail Simone, how you tease us so.

[doomisay]

All hail the IRON OWL.

[shadowpsykie]

YES THIS!!!!!

[superfangirl1]

Helena kick butt in this issue. :)

[shadowpsykie]

oh god... SOO much butt. i LOVE Iron Owl! can;t wait to see how that plays out, Shiva tends to keep her appointments hope Helena does some MAJOR training in the mean time..

[mullon]

I'd add to the conversation, but I'm too distracted by the ass shots.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Oh goodie, ANOTHER time when someone goes agaInst Shiva and wins 'cause she's just that awesome. How thrilling. That or she loses, which means she's dead. I can't say I'm too wild about this. Sure, Helena IS awesome here, but it'd be nice if she were challenging someone else.

[swatkat]

Helena did not win, Helena made a smart move and caused Shiva to lose her foothold, that's it.

[swatkat]

The issue was good, but the pacing felt a bit off to me. Loved Dinah being all self-sacrificing and ~tell my lovers that I love them~, and Helena being one step ahead, loved Dinah's line about Shiva caring for her in a really twisted way (okay, I ship them, so what).

I'm still not sure what Hawk and Dove are bringing to the story.

[auggie18]

I want Sin to see that her mommies (sisters?) are in danger and kick Lady Shiva's ass for them. Otherwise? Shive sorta has to win.

[angelophile]

Who's the artist? Looks like an unnatural mesh of Mark Brooks and Pat *puttup* Lee.

[icon_uk]

I have to say it may presage a savage beating up, but it's just so damn satisfying having someone tell Shiva to, basically, shut the hell up.

[schmevil]

I do not like this art. :/

[bluejaybirdie]

I don't like it, per se, but it's much better than Benes.

[jlbarnett]

frankly, I'm sick of the ninja type characters in the DCU. I want them to come face to face with the JLA and be informed if they don't disband they'll banish all of them to the Phantom Zone for all eternity and they'll send their kid trainees to homes where they can have real lives.

[ebailey140]

Well, aside from the especially talented ones like Shiva and Cass, ninjas are pretty much the Imperial Storm Troopers of the Batbooks. Babs recently took two of the League of Assassins ninjas out, and she's in a wheelchair. They did manage to contain Vicki Vale with strength of numbers until Steph came to her rescue (Naturally, they went down in seconds once Steph showed up), but not before Vicki managed to take down one of them, herself.

OK, Vicki did have the advantage of surprise and a big shovel, but still...

[tatwdown.blogspot.com]

Is it me, or is Zinda cosplaying Rangiku Matsumoto?