There’s been a palpable buzz, a true sense of anticipation, surrounding DC’s upcoming release, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). More than just a mouthful, Birds of Prey is the first girl-gang superhero movie to be hitting the big screen and tells the tale of everyone’s favourite fruitcake Harley Quinn, following the events of Suicide Squad and her break-up with Jared Leto’s Joker. It promises to be quite the spectacle.
From the first poster through to the latest trailer, we’ve known that Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn has found herself an entourage in Black Canary, Renee Montoya, Cassandra Cain and Huntress – or, the Birds of Prey. But who exactly are the original Birds of Prey and what are their roots?
Funnily enough, not all that much like the latest movie seems to suggest. Making their first appearance in 1996 in the comic Birds of Prey: Black Canary/Oracle, the original gang wasn’t so much a rebellious team of misfits, more a covert vigilante pairing of brains and brawn. Over the comic run, characters familiar and obscure affiliate themselves with the core paring of Oracle and Black Canary, giving the run a truly interesting and twisting arc and history – one that is worth exploring.
The Birds of Prey comic series doesn’t have the most concise or straightforward publication records, but with several writers, one cancellation and two reboots, that shouldn’t surprise anyone. This slightly fractured history doesn’t damage the quality of the comics, thanks to the stellar efforts of the writers, who include Chuck Dixon (Punisher, Batman, Nightwing), Gail Simone (Deadpool, Batgirl, Wonder Woman) and Duane Swierczynski (X-Men, Judge Dredd, The Black Hood).
There’s a lot of Birds of Prey material out there to explore, and no matter where you chose to start, you’re in for a good time. In case you’d like a little guidance, we’ve got a run-down of some staples below.
DC is also releasing a four-part comic book tie-in to the upcoming film, which explores the new big-screen team.
We do receive commission for purchases made through our links.
Who are DC's Birds of Prey?
1 of 10Birds of Prey Vol. 1, 2 and 3
The Birds of Prey weren't always a large ensemble unit. The team began as an idea, cultivated by Oracle (aka. Barbara Gordon, onetime Batgirl and Joker victim), who brought Black Canary (motorcycling martial arts expert, super-powered screamer) onboard for a little Gotham City vigilante justice. From these humble beginnings, this comic collection showcases the various additions and subtractions sustained by the Birds of Prey, including well-known names like Catwoman and Huntress. The somewhat nebulous roster of the team is solidified slightly over the course of Vol. 2, with the vigilante group crossing paths with Nightwing, Batman, and fighting the deadly Kobra organisation. Vol. 3 takes place after the events of Batman: The Killing Joke, having Oracle face the Joker in a crossover which brings Nightwing in to work with the team. In this volume, Black Canary takes a trip with the boom tube to Darkseid's Apokolips. Amazon.co.uk
2 of 10Birds of Prey: Of Like Minds
In the Of Like Minds story arc, Black Canary gets into trouble with the villain Savant and the Oracle calls upon Huntress to help her save her ally and protect the identity of Batman. While Huntress' skillset is a welcome addition to the team, her contentious relationship with Oracle makes for a fraught and enthralling dynamic. Amazon.co.uk
3 of 10Birds of Prey: Sensei and Student
Black Canary travels to China in order to say farewell to her sensei and stumbles upon a murderous plot which has her fight alongside the legendary assassin Lady Shiva. Meanwhile, Oracle finds herself in the crosshairs of the US government. When Oracle finds herself without support, she has no option but to call upon Huntress once again.Amazon.co.uk
4 of 10Birds of Prey: The Battle Within
With Huntress finally being invited into the Birds of Prey, their vigilante justice takes on a sharper, more formidable edge. The team moves to Metropolis through necessity, but find the relative internal peace destroyed when it's revealed that one member of the team has been engaging in psychological manipulation. Amazon.co.uk
5 of 10Birds of Prey: Pitch Perfect
With the departure of Huntress, the team is rearranged with the addition of the time-displaced, WW2 hero Lady Blackhawk – who, amongst other things, is the first to name the group "Birds of Prey". The battles in this compilation are pretty intense, and included in the onslaught are Deathstroke, Prometheus, Savant, Calculator, and even more besides. Amazon.co.uk
6 of 10Birds of Prey: Trouble In Mind
In 2011, as part of DC Comic's "The New 52" relaunches, the Birds of Prey found themselves reinvigorated and shaken up, with a new writer (Swierczynski) at the helm and new characters being drafted into their ranks. Oracle regains the ability to walk, while Black Canary declines the invitation to join, being replaced by samurai-superhero Katana (who also made it into 2016's Suicide Squad). The gun-toting Starling and one-time villain Poison Ivy also join the ranks. Amazon.co.uk
7 of 10Batgirl and The Birds of Prey
In 2016, DC decided to give things a good old rattle once again with the initiation of DC Rebirth, which saw their comic range mixing fresh ideas with those both from, and pre, The New 52. The old team is back together, with Barbara Gordon upholding the Batgirl mantle alongside Black Canary and Huntress to take on a mysterious villain by the name of Oracle.Amazon.co.uk
8 of 10Suicide Squad
The events of the upcoming Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) take place after those in Suicide Squad, and Quinn's breakup with long-term lover and sociopath Joker. Getting up to speed with their exploits is certainly a good idea. Amazon.co.uk
9 of 10Batman: The Animated Series
In an exciting deviation from the comic books, Gotham City Police Department Detective Renee Montoya is one of the gang in Harley Quinn's big screen exploit. Montoya has her roots in Batman: The Animated Series – getting to know what she's all about is a fine excuse for binging this classic cartoon. Amazon.co.uk
10 of 10Arrow – Season One
Huntress has already made it onto the small screen, brought to life by Jessica De Gouw in Arrow seasons one and two. Here, Huntress showcases her villainous side and proves herself a brilliant tactician. You can also stream Arrow on Amazon Prime. Amazon.co.uk
In anticipation of Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), Zavvi has put together an exclusive clothing and accessory collection to celebrate the latest instalment from DC. Here are a few of our favourites, or you can check out the whole range on Zavvi.com.
Zavvi Birds of Prey Collection
1 of 3No One Is Like Me Mug
2 of 3Stuffed Animal Tote Bag
3 of 3Harley Quinn Pink Stripes Unisex Birds of Prey Sweatshirt
Have you signed up for Amazon Prime yet?
You can sign up today for a free 30-day trial and get free next-day delivery on thousands of items, plus access to Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Reading and more.
READ MORE: Who Is The Joker? All The Back Stories You'll Need
READ MORE: Who Is Morbius, The Living Vampire? A Comic Book Guide