The current DC You publishing initiative has found great creative success by taking characters in bold new directions with strong creative teams, and Black Canary has become one of the publisher’s standout titles by blending rock ’n’ roll and superheroics in a cross-country adventure. Building off of Dinah Lance’s new status quo in Batgirl, the series by writer Brenden Fletcher, artist Annie Wu, and colorist Lee Loughridge is full of character and energy, finding an intriguing angle for the titular heroine and her band. Unfortunately, with DC’s recent announcement of the cancelation of five titles (including the exceptional The Omega Men), character, energy, and intrigue don’t necessarily mean a book will last if it’s not selling.
Black Canary is the kind of off-kilter title that DC could use more of, and hopefully these cancellations aren’t signaling backward movement from a publisher that has recently been making great strides forward. That unconventional approach to superhero narrative is apparent in this preview of this week’s Black Canary #4, which welcomes acclaimed Y: The Last Man artist Pia Guerra to the title for an issue that delves into the backstory of Bo Maeve, an aspiring recording artist with a grudge against the band. These pages are overflowing with style and atmosphere, and Guerra’s nuanced characterizations and detailed linework blend beautifully with Loughridge’s bold color palette. It’s fun, dramatic, and creative, and hopefully Black Canary will find an audience big enough to allow this creative team to continue Dinah and her band’s story for a while.