Really like the art, story not my speed, but well put together. ( )

I really loved seeing the Birds of Prey back together, even if it was a different incarnation than I was used to. I'll admit that the hook for me with this title is the Oracle bit, and the story itself pulled me in. Really fun, fast-paced, and I can't wait to see what they get up to next. ( )

When Barbara Gordon got shot by the Joker and paralyzed she stopped being Batgirl and used her computer skills to become Oracle, a hacker who used her skills to and information to help the police and Batman. Then when the miracle surgery came about that allowed her to be Batgirl again she stopped being Oracle. Now, however, someone has taken up to the banner and is selling information to the mob bosses under Oracle's name. This not only gets Barbara's attention it pisses her off.

So, she goes in search of Dinah Drake, the Black Canary who was the face of Oracle when she was it. They were the Birds of Prey. Dinah isn't doing much so she agrees to help. They go after Louis Terroni a mob worker but get waylaid by the Huntress who is after him to kill him for killing her family the Bertinellis. Terronoi dies in his car but not by them.

The next mobster on the list is the head of the family Santos and Barbara and Dinah convince Huntress to work with them not against them. The Huntress knows their secret identities but won't share hers. So they capture Santos and place him in police custody with Barbara's dad Captain Gordon. But there's a mob boss that has been out to kill all the other mob bosses called Fenice and she has sent her snake goons out to kill Santos. The Birds of Prey must protect him but first, they must decide what to do with Oracle whom they have just discovered.

This is a fantastic comic with three ultra-cool characters in it. Barbara Gordon is both the awesome Oracle and the cool Batgirl while Dinah Drake is the excellent Black Canary and the Huntress is as lethal as the arrows she shoots. The three together make a formidable team and with the new Oracle, they can't be stopped. But can they trust Oracle? I really loved this amazing book and give it five out of five stars. ( )

So okay, my last foray into the “DC: Rebirth” world left me feeling a bit cold. Batwoman deserved so much more than that. So when I saw that my library had “Batgirl and the Birds of Prey: Who Is Oracle?”, I was hopeful that another series near and dear to my heart would get some better treatment within the “Rebirth” series. I’ve been feeling kind of meh towards it as a whole, between Batwoman’s progression and the whole ‘let’s take Alan Moore’s characters and put them into this new series even though he no doubt hates that‘ thing (and I could rant forever, but I shan’t). But I’m willing to give it a chance, as a DC fan through and through. So thank goodness that “Batgirl and the Birds of Prey” feels so, so right.

This is yet another origin story for the Birds of Prey, but Julie and Shawna Benson do a good job of starting from partial scratch without dismissing the original intent of the group. See, originally the Birds of Prey had Barbara Gordon as Oracle at it’s center, and that’s important because that was when Barbara was still wheelchair bound. When she was Oracle, she was arguable they most important member of the Bat Family, and also was great representation for those who have disabilities. Then Barbara’s paralysis was ret-conned so she could be Batgirl again, leaving Oracle behind. In this telling, Babs and Dinah “Black Canary” Lance formed the team when Barbara was still Oracle, but then disbanded shortly thereafter. It is NOW that they are coming back together that we are introduced to the other member of the band, Huntress, who is the other best known member of this team through the years and versions. But the motivations for them are darker this time around. Barbara is angry that someone calling themselves ‘Oracle’ has started sending her messages in a game of cat and mouse. And Huntress has her own personal vendetta that brings her into the fold.

It is definitely darker than other iterations of the Birds of Prey, but I feel that as a reboot, it works pretty well. I like that the motivations aren’t built out of pure nobility, and that Barbara’s relationship with her alter ego Oracle is complicated as hell. I personally love Oracle and I love that after Alan Moore (him again!) basically tried to destroy Batgirl in “The Killing Joke” when Joker shot her in the spine, Barbara Gordon came back more powerful and more essential than she had been before. But I also think it’s important to remember that Barbara turned into Oracle because of the horrifically traumatic experience of being shot. Barbara’s link to Oracle is a double edged sword, and I think that this series has done a pretty good job of addressing that thus far. I also like that Huntress is given some pretty brutal traits in this narrative, as Huntress has always been a bit wild but this story gives that wildness a reason and a very rough origin. There is also a stark contrast between her brutality and her Catholic faith, which has been touched upon a bit and I hope we see more of it. And then there is my girl Black Canary, one of my favorite members of the DC Universe with her snark, sarcasm, and determination built from abandonment. We get a bit of her backstory and motivation as well, and I like that she gets to do a bit more than be the sassy and brassy lead singer of a punk band (I had such high hopes for that series). Plus there’s a panel of her going to town on a plate of nachos and I felt such a kindred connection to her in that moment. The Benson Sisters are giving these girls some good stuff to work with, and I couldn’t be happier.

Plus, the art is super fun. It does a good job of being dark and dour, as well as putting splashes of color to give it a bit of spunk.

I will admit that the eventual reveal about Oracle left me a little cold. I’ve mentioned before that I have my OWN opinions on who should fill the Oracle role now that Barbara is back in the cowl. But I’m going to be open-minded and stick it out to see where this goes. This is a series that has it’s talons in me, no question.

“Batgirl and the Birds of Prey: Who Is Oracle?” is a very strong start to a series that I am very excited to follow. I’m finally invested in a “Rebirth” arc storyline, which has let me breathe a sigh of relief when it comes to the future of DC. ( )

I received this from Edelweiss and DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.

Story - - 5 stars. I really liked how the back stories played so heavily into the plot. I felt like I should have seen it coming, but it surprised me.
Art - - 2 stars. The artwork was very weak. I don't care for the style used for most of the book. Sort of a mashup of western cartoon and Japanese anime. Not for me.

Total - - 3.5 stars, rounded up. I'll keep reading this one for now. ( )