ARC Graphic Novel Review: Kicking and Screaming (Black Canary, Vol. 1)

Author: Brenden Fletcher

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Artist: Annie Wu

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Edition: eGalley courtesy of Netgalley

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Goodreads Link

Release Date: March 2nd, 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

I received a copy of Kicking and Screaming from Negalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

One of my close friends has been keeping up with this series loyally, going to the comic shop every few weeks to pick up the latest edition, so, even though I wasn't sure about it, I requested this on Netgalley and was approved (and now I've actually read ahead of him because he hadn't managed to keep up... so I feel the slightest bit bad....).  I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it!

Kicking and Screaming follows Dinah (aka the Black Canary) after she has joined a band that's starting to get big.  She isn't really fit for the stage, being a superhero and all, but that doesn't really stop her from trying her hardest.  One of her band members, Ditto, it turns out, though, isn't really from this world, and some strange aliens, and Amanda Waller, and an ex-bandmate, are after her, so of course Dinah does all she can to protect this strange but charming kid.

I'm actually familiar with both the author and the artist.  Brenden Fletcher has been writing the most recent incarnation of Batgirl comics (of which I am a large fan) and, since Dinah features somewhat heavily in many issues of that, he has been writing this as well.  I liked returning to his writing, which still seems fresh even though I felt like it was somewhat of a strange direction to go with the character.  Annie Wu actually stepped in and was the artist for several issues of Hawkeye, which I'm another huge fan of.  While I wasn't the biggest fan of her when she was stepping in for Aja, I do love what she has done with this style for a Black Canary story line.  At first I wasn't sold, but after about one issue I was comfortable with it and found myself missing it the two issues she wasn't doing the art for.

My favorite part of the whole piece, though, was the self-contained story.  It wasn't super outlandish, made sense for the character, and still left enough loose ends to keep me wanting more.  Plus, the fact that there is only one major story going on, and it doesn't get sidetracked or just nudged at, had me very pleased.  I wasn't expecting such a well-rounded story (even though, under different, non-comic book circumstances I would call the ending a cop-out) and was more than happy to receive one.

Overall, if you're considering this one, I'd say pick it up.  It may not be what you're expecting, but it's very good in its own way.