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Black Canary



 
 
Black Canary is a fictional character
Fictional character

A character is any person, persona, identity, or entity that exists in a The arts. The process of conveying information about characters in fiction is called characterisation....
, a DC Comics
DC Comics

DC Comics is one of the largest and most popular American comic book and related media companies, along with Marvel Comics. A subsidiary of Warner Bros....
 superheroine
Superhero

A superhero is a Character "of unprecedented physical prowess dedicated to act of derring-do in the public interest". Since the debut of the prototype superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes?ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas?have dominated American comic books and crossed over into other mass...
. Created by writer Robert Kanigher
Robert Kanigher

Robert Kanigher was a prolific Comic book creator and editor whose career spanned five decades. He was involved with the Wonder Woman franchise for over twenty years, taking over the scripting from creator William Moulton Marston....
 and artist Carmine Infantino
Carmine Infantino

Carmine Infantino is an American comic book artist and editing who was a major force in the Silver Age of Comic Books. He was inducted into the Eisner Award#The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2000....
, the character first appeared in Flash Comics
Flash Comics

Flash Comics was an anthology comic book published by All-American Publications and later National Periodicals . The title ran for 104 issues between January 1940 to February 1949....
 #86 (August 1947).

Black Canary is noted for her martial-arts skills and her "Canary Cry" – a high powered, sonic scream
Sonic weaponry

Sonic and ultrasonic weapons are weapons of various types that use sound to injure, incapacitate, or kill an opponent. Some sonic weapons are currently in limited use or in research and development by military and police forces....
 with the ability to shatter objects and incapacitate villains. Among the first generation of superheroes, she was a member of the Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America

The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
, the first superhero team to appear in comic books.

In the 1980s, the character's history was rewritten to make her two entities: Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age
Golden Age of Comic Books

The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s....
 adventures and married Gotham City detective Larry Lance, and their daughter Dinah Laurel Lance, who has appeared in modern stories.

The combination of the Black Canary's courage, fighting prowess, and her sex appeal (accentuated by her costume's characteristic fishnet stockings) has resulted in her being referred to as "The Blonde Bombshell."

k Canary first appeared in Flash Comics
Flash Comics

Flash Comics was an anthology comic book published by All-American Publications and later National Periodicals . The title ran for 104 issues between January 1940 to February 1949....
 #86 in 1947, as a supporting character in the Johnny Thunder
Johnny Thunder

Johnny Thunder is the name of three fictional characters in comics published by DC Comics. A fourth character has the variant name Jonni Thunder....
 feature of the Flash Comics anthology.






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Encyclopedia


Black Canary is a fictional character
Fictional character

A character is any person, persona, identity, or entity that exists in a The arts. The process of conveying information about characters in fiction is called characterisation....
, a DC Comics
DC Comics

DC Comics is one of the largest and most popular American comic book and related media companies, along with Marvel Comics. A subsidiary of Warner Bros....
 superheroine
Superhero

A superhero is a Character "of unprecedented physical prowess dedicated to act of derring-do in the public interest". Since the debut of the prototype superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes?ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas?have dominated American comic books and crossed over into other mass...
. Created by writer Robert Kanigher
Robert Kanigher

Robert Kanigher was a prolific Comic book creator and editor whose career spanned five decades. He was involved with the Wonder Woman franchise for over twenty years, taking over the scripting from creator William Moulton Marston....
 and artist Carmine Infantino
Carmine Infantino

Carmine Infantino is an American comic book artist and editing who was a major force in the Silver Age of Comic Books. He was inducted into the Eisner Award#The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2000....
, the character first appeared in Flash Comics
Flash Comics

Flash Comics was an anthology comic book published by All-American Publications and later National Periodicals . The title ran for 104 issues between January 1940 to February 1949....
 #86 (August 1947).

Black Canary is noted for her martial-arts skills and her "Canary Cry" – a high powered, sonic scream
Sonic weaponry

Sonic and ultrasonic weapons are weapons of various types that use sound to injure, incapacitate, or kill an opponent. Some sonic weapons are currently in limited use or in research and development by military and police forces....
 with the ability to shatter objects and incapacitate villains. Among the first generation of superheroes, she was a member of the Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America

The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
, the first superhero team to appear in comic books.

In the 1980s, the character's history was rewritten to make her two entities: Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age
Golden Age of Comic Books

The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s....
 adventures and married Gotham City detective Larry Lance, and their daughter Dinah Laurel Lance, who has appeared in modern stories.

The combination of the Black Canary's courage, fighting prowess, and her sex appeal (accentuated by her costume's characteristic fishnet stockings) has resulted in her being referred to as "The Blonde Bombshell."

Fictional character biography


Golden Age history

Bcgolden
Black Canary first appeared in Flash Comics
Flash Comics

Flash Comics was an anthology comic book published by All-American Publications and later National Periodicals . The title ran for 104 issues between January 1940 to February 1949....
 #86 in 1947, as a supporting character in the Johnny Thunder
Johnny Thunder

Johnny Thunder is the name of three fictional characters in comics published by DC Comics. A fourth character has the variant name Jonni Thunder....
 feature of the Flash Comics anthology. Initially, she seemed to be a villainess; Johnny Thunder was instantly infatuated with her and was reproached for this by his Thunderbolt. However, she was in fact infiltrating a criminal gang, a modus operandi
Modus operandi

Modus operandi is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "mode of operation". The plural is modi operandi . It is used in law enforcement to describe a criminal's characteristic patterns and style of committing crimes....
 she would follow throughout her career.

Black Canary proved to be popular enough that in Flash Comics #92, she was given her own anthology feature, Black Canary, replacing the Johnny Thunder feature. The new series fleshed out Black Canary's backstory; in her real identity, Dinah Drake was a black-haired florist whose romantic interest was Larry Lance, a detective on the Gotham City Police Department
Gotham City Police Department

The Gotham City Police Department is a fictional police department servicing Gotham City, as depicted in comic books published by DC Comics, in particular those tied into the Batman books....
.

Her costume consisted of a blond wig, fishnet stockings, pirate boots, bustier, and an unbuttoned jacket. Initially, she also wore a domino mask, though this was soon jettisoned. Black Canary soon joined the Justice Society of America
Justice Society of America

The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
, but ceased being published along with the rest of the team by the early 1950s.

Silver Age history


Black Canary was revived along with the other Golden Age
Golden Age of Comic Books

The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s....
 characters during the 1960s, and was shown as existing on the parallel world of Earth-Two
Multiverse (DC Comics)

The DC Multiverse is a fictional Continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of List of DC Multiverse worlds outside DC's main continuity allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternate versions of characters and their histories without contradicting and/or per...
 (home of DC's Golden Age versions of its characters).

It is also revealed Dinah has married Larry Lance during the 1950s. Dinah also takes part in various annual team-ups between the Justice Society and Earth-One's
Multiverse (DC Comics)

The DC Multiverse is a fictional Continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of List of DC Multiverse worlds outside DC's main continuity allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternate versions of characters and their histories without contradicting and/or per...
 Justice League of America
Justice League

The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional DC Comics List of superhero teams and groups....
.

In a 1969 JLA-JSA team-up against the rogue living star-creature Aquarius, Larry Lance is killed trying to save Dinah's life from an attack. Out of grief, Canary decides to move to Earth-One to create a fresh start, where she joins the Justice League. Sometime afterwards, she begins dating her JLA colleague Green Arrow
Green Arrow

Green Arrow is a fictional character, published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in 1941....
, and discovers she has somehow (possibly due to exposure to radiation) gained the ultrasonic scream later dubbed the Canary Cry.

In Justice League of America #219 and #220, it is revealed this Black Canary is actually the daughter of the original Black Canary and her husband. Born in the 1950s, the infant is cursed by the Justice Society foe the Wizard
Wizard (DC Comics)

The Wizard is a fictional DC Comics Golden Age of Comic Books supervillain....
 with the "gift" of a devastating, yet uncontrollable, Canary Cry. Dinah asked her old friend Johnny Thunder
Johnny Thunder

Johnny Thunder is the name of three fictional characters in comics published by DC Comics. A fourth character has the variant name Jonni Thunder....
 to summon his Thunderbolt in hopes of a cure, but it was to no avail.

Instead, the Thunderbolt keeps the child in suspended animation (aging all the while) in his native Thunderbolt dimension, until, the Lances hope, a way to cure or control her power can be found. Seeing his friends in pain, the Thunderbolt decides to erase all memory of the child, letting everyone think she has died.

After the battle with Aquarius, Dinah realizes she is dying from the radiation she was exposed to. She discusses possible solutions with the Thunderbolt and Superman
Superman

Superman is a Character , a comic book superhero widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, Ohio, and sold to DC Comics in 1938, the character first appeared in Action Comics Action Comics 1 and subseque...
 of Earth-1.

The three arrange to transfer Dinah's memories into the body of her now-adult daughter, still held in suspended animation, while not letting Dinah believe anything unusual has happened to her (this retcon was established to deal with the fact The Black Canary had been active since the late 1940s and would therefore have had to been nearly 60 years old by that time. Previous comic writers had apparently overlooked this fact, portraying her as still-youthful.).

Modern Age history

Following the retroactive continuity change in 1983, Black Canary became two distinct characters, mother and daughter, named Dinah Drake Lance and Dinah Laurel Lance. Dinah Lance would become the current Black Canary. Some references, notably those in James Robinson's Starman
Starman (Jack Knight)

Starman is fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics DC Universe, and a member of the Justice Society of America. He is the son of Starman ....
 series, would attempt to distinguish the two Canaries further by referring to the first as 'Diana', but more recent accounts have confirmed 'Dinah' as the elder Canary's given name.

In post-Crisis continuity, Secret Origins #50 revealed the first Dinah had been trained by her father, Detective Richard Drake, and intended to follow in his footsteps on the Gotham City police. She was turned down by the force, however, and her disillusioned father (unable to use his connections to change the decision) died of heart failure shortly thereafter. Dinah was determined to honor his memory and fight crime and corruption by whatever method possible. This led to her debut as a costumed vigilante; she would use her inheritance to open a florist shop as her day job.

The elder Dinah married her beau, private eye Larry Lance (still maintaining her florist business). In a Times Past-style story in Birds of Prey, Lance was an acquaintance of Jim Gordon
James Gordon (comics)

James Worthington "Jim" Gordon is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane....
, father to Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon

Barbara "Babs" Gordon is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and in related media, created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino....
. A few years later, their daughter, named Dinah Laurel Lance, was born. In Birds of Prey #66, which is a flashback to a cold case investigated – but never solved – by the elder Dinah, Laurel was the name of a librarian that Dinah consulted during the case and later befriended.

Growing up, Dinah Lance was surrounded by her mother's friends in the disbanded JSA and looked to them as uncles and aunts. Dinah wished to become a costumed heroine like her mother before her. However, instead of encouraging the younger Dinah, her mother forbade it, thinking the world had grown into a darker, more dangerous place than when she herself fought crime, too dangerous for the younger Dinah to succeed.

However, the younger Dinah had her own "Canary Cry" – in this version, the result of a metagene
Metahuman

Metahuman is a term to describe superhumans in DC Comics' shared universe, the DC Universe. It is roughly synonymous with both Mutant and Mutate and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate Marvel Universes....
 not present in either parent – which (unlike the Silver Age Black Canary) she is fully able to control.

With this weapon, the younger Dinah next sought out numerous fighters to help her hone her skills, including former JSA member Wildcat
Wildcat (comics)

Wildcat is the name of several fictional characters, all DC Comics superheroes. The first and most famous of these is Ted Grant, a long-time member of the Justice Society of America....
. Years of training and intense dedication paid off, and Dinah took on her mother's mantle, even though it was against the elder Dinah's wishes at first. She took an active role in the 'Silver Age' of heroes, operating, like her mother before her, out of Gotham, while maintaining a day job in the family florist business.

In an early issue of Birds of Prey, writer Chuck Dixon
Chuck Dixon

Charles "Chuck" Dixon is an United States comic book writer, perhaps best-known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s....
 established that Dinah had married at a very young age briefly before divorcing. Her ex-husband showed up in a storyline needing her help (Birds of Prey: Wolves), but actually wanted her to rejoin him after he had stolen funds from the mob. This early marriage and ex-husband were not referred to again until the 2007 Black Canary miniseries.

Shortly into the League's history, she met Green Arrow
Green Arrow

Green Arrow is a fictional character, published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in 1941....
 (Oliver Queen). While Dinah couldn't stand him at first, they later became romantically involved despite the difference in their ages (in the Modern Age Oliver is substantially older than Dinah, the reverse of the earlier depiction, although he was de-aged by an unspecified amount when he was resurrected). Dinah remained a member of the League for roughly six years, including a brief stint with Justice League International
Justice League International

Justice League International was formed after the 1987 in comics company-wide fictional crossover limited series, Legends , when a new Justice League was formed and given a less America-centric mandate than before....
 (JLI), of which she was a founding member. It was during that time her mother died due to radiation poisoning she experienced during a battle with the villain Aquarius. Her mother's death affected Dinah deeply, and led her to accept her time in the JLA was over.

She moved to Seattle with Green Arrow after the breakup of the Justice League, and would open her own florist shop, named "Sherwood Florist" (the name is a play on Sherwood Forest
Sherwood Forest

Sherwood Forest is a Royal Forest in Nottinghamshire, England, that is famous through its historical association with the legend of Robin Hood....
, the domain of Robin Hood
Robin Hood

Robin Hood is an archetype figure in English folklore, whose story originates from Middle Ages times but who remains significant in popular culture where he is known for robbing the rich to give to the poor and fighting against injustice and tyranny....
, who Green Arrow (in costume) somewhat resembles).

For a brief period in the 1980s coinciding with her membership in the JLI, rather than her traditional skintight black outfit with fishnet stockings she wore a blue and black costume with a bird motif notably looser and less revealing than traditional superheroine garb. This change proved short-lived, and later artists restored her original look.

The Despondent Canary

The move to Seattle with Green Arrow would result in a string of bad luck for the Black Canary.

During this period, she took part in a failed operation to bust a drug ring. Kidnapped, Black Canary was tortured (despite popular belief, she was not raped according to series writer Mike Grell
Mike Grell

Mike Grell is a comic book writer and artist.Grell studied at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the Chicago Academy of Fine Art, and took the Famous Artists School correspondence course in cartooning....
), before being rescued by Green Arrow. The physical and mental effects of this experience were severe: Dinah's vocal cords were mutilated, resulting in the loss of her Canary Cry. She required extensive counseling afterward, as did Oliver Queen.

Simultaneously, she and Green Arrow would have major conflicts in their relationship. Among other things, she would learn Green Arrow fathered a son, Robert, with Shado
Shado

Shado is a fictional character wiktionary:archer published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters #1 , and was created by Mike Grell....
 (albeit unwillingly), as well as taking money from the business (Black Canary #1). The relationship would end when Dinah walked in on Green Arrow kissing her florist shop assistant, Marianne.

Even more bad luck would hit when Sherwood Florist was destroyed, leaving Dinah with no means of paying the debt collectors now calling.

The worst blows of all would come when she learned from Connor Hawke that Oliver was killed (Green Arrow #101), and Connor was yet another of his offspring. Although Dinah and Connor later develop a close friendship, the knowledge that Oliver had kept his existence from her was painful.

Though Black Canary would continue to fight crime off and on (at some point Black Canary became a pen pal of the youthful hero known as The Ray
Ray (comics)

The Ray is the name of three fictional characters, all superheroes in the DC Comics DC Universe.The first Ray was a Quality Comics character who was one of those purchased by DC Comics....
, who had a crush on her, and she participated in some of his adventures, and even had a brief romance) , the effects of her misfortunes were taking their toll.

Oracle and the Birds of Prey

Around the time Dinah's life began to spiral out of control, the former Batgirl, Barbara Gordon
Barbara Gordon

Barbara "Babs" Gordon is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and in related media, created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino....
, was gravely injured by the Joker
Joker (comics)

The Joker is a Character , a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics and appearing as an enemy of Batman. Created by Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the character first appeared in Batman #1 ....
. Not one to give up easily, Barbara reestablished a crime-fighting career as Oracle, an information broker to the super-hero community. After briefly working with the Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad

The Suicide Squad is a name for two fictional organizations in DC Comics DC Universe. The first version debuted in The Brave and the Bold #25 , the second, also known as Task Force X, in Legends #3 ....
, Barbara formed her own covert mission team. Barbara concluded that of all the superheroes, Dinah had the most potential and was most in need of direction. Consequently, Oracle asked Black Canary to become an operative.

Black Canary took to this role with great satisfaction. Feeling a new chapter in her life required a few new changes, Dinah decided to abandon the blonde wig, choosing to bleach her hair blonde. Her relationship with Oracle proved somewhat rocky at first, as her impulsive nature clashed with Oracle's tactical planning. However as time passed they began to fully understand how to work together as a team and as friends. Later, when Oracle fled from the villain Blockbuster
Blockbuster (comics)

Blockbuster is the name of three fictional characters in the DC Comics DC Universe. The first one was primarily a foe of Batman and Dick Grayson, while the second frequently fought Dick Grayson, formerly Robin....
, Dinah came to her rescue and Dinah met Barbara Gordon face-to-face (Birds of Prey #29). This adventure led to them establishing an even stronger friendship.

In Birds of Prey #7, Oracle provides Dinah with an electronic version of the Canary Cry. In Birds of Prey #34, Black Canary, who is dating a mysterious European named "Raymond", (who Oracle guesses – correctly – is actually supervillain Ra's al Ghul
Ra's al Ghul

Ra's al Ghul, sometimes written Ra's al Ghul , is a DC Comics supervillain and an enemy of Batman. His name is Arabic language for "The Demon's Head", and references the name of the star Algol....
), is seriously wounded and immersed in a Lazarus Pit
Lazarus Pit

A Lazarus Pit is a fictional natural phenomenon in the DC Comics DC universe. They are primarily found in the Batman titles and are commonly used by Ra's al Ghul for their restorative powers....
. Birds of Prey #35 reveals the Pit restored Dinah's metahuman Canary Cry (as well as Dinah's ability to have children).

Working with Oracle, Black Canary cultivates a covert team of female operatives in the series Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey (comic book)

Birds of Prey is a comic book published by DC Comics that features the adventures of the superheroine Barbara Gordon and her group of superhero#superheroines....
 whose members include Huntress
Huntress (comics)

The Huntress is a name used by several characters in DC Comics.The Golden Age Huntress is a supervillainess, while the Bronze Age and Modern Age Huntresses are superheroines....
, Gypsy
Gypsy (comics)

Gypsy is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero#superheroinesine. She first appeared in Justice League Annual #2 and was created by Gerry Conway and Chuck Patton....
, and Zinda Blake (the original Lady Blackhawk
Lady Blackhawk

Lady Blackhawk is an alias used by two Fictional character comic book characters appearing in American comic books. The first, Zinda Blake, was introduced in a DC Comics publication in 1959; the second, Natalie Reed, appeared in a DC Comics title in 1988....
). In #64, Oracle shows Black Canary the retail space that later houses a reopened Sherwood Florist.

Since they were both trained by the same sensei
Sensei

is a Japanese language Japanese titles used to refer to or address teachers, professors, professionals such as lawyers and Physicians, politicians, clergyman, and other figures of authority....
, Black Canary has fostered a kinship with Lady Shiva
Lady Shiva

Lady Shiva is a fictional character comic book character co-created by Dennis O'Neil and Ric Estrada, and published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Master as an antagonist of Richard Dragon....
. Shiva, impressed by Black Canary's formidable martial arts prowess, offers to provide her with further training. Black Canary turns down the offer, thinking it would compromise her morality. The two communicate nonetheless, with Shiva conveying recommendations to assist Canary in honing her skills.

Black Canary has had her own four issue mini series titled New Wings, as well as a twelve issue ongoing series. Both were written by Sarah Byam
Sarah Byam

Sarah Byam is the author of Billi 99. During the 1990s she wrote a variety of comic books for different publishers. This writing includes the series Mode Extreme and Black Canary....
.

Birdsofpreycv95

Infinite Crisis

Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis

Infinite Crisis is a seven-issue limited series of comic books written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George P?rez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway....
 produced a recreation of the Earth with a new timeline. It is revealed Wonder Woman was once again a founding member of the Justice League
Justice League

The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional DC Comics List of superhero teams and groups....
. In 52
52 (comic book)

52 was a weekly American comic book limited series published by DC Comics that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis....
 Week 51, a back-up feature revealed Black Canary was present at the battle forming the League. The core of the League consisted of Black Canary, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
Hal Jordan

Harold "Hal" Jordan is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero. He is the second Green Lantern and the most famous hero to bear that name....
, J'onn J'onnz
Martian Manhunter

Martian Manhunter , also known as John Jones or the Manhunter from Mars, a fictional character, is an extraterrestrials in fiction superhero in the ....
, Flash (Barry Allen), Aquaman
Aquaman

Aquaman is a fictional comic book superhero who appears in DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 ....
, Superman
Superman

Superman is a Character , a comic book superhero widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, Ohio, and sold to DC Comics in 1938, the character first appeared in Action Comics Action Comics 1 and subseque...
, Batman
Batman

Batman is a Character , a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939....
, and Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is a Character , a DC Comics Superhero#Superheroines created by William Moulton Marston. First appearing in All Star Comics #8 , she is one of three characters to have been continuously published by DC Comics since the company's 1944 inception ....
.

However, the 2007 Black Canary mini-series established Black Canary and Green Arrow joined the Justice League at a time after it was founded, and they were tested by founding member Batman early on in their membership.

One Year Later

During the publication of the Infinite Crisis limited series
Limited series

A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of issues. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production, and it differs from a One-shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
, most DC Universe
DC Universe

The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic book stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe....
 comic books skipped forward one year. Following the "One Year Later
One Year Later

One Year Later was a 2006 in comics event running through the DC Universe. As the title suggests, it involves a narrative jump exactly one year into the future of the DC Comics Universe following the events of the Infinite Crisis event, to explore major changes within the continuities of the many different comic books within the DC Comics...
" jump, Dinah trades life experiences with Lady Shiva
Lady Shiva

Lady Shiva is a fictional character comic book character co-created by Dennis O'Neil and Ric Estrada, and published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Master as an antagonist of Richard Dragon....
 in hopes of softening the warrior, undertaking a harsh training regimen in an unidentified Vietnamese bidonville
Shanty town

Shanty towns are settlements of poverty people who live in improvised dwellings made from scrap materials—often plywood, Corrugated galvanised iron, and sheets of plastic....
, or shantytown. The regimen replicates Shiva's early life and training; Shiva, meanwhile, assumes Dinah's role in Oracle's group and demands her associates call her the "Jade Canary".

When Dinah realizes following Lady Shiva's path will require her to fundamentally change who she is as a person, she ends the training and returns to the United States. She brings with her a little girl, Sin
Sin (DC Comics)

Sin is a fictional character in the . She first appeared in Birds of Prey #92, and was created by Gail Simone....
, who also had begun the harsh grooming process to be Lady Shiva's successor (Birds of Prey #95; the now resurrected Oliver Queen uses his connections to allow Sin to immigrate into the country). Dinah hopes to balance her duties as a superhero with the responsibilities of being a surrogate mother/sister to the child.

Dinah informs Oracle she is quitting the team in Birds of Prey #99, having decided to devote herself to raising Sin. Issue #100 shows Dinah and Sin leaving Metropolis
Metropolis (comics)

Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16, in 1939....
. It is hinted their final destination is Star City
Star City (comics)

Star City is a fictional city that appears in stories published by DC Comics, best known as the traditional home of the superhero known by, or affiliated with, the shared alias of the Green Arrow....
; Dinah jokingly tells Sin that she can rip out Ollie's beard if he isn't nice to her.

After leaving the Birds of Prey, Black Canary joins with Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) and Red Arrow (Roy Harper)
Roy Harper (comics)

Roy Harper is a fictional character superhero in the DC Comics DC Universe. He was known for over fifty years as Green Arrow's teenage sidekick Speedy....
 on a mission to locate the Red Tornado
Red Tornado

Red Tornado is a Character , a comic book superhero in the DC Comics DC Universe....
's body, (stolen by his creator and Solomon Grundy
Solomon Grundy

"Solomon Grundy" is a 19th century children's nursery rhyme, and was presented by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps in 1842. The poem is essentially a riddle in which the life of Solomon Grundy appears to take place in the process of a single week, the answer being that each day's events represent the All the world's a stage....
). The three heroes join forces with Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl
Hawkgirl

Hawkgirl is the name of several fictional character superheroines all owned by DC Comics and existing in that company's DC Universe. The character is one of the first costumed female superheroes....
, Black Lightning
Black Lightning

Black Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden....
, and Vixen
Vixen (comics)

Vixen is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics DC Universe. She was nearly the first black people female DC superhero to star in her own series, but the first issue of her series was canceled in the DC Implosion in 1978, never to be released ....
 to defeat Amazo
Amazo

Amazo is a fictional android from DC Comics. He has fought the Justice League on several occasions....
.

The assembled heroes reform the Justice League of America
Justice League

The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional DC Comics List of superhero teams and groups....
; Dinah is made the Chairwoman, due to her strong abilities and strategic mind. The team's first mission with Dinah as leader sees the JLA and JSA discover members of the Legion of Super-Heroes (a team that lives in the 31st Century) have been located in the 21st Century.

In Green Arrow, Dinah returns to Star City to aid Oliver, Connor, and Mia against Roadblock and Merlyn
Merlyn (DC Comics)

Merlyn is a fictional character in the DC Comics DC Universe. He is an Archery created by writer Mike Friedrich, artist Dick Dillin and inker Neal Adams as an archvillain of the hero Green Arrow, and he first appeared in Justice League of America #94 ....
. During their mission, Dinah rekindles her relationship with Oliver, feeling he has truly changed and all the parts of him she hated are apparently gone. Oliver admits to Dinah many of the changes he made over the last year were for her. As the Green Arrow series ends, Oliver proposes to Dinah. He appears in a four part Black Canary miniseries (beginning in July 2007). Black Canary would see Green Arrow fake Sin's death to protect her from the League of Assassins, to Black Canary's conflicted reaction; Sin comes to live in a "safe" location with Connor, away from her mother.

The Wedding

During the events of Countdown
Countdown to Final Crisis

Countdown to Final Crisis, known as Countdown for its first 25 issues, is a comic book limited series published by DC Comics. It debuted on May 9, 2007, directly following the conclusion of the last issue of 52 ....
, several books include tie ins and runups to the wedding between Dinah and Ollie. The Black Canary Wedding Planner offers details about the preparations; Birds of Prey #109 depicts Dinah and Barbara discussing the event and Ollie in detail. Countdown, Justice League Wedding Special, and Justice League #13 deal with aspects of the wedding, particularly the bachelor and bachelorette parties. A major plot thread throughout these books, which ties in to the Piper
Pied Piper (comics)

Pied Piper is a fictional character in the DC Universe. He first appeared in the pages of Flash #106 .Fictional character biography...
 and Trickster
Trickster (comics)

The Trickster is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics supervillains that are both Rogues of the Flash . The original Trickster first appeared in Flash #113 , while the second debuted in Flash #183 ....
 arc of Countdown, is that the Injustice League
Injustice League

The Injustice League is the name of two fictional teams of supervillains in the DC Comics DC Universe....
 plans to attack the wedding.

The Wedding Special covers a number of events, including the reactions of the friends who receive wedding invitations, the wedding itself, the attack, and the honeymoon. While the attack on the wedding is a failure, Deathstroke
Deathstroke

Deathstroke the Terminator , originally simply the Terminator, is a fictional character, a supervillain and sometime anti-hero in the DC Comics DC Universe....
 remarks it worked a little, despite no one being hurt. During the honeymoon, a blank look suddenly comes over Green Arrow's face, and he goes berserk, trying to kill Dinah. She stabs him in the neck with an arrow, killing him.

In the first arc of the Green Arrow/Black Canary series, condolences are offered to Dinah, but she refuses to believe it was Oliver she has killed. Batman agrees with her. Following an extensive autopsy by Batman and Dr. Mid-Nite, the two discover the dead man is actually Everyman
Everyman (DC Comics)

Everyman is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. He debuted in 52 #21 , and was created by Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen and Joe Bennett....
, the shape-shifter.

Ollie is alive and being held captive on Themyscira
Themyscira

Themyscira is a fictional island nation in the DC Comics DC Universe, and place of origin to its princess, Diana . It was primarily known as Paradise Island until revisions to the Wonder Woman character took place in the 1980s....
 by the Amazons. While Dinah does not know his whereabouts, she is greatly relieved, and sheds tears of joy. She enlists the aid of Connor Hawke
Connor Hawke

Connor Hawke is a DC Comics superhero who operated as the second Green Arrow. Created by Kelley Puckett and Jim Aparo. Connor is the son of Oliver Queen, the original Green Arrow, and his former girlfriend Moonday "Sandra" Hawke....
 and Mia Dearden
Mia Dearden

Mia Dearden is a DC Comics superhero, the second character to take the mantle of Green Arrow's sidekick Speedy. Created by writer Kevin Smith and artist Phil Hester , she first appeared in Green Arrow #2 ....
 to save him, but, just when they seem to be home free, Connor is shot by an unknown assailant. Once they reach the hospital, the group learn the bullet contained a poison which has turned Connor into a mental vegetable. Soon after, Dinah marries Ollie again, as the first time around she married an impostor. On their return home, they find Connor kidnapped. Following the trail to Britain, Ollie and Dinah are attacked by an armored helicopter. When they it bring it down, they discover the military disguised as aliens within. This is revealed to be a ruse however, and the group later learn that the League of Assassins
League of Assassins

The League of Assassins is a group of fictional comic book villains, an organization of killers formerly led by Ra's al Ghul, an enemy of Batman in the DC Comics DC Universe....
, under orders by Shado, were the ones who shot Connor.

Recently in Birds of Prey #119/120 Black Canary has fought against the Manhunter (Kate Spencer)
Manhunter (Kate Spencer)

Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero#superheroines in publications from DC Comics. Kate Spencer is the eighth DC Comics character depicted using the name Manhunter , and the first female to do so....
. During their short skirmish, Manhunter states that she has Black Canary outgunned and outmatched. In response Dinah says that "she is trying real hard not to put Kate in the hospital". As later seen, Dinah drags a beaten Manhunter to Oracle's hideout. Kate comments her skills, saying "your kung-fu's the best". Seemingly Black Canary has defeated Manhunter with relatively little effort and without usage of the Canary Cry. The reason for Manhunter's fight with Dinah is revealed to be due to Oracle. Apparently Oracle was looking to get Speedy involved in a mission, while also wishing to check on Dinah's new family life after the loss of Sin, who Oracle realizes may not in fact be dead. Dinah, hurt and furious at her best friend's actions, stalks out leaving the pair with a possibly damaged relationship.

Paul Dini
Paul Dini

Paul Dini is an United States television producer of animated cartoons. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman/Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond an...
 announced at Comic-Con
Comic-Con International

Comic-Con International: San Diego, commonly known as Comic-Con or the San Diego Comic-Con, is an annual multigenre fan convention founded as the Golden State Comic Book Convention and later the San Diego Comic Book Convention in 1970 by Shel Dorf and a group of San Diegans....
 06 he is writing a hardcover graphic novel
Graphic novel

A graphic novel is a type of comic book, usually with a lengthy and complex storyline similar to those of novels. The term also encompasses comic short story anthologies, and in some cases bound collections of previously published comic book series ....
 starring Black Canary and Zatanna
Zatanna

Zatanna Zatara is a fictional character in the DC Comics fictional universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson, Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman vol....
. On his blog, Dini revealed that Amanda Conner
Amanda Conner

Amanda Conner is an Irish American comic book artist and commercial art illustrator best-known for Harris Comics' Vampirella....
 and Jimmy Palmiotti
Jimmy Palmiotti

James "Jimmy" Palmiotti is an Italian American writer of various comic books, games and film. He is a graduate of the High School of Art and Design in New York City....
 will handle the art.

Powers and abilities

Canarystance
Black Canary possesses a "Canary Cry" – a high-pitched, sonic scream
Sonic weaponry

Sonic and ultrasonic weapons are weapons of various types that use sound to injure, incapacitate, or kill an opponent. Some sonic weapons are currently in limited use or in research and development by military and police forces....
 which she can deploy to shatter objects and incapacitate her opponents. Analyzing her capabilities, Doctor Mid-Nite
Doctor Mid-Nite

Doctor Mid-Nite is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero. Created by writer Charles Reizenstein and artist Stanley Josephs Aschmeier, the original Doctor Mid-Nite first appeared in All-American Comics #25 ....
 found that she can reach ultrasonic frequencies outside the audible spectrum which render human beings unconscious. However, the cry has been shown to be completely useless when Dinah's mouth is covered with a gag, piece of tape, or any other means of forcing her mouth closed.

Dinah states that her Canary Cry is able to inflict serious damage to beings even as durable as Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is a Character , a DC Comics Superhero#Superheroines created by William Moulton Marston. First appearing in All Star Comics #8 , she is one of three characters to have been continuously published by DC Comics since the company's 1944 inception ....
 (she has used this ability to overpower Giganta
Giganta

Giganta is a fictional character, a red-haired super-villainess appearing in DC Comics publications and related media. A longtime enemy of Wonder Woman and an occasional foil for Atom , Giganta possesses the superhuman ability to increase her physical size and mass, effectively transforming into a giantess....
 or to blow Amazo
Amazo

Amazo is a fictional android from DC Comics. He has fought the Justice League on several occasions....
's head off). Moreover, in JLA/JSA: Vice and Virtue it is shown that Dinah is capable of not only creating sonic blasts, but also could generate ultrasonic attack, which renders everyone within an ear range unconscious, this specific use of Canary Cry requires using full capacity of Dinah's lungs. Black Canary rarely utilizes her metahuman abilities during fight, she prefers engaging in hand-to-hand combat. Lately Dinah uses Canary Cry only against considerably more powerful metahuman opponents. Selective usage of supernatural talents makes Black Canary one of very few characters who choose not to take advantage of their superpowers, placing skills over inborn abilities.

Black Canary lost the Cry during the Green Arrow series. Although she fought crime without it for several years, she regained it after being immersed in a Lazarus Pit
Lazarus Pit

A Lazarus Pit is a fictional natural phenomenon in the DC Comics DC universe. They are primarily found in the Batman titles and are commonly used by Ra's al Ghul for their restorative powers....
 during her time with the Birds of Prey. Black Canary is extremely proficient in the various styles of martial arts
Martial arts

Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for combat. While they may be studied for various reasons, martial arts share a single objective: to physically defeat other persons and to defend oneself or others from physical threat....
, and is among the world's best fighters (in Birds of Prey #125 Oracle suggests that Dinah could outfight even Batman
Batman

Batman is a Character , a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939....
). She is also an expert motorcycle rider.

Despite her often heated arguments with Oracle, Dinah served as a peacemaker between the team's sometimes argumentative members. She has worked to instill a sense of humanity within her colleagues, most notably Huntress
Huntress (comics)

The Huntress is a name used by several characters in DC Comics.The Golden Age Huntress is a supervillainess, while the Bronze Age and Modern Age Huntresses are superheroines....
, who is prone to the use of excessive force.

Dinah is a strong leader and strategic thinker — qualities recognized by the other superheroes, who have selected her as the Chairwoman of the JLA. Having fought crime for many years, she also possesses great detective skills, though not on a par with Batman
Batman

Batman is a Character , a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939....
, The Question
Question (comics)

The Question is the name used by a number of comic book superheroes in the DC Comics universe. The original one was created by Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Blue Beetle #1 ....
 or the Elongated Man
Elongated Man

The Elongated Man is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC Comics DC Universe. He is a reserve member of the Justice League. His first appearance was The Flash vol....
.

A running gag
Running gag

A running gag is a literary device which often takes the form of an amusing joke or a Comedy reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling....
 in the Birds of Prey series is Black Canary's lack of proficiency with computers (and very little interest in them). She is the polar opposite of team leader Oracle (who is a computer genius). The first page of Birds of Prey #1 features Dinah's desire to have a distasteful item removed from her presence – the next page shows the object of her dislike to be a desktop computer.

Other versions

In JLA: The Nail
JLA: The Nail

JLA: The Nail is a three-issue comic book limited series published in the United States by DC Comics. It is a self-contained story by Alan Davis which stands outside of the mainstream continuity of the DC Universe....
, Black Canary leads the Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)

The Outsiders are fictional characters, a DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
. She forms the team after Oliver Queen is crippled at the hands of Amazo
Amazo

Amazo is a fictional android from DC Comics. He has fought the Justice League on several occasions....
. However, they break up after Queen admits to feeling like the team's mascot. It is also revealed that in a prior battle Canary's sonic scream, coupled with Black Lightning
Black Lightning

Black Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden....
's blasts, vaporized Brainiac
Brainiac (comics)

Brainiac is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #242 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
.

In the DC Elseworlds
Elseworlds

Elseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon . According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, superhero are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places - some that have existed, and others that can't, couldn't or shouldn't exist...
 comic Kingdom Come
Kingdom Come (comic book)

Kingdom Come is a four-issue comic book limited series published in 1996 in comics by DC Comics. It was written by Mark Waid and painted in gouache by Alex Ross, who also developed the concept from an original idea ....
, Black Canary sides with Batman and acts as one of his generals together with her husband Green Arrow (Oliver Queen). In this future world, the longtime romantic partners have a daughter (Olivia Queen), who also operates under the name Black Canary.

In another DC Elseworld's comic; Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl
Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl

Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl is an Elseworlds comic book by Tom Simmons, Matt Haley and Barbara Kesel.It is based in a world in which Bruce Wayne was never Batman, and the infant Superman did not survive long enough to become Superman....
, Black Canary is depicted as an African-American woman who makes a brief appearance in the story.

In Frank Miller
Frank Miller (comics)

Frank Miller is an United States writer, artist and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels for Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, and Marvel Comics....
's All-Star Batman and Robin #3, drawn by Jim Lee, the Black Canary's name is derived from the seedy bar she works in; the clothes she wears while tending the bar comprise her costume. The male patrons of the bar relentlessly harass her verbally. Deciding that she has finally had enough, Black Canary beats up all of the male patrons in the bar. When her boss asks her what got into her, she simply replies "Batman
Batman

Batman is a Character , a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939....
," and then leaves the scene on a motorcycle stolen from one of the men she has just battered. This version of Black Canary is from County Monaghan
County Monaghan

County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is one of three counties situated in the Province of Ulster which are in the Republic of Ireland. The name comes from the Irish, derived from Muine Cheain meaning the Land of the little hills....
, Ireland
Ireland

Ireland is the List of islands by area in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islet....
. It is interesting to note that in this continuity, Black Canary wears a mask, like the Golden Age Black Canary. Also, in Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again
Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again

Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again is a Batman limited series by Frank Miller with Lynn Varley. It is a sequel to Miller's 1986 miniseries, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns....
 a Black Canary is a member of the pop music trio "The Superchix". She is depicted as a dumb blonde
Dumb blonde

The dumb blonde is a popular-culture derogatory stereotype applied to blonde-haired women. The archetypical "dumb blonde", while viewed as attractive and popular, has been criticised as lacking in both common street-sense and academic intelligence, often to a comedic level....
 of unspecified age. She is a copycat of the original. These stories are both in Miller's Dark Knight Universe.

She is portrayed as a powerful goddess like figure in 'League of Justice', a fairy tale/Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is an Epic poetry high fantasy novel written by Philology J.R.R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work....
 type story. In this story, she seemed to have many names, most commonly called 'The Lady of the birds'. In a play on her famous hair color switches, the character has hair that is blonde on one side and black on the other.

In Justice
Justice (DC Comics)

Justice is a twelve-issue American comic book limited series published bimonthly by DC Comics from August 2005 in comics through June 2007 in comics....
, there has only been one Black Canary, who is mentioned as having been widowed, but not as being a member of the Justice Society (which may not exist in this continuity). Her former husband may in fact be the rarely-mentioned ex-husband from the Birds of Prey series. She is involved with Green Arrow
Green Arrow

Green Arrow is a fictional character, published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in 1941....
.

Black Canary has appeared in the Justice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited

Justice League Unlimited is an United States List of animated television series that was produced by and aired on Cartoon Network . Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the previous Justice League animated series....
 spin-off comic book.

In the new 52 Multiverse, there is another African-American Black Canary on Earth-3 who is a member of the Crime Society. On Earth-11, a world of reversed genders, a male version of Black Canary exists.

Tangent Comics version of Raven was originally going to be called Black Canary.

The original Black Canary is one of the inspirations for the Watchmen
Watchmen

Watchmen is a twelve-issue comic book limited series created by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins . The series was published by DC Comics during 1986 and 1987, and has been subsequently reprinted in collected form....
 characters, Silk Spectre 1 and her daughter, Silk Spectre 2.

In other media


Live action

Rachel As Dina
In 1979, the character appeared in two television specials Legends of the Superheroes
Legends of the Superheroes

Legends of the Superheroes is a NBC live-action version of Super Friends and was an umbrella title for two one-hour Hanna-Barbera TV specials based on the Super Friends cartoon show that aired on NBC in January 1979....
, where she was portrayed by Danuta Wesley.

A character named Carolyn Lance appeared on the short-lived 2002 WB
The WB Television Network

The WB Television Network or simply The WB, was a television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture of Tribune Broadcasting and Warner Bros....
 television series
Television program

A television program , television programme , or television show is something that people watch on television. It may be a one-off broadcast or, more usually, part of a periodically recurring television series....
 Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey (TV series)

Birds of Prey is a television drama series produced in 2002. The series was developed by Laeta Kalogridis for The WB Television Network and is loosely based on the Birds of Prey DC Comics series....
, portrayed by Lori Loughlin
Lori Loughlin

Lori Anne Loughlin is an United States television actress. She is best known for her role as Rebecca Donaldson-Katsopolis on the American Broadcasting Company family series Full House....
. The character was the estranged biological mother of one of the show's primary characters Dinah Redmond (played by Rachel Skarsten
Rachel Skarsten

Rachel Skarsten is a Canadian actor best known for her role as Black Canary on the television series Birds of Prey .Skarsten studied ballet in Toronto Royal Academy of Dance and instrumental music at Claude Watson School for the Arts where she was a cellist in the school orchestra....
), a teenager with psychic abilities who had been taken in by Oracle/Barbara Gordon after running away from her adoptive parents. In her only appearance, her Canary Cry is activated by whistling, rather than screaming. Although the character appears to die at the end of the episode, the writers left her fate ambiguous. Had the series continued it was revealed by writers and creators of the show that Carolyn, in fact, did not die and was supposed to be reunited with her daughter in a later episode. When Birds of Prey was first announced, the producers indicated that the teenaged Dinah Redmond would be a re-imagined Black Canary (with early publicity material referring to her directly by that name), but the character was later modified, with changes in name, history, and powers due to outcry from fans of the comic counterpart.

The CW
The CW Television Network

The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006-07 United States network television schedule....
 (formerly The WB) television series Smallville
Smallville (TV series)

Smallville is an Television in the United States series developed by writers/producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics fictional character Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster....
, featured Dinah Lance in a season seven
Smallville (season 7)

Season seven of Smallville, an United States television series, began airing on September 27, 2007. This is the second season to air on the The CW Television Network television network....
 episode entitled "Siren" where she was played by Alaina Huffman
Alaina Huffman

Alaina Huffman is a Canada film and television actress, also known professionally as Alaina Kalanj .She may be best-known for her role on the Canada television series Painkiller Jane , in which she played Maureen Bowers....
. As Dinah Lance, she wears a long black wig, while acting as a controversial conservative columnist and talk-show host for the Daily Planet
Daily Planet

The Daily Planet is a fictional broadsheet newspaper in the , appearing mostly in the stories of Superman. The Daily Planet is based in Metropolis and employs Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen; its Editor In Chief is Perry White....
 in Metropolis
Metropolis (comics)

Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16, in 1939....
. By night, uses her metahuman ultrasonic scream to become a vigilante/mercenary
Mercenary

A mercenary is a person who takes part in an armed conflict, who is not a national or a party to the conflict, and is "motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by the desire for private gain and, in fact, is promised, by or on behalf of a party to the conflict, material compensation substantially in excess of that promised or p...
 with a flawed sense of justice. In this incarnation, she has short blonde hair and a tiny faux domino mask
Domino mask

A domino mask is a small, rounded mask covering only the eyes and the space between them. Since the 18th century, the domino mask is worn during carnival, especially in Venice, where its origin lies....
 created from black makeup with streaks of yellow. Hired by Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor

Lex Luthor is a Character , a supervillain that appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character First appearance in Action Comics #23 , and was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster....
 (Michael Rosenbaum
Michael Rosenbaum

Michael Owen Rosenbaum is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for portraying Lex Luthor on Smallville and also for portraying the Flash in the DC animated universe....
) to bring down the Green Arrow (Justin Hartley
Justin Hartley

Justin Hartley is an United States actor. He is of English people descent and is most popular for having portrayed the role of Fox Crane on the NBC daytime drama Passions and Green Arrow in Smallville ....
), Oliver and main character Clark
Clark Kent

Clark Joseph Kent is a fictional character created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel. He serves as the civilian and secret identity of the superhero Superman....
 (Tom Welling
Tom Welling

Thomas John Patrick Welling is an United States actor, director and former fashion model, most famous for his continuing portrayal of Clark Kent in the television series Smallville....
) convince her that Lex is the real villain. Chloe
Chloe Sullivan

Chloe Sullivan is a fictional character from the television series Smallville. Series regular Allison Mack has portrayed the character since the Pilot ; two other actresses performed the role of Chloe Sullivan as a child....
 (Allison Mack
Allison Mack

Allison Mack is a Germany-born United States actress, currently starring as Chloe Sullivan in Smallville .BiographyEarly life...
) considers calling her the "Yellow Raven", but Clark thinks the name "Black Canary" sounds better. In the episode's dιnouement
Denouement

In literature, a d?nouement consists of a series of events that follow the climax of a drama or narrative, and thus serves as the conclusion of the story....
, Dinah agrees to join Green Arrow's team of pro-active heroes
Justice League

The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional DC Comics List of superhero teams and groups....
, and flirts with Oliver through her critical comments about his ex-girlfriend Lois Lane
Lois Lane

Lois Joanne Lane-Kent is the primary love interest of Superman in the DC Comics? Superman stories. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she First appearance in Action Comics #1 ....
 (Erica Durance
Erica Durance

Erica Durance , is a Canada actor. She is best known for her role as Lois Lane on Smallville .Born in Calgary, she was raised in Three Hills, Alberta, Alberta....
). In the season eight
Smallville (season 8)

Season eight of Smallville, an United States television series, began airing on September 18, 2008. This is the third season to air on the The CW Television Network television network....
 premiere, Black Canary attempts to rescue Clark from the Arctic alongside Green Arrow and Aquaman
Aquaman

Aquaman is a fictional comic book superhero who appears in DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 ....
 (Alan Ritchson
Alan Ritchson

Alan Ritchson is an United States fashion model turned actor/singer.Ritchson was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He attended Niceville High School and got his modeling start in the Abercrombie and Fitch catalogue; he has also modeled underwear for the men's online underwear store internationaljock.com....
), but after being captured by LuthorCorp
LuthorCorp

#REDIRECT LexCorp...
 is forced to temporarily cut ties with her League teammates.

Animation

  • Black Canary (or someone with a similar look) can also be seen briefly at the party Bruce Wayne
    Batman

    Batman is a Character , a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939....
     is attending in the Chase Me short from the straight-to-video film Mystery of the Batwoman
    Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman

    Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman is an animation film based on the DC Comics character Batman and is the third animated film set in the same universe as Batman: The Animated Series....
    .
  • On the Justice League
    Justice League (TV series)

    Justice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. It is based on the Justice League and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics....
     episode Legends, the League teamed up with the Justice Guild of America
    Justice Guild of America

    The Justice Guild of America is a superhero team featured in the Justice League animated series two-part episode Legends, a homage to the Golden Age of Comic Books Justice Society of America, and to a degree the Silver Age of Comic Books Justice League....
     in an alternate universe. The Guild member Black Siren was based on the Golden Age Black Canary, Dinah Drake. She was voiced by Jennifer Hale
    Jennifer Hale

    Jennifer R. Hale is a Canada-born United States actor best known for her voice acting work in games like Tales of Symphonia, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the Metroid Prime trilogy, Metal Gear series, Mass Effect, and The Walt Disney Company's animated movies....
    . The Siren's real name was given as Donna Vance on her tombstone.
Blackcanary11
* On the animated series
List of animated television series

This is a list of animated series, which are television program produced by means of animation. The following list is listed by decade and country of origin....
 Justice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited

Justice League Unlimited is an United States List of animated television series that was produced by and aired on Cartoon Network . Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the previous Justice League animated series....
, Black Canary was voiced by Firefly
Firefly (TV series)

Firefly is an American science fiction television series created by writer/director Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel , under his Mutant Enemy Productions....
s Morena Baccarin
Morena Baccarin

Morena Baccarin is a Brazilian Actor of Italo Brazilian origins, best known for her roles as Inara Serra in the short-lived role in the science fiction television program Firefly , and as Adria in Stargate SG-1....
. She was first seen in a small cameo at the end of
Initiation
List of Justice League episodes

Justice League and Justice League Unlimited are United States List of animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 in television to 2006 in television on Cartoon Network....
, where her looks are enough to convince Green Arrow
Green Arrow

Green Arrow is a fictional character, published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in 1941....
 to stay in the League. Later, in
The Cat and the Canary
List of Justice League episodes

Justice League and Justice League Unlimited are United States List of animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 in television to 2006 in television on Cartoon Network....
, she stars as a fearsome physical fighter (as well as sporting her sonic cry, but minus her trademark fishnet stockings). She was vexed because her old mentor, Wildcat
Wildcat (comics)

Wildcat is the name of several fictional characters, all DC Comics superheroes. The first and most famous of these is Ted Grant, a long-time member of the Justice Society of America....
, had been obsessively engaging in underground fighting tournaments, and she convinced the smitten Green Arrow to help her convince Wildcat to return to the League. She and Green Arrow start a relationship, as seen in
Double Date, thereby paying homage to their famed romance in the comics. In the fifth-season episode Grudge Match
List of Justice League episodes

Justice League and Justice League Unlimited are United States List of animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 in television to 2006 in television on Cartoon Network....
, Black Canary found herself and several other female members of the League forced to do battle with each other in underground tournaments run by the same promoter (the supervillainess Roulette
Roulette (DC Comics)

Roulette is a supervillainess in the DC Comics DC Universe....
) who had earlier exploited Wildcat
Wildcat (comics)

Wildcat is the name of several fictional characters, all DC Comics superheroes. The first and most famous of these is Ted Grant, a long-time member of the Justice Society of America....
. The final challenge pitted the team of Black Canary, Huntress
Huntress (comics)

The Huntress is a name used by several characters in DC Comics.The Golden Age Huntress is a supervillainess, while the Bronze Age and Modern Age Huntresses are superheroines....
, Vixen
Vixen (comics)

Vixen is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics DC Universe. She was nearly the first black people female DC superhero to star in her own series, but the first issue of her series was canceled in the DC Implosion in 1978, never to be released ....
, and Hawkgirl
Hawkgirl

Hawkgirl is the name of several fictional character superheroines all owned by DC Comics and existing in that company's DC Universe. The character is one of the first costumed female superheroes....
 against Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is a Character , a DC Comics Superhero#Superheroines created by William Moulton Marston. First appearing in All Star Comics #8 , she is one of three characters to have been continuously published by DC Comics since the company's 1944 inception ....
. Black Canary's final animated appearance (to date) was at the conclusion of
Destroyer, the series finale. She helped defend the world from the invading parademon
Parademon

In the DC Universe, Parademons are monstrous shock troops of Apokolips used by Darkseid to maintain the order of Apokolips....
s of Darkseid
Darkseid

Darkseid is a Character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 , and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
, and then made her swan song
Swan song

The phrase "swan song" is a reference to an ancient belief that the Mute Swan is completely mute during its lifetime until the moment just before it dies, when it sings one beautiful song....
 (along with almost every other member of the League) racing to her next adventure.
  • Black Canary appears as a member of the JSA
    Justice Society of America

    The Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
     in the opening credits of the animated film Justice League: The New Frontier. She (or her daughter) also appears alongside the Teen Titans in the closing montage.
  • Black Canary will be featured in the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold
    Batman: The Brave and the Bold

    Batman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics "team-up" series The Brave and the Bold....
    .


Video games

  • Black Canary is set to appear in the upcoming video game DC Universe Online
    DC Universe Online

    DC Universe Online or DCUO is an MMO being developed by Sony Online's Austin studio. Jim Lee serves as the game's Executive Creative Director, along with Carlos D'Anda, JJ Kirby, Oliver Nome, Eddie Nunez, Livio Ramondelli and Michael Lopez....
    .


See also

  • List of women warriors in folklore, literature, and popular culture


External links