A force to be reckoned with, the Birds of Prey is traditionally an all-women group of DC vigilantes founded in the late ’90s. Discover all their adventures in Gotham and beyond with our Birds of Prey comics reading list, covering the full history of the team, from their first appearance to Gail Simone’s celebrated run and the recent relaunch by Kelly Thompson.
At its core, the Birds of Prey started as a partnership between Black Canary and Oracle, gradually expanding over time to include more superheroines. Their relationship was first established in Showcase ’96 #3, written by Jordan B. Gorfinkel—who also gave the team its name in the first issue of the ongoing series by writer Chuck Dixon and artist Gary Frank.
Chuck Dixon described the dynamic between Oracle and Black Canary as a clash of values, with “Dinah’s more idealistic approach” being at the heart of the book. Dinah Laurel Lance, alias Black Canary, is portrayed as passionate and idealistic, while Barbara Gordon, alias Oracle, has a strong sense of morality but is also less morally conflicted, per Dixon’s words who described her as a woman who knows that, sometimes, you have to kill to save lives–even if she’s not comfortable with that fact.
While Barbara and Dinah formed the heart of the team, other crimefighters joined throughout the series. One of the most prominent additions was Helena Bertinelli, a.k.a. Huntress, who became a key member during Gail Simone’s run.
The team was reimagined following Flashpoint and the launch of the New 52. In this version, Dinah Drake (Black Canary) and a new character named Starling (Ev Crawford) formed the initial lineup. Barbara Gordon had regained her mobility and was Batgirl once more, but she didn’t join the team immediately. Other members during this era included Poison Ivy and Katana. The New 52 also saw the first time a male hero officially joined the Birds of Prey, with Hawk (of Hawk and Dove) briefly becoming part of the team.
Originally based in Gotham City with their headquarters in the Clock Tower, the Birds of Prey were eventually forced to relocate. Over time, they operated out of Metropolis and even California before ultimately returning to Gotham.
Birds of Prey Comics Collection
Introducing the Birds of Prey
If you want to delve more into each of the core members of the Birds of Prey, we have you covered with the following reading orders:
- Barbara Gordon Reading Order
- Black Canary Reading Order
- Helena Bertinelli Reading Order (though not part of the original team, she’s a staple member)
Beyond the core trio, notable members have included Lady Blackhawk, Big Barda, Hawk and Dove, Strix, Poison Ivy, and Cassandra Cain.
I. Birds of Prey, the First Years (1999-2004)
After Showcase ’96 #3 which introduced the Birds of Prey, the team starred in a limited series and several one-shots before headlining their own ongoing series. In total, the title runs for 127 issues, from January 1999 to April 2009, with Chuck Dixon as main writer during the first years, until issue #55.
- Birds of Prey Vol. 1
Collects Black Canary/Oracle: Birds of Prey #1, Birds of Prey: Manhunt #1–4, Birds of Prey: Revolution #1, a story from Showcase ’96 #3, Birds of Prey: Wolves #1, Bird of Prey: Batgirl #1 - Birds of Prey Vol. 2
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #1–11, Birds of Prey: Ravens #1 - Birds of Prey Vol. 3: The Hunt for Oracle
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #12–21, Nightwing #45–46. Includes The Hunt for Oracle crossover with Nightwing. - Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #22–38 are not collected for now, at least…
Except issue #27, available on Batman: Officer Down
Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive! Bruce Wayne is arrested for murder in this Batman event and his allies must discover who is the true killer. The Birds of Prey plays a little role in it.
- Bruce Wayne: Murderer?
Collects Batgirl #24, #27, Batman #599-602, Batman: Gotham Knights #25-29, Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure #1, Birds Of Prey #39-41 & #43, Detective Comics #766-770, Nightwing #65-66, #68-69, and Robin #98-99. The story continues in Bruce Wayne: Fugitive
- Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #42-#55 are not collected. For now, at least…
During this period was published the one-shot Birds of Prey: Catwoman/Oracle, the follow-up to Birds of Prey: Batgirl/Catwoman.
II. Birds of Prey, the Gail Simone Era (2004-2011)
Gail Simone took over Birds of Prey with issue #56, added The Huntress, who became one of Oracle’s full-time agents in Birds of Prey #68 and simply created what is now known as the defining run for the team, with the help of artist Ed Benes.
As the most emblematic and famous period in Birds of Prey, this run is right now reprinted in Omnibus:
- Birds of Prey by Gail Simone Omnibus Vol. 1 [2025]
Collects Birds of Prey #56-90 and Birds of Prey Secret Files 2003 #1.
All those issues have been collected in trade paperbacks:
- Birds of Prey: Murder and Mystery
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #56–67
Like all members of the Batfamily, Barbara Gordon helped Batman when the chaos took over Gotham during War Games. But following this event, Babs cut ties with The Bat and goes to live more adventures with her team outside Gotham, before relocating to Metropolis.
- Birds of Prey: Hero Hunters
Collects Batgirl #57, Batman #633, Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #68–80.- Issues collected in this trade take place before and after War Games.
- Birds of Prey: Fighters by Trade
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #81-91.- Lady Blackhawk joins the team in #75.
- Birds of Prey: Progeny
Collects Birds of Prey #92-103.- Black Canary leaves the team in issue #99 for personal reasons, but appears in a few issues afterward. Still more shakeup to the lineup in those issues.
- Birds of Prey: Whitewater
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #104-112.- Gail Simone’s run on Birds of Prey ends with #108. Tony Bedard took over for the rest of volume 1, except for an arc written by Sean McKeever.
- Birds of Prey: The End of the Beginning
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 1 #113-127- Birds of Prey #113–117 are written by Sean McKeever
- Birds of Prey #118 is a tie-in to Final Crisis.
- The Cure miniseries has recently been reprinted in Batman: Battle for the Cowl – The Complete Collection.
The first volume of Birds of Prey ended with issue #127 in April 2009. A year later, the team returned in a new series launched under the Brightest Day banner, with Gail Simone and Ed Benes back as writer and artist.This short-lived run introduced Hawk and Dove as new members. Hawk and Dove join the group during this short period.
- Birds of Prey: End Run
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 2 #1-6.- This trade ties into Brightest day.
- Birds of Prey: The Death of Oracle
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 2 #7-15.- The last two issues were written by Marc Andreyko.
III. Birds of Prey New 52 Reading Order (2011-2014)
After the events of Flashpoint, the DC Universe was relaunched. The New 52 era started with The Birds of Prey re-imagined under writer Duane Swierczynski. Christy Marx later took over creative duties starting with issue #18, continuing until the series concluded.
Dinah put a new team together, recruiting Starling, Katana, and Poison Ivy. Although Batgirl initially declined to join, she eventually became a member as well. Throughout the series, the roster changed, starting with the departure of Poison Ivy in issue #12, followed by Katana in issue #15. Subsequently, Strix and Condor joined the Birds of Prey in issue #16.
- Birds of Prey Vol. 1: Trouble in Mind
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 3 #1–7 - Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Your Kiss Might Kill
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 3 #8-13. Issue #9 is a Night of the Owls tie-in. - Birds of Prey Vol. 3: A Clash of Daggers
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 3 #13–17, Batgirl Annual Vol. 4 #1. - Birds of Prey Vol. 4: The Cruelest Cut
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 3 #18–24, 26, Talon #9 - Birds of Prey Vol. 5: Soul Crisis
Collects Birds of Prey Vol. 3 #25, 27–34, Birds of Prey: Futures End #1. Issue #28 is a Gothtopia tie-in.
IV. Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Rebirth Reading Order (2016-2018)
The Birds of Prey once again had their own title during DC’s Rebirth era, now called Batgirl and the Birds of Prey. Launched in 2016, the series was written by Julie Benson and Shawna Benson, with art by Claire Roe, Roge Antonio, and Marcio Takara. It ran for 22 issues and one Rebirth one-shot. The story re-establishes the core trio of Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), Black Canary (Dinah Lance), and Huntress (Helena Bertinelli) as they team up to uncover the identity of a mysterious new Oracle.
- Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 1: Who is Oracle?
Collects Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #1-6 and the Batgirl and the Birds of Prey: Rebirth one-shot. - Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Source Code
Collects Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #7-13. - Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Vol. 3: Full Circle
Collects Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #14-22.
In February 2020, the Birds of Prey movie was released, featuring Harley Quinn, Helena Bertinelli, and Dinah Lance. To coincide with the film, DC Comics released a giant-sized special collecting both new and classic stories, as well as a limited series published under the adult-oriented Black Label imprint (set outside the main continuity).
- Birds of Prey Giant #1
One-shot with new and classic tales, including a Harley Quinn/Birds of Prey team-up - Harley Quinn & the Birds of Prey: The Hunt for Harley (Black Label)
Collects Harley Quinn & the Birds of Prey #1–4 and a short story from Harley Quinn Black + White + Red #12.
V. Infinite Frontier Birds of Prey Reading Order (2022)
During a brief time in 2022, DC Comics introduced a new version of the Birds of Prey in the pages of Batman: Urban Legends (#14–16). Written by Che Grayson with art by Serg Acuña, this version had no Oracle, no Black Canary, and no Huntress. Instead, the team was led by Lady Shiva and Katana, joined by newer characters Miracle Molly and Ghost. This obviously didn’t take and this wall the only story featuring this version of the team.
- Batman: Urban Legends Vol. 4
Collects Batman: Urban Legends #11-16. The Birds of Prey are in #14-16.
VI. Birds of Prey by Kelly Thompson (2023-)
Writer Kelly Thompson, also known as the creator of Jeff The Land Shark, made her DC Debut recently by becoming the main writer for the new Birds of Prey comics. Black Canary is leading a team consisting of Batgirl Cassandra Cain, Big Barda, as well as Zealot, and Harley Quinn for the first arc.
- Birds of Prey Vol. 1: Megadeath
Collects Birds of Prey (2023) #1-6. - Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Worlds Without End
Collects Birds of Prey (2023) #7-13.
Absolute Power! Amanda has put her plan into action to eliminate all metahumans. Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, and the rest of the World’s Greatest DC Super Heroes make their last stand in this event, concluding the Dawn of DC era and launching the DC Univers in a new direction with DC All In. Although the team doesn’t really play a role in that event, they appear in the backup issue of Batman #152.
- Birds of Prey Vol. 3: Bird Undercover
Collects Birds of Prey #14-19! - Birds of Prey Vol. 4
Collects Birds of Prey #21-26. - The story continues…
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Did we forget an important issue? Did we make a mistake? Let us know in the comments!