Confused about Black Canary

[Red_Hood]

So apparently there have been two Black Canary's? Dinah's mom being the other one? Wich one founded the JLA? Wich one dated Ollie?

[Dr Ray Palmer]

Yes, there are two Black Canaries, mother and daughter. This is a retcon -- originally there was one, who was a member of the JSA on Earth-2, then moved over to Earth-1 (gaining her canary cry along the way) and joined the JLA. Post-Crisis, there was the mother, Black Canary I, who was a member of the JSA and didn't have a sonic cry; then the daughter, Black Canary II, who DID have the cry, was a founding member of the JLA, got involved with Green Arrow, later joined the reformed JSA, and is currently starring in BoP. Confusingly, they're both named Dinah Lance. Black Canary I is deceased but BC II continues her mother's legacy each month in BoP.

There was also an even more muddled interim period pre-Crisis where there were two Black Canaries, a mother and daughter, one of whom was in the JSA on Earth-2 and the other of whom was in the JLA on Earth-1, but the daughter didn't realize she was the daughter and thought she was her mother, but trust me, this story gets so confusing and lasted such a relatively short time that it's better not to think about it.

For practical purposes, forget the two pre-Crisis origins and just accept the fact that there have been 2 Black Canaries, a mother and a daughter, but only the daughter is still alive.

For more info, check out the surprisingly good Wikipedia article or the more detailed Black Canary page at the excellent CanaryNoir site.

[reasonablefan1]

Yes, there are two Black Canaries, mother and daughter. This is a retcon -- originally there was one, who was a member of the JSA on Earth-2, then moved over to Earth-1 (gaining her canary cry along the way) and joined the JLA. Post-Crisis, there was the mother, Black Canary I, who was a member of the JSA and didn't have a sonic cry; then the daughter, Black Canary II, who DID have the cry, was a founding member of the JLA, got involved with Green Arrow, later joined the reformed JSA, and is currently starring in BoP. Confusingly, they're both named Dinah Lance. Black Canary I is deceased but BC II continues her mother's legacy each month in BoP. There was also an even more muddled interim period pre-Crisis where there were two Black Canaries, a mother and daughter, one of whom was in the JSA on Earth-2 and the other of whom was in the JLA on Earth-1, but the daughter didn't realize she was the daughter and thought she was her mother, but trust me, this story gets so confusing and lasted such a relatively short time that it's better not to think about it.

Dr Ray Palmer

Everytime I read an explanation like this I know why people are intimidated by comics. I've decided that "continuity" isn't all that confusing, it is the fan's need to explain how we got from point A to point B that leaves everyone's head spinning.

Black Canary is one of the few characters that benefited from Crisis on Infinite Earths in that her post-crisis origin is pretty simple.


Black Canary I (Dinah Drake Lance) - active in the 40s; member of the classic JSA, no superpowers, deceased

Black Canary II (Dinah Laurel Lance) - daughter of Black Canary I; active in the modern DCU; founding member of the JLA; works with Oracle (Barbara Gordon), occasional member of the current JSA, occasional girlfriend of Green Arrow, has a canary cry

I'd highly recommend picking up the "Birds of Prey: Sensei and Student" TPB. It is a great story written by Gail Simone ("Villains United"). Obviously Black Canary II is one of the principals in "Birds of Prey" so she is in the book. But it also includes a flashback story featuring the original Black Canary (and thus is an easy way to get a handle on the difference).

[mego joe]

Everytime I read an explanation like this I know why people are intimidated by comics. I've decided that "continuity" isn't all that confusing, it is the fan's need to explain how we got from point A to point B that leaves everyone's head spinning. Black Canary is one of the few characters that benefited from Crisis on Infinite Earths in that her post-crisis origin is pretty simple. Black Canary I (Dinah Drake Lance) - active in the 40s; member of the classic JSA, no superpowers, deceased Black Canary II (Dinah Laurel Lance) - daughter of Black Canary I; active in the modern DCU; founding member of the JLA; works with Oracle (Barbara Gordon), occasional member of the current JSA, occasional girlfriend of Green Arrow, has a canary cry I'd highly recommend picking up the "Birds of Prey: Sensei and Student" TPB. It is a great story written by Gail Simone ("Villains United"). Obviously Black Canary II is one of the principals in "Birds of Prey" so she is in the book. But it also includes a flashback story featuring the original Black Canary (and thus is an easy way to get a handle on the difference).

reasonablefan1

Oddly enough, for those of us who have been there all along, don't really find it that difficult to understand.

You are correct about the post-Crisis versions though and the excellent "Sensei and Student storyline."

[wvdrums]

Owwwww that all gave me a headache

[Full of Utonium]

Black Canary is one of the few characters that benefited from Crisis on Infinite Earths in that her post-crisis origin is pretty simple.

reasonablefan1

I agree. Black Canary now actually has one of the clearest origins and time-lines (with a little fudging) of anybody in the DCU these days. A far from the pre-Crisis explanations.

[Dr Ray Palmer]

Black Canary is one of the few characters that benefited from Crisis on Infinite Earths in that her post-crisis origin is pretty simple.

reasonablefan1

Very true -- she benefited from the Crisis in that her origin got tidied up, but I think an even bigger way she benefited is that with Wonder Woman out of the picture, she got recast as one of the founders of the JLA, and therefore one of the groundbreaking, premier heroes of her generation.

I think the three best and most important things that have ever happened to Canary as a character are moving from Earth-2 to Earth-1, becoming a founder of the JLA, and most recently, getting Gailed.

[Swift]

I've heard rumors that there's a cult in south Jersey that believes if anyone actually comes to understand Cable's continuity, the world will end.

That might just be some bull**** I made up though... *whistles*