Top 10 Black Canary Comics, Ranked

Black Canary Prepares to Return to the Spotlight During DC's All-In Initiative. Tom King and Ryan Sook Black Canary: The Best of the Best will explore one of DC's top fighters as she takes on contenders from across the DC Universe for her title. The excitement surrounding the new Black Canary series highlights the character's fan base and her persistence as one of DC's biggest draws.

With a great design and a fun signature attack, Black Canary has always been able to gain a following. However, her personality and relationships have made her one of the most enduring heroes in all of the best DC Universe stories. From ensemble pieces to solo series to team-up adventures, Dinah Lance has done it all and come out cooler than ever. The best Black Canary stories showcase her heroic prowess and likable personality to prove why she's such a great character.

10 JLA: Year One gave Dinah an interesting origin with the team

JLA: Year One is a rather unique book. Following in the footsteps of Batman: Year One, this comic explores the founding and initial journeys of the Justice League, starting with their first appearance. However, there is one notable change. Instead of Wonder Woman rounding out the lineup, it is Black Canary.

The addition of Black Canary adds some interesting dynamics to the team in this book. Dinah Lance is, after all, the second Black Canary, and much of her arc is tied to her relationship with her mother, the original version of the heroine. Writer Mark Waid has a lot of great Justice League stories, and this is one of his best.

9 Rebirth's Justice League of America positioned Dinah as a veteran crime fighter

The Rebirth version of the Justice League of America is a very different take on the flagship superteam. Batman founded this group to handle small-scale, localized emergencies, and he brings some interesting people with him. Former villains Lobo and Killer Frost join the team, along with Ryan Choi and Ray's rookies Atom. Rounding out the group are Vixen and, of course, Black Canary.

Black Canary is a veteran hero and the team's de facto leader, who helps Batman transform this motley crew of metas into a fierce team. This is Dinah in her element, rallying the heroes against new threats. The first storyline sees the team take on the Extremists, a group of pastiche villains based on some of Marvel's greatest villains.

8 Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters Changes Everything for These Heroes

While it may seem strange that one of Black Canary’s most notable appearances is in a Green Arrow comic, it makes sense when you look at the two’s history. Dinah and Ollie have long been an iconic comic book couple, and this story marks a major shift in their relationship. The story begins with Ollie moving to Dinah’s hometown, showing that these two have become closer than ever.

Naturally, the usual comic action follows. Dinah and Ollie both investigate separate but related crimes, leading to a confrontation where Green Arrow kills a man to protect Black Canary. This moment would have a ripple effect on the comics as a whole and change the way Green Arrow and Black Canary interact. This is a turning point for Green Arrow and almost leads to Dinah's death. Plus, it's one of the best Green Arrow and Black Canary comics to date.

7 Black Canary and Zatanna: Bloodspell Unites Two DC Icons

Black Canary isn't the only fishnet-wearing heroine in the DC Universe. Zatanna, the backward-speaking sorceress, is Dinah's stocking-wearing sister, and the two join forces in this fantastic one-shot by Paul Dini. This story sees the pair team up to take on one of Dinah's former enemies, a gang leader with occult abilities.

Black Canary and Zatanna: Bloodspell is a quick and fun read. The story takes advantage of DC's vast shared universe to bring together two fan-favorite heroines in an adventure that plays to each other's strengths. It doesn't hurt that Paul Dini has plenty of experience working with both characters and creating fun, self-contained stories from his time on the DCAU cartoons.

6 Kelly Thompson's Birds of Prey is a new favorite

The newest Birds of Prey book has a huge legacy to honor, but so far it's failing to do so. From the creative team of Kelly Thompson and Leonardo Romero, this book follows a new iteration of Birds that introduces Cassandra Cain, Big Barda, Harley Quinn, Black Canary, and more. The result is a fun romp through the DC Universe.

Black Canary is synonymous with this team, having served in nearly every iteration of the Birds of Prey. Seeing her really take the lead here is awesome, especially with so many great personalities backing her up. This series is still in its infancy as of this writing, so only time will tell if it will become a modern classic. However, with tight writing and good art, the odds look good.

5 Black Canary Solo Series Sold Out Superheroine

Black Canary solo series are sadly few and far between. She’s had a few miniseries here and there, but it’s rare for her to have her own. Thankfully, in 2015, the character got her best solo yet. This book follows Dinah as she tours the country with her band and battles a mysterious crime wave.

Black Canary is great in an ensemble, but that often means she gets overlooked in terms of main series. It's great to see her hold her own in this book and prove herself to be a confident and capable hero even when she's on her own. This is a must-read, if only because it's such a rare occurrence that's been done well.

4 Dixon's Bird of Prey invented and founded the team

This is the creator of the team and the Birds of Prey series, and boy, is it awesome. At this point in the team's life, the only permanent members are Black Canary and the mysterious Oracle. While readers know that the hacker is actually former Batgirl Barbara Gordon, Canary is kept in the dark for a while, which leads to some interesting dynamics.

The close bond between Black Canary and Oracle begins here, as their crime-fighting adventures transform them from partners, to confidants, to best friends. This is some of the best Black Canary material available, and it really shows how talented and capable she is as an agent. The only reason it isn't more well-regarded is because the sequel was even better.

3 Justice League of America explored Canary's leadership potential

There have been an almost uncountable number of versions of the Justice League of America. While Black Canary has been part of many JLA rosters and storylines, this is the first group she has gotten to lead. Black Canary has been named the League's president for a time. This puts her in charge of her fellow heroes.

While the League doesn't necessarily have a leader in the traditional sense, the Chairman is definitely an important role. He oversees the League's day-to-day operations and actions, and shows how much faith the other heroes have in Canary. They're willing to follow Dinah to hell at any time, because she's capable of being a hero. It helps that she has close personal bonds with most of them, which are explored more here.

2 Green Arrow and Black Canary Show Off the Iconic Couple Fighting Side by Side

Green Arrow and Black Canary are one of the most iconic couples in DC Comics. They are there with Superman and Lois Lane or Batman and brood alone on a rooftop. Arrow and Canary are often portrayed not just as lovers, but as a dynamic crime-fighting team. While they can certainly and do shine on their own, they are unstoppable when they are together.

Green Arrow and Black Canary It actually develops from their wedding special, and explores the couple's lives as newlyweds. Of course, there are more secret societies of assassins, supervillains, and sidekicks than the average couple. This series is a great showcase of the relationship between the two heroes, and gives readers a glimpse into their romance at its finest.

1 Simone's Birds of Prey is the ultimate black canary

This is the definitive version of not only Birds of Prey but nearly every character that joins the team. Simone is easily one of the most prolific comic book writers working today. She is known for her long-running, highly regarded series that makes the characters accessible to fans and newcomers alike. Simone's 52 issues on Birds of Prey offer the best version of Black Canary and her compatriots to date.

The Black Canary in Simone's book is vivacious, hot-tempered, and confident. She is the field leader for the much-expanded Birds of Prey series, leading the team on multiple adventures alongside her best friend Barbara Gordon. Canary and Oracle are truly the heart of this series, and their relationship is what drives most of the character action throughout the story arcs. This is easily one of the best-written and drawn Black Canary stories out there.