History ComicBook / BirdsOfPrey

* {{Meganekko}}: Oracle

* ActionGirl: All of them.
* AdultFear: Though supervillains and large scale {{Evil Plan}}s remain an important staple of the series, the Birds deal with a lot of real world and everyday issues, including human trafficking, drug dealers, kidnapping and the like. A lot of the arcs are plausible and even ''likely'' crimes simply transferred into the flashy world of superheroes.

* DangerouslyShortSkirt: Lady Blackhawk

* YaoiGuys: [[spoiler:Savant and Creote, who are ''finally'' a couple]].

* RaisedCatholic: Huntress, whose faith is a large part of her character despite her vigilante lifestyle, from the crosses on her costume to the fact that she prays before fighting Lady Shiva, and thanks God for allowing her to live.

* RaisedCatholic: Huntress, whose faith is a large part of her character despite her vigilante lifestyle, from the [[CreepyCoolCrosses crosses on her costume]] to the fact that she prays before fighting Lady Shiva, and thanks God for allowing her to live.

* PirateBooty: Lady Blackhawk (Zinda Blanke) was captured and brainwashed by supervillain Killer Shark into thinking she was his partner Queen Killer Shark and helped beat and catcher her teammate Huntress (Helena Bertinelli). It was revealed that this Killer Shark was the grandson of the original one that brainwashed her when she battled him in the 40s, and he wanted her to lead him to his grandfather's treasure. She led Killer Shark to his grandfather's treasure, but she broke free of her brainwashing and, with the help of her teammate Huntress defeated Killer Shark. Later while Zinda and Helena are bragging to their friends about defeating Killer Shark, one of their friends asks if they can borrow some of their treasure, implying that they took the treasure Killer Shark wanted for themselves.

* CanonImmigrant: Issue 37 of the first volume brought in an InNameOnly version of the Condiment King from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', a LeanAndMean [[AgeLift teenaged]] [[AdaptationalJobChange former fast food worker]] [[AdaptationalVillainy turned willing criminal]] [[AdaptationNameChange named Mitchell Mayo]] who was RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver.[[note]]''ComicBook/DetectiveComics'' #1000 would bring in a TruerToTheText version of the original (an adult named Buddy Standler who's clad in blue and white, though it's unclear if he was a comedian like in ''B: TAS'' or even if this version was BrainwashedAndCrazy like the original Standler or this version was himself a case of AdaptationalVillainy[[/note]]

* CanonImmigrant: Issue 37 of the first volume brought in an InNameOnly version of the Condiment King from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', a LeanAndMean [[AgeLift teenaged]] [[AdaptationalJobChange former fast food worker]] [[AdaptationalVillainy turned willing criminal]] [[AdaptationNameChange named Mitchell Mayo]] who was RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver.  ''ComicBook/DetectiveComics'' #1000 would bring in a TruerToTheText version of the original (an adult named Buddy Standler who's clad in blue and white, though it's unclear if he was a comedian like in ''B: TAS'' or even if this version was BrainwashedAndCrazy like the original Standler and this version was himself a case of AdaptationalVillainy,

* MohsScaleOfViolenceHardness: Rates a 5. Fistfights tend to be at least a bit bloody, Huntress puts crossbow bolts in a few people, and explosions are fairly common.

** ''ComicBook/{{Domino}} (2018)'' featured a similar group built of Domino herself, Diamondback, and Outlaw, who share many traits with the Birds, which makes ''perfect sense'' considering this book is written by Gail Simone herself, who has openly admitted to trying to create a 'Marvel counterpart' to the Birds. When the book ends, the trio are joined by several other related heroines ([[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and Deadpool]]) to form the ''Hotshots'', to give them a similar name.

** [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/7/7d/Birds_of_Prey_Vol_1_37.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090105202157 Vol 1 #37]]: ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}}, Black Canary, and Blue Beetle are stacking in a sort of floating arrangement on the cover.

Gail Simone eventually left the series and was replaced as writer by Sean [=McKeever=] and later Tony Bedard. Under Bedard's pen, the team moved to the new locale of Platinum Flats, where they were joined by the mysterious Infinity and focused on fighting the "Silicon Syndicate". However, soon after the location move the series was cancelled, along with the ''ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}'' and ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'' titles, in the wake of ComicBook/FinalCrisis and the death of Franchise/{{Batman}}. The separate characters were either transferred to other titles or quietly dropped from active publication and the final arc was left unresolved.

** Issue #10 of the second volume closes with a gathering of the "Bat Family," the primary superheroes of Gotham City, each of whom have their own on-going series. Present are Franchise/{{Batman}} (Dick Grayson), Franchise/{{Batman}} (Bruce Wayne), ComicBook/{{Batgirl| 2009}} (Stephanie Brown) and [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Red Robin]] (Tim Drake). Misfit (Charlotte Gage-Radcliff) is also present, her first appearance in the relaunch, but she does not have an independent series of her own.

* NotSoDifferent: While Barbara is more emotionally stable than Batman and is actually willing to let people get close to her without being compelled to push them away, she can be every bit the manipulative control freak that he is. When Huntress was first merging with the team she called out Barbara on her secret attempts to "fix" Huntress (Huntress took issue with being considered "broken") and left the team. As she left, she accused Barbara of turning out to be a manipulative jackass just like Batman.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: When Huntress began poking around the Oregon compound (See {{Brainwashed}} above) cult leader Brushaw had the cultists mob her ''en-masse''.

In September 2010, Simone wrote an episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' which featured the team in a leading role. Though the character interactions were similar to those featured in the comics, Oracle was omitted from the team due to her absence from the show's established canon (and, according to WordOfGod, rights issues). However, her role as the third member of the team was filled by ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}, who herself occasionally worked with the Birds, primarily during Chuck Dixon's run.

* BareYourMidriff: One of Huntress's costumes is a leotard with a weird little cutout for her midriff -- this was lampshaded in series and Simone eventually changed the costume. Huntress' explanation for the change: "Seven-hundred sit-ups a day". Its continued presence (and absence) seems to [[DependingOnTheWriter depend on the writer]] (and [[DependingOnTheArtist artist]]), and [[WordOfGod Simone]] said that there were plans to get it changed again once the relaunch moved past its first few issues. Unfortunately, the New 52 relaunch removed Huntress from the series before this promised change could take place.

* CutLexLuthorACheck: In the [[SoOkayItsAverage lukewarm-received]] run after Creator/GailSimone left as head writer, the Birds begin to battle the "Silicon Syndicate," a super-human mafia operating out of (and controlling) Platinum Flats, the high-tech capital of the world. However, instead of robbing banks or holding the world for ransom these criminals have simply taken control of the enormous Internet companies operating out of the city and are using their legitimate revenue sources to rake in such massive amounts of money that even the Joker thinks they are too valuable to kill. By controlling the [[FictionalCounterpart DC equivalents]] of Google, [=MySpace=], eBay, eHarmony and other such conglomerates, their yearly profits can be measured not in the millions or billions, but in '''trillions''', and nobody in the world is even aware that they exist.

* MonochromeCasting: In a series of conversations about race in comic books on Tumblr, Gail Simone has acknowledged that, in her opinion, [[UnfortunateImplications it sends a bad message]] that all of the main characters in the book are straight white women, most of whom have blue eyes. To rectify this Gail has said that she will be using two non-white heroines, [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2000}} Cassandra Cain]] (one of DC's few Asian vigilantes) and the [[ComicBook/TheQuestion Question]] ([[TwoferTokenMinority a Hispanic lesbian]]) as guest operatives in coming issues [[http://gailsimone.tumblr.com/post/1579618568/sufferingsappho-ceebee-eebee-having-someone]] and will be working on a long term solution to fix the lack of color in the book. However, in the same Tumblr post where she admitted that the lack of diversity in the book was a problem she pointed out that she had used many minority heroines such as Lady Shiva, Judomaster and Vixen in guest roles during the first volume. She also briefly added Grace Choi from [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders the Outsiders]] to the team's roster when they guest starred in ''ComicBook/SecretSix'' #7. Following the ComicBook/{{New 52}} reboot, the Japanese heroine Katana finally joined the team, and the African American vigilante Strix was inducted into the group after her departure.

* ThePsychoRangers: The ComicBook/SecretSix guest-starred in an arc towards the end of Gail Simone's run, serving as a collective EvilCounterpart for the whole team and bringing lots of FoeYay with them.

** [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2000}} Cassandra Cain]], the second Batgirl, was mentioned in Issue #10 and Red Robin (Tim Drake) wonders why she does not have access to Oracle's new hideout and activities. Barbara explains that she does not see giving out access as a privilege, but as a burden, and Cassandra has enough issues of her own to deal with right now. [[DevelopmentGag This also refers to Gail Simone's own efforts to feature Cassandra in at least a guest spot in the series]], which she had said was upcoming, [[ExecutiveMeddling but which could not be implemented because of factors at DC Comics]].

* TheVamp: Talia al-Ghul is a recurring character in the Batman mythos, [[DatingCatwoman one of the Batman's more long-term and complicated relationships]], and she often fluctuates between ally and enemy as Batman and her father, Ras al-Ghul, battle one another. For her guest appearances in ''Birds Of Prey'', however, she has decided to exploit her extremely well-formed figure to manipulate and dominate the men she targets, starting with the father of Black Alice.

The series served as the basis for a live-action TV series which took a different approach to things. The core of the team is Huntress (daughter of Batman and Catwoman, as per her pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}} backstory), Dinah, a touch-telepath and the daughter of Black Canary, and Oracle (Barbara Gordon, forced to give up being Batgirl after becoming paraplegic). Harley Quinn serves as the BigBad. Tropes for this iteration of the concept can be found in the article ''Series/BirdsOfPrey''.

-->'''Lady Blackhawk:''' You know, I ''was'' just supposed to be the pilot.

-->'''Hawk:''' Warnings are for ''wussies''.\\

--> '''Current:''' I'm ''out''.

-->'''Mortis:''' The Canary. She found a way out. She... I lost her. I lost her. We have to...we have to...we have to...we have to '''''run'''''.\\

-->'''Misfit:''' And nice batsuit, by the way. Purple, much?

-->'''Black Canary:''' I hope you know a ''bad'' night is coming.

* BrokenAesop: This is a bit of a mix of Broken Aesop and HarshTruthAesop, but the moral of ''The Battle Within'', the arc from issues 76 to 85, appears to be the fairly stock aesop of "You should accept your friends for who they are and not try to change them," except that what Oracle was trying to change about ComicBook/{{Huntress}} is her tendency to kill people. In the end, Oracle apologizes to Huntress, and, in the ''Dead of Winter'' story arc (issues 104-108), actually tells Huntress to use deadly force against the ComicBook/SecretSix if she thinks it appropriate, possibly making this the HarshTruthAesop that [[MurderIsTheBestSolution sometimes killing people is a good idea]].

* BrokenAesop: This is a bit of a mix of Broken Aesop and FamilyUnfriendlyAesop, but the moral of ''The Battle Within'', the arc from issues 76 to 85, appears to be the fairly stock aesop of "You should accept your friends for who they are and not try to change them," except that what Oracle was trying to change about ComicBook/{{Huntress}} is her tendency to kill people. In the end, Oracle apologizes to Huntress, and, in the ''Dead of Winter'' story arc (issues 104-108), actually tells Huntress to use deadly force against the ComicBook/SecretSix if she thinks it appropriate, possibly making this the FamilyUnfriendlyAesop that [[MurderIsTheBestSolution sometimes killing people is a good idea]].

* GoGoEnslavement: Lady Blackhawk is kidnapped and brainwashed by super villain Killer Shark and even has her own super villain outfit, [[http://images.wikia.com/marvel_dc/images/8/8a/Zinda_Blake_Queen_Killer_Shark_001.png here]], [[http://images.wikia.com/marvel_dc/images/1/1a/Zinda_Blake_Queen_Killer_Shark_003.png here]] and [[http://i46.tinypic.com/1z52n92.jpg here]].