Black Canary Reading Order!

Black Canary is one of the best characters in the DC Comics Universe, with family ties to DC’s Justice Society of America, and a founding role in the Justice League of America. Although her solo comic book series have been all too few, there are plenty of excellent series to navigate in a Black Canary reading order, such as Birds of Prey.

Inevitably, any Black Canary reading order will see some overlap with Comic Book Herald’s Green Arrow reading order. The characters are irrevocably intertwined (as DC Rebirth finally proved). Nonetheless, there are plenty of standalone Black Canary stories below far from the shadow of Oliver Queen!

Black Canary Trade Comics Reading Order

JLA Year One

Waid and Kitson’s Year One never quite measures up to the grand Year One tradition sparked by Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One, but it absolutely highlights some of the unexplored corners of the JLA’s foundation, including Black Canary’s fundamental role in the team.

Collects: Original graphic novel by Mark Waid and Barry Kitson.

Black Canary, The – Archives, Volume 1

Collects: Adventure Comics #399, #418-#419, Comics Cavalcade #25, DC Special Edition #3, Flash Comics #86 to #104, The Brave And The Bold #61 to #62

Green Arrow/Green Lantern

This is 90% for the Green Arrow and Green Lantern fans, but Black Canary does play a supporting role throughout Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams renowned socially conscious 70’s comics run.

Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters

While this is a particularly revered Green Arrow story, many Black Canary fans would argue this is the lowest point for Dinah Lance. I reference the comic largely because it becomes a heavily referenced part of Dinah’s backstory, for example in Gail Simone’s run on Birds of Prey. 

Collects: Green Arrow The Longbow Hunters #1 to #3

Birds of Prey Vol. 1

By Chuck Dixon, Gary Frank, and Matt Haley.

Birds of Prey would really grow into something special in the early 2000’s, but it all starts out here in the mid 1990’s.

Collects: Black Canary/Oracle: Birds Of Prey #1, Showcase ’96 #3, Birds Of Prey: Manhunt #1-4, Birds Of Prey: Revolution #1, Birds Of Prey: Wolves #1 And Birds Of Prey: Batgirl #1

Birds of Prey Vol. 2

Collects: Birds of Prey #1 to #11, Birds of Prey: Raven #1

Birds of Prey Vol. 3: The Hunt for Oracle

Collects: Birds of Prey #12 to #21, Nightwing #45 to #46

JSA Omnibus Vol. 1

Dinah joins the rejuvenated JSA, a series that ran from 1999 to 2006. The Justice Society of America relaunch from James Robinson, David Goyer, and eventually Geoff Johns can also be checked out on the cheap with the first volume Justice Be Done (JSA: Justice Society of America, Book 1) and second volume JSA: Darkness Falls.

Collects: JSA #1-25, JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice, JSA All-Stars #1-8, JSA Our Worlds at War #1, JLA/JSA Secret Files #1, JSA Secret Files #1, All-Star Comics #1-2, All-American Comics #1, Adventure Comics #1, National Comics #1, Sensation Comics #1, Smash Comics #1, Star Spangled Comics #1 and Thrilling Comics #1

Gail Simone’s Birds of Prey Begins For Black Canary

Birds of Prey, Vol. 1: Of Like Minds

The Gail Simone and Ed Benes run on Birds of Prey begins. Excellent run of DC Universe comics, cementing Simone’s status as one of the finest DC Comics writers of the 2000’s.

If you read nothing else, this run helps to establish Black Canary’s superhero bonafides, as well as her relationships with DC Universe mainstays like Barbara Gordon.

Collects: Birds of Prey #56 to #61

Birds of Prey, Vol. 2: Sensei & Student

Collects: Birds of Prey #62 to #68

Birds of Prey, Vol. 3: Between Dark & Dawn

Collects: Birds of Prey #69 to #75

Birds of Prey, Vol. 4: The Battle Within

Collects: Birds of Prey #76 to #85

Birds of Prey, Vol. 5: Perfect Pitch

Collects: Birds of Prey #86 to #90, #92 to #95

Justice League of America, Vol. 1: The Tornado’s Path

Following Identity Crisis, one of the biggest DC Universe shakeups of the 2000’s, mystery novelist Brad Meltzer teams with Geoff Johns and Ed Benes to relaunch the JLA.

Collects: Justice League of America #1 to #7

Justice League of America, Vol. 2: The Lightning Saga

Collects: Justice League of America #0, Justice League of America #8 to #12

Birds of Prey, Vol. 6: Blood and Circuits

Collects: Birds of Prey #96 to #103

Birds of Prey, Vol. 7: Dead of Winter

Collects: Birds of Prey #104 to #108

Bloodspell

By Paul Dini and Joe Quinones. Separate story, largely removed from continuity, highlighting a team-up between Black Canary and Zatana.

The Wedding of Black Canary and Green Arrow

Green Arrow/Black Canary: Road to the Altar

After years of an again / off again romance, Green Arrow and Black Canary finally plan to tie the knot.

Collects: Birds Of Prey #109, Black Canary #1-4, And The Black Canary Wedding Planner

Green Arrow/Black Canary VOL 01: The Wedding Album

Collects: Green Arrow/Black Canary Wedding Special #1, Green Arrow/Black Canary #1 to #5

Justice League of America: The Injustice League

Collects: JLA Wedding Special #1, Justice League of America #13 to #16

Green Arrow/Black Canary: Family Business

Green Arrow/Black Canary: A League of Their Own

Green Arrow/Black Canary: Enemies List

Green Arrow / Black Canary: Five Stages

Collects: Green Arrow/Black Canary #6 to #29, Green Arrow #30 to #32

Justice League of America: Sanctuary

Collects: Justice League of America #17 to #21

Justice League of America: The Second Coming

Collects: Justice League of America #22 to #26

Justice League of America: When World’s Collide

Collects: Justice League of America #27, 28 and 30-34

New 52 Black Canary

Birds of Prey Vol. 1: Trouble in Mind

Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Your Kiss Might Kill

Birds of Prey Vol. 3: A Clash of Daggers

Birds of Prey Vol. 4: The Cruelest Cut

Birds of Prey Vol. 5: Soul Crisis

Following DC’s 2011 Flashpoint event, the entire universe rebooted in what was called the New 52.

Black Canary’s New 52 origins begin with Birds of Prey, before eventually expanding to Batgirl and (Finally) her own ongoing solo series.

You can see where all these Black Canary comics fit as part of Comic Book Herald’s New 52 reading order.

Collects: New 52 Birds of Prey #1 to #34

Batgirl Vol. 1: Batgirl of Burnside

Barbara Gordon’s soft reboot within the New 52 also led to a reinvention for Dinah Lance, finally taking on the lead singer in a punk rock band status we all secretly wanted.

Collects: Batgirl #35 to #40

Black Canary Vol. 1: Kicking and Screaming

Collects: Black Canary #1 to #7

Black Canary Vol. 2: New Killer Star

Collects: Black Canary #8 to #12, Gotham Academy #17

DC Rebirth Black Canary

Green Arrow Vol. 1: The Death and Life Of Oliver Queen

As mentioned, DC Rebirth restores much of DC continuity before the New 52, including the relationship between Black Canary and Green Arrow.

You can find where all these Black Canary appearances fit within Comic Book Herald’s DC Rebirth reading order.

Collects: Green Arrow: Rebirth #1, Green Arrow #1 to #5

Batgirl & The Birds Of Prey Vol. 1: Who Is Oracle?

Collects: Batgirl & The Birds of Prey: Rebirth #1, Batgirl & The Birds of Prey #1 to #6

Batgirl & The Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Source Code

Collects: Batgirl & The Birds of Prey #7 to #13

Batgirl & The Birds of Prey Vol. 3: Full Circle

Collects: Batgirl & The Birds of Prey #14 to #22