While iconic heroes like Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman remain DC Comics most popular and beloved heroes, there are so many other legendary powerhouses that have earned their place amongst the legends of the DC Multiverse. One of those heroes has to be Black Canary, the powerful vigilante with a sonic scream capable of tearing down buildings.
Set to appear soon in Birds of Prey, casual fans have been curious about the Black Canary and who she truly is. To find out more about this enigmatic character, join us as we take a look at some facts and trivia about her that a lot of fans don't know.
10 There's Been More Than One Black Canary
One of the first things to know about the character is that there are several versions of the Black Canary hero. While many know the modern day Black Canary as Dinah Laurel Lance, the original version of the character was Dinah Drake, Laurel's mother. There have been many other alternate versions of the character throughout DC Comics history as well.
Whether it’s villainous identities like Black Siren or alternate world versions such as the Black Canary of DC’s Bombshells, there have been several versions of the character who makes her debut in Birds of Prey early next year.
9 She Originally Appeared As A Villain
One of the first things that may shock casual fans has to be the revelation that when Dinah Drake was first introduced in the late 1940s, she was introduced as a criminal. Appearing in the Johnny Thunder feature of Flash Comics, it was revealed that she had gone undercover to infiltrate a criminal organization when she met Johnny, who instantly fell for her.
She later replaced Johnny with her own feature comic, developing a backstory as a florist who fell in love with a Gotham City Police Officer. She was later asked to join the Justice Society of America.
8 The Original Black Canary Transferred Memories To Daughter
In a unique twist, Dinah Drake had a daughter with Larry Lance on their home of Earth-2, where the Golden Age heroes of the JLA lived. She was afflicted by a curse and kept in suspended animation on Earth-2 while the search for a cure went on.
After losing Larry and discovering she was passing away from radiation poisoning, Dinah wished to see her daughter and sought to have her carry on her legacy. They transferred Dinah’s memories to her daughter, making them her own, which led to Laurel becoming the Black Canary.
7 Her History Was Retconned Post-Crisis
One of the biggest changes made to the character of Black Canary has to be the retcon of her origin story after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths. The whole storyline involving memory transfers and alternate Earths was scrapped, with Dinah Drake becoming a vigilante after her police officer father’s passing.
Years later she had a daughter with private eye Larry Lance, and her daughter would grow up seeking to take up her mother’s mantle as Black Canary. The two clashed often over the subject, with Dinah Drake believing the world was too dangerous for Laurel Lance.
6 She Was The First Operative Of Birds Of Prey
After the tragic and violent incident that saw Barbara Gordon injured in an attack by the Joker, she rebranded herself from Batwoman to Oracle, becoming an information broker for the superhero community. After a few missions with the Suicide Squad, she decided to form her own covert superhero team called the Birds of Prey.
Out of all the candidates, Black Canary was Oracle’s first choice to join the team, having the most potential. While Oracle’s organization often clashed with Canary’s impulsive nature, the two became fast friends and allies on the team and beyond, creating the foundation for the squad.
5 She Formed The Justice League After Infinite Crisis
When the events of Infinite Crisis give the Earth a brand new timeline to play with and explore, the world sees the formation of a brand new Justice League that is definitely unique. While Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman all form the trinity of the group, Black Canary was at the start of the team’s formation all the way.
Fighting alongside the Flash, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman and Green Lantern, Canary became one of the members of the squad alongside Green Arrow, after the team is established in the wake of a major battle. She would eventually go on to become the JLA Chairwoman.
4 She Married Green Arrow
After joining the Justice League, one of the biggest events of the DC Comics season was the lead up to Oliver Queen and Dinah Laurel Lance’s wedding. From Barbara Gordon and Dinah planning out the wedding to the Justice League members throwing bachelor and bachelorette parties, the event was very turbulent but monumental (let's not forget the Injustice League and the threat of their attack).
The couple had a rocky road ahead when Canary learned Ollie had created a separate Justice League from the one she ran, working with Hal Jordan to create this new team. Soon, they were attacked by the villain Prometheus, which shook things up even more.
3 She Was Forced To Fight Oliver Queen
While Oliver Queen was believed to be dead, he faced Dinah during the Blackest Night series, until he later returned to normal and to the land of the living. However, Hal and Barry Allen discovered Oliver had ended the life of Prometheus previously, leaving the villain to rot in secret.
When confronted, Ollie fled, and later engaged in battle not only with his friends but his wife Black Canary as well. He eventually turned himself in for the crime, but when Dinah came to visit Ollie in prison, he refused to speak to her. This led to her quietly ending the couple’s marriage.
2 Dinah Drake Returns In New 52
Post-Flashpoint and during the events of the New 52, Black Canary once again becomes Dinah Drake. The daughter of a teenage single mother, she was thrust into the foster system at an early age and ended up living on the streets of Gotham. It was there she was found and given a home by martial artist Demond Lamar.
After giving her a home and teaching her his skills as a martial artist and former Special Forces member, his passing leads to her using the skills he taught her to fight local gangs, until his dojo is eventually destroyed.
1 Restarts Relationship With Oliver Queen
When the DC Rebirth era kicked off, one of the things that Wally West noted was changed and altered by the mysterious force outside the multiverse was the marriage of Oliver and Dinah Laurel Lance, who were now complete strangers. Ironically, however, Dinah and Oliver meet by chance and both realize they feel something oddly missing from their lives.
The two begin to become romantic once more, and when Oliver is framed for a crime and his passing is faked by his enemies, Dinah is the first to realize that something isn’t right. She fights to help Oliver recover fully.