Black Canary: Ignite

Dinah has two goals: win Battle of the Bands with her unnamed band and become a police officer like her father. When a kid at school gives her group some trouble, she gives it back, but somehow glass breaks and she is blamed. Later, at cheerleading practice, the tower of cheerleaders, tables and more are all knocked over. Dinah is blamed again, and her parents are called in by the principal. Dinah’s father, a Gotham City detective, is livid over being pulled from his difficult case involving the Joker, but Dinah’s mom knows something, and it’s about time Dinah knows too.

Meg Cabot’s young adult writing paired with the graphic novel format combined with DC Comics makes for a super tale. The art is full of expression and moves the story along quickly, while the unexpected chapter divisions help foreshadow upcoming events. Dinah’s youth and seemingly normal teenage angst make her a likable character to root for. Many will be sad that Black Canary: Ignite is a standalone, but it is one of many in the DC Zoom series, featuring popular authors like Ridley Pearson, Michael Northrop, and Shannon Hale and characters like Superman and Wonder Woman.