View source for Black Canary

{{Short description|DC comics fictional character}}
{{About|the DC comics characters|the comic book|Black Canary (comic book)|other characters of the same name|Black Canary (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox comics character
|image= Black Canary (circa 2015).png
|character_name =Black Canary
|caption= ''[[The New 52]]'' iteration of the Black Canary, '''Dinah Drake Lance''', derived character art from the cover of ''Black Canary'' #4 (September 2015).<br />Art by Evan Shaner.
|species = [[Human]] <small>(Black Canary I)</small><br>[[Metahuman]] <small>(Black Canary II)</small>
|publisher=[[DC Comics]]
|debut='''Dinah Drake''':<br/>''[[Flash Comics]]'' #86 (August 1947)<br/>'''Dinah Laurel Lance''':<br/>''[[Justice League of America]]'' #75 (November 1969)
|creators=[[Robert Kanigher]]<br />[[Carmine Infantino]]
|aliases=
|alliances='''Dinah Drake''':<br />[[Justice Society of America]]<br />'''Dinah Laurel Lance''':<br />[[Justice League]]<br />[[Birds of Prey (comics)|Birds of Prey]]
|partners='''Black Canary I'''<br>[[Larry Lance]]<br>'''Black Canary II'''<br>[[Green Arrow]]<br>[[Barbara Gordon|Oracle]]
|powers= 
Both versions are considered gifted martial artists and the second Black Canary is known for her "Canary Cry", creating ultrasonic vibrations whenever she screams. }}

'''Black Canary''' is the name of two [[superheroine]]s appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[DC Comics]]. As one of the earliest female superheroes in the DC Comics universe, the character has made numerous appearances in prominent team-up titles, including the ''[[Justice Society of America]]'' and [[Justice League|''Justice League of America'']]. The Black Canary persona has been adopted by two individuals, portrayed as [[legacy hero]]es with a mother-daughter relationship between the two. Following DC's New 52 initiative, Black Canary was briefly [[Composite character|amalgamated as a single character]] before the mother-and-daughter dynamic was restored to continuity.

'''Dinah Drake''', the original Black Canary, was created by the writer-artist team of [[Robert Kanigher]] and [[Carmine Infantino]], the character debuted in ''[[Flash Comics]]'' #86 on July 31, 1947 (cover dated August 1947) in the [[Golden Age of Comic Books]].<ref name="Guide">{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=42}}</ref> Strong, mysterious, gutsy and romantic, she has been called "the archetype of the new Film Noir era heroine."<ref name=Supergirls>{{cite book |last1=Madrid |first1=Mike |title=The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy and the History of Comic Book Heroines |date=2016 |publisher=[[Tod Davies|Exterminating Angel Press]] |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ITJvdZ0VB5QC&q=black+canary+fishnets&pg=PA27| access-date=10 April 2020 |isbn=978-1-935259-33-6 |pages=26–28}}</ref> She is a prominent member of the [[Justice Society of America]] and gifted martial artist who engaged in crime-fighting exploits alongside her love interest and eventual husband, Larry Lance, a detective in [[Gotham City]]. Their union resulted in the birth of their daughter, Dinah Laurel Lance. In subsequent narratives following the ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'' event, her daughter succeeds her mother as the new Black Canary. Dinah Drake is typically depicted as a skilled hand-to-hand combatant without superhuman abilities compared to her daughter and successor. Dinah Drake also appears in media set in the [[Arrowverse]], portrayed by [[Juliana Harkavy]], while Dinah Laurel Lance’s mother (also named Dinah) is portrayed by [[Alex Kingston]]. Although the series depicts Dinah Drake and Dinah Lance, in this version, the first Canary was [[Sara Lance]], portrayed by [[Caity Lotz]], who inspired her older sister and successor to become a heroine after her death. The character wore a mantle similar to that of the first Black Canary from the comics.

The second Black Canary, '''Dinah Laurel Lance''', was created by [[Dennis O'Neil]] and Dick Dillin, first appearing in ''Justice League of America'' #75 (November, 1969). The character is often depicted as the daughter of the original Dinah Drake, possessing [[metahuman]] abilities and being highly skilled in martial arts. She is prominently associated with the ''[[Justice League]]'', ''[[Birds of Prey (team)|Birds of Prey]]'', and has had a significant relationship with [[Green Arrow]] alongside his allies. During Black Canary's brief period as a [[composite character]] in the [[The New 52|New 52]], she was known as Dinah Laurel Lance (née Drake).

Black Canary has been adapted into various media, including direct-to-video animated films, video games, and in live-action and animated television series. Dinah Laurel is portrayed by [[Rachel Skarsten]] in the TV series ''[[Birds of Prey (TV series)|Birds of Prey]]'', as well as in ''[[Smallville]]'', portrayed by [[Alaina Huffman]]. Several versions appear in the TV show [[Arrow (TV series)|''Arrow'']], with Laurel Lance being portrayed by [[Katie Cassidy]], who also portrayed an evil version of the character named '''[[Black Siren (Arrowverse)|Black Siren]]'''. Dinah Lance made her cinematic debut in the [[DC Extended Universe]] film ''[[Birds of Prey (2020 film)|Birds of Prey]]'', portrayed by [[Jurnee Smollett]].

== Creation ==
Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino created the character in 1947 to be featured in ''[[Flash Comics]]'' as a supporting character. Appearing first as a clandestine crime-fighter who infiltrates criminal organizations to break them from the inside, the Black Canary was drawn with [[fishnet]] [[Hosiery|stockings]] and a black leather jacket to connote images of a sexualized yet strong female character.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Madrid |first1=Mike |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ITJvdZ0VB5QC&q=black+canary+fishnets&pg=PA27 |title=The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines |publisher=[[Tod Davies|Exterminating Angel Press]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-1935259039 |pages=27–28}}</ref> She appeared as a character in a back-up story featuring [[Johnny Thunder]]:
{{blockquote|I was drawing Johnny Thunder, which was not much of a character. I suppose he could have been better because his 'Thunderbolt' was interesting, but the situations they were in were pretty juvenile. Bob Kanigher wrote those stories, and he had no respect for the characters. These stories were nowhere near as good as 'The Flash' stories. DC knew it—they knew 'Johnny Thunder' was a loser, so Kanigher and I brought the ''Black Canary'' into the series. Immediately she got a good response, and it was, 'Bye, bye, Johnny Thunder.' Nobody missed him.<ref name="Amas&Nolen-Weathington2010">{{cite book|last1= Amash|first1= Jim|last2= Nolen-Weathington|first2= Eric|title= Carmine Infantino: Penciler, Publisher, Provocateur|publisher= [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|year= 2010|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|pages= 30–32|isbn= 978-1605490250}}</ref>|Carmine Infantino}}

According to Amash and Nolen-Weathington (2010), Black Canary is "really" Carmine Infantino's "first character".<ref name="Amas&Nolen-Weathington2010" /> According to the artist:<blockquote>When Kanigher gave me the script, I said, 'How do you want me to draw her?' He said, 'What's your fantasy of a good-looking girl? That's what I want.' Isn't that a great line? So that's what I did. I made her strong in character and sexy in form. The funny part is that years later, while in Korea on a National Cartoonists trip, I met a dancer who was the exact image of the Black Canary. And I went out with her for three years.<p>Bob didn't ask me for a character sketch [for the Black Canary]. He had a lot of respect for me, I must say that. He always trusted my work... Bob loved my Black Canary design.<ref name="Amas&Nolen-Weathington2010" /></p></blockquote>

===Golden Age bibliography===
During the [[Golden Age of Comic Books]], Dinah Drake's adventures were featured in:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |location=Dallas |isbn=0-87833-808-X |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent |url-access=registration |access-date=8 April 2020 |page=[https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/164 164]}}</ref>
* ''[[Flash Comics]]'' #86-88, 90-104 (Aug 1947-Feb 1949)
* ''[[All Star Comics]]'' #38-57 (Jan 1948-March 1951)
* ''[[Comic Cavalcade]]'' #25 (Feb 1948)

== Publication history ==
[[File:Flash Comics (Feb 1948) cover art.png|thumb|200px|Cover of ''Flash Comics'' #92 (February 1948); art by Carmine Infantino|left]]At her [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] debut, the Black Canary was the [[alter ego]] of Dinah Drake and participated in crime-fighting adventures with her love interest (and eventual husband), [[Gotham City]] detective [[Larry Lance]].<ref name="Markstein"/> Initially, the character was a hand-to-hand fighter without superpowers who often posed as a criminal to infiltrate criminal gangs. She first meets the [[Justice Society of America]] in ''[[All Star Comics]]'' #38 (December 1947-January 1948),<ref name="Dolan p. 57">Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 57: "In a sign of the character's growing popularity, Black Canary made her first appearance outside of ''Flash Comics'' in a feature by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Alex Toth... By the story's end, Black Canary was considered for JSA membership but wouldn't officially join until ''All Star Comics'' #41."</ref> joining them in ''All Star Comics'' #41 (June–July 1948).<ref>{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Roy |title=All-Star Companion ''Volume 1'' |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |year=2000 |isbn=1-893905-055 |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |pages=150–151 |chapter=The Golden Age of the Justice Society |author-link=Roy Thomas}}</ref> Black Canary's foes included criminal circus act Carno and His Masked Riders, and the Sacred Order of the Crimson Crystal.<ref name="High Rock Press">{{cite book |last1=Nevins |first1=Jess |title=Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes |date=2013 |publisher=High Rock Press |isbn=978-1-61318-023-5 |page=22}}</ref>

Black Canary was revived with the other [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] characters during the 1960s. In these stories, it is retroactively established she lives on the parallel world of [[Earth-Two|Earth-2]] (home of DC's Golden Age versions of its characters), in Ireland. Married to Larry Lance since the 1950s, Dinah participates in annual team-ups between the Justice Society and [[Earth-1]]'s [[Justice League|Justice League of America]].<ref name="Markstein">{{cite web |last=Markstein |first=Don |year=2006 |title=The Black Canary |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/bcanary.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240527022521/https://www.webcitation.org/6RNJgnPk1?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/bcanary.htm |archive-date=May 27, 2024 |publisher=[[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]] |df=mdy}}</ref> This period also marks the moment in which the character is given her signature superpower: the "canary cry", a high-powered [[Sonic weapon|sonic scream]] which could shatter objects and incapacitate and even kill powerful foes. When DC Comics [[Retroactive continuity|adjusted its continuity]], the Black Canary was established as two separate entities: mother and daughter, Dinah Drake-Lance and Dinah Laurel Lance. Stories since the Silver Age focused on the younger Black Canary, ascribing her superhuman abilities to a [[Metahuman|genetic mutation]].

Following the universe-altering events of ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'' (concluding in March 1986), the Black Canary's history was revised again. The mind-transplant story of 1983 was discarded; in this version of the story, the present-day Black Canary is Dinah Laurel Lance, who inherits the identity from her mother, Dinah Drake-Lance. Although some references (for example, those in [[James Robinson (writer)|James Robinson's]] ''[[Starman (Jack Knight)|Starman]]'' series) tried to distinguish between the two Canaries by calling the first "Diana", recent accounts have confirmed Dinah as the mother's given name.

The two Canaries' origin stories were told in full in ''Secret Origins'' (vol. 2) #50 (August 1990). In this story, Dinah Drake is trained by her father, detective Richard Drake, intending to follow him on the Gotham City police force. When she is turned down, her disillusioned father dies shortly afterwards. Determined to honor his memory, Dinah fights crime and corruption by any possible means. She becomes a costumed vigilante, using her inheritance to open a flower shop as her day job.<ref name="dc-ency" /> Dinah marries her lover, private eye Larry Lance, and several years later their daughter, Dinah Laurel Lance, is born (''Birds of Prey'' #66 (June 2004) would establish that they took the name "Laurel" from a librarian Dinah befriended during a case).<ref>{{cite comic|writer=[[Gail Simone|Simone, Gail]]|penciller=[[Michael Golden (comics)|Golden, Michael]]|inker=Manley, Mike; Hanna, Scott; Golden, Michael|story=Sensei & Student Part Five Murder & Mystery|title=[[Birds of Prey (comics)|Birds of Prey]]|issue=66|date=June 2004}}</ref>

A Black Canary miniseries by writer [[Greg Weisman]] and artist [[Mike Sekowsky]] was planned in 1984. Although its first issue was pencilled, the project was [[List of comics solicited but never published|shelved]] due to the character's use in writer-artist [[Mike Grell]]'s high-profile ''[[Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters]]'' series. Elements of the project were used in Weisman's short film, ''[[DC Showcase: Green Arrow]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Wells |first=John |date=February 2011 |title=Failure to Launch: The Black Canary Miniseries That Never Took Flight |journal=Back Issue! |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |issue=46 |pages=45–52}}</ref>

===''The New 52'' version and beyond===
During DC's ''[[The New 52]]'' era which began in 2011, Black Canary was portrayed as a single character with a metahuman Canary Cry resulting from government experiments on an alien child named Ditto. This version of Black Canary founded the Birds of Prey on her own, and led the super-team [[Team 7 (comics)|Team 7]] alongside her husband Kurt Lance, before later becoming lead singer in a rock band called Black Canary. After five years, DC later began to row back on controversial ''New 52'' continuity changes with its ''[[DC Rebirth]]'' initiative, with the narrator of [[Geoff Johns]]' ''DC Rebirth'' #1, [[Wally West]], lamenting, from outside the universe, on how Black Canary and Green Arrow hardly know each other anymore, when they should be husband and wife, as a result of sinister alterations to the timeline. The comic shows the pair briefly meeting, by chance, and then separately staying up at night, contemplating what is missing from their lives. They meet again in ''Green Arrow Rebirth'' #1, and instantly hit it off. As part of ''Rebirth'', Black Canary also re-establishes the traditional Birds of Prey line up with Batgirl and Huntress, and also joins the Justice League of America.

Following subsequent continuity-restoring events in ''[[Doomsday Clock (comics)|Doomsday Clock]]'' and ''[[Dark Nights: Death Metal]]'', the current Black Canary is re-established as being the daughter of her Golden Age predecessor, fully reversing the controversial ''New 52'' changes and bringing an end to the distinctive ''New 52'' version of the character.<ref>{{cite web |last=Herbison |first=Andrew |date=19 August 2021 |title=Batman: Urban Legends Quietly Revives a Major Justice Society Legacy |url=https://www.cbr.com/batman-black-canary-mother-infinite-frontier/ |accessdate=19 August 2021 |work=[[Comic Book Resources]]}}</ref> The largely erased ''New 52'' versions of the DC heroes were established as residing on Earth-52 in the comic book miniseries ''Doomsday Clock''.<ref>"Discouraged of Man", ''Doomsday Clock'' #12,	[[Geoff Johns]], [[Gary Frank (artist)|Gary Frank]], [[Brad Anderson (colorist)|Brad Anderson]],	December 18, 2019</ref>

During the ''[[DC Rebirth]]'' era, Black Canary is handpicked by [[Batman]] to become a member of the ''Justice League of America'' to fight against a group of Extremists along with [[Vixen (comics)|Vixen]], [[Lobo (DC Comics)|Lobo]], [[Killer Frost]], [[Ray (DC Comics)|Ray]], and [[Atom (character)|Atom]].

In the [[Dawn of DC]] era, Black Canary leads an all-new team of [[Birds of Prey (team)|Birds of Prey]]. Some of the members are [[Harley Quinn]], [[Big Barda]] and [[Zealot (Wildstorm)|Zealot]].

In 2024, Black Canary received a solo series, ''Black Canary: Best of the Best'', where she battles [[Lady Shiva]] for the title of the world's most skilled martial artist.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooke |first=David |date=August 14, 2024 |title=New ''Black Canary: Best of the Best'' miniseries announced |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2024/08/14/black-canary-best-of-the-best/ |access-date=December 25, 2024 |website=AIPT Comics |language=en-us}}</ref>

== Character overview ==
A recurring theme within the Black Canary characters is the striking similarities they possess, both in terms of their personalities<ref name="SO-50" /> and fighting styles, even though they were trained by different masters or had different upbringings.<ref name="BC2" /> 

=== Reputation ===
Both iterations of Black Canary are recognized as legacy heroes who have achieved renown for their exceptional skills as world-class detectives and martial artists. Despite operating in different time periods, both characters have earned a reputation as being among the best in the world in their respective fields.<ref name="CE">{{Cite book |last1=Manning |first1=Matthew K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UIW_zQEACAAJ |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia New Edition |last2=Wiacek |first2=Stephen |last3=Scott |first3=Melanie |last4=Jones |first4=Nick |last5=Walker |first5=Landry Q. |date=2021-07-20 |publisher=National Geographic Books |isbn=978-0-7440-2056-4 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="SO-50" /> The martial arts skills of the second Black Canary are consistently portrayed as highly formidable and widely regarded among the best in the world. Within her publication history, she has faced notable opponents within the [[DC Universe]], including [[Bronze Tiger]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ostrander |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wOb-CgAAQBAJ |title=Suicide Squad Vol. 2: The Nightshade Odyssey |date=2015-12-15 |publisher=DC |isbn=978-1-4012-6619-6 |language=en}}</ref> [[Cheshire (comics)|Cheshire]],<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Simone |first1=Gail |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pirJKAAACAAJ |title=Sensei and Student |last2=Benes |first2=Ed |date=2004 |publisher=DC Comics |isbn=978-1-84576-027-4 |language=en}}</ref> [[Lady Shiva]], and Rabbit of the Twelve Brothers in Silk, who are considered to be nearly on par with Shiva.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Simone |first1=Gail |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g74cAAAACAAJ |title=Birds of Prey: The Battle Within |last2=Bennett |first2=Joe |date=2006 |publisher=Titan Books |isbn=978-1-84576-352-7 |language=en}}</ref> Additionally, Oracle holds the belief that Black Canary has the potential to defeat [[Batman]] in combat.

== Fictional character biography ==

=== Dinah Drake ===
[[File:Black Canary (Dinah Drake-Lance).png|right|180px|thumb|Dinah Drake as the original Black Canary in ''Justice League of America'' #73 (August 1969).<br>Art by  [[Dick Dillin]] (penciler) and Sid Greene (inker)]]

Dinah Drake made her debut in ''[[Flash Comics]]'' #86 (August 1947) as a supporting character in the "[[Johnny Thunder]]" feature, written by [[Robert Kanigher]] and drawn by [[Carmine Infantino]]. She initially appeared as a villain.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wallace|first1= Daniel|editor-last=Dolan|editor-first=Hannah|chapter= 1940s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2010|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 55 |quote = Debuting as a supporting character in a six-page Johnny Thunder feature written by Robert Kanigher and penciled by Carmine Infantino, Dinah Drake [the Black Canary] was originally presented as a villain.}}</ref> Johnny is instantly infatuated with her, and is reproached by his Thunderbolt. Dinah is later revealed to have been infiltrating a criminal gang.

In ''Flash Comics'' #92 (February 1948) she has her own anthology feature, "Black Canary", replacing "Johnny Thunder".<ref>{{cite book|last= Daniels|first= Les|author-link= Les Daniels|chapter= The Also-Rans: Trapped in the Back of the Book|title= DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes|publisher= [[Little, Brown and Company|Bulfinch Press]]|year= 1995|location= New York, New York|page= 86|isbn= 0821220764|quote= [Carmine] Infantino and writer Robert Kanigher were evidently tired of Johnny Thunder's comical antics and eager to promote the Black Canary, who in February 1948 bumped Johnny from both ''Flash Comics'' and the Justice Society stories in ''All Star Comics''.}}</ref> The new series fleshed out Black Canary's backstory: Dinah Drake was a black-haired florist in love with Larry Lance,<ref name="Markstein"/> a [[Gotham City Police Department]] detective. She first meets the [[Justice Society of America]] in ''[[All Star Comics]]'' #38 (December 1947-January 1948),<ref name="Dolan p. 57"/> joining them in ''All Star Comics'' #41 (June–July 1948).<ref>{{cite book|last= Thomas|first= Roy| author-link= Roy Thomas|chapter= The Golden Age of the Justice Society|title= All-Star Companion ''Volume 1''|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|year= 2000|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|isbn= 1-893905-055|pages= 150–151}}</ref> Black Canary's foes include criminal circus act Carno and His Masked Riders, and the Sacred Order of the Crimson Crystal.<ref name="High Rock Press"/>

Black Canary was revived with the other [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] characters during the 1960s. In these stories, it is retroactively established she lives on the parallel world of [[Earth-Two|Earth-2]] (home of DC's Golden Age versions of its characters) in Ireland. Married to Larry Lance since the 1950s, Dinah participates in annual team-ups between the Justice Society and [[Earth-1]]'s [[Justice League|Justice League of America]].<ref name="Markstein" />

In a 1969 JLA/JSA team-up against the rogue star-creature Aquarius, who banished Earth-2's inhabitants (except the JSA) to another dimension, Larry Lance is killed saving Dinah's life and Aquarius is defeated.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Dennis O'Neil|O'Neil, Dennis]]|penciller= [[Dick Dillin|Dillin, Dick]]|inker= [[Sid Greene|Greene, Sid]]|story= Where Death Fears to Tread|title= [[Justice League|Justice League of America]]|issue= 74|date= September 1969}}</ref> Grief-stricken, Canary moves to Earth-1 and joins the Justice League. She begins a relationship with JLA colleague [[Green Arrow]] and discovers that she has developed an ultrasonic scream, the "canary cry."<ref name="McAvennie p. 135">McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 135: "November [1969] saw Black Canary both relocate and develop her 'canary cry'...The crime-fighting beauty at the behest of writer Denny O'Neil and artist Dick Dillin, left the JSA on Earth-2 to join the JLA on Earth-1."</ref>

Black Canary teams with [[Batman]] five times in ''[[The Brave and the Bold]]''<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Bob Haney|Haney, Bob]]|penciller= [[Nick Cardy|Cardy, Nick]]|inker= Cardy, Nick|story= A Cold Corpse for the Collector|title= [[The Brave and the Bold]]|issue= 91|date= August–September 1970}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Haney, Bob|penciller= [[Jim Aparo|Aparo, Jim]]|inker= Aparo, Jim|story= The Warrior in a Wheel-Chair|title= The Brave and the Bold|issue= 100|date= February–March 1972}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Haney, Bob|penciller= Aparo, Jim|inker= Aparo, Jim|story= The 3-Million Dollar Sky|title= The Brave and the Bold|issue= 107|date= June–July 1973}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Haney, Bob|penciller= Aparo, Jim|inker= Aparo, Jim|story= Pay -- or Die!|title= The Brave and the Bold|issue= 141|date= May–June 1978}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Michael Fleisher|Fleisher, Michael]]|penciller= [[Dick Giordano|Giordano, Dick]]|inker= [[Terry Austin (comics)|Austin, Terry]]|story= Requiem for 4 Canaries!|title= The Brave and the Bold|issue= 166|date= September 1980}}</ref> and once with [[Superman]] in ''[[DC Comics Presents]]''.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Gerry Conway|Conway, Gerry]]|penciller= [[Curt Swan|Swan, Curt]]|inker= [[Vince Colletta|Colletta, Vince]]|story= A Dream of Demons!|title= [[DC Comics Presents]]|issue= 30|date= February 1981}}</ref> Appearing frequently as a guest in the "Green Arrow" backup feature of ''[[Action Comics]]'',<ref name="Kingman">{{cite journal|last = Kingman|first = Jim|title = The Ballad of Ollie and Dinah|journal= [[Back Issue!]]|issue = 64|pages = 10–21|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = May 2013|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> she was a backup feature in ''[[World's Finest Comics]]'' #244 (April–May 1977) to #256 (April–May 1979) (when the title was in [[Dollar Comics]] format).<ref>{{cite journal|last= Romero|first= Max|title= I'll Buy That For a Dollar! DC Comics' Dollar Comics|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 57|pages= 39–41|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= July 2012|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> Black Canary's backstory was featured in ''[[DC Special Series]]'' #10 (April 1978).<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Conway, Gerry|penciller= [[Mike Vosburg|Vosburg, Mike]]|inker= Austin, Terry|story= The Canary Is a Bird of Prey|title= [[DC Special Series]]|issue= 10|date= April 1978}}</ref> After the "Black Canary" feature in ''World's Finest Comics'', she appears as a guest in its "Green Arrow" feature and in ''[[Detective Comics]]''.<ref name="Kingman" />

A story in ''Justice League of America'' #219-220 (October and November 1983) served to explain the origin of Black Canary's new sonic scream powers, and further, why she continued to appear youthful despite being active since the late 1940s (thereby making her nearly 60 years old). It was established that during the 1950s, she and Larry had a daughter, [[Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance)|Dinah Laurel Lance]], who was cursed by the [[Wizard (DC Comics)|Wizard]] with a devastating sonic scream. Her mother hoped that Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt could cure her, but the Thunderbolt was only able to keep the younger Dinah in suspended animation in his own dimension. To ease their pain, the Thunderbolt altered the memories of the tragedy, leaving all to believe Dinah's daughter had simply died. Following the battle with Aquarius, Dinah discovered she was dying from radiation exposure, and she asked to see her daughter's grave one last time. Shown the body of her daughter—still in suspended animation, but now grown to adulthood—Dinah wished that she could somehow be her successor. The Superman of Earth-1 and the Thunderbolt conceived a solution and transferred Dinah's memories into her daughter's body so that she could continue fighting as the Black Canary.<ref name="Markstein" /><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Thomas, Roy; Conway, Gerry|penciller= [[Chuck Patton|Patton, Chuck]]|inker= [[Romeo Tanghal|Tanghal, Romeo]]|story= Crisis in the Thunderbolt Dimension!|title= Justice League of America|issue= 219|date= October 1983}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Thomas, Roy|penciller= Patton, Chuck|inker= Tanghal, Romeo; [[Pablo Marcos|Marcos, Pablo]]|story= The Doppelganger Gambit|title= Justice League of America|issue= 220|date= November 1983}}</ref>

A Black Canary miniseries by writer [[Greg Weisman]] and artist [[Mike Sekowsky]] was planned in 1984. Although its first issue was pencilled, the project was [[List of comics solicited but never published|shelved]] due to the character's use in writer-artist [[Mike Grell]]'s high-profile ''[[Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters]]'' series. Elements of the project were used in Weisman's short film, ''[[DC Showcase: Green Arrow]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|last= Wells|first= John|title= Failure to Launch: The Black Canary Miniseries That Never Took Flight |journal= Back Issue!|issue= 46|pages= 45–52|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= February 2011|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref>

When DC rebooted its continuity with [[The New 52]], the character was amalgamated with Dinah Laurel Lance, and took the name Dinah Drake.<ref name="BoPN52#3">{{cite comic| writer= Swiercynski, Duane|penciller= Molenaar, Romand|inker= Cifuentes, Vicente|story= First Flight|title= Birds of Prey|volume= 3|issue= 0|date= November 2012}}</ref> The Golden Age Black Canary was restored to continuity in the lead-up to DC's [[Infinite Frontier]] initiative.<ref name="Herbison">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/batman-black-canary-mother-infinite-frontier/|title=Batman: Urban Legends Quietly Revives a Major Justice Society Legacy|work=[[Comic Book Resources]]|last=Herbison|first=Andrew|date=19 August 2021|accessdate=19 August 2021}}</ref>

==== Origin ====
Dinah was born to Richard Drake, an Irish detective in Gotham City, and an unnamed mother who died the early years of her marriage to Richard. This occurred in the early-to-mid 1900s, a time before corruption was deeply rooted in the city. Richard trained Dinah from a young age, hoping that she would follow in his footsteps and become a policewoman. They both aspired to combat the growing corruption and seek justice for Richard's late wife. In her later years, Dinah developed a connection with Larry Lance, her father's younger partner. She aimed to join the police academy, with the intention of helping her father and Larry in their efforts. However, despite her contributions, her application to the GCPD Police Academy was rejected. Both Dinah and Larry became disillusioned with the department. Richard suspected misogyny and was angered by the proposal of an administrative job for Dinah, feeling that the department did not want another honest member of their family in law enforcement. Richard died due to a heart attack. Inspired by the actions of "mystery men," Dinah decided to adopt the persona of the vigilante known as "Black Canary." Initially, she trusted no one and assumed the guise of a criminal, targeting other criminals. In her civilian life, she pursued a career as a florist, seemingly abandoning her earlier desire to work in law enforcement.<ref name="dc-ency" />

==== Earlier exploits as Black Canary ====
In her early appearances, Black Canary made her initial debut as a supposed villain in the presence of hero Johnny Thunder. Johnny becomes immediately infatuated with her, much to the disapproval of his Thunderbolt companion. However, it is later revealed that Dinah had actually infiltrated a criminal gang, shedding light on her true intentions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wallace |first1=Daniel |title=DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle |editor-last=Dolan |editor-first=Hannah|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7566-6742-9 |location=London, United Kingdom |page=55 |chapter=1940s |quote=Debuting as a supporting character in a six-page Johnny Thunder feature written by Robert Kanigher and penciled by Carmine Infantino, Dinah Drake [the Black Canary] was originally presented as a villain.}}</ref> In her own anthology feature, the character is portrayed as a black-haired florist who harbors romantic feelings for Larry Lance, a detective with the Gotham City Police Department.<ref>{{cite book |last=Daniels |first=Les |title=DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company|Bulfinch Press]] |year=1995 |isbn=0821220764 |location=New York, New York |page=86 |chapter=The Also-Rans: Trapped in the Back of the Book |quote=[Carmine] Infantino and writer Robert Kanigher were evidently tired of Johnny Thunder's comical antics and eager to promote the Black Canary, who in February 1948 bumped Johnny from both ''Flash Comics'' and the Justice Society stories in ''All Star Comics''. |author-link=Les Daniels}}</ref> Eventually, she would meet the Justice Society of America and joined them among her ranks. As a hero, her foes included the criminal circus act Carno and His Masked Riders, and the Sacred Order of the Crimson Crystal.<ref name="High Rock Press"/>

Black Canary was revived with the other [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] characters during the 1960s. In these stories, it is retroactively established she lives on the parallel world of [[Earth-Two|Earth-2]] (home of DC's Golden Age versions of its characters) in Ireland. Married to Larry Lance since the 1950s, Dinah participates in annual team-ups between the Justice Society and [[Earth-1]]'s [[Justice League|Justice League of America]].<ref name="Markstein" /> In a 1969 JLA/JSA team-up against the rogue star-creature Aquarius, who banished Earth-2's inhabitants (except the JSA) to another dimension, Larry Lance is killed saving Dinah's life and Aquarius is defeated.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=[[Dennis O'Neil|O'Neil, Dennis]]|penciller=[[Dick Dillin|Dillin, Dick]]|inker=[[Sid Greene|Greene, Sid]]|story=Where Death Fears to Tread|title=[[Justice League|Justice League of America]]|issue=74|date=September 1969}}</ref> Grief-stricken, Canary moves to Earth-1 and joins the Justice League. She begins a relationship with JLA colleague [[Green Arrow]] and discovers that she has developed an ultrasonic scream, the "canary cry."<ref name="McAvennie p. 135"/>

A story in ''Justice League of America'' #219-220 (October and November 1983) served to explain the origin of Black Canary's new sonic scream powers, and further, why she continued to appear youthful despite being active since the late 1940s (thereby making her nearly 60 years old). It was established that during the 1950s, she and Larry had a daughter, [[Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance)|Dinah Laurel Lance]], who was cursed by the [[Wizard (DC Comics)|Wizard]] with a devastating sonic scream. Her mother hoped that Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt could cure her, but the Thunderbolt was only able to keep the younger Dinah in suspended animation in his own dimension. To ease their pain, the Thunderbolt altered the memories of the tragedy, leaving all to believe Dinah's daughter had simply died. Following the battle with Aquarius, Dinah discovered she was dying from radiation exposure, and she asked to see her daughter's grave one last time. Shown the body of her daughter—still in suspended animation, but now grown to adulthood—Dinah wished that her daughter could somehow be her successor. The Superman of Earth-1 and the Thunderbolt conceived a solution and transferred Dinah's memories into her daughter's body so that she could continue fighting as the Black Canary.<ref name="Markstein" /><ref>{{cite comic|writer=Thomas, Roy; Conway, Gerry|penciller=[[Chuck Patton|Patton, Chuck]]|inker=[[Romeo Tanghal|Tanghal, Romeo]]|story=Crisis in the Thunderbolt Dimension!|title=Justice League of America|issue=219|date=October 1983}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic|writer=Thomas, Roy|penciller=Patton, Chuck|inker=Tanghal, Romeo; [[Pablo Marcos|Marcos, Pablo]]|story=The Doppelganger Gambit|title=Justice League of America|issue=220|date=November 1983}}</ref>

==== Revised history and death ====
Following the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, the character's history underwent significant changes. Eventually, Dinah and Larry Lance married once again and established a private law firm in Gotham City. They welcomed the birth of their daughter, Dinah Laurel Lance, who would later aspire to become a superhero. Dinah herself retired from her own heroic endeavors and focused on raising her daughter. The members of the Justice Society of America became like a second family to them.<ref name="SO-50">{{Cite book |title=Secret Origin #50 |publisher=[[DC Comics]] |year=1990}}</ref> However, Dinah held a contrasting view when it came to her daughter's desire to become a hero. She vehemently opposed it, which led to arguments between them. It was during one of these arguments that young Dinah first manifested her metahuman ability known as the "Canary Cry." Despite their strained relationship, her daughter went on to become a hero as Black Canary within the Justice League.<ref name="SO-50" />

Tragedy struck when Larry Lance was killed by an alien entity that targeted the older Dinah. This event caused Dinah to become bitter and she pleaded with her daughter to give up her life as a hero, fearing further loss. She contracted cancer from the same entity that claimed her husband's life, leading to her hospitalization. Before dying, Dinah apologized to her daughter for her actions, recognizing the similarities between them and reflecting on her own father. She acknowledged how alike they were and expressed remorse. In her final moments, she entrusted Green Arrow, her daughter's lover, with looking after her. As she departed from this world, Spectre, a teammate, escorted her into the afterlife, where she eagerly anticipated reuniting with her parents and husband once more.<ref name="SO-50" />

==== New 52 and onward ====
During a certain period, the character's history was merged with that of her daughter, both assuming the name Dinah Drake. However, in preparation for DC's Infinite Frontier initiative, the original Golden Age Black Canary was reintroduced into continuity.<ref name="BoPN52#3"/> In this new continuity, although similarities from her prior history are present, the identity of Dinah Drake II's father remains undisclosed, as the character Larry Lance was temporarily replaced by Kurt Lance during the amalgamation period before his history is retroactively added to Dinah Drake II's history. Due the alterations after the New 52, it was retconned that the composite Dinah's (now Dinah II) mother is retroactively Dinah Drake I.

In this history, originally depicted as a teenage mother, she found herself unable to adequately care for her daughter and made the difficult decision to abandon her at a young age. However, this truth remained unknown from the younger Dinah until a later point in her life, who instead believed she was abandoned.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Azzarello |first1=Brian |url=https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Secret_Origins_Vol_2?id=Yf0qCgAAQBAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US |title=Secret Origins Vol. 2 |last2=Lemire |first2=Jeff |last3=Venditti |first3=Robert |last4=Bunn |first4=Cullen |last5=Seeley |first5=Tim |last6=King |first6=Tom |date=2015-08-18 |publisher=DC |isbn=978-1-4012-6181-8 |language=en}}</ref>  Further details emerged about the older Dinah's life as the first Black Canary. She was widely recognized as a highly skilled martial artist, and she partnered with her unnamed husband, who worked as a private investigator in Gotham. At one point, she even founded her own martial arts group. To protect her daughter, Dinah made the difficult decision to leave her behind and assumed various disguises, including working as a florist and a dancer. Tragedy struck when her husband was killed during a confrontation with their adversary, Ravanahatha. In response, Dinah unleashed her unique martial arts technique known as the "Five Heavens Palm," which proved instrumental in defeating the formidable demon. In a mysterious manner, she managed to pass down the knowledge of this technique to her daughter, which later became crucial when her daughter faced the same demon in battle.<ref name="BC2">{{Cite book |last=Fletcher |first=Brenden |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jd_1vQAACAAJ |title=Black Canary 2: New Killer Star |date=2016-11-29 |publisher=Turtleback |isbn=978-0-606-39486-4 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Dinah Laurel Lance ===
[[File:DETECTIVE COMICS (1937-) 554.jpeg|thumb|right|200px|Cover of ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #554 (September 1985); art by [[Klaus Janson]], which homages [[Carmine Infantino]]'s cover for ''[[Flash Comics]]'' #92 (February 1948).]]
Following the universe-altering events of ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'' (concluding in March 1986), Black Canary's history was revised again. The mind-transplant story of 1983 was discarded; in this version of the story, the present-day Black Canary is Dinah Laurel Lance, who inherits the identity from her mother, Dinah Drake Lance. Although some references (for example, those in [[James Robinson (writer)|James Robinson's]] ''[[Starman (Jack Knight)|Starman]]'' series) tried to distinguish the two Canaries by calling the first "Diana", recent accounts have confirmed Dinah as the mother's given name.

The two Canaries' origin stories were told in full in ''Secret Origins'' #50 (August 1990). In this story, Dinah Drake is trained by her Irish father, detective Richard Drake, intending to follow him on the Gotham City police force. When she is turned down, her disillusioned father dies shortly afterwards. Determined to honor his memory, Dinah fights crime and corruption by any possible means. She becomes a costumed vigilante, using her inheritance to open a flower shop as her day job.<ref name="dc-ency">{{Cite book|last= Beatty|first= Scott|author-link= Scott Beatty| contribution= Black Canary|editor-last= Dougall|editor-first= Alastair|title= The DC Comics Encyclopedia|page= 50|publisher= [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year= 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1}}</ref> Dinah marries her lover, private eye Larry Lance, and several years later their daughter, Dinah Laurel Lance, is born (''Birds of Prey'' #66 (June 2004) would establish that they took the name "Laurel" from a librarian Dinah befriended during a case<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Gail Simone|Simone, Gail]]|penciller= [[Michael Golden (comics)|Golden, Michael]]|inker= Manley, Mike; Hanna, Scott; Golden, Michael|story= Sensei & Student Part Five Murder & Mystery|title= [[Birds of Prey (comics)|Birds of Prey]]|issue= 66|date=June 2004}}</ref>).

The younger Dinah has her own "canary cry"—in this version, the result of a [[metagene]] absent from both her parents—which (unlike the Silver Age Black Canary) she can control.<ref name="dc-ency" /> Growing up surrounded by her mother's friends in the disbanded JSA (seeing them as uncles and aunts), she wishes to be a costumed hero like her mother, but the elder Dinah discourages her, feeling that the world has become too dangerous for her daughter to succeed. Regardless, Dinah finds fighters (including former JSA member [[Wildcat (DC Comics)|Wildcat]]) who help her hone her skills, and after years of dedication and training, she assumes the mantle of Black Canary despite her mother's opposition. Like her mother, Dinah operates out of Gotham, with a day job in the family floral business.

In an early ''Birds of Prey'' issue, writer [[Chuck Dixon]] has Dinah briefly married and divorced at a young age. Although ex-husband Craig Windrow seems to need her help, he actually wants to reconcile after he embezzles from the mob.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Chuck Dixon|Dixon, Chuck]]|penciller= Giordano, Dick|inker= Faucher, Wayne|story= |title= Birds of Prey: Wolves|issue= 1|date= 1997}}</ref> Dinah's early marriage and ex-husband are not mentioned again until the 2007 ''Black Canary'' [[Limited series (comics)|limited series]].

After joining the Justice League, Dinah meets [[Green Arrow]] (Oliver Queen). Although she dislikes him at first, they become romantically involved despite their age difference; opposite the earlier depiction, in the [[Modern Age of Comic Books|Modern Age]] stories, Oliver is considerably older than Dinah. Dinah is a League member for about six years, including a brief stint with [[Justice League International]] (JLI, which she helps found). After her mother's death from radiation poisoning received during her battle with Aquarius, Dinah feels that her time in the JLA is over. She moves to Seattle with Green Arrow and opens a flower shop, Sherwood Florist.

When Dinah belonged to the JLI during the 1980s, she wore a new costume, a blue-and-black full-body jumpsuit with a bird motif and a slightly looser fit instead of her traditional, skin-tight black outfit with fishnet stockings. The change was poorly received and short-lived, and later artists restored her original look.<ref name="Kingman"/>

==== ''Birds of Prey'' ====
[[File:Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance).png|thumb|left|160px|Dinah Laurel Lance as the modern iteration of Black Canary. Art by [[Barry Kitson]].]]
{{main|Birds of Prey (team)}}

When former Batgirl [[Barbara Gordon]] is [[Batman: The Killing Joke|seriously injured]] by the [[Joker (character)|Joker]], she reestablishes her crime-fighting career as Oracle, information broker to the superhero community. After briefly working with the [[Suicide Squad]], she forms a covert-mission team. Since Barbara thinks that of all the superheroes Dinah has the most potential, Oracle asks Black Canary to become an operative.<ref name="dc-ency" /><ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Dolan, p. 286: "Oracle and Black Canary were finally rewarded with their own ongoing series by scripter Chuck Dixon and penciller Greg Land."</ref>

Black Canary reinvents herself, trading her blonde wig for bleached blonde hair. Her relationship with Oracle is rocky at first, since her impulsiveness clashes with Oracle's organization. Gradually, they learn to work together and became friends. When Oracle flees from [[Blockbuster (DC Comics)|Blockbuster]], Dinah rescues her and meets Barbara Gordon,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Dixon, Chuck|penciller= [[Jackson Guice|Guice, Jackson]]|inker= Guice, Jackson|story= Part Four: The Deep|title= Birds of Prey|issue= 21|date= September 2000}}</ref> deepening their friendship.

''[[Infinite Crisis]]'' gives Earth a new timeline, with [[Wonder Woman]] again a founding member of the Justice League. In a  Week 51 back-up feature of ''[[52 (comics)|52]]'', Black Canary is at the battle which forms the League. Its core is Black Canary, [[Hal Jordan|Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)]], the [[Martian Manhunter]], the [[Flash (Barry Allen)]], [[Aquaman]], [[Superman]], [[Batman]] and Wonder Woman. In the 2007 ''Black Canary'' miniseries, she and Green Arrow join the Justice League after its founding and are tested by founding member Batman early in their membership.

During publication of the ''Infinite Crisis'' limited series, most [[DC Universe]] comic books advanced one year. After this "[[One Year Later (comics)|One Year Later]]" jump, Dinah trades life experiences with [[Lady Shiva]] to soften the warrior and begins a harsh training regimen in an unidentified Vietnamese [[shanty town]]. The regimen replicates Shiva's early life and training, and Shiva assumes Dinah's role in Oracle's group.

During ''[[Countdown to Final Crisis|Countdown]]'', several series include tie-ins and run-ups to the wedding of Dinah and Ollie.<ref>Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 331: "Two of DC's best-loved characters were married in the ''Green Arrow and Black Canary Wedding Special'' - or so it seemed."</ref> ''The Black Canary Wedding Planner'' details the preparations; in ''Birds of Prey'' #109, Dinah and Barbara discuss the wedding (and Ollie). ''Countdown: Justice League Wedding Special'', and ''Justice League'' #13 deal with the bachelor and bachelorette parties. A plot thread throughout is a plan by the [[Injustice League]] to attack the wedding.

Dinah resigns as JLA chairwoman after the team's confrontation with the [[Shadow Cabinet (comics)|Shadow Cabinet]]. After learning that Ollie began his own Justice League with Hal Jordan, she confronts him when he arrives at the Watchtower to warn her of an attack on the world's superheroes.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[James Robinson (writer)|Robinson, James]]|penciller= [[Mauro Cascioli|Cascioli, Mauro]]|inker= Cascioli, Mauro|story= The Beginning|title= [[Justice League: Cry for Justice]]|issue= 1|date= September 2009}}</ref> [[Prometheus (DC Comics)|Prometheus]] arrives and attacks the team, severing Red Arrow's arm and maneuvering Dinah into the path of an energy bolt fired by [[Starman (Mikaal Tomas)|Mikaal Tomas]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Robinson, James|penciller= Cascioli, Mauro; [[Scott Clark (artist)|Clark, Scott]]|inker= Cascioli, Mauro; Clark, Scott|story= The Lie|title= Justice League: Cry for Justice|issue= 5|date= January 2010}}</ref> After Prometheus is defeated, he destroys [[Star City (comics)|Star City]] with a teleportation device.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Robinson, James|penciller= Clark, Scott|inker= Clark, Scott|story= The Game|title= Justice League: Cry for Justice|issue= 6|date= March 2010}}</ref> In their search for survivors, Dinah and Ollie discover the bloody body of Roy's daughter, Lian.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Robinson, James|penciller= Cascioli, Mauro; Clark, Scott; [[Ibraim Roberson|Roberson, Ibraim]]|inker= Cascioli, Mauro; Clark, Scott; Roberson, Ibraim|story= Justice|title= Justice League: Cry for Justice|issue= 7|date= April 2010}}</ref> Dinah goes to Roy's hospital bedside with [[Donna Troy]] to break the news about his daughter when he emerges from his coma.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Robinson, James|penciller= [[Mark Bagley|Bagley, Mark]]|inker= Hunter, Rob; Alquiza, Marlo; Wong, Walden|story= Team History|title= Justice League of America|volume= 2|issue= 41|date= March 2010}}</ref>

In ''[[Blackest Night]]'', Dinah travels to [[Coast City]] to fight [[Nekron]]'s army of [[Black Lantern Corps|Black Lanterns]]. According to Nekron, he can control the heroes (including Ollie) who have died and been resurrected.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]]|penciller= [[Ivan Reis|Reis, Ivan]]|inker= Albert, Oclair; Prado, Joe|story= What is Nekron?|title= [[Blackest Night]]|issue= 5|date= January 2010}}</ref> Dinah fights her husband, now a Black Lantern, with Mia and Connor. Ollie regains control of his body long enough to miss his wife with a shot which severs a hose containing liquid nitrogen. Dinah orders Connor to use the hose on Ollie, freezing him solid, and the three join the rest of the heroes in battle.<ref name="GA30">{{cite comic| writer= [[J. T. Krul|Krul, J. T.]]|penciller= [[Diogenes Neves|Neves, Diogenes]]|inker= Jose, Ruy;  Cifuentes, Vicente|story= Lying to Myself|title= [[Green Arrow]]|issue= 30|volume= 4|date= April 2010}}</ref>

When Ollie returns to normal, it is discovered that he secretly murdered Prometheus and left his body to rot at his headquarters. After Barry Allen and Hal Jordan confront Ollie and Dinah with the news, Ollie escapes. Dinah, Hal and Barry search the ruins of Star City for him, finding him looking for one of the men who worked for Prometheus. Ollie overpowers them, leaving Dinah in a restraining fluid.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Krul, J. T.|penciller= [[Federico Dallocchio|Dallocchio, Federico]]|inker= Dallocchio, Federico|story= The Fall of Green Arrow|title= Green Arrow|issue= 31|volume= 4|date= May 2010}}</ref> After Green Arrow surrenders for Prometheus' murder, Dinah visits him in jail and realizes that he wants to be left alone. She removes her wedding ring, leaving it with him, and does not attend his trial.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Krul, J. T.|penciller= Dallocchio, Federico|inker= Dallocchio, Federico|story= The Fall of Green Arrow, Part II|title= Green Arrow|issue= 32|volume= 4|date= June 2010}}</ref>

In ''[[Brightest Day]]'', Dinah returns to Gotham in a relaunch of ''Birds of Prey'' with [[Gail Simone]]. In ''Birds of Prey'' #1 (July 2010), she is sent to save a child with [[Lady Blackhawk]]. After receiving a call from [[Barbara Gordon|Oracle]], the team (including [[Huntress (Helena Bertinelli)|Huntress]]) is reunited. They are confronted by a new villainess, [[White Canary]], who has a grudge against Dinah and exposes her civilian identity.<ref name="Birds of Prey">{{cite comic| writer= Simone, Gail|penciller= [[Ed Benes|Benes, Ed]]; Melo, Adriana|inker= Benes, Ed; Benes, Mariah|story= Endrun, Part Two of Four: The Rage of the White Canary|title= Birds of Prey|volume= 2|issue= 2|date= August 2010}}</ref> After capturing White Canary (the vengeful sister of the Twelve Brothers in Silk), Dinah learns that Lady Shiva is behind the attack on the Birds.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Simone, Gail|penciller= Benes, Ed; Melo, Adriana|inker= Benes, Ed; Mayer, J. P.|story= Endrun, Part Four of Four: Impact Fracture|title= Birds of Prey|volume= 2|issue= 4|date= October 2010}}</ref> Dinah and White Canary travel to [[Bangkok]]; when the Birds arrive a short time later, Dinah attacks them dressed as White Canary.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Simone, Gail|penciller= Lee, Alvin; Melo, Adriana|inker= Purcell, Jack; Mayer, J. P.|story= Aftershock Part One of Two: Two Nights in Bangkok|title= Birds of Prey|volume= 2|issue= 5|date= November 2010}}</ref> Later, Dinah reveals that [[Sin (DC Comics)|Sin]]  and her foster parents are being held hostage, their lives threatened unless Dinah challenges Lady Shiva to a fight to the death. Huntress offers to take Dinah's place instead, reasoning that she has too many people who love her. However, this gives Dinah the opportunity to rescue Sin with the help of one of White Canary's students, Terry, and race back to halt the duel between Helena and Shiva. While the duel is understood to be a matter of duty and honor, Dinah brings to their attention that there was no time mentioned and for now the fight must end, and to be resumed at a later time. While White Canary is displeased, Shiva sides with Black Canary and the Birds and the fight is over.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Simone, Gail|penciller= Lee, Alvin; Melo, Adriana|inker= Purcell, Jack; Mayer, J. P.|story= Two Nights in Bangkok, Part Two of Two: Heart of Pain, Life of War|title= Birds of Prey|volume= 2|issue= 6|date= January 2011}}</ref>

==== ''Bloodspell'' ====
Although the Black Canary–[[Zatanna]] graphic novel ''Bloodspell'', written by [[Paul Dini]] and drawn by Joe Quinones, was scheduled for a 2012 release, it was delayed until May 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/black-canary-zatanna-bloodspell-review-dc-comics-joe-quinones-paul-dini/ |title=''Black Canary & Zatanna: Bloodspell'' Is The Finest Crossover To Ever Be Based Entirely Around Fishnet Stockings |first=Chris |last=Sims |date=May 21, 2014 |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|ComicsAlliance]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706050038/http://comicsalliance.com/black-canary-zatanna-bloodspell-review-dc-comics-joe-quinones-paul-dini/ |archive-date=July 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The story centers around the meeting of 16-year-old Dinah and Zatanna.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/05/paul-dini-and-joe-quinones-working-on-zatannablack-canary-team-up/|title= Paul Dini, Joe Quinones working on Zatanna/Black Canary team-up|first= Chris|last= Arrant|date= May 12, 2011|website= [[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140202232843/http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/05/paul-dini-and-joe-quinones-working-on-zatannablack-canary-team-up/|archive-date= February 2, 2014|url-status= live}}</ref>

==== New 52 onward ====
During DC's [[The New 52]] era which began in 2011, Black Canary was portrayed as a single character with a metahuman Canary Cry resulting from government experiments. However, DC later began to row back on controversial New 52 continuity changes with its [[DC Rebirth]] initiative, with the narrator of [[Geoff Johns]]' ''DC Rebirth'' #1, [[Wally West]] lamenting, from outside the universe, on how Black Canary and Green Arrow hardly know each other any more, when they should be husband and wife, as a result of sinister alterations to the timeline. The comic shows the pair briefly meeting, by chance, and then separately staying up at night, contemplating what is missing from their lives. They meet again in ''Green Arrow Rebirth'' #1, and instantly hit it off. In the ensuing ''Green Arrow'' series, Dinah is the first to notice something awry with Oliver's apparent suicide (in fact, an attempted assassination by [[Shado (comics)|Shado]]) and disappearance. She is also a current member of the Birds of Prey, as well as the Justice League of America. In ''Birds of Prey: Rebirth'', it is revealed that Dinah and Barbara ([[Batgirl]]) have been good friends for a few years now, while just meeting Helena Bertinelli (Huntress). In ''Justice League of America'', she is seen fighting Caitlin Snow ([[Killer Frost]]), and is later recruited by [[Batman]] due to the skills she possesses.

Following subsequent continuity-restoring events in ''[[Doomsday Clock (comics)|Doomsday Clock]]'' and ''[[Dark Nights: Death Metal]]'', the current Black Canary is re-established as being the daughter of her Golden Age predecessor, fully reversing the controversial New 52 changes.<ref name="Herbison"/>

== Powers and abilities ==

=== Black Canary I ===
The original Black Canary character did not possess inherent superhuman powers but demonstrated exceptional martial arts skills and investigative abilities that were in line with those of law enforcement officers.<ref name="SO-50" /> She was proficient in various martial arts disciplines, such as [[Judo]]<ref name="SO-50" /> and a unique variation of [[chinese martial arts]]. Notably, she developed a technique called the "Five Heavens Palm," which was described as a method that harnessed a form of energy accessible to master martial artists (likely [[qi]]). The resulting attack was capable of inflicting damage on supernatural entities.<ref name="BC2" />

She wears a choker necklace with a locket that serves multiple purposes. When activated, the locket can release a small knife or a smoke pellet. Additionally, it contains various other items, including an expandable sticky web, sneezing powder, and a converging lens. She can also train black canaries to do tricks.

=== Black Canary II ===
The second Black Canary is highly proficient in [[covert operation]]s, [[military operation]]s, and [[Detective|investigation]].<ref name="CE" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Goyer |first1=David S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CSM1DwAAQBAJ&q=JSA+Secret+Files |title=JSA Secret Files (1999-) #1 |last2=Robinson |first2=James |last3=Marz |first3=Ron |date=2017-09-23 |publisher=DC Comics |language=en}}</ref> She is also a master martial artist with knowledge and training in many different martial art disciplines: [[Aikido]],<ref>''Black Canary'' (vol. 3) #2 (September 2007)</ref> [[Boxing]], [[Capoeira]], [[Defendu]], [[Hapkido]], [[Judo]],<ref>''Green Arrow Annual'' (vol. 2) #1 (September 1988)</ref><ref>''Batman: Secret Files and Origins'' #1 (October 1997)</ref><ref name="BlackCanaryMartialArts">''Birds of Prey'' #58 (October 2003)</ref> [[Jujutsu]], [[Jeet Kune Do]],  [[Karate]], [[Kickboxing]], [[Kung Fu]], [[Krav Maga]], [[Muay Thai]], [[Savate]], [[Taekwondo]], [[Okinawan martial arts|Shuri-te]],<ref name="BlackCanaryMartialArts" /> [[Wing Chun]],<ref>''JSA'' #14 (September 2000)</ref> and can utilize the Five Heavens Palm & Pressure Point techniques.<ref name="BC2" /> These abilities have positioned her as a valuable leader within multiple superhero teams due to her tactical and strategic mind and abilities.<ref name="CG">{{Cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Melanie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xC2ADwAAQBAJ&q=DC+Comics+Ultimate+Character |title=DC Comics Ultimate Character Guide New Edition |last2=DK |date=2019-03-12 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-4654-8639-4 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="CE" /> She is also a talented musician and singer.<ref name="CG" />

Unlike her predecessor, the second Black Canary is a [[metahuman]] who possesses a unique ability known as the '''Canary Cry'''. This power enables her to emit ultrasonic vibrations through a powerful scream, capable of causing destruction to objects in her vicinity.<ref name="CE" /><ref name="CG" /> The Canary Cry has been portrayed as possessing tenfold the capabilities of typical sonic weapons, with the ability to break metals and generate enough resonance to impact and shatter the Earth.<ref name="Birds of Prey" /> She can also glide and propel herself across long distances by screaming downwards.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Swierczynski, Duane|penciller=Foreman, Travel|inker=Foreman, Travel|story=Heat Seekers|title=Birds of Prey|volume=3|issue=10|date=August 2012}}</ref>

==Other versions==

* On [[Earth-3]], an evil equivalent of Black Canary called '''White Cat''' is a member of the supervillain co-op called the [[Crime Syndicate|Crime Society of America]].<ref>''JLA: Earth-2'' (2000)</ref><ref>''Countdown'' No. #31 (September, 2007)</ref>

* A version of Black Canary from [[Earth 3]] named '''Black Siren''' was introduced in the DC Comics canon in ''Crime Syndicate'' #2, as one of the villains controlled by [[Starro]] who eventually joined the [[Crime Syndicate]]. In ''Suicide Squad'' (vol. 7) #7, she became a member of [[Suicide Squad|Task Force X]] under the orders of [[Amanda Waller]].<ref>''Crime Syndicate'' #1-6. DC Comics.</ref><ref>''War for Earth-3'' #1-2. DC Comics.</ref> Previously, the name Black Siren had been used for alternate-Earth versions of Black Canary appearing in the [[Justice Guild of America]] on ''Justice League''<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Black Siren / Donna Vance Voice - Justice League (TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Justice-League/Black-Siren-Donna-Vance/ |access-date=July 21, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref> and in the Arrowverse.<ref name="What We Leave Behind ep" /> Black Siren was also based on Scream Queen from ''[[Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths]]''.{{fact|date=May 2025}}

== In other media ==
{{Main|Black Canary in other media}}

The Black Canary has appeared in several adaptations of DC properties based on the comic books.

=== DC Animated Universe ===
Black Canary's doppelganger Black Siren aka '''Donna Nance''' was originally introduced in the ''[[Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]'' animated series two-part episode "Legends", voiced by [[Jennifer Hale]].<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Black Siren / Donna Vance Voice - Justice League (TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Justice-League/Black-Siren-Donna-Vance/ |access-date=July 21, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>  She is the only female a member of the [[Justice Guild of America]], and takes it upon herself to handle the household chores and duties. She is often paired with Cat Man on missions, being implied that they are also romantically engaged. It was later revelead that she died amidst a nuclear war in her world, who is viewed as fiction by inhabitants of the "prime" universe.<ref name="toonzone">{{Cite web |title=The Justice League Watchtower: The Justice Guild of America |url=http://jl.toonzone.net/justiceguild/justiceguild.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417080647/http://jl.toonzone.net/justiceguild/justiceguild.htm |archive-date=2018-04-17 |access-date=2006-05-15}}</ref>

=== Arrowverse ===
{{Main|Black Siren (Arrowverse)}}

A version of Black Siren from [[Earth-Two|Earth-2]] named '''[[Laurel Lance (Arrowverse)#Laurel Lance (Earth-2)|Dinah Laurel Lance]]''' appeared in the [[Arrowverse]] originally as a minor villain in ''The Flash'' season 2, portrayed by [[Katie Cassidy]]. She later became a recurring and later main character in the later seasons of Arrow.<ref>{{cite episode |title=What We Leave Behind |series=Arrow |network=The CW |season=5 |number=9}}</ref> She debuted in ''The Flash'' episode "Invincible" as a [[metahuman]] enforcer for [[Hunter Zolomon (Arrowverse)|Zoom]] who was eventually captured by Team Flash and imprisoned in [[S.T.A.R. Labs]]' pipeline.<ref name="Black Siren 1">{{Cite magazine |last=Abrams |first=Natalie |date=April 4, 2016 |title=Arrow's Katie Cassidy to appear on The Flash, Vixen |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/04/04/arrow-katie-cassidy-flash-vixen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406110700/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/04/04/arrow-katie-cassidy-flash-vixen |archive-date=April 6, 2016 |access-date=April 4, 2016 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref><ref name="Invincible">{{Cite episode |title=Invincible |episode-link=Invincible (The Flash) |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=May 17, 2016 |season=2 |number=22}}</ref> In ''Arrow'', she was broken out by [[Prometheus (Arrowverse)|Prometheus]] to help him seek revenge on Green Arrow. In time, she would eventually defect to the latter's side and become Black Canary of Earth-2.<ref name="What We Leave Behind ep">{{Cite episode |title=What We Leave Behind |episode-link=What We Leave Behind (Arrow) |series=Arrow |series-link=Arrow (TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=December 7, 2016 |season=5 |number=9}}</ref><ref name="Who Are You? ep">{{Cite episode |title=Who Are You? |episode-link=Who Are You? (Arrow) |series=Arrow |series-link=Arrow (TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=January 25, 2017 |season=5 |number=10}}</ref><ref name="You Have Saved This City">{{Cite episode |title=You Have Saved This City |episode-link=You Have Saved This City |series=Arrow |series-link=Arrow (TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=May 13, 2019 |season=8 |number=22}}</ref>
*An Earth-X incarnation of Laurel Lance called '''Siren-X''' (also portrayed by Cassidy) appears in The Flash episode "Fury Rogue", as a Nazi metahuman with [[Human echolocation|echolocation]] and a member of the New Reichsmen.<ref name="Siren-X 1">{{Cite episode |title=Fury Rogue |episode-link=Fury Rogue |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=April 24, 2018 |season=4 |number=19}}</ref>

==Reception==
The Black Canary is ranked the 71st-greatest comic book character of all time by ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Wizard's top 200 characters |url=http://www.comicvine.com/wizard/4010-2081/forums/wizards-top-200-comic-book-characters-644479/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727061118/http://www.comicvine.com/wizard/4010-2081/forums/wizards-top-200-comic-book-characters-644479/ |archive-date=July 27, 2014}} <!-- External link consists of a forum site summing up the top 200 characters of ''Wizard'' since the real site that contains the list is broken.--></ref> and [[IGN]] rated her its 81st-greatest all-time comic book hero.<ref>{{cite web |title=#81 Black Canary |url=https://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-heroes/81 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715162500/http://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-heroes/81 |archive-date=July 15, 2013 |website=IGN}}</ref> She was number 26 on ''[[Comics Buyer's Guide]]'s'' "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list.<ref>{{cite book |last=Frankenhoff |first=Brent |title=Comics Buyer's Guide Presents: 100 Sexiest Women in Comics |publisher=[[Krause Publications]] |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-4402-2988-6 |location=Iola, Wisconsin |page=24 |author-link=Brent Frankenhoff}}</ref>

== Music ==
In 2016, DC Comics released a three-track musical album called ''EP 1'' to promote the comic book, in which the Black Canary becomes the lead singer of a band that shares her name. Caveboy lead singer Michelle Bensimon provided Dinah's singing voice.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-entertainment-releases-3-track-872245|title= DC Entertainment Releases 3-Track EP to Promote ''Black Canary'' Comic Book|first= Graeme|last= McMillan|date= March 2, 2016 |work= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161012131759/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-entertainment-releases-3-track-872245|archive-date= October 12, 2016 |url-status= live|quote= DC Entertainment's current ''Black Canary'' comic book series takes the superhero out of the Justice League and sends her on a tour of the U.S. as the lead singer of a band that shares her name — and to promote the release of the series' first collected edition, DC has bent reality to release a 3-track EP recorded by the band.}}</ref> A follow-up three-track album called ''EP 2'' followed in August 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blackcanary.bandcamp.com/album/ep2|title=EP2, by Black Canary|website=Black Canary|access-date=2017-09-20}}</ref>

==See also ==
*[[Women warriors in literature and culture|Woman warrior]]
*[[List of Black Canary characters]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064110/http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/features/character.php?characterid=327 Earth-1 Black Canary] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
* {{DCdatabase|Black Canary}}

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