"Nothing Is More Violent": Birds of Prey Unleashes DC's Most Violent Reality (Complete With a Full Team Redesign)

Summary In Birds of Prey #12, the team face the "extreme violence" inherent a cartoon universe, where they quickly realize they should tread carefully, or suffer the consequences of cartoonish brutality.

Big Barda is especially concerned about the team's safety, in this savage dimension filled with what she describes as "incalculable" violence.

The quest to find Barbara Gordon has lead the iconic DC team through a number of different realities, with the story featuring outrageous action and strong character development in addition to unexpected drama and danger.

Warning: Contains potential spoilers for Birds of Prey #12!As the Birds of Prey travel through various treacherous dimensions and alternate versions of realities on their latest mission, they’ve unfortunately landed in a reality that has the most potential for extreme violence. The team has faced gothic darkness, suburban nightmares, and dangerous dinosaurs on their quest to find Barbara Gordon. Now, they’ve finally reached a reality that even has the team’s heavy-hitter Big Barda afraid of what comes next.

In the preview for Birds of Prey #12 – written by Kelly Thompson, with art by Javier Pina – while Vixen fights with her pterodactyl-style powers, Black Canary decides that the Birds of Prey team needs to land in a different reality before they continue the battle against the new villain, Maia.

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Though they thought they were escaping the most vicious reality, the Birds land in what is quickly determined to be a worst-case scenario: a cartoon universe. The cute all-new designs and colorful environment are unassuming, but it’s feared what cartoonish violence could be wreaked in this dimension.

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The Birds Of Prey's Reality-Hopping Odyssey Lands Them In A World Of "Extreme Cartoon Violence"

Birds of Prey #12 – Written By Kelly Thompson; Art by Javier Pina, Sophie Campbell, & Gavin Guidry

Though the particular cartoon art style featured in Birds of Prey #12 is somewhat anime-like and super cutesy, it seems that they could face more harm than when they were battling prehistoric predators.

While Sin was supposed to try to take the team to a safe reality, the cartoon-style dimension they end up in could prove to be the most savage and brutal world they’ve faced thus far. Big Barda in particular seems especially concerned about the team’s safety, as she heartily proclaims that cartoons are “filled with incalculable violence.” Barda’s new bestie, Cassandra Cain, seems surprised that the warrior from Apokolips would even be familiar with cartoons. But, not only has the DC powerhouse been watching them, she is utterly terrified that the team will die in this new cartoon reality.

With shows like Looney Tunes depicting somewhat extreme slapstick violence, it’s no wonder that Barda fears the severity of violence that could await the Birds in this world. Whether it’s explosions, plummeting from high distances, or anvils dropping on heads, cartoon characters certainly undergo varying degrees of pain and brutality in their respective universes. Though the particular cartoon art style featured in Birds of Prey #12 is somewhat anime-like and super cutesy, it seems that they could face more harm than when they were battling prehistoric predators.

The Hunt for Barbara Gordon Takes Her Allies To One Of DC's Wildest Realities Yet

A World Of Unexpected Danger

The different dimension-hopping has been a catalyst for outrageous action, stunning costume redesigns, and important character development over the last arc for the Birds.

With solicitations for future solicitations hinting that Barbara Gordon is close to being found by the Birds, it seems the new villain Maia and her sister’s arc could be reaching an end. The villain has taken the team through various vastly different dimensions, each with more surprises around every corner than the last. As the mission to find and rescue Barbara reaches its peak, Thompson could be pulling out all the stops by saving the most outlandish and violent dimension for one of the team’s last portal jumps.

The different dimension-hopping has been a catalyst for outrageous action, stunning costume redesigns, and important character development over the last arc for the Birds. Cute cartoon-style action and the potential for the extreme violence that comes with it could give great insight into Big Barda’s character as well as the others. As the quest to save team founder Barbara closes in, it’s clear that the Birds of Prey will face any kind of extreme multiversal danger to fight for one of their flock.

Birds of Prey #12 will be available August 7, 2024 from DC Comics.

Birds of Prey #12 (2024) Writer: Kelly Thompson

Artists: Javier Pina, Sophie Campbell, and Gavin Guidry

Colorist: Jordie Bellaire

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Cover Artists: Leonardo Romero with Jordie Bellaire