Bird-watching: observations of Simone's writing

For a female, Gail Simone's writing is actually kinda testosterone-charged.

To be sure, this is on the basis that -- on the average -- stories about emotions and relationships are for women, and stories about explosions and fighting are for men -- on the average, may I remind you.

Taking this into account, Simone writes more like a man than a woman. In Secret Six, Birds of Prey and what have you, she's historically written long story-arcs that are plot-driven over character-driven with lots and lots of explosions. Although she never fails to give strong character moments, her stories have a history of big fights and widescreen action.

And truly, there is no greater example than. . .

. . . the Harley-Misfit Saga.

(in four panels)

Misfit fires the opening round with a salvo of --



Until everything gets down and dirty!



Ooh, they're busting out with the low blows now!

But then the fight gets called on account of ice-goddess-re-emerging-from-the-dead and Rocket-Red-firing-squad-about-to-fire:

We don't exactly know who lost, but we definitely know who won: the fans.

All scans taken from Birds of Prey: Whitewater, which ran from issues 104 to 108. It was collected in a trade paperback called Birds of Prey: Dead of Winter.