This is one of those tricky plots in which the characters are off-balance, and the readers should be as well. The problem, of course, is that there’s a fine line between where you’ve done that just enough, and when you’ve gone too far and everything’s just confusing. BIRDS #5 doesn’t exactly walk that line, but it’s at least visible from where this issue is.

After their brawl with the Cleaners in #4, the Birds find themselves missing a significant chunk of time and unable to agree on precisely what was happening. After a few issues of cloak-and-dagger action, though, this issue is mostly a character one while they try to cool down and recollect themselves. And since this cast is likable and certainly can have some depth, that’s a good thing.

Batgirl’s also in the issue quite a bit, carrying on from her guest appearance last month, and it’s still unclear to me whether she’ll be a regular fixture of the series or if this incarnation of the Birds of Prey will be mostly without Barbara Gordon’s involvement.

You’ve gotta be prepared to cope with not knowing everything, but I think the overall effect is achieved, and by the end, you won’t know who to trust – but you’ll know you can’t trust everyone.