I Still Can’t Believe Black Canary Once Dated Ra’s al Ghul

In some instances, certain relationships were not destined for longevity. Characters like Black Canary (Dinah Lance) have had relationships that may have left us taken aback from time to time, given her history in comics, spin-offs, and beyond. For instance, the revelation of her affection towards Batman was unexpected. However, what truly stunned us was Dinah’s brief romance with a character who turned out to be one of Batman’s most formidable adversaries within the DC Universe – none other than Ra’s al Ghul, also known as “The Demon’s Head.” Yes, you read that correctly. Black Canary actually dated Ra’s al Ghul, and we are still reeling from this revelation.

A Relationship We Never Saw Coming

As a film enthusiast, I must say that the intriguing romantic connection between Dinah (Black Canary) and her wealthy European beau unfolds more prominently in issues #32 and #33 of “Birds of Prey.” However, whispers of this relationship first surface in issue #31. In this installment, Barbara Gordon (Oracle, the tech-savvy leader of Birds of Prey) gets wind of a juicy tidbit: Dinah is romantically involved with a rich European man. Now, Barbara has an uncanny knack for sensing trouble, and from the get-go, something about this relationship and the enigmatic suitor strikes me as odd. And since I deeply care for Black Canary, my concern mirrors hers!

The wealthy man who Dinah is seeing, who appears to be quite elderly, turns out to be none other than Ra’s al Ghul. His intention was not just a romantic one; he aimed to win Dinah over so she would join him in the League of Assassins. This alliance, as he envisioned it, would significantly boost their chances of achieving his goal: seizing control of the world, with all the wicked plans that went along with it.

[RELATED: Arrow: Did Ra’s al Ghul’s Daughter Have a Relationship With Black Canary?

In the current scenario, Ra’s Al Ghul was highly inclined to leverage Dinah’s unusual circumstances to persuade her into a relationship with him, and even fathering children together. During Birds of Prey #33, he boldly proposes, “However, let’s discuss the present. I wish to marry you, Dinah. We will wed, and you shall give me a son.” Both Dinah and his beloved daughter Talia express shock on their faces as Dinah stands up from the table and departs from the discussion. When they converse privately later, Dinah informs her partner that she’s not displeased by his proposal of marriage, but because she cannot bear children.

Currently, it’s common knowledge that Dinah suffered a brutal physical attack which resulted in the loss of her capacity to bear children and her unique ability known as the Canary Cry, a potent ultrasonic scream capable of demolishing people and objects. Interestingly, Ra’s promises Lance that he can restore Dinah to her original state, enabling her to conceive once more.

Things Start to Turn Sour Between Ra’s and Dinah

In the early stages of their relationship, Dinah admired Ra’s, unaware of the ominous signs. However, after a relatively brief period, she became aware of his malevolent intentions to drastically decrease the Earth’s population. Consequently, Dinah decided to end things with him. Enraged, Ra’s abducted Dinah and transported her to the Lazarus Pit, a mystical pool capable of rejuvenating life and healing injuries. His intention was to erase Dinah’s mind to make it easier for her to join his League, but he fell short when Oracle intervened, triggering a fight.

In the course of this narrative penned by Chuck Dixon, Dinah finds herself immersed in the Lazarus Pit to heal her injuries and recover her health, along with the capacity to conceive. Remarkably, this process not only revitalizes her but also reinstates her lost Canary Cry. Until now, she had mimicked it using Canary Cry Bombs. This dramatic turn of events marks the climax of the story arc. What a thrilling journey, indeed!

It’s no wonder that Ra’s ultimate plan was to transform Dinah into a villain like himself, exploiting her abilities for his own gain. Given Ra’s history of questionable actions, such as deceiving Batman in the future (Batman Beyond) and poisoning Kingpin’s wife (Batman & Spider-Man: New Age Dawning), it’s clear that Dinah Lance made a wise decision by leaving that relationship.

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2025-03-19 06:12