Some have said that three is the magic number. If that’s the case, November should be a fascinating month. Here at THE SOURCE, we’ll spotlighting key third issues from DC COMICS-THE NEW 52 with an ongoing series of posts titled “3 Things You Didn’t Know About DC COMICS-THE NEW 52.” Expect the unexpected–in threes. People have been asking me why I’m so quiet when it comes to Birds of Prey. It’s true; I haven’t done many interviews. When friends stop me on the street and ask about the book, I usually scream “HOLY CAT WHAT IS THAT BEHIND YOU” and scramble in the opposite direction. Um, yeah… I’ve been a bit cagey when it comes to this comic. Thing is, while Birds of Prey is about the great characters… it’s also about the surprises, and I’m serious about not wanting to ruin any of the twists and turns that lie ahead. But last week, when I visited the DC Comics HQ in New York City, my editor Bobbie Chase spiked my Diet Coke, and the last thing I saw was David Hyde filling a syringe with sodium pentothal. Hours later, on my train back to Philly, I realized they’d pried these three details out of me… 1. Batgirl is back on the team. Sure, Barbara Gordon (a.k.a. Batgirl) was reluctant at first. She didn’t necessarily want to be hanging out with a gang of outlaws (see next “Thing to Know #2”), and she has serious doubts about at least one member of team (see “Thing to Know #3”). But to Batgirl, friendship trumps everything, and you’ll see exactly how she finds her way to a permanent spot on the team in issues #4 and 5. 2. Black Canary, Starling and Katana can’t show their faces in public. That’s because they’re outlaws to one degree or another. Dinah Lance (a.k.a. Black Canary) is wanted for murder. The rumor is she killed a dude with a single punch, but the truth is far darker and stranger than that… Evelyn Crawford (a.k.a. Starling) is wanted by at least six different intelligence organizations for knowing too much about how the world really works. How did she land in this predicament? Well, wait until you meet her Uncle Earl—a former spy who raised her, and also tries to kill her every now and again. (He has Alzheimer’s.) And finally, Tatsu Yamashiro (a.k.a. Katana) is wanted by Japan’s National Police Agency for her blood-splattered mission of vengeance against the Yakuza for killing her husband. Criminal profilers in her country think she’s insane because she believes the soul of her husband resides in her sword. Thing is, her own teammates aren’t so sure, either… 3. Poison Ivy has turned over a new leaf. Okay, not really. Pam Isley (a.k.a. Ivy) is still very much a dedicated eco-terrorist, targeting the people and corporations that mess with Mother Earth. So why’s she hanging out with a bunch of do-gooders like Black Canary and Batgirl (who doesn’t like, trust, and really even tolerate Ivy)? Pretty soon—say, around issue #5—you’re going to see that Ivy has a little side deal going on. Her enhanced biosuit amplifies her metahuman powers to an insane degree, but also comes at a price. And wait until you see how she plans on paying the tab… Hnnnnnuh? What just happened? Why am I on this moving train? Man, I hope I didn’t say too much back at the DC offices… -- Duane Swierczynski (BIRDS OF PREY)