Westfield: How did the Black Canary mini-series come about?

Tony Bedard: 2007 is a big year for Black Canary and Green Arrow, and in the wake of Green Arrow #75, in which Ollie proposes to Dinah, DC wanted to do projects highlighting both characters. Originally, Editor Mike Carlin talked to me about doing a "Year One" tale, along the lines of the upcoming Green Arrow: Year One. But as we put our heads together, it became clear that Dinah Lance is at a major turning point in her life right now, and this is the tale that demanded to be told. In dealing with Dinah's new life away from the Birds of Prey and as a foster mother to a young girl with a troubled past, I think we ended up with a much stronger story that ties directly into the momentous events this year.

Westfield: What can you tell us about the story? Who, aside from Black Canary, are the main characters?

Bedard: There's Dinah's foster daughter, Sin, whom Dinah met while training in southeast Asia with Lady Shiva's old sensei. Sin's only about 8 years old, but she was being groomed to be the next Lady Shiva, greatest and deadliest martial artist in the world. Dinah rescued Sin from this fate and is trying to give her a normal childhood, but the League of Assassins still has big plans for the little girl. We also see Green Arrow and Speedy playing a big role in this story, along with one of Ollie's worst enemies...and a man from Dinah's past whose return is driving Ollie crazy.

Westfield: You're working with artist Paulo Sequeira on the book. What can you tell us about his contribution to the book?

Bedard: Paulo is a godsend. I am frankly astonished at how utterly beautiful his work is on this series. We first worked together on the backup story in Birds Of Prey #100, and he had done some BoP issues before, but even that work pales compared to his Black Canary stuff.

He draws children better than anyone I can think of, his action sequences rock, and he draws the sexiest Dinah Lance in recent memory.

Paulo's work reminds me a bit of Greg Land at his best, and I haven't been this excited about an artist since I met JG Jones years before his breakthrough work at Marvel. Paulo's gonna be a star, and I'm hopeful Black Canary will be his coming out party.

Westfield: You're also writing Supergirl & The Legion Of Super-Heroes. Is there anything you'd like to tell people about that?

Bedard: Only that I've wanted to write Legion since, oh, forever! I've loved the Legion and the whole concept of the book since I was a kid, and now to have a crack at them is a real dream come true. My storyline will settle a few lingering questions from Waid and Kitson's excellent run, and I have some events of lasting consequence in store for several Legionnaires. I also have a tip of the hat to some characters from previous Legion incarnations - there have been several versions of this team and I love them all. Look for a focus on Lightning Lad, Supergirl, Atom Girl (Shrinking Violet), and my favorite, Brainac-5.

Westfield: Are there any other projects you're working on that you'd like to mention?

Bedard: DC is keeping me nice and busy, lots of pokers in the fire including Countdown, the biggest book of the year! I'll let DC announce the stuff when the time is right.

Westfield: Any closing comments?

Bedard: In close to 15 years in this business, I've run across a few guys I knew would be major artists before they took off: Rags Morales, JG Jones, Steve McNiven, and now Paulo Sequeira. Catch a rising star - and a major moment in the life of one of DC's greatest characters - in Black Canary.