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Random Acts of Surfing

Birds of Prey Online

Reviewed by: Talon Karrde

     I would like to tell you a little about a site I’ve been visiting for quite some time now. It’s called Birds of Prey Online and it’s a site dedicated to Birds of Prey. No, I’m not talking about a bird watching site here - this is a fan site. Originally designed as a dedication to the television show Birds of Prey, it has become so much more.

     Fans of the television show and the comic book alike have joined up and the site membership now totals 1599. The site offers a variety of options for visitors and members alike. On the main site, you can check out news about the show and its actors, an episode guide containing in-depth information about each episode, and information about the cast. Wondering what that song was in the pilot episode? You’ll find it listed in the music section. Visit the gallery for great shots of the cast. The main page itself is attractive enough to make you want to check out the rest of the site.

     The show itself is cancelled in the United States, but is still being televised in other countries around the world. In fact, Birds of Prey has developed such a dedicated fan base that several campaigns were waged to either save the current series or at least bring the show to the attention of other networks that may want to pursue it. While nothing has transpired as of yet, fear not, campaigns still prevail and by visiting the campaign page you can find out the many ways you too can help resurrect the series!

     Now, in my opinion, the most attractive section of the Birds of Prey Online is the message board that is linked to the site. Located in the New Gotham section, peruse as a visitor, or better yet join, and have the opportunity to chat privately and view different versions of the boards.

     The message board offers its members a variety of areas to post in and things never seem to get old there. It consists of five sections divided into subsections:

• Center City: you’ll find sections for discussions about the site itself, questions about the site, news about the campaign and more.
  
  
• Birds of Prey: you’ll have the opportunity to discuss each individual episode, aspects of the show, and for those abroad who have yet to see the final episode – spoilers. But, fans of the comic book will also find this section interesting. There’s a whole subsection devoted to comic book discussion.
  
  
• Citizens of New Gotham: an area to discuss favorite characters from the show.
  
  
• On the Edge: you can visit one of two subsections – The Dark Horse Bar where new members introduce themselves, and No Man’s Land, where just about anything goes. In No Man’s Land, you’ll find discussions about other shows, members’ daily activities, favorite songs, movies and more.
  
  
• Gotham Council of the Arts: (My Favorite Section) is where membership imagination and creativity is encouraged and welcomed with open arms. There are two subsections here – New Gotham Library and New Gotham Gallery. Both offer fans of the show and the comic to show off their creative talents. In the gallery, fans post creative drawings, computer representations, and other assorted art-work pertaining to the show. In the library, fans have a chance to expand upon the series. You can find stories written about the characters’ lives, pre-series and post series, with a couple of stories dealing with interludes within and between episodes. It helps keep the series alive for devoted fans and even I have dabbled in some fan fiction since coming to the site – something I hadn’t done in years.

     I love the discussion board on this site for several reasons, most importantly the camaraderie found here. Mostly everyone who posts here is respectful of everyone else. Those who aren’t are taken care of by the administrators and moderators of the site, who work diligently to ensure that fun is had by all who choose to post there. What amazed me about this message board in contrast to others is the ease with which you can make friends here; friends that not only share your interest in the show, but many other interests with you as well. Even more incredible is how one tiny website can bring so many interesting people from so many different areas together. The boards have members from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Sweden, South Africa, Korea, and many, many, more locales. It brings a diverse group of people, who otherwise may never have communicated, together.

     So, check out www.birdsofpreyonline.com. Any fan of the show will find it an enjoyable experience. They may even find themselves compelled to sign up and introduce themselves in The Dark Horse Bar – I know I was!

     Send your comments and or questions about this article to wildkarrde3@hotmail.com.

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