There’s been a palpable buzz, a true sense of anticipation, surrounding DC’s upcoming release, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). More than just a mouthful, Birds of Prey is the first girl-gang superhero movie to be hitting the big screen and tells the tale of everyone’s favourite fruitcake Harley Quinn, following the events of Suicide Squad and her break-up with Jared Leto’s Joker. It promises to be quite the spectacle.

From the first poster through to the latest trailer, we’ve known that Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn has found herself an entourage in Black Canary, Renee Montoya, Cassandra Cain and Huntress – or, the Birds of Prey. But who exactly are the original Birds of Prey and what are their roots?

Funnily enough, not all that much like the latest movie seems to suggest. Making their first appearance in 1996 in the comic Birds of Prey: Black Canary/Oracle, the original gang wasn’t so much a rebellious team of misfits, more a covert vigilante pairing of brains and brawn. Over the comic run, characters familiar and obscure affiliate themselves with the core paring of Oracle and Black Canary, giving the run a truly interesting and twisting arc and history – one that is worth exploring.

The Birds of Prey comic series doesn’t have the most concise or straightforward publication records, but with several writers, one cancellation and two reboots, that shouldn’t surprise anyone. This slightly fractured history doesn’t damage the quality of the comics, thanks to the stellar efforts of the writers, who include Chuck Dixon (Punisher, Batman, Nightwing), Gail Simone (Deadpool, Batgirl, Wonder Woman) and Duane Swierczynski (X-Men, Judge Dredd, The Black Hood).

There’s a lot of Birds of Prey material out there to explore, and no matter where you chose to start, you’re in for a good time. In case you’d like a little guidance, we’ve got a run-down of some staples below.