Laurel Lance (Earth-88)

* Civilian
* Black Canary

**Laure Lance** grew up as a street kid in Gotham City, until she was caught dumpster diving by Desmond Lamar, the owner of a local dojo. Taking pity on her, he allowed her to stay at the dojo in exchange for helping with the building's maintenance. She later used the skills he taught her to become the vigilante known as the **Black Canary**.

## History

### Early Life

Laurel grew up as a street kid in Gotham City, until she was caught dumpster diving by Desmond Lamar, the owner of a local dojo. Taking pity on her, he allowed her to stay at the dojo in exchange for helping with the building's maintenance. This went on for years, and she grew to think of him like a father as he took her on as a student at his dojo. When he discovered that he had terminal cancer, he left the care of the dojo to Laurel in his will, and she took up instructing his classes. Unfortunately, he had been keeping the local gangs from muscling in on the dojo for protection money.

Soon enough, the gangs came to collect their dues. She fought them off for a while but was eventually overwhelmed. Fortunately, John Lynch and his men arrived in time to save her life. When he returned her to her dojo, she found it had been destroyed during the riots.

Realizing she had nothing left, Lynch offered her the chance to join him on the metahuman-fighting squad Team 7, which she agreed to do for a while and met her future husband Kurt Lance. Drake worked for Team 7, being sent on a mission to find the Black Diamond that was corrupting the souls of those around it. After that mission, Laurel realized that John Lynch's plan for the team was to put them through the wringer and essentially give them powers, Laurel gaining the ability to create a deafening scream called the "Canary Cry".

Laurel would eventually marry her team member Kurt, but soon after he would be killed in action.

### Meeting the Green Arrow

After Kurt's death, Laurel began wandering aimlessly, operating as a vigilante known as the Black Canary. She popped up in various cities across the country, including Gotham and Hub City. Eventually, Laurel landed in Star City, where she began ton investigate the disappearance of the city's homeless population.

One night, while prowling the streets, Green Arrow overhears a child shouting for their mother being ushered away by a hooded person. Queen reflects on the recent surge of missing persons cases and hunts down whoever is taking the child away. Dropping into the alley a scuffle breaks out before the hooded figure reveals herself to be Black Canary; she explains that the boy lost his mother and they take him to Queen's apartment for a bath and more information. While caring for the boy Canary rips into Queen's playboy persona and he shaves his beard into a more iconic goatee.

With information from the boy about the "Underground Men" the two set off to the "Jungle" to find the boy's father. Oliver and Laurel squabble for the entire journey but they find the boy's father just as a tribe of the "Underground Men" surface. The duo wound one of the men who reveals the location of an auction which is due to take place that same night.

The head into a chasm which will take them to the mysterious auction, following a trail of blood. They stumble into an old ruined mansion where a black market auction is taking place for the ownership of the homeless boy's mother. Oliver and Laurel burst in and the auction breaks into chaos, the host - wounded from an arrow - drops the woman into a pit and flees. Queen manages to save the boy's mother and swears to take down the man in the red mask who looms over him from the computer screens.

Back on the surface Queen asks Canary for her secret identity and the two kiss, finally.