Polite Dissent

Birds of Prey #91“Donor”
Jim Alexander, writer (“guest” writer)
Brad Walker, penciler (“guest” penciler)
Hi-Fi Designs, colorist (Why am I mentioning the colorist for once? Keep on reading.)

The prognosis is acute renal collapse.

That’s really more of a diagnosis than a prognosis. Also, “Renal Collapse” is not a commonly used term. Renal Failure is the better one.

This doesn’t sound like an acute condition. The description makes it seem like his kidneys have been failing for quite some time, which makes it chronic renal failure instead of acute renal failure. Additionally, kidney transplants are used as a treatment for chronic renal failure and not acute renal failure.

Bull’s kidneys can no longer remove the toxins that accumulate naturally.

The kidneys serve several important functions in the body. One of them is filtering chemicals and toxins out of the blood. They also help regulate the concentration of electrolytes such as potassium and sodium in the blood. When the kidneys fail, toxins build up to dangerous levels and even electrolytes can rise to lethal levels.

A needle takes his poisoned blood into the machine. Another returns the filtered blood back into his system.

When the kidneys can no longer serve as filters, dialysis is started. Blood from the body is run through a special machine that acts as an artificial kidney, filtering the blood before it is returned to the body. It’s a complicated machine that requires close attention and specially trained personnel to operate.

The artist clearly did his homework in regards to the dialysis machine and draws an very accurate depiction of one. It’s shame that the colorist had to ruin it by coloring every single piece of tubing blood red. Even the one coming from the clear IV bag. Even the oxygen tubing.

However, while I give the artist credit for drawing a good dialysis machine, he has drawn way too many IV lines. Bull has five lines running into him, including two into the same site. Dialysis requires two: one to take the blood and one to return it. Like many other comic book artists, he also can’t draw a nasal canula correctly.

I ran this scene past a colleague of mine who worked in a dialysis center before going to medical school. He agrees with my thoughts, and he also points out the dangling IV tubing in the first panel. That’s never a good idea because the IV fluids don’t have enough pressure to work against gravity.

Last thought: Take a look at Huntress on the front cover. It’s another example of the De-Nudifying Effect (as described perfectly by Dave and Tom). Unless the Huntress’s flesh really is purple on her belly.