The CW has released the first, smokin' hot pics of Katie Cassidy as Black Canary...not just Canary, like her sister Sara, but officially billed as the Black Canary...in the upcoming "Arrow" episode "Left Behind," slated to run as the 10th episode of the currently developing third season. Thanks to Entertainment Weekly for the tip.

Cassidy's Laurel Lance taking on the Black Canary mantle is a natural progression... the character (real name Dinah Laurel Lance) shares a moniker with DC Comics superhero Black Canary, and though she hadn't previously taken on a costumed identity, there's a rather large void in the Lance family following the events that took place earlier this season. In recent episodes, Dinah has been training with Ted Grant (J.R. Ramirez), and evolving into her own super-heroic vigilante role.

While Cassidy does look quite stunning in the black leather they've trussed her up in here, I, being a purist and all, do miss the fishnet stockings of the original comic book version of Black Canary. Since "Arrow" seems to be more grounded in reality overall, I doubt that its version of the Black Canary will have the "sonic scream" that Dinah Lance possessed in the comics. Guess that's for the best...

"Arrow" airs 8 p.m. Wednesdays on The CW. Based on the show's current schedule, "Left Behind" will probably hit the airwaves sometime early in 2015.