Review: Batman and the Outsiders #1

After some delay, Batman and the Outsiders #1 has hit the shelves. Although this team may not have the popularity of other groups within the DC universe like The Justice League there are still many that have fond memories of the previous installments of Batman and the Outsiders. So how does this return hold up? Obviously, there is still a lot of room to grow, but for a first issue, there was some awkward execution that made this feel uneven and oddly paced. Despite those concerns, there is a narrative core that has promise, especially with the talent involved.

Although this is a number one issue, much of this story was first built back when writer Brian Hill was on Detective Comics last year. That fact is also where some of the issues lie. There are some problems within this team and most are with Duke“s new volatile attitude. He is more combative and is taking issue with many of the orders given by group leader Black Lighting. However, since his broken spirit is a result of what happened in a previous issue that came out months ago it undercuts many of those moments. They are partially revisiting within the issue but not in a way that fully recontextualizes the status of this team.

Having this long continuous story that never ends is part of what makes comics such a unique medium, however, there needs to be balanced. That is especially true when it comes to the first issues of a new series. When a dramatic lynchpin is not woven in a way that allows for a complete comprehension of the dilemma facing these characters it can lead the reader on the outside looking in. Hopefully in future issues that is something that can be addressed and strengthen, because the general dynamics within the team have potential.

It is fitting this is called Batman and the Outsiders as there is a clear separation between both units. Batman is more in an advisory role directing this team but not leading them. He has enlisted Black Lighting as the leader who wisely does not fully trust Batman“s actions. Their back and forth is one of the biggest highlights of this issue. Batman getting in arguments is nothing new but with Lighting, he is not bringing the angry angst of a Robin. He is more of an equal debating logic and reasoning rather than pure emotion. That can lead to the type of deep conversations Bryan Hill has shown he is very capable of writing.

So far the major conflict resides in Batman“s desire to keep the Barrera family safe. Previously the organization called Ark put them through gruesome experiments that gave Sofia Barrera actual powers. After her father turns up dead and she goes missing Batman needs the Outsiders to track her down before even more tragedy occurs. However, even the Outsiders believe there is more going on here than Batman is letting on.

We get a glimpse of what this threat can mean in an explosive opening that is effective in how it grabs your attention right away. Artist Dexter Soy has some skill in designing an effective action scene. He brings in some crafty cinematic angles to give each beat an exciting look. From the start when a person is literally thrown from the top of an overpass he staged it in a way that gives you an understanding of the location without halting the momentum. Moments were sudden and impactful, but most importantly easy to understand. He does perhaps rely a little too much on panel bleeding but at the end of the day, it is never dull.

Veronica Gandini“s colors also deserve a lot of credit. When you have a character like Black Lighting how exciting his powers look often come down to the colors. Gandini is able to manage the different pallette“s of all these characters well. Lighting has this blue tint to this make it pop even more and although this is a Batman based team it is down drowned out by a large number of blacks and greys. That blue is constant to also convey that this will not be a book solely dominated by the title character.

Overall Thoughts:

Ultimately Batman and the Outsiders #1 is successful at establishing the vision of where this series is going despite relying upon what happened in the past. If the character relationships it is developing can be realized the faults of this first issue can be long left behind.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Writer: Bryan Hill
Artist: Dexter Soy
Colorist: Tyler Kirkham
Letters: Clayton Cowles

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Daniel Clark

A fan of all things comics. Growing up on a healthy diet of 90's Batman and X-Men cartoon series ignited a love for the medium that remains strong today.