Embarassing

Outsiders (Volume 4) #32
Written by Dan Didio and Phillip Tan
Art by Tan

Um….can we just have the team back again? Why is this filled with shitty dialogue and no movement in plot months after months? How is it that a guy who writes a comic like this is DC’s co-publisher? This is embarassing. I love me some Outsiders but this book is not getting any better!

Outsiders 30 and 31

Outsiders (Volume 4) #30
Written by Dan Didio
Art by Phillip Tan

 

Metamorpho, Owlman, and Black Lightning must turn to Simon Stagg for help after being deemed enemies of Earth because of Markovia’s alliance with New Krypton. It is an interesting thing this alliance with New Krypton and I love having the Eradicator around but Didio still has yet to explain why Geo-Force is acting like a nutjob and this Freight Train character is about as generic as they come. Wasn’t a bad issue which is saying something because it has been all pretty bad since Didio took over the book.

Outsiders (Volume 4) #31
Written by Dan Didio
Art by Phillip Tan

Okay Halo is back in this issue! Thanks Didio! But she never even went missing, she just wasn’t mentioned. If you are going to make her return a big deal – how about maybe writing people actually wondering where the hell she is? Anyways the Ray shows up and so does a weird succubus lady. This book is way random but at least it has become interesting.

Where is Halo?!

Outsiders (Volume 4) #27
Written by Dan Didio
Art by Don Kramer

 

Didio oh Didio! Why do you write such bad dialogue? Do we need to make fun of you even more then we already do? Black Lightning final line in this issue was so lame. Geo-Force and Katana are acting really strange still (I am hoping that there is going to be an in-story reason for this) and there is no fucking mention or anything of Halo?! Where did she go? Did someone forget about her? What is going on with this book? Where is Phillip Tan, how are we needing a fill-in artist already? Why is this guy in charge of DC Comics when he can’t even keep things together on this one book? Yes it was cool to see classic Outsiders villains the Masters of Disaster and I like the continuity references but this issue is just soo bad. Why is Owlman referring to Blackest Night as Blackest Night? Why not the time where everyone became Black Lanterns? Didio is writing him as if he is aware that it was a comic mini-series called Blackest Night! This is awful. Just awful.

I Wish I Could Say That Didio Proved Me Wrong

Outsiders (Volume 4) #26
Written by Dan Didio
Art by Phillip Tan and Don Kramer

You know…I started this telling myself to keep an open mind. That even though Dan Didio is the man who thought Countdown was better then 52 and many other idiotic opinions, he could be a good writer and I shouldn’t prejudge. One issue in and I have little hope. This isn’t a very good comic. All of the characters are off and are not acting like themselves. Katana just stabbed a guy in the chest and Geo-Force is calling for extreme violence and acting like a completely different character then well…Geo-Force. What the hell? I am hoping this is explained through mind control or something but so far it is just bad characterization. Halo is nowhere to be found except for one panel. The art is just awful and Tan’s anatomy changes from page to page. The only good thing was the Eradicator – a former member of the Outsiders. I do like the acknowledgement of that history and he is a character that has been gone for a long time but… Please, Didio, prove me wrong and show me that you can write a good comic.

Brave and the Bold 29 and 30

Brave and the Bold #29
Written by J.M. Straczynski
Art by Jesus Siaz

Wow JMS does not know how to write Batman’s voice at all. This character just isn’t Batman. That’s all I got to say about this incredibly boring issue. I like the ideals of the sixties too JMS but you didn’t write a good comic here.

Brave and the Bold #30
Written by J.M. Straczynski
Art by Jesus Siaz

This was an interesting story in which the original Doctor Fate put a part of his soul into Hal’s ring in order to help him one day. It’s a bit of a stretch but I think it works within the comic. THe whole thing is really a debate between Hal and the Doctor over the power of fate and the power of will power. I wish there would have been something said about Hal’s time as Parallax and how he tried to use his will to change the universe and hey look where that got him. But this could take place before then and not far in the future as they made it seem. Decent issue.

Halo Kicks Ass

Outsiders (Volume 4) #25
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin and Derec Donovan

Tomasi’s run comes to an end with this issue and it was a good issue. Yes, Tomasi had Halo being called Violet again (Ugh she never went by that name!) but he lets her be the big hero and kick serious ass in this issue so I forgive him. I love when Halo kicks ass. I think this was a good way to end Tomasi’s run and this Blackest Night tie-in was definitely successful. Do I think Tomasi’s run was that great? No it could have been a lot better but it wasn’t awful either. I am more afraid of what the Didio-Tan run will be like. I hope they pleasantly surprise me. Oh and it was nice to see Thunder again!

Blackest Night Descends Upon The Outsiders

Outsiders (Volume 4) #24
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin

The penultimate issue of Tomasi’s run may be the strongest issue of his run yet. That could be due to the strength of the Blackest Night concept or because Tomasi get the character of Terra – the evil girl who infiltrated the Teen Titans and betrayed them. She was not duped or drugged by Deathstroke – she was a bad person. It’s pure and simple. I love that Krul and Tomasi are acknowledging this as for a while DC seem to be heading in the direction of ignoring the intent of Marv Wolfman when he created her and pretending that she was this sweet girl who got corrupted. I love how Black Lantern Terra is just as manipulative as she was in life. She acts all sweet and kind to her brother even with that horrible zombie look – and he believes her! It was awesome. You know she is setting a trap for the Outsiders. It was great to see Katana and Halo’s close friendship acknowledged (Although she calls her Violet again ahh!) and Katana’s family who I hadn’t even predicted would show up as black lanterns.

Her Name is Gabrielle!

Outsiders (Volume 4) #23
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin

Pasarin is such a good artist why doesn’t DC ever use him as a regular artist? Although his Creeper is a little more normal looking then the Creeper usually is. But at the same time Tomasi writes him as more “normal” then he usually does too. It was great to see Katana and Halo’s relationship acknowledged, even if it is annoying that they keep calling Halo Violet instead of Gabrielle. This is going to be Tomasi’s last arc on this book before Didio takes over. I guess we shall see if Tomasi’s run is considered a sucessful one or not.

Best Use Of Clayface Ever

Outsiders (Volume 4) #22
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin

Pasarin’s art is much better then Garbett’s for this book. And I have to say I am enjoying this rounding up the Gotham villains arc so far. It is much simpler then the last arc and less confusing. Not to mention that this issue contained the best use of Clayface I have EVER read in a comic. Clayface is usually used as a a throw away character disguised as someone else or a background character, but this issue shows how dangerous and powerful he can be. Especially when he shows up and absorbs a whole family into his body so they can mine him! Kudos to Tomasi for making great use of a character and showing me his worth.

Introducing The Broker

Batman: Streets of Gotham #4
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Co-Feature by Marc Andreyko
Art by Jeremy Haun

This has to be the best issue of this series to date. Dini goes back to what he does best, exploring Gotham’s villains and adding interesting new ones to the roster. In this issue, he introduces The Broker, the real estate guy who sells all the abandoned warehouses and amusement parks to the bad guys of Gotham. That’s just genius! I can’t believe no one has thought of that before. I also loved how Dini explains why there are so many abandoned amusement parks by going over the history of Gotham. I love when writers flesh out DC’s fictional locales. The Manhunter back-up was pretty good as well, Kate makes the statement to the press that she will bring down Two-Face no matter what and I am sure that will get her in a lot of trouble. She also teams up with Huntress.

Frozen Lightning

Outsiders (Volume 4) #21
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin

I am not sure why Alfred is acting the way he is in this issue. What situation in Gotham is he referring to? Possibly something that happens in Batman and Robin #3 which hasn’t come out yet? I don’t know. Anyways, this was a definite improvement over the last arc. I like the idea of the Outsiders splitting up to find the villains who have left Gotham and Pasarin’s art is wonderful! Is he the new regular artist? I sure hope so. I like him a lot better then Garbett. It is interesting to learn that the new Black Mask implanted chips into the heads of the villains so he could kill them if they upset him. In this issue, Mr. Freeze is captured by Black Lightning and Owlman and his chip is removed. I look forward to the confrontations with Killer Croc and Clayface.

League Of Executives

Batman: Streets of Gotham #3
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Co-Feature by Marc Andreyko
Art by Georges Jeanty

Now this was a good issue. I liked how Dick and Damian solved the Hush problem, bring in the Justice League and the Outsiders and make them board of exectives that Hush has to listen to as Bruce Wayne! It is brilliant yet a little too easy. I liked it. But I don’t think Dick should turn to the League everytime he has a problem, I just think it worked this time. And damn can Dini write villains, he is really making Zsasz interesting, and I didn’t think he was at all before. I like how he keeps imagining how he will murder people. Nguyen’s art was inconsistent, but never horrible. Oh and you gotta love Damian saying that “Criminals are a superstitious and cowardly lot” is the stupidest thing he has ever heard. That shows how different he is from his father. The Manhunter Co-Feature still featured the incredibly creepy Jane Doe but was a really quick read that basically consisted of a fight and Huntress saving the day. It was just a little too quick for my tastes. But this was a good issue overall.

Let’s Hope The Next Arc Is Less Confusing

Outsiders (Volume 4) #20
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Lee Garbett

Hmmm….I can’t say I completely understand what just happened in this issue. Who exactly were the Insiders? Just immortals? I am going to have to reread this story arc and I bet this thing reads a lot better in trades then in monthlies. So I am not going to judge it and say it was bad but I was rather confused. It was nice to see the Creeper in action and I liked the conversation between Ra’s and Vandal Savage but ya I am not sure what happened. Hopefully Tomasi’s next arc will be less confusing.

Outsiders 18 and 19

Outsiders (Volume 4) #18
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Lee Garbett

Wow did Alfred really just punch Deathstroke in the face! That is one butler with balls let me tell you! This was a decent issue. For some reason Slade wants to kill the immortals. I suppose we will find out why soon. Or am I just forgetting and they explained it in the last issue? The Outsiders show up just in time to save Alfred luckily.

Outsiders (Volume 4) #19
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin and Jeremy Haun

Now this was more like it. This issue really kicked things into gear. There was action, fighting, and character moments. Not to mention I like Pasarin’s art much better then Garbett’s. The Creeper sneaking up on the guys on the ship was a great moment (and realy his first great moment since joining the team), as was Black Lightning calling out Geo-Force on his poor leadership skills. It looks like Slade is corrupting another young girl. I like that idea. It seems to be a habit of his. The slicing in half of the one guy was pretty gross. I am not sure where any of this is going but I am enjoying the ride.

Naked Immortals

Outsiders (Volume 4) #17
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Lee Garbett

I am happy to say that I guessed that the Insiders were immortal in the same way as Vandal Savage (the meteorite) before it was revealed! Go me! And have the Insiders always been standing around naked? How did I not notice this before? Deathstoke’s involvement I did not expect at all and I am not sure that I am excited about it. He is one of the most overused villain. But I think this is at least the first time we have seen Tomasi’s take on him so it’s not so bad. The action sequences were great and I like how Tomasi really utilizes each of the Outsiders respective powers. They are making a really effective team so far. Katana’s hair seemed to change in the middle of the battle though which is pretty bad art continuity but that’s jsut a nitpick. So far this new direction is still going strong.

Hair And Shape-Shifting

Outsiders (Volume 4) #16
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Lee Garbett

The Outsiders new direction truly begins as the “new” team goes into action. I really enjoyed this. Tomasi really knows how to write these characters and I love the banter between them. I think he is a worthy successor to Mike Barr when it comes to writing the original Outsiders. I loved Metamorpho’s speech at the beginning of this issue and that is saying a lot considering how I feel about Metamorpho. His shapeshifting really made me miss having Plastic Man in the JLA though.Garbett’s art is great in this issue, I love Halo’s new costume, I am not sure how I feel about Katana’s long hair though, it doesn’t really fit her character. The immortals in this issue I assume are the “Ultimate Outsiders Villains” Alfred talked about last issue. I am interested to learn more about them. I am loving this new direction!

An Amazing New Beginning For The Outsiders

Outsiders (Volume 4) #15
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Lee Garbett

It’s no secret that I am big Outsiders fan and I enjoyed Dixon’s run (mostly because of Batgirl) so I was going to like this no matter what. But DAMN this is good. Tomasi bring back the original roster (minus Batman and plus the Creeper and the new Owlman) and reveals the real meaning behind the name Outsiders. Together they represent different sides of Batman and they are the “Batman” OUTSIDE of the Gotham. It’s Bruce’s way of protecting the whole world. Also revealed is that their is an unknown enemy behind all of the enemies the Outsiders have fought over the years. Garbett’s art is pretty good too. Everyone should check this out. It’s really a new beginning for the group. I like how Tomasi is really playing on the Outsiders history (Unlike Winick, who ignored it and thought he was writing Titans) and continuity. I am even interested in the two new members who I know very little about. Each of the Outsiders are asked to leave their lives outside the group behind for the time being, and Black Lightning reluctantly agrees. Does this mean he is going to leave the Justice League? Sure seems so but it isn’t mentioned in this book. Anyways, this was fantastic!