Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay Points, the comic book review blog to the ODPH Podcast!
For this entry, we're checking out a debut issue from DC COMICS with quite the buzz behind it. With the “Dawn Of DC” movement, fans have been gifted returns of many of their favorite characters and teams. Making their re-introduction is a brand that ties back to the Dark Knight himself since their debut in 1983!
With an incredible creative team behind this latest incarnation, now is the perfect time for a new era of a group that doesn't fit any mold and stands on a playing field all their own.
OUTSIDERS #1 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Robert Carey, Valentina Taddeo and Tom Napolitano brings readers a fresh take on the classic squad with some new ties to the Bat-Family! Let’s not delay any longer and dive in, shall we?
OUTSIDERS #1 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Robert Carey, Valentina Taddeo and Tom Napolitano (Credit: DC Comics - Cover: Roger Cruz)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
The story begins with Kate Kane aka Batwoman walking through the dangerous streets of Vahkar. With a journal entry of Amanda Waller narrating, Kane hears a noise and fires a batarang at a target. Readers see quickly, this is no ordinary target. The man who grabs the weapon in mid-air is none other than Luke Fox aka Batwing!
Fox approaches Kane, stopping her from the current mission at hand. Bringing up why she is miles away from Gotham, Fox gets an angry response from Kane. The conversation quickly shifts into a proposition from Fox. The deal: a new group whose sole intention is handling crisis before they happen. No jurisdiction, No reliance on others, No Batman.
After dealing with her first priorities, Kane accepts. The pair flies to Antarctica. Once they land, another member of the team greets them: The mysterious Drummer! What will this new unit discover?
Readers quickly find out there is many secrets below the ice that can have dire consequences. How does the trio fare? Readers get a fair mix of big suspense with heavy character driven points mixed in. The main theme of wonder becomes evident as there’s more to come with the most unknown corners of the DC universe set to be exposed.
There is no doubt of that once the last image is witnessed. It will leave a very notable impression on pat readers while getting new ones excited to see where things land now. Get ready for one hell of a ride as the landscape of the DC Universe is about to change forever!
OUTSIDERS #1 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Robert Carey, Valentina Taddeo and Tom Napolitano (Credit: DC Comics - Cover: John Cassidy)
Leave it to Lanzing and Kelly to hit readers with a deeper mystery at hand on top of an already impressive issue. The conversation and pairing of Kate Kane and Luke Fox steals this issue. Both coming out of the “Bat Family” tree and looking to make their own mark, the Hivemind sets up the duo for driving home the point of “this isn’t another Batman story”. There is just enough clues to see what’s happening but with how Luke speaks, there is more that he knows as things progress forward.
The addition of Drummer to the mix presents a nice wildcard to the “team.” Pacing moves very fast, building each moment up for a deeper blowout in conclusion. The resolution is a unique one but once again re-enforces Fox’s approach of this NOT being a super hero team. The closing moments plant a great easter egg before sending readers off with much to ponder. There are many directions things may lead to now, but rest assured, this will be one story not to miss.
Carey hits readers with some noteworthy reactions to Kane and Fox “negotiations”. The struggle of finding life post-Gotham is an easy message sent to the readers. The emotions pour for a bit before snapping back into Kane’s “normal” work. There’s a great full-page spread to introduce Drummer to readers that hits its’ mark. This is followed up by an impressive two-page image conveying what the trio is looking to explore.
The character moments run deep later in the story with a different way to approach the conflict. This is all capped off with a parting shot that fully sports this won’t be an easy story to classify or be patient to see where the next issue goes.
OUTSIDERS #1 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Robert Carey, Valentina Taddeo and Tom Napolitano (Credit: DC Comics - Cover: Dan Mora)
FINAL POINT: 9 OUT OF 10
KNOW THE UNKNOWN! With sharp writing and exceptional art, the current incarnation of Outsiders make a hug splash in their latest run. Let by an ambitions take courtesy of the Hivemind, Carey and their team, Luke Fox and company look to shatter all you’ve known about this group and carve their own space into the legacy of DC Comics.
Hit me up on ODPH social media and let me know your thoughts on Outsiders #1. Thanks for reading!
