DCU Comic Book Reviews

BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS SPECIAL

Batman And The Outsiders

March 2009

Written by Peter J. Tomasi

Pencils by Adam Kubert

Inks by John Dell and Sandu Florea

Covers by Adam Kubert and Andrew Robinson

Synopsis

Alfred Pennyworth visits the grave of Thomas and Martha Wayne and tells them that he grieves for the loss of Batman.  That night, a door to Alfred’s room opens.  Alfred enters the door and follows it to another room.  There, he receives a message from Batman, who has a mission for Alfred.  At Castle Markhov, Alfred visits Geo-Force.  In Keystone City, Alfred visits Roy Raymond Jr.  In Khandaq, Alfred visits Jack Ryder (aka The Creeper).  In Japan, Alfred visits Katana.  Later, Katana visits the former headquarters of the Outsiders.  There, Katana vomits, releasing Metamorpho, who had hidden within her to stay alive.  Elsewhere, an unknown figure returns to his people, no longer able to fulfill his mission.  He then kills himself so the others may feed on him and use him to avoid death. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This was a very standard, by-the-books gather the troops issue as Alfred runs around the world to put together a new set of Outsiders per a dead man’s instructions.  Despite the basic plot, the issue is very, very good, due to Tomasi’s wonderful writing, which is always rich on characterization, and Kubert’s dynamic art (as an aside, I love the fact that Kubert’s two-page spreads forced DC to put all of the ads in the back), which uses horizontal panels.  Tomasi hits the right notes, first with Alfred’s declaration to Thomas and Martha Wayne as well as Bruce’s declaration of his love for the one who raised him after his parents’ death.  It is a powerful moment and I wish that something like this had been part of the “Batman R.I.P.” storyline (or the Last Rites or whatever it is they called it).  te rest of the issue, while standard comic book fare, is still interesting because of Tomasi’s writing.  He infuses each of the characters to make me curious to see how they will together as a team. As for Kubert, I love the panel construction and I love the bat shadows lingering around each page, showing the specter of Batman in every action that Alfred takes.  This is a great book; let’s hope that this series can keep it up. 

The only drawback was the ending, which was a little confusing.  It is unclear if the one who committed suicide is supposed to be the new villain or someone under the thrall of the new villain or some kind of combination of both.  It doesn’t quite work, either on its own or as a menace to threaten the Outsiders.  It is just kinda there.  But I have enough fait in Tomasi’s work to wait to see what happens. 

Based on the cover, it looks as if Raymond will become the new Owlman.  I was actually kinda curious how the alternative realty Owlman would work with the Outsiders.  Since that Owlman would be evil, I am glad that the new Owlman is just a man in a costume. 

If we assume Alfred contacted the future Outsiders in the order we see in the book, I think Alfred needs a lesson in geography.  Even in the DC universe, does it make much sense to go Markovia, come back to the States, then go to Khandaq and then to Japan and then back to the States. 

I would also like to point out that the events of the previous issue (in which Nightwing agrees to take over the Outsiders from Batgirl with Alfred looking on) are not touched upon.  You would think Alfred would call up Nightwing and let him know what he is doing.  But that may just be me. 

COMIC CONNECTION

Roy Raymond Jr. was first introduced in Robin, issue #38 (May 1997).  There is also a brief mention by Batman in Detective Comics, issue #818 (June 2006) and he also recently appears in Flash, issue #238. 

Jack Ryder last appeared in the mini-series Creeper (late 2006 to early 2007).

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