DCU Comic Book Reviews

OUTSIDERS #28

Letting It Go

November 2005

Written by Judd Winick

Pencils by Matthew Clark

Inks by Art Thibert

Cover by Daniel Acuña

Synopsis

After the events that led to Indigo’s betrayal and death, Dick Grayson (aka Nightwing) had quit the Outsiders.  Now, he is making the rounds, visiting people he is close to, including Koriand'r (aka Starfire).  Elsewhere, Shift tells Rex Mason (aka Metamorpho) that he thinks about killing himself.  Metamorpho suggests they get drunk.  In Metropolis at Chaney’s Club, Anissa Pierce (aka Thunder) and Grace Choi are drinking as they reminisce about Indigo and what it means to be a “hero.”  In New York City, Jennie-Lynn Hayden Scott (aka Jade) believes she made a mess of things because all of the events occurred on her watch.  However, she is through with screwing around.  She is in charge and is going to act like it.  She asks Captain Marvel, Jr. if he wants to join the Outsiders.  Meanwhile, Metamorpho tells Shift not to quit.  Indigo would not him to throw it all away.  To her dying breath, she tried to do the right thing and so should Shift.  In Brooklyn, Jade and Roy Harper (aka Arsenal) agree the smart move is to blow up the Outsiders’ headquarters since it has been compromised.  After the explosion, Jade tells him it is time to get to work.

Review

This was a nice issue.  It is always nice to see the reactions of heroes to events that have happened, especially one like the recent Insider’s arc and the death of Indigo.  This is especially important given the relationship between Indigo and Shift.  For that reason, I think I would have liked to have read more about Shift and less about Captain Marvel Junior.  While it would be nice to see some magic in the Outsiders, I think the scene was there more to show Jade’s new attitude regarding the Outsiders than Marvel joining the team.  Let me put it this way:  I would be very surprised to learn he had joined.  Especially given the events in the Day Of Vengeance mini-series currently going on. 

I liked Shift’s comment that he didn’t how to kill himself.  For someone without any shape (or unstable molecules), this is an interesting suggestion that perhaps he can’t be killed at all. 

For Nightwing, the emotions he felt at the beginning of the series have now come around to hit him again.  He had originally quit the Titans after the death of Donna Troy, only to be lured back by Arsenal’s pitch that the Outsiders would be “business only.”  Now, he has quit the Outsiders because of the death of Indigo.  Obviously, Indigo meant less to him than Donna Troy, but coming so soon off the heels of Donna’s death, Nightwing is hurting.  Given when Shift and Grace both say in this issue about what it means to be a hero, Nightwing’s reaction seems a little strange.  He has been a hero for many, many years and one would think he understood the concept of sacrifice and putting yourself in the line of fire.  I understand he is upset, but shouldn’t he above all else understand that these things happen.  The death of Jason Todd comes to mind.  Or maybe that is the reason he is so down about these things and why he wants to distance himself from others.  Heh.  Maybe I answered my own question.-- MRB

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