DCU Comic Book Reviews

OUTSIDERS #37

Silver And Grey, Part One:  Familiar Faces

August 2006

Written by Judd Winick

Pencils by Tom Grindberg and Matthew Clark

Inks by Art Thibert

Cover By Daniel Acuña

Synopsis

Nightwing consults with Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern and now White King of Checkmate to determine if the speedster they caught really is a younger version of Jay Garrick, the original Flash.  Alan says it does look like Jay, but it is a clone, and then tells the Outsiders he is taking the clone with him.  He also tells that they are operating only because Checkmate allows it and they will be watching.  To learn where the clone came from, the Outsiders kidnap and interrogate President Benin, who provides the information:  Monsieur Mallah and the Brain.  It seems they have been researching cloning to give the Brain a body.  Elsewhere, the Outsiders deposit Benin on a deserted island as punishment for his crimes.  Just then Superman stops by; he wants the Outsiders to stop.  Nightwing tells him he can’t/won’t stop.  He offers a lead lined box to show how willing he is to fight for what he believes is right.  Superman agrees to let him continue, for now.  Grace and Boomerang are surprised Superman actually believed there was kryptonite in the box.  Nightwing doesn’t tell them it really does have kryptonite. 

Review

“Unreal.  It’s Nightwing’s world, we just live in it.”

I liked this issue.  It may be a transition issue from the Mali plot to the Mallah and Brain plot but it works because of the presence of Alan Scott and Superman.  The Outsiders has always been touted as the group that is supposed to find the crime before it happens rather than react. To do this, they must get their hands dirty, or at least as dirty as DC will allow them to get.  Having both Alan Scott and Superman disapprove of their actions strengthens the feeling that what the Outsiders are doing is really outside the realm of normal heroics.  I also like the fact that Checkmate was tossed into the equation (and the Outsiders were mentioned in a recent issue of Checkmate) as it opens up a number of possible story lines, including the Outsiders getting in the middle of a Checkmate organization.  The appearance of Superman, the conscience of the world, as it were, strengthens the position of the Outsiders.  But more than that, it strengthens Nightwing’s character.  He is driven, determined, intelligent, and a professional.  I just wish Bruce Jones could read this issue to get a better handle on Nightwing. 

I also finally got my answer back several issues ago if Thunder was having sex with Benin as part of her undercover mission.  I didn’t actually think it was going to happen; the Outsiders is not the type of comic book for these type of things.  Maybe the Authority, but not this.  But I am glad that it was addressed and I like the answer. 

There was recently a lot of noise about the sexual orientation of Catwoman.  Personally, I’m surprised there wasn’t much noise about a gorilla falling in love with a disembodied brain.  But I guess there are more lesbians then there are brains into bestiality.-- MRB