 | Print thread view
| Author |
Batman And The Outsiders Series Discussion |
Nate
Posts: 1099
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Joined: 29.07.05
 |
| Posted on 14-11-2007 21:46 |
|
|
This thread for for the newly relaunched series.
by Nathaniel Ruff (aka Binker on the forums)
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #1
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Julian Lopez
Cover by Doug Braithwaite
Variant Cover by Ryan Sook
Edited by Mike Marts
PLOT:
The new era for the team begins with Catwoman, Metamorpho, Katana, Grace and Martian Manhunter called into investigate a potential time bomb at Jardine Enterprises — but will the new team's first mission also be it's last?
REVIEW:
Ever since I found out about it, I always wanted to read Batman and the Outsiders from today's comics. When OYL started, I've been buying the third volume of Outsiders, and don't get me wrong it was good for what it was, but I wanted to see Batman leading the team. I mean this was HIS team. When I read Outsiders #49, and the "Five of a Kind" series, all leading up to this I just had to get excited for what I wanted to read finally coming true. Thank god for the internet, right? Here is Batman and the Outsiders #1!
As with what the Outsiders are, this issue continues the black ops, tactical espionage aspect that previous issues had. But with this issue, I seem to have a solid feel about it from Dixon's writing than the issues I got from the OYL jump by Judd Winick. Even how the story develops from the beginning to the end of the issue, similar to what it was before, seems for the better now. This issue is pretty much the set up for this storyline on the company called Jardine Limited, but doesn't show the storyline's point in true form until the last page: an OMAC. Dixon did a good job on this first issue and for my money, it was a good read.
As far as the characters go; Batman and Thunder are the only two where their scenes dictate how they're going to be in this story and maybe more in the upcoming issues depending on where Thunder goes from this. Her relationship with Grace might be part of the reason why she shouldn't be part of the team, but there must be more to it than that. Heck, this IS Batman, so there is more in everything involving him. He says he wants her to see how the team is doing so she can see that she doesn't belong with them, but even with the writing of Batman's words, there must be more than that. Is it one of those things where there can't be two people in a relationship in a job like this? Because that's what I'm sort of getting. But hey, hopefully we'll know in the next issue.
Overall, this was a solid read by Chuck Dixon. I have read the Outsiders when OYL started, but man, this feels so much better. And I must thank either DC or Judd Winick for making my dreams come true in brining back BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS! Like I said, I wanted to read this since I knew about it and was hopefully for it to somehow come back in any form. Now that "any form" is the form. It's nice to have your dream come true.
RATING: Yay
Next Issue: Central City has an OMAC? And a new recruit no one may like to have on the team!
You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
Edited by Chris on 15-11-2007 04:21 |
 
|
| Author |
RE: Batman And The Outsiders Series Discussion |
Darknight
Posts: 1010
Location: NW Arkansas
Joined: 26.06.05
|
| Posted on 15-11-2007 11:02 |
|
|
Glad to hear you liked it. I really enjoyed the old 80's series and Chuck Dixon's writing, but I didn't pick this up. I may give it a few issues and then get it if I like where the story goes.
 |
|
|
| Author |
RE: Batman And The Outsiders Series Discussion |
Nate
Posts: 1099
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Joined: 29.07.05
|
| Posted on 30-11-2007 00:53 |
|
|
by Nathaniel Ruff (aka Binker on the forums)
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #2
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Julian Lopez
Edited by Mike Marts
PLOT:
Batman and his Outsiders — Catwoman, Metamorpho, Katana, Martian Manhunter, Grace and Thunder — investigate the appearance of a strange Omac-like entity at Jardine Tower in Central City. And to further complicate things, Batman’s newest recruit makes her dramatic entrance at the end of the issue — but the Outsiders aren’t too sure they want her on their team!
REVIEW:
The first issue of the series I've always wanted to read got a solid reaction by me. Compared with the Outsiders series when OYL started; #1 of this returning back to the basics felt so much better. Thanking DC, Judd Winick (because he led to this), and of course, Chuck Dixon for making my dreams come true. With the OMAC appearing at the end giving the last issue a cliffhanger; let's see what this issue goes to.
The OMAC battle from the last issue continues and concludes in this issue, but it does not mean the storyline is done by any means. Most of the issue is the OMAC battle (just one OMAC) and the art, complete with Dixon's writing, gave good action as well as intense feelings watching our heroes trying to escape and figure out how to stop the OMAC. We got some more of Batman and Thunder, and while I liked that she blew the door from the van they were parked in, it didn't do anything. Batman must have a reason for not wanting Thunder with the Outsiders, and either I'm not seeing it or Batman really should reveal and explain why. Maybe Batman is testing her so she will be on the team, just not yet. Maybe. But when I see those two together, I'm rooting for Thunder. So all in all; a good read.
Overall, this was another fine read by Dixon and this relaunched Batman/Outsiders series. The story is not over, as while the OMAC threat that started the first issue is done, there are still those who had it, as well as some members such as Martian Manhunter and Catwoman leaving the team and we're going to get more along the way. Our first new member, Batgirl, appears at the end. Though I have to ask; why did she throw Thunder through a window where the rest of the team was? And of course, speaking of Thunder, I would like to know why Batman doesn't want her with the team so this can done and over with. I'm still rooting for her.
RATING: Yay
Next Issue: Batman and the Outsiders get a house call from the Justice League!
You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
|
|
|
| Author |
RE: Batman And The Outsiders Series Discussion |
Nate
Posts: 1099
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Joined: 29.07.05
|
| Posted on 26-12-2007 09:39 |
|
|
Sorry for the week delay of posting this. Since it was the Christmas holiday, it is understandable for me to be late on this as everyone is busy during this time. But for me, there was something else: cold & flu. Yes, I was (and still am) very sick. Add that to the christmas business, and add that to my life and in turn writing the reviews. it was a nightmare. Sorry for the delay, but I believe I have a pretty good excuse.
by Nathaniel Ruff (aka Binker on the forums)
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #3
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Julian Lopez
Edited by Mike Marts
PLOT:
As Batgirl joins, Batman and the Outsiders get a house call from the Justice League!
REVIEW:
Last issue was another fine read by Dixon and this relaunched Batman/Outsiders series. The story was not over, as while the OMAC threat was over, there are still those who had it, and Martian Manhunter and Catwoman left the team with the introduction of Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) appearing at the end. Hurting Thunder for some reason, leaving me with "why?". Here is #3!
While the cover might make you think it, this isn't Outsiders vs. the JLA, but more of a threat vs. the Outsiders AND the JLA who don't agree on each other either against the same threat or even handling it. And it's not Superman, Green Lantern, or even Wonder Woman, but Hawkgirl, Geo-Force and Black Lightning who "come knocking". And we learn at the end of it all that is was all a test; now Geo-Force is the newest member of the Outsiders. I wasn't thrilled over a battle between the teams, that we thought we were getting, anyway. I mean, what is Batman gonna do? He's still part of the JLA, and nothing since IC ended and OYL started has even led Batman to distrust the League all over again. So having him and his team fight the League over this, while pretty understandable because this is an OMAC, wouldn't have made any sense. So for how the story played out, it was another good one.
Another factor was that there wasn't anything explaining why Batgirl aka Cassandra Cain hurt Thunder last issue. When we first see them again here; Thunder is all fine (no bruises or bandages) talking to Grace about the Batman/Outsiders situation, and we see Cassandra who has no problem walking around completely naked just passing by. Nothing. I'm not mad at this being the case now in #3, but we need something to explain this (Batgirl/Thunder and Batman against Thunder in the Outsiders), otherwise its "just there" and that won't settle.
Overall, this was another fine issue to Batman and the Outsiders. We didn't get a fight between the two teams of the Outsiders and the JLA, which I liked overall, and now we have Geo-Force joining the team, and the OMAC has been rebooted and called at the end REMAC. It sucks that we have to wait til February for #4, as I'm wondering about the last page: who were those two who said to Alfred that they knew Bruce Wayne was Batman?
RATING: Yay
Next Issue: Green Arrow joins the Outsiders!
You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
|
|
|
| Author |
RE: Batman And The Outsiders Series Discussion |
Nate
Posts: 1099
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Joined: 29.07.05
|
| Posted on 23-02-2008 12:41 |
|
|
The Official "Batman and the Outsiders #4" Discussion and Review Thread
Your rating
Yay
Okay
Blah
by Nathaniel Ruff (aka Binker on the forums)
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #4
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Julian Lopez and Bit
Cover by Doug Braithwaite
Edited by Mike Marts
PLOT:
Green Arrow joins the Outsiders! But is the Emerald Archer's induction into Batman's new squad cause for celebration…or destruction? And with Green Arrow's recent run-ins with the League of Assassins, how will he react to having their former leader — Batgirl — as his teammate?
REVIEW:
Like the first two, issue three was another fine issue. We didn't get a fight between the two teams of the Outsiders and the JLA, which I liked overall, and now we have Geo-Force joining the team, and the OMAC has been rebooted and called at the end REMAC. We had to wait a couple weeks more than February 4th, which was what we thought was the release of #4. But what the hell, here is #4.
As you can tell by the cover, probably the main thing about this issue (though it doesn't last as "main" things would) is about the distrust Green Arrow has toward Batgirl. And they do fight, but Batgirl wanted Ollie to fight her to "let out some steam", which worked. And while the fight was okay at best, this entire issue was pretty much okay as it's purly a set up issue for the next one. We have Grave and Thunder not liking the REMAC in their team, Ollie and Batgirl that I just mentioned (though that seems to be done in this issue), the team is in French Guiana trying to stop three space rockets, and we have a team of villains (don't know their name(s)) hired by Jardine who are preparing to fight the Outsiders with Hawk and Bunny having Batman on their sights with their sniper rifles. That's it.
Overall, this issue was okay. Now, that doesn't mean it was bad or not. It's just that set up issues are usually on the okay mood from me and other readers. I did reread it and felt a little more into it, but overall this issue lacked that "punch" that the previous three issues had. Again; not bad at all, lacked a punch though, but a set up issue. It's still good in the end, period.
RATING: Okay
Next Issue: Trouble in Europe, and our newest member challenges Batman!
You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
|
|
|
| Author |
RE: Batman And The Outsiders Series Discussion |
BornAgainBatman
Posts: 715
Location: NYC
Joined: 29.12.06
|
| Posted on 23-02-2008 12:57 |
|
|
Good reviews Nate.
I need to check thos out!
ultraconvoy.com
 |
 
|
| Author |
RE: Batman And The Outsiders Series Discussion |
Nate
Posts: 1099
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Joined: 29.07.05
|
| Posted on 22-03-2008 00:38 |
|
|
by Nathaniel Ruff (aka Binker on Newsarama, and Nate on BYTB)
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #5
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Julian Lopez and Bit
Cover by Doug Braithwaite
Edited by Mike Marts
PLOT:
The Outsiders run into trouble while a recon mission for Batman at a European Space Administration site in North Africa! Meanwhile, tension within the group comes to a head as the Outsiders' newest member challenges Batman for leadership!
REVIEW:
I gave the last issue a rating of "Okay". It didn't mean anything, other than it was a set up issue and those are usually in the okay mood for me. Rereading it, I felt a little more into it, but overall this issue lacked that "punch" that the previous three issues had. Still was good in the end, though. Now, with that said, here is #5!
Before I continue, were those Cyclops' visors the man and woman were wearing? Anyway, this was expected, but just as #4 was a set up issue, #5 gives us what the set up issue led us towards. So in all goodness, we have: action, some questions, and a cliffhanging ending for our next issue to pick up from. All in all, we're back to what makes this series very good, to even great, in the first place. The questions are actually two questions, and they refer to the two people who help the team apprehend Jardine. They claim they are Ralph and Sue Dibny, who are technically dead. While this has not been cleared up, looking back on what I gathered from 52 (a series I didn't get), I think that's who they really are. But they said they are "spirits", which makes me think that they can possess human bodies, like Deadman can. If that's true, then mystery solved. But if there is something else, then there's something else.
Overall, this was a return to the goodness that makes up Batman and the Outsiders. I guess I should've talk more about this issue, but everything I wanted to say is said right up there in that paragraph above. We got action, Metamorpho trapped in space, Jardine is apprehend, and the two who helped our team get to him happen to be the spirits of the late Ralph and Sue Dibny, who can now possess people like Deadman does. Nuff said.
RATING: Yay
Next Issue: You know what they say: space is the place!
You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
|
|
|
| Author |
RE: Batman And The Outsiders Series Discussion |
Chris
Posts: 2999
Location: Richmond, Indiana
Joined: 22.06.05
|
| Posted on 22-03-2008 11:04 |
|
|
So I'm guessing Green Arrow is the one who wants to lead?
|
|
| Author |
RE: Batman And The Outsiders Series Discussion |
Nate
Posts: 1099
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Joined: 29.07.05
|
| Posted on 22-03-2008 12:10 |
|
|
No. He becomes the latest new member. This is still Batman's team.
You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
|
|
|
| Author |
RE: Batman And The Outsiders Series Discussion |
Chris
Posts: 2999
Location: Richmond, Indiana
Joined: 22.06.05
|
| Posted on 22-03-2008 12:20 |
|
|
|
PLOT:
The Outsiders run into trouble while a recon mission for Batman at a European Space Administration site in North Africa! Meanwhile, tension within the group comes to a head as the Outsiders' newest member challenges Batman for leadership!
So who challenges Batman?
|
|
|
| Author |
RE: Batman And The Outsiders Series Discussion |
Nate
Posts: 1099
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Joined: 29.07.05
|
| Posted on 22-03-2008 20:07 |
|
|
Umm, well, no one. What it says on the plot, the fact that they go to a European Space Administration site in North Africa is the ony thing that's true. I think that's a mistake, because the next issue section of Superman #674 decleares that Superman & Lois were to be homeless in #675 but Kurt Busiek has revealed that that's a mkmistake and what's not going to be happen. He also said that the "homeless" idea was to be in the original story of #675, maybe the original plot for BatO #5 was to have someone challenging Batman for leadership.
You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
|
|
|
| Author |
RE: Batman And The Outsiders Series Discussion |
Nate
Posts: 1099
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Joined: 29.07.05
|
| Posted on 19-04-2008 23:24 |
|
|
By Nathaniel Ruff (also known as Binker and Nate on many forums)
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #6
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Carlos Rodriguez and Bit
Cover by Doug Braithwaite
Edited by Mike Marts
PLOT:
As the Outsiders perform a search-and-rescue mission for missing member Metamorpho, Batman and his team stumble into a terrifying conspiracy that begins at the edge of outer space…and goes far beyond!
REVIEW:
Last issue was a return to the goodness that made up the Batman and the Outsiders series. I couldn't really talk more about that issue, as I can't now. The reason was because I just already said what I needed to say. We had action, Metamorpho trapped in space, Jardine apprehended, and the spirits of the late Ralph and Sue Dibny. Like I said in my review for #5, "nuff said". And now, #6!
The cliffhanger in the last issue is picked up here; the main focus of this storyline is on the Outsiders trying to find a way to get Metamorpho back home from space. But since Batman doesn't play by the rules, the book has to have the team do something illegal that fits that notion of Batman, and that is trying to hijack a rocket in China. We get a bit of comedy from Green Arrow, and with him and Grace. But man, while she doesn't go with them, Batman still doesn't like Thunder for some reason. But back to the storyline; going from OMACs, to a REMAC, to a space shuttle, we now hit into weird territory as this takes us to a unseen ship or space station that looks weird, and the people in it are, as Metamorpho puts it, sleep-working. "What the hell is going on here" is what everyone is wondering, but it’s not like a writer like Chuck Dixon to spill it all out when the weirdness happens.
Overall, this issue was packed with action, bits of comedy and weirdness, but it mainly was the well-written storyline that pulled it all off. I gotta say we're six issues in and we don't know who or what the team is against, I guess that is what this series is mainly about: the team going after piece after piece after piece of a puzzle that won't be revealed until they get there. And in the end, leaves us wondering. But I enjoyed this even with that in my mind. I guess one of the cons with any team is that you are bound to make enemies, even to those you don't really want to make. And that happens here as Grace, Green Arrow, and Katana are captured by China and put into the tortures. How they'll get out? Well Batgirl wasn't captured, and Batman needs his team. But like I always say: that's for the next issue to tell us what happens next.
RATING: Yay
Next Issue: Batman kicks off his Metamorpho rescue mission into high gear, as the Outsiders are in trouble in China!
You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
|
|
|
|
| |
