Batman and the Outsiders #16 (1984)

Batman and the Outsiders #16 (December, 1984)

"The Truth About Halo, Part 1: ... Goodbye..."

Writer/Editor/Co-Creator - Mike W. Barr

Artist/Co-Creator - Jim Aparo

Colorist - Adrienne Roy

Cover Price: $0.75

Whodathunkit... Batman and the Outsiders is rapidly becoming one of my favorite titles of this era.  Never would have pegged it... on the surface, these cast members do very little for me... however, I am pleased to report that they have absolutely won me over.  I wasn't expecting this to be so... soap opera-y... it's not too different from Uncanny X-Men or New Teen Titans in that way... and I don't gotta tell ya that that's a good thing!

Today we're going to start unraveling the quandary of just who in the heck is Halo, anyway?

--

We open in the midst of a Halo nightmare.  Her past is unknown to her, and she just isn't sure who she is or where she'd come from.  She wakes up screaming which brings her teammate Katana into her room.  Tatsu comforts Gaby and sings her back to sleep.  This shows an amazingly "softer" side to Katana, especially when compared to an upcoming scene.

When morning comes, Katana goes... to Wayne Manor.  Alfred lets her in and informs her that Master Bruce is expecting her.  She proceeds to read Bruce the riot act for putting the Halo mystery on the back burner... to which, Bruce says "Oh yeah... well check this out!" and shows her all the progress he's made on the case, including a suspected hometown and name (which is kind of a reach here, but it's Batman... so it's right)... and even tells her he's got his detective buddy Jason Bard on the case... How ya like dem apples, Tatsu!?

Snaps, yo...

Speaking of Bard, we join him following up on a lead in Arlington, Missouri.  He checks out the local High School and finds the photo of a Violet Harper who would be part of the class of 1987.  He decides to visit the Harper home to get some confirmation... and tells Mrs. Harper that he knows where her lost daughter is.

Back in Gotham, Batman receives the good news and decides to assemble the Outsiders.  He wants them all present when he tells Halo that he knows who she is and where she's from.  Needless to say, she's... kinda pleased.

We get a scene with the Harpers, where Mom is super excited to be getting her daughter back... while Dad is a bit skeptical, and worried she's getting her hopes up.

Later that night, we see a touching scene between Gaby/Violet and Brion, where they decide that no matter what the outcome, they will stay together.

We shift scenes to a free clinic where a junkie/drug thief has finagled his way into seeing the Doc.  Inside he holds him up for some sweet sweet drugs... unfortunately for him, Katana is on patrol this night.  She hears the struggle... and decides to, ya know, kill the fella by stabbing him in the chest.  The Doc is flabbergasted... gobsmacked, even!  He makes Katana help him treat the junkies injuries.

We shift scenes to Metamorpho and pal, Dr. Jace as he attempts to reconnect with his lady-love-lost Sapphire Stagg.  She's fitted him with a device to protect him from Simon Stagg's Orb of Ra.  He sneaks inside and clears the air with Sapphire... but their conversation is being heard by daddy dearest... and his caveman butler... who storm the room and attempt to assault Rex both physically and with the Orb.

The Orb shatters due to Rex's gimmick... what he was unprepared for, however, was the other half-dozen orbs Stagg has!  Rex goes down... seemingly dead, when Dr. Jace does a run-in and drops the Stagg-army.  She collects Sapphire and they transport the dead Rex out.

Next thing we know we're on a Missouri-bound Wayne Enterprises jet.  Bruce is there along with Halo, Katana, Geo-Force, and Black Lightning.  As the plane touches down, Tatsu tells Gaby she's going to hate living here... aw, someone's gonna miss Gaby...

Don't be such a buzzkill, Tatsu...

We get our touching parent-child reunion... and Bruce excuses himself to do some Batmanning.  He decide to check the local police department to check Halo's police record (which has been locked due to her status as a minor).  He learns that she had been seen around town with a boy who was found dead by way of a drug overdose in Paris, just around the time Batman found Halo in Markovia... hmmm...

We shift back to the Harper home, and watch the Outsiders say their goodbyes to Halo.

We wrap up back in Gotham where the Outsiders get an unexpected delivery... the perhaps beyond-repair Rex Mason.

--

Like I said in the open, Batman and the Outsiders is turning into one of my "go to" books of late.  It's nearing my meaningless "Comic Book Comfort Food" designation, normally reserved for books with Titans, Mutants, Bwa-ha-ha's, and Peter David's Incredible Hulk.  I've always said my main problem with DC Comics while growing up was the villains... they just bored me... in this issue, we don't really get any... outside of a brief bit with Stagg and his Caveman butler... but, that was a pretty good scene in itself!

I really enjoyed watching Batman interact with his team members in and out of costume.  That wasn't something I was expecting.  I figured he'd still be all secretive and evasive... and be like "above" the Outsiders.  I mean, there's no mistaking that he's "the guy" here... he's clearly the boss, but at the same time he feels like an actual member of the crew.

It was weird seeing Wayne outsource his detective work... but not all of it, if you notice.  He was cool with Jason Bard doing some digging... but when it came to more unscrupulous measures (checking the police files), Batman went hands on.  It really speaks to his taking his leadership responsibility seriously... either that, or he figured Bard wouldn't go for it... or wouldn't be successful in his attempt.

The Metamorpho scene was pretty neat.  It seems his presence has been relegated to just watching him make phone calls of late.  It was nice to see some actual "progression" in the storyline.  

Katanas scene was... ehh... though, I gotta admit I laughed when she showed confusion over puncturing the would-be drug thief's lung.  I guess this was just a demonstration of her, um... cultural dissonance?  Is that a thing?

Now, for Halo... I'm glad I haven't read ahead, so I'm just as clueless about her past as she is.  As for her future, the only thing I can say that I "know" about Halo is that at some point in the future she gets a pretty big haircut.  I was surprised to see that she is supposed to be such a young thing... if she's set to graduate in 1987... and this book is set in 1984, that would make her... what 14, 15?  I wouldn't have guessed a day under 25.  

Overall... great issue.  Worth checking out... worth seeking out.  Lotsa fun, great drama, and that Jim Aparo art!

--

Letters Page:

--

Intersting Ads:

You like model cars?
You like... horrid t-shirts???

Superboy: The Comic Book #1 (1990)

Superboy: The Comic Book #1 (February, 1990)
"The Superboy"
Writer - John Moore
Penciller - Jim Mooney
Inker - Ty Templeton
Colorist - Nansi Hoolihan
Letterer - John Costanza
Associate Editor - Jonathan Peterson
Editor - Mike Carlin
Cover Price: $1.00

For a bit of fun let's check out a comic book... based on a television show... based on a comic book!

--

It's the end of the Summer party in Smallville.  Clark Kent is hanging around Lana Lang and their pals Pete Ross and Becky are getting in each other's faces over who's got the faster car.  They decide to put it to the test by cruising the windy Lakeshore Road.  Pete loses control, and drives off a cliff... luckily, Clark heard the whole thing and saves his pal from certain doom.  Oddly enough, we can clearly see Clark catch Pete's car... however, when they discuss it back at the party, Pete says that his brakes engaged before he ran off.  Weird.

Clark gets a ride with the racing couple back to the farm, and has one last heart-to-heart with Pa before leaving for college (in Florida) the next morning.  The next morning, Clark and Lana prepare to board the east-bound bus... Ma gives Clark a special package, and tells him he'll know what to do with it when he sees it.  More on that later.

Upon arrival in Florida... we get a kind of silly scene.  Lana decides to "shake things up" and become the "new" Lana Lang.  This act consists of her throwing out her coat... and literally letting her hair down from its ponytail.  Let's not go crazy, red!

Next we meet a loud-mouthed jerk, who introduces himself as T.J.  He's just really insufferable.  Lana comments that she's glad he's not her roommate... and you know exactly where this is going... but before we get to that, a truck pulls up asking for directions to the research center... they got a crazy space rock that needs delivering.

Now we join Clark in his dorm, that he states feels as uncomfortable as a motel room... hold that thought, Kent... you haven't met your bunk-mate yet.  Yup... T.J. marches in... with a thumpin' boom box on his shoulder.  We get his full name... Trevor Jones White... as in the son of Perry White.  Also here... Clark opens Ma's "special package", which obviously contains the Superman/boy costume... and Clark refers to it as pajamas... that's odd, right?

Clark is impressed with his new roommate's heritage... ya see, Perry White is Clark's idol.  T.J. mentions that he's "supposed to be" the next Pulitzer Prize winning White... but, he's got music in his soul, maaaan... Music, and comedy!

We shift scenes to the research center, where a bunch of white-coats are checking out their new space-rock... and it starts glowing!

Back in the student center, Clark, Lana, and T.J. are getting ready to sign up for classes, when... the lights go out!  The entire building is now without power.  The kids head out, but then Clark overhears the news that without proper refrigeration the university's... blood bank (?)... okay, hospital's blood supply would go bad.  He sneaks back inside and uses his super-breath to chill the sangre.

Clark returns outside just in time to experience a big explosion... which (luckily?) knocks T.J. out.  Clark tells Lana to stay with the putz, and heads off to put on his pj's.

Superboy emerges and attempts to subdue whatever threat the meteor poses... and gets knocked on his butt pretty quick.  He then uses his heat-vision to carve out the floor under the meteor, and carries it to the Gulf... where he dumps it.

A strange electrical beastie pops out of the drink, and informs Clark that he (Clark) is not of this Earth before flying off... which surprises the young Superboy.

We close up with the kids looking at the latest edition of the Shuster Herald, whose headline touts that "Superboy flies away with Meteor".  Lana thinks this Superboy is pretty cute, and we end with Clark winking at the camera.

--

I gotta say... I went into this thinking it would be awful, and it really wasn't half bad!  This issue found its way into my collection by way of a "mystery box" I'd purchased at a local shop... probably ten years ago.  I took one look, shook my head, and just filed it away at the very back of my Superboy section in my longboxes.  Dunno what made me finally dig it out today, but I guess I'm kinda glad I did.

Let's start with the art... because that's easiest.  I really dug the art, with a caveat.  I can't say that I'd ever watched the syndicated Superboy television series... or that I have any interest in doing so, but it just seems that the dude playing Superboy (I think it's Gerard Christopher, but it might be the first one)... looks too old to be called "boy".  I get that same feeling while looking at young Clark's character design in this issue... he looks far too old to be called "boy".

The story was a decent enough introduction to the concept... and I think I can safely say that you don't need to watch the TV show to enjoy this.  We get to see Clark (and Lana) in two very different environments/locales... we're introduced to a supporting cast in both.  This really is a great opening chapter.

I enjoyed Clark's interactions with his peers as well as his family.  He just came off as such an earnest and humble guy... even around Perry White's jerk-ass kid.  I wasn't aware that Clark wasn't aware that he was an extraterrestrial... which may stir up some interesting stories to come.

Overall, a decent issue... not anything anybody needs to track down or anything... but it you come across it in the cheap-o bins, it's not a half-bad buy.

--

Letters Page:

--

Interesting Ads:

Action Comics #962 (2016)

Action Comics #962 (October, 2016)

"Path of Doom, Conclusion"

Writer - Dan Jurgens

Penciller - Stephen Segovia

Inker - Art Thibert

Letterer - Rob Leigh

Colorist - Ulises Arreola

Associate Editor - Paul Kaminski

Editor - Mike Cotton

Group Editor - Eddie Berganza

Cover Price: $2.99

Super busy day/weekend of writing papers... let's discuss a recent Super book.

--

Picking up where we left off Lois, Jon, and Wonder Woman watch the Superman/Doomsday battle from the Justice League Satellite.  They watch while Doomsday makes short work of Mr. Oz's geek brigade... They're not the only ones watching, however, as we see Mr. Oz himself observing as well.

Superman and Doomsday continue to battle until Superman breaks away and plays a bit of cat and mouse with his monstrous foe.  Jon is concerned that his Pop's running away, but Wonder Woman assures him he's actually luring Doomsday somewhere.  Seems we're getting that "Hey, is Superman running away?" thing a lot these days, no?

Doomsday catches up, and Superman proceeds to throw him halfway across the world... to a specific location... where a special secret Fortress of Solitude is hidden.  Inside the Fortress, Doomsday is blasted with rays... but it's not enough.

At the satellite, Lois and Jon plead with Diana to return to Earth and help her husband.  They assure her that the Smiths will be just fine while she's away.  Too bad Lois doesn't have her mecha-Batman costume, right?

Wonder Woman begrudgingly goes Earthbound, and joins the fight.  She is able to distract Doomsday long enough for Superman to give him a blast of pure "Go to the Phantom Zone" rays.  Job well done, they fist-bump (?) and breathe in a sigh of relief.

Back in Metropolis, Super-Lex and Normal-Kent are still playing damage control.  Superman arrives on the scene and asks Luthor for a moment of his time to chat.  They have a... pretty uncomfortable, but not totally contentious talk... and at least for now, part peacefully.

Superman heads up to the satellite and rejoins his family.  They have an emotional reunion, while Jon asks if they can ever visit the Phantom Zone... cuz it sounds like a cool place.  Superman's reply is simply, "Never".  Ha!  The story ends with Mr. Oz walking away from his observation deck, and over to... the intercepted Doomsday!

--

We wrap up our first post-Rebirth story arc in a more or less satisfactory way.

This is pretty much the standard wrap-up issue and I really enjoyed it.  I've harped at length my distaste for the formulaic done-in-six story structure DC (and Marvel) has been using for quite some time now, but taking this issue on it's own as a concluding chapter, it was very good.

The Clark Kent mystery is still interesting... as is the semi-heroic Lex Luthor.  Really looking forward to what's to come... hopefully as the Rebirth hoopla dies down we can just start telling some one-off's again to flesh out the cast... outside of the Kent-White-Smith family.

Not a whole lot more to say that I already haven't.  I always enjoy reading a Dan Jurgens story, and Steven Segovia's art is... as usual, top notch.  Regardless of how much I dug this, I am honestly quite glad our opening story is now behind us.

While I'm running short on things to say might as well share a theory I've got... and it could be/probably is completely off base... figure I may as well share it anyway.  This story arc started with Doomsday's arrival... and he was in his pre-breakout duds from the Death of Superman/Superman: The Man of Steel #18 era.  Over in the Titans book, it's been mentioned that Wally and Linda shouldn't meet each other for a few years... I gotta wonder if somehow the universe has been shifted in time to... I dunno, around the time that Watchmen came out?  Like, we've got the contemporary heroes... just during the post-Crisis era... but like, not 1986... it's still "today".  No?  Ehh, who knows?

--

Interesting Ads:

Batman and the Outsiders #14 (1984)

Batman and the Outsiders #14 (October, 1984)
"Two by Two..."
Writer/Editor - Mike W. Barr
Guest Penciller - Bill Willingham
Guest Inker - Bill Anderson
Letters - Ben Oda
Colors - Adrienne Roy
Created by Mike W. Barr & Jim Aparo
Cover Price: $0.75

Okay, I might be late for the 'lympics... but better late than never to check out an early issue of Batman and the Outsiders!

--

We open with Halo wrapping up a date with a fella called Phil.  His daddy's a restaurateur and our Gaby is mighty impressed.  As he escorts her home we see that they're being watched... but, by who?  Well, somebody who likes to kick over garbage cans to interrupt some hot and heavy mouth on mouth action... that's who!  Phil plays hero by shoving Gaby into her building... with his hand strategically placed, might I add... and goes off in search of the menace.  Gaby "Halos up" and sees a pile of clothes surrounded by burn marks on the asphalt and has a sneaking suspicion who the culprit might be.

Hey, watch the hands Phil!

She flies home and meets with her teammate Geo-Force... and knows it was him doin' the creeping.  She snags him and heads home where they run into Katana.  It all comes out that Brion was being the biggest creep this side of Terry Long, and Halo and Katana both tell him to knock it off.  He claims he was only trying to protect Gaby, but nobody's buying it.

We shift scenes to Arkham Asylum where we see Maxie Zeus writing a letter.  His correspondence is interrupted by the delivery of the daily newspaper... wow, whodathunk inmates in an asylum kept up with current events?  He's taken aback by what's on the page... so after kayoing a janitor and stealing his duds, he busts out.

We shift scenes again, this time to Gotham University College, where we join Brion Markov and a pair of gal pals getting their papers back from the prof.  One of the girls is a bit geeky and scores well... the other has pink-dyed hair and doesn't do so hot.  Brion's work "doesn't reflect his potential".  They try to set up a study date, but the smart girl declines, knowing that there likely won't be a whole lotta studying going on.

Guess what?  We shift scenes again... to Tatsu's shop Dragon Books.  Halo enters and tries setting her friend up with her creepy geometry teacher.  Yeesh, good thing Katana can take care of herself.  Later on Katana jokingly tells Halo never to do that again... 

Back at Arkham, Batman is on the scene.  While checking out Zeus' room and berating Mr. Blaine for the not-so-secure digs, he comes across the newspaper that caused him to snap.  He deduces that he escaped to abduct an Olympic athlete named Lacinia Nitocris... because, ya see Lacinia is another name for Juno... who is the wife of the Greek God Jupiter... who's the equivalent of Zeus!  Good eye, Bats!

Speaking of Zeus... we get a very brief interlude of him checking in with a fella floating in space in an orb-shaped ship.  This is one of those wacky pre-Crisis appearances of... the Monitor!  Man, I love these!

Later that night, we see Brion and Alisa the pink haired chick... studying... each other's mouths.  Gaby decides it's the perfect opportunity to get back at her teammate, so she pops her head in pretends she and Brion are an item and asks who the "cleaning woman" is.  Well, pink-haired Alisa don't dig that... so she drives off in a huff.

Now it's on... Gaby Halo's up, and Brion Geo-Force's up... and we have ourselves a good old fashioned chase scene... ending pretty much exactly the way we all expect it to... with the two of them making out.

Now with that romance out of the way... let's check in on another.  Metamorpho is trying to get a hold of his would-be girlfriend Sapphire Stagg... and he can't get past her daddy.  What's great about this scene is Rex is laying in bed like he should be on the cover of a teen novel or a "Mystery Date" board game.

Yeah, but do you like him like him?

We now shift to the opening ceremony of the 1984 Summer Olympics, featuring then-President of the United States, Ronald Reagan!  We go to the MBC booth (really, we can use Olympics... but not NBC?) where Jefferson Pierce and Brion Markov are being interviewed by TV douche Chet Wilcox.  In a private office we see a very messy-haired Batman radioing his team members to see if there's any sign of Zeus.  Metamorpho's selling Eskimo Pies, and the girls are in the stands.

We follow the opening ceremonies and watch the (attempted) lighting of the Olympic torch... ya see an MBC news chopper has been hijacked... and our torch-bearer gets shot at with an arrow.

Turns out Maxie Zeus... and a bunch of geeks (somehow) all jammed into that helicopter... and now they're here to procure Zeus a wife... in the form of Lacinia whatsherface, who just so happens to be right by President Reagan.

Before Maxie can make off, he is interrupted by Batman... and the Outsiders.  Batman challenges him to a winner takes all fight... and says if his team wins, Maxie leaves everyone there "unmolested".  Hmm... needless to say, we are [to be continued...]

--

Ya know, I always forget how much I dig these issues of Batman and the Outsiders.  They just never pop into my mind when I'm looking for something to read... which really is a shame.  I always find myself digging these issues.

I really like almost family-like atmosphere this book has... and here was another great example of that.  We've got the Halo and Geo-Force relationship starting to heat up... well, going from bitter cold to hot in just a handful of pages, really.  Halo and Katana's relationship is also a lot of fun here.

Metamorpho's still dealing with his own relationship woes... though I gotta admit, the image of him laying in his bed on the phone like a stereotypical teenage girl made me chuckle a bit more than I should have.

I like how Batman is more of a means to an end in this issue.  He's there to put the pieces in place, however, doesn't come off as "taking over" the story.  This is truly the Outsiders' story, with Batman just there to call plays.

Maxie Zeus is... well, he's a villain.  Not really one I have a strong feeling for either way.  Seeing him with a crew of goons does very little to excite me.  I suppose if you're going to do an Olympic tie-in issue, he's as good a baddie as any... and while on the subject... how weird is this that it's actually got the Olympic Rings on the cover?  Gotta wonder if this was a sanctioned usage of the image... as, if I'm not mistaken the Summer-games-gang is pretty aggressive in enforcing their copyright... or is it trademark?  Either way, I thought using the rings is generally a no-no.

It was neat getting a (very) brief cameo of the Monitor here.  It always tickles my continuity bone when I see a pre-Crisis appearance from this guy.  It just makes whatever happening seem so much more important.

Overall, definitely worth checking out.  Whether in singles, or the SHOWCASE Presents "phone book" edition.  There's a lot of fun in these early issues of Batman and the Outsiders.  Hell, this one's also available digitally... so, I guess disregard everything I said about not using dem 'lympic rings... mustn't be that big a deal after all!  Either way, check out this series if you get the chance.

--

Letters Page:

 

--

Interesting Olympian Ads: