Outsiders (vol.3) #21 (2005)

Outsiders (vol.3) #21 (April, 2005)
"Silent Partner"
Story - Judd Winick
Art - Carlos D'Anda
Colors - Guy Major
Letters - Nick J. Napolitano
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50

After finishing up the America's Most Wanted tie-in story arc yesterday, I was interested in seeing if there would be any follow-up in the pages of the next issue of Outsiders.  What I found was a romance story featuring Indigo and Shift.

I can't say that I was terribly interested in any of that... however, toward the end of the issue, there was a bit of a reveal.  Optitron, the company that has been funding the Outsiders... is owned by... Bruce Wayne.

Well, this really ticked Dick off... and that's where we begin today.  You know I'm always a sucker for Bat-Family drama... here's hoping this one delivers!

Also, how ya like that DYMO label on top of our Outsiders logo?  Something awfully familiar about that...

... eh, I'm sure it's just a coincidence.

--

We open with a quick and dirty introduction on Optitron... which, for those just joining us, ends with the reveal that Optitron is a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises... and also the wild spoiler that the owner of Wayne Enterprises, Bruce Wayne is actually... Batman!  In the present, Nightwing is positively fuming... he's upset that Batman didn't believe in him enough to consider that he could maintain this team without his interference.

And as if that wasn't bad enough, Roy drops the other shoe.  Ya see, he's known that Batman was in charge the whole time, and has even gotten intel reports from him.  Dick charges out of the room... and it's becoming pretty clear from the dialogue (over the past few days) that Winick's idea of "maturing up" language is adding a bunch of G-D's.

We shoot over to Wayne Manor where Nightwing demands an audience with the master of the house.  He heads down to the Batcave and starts reading Batman the riot act.  Batman just stands there and lets him run wild.

When Dick runs out of steam, Batman finally speaks.  Yes, he's funding the team... but he's only doing so because he believes in Dick.  Teams need money... he's got money, so what's the big deal, right?

When asked why he's been lying to him all this time, all Batman can do is... apologize.  He suggests Dick not place that much faith in him... or anybody, for that matter.

Dick realizes that something's definitely up... and presses Batman for some answers.  Batman doesn't really have any, however... he actually sort of spaces out.  There's a single-panel flashback to... something.  I know Winick was also writing Batman at this point, but I'll level with ya... Winick writing Batman led to my no longer reading Batman... so, I haven't the foggiest idea what he might be referring to.

Dick begins to come around... and since the intel he's been feeding Roy has been so helpful, he sees no reason why that shouldn't continue.  At this point, Batman reveals that he hasn't seen nor spoken to Arsenal in over a year!  Uh-oh.

It just so happens, at that very moment Arsenal is speaking to... Batman?!  He reveals to his informant that the news is out... he told Nightwing and Starfire about their clandestine meetings.  Then, Roy's communicator begins to buzz.

It's Dick... duh... who is pretty surprised to learn that they're both standing next to Batman!

Well, that's because... clearly, one of them isn't.  The Batman with Roy proceeds to beat the hell out of our favorite Dorito-chinned archer.  Unfortunately none of his strikes are strong enough to knock that damned crumb off his chin.

We close out with that Batman unmasking... revealing himself to be, Slade Wilson... Deathstroke!

--

Ehh.

I think my expectations always shoot up a bit too high when we brush up against good ol' Bat-Family Drama... and this one more or less fell flat for me.

It really just feels like an advertisement for Winick's Batman work.  We're left here with "Why is Batman acting so weird?  Maybe I should check out his book.", when really... Batman should be doing what it can to prop this book up!  This could've (and perhaps should've) very easily been an issue of Batman... and I'd bet it would've drawn its fair-share of new eyes to the Outsiders book!

Though, checking the Comichron numbers for this month... Batman didn't really outsell this book by all that much.  Just over 10,000 copies.  I guess I wasn't the only one to "check out" when Winick took over Batman!

Oh well.

Keeping with Winick for a bit... his dialogue is pretty weak, and I tire of the overuse of G-D.  I mean, I'm not known (offline anyway) for watching my language, but this just feels like a silly attempt to make the book feel more "mature".  I'll never understand how a concept like "mature" has morphed into cursing and gore.  I certainly don't feel more mature for having read this!

I thought the Deathstroke reveal at the end was pretty neat... though, does this mean that he knows some things he shouldn't about Batman?  I mean, he'd have to know that Wayne Enterprises owned Optitron, right?  And he would only dress as Batman to trick Roy if he already knew Bruce Wayne was Batman, right?  Maybe I'm thinking too hard... or maybe I just missed something.  Wouldn't be the first time!

Overall... not a bad issue, but also not likely to be one that'll rock your socks.

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Outsiders (vol.3) #19 (2005)

Outsiders (vol.3) #19 (February, 2005)
"Most Wanted, Part 3"
Story - Judd Winick
Art - Carlos D'Anda
Colors - Sno-Cone
Letters - Pat Brosseau
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50

Today we'll wrap up "Most Wanted".  You think Roy and the Gang will get there in time to save Lian?  Well, of course they will silly... they've gotta save her in order to kill her five years later!

And just check out that cover... some prominent placement on that nasty Dorito crumb on Roy's chin.  Yeeuck...

--

We open in Roy's apartment, where the Outsiders are checking out the crime scene.  If you recall, the place had been left rather a mess, with the almost execution-style hit on the nanny.  Worth noting that Dick kinda manipulates the body... lifting its arm.  Doesn't seem like something he ought to do... but, what do I know?  I wasn't trained by the world's greatest detective or anything.  Off to the side, Roy is on the phone with Ollie and he's absolutely freaking out... not that I can blame him.  Ollie doesn't appear to think this situation is as urgent as Roy is making it out to be (whaaaaa?).  Dick tells him to settle his tea kettle... when maybe he ought to be telling him "Just call Cheshire", because she could probably crack this case faster than any of them.

After questioning Roy's neighbors, the Outsiders learn that there was a strange black van bearing a bird logo in the neighborhood... which is, ya know, pretty convenient.  It's not enough for Grace however, she's still pretty dour on the whole thing.  Off to the side, Dick gets a call from our man John Walsh who has a hot-tip.  Remember that guy who recognizes Roy and tipped off Tanner last issue?  Well, he's being transferred to another facility... and if the Outsiders just happen to intercept him... well, you know.  Worth noting that Dick is almost dismissive of Mr. Walsh here... which, I dunno... doesn't seem right considering Dick dragged him into this to begin with.

Way to live up to your name there, Dick.

And so, the Outsiders head off to meet up with the transfer van... and it goes about as well as you might expect.  They make a big production out of it... likely endangering everyone in the area, when they could've probably just stood in front of it while holding a hand up.

Anyhoo, Jade yanks the goon out of the van with a construct hand, and dangles him in front of Roy who lines an arrow up about a half-inch away from his eye.

The goon squeals, revealing that Tanner has planes.  And so, we're off to an airport.  After a brief skirmish with Tanner's security, the Outsiders are able to locate Lian.

Grace is happy that Lian was saved... but cannot hide her disappointment that it seems as though Tanner has once again gotten away.  Then... she gets a call.

From here we get about four pages of Grace turning Tanner's face into hamburger meat.  It's pretty powerful, I'll admit... but maybe a bit long.  At the end of the beating, Grace realizes that no matter what this dude did to her, she cannot bring herself to kill him.  Instead, she strips him down to his undies and ties him to a parking meter... I'm going to assume the meter is outside the police station, but it isn't made clear.

We rejoin Grace in John Walsh's office, where he's kind of surprised... and a little relieved that she didn't kill Tanner.  Considering he's the one that tipped her off to the baddie's location, I suppose he'd have a little bit of the culpability.

We wrap up back at Roy's apartment, where it's made clear that... even though they saved Lian, they didn't exactly get the same one back.  She's now seen things... hell, she's been branded!  It's not something we think about much in comics... or are supposed to think about, perhaps... but even those who are lucky enough to be "rescued", aren't always "saved".

--

Pretty strong ending here.  A little convenient, perhaps... but plenty powerful.

I want to talk a little bit more about Lian's return... like what would come "post credits".  To Winick's credit... and I don't often give him much... focusing on Lian being altered... broken, even... upon return is one of those "inconvenient truths" that we just don't like to think about.

I mean, she very likely saw her Nanny get his brains blown out... then she was abducted... and had her lower back burned with Tanner's "brand".  This isn't going to be the same little girl who was overly-concerned with her "stupid-head" friend who blows his nose on his sleeves at school.

Not only is she irreparably damaged... we've also got Roy.  There's no way he can't blame himself for everything that happened.  Also... Dick.  If Dick never pushed for the Outsiders to "go public" and work with America's Most Wanted... would this have gone down the same way?  This is really a much deeper story if you care to look at it this way.

I feel like this is something that is downplayed in comics... and perhaps with good reason.  I mean, it would be difficult to look at our heroes the same way if we see evidence that even those they rescue still bear the scars of their trauma for the rest of their lives.  There's my pitch to DC Comics... a series where rescued civilians share their stories with a therapist.  That's a thousand-pennies idea right there!

But seriously, I feel like we purposely ignore concepts like that... just like in real life.  The "after" is never something we want to focus on, because... the "after" never ends!  We can draw a line under things like abduction, incarceration, injury, addiction... but once that "now" passes, these folks need to continue on with their lives.  We like to think about people "beating" their addictions, being released from rehab... but, that's kind of where we "stop" thinking about them.  We don't focus on the daily/hourly/minutely struggle that they deal with for the rest of their lives... because, let's face it, that's not a "nice" story.

And neither is the one we just read.  It's mean... nasty... cold... and unfortunately, all too real.  I give Winick a bunch of crap when we cover his books here.  I feel like he's too preachy... too soap-boxy... too pet-causey, but here... I think this one went the way it needed to in order to have the most lasting impact.

Let's talk dialogue... because that's another thing I usually grill Winick over.  It's strange how we kinda flip-flop between after-school special speak... Kevin Smith speak... and 80's Action Movie speak here.  In particular, there's that scene where Dick gets a tip from John Walsh... and he really lives up to his name by dismissively asking "How does that help us?".  Well, jackass... it's the only lead you've got... and it's being given to you by a guy who's risking his reputation by working with you... so, just take the damn tip and say "thank you".  A-hole.

Speaking of the tip... I get that this is a comic book, and we need "high action", but the way in which they intercept the transfer?  Totally wrong-headed.  It was overly dangerous... not only to the public, but to the very guy they needed to question!  If that fella got bonked in the head when the van was flipped, what good would he have been to the team?  What kind of information could you get from a dead guy?!  So dumb.

Overall... even with all the issues I had with this issue (and arc), I still can't get overly mad at it.  It's better than a "very special issue", but probably not as good as a "regular" issue.  I'd say it's worth a look.

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Outsiders (vol.3) #18 (2005)

Outsiders (vol.3) #18 (January, 2005)
"Most Wanted, Part 2"
Story - Judd Winick
Art - Carlos D'Anda
Colors - Sno-Cone
Letters - Phil Balsman
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50

Well, yesterday we were promised an appearance by John Walsh of America's Most Wanted... and that's just what we got... a single panel featuring the man himself.  Kind of a letdown, don't you think?

So, let's keep with the Outsiders and see just what they do with their newfound pal.

--

We open on some grainy CCTV footage of the store where a young girl named Janet Milo had been abducted three months prior.  The Outsiders (and John Walsh) watch intently as a suspicious-looking individual keeps wandering into the scene.  They eventually deduce that he most likely took the girl out of the area inside a duffel bag.  Dick and John also note that the likely baddie happened to touch the counter... leading them to wonder if there might be a way to pick up any prints.

Walsh isn't terribly excited, as the counter has likely been wiped clean thousands of times since... to which, Roy informs him that their technology is a bit better than that of the Police.  Waitasec!  Just last issue Jade said that this was a job the Police should be able to attend to without the Outsiders!  What kinda crap is this?!

Some time passes, and the Outsiders are able to nab twelve-hundred prints from that counter.  They call into Walsh, who suggests they cross-reference those prints with the known pedophile database... which, c'mon now, did they really need John Walsh to tell them that?  Either way, they find a match... a Martin Andrews.

When Grace hears the news... well, she's just annoyed that it isn't the fella who abducted her... Tanner.  With a name, however, John Walsh is able to do his America's Most Wanted thang, and at least try and nyoink this Andrews off the street.  The Outsiders watch the program... and are not entirely comfortable working "within the system".  I mean, they're talking like they're X-Force or something... Black-Ops... they're the freaking Outsiders, they were originally founded by Batman, they're mostly graduated Teen Titans... gimme a break with that "outside the system" spoo.

We shift over to Grace's... rather gross bedroom, where she's also watching America's Most Wanted... but I can't say for certain if it's the same episode.  This time, John Walsh is revealing that Janet Milo has been found and returned to her family... so, it's almost gotta be "next week's show" right?  I guess that could've been clearer.  Roy asks Grace how she's doing (and it seems like they're not in her disheveled bedroom anymore)... but it's clear she ain't doin' all that hot.

Later, Walsh calls in to Outsiders leader, Jade.  He informs her that since the show aired, they've received thousands of calls about that Martin Andrews... but one in particular stood out to him.  One said that he was seen talking to a fella named... Tanner!  Now, I'm not sure if the art is supposed to be conveying any particular disinterest in Jade's eyes... but, she doesn't look all that "into" it.  Maybe I'm just projecting.

Anyhoo, we move on and the Outsiders (I keep wanting to type "Titans") are on the prowl.  They head in the direction of Walsh's tip, and use Indigo to do some scanning.  It isn't long before the come across a bunker holding 83 child slaves!

It's not long before the police show up... and the children are taken away to safety.  Roy's super jazzed that they made a difference... but Grace still feels like they're in an uphill battle.  To her mind, all they've done is close down a single franchise in Tanner's conglomerate.

One of the goons who was guarding the bunker getting hauled away recognizes Harper from his time using.  The goon uses his one phone call to give Tanner a buzz and let him know what went down... and give a little insight into Roy's private life.  He also mentions the "wicked tall Asian chick" called Grace who was with him... which, as you might imagine, gives Tanner a bit of a pause.

Tanner hangs up on the goon, and makes a call... to get a "job" done.  Tanner, by the way, has both a mustache and a mullet.  Worth mentioning?  Ehh, it's too late now.

We shift scenes over to Roy... and that disgusting Dorito crumb he has on his chin, who is talking to Dick on the phone.  They're discussing Grace's anger, and the justification of it... it is confirmed here that during Grace's time with Tanner she was raped.  Roy cuts the call short so he can go relieve the nanny and be with his daughter.

As he approaches his apartment door, it's clear that it's been tampered with.  He kicks it open, to find the nanny (I'm guessing) shot dead... Lian's been taken, and there's a message scrawled on the wall.  It's the New Didio-DCU... ain't no stomaching us now!

--

Okay, this wasn't great... but it also wasn't bad.

Right off the bat... last issue, there was only one drawing of John Walsh... and boy howdy, did it look like they labored over the damn thing to make it look like him.  This time around?  Not so much.  It just looked like any random middle-aged fella.  I think when you're entire hook is the John Walsh/America's Most Wanted connection... you might wanna do a bit better with the likeness.

The "meat" of the story might've been a little bit on the convenient side... but, I mean... if we were to interject reality into this, it would be a never-ending story.  There are always going to be abducted kids (and people in general) who are in need of discovery and safety.  That's sort of the problem exploring these kind of themes.  Maybe that's why Jade was so adamant an a-hole last issue?  She just didn't want her team to become pigeonholed!  Now it all makes sense!  No, no it still doesn't.

I gotta say, this was a ringing endorsement for the America's Most Wanted program... which, I mean... if probably the point.  No harm, no foul... the show is very important, and has done a helluva lot of good.  The whole thing was convenient... but forgivable.

Let's talk gore!  I feel like a lot of DC fans (myself included) see the launch of this book and Teen Titans (vol.3) as the real "start" of the Dan DiDio DCU.  With his arrival came a darkening... Impulse gets kneecapped right off the bat over in Titans... the whole Sue Dibny thing happens in Identity Crisis... and here we have a nanny getting his brains splattered all over Roy's apartment.

The Impulse and Sue beats... while I didn't really dig 'em, they at least served the story.  They led to something.  This?  This just feels gratuitous.  I don't feel like we needed to see this.  Not that I'm averse to violence, but this just feels... I dunno, almost embarrassing.  This is the kind of thing that people who don't read comics think comic books are full of... and judge those of us who do read them accordingly.  All I'm saying is, sometimes less is more.  Leave something to our imagination.

Overall... like I said, not a bad issue.  A little convenient... but, can't get all that mad at it.  We'll wrap this bugger up tomorrow.

--

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Outsiders (vol.3) #17 (2004)

Outsiders (vol.3) #17 (December, 2004)
"Most Wanted, Part 1"
Story - Judd Winick
Art - Carlos D'Anda
Colors - Sno-Cone
Letters - Jared K. Fletcher
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50

Well, there's a cover that just jumps off the shelves atcha, don't it?

--

We open with a scene that doesn't even feel like it belongs in this issue... Nightwing is relieved of his duties as leader of the Outsiders.  He isn't kicked off the team, or anything... they just don't want him to lead them.  A later chat, which also feels kind of out of place, between Roy and Kori reveals that Jade will be taking over.  Roy then storms off to do... something.  Not sure what it is, but it looks like the Outsiders are uneasy about it.

We jump ahead three weeks later, and join Grace and Shift (Shift was that gaseous-looking character we were all led to think was Metamorpho).  They are stomping around a storage facility looking for a weapons cache... and, wouldn'tcha know it... they find one!  They wind up getting attacked by the baddies... but are able to overcome the odds off-panel.

Feild-Commander Jade calls in to get their "twenty", and learns that all's quiet on whateverthehell front they're currently on.  Then, Grace sees a light coming from a door she hadn't noticed.  She approaches, crushes the door into scrap... and finds, a room full of children strapped to beds!

As if that wasn't shocking enough, Grace notices that they all bare a particular brand on their lower-backs.

We jump ahead six days, and rejoin Roy who is feeding Lian some... either pancakes or dry toast.  Gotta say, Lian's got some of the worst dialogue here.  It feels like an attempt toward Bendis-speak, but it falls completely flat.  I mean, she refers to a classmate as a "big stupid head".  Is this real life?  Do kids really say that... or is that what people think kids say?  Was "poopy head" a step too far?  Anyhoo, Roy receives a call from Jade, who is concerned because Grace didn't show up to that day's briefing.

The order of business... and this is important for my upcoming complaint... the Penguin is moving one of those drugs that gives the user superpowers that showed up in like every superhero book during the mid-2000's (hell, even today!).  Just remember that Jade has led the team on a weapons bust and a drug bust since taking over leadership.

We shift scenes to join Grace... who is beating the holy hell out of, well, some dude.  She's looking for answers on the branded kids... unfortunately, before she can get any... that "some dude" passes out.  At this point, Roy shows up on the scene... and boy howdy has that Dorito crumb on his chin grown!  Grace spills the beans about the kids... to which, Roy comments that Grace herself has the same brand on her lower back!

Grace share her origin... her time as a child slave.  She explains that she would be strapped to a bed in between "rentals" to folks who would have their way with her.  Lucky for her, her powers manifested when she was around twelve... but the others didn't get such a break.  I want you to remember this bit too.  Grace was abused until her powers manifested.  We'll come back to this in the very next scene.

We shift ahead to Grace informing the rest of the Outsiders of both her findings, and her past.  And, get this... Jade thumbs her nose at the idea!  Jade feels like the Outsiders are "better suited for the bigger picture".  That they should leave things like child sex-slaves to the police or firefighters!  Okay... here comes.  Since Jade took over leadership of the Outsiders... they've done a weapons bust... and a drug bust.  Those are part of "the bigger picture"?!  Those are "too big" for the police?!  What the hell has happened to Jade?!

Grace continues to plead her case... to which, Jade responds "It's not what we do."  Putting aside that the Outsiders just used their "abilities" to stop a weapons shipment and an inner-city drug-run... let's look at Jade for a moment.  We know she's a victim (or at least a target) of sexual abuse... and we know that, like Grace, it was only due to her powers manifesting that she was able to get away.  What's more... Jade was able to get revenge on her abuser!  And here she is poo-pooing Grace's opportunity?!  The hell?

At this point Dick, who has been hanging out off to the side, decides to finally interject.  He sides with Grace... he think this child slaves situation needs to be brought to the light.  Which makes me wonder... was Jade okay with not even reporting this?  Who in hell put her in charge?  More importantly, why is she being written so ridiculously out of character?

Starfire inquires as to what Dick means... should they call the police?  Well, no... not exactly.  Dick suggests (as if the cover didn't spoil it) that they turn to America's Most Wanted.  Shift thinks it's a silly idea... and so, Dick pleads his case.  He thinks John Walsh might be the best guy to have on their side... as his life's mission has become protecting children.  Plus, this would get more eyes on the situation than just going to the police.  Sounds like a good idea to me... it's almost like Dick should be leading this team or something!

Anyhoo, we wrap up with the big reveal... the Outsiders visit John Walsh.

--

Okay, now it's pretty easy to look at this cover... give it a giggle, and just dismiss it as a PSA or "very special issue"... but, you really get the feeling like their hearts were in the right place.

It seems almost unfair to look at this as a "comic book" and judge it like we would any random issue of Superman... but, that's kinda what we do here.  I feel like, had this come out in the 80's or 90's, it would've been one of those one-shot freebies they'd send to schools or something... so it's kinda weird seeing it as just the next issue of Outsiders.

From the nuts and bolts, it does kinda feel like this story might've been "shoe-horned" in.  If we look at the opening bit... it really doesn't look like it "fits".  It's as though there was another story that was supposed to stem from that, but we wind up with this story instead.

Let's talk characterization... in particular, Jade.  What the hell, guys?  Is she so far up her own ass as team leader that she's forgotten just what it is that heroes do?  Child sex slaves is somehow the "small stuff" they shouldn't sweat?  I mean, in a perfect world, the police could deal with the Joker without help from Batman... hell, in a perfect world, there'd be no Joker, but I think you get my point.

The mid-2000's were a time rife with characters being written out of character in order to facilitate whatever story the writer wants to tell.  I mean, this was the same year Civil War (the less terrible one) came out over at Marvel, where Mark Millar and company drove that last stake into the heart of true characterization.  I feel like the way Jade is being written... so aloof and dismissive, should get her immediately removed from leadership... if not the team altogether.

You get the impression that Winick thought this all up in the shower one day... and had to find a way to keep lobbing easy "pitches" that he could then knock out of the park.  Unfortunately, it just doesn't work.  Jade as the contrarian here... is not only out of character, but it's also freaking pointless!  Why not have her on board with the hunt for Tanner?  Why not play up her inexperience as a team leader to know how to go about doing it efficiently?  You'd still get Nightwing offering his two-cents, and the America's Most Wanted tie-in.

As a comic book, I have some problems with it.  With that said, I still feel like Winick and Company had their hearts in the right place when they put this together... so, ya know... no harm, no foul.  The art here is... inconsistent.  Not bad, but the character models change a bit from page to page... panel to panel even.  It looks like Jade must be taking some bad-ass biotin here, because her hair gets one hell of a growth-spurt about halfway through the book.  Though, in fairness... three weeks had passed.

Overall... is this a book you need in your collection?  Well, for the novelty of a John Walsh photo-cover... sure, why not?  It's probably the best John Walsh photo-cover of a comic book you're going to find.  If you're a John Walsh completionist, it should go without saying that you need this book.  The man himself has one hell of a story... he's turned his own personal tragedy into something incredible.  For the story of this comic... well, it's an important subject... but the way they get to it is kind of maddening.  This issue is available digitally.

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