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View Full Version : Batman and the Outsiders #5: Discussion and Review Thread


Binker
03-21-2008, 10:42 PM
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!

SensorBoy
03-23-2008, 11:15 AM
Katana has a near costume malfunction...

DonC
03-23-2008, 02:15 PM
That was kind of unusual how she went from a torn sleeve to missing the entire upper half of her top.

And, please, someone explain Metamorpho's powers to not just Chuck Dixon, but every writer in the DCU. Rex can turn his body into any element found in the human body. Rubber comes from a tree. And what's with Rex giving Ollie a rough time and calling him a newbie? Come on. Rex has probably known Ollie for years. You really think he isn't going to trust him?

I did really like the way Dixon wrote Batgirl this issue, though. She really is the kind of character who will take someone down with one kick.

carabas
03-23-2008, 02:30 PM
Rex can turn his body into any element found in the human body. Rubber comes from a tree.Rubber's not an element but a compound made of elements, mostly carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Trees and humans have pretty much the same chemical composition.

Also, remerging with Shift altered his powers, I think.

DonC
03-23-2008, 02:36 PM
Rubber's not an element but a compound made of elements, mostly carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Trees and humans have pretty much the same chemical composition.

I didn't know that. Thanks.

Also, remerging with Shift altered his powers, I think.


Who's Shift and when did this happen?

Edit: I wikied it. That sounds like it was a good story not to read.

SensorBoy
03-23-2008, 05:34 PM
Camorouge....er, cameo. Haven't seen her in a while...

michaeljsmith
03-25-2008, 01:16 PM
This book has really started to let me down and I have decided to drop it - I just don't like the direction it is going. I wish I could point out exactly what is wrong with the book - but I no longer get it.

Am I the only one that feels this way?

Taskmaster
03-25-2008, 06:55 PM
I really freaked at the end of this issue, I didn't see Ralph and Sue comming at all, great stuff, this has got me interested in the Outsiders for the first time ever!

Miss J.
03-25-2008, 07:01 PM
This book has really started to let me down and I have decided to drop it - I just don't like the direction it is going. I wish I could point out exactly what is wrong with the book - but I no longer get it.

Am I the only one that feels this way?

Eh, I'm kinda not into it either. I'm just sorta' sticking it out for Metamorpho who totally entertains me. Arrow is bugging me all to hell, which basically means he's being true to his character. Everyone else sort of seems like they're just extensions of the Bat personality rather than their own individual selves, which is sort of annoying. Everyone's pretty much quiet and brooding.

The Cool Thatguy
03-25-2008, 07:24 PM
Camorouge....er, cameo. Haven't seen her in a while...

That's kinda the point ;)

michaeljsmith
03-25-2008, 08:33 PM
Eh, I'm kinda not into it either. I'm just sorta' sticking it out for Metamorpho who totally entertains me. Arrow is bugging me all to hell, which basically means he's being true to his character. Everyone else sort of seems like they're just extensions of the Bat personality rather than their own individual selves, which is sort of annoying. Everyone's pretty much quiet and brooding.

In the end you know this group is not going to kill anyone, they are not going to cross any major lines, and they aren't going to make a difference because Batman is leading them.

Turn Cassie loose and let her and Kat wipe out the "problems" with extreme prejudice... then that would be a book. I tried it just couldn't buy it. Hope it works out for those of you that stick it out....

DoctorDoom
04-11-2008, 03:03 PM
It had the Dibny's so yay.

TMM Writes Lego
04-12-2008, 11:34 AM
My friend got the first one for 50 cents. Our comic shop had a sale. It was really good. I got Nightwing and Captian Bummerang JR #1 and that was good too.