“Burn It Down and Start Again”
Writers: Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly
Artist: Robert Carey
Color Artist: Valentina Taddeo
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Review by James Attias
Outsiders #11 is the final issue of the most meta comic run since Grant Morrison discovered recreational drugs!
Start Over
This book, this series, feels like the creators had much grander designs. We have the fate of the multiverse, the universe, and our own main characters hanging in the balance, and our team is two former Bat-family members and an elderly man who used to build wonderful tech for Batman. With the series ending on issue #11, it really does beg the question: was this the original ending, or was this “blah blah blah the end”. I can’t say I really liked how meta this book got, at points commenting on it being a book and only having 11 issues. Not really my cup of tea. When done well by Deadpool over at Marvel, or an issue of The Flash from about 2-3 years ago. That I can read and enjoy. But this….
This run was a sequel to a few older, more niche stories from the DC multiverse. NOT The Outsiders we know from the 80’s led by the likes of Batman, Black Lighting and Katana. This is a follow up to The Authority, Planetary, Challengers of the Unknown. I’d say you’d be hard pressed to find many fans reading this book that read those, or even more so, vice versa. Just makes me feel like it was a passion project for a small few that sadly didn’t pan out.
Drumming On
The art was lovely, I can never fault a consistent artist who stays on a book throughout. The writing was where my only issues were. But I’ll re-emphasise, it was not badly written, it just felt a bit confused as to what it was meant to be.
Conclusion
Outsiders #11 and this entire run were unusual. Felt like a joke that most of us were not in on. Give it a read and see for yourselves friends and readers. Until next time. Keep on Reading.
Review Written to Honor Steve J Ray – May he Rest in Peace.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment