Outsiders #4 Review

Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Brothers in Blood – Part 1: Small Potatoes

Written by: Judd Winick
Penciled by: ChrisCross
Inked by: Sean Parsons
Colored by: Gina Going
Lettered by: Comicraft
Associate Editor: Lysa Hawkins
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Publisher: DC Comics

Hi, everybody! I wanted to try something a little different here. Each of the quotes below are pulled from the issue in question, and may have been taken slightly out of context. Remember, this is all in fun!

“This really chafes my ass.”

Thank you Grace, I agree. Outsiders has been a good, yet all to disappointing read for me so far. Judd Winick, a writer whose work I’m a fan of, just hasn’t hit with a great issue, hell even a really good issue yet. Mediocre might be a little strong of a word, but middling isn’t. Oh hell, you’re right they mean the same thing.

“I think we’re ready for sharks.”

Sure Nightwing, whatever you say. That is you right? Our esteemed Dark Overlord, recently mentioned to me, during the weekly flogging, that Winick has really missed the boat on Nightwing’s character. The more I’ve read, the more I have to agree with the dark one. There are issues concerning Metamorpho which will be addressed in the upcoming issue # 7. Well perhaps at the same time someone can give us a hint to the identity of the guy impersonating Nightwing!

“They’re bugging out!”

So am I Arsenal, but thanks for the input. By the way, I’m pleased to see your fashion sense has improved over the years. That was a really cute red costume and yellow cap you used to wear. The outfit with the sunglasses really was…Sorry am I digressing? Well for that I’m sorry, but much as my attention seems to wander as I write this, so does Mr. Winick’s when putting pen to paper on Outsiders. I’m not slamming this book, more than anything I’m disappointed that things haven’t really clicked yet. Judd’s gone for a whole lot of humor, so I figured that would be appropriate here as well.

“It might be easier if you were less cryptic.”

Thanks once again for the input, Arsenal. The biggest problem with this book has been a lack of a real coherent story, and just a dopey overall tone. This isn’t what I expected from Winick and Outsiders, this is more the tone I’d have expected from another recently relaunched book, Teen Titans. The darker mood in TT, is what I expected from Outsiders. A very odd, but not altogether unpleasing turn of events.

“This is most unexpected.”

I agree with you Indigo. May I ask why the regular art team of Tom Raney and Scott Hanna are taking a break after only three issues? It’s not just a one-issue break though, they won’t return until issue seven! It seems very odd for a team to work for three issues, and then take a three issue hiatus. Thankfully the fill-in team of ChrisCross and Sean Parsons are more than up for the challenge. I’m quite excited to see what’s in store from the duo for the next couple of issues.

“Holy mackerel.”

Indeed; very poetic Metamorpho. This issue got better as it went along. I almost dreaded having to read the comic. It started off very tongue in cheek, and honestly continued in that vein. Thankfully Judd does some nice things with the characters, especially the three characters recently created by Judd (Thunder, Indigo, and Grace). I see the light at the end of the tunnel for Outsiders; the upcoming struggle with Brother Blood intrigues me.

While I mentioned dreading reading this issue, that was only because I desperately didn’t want to hate it. I waited anxiously for the launch, and had tremendous expectations. This was the best issue so far, and the positive signs appear to lead to some great things to come in these pages.