Outsiders #14 Review

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Reviewed by: Mathan “JLE Who?” Erhardt
Story title: Strength in Numbers

Written by: Judd Winick
Penciled and Inked by: Tom Raney
Colored by: Gina Going
Lettered by: Phil Balsman
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Publisher: DC Comics

So the Outsiders have realized the threat of a newly reformed Fearsome Five. The new Five is under the leadership of Dr. Sivana, from Captain Marvel fame. He had them attack various LexCorp locations. Then some of the Outsiders showed up.

This issue begins with a wounded Jade trying to face down Mammoth and Shimmer. She tries to put her best foot forward but she’s just no match for them. Fortunately Thunder and Arsenal come to even things a bit. Trying to escape downs Thunder by turning the air in her lungs into water. The Outsiders allow the villains to escape and attend to their fallen teammate.

Jade gives Thunder some mouth to mouth and Thunder starts breathing again. Then Shift reforms and everything is pretty much back to normal.

Back at Sivana’s hideout, the Fearsome Five decide to venture off the good doctors plan a bit. He isn’t to happy about that. In fact he kills Gizmo just to prove a point. Then he kicks the Fearsome Four out.

At the Outsiders HQ Thunder is recuperating, when Arsenal receives a call from his mysterious benefactor. Meanwhile Jade rips into Nightwing for keeping himself distant from the team.

The issue ends with the Fearsome Four in possession of nuclear missiles. That’s not going to be good for business. To be continued.

Judd did a pretty good job this issue. Not too much action, but lots of good dialogue. Sivana’s speech to the Fearsome Four is a great moment, and he makes a lot of sense. And Jade giving Nightwing a dressing down was equally great. Like I said it was a slow issue but dialogue kept it from being a boring one.

Raney’s art looks really good with the new treatment it’s getting. Jade looks both desperate and defiant on page 2, and the image of Thunder drowning on page 7 is a pretty shocking one. I wish the panel with the Fearsome Four in shock over the loss of Gizmo had been a bit larger but what can you do. The colors look fantastic. I really dig the look of this book.