Outsiders #25 review
The Outsiders jump onto the Blackest Night bandwagon as Terra, Geo-Fore’s half-sister, squares off against the team. The dramatic tension is written well by Peter J. Tomasi as Black Lantern Terra pleads for her brother to kill her. Meanwhile, Katana holds her
ground against deceased family, all sporting shiny new black rings. The plot is pretty standard Blackest Night cross over, heroes are attacked by their dead teammates or relatives.
What makes this issue memorable is its terribly inconsistent art. With two pencillers and three inkers, its no wonder this issue looks like a middle school art project. Some pages are great, but most utterly fail. This is some of the worst art I have ever seen in a DC comic. Lifeless, flat, and boring are nice adjectives to describe the shit I just bought. I feel bad for Tomasi, a talented author, whose decent story was butchered by a team of artists who obviously didn’t care bout this issue.
Outsiders is a good read, but I almost dropped it after this fiasco. For $3.99, this isn’t acceptable. Dan Didio, senior VP of DC comics, you should be ashamed.
1 out of 5
“Locked-out of the Batcave but still in the fight!”
This issue opens up with the start of a new storyline. It seems that with Arkham Asylum destroyed, that it will be up to the Outsiders to track down the escaped criminals and lunatics. There assignment, to recapture three of the worst escapees: Killer Croc, Clayface and Mr. Freeze, is presented to them outside the now off-limits Batcave by their contact Alfred Pennyworth. With all the upheaval in the Batman universe, the team is going to have to temporary operate without a base of operations. The team then proceeds to break into smaller units to pursue their own individual targets.
Though we get to see a page a piece of the teams looking for Croc and Clayface, the second half of the book is dedicated to Owlman and Black Lightning going after Mr. Freeze. Now I rather enjoyed this team-up and I’ll have to say that watching Owlman and Lightning driving across the Arctic Circle reminded me a little of Watchmen. The action and resolution to this story was good and I was very entertained by it.
Over all It was a good, solid read in an entertaining book. I have to say that I’m happy with the over-all quality of this book and I hope it has a good long run in the future. This book could have easily collapse by the lose of Batman in it but it has continued to entertain the audience and even improve.
4 out of 5
Batman, Robin and Red Robin prepare to defend Gotham against the Black Ring wearing undead hordes.
The battle tactics of Gotham’s defenders fall into the cheesy clichés of any zombie story. I was hoping that Blackest Night would steer clear of this pitfall, but no luck. The predictable return of Dick and Tim’s parents as Black Ring Corps members adds a little of emotional tension, but for the most part it falls flat. Tomasi’s dialogue between Dick and Damien is fun and appropriately real for the characters. I found his witty banter to be the star of this issue.
Ardian Syaf’s art is magnificent. He achieves a fluid dynamism pulling t reader from panel to panel. His polished skills make this series feel like it’s important in the big scheme of all things Blackest Night. We will have to wait and see if that’s true.
3.5 out of 5
In this final issue, this three-part mini adds depth to the many ring corps as they prepare for battle in Blackest Night. Divided into three parts, two original stories and a neat commentary on Blackest Night issue #0, this issue works, but it’s not outstanding.
Guru of all that is Green and involving Lanterns, Geoff Johns scripts the two stories. First, he tackles Kilowog’s rookie Lantern tale. Smartly written, but predictable, Johns gives Lantern fans a cute story about a fan favorite. I found the plot lacking creativity, but amusing. The second short stars the Green Lantern Arisia. Once gain, it’s a cute story. Johns effectively depicts her love of the Corps and the legacy of the Lanterns within her lineage. Lastly, we are treated to the sketch version of a few of the pages from Blackest Night #0. Johns and the editors weigh in on their thoughts from panel to panel. This was interesting, being able to see how these minds worked their way through the issue.
The art was average. I felt lesser pencils were assigned to these pages, saving the big guns for the two main Lantern titles and Blackest Night.
3 out of 5
With a huge improvement over the inaugural issue, the Tale of the Corps mini-series takes two steps in the right direction.
The first tale “Fly Away”, written by Geoff Johns, is the star of this book. Recounting the origin of Bleez of the Red Lanterns, Johns writes a short, sweet tale. Bleez, known throughout the galaxy for her beauty, is without a man. Her mother introduces her to a newly arrived suitor, a member of the Sinestro Corps, who won’t take no for an answer. What causes this hottie to be filled with enough rage to become a Red Lantern? You’ll have to read to see.
The second story “Lost Love” fills in the gaps of the Carol Ferris saga. Carol chats with the Star Sapphire ring that wants her to accept her place as the leader of the Star Sapphires. It’s more engaging than it sounds, making sense of her decision. Good art accompanies Johns’ gifted writing. The violet hues soaking these pages are very annoying.
“Blume Godhead”, the final short story, sucks.
In the words of rock legend Meatloaf, “Don’t cry baby, ‘cause two out of three ain’t bad.”
3 out of 5
Conceptually, this three-part mini-series is promising; delve deeper into the back-stories of some of the major players in the various ring corps of the Green Lantern Universe. However, put simply, it sucked.
Three stories share this issue, the Blue Lantern Corps’ Saint Walker origin tale, an annoying yarn about an adolescent Mongol, and a tease about the Indigo Tribe. Geoff Johns’ Saint Walker is a belabored attempt to show what it takes to really hope; it was preachy and boring. The Mongol tale was a waste of paper.
I was most exciting to learn about the Indigo Tribe (one of the reasons I bought this issue). At best, it’s a cheap tease that last for a few pages. While it boasts the strongest art of the three stories, we only learn that the Indigo Tribe speak a language unknown even to the Green Lanterns.
This is an oversized issue of nothing special.
1 out of 5
Dr. Lou’s Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 review
“Stories of the Rainbow Corps Revealed”
Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 is the first issue of a three issue weekly series that is a supplement to the current Blackest Night mega-event. The current issue has three stories pertaining to the Blue Lantern Corps, Yellow Lantern Corps and the Indigo Tribe.
The first story is by Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway and deals with the past of Saint Walker of the Blue Lantern Corps. The tale is meant to show why Walker has great hope and why he is ultimately chosen for the Blue Corps.
The second story is by Peter J. Tomasi and Chris Samnee and it deals with the childhood of Mongul and why he is on the path of life that he is.
The third and last story gives the first reveal of the Indigo tribe and their leader which the tribe is named in a regular tale. It shows their interaction with a member of the Green Lantern Corps and Sinestro Corps that were fighting one another.
None of the tales are particularly memorable and this book does little to enhance the main Blackest Night mini-series. Its ok to read but its certainly not a necessity by any means.
2 out of 5
Ray’s Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 review
Left with an urgent mission from Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth as their surrogate father, the Outsiders are taking on a potent faction of immortals as the team is still trying to gel.
This story arc has depth and originality. The villains the Outsiders are facing have gravity to them; they are smart, powerful, organized, resourceful and determined. Lurking the shadows is a growing threat and converging of some DC bad-asses. Peter J. Tomasi is writing a tightly structured story and has effectively captured his teams’ personalities.
Pencillers Fernando Pasarin and Jeremy Haun have produced a gritty and detailed book. I really enjoyed the collateral damage on the streets during the scrap with Deathstroke. The gore was not overdone, yet suitable for the Outsider, who are the darker arm of Batman.
The Outsiders are actually important and this arc is shaping up to have some major ramifications for the DC universe. I hope this series keeps delivering.
3.5 out of 5
Peter J. Tomasi and Keith Champagne’s saga of earth’s lone super hero and his clean-up/public relations team boldly hits its stride in this issue. Secrets are revealed and Alpha One’s true colors are revealed.
This story works because of its methodic and patient buildup to this point. After four issues, the team of Champagne and Tomasi have successfully immersed their readers into this world, slowing weaving plot threads and hints of doubt throughout the pages. Now that it’s familiar, the story begins to unfold as the truth seeps out and a confrontation is inevitable.
Captain Gabriel Cole is still breaking into this new position as captain of Section Omega, the team that care for Alpha One and the public he serves. After meeting two of his predecessors, Cole begins to clearly see two choices in front of him. Keep his mouth shut and reap the rewards of silence and loyalty as did Captain Dominic Deeds or live in the shadows as does Captain Taylor Rhines. Rhines who has some terrifying revelations about earth’s protector confronts Cole with a stern warning.
Chris Samee’s art gives the title a unique feel. His bold lines give a simplistically bold power to Alpha One. He achieves this without the need to draw a six-pack and 28 inch biceps. Clean lines with good use of shadows create an uncomplicated presentation.
I can’t wait to see Cole’s reaction to what he discovers this issue. A showdown is coming, but what do you do when Superman is bad?
3.5 out of 5
In preparation for DC’s mega event Blackest Night, Peter J. Tomasi is putting on a writer’s clinic in how to juggle multiple plots in a single issue.
The centerpiece of the issue is the father-daughter chat between Sinestro and Soranik. Sinestro explains her past and how their lives are bound not only by blood, but destiny. Tomasi’s skillful pen weaves these elements into the Green Lantern Universe without making this big reveal feel like an afterthought. It has a similar emotional impact as Darth Vader telling Luke that he’s his papa. Not quite as powerful, but in the same ballpark.
Meanwhile back on Oa, hell is breaking loose in the Science Cells as Red and Yellow Lanterns battle for freedom. Patrick Gleason’s clever panels illustrates the combat in broad strokes. This could easily have bogged down the story, but this issue presents the ongoing melee in a fresh manner.
On Daxam, Sodam and Arisia prepare to take down Mongul. With the other Lanterns engaged on Oa, they are left on their own to battle this formidable foe. Sodam has a tough choice to make in his solo showdown with Mongul. The issue ends with a fitting cliffhanger.
The pieces all fit together and it has the feel that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Besides baby Soranik’s swollen bobblehead, the art is incrediable. If this is a preview into the action and pacing for Blackest Night, bring it on!
3.5 out 5
