The debut issue of Outsiders from Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Robert Carey, and Valentina Taddeo was a massive surprise, albeit a welcome one. It not only resurrected one of DC Comics’ most underrated teams, but it continues DC’s latest trend of actually exploring the various elements of the Wildstorm Universe (and right now it’s the only book to do so; R.I.P. WildC.A.T.S.). In this case, the book is a revamp of cult classic Planetary, where a team of superhuman operatives investigated the secret history of their fictional universe.
Outsiders #2 continues this trend by taking the titular team to the depths of the ocean. A storm has been raging for 25 years, and it’s one that has a connection to Batwoman’s past. While she grapples with the implications of the storm – and the revelations surrounding its origin – another organization stands in their way. Let’s just say that this organization is yet another deep cut to the history of the DC Universe.
The mix of science fiction and DC Universe history is just one of the many factors that make this book an engaging read. Fans have Jackson and Lanzing to thank for that. The self-proclaimed “Hivemind” is in sync to a level you rarely see in comics; their dialogue flows fast and furious, delivering cutting edge quips as well as emotional lines with equal weight. In the vein of Planetary (or even their work on Star Trek), Lanzing & Kelly also know how to tell self-contained tales – a rarity in this age of comics.
Of course, Carey’s artwork is the other major draw of the title. He goes big and bold with the fact that the issue goes to the bottom of the sea; lightning forks across the sky, and wind whips the sea water into furious waves. Carey also gets to design some sick looking mecha that wouldn’t look out of place in Mobile Suit Gundam. What really makes it pop is Taddeo’s color work. She delivers a deep, dark blue ocean where danger lurks in every shadow and a warm golden sunlight in the book’s opening pages.
Outsiders #2 continues to plumb the hidden depths of the DC Universe, providing an alternative to the usual caped-and-cowled crusade of other books. There’s plenty of obscure, interesting elements of the DC Universe to explore, and I for one hope this book uncovers all of them.
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