When I read Outsiders #6, I sat back stunned and said “Holy s***.” Forgive the burst of blue language, but it was the only way I could express my shock at how the series evolved from being a spiritual sequel to Planetary to straight up being a sequel to Planetary. Outsiders #7 follows up on the bombshell revelation that the Drummer is none other than Planetary member Jakita Wagner, exploring how she took up the mantle of the Drummer and what happened to her fallen team.
Throughout the series, Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly have used the Outsiders’ exploits as a way to explore various comic book tropes, including the constant retellings of a hero’s origin and what exactly happens to comic book characters when their story ends. In the case of Jakita, they decide to tackle the lingering question of what exactly has happened during DC’s various reboots. Crisis on Infinite Earths, Flashpoint, and Dark Nights: Death Metal are revealed to have upended Jakita’s life in different ways, often without warning. No matter what she does – whether it’s searching for her friends or attempting to settle down – the walls come tumbling down and she finds herself in a new place. Lanzing and Kelly essentially take Planetary‘s running motto of “It’s a strange world…let’s keep it that way” and flip it on its ear, which makes for a compelling and often sobering read.
DC Comics
Robert Carey once again proves himself to be the perfect match for a comic as ambitious as this. He draws whole panels shattering and fading away into white, a perfect representation of how reality often breaks and is rebuilt on a whim in DC’s canon. Images of the New 52 era Justice League battling Darkseid are juxtaposed against the Dawn of DC era heroes soaring through the air; this contrast is further driven home by Valentina Taddeo’s color work. The New 52 sequence is wrapped in shadows and features a muted palette, making Darkseid’s glowing eyes all the more ominous. In contrast the Dawn of DC sequence takes place in bright daylight, a visual representation of the DC universe at its peak.
Outsiders #7 is both a revelation and a revolution, with its creative team continuing to push the boundaries of what to expect in a superhero narrative. It’s rare that a series like this comes along, especially in the mainstream comics world, but that’s what makes this Outsiders run all the more special.
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