Batman and The Outsiders #13: Outside Looking In

I have such conflicting feelings. I like the characters, writer, art, but not the series. The last couple issues, or maybe all of them, have felt like a mediocre Batman story with the Outsiders in the backdrop. I would much rather have a great story with the Outsiders in the spotlight and Batman in the shadows. The series may be leading to that direction. Lady Shiva talks to Cassandra and Duke about Batman’s need for the Outsiders. She says, “Batman has no plan for you. He’s trapped you in his system. Made you soldiers. And kept you from evolving.” From a reader’s standpoint, this is partly true. Batman is the major draw for the series, so obviously people expect a Batman book. However, this is an Outsiders book, but the Outsiders are being overshadowed.

I really like Orphan and Signal; they are young, exciting, and interesting. I am not sure if they could hold their own in their own series. Lady Shiva thinks differently, saying, “Neither one of you needs him. You should have your own cities to protect. Your own names. And your own symbols.” I am hoping that this is signaling a major shift in how this series is going to be. I want to see more Outsiders and less Batman. Lady Shiva finishes with, “The failed experiment of ‘The Outsiders’ is over,” but I think this is just the start.

Without the Outsiders, including Black Lightning, this would be a dull Batman book. Ra’s al Ghul is up to something and Batman is going to figure it out and stop him; this is nothing new. What makes me think Bryan Hill is on to something is that Black Lightning is going to get some character development, or at least equipment development, out of this. Along with Orphan and Signal’s growth, it has taken thirteen issues for the Outsiders to start emerging from Batman’s shadow.