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Batman and the Outsiders (2019)
Batman and the Outsiders, Vol. 1: Lesser Gods
When the quest for justice drives Batman into morally ambiguous territory, he calls in the most moral man he knows: Jefferson Pierce, a.k.a. Black Lightning, and his team of elite operatives known as the Outsiders!
Several years ago Batman personally put the Barrera family into hiding after they suffered through terrible experiments at the hands of an organization called The Ark. Now all but one of them has turned up dead ... and Batman needs to locate Sofia Barrera before the wrong people get their hands on her--and her surprising power! But it wouldn't be Batman without a hidden agenda, would it? And when Black Lightning, Katana, the Signal and Orphan find out what Batman is really up to, their very loyalty will be called into question!
Get ready for an intense, action-packed thrill ride from author Bryan Hill and artist Dexter Soy in Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 1!
Collects Batman and the Outsiders #1-6.
Several years ago Batman personally put the Barrera family into hiding after they suffered through terrible experiments at the hands of an organization called The Ark. Now all but one of them has turned up dead ... and Batman needs to locate Sofia Barrera before the wrong people get their hands on her--and her surprising power! But it wouldn't be Batman without a hidden agenda, would it? And when Black Lightning, Katana, the Signal and Orphan find out what Batman is really up to, their very loyalty will be called into question!
Get ready for an intense, action-packed thrill ride from author Bryan Hill and artist Dexter Soy in Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 1!
Collects Batman and the Outsiders #1-6.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2020
12 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Edward Hill
379 books76 followersBryan Hill is a screenwriter, photographer, tv writer, and director. He is known for his work on the DC show TITANS and for his work in comics, most notably his outings on DETECTIVE COMICS, POSTAL, AMERICAN CARNAGE, KILLMONGER and ANGEL.
His writing is infused with esoteric principles, which can also be found in his photography and music.
He lives and works in Los Angeles.
His writing is infused with esoteric principles, which can also be found in his photography and music.
He lives and works in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 26, 2019
Batman and the Outsiders return, but this time Black Lightning is taking control.
With a new team of outsiders, Batman trust Black Lightning to do his best. This time though, Black Lightning isn't working for Batman, but with Batman. He builds a team with various members including our boy Duke and Cass (She the besssssst) and together they must save a girl from being taken and used as a weapon. Will this Outsider group stay together or are they destined to fall apart like all the other versions?
This was actually pretty entertaining. The art is good enough where the fights look slick and fun. I really enjoyed the interactions with all the outsiders. Cass and Duke are a highlight and done well, plus this is basically a sequel to Hill's arc in Detective comics so works well. I also really enjoyed the ending as it's a solid cliffhanger. Didn't love the first issue as it felt too similar to how all these team books start but without anything new and Batman is hardly here, and I think they use his name to sell.
Overall though, this is a fun team book that's easy to read and looks good. I'm hoping it continues for a few arcs. A 3 out of 5.
With a new team of outsiders, Batman trust Black Lightning to do his best. This time though, Black Lightning isn't working for Batman, but with Batman. He builds a team with various members including our boy Duke and Cass (She the besssssst) and together they must save a girl from being taken and used as a weapon. Will this Outsider group stay together or are they destined to fall apart like all the other versions?
This was actually pretty entertaining. The art is good enough where the fights look slick and fun. I really enjoyed the interactions with all the outsiders. Cass and Duke are a highlight and done well, plus this is basically a sequel to Hill's arc in Detective comics so works well. I also really enjoyed the ending as it's a solid cliffhanger. Didn't love the first issue as it felt too similar to how all these team books start but without anything new and Batman is hardly here, and I think they use his name to sell.
Overall though, this is a fun team book that's easy to read and looks good. I'm hoping it continues for a few arcs. A 3 out of 5.
June 7, 2020
Batman: Detective Comics, Volume 8: On the Outside served as a backdoor pilot to this series. Black Lightning leads the new Outsiders in Katana, Signal, and Orphan to help a new metahuman targeted by Ra's al Ghul. Batman puts the team together to go places he can't for whatever reason. It isn't really ever explained. It's good to see Signal finally put to some use. He hasn't done much since Snyder and Capullo created him. I've always been a big fan of the Outsiders. Hopefully, some more former members will show up.
March 2, 2022
This was a fun read!
Batman teams up with the new Outsiders in name and well Jeff is leading the team but they are immediately attacked by a man named Ishmael when they are on the look for a woman named Sofia and well one thing leads to the next, another man named Kaliber comes up (think Cable looking from Marvel) and the whole thing is a setup and we see Kaliber works for Bruce and so the Outsiders mission is to rescue Sofia from Ishmael and his master: Ra's Al Ghul and I love the way he is introduced!
Plus the big thing with Duke and Cass as they are being trained and they go on the mission to Khadym to save Sofia but more difficulties there as she has changed and also enter Lady Shiva and one rescue attempt leads to anothers capture and we see what Ra's motive was all along and later on we see whats happening with Jeff and Katana on a plan with Ishmael and Sofia and the fate of Duke and what his powers beckon.
Its a fun volume and its filled with action and epic scenes and feels like the first act of a movie and its great, is it the best Batman story ever? No but it doesn't need to be, its cool and it focuses on this team and also ties well in with Batman by King and the problems he has been having and how does he resolve it is the big question here. And the way the climax ends is awesome and well Batman is gonna get a big moment next volume so excited to read that! The main draw here is the art and its by Soy so no wonder its so good and scenes feel so epic and grand!
Batman teams up with the new Outsiders in name and well Jeff is leading the team but they are immediately attacked by a man named Ishmael when they are on the look for a woman named Sofia and well one thing leads to the next, another man named Kaliber comes up (think Cable looking from Marvel) and the whole thing is a setup and we see Kaliber works for Bruce and so the Outsiders mission is to rescue Sofia from Ishmael and his master: Ra's Al Ghul and I love the way he is introduced!
Plus the big thing with Duke and Cass as they are being trained and they go on the mission to Khadym to save Sofia but more difficulties there as she has changed and also enter Lady Shiva and one rescue attempt leads to anothers capture and we see what Ra's motive was all along and later on we see whats happening with Jeff and Katana on a plan with Ishmael and Sofia and the fate of Duke and what his powers beckon.
Its a fun volume and its filled with action and epic scenes and feels like the first act of a movie and its great, is it the best Batman story ever? No but it doesn't need to be, its cool and it focuses on this team and also ties well in with Batman by King and the problems he has been having and how does he resolve it is the big question here. And the way the climax ends is awesome and well Batman is gonna get a big moment next volume so excited to read that! The main draw here is the art and its by Soy so no wonder its so good and scenes feel so epic and grand!
December 17, 2019
I didn't... love this.
Which was surprising considering I liked Hill's first foray into writing Detective Comics. I like that he seems to focus on Cass and Duke. While I still (and always will) have issues with the Rebirth decision to reverse all of Cass' progression from pre 52, I like that Cass and Duke have a bond. I don't love that Cass seems to exist in this arc solely to support Duke.
I'm confused as to why we have to start with Jefferson being so unsure of his role as a leader. I felt like it dragged on unnecessarily long, just as with Duke's arc. Perhaps because I'm used to an arc having some sort of conclusion at the end of the trade?
I felt like nothing was really settled here. but we didn't resolve any of Jefferson's issues with Bruce, Katana's fears about her husband's spirit, Duke's issues with fear. None of them were resolved so this whole 6 issue arc felt like it was just gearing up for more dragged out plot lines.
So, my issues are mainly with pacing and Cass' lack of her own motivations. I'm glad she has friends, don't get me wrong, but I don't love that she seemed to have nothing going on in her own life here.
Which was surprising considering I liked Hill's first foray into writing Detective Comics. I like that he seems to focus on Cass and Duke. While I still (and always will) have issues with the Rebirth decision to reverse all of Cass' progression from pre 52, I like that Cass and Duke have a bond. I don't love that Cass seems to exist in this arc solely to support Duke.
I'm confused as to why we have to start with Jefferson being so unsure of his role as a leader. I felt like it dragged on unnecessarily long, just as with Duke's arc. Perhaps because I'm used to an arc having some sort of conclusion at the end of the trade?
I felt like nothing was really settled here. but we didn't resolve any of Jefferson's issues with Bruce, Katana's fears about her husband's spirit, Duke's issues with fear. None of them were resolved so this whole 6 issue arc felt like it was just gearing up for more dragged out plot lines.
So, my issues are mainly with pacing and Cass' lack of her own motivations. I'm glad she has friends, don't get me wrong, but I don't love that she seemed to have nothing going on in her own life here.
October 1, 2020
In this story, the Outsiders never really worked well together. In fact, there are pages and pages of snarky conversations that weren't that fun to read.
June 7, 2020
Basic plot: Black Lightning begins to pull together his team of Outsiders to rescue a meta human being pursued by Ra's al Ghul.
A solid start to this series. I like the art and definitely the characters picked for the team. Orphan and Signal have good chemistry, as do Katana and Black Lightning. I also really appreciate the diversity in this book because of the lineup. Bats is really a very secondary character here. The story sets up lots of potential storylines for the future, and there is plenty of good action. Overall, a very good read.
A solid start to this series. I like the art and definitely the characters picked for the team. Orphan and Signal have good chemistry, as do Katana and Black Lightning. I also really appreciate the diversity in this book because of the lineup. Bats is really a very secondary character here. The story sets up lots of potential storylines for the future, and there is plenty of good action. Overall, a very good read.
May 10, 2023
5 🌟
Nice to see the Outsiders team up.
Nice to see the Outsiders team up.
January 25, 2020
Batman has a job for Jefferson Pierce - train his younger, more inexperienced sidekicks, and take down Ra's Al Ghul while you do it. Easy, right? Thank god Jeff's got Katana along to help him, because when Ra's Al Ghul wants you dead, it's very unlikely that you'll be anything but by the time he's finished.
Spinning out of an arc of Detective Comics from last year, Batman & The Outsiders feels like a long time coming. This is definitely Black Lightning's book more than Batman's, since Bruce takes a backseat most of the time. Given that he's already a main character in enough other books, it's a good approach to take and gives us more time with Duke Thomas and Cassandra Cain, who don't seem to have found a place in the Bat-books up till now despite the effort that Scott Snyder and co. went to to reintroduce them.
The plot itself is fairly straight forward, with some very generic new characters introduced, but it's Bryan Edward Hill's character work that keeps things flowing nicely. He has a good way of getting inside the characters' heads and pointing them in new and unexpected directions, and he pairs up Black Lightning and Katana, and Signal and Orphan to excellent effect.
On art is Dexter Soy, who has graduated/moved sideways from Red Hood & The Outlaws over to this book. His lines have always been sleek and smooth, and he employs the same tactics here; I feel his inking has improved a lot too, and his use of shadows to create facial expressions is really well done.
Batman & The Outsiders is an unconventional Bat-Book, but given that there's been enough straight forward ones over the years, I like it when we get something new.
Spinning out of an arc of Detective Comics from last year, Batman & The Outsiders feels like a long time coming. This is definitely Black Lightning's book more than Batman's, since Bruce takes a backseat most of the time. Given that he's already a main character in enough other books, it's a good approach to take and gives us more time with Duke Thomas and Cassandra Cain, who don't seem to have found a place in the Bat-books up till now despite the effort that Scott Snyder and co. went to to reintroduce them.
The plot itself is fairly straight forward, with some very generic new characters introduced, but it's Bryan Edward Hill's character work that keeps things flowing nicely. He has a good way of getting inside the characters' heads and pointing them in new and unexpected directions, and he pairs up Black Lightning and Katana, and Signal and Orphan to excellent effect.
On art is Dexter Soy, who has graduated/moved sideways from Red Hood & The Outlaws over to this book. His lines have always been sleek and smooth, and he employs the same tactics here; I feel his inking has improved a lot too, and his use of shadows to create facial expressions is really well done.
Batman & The Outsiders is an unconventional Bat-Book, but given that there's been enough straight forward ones over the years, I like it when we get something new.
September 13, 2023
Years ago Batman saved a family from methuman experimentation. Now, only one member survives, and Batman's arch nemesis Ra's al Ghul is after her. For personal reasons, Bruce Wayne can't go this one alone, so he has Black Lightning lead the rest of the Outsiders in a quest to return the girl before she succumbs to the worst Ra's has to offer.
It's a reasonable story, and I do like Orphan. Katana is OK as is Black Lightning. I mostly read this because I saw a list that suggests this title needs to read to keep up with the continuity of the Batman story line.
It's a reasonable story, and I do like Orphan. Katana is OK as is Black Lightning. I mostly read this because I saw a list that suggests this title needs to read to keep up with the continuity of the Batman story line.
May 16, 2020
Guess I was in the minority on this--between the two separate postings for this one--I seem to have liked it way more than most.
Batman's only barely in it, in fact he's painted as aloof and almost out of touch-- I don't agree with but can understand a review I read which says the book makes Bruce the villain of the story--but the characters that are here are consistently well-handled. I've always enjoyed Cassandra, and Signal has always felt like a potentially really strong character who's seen less use than perhaps he deserves (the Bat books have a pretty huge legion of characters already), and so it's nice to seem featured so prominently here. Katana I really only know from her appearances in recent incarnations of the Suicide Squad where, as a not-quite member of the squad her relatively limited involvement in their various adventures meant an already reticent character becomes mostly one-note. She's more fleshed out here. I have to admit my experience with Black Lightning is almost entirely from the TV show, which is, of course an entirely other thing. But I enjoyed him here, although I think the book shorts him a bit as a leader, perhaps looking to play up Batman and what he can do in comparison.
Still I really enjoyed reading the book, it grabbed my attention fast enough and I enjoyed it enough that I broke my usual reading pattern and blew though it all at once without trading out at the issue for other reading material as I've become accustomed to do. I'm hoping we get more of this one and it sticks around for a while. I have the feeling Hill and co. can do even better given time.
Batman's only barely in it, in fact he's painted as aloof and almost out of touch-- I don't agree with but can understand a review I read which says the book makes Bruce the villain of the story--but the characters that are here are consistently well-handled. I've always enjoyed Cassandra, and Signal has always felt like a potentially really strong character who's seen less use than perhaps he deserves (the Bat books have a pretty huge legion of characters already), and so it's nice to seem featured so prominently here. Katana I really only know from her appearances in recent incarnations of the Suicide Squad where, as a not-quite member of the squad her relatively limited involvement in their various adventures meant an already reticent character becomes mostly one-note. She's more fleshed out here. I have to admit my experience with Black Lightning is almost entirely from the TV show, which is, of course an entirely other thing. But I enjoyed him here, although I think the book shorts him a bit as a leader, perhaps looking to play up Batman and what he can do in comparison.
Still I really enjoyed reading the book, it grabbed my attention fast enough and I enjoyed it enough that I broke my usual reading pattern and blew though it all at once without trading out at the issue for other reading material as I've become accustomed to do. I'm hoping we get more of this one and it sticks around for a while. I have the feeling Hill and co. can do even better given time.
July 11, 2020
This had a lot of action and less plot, which is an issue I have semi-regularly with comics. I really appreciated the focus on characters of color, but it felt like way too many loose ends were intentionally left open considering how long this was. I don't really see myself tuning in for future issues.
May 29, 2021
Batman and the Outsiders has Bruce Wayne as Batman forms a team who does not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community with members including: Jefferson Pierce as Black Lighting, Tatsu Yamashiro as Katana, Cassandra Cain as Orphan, and Duke Thomas as The Signal. Batman and the Outsiders: Lesser Gods collects the first six chapters of the 2018 series and consists of one story: "Lesser Gods".
"Lesser Gods" is a five-issue storyline (Batman and the Outsiders #1–5) with a finale (Batman and the Outsiders #6) and has Bruce Wayne as Batman forming a team that could work outside conventional means and he picks Jefferson Pierce as Black Lightning to lead it with Tatsu Yamashiro as Katana and junior members Cassandra Cain as Orphan and Duke Thomas as The Signal. Their task is to protect and rescue Sofia Barrera, who has an interesting metahuman power. However, others are interested in her – Ra's al Ghul and his League of Assassins.
Bryan Edward Hill penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written moderately well. Hill did a satisfactory job in introducing a new team, while having them on a mission that slowly revealed itself – especially as how Bruce Wayne as Batman keeps many things close to his chest. However, the narrative is rather shallow with little insights into the core team members, which is very important in the longevity of a series and it is still unclear the reason the team was formed. Furthermore, the narrative drags a tad, but in the end it was a satisfactory story.
Dexter Soy penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the only penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, Soy's penciling is wonderful with cool and fluid action scenes and beautifully rendered characters. Although, I might be a tad biased as Soy is currently one of my favorite pencilers.
All in all, Batman and the Outsiders: Lesser Gods is a satisfactory, but promising beginning to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
"Lesser Gods" is a five-issue storyline (Batman and the Outsiders #1–5) with a finale (Batman and the Outsiders #6) and has Bruce Wayne as Batman forming a team that could work outside conventional means and he picks Jefferson Pierce as Black Lightning to lead it with Tatsu Yamashiro as Katana and junior members Cassandra Cain as Orphan and Duke Thomas as The Signal. Their task is to protect and rescue Sofia Barrera, who has an interesting metahuman power. However, others are interested in her – Ra's al Ghul and his League of Assassins.
Bryan Edward Hill penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written moderately well. Hill did a satisfactory job in introducing a new team, while having them on a mission that slowly revealed itself – especially as how Bruce Wayne as Batman keeps many things close to his chest. However, the narrative is rather shallow with little insights into the core team members, which is very important in the longevity of a series and it is still unclear the reason the team was formed. Furthermore, the narrative drags a tad, but in the end it was a satisfactory story.
Dexter Soy penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the only penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, Soy's penciling is wonderful with cool and fluid action scenes and beautifully rendered characters. Although, I might be a tad biased as Soy is currently one of my favorite pencilers.
All in all, Batman and the Outsiders: Lesser Gods is a satisfactory, but promising beginning to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
May 24, 2020
Sempre simpatizei bastante com a equipe dos Renegados em todas as suas formações. Sabe aqueles restolhos simpáticos que você quer que fiquem com mais destaque nas publicações? Pois são eles. Mas os Renegados têm uma característica fundante também que é trazer personagens que representam camadas da população que são também renegada no grande cômputo do sistema. Eles trazer minorias étnicas e sexuais e, nesta formação, temos dois homens negros e duas mulheres orientais, lembrando muito os heróis da editora Milestone. Contudo, a realização das histórias, ao meu ver deixou muito a desejar. Não sei se eu compraria uma continuação desta história ou se manteria este encadernado na minha coleção. Isso porque o roteiro e a arte me passaram um sentimento esquisito de estar vivendo os anos noventa novamente lendo uma história da X-Force e que até tem um Cable, o Kalibre, nesta história. Os desenhos de Dexter Soy também são muito noventistas lembrando as revistas da Image Comics no início de sua jornada publicacional. Para completar o vilão da história é Ra's Al Ghul, um personagem que não gosto e nao entendo direito. Veredito final: não vale a pena, por mais que eu quisesse que valesse.
April 17, 2021
A gritty and amazing new chapter in the world of The Outsiders. Black Lightning shines as the series star, reluctantly leading this group of vigilante heroes as he grows as a hero himself. Leading next to Katana, Jefferson Pierce is a great character and perfectly matches Bruce Wayne’s Batman in both leadership and wit. Orphan and Signal are great additions to the team, and the series villain is a welcome return for a classic DC villain. A must-read for DC Comics fans.
August 3, 2021
**Review is for all three volumes
Not enough Batman, to many Outsiders, and Ras Al Ghul is always a terrible villainy to use for any lengthy run - and he's really the only villain for 17 bloated issues.
Filled with more repetitive, preachy non-action panels endlessly spouting variations on 'I want justice', 'no, you want revenge' babble than anyone needs, a never explained alien tech McGuffin that didn't require a cameo from the Martian Manhunter but got one anyway, and a handful of lieutenants flanking Ras who are unnamed, underused, and dispatched in about two panels by a single 'hero' - - - so just another underwhelming sequence in a series filled with them.
Not enough Batman, to many Outsiders, and Ras Al Ghul is always a terrible villainy to use for any lengthy run - and he's really the only villain for 17 bloated issues.
Filled with more repetitive, preachy non-action panels endlessly spouting variations on 'I want justice', 'no, you want revenge' babble than anyone needs, a never explained alien tech McGuffin that didn't require a cameo from the Martian Manhunter but got one anyway, and a handful of lieutenants flanking Ras who are unnamed, underused, and dispatched in about two panels by a single 'hero' - - - so just another underwhelming sequence in a series filled with them.
May 2, 2023
This version of the Outsiders is essentially a strike force Batman deploys in a contest with Ra's al Ghul. Hill does a good job of economically introducing his version of the four team members. Batman is here to help sell the book, but Black Lightning is the true leader of the team. This arc is largely a tie-in to the Year of the Villain event, yet the story stands up well on its own merits.
September 18, 2022
Vol. 1.
Batman tasks Black Lightning with pulling together a new team of Outsiders, made up of Katana, Kaliber, Signal and Orphan. Their first mission is to rescue a metahuman who has been kidnapped by Ra's al Ghul, but the man known as the Demon knows exactly how to fracture the team.
I'm always a fan of misfit teams, so I was glad to see that's what we get here. As well as the leadership tension between Batman and Black Lightning, each of the members of the team comes with their own baggage and weaknesses which they'll have to collectively overcome if they're to succeed.
Having Ra's al Ghul (interestingly pronounced phonetically here as 'Roz' like in the Nolan movies, rather than the traditional 'Raysh') be the villain is a great idea too. He's someone who's even able to keep Batman on the back foot and is therefore always a few steps ahead of this untested team.
This is just the first book of the relaunched series, but it's a very promising start.
Also, I love Cassandra Cain, so I'm always happy to see her in action - particularly against Lady Shiva.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
Batman tasks Black Lightning with pulling together a new team of Outsiders, made up of Katana, Kaliber, Signal and Orphan. Their first mission is to rescue a metahuman who has been kidnapped by Ra's al Ghul, but the man known as the Demon knows exactly how to fracture the team.
I'm always a fan of misfit teams, so I was glad to see that's what we get here. As well as the leadership tension between Batman and Black Lightning, each of the members of the team comes with their own baggage and weaknesses which they'll have to collectively overcome if they're to succeed.
Having Ra's al Ghul (interestingly pronounced phonetically here as 'Roz' like in the Nolan movies, rather than the traditional 'Raysh') be the villain is a great idea too. He's someone who's even able to keep Batman on the back foot and is therefore always a few steps ahead of this untested team.
This is just the first book of the relaunched series, but it's a very promising start.
Also, I love Cassandra Cain, so I'm always happy to see her in action - particularly against Lady Shiva.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
March 18, 2021
I don't know if I'm just in a graphic novel slump, but I had trouble remembering what happened in the previous Batman volume that impacted this volume. That's more of a "my bad" thing than the graphic novel's, so overlooking that, this was still pretty solid. I had some trouble getting totally invested in it, but I do really enjoy getting to know Black Lightning. I'd never read much with him before, but I love that he's a teacher. Batman definitely needs someone like that balance out his "we're soldiers in a war" mentality. All in all, a pretty good read. But be prepared--it ends on a cliffhanger. So make sure you have Volume 2 ready to go. (I did not and must wait for it to come through the library... hopefully I won't forget what happened like last time!)
May 1, 2022
Batman and the Outsiders by Bryan Hill isn’t a series of story arcs like superhero comic books, it’s one epic saga stretched across three books: Batman and his team at war with Ra’s al Ghul.
And it starts with Batman and Ra’s battling for the soul of a girl who’s just lost her parents. A girl Batman has sworn to protect. A girl with power Ra’s al Ghul wants.
Lesser Gods is the first chapter of this saga and does a good job of introducing the main characters of the book. Technically this team came together in Hill’s volume of Detective Comics (vol 8: On the Outside) and some of the work there is built on here but luckily this is a much less flawed book.
Dexter Soy’s art is a good fit for the book. He even makes Duke’s ridiculous yellow costume bearable to look at.
Hill and Soy’s take on Batman is that of a cold, broken figure and Bruce Wayne appears like a tragic, romantic hero. It’s a more effective way of showing the damage inside Tom King is creating in the main Batman book than King himself is managing.
Black Lightning is the central protagonist and I’ve always enjoyed his character. Hill’s take on Jefferson Pearce remains more doubt-filled than I’d like but it’s part of his arc for the series and it does pay off in later volumes.
Katana is probably the surprise break out star for me. I’ve never really paid any attention to Tatsu before but I found herself really enjoying her here. Her relationship with Jeff starts to develop here and she really feels like a core part of the team (which she didn’t in the Detective Comics volume where she just popped up at the end).
Duke Thomas finally actually fits into a book! Dropping the ‘The’ to just be Signal is a good start. Duke remains traumatised by Karma’s attacks in On the Outside and hiding that fear and self-doubt behind recklessness. Hill is using this as a way of actually giving Duke some character and personality. He’s also paired with Cass for the story and the two work well together. There’s a change to his powers at the end of this volume that I think is a good fit. And there is no reference to the absolute rubbish they tried to do with him in Batman and The Signal. If you want to give Duke an chance, this is genuinely the book to pick up.
And then there’s my girl Cassandra Cain. Orphan is one of my favourite characters and one of the main reasons I picked up this book despite not being sold on the Detective Comics set up. Hill writes Cass well here and he’s set to push her with the return of her mother Lady Shiva at Ra’s al Ghul’s side.
The strength of the book is its heroes, but Ra’s al Ghul is nothing to sniff at when it comes to villains. The Bat-books have danced around Ra’s for quite sole time now but it feels like a very long time since he took centre stage as a threat. I really enjoyed seeing him back in the part of big bad. He’s supported by Shiva, who it’s nice to see back after Tynion’s League of Shadows arc but who still requires explanation for her return and change of heart. He also has a new right hand man, Ishmael, who does much of the dirty work for Ra’s this series.
The book does briefly appear to tie into Year of the Villain but you can easily ignore this. The plot of the book is a solid start as Ra’s transforms Sofia into his new assassin Babylon while Black Lightning and Katana fight to bring her home, and Signal and Orphan are tested by Shiva and Ishmael.
It’s a very promising start, but it is just the start. I read all three volumes together and made my judgments once the story was complete, I recommend doing the same.
And it starts with Batman and Ra’s battling for the soul of a girl who’s just lost her parents. A girl Batman has sworn to protect. A girl with power Ra’s al Ghul wants.
Lesser Gods is the first chapter of this saga and does a good job of introducing the main characters of the book. Technically this team came together in Hill’s volume of Detective Comics (vol 8: On the Outside) and some of the work there is built on here but luckily this is a much less flawed book.
Dexter Soy’s art is a good fit for the book. He even makes Duke’s ridiculous yellow costume bearable to look at.
Hill and Soy’s take on Batman is that of a cold, broken figure and Bruce Wayne appears like a tragic, romantic hero. It’s a more effective way of showing the damage inside Tom King is creating in the main Batman book than King himself is managing.
Black Lightning is the central protagonist and I’ve always enjoyed his character. Hill’s take on Jefferson Pearce remains more doubt-filled than I’d like but it’s part of his arc for the series and it does pay off in later volumes.
Katana is probably the surprise break out star for me. I’ve never really paid any attention to Tatsu before but I found herself really enjoying her here. Her relationship with Jeff starts to develop here and she really feels like a core part of the team (which she didn’t in the Detective Comics volume where she just popped up at the end).
Duke Thomas finally actually fits into a book! Dropping the ‘The’ to just be Signal is a good start. Duke remains traumatised by Karma’s attacks in On the Outside and hiding that fear and self-doubt behind recklessness. Hill is using this as a way of actually giving Duke some character and personality. He’s also paired with Cass for the story and the two work well together. There’s a change to his powers at the end of this volume that I think is a good fit. And there is no reference to the absolute rubbish they tried to do with him in Batman and The Signal. If you want to give Duke an chance, this is genuinely the book to pick up.
And then there’s my girl Cassandra Cain. Orphan is one of my favourite characters and one of the main reasons I picked up this book despite not being sold on the Detective Comics set up. Hill writes Cass well here and he’s set to push her with the return of her mother Lady Shiva at Ra’s al Ghul’s side.
The strength of the book is its heroes, but Ra’s al Ghul is nothing to sniff at when it comes to villains. The Bat-books have danced around Ra’s for quite sole time now but it feels like a very long time since he took centre stage as a threat. I really enjoyed seeing him back in the part of big bad. He’s supported by Shiva, who it’s nice to see back after Tynion’s League of Shadows arc but who still requires explanation for her return and change of heart. He also has a new right hand man, Ishmael, who does much of the dirty work for Ra’s this series.
The book does briefly appear to tie into Year of the Villain but you can easily ignore this. The plot of the book is a solid start as Ra’s transforms Sofia into his new assassin Babylon while Black Lightning and Katana fight to bring her home, and Signal and Orphan are tested by Shiva and Ishmael.
It’s a very promising start, but it is just the start. I read all three volumes together and made my judgments once the story was complete, I recommend doing the same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
It's a damn shame that DC basically won't green light a book unless Batman is involved with it because the worst part of Bryan Hill's new take on the classic DC team The Outsiders is ... Batman. Batman's presence in this book only serves to keep each of the four Outsiders attached to him which hurts them all in the long run. Seeing Black Lightning, Katana, Cassandra Cain and Duke Thomas work together as a team is so, so amazing. These are four of DC's best and also severely under-utilized characters and this book is the perfect place for them to shine. Hill does a great job writing each of them - my biggest issues are with his Cassandra, but she's been so mutilated by the reboot that most of the problems aren't his fault. The plot with Ra's and new characters Sofia and Kaliber is mostly just average, but there are so many great interactions between the team members that it doesn't drag the book down too much. It's hard when you love characters so much to fairly rate a book because your hopes are so high that anything less than phenomenal can feel like an utter disappointment. Batman and the Outsiders: Lesser Gods is not a disappointment. It is an amazing concept that clearly suffers from editorial meddling (Batman's involvement and the start of the series being in the middle of the horrendous line-wide Year of the Villain event). Dexter Soy's art and Veronica Gandini's colors are so, so good. Soy can be a little cheescakey at times and his designs for Tatsu and Cass out of their costumes are a little too similar but most of his stuff is excellent. I read this with a note of sadness as the series is ending this month after only 17 issues. The Big 2 comics are suffering creatively majorly because original and diverse ideas like this book aren't given the chance to play out and turn into something truly amazing while Batman and the X-Men get 5000 sub-par books at any given moment. Ugh. Anyways, here's to hoping that these amazing characters aren't forgotten by DC for another few years when this series ends.
August 19, 2020
Batman And the Outsider Vol. 1 Lesser Gods collects issues 1-7 of the same name and the Black Lightning & Katanna short from Cursed Comis Cavalcade. This series was birthed from the events of Detective Comics Vol. 8 On The Outside (Issues 982-987). The series is written by Bryan Hill with art by Dexter Soy.
Batman has tasked Black Lightning to lead a ragtag outfit of characters for missions that the Bat is unable to carry out. This team also consists of Katanna, The Signal (Duke Thomas), and Orphan (Cassandra Cain). Many years ago a innocent family was kidnapped, expiremented on, and transformed into metas before being rescued by Batman and placed into hiding. Someone has discovered the family's secret and most of the family is murdered. the daughter is the sole survivor and is on the run. Batman has tasked the Outsiders to find and protect her at all costs. One of Batman's greatest villains is behind the attack and determined to tear apart the Outsiders, and in turn, destroy Batman.
This is a pretty diverse set of heroes with characters who have been under utilized for years. It is really good to see The Signal get more attention. It seems DC largely forgot about him after Snyder and Capullo left the Bat books. This first volume falls into the cliche of team members not trusting each other. It seems this might run a few arcs before the team can rely on each other. I really liked the story from 2018's Halloween special. It involved Black Lightning and Katanna partaking in an exorcism in Japan. Having Lightning, who is grounded more in reality, assist Katanna in this supernatural tale was really cool. I hope we get more of that mix in future arcs. While this first arc did rely on a lot of comic tropes, I think the series is in good hands and will become a solid addition to the Bat titles as it finds its footing.
Batman has tasked Black Lightning to lead a ragtag outfit of characters for missions that the Bat is unable to carry out. This team also consists of Katanna, The Signal (Duke Thomas), and Orphan (Cassandra Cain). Many years ago a innocent family was kidnapped, expiremented on, and transformed into metas before being rescued by Batman and placed into hiding. Someone has discovered the family's secret and most of the family is murdered. the daughter is the sole survivor and is on the run. Batman has tasked the Outsiders to find and protect her at all costs. One of Batman's greatest villains is behind the attack and determined to tear apart the Outsiders, and in turn, destroy Batman.
This is a pretty diverse set of heroes with characters who have been under utilized for years. It is really good to see The Signal get more attention. It seems DC largely forgot about him after Snyder and Capullo left the Bat books. This first volume falls into the cliche of team members not trusting each other. It seems this might run a few arcs before the team can rely on each other. I really liked the story from 2018's Halloween special. It involved Black Lightning and Katanna partaking in an exorcism in Japan. Having Lightning, who is grounded more in reality, assist Katanna in this supernatural tale was really cool. I hope we get more of that mix in future arcs. While this first arc did rely on a lot of comic tropes, I think the series is in good hands and will become a solid addition to the Bat titles as it finds its footing.
August 8, 2020
4.5 Stars
Batman and the Outsiders volume 1 is very much a continuation of Bryan Hill’s Detective Comic run. Even as someone who never finished reading that run (I’ll get to it at some point, I’m sure), it wasn’t TOO hard to understand what happened during that run. That being said, I believe this volume would probably be a more enjoyable/cohesive read having read that, as Duke (Signal’s) role in the story in particular relies heavily on those events.
Having read Bryan’s work with Marvel (particularly his Killmonger miniseries), it’s nice to see him working with DC as well because he’s quite an enjoyable writer. I enjoyed the team dynamic with all the characters and it was a joy to see them actually WORK together to become a team, to see them fail and make mistakes and grow stronger because of them. I love how Bryan writes these characters—especially Bruce. I actually think this might be one of the first times I love Bruce Wayne as much as I love the rest of the cast of characters along side him (historically I do not. Yes, I like the Batfam more than Batman. Yes I know that’s weird). The character writing in this volume is by far one of the best things about it and is an amazing strength of Bryan’s.
As always, it is a JOY to be able to see Dexter Soy’s amazing artwork once again, as his artwork was the star of the Red Hood and the Outlaws series and continues to shine throughout this series as well. It’s a joy to see much a talented artist and writer work together and they seem to make a good team as well.
I also really loved the short issue at the end of the volume with Tatsu and Jefferson. I thought it was really sweet and a very concise short story. Overall, I really enjoyed this volume. I look forward to reading the next one.
Batman and the Outsiders volume 1 is very much a continuation of Bryan Hill’s Detective Comic run. Even as someone who never finished reading that run (I’ll get to it at some point, I’m sure), it wasn’t TOO hard to understand what happened during that run. That being said, I believe this volume would probably be a more enjoyable/cohesive read having read that, as Duke (Signal’s) role in the story in particular relies heavily on those events.
Having read Bryan’s work with Marvel (particularly his Killmonger miniseries), it’s nice to see him working with DC as well because he’s quite an enjoyable writer. I enjoyed the team dynamic with all the characters and it was a joy to see them actually WORK together to become a team, to see them fail and make mistakes and grow stronger because of them. I love how Bryan writes these characters—especially Bruce. I actually think this might be one of the first times I love Bruce Wayne as much as I love the rest of the cast of characters along side him (historically I do not. Yes, I like the Batfam more than Batman. Yes I know that’s weird). The character writing in this volume is by far one of the best things about it and is an amazing strength of Bryan’s.
As always, it is a JOY to be able to see Dexter Soy’s amazing artwork once again, as his artwork was the star of the Red Hood and the Outlaws series and continues to shine throughout this series as well. It’s a joy to see much a talented artist and writer work together and they seem to make a good team as well.
I also really loved the short issue at the end of the volume with Tatsu and Jefferson. I thought it was really sweet and a very concise short story. Overall, I really enjoyed this volume. I look forward to reading the next one.
September 9, 2020
This book collects the first seven issues of Batman and the Outsiders as well as a bit of a horror comic starring team members Black Lightning and Katana. In this version, Batman is pretty much in the book to increase sales and that's about it. He offers a few minor points, but the real leader as designated by Batman is Black Lightning as Batman is dealing with mental difficulties (and who among us wouldn't be going mad if our lives were being written by Tom King).
As a book, it's a bit of a challenge. The series starts off slow and as an overall storyline, having a team of mostly Gotham-based superheroes go on a mission to stop Ra's Al Ghul from bringing one young woman under his spell seems a bit of overkill, and it takes quite a bit of story for any member of the team to come into focus. However, Kaliber (even though not an outsider) is an interesting character and we do get some focus on Katana and some great moments from Orphan. The book takes some interesting turns and the Seventh Issue ends on a great clffhanger that leaves me eager to see where the book goes next. So despite a rough start, this surprised with me a very solid ending.
As a book, it's a bit of a challenge. The series starts off slow and as an overall storyline, having a team of mostly Gotham-based superheroes go on a mission to stop Ra's Al Ghul from bringing one young woman under his spell seems a bit of overkill, and it takes quite a bit of story for any member of the team to come into focus. However, Kaliber (even though not an outsider) is an interesting character and we do get some focus on Katana and some great moments from Orphan. The book takes some interesting turns and the Seventh Issue ends on a great clffhanger that leaves me eager to see where the book goes next. So despite a rough start, this surprised with me a very solid ending.
December 1, 2023
Born from Detective Comics, the Outsider's are a "rag tag" team of heroes that Batman has assembled in order to "go to places he cant". And while that is never really explained, the team is comprised of some pretty cool characters, which actually makes the book pretty entertaining.
Batman picks Black Lightning to lead the team, and while he does a decent enough job, he also has Ra's al Ghul to contend with. And while the book has Batman in the title, it's really the other members who are the real stars. Each member has their own side quests, all having to do with the Lazarus pit and taking down Ra's and his minions. I really like how Bryan Edward HIll was able to give each member enough spotlight for them to really showcase the characters, and how they interact with each other.
There was definitely pacing issues, as there's alot of plot lines to dangle and follow. But overall, Hill makes an entertaining first volume worthy of feeling new and fresh. Hopefully he can keep up the good work on the next volume.
Batman picks Black Lightning to lead the team, and while he does a decent enough job, he also has Ra's al Ghul to contend with. And while the book has Batman in the title, it's really the other members who are the real stars. Each member has their own side quests, all having to do with the Lazarus pit and taking down Ra's and his minions. I really like how Bryan Edward HIll was able to give each member enough spotlight for them to really showcase the characters, and how they interact with each other.
There was definitely pacing issues, as there's alot of plot lines to dangle and follow. But overall, Hill makes an entertaining first volume worthy of feeling new and fresh. Hopefully he can keep up the good work on the next volume.
January 23, 2021
Would have been a 4/5 with more context. Batman has formed a team called the Outsiders whilst he acts as a Gandalf-like mentor, wandering in and out of the story with reasons of his own. Black Lightning seems to be the focus as leader, with Katana dealing with some marriage issues regarding her dead husband/ blade, and Duke/ Signal and Cassandra/ Spoiler facing issues relating to fear and trust. The artwork is definitely great and there is some really nice cross-cutting between locations and scenes adding suspense to certain panels. The story itself is all a bit paranoid and features some, well, powerful characters acting like "Gods". Ends on a semi-frustrating cliffhanger then has a short epilogue story featuring two of the Outsiders, but despite the decent read overall I am less inclined to read the follow-up.
July 14, 2020
Batman forms a new team he calls The Outsiders: Black Lightning, Signal, Kitana, and Orphan.
Sends them out on a mission to rescue a meta, just coming into her powers, from Ra's Al Ghul. They don't grab her the first time, and we get to see some of her training, and her adoption of the name Babylon. Second time works, and she is currently headed back to Gotham. That did leave Signal and Orphan open to attack...
A cliffhanger ending has me wanting to continue to read this great title. Unique mix of characters and compelling story. Keep the art the same and don't extend the story past where it will naturally go... should be a good, short, title run.
Recommend.
Sends them out on a mission to rescue a meta, just coming into her powers, from Ra's Al Ghul. They don't grab her the first time, and we get to see some of her training, and her adoption of the name Babylon. Second time works, and she is currently headed back to Gotham. That did leave Signal and Orphan open to attack...
A cliffhanger ending has me wanting to continue to read this great title. Unique mix of characters and compelling story. Keep the art the same and don't extend the story past where it will naturally go... should be a good, short, title run.
Recommend.
July 20, 2020
4
I had avoided this series but with isolation I thought I would check it out. I liked the support characters banding together for their own team and having Hill was an added appeal. I've recently heard this series has ended due to a upcoming change to the DC universe and Convid-19 pandemic undoubtedly so this will be a short series.
Why the 4?
Good range of the support characters who barely get recognition. Hill manages to maintain the ensemble and allowing them to interact without Batman checking in every few pages. There's room to breath in this series and while it's not going to be as big as the other teams in the current DC universe, I'm eager to see it through.
I had avoided this series but with isolation I thought I would check it out. I liked the support characters banding together for their own team and having Hill was an added appeal. I've recently heard this series has ended due to a upcoming change to the DC universe and Convid-19 pandemic undoubtedly so this will be a short series.
Why the 4?
Good range of the support characters who barely get recognition. Hill manages to maintain the ensemble and allowing them to interact without Batman checking in every few pages. There's room to breath in this series and while it's not going to be as big as the other teams in the current DC universe, I'm eager to see it through.
December 22, 2020
3.5/5
I adored the team in this series. I think each of them have a very compelling story and I appreciate their dynamic. I especially love seeing Duke and Cassandra, they're wonderful and I appreciate seeing the characteristic Bat Family Dramatics have rubbed off on them. Black Lightning and Katana are also really interesting. I think I'm just sick and tired of Ra's al Ghul in batman related stories, he seems to be in everything recently and he's never developed outside of some macguffin villain in my opinion? I'll see where it goes in volume 2 but I think there's some sense of wasted potential here which makes me sad because I really do adore this team.
I adored the team in this series. I think each of them have a very compelling story and I appreciate their dynamic. I especially love seeing Duke and Cassandra, they're wonderful and I appreciate seeing the characteristic Bat Family Dramatics have rubbed off on them. Black Lightning and Katana are also really interesting. I think I'm just sick and tired of Ra's al Ghul in batman related stories, he seems to be in everything recently and he's never developed outside of some macguffin villain in my opinion? I'll see where it goes in volume 2 but I think there's some sense of wasted potential here which makes me sad because I really do adore this team.
May 10, 2021
The first volume of a new Batman and the Outsiders sees the Outsiders (Black Lightning, Katana, Orphan and The Signal) attempting to work together and go on mission to save a metahuman that Batman promised to protect from Ra's al-Gul. It's not a bad story, and has decent artwork. It refences past storylines that I haven't read, but is relatively easy to get into and understand for a newbie (unlike a lot of Volume 1's that I've read). I don't think I'll continue on with the series, but it's not because it's bad or because I'm completely lost. The biggest downside is that Batman isn't in it as much as I expected.
February 21, 2020
I liked the choice of characters and how they bounce off each other, but there was surprisingly little story for seven issues here. This isn't even a complete storyline, maybe the first half of one. The pacing really needed to be tightened up, especially since a lot of it felt like repeated scenes. I think I read some variation on, "But you need to trust us more, Batman!" about three times.
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