Outsiders: The Road to Hell

Batman and the Outsiders (2007) #5

by Dan DiDio, Philip Tan (Illustrator), Don Kramer (Illustrator)

After the horrifying events of BLACKEST NIGHT, Katana and Black Lightning are dispatched to deal with a terrifying disturbance on the open seas. Meanwhile, Geo-Force is recalled to Markovia to handle affairs of state. But when Prince Brion makes a deal with a certain Kryptonian to join the team, the Outsiders find themselves cast as enemies in the eyes of the world! Don't miss the debut of the all-new creative team of DCU Executive Editor Dan DiDio and hot artist Philip Tan (BATMAN AND ROBIN, GREEN LANTERN)!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2010

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story kind of meandered a bit haphazardly in this collected volume.

[Nathan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was one of the most convoluted story arcs I've ever read; consisting of random events strung together "The Road to Hell" was truly hell to read. You know there are problems when the artwork is not consistent between issues; which was made worse by really crappy colouring. Philip Tan's artwork was not inked nor coloured well and Philip wasn't to blame because the look of the artwork improved in later issues. The abrupt introduction to Don Kramer was not appreciated either; switching artists during a story-line is very detrimental to the story if the art of one artist is superior to the work of the other, it simply removes you from the experience. Speaking of "the story" this was one gigantic gong show featuring every single Outsider's villain and former member and although this could work it fails to do so because of fractured sequences and nonsensical writing. There are even new characters that simply exist to move the plot forward or combine the two story-lines somehow. There were some cool sequences but those alone could save the mess of the story.

Spoilers below! This is the story how I understood it:

Geo-Force and Black Lightening hate each other for no reason and the team splits; Black Lightening has Metamorpho and Owlman while Katana and the Eradicator stay with Geo-Force, who becomes more of a whiny bitch throughout the story arc. (These first few issues are alright; some crappy colouring in the early issues but at least the plot is sound)

Black Lightening and his team encounter Simon (a guy from Metamorpho's past), Freight Train (a great new character) and Simon's Neanderthal bodyguard. Metamorpho gets trapped in Chemo and Owlman and Freight Train team up to stop him (very good standalone issue). Black Lightening is taken hostage by Simon; somehow the others free Black Lightening. Meanwhile back in Markovia, Geo-Force is becoming more of an emo and somehow manages to bring Halo back (cool sequence); Markovia is attacked by the Olympian and his Manazons...(This is where I started saying WTFs as I turned pages)

Geo-Force's wife comes back and Geo-Force and Eradicator send her packing (half drawn by Tan and Kramer; really hard to read). For some reason The Creep re-enters the stories after a long hiatus and is kidnapped by a demoness who wishes to rob him of his seed...not making that up unfortunately. Black Lightening reunites with his estranged lesbian daughter and his other not lesbian daughter. Amanda Waller shows up and arrests Black Lightening's team while Doomsday puts Geo-Force's team to shame. Finally Batman shows up and rustles up Black Lightening's team and heads over to Markovia to have a talk with Geo-Force. Some guy named Veritas shows up but is only visible to Geo-Force and Batman fires him from the Outsiders because he stirred up shit for no reason....kinda like what Dan Didio did to this series.

[Garrett · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a terrible book. Incomprehensible story, sloppy near-indecipherable art, and characters and events seemingly picked from a mad lib. Batman and the Outsiders was always a weak book, and releasing Bats (though keeping Alfred in a needless cameo) has made it even more so. I've wasted enough time reading this tripe, not going to waste any more writing about it. Grade: F

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the book was still a gripping read, it is painfully obvious that this book series is on it's last legs.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel deals with various heroes / villains.

I found some of this book interesting but I found the storyline muddled.

My real rating is 2.5.

[Amani Cooper]

Great story. Great characters. Great art

[Tom Webster · Rating 1 out of 5]

poorly written dross.