Outsiders #4 – Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, Writers; Robert Carey, Artist; Annette Taddeo, Colorist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: This issue quickly seems to be becoming one of the most ambitious and meta books in the DCU stable, thanks to its deep connections to the Wildstorm Universe. It’s dealt with concepts like the Bleed before, but now it’s pulling in one of the most offbeat concepts these books ever explored—the Century Babies, the young women who were born on the dawn of each century and represent it. So what does this era’s century baby look like? Well, if our own reality is any question, it’s probably something pretty chaotic! This new Jenny, a young Black woman born in England, has a unique power—the world seems to reflect her mood in dramatic ways that often play out far out of her vision. She has a bad breakup, an earthquake happens in Chile. So naturally, she seems like the most powerful, potentially the most dangerous person in the world—and the Outsiders are on the case.
This is definitely the most Wildstorm-influenced issue of the series, with the setting feeling like it could be right out of a Grant Morrison book. But as big as the concepts are, they never feel depersonalized. Jenny is a compelling character, and her personal anxieties and ultimate moniker will feel all too relatable to readers of her generation. She’s also far too powerful to fight, so it comes down to a member of the Outsiders who has a lighter touch and is able to meet her on her level. This is the kind of book that really hints at the full potential of the DCU when it’s exploring some of the biggest and boldest concepts it has available. It also takes the big risk of not being afraid to show its team members as out of their depths—honestly, Batwoman and Batwing don’t have too much to do this issue. It ends in a nicely ambiguous way that could hint at more—or just give us a fantastic done-in-one.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
