The Outsiders #1

Posted: Friday, June 20, 2003
By: Tim Hartnett

Writer: Judd Winick
Artists: Tom Raney and Scott Hanna
Publisher: DC

I have the feeling that the premier issue of, The Outsiders is the start of something big. It is a refreshing escape from recent "cutting-edge" ventures in the comic world. Judd Winick offers a third-person narrative (which is more and more rare in today's dialogue heavy comic world) introducing a new super-hero team in a great tradition.

There is nothing hidden or mysterious about what Winick's trying to do---the plot is a gimmick-free, straightforward approach with Roy Harper a.k.a. Arsenal (or Speedy, Green Arrow's former sidekick; thank you, Jason Brice) assembling a team of superheroes, simply to, well, battle villains. While this is not the most original idea conceived, it is certainly uncommon in recent times, as superheroes seem more in tune battling terrorist types than those rogues we've all come to know and love as, "super-villains." Each member is chosen for a reason, and a menace is in the crosshair for next issue. Perhaps this affair could have been settled this time, but of course, it's always nice for the action to start in #2.

That's exactly what happens in this issue. When a boat is hijacked by an unknown source, it is up to Harper's rookie superhero team, which includes former Robin, Nightwing, a.k.a. Dick Grayson, to stop them. Winick shows Harper's move to create a superhero team simply because Roy is feeling nostalgia, thinking of those long lost Teen Titan days.

Tom Raney's art is perfect for this book. As George Pérez did this month in Solus, Raney crafts his art not to be acceptable to Bill Jemas-types, but to be more fit to the story's nature and the introduction of the team (much as, you guessed it, George Pérez did in the late 'Teen Titans' run). His talent in producing realistic facial expressions adds to the fun nature of the book. Scott Hanna's inks perfectly accent Raney's detail, as well as its simplicity.

I've stated time and time again a comic doesn't have to be controversial and dark to be great, and Winick backs me up on my argument. Not only is this a book of superheroes who, according to the DC marketing people: look for trouble, instead of having trouble come to them. It is also a module for comic relief, and that old-fashioned lighthearted take on superheroes.

The Outsiders get a masterful start in a lighthearted, old-fashion superhero team, simply in existence to take on the villains of this world. Winick's third-person narrative is perfect for the feel, along with Raney's storytelling. In a week when comics haven't been this good in a long time, this is certainly one of the better books. Definitely worth a shot---if you can still can your hands on it.