Soy is not an artist that I have personally seen a lot of. However, what work I have seen of his has been action heavy, and that is a style that works in a book like Batman and the Outsiders #1. In the early panels, we get to see him flex his strength as an artist as the heroes fight for their lives in battle. The characters are portrayed as strong and ready to dispatch their enemies. The sharp lines help make the heroes jump off of the pages as they take the typical superhero poses. And crashes of lightning help to create a contrast between the dark setting of Gotham and the brightness of the hero suits. Read Full Review

Batman And The Outsiders #1 is a strong first issue, this could cause concern because when you're at the top often the only way is down. With Bryan Hill, Dexter Soy, Victoria Gandini and Clayton Cowles behind the wheel, I feel that the ride will be a great one all the way. When I interviewed Mr. Hill last year his ideas excited me. Yes, this is a new team of Outsiders, and he will be focusing on new characters and situations too (check out that ending!), but this issue is all-out classic, vintage comic-book entertainment. Read Full Review

Dexter Soys art is amazing. There are some great action panels throughout the issue filled with detail and the art style has a sense of motion and action even in the quiet moments. Read Full Review

I like Bryan Hill. I like Batman, Black Lightning, and Katana. I love Duke Thomas and Cassandra Cain. While I can understand if there's some fatigue, I'd ask that you take a chance on Batman and the Outsiders #1. Both Hill and Soy are clearly pouring their heart into the ensemble, and it's on track to be a memorable run. Read Full Review

Bryan Hill and Dexter Soy deliver a great debut to Batman & the Outsiders that is brimming with potential. The plot that is set up is entertaining enough, but it's the characters that make this a real win! With a winning combination of characterization and plot, I can't wait to see where this team takes us! If you're a fan of anyone from the roster, then you need to give this book a shot. And with so many winks to what we can expect in the future" I have to admit I'm pretty excited! Read Full Review

There's some Year of the Villain teases involving Ra's Al Ghul, but overall this first issue works well because of how strong Hill's characterization is and how good it is to have these characters back. Read Full Review

Exploring the dynamics Batman has with other heroes is inherently interesting. Famously working predominantly alone… you could argue Batman doesn't play well with others and has been known to use others for his own advantage without seeming to show much concern for what happens to others. Batman and the Outsiders #1 looks set to jump head first into what happens when Batman's motives don't strictly sit well with those he is working with. An intriguing start to what promises to be a thrilling story. Read Full Review

With this series being added to the DC Universe slate of books I figured I'd try it since I like Batman books without much Batman and I have a history with the title overall, though less so with some of this cast. Duke and Cass I'm superficially aware of at least but that's about it. The draw for me is the nature of the team and the creative that's here as Hill and Soy execute this really well with a slick and polished feeling that hits all the right notes. Everything we need is introduced quickly " including names " and the general setup so that we can grow in the investment as it goes on. The opening story hints at bigger things but keeps it in reserve so that there's more to come. It's not overstuffed but it's busy with what it wants to accomplish, though that keeps it from having a little downtime just to breathe. All in all, a strong start that will have me coming back for more. Read Full Review

Batman and The Outsiders has finally arrived and the delay has not damaged the quality of this book. A book starring Black Lightning, Katana, The Signal, and Orphan has potential to be a hit that elevates all these characters. Bryan Hill has crafted a familiar storyline for these characters that involves strained team dynamics and time travel. I'm optimistic that Hill and artist Dexter Soy have plenty of twists and terms to make this a unique book on the market. Read Full Review

The first issue of Batman and the Outsiders is a great jumping on point for new readers as well as a good opening issue for the series. Read Full Review

Bryan Hill and Dexter Soy give readers a #1 that sets up the team, the mission, but more importantly, gives me confidence that there is something for everyone to do.  We are still in the team building phase of the Outsiders, but there is enough here to have me excited for what's to come. Read Full Review

I had high hopes for this book and wasnt disappointed. This has the makings of another monthly must-get from the Batman books. Read Full Review

There's a lot of potential to a book like Batman and the Outsiders, and just based on the propulsiveness of this debut, I have confidence that this creative team can pull it off. Bryan Edward Hill feels like exactly the kind of writer I'd want to have follow up James Tynion on this type of character-driven Bat-book, and to be honest, I feel like Dexter Soy is one innovation away from becoming the next big superstar artist at DC. Read Full Review

Makeno mistake, this series has a different tone than the original, but that maynot be a bad thing. I am reminded of something supposedly said at DC Comics in1979, when Marv Wolfman proposed reviving the Teen Titans. Then-publisherJenette Kahn asked why, since it had recently failed. According to legend, hisresponse was, Well do it better. Hopefully that continues to hold true forthe Outsiders as well. Read Full Review

Batman and the Outsiders #1 is a good opening issue that rightly catches readers up and continues to explore the cast making it an excellent entry point for new and old readers alike. Read Full Review

VerdictThis is a solid first issue that does the job of introducing the characters and starts giving us a feel of how they work together. This is a promising start for a new take on a classic concept and could easily become one of DC's star titles Read Full Review

With no considerable revelation behind the debut issue as well as being a lesser known team in todays market, it is up to Batman fanatics to keep this title alive. Accompanied by a handful of the newer characters established within the Bat-mythos recently, this series has something to offer new and old readers alike. New fans of James Tynion IVs time with Detective Comics will find this to be a spiritual successor to the beloved run with the Bat family. Read Full Review

A spectacular introduction to what should be a stellar ongoing series brought to you by a very talented team of creators. Read Full Review

The story of the comic itself is ok, basically a Terminator riff, but that's not the draw. It's the team that'll suck you in. While we've been delayed getting here, the fact we are here, and what's presented has me excited to see what's next. Read Full Review

Writer Bryan Hill brings a bit of a fresh approach to the team by incorporating numerous big fan favorites, such as Black Lightning, Katana, and Batman, with younger characters The Signal and Orphan for team incarnation that feels a lot like the Bat Family and is equally as complex and slightly dysfunctional. Read Full Review

All in all, it's a great premise. This is the most I've ever been drawn to an Outsiders book. The plot is enticing, the action is cinematic, the colors are gorgeous. Each character has emotional beats that feel as if they are building to something deeper. Read Full Review

The creative team behindBatman & the Outsiders (2018-) #1does a fine job in piquing interest and generating momentum for what has the potential to be an entertaining 'Batman' series. Read Full Review

All in all not a bad book, there's definitely been better introductions to the Outsiders buuuut there's also been so majorly bad ones as well. This book does just enough right to land on the better side of that coin but also makes some iffy choices that will undoubtedly raise an eyebrow. Read Full Review

Batman and the Outsiders #1 suffers from a bland plot, but the characters and art make up for it. Read Full Review

Bryan Edward Hill has me hooked with this unique ensemble, looking forward to issue 2! Read Full Review

The duo of Hill and Soy have forged an Outsiders with equal parts potential and predictability. Read Full Review

Writer Bryan Edward Hill and artist Dexter Soy deliver a solid first issue focused on the team's dysfunction and the looming threat which will force them to come together (that, and a common goal to discover just what Batman isn't telling them). Worth a look. Read Full Review

BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #1 is pretty and fun to read, though there isn't much new to be seen here. The potential for future stories is great but we get a pretty bare-bones introductory issue here, especially for those who haven't read Hill's preceding work. I had some issues with Soy's depiction of Katana but otherwise the art is good. Read Full Review

An OK issue that could have been awesome with a couple of tweaks. Read Full Review

Batman and the Outsiders #1is a strong start. It's not blowing any doors off their hinges yet, but the groundwork that's being built is solid. It's got great characterizations and dialogue, with hints of an interesting plot boiling beneath the surface. Given time, this book could become something very special. Read Full Review

A good story, diverse cast of characters, and enough sub-plot possibilities to wreck a Levitz Paradigm. Go pick up a copy today. Read Full Review

Overall: Batman and the Outsiders #1 was a pedestrian read. I love this franchise and wish that Hill had delivered a better quality read than what we got with this debut issue. Batman and the Outsiders #1 does nothing to separate itself from all of the other super hero team titles currently on the market. This title has no real unique qualities or hook to convince readers to come back for more. Read Full Review

Ultimately Batman and the Outsiders #1 is successful at establishing the vision of where this series is going despite relying upon what happened in the past. If the character relationships it is developing can be realized the faults of this first issue can be long left behind. Read Full Review

Excellent comic that will surely be the preamble of a new event in the Batverse in which we will see a new and powerful character born. Read Full Review

Off to a good start. I look forward to more.

I'm glad they gave these characters their own book. Would love to see where this story goes but this first book gave me a lot of hope for this series.

A good start for the issue. And despite the controversy and complaints from the creator, Black Lightning isn't a support character for Batman. He is the leader Batman cannot be. This issue did well but it would have been good to have a more pressing threat.

A first issue that I am solely behind! Great artwork and awesome dialogue that just like JLA, won’t see much of Batman but hey this small team, don’t care!

I am so excited this comic is finally out. First the artwork was great. I enjoyed Dexter's work on Red Hood and The Outlaws and he didn't disappoint here. My only criticism is Bruce looks EXACTLY like Jason. If you did a side-by-side you wouldn't be able to tell them apart. Other than that, everything else is fantastic.

I love character development and I can tell from this issue we will get a lot of that in this comic book.

I also liked the fact that the book focused on the Outsiders and not Batman. I honestly wouldn't mind if he's phased out at some point altogether and this comic elevates Black Lightning and Katana as leaders in the DC Universe.

This was a great start & I highly recommend this book more

Hill has an interesting story - and potential for more given that these characters have plenty of interesting areas to grow, however the dialogue feels stiff and clunky. Since Dexter Soy started on Red Hood, I have been a big fan - and Veronica Gandini's colors are bold and memorable.

Solid first issue. Hope it doesn't retread Tynion's Detective Comics run too much.

This feels more reminiscent of Tynion IV's Detective run than Mike W. Barr's Batman and the Outsiders, and I would personally argue that is a good thing.

A solid pilot that left me eager for the next issue. Great work by all involved and great to see these underutilized characters getting some love.

Batman and the Outsiders has a promising start if not the most exciting.

Very solid, surprisingly edgy debut by one of DC's rising stars (moonlighting between seasons of Titans) and the ever-reliable Dexter Soy.

That's a promising start for sure. Didn't blow me away, but certainly has its fair share of potential. Every main character deals with their own problems that hopefully will be addressed properly in the series, and from the get-go there is a tension in between this unlikely bunch of vigilantes.

One thing I certainly like about this issue is Katana - for once she's more than silent walking weapon. It's great to see her being more humane, having any personality and doing something outside bland and boring Suicide Squad comics (they survived 50 issues somehow, though).

The main plot isn't bad, but I have a feeling it's going to be secondary to character development inside the Outsiders team. It feels this way to me, at least - after all, if someone wants assassin drama, they can pick Silencer's comics. She's great. And if someone wants time traveling drama, well, there's Cable and his adventures.

I look forward to see what the future brings - I'm not disappointed so far, quite contrary, but as I said earlier, I'm not amazed. more

This was all going fine and then it’s a goddamn time travel story. Leave me alone, time travel.

THE GOOD:

-I wasn't expecting much from this, but it was a welcome surprise.

-I don't think I've ever read anything Bryan Hill's written before. From what I understand, this is a continuation of his Detective Comics run. I might have to check that out.

-The art is fantastic. I think it's safe to say that we've all missed seeing your art on a Bat-Book, Dexter Soy.

-The first action scene was really good, it didn't take too long, but it wasn't too short either.

-I like how Batman's written here. As a side character, letting the other characters take center stage. If only the comic was just called Outsiders.

-I think Katana might be the star here though. All her scenes are great and her character is written fantastic.

-I think Sofia is a really interesting new character.

THE BAD:

-The beginning of this was a bit rushed, but that's not a huge problem.

-Signal and Black Lightning's feud seems kind of cliche at this point.

-Apparently Kaliber is gonna become DC's Cable. Not sure how I feel about that. more

+ Like • Comments (4)

• Likes (2)

• myconius
• Darkseid24

Show all comments

Darkseid24 - May 10, 2019

You should definitely check out Hills Detective Comic story. I thought it was great. A shame the creator of Black Lightning is bashing Hill for this comic. He doesn’t deserve that at all.

ohhaimark - May 10, 2019

Sweet! Yeah, that is unfortunate. I thought Black Lightning was well-written here. Then again, my standards aren't set too high, considering my only previous exposure to the character was from the CW show.

Darkseid24 - May 11, 2019

Same. I haven’t read much with Black Lightning, but I think the team up works here.

ohhaimark - May 11, 2019

Definitely.

Sign in to comment

Good first issue.
This mini series is a sequel to Hills Detective Comics #982- 986& you should read that story before reading this mini series, which was supposed to be released in December last year.
We get a short introduction for every major character in this team, which is done well. I’m only wondering how Duke can still be angry about Karma after what terrible fate he met in the last arc. I hope Karma will be back in this mini series or at least mentioned again. Would like to know if his condition became better.
It looks like Bruce is going to investigate Karmas boss, while the rest of the team will try to protect a girl with meta human powers, which Ras is trying to recrute. I’m not a fan of Duke or Katana, but they were alright in Detective Comics, so I think they will be welll portrayed here too.
I’m annoyed about Cassandra still getting called Orphan, but that’s not Hills fault, but Tynions, who started the terrible Orphan arc in Batman& Robin Eternal.
Anyway good first issue& I’m looking forward to the next. more

The relative success of a book like Batman and the Outsiders relies on the cast of characters brought together under the watchful eye of a paternal Batman, more than the plot which brings them together. This latest incarnation is no different, trusting that the cast of Signal, Orphan, Katana, and Black Lightning will interest readers enough to bring them back month after month.

Spinning out of Bryan Hill’s recent run in Detective Comics #983-987, we see a team in disfunction. Signal is dealing with some undescribed anger issues (maybe it has something to do with that terrible name and costume?). Orphan is trying to learn to work with a team. Katana is still working through her unique marital problems. And Black Lightning isn��t sure he wants the job as leader of the Outsiders, no matter how many penthouse apartments Bruce Wayne throws at him.

Meanwhile a mysterious metahuman tied to Batman’s past is being hunted by her father’s killer. Batman charges the Outsiders with finding her before the killer does. It’s a relatively benign plot that does little to excite or hook an audience. It serves the purpose of applying pressure to a team that is already out of sorts so we, the sadistic audience, can watch them twist.

Probably the most interesting part of this first issue is that Black Lightning and Katana, the leaders of the team, don’t fully trust Batman and are more than willing to question his motives and tactics. Combining these two older, more experienced member that may not have any loyalty to Batman, with two younger, but closer allied members of the Bat-Family is an interesting dynamic that I assume will cause sparks to fly as the story progresses.

Dexter Soy offers a mixed bag with his art. He is very capable at big-energy superhero moments of action, but his character designs are mundane and lacks a strong ability to convey emotions beyond complete anger or icey-cool determination. I do like his panel layouts and the overall energy he brings to the page.

While we do not glean any new or particularly insightful information about Batman or the Outsiders in this introductory issue, I do appreciate the lack of a “getting the band back together” cliched moment. Regardless, while this is a respectable debut for a new team that offers possibilities of better stories to come, I was not excited by either the cast of characters or the plot enough to bring me back for a second issue.
more

Characters whiners and fake "Cable and hope"