REVIEW: ‘Outsiders’ Issue #5

Outsiders #5 is published by DC Comics, written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, art by Robert Carey, colors by Valentina Taddeo, and letters by Tom Napolitano. The team is invited to a club filled with monsters, where depravity and violence are consensual, to meet with an old lover and enemy of Batwoman.

This issue opens up a supernatural underworld and invites the Outsiders and readers to window shop within it. A primary plot takes up the bulk of the issue, a supernatural mystery that is close to being biblical. But numerous threads also occur as the trio of explorers spread out among the club. There are perhaps more direct threats than any other point in this series, yet Outsiders #5 still seeks to find ways to avoid conflict.

Emotions swirl amid a hotbed of manipulation and demons, but the trickery can also come from the heroes. The structure allows for exploration and revelations, but it is easy to get lost in the middle of it all. The energy is at a regular pace throughout the issue, really increasing or decreasing. While the alternative method of superhero storytelling is interesting, a fight at least invigorates the plot—Outsiders #5 ends with several surprises that could determine the trajectory of the character arcs.

Outsiders #5 is an issue centered on individuals. All three of the main characters are present, but they spend very little time together. Batwoman is busy talking to Nocturna about why they are at the club. She and Batwoman have a history together, and the writers delve deep into that chemistry. They were once extremely close due to manipulation from Nocturna, and that connection still shows sparks. Nocturna treats Kate with kindness and a softer touch than anyone else, signaling a feeling of care toward the woman.
Batwing is uncomfortable among the monsters. He is a good man who seeks to protect people, and that building features civilians willingly sacrificing themselves. Meanwhile, the Drummer presents a very dark version of herself. She will stand up to the monsters, belittling them and forcing them to back down, not the other way around. She lurks in the shadows and is pretty brutal within the book. It shows that she is comfortable in the darkness.

The art is magnificent. Carey creates a murky and mysterious dwelling of monsters to enact their depravities in private. The creatures all look terrific. Some are well-known within the mystical books of the DC Universe; others are brand new. The detail is immaculate on the creatures, and the place itself is like a lair or labyrinth. It’s also a brilliant display of fashion. The occasion requires all three of the heroes to dress sharply. The costuming is stunning. The artist adapts to each issue, and the ability to change every circumstance apart from the main characters is remarkable.

The colors are very atmospheric. Using very few shades continues, with red and blue being the primary choices. When they mix, an intriguing purple is created. The issue is purposefully gloomy, as the monsters would not operate in the light. There is a fantastic variation in textures; the brighter shades are used as the lighting without changing the issue’s tone. The lettering must also adapt, as each monster brings their word balloons. Some fonts are harder to read than others, and the book can be straining on the eyes with the dark colors.

Outsiders #5 delves into another murky corner of the universe. Each issue of the series has opened doors to stories that can go much deeper. It also seeks to explore rather than explode. The worldbuilding is exceptional, with an expansive attitude that also believes in attention to detail. However, the writers must be wary of coasting, as the storylines lack consequences, and there are temporary lapses of cohesion.

Outsiders #5 is available now wherever comics are sold.