Outsiders #5 is written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly. Artwork is by Robert Carey, colours by Valentina Taddeo and letters by Tom Napolitano. The book is published by DC. Main cover art (left) is by Roger Cruz and Adriano Lucas.
Outsiders #45is available now, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
“Nocturne.”
The world is dying. Welcome to the funeral.
You—and the Outsiders—are invited to the biggest social event of 2024: a gathering of the most terrifying monsters from across the DC Universe. After all, horror is in right now. Follow Kate Kane, Luke Fox, and Drummer as they step into the shadows of Kate’s past after receiving a strange invitation from her former lover, the vampiric Nocturna. Why have they been invited? What other monstrous entities will be attending? How many will die before the night is through? And who’s faintly crying in the other room? Accept your invitation to find out—but be warned that once you open the page, there’s no turning back!
Review
In four short issues DC’s Outsiders have dealt with some really broad topics. They’ve been to the fringes of the multiverse, delved in to their own psyches and stared down a graveyard of kaiju-sized monsters at the bottom of the ocean. This month is no different as Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing flex their narrative muscle once again and take the team to a nightmare club known as IV.
Outsiders #5 explores another of the darker corners of the DC Universe. The club is home to some of the DCU’s most monstrous characters. Firstly that lets Kelly and Lanzing explore elements normally saved for characters like Constantine and the Justice League Dark, seeing them through the lens of these more traditional vigilantes. But also it allows artist Robert Carey and colourist Valentina Taddeo the chance to approach the visuals from a new angle yet again.
The setting of club IV and its patrons is thematically perfect for Outsiders. Through the team’s various interactions in the club we’re able to explore the wider theme of tackling personal demons. For Kate it’s about confronting Nocturna, who had used her powers of persuasion on her during their relationship. Nocturna has a mystery of her own which forces both woman to confront their individual idea of fate. Something Outsiders has been able to illustrate with each issue is how much personal growth can still be mined from a grand-scale story. Both Kate and Luke are prime examples of that this issue. Luke has been struggling with the weight of fronting the team and that leads him to make some questionable choices this issue. It’s clear that Kelly and Lazing are laying breadcrumbs for future stories with Luke and the literal reflections of that are a real tease for the future.
But whilst Kate’s story feels earned and Luke’s feels like a tease, it’s Drummer who has the biggest revelations this issue. She’s remained an enigma throughout the series so far. We’ve seen glimpses of humanity but also of the strength and power she keeps behind a tough facade. Again, it seems our writers aren’t quite willing to lay all their cards on the table. But Drummer has a mission in the club which illustrates just how far she is willing to go to get the job done. It’s an added complexity to her character which I’m sure would leave her butting heads with Kate if the truth were to come to light. Another exciting breadcrumb for potential future storytelling.
Carey and Taddeo continue to be a dynamite team. Outsiders #5 is much darker and more shadowy than previous issues. Carey gets the opportunity to draw plenty of cool looking creatures from the underworld which Taddeo then bathes in some really rich, dark colours. Club IV feels suitable lavish yet every corner is awash with shadow. A pitch perfect representation for the location of Kelly and Lanzing’s script.
Verdict
Exploring the underworld of the DC Universe looks great on Outsiders. Another solid story which expresses Kelly and Lanzing’s commitment to versatile storytelling and meaningful character development.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
