Outsiders #6 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 #6 is 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
“THE PLACE BETWEEN PAGES” Welcome, Outsiders. Welcome to a pleasant small town, sitting just outside the periphery of memory. Please, do make yourselves at home—there’s much to do, and all the time in the world to do it. Take a stroll past long forgotten faces, visit places that no longer are, and leave the worries of your endless existence behind. At long last, you have nothing to fear. Welcome to the Place Between Pages. Welcome outside.
Review
The Outsiders are quite literally going outside this month for what might be their weirdest issue yet. If you’ve been following the series so far then you’ll know that Kate, Luke and Drummer have been to some weird and wonderful places. But this month all of that begins to come together and signals that something big is coming for the burgeoning series.
It’s been cool to see writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing explore this weirder side of the DCU. The Outsiders series has struck a charming balance between bonkers science fiction and grounded relatable drama. That balance has really come in to focus recently, particularly with issue #4 and its introduction of the Century Babies.
This month the team is building even further on that as the Carrier’s processing core seemingly overloads and transports the team, including Lucius Fox, to a crazy meta landscape which exists between the pages of the book. Again, the writers don’t purely play this concept for laughs. Whilst there is levity amongst the drama, there a fine balance which allows the book to significantly explore these concepts and their impact on the wider DCU.
Transported to what is described as “mid-century Americana” and “Pleasantville” in the narrative. The Outsiders are confronted by a quirky mix of well placed meta commentary and out of the box thinking which challenges the current status quo. The mixed method approach makes sure Outsiders #6 is never predictable. The town isn’t purely inhabited by versions of characters we know. Likewise it isn’t solely constructed to force the characters in to the realisation that they are a work of fiction.
With its tongue planted in its cheek there are a few moments where Outsiders mocks the wider comic book industry. When “LANDMARK FINAL ISSUE” appears in giant letters on the page I panicked and though DC was ripping this book away from me. But quickly I learned this is just Kelly and Lanzing wrapping the idea of the infinite multiverse in to the notion of the ever changing comic book industry. By the time characters are discussing publisher acquisition I was applauding the steel balls of the writers.
There is method in the madness here. The story builds to something we’ve all be waiting for. The truth about Drummer. I’m not revealing anything here but in the final page there’s a revelation which ties Outsiders back in to plot points and characters from elsewhere. The breadcrumbs have been there all along so I’m slightly ashamed I never saw it coming. It sets the scene for next issue to reveal all which should be very exciting to behold.
Verdict
A bonkers issue which deftly illustrates the futility of searching for answer in an infinite multiverse of possibility.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
