Comics Fondle

Barr spends a whole issue getting rid of Halo–the Outsiders (minus Metamorpho) bring her home to Missouri where, big shock, Halo discovers ominous secrets–and then spends the next two dealing with Metamorpho. I’m not sure if it counts as a retcon for his origin, but might if tylenol counts as a retcon.

Oh, I guess I’m forgetting these two issues also feature the Outsiders in ancient Egypt, trying to preserve the dynasty in addition to saving Metamorpho from an evil priest’s control.

The issues are actually rather good. The Halo one is nice because, even if the suspicions she starts to have about herself are a little standard (she might have killed a boy!), Barr’s got a good handle on the character and her relationship with Katana is nice. There’s also the interesting group dynamics–Batman and Katana, Katana and Black Lightning–throughout.

As for the ancient Egypt stuff… it’s silly but fun. Barr plays it for the occasional laugh and it works. Aparo’s Metamorpho actually looks the silliest of all the characters in the historical setting, if only because his detail on Metamorpho’s face concentrates on the wrong things. But it’s a political power grab–the kind ancient Egypt often had–and it’s a diverting read.

The biggest problem is Metamorpho’s story resolution. Barr’s concentrated on the insinuations about Metamorpho’s star-crossed romance and removing the star-crossing seems like it’ll kill the character… Oh, and I forgot about Halo’s brief appearances in the second two issues, which feature no further revelations, but more water-tredding until Barr can get around to her again.

B

Recommend on Mahalo