Comics Fondle

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but Chuck Dixon doesn’t write lesbians well. They come off like a special episode of “Melrose Place,” their relationship ostensibly just character, but really muted sensationalist fodder.

But otherwise, I’m impressed with how well the new Batman and the Outsiders turned out. While Dixon still writes Batman like a psychotic, he’s a competent writer and each issue has something interesting going on. It’s espionage mostly, James Bond with superheroes and Dixon makes the non-powered (Katana) and the super-powered (Geo-Force) work well together. The art’s also a plus–though it mostly seems to be Bit’s inks and the pseudo-painted colors, since the penciller’s change midway. The art’s not great shakes, but it’s workmen-like superhero art in an era without it (especially in the cheaper titles, which I figure BATO must be for DC).

The best part of the series is the interactions with other heroes. Dixon brings in at least one guest star an issue (or so) and he uses them well. Whether it’s Catwoman and Katana teaming up or Batgirl’s awesome bathrobe scene or even the big Justice League cameo, Dixon manages to bring some sardonic humor to the modern DC Universe. Just because his Batman’s practically silent (one or two word sentences a lot of the time), the rest of the team is full of personality.

The team make-up is also very nice, though the reliance on Man-Bat’s wife for the scientific is a little much after a while. And the lesbian couple, they’re useless.

But Dixon’s got a great cameo at the end and it brings BATO to a level I’m not used to from DC these days. Dixon makes things pay off for the readers. It’s a nice change.

And his Geo-Force isn’t a complete jackhole, which is fantastic.

B

Recommend on Mahalo