Comics Fondle

So, Batman breaks up with the Outsiders because Geo-Force is pissed Batman didn’t let him know Geo-Force’s country was in trouble. It’s a whole new, super-shallow Batman here from Barr–there are some pointed lines about the team doing well “for once,” which he got over a long time ago, as well as lines about Dick and Jason “leaving” him. It plays terrible, like Barr did it all on fast forward. Of course, this issue ignores the Outsiders’ origin. Batman was pissed the Justice League wouldn’t help him save his friend.

It’s a goofy, dumb story, but Barr manages all right for most of it. The Outsiders have a big fight scene–practically the entire issue–after a prologue ripe with political intrigue and, of course, the Masters of Disaster. Why Marvel never sued over the fire-girl in Masters having the same outfit as Firestar, I don’t know.

The issue’s basically, prologue, extended fight scene, then Batman and the Outsiders arguing, then the team dissolving and the epilogue. It’s incredibly anorexic, even for a superficial transition issue, but it’s not atrocious. It’s not contemptible. And Davis is getting better with his faces and perspective.

Until Barr’s short Looker story at the end, which appears to be–I couldn’t read it, as I might want to look a daughter in the face some day–about Looker going clothes shopping and hating her old identity because it didn’t wear lingerie like a supermodel. There’s not an adjective to describe its sexism.

F

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