Outsiders #18 Review

Since Tomasi took over, Outsiders has become a good book. Beginning with his excellent work on Nightwing and continuing through Green Lantern Corps, Tomasi has become one of DC’s best writers.

Creative Team
Writer: Peter Tomasi
Pencils: Lee Garbett
Inks: Trevor Scott

Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10

Synopsis: This story begins with a recap of Vandal Savage’s origin. How does this tie into Outsiders? Someone in a previous issue went to a lot of trouble trying to get a piece of the meteor that changed Savage.

It turns out that the Outsiders suspect the meteor that turned Rex into Metamorpho was a piece of the “Savage Meteor”. This explains how Rex is able to repeated return from the dead. Owlman believes he knows a way to track down the meteor.

In Opal City, Deathstroke is tracking a target. His assistant knocks the target in front of a bus. Amazingly, the target is not hurt. Deathstroke comments that immortality has it’s advantages.

In the Batcave, Alfred is investigating by using the Bat-computers. He makes an appointment to see the head of a corporation called PSM Global.

In space, the Outsiders use Halo’s powers on Metamorpho. This causes the Savage Meteor to set off a signal. Now they know it is in Opal City. They receive a call from Alfred to get to Opal City.

In Opal City, Alfred confronts the young CEO of PSM Global. Alfred uncovers his scars. They match the ones on an old spy friend of his: Nigel. But Nigel appears to be much younger than Alfred.

Mr. Mallory enters Nigel’s office and breaks up the confrontation between Alfred and Nigel. Alfred leaves.

Mallory tells Nigel he must leave with him if Nigel wants to continue the life extention treatments. We see Alfred following Mallory and Nigel.

Two gunshots ring out. The first one takes out Nigel. The second hits Mallory. Many bullets tear through Mallory. The two men land on Alfred’s car.

Mallory stands up and Deathstroke shoots him many more times. Deathstroke calls Alfred “Wayne’s errand boy.” Deathstroke says that Alfred was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Deathstroke begins to put a knife through Nigel’s heart. Alfred strikes him. Deathstroke tells Alfred that in this world you are either the butcher or the animal. Deathstroke gives Alfred one guess which one Deathstroke is.

The Outsiders drop from their plane towards Deathstroke. Alfred tells Deathstroke that Deathstroke is the one who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Good: Garbett and Scott are really starting to mesh on this title. The use of flashy special effects and the more sparse shots of Deathstroke’s attack were a great illustration of Tomasi’s story. Garbett and Scott draw one scary looking Creeper. I would love to see them do a Creeper solo story sometime.

When I first read this story, I wasn’t as impressed as I was on the second reading. Tomasi wrote an amazing story. Any story in which Alfred punches Deathstroke is a classic. Even though Alfred knows he could be killed, Alfred does the right thing. And the final page of the Outsiders descending is great.

Alfred is the hero of this issue. Batman always knew Alfred had it in him.

Another thing I really liked was the fact that the rock that changed Rex into Metamorpho was part of the meteor that changed Vandal Savage. This explains how Rex was able to return from the dead so many times in the past.

The Bad: The only bad thing was this is part 4 of a multi-part story.

Overall: Outsiders #18 was another great read. I hope DC keeps this team together. A book only gets better when a good team stays together on a title.