The Outsiders by Judd Winick Book One by Judd Winick

The Outsiders by Judd Winick Book One Reviews

• 
  Chad

  This series is a lot of fun. Winick writes some crackling dialog and balances the fun and gritty elements well. I like how he brings the Titans and Young Justice titles of the time to an end, while at the same time setting up the Outsiders and the Teen Titans series to come. I feel Tom Raney is one of the more undersung artists of his time. His art here is brilliant with some great character designs. I'm glad to see DC is finally reprinting the series.
• 
  Cristian

  The prelude mini series crossover with Young Justice that kicks off the collection is really, REALLY bad. You can tell that neither the writer nor the artist have their hearts in it. Then the main series starts, a bit slow at first, but then gets more dynamic and elegantly narrated and funnier with every issue. Sadly, it looks like the second volume of this collection was cancelled recently - DC style...
• 
  Nate

  The first half of the book shows the dissolution of the Titans (soon to be rebooted with Young Justice members) and death of Donna Troy and Lilith. It’s nothing special, typical plot-driven crossover stuff with lots of fighting. Then we get the first seven issues of the new Outsiders series featuring Nightwing, Arsenal, original member Metamorpho, Jade, and newbies Thunder, Indigo, and Grace Choi. The group works well together and Winick does a good job with everyone’s personality. His typically snappy writing is on display, leading to many standout (and funny) moments. The plots are fine - going up against Grodd and Brother Blood - but as with the best team books, it’s about the characters and their interactions. The final issue focusing on Metamorpho is a highlight in that regard.
  
  I have one complaint though: Nightwing is uncharacteristically harsh at times. I know he’s Batman’s stand-in for the team, but he’s always been more kind and caring than his mentor. I guess he’s feeing down after the end of the Titans and Donna’s death, but his personality seems slightly off.
  
  That aside, I had a lot of fun with these seven issues. Tom Raney’s art is great, too. Though it looks like the second volume was cancelled...? Too bad.
• 
  Jake

  Reading this made me lose brain cells, and cured my nostalgia for the 2000s. It’s extremely disjointed, and the characters are dull(except for Shift). Also a reality tv star makes a guest appearance like wtf?!
• 
  David

  Quite enjoying this series. Wish DC had continued collecting this series in the fatter tpbs.
• 
  Dustin

  was under the hood just a fluke
• 
  Highland G

  Fun read. Kinda ends the young justice story and starts up the outsiders. I might hunt down the older books so I can read on as they haven’t released any more of these thicker ones yet.
• 
  ***Dave Hill

  Man, the early 00s were dark and violent and a bit twisted. Or so Winick's work on this book (which includes setup issues from "Titans/Young Justice" and "Teen Titans/Outsiders" as well as the first seven issues of Winick's "Outsiders") would seem to indicate. Secrets, mysteries, betrayals, trauma, torture, death -- grim-and-grittiness all abound, to a degree that sometimes feels gratuitously unpleasant.
  
  That said, the (eventual) team setup here is marvelous -- Nightwing, Arsenal, Jade, Grace, Thunder, Indigo, and an amnesiac Metamorpho, all make for a volatile mix, and tee up (once things get rolling) some great drama and adventure.
  
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  UPDATE 4/22
  
  Bumping from 3 to 4 stars. Good art counts for a lot (even if there's a fair amount of cheesecake), and the story, once it gets rolling (with a lot of cross-title activity around the traumatic founding of the team) is solid.