Writers: Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly
Art: Robert Carey
Colors: Valentina Taddeo
Letters: Tom Napolitano
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $4.99
Release Date: January 9th, 2024
The Outsiders enter the Multiverse! In Outsiders #3, Drummer discovers a sequence of numbers in her dreams that turn out to be multiversal coordinates. The coordinates open a doorway, but to where? Batwoman and Luke Fox blindly jump in and find one of the craziest and darkest things they’ve ever seen. Something that will rattle them both and make them question the trajectory of their lives.
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read The Outsiders #3 Review.
The Story
DC’s been going all-in on the multiverse lately, especially over in the Harley Quinn book. Now, the Outsiders are taking the plunge, doing their own investigation of the multiverse. Outsiders #3 wastes no time sending Batwoman and Luke Fox through a multiversal doorway with mysterious coordinates filled with 8’s and 9’s, which numerology says are the numbers representing wisdom and determination, respectively. They’re also associated with the purpose of life, which will heavily factor into this issue’s story.
I liked that Batwoman expresses some concern at just walking through a door which they have no idea where it goes. Personally, I wouldn’t step through it, because you could end up in outer space, a hundred fathoms under the ocean or inside a volcano. I mean, they really needed to think it out first. Thankfully, they don’t end up in any of those places. Where they do wind up is Wayne Manor, but which Wayne Manor is it? If you love Batman, you’ll love this book, because a TON of Batmen appear in it. A ton of Batwomen too. Adam West’s Batman even pops up in a couple of panels, calling everyone “chum” in an adorably old-fashioned way, a stark counterpoint to the other versions of Batman around him, some of them incredibly dark.
The great thing about multiverse stories are that they can be any genre: romance, hard science-fiction, comedy or horror. This tale leans toward horror, with Luke and Kate surrounded by alternate versions of themselves, some of whom want to dispose of them, some of whom want to help them, and a few who make them takea good hard look at their inner demons and why they took on the Bat’s cause. Though not as spectacular of a tale as I hoped (I’m a sucker for these multiverse stories), it’s still an enjoyable tale and I always enjoy seeing alternate versions of Batman, Batwoman and other DC characters. The only downside is that some of these alternate versions of Batman and Batwoman seem more interesting than Kate and Luke. Why not give them series instead?
The Art
Artist Robert Carey does a great job rendering a huge variety of Batmen and Batwomen in Outsiders #3. The M.C. Escher-style layout of this version of Wayne Manor sends the reader into the same sense of confusion and misdirection as the main characters, putting us deeper into the story.
Final Thoughts
Outsiders #3 presents an alternate world overloaded with Batman and Batwoman variants. The story is tinged with horror and you can feel the anxiety and tension ratchet up during the story as Luke and Kate struggle to find their way back home while dealing with all these alternate versions of themselves. A fun surprise appearance by another Batman Family member tops off the issue.