Batman and the Outsiders #13 Review

Is It The Shoes?

Writer: Bryan Hill
Artist: Gleb Melnikov
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 16, 2020

Batman and the Outsiders has been in a tug-of-war since it started, with Bryan Hill giving some good character moments in one issue and then great action in another.  Yet, the two rarely come together in the same issue.  When they do, it has been awesome, but again, that rarely happens.  Do those two great tastes that taste great together happen to both show up this month?  Let's find out...


The issue opens up with Black Lightning and Batman having some bro-time and you can tell right away, this is going to be a character-heavy issue.  It continues their debate on trust that has gone on in almost every issue, but this time, they have company... Martian Manhunter!  Jonn shows up, for some reason looking like Batman and gives the two heroes a little what's what on the weapon Ra's al Ghul now has.  It continues to get away from the No Justice roots this book was going to follow up on, and I'm okay with that.

Watch out Batman and the Outsiders #13 Video Review

We then head off to see Cass and Duke sparring and Shiva and Katana arguing...about Cass and Duke.  Of course, Shiva is on her "Batman holds them back" kick while Katana wants them to be safe.  They do the assassin version of heads or tails and while we don't get to see it (this is a character issue), I'm not shocked by who won.

This quick read ends with Cass and Duke being promised revenge and training, Ra's counting on the Lazarus Pits to get him out of any sort of trouble he is getting into, and Jefferson getting a power upgrade to combat all of that.

I liked what we got here, but the issue didn't feel like it had enough going on by the end.  Bryan Hill sets up a lot of stuff that promises to be big coming up, but even the new stuff didn't have a fresh delivery.  Gleb Melinkov does a good job here because he does his own thing.  He isn't Dexter Soy, but Dexter Soy isn't Gleb either.  I do like the name Gleb a lot.

Bits and Pieces:

Batman and the Outsiders #13 lacks the forward momentum and fun I need from this series.  We do get some big moments, but they are presented in ways that make them less exciting than they should be.  The book looks good, and readers of the series know what to expect by now.  I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.

6.0/10