In Outsiders #3, Batwing and Batwoman encounter a multiverse of Batmen on their adventures beyond their own dimension.
Outsiders #3: Dreaming of Bats
Writer: Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly
Artist: Robert Carey
Color Artist: Valentina Taddeo
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Cover Artist: Roger Cruz with Adriano Lucas
Variant Covers: Guillem March, Hayden Sherman (1:25)
Release Date: January 9, 2024
This comic book review contains spoilers.
Please note: This is a very weird, almost surreal issue. I will attempt to summarize it, but a lot of dialog and multiple variants of characters may make this difficult to follow. This issue relies heavily on art.
Outsiders #3 opens with Batwoman (Kate Kane) and Batwing (Luke Fox) discussing their next excursion. Drummer provided the two with what appears to be multiverse coordinates to a “Narrative Singularity.” The two walk through a glowing doorway and arrive in what looks like Wayne Manor. The strange thing is that there are two separate staircases that go somewhere. The door vanishes, trapping the two in this weird world. Suddenly, bats fly in, and Batwoman and Batwing are separated.
Luke discovers that he is not alone; he sees different versions of Batman throughout the manor. One of the Batmen recognizes him, and Luke throws a punch and a kick; he is quickly subdued and radios Batwoman.
Elsewhere Batwoman finds different paintings of what appears to be her family. She picks up Luke’s signal but puts him on hold and enters a room. The room is filled with different versions of her. One of the inhabitants explains to her that in every universe, Batman exists and that existence creates this reality of dreams of everyone who has been inspired by the cowl. When the dreamer is ready, they find themself in that reality. Kate explains that she got some coordinates, and she and Luke walked in. This creates a concern that Luke Fox is also in this world, but he is never Batwing.
Now in the Batcave, Luke finds himself in a Batman convention filled with different versions of Batman. Luke’s presence here causes a concern. His presence could shatter the dream, and petitions for solutions can be heard, including unmaking him. Suddenly, a voice is heard accusing the Batman of another crime. A knight-like Batman attacks and starts killing the other Batman. In the fight, his helmet falls off, and he is revealed to be Duke Thomas.
Luke attempts to talk him down. Duke tells Luke that his mission is righteous. With his power, he can see the past with purity. He tells Luke that Wayne infected him, so that he would not be alone.
Batwoman arrives and decks Duke. The two are still not alone. All the Batmen and Batwomen are present, and one shoots a grapple and hands it to Luke. He directs them to the bleed-barrier, which will get them into their universes.
In the main universe, the two tumble in front of Drummer. Luke orders Drummer to erase the frequency. We get a scene with Drummer and her journal. She writes that the test flight was a success. She has an agenda with this team.
Outsiders #3 variant cover by Guillem March
This was a challenge to draw. There are a number of secondary characters that are in essence the same character, but each has to be drawn uniquely. Of course, there was a Joker Batman, but the other versions of both Batman and Batwoman had unique physiques and costumes that are similar but different. There is even a version of Batwoman that is a fish, which is very creative. Also of note is that that particular version spoke in bubbles.
Outsiders #3 has a couple of elements. The more immediate is the character of Drummer and the added existential element of Batman’s effect in the world.
First the Batman effect. This is not a new theme of Batman comics, but where we have explored the effect on the victims of crime, this looks more closely at the effects on Batman’s allies. Duke is the visual representation of this in that he is the character of light amongst the darkness of the rest of the Batman family; here he is shown very dark. He accuses Batman of masking his crimes in righteousness, the most notable is the deception and corruption of his allies. Basically tricking them to see him as an inspiration to help them through their own tragedy while Batman himself then surrounds himself with others so that he will not have to be alone.
This is a harsh statement. Anyone who has tragedy must have support. Duke here is giving a selfish position of not wanting to deal with other’s pain while the human condition demands that we hold each other accountable but also walk side-by-side with each other.
The Drummer angle has a more immediate effect on this team. She clearly has an ulterior motive. The question is what exactly is that motive? Specifically, she mentions Luke. She believes that this little excursion taught him a lesson that may motivate him to stand with her. Kate, on the other hand, fails to learn this lesson. She may be a liability in the battle to come. What battle? What is Drummer referring to here? Hopefully time will tell.
Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with an advanced copy of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by ordering this issue digitally through Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.
