The Outsiders continue exploring the weird and wild underbelly of the DC Universe the best they can. This time, Drummer takes the lead in the investigation of worldwide phenomenon surrounding a new metahuman. Rather than focus on the team’s perspective, Kelly and Lanzing take readers through the life of a troubled twenty-something. Let’s take a look!
London Calling
Much like the previous issues, each adventure thematically deals with the turn of the century. In this case, Kelly and Lanzing focus on a young girl named Jenny Cressi with no control over her abilities. This “Jenny” is the newest incarnation of Wildstorm’s Jenny Sparks from The Authority/Stormwatch in the DCU. Usually, the spirit of the century is born at the turn of the century and has abilities relative to the times. In Warren Ellis’ The Authority, Jenny Sparks becomes the leader and founder of the team. Now that more Wildstorm characters like Grifter in Batman, Hawksmoor in City Boy, Zealot in Birds of Prey, the return of Stormwatch in Batman: Urban Legends, and now Drummer in Outsiders, this inclusion doesn’t surprise me. In fact, Outsiders foreshadows Jenny Sparks more than anything else.
Her story is complex, but straightforward. Since the night of her birth, the events of her life have affected the world. For example, her first cries influence Y2K, her anxiety causes floods, and her unsuccessful childhood crushes crashes the stock market. Slowly, Jenny begins to sense that her life reflects the state of the world. As a result, Jenny spends much of her later teens living in such a way to avoid harming others. For the most part, after some training and some alone time, Jenny masters her abilities. However, it isn’t long before another failed relationship becomes the force majeure needed to interrupt her short lived peace.
Jenny Crisis
Drummer looks more suspicious with every issue and Batwoman knows it. Even though Drummer suggests searching for Jenny, she withholds the truth of what she knows about her. When Batwing and Batwoman confront Jenny, she runs out of fear. Strangely, she comments about how Bat-people don’t come to London, but she seems to forget London has a Knight and Squire for quite some time. Before the heroes can catch her, Drummer manages to have a private conversation with Jenny. As suspected, Drummer knows way more about Jenny’s true identity than she lets on and offers to team up with her. Unfortunately, Jenny not only hates superheroes, but feels entitled to do what she wants with her abilities, eventually claiming the moniker “Jenny Crisis.”
Robert Carey’s art seems to be improving issue to issue. There are some very cool choices in the depiction of Jenny’s powers in a few panels. For instance, every time she freaks out, her eyes swell with red thunderclouds. Although, it is slightly unclear if other people can see this
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