The Outsiders find themselves in yet another macabre scenario against their will. This time, the team explores an exclusive “gala for ghouls” for intel. Unsurprisingly, they do not end up having a good time. Let’s take a closer look!
Consensual Predation?
Batwoman’s weird vampire ex is back in the picture. Back in 2011, the vampire Noctuna (Natalia Mitternacht) seduces and preys upon Kate Kane from Batwoman #34 to about #40. In a nutshell, Nocturna spent much of that time squatting in Kate’s apartment forcing the hero into a non-consensual relationship. Today, Noctuna reaches out to Kate and the Outsiders to attend a gross soirée for villains like Professor Pyg and inhuman creatures like the Upside Down Man called IV. As a result, the team unenthusiastically agree to attend to satisfy their individual curiosities. However, the Outsiders struggle to endure several challenging obstacles during their attendance.
Firstly, the chief factor bothering our heroes is the concept of “consensual predation.” Basically, within the bounds of the venue, Noctuna and the others have the power to kill, torture, and feed on willing participants. To make matters worse, it means that heroes like Batwing can’t interfere with anything they see. In many ways, it reminds me of the Cenobite culture in the Hellraiser series. Anyway, the heroes also shockingly catch flack for the way they dress. Somehow, in a room full of cryptids, vampires, demons, bug people, and men made of literal clay, the ghouls insist that the heroes put on complimentary gowns. There is a crocodile man wearing sweatpants, but Drummer is violating dress code?
Wait, How Are We The Weirdos?
Ahead of explaining their invitation, Noctuna explains her origin story to Kate after all this time. Unsolicited, Noctuna explains that she evaded becoming a wife and mother in 1800’s Gotham by embracing vampirism. Following her encounter with the “winged man of Arkham Wood,” Noctuna eagerly began her life of debauchery and violence. Consequently, this also explains her m.o of targeting men for money and power. However, despite being thankful to her sire that she would never become a mother, she explains that somehow she has finally given birth! Although she doesn’t have much of an explanation, she uses the child to convince Kate to rejoin her and help raise him. Of course, it goes without saying that Kate would never help someone who sexual assaulted her.
Meanwhile, Drummer goes with the flow and puts on one of the Gothic evening gowns. After reading every pathetic monster in the room for filth, Drummer seeks out a specific story from a specific demon. Specifically, Drummer has a suspicious conversation with a so-called “extra-fictional” entity. Apparently, this demon is a “survivor” from a specific world, and has knowledge on how to access the “space between.” Clever readers can probably conclude that Drummer is referring to the Wildstorm concept of the Bleed between worlds that The Authority travels through. Following last issue’s equally suspicious conversation with Jenny Crisis, it would seem Drummer’s plans heavily involve some kind of revival of the Wildstorm Universe.
Recommended If…
- You don’t mind a bourgeois monster story.
- You miss Batwoman (2014).
- You’ve been keeping up with Outsiders.
Overall
Overall, this issue was okay. Outside of the mildly distracting backgrounds that look like posterized jpegs, the artwork is fine too. I especially found the lighting and ink to be a highlight, even if it is seemingly uses it as a crutch to hide how empty the book is. Moreover, the dialogue doesn’t always come off natural. On a positive note, I really like how much this series uses the lore to tell these standalone stories. Although, Lanzing and Kelly are leaving a lot of story on the table. None of the past few stories have gone anywhere. The new passive Outsiders attend a party they didn’t like for information they could get anywhere else. Hopefully things pick up because the group feel extremely depressing and disinterested in each scenario.
Score: 5.5/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.
