Outsiders #37
Reign of Doomsday Part 2: Doom’s Day
Co-Plot and Script: Dan DiDio
Co-Plot and Art: Phillip Tan
Colorist: Pete Pantazis
Cover: Phillip Tan with Guy Major
Price: $2.99
DC Comics
Release date: March 9, 2011

Doomsday’s reign of terror continues in this issue. In the Steel one-shot, Doomsday defeated Steel and flew off with his body. In this issue, Outsiders #37, Steel is nowhere to be found. In this book, Doomsday’s primary target appears to be Eradicator. Steel and Eradicator were both replacement Supermen in the aftermath of Doomsday’s first battle with Superman, so there may be a pattern forming. Currently, the Outsiders have been split into two teams. Doomsday battles Geo Force’s team, which includes Eradicator, Katana, Halo, Looker, and The Olympian. Unsurprisingly, Doomsday easily defeats this team. The Olympian and The Eradicator do the most damage, but they also fall. The Olympian reminds me of Marvel Comics’ Hercules character. He is very proud and boastful and makes elegant speeches while fighting. This character is very interesting, and I hope someone at DC finds a use for him soon, because Outsiders is slated to be canceled after issue #40.

There is also a subplot involving the other Outsiders team being led by Black Lightning. Black Lightning’s team has been arrested by Amanda Waller, and she offers freedom in exchange for apprehending Geo Force’s team. I’ve been a fan of Black Lighting and the Outsiders since I was in elementary school, and I found Dan DiDio‘s characterizations of the team to be accurate. There is a scene between Black Lighting’s daughter Thunder, her girlfriend Grace, and new hero Freight Train that was hilarious. Phillip Tan‘s art style was interesting, but it is very different from the artist on the Steel one-shot that preceded this story. I prefer a unified art style when reading an epic story. Tan was solid, but when this story inevitably comes out in a trade paperback, the art styles will clash greatly.

Overall, this was a solid issue. I still prefer the writing and drawing in Part 1, but this issue moved the story along nicely. This issue is also a great set-up for Part 3, which will take place in Justice League of America #55. I had missed reading about the Outsiders on a monthly basis, and I will probably continue reading this title until it ends in a few months.