110 books
—
10 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Batman and the the Outsiders, Vol. 1: Lesser Gods” as Want to Read:
Batman and the the Outsiders, Vol. 1: Lesser Gods
(Batman and the Outsiders (2018) #1)
by
When the quest for justice drives Batman into morally ambiguous territory, he calls in the most moral man he knows: Jefferson Pierce, a.k.a. Black Lightning, and his team of elite operatives known as the Outsiders!
Several years ago Batman personally put the Barrera family into hiding after they suffered through terrible experiments at the hands of an organization called Th ...more
Several years ago Batman personally put the Barrera family into hiding after they suffered through terrible experiments at the hands of an organization called Th ...more
Get A Copy
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Batman and the the Outsiders, Vol. 1,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about Batman and the the Outsiders, Vol. 1
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Batman and the the Outsiders, Vol. 1: Lesser Gods
Batman and the Outsiders return, but this time Black Lightning is taking control.
With a new team of outsiders, Batman trust Black Lightning to do his best. This time though, Black Lightning isn't working for Batman, but with Batman. He builds a team with various members including our boy Duke and Cass (She the besssssst) and together they must save a girl from being taken and used as a weapon. Will this Outsider group stay together or are they destined to fall apart like all the other versions? ...more
With a new team of outsiders, Batman trust Black Lightning to do his best. This time though, Black Lightning isn't working for Batman, but with Batman. He builds a team with various members including our boy Duke and Cass (She the besssssst) and together they must save a girl from being taken and used as a weapon. Will this Outsider group stay together or are they destined to fall apart like all the other versions? ...more
Batman: Detective Comics, Volume 8: On the Outside served as a backdoor pilot to this series. Black Lightning leads the new Outsiders in Katana, Signal, and Orphan to help a new metahuman targeted by Ra's al Ghul. Batman puts the team together to go places he can't for whatever reason. It isn't really ever explained. It's good to see Signal finally put to some use. He hasn't done much since Snyder and Capullo created him. I've always been a big fan of the Outsiders. Hopefully, some more former m
...more
I didn't... love this.
Which was surprising considering I liked Hill's first foray into writing Detective Comics. I like that he seems to focus on Cass and Duke. While I still (and always will) have issues with the Rebirth decision to reverse all of Cass' progression from pre 52, I like that Cass and Duke have a bond. I don't love that Cass seems to exist in this arc solely to support Duke.
I'm confused as to why we have to start with Jefferson being so unsure of his role as a leader. I felt lik ...more
Which was surprising considering I liked Hill's first foray into writing Detective Comics. I like that he seems to focus on Cass and Duke. While I still (and always will) have issues with the Rebirth decision to reverse all of Cass' progression from pre 52, I like that Cass and Duke have a bond. I don't love that Cass seems to exist in this arc solely to support Duke.
I'm confused as to why we have to start with Jefferson being so unsure of his role as a leader. I felt lik ...more
In this story, the Outsiders never really worked well together. In fact, there are pages and pages of snarky conversations that weren't that fun to read.
...more
Basic plot: Black Lightning begins to pull together his team of Outsiders to rescue a meta human being pursued by Ra's al Ghul.
A solid start to this series. I like the art and definitely the characters picked for the team. Orphan and Signal have good chemistry, as do Katana and Black Lightning. I also really appreciate the diversity in this book because of the lineup. Bats is really a very secondary character here. The story sets up lots of potential storylines for the future, and there is plent ...more
A solid start to this series. I like the art and definitely the characters picked for the team. Orphan and Signal have good chemistry, as do Katana and Black Lightning. I also really appreciate the diversity in this book because of the lineup. Bats is really a very secondary character here. The story sets up lots of potential storylines for the future, and there is plent ...more
Batman has a job for Jefferson Pierce - train his younger, more inexperienced sidekicks, and take down Ra's Al Ghul while you do it. Easy, right? Thank god Jeff's got Katana along to help him, because when Ra's Al Ghul wants you dead, it's very unlikely that you'll be anything but by the time he's finished.
Spinning out of an arc of Detective Comics from last year, Batman & The Outsiders feels like a long time coming. This is definitely Black Lightning's book more than Batman's, since Bruce takes ...more
Spinning out of an arc of Detective Comics from last year, Batman & The Outsiders feels like a long time coming. This is definitely Black Lightning's book more than Batman's, since Bruce takes ...more
Guess I was in the minority on this--between the two separate postings for this one--I seem to have liked it way more than most.
Batman's only barely in it, in fact he's painted as aloof and almost out of touch-- I don't agree with but can understand a review I read which says the book makes Bruce the villain of the story--but the characters that are here are consistently well-handled. I've always enjoyed Cassandra, and Signal has always felt like a potentially really strong character who's seen ...more
Batman's only barely in it, in fact he's painted as aloof and almost out of touch-- I don't agree with but can understand a review I read which says the book makes Bruce the villain of the story--but the characters that are here are consistently well-handled. I've always enjoyed Cassandra, and Signal has always felt like a potentially really strong character who's seen ...more
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
It's a damn shame that DC basically won't green light a book unless Batman is involved with it because the worst part of Bryan Hill's new take on the classic DC team The Outsiders is ... Batman. Batman's presence in this book only serves to keep each of the four Outsiders attached to him which hurts them all in the long run. Seeing Black Lightning, Katana, Cassandra Cain and Duke Thomas work together as a team is so, so amazing. These are four of DC's best and also sev ...more
Batman And the Outsider Vol. 1 Lesser Gods collects issues 1-7 of the same name and the Black Lightning & Katanna short from Cursed Comis Cavalcade. This series was birthed from the events of Detective Comics Vol. 8 On The Outside (Issues 982-987). The series is written by Bryan Hill with art by Dexter Soy.
Batman has tasked Black Lightning to lead a ragtag outfit of characters for missions that the Bat is unable to carry out. This team also consists of Katanna, The Signal (Duke Thomas), and Orp ...more
Batman has tasked Black Lightning to lead a ragtag outfit of characters for missions that the Bat is unable to carry out. This team also consists of Katanna, The Signal (Duke Thomas), and Orp ...more
4.5 Stars
Batman and the Outsiders volume 1 is very much a continuation of Bryan Hill’s Detective Comic run. Even as someone who never finished reading that run (I’ll get to it at some point, I’m sure), it wasn’t TOO hard to understand what happened during that run. That being said, I believe this volume would probably be a more enjoyable/cohesive read having read that, as Duke (Signal’s) role in the story in particular relies heavily on those events.
Having read Bryan’s work with Marvel (particu ...more
Batman and the Outsiders volume 1 is very much a continuation of Bryan Hill’s Detective Comic run. Even as someone who never finished reading that run (I’ll get to it at some point, I’m sure), it wasn’t TOO hard to understand what happened during that run. That being said, I believe this volume would probably be a more enjoyable/cohesive read having read that, as Duke (Signal’s) role in the story in particular relies heavily on those events.
Having read Bryan’s work with Marvel (particu ...more
This book collects the first seven issues of Batman and the Outsiders as well as a bit of a horror comic starring team members Black Lightning and Katana. In this version, Batman is pretty much in the book to increase sales and that's about it. He offers a few minor points, but the real leader as designated by Batman is Black Lightning as Batman is dealing with mental difficulties (and who among us wouldn't be going mad if our lives were being written by Tom King).
As a book, it's a bit of a chal ...more
As a book, it's a bit of a chal ...more
Would have been a 4/5 with more context. Batman has formed a team called the Outsiders whilst he acts as a Gandalf-like mentor, wandering in and out of the story with reasons of his own. Black Lightning seems to be the focus as leader, with Katana dealing with some marriage issues regarding her dead husband/ blade, and Duke/ Signal and Cassandra/ Spoiler facing issues relating to fear and trust. The artwork is definitely great and there is some really nice cross-cutting between locations and sce
...more
I don't know if I'm just in a graphic novel slump, but I had trouble remembering what happened in the previous Batman volume that impacted this volume. That's more of a "my bad" thing than the graphic novel's, so overlooking that, this was still pretty solid. I had some trouble getting totally invested in it, but I do really enjoy getting to know Black Lightning. I'd never read much with him before, but I love that he's a teacher. Batman definitely needs someone like that balance out his "we're
...more
Batman forms a new team he calls The Outsiders: Black Lightning, Signal, Kitana, and Orphan.
Sends them out on a mission to rescue a meta, just coming into her powers, from Ra's Al Ghul. They don't grab her the first time, and we get to see some of her training, and her adoption of the name Babylon. Second time works, and she is currently headed back to Gotham. That did leave Signal and Orphan open to attack...
A cliffhanger ending has me wanting to continue to read this great title. Unique mix o ...more
Sends them out on a mission to rescue a meta, just coming into her powers, from Ra's Al Ghul. They don't grab her the first time, and we get to see some of her training, and her adoption of the name Babylon. Second time works, and she is currently headed back to Gotham. That did leave Signal and Orphan open to attack...
A cliffhanger ending has me wanting to continue to read this great title. Unique mix o ...more
4
I had avoided this series but with isolation I thought I would check it out. I liked the support characters banding together for their own team and having Hill was an added appeal. I've recently heard this series has ended due to a upcoming change to the DC universe and Convid-19 pandemic undoubtedly so this will be a short series.
Why the 4?
Good range of the support characters who barely get recognition. Hill manages to maintain the ensemble and allowing them to interact without Batman checkin ...more
I had avoided this series but with isolation I thought I would check it out. I liked the support characters banding together for their own team and having Hill was an added appeal. I've recently heard this series has ended due to a upcoming change to the DC universe and Convid-19 pandemic undoubtedly so this will be a short series.
Why the 4?
Good range of the support characters who barely get recognition. Hill manages to maintain the ensemble and allowing them to interact without Batman checkin ...more
3.5/5
I adored the team in this series. I think each of them have a very compelling story and I appreciate their dynamic. I especially love seeing Duke and Cassandra, they're wonderful and I appreciate seeing the characteristic Bat Family Dramatics have rubbed off on them. Black Lightning and Katana are also really interesting. I think I'm just sick and tired of Ra's al Ghul in batman related stories, he seems to be in everything recently and he's never developed outside of some macguffin villain ...more
I adored the team in this series. I think each of them have a very compelling story and I appreciate their dynamic. I especially love seeing Duke and Cassandra, they're wonderful and I appreciate seeing the characteristic Bat Family Dramatics have rubbed off on them. Black Lightning and Katana are also really interesting. I think I'm just sick and tired of Ra's al Ghul in batman related stories, he seems to be in everything recently and he's never developed outside of some macguffin villain ...more
The first volume of a new Batman and the Outsiders sees the Outsiders (Black Lightning, Katana, Orphan and The Signal) attempting to work together and go on mission to save a metahuman that Batman promised to protect from Ra's al-Gul. It's not a bad story, and has decent artwork. It refences past storylines that I haven't read, but is relatively easy to get into and understand for a newbie (unlike a lot of Volume 1's that I've read). I don't think I'll continue on with the series, but it's not b
...more
A gritty and amazing new chapter in the world of The Outsiders. Black Lightning shines as the series star, reluctantly leading this group of vigilante heroes as he grows as a hero himself. Leading next to Katana, Jefferson Pierce is a great character and perfectly matches Bruce Wayne’s Batman in both leadership and wit. Orphan and Signal are great additions to the team, and the series villain is a welcome return for a classic DC villain. A must-read for DC Comics fans.
I liked the choice of characters and how they bounce off each other, but there was surprisingly little story for seven issues here. This isn't even a complete storyline, maybe the first half of one. The pacing really needed to be tightened up, especially since a lot of it felt like repeated scenes. I think I read some variation on, "But you need to trust us more, Batman!" about three times.
...more
This book seemed to tell and not to show except when it did neither
Black Lightning seemed to have the same conversation over and over again with Batman. Batman never really explained why he was so afraid all of a sudden.
I feel like I've read all these comics and I did not understand the backstory.
I've never known Ra's al Ghul to have this crazy instant mind control set up. ...more
Black Lightning seemed to have the same conversation over and over again with Batman. Batman never really explained why he was so afraid all of a sudden.
I feel like I've read all these comics and I did not understand the backstory.
I've never known Ra's al Ghul to have this crazy instant mind control set up. ...more
This had a lot of action and less plot, which is an issue I have semi-regularly with comics. I really appreciated the focus on characters of color, but it felt like way too many loose ends were intentionally left open considering how long this was. I don't really see myself tuning in for future issues.
...more
This is one of the better American comics I've read in a while. Good art, decent plot, and a multi-cultural cast. Definitely recommended.
Plus, Batman and Ra's al Ghul don't hurt. They're only two of my favorite DC characters, so there's that, as well. ...more
Plus, Batman and Ra's al Ghul don't hurt. They're only two of my favorite DC characters, so there's that, as well. ...more
Diverse, well written, excellent characterization. Wonderful first issue.
Love seeing more interactions between the batkids especially since neither Cass or Duke have gotten alot of spotlight in the past. Definitely want to read the next volume when I can get it!
The art was amazing but the story progression was slow and underwhelming.
It’s a fun story but ends on a cliffhanger so I need to get the second volume.
I really wanted to love this because it has some of my favorite characters. When it works it works, and when it doesn’t it really doesn’t.
Batman trying to create a new team. They are still in their infancy and so there is still a lot of training to do and misunderstandings to overcome.
I did enjoy the juxtaposition of Black Lightning and Bats. Look forward to the next few instalments.
I really ejoyed this graphic novel.
This follows the team that Batman created, the Outsiders and how they are to deal with what happened with Karma and the other villians they deal with.
I really enjoyed how this team is working together. I enjoyed seeing the characters learn and trust each other.
The story was interesting and fun to read about.
I would enjoy reading more of this story.
This follows the team that Batman created, the Outsiders and how they are to deal with what happened with Karma and the other villians they deal with.
I really enjoyed how this team is working together. I enjoyed seeing the characters learn and trust each other.
The story was interesting and fun to read about.
I would enjoy reading more of this story.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers also enjoyed
Bryan Hill is a screenwriter, photographer, tv writer, and director. He is known for his work on the DC show TITANS and for his work in comics, most notably his outings on DETECTIVE COMICS, POSTAL, AMERICAN CARNAGE, KILLMONGER and ANGEL.
His writing is infused with esoteric principles, which can also be found in his photography and music.
He lives and works in Los Angeles.
His writing is infused with esoteric principles, which can also be found in his photography and music.
He lives and works in Los Angeles.
Other books in the series
Batman and the Outsiders (2018)
(3 books)
News & Interviews
When it comes to the romance genre, second books can be a bit like second dates, can't they? You've had that great initial meet-cute with...
33 likes · 1 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
