Batman and the Outsiders Annual # 1

By Mark Rodriguez
 

Working at home has given me a bit of free time to catch up on some comics. I was able to get my hands on this annual though and decided to give it a read. If I can find missing in-between issues of Batman and the Outsiders and Batman Universe, I might return to cover them as well. I did at least want to return to Batman and the Outsiders in this Annual since Annuals are usually one-shots.

The story opens in Japan with Katana telling the story of her ancestor Miyako fighting against the evil Tsutomo and his forces to Black Lightning. Miyako summoned fire and rendered the demons to ashes as she tore Tsutomo apart with her bare hands. The current situation is that Tsutomo lives within her sword, Soultaker, and is hurting the soul of her husband for revenge. Tastu and Jefferson leave the eatery they were in and heads towards a shop. Tatsu shows animosity towards the owner. They grew up in the same village as 'sisters' but their lives went through different paths leading to resentment towards each other.

The woman knows the situation and advises that Tatsu will have to journey into the sword to save her husband Maseo. To do so, she would have to die by the sword's own steel. As they leave the shop, Tatsu tells Jefferson that he doesn't need a part of this. She tells him he can return to America and lead the Outsiders but he's not going to abandon her.

Meanwhile, within the sword, Maseo is being tortured by Tsumoto. Maseo says Tatsu will never serve him. He says he wants Tastu to die and he will get her to do it by torturing Maseo further.

Tatsu tells Jefferson that when Miyako banished Tsutomo is it drove her insane, and she's rather not follow that path. She says the rooftop they're on is a good place for her to die. She recalls as a child she used to climb the cliffs of Tojinbo and she felt the winds calling her to jump. She felt like jumping but never did, and she feared how that desire never left her and how part of her wanted to.

Tastu tells Jefferson all this hoping he will believe when she says she did not want to die this night, as she impales herself with Soul Taker. She tells Jefferson to guard her body because she will return if she succeeds. Jefferson wonders what he will be protecting her from.

Katana falls into darkness as she hears the wind's song call her. She finds her ancestor Miyako, who tells her she doesn't have power in this void so it will be up to Tatsu.

Some sort of shadow demons arrive to attack Tatsu's body in hopes of setting Tsutomo free. Black Lightning fights without holding back since these creatures don't really seem to be alive.

Miyako tells Tatsu to give herself to the power they share and she refuses. She says without Tsutomo will win and she will be stuck within the sword. Katana fights the incoming demons as Tsutomo watches, holding onto Maseo.

Black Lightning is soon overcome by the demons as one of them shoves their hand in his mouth. Katana is also overtaken by the demons within the sword. She is inspired by her ancestor to rise and fulfill her legacy.

Black Lightning lets the demons get close enough so he can unleash a huge burst of electricity that blasts them all at once. Katana points her sword at Tsutomo telling him this is not his kingdom. The demon says she has no power here, and she says she is power. 

Katana and Tsutomo finally engage in combat and in a flash, she manages to slice his head off. Tatsu stands in front of her husband telling him he is free from the demon. Knowing that Tatsu can't stay, they share a kiss. The demons continue to attack Black Lightning and Katana comes back to life. She gets up and finishes off the demons with her sword. 

Katana thanks Jefferson for protecting her, calling him by name. He is surprised as asks her if she is alright. She says she is changing and she is scared. She feels she's on the cliff, standing at the edge and she needs a voice she can trust. Black Lightning says she has him and they hug. 

Opinions-

This has been building a bit on the main series as Katana was dealing with her own problems, which turned out to be her husband being tormented by demons with the Soul Sword. Now that this has been dealt with, I'm curious if the later issues will address that. I'm also curious if over her comic book history there has been other times Katana has entered her Soul Sword and seen her husband, or if her husband has ever escaped the sword only for some status quo thing to end with him back trapped inside. 

Pretty interesting story, it's the first Katana centered story I've read, and it was cool to see Black Lightning help her out and enter her world for a few moments. I would have liked more of a fight between Tatsu and Tsutomo, but I guess it's just to further emphasize that she was powerful enough to kill him in a single blow. 

Overall decent issue, loved the art. It was an interesting read and it was cool to learn more about Katana. A bit of false advertising in the sense that Batman is on the cover (as well as Signal and Orphan), but the comic is called Batman and the Outsiders.