Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Insiders [Paperback]

Geoff Johns (Author), Judd Winick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 2006

Ever since the death of Donna Troy, the Teen Titans and the Outsiders have been forging new destinies.What they didnt know was that one of the catalysts of Donnas death was a person who was going to betray not one, but both teams.When Nightwing and Speedy figure out that theres a traitor in their midst, secrets come to the fore, including Superboys ultimate corruption by his genetic father, Lex Luthor.Both teams are tested and in the wake of the battle, new alliances may be forged.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics; 1ST edition (January 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401209262
• ISBN-13: 978-1401209261
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.2 x 10.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #516,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Publishers > DC Comics
  • #63 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Graphic Novels > Superheroes

More About the Author

Geoff Johns originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Film. He began his comics career creating and writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. for DC Comics.

His first comic assignment led to a critically acclaimed run on the The Flash and JSA for DC Comics. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and imaginative writers in comic books today, working on titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, The Flash: Rebirth, Superman: Secret Origin, Action Comics, Adventure Comics, Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005 and 2007 and 2008 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff penned the acclaimed "Legion" episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as a writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN. Geoff is currently working on film projects with Warner Brothers to be announced soon.

Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank among many others.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Insiders: A Review, January 21, 2006

By 

D. B. Killings "Dagnabbit!" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Insiders (Paperback)

After hitting a high point with the "Lights Out" storyline, the Geoff Johns incarnation of the Teen Titans sort of takes a stumble with the next story arc, a crossover with Judd Winick's The Outsiders called simply, "The Insiders", and written as a collaboration between Johns & Winick.

The story is okay, but nothing more. One member of each team (the Titans and the Outsiders) is seemingly possessed, goes berserk, and attacks their erstwhile friends. Both groups then go and team-up to try and find out what the heck is going on, and to bring their "traitors" back in. The trail leads them back to the scene of a previous tragedy, and a showdown that is both gut wrenching and tragic at the same time. And lays further clues and seeds for the Infinite Crisis, soon to rage across the DCU.

The problem with this story is that, in many ways, there really isn't one. Rather, the whole thing is one long, extended fight scene that keeps moving to different locales. Kind of like those fighting video games where each round takes place in a different stadium. Yes, there is some explanation of what is going on and why the two team members have "betrayed" everyone; it doesn't quite make sense, and one gets the feeling that there's still something more to it that we're not getting. Johns & Winick do have a go at making it all sound reasonable, but quite frankly, this time it comes out as something of a mess.

Clearly, this story was planned from the beginning of both runs of The Outsiders and the Teen Titans, because the seeds for this showdown were laid practically at the very beginning of each series. But with that much lead time, you'd think they'd have come up with something more substantial than this.

This TPB also reprints two other issues, one from Teen Titans, the other from The Outsiders. Although not part of The Insiders arc proper, both work as nice codas to the story. I particularly enjoyed the Teen Titans one, which has Raven helping a fellow Titan sort out recent events.

Thankfully, the art of The Insiders is top notch. Matthew Clark does half the issues here (two Teen Titans and one The Outsiders), Carlos D'Anda does two issues (both for The Outsiders), and the aforementioned Teen Titans coda story was penciled by Tony Daniel. Interestingly, this volume contains the first issues by the two current principal artists of Teen Titans and The Outsiders - Tony Daniel (principal artist for Teen Titans) and Matthew Clark (principal artist for The Outsiders) both have their debut issues for their respective titles collected in this volume.

Bottom line: It's readable, but not great. Compared to what came before and what's come since, in both titles, this story arc was something of a disappointment. And this is coming from someone who otherwise likes Winick's Outsiders and LOVES Johns' Titans. Still, it is somewhat necessary to understand some of the things going on in later storylines, both in the two titles and in Infinite Crisis. I just wish the story lived up to the two years of build up it was given.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spandex Heroes Gone Wild, January 30, 2006

By 

C. Johnson (Orange County, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Insiders (Paperback)

I've been following Winick's run on "Outsiders" since the beginning, and I had to get this after the cliffhanger in Vol. 3. I was giving Winick one more chance to "wow" me after being a little disappointed with the writing in #3. To my surprise, this book works. Maybe collaborating with DC heavyweight Geoff Johns did the trick. There is a ton of action, releasing built-up tension from both books. Traitors are found in both super-groups! This is a classic comic book plot device (some may call it a cliche, but hey, this ain't Shakespeare folks). The story also has a nice feeling of winding down, showing the characters' emotional reactions to the major events they just lived through.

All of the pencillers on this book do a bang-up job, especially Matthew Clark. He has a clean style that never feels cartoon-y. I'll be on the lookout for more of his work.

I really enjoyed "Insiders." So Mr. Judd Winick, you've got me for at least one more volume of "Outsiders." Don't blow it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So-so. More potential than delivery., March 16, 2006

By 

Michael Griffith "mgriffith123" (PA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Insiders (Paperback)

I'll have to preface this review with the revelation that I am not a regular reader or fan of The Outsiders.

Perhaps if I was, I would have enjoyed this TPB and story much more.

As it stands I rate it 3 stars, since I can not give it a 2-and-a-half stars rating.

The Teen Titans side of the TPB is, for me, much stronger. The art is just better, cleaner, more "professional" seeming.

Likewise, the impact on the characters seems much more interesting and vital than in the Outsiders side of things.

In the Titans we have a major character that is now given a new, interesting facet to deal with.

With the Outsiders we have a new, almost unknown character who ultimately leaves the scene.

That the TPB does not pick up and deal with things that were revealed in the previous TPB or issue of The Outsiders is a flaw, in my eyes.

This TPB can be glossed over on the store shelves and the reader will still get the story and still understand the impact of the events within. There are no subtle points.

I am very interested in the future fate of Superboy in relation to what occurs in this story, and I hope that the event that instigates Indigo's ultimate fate is expanded upon more in TPBs or issues to come. But neither of these make up for the detractions in this arc/TPB.