Writer: Eve Ewing, Danny Lore
Artist: Bob Quinn, Luciano Vecchio
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 17, 2021

I have made no bones about not liking the Outlawed idea. I’m not talking about the execution here, but just the idea. I love young heroes because of their enthusiasm, eagerness, and yes, because of the learning curve on their way to being better heroes. In a comic landscape that seems to maintain a dark hue, the young heroes are often my sanctuary. So, a teenage Civil War didn’t appeal to me when Marvel announced it and, sadly, never ended up winning me over when the issues hit the stands. However, we did get this Champions book out of it, and with Eve Ewing wrapping up her run this issue, maybe the incoming writer, Danny Lore, will get me smiling again. Let’s see how this one turned out.

I’ll admit it right off the bat, I liked this issue. Yea, it may be a bit of “light at the end of the tunnel” speaking, but seeing the Champions come together (finally) and turn the tables on the baddies was very satisfying. Things kick off with Amadeus Cho and Viv Vision breaking into the CRADLE Reeducation Center to free their friends, but that’s not all. They find out who was behind this whole fiasco all along, and while it is no big surprise (I won’t spoil it, but most could easily guess it), it’s good that Ewing took care of it. The best part of the opener, though, was seeing Snowgaurd, Starling, Wasp, and company take out a few of their frustrations on the guards as they escape with everyone else in tow. The Champions don’t leave anyone behind!

We then go off to Chicago, where Riri’s mother finds out what she has been up to as the skeletons (Champions) in her closet come spilling out. It’s another nice scene that lets her mom have a moment of coolness and allows the team to go off, eventually meet up with the rest of the Champions and expose the truth about Kamala’s law.

While that’s going down, Viv apologizes to the team for her role in all of this, but who can stay mad at Viv? Sure, she was selling them out every step of the way, but it was out of love for her friends, and isn’t that what the Champions are all about? The answer is “yes.”

Then Eve Ewing finishes things with people and eventually the Champions, protesting and storming Senator Patrick’s office, and while they are there for good, this part was a little cringy after what happened a couple of months ago in Washington DC. A different side of the coin, but that does depend on your perspective. I did feel bad for Senator Patrick since it seemed like he was being duped and starting doing the right thing right away when he saw what was up.

I liked seeing the Champions come together, and we may get even more members out of this than I anticipated. Was it worth five issues and a one-shot to get there? Not in my mind, but that’s water under the bridge, and I am looking forward to seeing what Danny Lore brings to the table. Speaking of just that, we get a backup by Lore and Lucciano Vecchio that looks like a lot of fun coming our way!

Final Thought:

While I was not a fan of the Outlawed story from the getgo, Eve Ewing does a nice job ending her time on the book. We even get a sneak peek of what is in store coming up from Danny lore, and it looks like a lot of fun coming our way.

8.0/10