Outsiders/New Olympians: Opening Ceremonies and Gymnastics

Batman and the Outsiders #15, p.1-6, 8-10, 13, 17-18
So Maxie Zeus has taken over the stadium on the opening day of the 1984 Olympics and he's agreed to have his New Olympians compete with Batman's Outsiders for all the marbles, which in this case is this one athlete who would just make the best mother for his daughter. President Reagan is on hand to light the Olympic flame, but circumstances dictate Halo should get that honor instead.

Yes Halo, you're almost certainly on TV, though I'm not sure this is the best use of anyone's super-powers. I mean, if you can win the battle, why not just fight, defeat and arrest the Olympians like regular superheroes? Why agree to participate in this crazy plan? Whatever. Normally, I would applaud a plot like this, but the Outsiders weren't written as a quirky team book full of weirdness and humor. It wasn't the Brave and the Bold in any of its incarnations, if you get my drift. I was rather trying to be X-Men/Titans angst and internal conflict. So the plot just comes off as kind of stupid. One thing I DO like is Trevor von Eeden's art. I know that feeling isn't unanimous, but I love the dynamism and bold, sketchy inking.

But before the competitions can begin, the stadium needs to be evacuated. For some reason, the Secret Service STILL hasn't taken Reagan out of there, and are instead intent on shooting supervillains in the back like that's ever been a viable solution.

No wonder Batman is so prickly with the President. And here I thought he voted Republican.

Event #1: Gymnastics
For the USA, Halo (oh Lord). For Greece, Nox.

Halo is at least consistent, once again trying to "turn" her opponent rather that fight her. The actual event is walking along a tightrope in an abandoned construction site. Uhm... That's not really an Olympic discipline, is it? And one wonders why Nox would choose it. First, it's not in the stadium, so there's really no reason for Halo to keep up her end of the bargain. She could just zap the witch and be done with it. And second, Nox just isn't very good at it!

So she crossed the cables without "flying", and pretty soon Halo finds herself in a similar situation.

(In what situation did Nox lose to all those pretty ones who flirted with judges? Sounds like there's an untold story there.) Halo uses the SAME trick to get out of it, by the way, because original ideas aren't her thing.

And Nox of course forgets all about the way she crossed in the first place and calls foul. Like it matters. Sorry you didn't bring any judges, are you? Nox clearly isn't playing with a full deck. She even believes Halo has a "brain". We never get to see the second event because Batman recalls Halo who tries to fly off but is attacked by Nox's dark powers. She retaliates with a bright burst of light that knocks Nox out. (Who's there?)

That's the second time in the issue where Halo thinks back to her new beau (gross) hoping he's safe (barf). On the puzzling side, Halo seems to believe Nox shouldn't be moved to the light lest it restore her to health when light was what she just used to defeat her! I should think the shade is where you don't put the "goddess of darkness"! But y'know, when you're secretly going out with Geo-Force, panicking about his welfare will make you prone to mistakes. Or maybe being prone to mistakes is what made you go out with Geo-Force in the first place.

CURRENT MEDAL COUNT!
Canada: 4 gold, 7 silver, 4 bronze (15)
USA: 5 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze (18)
Japan: 1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze (6)
Greece: 0 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze (0)
Markovia: 0 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze (0)