Outsiders, Volume 6: Pay as You Go Book

4.5 stars

I'm so sad to see this come to an end. This series was such a blast!

While there were two volumes that didn't do much for me, this volume was pretty damn swell. I got everything that drew me to the series in the first place: Dick's complex morality, the team's unorthodox methods, Grace and Anissa's chemistry, and Roy's soft love for his family (both blood and chosen). I am so sad to see this series go and I'll definitely be rereading soon. I have such a love for everything I got out of this series.

The reveal of Sivana's plan was interesting. I'm semi wondering how that ended ultimately but this was definitely the weaker aspect of this volume.

In an odd way, Winick takes us back to the time lost between Crisis on Infinite Earths and volume 5. We get the lost year which explains why everyone thought the Outsiders were dead, when and how Anissa and Grace got together, what happened to Shift and Roy's official departure. Honestly, if someone were to ask me the reading order, I would just tell them to read this volume before volume 5 because I saw no real reason for Winick to give us the "suspense" of making us wait for this explanation.

I'm pleasantly surprised by how well done Grace/Anissa was. I loved that Anissa had to keep working her way up to making her move. I adore the height difference between them. Grace is a total babe and I would climb her like a tree. I liked the after sex conversation that basically explained that Grace is a homoromantic bisexual (from what I've seen, that's the correct terminology). It's a surprisingly progressive conversation and the fact that I'm reading this in a team series was even more impressive. Kudos, Winick. I love seeing them together and I wish I could've gotten more of them. They're super supportive of each other and the surprising shyness between them (and Grace admitting to pigtail pulling) was just fantastic. I would look for them on the tv show but it's my understanding that CW's Black Lightning's Grace isn't quite as large there?

Anyway, the bit with Roy going to his brownstone/safe house after work and seeing Lian made me tear up. Not only was it hard to see him with her knowing what's to come, but Roy is so soft with her. The cover of him holding here was so wonderful and heartfelt. And the conversation they had when he put her to bed really got me.
Lian: No, when I go to sleep, you get sad
Roy: I don't get... sad.
Lian: You get sad. I see you. I see you at night. You sit in the den, and you get sad.
Roy: I'm not sad... I'm just thinking.
Lian: No, you're lying. You get sad.

The arc with Black Lightning was really interesting! I actually loved how they portrayed his staunch morality and I liked that Captain Boomerang Jr.'s role in this.

Of course, the Jason Todd issue was wonderful. I always love seeing Jason with DIck. Their relationship is so complex and layered.

So, I honestly don't have any staunch complaints about this.