Outsiders (comics) — BrandWiki

cvr caption	Cover for Outsiders #1 (November 1985), art by Jim Aparo

schedule	Monthly

format	Ongoing series

ongoing	Y

genre	Superhero

1stishhead	vol. 1

1stishyr	1985

1stishmo	November

endishyr	1988

endishmo	February

1stishhead1	vol. 2

1stishyr1	1993

1stishmo1	November

endishyr1	1995

endishmo1	November

1stishhead2	vol. 3

1stishyr2	2003

1stishmo2	August

endishyr2	2007

endishmo2	November

1stishhead3	vol. 4

1stishyr3	2009

1stishmo3	April

endishyr3	2011

endishmo3	June

issues	(vol. 1): 28 (vol. 2): 26 (vol. 3): 50 (vol. 4): 25

writers	(vol. 1-2) Mike Barr (vol. 3) Judd Winick (vol. 4) Peter Tomasi

pencillers	(vol. 1) Jim Aparo, Steve Lightle, Joe Staton, Curt Swan, Jan Duursema, Ernie Colón, Brian Bolland, John Byrne, Jerry Ordway, Dan Jurgens, Jerome Moore, Erik Larsen (vol. 2) Paul Pelletier, Casey Jones (vol. 3) Tom Raney, Dan Jurgens, Carlos D'Anda, Karl Kerschl, Matthew Clark, Shawn Moll, Ron Randall (vol. 4) Lee Garbett, Fernando Pasarin, Don Kramer, Philip Tan, Joe Bennett, Keith Giffen

colorists	(vol. 1) Adrienne Roy

cat	teams

subcat	DC Comics

hero	y

sortkey	Outsiders (comics)

The Outsiders are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. As their name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who do not fit the norms of the "mainstream" superhero community, i.e. the Justice League.[1]

The Outsiders have had a number of different incarnations. They were founded by Batman, whose ties to the Justice League were strained at the time, and introduced the original line-up of Batman, Black Lightning, Metamorpho, Geo-Force, Katana, Halo and Looker. A later incarnation of the Outsiders from the early 2000s comics was led by Nightwing and Arsenal following the dissolution of the Teen Titans superhero group, and depicted the team as a group hunting for super-criminals. For the team's third incarnation, Batman reforms them as a special strike team featuring classic members Katana and Metamorpho alongside new recruits such as Catwoman and Black Lightning's daughter Thunder. After the Batman R.I.P. storyline, Alfred Pennyworth acts on Batman's instructions to reassemble the team once more, recruiting new members and more of the team's original lineup.[2]

Another version of the team with a familiar line-up briefly featured in Batman Incorporated in 2011 as the black ops section of Batman's organization. Later, the Outsiders are rebooted as a secret society of weapons themed-characters in the pages of Green Arrow, featuring Katana and Onyx alongside several new characters, before the original Outsiders are brought back in 2017, following DC Rebirth as a strike team founded by Batman. 2020s incarnations of the team are led by Black Lightning, Batwing, and Batwoman, and add The Signal to the lineup.

A version of the team appears in the live-action series Black Lightning, fully formed starting in the third season and led by Black Lightning.

Publication history

The Outsiders first appeared in a special insert in the final issue (#200) of The Brave and the Bold in 1983.[3] DC's editorial team decided to replace it with a book that would feature Batman as the leader of a team.[4] Writer Mike W. Barr volunteered for the assignment and the team was given its own comic, Batman and the Outsiders, which debuted in August 1983. The Outsiders were co-created by writer Barr and artist Jim Aparo, and later illustrated by Alan Davis.

After Batman left the group in issue #32, the title was changed to The Adventures of the Outsiders, continuing until its cancellation with issue #46. Issue #38 featured the last original story in the series, as issues #39-46 were reprints of stories from the companion series The Outsiders (1985).

The cast of the Outsiders included new characters created by Barr and Aparo (Geo-Force, Katana

Fictional history

Batman and the Outsiders / The Adventures of the Outsiders (1983–1987)

Markovia and Baron Bedlam

The Outsiders formed in the fictional East European country of Markovia, which was ravaged by war at the time. Batman had attempted to enlist the Justice League of America's aid, but was told they had been ordered to stay out of the conflict. Because he disagreed with the order, Batman resigned to strike out on his own. He and Black Lightning traveled to Markovia to free captive Lucius Fox from Baron Bedlam who killed the country's ruler King Viktor. One of the king's sons became Geo-Force after gaining powers from Markovia's top scientist, Dr. Helga Jace, to stop Bedlam. Metamorpho was searching for Jace for the doctor to help him with his powers. Katana arrived in Markovia to kill General Karnz (Bedlam's military commander) as vengeance for her family's death. Batman found a young, amnesiac girl in the woods exhibiting light-based powers whom he names Halo who was an Aurakle that possessed the body of Violet Harper after she was killed by Syonide.[5] These heroes banded together to defeat Baron Bedlam and decided to stay together as a team, later fighting such villains as Agent Orange,

Enemies

The following are enemies of the Outsiders:

Bad Samaritan: A master technician.[41]
Baron Bedlam: A Markovian baron.[42]
Cryonic Man: A scientist who frozen himself, armed with ice-technology.[43]
Doctor Moon: A mad scientist.[44]
Duke of Oil: A cyborg who can control nuclear devices.[43]

Collected editions

Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 1)

Outsiders (vol. 3)

Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2) / Outsiders (vol. 4)

Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 3)

Outsiders (vol. 5)

In other media

Television

The Outsiders appear in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, initially consisting of teenage versions of Black Lightning, Katana, and Metamorpho. The three initially serve the crime lord Slug before Batman and Wildcat convince them to reform.[53] Geo-Force and Halo later join the Outsiders in the episode "Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!".[54]
The Outsiders appear in Young Justice: Outsiders, consisting of Beast Boy, Geo-Force, Wonder Girl, Blue Beetle, Kid Flash, Static, El Dorado, Cyborg, Terra, Superboy, Forager, Robin, Windfall

External links

Cosmic Teams: Outsiders Index
DCU Guide: Outsiders
DCU Guide: Outsiders
Outsiders at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015.

References

Alan Cowsill, Alex Irvine, Steve Korte, Matt Manning, Win Wiacek, Sven Wilson. The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe DK Publishing, 2016^
Batman and the Outsiders Special DC Comics, Feb. 2009^
Matthew K. Manning. DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle Dorling Kindersley, 2010^

Outsiders (1985–1988)

This series again featured the original group, and was printed in the Baxter paper format used on such titles as The New Teen Titans (vol. 2) and the Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 3).[16] It lasted for 28 issues, in addition to Annuals and special issues. The series originally ran alongside the title The Adventures of the Outsiders, chronicling events a year after that series. In the end, the first few issues of this series were reprinted in The Adventures of the Outsiders before that title was cancelled.

Story

The team moves into a new headquarters in Los Angeles and once again becomes involved in an adventure with the Force of July (ending in Moscow).[17] Villains such as the Duke of Oil and the Soviet super-team the People's Heroes are introduced during this time.[18][19] The team's adventures take them all over the globe, most notably when the Outsiders' plane is shot down and the team is marooned on a deserted island for three weeks. Tensions rise as Geo-Force tries to resign his leadership and he and Looker succumb to temptation. Eventually, the team is rescued.[20]

More trouble arises when a detective is hired to look into Looker (now working as a model known as Lia Briggs) and her private life, and learns of her actual identity as Emily. The detective tries to blackmail her, but she hypnotizes him and forces him to leave. However, he is killed shortly afterward and Looker is arrested as a suspect. The Outsiders, fortunately, clear her name.[21]

Reuniting with Batman

The Outsiders are reunited with Batman when they band together to fight Eclipso.[22] After the adventure, Batman gives them access to a batcave in Los Angeles. The team is also infiltrated by a clone of Windfall.[23] Meanwhile, Looker and Geo-Force feel guilty about their affair and eventually end it. Metamorpho faces his own personal problems with his wife Sapphire Stagg. The clone of Windfall is ultimately killed; the Masters of Disaster are defeated, as the real Windfall joins the Outsiders. The team also meets the other Los Angeles-based team Infinity, Inc.[24]

Outsiders (vol. 2) (1993–1995)

This revival of the title in 1993 lasted 25 issues and was written by Mike W. Barr, with most issues penciled by Paul Pelletier.[29]

Story

Declared a traitor in his native Markovia, Geo-Force is forced to seek the help of old (and new) Outsiders to battle the vampire-lord who controls his country. This is later coupled with the framing of the Outsiders for the slaughter of a Markovian village, forcing them into hiding. This fugitive status motivates the Atomic Knight to go after them, hoping to bring in his former allies without too much trouble. He is eventually convinced of their innocence and joins them.

The new members who join the team in Markovia are the magician Sebastian Faust, the warsuit-wearing engineer and industrialist the Technocrat and Wylde, a friend of Technocrat who Faust fuses with a bear to save his life.

During the initial confrontation with the vampires, Looker is apparently killed. Hiding out in Gotham City, the Outsiders experience another loss as the Technocrat's wife Marissa and Halo are killed during a fight with Jean-Paul Valley. However, Halo's spirit survives in Marissa's body. For some time afterward, the Technocrat has trouble accepting that his wife is dead. Eventually it is discovered that Looker is not dead, but undead. The Outsiders find her and free her from the vampire's control.

Split in two

After the defeat of the vampires, two teams (one composed of Geo-Force, Katana, and Technocrat; the other composed of Eradicator, Looker, Wylde, Halo, and Sebastian Faust) claim the name of the Outsiders; both teams are considered fugitives due to questionable tactics by their new members. During this time, the teams learn that Halo's original body was resurrected by Kobra and joined their ranks. Both Kobra and Violet Harper are defeated, and Windfall rejoins the Outsiders.

The two teams unite to confront Felix Faust, the father of Outsiders member Sebastian Faust. During the confrontation, Wylde betrays the team when Felix promises to restore his humanity. The team defeats Felix and Wylde, who is transformed into a normal bear and kept in a zoo where Looker can regularly visit him. The title ends with the clearing of the Outsiders' names and the marriage of Geo-Force and Denise Howard.

In the interim, the Halo entity is restored to Violet Harper's body, returning her to normal off-panel and a new team of Outsiders is formed and seen as active in the Day of Judgment crossover event. Members of this new team include Geo-Force, Halo, Katana, and Terra, who in the 1999 Titans Secret Files series, left the team after a round of genetic tests performed by scientists failed to decipher Terra's DNA to tell who she was prior to being turned into a genetic doppelgänger of the original Terra.

Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2) / Outsiders (vol. 4) (2007–2011)

In November 2007, writer Chuck Dixon and artist Julian Lopez relaunched Outsiders (vol. 3) as Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2), with the Dark Knight taking control of the team in the aftermath of the "CheckOut" crossover with Checkmate.[30][31]

Outsiders: Five of a Kind

In the weeks leading up to the new series' debut, Batman holds tryouts to determine who will be on the team in a series of one-shots called Five of a Kind. Each issue featured a different creative team (including Outsiders creator Mike W. Barr) and an epilogue written by Tony Bedard.

Batman angers several members, who feel he has no right to remove people already on the team. Captain Boomerang leaves the team for Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad, and Nightwing decides to take no part in the Outsiders' questionable activities. Katana is chosen as the team's first official member, joined later by the Martian Manhunter, Metamorpho and Grace. Thunder is kicked off the team; the second Aquaman is rejected because Batman feels he does not match up to his predecessor, Orin. Batman then tells the other members: "Whether you like it or not, you're here to save the world. And you're going to be hated for it". After the team's first official mission in Outsiders #50, Catwoman overheard the other recruits talking about the team being "down by law" and said: "Batman can't possibly start up his own crew of super-crooks without me in it!"[32]

Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2)

The team from Outsiders #50 was featured in the first two issues of Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2). Afterward, Catwoman and the Martian Manhunter left the team and Batgirl, Geo-Force and Green Arrow joined; Thunder consistently appeared in the series as well. In issue #5, Elongated Man and Sue Dibny make a guest appearance. They are now "ghost detectives", and seem able to possess people in a method similar to that of Deadman. Francine Langstrom (wife of Kirk Langstrom, a.k.a. the Man-Bat) serves as the team's technical advisor, and her assistant Salah Miandad operates the "blank" OMAC drone ReMAC. In issue #9, Batman calls on former team member Looker to assist in an interrogation.

The first main storyline of the title involves Batman sending the team to investigate the mysterious Mr. Jardine, who is organizing a convoluted plot to populate a subterranean lake on the Moon with alien lifeforms. While trying to stop Jardine's unauthorized space-shot in South America, Metamorpho is blasted into space and is forced to escape from the International Space Station, where seemingly-brainwashed astronauts are building a giant weapon. Seeking a shuttle to hijack, the rest of the team infiltrates a Chinese space facility, only to be captured by members of the Great Ten. The timely intervention of Batgirl and ReMAC saves the team from execution. Metamorpho steals a shuttle back to Earth, escapes from the European Space Agency and rejoins the team.

During the Batman R.I.P. events, an assembly of the Outsiders (including Thunder) receives a message from the missing Batman.

Outsiders (vol. 4)

As a result of Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis (where Batman apparently died), the series was renamed Outsiders (vol. 4) and featured a new team roster. The change occurred when a new creative team took over, with Peter Tomasi writing and Lee Garbett on art duty. Tomasi began with Batman and the Outsiders Special (vol. 2) #1 and the retitled series began with issue #15.[34]

One night, after going to visit the graves of Thomas and Martha Wayne, Alfred awakens in Wayne Manor to a giant door opening in his room. He walks through it, where he sees a pod with a chair inside. He takes a seat, as a hologram of Batman activates. Batman explains that, because he has not entered a special code into the Bat-Computer (or any of its subsidiaries) for a certain length of time, this recording is playing (meaning he is probably dead). He tells Alfred of an important mission the latter must undertake on his behalf (since Batman is unable to do so), but gives him a choice to accept or decline. Alfred promptly accepts; Batman explains what Alfred has meant to him throughout his life, saying to him what he did not have a chance to say at his death: "Goodbye, Dad."

With this, Batman charges Alfred to assemble a new team of Outsiders. Alfred travels around the planet, recruiting Roy Raymond, Black Lightning, Geo-Force (leader), Halo, Katana, Creeper, and Metamorpho.

The New 52

In 2011, "The New 52" rebooted the DC universe.

Batman Inc. (2011–2013)

In he pages of the 2011 Batman Inc. series by Grant Morrison, Batman assembles a new team of Outsiders which acts as a black-ops wing of Batman Incorporated. The team consists of Metamorpho, Katana, Looker, Halo, and Freight Train, and is led by Red Robin.[35] This incarnation of the team proved short-lived, as all of its members (except Red Robin) were caught in an explosion caused by Lord Death Man in the 2011 Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes one-shot issue. The survivors were revealed in issue #1 of (vol. two) (2012). Metamorpho had kept everyone alive via his powers.

In Green Arrow (vol. 5) (2013–2016)

Beginning with Jeff Lemire's run of Green Arrow (vol. 5), a new version of the 'Outsiders' was introduced. This is explained as being an ancient secret society dedicated to the elimination of corruption, but which itself has grown corrupt. Its membership is formed from the leaders of various clans centred around totemic weapons: the Mask, the Fist, the Arrow, the Axe, the Spear, the Shield, the Sword. A literal Green Arrow was the totemic weapon of the 'Arrow Clan', but this was destroyed by the Green Arrow as part of his symbolic rejection of the group. The Soultaker sword owned by Katana is the Sword Totem, making her the leader of the Sword Clan. The weapon totems supposedly grant immortality and enlightenment on the wielder, but the Green Arrow doubts such claims.

The leader of the Arrow Clan was once Robert Queen, Green Arrow's father. With his apparent death, it passed to Komodo, an evil archer. It would later be passed to Shado, Robert Queen's former lover and another master archer. Katana heads the Sword Clan. An unkillable shapeshifter named Magus heads the Mask Clan. A physically intimidating man known as the Butcher leads the Axe Clan. Golgotha, leader of the Spear Clan, for a time led the Outsiders overall. Onyx leads the Fist Clan. The Shield Clan is led by Kodiak, who in addition to his mastery of the shield, wears a terrifying skull mask.

cvr image
group	y
publisher	DC Comics
debut	The Brave and the Bold #200 (July 1983)
creators	Mike W. Barr (writer) Jim Aparo (artist)
organization	y
fullroster	List of Outsiders members
title	Outsiders

Publication history

Fictional history

Batman and the Outsiders / The Adventures of the Outsiders (1983–1987)

Markovia and Baron Bedlam

Enemies

Collected editions

Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 1)

Outsiders (vol. 3)

Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2) / Outsiders (vol. 4)

Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 3)

Outsiders (vol. 5)

In other media

Television

External links

References

The Masters of Disaster and the Force of July

Without Batman

Markovia and Baron Bedlam

The Masters of Disaster and the Force of July

Without Batman

Outsiders (1985–1988)

Story

Reuniting with Batman

Story

Reuniting with Batman

Millennium

Outsiders (vol. 2) (1993–1995)

Story

Split in two

Story

Split in two

Outsiders (vol. 3) (2003–2007)

Formation

Formation

Infinite Crisis

One Year Later

Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2) / Outsiders (vol. 4) (2007–2011)

Outsiders: Five of a Kind

Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2)

Outsiders (vol. 4)

Outsiders: Five of a Kind

Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2)

Outsiders (vol. 4)

Post–Final Crisis

The New 52

Batman Inc. (2011–2013)

In Green Arrow (vol. 5) (2013–2016)

Batman Inc. (2011–2013)

In Green Arrow (vol. 5) (2013–2016)

DC Rebirth

Miscellaneous