Outsiders (comics)

The Outsiders are a fictional 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.
The Outsiders have had a number of different incarnations. They were founded by Batman, whose ties to the League had become strained at the time, and introduced the now-classic 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 pro-active group hunting for supercriminals. For the team's third incarnation, Batman reforms the team 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.
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 organisation. Following DC's 2011 reboot, a new version of the Outsiders is introduced in the pages of "Green Arrow" as a secret society represented by seven weapon-themed clans. Members in this incarnation include Katana, Onyx, and several new characters. The original Outsiders are returned to continuity in 2017, following "DC Rebirth", once again as a secret team founded by Batman; Batman revives the team with a new line-up in 2018.
A version of the team appears in the live action series "Black Lightning", fully formed starting in the third season led by Black Lightning.
Fictional history.
"Batman and the Outsiders" / "The Adventures of the Outsiders" (1983–1987).
The Outsiders first appeared in a special insert in the final issue (#200) of "The Brave and the Bold" in 1983. The team was given its own comic, "Batman and the Outsiders", which debuted in August 1983. It was created and originally written by Mike W. Barr and illustrated by Jim Aparo (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 was notable for having mostly new characters (Geo-Force, Katana, Halo and Looker). The other members were two characters who refused membership in the Justice League (Black Lightning and Metamorpho) and former Leaguer Batman.
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 Dr. 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. These heroes banded together to defeat Baron Bedlam and decided to stay together as a team, later fighting such villains as Agent Orange, the Fearsome Five and the Cryonic Man.
The Masters of Disaster and the Force of July.
Recurring foes include the Masters of Disaster (New Wave, Shakedown, Windfall, Heatstroke, and Coldsnap), who at one point were almost able to kill Black Lightning. Windfall eventually became disenchanted with her team and joined the Outsiders. Another recurring opponent was the Force of July, a group of patriotic metahumans who also regularly came into contact with the Suicide Squad. During this time, Geo-Force's half-sister Terra died as a traitor against the Teen Titans. Batman revealed his real identity as Bruce Wayne to the team (although they already knew it). Eventually, Halo's origins were revealed. Emily Briggs (who later became the superheroine Looker and joined the team) was introduced. Denise Howard (the love interest of Geo-Force) appeared for the second time.
Without Batman.
Baron Bedlam later returned to life. With the assistance of the Bad Samaritan, the Masters of Disaster and Soviet forces, he again tried to seize control of Markovia. Batman withheld this information, angering the rest of the team. This eventually led to Batman disbanding the team and returning to the Justice League of America. Nevertheless, the team traveled to Markovia, discovering many Markovian military casualties. They were defeated by the Masters and learn that Bedlam cloned Adolf Hitler; however, the Hitler clone committed suicide in horror of the atrocities perpetrated by the original. The Outsiders became unofficial agents of Markovia to receive Markovian funding. They moved to Los Angeles; Geo-Force left his girlfriend Denise behind and Looker separated from her husband.
"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). It lasted for 28 issues, in addition to "Annual"s 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). Villains such as the Duke of Oil and the Soviet super-team the People's Heroes are introduced during this time. 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.
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.
Reunion with Batman.
The Outsiders are reunited with Batman when they band together to fight Eclipso. After the adventure, Batman gives them access to a batcave in Los Angeles. The team is also infiltrated by a clone of Windfall. 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-Mason. 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.
"Millennium".
The team is next involved with the crossover event "Millennium", wherein it is revealed that Dr. Jace is an operative of the villainous Manhunters and kidnaps the team. The team (now joined by the Atomic Knight) free themselves, but Dr. Jace blows up herself and Metamorpho. Looker is called to return to Abyssia (the origin of her powers), where she must also face the Manhunters. During the adventure, she is drained of much of her power and returns to her normal form. Halo is hit in the crossfire when saving Katana's life, and slips into a coma as Katana vows to look after her. The team is disbanded by Geo-Force as Looker returns to her husband, and Batman rejoins the Justice League.
"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.
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 (Charlie Wylde), a friend of the Technocrat who has been turned into a mountain bear by Faust's uncontrollable magic.
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 Batman (actually the man standing in for Bruce Wayne, Jean-Paul Valley). However, Halo's spirit survives in the reanimated body of Marissa. For some time afterward, the Technocrat has trouble accepting that his wife (whose body is still walking around) 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 the Technocrat; the other composed of the Eradicator, Looker, Wylde, Halo and Sebastian Faust) claim the name of the Outsiders; both teams are considered fugitives for some time, thanks to questionable tactics by their new members. During this time, the teams learn that Halo's (original) body has been brought back to life by the terrorist organization Kobra. In control of her body is Violet Harper, the evil woman whose body Halo originally inhabited. She now has abilities similar to Halo's, calls herself Spectra and joins Strike Force Kobra with Dervish and Windfall. Both Kobra and Violet Harper are defeated.
The two teams unite to confront Felix Faust, the father of Outsiders member Sebastian Faust. During the confrontation, the bear-like Wylde betrays the team when Felix promises to restore his humanity. The team defeats Felix Faust and Wylde, who eventually becomes an actual bear (without the ability to speak) and is kept in a zoo. 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 during the "Day of Judgement" crossover event. Members of this new team include Geo-Force, Halo, Katana, and Terra II, who in the 1999 "Titans Secret Files" series, left the team after a round of genetic tests performed by scientists failed to decipher Terra II's genetically altered DNA in order to tell who she was prior to being turned into a genetic doppelgänger of the original Terra.
"Outsiders" (vol. 3) (2003–2007).
"Outsiders" (vol. 3) is almost completely unrelated to the previous series. It was launched in 2003 with new members, some of whom had been part of the Titans. The series was cancelled with issue #50 and relaunched as "Batman and the Outsiders" (vol. 2), featuring a mix of current and new members.
Formation.
The new team is put together in the wake of the "" crossover, which dissolves both groups. Arsenal accepts a sponsorship offer from the Optitron Corporation and uses the money to buy an enormous bomb shelter which had belonged to a multimillionaire, renovating it as group headquarters. He recruits a group of young heroes, the last of whom is his friend Nightwing (who joins reluctantly). Nightwing decides that, instead of functioning in a reactive capacity like most other superhero teams, this group should act as hunters, tracking down supervillains before they can cause problems.
"Infinite Crisis".
Former Outsiders the Technocrat and Looker are near the Breach when he explodes in the Battle of Metropolis. The fate of the Technocrat remains unclear, while Looker soon appears in an issue of the "World War III" limited series. Roy Harper is saved by Superman from Doomsday, and Captain Marvel Jr. was sent to Earth-S when it was reformed. When New Earth came into existence, he went with other heroes who could fly to fight Superboy-Prime. In the "Infinite Crisis" hardcover, Freddy joined alongside the other Titans to take down the members of the Secret Society of Super Villains who tried to kill Robin.
"One Year Later".
After "Infinite Crisis", the Outsiders are "officially" no more. Because of the Freedom of Power Treaty, the Outsiders have been operating covertly outside of the United States. Most of the members were presumed dead until a botched mission forced them to reveal their presence. Following the revelation of their existence, they are recruited by Checkmate to pursue missions which Checkmate cannot support publicly. Checkmate's assignment as part of the "CheckOut" crossover story arc involves dispatching the Outsiders to Oolong Island in China, the scene of World War III the previous year. The mission goes disastrously wrong when Chang Tzu captures Owen Mercer and Checkmate's Black Queen, until both sides are bailed out by Batman. In the aftermath, Nightwing decides to give Batman control of the team once more.
"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.
"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!"
"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 the Green Arrow joined; Thunder consistently appeared in the series as well. In issue #5, Ralph "the 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. Dr. Francine Langstrom (wife of Dr. 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 known as 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 from around the world 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. It asks them to feed a secret code into the cybernetic mind of ReMAC, allowing it to track the Caped Crusader and the Black Glove organization and help him in his fight. As they comply (against Batgirl's advice), the code reveals itself as a cybernetic booby-trap coming from Simon Hurt (the mastermind behind Batman's downfall) and ReMAC explodes. Several Outsiders are wounded, and Thunder suffers brain injuries severe enough to knock her into a seemingly-irreversible coma. However, her in-costume appearance in the "Final Crisis: Submit" story contradicts this; the events of that "Final Crisis" storyline occur after the events in "Batman R.I.P.", suggesting a continuity error. When Black Lightning rejoins the team after the events of "Batman R.I.P." and "Final Crisis", he is shown visiting Thunder (who is still hospitalized in a coma).
"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.
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 a very 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 Jr., Black Lightning, Geo-Force (leader), Halo, Katana, the Creeper and Metamorpho. As a member of the team, each must become a true "outsider," living away from their families and the public eye for months at a time. Each member fills a role once filled by Batman, making this team a composite. This story arc ended with issue #25, and the series ended after 40 issues.
Post–"Final Crisis".
Dan DiDio and Phillip Tan began a new run of "Outsiders" in January 2010, in which Geo-Force appears to be acting more irrationally since his battle with Deathstroke. Without consulting the rest of the team (or Alfred), Geo-Force enters into a non-aggression pact with New Krypton (offering Markovia as a haven for all Kryptonians). The Eradicator is New Krypton's representative.
"Batman Inc." (2011–2013).
In 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 the Red Robin. This incarnation of the team proved short-lived, as all of its members (except the 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) in DC's "The New 52" continuity, 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, the Green Arrow's father. With his apparent death, it passed to Komodo (Simon Lacroix), 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.
"DC Rebirth".
The original Outsiders are reintroduced in "Dark Days: The Forge" #1 (2017), a prelude to DC's "" crossover, in an expository scene which explains that Batman formed the Outsiders (Black Lightning, Metamorpho, Geo-Force, Katana, and Halo) to investigate a mystery concerning the DC Universe which connects the strangeness of the Multiverse to the amazing properties of metals—like Nth metal, the Court of Owls' resurrection metal, Aquaman's trident, and Doctor Fate's helmet— to metahumans and to mystical lands like Nanda Parbat, Skartaris, Atlantis, and Themiscyra, and much more. He assembled the team to operate outside the knowledge of the government, the Justice League, or the Batman family.
In the "Watchmen" sequel "Doomsday Clock", Geo-Force took advantage of the metahuman arms race in light of "the Superman Theory" and assembled Markovia's version of the Outsiders. The group consists of Baroness Bedlam, the Eradicator, Knightfall, Terra, and Wylde.
The "Detective Comics" story arc "On the Outside" (July 2018) had Batman and Black Lightning come together to defeat a villain known as Karma. In the aftermath of the battle, Batman told Black Lightning that he wanted him to lead a new team of Outsiders consisting of himself, Cassandra Cain, Duke Thomas, and Katana, who had fought as their allies in the fight against Karma. An ongoing comic book featuring this team, titled "Batman and the Outsiders" (vol. 3), was released in December 2018.
Enemies.
The following are enemies of the Outsiders:
Collected editions.
"Batman and the Outsiders" (vol. 2) / "Outsiders" (vol. 4) (2007–2011).
Issues #11–14 of "Batman and the Outsiders" do not appear to be collected as of this date.