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Outsiders (comics)
Encyclopedia
The Outsiders are a fiction
al DC Comics
superhero
team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League
.
They have had three different incarnations over the years. They were founded by Batman
, whose ties to the League had become strained. In its most recent formation, the group's leadership was relinquished by Nightwing
to Batman, who recruited former members as well as new additions. He has stated his intent to use the team as a black op
s version of the Justice League, able to take the proverbial "fall" in public opinion where the League cannot. After Batman's apparent death in Final Crisis
, he posthumously charged Alfred Pennyworth
with recruiting a new team of Outsiders for a forthcoming mission of "great importance."
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
, and then later illustrated by Alan Davis
.
After Batman left the group in issue #32, the title was changed to Adventures of the Outsiders and continued until its cancellation on issue #46. Issue #38 featured the last original story in the series, as issues #39-46 were reprints of stories from companion series The Outsiders (vol. 1, 1986).
The cast of the Outsiders was notable for having mostly new characters (Geo-Force
, Katana
, Halo
, and Looker
), two characters who refused membership in the Justice League (Black Lightning
and Metamorpho
), and a former Leaguer, Batman.
, which was at that time ravaged by war. Batman had attempted to enlist the Justice League's aid but was told they had been ordered to stay out of the conflict. Unable to handle that, Batman resigned immediately to go on his own.
Batman and Black Lightning travel there to free the captive Lucius Fox
from Baron Bedlam
, who has killed the country's ruler, King Viktor. One of the king's sons becomes Geo-Force after gaining powers from Markovia's top scientist, Dr. Helga Jace, in order to stop Bedlam. Metamorpho is there searching for Dr. Jace in order for the doctor to help him with his powers. Katana arrives in Markovia in order to kill General Karnz, Bedlam's military commander, as vengeance for her family's death. During the adventure, Batman finds a young amnesia
c girl in the woods exhibiting light-based powers, whom he dubs Halo. All of these heroes band together to defeat Baron Bedlam and decide afterward to stay together as a team. They go on to fight such villains as Agent Orange, the Fearsome Five
, and the Cryonic Man.
(New Wave
, Shakedown
, Windfall
, Heatstroke, and Coldsnap), who at one point are almost able to kill Black Lightning. After some time, Windfall becomes disenchanted with her team and joins the Outsiders. Similar recurring opponents are 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
dies as a traitor to the Teen Titans. Batman reveals his real identity as Bruce Wayne to the team, although they have already learned it. Eventually, the origin of Halo is revealed. Emily Briggs (who during a later adventure becomes the superheroine Looker and joins the team) is introduced. Denise Howard, the love interest of Geo-Force, also appears for the second time.
, the Masters of Disaster, and Soviet forces, he again tries to take control of Markovia. Batman withholds this information, angering the rest of the team. This eventually leads to Batman disbanding the team and returning to the Justice League. The team nonetheless travels to Markovia, discovering many Markovian military casualties. They are defeated by the Masters and learn that Bedlam has cloned Adolf Hitler
. The clone commits suicide in horror of the actions his original self perpetrated. The Outsiders become unofficial agents of Markovia, so that can they receive Markovian funding. They move to Los Angeles
, as Geo-Force leaves behind his girlfriend, Denise, and Looker separates from her husband.
. Villains such as the Duke of Oil
and the Soviet superteam, 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 give in to temptation. Eventually, they are found and are able to leave.
Even more troubles arise when a detective is hired to look into Looker's private life (now working as a model under the alias of Lia Briggs), who learns of her actual identity of Emily. The detective tries to blackmail her, but she hypnotizes him and makes him leave. However, he is killed shortly afterward and Looker is arrested as a suspect. The Outsiders, fortunately, are able to clear her name.
. After the adventure Batman gives them access to a batcave
situated in Los Angeles. The team is also infiltrated by the clone of Windfall. Meanwhile, Looker and Geo-Force feel guilt over their affair and eventually call it off. Metamorpho faces his own personal problems with his lover, Sapphire Stagg. The clone of Windfall is ultimately killed and the Masters of Disaster are defeated as the real Windfall joins the Outsiders. The team also comes in contact with the other Los Angeles-based team, Infinity, Inc.
and she kidnaps the team. The team, now also joined by the Atomic Knight
, are able to free themselves, but Dr. Jace blows up both herself and Metamorpho. Looker is called to return to Abyssia, the origin of her powers, where she must also face the Manhunters. During the course of the adventure, she is drained of much of her power and returns to her normal form. Halo is hit in crossfire, 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 has since rejoined the Justice League.
This revival of the title in 1993 lasted 24 issues and was written by Mike W. Barr, with most of the issues penciled by Paul Pelletier
.
lord who controls his country. This is later coupled with the framing of the Outsiders for the slaughter of a Markovian village, and thus the Outsiders are forced into hiding. This fugitive status motivates the Atomic Knight to go after the Outsiders, hoping to bring in his former allies without too much trouble. He is eventually convinced of their innocence and joins them at a later juncture.
The new members who join the team in Markovia are the magician Faust
, the warsuit-wearing engineer and industrialist Technocrat
, and Wylde (Charlie Wylde), a friend of 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 take another loss as both Halo and Technocrat's wife, Marissa, are killed. This happens during a fight with Batman, or rather, 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, Technocrat has trouble accepting that his wife is dead; after all, her body is still walking around. Eventually, it turns out that Looker is not dead, but undead. The Outsiders find her and free her from the vampire king's control.
, Looker, Wylde, Halo, and Faust) claim the name the Outsiders; even though both teams are still considered fugitives for some time, thanks to some 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 Kobra
terrorist organization. In control of the body is Violet Harper, the evil woman whose body Halo originally inhabited. She now has abilities similar to Halo's, calling herself Spectra, and joins Strike Force Kobra alongside Dervish and Windfall. Both Kobra and Violet Harper are defeated.
The two teams unite to confront Felix Faust
, father to the Outsider Faust. During the confrontation, the bear-like Wylde betrays the team when Felix promises to restore his humanity. The team is able to defeat Felix Faust and Wylde, who eventually becomes an actual bear without the ability to speak and is locked up in a zoo.
The title ends with the clearing of the Outsiders' names and the wedding
of Geo-Force and Denise Howard.
Outsiders (vol. 3), almost completely unrelated to the previous series, was launched in 2003 featuring new members, some of whom had previously been part of the Titans. The series was canceled with issue #50 and relaunched as Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2), featuring a mix of current and new members.
crossover that dissolves both groups. Arsenal
accepts the sponsorship offer from the Optitron corporation, uses the money to buy an enormous bomb shelter
that used to belong to a multimillionaire, and renovates it to create the group headquarters. He recruits a group of young heroes, the last of them being his friend Nightwing, who joins reluctantly. Instead of functioning in a reactive capacity like most other superhero teams, Nightwing decides that this group should act as hunters, tracking down super-villains before they can cause problems.
when he explodes in the Battle of Metropolis. The fate of 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
. Captain Marvel, Jr. was sent to Earth-S
when it was reformed. When New Earth came, 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 members of The Society
who tried to kill Robin
.
. Most of the members were presumed dead until a botched mission forces them to reveal their presence. Following the revelation of their continued existence, they are recruited by Checkmate
to pursue missions which Checkmate cannot support publicly. Checkmate's assignment as part of the "CheckOut" crossover arc involves dispatching the Outsiders to Oolong Island in China
, the scene of World War III the previous year
. The mission goes disastrously when Chang Tzu manages to capture Owen Mercer
and Checkmate's Black Queen
, until both sides are eventually bailed out by Batman. In the aftermath, Nightwing decides to give Batman control of the team once more.
In November 2007, writer Chuck Dixon
and artist Julian Lopez relaunched Outsiders as a new volume of Batman and the Outsiders with the Dark Knight taking control of the team in the aftermath of the "CheckOut" crossover with Checkmate.
.
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 and the second[Aquaman#Arthur Joseph Curry|Aquaman]] is rejected as a member because Batman feels he doesn't 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!"
, Geo-Force, and Green Arrow
joined; and Thunder has consistently appeared in the series as well. In issue #5, Ralph "Elongated Man
" Dibny and Sue Dibny
make a guest appearance. They are now "ghost detectives" and seem to be able to possess people in a method similar to that of Deadman
. Dr. Francine Langstrom (wife of Dr. Kirk Langstrom, a.k.a. 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 strange 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 manages to steal a shuttle back to Earth; then escape from the ESA and hook back up with 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 the ReMAC, allowing it to track the caped crusader and The Black Glove and help him in his fight. As they comply, against Batgirl's advice, the code reveals itself as a cybernetic boobytrap 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 comes into odds with this, because the events of that Final Crisis storyline occur after the events in Batman R.I.P., suggesting continuity error. When Black Lightning rejoins the team following the events of Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis, he is shown visiting Thunder, who is still in a coma in the hospital.
writing and Lee Garbett
on art duties. Tomasi began with Batman and the Ousiders Special #1 and then the retitled series began with issue #15.
One night, after going to the graves of Thomas and Martha Wayne, Alfred awakes 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 amount of time, this recording is playing, meaning he is most likely dead. At this time, he tells Alfred of a very important mission that Alfred must undertake on his behalf since he is unable to do so, but gives Alfred a choice to accept or decline. Alfred promptly accepts while Batman explains what Alfred has meant to him throughout his life, saying to him what he didn't have a chance to say at his death: he told Alfred, "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 of them must become a true "outsider," living away from their families and the public eye for months at a time. Each member fills a role that Batman once filled, making this team a composite of Batman himself. This arc ended with issue #25.
The Series ended with issue 40 back as for one issue as Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 2.
and Phillip Tan began a new run of Outsiders in Jan. 2010. Geo-Force appears to be acting more and 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 safe haven for all Kryptonians. The Eradicator acts as New Krypton's representative.
, Batman assembles a new team of Outsiders that act as a black-ops wing of Batman Incorporated. The team consists of Metamorpho, Katana, Looker, Halo, Freight Train, and is led by Red Robin.
crossover event. Michael Desai was born in Chandigarh, India, an infant metahuman with alabaster
-white skin and superhuman durability. When his mother died during his childbirth (an accident which Desai's father blamed him for causing) Desai created a massive sinkhole within a three-mile radius of Chandigarh which killed thousands of people and left him as the only survivor. How Desai managed to accomplish this feat and the extent of this power is currently unknown. Years later, Michael adopted the alias of "The Outsider" (as he is both "outside" the law and the human race) and manages to accumulate considerable wealth through implied illegal activities, allowing Desai to effectively elevate India's status as a world power; turning the entire country into a multinational criminal operation that is completely under his control. However, the Outsider has also managed to garner many enemies, and was attacked by Rising Sun
along with Mister and Misses Terrific
in an attempt to assassinate him after Desai admittedly framed them for unknown crimes when they uncovered some of the Outsider's illegal activities. The Outsider then killed all three would-be assassins and set out the man who hired them. Desai is also engaged in a manhunt to find and capture a teenage electricity-based metahuman named Blackout, whom he believes can efficiently power mainland India with his abilities. Later, the Outsider was contacted by the heroes of Earth and attended a meeting that Cyborg has arranged to talk about the possibility of creating a group of heroes to deal with the Amazon/Atlantean War. The Outsider's reasons for supporting the heroes revolve entirely around maintaining his empire, as he responds to the threat of war by saying that: "War is bad for business. MY Business." When Batman refuses to join the team, the Outsider declines as well, stating that "The Outsider is Out". Desai is revealed to have some degree of longevity
, as he is shown to be active in Indian criminal and political affairs since the late 1970s. In 1979, the Outsider quelled the Bombay Riots
by manipulating and subsequently killing the crime leaders responsible for the violence, and then united their organizations under his leadership. In 1996, the Outsider captured Isis
in his Siberian Express
on Novaya Zemlya
in a bid to blackmail Black Adam
into selling Desai his home country, Khandaq. However, when the two negotiated terms for Isis' release, the Outsider attacked and defeated Black Adam using Durlan technology. The Outsider then shot Adam and threw him off of the Siberian Express to join Isis as his trophy/prisoner. In the present day, the Outsider is shown interrogating the warden at the prison responsible for allowing the assassins to escape. Although the warden states that he knows nothing about the prisoners' breakout, the Outsider shoots him and has his family sold into slavery for his incompetence. The Outsider's investigation then leads him to Khandaq, where he uncovers an encryption key which links Blackout to the assassination attempt. Later, Desai confronts Blackout, but realizes that the man he is fighting is not Blackout at all but rather J'onn J'onzz
in disguise. In 1985, the Outsider is revealed to have kept J'onn J'onzz captive within a secret research facility after stealing Doctor Erdel's teleportation device. After studying him and learning his weaknesses, the Outsider sold J'onn to Russia
, where he subsequently escaped and took the country. In the present day, after the Outsider talks with J'onn about the past, J'onn admits to pursing revenge against Desai for torturing him and moves to kill him. During the battle, Outsider uses a salvaged teleportation device to trap J'onn within several instances of the Multiverse
. After questioning J'onn about future assassination attempts and getting no answers, the Outsider closed the device with J'onn still trapped inside, cutting in half and killing him. Later, the Outsider returned to his base and contacts the heroes to join the assault on New Themiscyra. The Outsider arrives at the scene to attack in the Atlantean/Amazon war.
. Here, they were re-imagined by the show creators as teenage versions of Black Lightning
, Katana
and Metamorpho
(the former two also have new outfits). Initially, they appear in "Enter the Outsiders!" as vigilantes gone rogue under the brainwashing control of the Slug, who resembles the evil New God
Sleez
. With the aid of Batman and Wildcat
, they break their conditioning, turn on the Slug, and begin training under Wildcat's tutelage. In "Duel of the Double Crossers!", the Outsiders appear again fighting against Despero
in a simulation created by Batman in the batcave. In the episode "Inside the Outsiders!", they are later kidnapped by Psycho-Pirate
, who feeds on their rage by trapping them in nightmares. Batman enters their minds to help them confront their anger and fear, and defeat Psycho-Pirate. They appear in the teaser for the episode "Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!", at the time Geo-Force
and Halo
are added to the roster, and work together with Batman to stop Kobra
, his plan of global domination, and his cultists. Black Lightning and Katana are now older and sport their classic attires. Though Batman and the Outsiders defeated Kobra, the Outsiders forgot to blow up the bridge that would prevent other Kobra soldiers from arriving.
, as part of the wider Crime Syndicate of America
. The team consists of Black Power (Black Lightning), Aurora (Halo), Sai (Katana), and Model Citizen (Looker). The villainous Outsiders are shown working alongside alternate versions of several Justice League Detroit members.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
.
They have had three different incarnations over the years. They were founded by Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, whose ties to the League had become strained. In its most recent formation, the group's leadership was relinquished by Nightwing
Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940....
to Batman, who recruited former members as well as new additions. He has stated his intent to use the team as a black op
Black op
A black operation or black op is a covert operation typically involving activities that are highly clandestine and often outside of standard military protocol or even against the law.-Origins:...
s version of the Justice League, able to take the proverbial "fall" in public opinion where the League cannot. After Batman's apparent death in Final Crisis
Final Crisis
Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and...
, he posthumously charged Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth is a fictional character that appears throughout the DC Comics franchise. The character first appears in Batman #16 , and was created by writer Bob Kane and artist Jerry Robinson. Alfred serves as Batman’s tireless butler, assistant, confidant, and surrogate father figure...
with recruiting a new team of Outsiders for a forthcoming mission of "great importance."
Batman and the Outsiders/Adventures of the Outsiders (1983–1986)
The Outsiders first appeared in a special insertDC Comics insert previews
DC Comics insert previews were 16-page comic book stories inserted into issues of existing DC Comics series to promote new series usually debuting the next month. Running from 1980 to 1985, they consisted of a front cover, 14 pages of story, and a back cover that depicted the cover of the actual...
in the final issue (#200) of The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold is the title shared by many comic book series published by DC Comics. The first of these was published as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983...
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
Mike W. Barr
Mike W. Barr is an American writer of comic books, and mystery, and science fiction novels.-Biography:Barr's debut as a comics professional came in DC Comics' Detective Comics #444 , for which he wrote an 8-page back-up mystery feature starring the Elongated Man...
and illustrated by Jim Aparo
Jim Aparo
James N. "Jim" Aparo was an American comic book artist best known for his 1960s and 1970s DC Comics work, including on the characters Batman, Aquaman and the Spectre....
, and then later illustrated by Alan Davis
Alan Davis
Alan Davis is an English writer and artist of comic books, known for his work on titles such as Captain Britain, The Uncanny X-Men, ClanDestine, Excalibur, JLA: The Nail and JLA: Another Nail.-UK work:...
.
After Batman left the group in issue #32, the title was changed to Adventures of the Outsiders and continued until its cancellation on issue #46. Issue #38 featured the last original story in the series, as issues #39-46 were reprints of stories from companion series The Outsiders (vol. 1, 1986).
The cast of the Outsiders was notable for having mostly new characters (Geo-Force
Geo-Force
Geo-Force is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Markov is Prince of Markovia and the half-brother of Terra. Geo-Force is one of the founding members of the superhero group the Outsiders. He first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the...
, Katana
Katana (comics)
Katana is a fictional character, a superheroine that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 , and was created to be a member of the first Outsiders team by writer Mike W...
, Halo
Halo (comics)
Halo is a fictional superheroine that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 , and was created by Mike W...
, and Looker
Looker (comics)
Looker is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe of comic books. The character's first appearance was in Batman & the Outsiders #25.-Emily Briggs:...
), two characters who refused membership in the Justice League (Black Lightning
Black Lightning
Black Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.- Publication history :...
and Metamorpho
Metamorpho
Metamorpho is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is a founding member of the Outsiders, and has also joined multiple incarnations of the Justice League.-Publication history:...
), and a former Leaguer, Batman.
Markovia and Baron Bedlam
The Outsiders form in the fictional Eastern European country of MarkoviaMarkovia (comics)
Markovia is a fictional nation in the , first seen in The Brave and the Bold #200 .-Fictional history:Markovia is a small country in Europe, ruled by the Markov family. They suffered a Nazi invasion during World War II. In the same period, the commando team known as the Losers died defending...
, which was at that time ravaged by war. Batman had attempted to enlist the Justice League's aid but was told they had been ordered to stay out of the conflict. Unable to handle that, Batman resigned immediately to go on his own.
Batman and Black Lightning travel there to free the captive Lucius Fox
Lucius Fox
Lucius Fox is a fictional character appearing in Batman comic books by DC Comics. He was created by Len Wein and John Calnan, and first appeared in Batman #307 . As a supporting character, he acts as Bruce Wayne's business manager who supposedly unknowingly runs the business interests that supply...
from Baron Bedlam
Baron Bedlam
Baron Bedlam is a fictional character, a supervillain in the DC Universe. The character first appeared in Batman and the Outsiders #1 .-Fictional character biography:...
, who has killed the country's ruler, King Viktor. One of the king's sons becomes Geo-Force after gaining powers from Markovia's top scientist, Dr. Helga Jace, in order to stop Bedlam. Metamorpho is there searching for Dr. Jace in order for the doctor to help him with his powers. Katana arrives in Markovia in order to kill General Karnz, Bedlam's military commander, as vengeance for her family's death. During the adventure, Batman finds a young amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
c girl in the woods exhibiting light-based powers, whom he dubs Halo. All of these heroes band together to defeat Baron Bedlam and decide afterward to stay together as a team. They go on to fight such villains as Agent Orange, the Fearsome Five
Fearsome Five
The Fearsome Five is a fictional group of comic book supervillains from DC Comics. They were created by George Pérez and Marv Wolfman, and first appeared in The New Teen Titans #3 , going on to become recurring adversaries for that superhero group...
, and the Cryonic Man.
Masters of Disaster and the Force of July
One of the recurring foes are the Masters of DisasterMasters of Disaster (comics)
The Masters of Disaster is a fictional supervillain team in the DC Comics universe.-History:The Masters of Disaster were enemies of Batman's Outsiders, Infinity Inc. and the Justice Society. All of their powers based on elemental forces of nature....
(New Wave
New Wave (comics)
New Wave is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Becky Jones can mentally animate and control water and can become living water. Originally a member of the nature-themed supervillain group called the Masters of Disaster.New Wave leads the team when they...
, Shakedown
Shakedown (comics)
Shakedown is a fictional supervillain in the DC Universe. He first appeared in Batman and the Outsiders #9 .-Fictional character biography:...
, Windfall
Windfall (comics)
Windfall is a fictional character and reformed supervillain in the DC Comics universe. She first appeared in Batman and the Outsiders #9, written by Mike W. Barr and drawn by Jim Aparo.-Fictional character biography:...
, Heatstroke, and Coldsnap), who at one point are almost able to kill Black Lightning. After some time, Windfall becomes disenchanted with her team and joins the Outsiders. Similar recurring opponents are the Force of July
Force of July
The Force of July is a fictional DC Comics antagonistic superhero team introduced in 1984's Batman and the Outsiders Annual #1. They were created by Mike Barr and Jim Aparo.-Fictional history:...
, a group of patriotic metahumans who also regularly came into contact with the Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad, also known as Task Force X , is a name for two fictional organizations in the DC Comics Universe. The first version debuted in The Brave and the Bold #25 , and the second in Legends #3...
. During this time, Geo-Force's half-sister Terra
Terra (comics)
Terra is the name used by three fictional characters published by DC Comics. The first Terra was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, and debuted in New Teen Titans Terra is the name used by three fictional characters published by DC Comics. The first Terra was created by Marv Wolfman and...
dies as a traitor to the Teen Titans. Batman reveals his real identity as Bruce Wayne to the team, although they have already learned it. Eventually, the origin of Halo is revealed. Emily Briggs (who during a later adventure becomes the superheroine Looker and joins the team) is introduced. Denise Howard, the love interest of Geo-Force, also appears for the second time.
Without Batman
Baron Bedlam later returns to life. With the assistance of the Bad SamaritanBad Samaritan
The Bad Samaritan is a fictional character published by DC Comics. His first appearance was in The Outsiders vol. 1 #3, , and he was created by Mike W. Barr and Jim Aparo.-Publication history:...
, the Masters of Disaster, and Soviet forces, he again tries to take control of Markovia. Batman withholds this information, angering the rest of the team. This eventually leads to Batman disbanding the team and returning to the Justice League. The team nonetheless travels to Markovia, discovering many Markovian military casualties. They are defeated by the Masters and learn that Bedlam has cloned Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. The clone commits suicide in horror of the actions his original self perpetrated. The Outsiders become unofficial agents of Markovia, so that can they receive Markovian funding. They move to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, as Geo-Force leaves behind his girlfriend, Denise, and Looker separates from her husband.
Outsiders (vol. 1, 1985–1988)
This series featured again the original group and lasted 28 issues, plus an Annual and a Special. The series originally ran alongside the Adventures of the Outsiders title, chronicling events a year after that series. In the end, the first few issues of this series were reprinted in Adventures of the Outsiders before that title was canceled.Story
The team has moved into a new headquarters in Los Angeles, and once again becomes involved in an adventure with the Force of July, ending in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Villains such as the Duke of Oil
Duke of Oil
The Duke of Oil is a fictional cyborg supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Outsiders #6 , and was created by Mike W...
and the Soviet superteam, 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 give in to temptation. Eventually, they are found and are able to leave.
Even more troubles arise when a detective is hired to look into Looker's private life (now working as a model under the alias of Lia Briggs), who learns of her actual identity of Emily. The detective tries to blackmail her, but she hypnotizes him and makes him leave. However, he is killed shortly afterward and Looker is arrested as a suspect. The Outsiders, fortunately, are able to clear her name.
Reuniting with Batman
The Outsiders are reunited with Batman when they band together to fight EclipsoEclipso
Eclipso is a fictional supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. The character is the incarnation of the Wrath of God and the Angel of Vengeance that turned evil and was replaced by the Spectre...
. After the adventure Batman gives them access to a batcave
Batcave
The Batcave is the secret headquarters of fictional DC Comics superhero Batman, the alternate identity of playboy Bruce Wayne, consisting of a series of subterranean caves beneath his residence, Wayne Manor.-Publication history:...
situated in Los Angeles. The team is also infiltrated by the clone of Windfall. Meanwhile, Looker and Geo-Force feel guilt over their affair and eventually call it off. Metamorpho faces his own personal problems with his lover, Sapphire Stagg. The clone of Windfall is ultimately killed and the Masters of Disaster are defeated as the real Windfall joins the Outsiders. The team also comes in contact with the other Los Angeles-based team, Infinity, Inc.
Millennium
The team is next involved with the company-wide crossover event Millennium, wherein it is revealed that Dr. Jace is an operative of the villainous ManhuntersManhunter (comics)
-Golden Age:The first of DC's Manhunters was a non-costumed independent investigator, Paul Kirk, who helped police solve crimes during the early 1940s. Though the series was titled "Paul Kirk, Manhunter", Kirk didn't use the Manhunter name as an alias...
and she kidnaps the team. The team, now also joined by the Atomic Knight
Atomic Knight
Atomic Knight is a DC Comics superhero and was briefly a member of the Outsiders team. He is sometimes depicted as one of a group of Atomic Knights, which first appeared in Strange Adventures #117 .-Original Atomic Knights:...
, are able to free themselves, but Dr. Jace blows up both herself and Metamorpho. Looker is called to return to Abyssia, the origin of her powers, where she must also face the Manhunters. During the course of the adventure, she is drained of much of her power and returns to her normal form. Halo is hit in crossfire, saving Katana's life, and slips into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
as Katana vows to look after her. The team is disbanded by Geo-Force as Looker returns to her husband, and Batman has since rejoined the Justice League.
Outsiders (vol. 2, 1993–1995)
Paul Pelletier
Paul Pelletier is an American comic book penciller.-Career:Pelletier began working as a professional comic artist in the late 1980s. His first work appeared in Zen: Intergalactic Ninja. He has worked for renowned comics publishers DC Comics and Marvel Comics as well as for the now out of business...
.
Story
Declared a traitor in his native Markovia, Geo-Force is forced to seek the help of old and new Outsiders to battle the vampireVampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
lord who controls his country. This is later coupled with the framing of the Outsiders for the slaughter of a Markovian village, and thus the Outsiders are forced into hiding. This fugitive status motivates the Atomic Knight to go after the Outsiders, hoping to bring in his former allies without too much trouble. He is eventually convinced of their innocence and joins them at a later juncture.
The new members who join the team in Markovia are the magician Faust
Sebastian Faust
Sebastian Faust, or simply Faust, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero from DC Comics, loosely based on the protagonist of the German legend who sold his soul to the Devil. He was introduced in the 1993 Outsiders comic book series....
, the warsuit-wearing engineer and industrialist Technocrat
Technocrat (comics)
Technocrat is a superhero in the DC Comics and a former member of the Outsiders. His first appearance was in Outsiders Alpha v2, #1 . written by Mike W. Barr and drawn by Paul Pelletier.-Markovia:...
, and Wylde (Charlie Wylde), a friend of 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
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
, the Outsiders take another loss as both Halo and Technocrat's wife, Marissa, are killed. This happens during a fight with Batman, or rather, the man standing in for Bruce Wayne: Jean-Paul Valley
Azrael (comics)
Azrael is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. They are a group of assassins who were created by The Order of St. Dumas to "enforce god's will"...
. However, Halo's spirit survives in the reanimated body of Marissa. For some time afterward, Technocrat has trouble accepting that his wife is dead; after all, her body is still walking around. Eventually, it turns out that Looker is not dead, but undead. The Outsiders find her and free her from the vampire king's control.
Split in two
After the defeat of the vampires, two teams (one composed of Geo-Force, Katana, and Techonocrat; the other composed of the EradicatorEradicator (comics)
The Eradicator is a fictional comic book superhero character having a recurring role in Superman stories published by DC Comics. Originally created as a weapon by an ancient alien race, he is over 200,000 years old and is considered an artifact of Krypton...
, Looker, Wylde, Halo, and Faust) claim the name the Outsiders; even though both teams are still considered fugitives for some time, thanks to some 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 Kobra
Kobra (comics)
Kobra is the name used by two fictional supervillains published by DC Comics. The Jeffrey Burr Kobra first appeared in Kobra #1 , and was created by Martin Pasko, Steve Sherman, Jack Kirby, and Pablo Marcos...
terrorist organization. In control of the body is Violet Harper, the evil woman whose body Halo originally inhabited. She now has abilities similar to Halo's, calling herself Spectra, and joins Strike Force Kobra alongside Dervish and Windfall. Both Kobra and Violet Harper are defeated.
The two teams unite to confront Felix Faust
Felix Faust
Felix Faust is a fictional character and supervillain who appears in stories published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in 1962 as an adversary of the Justice League of America...
, father to the Outsider Faust. During the confrontation, the bear-like Wylde betrays the team when Felix promises to restore his humanity. The team is able to defeat Felix Faust and Wylde, who eventually becomes an actual bear without the ability to speak and is locked up in a zoo.
The title ends with the clearing of the Outsiders' names and the wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
of Geo-Force and Denise Howard.
Outsiders (vol. 3, 2003–2007)
Formation
This new team is put together in the wake of the Titans/Young Justice: Graduation DayTitans/Young Justice: Graduation Day
Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day was a three-part comic book limited series published by DC Comics. It was written by Judd Winick and illustrated by Ale Garza and Trevor Scott .-Overview:...
crossover that dissolves both groups. Arsenal
Roy Harper (comics)
Roy Harper is a fictional superhero in the DC Comics Universe. He was known for over fifty years as Green Arrow's teenage sidekick Speedy. He first appeared alongside his mentor in More Fun Comics #73...
accepts the sponsorship offer from the Optitron corporation, uses the money to buy an enormous bomb shelter
Bomb shelter
A bomb shelter is any kind of a civil defense structure designed to provide protection against the effects of a bomb.-Types of shelter:Different kinds of bomb shelters are configured to protect against different kinds of attack and strengths of hostile explosives. For example, an Air-raid shelter...
that used to belong to a multimillionaire, and renovates it to create the group headquarters. He recruits a group of young heroes, the last of them being his friend Nightwing, who joins reluctantly. Instead of functioning in a reactive capacity like most other superhero teams, Nightwing decides that this group should act as hunters, tracking down super-villains before they can cause problems.
Infinite Crisis
Former Outsiders Technocrat and Looker are in close proximity of BreachBreach (comics)
Breach is a fictional character, a superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Breach #1, and was created by Bob Harras and Marcos Martin.-Publication history:...
when he explodes in the Battle of Metropolis. The fate of Technocrat remains unclear, while Looker soon appears in an issue of the World War III limited series. Roy Harper is saved by Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
from Doomsday
Doomsday (comics)
Doomsday is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Superman: The Man of Steel #18 , and was created by writer-artist Dan Jurgens. IGN's list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time ranked Doomsday as #46...
. Captain Marvel, Jr. was sent to Earth-S
Multiverse (DC Comics)
The DC Multiverse is a fictional continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, most of them outside DC's main continuity, allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternative versions of characters and...
when it was reformed. When New Earth came, he went with other heroes who could fly to fight Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime
Superboy-Prime, also known as Superman-Prime, or simply Prime, is a DC Comics superhero turned supervillain, and one of several alternate Supermen. The character first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 , and was created by Elliot S...
. In the Infinite Crisis hardcover, Freddy joined alongside the other Titans to take down members of The Society
Secret Society of Super Villains
The Secret Society of Super Villains is a group of comic book supervillains that exist in the DC Universe...
who tried to kill Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
.
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 StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Most of the members were presumed dead until a botched mission forces them to reveal their presence. Following the revelation of their continued existence, they are recruited by Checkmate
Checkmate (comics)
Checkmate, a division of Task Force X, is a fictional covert operations agency within the DC Comics universe. It first appeared in Action Comics #598 and proceeded to have its own ongoing title in Checkmate!...
to pursue missions which Checkmate cannot support publicly. Checkmate's assignment as part of the "CheckOut" crossover arc involves dispatching the Outsiders to Oolong Island in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the scene of World War III the previous year
52 (comic book)
52 was a weekly American comic book limited series published by DC Comics that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis. The series was written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid with layouts by Keith Giffen...
. The mission goes disastrously when Chang Tzu manages to capture Owen Mercer
Owen Mercer
Captain Boomerang is a comic book superhero existing in the DC Comics' main shared universe. He is the son of the original Captain Boomerang and Meloni Thawne....
and Checkmate's Black Queen
Sasha Bordeaux
Sasha Bordeaux is a fictional character in the DC Universe. She was at first primarily associated with Batman, and has subsequently evolved an association with Checkmate in two of its incarnations...
, until both sides are eventually bailed out by Batman. In the aftermath, Nightwing decides to give Batman control of the team once more.
Collected editions
The third volume of the Outsiders has been collected as follows:| Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Looking for Trouble | Outsiders #1-7 | February 2004 | |
| Sum of all Evil | Outsiders #8-15 | December 2004 | |
| Wanted | Outsiders #16-23 | November 2005 | |
| Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Insiders | Teen Titans #24-26 Outsiders #24-25, #28 |
January 2006 | |
| Crisis Intervention | Outsiders #29-33 | April 2006 | |
| The Good Fight | Outsiders #34-41 | January 2007 | |
| Pay As You Go | Outsiders #42-46, Annual #1 | July 2007 | |
| Outsiders/Checkmate: CheckOut | Checkmate #13-15 Outsiders #47-49 |
January 2008 | |
| Five of a Kind | Outsiders #50 Outsiders: Five of a Kind #1-5 |
March 2008 |
Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2)/Outsiders (vol. 4, 2007–2011)
Chuck Dixon
Charles "Chuck" Dixon is an American comic book writer, best known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s.-Biography:Dixon grew up in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area, reading comics of all genres...
and artist Julian Lopez relaunched Outsiders as a new volume of Batman and the Outsiders 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), as well as an epilogue written by Tony BedardTony Bedard
Antony "Tony" J. L. Bedard is a writer and editor who has worked in the comic book industry from the early '90s through the present. He is best known for his work at CrossGen Comics, where he was under exclusive contract, and for his run writing Marvel Comics X-Men spin-off Exiles.-Career:Tony...
.
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
Amanda Waller
Dr. Amanda Blake Waller is a character published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Legends #1 in 1986, and was created by John Ostrander, Len Wein, and John Byrne...
'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
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
, Metamorpho, and Grace. Thunder
Thunder (comics)
Thunder is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. She was first described in Green Arrow vol. 2 #26 and first appeared the next month in Outsiders vol. 3 #1...
is kicked off the team and the second[Aquaman#Arthur Joseph Curry|Aquaman]] is rejected as a member because Batman feels he doesn't match up to his predecessor, Orin
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
. 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
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
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, both Catwoman and Martian Manhunter left the team; BatgirlCassandra Cain
Cassandra Cain is a fictional character in the , one of several who has served as Batgirl, an important character in the Batman comic book franchise. Cassandra's backstory presents her as the daughter of assassins David Cain and Lady Shiva, she was deprived of speech and human contact during her...
, Geo-Force, and Green Arrow
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
joined; and Thunder has consistently appeared in the series as well. In issue #5, Ralph "Elongated Man
Elongated Man
The Elongated Man is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC universe. He is a reserve member of the Justice League. His first appearance was in The Flash vol. 1, #112...
" Dibny and Sue Dibny
Sue Dibny
Susan "Sue" Dearbon Dibny is a fictional character from DC Comics associated with the Elongated Man. Created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, the character first appeared in Flash vol. 1 #119...
make a guest appearance. They are now "ghost detectives" and seem to be able to possess people in a method similar to that of Deadman
Deadman
Deadman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Strange Adventures #205 , and was created by Arnold Drake and Carmine Infantino.-Publication history:...
. Dr. Francine Langstrom (wife of Dr. Kirk Langstrom, a.k.a. Man-Bat
Man-Bat
Man-Bat is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually as a supervillain and adversary of Batman, though occasionally depicted as a heroic character. He first appeared in Detective Comics #400 and was created by Frank Robbins and Neal Adams...
) 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 strange 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
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
, 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
Great Ten
The Great Ten, ' or ' are a team of fictional Chinese comic book superheroes in the DC Comics Universe, who are sponsored by the government of the People's Republic of China. Appearing in comics published by DC Comics, they were introduced in 52 #6 ., and were created by Grant Morrison, J.G. Jones,...
. The timely intervention of Batgirl and ReMAC saves the team from execution. Metamorpho manages to steal a shuttle back to Earth; then escape from the ESA and hook back up with the team.
During the Batman R.I.P.
Batman R.I.P.
Batman R.I.P. is a comic book story arc published in Batman #676-681 by DC Comics. Written by Grant Morrison, penciled by Tony Daniel, and with covers by Alex Ross, the story pits the superhero Batman against the Black Glove organization as they attempt to destroy everything for which he stands...
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 the ReMAC, allowing it to track the caped crusader and The Black Glove and help him in his fight. As they comply, against Batgirl's advice, the code reveals itself as a cybernetic boobytrap coming from Simon Hurt
Simon Hurt
Dr. Simon Hurt, commonly known simply as Doctor Hurt, is a fictional character from the DC Comics universe. Hurt was created by writer Grant Morrison and first appeared in Batman #673 ....
, 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 comes into odds with this, because the events of that Final Crisis storyline occur after the events in Batman R.I.P., suggesting continuity error. When Black Lightning rejoins the team following the events of Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis, he is shown visiting Thunder, who is still in a coma in the hospital.
Outsiders (vol. 4)
As a result of Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis, where Batman apparently died, the series was renamed Outsiders and featured a new team roster. The change occurred when a new creative team took over with Peter TomasiPeter Tomasi
Peter J. Tomasi is an American comic book editor and writer, best known for his work for DC Comics. As an editor, he oversaw numerous books featuring the Justice League, including books starring various members of that team, such as Batman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern and the Flash...
writing and Lee Garbett
Lee Garbett
Lee Garbett is a British comic book artist born in the West Midlands. He has worked on British comics. As of February 2011, he is working freelance after a period of exclusivity with DC Comics.-Career:...
on art duties. Tomasi began with Batman and the Ousiders Special #1 and then the retitled series began with issue #15.
One night, after going to the graves of Thomas and Martha Wayne, Alfred awakes 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 amount of time, this recording is playing, meaning he is most likely dead. At this time, he tells Alfred of a very important mission that Alfred must undertake on his behalf since he is unable to do so, but gives Alfred a choice to accept or decline. Alfred promptly accepts while Batman explains what Alfred has meant to him throughout his life, saying to him what he didn't have a chance to say at his death: he told Alfred, "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 of them must become a true "outsider," living away from their families and the public eye for months at a time. Each member fills a role that Batman once filled, making this team a composite of Batman himself. This arc ended with issue #25.
The Series ended with issue 40 back as for one issue as Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 2.
Future
Dan DidioDan DiDio
Dan DiDio is an American writer, editor and publisher who has worked in the television and comic book industries. He is currently the Co-Publisher of DC Comics, along with Jim Lee...
and Phillip Tan began a new run of Outsiders in Jan. 2010. Geo-Force appears to be acting more and more irrationally since his battle with Deathstroke
Deathstroke
Deathstroke the Terminator , originally simply the Terminator, and known by the Teen Titans as Slade, is a fictional character, a supervillain and sometimes antihero in the DC Comics Universe. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in The New Teen Titans #2...
. Without consulting the rest of the team or Alfred, Geo-Force enters into a non-aggression pact with New Krypton, offering Markovia as a safe haven for all Kryptonians. The Eradicator acts as New Krypton's representative.
Collected editions
Issues #11-14 of Batman and the Outsiders do not appear to be collected.| Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Chrysalis | Batman and the Outsiders #1-5 | October 2008 | |
| The Snare | Batman and the Outsiders #6-10 | February 2009 | |
| The Deep | Batman and the Outsiders Special #1 Outsiders #15-20 |
November 2009 | |
| The Hunt | Outsiders #21-25 | May 2010 | |
| The Road to Hell | Outsiders #26-31 | November 2010 | |
| The Great Divide | Outsiders #32-37 | Augest 2011 |
Batman Inc. (2011–present)
In the 2011 Batman Inc. series by Grant MorrisonGrant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
, Batman assembles a new team of Outsiders that act as a black-ops wing of Batman Incorporated. The team consists of Metamorpho, Katana, Looker, Halo, Freight Train, and is led by Red Robin.
Flashpoint
An alternate version of the former Alfred Pennyworth alter ego, The Outsider, appears in the FlashpointFlashpoint (comics)
Flashpoint is an American comic book crossover story arc published by DC Comics. Consisting of an eponymous core limited series and a number of tie-in titles, the storyline premiered in May 2011...
crossover event. Michael Desai was born in Chandigarh, India, an infant metahuman with alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
-white skin and superhuman durability. When his mother died during his childbirth (an accident which Desai's father blamed him for causing) Desai created a massive sinkhole within a three-mile radius of Chandigarh which killed thousands of people and left him as the only survivor. How Desai managed to accomplish this feat and the extent of this power is currently unknown. Years later, Michael adopted the alias of "The Outsider" (as he is both "outside" the law and the human race) and manages to accumulate considerable wealth through implied illegal activities, allowing Desai to effectively elevate India's status as a world power; turning the entire country into a multinational criminal operation that is completely under his control. However, the Outsider has also managed to garner many enemies, and was attacked by Rising Sun
Rising Sun (comics)
Rising Sun is a fictional Japanese superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared solo in Super Friends #8 , and as a member of the Global Guardians in DC Comics Presents #46, . He was created by E...
along with Mister and Misses Terrific
Mister Terrific (Michael Holt)
Michael Holt is a fictional character, a comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics. First appearing in Spectre #54 , he is the second character to take up the Mister Terrific mantle....
in an attempt to assassinate him after Desai admittedly framed them for unknown crimes when they uncovered some of the Outsider's illegal activities. The Outsider then killed all three would-be assassins and set out the man who hired them. Desai is also engaged in a manhunt to find and capture a teenage electricity-based metahuman named Blackout, whom he believes can efficiently power mainland India with his abilities. Later, the Outsider was contacted by the heroes of Earth and attended a meeting that Cyborg has arranged to talk about the possibility of creating a group of heroes to deal with the Amazon/Atlantean War. The Outsider's reasons for supporting the heroes revolve entirely around maintaining his empire, as he responds to the threat of war by saying that: "War is bad for business. MY Business." When Batman refuses to join the team, the Outsider declines as well, stating that "The Outsider is Out". Desai is revealed to have some degree of longevity
Longevity
The word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
, as he is shown to be active in Indian criminal and political affairs since the late 1970s. In 1979, the Outsider quelled the Bombay Riots
Bombay Riots
The Bombay Riots usually refers to the riots in Mumbai, in December 1992 and January 1993, in which around 900 people died. An estimated 575 Muslims and 275 Hindus died, and 2,000 people were injured in the riots. . An investigative commission was formed under Justice B.N. Srikrishna, but the...
by manipulating and subsequently killing the crime leaders responsible for the violence, and then united their organizations under his leadership. In 1996, the Outsider captured Isis
Isis (DC Comics)
Isis is a DC Comics superhero, as well as a separate Egyptian goddess also living in the DC Universe. The recent superhero character is modeled closely after the main character of The Secrets of Isis, a live-action American Saturday Morning television program that served as the second half of The...
in his Siberian Express
Siberian Express
Siberian Express is a shorthand meteorological term in the United States describing the arrival of an extremely cold air mass of Arctic origins. It does not necessarily refer to an origin in Siberia...
on Novaya Zemlya
Novaya Zemlya
Novaya Zemlya , also known in Dutch as Nova Zembla and in Norwegian as , is an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean in the north of Russia and the extreme northeast of Europe, the easternmost point of Europe lying at Cape Flissingsky on the northern island...
in a bid to blackmail Black Adam
Black Adam
Black Adam is a fictional comic book character, created in 1945 by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. Originally created as a one-shot villain for Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family team of superheroes, Black Adam was revived as a recurring supervillain after DC Comics began publishing Captain...
into selling Desai his home country, Khandaq. However, when the two negotiated terms for Isis' release, the Outsider attacked and defeated Black Adam using Durlan technology. The Outsider then shot Adam and threw him off of the Siberian Express to join Isis as his trophy/prisoner. In the present day, the Outsider is shown interrogating the warden at the prison responsible for allowing the assassins to escape. Although the warden states that he knows nothing about the prisoners' breakout, the Outsider shoots him and has his family sold into slavery for his incompetence. The Outsider's investigation then leads him to Khandaq, where he uncovers an encryption key which links Blackout to the assassination attempt. Later, Desai confronts Blackout, but realizes that the man he is fighting is not Blackout at all but rather J'onn J'onzz
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
in disguise. In 1985, the Outsider is revealed to have kept J'onn J'onzz captive within a secret research facility after stealing Doctor Erdel's teleportation device. After studying him and learning his weaknesses, the Outsider sold J'onn to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, where he subsequently escaped and took the country. In the present day, after the Outsider talks with J'onn about the past, J'onn admits to pursing revenge against Desai for torturing him and moves to kill him. During the battle, Outsider uses a salvaged teleportation device to trap J'onn within several instances of the Multiverse
Multiverse (DC Comics)
The DC Multiverse is a fictional continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, most of them outside DC's main continuity, allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternative versions of characters and...
. After questioning J'onn about future assassination attempts and getting no answers, the Outsider closed the device with J'onn still trapped inside, cutting in half and killing him. Later, the Outsider returned to his base and contacts the heroes to join the assault on New Themiscyra. The Outsider arrives at the scene to attack in the Atlantean/Amazon war.
Television
The Outsiders appear in several episodes of Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold
Batman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
. Here, they were re-imagined by the show creators as teenage versions of Black Lightning
Black Lightning
Black Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.- Publication history :...
, Katana
Katana (comics)
Katana is a fictional character, a superheroine that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 , and was created to be a member of the first Outsiders team by writer Mike W...
and Metamorpho
Metamorpho
Metamorpho is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is a founding member of the Outsiders, and has also joined multiple incarnations of the Justice League.-Publication history:...
(the former two also have new outfits). Initially, they appear in "Enter the Outsiders!" as vigilantes gone rogue under the brainwashing control of the Slug, who resembles the evil New God
New Gods
The New Gods are a fictional race appearing in publications by DC Comics, as well as the title for four series of comic books about those characters. They first appeared in New Gods #1 , and were created and designed by Jack Kirby....
Sleez
Sleez
Sleez is a fictional extraterrestrial supervillain published by DC Comics. He debuted in Action Comics #592 , and was created by John Byrne.-Fictional character biography:...
. With the aid of Batman and Wildcat
Wildcat (comics)
Wildcat is the name of several fictional characters, all DC Comics superheroes. The first and most famous of these is Ted Grant, a long-time member of the Justice Society of America...
, they break their conditioning, turn on the Slug, and begin training under Wildcat's tutelage. In "Duel of the Double Crossers!", the Outsiders appear again fighting against Despero
Despero
Despero is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Justice League of America #1 Despero is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Justice League of America #1 Despero...
in a simulation created by Batman in the batcave. In the episode "Inside the Outsiders!", they are later kidnapped by Psycho-Pirate
Psycho-Pirate
The Psycho-Pirate is the name of two DC Comics supervillains, dating back to the Golden Age of Comics.-Charles Halstead:Charles Halstead is a minor character who first appears in All-Star Comics #23, created by Gardner Fox and Joe Gallagher...
, who feeds on their rage by trapping them in nightmares. Batman enters their minds to help them confront their anger and fear, and defeat Psycho-Pirate. They appear in the teaser for the episode "Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!", at the time Geo-Force
Geo-Force
Geo-Force is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Markov is Prince of Markovia and the half-brother of Terra. Geo-Force is one of the founding members of the superhero group the Outsiders. He first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the...
and Halo
Halo (comics)
Halo is a fictional superheroine that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 , and was created by Mike W...
are added to the roster, and work together with Batman to stop Kobra
Kobra
Kobra may refer to:* Kobra is a character from the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games* Kobra , a 1976 villain in the DC Comics universe* Kobra , the title and main character of a Serbian comic book...
, his plan of global domination, and his cultists. Black Lightning and Katana are now older and sport their classic attires. Though Batman and the Outsiders defeated Kobra, the Outsiders forgot to blow up the bridge that would prevent other Kobra soldiers from arriving.
Film
An evil version of the Outsiders appears in the animated film Justice League: Crisis on Two EarthsJustice League: Crisis on Two Earths
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is a 2010 original direct-to-video animated film released on February 23, 2010. It is based on the abandoned direct-to-video feature, Justice League: Worlds Collide, which was intended as a bridge between the then-concluding Justice League animated television...
, as part of the wider Crime Syndicate of America
Crime Syndicate of America
For the concept of crime syndicates in general, see Organized crime.The Crime Syndicate are teams of fictional supervillains, from one of DC Comics' parallel universes, who are the evil counterparts of the Justice League of America. The original team was specifically known as Crime Syndicate of...
. The team consists of Black Power (Black Lightning), Aurora (Halo), Sai (Katana), and Model Citizen (Looker). The villainous Outsiders are shown working alongside alternate versions of several Justice League Detroit members.