Sometimes the bigger teams are too big, not just in membership, but in public scrutiny. This can sometimes limit what you can do as a team. The Outsiders formed when such an event happened. So who are the Outsiders and what caused this team to form? Let’s find out!
Lucius Fox was on a business trip for Wayne Tech in the country of Markovia when revolution broke out. The country was at war and this meant one of Bruce Wayne’s friends and business partners was now in grave danger. Batman would ask for the assistance of the Justice League in retrieving Fox from Markovia but the United Nations would not allow the Justice League to interfere with a civil war.
Outraged that his teammates would not assist in saving his ally, Batman quit the Justice League. Forming a team up with Black Lightning, Batman would do what he could to rescue Lucius Fox. When all was said and done, Fox was rescued, but Batman and Black Lightning had also found several metahumans who showed great potential as heroes. Geo-Force, the former prince of Markovia who could control the Earth. Halo, capable of controlling light and other forms of energy. Katana, an assassin with a magical sword. Metamorpho, able to shapeshift and transform into the elements. The six would decide to stay together and form a team, The Outsiders.
They would gain and lose members over time, one notable one being Batman, who thought he could dismantle the team, but everyone else agreed to stick around. Often going into missions teams like the Justice League were incapable of due to their political ties. Flying under the radar, the team would aide those no other heroes could.
As time went on, the team would even split into an East coast and West coast set of teams. While Batman may have left, he would return to join them from time to time. In fact, The Outsiders became a common place to find fellow Bat vigilantes like Nightwing, Batgirl, and Red Robin as members at one time or another. While they were their own entity, it was often seen as Batman’s other team and sort of a home away from home.
Even though some members would come and go, Geo-Force and Katana were often members and would take the lead when Batman wasn’t around. Though the team would take on supervillains, they often got involved in crime rings involving the worst humanity had to offer. Working with other teams would also happen and once when working with the Teen Titans, the Outsiders nearly lost their lives due to a betrayal from within. Seen often as a more stealth based strike force, they would eventually be brought into Batman’s Batman Incorporated to be just that. The Outsiders were outside the laws, after all, going on even stranger missions.
There you have it! The Outsiders have been a common element in DC Comics for several decades. They’ve been animated and some of them have even appeared on the big and small screen in live action. Where will the team go next? We’ll have to wait to find out! See you next time!
Suggested Reading
Brave and the Bold #200
Batman and the Outsiders
The Outsiders
Dr.
Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net
