The Outsiders are a team of superheroes in the DC Universe, known for operating outside traditional Justice League methods, often taking on more morally ambiguous missions. Initially formed by Batman after a falling out with the Justice League, they have had several incarnations with diverse rosters. The team is often comprised of lesser-known or marginalized heroes, allowing for more flexibility in handling threats that are too controversial or unconventional for mainstream heroes. Their stories explore themes of outsider status, identity, and loyalty. Across various incarnations, the group has been linked to covert operations and tackling enemies who fall through the cracks of conventional justice.
Related Reading Guides:
- Batman
- Titans
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NOTE: I do provide REVIEWS along the way that CONTAIN SPOILIERS, so proceed with caution.
This guide is by no means comprehensive. Instead it covers what I have read or plan to read, and I will continue to update as I continue on.
This is as far as I have read! Beyond this point is what I plan on reading. Stay tuned for Updates.
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Pre-Crisis Earths Reading Order:
The Outsiders were first introduced in The Brave and the Bold #200 (1983), created by Mike W. Barr and Jim Aparo. This period saw Batman leaving the Justice League to form his own team, including members like Black Lightning, Katana, Metamorpho, Geo-Force, Halo, and Looker. The team primarily dealt with more grounded threats, balancing urban crime with political intrigue, particularly in Markovia, the home of Geo-Force.
Related Event Guides
Related Character Guides
- Batman
- Black Lightning
- Geo-Force
- Halo
- Katana
- Metamorpho
- Looker
| Collected Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 1 | Batman forms the Team | Batman and the Outsiders vol. 1 #1–13, The Brave and the Bold #200, New Teen Titans #37 | 1983-1984 | Mike W. Barr/Jim Aparo | ⭐️⭐️ |
Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 2 | On-going series | Batman and the Outsiders vol. 1 #14–23, Annual #1 | 1984-1985 | Mike W. Barr/Jim Aparo & Alan Davis | ⭐️⭐️ |
Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 3 | On-going series | Batman and the Outsiders vol. 1)#24–32, Annual #2, DC Comics Presents #83 and material from Who’s Who #12-15 | 1985-1986 | Mike W. Barr/Alan Davis | ⭐️⭐️ |
Post-Crisis Reading Order:
After Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Outsiders were disbanded temporarily but reformed later in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Under the continued guidance of creators like Barr, the team saw a shift away from Batman’s leadership, focusing more on international and mystical threats. Notable villains during this period include Baron Bedlam and the Masters of Disaster, with new members like the atomic-powered Nuklon joining the fold.
Related Event Guides
Related Character Guides
- Original Team
- Geo-Force
- Black Lightning
- Katana
- Metamorpho
- Looker
- Windfall
- Atomic Knight
- ’93 Series Team
- Geo-Force
- Faust
- Katana
- Technocrat
- Eradicator
- Wylde
- Looker
- Halo
- Dervish
| Collected Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adventures of the Outsiders | Team without Batman | Adventures of the Outsiders #33-38 | 1986 | Mike W. Barr/Alan Davis & Erik Larsen | ⭐️ |
The Outsiders vol. 1 | Relaunched Series | Outsiders vol. 1 #1-26 | 1985-1988 | Mike W. Barr/Jim Aparo & Alan Davis | |
The Outsiders vol. 1 | Millenium Tie-in | Outsiders vol. 1 #27-28 | 1988 | Mike W. Barr/Alan Davis | Skipped |
The Outsiders vol. 2 | Outsiders as Fugitives | Outsiders vol. 2 #1-10 | 1993-1994 | Mike W. Barr/Jim Aparo | |
The Outsiders vol. 2 | Zero Hour Tie-in | Outsiders vol. 2 #11 | 1994 | Mike W. Barr/Jim Aparo |
Post-Zero Hour Reading Order:
In the early 2000s, Judd Winick rebooted the Outsiders as a more proactive, covert strike force led by Nightwing and Arsenal. This version of the team focused on taking the fight directly to villains before they could pose a larger threat, dealing with morally complex issues. Core members during this era included Thunder, Grace Choi, and Jade, while villains like Brother Blood and the Fearsome Five posed significant challenges.
Related Event Guides
Related Character Guides
- ’93 Series Team
- Geo-Force
- Faust
- Katana
- Technocrat
- Eradicator
- Wylde
- Looker
- Halo
- Terra
- Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)
- Rebooted Team
- Nightwing
- Arsenal
- Grace Choi
- Jade
- Thunder
- Starfire
- Indigo
- Shift
- Huntress
| Collected Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outsiders vol. 2 | Conclusion of the ’93 Team Run | Outsiders vol. 2 #0, 12-24 | 1994 – 1995 | Mike W. Barr/Jim Aparo | |
Day of Judgement | Day of Judgement | Day of Judgement #1-5 | 1999 | Geoff Johns/Matt Smith, Steve Mitchell & James Sinclair | |
The Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day | Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day | The Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1-3 | 2003 | Judd Winick/Alé Garza | |
Outsiders: Looking for Trouble | Role Call, Brothers in Blood, Oedipus Rex | Outsiders vol. 3 #1–7 | 2003-2004 | Judd Winick/Tom Raney & Chris Cross | |
Outsiders: Sum of All Evil | Devil’s Work, Five by Five | Outsiders vol. 3 #8–15 | 2004 | Judd Winick/Tom Raney & Tom Derenick | |
Outsiders: Wanted | Most Wanted | Outsiders vol. 3 #16–23 | 2004-2005 | Judd Winick/Carlos D’anda | |
Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Insiders | The Insiders | Outsiders (vol. 3) #24–25, 28, Teen Titans #24–26 | 2005 | Geoff Johns & Judd Winick/Matthew Clark & Carlos D’anda | |
Teen Titans/Outsiders: The Death and Return of Donna Troy | Return of Donna Troy | DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy #1-4 | 2005 | Phil Jimenez/José Luis García-López & George Pérez | |
Outsiders vol. 3 | Tick Tock | Outsiders vol. 3 #26-27 | 2005 | Peter Tomasi/Will Conrad | |
Outsiders: Crisis Intervention | Crisis Intervention, Infinite Crisis Tie-in | Outsiders vol. 3 #29-33 | 2006 | Judd Winick & Jen Van Meter/Matthew Clark & Dietrich Smith |
Alternate Collections
Collects: Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files #1 and Outsiders vol. 3 #1-7
Collects: Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1-3, DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy #1-4, Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files #1
Post-Infinite Crisis Reading Order:
Post-Infinite Crisis, Batman resumed leadership of the Outsiders with a reformed team in Batman and the Outsiders, continuing the trend of covert missions with a darker tone. During this period, the team added members like the shape-shifting Martian Manhunter and the mystical Owlman. They faced off against threats like the sinister Checkmate organization and the rise of global espionage networks.
Related Event Guides
Related Character Guides
- Outsiders vol. 3
- Nightwing
- Grace Choi
- Thunder
- J’onn J’onzz
- Owlman
- Batman and Outsiders
- Batman
- Black Lightning
- Katana
- Metamorpho
- Grace Choi
- Geo-Force
- Thunder
- J’onn J’onzz
| Collected Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outsiders: The Good Fight | The Good Fight, Silver and Grey | Outsiders (vol. 3) #34–41 | 2006-2007 | Judd Winick / Kalman Andrasofszky | |
Outsiders: Pay as You Go | Mad Scientist Pay as You Go | Outsiders (vol. 3) #42–46, Annual #1 | 2007 | Judd Winick / Carlo Barberi, Freddie E. Williams II, & Scott McDaniel. | |
Outsiders/Checkmate: CheckOut | CheckOut | Outsiders (vol. 3) #47–49, Checkmate #13-15 | 2007 | Greg Rucka and Judd Winick / Eddy Barrows, Joe Bennett, Matthew Clark & Ron Randall. | |
Outsiders: Five of a Kind | Five of a Kind | Outsiders (vol. 3) #50, Outsiders: Five of a Kind #1–5 | 2007 | Tony Bedard/Freddie E. Williams II, Kevin Sharpe, Koi Turnbull, Josh Middleton, Cliff Richards, Matthew Clark & Ron Randall | |
Batman and the Outsiders: The Chrysalis | The Chrysalis | Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2) #1–5 | 2007-2008 | Chuck Dixon/Julian Lopez & Carlos Rodriguez | |
Batman and the Outsiders: The Snare | The Snare | Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2) #6–10 | 2008 | Chuck Dixon/Julian Lopez & Carlos Rodriguez | |
|
Batman and the Outsiders vol. 2 | Outsiders no More | Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2) #11-14 | 2008-2009 | Frank Tieri/Ryan Benjamin |
Post-Final Crisis Reading Order:
Following the Final Crisis, the Outsiders underwent another shift, with the team splintering and Black Lightning temporarily taking over as leader. This iteration dealt heavily with the fallouts of previous crises and threats linked to villains like Ra’s al Ghul as they transitioned into a more international team. Characters like Katana and Geo-Force rejoined as the team struggled to maintain its cohesion.
Related Event Guides
Related Character Guides
- Black Lightning
- Geo-Force
- Katana
- Metamorpho
- Owlman
- Creeper
- Freight Train
- Halo
| Collected Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Outsiders: The Deep | The Deep | Batman and the Outsiders Special (vol. 2) #1, Outsiders (vol. 4) #15–20 | 2009 | Peter Tomasi / Lee Garbett | |
The Outsiders: The Hunt | The Hunt Blackest Night Tie-in | Outsiders (vol. 4) #21–25 | 2009 | Peter Tomasi / Lee Garbett | |
The Outsiders: The Road to Hell | The Road to Hell | Outsiders (vol. 4) #26–31 | 2010 | Dan Didio / Philip Tan | |
The Outsiders: The Great Divide | The Great Divide | Outsiders (vol. 4) #32–39, Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 2) #40 | 2010-2011 | Dan Didio / Philip Tan |
New 52 Reading Order:
In the New 52 reboot (2011), the Outsiders were largely inactive initially but later reintroduced as part of the Batman Incorporated storyline. In this new continuity, the team was more of a secretive, shadowy group. There was no ongoing Outsider series.
DC Rebirth Reading Order:
During DC Rebirth, the Outsiders were reintroduced in the Detective Comics series, and Batman once again assembled the team to handle threats too dangerous for the Justice League. The lineup included familiar faces like Katana and Black Lightning and newcomers like Duke Thomas (The Signal). Villains during this period included threats from the League of Shadows and covert organizations manipulating Gotham’s underworld.
Related Event Guides
Related Character Guides
- Batman
- Black Lightning
- Geo-Force
- Katana
- The Signal
- Cassandra Cain
- Halo
| Collected Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 1: Lesser Gods | Lesser Gods, Year of Villian Tie-in | Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 3) #1-7 | 2019 | Bryan Hill / Dexter Soy | |
Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 2: A League of Their Own | A league of Their Own | Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 3) #8-12, Annual #1 | 2019-2020 | Bryan Hill / Dexter Soy | |
Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 3: The Demon’s Fire | The Demon’s Fire | Batman and the Outsiders (vol. 3) #13-17 | 2020 | Bryan Hill / Dexter Soy |
Infinite Frontier Reading Order
In the Infinite Frontier era, the Outsiders continued to operate under Batman’s covert directives, with an expanded mission that involved multiversal threats. There was no ongoing Outsider series.
Dawn of DC Reading Order
The 2024 Outsiders series is a fresh take that spins out of the Batman Inc. storyline in Dawn of DC. This new version follows Batwoman and incorporates characters from Warren Ellis‘s Planetary series. The team is focused on exploring and protecting DC’s hidden history and dangerous artifacts.
Related Event Guides
Related Character Guides
- Batwing
- Batwomen
- The Drummer
- Jakita Wagner
| Collected Edition | Story | Issues | Year | Author/Artist | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outsiders Vol. 1: Planet of the Bat | Planet of the Bat | Outsiders (vol. 5) #1-6 | 2024 | Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly / Robert Carey | |
Outsiders Vol. 2: Never the End | Never the End | Outsiders (vol. 5) #7-11 | 2024 | Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly / Robert Carey |
References:
Feature Image from Batman and the Outsiders #1 cover art by Tyler Kirkham and Arif Prianto
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