Judd Winick and Tom Raney’s Outsiders is a Comic You Should Be Reading

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Hello! This is a new bi-weekly feature where I’ll be sharing a fantastic comic, series, or story that both longtime readers and newcomers will love.

Over the years, many superhero teams have become popular, ranging from well-known groups like the Justice League to smaller, fan-favorite teams such as the Secret Six. Some of these teams intentionally work outside the mainstream, offering an alternative to the Justice League’s often restricted, government-approved hero work. A prime example is Batman’s Outsiders, which was originally created because the Justice League wouldn’t get involved in a conflict in Markovia.

The Outsiders is another series worth checking out, but like many comic book teams, it’s evolved significantly over time. A brief and largely forgotten team appeared during the Zero Hour event, quickly overshadowed by Batman’s own adventures. However, a third iteration of the series, crafted by Judd Winick and Tom Raney (with contributions from artists like CrissCross, Will Conrad, Doug Mahnke, and Carlos D’Anda, among others), found success by focusing on a new generation continuing the team’s core mission. Sadly, this run coincided with a difficult period for many of the original Outsiders, and their fortunes didn’t improve much afterward.

Nightwing and Arsenal Escaped into Superheroics After Tragedy

Nightwing and Arsenal, both once known as sidekicks, later became heroes and were key members of the Titans. A particularly difficult time for the team – and for Nightwing personally – was the tragic loss of Donna Troy and Omen during the ‘Graduation Day’ storyline. Haunted by these losses, Nightwing was hesitant to start a new team with Arsenal, fearing he couldn’t cope with losing any more friends and teammates.

Arsenal believed the key was to build a team of individuals who remained emotionally distant, allowing them to help others without getting too close or creating complications. While this proved unrealistic – teams naturally develop strong bonds, especially under stress – it convinced Nightwing to continue Batman’s work. Instead of addressing their grief, Nightwing and Arsenal threw themselves into action, forming a new version of the Outsiders.

The Team Took a Proactive Approach with DC’s Villains

Nightwing teamed up with Arsenal and Jade, the daughter of the first Green Lantern, Alan Scott. After some worries about Nightwing’s focus, he temporarily stepped back from leading the group, and Arsenal and Jade shared leadership responsibilities in the field.

The team’s leadership consisted of three experienced heroes who mentored newer figures like the exceptionally strong Grace, the enigmatic robot Indigo, and a hero initially known only as a fragment of Shift. The lineup was completed with Anissa Pierce, Black Lightning’s daughter, who began her career as the hero Thunder with the Outsiders.

Most superhero teams react to threats as they arise, but the new Outsiders wanted to be different. They aimed to prevent major problems before they started, focusing on villains that other heroes had overlooked or whose schemes could be stopped with early intervention.

The Outsiders started strong, successfully stopping several major threats before they could become overwhelming. But a series of unexpected events soon turned everything upside down, pushing the team to its limits and taking readers on a thrilling and unpredictable journey.

Outsiders Didn’t Shy Away From Dark and Traumatic Stories

If you’ve been reading this column regularly, we’ve explored some intense and memorable scenes in the Outsiders comic. Although most of the team members were already established heroes with strong backstories, the Outsiders series by Winick and Raney still challenged them with difficult situations.

Nightwing was struggling to move forward after losing Donna Troy, but Arsenal had finally turned things around after a difficult period. He was leading a successful superhero team and thriving as a father to his young daughter, Lian. However, his progress was threatened when Lian was kidnapped by a child-smuggling operation, one that had previously harmed another child named Grace. The Outsiders even partnered with John Walsh, the host of America’s Most Wanted, to bring attention to this serious issue – a crime rarely depicted with such depth in mainstream comics.

The comic Outsiders featured compelling stories about artificial intelligence, the ethical dilemmas of cloning, the frequent trauma experienced by sidekicks in the DC universe and its repercussions, and the enduring impact of a hero’s legacy. The series also delved into the personal struggles of its characters, showing how being a hero shaped them—particularly how Nightwing grappled with his past and Thunder navigated the challenges of following in Black Lightning’s footsteps.

The Outsiders comic book series managed to both honor the traditions of classic superhero teams and forge its own unique identity. It offered a fresh opportunity for established heroes to work together, while also introducing exciting new characters. Though Batman eventually took the lead with a revised team, the series by Winick and Raney served as a compelling alternative to the Justice League and Titans, and it deepened the storylines of several fan-favorite characters. It’s definitely worth checking out.

Tune in next week for a new edition of , and be sure to check out even more !

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2026-02-22 23:18