Welcome to The Outside: Outsiders Appreciation 2021

[lemonpeace]

It's 2021, Welcome to the Outside!

"The world is going down the tubes, and her most beloved heroes are the worst-positioned people to do anything about it. Like it or not, you're elected to save the day -- and you're going to be hated for it."
- Batman

~~~

Original incarnation created by: Mike W. Barr (writer) Jim Aparo (artist)

First appearance: The Brave and the Bold #200 (July 1983)

Latest Roster: Black Lightning (team leader), Katana, Lady Shiva, Batgirl, Signal, and Sofia Ramos; Batman* (benefactor)

last year was a pretty good year for the Outsiders. Bryan Hill's run on The Outsiders came to a close and, while not acclaimed, was largely well received. While I was left wanting, and annoyed at parts (I won't get into it, this the intro), I do think that it was a generally good if flawed run with a lot of really cool ideas. Bryan Hill, Dexter Soy, and Veronica Gandini did a solid job with The Outsiders (especially the art!) and it set the characters up with some interesting developments:

• Black Lightning got some hype put on his name and "pushed the limits" of his power
• Katana was revealed to be Homo Magi and unlocked her magical potential
• Duke's powers were expanded
• Cassandra seems to be on slightly better terms with her mother
• and Shiva got a new protege in the form of Sofia Ramos

Now, unfortunately, the Outsiders were disbanded at the end of the run; for now! I say that because we have an all-new take on the Outsiders coming with Future State! so in honor of that, this is a thread in dedication and appreciation of The Outsiders!

What're your hopes for The Outsiders this year? me, my hope for them is obviously a relaunch, but it needs avoid the greatest sin of Hill's run: Batman. just have it be The Outsiders, go back to building the brand individually and as it's own unit. i think Black Lightning has earned absorbing the Outsiders into his corner of the DC universe. I would also love to see them start playing a bigger role in the wider DC landscape, not just miscellaneous international incidents. Outsiders is a perfect concept to explore the vast DC landscape of espionage, black ops operations, and metahuman affairs.

be nice, be civil, appreciate...

At the end of the year, all Appreciation threads are closed and new threads for the coming year are put in place.

Appreciation threads are for just that - Appreciation. Not for debate, not for slamming and not for bringing other characters down by comparison.~

Commence appreciating! :-)

Link to 2020 thread
Link to 2019 thread