WINICK ON THE OUTSIDERS: ONE YEAR LATER

[MattBrady]

Of all the DCU titles making the One Year Later jump, Outsiders seems perhaps the easiest to grasp: The team’s no more, and the heroes who made it up are gone.

Well…kinda.

As series writer Judd Winick explained it to Newsarama – the Outsiders no longer exist, officially. As a team, they exist, and they’re the last group of heroes in the whole world that you want coming for you.

“Dan [DiDio, DCU Executive Editor] has cut me a very, very wide berth for the book,” Winick said. “We’ve had many, many discussions where we’ve ended things with him saying, “Well, you’re off and going. I’ve never been so scared, but you’re off and going.”

The public dissolution of the team is only the tip of the iceberg, Winick said, as the team shifts to nearly total covert ops, the whole tone and tenor of the title will take a shift. “We’re moving on and forward,” the writer said. “We’ve already sort of established that we break lots of boundaries, and are now taking it further. Dan’s called issue #34 the most controversial book in the DCU that’s not even out yet.”

As far as the superhero community within the DC Universe is concerned, the Outsiders disbanded some time ago, by the time issue #34 hits – somewhere during the year that’s jumped over by the One Year Later flip. “By the time we catch up with them, no one knows if they’re still organized, no one knows if or how they’re operating,” Winick said. “They truly are Outsiders. The general public doesn’t know they exist, most of the hero community thinks that they have disbanded a while ago, and that’s how they’re operating. They’re going in and taking care of things.

“The first storyline follows them going into Africa to stop a civil war, and it gets messy. They’re going to extreme measures to get things done. They’re not about fighting guys in costumes anymore – it’s gone further than that. It’s a book that will have a touch of politics, it’s a book that will have a huge touch of superhero stuff, but will also acknowledged that they are willing to get their hands dirty to get the job done.”

As Winick sees it, this new iteration of the team (that’s now not a team) is the next step in the evolution that began when he put the characters together in 2003. Initially, the team was to be one of the most proactive forces in the DCU. Along the way, team members have been killed, betrayed the others, slept together, fought, and blown up their own headquarters. The writer acknowledges that it’s hard to fit the team – and the series – into any particular preconceived box.

“To be honest, I think the book is probably jarring for the readers, because they’re not used to seeing DC characters in this light,” Winick said. “That was my goal from the start. I wanted to basically treat them how heroes in the modern era would be treated, living in this world. And when I say ‘this world,’ I’m talking the DCU in 2005, the one that’s created, but is also a reflection of the world the readers live in. The DCU is this hyper-reality of a sort, and I wanted to embrace that. That means a lot tougher talk, and a lot tougher action.

“I’ve wanted to take things in that direction that do show the heroes living in a world that’s like our 2005-2006, and therefore is one with plagues, terrorism, and murder on a horrific scale in the name of the state. Superheroes in a world like that can’t just be about slapping on a costume and stopping a bank robbery. I wanted the Outsiders from the beginning, to try and tackle the larger issues – granted, the issues with a comic book bent, but the issues that we see in our world today. A good portion of that meant that the team would be finding those responsible and going after people.”

And, while others might go for the cheap joke and mention that by “this world” Winick might just be taking about the “real world”…well, we’re going for the cheap joke and get a Real World mention in there, because we can, and because, as Winick says, sometimes, heroes just stop getting along.

“Whenever you put some people together, you’re not guaranteed that they’re going to get along. That was the whole thing on starting the team in the first place - they were working together, but they didn’t have relationships, and didn’t know each other. In that sense, the Outsiders has been more like a military unit from the start - you don’t have to get along; you have to get the job done. There’s a certain level of morale that helps you get through, but after that, it’s business.”

As for who’s on the team following the One Year Later flip – while the cover – like many others for the month - to the issue was attacked by the DC Blocking Out Machine, the silhouettes aren’t too tough to figure out. Neither is well…Nightwing.

“Nightwing, while leading the team, is very good at keeping the parts of his life separate,” Winick said. “That is, he can lead the covert missions with the team, and still have a more public life. But – that said, his attitude is very much like Batman’s come One Year Later. For a long time, we played the note of Nightwing not wanting to become Batman, or be like Batman. Now, it’s quite the opposite – Nightwing’s come over to Bruce’s sensibilities somewhat, and is looking to embrace the ideas of Batman. On a certain level, he’ll be agreeing with his mentor – sometimes, and extreme level of action must be taken to get the job done. Whereas Batman protects one city, Nightwing will be keeping an eye on a larger goal - maybe the world can be saved a little bit at a time.”

As for the other team members?

“I think the cover is pretty obvious in regards to who’re there. A good number of the team that people know and love – or hate – are coming back, but another chunk of the team will be completely new, and one member will be a total surprise. All I can say is that Nightwing comes back to lead the team, and he’s the only one who’s basically still out and about. As far as the rest of the hero community knows, the rest of the people Nightwing used to hang with are all MIA. No one knows where they are, or where they’ve been.”

And finally, as for why the other team members are there – sure, Winick said, some have a similar blend of frustration with the world tempered by idealism and the power to make a change, but others…

“Some are going along for the ride, because, by this point, there are few or no other options open to them. By the time we meet up with them in the first issue after the flip, you’ll see that they’ve already done a lot of things that not all of them necessarily agree with. They’ve done some things they regret already – they’ve learned that sometimes you need to lose a lot of skin to save a lot of people.”

[bizarrolike]

Originally posted by MattBrady


“To be honest, I think the book is probably jarring for the readers, because they’re not used to seeing DC characters in this light,” Winick said. “That was my goal from the start. I wanted to basically treat them how heroes in the modern era would be treated, living in this world. And when I say ‘this world,’ I’m talking the DCU in 2005, the one that’s created, but is also a reflection of the world the readers live in. The DCU is this hyper-reality of a sort, and I wanted to embrace that. That means a lot tougher talk, and a lot tougher action.

“I’ve wanted to take things in that direction that do show the heroes living in a world that’s like our 2005-2006, and therefore is one with plagues, terrorism, and murder on a horrific scale in the name of the state. Superheroes in a world like that can’t just be about slapping on a costume and stopping a bank robbery. I wanted the Outsiders from the beginning, to try and tackle the larger issues – granted, the issues with a comic book bent, but the issues that we see in our world today. A good portion of that meant that the team would be finding those responsible and going after people.”

That sounds alot like the same theme that follows the X-men?

[rock334]

Really looking forward to getting this.
Billy

[canugrok]

shoot..not first..ah, so close

[jedifish]

“To be honest, I think the book is probably jarring for the readers, because they’re not used to seeing DC characters in this light,” Winick said. “That was my goal from the start. I wanted to basically treat them how heroes in the modern era would be treated, living in this world. And when I say ‘this world,’ I’m talking the DCU in 2005, the one that’s created, but is also a reflection of the world the readers live in. The DCU is this hyper-reality of a sort, and I wanted to embrace that. That means a lot tougher talk, and a lot tougher action.

“I’ve wanted to take things in that direction that do show the heroes living in a world that’s like our 2005-2006, and therefore is one with plagues, terrorism, and murder on a horrific scale in the name of the state. Superheroes in a world like that can’t just be about slapping on a costume and stopping a bank robbery. I wanted the Outsiders from the beginning, to try and tackle the larger issues – granted, the issues with a comic book bent, but the issues that we see in our world today. A good portion of that meant that the team would be finding those responsible and going after people.”

Is he serious?

The only thing jarring about this title was Carlos D'anda on art. Otherwise it's felt just like any other super-team book. Heck, most of the last few issues have crossed over with Teen Titans and been immersed in Infinite Crisis stuff.

America's Most Wanted may have been a good idea, but the art killed any interest I had in the story and made the book unreadable.

[chap22]

ai yi yi....

boy i have near-zero inerest in seeing a Nightwing that's even MORE like Batman than he was before. i don't want to see him doing "covert ops" and getting his hands dirty in Qurac or wherever. dammit DC, get a writer who understands Dick Grayson to actually write Dick Grayson.

i guess i've finally found a DC title i REALLY won't mind dropping come OYL....

[N.Y.X. Jedi]

"but another chunk of the team will be completely new, and one member will be a total surprise"

so maybe there's some merit to the rumor about Captain Boomerang, Jr. being on the team

[Michael Heide]

The first one to suggest that the concept was lifted by Vaughan's Runaways gets slapped in the face.

[Punchy]

Sounds really, really cool.

[Tiger47]

Originally posted by MattBrady


“Nightwing, while leading the team, is very good at keeping the parts of his life separate,” Winick said. “That is, he can lead the covert missions with the team, and still have a more public life. But – that said, his attitude is very much like Batman’s come One Year Later. For a long time, we played the note of Nightwing not wanting to become Batman, or be like Batman. Now, it’s quite the opposite – Nightwing’s come over to Bruce’s sensibilities somewhat, and is looking to embrace the ideas of Batman. On a certain level, he’ll be agreeing with his mentor – sometimes, and extreme level of action must be taken to get the job done. Whereas Batman protects one city, Nightwing will be keeping an eye on a larger goal - maybe the world can be saved a little bit at a time.”

sounds like Bruce will definitely be Batman and Dick will definitely be Nightwing OYL.

[God-Man]

Originally posted by MattBrady
The public dissolution of the team is only the tip of the iceberg, Winick said, as the team shifts to nearly total covert ops, the whole tone and tenor of the title will take a shift.

“They truly are Outsiders. The general public doesn’t know they exist, most of the hero community thinks that they have disbanded a while ago, and that’s how they’re operating. They’re going in and taking care of things.

They’re going to extreme measures to get things done. They’re not about fighting guys in costumes anymore – it’s gone further than that. It’s a book that will have a touch of politics, it’s a book that will have a huge touch of superhero stuff, but will also acknowledged that they are willing to get their hands dirty to get the job done.”

Finally! Why didn't they do this in the first place?

[Drew Melbourne]

Originally posted by jedifish
Is he serious?

The only thing jarring about this title was Carlos D'anda on art. Otherwise it's felt just like any other super-team book. Heck, most of the last few issues have crossed over with Teen Titans and been immersed in Infinite Crisis stuff.

America's Most Wanted may have been a good idea, but the art killed any interest I had in the story and made the book unreadable.

I think you're a bit out of the loop then. The book has drawn heat for its potrayal of violence and sexual themes in the AMW arc and elsewhere.

You're free to not like the book, but "I didn't like those contraversial issues, so the book isn't contraversial" isn't an intelligible argument.

[ElijahSnowFan]

Originally posted by Tiger47
sounds like Bruce will definitely be Batman and Dick will definitely be Nightwing OYL.

THANK GOD FOR SMALL FAVORS.

[ParisCub]

Originally posted by N.Y.X. Jedi
"but another chunk of the team will be completely new, and one member will be a total surprise"

so maybe there's some merit to the rumor about Captain Boomerang, Jr. being on the team

Well, he's on the cover. Look on the right.

[Squashua]

Judd Winnick
The first storyline follows them going into Africa to stop a civil war, and it gets messy.

Alright!!11 Judd is going to have his guys go fight that AIDS at the source!

Or something.

Man, I am so not picking up any of his books.

[BlueThunderArmy]

I've really enjoyed Outsiders, but I realize the "proactive hero" concept does not always work in execution. Good to see Outsiders make the leap into something different. Just so Grace and Jade are still on the team, I'm in.

Hell, I'm in anyway.

[Caramuru]

Originally posted by Tiger47
sounds like Bruce will definitely be Batman and Dick will definitely be Nightwing OYL.

One can only hope...

[ManofTheAtom]

Originally posted by chap22
ai yi yi....

boy i have near-zero inerest in seeing a Nightwing that's even MORE like Batman than he was before. i don't want to see him doing "covert ops" and getting his hands dirty in Qurac or wherever. dammit DC, get a writer who understands Dick Grayson to actually write Dick Grayson.

i guess i've finally found a DC title i REALLY won't mind dropping come OYL....

How do you think Dick should be written?

[Julio Diaz]

Aside from Captain Boomerang II, it looks pretty obvious that Shift and Katana are on the team - pretty distinctive sihlouettes on those two. Looks like Grace between the two of them, leaving only one "mystery" character that I'm betting is Thunder. So where are Jade and Arsenal?

[GrimJack]

Originally posted by bizarrolike
That sounds alot like the same theme that follows the X-men?

LOL Says the kid who has a siezure every time someone compares Marvel to DC?

OK, thanks, your post has now officially become my Guffaw of the Day (tm)

[jedifish]

Originally posted by Drew Melbourne
I think you're a bit out of the loop then. The book has drawn heat for its potrayal of violence and sexual themes in the AMW arc and elsewhere.

You're free to not like the book, but "I didn't like those contraversial issues, so the book isn't contraversial" isn't an intelligible argument.

Did I say I didn't like the book. I said there was nothing jarring about this book (except for the gay sex scene, and that seemed to be put in there more for shock value than anything).

Winick says the team has been proactive for the entire run. I haven't see it. This team has been mostly reactive the entire run.

[Punchy]

Originally posted by jedifish
Did I say I didn't like the book. I said there was nothing jarring about this book (except for the gay sex scene, and that seemed to be put in there more for shock value than anything).

Winick says the team has been proactive for the entire run. I haven't see it. This team has been mostly reactive the entire run.

I think that was the point of the last arc, they failed in being pro-active.

[Sesshomaru]

That sounds alot like the same theme that follows the X-men?

Was it really needed ? And it is really how you profess to love both publishers ?

[dR. dEVICE]

i really cant wait damn dc for taking all my beer money

[mpg]

Originally posted by Michael Heide
The first one to suggest that the concept was lifted by Vaughan's Runaways gets slapped in the face.

does that mean i get to slap you in the face? cuz you were the first to mention it!!

seriously, i would have never made that connection