Blüdhaven

A bright, white spotlight flashed on some nearby clouds, sending a beacon into the night sky. In the center of the spotlight was a strange image, resembling a pair of sleek wings with no body attached to them. The man who stood on the roof of the condemned tenement building had shaggy red hair, a bushy mustache, and wore a pair of aviator sunglasses. He lit a cigarette as he leaned against the spotlight.

“I'm getting more than a little sick of people using that signal.”

The smoker looked up and saw a young man in his mid-twenties crouched on top of the spotlight. He was dressed in a black bodysuit that seemed to be made of leather or some other durable material with a dark blue V crossing his chest. His hair was short and black and his eyes were covered by a domino mask with opaque lenses.

“Sorry for the theatrics, but it's the only way I knew I could get your attention.”

Nightwing jumped from the signal, flipped in the air and landed on his feet before the mysterious man. “Who are you and what do you want?”

“You can call me Mr. Orr,” he said. “As for what I want, I'm here to make you an offer.”

“What sort of offer would that be?” asked Nightwing.

“I represent an organization that's very concerned about the current state of the world,” said Mr. Orr. “War, death, slavery—this wasn't the way man was supposed to live.”

“I'm always wary about organizations,” said Nightwing. “Especially ones that I don't know anything about.”

“We're called the Elysia Foundation,” said Mr. Orr. “Our goal is to create a perfect world.”

Nightwing scoffed. “Now I know you're crazy.”

“For trying to make this world a better place?” asked Mr. Orr. “We only want to help mankind reach its destiny, to perfect an imperfect world. And I think you share our goals.”

“What makes you say that?” asked Nightwing.

“You put on a mask and a costume, you go out every night and put your life on the line in one of the most corrupt cities in America,” said Orr. “Why would you do that if you didn't believe in making a difference?”

“What's this offer?” asked Nightwing.

“You put together a team, take on the threats across the world that fall beneath most radars, and you take them out by whatever means you deem necessary.”

“I'm not killing for you, Orr,” said Nightwing.

“I didn't say you had to,” said Orr. “I said by whatever means you deem necessary. And in return, Elysia will provide you with funding and intel.”

“I already have a way to get my own intel, thanks,” said Nightwing.

“Not the kind of intel I have access to,” said Orr. “Oracle's good, but she's not that good.”

“And who would be on this team of mine?” asked Nightwing.

“You get to pick the roster, but I want one of my people there with you,” said Orr.

“No deal.”

“He's good.”

“I don't care if he's Superman, I'm not doing this if I'm going to be monitored,” said Nightwing.

“Just think it over, what I'm asking for in return for your services is a small price to pay,” said Orr. He held out a business card and handed it to the vigilante. “My cell number is on there. I want you to think about my offer. Call me once you've made your decision.”

	Taking You Outside Your Little Box... OUTSIDE THE BOX Part I: A Better World
OUTSIDERS #1 April, Year Six	by Dino Pollard

NIGHTWING	BLACK LIGHTNING	KATANA	SUPERGIRL
HUNTRESS	SHIFT	MANCHESTER BLACK	MR. ORR

{I know you want to believe that this guy is bad news and he might be. But everything I've been able to find about Elysia shows that they're above the board. They're a charitable foundation, funneling aid to various impoverished nations. Education, health care, they do it all. They get donations from just about every major mover and shaker on the planet, including the likes of Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor.}

“I'm not sure if that makes me feel better or worse,” said Dick.

{You want my advice?}

“Only if it makes this decision easier.”

{I think you should consider it. If Elysia wants their own secret team of superheroes, think about the good you could do on a global level. No making back-alley deals with the likes of the Trickster or Soames.}

“As much as I hate to admit it, those two have seemed to be good for Blüdhaven so far,” said Dick. “If we do this, I want you to stay on Elysia and Orr, see what else you can find out about them. I don't trust this offer, but it might be worth the chance I'd have to take.”

{So who are you going to pick?}

Helena Bertinelli was awakened by the sound of pounding at her apartment door. Groggily opening her eyes, her hand fumbled for the clock on her night stand. Once she saw the time, she muttered a curse.

As she approached the front door, tying her robe belt around her waist, she shouted to silence the knocking. “I'm coming!” She opened the door and immediately, her first reaction was to kick the visitor between his legs.

“Grayson,” she said. “You'd better have a damn-good reason for waking me up at five in the morning on a Saturday. And don't think you're going to get lucky, either.”

“That's not why I'm here, Helena,” said Dick.

“So what is it?”

“Can I come in?”

“I'd rather you didn't.”

“I think it'd be better if we could talk inside.”

She rolled her eyes and walked away from the door towards the kitchen. Taking the silent consent, Dick followed her, closing the door behind him. When he reached the kitchen, he saw Helena in the midst of making coffee.

“What's this about?” she asked.

“I just got an offer,” said Dick, sitting at the table. “Ever hear of the Elysia Foundation?”

“No,” she said.

“That makes two of us, but I did some checking. Apparently, they're a pretty ambitious charity, launching initiatives for change all over the world.”

“And this has what to do with me?”

“A representative offered to have me lead a team of my choosing for them, funded by them and working off their intel,” said Dick.

“Right,” said Helena. “Some mysterious charity is going to give you money to lead a team of superheroes. No strings attached, no questions asked, all for the betterment of mankind. Forgive my cynicism, but that's a little hard to swallow.

“I had the same reaction but neither I nor Oracle have been able to find anything that doesn't support their claims. I think they're on the level.”

“Ever the optimist, Grayson,” she said, pouring two cups of coffee. She sat across the table from him, setting a cup down before him. Dick reached over for the cream and sugar, offering it to her first.

“Of course,” she said. “I like my coffee the same way I like my men—sweet and weak-willed.”

“Very funny,” said Dick.

"Did it ever occur to you that you can't find any dirt on these guys because they're very good at covering their tracks?” asked Helena.

“But not even a rumbling? A rumor? Nothing?” asked Dick. “If they are bent on world domination, with this kind of skill at covering their tracks, I'd say they've earned it. It's more than that, though.”

“Oh right, the greater good?”

“Exactly. With this kind of funding, this kind of reach, there's no limit to what we could do.”

Helena offered a condescending smile. “Anyone ever tell you how cute you are when you get delusions of grandeur? You want global reach, join the Justice League.”

“These are the people who fall through the cracks, who the League never hears about,” said Dick. “The kind of people you won't see government-sponsored heroes taking out. This could be our chance to make a real difference in the world, Helena.”

“I have to admit, I am interested to see how this all turns out,” she said. “Count me in, Grayson.”

Kanoya

In the mountains surrounding the small city of Kanoya in southern Japan sat a small house. It was this house that Jefferson Pierce found himself knocking on the door of.

When the door opened, the sharpened point of a katana blade was pointed at his face. The man called Black Lightning did not power-up, however, choosing instead to restrain himself.

“Hello Katana,” he said, speaking to the woman whose weapon was also her namesake.

“Jefferson?” she asked, lowering the blade. She stepped to the side and motioned for him to enter. “What are you doing here? I saw you on television during the battle in Metropolis.”

“Long story,” said Jefferson. He looked around the small cabin, just one room. There was a bed, a small kitchen, and a laptop computer resting on a desk against the wall. He also noticed a satellite dish on the roof. Although Katana had herself secluded, she was still maintaining some contact with the outside world. “Don't get a lot of visitors out here, huh?”

Katana sheathed her ancient blade and rested it on a sword rack. She walked over to the stove and put on a tea kettle. “I like it that way,” she said. “It's peaceful out here.”

“Maybe so, but I need your help,” said Jefferson. “We're putting a team together and we want you with us.”

“What kind of team?” she asked.

“Nightwing's behind this, he's been given a pretty attractive offer by the Elysia Foundation,” said Jefferson. “What do you say, kid? Interested in saving the world?”

“I thought you were with the Justice League.”

“I was, but the Batman asked me to go with Nightwing.”

“The Batman?” Katana's demeanor changed to one that expressed curiosity.

“Thought that would get your attention.” Jefferson grinned. “The Batman wants us there to make sure this is all on the level, to keep an eye on his little protege.”

“Why us?”

“Once an Outsider, always an Outsider.”

Blüdhaven

Nightwing paced around the abandoned apartment. This was where Orr told him to meet when he called and Dick Grayson wasn't sure what to expect when this all went down. But he had his team assembled. He tapped Huntress before the incident in Metropolis and then he brought on Supergirl, Shift and Black Lightning after the incident with the JLA. Lightning offered to recruit one of his former teammates, Katana. That meant six, soon to be seven once Orr revealed his man.

He heard the sound of a Zippo lighter opening followed by the scent of smoke. Turning around, Dick saw Mr. Orr standing by the door. Next to him was a man with purple hair, a Union Jack shirt and leather pants and a leather trench coat. Both men were smoking.

“I guess this is our mystery member?” asked Nightwing.

“Nightwing, say hello to Manchester Black,” said Orr.

“Charmed, I'm sure,” said Black.

“Used to run with England's team of heroes, called the Elite,” said Orr. “Now he works for Elysia.”

“Okay first thing's first, what exactly are we getting from you?” asked Nightwing.

“Transportation, intelligence, and a base of operations,” said Orr. “Everything a sparkly, new team of heroes needs. You should also be aware that this won't be an easy job. Chances are very high you'll become ostracized by your friends.”

“I've counted on that already,” said Nightwing. “We'll be Outsiders.”

“Nice name, I think it might be available,” said Orr. “In fact, I believe Manny's sister here used to run with one of those groups.”

“Mr. Terrific's outfit,” said Black with a hint of antagonism. “Vera won't talk about that time.”

“I have a few ground rules for you, Orr,” said Nightwing. “First off, this is my team. I won't be taking orders from some poor man's John Constantine.”

“Beg your pardon?” asked Black. “You wanna run that by me again, lad?”

“I would but I don't have the time,” said Nightwing. “Second, we'll treat your intelligence just as we would any other piece of intel. Meaning we pick our missions. We won't be your little sanctioned strike force.”

“We wouldn't have it any other way, Nightwing.” Orr extended his hand. “Welcome to the Elysia Foundation, Outsiders.”

OUTSIDE THE BOX

As some of you may know, this isn't the first time I've tried my hand at the Outsiders. A few years back, Mike Rasbury and I saw this title was open at JLU and we started to work out a pretty whacked-out concept that would feature a team led by the Question and featuring Deadshot, the Creeper, Number Seven and C'est Hay. A group of conspiracy nuts in a really surrealist adventure. Would've been a blast, especially because we had planned to write it with Raz doing all the description and me doing all the dialogue, with neither of us aware of what the other was writing beyond a sentence snippet or two, and then mashing it all together.

We decided JLU wasn't the best place for it and around that time was when I had launched DC Omega, so we realized it would be a perfect fit for the site's Vertigo imprint. Unfortunately, something so awesome wasn't meant to be, so the concept never materialized beyond a first issue and that issue was never posted anywhere.

But quite some time ago (jeez, almost a year ago now that I think about it), I started to look at taking on a bigger workload at JLU after I finished my run on Nightwing. I thought I'd give Outsiders a shot, so I read both Curt and Mick's runs and went back and took a look at some Outsiders comics and ideas started to form in my head. I had originally thought of going with Batman and the Outsiders, but I was also developing my JLA proposal and I wanted the Batman in there, plus Steve and I were just beginning World's Finest, so it seemed best not to stretch the Dark Knight any thinner than he'd already been stretched.

Instead, I went with Nightwing, one of my favorite DC characters, and chose a team that mixed in different elements of the previous teams. Black Lightning and Katana are my favorite of the original team, so I knew I had to get them. Plus Katana ties this book to Curt's run as she was a member of that group. I chose Shift instead of Metamorpho because I wanted to explore what Mick had done with that character and I love Manchester Black and there's also the added bonus of tying my run to Mick's.

Supergirl and the Huntress are also here. Huntress because I just dig her. And Supergirl because the changes both Steve and Mick have put her through leave a lot of potential for exploration. Formerly Matrix, she took on a Kryptonian name during Steve's run on Superman and during Mick's run on The Titans, she discovered her DNA was becoming Kryptonian. That's some interesting stuff to play around with, especially as her powers were previously based on psionic and shapeshifting powers. And for those of you wondering when exactly Nightwing approached Black Lightning, Supergirl and Shift, check out JLA #49.

I actually have one more character who will be joining the cast by the conclusion of this first arc. But I'm keeping that revelation a closely-guarded secret for now. I promise it will be an interesting addition to the team, though.

-Dino