by Arune Singh, Staff Writer
Posted: November 10, 2002
courtesy of http://comicbookresources.com
With Judd Winick's recent exclusivity deal at DC Comics, the question
on many people's minds has been simple: which superheroes will he be
tackling next? The answer to this question came on Sunday when DC released
news about their projects for 2003 and revealed that the acclaimed writer
of "Pedro & Me," "Green Lantern," "Exiles"
and (soon) "Green Arrow" will be re-launching the cult hit
"Outsiders" in July 2003.
While the old series featured a veritable cornucopia of second tier
heroes who never left a great impact on the comic book industry, such
as Katana or Geoforce, the new series will be led by the popular character
Nightwing, once known as Robin, the boy wonder. The specifics of this
series launch are being kept a secret but fans do know that it all spins
out of the "Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day," a three-issue
mini series that results in the death of a founding Titans member and
deeply affects the titular teams.
"You have to read the comic for the details, but the two teams
engage a common enemy and fight a battle royal--seriously it's 3 issues
of fighting, screaming, explosions and lots of property damage-- when
it ends there will physical an emotional wounds to deal with,"
explains Winick of "Graduation Day." "It breaks up both
teams and sets the stage to form the Teen Titans and Outsiders."
While the Teen Titans themselves are a unique entity in the modern
day DCU, the only real team of mostly teenage superheroes, the Outsiders
are yet another team of adult superheroes fighting evil and to some
fans, it may make them redundant. Winick says that the series is anything
but that and if fans give the book a chance, they'll see that the reason
for the Outsiders' existence is far different from that of most superhero
teams. "They are not like the JSA or JLA, they aren't, as one could
say 'firemen putting out little fires.' They will be hunters. They will
be seeking out the bad guys before they can find trouble.
"The hunter aspect I suppose differentiates from other team books.
It will also be funny, even sexy at times. I think comics should better
reflect our readership and our readership, despite their age, is more
mature than fifteen years ago. Ross and Rachel can get drunk and screw
in the 8 o'clock family hour on TV, but we can't have super heroes occasionally
get entangled? It's not your father's super hero team...
"I know that DC is going to give 'Teen Titans' and 'Outsiders'
a proper role out. First tier, second tier, its just semantics. It'll
be great stories, great actions, great characters- from both books."
If you're wondering how Winick got attached to this project, it's simple-
he fell in love with the concept right after he heard about it. "I
was approached by Dan Didio and Eddie Berganza to script 'Outsiders'
and the mini series leading up to it. Geoff Johns (who's scripting 'Teen
Titans') and myself have been given our own little corner of the universe
to play in," says Winick, who adds enthusiastically, "We're
as happy as hell. Why do it? I get to launch a team, create characters
and tell stories that interest me and excite me. I'll also be playing
in a very cool sandbox."
While Winick may have won acclaim for his more mainstream work like
"Pedro & Me" or off beat humor work like "Barry Ween,"
he doesn't see superhero comics as a lesser form of writing: he sees
them as an equally viable genre for artistic expression. "I am
fanboy," states the writer proudly. "I love super heroes.
I learned how to read, write, draw and comprehend the idea of story
telling from comics. I can sit here all day and talk about archetypes
characters and such, but at the end of the day, I do it because it's
a lot of fun"
The scribe also makes no secret of the fact that he's having fun with
the character of Nightwing and says that Dick Grayson is just a natural
lead for the series. "Dick Grayson leading the team makes sense.
There's a symmetry to it with Batman leading the original [the original
series was called 'Batman & The Outsiders' for a time], and an irony
since Dick really doesn't want to become like Batman. Dick's a leader.
He's good at this."
But "Titans" fans, keep your eyes peeled- "Arsenal will
be taking a leading hand as well," reveals Winick.
"The team is lead by Nightwing," says Winick, as he begins
to explain who else makes up the team. "We've also got Arsenal,
Jade who I'm bringing over from 'Green Lantern,' Metamorpho, and three
newbies. Grace, seven foot powerhouse who currently works security in
a meta human club. Thunder, Cassandra Pierce, daughter of Jefferson
Pierce, Black Lightning, and a team member to be named after 'Graduation
Day.'"
Winick says that he chose the characters for the simplest of reasons-
putting them in the same room is going to result in some great stories.
"I went with the one's I liked and created the ones that I thought
would add to the mix. They're all very different, but have a commonality
that makes them outsiders. All of that will be explored."
If you're a fan of any of the old "Outsiders" series, Winick
says he will be keeping you in mind but he also promises not to dismiss
any new fans by expecting them to know anything about past incarnations
of the team. "This is pretty much a fresh start. As a reader, you
will not turn a page and see a villain you've never heard of and are
supposed to 'gasp' just at the recognition. I will be delving heavily
into the past, but it's going to play both ways. If you're a nut for
continuity and like a nod to the past, you'll be happy. If not, don't
worry, this book will hit all the right chords."
Part of hitting the right chords might be implied in the solicitations
for the new series that hint at the Outsiders taking on unique jobs,
though Winick is loathe to specify exactly what those will be. "They'll
all work at Macy's for about 3 issues. I'm kidding. They're a heavy
bunch. They will not play well with others."
For the continuity buffs keeping score at home who wonder how this
series might affect Nightwing's own book or Jade's appearances in "Green
Lantern," Winick says not to worry. "We will always be careful
of minding our P's and Q's," he assures fans.
The artist on "Outsiders" is another newly DC exclusive creator,
Tom Raney, and from the way Winick's talking, the penciller may just
be turning in the best work of his life on this series. "He's amazing.
Amazing. Tom is going to be producing the best work of his career. Tom
designed the new characters and redesigned the old ones, so he's right
here on the front line with me. The pleasure of working with someone
like Tom is the security in strength. He can catch and emotional moment
and deliver a fight scene that kicks all kinds of ass. A lot like my
ol' running buddy [now 'Teen Titans artist] Mike McKone. Tom's an ace.
One of the reason I signed on was his involvement."
If you're not sold on "Outsiders" yet, Winick has one last
thing to tell you about the series: "It'll be the Best G** damned
team book you've seen in long time."
