The Outsiders... specific spoiler request

[stamen]

I've not been following this story.. . can someone explain why and how Batman decided to get involved with this team? Did the book mention anything about Ollie funding them? Did Nightwing ask Bats to take over? When this book started, Nightwing was dead set of keep Batman out of it. I wonder what changed?

[Captain Jim]

I've not been following this story.. . can someone explain why and how Batman decided to get involved with this team?

Nightwing asked him. Though later, Bruce admitted he'd already decided to take over the group even before that.

"With everything that's happened before and is happening now--with Black Adam, with the Amazons, with...well, I need a team that can operate in the shadows...I need a team people expect the worst from--a team that bad guys see as kindred spirits...That's exactly why the Outsiders will accomplish things no so-called heroes can."

Did the book mention anything about Ollie funding them?

No, nothing said about that recently.

Did Nightwing ask Bats to take over?

Yes, at the end of Outsiders #49.

When this book started, Nightwing was dead set of keep Batman out of it. I wonder what changed?

"Roy had the idea for this team. He said it'd be all about work this time. We wouldn't fight alongside friends or family. It would be about the job...I don't like it very much. And I don't think I'm very good at it. I got this team to this place that Checkmate felt the need to step in and step on us. That shouldn't have happened...So, I know that I'm not the man to lead the Outsiders where they need to go. But I know who is."

[colossus34]

Another example of TPTB dissing Nightwing and his character. Dido obviously wants to make NW fail at as many things as possible. Blow up Bludhaven, hand over his role in countdown to Jason Todd, now give up the team he's been leading so Batman can be on ANOTHER team book. The least they could do was give NW a place in the JLA sigh*

[chrismileslord]

This just bothers me. Outsiders was my favorite DC team, but now that Batman has taken over (and the way he said he was going to take it, anyway - I thought bat dick was gone?) I am probably going to drop the book. Nightwing being my favorite character, and his interactions made the team, and now Batman saying he could use Captain Boomerang as an inside agent, I just took that is he is already being manipulative and controlling, and just as much of a jerk as ever....Sucks, because I really enjoyed seeing Nightwing be a leader, and now we see him even less.

[Captain Jim]

Another example of TPTB dissing Nightwing and his character.

I don't think so, and I don't think it came across that way. I neglected to quote a couple of Bruce's other responses to Dick. When Dick said, "I dont think I'm very good at it," Bruce's response was, "You're an excellent leader."

And when Dick quit, deciding he didn't want to be a part of where Bruce was taking things, Bruce said, "If you refuse to be a part of that, well...then you're everything I always hoped you would be. Go back to the good fight, Dick. Leave the bad fight to us."

The least they could do was give NW a place in the JLA

Now, that I can completely agree with. I'd like to see that happen, too. Phase Bruce out of regular JLA involvement and let Dick take his place.