Best Outsiders Run

[The Government Inspector]

I've just started reading this title and so am binging on back issues currently. This lead me to wonder which run on the Outsiders people prefer.

[ponset]

I prefer the original BATO run of issues 1-28 plus the first two annuals.
Barr had some nice moments with the group with decent art by Aparo.

[Thirteen]

The Dixon/Lopez run on Batman and the Outsiders is brilliant. One of the best takes on any super-team in recent memory. Everything firing on all cylinders: writing, art, team chemistry (Batgirl/Green Arrow=Awesome). The fumbled launch and juggling of the creative team and therefore the lineup (Dixon was a last minute substitution for Tony Bedard as writer) were little deterrent to the title coming together. It was good enough to overlook Dixon's ill ease with the Grace/Thunder relationship.
It was very disappointing when Dixon exited the title prematurely, ending one of the best comeback stories for a book that foundered in previous (and subsequent) runs. I wonder what the fate of the Cassandra Cain Batgirl would have been if Dixon had been on board writing her still.


I was also fond of Winnick's intial run on the Nightwing led Outsiders team title. But like its sibling title Teen Titans, the book never quite bounced back after "The Insiders" crossover with TT. Nor were they helped by the odd cross promotion with Americas Most Wanted that used John Walsh as a guest star.

[Ned McDodd]

i really liked Winick's work on the original Outsiders book, but also Dixon with Batman and the Outsiders wasn't bad and would be in my ranking in second place.

[Sean Walsh]

Mike Barr's, WITHOUT a doubt. Jim Aparo (and Alan Davis) helped make it even better too, and Paul Pelletier made Barr's last (weak) run somewhat more redeemable.

[Karl O'Neill]

I only read Winnicks and Tomasi's. I really enjoyed what Judd done with the title. It was fun to read and It was always exciting.

It's not really fair to put Didio in the poll.

2 issues?

[marvelprince]

I did like Winnick's initial run, but I never really got into his Nightwing. He was just a bit too gruff I guess. Dixon's run was definitely the best for me though. I was sad to see him leave so abruptly. Had high expectations for Tomasi, especially after the great special but other than introducing Owlman there wasn't much going on there.

[meek?]

Hmmm... tough call.

I went w/ Tomasi's 'cause his was the most organized & "neat." It finally had direction and a consistent creative team. It didn't feel like editorial wanted the title to fail like it did in previous times w/ all the creative shifts.

However, I adored Winick's run. He revitalized the whole concept. It lacked a bit of a bigger picture, but the adventures were really fun & he introduced great new characters I could sink my teeth into.

Dixon's was goin' in a direction I liked as well... until he was pulled off the title.

Peace.

[Personamanx]

Dixon's. LOVED IT!

I held on for as long as I could after it switched to just "Outsiders" Again, but Without Batgirl, Green Arrow, and ReMac I just could not enjoy it.

[Gabe De Los Muertos]

Dixon's, Ollie & Bruce + Metamorpho = awesome.

[Action Ace]

Barr's by a wide WIDE margin

[jAWSH!]

I've only read a little of Winick's Outsiders when it crossed over with Checkmate and Teen Titans. Decent, but not good enough to keep it on my pull list.

Dixon's brief run was absolutely wonderful! The banter between characters was a hoot.

Tomasi was bland. The most painful part was the whole "We all represent an aspect of Batman" in the opening arc. Dropped it.

I'm intrigued with the new direction Didio is taking the book. His public persona leaves a LOT to be desired, but I'm really enjoying the two issues he's written so far.

[SJNeal]

The only "complete" runs I've read are Winick's which I thought was pretty good (B-/B), and Tomasi's which was hit and miss. The original series interests me, but I haven't gotten around to picking any of it up.

I did just get Barr's '93 series on eBay for dirt cheap, and look forward to reading it even though the positive reviews are few and far between.

[Stuck-in-the-Burg]

Barr all the way. That was one of the great runs of the 1980s from any company. Duke of Oil, Agent Orange, The Nuclear Family, Lady Clayface, and the Masters of Disaster.

It really had a special tone that has never been quite duplicated.

[titanfan]

If you read the old issues of Barr's run right now--it doesn't all hold up by today's standards--but it's still pretty darn good and easily the best of the bunch. I'd be surprised if there was anyone who read Barr's run who read any other run.

Great characters, some cool villains created (that were used for many decades after the run ended) and fun stories. Some of the fight scenes were the best.

Growing up, my favorite characters were Halo and Geo-Force, but after recently re-reading the run, I see the awesomeness that is now Katana. (And Black Lightning seemed way more interesting than I remembered)