CHARACTERS: Alfred Pennyworth; Geo-Force (Brion Markov); Black Lightning (Jefferson Pierce); Katana (Tatsu Yamashiro); Metamorpho (Rex Mason); Creeper (Jack Ryder); Halo (Violet Harper); Owlman (Roy Raymond Jr.)

PLOT:
Those chosen for the new Outsiders team all convene in the Bat-Cave at the behest of Bruce Wayne's former right-hand man, Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth. But the man standing there is no longer just a mild-mannered manservant and the offer he places before them is nowhere near as comforting as the nourishing tea and sandwiches he would prepare for Batman after a night prowling through Gotham. Instead Alfred harkens back to a time before he was the Wayne family butler and channels the side of himself that was once an intelligence officer for MI-6.

With a stern voice and a commanding tone, Alfred informs them all that they've been chosen for a very specific purpose - to serve as a collective "Batman" outside of Gotham. In order to protect the world at large from the forces of evil, each team member represents a different aspect of Batman's personality. Everyone present seems to be familiar with one another - all save for one mysterious figure standing separate from the rest. Calling himself Owlman, the new recruit is eventually convinced by the others to remove his mask and reveal his true identity - Roy Raymond Jr, grandson of the famous television detective. Although he faces some initial ribbing about his high-profile background, Raymond quite vehemently states that was chosen by Bruce because of his finely honed detective skills. With all of their secrets out in the open, it looks as though the Outsiders family is beginning to reform.

But this version of the Outsiders will be vastly different from the team that they had all served on before. Alfred reports that they now find themselves up against the very crux of their problems for years now. These Outsiders will be going up against a threat that has been plaguing them since nearly the beginning. Each of the team's greatest foes from Barron Bedlam to Duke of Oil have unknowingly been just decoys used to distract Batman from the true source of power. A heretofore unknown shadowy kingpin has been manipulating both sides at every turn with not even his deadliest of pawns aware of the role they were playing.

Obviously to take on such a threat would require a level of dedication beyond that of what had been previously expected of them. More a 'tour of duty' than a simple mission, being an Outsider will now require each of them to cut all ties with the outside world and live 'off the grid' for some time. Realizing what a commitment this is to make, the Outsiders break for the evening and go about settling whatever final business they might have. Raymond angrily storms off of his television show, Black Lightning says goodbye to his daughter and Geo-Force and Katana reflect on previous battles in preparation for the one to come. Left without much of an outside life to leave behind, team members Jack Ryder and Metamorpho finding themselves focusing on their own personal demons putting their lives as heroes into proper context. Meanwhile, the Aurakle by the name of Violet Harper (or Halo) settles into the Bat-Cave, opting to shine a little bit more light on Alfred's dreary existence.

Having arranged all of their personal matters, the team once again meets at the Bat-Cave where Alfred takes them into a hidden section housing the Bat-Rocket! The team boards the specially outfitted 8-person rocket and heads off towards their mission.

Across the globe in Hlinkausen, Germany a terrible earthquake shatters the ground beneath the neighborhood, turning entire blocks into a large crater.

CHARACTERS: Scar the Guardian; Alfred Pennyworth; Geo-Force (Brion Markov); Black Lightning (Jefferson Pierce); Katana (Tatsu Yamashiro); Metamorpho (Rex Mason); Creeper (Jack Ryder); Halo (Violet Harper); Owlman (Roy Raymond Jr.)

PLOT:
Staring into the Book of Black, Scar the Guardian observes the diverse origins of the Outsiders team and predicts great turmoil in the covert team's future.