Black Lightning is forced by the Masters of Disaster to confront a tragedy from his past in "The Execution of Black Lightning". Part 2 of 2, continued from the previous issue. Script by Mike W. Barr, pencils by Steve Lightle, inks by Sal Trapani. Matches Malone, Batman's undercover criminal guise, appears. Jim Aparo cover.
Cover price $0.75.
The team travels to Japan to learn the truth about Katana in "A Sword of Ancient Death!" Part 1 of 2, continued next issue. Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Jim Aparo. Letters column includes letter from Kevin J. Dooley, likely the same Kevin Dooley who would go on to write several issues of Green Arrow with Jim Aparo as penciller. (Their collaboration beginning with GA #81.) Aparo cover.
Cover price $0.75.
More is revealed about Katana's origin in "...To Love, Honor and Destroy!" Part 2 of 2, continued from the previous issue. Script by Mike W. Barr, pencils by Jim Aparo, inks by Dick Giordano. This marked the first story in 15 years that Aparo pencilled, but did not ink, with the last time being Aquaman #49 in 1969 which Frank Giacoa inked. Letters column includes letter by Michael Eury, the editor of Back Issue; he also interviewed Aparo in Back Issue #7. Aparo cover.
Cover price $0.75.
Cover by Jim Aparo. "In the Chill of the Night," script by Mike W. Barr, pencils by Dan Day, inks by Pablo Marcos
After being exposed to a poison in Japan, Batman returns to Gotham City and suffers hallucinations of the day he witnessed his parents' murder; starring Batman (origin recap), Geo-Force, Black Lightning, Katana, Metamorpho, Halo, and Mayme (villain).
36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.75.
Direct Edition. Maxie Zeus and his New Olympians crash the 1984 Summer Olympics in "Two By Two..." Part 1 of 2, continued next issue. Script by Mike W. Barr, pencils by Bill Willingham, inks by Bill Anderson. Story takes place after the events in BATO Annual #1. Includes a cameo by the Monitor (at least his hand), who would play a vital role in Crisis On Infinite Earths. Jim Aparo cover.
Cover price $0.75.
The Outsiders compete with the New Olympians in "Going For The Gold!" Part 2 of 2, continued form the previous issue. Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Trevor Von Eeden. Includes a cameo by the Monitor, of Crisis On Infinite Earths fame. Bonus comic insert: To tie in with its toy line, Matchbox presents the 16-page Flash Force 2000, by Robert Loren Fleming, Denys Cowan and Sal Trapani. Jim Aparo cover.
Cover price $0.75.
Direct Edition. Halo's origins are explored, and Metamorpho feels the effects of the Orb of Ra, in "...Goodbye..." Halo's origin continues in #20. Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Jim Aparo. Aparo cover.
Cover price $0.75.
Stuck in the past, Metamorpho falls under Ahk-ton's control in "Who Wears the Crown of Ra?" In the present, one of the supporting characters deals with sexual harassment. Part 2 of 2, continued from the previous issue. Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Jim Aparo. Aparo cover.
Cover price $0.75.
It's Superman versus Geo-Force in the Christmas-themed "Who's Afraid of the Big Red S?" The sexual harassment story line, begun last issue, is also resolved. Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Jim Aparo. Tobias Whale cameo on the final page. Aparo cover.
Cover price $0.75.
Direct Edition. In "Wars Ended...Wars Begun!", Batman quits the JLA and heads to war-torn Markovia in search of an old friend. Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Jim Aparo. Cameos by Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, and Black Canary. Batman's origin is recounted on page seven. Contains 1-page ad for the series with original art by Aparo. Aparo cover. Cover price $0.60.
In "Markovia's Last Stand!", Batman unites with Black Lightning, Matamorpho, Katana, Geo-Force and Halo to take on Baron Bedlam.
Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Jim Aparo. Aparo cover. Cover price $0.60.
More of Halo's past is revealed when she's abducted by Tobias Whale in "Death and Remembrance!" Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Jim Aparo. This story continues many of the plot points from #16. Halo's origin story continues in #22. 1-page pin-up of the team by Alan Davis, who would became the regular artist with #22. Aparo cover.
Cover price $0.75.
1st Alan Davis comic work. Halo's buried memories resurface aboard the JLA satellite in "What She Is And How She Came To Be!" Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Alan Davis. Halo's origin tale concludes next issue. Davis cover.
Cover price $0.75.
In "...I Went To The Animal Fair...", a day at the Gotham Zoo means balloons, cotton candy, a komodo dragon, masked gunmen and...bats. Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Alan Davis. Letters column includes a letter from Jerry Siegel, the co-creator of Superman, thanking Barr and Jim Aparo for dedicating #19 to Siegel and Superman's other co-creator, Joe Shuster. Davis cover. Cover price $0.75.
1st appearance of Looker - "A Serpent in Eden!" Part 1 of 3. Written by Mike W. Barr. Art and cover by Alan Davis. Halo gets mixed up with a mysterious cult.
32 pages, FC. Cover price $0.75.
The Outsiders take on Kobra in "Serpent in the Sky!" Part 2 of 3, continued from the previous issue. Concludes next issue. Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Alan Davis. Letters column includes letter from Will Eisner. Davis cover.
Cover price $0.75.
The battle with Kobra makes its way to outer space in "War Stars!" Part 3 of 3, continued from the previous issue. Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Alan Davis. Gorbachev cameo. Bonus insert: 15-page MASK preview by Michael Fleisher, Mike Chen and Joe Delbeato. Davis cover.
Cover price $0.75.
Emily Briggs' abduction sets in motion "The Truth About Looker, Part 1: Abduction From Below". Part 1 of 4, continued next issue. Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Alan Davis. Story takes place after the team's adventures in DC Comics Presents #83 and BATO Annual #2. Halo sports a new hairstyle. Davis cover.
Cover price $0.75.
On the trail of Emily Briggs, the team must battle one of their own in "The Truth About Looker, Part 2: The People of the Abyss!" Part 2 of 4, continued from the previous issue. Story continues next issue.
Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Alan Davis. Davis cover. Cover price $0.75.
Cover by Jim Aparo. "Bitter Orange!", script by Mike W. Barr, art by Jim Aparo
The Outsiders become involved in a fight against Agent Orange, a deranged Vietnam veteran who wants revenge on the government by dropping a gas bomb on Gotham City; starring Batman, Geo-Force, Black Lightning, Katana, Metamorpho, Halo, Agent Orange, Alfred Pennyworth, and Robin (Dick Grayson).
36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.60.
The history of the kingdom of Abyssia is revealed in "The Truth About Looker, Part 3: This Envious Race!" Part 3 of 4, continued from the previous issue. Story concludes next issue. Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Alan Davis. Contains ad for Aquaman mini-series, which Alan Davis was originally slated to draw, but bowed out from due to his editor's request that he work on the higher profile BATO. With the artistic shuffling, Davis' pencils for Aquaman #1 never saw print. Davis cover.
Cover price $0.75.
Origin of Looker. Looker arrives in all her glory in "The Truth About Looker, Part 4: Pawn of the World Below!" Part 4 of 4, continued from the previous issue. Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Alan Davis. Davis cover. Cover price $0.75.
Batman and the Outsiders go their separate ways in "A New War's Winning!" Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Alan Davis. Masters of Disaster appearance. Matches Malone, Batman's undercover criminal guise, appears. Back-up tale: Looker enjoys the perks of being beautiful in "Looker's Body: An Owner's Manual". Script by Mike W. Barr, art by Alan Davis. Davis cover. Cover price $0.75.
