The Most Underrated DC Elseworld Finally Returns (and DC Needs To Make It Permanent)

Warning: Contains spoilers for Outsiders #6!Characters from a lost and underrated DC Comics Elseworlds story have finally reappeared “between the pages” of the comic Universe. As Luke Fox and Batwoman’s team of Outsiders journey through the Multiverse, they are brought to a mysterious land of forgotten ideas from DC history. Trapped in this land is a group of badass heroes that have been M.I.A. from the comics since their Elseworlds series ended in 2018.

In Outsiders (2023) #6 –- by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Robert Carey, and Valentina Taddeo –- the team travels to “the Place Between Pages,” where forgotten characters, lost to crisis, or cancelation, are trapped in this Pleasantville-like town, including many members of the Gotham City Garage crew.

Six of the ladies of Gotham City Garage, along with a baby Superman, sit in Martha’s Diner & Malt Shop where Lucius and Luke Fox are discussing their surroundings. Natasha Irons, aka Steel, tells the Foxes that though this town seems quaint, it is a prison of nonexistence that should be escaped if possible.

DC’s Elseworld Motorcycle Gang Are Resurrected By Their Creators – Sort Of

Gotham City Garage Issues #1-12 – Written By Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing

Gotham City Garage told the story of DC’s leading heroines in a post-apocalyptic motorcycle gang taking their world back, in a thrilling comic series that had an unfortunately short run. Starting as a line of collectibles and later becoming a digital-first series from DC Comics, the Elseworlds series ran for twelve issues, also written by Lanzing and Kelly of the Outsiders run. Drawing parallels to films like Mad Max, the gritty story saw Lex Luthor take control of the world, making it docile and complacent. The Gotham City Garage crew fiercely rose against the regime to end Luthor’s fascist reign.

The short-lived series featured fascinating Elseworlds variants of DC’s cast of characters. Gotham City Garage’s lead character was Supergirl, only this version was raised by Jim Gordon, as an adoptive sister to Barbara. As Kara Gordon was reprogrammed from all she’s learned in The Garden, the Luthor-controlled Gotham, she was taken in by the Gotham City Garage gang. The team of heroes in this universe included Steel, Big Barda, Harley Quinn, and Zatanna, with more DC characters joining the fight over the course of the series. At the same time, legendary heroes like Batman and the Flash took a villainous turn against the motorcycle-riding crew.

DC Might Already Have Plans for Gotham City Garage’s “Biker Wonder Woman”

Gotham City Garage #8– By Lanzing, Kelly, Ming Doyle, Colleen Doran, and Erik Donovan

Noticeably missing from the gang’s Outsiders appearance is the Princess of Themyscira, Wonder Woman. Regarded as a myth before she reemerged to mentor Kara Gordon’s Supergirl, this version of Diana was a loner before meeting the group. In Gotham City Garage #8, Diana told Kara the story of leaving Themyscira and never being able to return. Having joined the Gotham City Garage team at the end of the series, Wonder Woman’s distinct absence in DC’s “Place Between Pages” could hint that the character has not been forgotten by the publisher.

As DC relaunches its Elseworlds line, any character trapped in the “Place Between Pages” is officially on the board again, able to be plucked out of the fake town and placed into a new series. Writers’ Lanzing and Kelly’s Easter egg for their 2017-2018 biker-superhero series likely means they are excited to get Gotham City Garage back into action, with an expansion of that universe, one carrying a strong message and truly unique interpretations of DC characters. The reappearance of the Gotham City Garage heroes is nothing short of a delight for readers, and deserves to be made permanent by DC Comics.