I was looking through some of my old stuff and found a concept I had for a new Batman and the Outsiders team I did a while back (I have no idea how long). Anyway, my idea was to make it a very Watchmenesque type of team with all non-powered realistic heroes and set it in the real world as much as possible. No mention of the JLA, teleporters etc. Just down to earth stuff. While some of my choices in hindsight might look weird, like Ling from the first Batman Ras Al Ghul storyline, I think the concept has merit. Here are some of the ideas I had.

Batgirl (the Barbara Gordon one) as a possible leader. I went two ways with this one being Batman in charge and the other with him as a background mysterious leader.
Hawkgirl (the only "powered one on the bunch). I felt the wings were not that much of a stretch
Green Arrow the conscience
The Question investigator/reporter and a great contrast to GA (more like Ditko intended him to be, not what O'Neill did)
Ling (though now I think I would put either Cassie or Connor (GA II) in a different role. Or the Bronze Tiger---add diversity
Powerhouse, a new character I created who was a 14 year old Russian girl who has been pumped full of steroids etc. since she was a child (shades of Ian Drago). She's 6'4", painfully shy and sweet and looks up to GA and/or Batman as a father figure (and both have a soft spot for her too). The muscle of the team, still on believable levels. No lifting 10 tons here.
Katana, though a sexier version, but if I keep Cassie, I might get rid of her
A new character, Flamebird, a 16 year old kid inspired by Nightwing to be a hero.

Any thoughts on this direction or other heroes who would fit better?

Metamorpho
Halo
Geo-Force
Katana
Black Lightning
Batman

They got it right the first time.

Not for me. Never liked the idea of batman with JLA powered heroes.

When I re-read one of the BOP trades, the one with the showdown with the 12 brothers, it gave me ideas on who I would like in my Outsiders team, which in my world, is a real world based street level team that I can picture Batman being a part of.

Here are my choices (some I've had for years)

Green Arrow (good for personality, and friction)
The Question (the real one)
Originally Ming, from the legendary Batman/Ras al Ghul story, now leaning towards Ben Turner, the Bronze Tiger or Richard Dragon or Connor Hawke
The Huntress
Shiera Saunders (while flying is not real world yet, wings aren't that much of a stretch

Maybe Wildcat as a mentor, trainer.

I'd like some muscle and was thinking of possibly rehabbing Bane into a hero. Could make for some great drama with Batman. new costume though.

It would be very interesting to see if the (real) Question could work in a structured team environment. I didn't feel that he came off like himself in the Charlton team book, so we really don't have examples to point to aside from his brief team-ups with the Blue Beetle in some Ditko stories.

For my Outsiders, he would be more of a resource than a team member/fighter

I'm also very tempted to use Ted Kord's BB as well. He is one of my all time favorites. Would love to see Jurgens tackle a new BB book.

I like the idea of a bunch of non-powered heroes as Outsiders.

It's something I could see in Batman's world.

Lady Blackhawk as a 'copter pilot.
But, instead of a time displaced pilot, perhaps just a grand child of
one of the original Hawks.

Black Lightning, before he got actual lightning powers.
He could however, have some lightning harness and shock gloves.

A nice balance to Green Arrow, who would have nifty ranged weapons.

That could be a nice story, though the grand child part I'm hesitant about as it is too time based.




Yeah I always preferred him as a non-powered guy. It would be funny if he was conservative and clashed with the liberal Ollie.

That's one thing I really hate in comics: non-powered heroes who not only GAIN
super powers later, but gain powers that work THEMATICALLY with their hero personas.

Agree. Or foreign superheroes who coincidentally gain powers similar to their country's or region's theme.