I just think outlines and cartoony stuff goes together, your older stuff looks better.
I think that if you want to not use an outline, you need to draw something realistic with more colors.
Maybe try doing one with outlines and no shading, won't take too long. Right now, looks more front on than top down, the spots on the head are random, shading on shirt makes it look like he has a massive chin, buckle on belt should be in middle. No hands?