Over my many years of reading, collecting and enjoying DC Comics, there have been a number of high watermark, personal favourite touchstone publications that I often think about and return to.
I’m sure many of you reading this particular column do the same.
Some of those important and memorable main superhero comics certainly include storylines from: The New Teen Titans, Legion of Superheroes and Swamp Thing in the mid 1980s, various Elseworld tales and the Death of Superman storyline in the Superman publications from the 19090s, Green Lantern: Rebirth and the subsequent ongoing GL series beginning in late 2004. Recently, we’ve experienced outstanding and through-provoking Batman comics by various creative forces over the last decade.
These are only a few that immediately come to mind.
One specifically beloved title, however, that comes up again and again, is Crisis On Infinite Earths, a twelve-issue maxi-series published through 1985-1986. That title successfully cleaned up and redefined an intertwining DC Universe of characters and stories that was near impenetrably convoluted by a half century of storytelling.
Still, following that world spanning but universe defining tale came the History of the DC Universe in 1987, an epilogue of sorts that aimed to provide a clear narrative for the entire new history and status quo for everything that was DC Comics.
Now, nearly four decades later, celebrating ninety years of awe-inspiring publications, DC Comics returns to that storytelling form with the first offering of the eagerly anticipated four-issue series affectionately called New History of the DC Universe.
Written by industry veteran and fan favourite, Mark Waid (Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, Kingdom Come, The Flash, Batman & Robin: Year One, Captain America, Daredevil among many others) with the first issue illustrated by another beloved comic book veteran Jerry Ordway (Superman, Infinity Inc., Power of Shazam. All Star Squadron and the original Crisis On Infinite Earths) alongside Todd Nauck (Teen Titans Go! Digest, Young Justice, The Amazing Spider-Man). Each of the series will find writer Waid alongside a new, venerable artist.
Narrated throughout the series by Barry Allan, the superhero known as the Flash, the first issue of New History of the DC Universe begins at, well, the birth of the DC Universe to the emergence of the Justice Society and the golden age of DC heroes. The next three instalments will take readers through to the modern day, offering surprises, easter eggs and nods and winks to future plans and storylines for the DC Universe.
As a dream project for Waid and the other creators involved, New History of the DC Universe is a must-read for longtime fans of DC Comics or even those who want to become acquainted to their stable of characters and storylines.
With multiple covers available by multiple leading industry artists, feel free to take your pick! Make the run to your local comic book shop today and pick up the first issue of New History of the DC Universe and get acquainted/reacquainted with all things DC!
