Rebooting the DCU

Rebooting the DCU

Timeline:
100 Years Ago: The Earth picks Century Children to protect the world. Doctor Axel Brass, Jenny Sparks, and The High are all born January 1st, 1900. On their 12 birthday, they become the first
mysterymen.

1940
JSA formed as a United States government sanctioned super team. Consisting of Axel Brass, Jenny Sparks, The High, Jay Garrick, Alan Scott, Carter Hall, Dinah Drake and Al Pratt. They would be
the inspiration to the All Star Squadron and the Young All Stars

1944
The JSA create a quantum computer that maps the multiverse. When they peered across the "Snowflake-like" structure, they realized another group was looking back at them. The JSA struck first and were stuck fighting in this "limbo-realm", staving off the Armageddon. Jenny Sparks is the only one left, waiting to guard the gate in case something else gets through.

1945-1955: The Age of Fawcett
Bulletman, Bulletgirl, Captain Marvel and most of the Fawcett characters emerge during this time to battle crime and to be "America's heroes"

1955-1965: The Age of the Justice Batallion
The Young All Stars come of age and become America's Premiere superhero team (Flying Fox, Iron Munro, Fury, etc). These are the Jack Kerouac heroes, fighting the Cold War and the weird wars on Route 66. They also have a darker contemporary group in Team One. This group (lead by the British Jenny Sparks) fights against the Daemonites who have already devastated Mars and is now settings its sights on Earth.

1965-1985: The Age of The Justice Experience
A new group of heroes, formed by Jenny Sparks after they fight off an parallel Earth excursion at Woodstock, NY, call themselves the Justice Experience. They become the heroes of the hippie  movement. The government response to this team is called Team Two which is made up of the Charlton Heroes (Captain Atom, Dan Garrett-Blue Beetle, Nightshade, etc). This age ends with the "death" of Captain Atom who is tried for war crimes and sent into the quantum stream 15 years into the future.

1985-1995: The Age of Milestones
After a comet crashes into Earth, it interacts with a mutagenetic chemical and creates the Big Bang in Dakota City. This big bang gives way to new superheroes known as Bang Babies that become the premiere superheroes and supervillians of this age. The first heroes to emerge in this era is Icon and Rocket. These heroes are ethnically diverse and powerful, but are eventually taken down, one by one, by the group known as the Shadow Cabinet. The only heroes that fight back against the Shadow Cabinet is the government group known as Stormwatch, which becomes the premiere superhero team after they defeat the Shadow Cabinet and free the SC's captive heroes and villains.

1995-2005: The Age of Wildstorms
The Wildstorm era begins with the emergence of the WildCATs (a corporate sponsored team) and Stormwatch (a government sponsored team) coming to blows while fighting off an alien invasion. Stormwatch evolves into a variety of different groups and creates a variety of different superheroes (as in the Gen 13 project or recovering the JSA from an alternate dimension) while the Wildcats recruits more heroes to stave off alien invasions from the Daemonites and the Drahn. This culminates into Jenny Sparks, Axel Brass, and The High sacrificing their lives at the end of 2000 for the sake of humanity. After 2001, many of the teams disband or are cut back due to government cuts. Stormwatch Crime Units (SCU) become standard groups in different Law Enforcement Agencies in big cities. Many of the WildCATs go back to help rebuild Khera.

2005-Today: The New Heroic Age
Fourteen years ago
Barry Allen joins the Keystone City Police Department.
Hal Jordan joins the Air Force.
Arthur Curry discovers his Atlantean roots.
Diana Prince travels the world of man.

Thirteen years ago
Clark Kent studies abroad and travels the world, aiding those in need with his fantastic powers.
Bruce Wayne travels the world to train his mind, body and soul.
Hal Jordan joins the Green Lantern Corps.
Barry Allen gains the power of the Speedforce.

Eleven years ago
Superman goes public and establishes himself as a hero after revealing Lex Luthor's villainy to the world at large and single handedly stopping a false invasion planned by Lex Luthor and his private army.

Ten years ago
Batman surfaces in Gotham City.
The Flash surfaces in Keystone City and becomes a celebrity.
Aquaman surfaces in Atlanta.
Wonder Woman surfaces in Delta City.
Blue Beetle surfaces in Fox City.
Booster Gold lands in the 21st century.
Oliver Queen takes up the title of Green Arrow.

Six years ago
The Flying Graysons are killed and Dick Grayson is adopted by Bruce Wayne.
Selena Kyle adopts the identity of Catwoman.
Jason Todd is adopted by Batman, seeing this as an opportunity for Dick to have someone to even him out.
Damien Wayne is born.
Barry Allen gives his nephew, Wally West, the power of the Speed Force and becomes Kid Flash.

Five years ago
The JLA is formed as a successor team to the JSA. Members include Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman, Black Canary, Green Arrow, and Katar Hall.

Four years ago
Jason Todd is killed by the Joker.
Dick Grayson leaves Batman and becomes Nightwing.
Kara Zor-El lands on Earth.
Booster Gold establishes himself as a celebrity hero.
Kori'ander lands on Earth.
Raven appears for the first time.
The Doom Patrol is formed in London, England.
Wally West becomes Impulse after a fight with Barry Allen, leading to Wally resigning as Kid Flash.

A year ago
The Titans formed in Blüdhaven.
Beastboy leaves the Doom Patrol.
Dick Grayson meets up with Starfire for the first time.
Cyborg first appears.
JLA fight Darkseid and the forces of Apokolips in the streets of Washington, D.C.
Hall of Justice built in commemoration of the JLA's victory over Darkseid.

Now
Wally West mends the bridge between him and Barry, becomes the second Flash.
Tim Drake confronts Batman and is given the title of Robin.
Bart Allen teleports in from the future and takes the name Impulse.
Roy Harper becomes Oliver
Queen's sidekick.
Dinah Lance dates Oliver Queen.
Jason Todd is brought back to life and becomes an agent for Ras Al'Goul.
Bane makes his presence known in Gotham.
Stephanie Brown recruited as Batgirl after proving herself more than capable as a fighter as the vigilante, Spoiler.
Superboy shows up in Metropolis.
Cassandra Cain recruited as Black Bat.
Damien Wayne is sent to his father.
Several super hero teams are established:
Infinity Inc. (Power Girl, Jade, Obsidian, Mister Terrific, Star Girl, and OMAC)
JLI (Fire, Ice, Rocket Red, Firestorm, Plastic Man, and Animal Man)
The Outsiders (Katanna, GeoForce, Black Lightning, Blue Devil, and Owl Man)
Robot Force (Red Tornado, Hourman, Pulsar Stargrave, Amazo, and the Metal Men)
Suicide Squad (Deadshot, King Shark, Sportsmaster, Harley Quinn, Bane, and Frankenstien)
Young Justice (Red Robin, Superboy, Wondergirl II, Impulse II, Skitter, Arrowette, Aqualad, Ms. Martian, and Static Shock)
Blackhawks (Zinda Blake, Hans Hendrickson, Chop-Chop, Natalie Reed, Bart Hawk, Stanislau, Chuck Wilson, Olaf Friedrikson)


Books:
Justice League of America: focuses on the adventures and exploits of the members of the JLA throughout America and the world. The odd cosmic adventure is encouraged, but only as a "treat" of sorts.
Writer: Johnathan Hickman
Artist: Ryan Stegman

Stormwatch Crime Unit: This follows specialists in the SCU units across the world that defend civilians against the superhuman threat. This is part sci-fi and part detective, with a little CSI thrown in there.
Members include: Batallion, Doctor Light, The Creeper, The Question, Metamorpho, Martian Manhunter and Black Bat
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Paolo Rivera

Green Arrow/Green Lantern: focuses on the interaction between Oliver Queen and the Green Lantern as they fight crime in Seattle and San Francisco. A very "buddy cop"-like book.
Writer: Kevin Smith
Artist: Bernard Chang

Superman: focuses around Superman's adventures and his struggle to maintain a dual life as a Gen-X hipster blogger critiquing Metropolis and as a Superhero protecting Metropolis.
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Kenneth Rocafort

Supergirl: The Girl of Tomorrow: focuses on Kara's quest to finding herself as she travels across America looking for aspects that she has lost and guided by the angel Linda Lee.
Writer: Michael Greene
Artist: Amanda Conner

Superboy: a clone of Superman and Lex Luthor made by Cadmus who has escaped from his creators and establishes himself as a hero by aiding the Teen Titans in La Joia, California. He lives the life of a celebrity, living the extravagant lifestyle and living on the edge. He both attracts and causes trouble. Which comes with the territory of being part of the family of widely known and respected superhero.
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: R.B. Silva

Batman: focuses on Batman in an international scope. This is Batman Inc with Batman as sort of a James Bond/007 superhero agent for the JLA.
Writer: Brian Clevinger
Artist: Cliff Chiang

Detective Comics: focuses around the more detective-y aspects of Batman, as well as The Question, Slam Bradley, Elongated Man, and all other detectives in the DC Universe
Writer: Rotating
Artist: Rotating

Action Comics: focuses on Superman on a global scale. This is superman fighting aliens or large ideas about humanity.
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Cully Hamner

Nightwing and Flamebird: Dick Grayson is framed for a murder he didn't commit. The media around him makes the OJ trial look like a slap on the wrist. And even though he is innocent, he can't trapse around at night with the reporters following him. So he hires Bette Kane, aka Flamebird, to do the leg work as he monitors her from computer consoles in his "Nightwing Cave."
Writer: Kyle Higgins
Artist: Humberto Ramos

Batgirl: focuses on Barbra Gordan and Stephanie Brown and their apprenticeship under Batman. They aren't crime fighters...they're his support staff with Barbara working computer and Stephanie Brown as Bruce Wayne's body-guard and scout.
Writer: Bryan Q Miller
Artist: Tom Lyle

Booster Gold: focuses on Booster Gold's time traveling adventures as well as his exploits in the 21st century.
Writer: Paul Levitz
Artist: Dan Jurgens

The New Titans: A new group of Titans emerge from the GEN 13 team. Roxy Spaulding, Fairchild, Diesel, Grunge, Burnout, and Rainmaker are joined by Cyborg, Beastboy, Starfire, Raven, and Jericho to form the New Titans located in La Joia, California.
Writer: George Peréz
Artist: Rags Morales

The Red Hood: Focuses on Jason Todd's new life as an agent of the Checkmate (hood being another name for Bishop).
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Tony Daniel

Fury of Firestorm: Jason Rusch, an intelligent high school student, and an ex-jock and gym coach Ronnie Raymond are caught in the middle of the nuclear accident which creates the superhero Firestorm. Jason has the intelligence and the physique to be a young and skillful superhero, but it is the coaching of Ronnie Raymond that helps get him through the tough scrapes and helps him fight against the superpowered bullies of the world.
Writer: Josh Williamson
Artist: Fernando Pasarin

Green Lantern Corps: is the story of the GLC, with a rotating cast of characters that sometimes includes Hal Jordan.
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ivan Reis

The Power of SHAZAM!: focuses on Billy Batson and the Marvel Family in Dakota City and the mysterious Xombi that has brought him into present day to protect the world against Dharma and the middle east dictator known as the Black Adam, who leads the Shadow Cabinet.
Writer: Jeff Smith
Artist: Darwyn Cooke

WildCATS: follows the exploits of The Demon Etrigan, Shining Knight, Vandal Savage, and Madame Xanadu, in current day Los Angeles as they cope with 21st century and their mysterious benefactor, Jon Colt, and his team of WildCATs (Grifter, Zealot, Maul, and Savant). Intrigue, suspense, and corporate/mystical technology make this into the strangest team the world has ever seen.
Writer: Robert Venditti and Scott Lobdell
Artist: Joe Madueria

The Brave and the Bold: This is the story of the emergence of the Age of DCU, with stories that have resonance today, but are firmly rooted in the past of the DCU. From the WW 2 Pulpy JSA, to the Watergate-tinged Charlton Heroes, Robinson will show you the basis for the current DCU.
Writer: James Robinson
Artist: Scott Wegner

Young Justice: a team book featuring Superboy, Impulse II (Bart Allen), Ms. Martian, Aqualad, Arrowette, Wondergirl II (Cassie Sandsmark), Skitter, Static Shock, and Red Robin as their own team, separate from both the Teen Titans and the Justice League.
Writer: Ian Flynn
Artist: Sara Picelli

Team Titans: 20 years from now, one teen hero will go mad and destroy the world. The Team Titans were sent back in time to stop him or her. Mirage, Terra, Redwing, Nightrider (Dagon), Killowat, Prestor Jon, Argent, Risk, Hotpsot, and Prysm are teen heroes on the run from the future, trying to stop the end of the world.
Writer: Joe Casey
Artist: David Marquez

Frankenstein and the Suicide Squad: follows the adventures of Frankenstein leading a group of villains against threats both in American and abroad. Stationed out of the secret circle underneath the Pentagon, Frankenstein is given mission by the horrific Yankee Doodle Dandy who can see into parallel futures in the bleed and can now predict outcomes with 95% certainty. In this Suicide Squad, no one ever dies...they just get brought back or get grafted onto Frankenstein.
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Matt Frank

Infinity Inc.: Power Girl, Star Girl, Mister Terrific, Jade, Obsidian and Kevin Kho are hired by Jakita Wagner and the Drummer to lead up the new team of "archeologists of the unknown" to find the missing "Fourth Man" who was a contemporary of the JSA: Elijah Snow.
Writer: Scott McCloud
Artist: Jamie McKelvie and Mike Norton

The Authority:  Zatanna, Phantom Stranger, Spectre, Doctor Fate, Apollo, and Midnighter are the greatest protectors the world has never seen. Working behind the scenes, these heroes have fought against alien invasions and the evil Shadow Cabinet for most of a millenia.
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Franchesco Gaston

Secret Society of Supervillains: a book focusing on the most notorious criminal in all of Gotham: The Joker as he navigates through the underworld of the DCU.
Writer: Brian Azzerello
Artist: Denis Medri

Wonder Woman: the adventures of Wonder Woman, protecting the world from mythological horrors and monsters alike. She is joined by a teenage Tefe who has taken on human form and is training Wonder Woman to become the new Earth Elemental.
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Pasqual Ferry and Pepe Larraz

The Flash: Fastest Men Alive: Barry Allen and Wally West. The fastest men alive need a break. Barry wants more time  with Iris. Wally wants more time with his kids. So during the day, Barry works the Keystone and Central City beat and Wally works the evening shift.
Writer: Francis Manapul
Artist: Francis Manapul

Blue Beetle: the street-level adventures of Ted Kord as Blue Beetle in Fox City, New Mexico as he trains his apprentice, Jamie Reyes to become the next Blue Beetle
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Chris Samnee

Wednesday Comics: a bi-weekly repository of stories uninhibited by editorial, allowing artists and writers to go salamander and cuttlefish taco crazy.
Writer: Variable
Artist: Variable

Tales of Horror: one-shots of horror stories narrated by the mysterious figure "Uncle Foster" who is never seen and talkes with white text in dark green caption boxes.
Writer: Various
Artist: Various

Tales of Romance: one-shots of romance stories across the DC Universe from the perspective of civilians from Earth to the Antimatter Universe.
Writer: Various
Artist: Various

The Outlaws: a renegade group of anti-heroes (Ravager, Tatooed Man,  Aresenal, Huntress (Bertenelli), Hitman, and Manhunter) going on street-level adventures against anyone they deem a threat.
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artist: Johnathan Case

Legion of Superheroes: the cosmic exploits of the Legion, continuing on from the New 52. Rotating cast of characters per each story arc.
Writer: Keith Giffen and Walt Simonson
Artist: Chris Sprouse and Karl Story

Tales from the Multiverse: one-shot stories from various Earths from across the unlimited Multiverse.
Writer: Various
Artist: Various

Robin: stories focusing on the five Robins throughout the years. Jumping around time is accepted if time stamped.
Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artist: Mike McKone

Talon: continuing from the New 52.
Writer: Scott Snyder and James Tynion VI
Artist: Guillem March

Swamp Thing: continuing from the New 52.
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Yanick Paquette

Animal Man: continuing from the New 52.
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Alex Maleev

Mystery Inc.: the Scooby Doo crew solving mysteries in the main DC Universe. Featuring guest appearances from Detective Monkey, Batman and Robin, the Wonder Twins, and the Amnimaniacs.
Writer: Sholly Fisch
Artist: Robert Pope and Scott McRae

Animaniacs: the Animaniacs going on wild adventures throughout the DC Comics offices, Warner back lot and Netherrealm Studios's building.
Writer: Sholly Fisch and Art Baltazaar
Artist: Robert Pope

Freakazoid!: the wild, whacky, fourth wall breaking adventures of Dexter Duncan as Freakazoid. DC's answer to Deadpool.
Writer: Joe Casey
Artist: Ben Caldwell

The Outsiders: led by Damien Wayne under the alias: Oracle; Katanna, GeoForce, Black Lightning, Blue Devil, and Owlman are sent on mission far too controversial for any "known" superheroes.
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Guilliem March

Justice League International: when the main League is too busy, the JLI are there. Fire, Ice, Rocket Red, Plastic Man, Firestorm, and Animal Man have been recruited by Steve Trevor as a back-up League.
Writer: Sholly Fisch
Artist: Chris Samnee

Robot Force: Red Tornado, Pulsar Stargrave, Hourman, Amazo, and the Metal Men have been brought together by Professor Milton Magnus as a "highly efficient" fighting force, uninhibited by human standards of morality and limits of intellect.
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Franchesco Gaston

Sword of Sorcery: continuing from the New 52.
Writer: Christy Marx
Artist: Travis Moore

I, Vampire: continuing from the New 52.
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Dennis Calero

Blackhawks: an elite team of highly trained operatives from all across the world's military branches, led by both Amanda Waller and Steve Trevor as a subsidiary of SCU. GI Joe-style action abound in this comic.
Writer: Robert Akins and Chuck Dixon
Artist: Graham Nolan and Ken Lashley

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis: Arthur Curry has taken up his role as the king of Atlantis, but he has entrusted Arthur Joseph Curry with the role of Aquaman, the knight and protector of the realm. With
the mysterious Tempest (who may or may not be Garth) and his squires, Aqualad and Aquagirl, he travels the world as the king's troubleshooter.
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Francis Manapul

Vigilante: Greg Saunders is the immortal werewolf sheriff of a small border town named Tranquility, in between Mexico and the US where many metahumans go to escape extradition from the US. Tranquility is also home to the government witness protection program for superheroes and villains. Greg and his deputy, Pat Trayce, patrol Tranquility as the superscience superheroes and villains in Tranquility try to make the world a better place.
Writer: Darwyn Cooke
Artist: Rafael Albuquerque

Red Robin: the street level exploits of Tim Drake as Red Robin, solving mysteries and getting in to scrapes.
Writer: Fabian Nicieza and Scott Lobdell
Artist: JH Williams

The Time Masters: focuses on Booster Gold's time traveling agency, Out of Time, which focuses on researching the past, present, and future of the DCU by fixing Hypertimelines whenever they show up around the globe. Stationed at the Space Museum, Rip Hunter and his associates are called in by governments to fix time anomalies and provide temporal disaster relief after a reckless time traveler screws up a timeline. Think of this as Ghostbusters meets The Fantastic Four.
Writer: John Arcudi
Artist: Dan Schoening

Earth-2: continuing from the New 52.
Writer: James Robinson
Artist: Nicola Scott

Hawk and Dove: Holly Granger and Willey Wiggins are granted powers by the lords of Chaos and Order to stop their previous disciple, Hank Hall, from starting a mystical all-out war between Chaos and Order.
Writer: JT Krul
Artist: Marcio Takara

OMAC: Kevin Kho has been chosen by the mysterious A.I., Brother Eye, to become an instrument to destroy Kevin's employers, Cadmus Laboratories from the inside. Hulk-like action and intrigue in this book. With a fair bit of corporate espinonage all wrapped up in a sci-fi package.
Writer: Keith Giffen
Artist: Ed McGuinness

The Astonishing Atom: Ray Palmer's subatomic escapades as The Atom! From fighting protozoa and harmful bacteria to infinitesimal supervillains, The Atom is the astonishing hero of the microscopic world!
Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Cully Hamner

The Sinister Spectre: a being sent from Heaven, The Spectre has been tasked with dealing out punishment to the wicked and judging the unjust. Paranormal adventures with a dark twist to it, usually being accompanied with some thought-provoking moral messages.
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Travel Foreman

Cyborg: Victor Stone, college football star, gets caught up in the scuffle during the battle between the JLA and Darkseid in Washington, DC. He is reconstructed by STAR labs and turned in to the superhero Cyborg! Functioning as Washington, DC's protector, he fends off the stragglers of the invasion and the criminals that live within the city.
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: George Peréz


Price points:
All books are $2.99 (AND IT STAYS THERE)
Events and Large Crossovers: $3.99
Annuals: $3.99
Tie-Ins: $3.99

Specific Earths:
Earth-2: DCnU JSA Earth.
Earth-10: Freedom Fighters Earth. Nazis won WWII and a rebel group known as the Freedom
Fighter (Uncle Sam, Human Bomb, Black Condor, The Ray, Phantom Lady, and Doll Man) fight
against the Nazis.
Earth-11: "Rule 63" Earth/ Genderbend Earth: Same as Earth Prime but with reversed genders.
Earth-666: "Batman 666" Earth. Post-apocalypse Earth with Damien as Batman.
Earth- One Million: DC One Million Earth.
Earth-19: All-Star Earth. Home to All-Star Superman, All-Star Batman and Robin, All-Star Wonder Woman, and All-Star Batgirl.
Earth-1: Home to the Earth-1 line of graphic novels.
Earth Prime: the Main DC Earth
Earth-0: a dead Earth, home to Superboy Prime.
Earth-3: Crime Syndicate Earth.
Earth- 9: President Superman's Earth.


Marketing and Advertisement:
Pour as much money as possible in to advertising comics. Bilboards, TV advertisements, ads in magazines, ads in Times Square. Wherever DC can get it, put adverts for comics there. Push for more availability for comics. Conviniece stores and supermarkets, wherever possible. Get the word out! Comics are still in print and won't be going anywhere for a good, long time. Risky? No doubt. Will it pay off? If they execute it correctly, in spades.


Superhero Writing Policy:
-The general policy change would be: 'You don't have to 'go there'', and 'The Nineties are Dead'. The era of the superhero-as-badass is done.
-You can do meaningful, exciting and adventurous stories without including rape, women (or even other relatives or sidekicks) in refrigerators, death as shock-value, or basically any of the things you see lampooned here regularly as being poor or lazy writing.
-You can do sexy and provocative characters without random shots of ass and cleavage, or porn-star-fantasy back-breaking anatomy and costuming.
-You can do an all-ages book without sacrificing complexity or maturity - just make sure what you're writing really is complex and really is mature.
-You can do continuity without being a slave to it. Not everything needs to fit together in a nice box.People who demand this need to go write accounting software and not bother with literature.
-More and better 'world-building'. If there is one single thing Marvel kicks your ass at, it's this.
-No massive crossovers, probably ever again. Minor stuff, like team-teamups and such, yeah.
-Writers and artists come in and leave their egos at the door. If you cannot work together, you will not work at all.
-Editors are continuity cops, grammar checkers, and policy police. They do not rewrite work themselves. That's what we have writers for.
-Do something more for people who create characters. People don't put their best foot forward when they can't expect just compensation for their efforts. The minor character who later becomes a superstar - the current writer and artist deserve something extra but so does the guy who created him in the first place.
-I don't know much about the business end of comics, but from what I have heard and learned it does need to improve how it treats and compensates creators - without them, nobody makes any money at all. We need to attract back all the people who jumped ship to do their own books or work for companies that don't have such onerous policies.

Vertigo:
-Leave them bitches alone. Creator-owned, indie stuff.