By [ad_1]
Established in 1934, DC Comics has become one of the greatest comic-book publishers, rivaled only by Marvel Comics. With many of the most iconic superheroes and villains under their belt, the creatives at DC have had to think up countless engaging stories to keep readers entertained for almost 90 years.
Naturally, with so many years’ worth of storytelling to catch up on, it can be difficult for new readers to know where to start. That’s where a reboot comes in. Intended as a fresh start to simplify the history and give characters a new direction, some of these reboots have been hugely successful, while others have arguably been a bad move.
10 New Versions Of Original Heroes Became The Most Iconic
In the early days of DC, there were heroes such as The Flash (Jay Garrick), Green Lantern (Alan Scott), and more who still exist in the comics today. These early renditions of the characters were well-loved, but in 1956, the decision was made to start replacing some of them with new heroes.
The Flash was the first to be changed, bringing in Barry Allen, who has since become the standard version of the character. Hal Jordan would follow him as the new Green Lantern in 1959, who is usually the first Lantern to come to mind when discussing the comics. The original Flash and Green Lantern can still be found in modern comics, albeit often with a retooled origin to fit modern times.
9 Zero Hour Was Quickly Swept Under The Rug
After his hometown of Coast City was destroyed during the Reign of the Supermen event, Hal Jordan became burdened with grief and gained the immense power of Parallax. With it, he tried to reshape reality entirely as he saw fit, and virtually every DC hero had to stand against him.
The series created multiple story issues that needed fixing, which led to a new concept labeled “Hypertime.” This concept suggested that DC Canon was not one singular continuity, but instead made up of infinite possible timelines and realities. It was a headache-inducing notion, and the reaction was weak enough to result in the whole thing being scrapped six years later.
8 Green Arrow: Year One Redefined The Character
Oliver Queen, AKA the Green Arrow, has never been one of the most popular heroes of the DC universe. Essentially a version of the classic character Robin Hood, Queen would need something pretty drastic to catch the attention of modern readers.
2007s Green Arrow: Year One was just what the doctor ordered and presented a great retelling of the hero and his origin. It was a hit with fans and would become a clear influence on the TV series Arrow, featuring a similarly dark and gritty version of Green Arrow.
7 Red Hood’s New 52 Series Tried Too Hard To Be Cool
Jason Todd began his crime-fighting career as the second Robin, but ultimately met a cruel end at the hands of the Joker. In the world of comics, however, no one stays dead for long, and Jason would eventually return under the vigilante identity of the Red Hood.
When the New 52 pressed the hard reset button on most DC titles, Red Hood and the Outlaws saw Jason team up with Starfire and Arsenal, and the combination felt weirdly similar to Guardians of the Galaxy. Starfire in particular caused a lot of controversy with her overly sexualized redesign and behavior. Red Hood and the Outlaws is seen as one of the weaker entries in the New 52 continuity.
6 Aquaman Got A Much Needed Revamp
Also part of the New 52, the rebooted Aquaman series was a welcome fresh direction for a hero often seen as boring. This new take on Aquaman put him and his conflicts on the playing field with more notable characters such as Superman and Wonder Woman.
This take on the King of Atlantis influenced the animated film Justice League: Throne of Atlantis and the 2018 feature film Aquaman, which became a massive success at the box office. Without this fan-favorite run of the character, he may not have been as prominent in pop culture as he is now.
5 Superman’s New 52 Run Was Widely Panned
There’s no shortage of New 52 titles to debate about, but one of the least-liked of them all was Superman. Things got off to an okay start, but odd additions such as a romantic relationship with Wonder Woman and new powers ended up irritating longtime fans of the hero.
This Superman was slightly more violent, often willing to fight a villain instead of looking for a better solution. He was ultimately killed off in a crossover event with the original Superman, which came during the final days of the New 52 continuity.
4 Superman: Rebirth Put Clark Back On The Right Track
When the New 52 came to a close, another large-scale reboot hit DC Comics and fans were again treated to fresh takes on beloved characters. This time, Superman was more in line with what fans would expect: a hero to stand up for truth and justice and inspire others.
This time around, Clark was married to Lois Lane and living on the Kent farm with their son, Jon. DC’s New 52 Superman likely helped inspire the recent and very well-received CW series, Superman & Lois, which sees Clark dealing with two teenage sons.
3 All-Star Batman And Robin Was… Bad
Frank Miller brilliantly reinvented Batman twice already with Batman: Year One and The Dark Knight Returns. Then along came All-Star Batman and Robin, and whatever magic Miller was putting into his earlier work seemed all but gone.
All-Star Batman and Robin has become the subject of numerous memes due to bizarre creative choices and dialogue. While Batman is clearly not the nicest guy on Earth, this version is a sadistic kidnapper and borderline torturer.
2 Crisis On Infinite Earths Changed DC For The Better
In the 80s, DC’s continuity had gotten a little out of hands. Multiple different realities and alternate versions of classic characters made it tricky for readers to understand what was going on. It was challenging for new readers to get into the stories.
Then came Crisis On Infinite Earths, a massive event that was intended to streamline everything and get rid of unnecessary content. Characters were killed off or rewritten, character backstories were updated. and a new, simpler DC brand was born. For the most part, the event worked as intended until further inevitable reboots came along.
1 Remember When Superboy Punched Reality?
Almost 20 years after Crisis On Infinite Earths, DC got itchy feet and felt the need to hit that reset button again. Earth-Prime Superboy, who was trapped in a pocket dimension, punched reality so hard that he reshaped the timeline.
As ridiculous as that sounds, it was the catalyst for the return of the multiverse, and things got a little crazy again. The whole idea was insane and is often the butt of various jokes at DC’s expense. It shows that almost no idea is too weird for superhero comics, which is actually kind of charming in a strange way.
About The Author
[ad_2]
