Modern YEAR SIXTEEN (Part 1)

2004 (January to June)^[1]
_______________________________

–Batman: Joker’s Apprentice #1 Conclusion
January 1-4—”Day 362-365″ of the Joker’s Apprentice narrative. Batman continues to study the snuff film of DeMille (Joker’s protégé Arthur Rankel) without sleep or food. Eventually, Alfred notes that Batman hasn’t slept nor eaten anything for four days straight. Oracle and Batman scour crime-files that might have some connection to the murders, but ultimately don’t get anywhere substantial. They even come across the files of DeMille’s henchmen, Tom DeGeorge and Cal Marshall, but fail to make the necessary connections needed to crack the case. After a second DeMille murder within Gotham’s city limits, Oracle tells Batman that DeMille can’t be working alone. The Dark Knight reexamines the first crime scene using special gear, confirming Oracle’s suspicions. He notifies Commissioner Gordon and the FBI of his findings. Soon after, Batman shakes down Two-Face and his new henchmen, the Gemini Brothers, thinking they might be behind the DeMille murders. Seeing they clearly aren’t involved, Batman turns his attention to a now-noticeably older Professor Achilles Milo. Milo happens to know all about DeMille, and on direct instructions from DeMille and Joker, he points the Caped Crusader in the direction of a trap set at DeMille’s movie studio hideout. Milo also announces that he’ll be immediately retiring for good! (Milo will indeed keep an extremely low profile henceforth, but due to his vast criminal history, he’ll eventually wind up serving a long jail sentence.) Batman enters DeMille’s studio, but easily fights through various traps to bring DeGeorge, Marshall, and DeMille to justice. A mentally compromised DeMille, shaken from his defeat, goes back to Arkham Asylum. Joker is pleased, knowing that his anniversary present caused Batman some trouble. The story ends with Joker saying aloud to himself, “Happy anniversary, Batman dear. Five years since the day we first met.” Of course, while it is indeed the anniversary of the day when they first met (in The Man Who Laughs), it’s been fourteen years, not five. This is Joker math, best to regard as nothing more than clown lunacy. Still, a very odd way to end this long tale.

CATACLYSM
——————–Detective Comics #719
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #73
——————–Nightwing Vol. 2 #19
——————–Batman #553
——————–The Batman Chronicles #16 Part 3
——————–Azrael #40
——————–Detective Comics #720
——————–Catwoman Vol. 2 #56
——————–Robin Vol. 2 #52
——————–Batman: Blackgate – Isle of Men #1
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #74
——————–The Batman Chronicles #12
——————–Nightwing Vol. 2 #20
——————–Batman #554
——————–Batman/Huntress/Spoiler: Blunt Trauma #1
——————–Detective Comics #721
——————–Catwoman Vol. 2 #57
——————–Batman: Arkham Asylum – Tales of Madness #1
——————–Robin Vol. 2 #53
January—”Cataclysm” supposedly begins in late October, which The Batman Files echoes, but the earliest it fits on our chronology is January. A massive 7.6 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks completely destroy Gotham City. The only buildings left standing are Wayne properties, which have all been constructed with quake-proof engineering. Ironically, Wayne Manor and the Batcave are completely demolished. Batman, Nightwing, Huntress, Catwoman, Oracle, Leslie Thompkins, Spoiler, and the GCPD do all they can to save as many lives as they can. (Note that Spoiler, thanks to retroactive compression and sliding-time, is about five months pregnant, but no one knows about it yet. We obviously must suspend our disbelief a bit to assume Stephanie has been able to successfully keep this secret.) Harold “sees daylight for the first time” since moving into the cave (or so we are told, but this is a blatant error since Harold goes on daytime shopping errands constantly). Amidst the chaos, Azrael knocks out Bane yet again. Robin concludes his misadventures in Tbliska and returns home to give aid as well. Alfred and Harold try to salvage what they can from the Batcave. Every major villain incarcerated at Blackgate escapes. Both Two-Face and the Penguin see an ocean of criminal opportunities open up now that Gotham is a wasteland lacking order. Arkham is somehow miraculously spared destruction, but the inmates still get riled up when they hear the news and go quite madder. Several of the inmates carve their names (permanently) into the skin of a prison guard. (This is the origin of Jigsaw Man.) Also, a mysterious new Quakemaster shows up on the scene (through remote video telecasts) claiming responsibility for the quake. Batman and company discover that the new Quakemaster is really the Ventriloquist/Scarface trying to capitalize on the situation. The quake was indeed a natural disaster. Also note that, while we haven’t seen Ace (Batman’s dog) in any comics for nearly two in-story calendar years, he’s been around, living quietly with Harold in the Batcave. Unfortunately, the quake officially spells doom for the poor mutt. We must finally assume that Ace goes missing and/or dies during this disaster. We definitely won’t be seeing him again.

–Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1 Part 5
Joker escapes and flees to New York City where he tries to kill hundreds. Green Lantern Kyle Rayner apprehends the Clown Prince of Crime and escorts him back to Arkham Asylum. At Arkham, Kyle is barely able to withstand the psychological taunts and jeers of the other inmates. Having visited Arkham, Kyle finds newfound respect for Batman. Afterward Batman briefs Kyle and Wally about an unspecified JLA situation. Kyle tells Wally about his Arkham experience.

–REFERENCE: In a quasi-canonical profile page from the supplemental section of Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1. This is one of the most interesting pieces of trivia to make the chronology. Alan Grant and Mark Buckingham invented a brand new villain called The Answer (Michael Patten), debuting him with a Who’s Who-style profile page in Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1. Unfortunately for the Answer, who was meant to have factored into Gotham’s post-quake landscape, Grant parted ways with DC Comics in 2001, immediately after creating him. Rumor has it, Grant was fired, and his very public anti-DC stance after his departure (all throughout “No Man’s Land”) seems to give credence to that rumor. In any case, Grant leaving DC so abruptly meant that his character never saw the light of day outside of this profile! Suffice to say, here’s the detailed synopsis of the first (and only) Answer adventure! With his family having died in the quake, Michael Patten becomes a conspiracy theory-themed super-villain known as the Answer. After killing some people, Batman and Nightwing send him to Arkham Asylum. The end. Notably, the rest of Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1 (outside of this item and the above Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1 Part 5) either doesn’t feature Batman, takes place elsewhere, or is non-canon. Here’s a rundown. Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1 Part 1 doesn’t feature Batman, but it occurs right now, detailing the plight of an innocent man that is accidentally sent to Arkham, after which very bad things happen to him. Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1 Part 2 is a Bane versus Batman flashback to “Knightfall.” Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1 Part 3 is a Batman-less story that features Penguin making strategic moves to ensure that post-quake Gotham will belong solely to him. Part 3 occurs right around now too. Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1 Part 4 is a fun “Villain Quiz” by Devin Grayson, so it’s outside of the boundaries of canon. Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1 Part 6 is a Batman-less interview with Joker, which is said to have occurred the previous May 1.

AFTERSHOCK
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #75
——————–Batman #555
——————–Detective Comics #722
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #76
——————–Robin Vol. 2 #54
——————–Batman #556
Editorial notation says these “Aftershock” stories happen in the range of a week to two weeks after the quake, which is right on the money. Over ten-thousand are dead and the count is rising exponentially. Gotham is a Federal Disaster Area in ruins. Batman apprehends Mr. Freeze, the returning original Clayface/Ultimate Clayface (Basil Karlo), and the Ratcatcher, while at the same time continues his massive rescue effort across what is left of the city. Batman uses a vast array of different Batmobiles in “Aftershock.” For instance, we see the return of the giant Bat-monster truck, which hasn’t been used since The Cult! These issues deal primarily with petty crimes, looters, the impact of martial law on the populace, saving trapped survivors, and the reuniting of families amidst the aftermath of the catastrophe. While there are several heartwarming tales, there are just as many gruesome horror stories, including a “we’ve been trapped for a week and need to eat someone to survive” story. Meanwhile, Tim reunites with his long term girlfriend Ariana (whom he’s dated for over two years now), but the seeds of love are also starting to be sewn between Tim and Stephanie Brown. (Don’t forget, Stephanie is secretly five months pregnant, but has managed to hide this from everyone.) With all of the chaos in Gotham, the last thing Robin needs is to be stuck in the middle of a love triangle, right? Also, Alfred and Harold make the Batcave semi-operational and habitable. The first part of “Aftershock” then ends on a high note as Bruce vows to Vesper that he will do everything in his power to make Gotham right again.

–Batman: Bullock’s Law #1 Part 2^[2]
We pick up Bullock’s Law halfway into the narrative, hence the label of “Part Two” onto this item. (The first part of Bullock’s Law overlaps with the previous “Aftershock Part One” issues but does not feature Batman.) For the past week Harvey Bullock has been a super-cop of sorts, busting major criminals left and right basically single-handed, earning him the suspicion of both his superiors at the GCPD and Batman, who bugs the GCPD’s Major Crimes Unit to listen-in on Bullock’s conversations. Batman meets with Bullock and tells him that he doesn’t trust him. Unknown to all, Bullock has reluctantly brokered a deal with Black Mask and the False Facers that has allowed him to easily take down Black Mask’s competition. A couple nights later, Bullock Meets with Batman again and asks the Dark Knight to take down the Widow-Whacker, a rogue False Face serial killer. Batman finds the Widow-Whacker and puts in an anonymous tip that leads to his arrest. The next day, Batman dresses up as Matches Malone and attends court to watch Bullock testify against False Facer Johnny “Poodles” Pudlenko. Bullock stiffs the guy, thus earning the wrath of Black Mask’s group. This leads to a brutal gunfight between Bullock and a few False Facers. Bullock wins but winds up in the hospital for his troubles. Batman visits outside Bullock’s hospital window and leaves a “good work” card, showing his approval for Bullock’s methods.

–FLASHBACK: From Anarky Vol. 2 #1 . Batman takes down some post-quake looters and then confronts Anarky, telling him to get out of Gotham—or else. Less than 24 hours later, Lonnie is on his way to Washington DC.

BROTHERHOOD OF THE FIST
——————–Green Arrow Vol. 3 #134
——————–Detective Comics #723
——————–Robin Vol. 2 #55
——————–Nightwing Vol. 2 #23
——————–Green Arrow Vol. 3 #135
A tip from Talia is enough for Batman to leave his city in turmoil and head to “Upstate Gotham,” which could mean Upstate New Jersey, but in this case probably means Upstate New York. After driving there in the Bat-monster truck (!), he meets up with Green Arrow (Connor Hawke) and they discover the ruins of a Kobra base. The duo is then attacked by the Monkey Fist Cult (aka The Brotherhood of the Monkey Fist), which is trying to become a major player in the global terror game. In quake-battered Gotham, Robin, Nightwing, and ex-CIA assassin Eddie Fyers battle more Monkeys. Things get even more complicated when Oracle decides to send her “Bird of Prey” Black Canary on the offensive. Canary teams-up with Bronze Tiger and heads to the jungles of Southeast Asia to take on the Monkeys head-on. However, when they get there, hired-hitman Deathstroke is ready and waiting and easily captures the duo! Eddie Fyers flies out to the Chinese-Burmese border, kicks Deathstroke’s ass, and rescues Canary and Tiger. Cut back to Gotham and we learn that different factions of the Monkey Fist Cult are vying for power and offing each other in a quest to see who can kill Green Arrow first as revenge. (Connor has previously bested the Monkey Cult’s previous top man, Silver Monkey.) Batman, Robin, Green Arrow, and Nightwing do battle with the spectacular new number one, Paper Monkey, who reveals herself to be Lady Shiva! Shiva is about to kill Green Arrow when Robin reminds her that he saved her life (in Robin Vol. 2 #50) and she owes him. Shiva honors this debt and leaves.

AFTERSHOCK Continued
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #77
——————–Batman #557
——————–Detective Comics #724
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #78-79
——————–The Batman Chronicles #16 Part 1
——————–The Batman Chronicles #14
——————–Batman #558-559
——————–Detective Comics #725-726
Mid January—editorial says that roughly two weeks have passed since the quake, and this is spot on. A lot is happening, but things aren’t improving. One million Gothamites are dead. Batman meets a science professor that is still teaching to corpses at the ruins of Gotham U. Ballistic returns to Gotham and teams-up with Batman to destroy a cache of heroin, unaware that the Batman he met before was Jean-Paul. Batman then does a little late night bulldozing to help speed up the stalled reconstruction process in the downtown sector. After dealing with the super-villain team-up of Mad Hatter and Narcosis (which results in Narcosis’ death), Bruce Wayne fails to convince the city business, financial, and industrial leaders to keep their companies in Gotham. This initial loss is one of many stifling emotional and economic blows that will serve to doom Gotham’s recovery. In Part 1 of The Batman Chronicles #16 Montoya finds her missing brother, Benny Montoya, and discovers that Two-Face has been a force for good in her neighborhood! She wins over his trust, takes his coin, and Batman allows Harvey to remain free under Montoya’s watch. In The Batman Chronicles #14 the most badass Alfred tale ever occurs. Alfie single-handedly takes down an entire troop of burglars that are trying to rob the ruins of Wayne Manor, and he does it in time to make Bruce his morning eggs! Across town, Huntress saves some kids. Meanwhile, Montoya has a heart to heart with her brother. NOTE: These three Chronicles shorts inexplicably supposedly take place in July. It is still January, so disregard the seasonal references. As the days go on, death, disease, famine, conflagrations, crime, and the body-count keep on rising. Hope is fading and a tearful Batman knows it. As hundreds of thousands leave Gotham in a mass exodus, the Gotham Bridge collapses under the unorganized throng’s weight, killing countless more. At this point Batman has taken to patrolling Gotham in the Bat-monster truck full-time. The original Dynamic Duo have a long heartfelt chat about their lives. Dick tells Bruce that he is going to be a police officer in Blüdhaven. Last but not least, Batman meets with Joker in Arkham to get information leading to the recovery of a kidnapped child. Supposedly, this occurs on the anniversary of Jason Todd’s death, but this cannot be true, not even close, so disregard this.

–The Batman Chronicles #15
“Aftershock” is officially over, but the chaos in post-quake Gotham continues. Green Lantern Kyle Rayner comes to Gotham and finally earns Batman’s respect. Then, Man-Bat saves Oracle’s life from home-invaders and they celebrate by flying through the clouds together! Chronicles #15 ends gracefully with the Question meeting and passing on a valuable life-lesson to Huntress: vigilantes need not kill.

–Robin Vol. 2 #58
Robin and Shotgun Smith contend with Steeljacket. Tim breaks up with Ariana and begins dating Stephanie Brown (Spoiler). Stephanie informs him that she is two months pregnant (by her ex-boyfriend). Notably, for Stephanie’s pregnancy to be chronologically realistic, she must be around six months pregnant at this point, not two. Obviously, retroactive compression and sliding-time really fuck with this storyline—as a six month pregnant woman likely couldn’t hide a baby bump that same way as someone two months pregnant. As stated above, suspend your disbelief as much as possible. Tim will be very supportive of Stephanie’s pregnancy over the course of the next few months, accompanying her to birthing classes in his “Alvin Draper” disguise.

–NOTE: In Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #136-139. Diana becomes mortal again, losing her godhood, but resurrecting as the Amazonian warrior Wonder Woman once again.

–Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #140-141 (“TRINITY 98”)
Diana is Wonder Woman again! DC’s Holy Trinity is reunited, this time against Diana’s blood-relative, the Greco-Roman demigod Oblivion. Oblivion is able to manipulate Diana’s invisible airplane into growing into a massive blob that destroys most of Gateway City. In case you didn’t know, Diana’s invisible plane is actually a sentient shapeshifting creature known as a Lansarian morphing crystal, a member of the Lansarian Ring species. Diana was long ago psychically bonded to her plane, but now Oblivion is using that link to subdue Diana and use the crystal for his bidding. Eventually, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman defeat Oblivion. The crystal then morphs into Wonder Woman’s new sentient floating fortress, Wonderdome! Oh, and if you strive for accuracy, you could rename this story “Trinity 2004.” A flashback from Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #159 shows these events as well.

–Batman & Superman: World’s Finest #10 Part 2
Bruce, Clark, Alfred, Lois, and Jimmy Olsen attend the wedding of Savannah Summers and Harrison Grey, presumably held in Metropolis since Gotham would be quake-ruined at this point.

–Martian Manhunter Vol. 2 #0
J’onn meets with Superman and Batman at the Watchtower before departing on a brief pilgrimage to visit his homeland of Mars.

–Green Lantern Vol. 3 #103
Kyle Rayner is accidentally transported to the 31st century of Earth-247. The Earth-247 Legion of Super-Heroes (the “Reboot” Legion from Earth-247)—including Star Boy, Invisible Kid, XS, Leviathan, and Live Wire—are able to send Kyle back to his correct Earth, but they actually send him back ten years too early. Kyle winds up in Year Five and meets a young Green Lantern Hal Jordan. Kyle is able to get his time device to work properly and returns to Year Sixteen, and he brings Hal with him! The JLA is shocked and happy to see a young version of their old friend, but the rejoicing doesn’t last long when Hal learns of the evil deeds he will commit as Parallax later in his life. Hal decides that no matter what his future has in store, he must live it. Using the power of the rings, Hal is returned to his correct time and everyone’s memories of this event are erased completely. The only evidence that Hal ever made this trip to the future is a single copy of his power ring, which Kyle passes unto Alan Scott’s daughter Jade, who becomes Earth-0’s first female Green Lantern.

–NOTE: In a reference in Young Justice: The Secret #1 and a reference in JLA/Titans #1. The Teen Titans, now comprised solely of heroes that are no longer teens, changes its name to The Titans.

–Young Justice: The Secret #1
Robin, Superboy, and Impulse team-up to save the metahuman girl known as Secret (Greta Hayes) from a DEO lab. Thus, the seeds are laid for a new teenage superhero team to fill the void where the Teen Titans left behind when they upgraded to become adult Titans.

–JLA: World Without Grownups #1-2
The teenage villain known as Bedlam transports all the adults on Earth to an alternate reality. Robin, Superboy, and Impulse team-up yet again to deal with the crisis. After successfully returning everyone back to the correct reality, the three teens decide to officially become the superhero team Young Justice.

–Young Justice #1
Young Justice sets up shop in the old Justice League Secret Sanctuary in Rhode Island where they accidentally re-activate a dormant Red Tornado. Red Tornado becomes the team’s elder mentor and with his guidance, new members will soon be added. (This item is visually-referenced in the Rebirth Era’s Young Justice Vol. 3 #5 and Young Justice Vol. 3 #15.)

–Chase #7-8 (“SHADOWING THE BAT”)
The Director of the DEO, Mr. Bones, sends his top agent, Cameron Chase, on a mission to unearth the secret identity of Batman. In Gotham, the charismatic and beautiful Chase meets with Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, but there’s someone else in the room that stands out as a hero-type more than Bruce and Dick: Alan Scott! The original GL is a hero alright, but he’s no Batman.

DC ONE MILLION
——————–JLA #23 Epilogue
——————–DC One Million #1
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1,000,000
——————–Nightwing #1,000,000
——————–DC One Million #2
——————–Batman #1,000,000
——————–Detective Comics #1,000,000
——————–JLA #1,000,000
——————–DC One Million #3
——————–Catwoman Vol. 2 #1,000,000
——————–Robin Vol. 2 #1,000,000
——————–Young Heroes in Love #1,000,000
——————–DC One Million #4
February. DC One Million begins with the epilogue to JLA #23, which we are told takes place about one month after the Star Conqueror invasion in that same issue. However, in order to fit in the massive number of items that must go in-between JLA #23 and now, it has to have been closer to two months. Diana has been back for a couple of weeks now, but now returns to the JLA full-time, replacing her mother, Hippolyta, who retires as Wonder Woman. Just after this happens, the Justice Legion-A (the Justice League from the 853rd century) shows up in the Watchtower. JL-A member Hourman (who we met during “Rock of Ages”!) explains that Superman (i.e. our Superman/Clark Kent) is still alive in the 853rd century and remains in solitude at the center of the sun. Superman, or Superman-Prime as he is referred to in the 853rd Century, is finally returning to Earth amidst great fanfare and celebration. Therefore, the JL-A has come to invite the original Superman and friends to attend the ceremony. After the android Hourman sends the core JLA members to the 853rd century, he immediately malfunctions, simultaneously trapping our heroes in the distant future and releasing a deadly global nano-virus across the entire present day Earth. But who is responsible? Immortal Vandal Savage is alive and well in the 853rd century and has teamed-up with stellar super-computer/sentient sun Solaris to concoct a plan in which the JLA and JL-A are switched and every Superman that ever has existed will be killed off. So far, so good. Back in the 21st century, the Batman from the 853rd century meets Nightwing, Robin, and Alfred. He teams-up with Tim and Dick to apprehend Query, Echo, Slyfox, and Firefly. Future Batman then realizes that the only way to stop Solaris in the 853rd century is to construct Solaris now! The JL-A and remaining members of the JLA begin constructing the gigantic artificial intelligence, but it is revealed there is a traitor in their midst: the JL-A Starman! 853rd-C-Starman has been hired by 853rd-C-Solaris to secretly bury a Kryptonite bullet deep beneath the surface of Mars. Solaris is completed, goes online, and immediately uploads the nano-virus into its own system, saving Earth from certain doom. However, Solaris is a giant evil sun-machine and poses a completely new threat. Starman, realizing the error of his ways, expels Solaris from the galaxy, but sacrifices his own life to do so. But how do the heroes of the 21st century save the future and bring back their friends? Huntress has a plan, but we’ll get to that in a bit. In the 853rd century, each JLA member goes through his own unique ordeal. Bruce winds up on the prison (dwarf) planet of Pluto where he learns from Robin The Toy Wonder (a robot Robin) that this era’s Batman is warden over the entire prison. Bruce also learns that the 853rd century Batman knocked him out, extracted his soul, and sent it to the future. In layman’s terms, Bruce’s body is unconscious on the Watchtower, while his soul has been inserted into a cloned body in the 853rd century. Bruce is forced to battle his way past deadly trammels and futuristic versions of Arkham’s worst villains. Eventually, Batman is able to reunite with his fellow teammates at the JL-A headquarters on Jupiter. Solaris digs up the Kryptonite bullet and fires it at Superman-Prime just as he emerges from his solitude within the core of the sun. But don’t worry, Huntress’ plan has worked! Back in the 21st century, she came up with the idea to bury a Green Lantern power ring on Mars instead of the Kryptonite bullet. Instead of shooting Superman to death, Solaris hands him the greatest weapon imaginable. Our heroes return home triumphant. NOTE: John Fox is the time-traveling JL-A Flash from the 853rd century. However, Fox is originally from the 27th century. Wally first met him on a time-traveling adventure of his own two years ago.

–JLA #24-26
A side-story which occurs during DC One Million is that Vandal Savage nukes the city of Montevideo, Uruguay. Now, fearing a possible weakness to nuclear attack, the US Government creates its own superhero team known as the Ultramarine Corps. The team consists of heroes from around the globe, including Vixen, new Knight (former Squire Cyril Sheldrake), new Squire (Beryl Hutchinson), 4-D, Flow, Goraiko, Jack O’Lantern, Pulse 8, and Warmaker One. US General Wade Eiling tricks the new team into battling the JLA in a skirmish which pretty much destroys all of Phoenix, AZ. Eiling then permanently transfers his consciousness into the body of the invulnerable, immortal sasquatch-esque body of the Shaggy Man. Eiling shaves his new body clean, calls himself The General (even though there already is a villain named the General in the DCU), and tries to eliminate Batman, Huntress, and Plastic Man. The JLA eventually teams-up with the Ultramarines and helps expel the General into deep space. The Ultramarines then create a massive floating city known as Superbia over the ruins of Montevideo. Superbia is granted status as its own independent nation comprised of superheroes. The newly re-christened International Ultramarine Corps will act as a preemptive global peace-keeping force, but unlike the JLA, they will be willing to kill the bad guys. Oh, in a side-note, the New Gods learn that the greatest threat that Earth will ever face, Mageddon, is coming in a few short months. In another side-note, J’onn takes a leave of absence from the team and his replacement is our android buddy from the 853rd century, Hourman! Hourman warns of an oncoming attack from the inhabitants of the 5th Dimension—(this attack will indeed happen a little further down the road).

–DC 2000 #1-2
TO Morrow travels back to 1941 in order to spread modern technology across the globe way before its time. The JLA travels back to 1941 and teams-up with the Golden Age JSA to stop Morrow. When the JLA returns after a successful mission, the JSA in 1941 will have no memories of this event. NOTE: This story is only called DC 2000 because it was written in 2000. Since we are in story-year 2004, we can think of this tale as “DC 2004.”^[3]

–JLA #27
Clark, Bruce, and J’onn decide to incorporate the idea of having reserve JLA members available or “on-call” at all times. When Amazo attacks and begins totally thrashing the League, Superman calls in the reserves. And boy, are there are a ton of JLA reserves. The total new number of team members including all of the reserves is now 35!

–REFERENCE: In The Kingdom #1-2 and The Kingdom: Planet Krypton #1. Technically, the entire Kingdom mini-series is one big fat Elseworlds tale, but it was written by Mark Waid as an attempt to make all Elseworlds titles canon by linking them to current canonical chronology. Specifically, Waid was trying to link his own seminal out-of-continuity future tale Kingdom Come (art by Alex Ross) to Modern Age continuity. However, the events which take place during Kingdom Come were later retconned to have taken place on an alternate Earth (Earth-22). Likewise, several of the characters/details were later slightly retconned as well. Therefore, my summary here tells what should most likely occur on our chronology at this point based upon those aforementioned retcons. On we go. In the mid 2040s on Earth-22, a horrible nuclear disaster occurs in Kansas, shortly after Earth-22 Superman has retired (as seen in Kingdom Come). In The Kingdom, the sole survivor of the Kansas disaster blames Superman for the tragedy because he had ceased to be the Earth’s savior anymore. This survivor becomes the powerful super-villain known as Gog (aka Earth-22 Gog, since there will later exist an Earth-0 Gog). Earth-22 Gog begins traveling backwards through time, murdering Superman over and over and over. Eventually, Gog gets to a point in the Earth-22 timeline where Earth-22 Diana and Clark have bore a child. Gog kidnaps the child, keeps traveling backward, and crosses through the Bleed until he reaches Earth-0 (our main DCU Earth), 2004. Meanwhile, the Linear Men (Waverider, Rip Hunter, and Liri Lee), whose job is to keep the time continuum on one true path in order to preserve a single continuity, try to fix everything. However, Rip Hunter has a different idea. He gathers up the old Diana, old Clark, old Earth-22 Bruce Wayne, and several other Earth-22 heroes from the 2040s (including Ibn al Xu’ffasch, the Earth-22 version of adult Damian Wayne). With his troop of heroes, Rip takes them to Earth-0, 2004. Batman first becomes aware of something weird going on when he investigates supposed supernatural occurrences at Booster Gold’s new Planet Krypton restaurant. There, characters from long erased continuities begin phasing in and out. Eventually, Rip and his Earth-22 gang explain the situation to the JLA. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman then meet their elder Earth-22 counterparts! Together, all the heroes are able to defeat Gog and everyone returns to their correct time eras and Earths. Before the story ends, however, Rip’s big reveal is Hypertime—the existence of an infinite number of alternate reality timelines, mostly consisting of Elseworlds or alternate Earth tales. Hypertime, in layman’s terms, is the omniversial theory that an infinite number of alternate realities—mostly consisting of Elseworlds, alternate universe, or alternate future tales—canonically exist in conjunction with a primary timeline. Or, as the wonderful Véronique Emma Houxbois more eloquently states, “Hypertime more or less posited that all timelines existed in parallel—that everything published was a living, breathing history whether it was immediately recognized in the current comics or not.” Following the original Crisis, DC was supposed to only have one single universe with one single Earth. Yet, the glaring contradiction was that a lot of Elseworlds tales, alternate universe stories, and alternate future stories were getting churned-out anyway. For some writers, such as Mark Waid and Grant Morrison, the revelation of Hypertime allowed for them to explain the contradiction with a relative hand wave: these weren’t alternate universes, they were merely a part of a Hypertime web that was connected to the “one single primary” chronology. As you can see, in actuality, the Borgesian concept of Hypertime was (and still is) really more about semantics than anything else.^[4] By the late 1990s, DC higher-ups confronted their difficulties surrounding Hypertime and began fully exorcising the concept, eventually delivering a final nail in its coffin with 2005-2006’s Infinite Crisis, which returned DC to the multiversial “Many Worlds Interpretation” concept, complete with a “finite” set of numbered universes. Of course, as stated above, it’s really more about morphological compartmentalization. You could have an infinite web of unnumbered Hypertimelines or you could have an infinite amount of specifically numbered and grouped (usually in groups of 52) multiverses. Either way, you have an infinite number of universes and possibilities! (In further defense of the “infinite universes no matter what” concept, DC winds up retroactively assigning specific Earth numbers to its Hypertime stories by the mid-2000s anyway, as seen in the “Compendium” section of the The Crisis on Infinite Earths: Absolute Edition.) Since the Batman Chronology has the benefit of hindsight, it has always acknowledged and worked within the confines of a multiversial system and applied the definition of Hypertime written above. That all being said, while Hypertime exists (at the very least as a narrative device), it cannot be exactly as Rip Hunter defines it in The Kingdom. Basically, The Kingdom takes place canonically, but the emphasis placed upon Hypertime must be lessened and the retcons above must be factored in. If you are still confused about Hypertime, just remember a fabulous quote from the great comics commentarian Mike Sterling: “Don’t write in to tell me I’m using ‘Hypertime’ incorrectly. As far as I can tell it can only be used incorrectly.”^[5][6] One final (but huge) retcon in The Kingdom is that the heroes, despite meeting their Earth-22 counterparts, never learn the full details of Earth-22’s history—when Superman meets the Superman of Earth-22 later on (in Justice Society of America Vol. 3 #11) this history will all be explained to him for the first time. We also learn (in Justice Society of America Vol. 3 #13) that the inter-dimensional time-traveling Gog chooses Magog—the principal villain of Kingdom Come—as his hand-picked successor, inspiring him to cause all the chaos that happens on Earth-22.

–JLA: Foreign Bodies
Kobra is able to somehow shuffle the JLAers’ minds and bodies. Batman’s mind winds up in Superman’s body, and vice-versa. Green Lantern’s mind is in J’onn’s body. Aquaman’s mind is in Wonder Woman’s body. Flash is in Steel’s body. Steel is in Green Lantern’s body. You get the picture. Everyone is able to master their new powers (or lack thereof), defeat Kobra, and make everything return back to status quo. There is a great part which foreshadows the “Enemies Among Us” storyline from Superman/Batman which will occur years later. When asked what it feels like to have Superman’s powers, Bruce says, “Exhilarating. Dangerous. The temptation to fall back on the powers instead of relying on skill, training, and intellect could easily lead to an erosion of judgment.” And how.

–Nightwing Vol. 2 #28
Nightwing is training to be a Blüdhaven police officer. Meanwhile, the corrupt BPD Lieutenant Dudley Soames gets his head twisted around 180 degrees by Blockbuster, survives, and becomes the gun-slinging super-villain known as Torque. Bruce, as usual, checks in on Dick.

–FLASHBACK: From JLA/Hitman #1-2. When a manned NASA probe returns from Pluto infested with Bloodlines Parasites, Batman recruits Hitman Tommy Monaghan for help due to his experience with the Xenomorph-like creatures. The probe crashes into the moon, knocking out power in the Watchtower and taking out the JLA. Tommy, however, is able to kill all of the aliens all by himself. Even though Tommy saves the JLA, they turn him over to Gotham police for the various murders he has committed in the past. The GCPD kindly lets Tommy walk.

–Resurrection Man #21
Resurrection Man helps the JLA defeat Major Force, but then turns down an invitation to join the team.

–Catwoman Vol. 2 #64-65 (“HINTS AND ALLEGATIONS”)
Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum, puts on blue lipstick for some reason, and torments Catwoman for a full week, injecting her with Joker Venom. Batman gives Catwoman the anti-venom and helps her bust Joker.

–Young Justice #5-6 
Secret, Arrowette, the new Wonder Girl, and Impulse have all joined Young Justice. The JLA helps the young team defeat Despero.

–JLA/Titans #1-3
After Titan member Cyborg (Vic Stone) dies, he is brought back to life by the alien race known as the Technis. However, Vic has a new Techni body, goes by the name Cyberion, and has very little of his humanity left. Vic travels to Earth from the Techni planet, kidnaps the Titans (old and new, including obscure members like Flamebird aka Bette Kane aka the former Bat-Girl), and puts them into artificial simulations, similar to what the Key did to the JLA recently. Cyberion’s plan is to assimilate the entire planet à la the Borg in Star Trek. After the Titans are rescued, the JLA decides that there is nothing left of Vic within Cyberion, and thus he must be destroyed. The Titans don’t believe this and begin a fight with the JLA! Eventually, Vic’s consciousness is fully restored and his mind is downloaded into the golden war-suit known as the Omegadrome.

–REFERENCE: In Titans #20. Now very untrustworthy of the new golden Cyborg, Batman begins secretly tracking his movements and monitoring his conversations.

–REFERENCE: In Birds of Prey #6. Ever since the earthquake, Oracle has been burdened with a lot more responsibility than she’s ever had before. Not only that, Oracle has been running her Birds of Prey operation with Black Canary for well over a year now. Unknown to the Birds of Prey, Batman has been secretly monitoring all of the Birds of Prey’s communications and actions. Now, Batman and Alfred increase their surveillance, spying on Babs from an alternate underground “Batcave” amidst the rubble of downtown Gotham. (Batman will use a variety of these makeshift bases during NML.)

–REFERENCE: In Birds of Prey #3. Oracle handles an overseas affair in Rheelasia, which involves Black Canary and Jason Bard taking on Jackie Pamerjanian and Hellhound. The villains are both secretly working for Blockbuster, whose current obsession is trying to expose Oracle’s secrets with the help of computer hacker Vogel. While fighting Pamerjanian’s henchmen, Jason Bard is permanently blinded. Both Bard and Black Canary are then captured and held for ransom. Robin joins Oracle at the Clocktower and helps her try to find Pamerjanian’s secret jungle compound via satellite. Eventually, Oracle asks Bruce to pay off the ransom money, which he does. Black Canary escapes and leads the blind Bard through the jungle, eventually beating up Hellhound to earn their freedom. Don’t forget, Batman has been secretly watching Oracle’s every move (as per reference in Birds of Prey #6). Also don’t forget that Oracle has secretly been watching Batman watch her.

–REFERENCE: In Birds of Prey #4-5. Batman isn’t technically a part of this item, but he is secretly monitoring everything that the Birds of Prey do, so he would be following along quite closely. Black Canary deals with both Kobra and The Ravens—Pistolera (formerly Gunbunny), Vicious, and Cheshire.

–Birds of Prey #6
Batman believes that Oracle is doing a good job and decides to stop the surveillance on her apartment HQ. However, Batman is surprised to learn that Oracle knew about the spying the whole time, and has been watching Batman while he has been watching her! Oracle then orchestrates her ongoing Birds of Prey mission with primary operative Black Canary, who continues to fight against the Ravens and Kobra.

–REFERENCE: In The Batman Files. Batman can no longer visually spy on Oracle and her Birds of Prey actions. Oracle, deciding to completely shut him out, now alters her communication frequency so that Batman can no longer even listen-in either. Shortly thereafter, Batman watches as Black Canary (remotely-guided by Oracle) fights Gearhead. Oracle radios Batman and tells him to stand down. Black Canary defeats Gearhead as Batman watches from the shadows.

ROAD TO NO MAN’S LAND
——————–Azrael: Agent of the Bat #47-49
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #80
——————–Batman #560
——————–Detective Comics #727 
——————–Batman #561
——————–Detective Comics #728
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #81-82
The post-quake situation keeps getting worse. Only one Washington congressman is fighting for more relief funds for Gotham, but he is murdered by the cult leader/rock star/”sexiest man in America”/Gotham-hater Nicholas Scratch. Scratch gets away scot-free with the murder and gives an anti-Gotham speech on live television. Scratch also sends Firefly, Dynamiteer, Tumult, and a bunch of assassins to cause chaos in Gotham. (Firefly winds up getting badly burned over most of his body.) After both the House and Senate vote to end all relief funding, Mr. Wayne goes to Washington to fight for the city he loves in front of Congress. Bruce gives one of the best damn speeches I’ve ever seen his character give, but alas, it isn’t enough. The city is doomed. Meanwhile, due to a mass exodus out of the city, Arkham is heavily understaffed. Even the secondary villains that have never fought Batman before are getting worked up (i.e. Wax Man, Pinhead, Vox, Jigsaw Man, Witch, Vernon Jamson, Solly Bean, and Wild). Eventually, the inmates are running the asylum and Jeremiah Arkham has no choice but to release all of them. IMPORTANT CONTINUITY ERROR NOTE: Two-Face is shown in Arkham here, which we must ignore. He’d already be out-and-about at this point.

–JLA #28-31 (“CRISIS TIMES FIVE”)
When a magickal reality-warping djinn from the 5th Dimension (Lkz) attacks Earth, the JLA teams-up with the few remaining JSA members to combat the evil. However, the combined might of both teams is nothing compared to the sole power of the lightning djinn until fifteen-year-old JJ Williams harnesses the power of another lightning djinn, original JSA member Yz. MEANWHILE, Captain Marvel and Green Lantern travel into the 5th Dimension for help and get the trickster imp Qwsp (aka Quisp) to come back with them. (Qwsp is an old friend of Aquaman’s.) MEANWHILE, Zauriel embarks on a quest to revive the inert Spectre. MEANWHILE, Batman and Aquaman defend the Watchtower against Triumph and the mind-possessed Ray and Gypsy. Batman and Aquaman also learn that Triumph (along with Qwsp) is responsible for Lkz’s assault. Who is Triumph, you ask? Well, Triumph was an original founding member and leader of the JLA, but on an early JLA mission Triumph was transported to dimensional limbo for several years. When he returned, no one had any memories of his existence. Triumph was bummed that no one remembered him when he came back, but joined the JL Task Force and tried to make an impact as a hero anyway. However, his sadness grew and he wound up trading his soul to Neron in exchange for the lost years in limbo. Cut to the present: Triumph is one mean asshole that hates the JLA. With the Quintessence (a resurrected Highfather Izaya, Zeus, Phantom Stranger, Shazam, and Guardian of the Universe Ganthet) secretly watching, Triumph is defeated by Batman, Aquaman, Steel, and Superman. The Spectre then arrives and freezes Triumph in a block of ice where he is imprisoned on the Watchtower. JJ Williams becomes JJ Thunder and joins the JSA making him the youngest team member (he’s fifteen-years-old, the rest are in their 70s). Lkz merges with Yz.

–Hourman #1
Hourman (from the 853rd century) annoyingly shows up at the Watchtower because his “time-vision” is flipping out. The JLA takes him to talk with Batman, who is in the middle of apprehending the Mad Hatter. Batman is equally annoyed with Hourman and palms him off on the original JLA mascot, Snapper Carr. (Snapper has lost his teleportation metapowers, which he gained via the Invasion Gene Bomb detonation.)

–REFERENCE: In DC One Million 80-Page Giant #1. A spacetime anomaly occurs where JLA members from various times and universes are sucked from their home locations and times and randomly appear in the Justice Legion-A‘s HQ on Jupiter sometime in the 85,270s (853rd century). During a huge battle royale featuring amazing alternate universe characters from all over, including various Batmen from various times and alternate universes (including Batman from right now and Batman from Year Eight!), the 27th and 853rd century Flash (John Fox) runs on the Cosmic Treadmill to return everyone to their correct universes and times.

ROAD TO NO MAN’S LAND Conclusion
——————–Batman #562
——————–Detective Comics #729
——————–Batman: No Man’s Land Secret Files and Origins #1
——————–Batman: No Man’s Land #0 Part 1
March—The Batman Files places this item on January 12-14, but, due to editorial compression and sliding-time, we are later on the calendar. Not only has the infamous city of Gotham (which is viewed nationwide as a breeding ground for corruption and social unrest) lost government relief funding, as a result of an executive-level loophole in US national security law it was recently decided that Gotham will also be shut down permanently as well. The city will no longer exist. According to the law, anyone not out of the city by the final tick of the shutdown clock will be cut off from society, and will no longer be considered a US citizen. It’s now the final days before the shutdown. Nicholas Scratch unleashes Gearhead on the city, causing even more chaos. Scratch’s secret reign of terror also results in the assassination of Mayor Grange. When the countdown ends, every bridge leading into the city is demolished by the army and the city is closed off from the rest of the world. Many important players such as the Jim Gordon, Sarah Essen-Gordon, Oracle, Huntress, Bullock, and Montoya elect to stay in Gotham. Nightwing makes a permanent move to Blüdhaven. Tim and his dad move to Keystone City. On the third and final day of the “Road to No Man’s Land” conclusion, Gotham officially becomes “No Man’s Land.” A defeated Bruce travels with Alfred to Monaco and spends a sad night with Talia taking care of him. For nearly the rest of the month and almost all of next month, Bruce will plan a suitable return strategy while remaining incommunicado with Dick, Tim, Barbara, and pretty much everyone else that remains in Gotham. As referenced in Batman: No Man’s Land #1, with Batman outside of No Man’s Land Gotham and not communicating with any of his Bat-Family, Oracle takes it upon herself to not only become the main public source of information in NML, but to start privately chronicling events as well. Without law and order (or supplies or food), feudalism and a barter system will emerge in Gotham over the course of this first month. Gangs/tribes will start to form and fight over territory. Likewise, the GCPD, multiple gangs, Huntress, and many of Batman’s rogues will also get involved in the revanchist battles in the balkanized city. The Penguin, now officially the richest man in Gotham (so to speak) begins figuring out ways to fully capitalize on the dire situation. Right out of the gate, NML features some real post-apocalyptic shit. All bridges are down, communication is primitive, and the army patrols the city borders. Nothing gets in our out. As we’ve said above, Batman won’t appear in Gotham for any of this, but he will keep remote tabs as he plans his return strategy. And he will still work with the JLA throughout the rest of the month and almost all of next month as well.^[7]

–JLA: Superpower
Young superhero Anataeus joins the JLA. Shortly after joining, he winds up quitting after the League refuses to interfere in the affairs of a small country called Kirai, where a corrupt dictator is abusing the populace. Remember when Batman quit the JLA for the exact same reason? Now the shoe is on the other foot, but this time, Batman agrees with the rest of the team. Anataeus doesn’t form a group of “outsiders” though. Instead, he busts into Kirai and executes their corrupt president. The powerful Anataeus then battles the entire JLA to a draw. (Kirai will fall into bitter civil war after the death of the president and thousands will die. Realizing the consequences of his actions, Anataeus will commit suicide a few weeks later.)

HYPER-TENSION
——————–Superboy Vol. 4 #60
——————–Superboy Vol. 4 #65
Big Barda booms into the Watchtower with a badly beaten Superboy, who dies in front of the entire JLA (sans Batman). Everyone flips out until Superboy walks into the room. What’s going on? The Superboy that died is from another Earth and had come to Earth-0 via a special “Hypertime-Jacket” to warn of a threat against the entire multiverse by yet another evil alt-Superboy known as Black Zero. The heroes go to Project Cadmus—(Superboy works for Cadmus)—to examine the deceased alt-Superboy and determine that only a Superboy can wear the jacket and travel through the multiverse to stop the threat. Superboy then confers with the Step-Ups (better known as The Hairies), a group of Cadmus-engineered DNAlien super-hippies that have developed genius-level intelligence and transport-technology beyond the understanding of humans. After that, Superboy meets with the rest of his peers, including Batman and Superman. The Dark Knight and the Man of Steel talk about their recent adventure from The Kingdom #1-2 and convince Superboy to go on the multiverse-hopping mission. Superboy randomly blasts into the multiverse, first winding up on an Earth where Robin is dead and Superboy acts as Batman’s sidekick. (Superboy will bounce through a few different realities—gaining help from the Challengers of the Unknown and Rip Hunter—before making things right and returning back to Earth-0). When Superboy returns to Cadmus after defeating Black Zero, the Boy of Steel surprises top Cadmus officials Guardian, Mickey Cannon, Colonel Adam Winterbourne, and Serling Roquette, who are in the process of hiring Superboy’s new metahuman replacement since they figured he was never coming back. At the open house job interview gathering (which includes Creeper, Flamebird, Odd Man, Sparx, Young Justice, the Metal Men, Heat Wave, Kyle Rayner, and many more), Superboy helps Kyle bust an infiltrating Punch and Jewelee. The Cadmus officials decide to hire Heat Wave! Superboy then leaves to get debriefed by Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman.^[8]

–Superman: The Man of Steel #86
This is the beginning of the Dominus affair. Superman seems to have gained some sort of pre-cognition and is acting like he’s amped-up on speed. Superman has also constructed a Brother-Eye-like satellite with which he can spy on the entire superhero and super-villain community, including Batman and Robin. What is going on, you ask? We’ll soon find out.

–Adventures of Superman #565-566
Dominus, an evil Lord of Order that has rejected his life’s calling to embrace Chaos, has recently entered Superman’s mind and shown him the possible nuclear horror that could befall humanity if the Man of Steel is not more vigilant. Thus, under the secret influence of Dominus, Superman becomes extremely authoritarian. Now, using Kryptonian technology within his Antarctic Fortress of Solitude, Superman creates hundreds of Superman Robots which patrol the Earth 24-7. Superman places the entire planet under his own personal martial law. Obviously, the populace isn’t happy about this. Superman is not only branded an enemy of the people, but the UN declares war on him as well. This declaration of war finally forces the intervention of his superhero friends, including Batman.

–Action Comics #753
When Lex Luthor’s own superhero team, The Supermen of America (White Lotus, Brahma, Outburst, The Loser, and Pyrogen), aren’t able to contain a Dominus-controlled Man of Steel, a ton of collateral property damage occurs in Metropolis. Batman then attempts to use his Kryptonite ring on Superman, but realizes it has been switched for a fake. (Luthor has the genuine K article.)

–Superman: The Man of Tomorrow #13 
The JLA are officially called in by the government to apprehend the Man of Steel. Using GL’s ring, Batman and Green Lantern are able to create synthetic Kryptonite which nearly kills Superman. The team then winds up fighting an army of Superman Robots.

–Adventures of Superman #567
Superman’s Fortress of Solitude has just been leveled by Lex Luthor. Superman finally comes to his senses and realizes that Dominus has been using him. While Batman and Oracle lead a coordinated global attack against the Superman Robots, Superman saves Lois and confronts Dominus amidst the rubble of his former fortress. Dominus amps up his power and declares himself “Superman Rex.” Superman and Dominus do battle.

–Superman: King of the World #1
Supes rejoins his JLA teammates, defeats the army of Superman Robots, and then defeats Dominus for good. Superman is okay again, but will the Earth ever trust Superman again? Or for that matter, will Bruce ever trust him again?

–REFERENCE: In Batman: No Man’s Land #1. April. As mentioned before, Batman has continued to remain incommunicado with Dick, Tim, Barbara, and everyone that stayed in Gotham. But Batman been planning for his return the entire time, and he now makes what will be his final preparations. Let’s get caught up to speed with what’s been going on in No Man’s Land. Without law and order, supplies, or food, feudalism and a barter system have emerged. The desperate and starving gangs (now called “tribes”) have take over their own distinct territories. Each tribe has been in constant warfare. Spray-paint tagging has become the best means of marking territory. Black Mask, Scarface, Two-Face, the GCPD, and Huntress all control their own sectors. Poison Ivy (who is actually being controlled by Clayface) runs all of Robinson Park. The Street Demonz and their rivals the LoBoys also control large sectors of the city. The Penguin has turned his sector into the “Casablanca” of NML—the ultimate black market. As previously noted, it doesn’t get more intensely post-apocalyptic than this. To reiterate: All bridges are down, communication is primitive, and the US army patrols the city borders. Nothing gets in our out. The tribal wars rage in Gotham. The GCPD has made progress (by inciting a war between the Demonz and the LoBoys), although Commissioner Gordon has given up all hope in Batman returning and won’t even let his cops utter the Dark Knight’s name in his presence. Meanwhile, a mysterious new Batgirl begins fighting crime and spray-painting Bat-symbols all across NML. (SPOILER: The new Batgirl is Huntress.) Note that No Man’s Land #1 is narrated by chronicler Oracle, so these early details of NML are told wholly from her perspective.[refCOLLIN COLSHER: The entire “No Man’s Land” arc (including this opening item) contains very specific day numbers, but, due to retroactive compression and sliding-time, these numbers must be ignored. For example, Oracle’s narration supposedly picks up on Day 93 of NML, but the most time that could possibly have passed since the conclusion to “The Road to No Man’s Land” is about a month (i.e. closer to thirty-three days, not ninety-three). In fact, most NML stories ahead will give a very specific timeline based on a “number of days into NML” structure. However, this structure, which scholar Chris J Miller blasts as being “rife with inaccuracies,” is highly flawed and should likely be summarily ignored. Bear this in mind as we move ahead.[/ref]

NO MAN’S LAND Part 1^[9]
——————–Batman: No Man’s Land #1
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #83
——————–Batman: No Man’s Land #0 Part 2
——————–Batman #563
——————–Detective Comics #730
——————–Azrael: Agent of the Bat #50-51
——————–Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #116
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #84
——————–Batman #564
——————–Detective Comics #731
——————–Azrael: Agent of the Bat #52
April to May. Again, the entire “No Man’s Land” arc contains very specific day numbers, but due to retroactive compression and sliding-time, these numbers must be ignored. On Day 100 of NML (which should be retconned to roughly Day 40), Batman—having ditched his capsule utility belt for a pouch-style belt—finally reenters Gotham, telling Oracle that he is back to reclaim the city. The Dark Knight and Alfred begin operating out of an underground sewer-annex of the Gotham Power Company. Batman spends the next two days mapping the city and familiarizing himself with the unfamiliar post-quake terrain. By Day 102 (retconned Day 42), the GCPD has taken over the territories of both the LoBoys and Demonz. Oracle re-unites with her dad. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Billy Pettit’s military bravado is becoming more coldly homicidal and violent as the days go on. Batman spies-on and then meets the new Batgirl. (A flashback from Batman #683 shows Batman and Batgirl from this moment, both looking out over the ruins of the city together.) He appropriates her spray-paint tagging idea. After some old-fashioned undercover detective work, Batman brings down the Ventriloquist. But Rhino delivers a harsh lesson, “It ain’t about good guys and bad guys anymore, Batman. It’s just about survival.” The peasants that served under Scarface don’t know how to live without their dummy dictator. Thus, Batman becomes the new leader of Scarface’s territory (with Rhino in charge). Concurrently, Bruce sends Azrael (who dons a new Harold-designed costume) to battle Nicholas Scratch outside of the city. ^[10] Back in NML, Father Christian Sounder sets up a refugee center, but refuses GCPD protection, much to the chagrin of Gordon. Huntress also has a bone to pick with the refugee center because Father Christian has allowed the Scarecrow to live there. Everyone will have a bone to pick with Father Christian soon enough because Penguin is using the refugee center’s basement as a secret stash for a ton of guns and ammo. Simultaneously, Batman and Huntress use a former False Facer named Mikey as a mole to retrieve information about Black Mask’s gang, which results in Mikey being shot. Bruce brings Mikey to the medical tent-city and puts him under the care of Dr. Leslie Thompkins. Meanwhile, Scarecrow has begun to stir up the residents of the refugee center with his fiery oratory. Everything boils to a head as the Penguin’s men, the GCPD, and the False Facers all converge on the refugee center to retrieve the guns. Huntress is unable to contain the situation and a bloodbath ensues. Batman appears and ends the crisis. Bruce reveals to the new Batgirl that he now operates out of several mini-Batcaves, including one inside Arkham Asylum, which he constructed while Dick was Batman (during the “Prodigal” arc). A generic flashback from the second feature to 52 #8 shows Batman and the new Batgirl surveying a ravaged Gotham during this time. A flashback from 52 #30, also generically depicting this era, shows Batman confronting gun-wielding gangbangers amidst the backdrop of a shattered Bat-signal and burning buildings.

–NOTE: In Robin Vol. 2 #65. May. Stephanie Brown gives birth to her child and gives the baby up for adoption rather than become a single teenage mother. Tim is there to support her. This item is said to occur three months after the start of No Man’s Land, but, due to retroactive compression and sliding-time, it’s been closer to two months.

NO MAN’S LAND Part 2
——————–Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #117
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #85-86
——————–The Batman Chronicles #17 Part 1
——————–The Batman Chronicles #17 Part 3
——————–The Batman Chronicles #16 Part 2
——————–Batman #565
——————–Detective Comics #732
——————–Azrael: Agent of the Bat #53
——————–Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #118
——————–Detective Comics #733
——————–JLA #32
——————–Azrael: Agent of the Bat #54-55
——————–Young Justice in No Man’s Land #1
——————–Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #119
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #87
May to June. Following the fall of the LoBoys and Demonz, the Wreckers and The Xhosa have quickly replaced them and the GCPD now have their hands full again. However, Gordon reluctantly makes a deal with a mystery person (later revealed to be Two-Face) and within hours the rival gangs are brutally and murderously eliminated. Concurrently, Batman enters himself into Penguin’s prize-fighting contest and beats everyone silly. At the end of the tourney, Batman has not only successfully turned the populace against the Penguin, but has strong-armed the latter into handing over his operations. (Basically, Bats now runs two territories with Rhino and Penguin under his thumb.) Speaking of being in charge, Batman also controls and operates Blackgate prison, which he uses as an actual prison. The Caped Crusader appoints KGBeast and Lock-Up as his wardens! (Tally Man is the absolutely unofficial Blackgate judge.) Next, after Bat-Boy Aaron Langstrom is kidnapped, Francine injects herself with the Man-Bat serum and turns into a Woman-Bat (!) to find her son. Meanwhile, Black Mask has become more sadistic than ever. His False Facers no longer wear masks. Instead, they morbidly mutilate their faces and bodies and act like a fanatically religious cult. Batman sends the new Batgirl on a mission to shut down the entire gang, which she is able to do all by herself! Oracle sees the new Batgirl in action and is furious. Simultaneously, Azrael’s quest to bring Nick Scratch to justice continues on. Next, the JLA prevents the super-criminal organization known as Locus from taking over NML. Robin then disobeys Batman’s orders and crashes into NML with his Young Justice teammates (including their sentient car from New Genesis called Super-Cycle). The teens do battle with one of Poison Ivy’s Ferak plant-women until Batman saves their asses. He scolds Robin and tells him to get outta dodge. While leaving, Young Justice, Lagoon Boy, and Blubber prevent the Kobra organization from invading NML. On NML Day 129 (retconned Day 69, which also cannot possibly take place in winter) Two-Face and Penguin begin simultaneous massive attacks on Batman’s territories. At the exact same time the GCPD attacks Penguin’s territories (which unknown to them are actually Batman’s territories). So basically, Batman’s sectors are getting shit-on really badly (Batgirl is unable to defend any of them) and the Dark Knight is out of the picture because he’s been drugged and knocked unconscious by Two-Face’s hired Russian femme fatale, Echo (a different Echo than Riddler’s henchwoman that goes by the same name). (Batman’s fight against the Russian Echo is also visually referenced in Secret Origins of Super-Villains #1 Part 3.) By the time Bruce wakes up at the end of the day, he’s has lost everything. Two-Face now controls virtually all of NML!

NO MAN’S LAND Part 3
——————–Batman #566-567
——————–Detective Comics #734
——————–Nightwing Vol. 2 #34
——————–Robin Vol. 2 #67
——————–Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #120
——————–Robin Vol. 2 #68-70
——————–Azrael: Agent of the Bat #56-57
——————–The Batman Chronicles #17 Part 2
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #88
——————–Batman #568
——————–Detective Comics #735
——————–Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #121
——————–Catwoman Vol. 2 #72-74
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #89
——————–Batman #569
June. Superman comes to NML and Batman gives him 24 hours to “make a difference,” knowing full-well that Supes will be totally out of his element. Superman is able to apprehend Mad Hatter and get one power plant up and running, but when he realizes that the Gothamites cannot function democratically anymore, the Man of Steel leaves defeated. Another result of Superman’s visit to NML: Mr. Freeze takes control of the city’s only functional power plant. Batman infiltrates Freeze’s ice palace and their subsequent battle causes the power plant to explode. Freeze floats down river on a giant glacier as he curses and shakes his fist in the air, vowing revenge. This has to be the lamest moment in all of NML. Moving on as quickly as possible, the world’s premier assassin (and one of the men who trained Bruce) is in NML: David Cain. Cain (hired by Two-Face) attempts to assassinate Gordon, but is stopped by his own daughter, one of Barbara’s agents, the teenage Cassandra Cain.^[11] Batman meets Cassandra, who is mute and only knows “the language of violence” as she was trained by her father to be the ultimate martial artist since birth. While Batman apprehends David Cain, he sends the more-than-capable Cassandra on a mission to bring down Two-Face. With relative ease, Cassandra defeats Two-Face (and his ally Tally Man). Just like that, Batman regains his territories. The Dark Knight finally meets with Gordon, and the latter promptly punches the former in the face and tells him to get bent! While Bats can’t smooth things over with Jim, he makes things a hell of a lot easier in NML by calling in the troops. Oracle, Azrael, Nightwing, Robin, and Cassandra all gather together and make plans to retake Gotham as a team. Batman then fires Batgirl for her failure to defend his turf. A pissed-off Batgirl unmasks, revealing her secret ID (Helena Bertinelli) to everyone. Cassandra is officially appointed as the new Batgirl! Batman and Robin then fight against Tommy Mangles, Ratcatcher, Gearhead, and the already returning Mr. Freeze.^[12] Azrael continues to fight Nick Scratch. Catwoman also returns to Gotham and the Dark Knight passionately kisses her! When SOTB #88 begins, editorial notation says we are supposedly at NML Day 189, but this is wrong even without retroactive compression or sliding-time. (Originally, it should have read more like NML Day 139, meaning we should be at a retconned Day 79). Billy Pettit and his splinter group of sadistic followers breaks off from the GCPD. Gordon loses a bunch of his officers to Pettit’s violent militaristic faction. Huntress, feeling like a kindred spirit to Pettit since she’s been kicked out off the Bat-team, joins the bad cop’s group! Meanwhile, Batman and Robin sneak into Robinson Park and discover that Poison Ivy (now with her new green-skin look) has been held hostage by Clayface (Basil Karlo) for the past two-and-a-half months! (Ivy says “six months,” but she’s been captive without a clock or a calendar, so trust me, it’s been two-and-a-half months.) Batman frees Ivy and together they are able to defeat Clayface. Batman allows Ivy to remain in control of the park as long as she continues to protect the innocent orphaned children under her care. Back on the other side of town, Two-Face has come to collect on his prior assistance deal with Gordon. What does he want? Renee Montoya. (Harvey has fallen in love with her.) When Gordon refuses, Harvey gets what he wants by kidnapping her! Batgirl Cassie Cain then busts some gang members in her first successful solo mission in costume. And last but not least, Lex Luthor has plans for NML and hires Bane to help him. PS. Mercy Graves makes her comic book debut as Luthor’s bodyguard!

–The L.A.W. (Living Assault Weapons) #1-5
When the super-villain known as Avatar places the entire Watchtower (and the JLA within) into suspended animation, the President forms a temporary super-team known as The Living Assault Weapons (LAW for short). This was DC’s attempt to integrate the anti-heroes of The Watchmen into the DCU (in a sense). The LAW comprises of all the old Charlton characters. The heroes from The Watchmen were a thinly veiled conglomeration of these same Charlton characters. Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, Nightshade, the Question, Sargent Steel, Peacemaker II (Mitchell Blake), and Judomaster (Rip Jagger) form the LAW and with their combined might, they are able to rescue the JLA and defeat Avatar, who turns out to be Judomaster’s old sidekick, Tiger. Afterward, LAW disbands. Note that a one-panel flashback from the second feature to DC Universe Legacies #10 also shows the aftermath of the LAW’s battle with Avatar. However, in this flashback, Beetle is shown rejoining Giffen’s old version of the JLI. Obviously this is incorrect and must be ignored.

–NOTE: In a reference in JLA #33. Flash (Wally West) temporarily disappears during a battle against Barry Allen’s twin brother, Cobalt Blue and the second Reverse-Flash. Thus, he will be absent from the next JLA story (JLA #33). This is a confusing Hypertime event in which Walter West aka Dark Flash (an older Wally from the future of an alternate universe) travels through the Bleed to assist Wally.^[13] Barry Allen also makes a brief return to assist Wally in the battle against his twin brother! Barry has been dead for over five years, but part of his spirit still resides within the Speed Force, and it has been exploring the timestream for the past five-plus years. Barry’s spirit is able to manifest itself into human form to aid in this fight. So, basically we have three Flashes versus two evil-Flashes. And in the end, Wally temporarily disappears and Dark Flash (Walter West) replaces him on the DCU’s main timeline until he returns.

–JLA #33
Batman meets with the JLA on the Watchtower and tells them he’s discovered the man responsible for NML: Bruce Wayne! Since only Superman knows that Batman is Bruce Wayne, the team heads to the French Riviera to apprehend the billionaire playboy. What the hell is going on here, you ask? Bruce has discovered a phony Bruce Wayne has been gallivanting around Europe and wants the JLAers to take care of the situation while he is occupied in Gotham. GL, Plastic Man, Steel, Orion, and Barda arrive at a casino on the French Riviera and the men put on tuxedos while Barda puts on an odd-looking, but sexy skin-tight red dress. She’s wearing Plastic Man! Unsettling but hilarious stuff. Back to the case at hand. The JLAers soon discover that “Bruce Wayne” is actually one of the Hyperclan White Martians (from JLA #1-4) in disguise! They defeat the creature and save the day. PS. Dark Flash (Walter West) replaces the missing Wally as a JLA team member in this issue. Wally will be back before you know it.

JLAPE
——————–JLA Annual #3
——————–Batman Annual #23
——————–Martian Manhunter Vol. 2 Annual #2
Gorilla City, African home to a race of highly evolved gorillas (including the villain Grodd), has long been a secret from the modern world. However, King Solovar, leader of the apes, decides to reveal his race to the world. After being accepted into the UN, Solovar is assassinated and replaced by the King Ulgo, who wages war on humanity. (Uglo is, of course, being manipulated by Grodd’s mind control.) Ulgo and his army are able to temporarily turn the JLA—except Batman and Kyle Rayner—into apes. After his teammates revert back to human, Batman joins Nightwing to battle Blockbuster, Lady Vic, and some well-dressed gangster apes (including Grimm) in Blüdhaven. Ulgo eventually shakes-off Grodd’s influence and dons his “Grogamesh” armor to help the JLA defeat Grodd. A reference in the second feature to Countdown to Final Crisis #15 depicts Grodd fighting the JLA during this “JLApe” episode—an flashback image taken not from within Martian Manhunter Vol. 2 Annual #2 itself, but from the issue’s non-canonical cover, which shows Grodd battling atop a pile of defeated JLApes, including Batman. Since Batman never actually turns into an ape in this arc, we shouldn’t take this flashback literally, but instead simply as a quasi-canonical visual reference.

–REFERENCE: In The Batman Files. Before departing Blüdhaven, Batman checks out Dick’s apartment and neighborhood. Batman asks Dick if he still is willing to take on the challenges of being Blüdhaven’s protector. Dick thanks Batman for helping out with Blockbuster and replies to Batman’s question with nothing more than a smile before swinging away into the night.

–JLA: Primeval
Jerome Cox aka The Disciple is the descendant of evil ancient god-like beings and he’s one bad dude. The Disciple attacks the JLA and devolves them with magickal atavism. The humans become early Homo erectus cave people (or Neanderthals or Denisovans, depending on their genetic history), Aquaman becomes an amphibious creature, Zauriel becomes a cherub, and Wonder Woman becomes a pure free-floating soul. However, even in their devolved states, the team is able to defeat the Disciple.

–JLA Showcase 80-Page Giant #1 Part 1
Superman, Batman, and Hal Jordan fight against a group of aliens called The Hand of Krona, who wish to forcibly “unify” the universe. The Hand of Krona worships the malevolent Maltusian super-scientist Krona, who once peered back in time billions of years ago to witness a cosmic war between the Great Hand of Creation and the Source itself. Krona’s dangerous spying actions billions of years ago had a significant impact on the evolution of the Multiverse, contributing to a butterfly effect that eventually caused the Big Bang. Krona’s chronal meddling also was the direct precursor to the Maltusians settling on Oa and forming the Guardians of the Universe, Psions, Manhunters, and Green Lantern Corps. Because of all of this, the Hand of Krona cultists have mistakenly come to believe that Krona himself is the one true Great Hand of Creation. Superman, Batman, and Hal defeat the Hand of Krona, ending their threat. (The tale of Krona comes straight from Green Lantern Vol. 2 #40 and Crisis on Infinite Earths #7.)

–JLA: Earth 2
If you didn’t already know, the DCU’s primary Earth is the polar opposite of the Antimatter Universe’s Earth, home to the evil version of the JLA known as the Crime Syndicate of Amerika. The CSA features the murderous dictator Ultraman, his cuckolding partner Superwoman, Volthoom-powered Power Ring, drug-addicted Johnny Quick, and Batman’s counterpart Owlman. Our story begins when the Antimatter Earth’s superhero version of Lex Luthor, the classic 70s-green-armored-suit-wearing Alexander Luthor, crosses onto Earth-0 and begs the JLA to come help him defeat the CSA. The JLA (sans J’onn J’onzz and Aquaman) then travel to the Antimatter Earth. There, Batman confronts the Antimatter version of his father, Gotham’s commissioner of police. On the Antimatter Earth, Bruce and Martha died that night in Crime Alley and older brother Thomas Wayne Jr, forever placing blame upon his father, swore to be a thorn in the commissioner’s side, eventually becoming the horrible Owlman in adulthood. Batman tells Commissioner Wayne that the JLA is here to clean up the planet. Within a day’s time, the JLA puts the CSA into a Green Lantern created prison and rids all tyranny and organized crime from the planet as promised. Batman saves Commissioner Wayne’s life from Gotham’s worst crime boss, Jim Gordon. However, according to the laws of the multiverse, lifeforms from the Matter Earth and Antimatter Earth cannot co-exist with each other. What disappears must be displaced. The CSA poofs away and materializes on Earth-0, immediately destroying Washington DC and battling J’onn and Aquaman. At the Wayne Manor cemetery, Owlman sees the grave of Thomas and Martha Wayne and realizes that they cannot win. Back on the Antimatter Earth, the real big bag of the tale emerges, the entity that has manipulated everything to ensure of his escape, having previously been captured by Ultraman: Brainiac! With Brainiac’s plan in motion, both Earths begin to disastrously merge into each other. The CSA switches places with the JLA in order to prevent the bitter end. Ultraman seemingly kills Brainiac. (Not really—he’ll be back.) On Earth-0, the JLA rebuilds Washington DC. The end. NOTE: The only reason this story is titled “Earth 2” is because Alexander Luthor refers to the primary DCU Earth as “Earth-2.” The Antimatter Earth is NOT Earth-2. The Antimatter Earth doesn’t have a corresponding number or letter designation. It simply is the Antimatter Earth. Remember, thanks to Infinite Crisis, there is already a pre-existing Earth-2 in the multiverse that houses the superhero team known as Justice Society Infinity and mirrors the Golden Age. Therefore, a more fitting name for this wonderful Morrison/Quitely graphic novel would simply be JLA: The Antimatter Earth. Also note that this tale retcons out any prior appearances or incarnations of the Crime Syndicate of Amerika. Specifically, Mark Waid’s Justice League Quarterly #8 (1992) references a CSA versus JLA battle during the team’s early days. This should be ignored. (JLA: Earth 2‘s narrative doesn’t make sense if there is another similar but separate CSA out there on a similar but separate alternate Earth. And because JLA: Earth 2 not only was published later but also forms the foundation for many arcs to come, it trumps all else in terms of continuity.)

–Green Lantern: Fear Itself Part 3
Guy Gardner, Alan Scott, John Stewart, and Kyle Rayner share a drink and play poker at the Warriors Bar. Afterward, Kyle fights a fear-inducing kaiju with a cyclopean eye and tentacles. Kyle’s fellow Justice League of America teammates watch the battle from the Watchtower. The kaiju causes electrical failures on Earth and on the Watchtower, stranding most of the heroes there. After Alan Scott fails in an effort to assist against the kaiju, Kyle is joined by Superman, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter. In the end, Kyle takes matters into his own hands, defeating the monster solo and then launching in into deep space.

NO MAN’S LAND Part 4
——————–Detective Comics #736
——————–Azrael: Agent of the Bat #58
——————–Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #122
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #90
——————–Batman: Harley Quinn
——————–Batman #570
——————–Detective Comics #737
——————–Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #123
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #91
——————–Batman #571
——————–Detective Comics #738
——————–Nightwing Vol. 2 #35-36
——————–The Batman Chronicles #18
——————–Nightwing Vol. 2 #37
——————–Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #124
——————–Batman: Shadow of the Bat #92
Late June. Bane crashes his way into NML as Huntress and Pettit’s splinter GCPD group crashes its way into Leslie Thompkins’ over-crowded makeshift clinic. Doc Thompkins stands helpless as a potential powder keg is ready to explode in her midst. By harboring the evil Mr. Zsasz, she upsets just about everyone, from Huntress to Killer Croc. After Croc and Zsasz duke it out, Batman is able to defeat the latter. In Chinatown, Batman is able to defeat Lynx and her Ghost Dragons. Meanwhile, Joker has made his sickening presence known in NML, and he ain’t alone. Enter his girlfriend, Harley Quinn. Yay! Right away, Joker and Harley Quinn get in a fight and temporarily break up, leading to Poison Ivy assisting the latter. Eventually, Joker and Harley reconcile, besting Batman in combat and evading capture. Despite being back together, Joker and Harley remain on the rocks, especially as Joker gets involved in a short-lived “President of NML” electoral race against Billy Pettit. As before, though, Joker and Harley seem meant for each other, working out their issues and reaffirming their love for one another. Oracle gives Batman multiple reports about their relationship status. Shortly thereafter, Bane destroys all of Gotham’s recorded history by demolishing the library and hall of records with low-level nuclear weapons. But for what purpose? Only time shall tell. Clark Kent then takes a stroll through NML and chit-chats with Batman about the progress that has been made thus far.

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1. ^[1]COLLIN COLSHER: Welcome to Bat Year Sixteen. “Cataclysm” will take us into “No Man’s Land” and Sarah Essen-Gordon will die this year. These six months are hella-compressed—possibly the most compressed we’ve seen yet.↩
2. ^[2]ODI / COLLIN COLSHER / PURPLEGLOVEZ (TIPTUP JR 94): In one of the panels of the lengthy 1999 Bullock’s Law one-shot, a banner attached to a building reads: “OPEN, post quake comfort.” Gotham is indeed depicted a post-quake mess, but the city is still functional with most businesses open and the court system still trying cases. That makes this story set somewhere between “Cataclysm” and “No Man’s Land, mostly likely where we have it, right after “Aftershock Part One.” Originally, Bullock’s Law was likely meant to occur around two weeks after the quake, just like “Aftershock Part One.” But due to time-compression, we are still less than a week removed from the quake.

   Why does Bullock’s Law go after “Aftershock Part One”? Specifically, it has to go after Detective Comics #722, where Sarah Essen-Gordon leaves Tricorner and is reunited with Jim Gordon for the first time since the quake. Sarah appears early on in Bullock’s Law (before the part listed here that features Batman), referred to as a lieutenant, whereas in ‘tec #722 she identifies as a captain. Since the first part of Bullock’s Law overlaps with the previous “Aftershock Part One” arc—which, again, has been compressed down via time-retcons—this means that Sarah gets a promotion sometime during Bullock’s Law. Furthermore, the important Widow-Whacker killings span two weeks, which means that they started before the beginning of the first part of Bullock’s Law. This also means that the Widow-Whacker is active before “Aftershock Part One.” Bullock’s Law also mentions a “confirmed Man-Bat sighting.” The closest Man-Bat appearance is the upcoming Oracle story in Batman Chronicles #15. Therefore, the Man-Bat sighting mentioned in Bullock’s law is separate. Sadly, nothing corroborates Harvey’s broken left arm from the end of Bullock’s Law. We must assume the magickal super-fast healing times of comic books is at work yet again. Or that Harvey’s arm wasn’t legit broken after all. Notably, Bullock’s right arm does appear in a sling in ‘tec #722, but this reflects injuries suffered during Cataclysm. Plus ‘tec #722 takes place before Bullock’s Law, as we’ve clearly established.↩

3. ^[3]ODI: DC 2000 is highly amusing; some lines of dialogue by the JSA members are fun as hell. The story is set after JLA #26 and before JLA #27 because Hourman is in it and it takes place post-DC One Million. In this part of the year, it is kind of hard to place stories containing the JLA and Batman (JLA/Hitman for example) because of all the chaos in Gotham, not to mention in the Batverse we never see a Batplane like the one in the JLAverse.

   COLLIN COLSHER: It’s tough around the post-quake-era to accurately place stories, but it does all manage to fit into a solid chronology as we have shown (even if you have to suspend your disbelief a bit). And maybe Bruce only brings out the wildest Bat-tech to impress his fellow JLA teammates?↩

4. ^[4]COLLIN COLSHER: L Sprague de Camp, in Lest Darkness Fall (1939), more-or-less delivers the narrative equivalent of Hypertime—or certainly a very early precursor to it. In de Camp’s novel, the author compares history and time to that of a tree trunk, from which branches sprout out of various weakened “junction places” or “focal points” to create a “tough four-dimensional web.” De Camp’s focal points are equivalent to Jonbar hinges, crucial divergence points between two or more timeline outcomes. The term Jonbar hinge was coined in reference to the late 1930s sci-fi works of Jack Williamson. Jorge Luis Borges, in The Garden of Forking Paths (1941), provides another proto-Hypertime concept. (Superhero comics owe more to both de Camp and Borges than most folks realize!) In Borges’ story, the titular Garden is an image of the universe that specifically counterposes Newton and Schopenhauer by depicting something quite the opposite of uniform absolute time. The Garden, as eloquently and poetically described by Borges, represents “an infinite series of times, in a growing, dizzying net of divergent, convergent, and parallel lines. This network of times, which approached one another, forked, broke off, or were unaware of one another for centuries, embraces all possibilities of time. We do not exist in the majority of these times; in some you exist, and not I; in others I, and not you; in others, both of us … busy and multiform in other dimensions of time.” Borges also refers to the Garden as a “labyrinth of labyrinths, of one sinuous spreading labyrinth that would encompass the past and the future and in some way involve the stars.” It’s hard to imagine Waid and Morrison not having been directly influenced by Borges’ “dizzying network of labyrinths” while fleshing-out Hypertime—especially Morrison, who has expressed their admiration for Borges and directly referenced his work on occasion.↩
5. ^[5]COLLIN COLSHER: In late 2022, Grant Morrison set the Hypertime record straight in Bulletins from Bizzaroworld #3, a feature from their Substack journal Xanaduum. Morrison says: “Hypertime is geometry. I note that the Hypertime concept Mark Waid and I introduced to the DC Universe in the ‘90s has made a comeback as a means of addressing DC’s disastrous collapsing continuity issues. As the principal creator of the idea, I fear it’s open to misinterpretation, confusion and the kind of unnecessary complexification that tends to bog down DC cosmology. For this reason, there follows a brief overview of the concept to help guide fellow creatives in their voyages beyond the multiverse! Batman, in the guise of the Archivist, explains Hypertime quite clearly, with visual aids, in The Return of Bruce Wayne issue #2, so I’d advise anyone who’s interested to start there. It started when I was ruminating on the phrase ‘timeline’ which we just accept in comics and, indeed, had been discussing that fateful day in San Diego. Waid and I were talking about the timeline for the DCU, that starts with a giant cosmic hand at the Big Bang and ends at Vanishing Point’s Heat Death of the Universe. It struck me straight away that a timeline implied a timepoint (Tom Peyer ran with this idea brilliantly in Hourman #3). Given time point and timeline, it was obvious what came next, and here was where it got interesting – point, line, plane… There had to be a time plane, and I imagined what that would look like, as a flat sheet with all the various timelines – parallel worlds alternate histories, cancelled continuities – laid side by side across the time plane like multitudinous rail tracks, sometimes crossing over, branching off, reconnecting, terminating. The 2-D timeplane was what all of your comics looked like spread out on a massive floor. Where 1938 Superman could exist at the same time on the same floor as 2022 Superman. The time plane naturally implied a time cube of stacked realities, piled timeplanes extending perpendicularly into our own dimensionality (both the aliens in 52 and Bat-Mite in Batman call this cube Space B, implying that Space A is the Timeplane). From there you can do hypercube time and so on, in each case imagining a more panoramic and elaborate picture which not only includes we, the readers, but also potentially higher dimensional forms of life or intelligence existing ‘above’ our own. This was the schematic I drew on a hotel notepad and showed to Mark Waid the next day. It was Waid who suggested calling the idea ‘Hypertime’. If someone explains Hypertime to you and it sounds way more complicated than point, line, plane, cube, etc, just tell them Batman sent you and set them right…”↩
6. ^[6]COLLIN COLSHER: In some ways, Hypertime also brings to mind scholar William Proctor’s concept of omni-diegesis (itself an extrapolation of Matt Hills’ concept of hyperdiegesis). In his book Reboot Culture (2023), Proctor defines omni-diegesis as “the sum contents of an imaginary network, a matrix of multiple hyperdiegetic sub-worlds, each occupying unique transfictional coordinates that may not be compossible with other continuity expressions.” Certainly, alternate timelines can be accurately described as hyperdiegetic sub-worlds (i.e. continuity expressions) each occupying unique transfictional coordinates that are not compossible with one another. Omni-diegesis might also double as a way of defining omniverse (which itself is very close in definition to Hypertime).↩
7. ^[7]COLLIN COLSHER: The comics tell us that No Man’s Land will run from mid January to January 1 (eleven-and-a-half months in duration), but, due to compression and sliding-time (and to generally accommodate other stories even prior to compression and sliding-time), NML will run from March to August (roughly five months in duration). Scholar Chris J Miller, one of the foremost experts in breaking down the NML timeline, compresses his version of NML to roughly six months in duration, running from February to August. The slight difference between Miller’s NML timeline and mine occurs due to the fact that my timeline includes all Batman appearances whereas his timeline only includes major DC events. Nevertheless, despite this, our timelines are more-or-less in-synch.↩
8. ^[8]COLLIN COLSHER: Superboy Vol. 4 #60-65 places a lot of emphasis on the concept of Hypertime (see note about The Kingdom above for details). We must ignore this emphasis and think of Superboy’s alternate reality journey as having little to do with Hypertime and more to do with simple travel of the wider, previously unknown parts of the multiverse.↩
9. ^[9]COLLIN COLSHER: Writer Greg Rucka finely penned the prose novel adaptation of Batman: No Man’s Land in 1999. The No Man’s Land novel not only more-or-less links up chronologically with the “No Man’s Land” comics arc, it also delivers a ton of detailed information not given in the comics. As such, the novel is kinda-sorta in-canon, at the very least functioning as a nice supplement.↩
10. ^[10]IVAN / PURPLEGLOVEZ (TIPTUP JR 94): Azrael: Agent of the Bat #50, despite having continuity issues that jar with NML, goes between Detective Comics #730 (“No Law and a New Order Part 4”) and Azrael: Agent of the Bat #51. This is because in Azrael #50 Batman says to Azrael, “I’ve got my hands full here in Gotham.” This means Batman has returned to Gotham already and has got things underway. Also, Oracle talks to Azrael when he has spoken to Batman and is on the way to find Nicholas Scratch and he doesn’t tell her he spoke with Batman nor does she ask him if he has seen him. The issues shown in Azrael #50 are glaring and strange, though. First, Gotham seems to have plenty of electricity. Second, while the federal shutdown of the city is clearly in place, it’s shown and mentioned that Azrael is able to drive out of the city. Finally, Azrael #50 curiously deliberately avoids showing Batman’s belt, a sign that creators were not sure at the time of its publication where it would fit into the NML arc.↩
11. ^[11]COLLIN COLSHER: No Man’s Land: Secret Files #1 (1999) tells us that Cassie Cain is sixteen-years-old when she debuts as Batgirl during No Man’s Land (in-story 2004). This data also lets us know that Cassie was born in 1988.↩
12. ^[12]COLLIN COLSHER: LOTDK #121 (the NML affair with a returning Mr. Freeze) contains a flashback to Mr. Freeze’s origin, which mirrors his origin story as told in Paul Dini’s Batman: Mr. Freeze (1997). At the time of LOTDK #121‘s publication in 1999, Dini’s Mr. Freeze was canon. However, by the mid 2000s, as per the LOTDK arc entitled “Cold Case,” Dini’s Freeze origin was no longer in-continuity. Hence, the Mr. Freeze origin story flashback from LOTDK #121 must be ignored. See Year Five for more details.↩
13. ^[13]MORGAN / COLLIN COLSHER: The “Dark Flash” saga reveals the scientific nature of Hypertime travel. In order to travel from one timeline to another, two separate timelines must temporarily merge. During this period of merger, one can hop from timeline to timeline like hopping from train car to train car. Even after the timelines separate, Hypertime travel can cause permanent memory distortion and even reality alteration.↩