(January to December 2025)
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–JSA Vol. 2 #7
Wildcat (Ted Grant) has recently been killed by Lady Eve (of the Kobra Cult and a revamped Injustice Society). Meanwhile, the Injustice Society’s Wotan has stolen the Helm of Nabu. And, thanks to the villains, Jakeem Thunder remains badly injured and Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and Dr. Mid-Nite (Beth Chapel) are all missing. Following Ted’s funeral, Yolanda Montez and Tommy Bronson both decide that they will not use the Wildcat name, moving forward. Jesse Quick quits the JSA, drawing a wedge between her and her lover Hourman (Rick Tyler). Later, at the JSA Brownstone, Mr. Terrific hosts a meeting between the JSA (Alan Ladd-Scott, Jay Garrick, and Obsidian) and JLU (Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman). Tensions flare as Batman accuses the JSA of having let things spiral out of control. Superman asks that the JSA take a break to recover and allow the JLU to take over the Injustice Society case. Alan and Jay push back, saying that the JSA will handle its own business. Concurrently, Hawkman and Hawkgirl remain trapped in Hell along with the spirit of Kid Eternity. The spirits of deceased JSA members Wildcat (Ted Grant), Atom (Al Pratt), Dr. Fate (Kent Nelson), Dr. Mid-Nite (Charles McNider), Hourman (Rex Tyler), and Sandman (Wesley Dodds) summon Kid Eternity for a meeting in the afterworld.
–REFERENCE: In Batgirl Vol. 6 #7. Batgirl (Cassie Cain) departs for a solo trip to deal with the aftermath of the supposed death of her mother, Lady Shiva. Cassie phones Stephanie Brown, telling her to notify Bruce about her trip and tell him not to worry. Presumably, Stephanie updates Bruce.
–Detective Comics 2025 Annual #1 Part 1
Batman preps the Bat-computer and does background research as part of an investigation into the disappearance of billionaire Silicon Valley mogul Cody Morse, who locked himself in his mansion over a month ago and hasn’t been heard from since. Inside the heavily-secure home, Batman finds Morse’s fresh corpse along with several oddities—including a spotless kitchen, man cave with a floating video game controller, digital reading room, and deadly floating knives. (Batman makes a note to look into the floating tech for new Batarangs.) Batman then finds five copies of a book on quantum mechanics by author Arthur Milligan. Each of the books has a specific section of pages that have been removed and destroyed. Batman then makes plans to visit Dr. Jenny Sykes at the University of York. After studying up on the rich architectural history of York (and familiarizing himself with the current superhero/super-villain scene in the UK), Batman travels across the Atlantic. Sykes tells Batman that Milligan claimed to have discovered a mathematical equation that could destroy the universe, printing his theories into a book that only got a run of five copies in the 1970s. But before Batman can continue his investigation, he gets sidetracked by the Templar’s rival—super-villain Mr. Mystic, who controls two powerful “angelic apparitions.” After defeating Mr. Mystic and his evil angels, Batman locates a sixth (and final) copy of Milligan’s book. Having killed Morse in an failed effort to gain the equation, Morse’s murderer sends a message to Batman, telling him that he has kidnapped Sykes and wants the book. Batman soon confronts the killer/kidnapper, revealed to be Morse’s crooked business partner Paul Briar. Batman dupes Briar into activating the universal destruction equation, but only in an eight foot radius around Briar himself (and in a non-fatal way where Briar becomes frozen in time and space). Back in the States, Batman drinks English tea while crunching some numbers about Milligan’s “anti-time stasis field.” Batman says that he’ll remove Briar from stasis so that he can see prison time, but the Dark Knight is torn about whether to keep Milligan’s equation for the benefit of science or destroy it so it never falls into the hands of evil again. We don’t learn what choice Batman makes, nor do we learn whether or not he utilizes Morse’s anti-gravity tech.
–Detective Comics 2025 Annual #1 Part 2
When kids start hallucinating at Gotham Public Middle School 96, Batman is on the case. Testing the kids, Batman finds traces of Fear Gas in their systems. After adding an air quality meter to his utility belt rotation, Batman visits the school to find seventh grader David Rosales also working the case. (David has started a one-person Junior Batman Detective Club.) Allowing young David to take the lead, Batman is reminded that Scarecrow once had a lab on the very site of the school. David and Batman discover that old Fear Gas residue has been leaking into the building. Shortly thereafter, Batman installs filters into and begins pumping anti-toxins through the school’s HVAC system. David expresses to Batman how right wing and centrist governments have more-or-less abandoned the public school system, after which the Dark Knight gives him a pep talk and a ride in the Batmobile.
–REFERENCE: In Metamorpho: The Element Man #6. The JLU, presumably with Batman, complete an unspecified mission in the distant Nebula of Skeletons. Also present are the JSA, Titans, Doom Patrol, Outsiders, Newsboy Legion (Flip, Famous Bobby, Big Words clone, Gabby clone, Scrapper clone, and Tommy Thompkins clone), Sonic Disruptors (Sheik Rattle Enroll aka Gary Gottfredson, Kate Straight, Mr. C, Gargoyle, Fuzzbuster, Clem Kyle, Polly, Charles Kong, Rollin’ Rebecca, Josie Lundeen, and Wolfgang Bang), and Jason’s Quest (Jason Grant Jr and Geraldine “GG” Collins-Grant). Notably, it’s unclear who is currently a member of the Outsiders at this juncture. Additionally, the Sonic Disruptors are from an alternate timeline.
–REFERENCE: In Superman Unlimited #1 Epilogue. Superman comes face-to-face with a giant Kryptonite asteroid, which nearly kills him and puts him into a coma. Superman is stabilized aboard the Watchtower, but he will remain in a coma for the next three months. Batman and the JLU run tests on Superman, revealing that his DNA structure contains something that protected him against the onslaught of Kryptonite. Martian Manhunter immediately begins playing the role of Superman to mask the Man of Steel’s absence. Meanwhile, new deposits of Kryptonite are scattered all across the globe, making things instantly difficult for the Superman-Family. Shortly thereafter, a new South Atlantic island nation state called El Caldero is formed at the site of one of the largest Kryptonite chunks. Batman and the JLU will follow the epic economic rise of El Caldero, which will erect an entire city made of Kryptonite, over the course of the next three months.
. . .
–Superman Unlimited #1 Epilogue
Superman finally wakes up from his three month-long coma. (Notably, he’s greeted by several JLU members, including Aquaman. This places this item after Aquaman’s return or his appearance is a continuity error.) Superman learns the new status quo of the world in regard to Kryptonite. Batman shows Superman how and why he was able to survive being crushed by a giant mountain of Kryptonite.
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