Rebirth Era (Post-“Superman Reborn”) Chronology
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YEAR EIGHT (2009)
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–FLASHBACK: From Flash Vol. 5 #21—originally told via flashback from Identity Crisis and The OMAC Project. Dr. Light infiltrates the JL Satellite and rapes Elongated Man’s wife, Sue Dibny. After being apprehended by several superheroes (Hal Jordan, Green Arrow, Hawkman, Flash, and Zatanna), Dr. Light is mind-wiped by Zatanna, which erases the villain’s memories and alters his personality to ensure that he never again commits so heinous a crime. Batman stumbles upon the heroes in the midst of scrambling Dr. Light’s brain. Outraged at the unethical procedure, Batman lashes out at his peers. The heroes restrain and mind-wipe Batman, initiating a cover up that will years later be exposed as the terrible “mind-wipe scandal.” Until then, Batman will have no memories of what has occurred.
–FLASHBACK: From Poison Ivy #25. Batman faces off against Poison Ivy, who drugs him and escapes captivity.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #143. Batman challenges Catwoman, who uses sign language with her henchmen during a silent heist.
–REFERENCE: In Batman: City of Madness #1. Batman meets and befriends Arkham Asylum psychiatrist Dr. Ruth Adams. While we won’t see it on our timeline ahead, Batman will interact with Dr. Adams every once in a while.
–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Forge #1 and Dark Days: The Casting #1. Batman examines magickal metallic items, including Wonder Woman’s bracelets, Aquaman’s five-pointed “trident,” and the Helm of Nabu (Dr. Fate’s helmet) in the Justice League Trophy Room. In each of these items, Batman discovers a compound containing traces of a dangerous mystery metal. This metal has a very specific “dark energy” signature. After 3D scanning, holographic image mapping, and detailed analysis of these items, Batman concludes that the mystery metal exists in nature and that it could potentially be very dangerous to all life on the planet. Concerned, Batman decides the very existence of the dark metal warrants further (and extensive) investigation. Batman records all of this dark metal info onto his Shadow Drive (aka Shadow File)—and he will continue to do so in regard to anything dark metal-related, moving forward. Batman (presumably with the help of Mr. Terrific and a select few other metahumans) builds a secret underground wing in Batcave, called Sub-Cave Alpha, dedicated to further study of the mystery metal. In this secret cave within a secret cave, masked by a false holographic rock wall, Batman puts all the recently-scanned 3D images onto holographic pedestal projector displays. The Caped Crusader will continue to investigate and study the mystery metal and the “dark energy” signature for years to come. Unknown to Batman, the immortal Carter Hall and Shiera Sanders Hall have not only been aware of the “dark energy” signature and “dark metal,” they have also been investigating all things related to the Dark Multiverse ever since the early 1900s. (See a footnote in Year 16 for details on Carter and Shiera’s lengthy connection to this case.)
–REFERENCE: In Dark Nights: Metal #1-2 and Teen Titans Vol. 6 #12. Batman continues his “dark energy” investigation, learning about a legend that tells of an omniscient being from another world. While the details are ambiguous, Batman believes he is somehow at the center of the mystery—that an evil power has supposedly been targeting him for thousands of years. He can sense that something has been (and continues to) watch him from some far away realm, somehow subtly shaping his life. While unexplainable, Batman comes to think of himself as the key to the “dark energy” conundrum, which is linked to some unfathomable cosmic event yet to unfold. Batman will haunted by this thought for years to come. With this troubling motivator in mind, Batman’s investigation will remain fully-fueled for years to come.
–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #985—and referenced in Dark Days: The Forge #1, Suicide Squad Vol. 5 #25, Doomsday Clock #5, and Detective Comics #986. Batman quits the Justice League. Batman and Black Lightning then secretly intervene in a civil war in the small Eastern European nation of Markovia, helping Prince Brion Markov—who has just been publicly turned into the superhero Geo-Force by Dr. Helga Jace—fight against the wannabe dictator Baron Bedlam. With the aid of Black Lightning, Geo-Force, Metamorpho, and Katana (whose famed Soultaker blade contains the trapped souls of many, including her dead husband Maseo Yamashiro), Batman is able to combat the heavily-armed militias of Baron Bedlam. During the war, Batman goes after gun-runner Fleet Delmar (aka “The Man of Fear”), who has been torturing parents in front of their own children. After a brief knife fight, Batman easily bests Delmar, doses him with Fear Gas, and leaves an ultrasonic bat-attracting relay-emitter by his side. A swarm of bats scars Delmar’s face and gouges his eyes out. Eventually, Batman and his new pals defeat Baron Bedlam’s forces, bringing peace and freedom to the Markovian people. Afterward, Batman decides to keep this unit together as a top-secret team. In conjunction with his ongoing studies of the “dark energy” signature found in geological anomalies across the globe, Batman deputizes this group into his covert “black-ops” team known as The Outsiders. The Outsiders’ primary goals are to go on unsanctioned covert missions and to uncover hidden truths about the mystery metal linked to the “dark energy” signature. Batman immediately forms a close bond with one of his best soldiers, Katana. The Outsiders will continue working on-and-off with Batman for years to come, disbanding and reforming with updated line-ups several times. Batman will keep all versions of the Outsiders a secret from the greater superhero community.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League Vol. 4 #1 and Adventures of the Super Sons #1. Batman isn’t directly involved in this item, but he is definitely connected and would be very aware of its details. The Justice League is in shambles, especially without Batman, who recently quit the team. Following a fight against the cosmic warrior Koll, who does severe (but only temporary) damage to the JL Satellite, the JL officially disbands yet again. In its wake, a new Justice League is formed—sans the Trinity. The new team, which moves its headquarters to a brand new building in Detroit, features Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna (in yet another new costume), Vibe, Vixen, Elongated Man, Gypsy, Firestorm, and Commander Steel (Hank Heywood III).
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #999. February—Bruce’s birthday. As he does every year on his birthday, Batman runs Program 2.1, placing himself into a virtual world that challenges him by pushing him to his most extreme limits.
–FLASHBACK: From Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Spectacular Part 5. February—Bruce’s birthday. Robin gives Batman a birthday gift—Thomas Wayne’s old broken wristwatch, which he and Alfred had found hidden in Wayne Manor months ago. Since the watch is broken, Robin asks to keep it, saying he will return it to Batman when it is fixed.
–REFERENCE: In Batman vs Robin #2—originally told in Batman and The Outsiders #8. Batman and the Outsiders battle and defeat the evil wizard Tannarak.
–REFERENCE: In The Penguin #3 and The Penguin #8—originally told in Batman and The Outsiders Annual #1. Batman and the Outsiders fight the vigilante team known as The Force of July (Major Victory, Lady Liberty, Mayflower, Silent Majority, and Sparkler). The Force of July is directly overseen by the US government’s American Security Agency (ASA).
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #992—originally told in Batman and The Outsiders #25-27. Batman and the Outsiders prevent the Kobra Cult from causing a global nuclear holocaust.
–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Forge #1 and Doomsday Clock #5. Looker, Windfall, and Atomic Knight (formerly Shining Knight Gardner Grayle) join Batman’s secret Outsiders team. The Outsiders will continue going on unspecified missions and investigating the “dark energy” signature found in geological anomalies across the globe.
–FLASHBACK: From Justice League: Road to Dark Crisis #1 Part 5—and referenced in Doomsday Clock #6 and Suicide Squad Vol. 7 #2. Bruce meets gorgeous pale-skinned astronomer Natasha Knight (aka Natalia Knight), falling for her charming blandishment, blarney, and beauty. But Bruce soon discovers that she is the thieving super-villain known as Nocturna. Batman chases after Nocturna and her adoptive brother Anton Knight (aka Night-Thief aka Night-Slayer). Not long after, the Caped Crusader and Nocturna become brief lovers. While Batman is distracted with Nocturna, Catwoman pokes around and busts Anton. Batman and Nocturna call off their fling and fight one another. Eventually, Nocturna leaves Gotham.
–FLASHBACK: From Flash Vol. 5 #21 and Justice League Incarnate #4—and referenced in Dark Days: The Forge #1, Dark Knights Rising: The Wild Hunt #1, Dark Days: Metal #6, Justice League Vol. 3 #39, Justice League of America Vol. 5 #5, Justice League of America Vol. 5 #8-9, Justice League of America Vol. 5 #28, Justice League Vol. 4 #22, Justice League Vol. 4 #51, The Unexpected #5, Event Leviathan #2, Detective Comics #1010, Flash #758, Dark Nights: Death Metal – Multiverse’s End #1, Infinite Frontier #5, Nightwing Vol. 4 2021 Annual, Justice League Vol. 4 #75, Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #4, Dark Crisis: Young Justice #4, Dark Crisis: The Dark Army #1, and Dark Crisis: Big Bang #1, and Superman: Kal-El Returns Special #1. Originally told in The Crisis on Infinite Earths. Bear in mind, this is a slightly altered version of the original Crisis on Infinite Earths. Here’s the synopsis. Pariah arrives on Earth with startling news: a major “Crisis” has begun! The omniverse (aka multi-multiverse) is slowly being destroyed by a powerful super-villain known as The Anti-Monitor (Universe-3’s Mobius), who has successfully outmatched his rival brother, The Monitor (Mar Novu), a cosmic being tasked with watching-over and protecting the local multiverse. Earth’s heroes learn about Pariah, specifically how he accidentally released the Anti-Monitor thanks to botched experimentation with an Antimatter Chamber. Unknown to all, the super-celestial Great Hand known as Perpetua, from her prison in the Source Wall, is secretly influencing the Anti-Monitor’s bad behavior. Beyond this curtain, the living evil known as the Great Darkness is influencing and will continue to influence Perpetua, the Anti-Monitor, and others, moving forward. The Great Darkness and Perpetua will secretly influence the majority of the “Crises” to come.[1] As the Anti-Monitor’s deadly wave washes over the omniverse, an “infinite number” (i.e. billions) of universes are erased in one fell swoop. Countless beings are killed. Entire timelines, such as those home to an alt-Lex Luthor named Alexander Luthor Jr, an alt-Superboy named Superboy-Prime, and an alt-Superman named Kal-L, are lost forever.[2] As the wave of destruction reaches the edge of the local DC multiverse, the skies burn bright red over all the threatened planets. After creating a new heroic Dr. Light (Kimiyo Hoshi), the Monitor is fatally wounded and disappears into the ether. Despite his condition, the Monitor is able to raise golden interdimensional tuning towers on multiple Earths. These tuning machines act as antennas designed to both delay the wave of destruction and draw surviving universes into a safe haven by aligning their vibrational planes. With the erasure wave slowed, all the heroes are whisked away to the Monitor’s HQ by Harbinger. Alexander Luthor Jr and Harbinger brief the heroes (including Dawnstar of the 31st century Legion of Super-Heroes) on how to defeat their opponent. Eventually, all the superheroes of the multiverse band together to fight against the evil Anti-Monitor, his army of Shadow Demons, and his lackey Psycho-Pirate. Specifically, Batman officially joins the Detroit-based JL, teaming with them in battle. The Dark Knight specifically forms a close bond with Vixen, even telling her all about the death of his parents and how he became Batman. Ramified across multiple universes, all the heroes witness chaos and villainy like never before. Notably, Chemo is dropped onto an alternate Earth’s New York City, leveling it completely. The war erupts into bedlam, pitting the JL, Outsiders, Amazons, Global Guardians, Infinity Inc (Star-Spangled Kid aka Sylvester Pemberton, Jade, Obsidian, Silver Scarab, Fury aka Lyta Trevor, Nuklon, Dr. Midnight, Hourman aka Rick Tyler, Northwind, and Wildcat Yolanda Montez), Christopher Chance, and Freedom Fighters (Uncle Sam, Black Condor, Doll Man, Human Bomb, The Ray aka Langford Terrill, Phantom Lady, and Plastic Man) against various villains. Note that Plastic Man is crook-turned-superhero Eel O’Brien, who is also currently an FBI agent/informant and member of the long-running government defense organization known as The All-Star Squadron. During the crisis, Clayface II is killed, Dove is killed, Kole Weathers is killed, Supergirl is killed (and memory-erased), and Flash literally runs himself to death to prevent the Anti-Monitor from wielding a cosmic WMD.[3] A large funeral is held to mourn the passing of Flash, after which Wally West becomes the new Flash! Despite suffering casualties and losses (including the destruction of the JL Satellite—don’t worry, the trophies are saved), the heroes defeat the Anti-Monitor and win the day. Thanks to the actions of the Spectre, all of reality is rewritten as the entire multiverse is contracted/merged into one confluent timeline. (Notably, it’s unclear how long this contraction period lasts. Nevertheless, the multiverse will soon return to status quo.) After the dust settles, Batman keeps one of the Monitor’s interdimensional tuning towers for study. Due to its massive size, Batman definitely has some metahuman help in securing and transporting the tower—although not from Superman, since the Man of Steel won’t be aware that Batman is keeping one. Instead of telling Superman about his plans and knowing that he would likely disapprove, Batman simply asks the Man of Steel to construct a giant room for him under his Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic. Batman then puts the tuning tower in the impenetrable underground room and seals it up, making Superman promise to never to look inside. After showing his trust by agreeing, Batman uses some unknown means to shoot the room’s only key into the sun. Notably, having commiserated with higher-powers, Psycho-Pirate gains full knowledge of the history of multiverse reboots and the metaverse.[4] Although, this forbidden knowledge makes Psycho-Pirate lose control of his mind, resulting in him getting locked up in Arkham Asylum. With the crisis officially over, the dying Monitor, as his last living act, creates the first of what will become an entire race of Monitors to secretly protect the multiverse in his absence. The first of these new Monitors is Dax Novu, whose original form was that of the Overmonitor’s science/discovery probe. He will soon be joined by Rox Ogama and many others.
–DC’s Spring Breakout! #1 Part 2
Spring. Alfred convinces Bruce to show up at the 40th Annual Wayne Spring Ball. During the festivities, Mr. Freeze shows up hoping to force one of the attendees, renowned cancer researcher Dr. Lapointe, to save his frozen Nora. Bruce sneaks off into the Batcave, dons his Bat-gear, and then sneaks outside in order to crash through his own window! Talk about putting on a show. Batman initiates his toy gun/thermal trap scheme in order to bring down Mr. Freeze.
–REFERENCE: In Action Comics #978. Superman goes on unspecified business with Batman before returning home to his partner Lois Lane, who reveals she is pregnant! Lois is already a few months pregnant, although she’s not yet showing. This puts her—at the absolute latest—toward the end of her second trimester (fourth month, maybe four-and-a-half months, maybe five if we really push it).[5]
–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1000 Part 3. Oafish henchman-for-hire Knute Brody (an invention of Batman’s) joins-up with an escaped Mr. Freeze. Of course, Brody’s actions result in the super-villain going right back to jail. It is unknown who plays the role of Brody for this item. It could be Batman or Alfred.
–FLASHBACK: From Red Hood & The Outlaws Vol. 2 #25. Batman and Robin, while on an unspecified mission, crash the Batmobile into the bay or river. Robin drags an unconscious Batman out of the drink, saving his life.
–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1027 Part 1. Batman trundles through a manmade deep freeze to challenge an escaped Mr. Freeze.
–FLASHBACK: From Red Hood: Outlaw #34—originally told via flashback from Red Hood & The Outlaws #3. Robin is too sick with the flu to go out on patrol. Batman tells him that there is no shame in taking a night off every once in a while. Bruce, Jason, and Alfred stay in and watch movies.
–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1000 Part 2. Batman fights an escaped Mr. Freeze at a dolphin aquarium show.
–FLASHBACK: From Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Infinite Crisis #1. Batman and Superman get in a heated argument and nearly (or possibly) come to blows.
–DC’s Saved By the Belle Reve #1 Part 8
June. Okay, first off, author Andrew Aydin is way off base in terms of continuity, operating in a world where Dick has debuted as Nightwing while still in high school. However, this simply cannot be the case as it would contradict literally everything else. Dick doesn’t become Nightwing until after high school. So why then is Dick walking around Gotham City High in this item? We must simply retcon in our minds that he is visiting, tutoring, giving a presentation, or something (whatever). In any case, Dick bumps into Babs in the hallway and they agree to go to prom together. Upon learning that Dick and Babs will be going to prom together, Bruce invents a machine that can partially dress someone into their superhero togs with the press of a button, installing it into a limousine, which he insists Dick and Babs take to the dance (with Alfred as chauffeur). Sure enough, on prom night, Mr. Freeze strikes at an armored car, prompting Alfred to instruct his limo passengers to press their buttons. In an instant, special versions of Nightwing and Batgirl’s costumes are affixed to their bodies and they go into combat. Batman arrives shortly thereafter to help take down the villain. Not needing further assistance, Batman tells Dick and Babs to enjoy their prom night. At the prom, the teens learn that Babs had been voted prom queen, but since she was not present for the award ceremony, the crown went to someone else. Nevertheless, Dick and Babs share a fun romantic evening.
–REFERENCE: In Nightwing Vol. 4 #80. Early Summer. While this item has nothing to do with Batman, he’d surely be aware and supportive. Babs graduates high school and immediately starts college. She will eventually obtain a law degree.
–Joker: The World Part 10
Batman isn’t really a part of this story—he’s merely shown randomly swinging through Gotham City in one panel at the end. The main narrative is about a fake Joker in Argentina that has gained control of all the barra brava hooligan gangs across the nation. When one of the his top men betrays him, the Argentinian Joker executes him on live video stream. When the video goes viral, Joker and Harley Quinn see it and decide to pay the fake Joker a visit (presumably to kill him).
–REFERENCE: In Batman and Robin Vol. 3 #14. Batman battles Ra’s al Ghul. During their conflict, they pause to play a game of chess. From this point onward, they decide that they will always play chess, but remotely. Setting forth future protocol, Batman and Ra’s al Ghul plan to leave each another written-down chess moves whenever they cross paths. This way, each encounter between them will be part of a literal series of chess games. While we won’t see Batman delivering his next move responses, we must imagine him doing so on every other encounter he has with Ra’s al Ghul ahead. Batman will also keep track of their games on a physical chess board.
–REFERENCE: In Justice Society of America Vol. 4 #10—originally told in Last Days of the Justice Society Special #1 (aka Last Days of the Justice Society of America Special #1) and Infinity Inc #30. Batman is not a part of this item, but he would be aware of the tragic disappearance of the Justice Society of America to some extent. The JSA time-travels to 1945 to prevent Adolf Hitler from initiating Ragnarok. Despite being successful, the JSA (sans Power Girl, Earth-2 Huntress, the Spectre, Dr. Fate, and Star-Spangled Kid) gets trapped in a Ragnarok simulation (in an unnamed Limbo space). The missing JSAers will be stuck in this horrible cycle (fighting the demon Surtur) for sixty-six years. For the purposes of our present day timeline, the lost JSAers will remain missing for the next two years.
–REFERENCE: In Doomsday Clock #5—originally told in The Outsiders #11. Batman and his secret Outsiders team goes up against Russia’s super-team known as The People’s Heroes (Bolshoi, Molotov, Pravda, Hammer, and Sickle).
–REFERENCE: In Doomsday Clock #5—originally told in Batman: Hong Kong. Batman goes to Hong Kong looking to bust a snuff film director. There, he shakes-down Triad mob leader Tiger One-Eye. Inspired by Batman, Benny Lo (Tiger One-Eye’s nephew) becomes the superhero Night-Dragon, helping the Dark Knight resolve a Triad hostage situation. When Night-Dragon’s girlfriend is abducted by the snuff film gang, Batman and Night-Dragon rescue her and expose the murderous director as Night-Dragon’s other uncle, the hulking metahuman Lo Pao. After Lo Pao threatens to destroy all of Hong Kong, the cops and Triads make peace and help the heroes defeat him.
–REFERENCE: In Justice League of America Vol. 5 #8, Harley Quinn Vol. 3 #52, and Detective Comics #992. Batman and the Outsiders encounter the global criminal organization known as SKULL, tech brokers that “hoard progress” using an army of robot soldiers. SKULL is notorious for bartering world-changing tech in exchange for political influence. The Outsiders get involved in a conflict between SKULL and Kobra, ultimately defeating one of SKULL’s top agents, the super-villain Major Disaster. The Outsiders shut down the entire SKULL organization, putting its financial backer behind bars.
–REFERENCE: In Doomsday Clock #3, Detective Comics #992, Gotham City Monsters #1, and Gotham City Monsters #4. Batman learns that the Kobra Cult has turned one of its henchwomen, Sondra Fuller, into Lady Clayface aka Lady Clay aka Clayface IV. Lady Clayface joins “Strike Force Kobra,” which consists of Lady Eve, Elemental Woman, Zebra Man II, Planet Master, and Spectrumonster. Batman and his Outsiders fight Strike Force Kobra, defeating them. Unknown to Batman and company, Lady Clayface’s true origin has nothing to do with Kobra. In actuality, she has been given powers by the US Government’s Department of Metahuman Affairs.
–REFERENCE: In the quasi-canonical Harley Quinn’s Villain of the Year #1—originally told in Batman #412. Batman defeats the debuting Mime, a mime-themed super-villain.
–REFERENCE: In Batman Vol. 3 #41—originally told in Superman Vol. 2 #9. Batman isn’t involved in this caper, but there’s no doubt that he hears about it. Joker (likely the Comedian) tries his luck in Metropolis, kidnapping a bunch of people and putting them in lead-lined coffins all over the city. Despite being unable to see through lead with his x-ray vision, Superman simply scans the city and goes to each location where he can’t see, rescuing everyone.
–REFERENCE: In Titans Special #1—originally told in The New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #29-31. A bunch of heroes—including Superman, Batman, the Teen Titans, and others—are assembled by Magenta (Frances Kane) to take on Brother Blood and his Church of Blood (aka Blood Cult) minions, including Mother Mayhem (May Bennett). (Just as the Church of Blood always has a leader that assumes the Brother Blood role, they also always have a high-ranking matriarch that assumes the role of Mother Mayhem.) Note that the Teen Titans will disband not long after this.
–FLASHBACK: From Wonder Woman #762—and referenced in Flash Vol. 5 #21, Justice League of America Vol. 5 #7, Mister Miracle Vol. 4 #1, Blue Beetle Vol. 9 #11-12, Adventures of the Super Sons #1, Heroes in Crisis #5, Batman/Superman Vol. 2 #12, and Blue and Gold #4. Originally told in “LEGENDS,” Justice League #1-6, and Justice League International #7-8. Via his minion Glorious Gordon Godfrey, Darkseid begins a smear-campaign against the world’s superheroes. After public opinion about superheroes sinks to an all-time low, Darkseid sends his warrior Brimstone to Earth. This leads to the death of Commander Steel, after which the Detroit-based Justice League disbands. (Commander Steel’s metallic corpse will be kept in storage by every incarnation of the JL, moving forward.) Batman then joins scheming Max Lord‘s new Justice League International venture, which includes Martian Manhunter, Big Barda, Mr. Miracle (Scott Free), Fire (Beatriz da Costa), Ice (Tola Olafsdotter), Dr. Fate, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Black Canary, Shazam (Billy Batson), Blue Beetle (Ted Kord), and Dr. Light (Kimiyo Hoshi). (NOTES: First, Max Lord is also head of the secret government organization known as Checkmate. At this juncture, Max Lord is also being secretly controlled by a sentient AI called Kilg%re, although that won’t last for very long. Second, Mr. Miracle is always accompanied by his diminutive chain-smoking assistant Oberon Kurtzberg, who will act as a JLI manager. Third, Blue Beetle, unlike in the Modern Age, is merely a part-time member of this team that only will interact with Batman a few times. From these team-ups, the Dark Knight will regard Blue Beetle as a highly-intelligent-but-emotionally-immature second-rate superhero.) Right from the start, Batman hates both Max Lord and Guy Gardner. Shortly after the JLI debuts, Max Lord (sans Batman’s permission) recruits Booster Gold (along with Skeets) into the fold as well. On his first adventure with the team, Booster Gold helps defeat the returning Royal Flush Gang. Soon afterward, the JLI opens HQs at United Nations-sponsored embassy buildings in NYC, Paris, Moscow, Lisbon, Tokyo, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Potsdam, and Canberra. Captain Atom and Rocket Red (Vladimir Mikoyan) join the JLI as well. (Mikoyan is merely one—#7 to be exact—of several Rocket Reds, Russian soldiers in high-tech combat-suits.) Moving forward, the JLI will go on a variety of missions, some of which will simply have to be imagined on our timeline below.
–FLASHBACK: From Blue and Gold #4. With Batman remotely monitoring from JLI HQ, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle take on Blackguard in a losing effort. Concerned, Batman orders Guy Gardner to help out. Gardner quickly defeats Blackguard.
–REFERENCE: In Heroes in Crisis #7. Seeing that Booster Gold and Blue Beetle are chummy and also quite the incorrigible troublemakers, Batman begins keeping secret tabs on their extracurricular activities, which are usually harmless and situationally-comedic. Notably, Batman will sniff-out all of Booster and Beetle’s safe houses.
–REFERENCE: In Justice Society of America Vol. 4 #6—originally told in Dr. Fate #3-4. Dr. Fate (Kent Nelson) dies, passing the Helm of Nabu to a new Dr. Fate (Eric Strauss). The new Dr. Fate helps the JLI defeat Anti-Fate and the Lord of Chaos Typhon. Afterward, Nabu makes it so that, while wearing the Helm, Eric’s mind and body is bonded with the consciousness of his wife Linda Strauss. Essentially, Dr. Fate is now a merger of both Eric (mind and body) and Linda Strauss (just mind) à la how Firestorm is a merger of Ronnie Raymond and Professor Martin Stein.
–REFERENCE: In Green Lanterns #24—originally told in Justice League #5. A hot-headed Guy Gardner runs his mouth at a JLI meeting, which leads to Batman knocking him out with just one punch.
–REFERENCE: In Batman and Robin Vol. 3 2024 Annual #1. Batman isn’t involved in any way, but he hears all about Superman’s latest battle against newcomer Bloodsport (Bobby DuBois).
–REFERENCE: In Deathstroke Inc #2—originally told in The Weird #1-4. When the Macrolatts, sentient beings made of pure light from an alternate dimension, attack Earth, their rivals, the Zarolatts, send a champion to fight them. This Zarolatt warrior takes a human host body, becoming the superhero known as The Weird. The JLI teams up with the Weird to defeat the Macrolatts, who briefly take control of a few superheroes.
–FLASHBACK: From Action Comics #978 and Superman: Son of Kal-El #1—and referenced in Action Comics #1051 Part 2. August. When arms dealers attempt to assassinate a nine-month-pregnant Lois, Superman takes her to the safety of the Fortress of Solitude. Despite even more trouble, as an alien armada attempts to take over the planet, the Trinity allows other heroes to handle the situation in order to focus on Lois’ pregnancy. While Batman guards the perimeter of the Fortress, Wonder Woman helps deliver Jonathan Kent (full name Jonathan Samuel Lane Kent aka “Jon”).[6] Batman immediately runs tests on baby Jon. Soon afterward, Lois and Clark take brief maternity and paternity sabbaticals from the Daily Planet and move to a California farm to raise their newborn. Superman also builds a second Fortress of Solitude in the Himalayas and switches to an all-black costume, deciding to keep out of the limelight for a little bit. Superman will switch interchangeably between his black costume and his regular costume during this brief time period. Action Comics #978 makes it seem like the black-costumed Superman will keep to the shadows while residing in California for the next decade, but this isn’t quite correct. Following a short paternity leave, Superman will soon be highly active in Metropolis again. Lois and Clark will be bicoastal, splitting residence between California and Metropolis for the next seven-and-a-half years. And for the next seven-and-a-half years, Jon will be raised (mostly in secret) at the California farm.
–REFERENCE: In Dark Days: The Forge #1. Batman, having now worked closely with both Mr. Miracle and Big Barda, gains even more insight into the world of the New Gods. Mr. Miracle gives Batman a special method of communicating with both he and certain New Gods, should the Dark Knight need their assistance in the future.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #1000 Part 5 and Detective Comics #1000 Part 10. September 21. Batman, as he does every year on the anniversary of his parents’ murders, visits both Crime Alley (where his parents were killed) and the cemetery where his parents are buried.
–FLASHBACK: From Absolute Power: Origins #3—and referenced in Action Comics #980, Suicide Squad Vol. 5 #26-27, Batman Vol. 3 #151, and Absolute Power: Origins #2. Batman learns some information about government official Amanda Waller‘s clandestine program Task Force X, which controls the rotating super-villain covert-ops team known as The Suicide Squad. (Task Force X has existed in secrecy since the 1940s and has been operated by the US Government since that time, but Amanda Waller using it to form the Suicide Squad is a dangerous new direction for the program.) Amanda Waller’s current Suicide Squad operations are based out of the Belle Reve Federal Prison in Louisiana. Notably, the first ever Suicide Squad team consists of Cyclotron, Dr. Polaris, Emerald Empress, Lobo, Johnny Sorrow, and Rustam.[7] After doing extensive research on Amanda Waller, Batman infiltrates Belle Reve by donning his Matches Malone disguise and getting sent to the prison. Once inside, Batman switches into fighting togs and takes control of Belle Reve by force, kayoing numerous prison guards and Rick Flag Jr (Waller’s top operative/Suicide Squad handler). Batman then hovers over Amanda Waller as a means of intimidating her before departing just as quickly as he came. Later, a depressed and humiliated Amanda Waller meets with her estranged pregnant daughter Coretta Waller. Afterward, Waller and Flag Jr realize that Batman had been posing as Matches Malone. They begin a campaign to figure out Batman’s secret ID. Not long afterward, Amanda Waller tries to visit Coretta at the hospital to celebrate the impending birth of her baby, but Coretta’s brother Martin Waller angrily tells her to leave. Jessie Waller (Coretta’s other more-sympathetic brother) chats with his mom outside the hospital, giving her a hug and telling her to take care.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Three Jokers #1—and referenced in Batman: Three Jokers #1. Originally told in Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #66. Batman fights an escaped Killer Croc, who bites him badly. Eventually, Batman hauls Killer Croc back to Arkham Asylum, interrupting Dr. Roger Huntoon interviewing a visiting John Constantine.
–REFERENCE: In Doomsday Clock #5—originally told in Firestorm The Nuclear Man #64 and Firestorm The Nuclear Man Annual #5. When Firestorm and his partner Firehawk vow to destroy all nukes on the planet, the US Government sends Captain Atom and Amanda Waller’s current Suicide Squad incarnation—Rick Flag Jr, Killer Frost (Louise Lincoln), Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, Multiplex, and Slipknot—to stop them. The Suicide Squad quickly bows out of the fight and unleashes Parasite in its place. The Justice League, Firestorm, and Firehawk defeat Parasite. Later, Firestorm leaves to combat Russia’s own nuclear man Pozhar (former Chernobyl disaster victim Mikhail Arkadin) in the deserts of Nevada. Unknown to the combatants, the fight is merely a setup by both the US Government and the Russian Government to destroy the two dangerous entities. They are nuked, but an unexpected result occurs: Ronnie Raymond merges with Pozhar to form an even more powerful Firestorm. NOTE: The merger between Ronnie and Pozhar is only temporary. After briefly becoming a Fire Elemental by merging yet again (this time with Svarozhich), Firestorm will split back up. Svarozhich will die while Pozhar and Ronnie de-merge, going their separate ways. Without knowledge of his country’s duplicity against him, Pozhar will continue working for the Russian government with devout loyalty. Professor Stein will eventually wind up re-merged with Ronnie inside the Firestorm matrix.
–REFERENCE: In Flash Vol. 5 #21, Aquaman/Jabberjaw Special #1 Part 2, Justice League of America Vol. 5 #14, Doomsday Clock #5-6, Absolute Power: Task Force VII #7, and DC’s I Know What You Did Last Crisis #1 Part 2—originally told in Millennium. Manhunter Robots return again, activating sleeper agents embedded within the superhero community in an attempt to take control of Earth. Notably, Rocket Red Vladimir Mikoyan reveals himself as an evil Manhunter, attacking the JLI from within. In Gotham, Batman learns that Commissioner Gordon has been kidnapped and replaced by a Manhunter robot. Batman and Robin break into Arkham Asylum, blow-up the fake Gordon, and discover the real Gordon is safe in Louisiana. Batman drops off the remains of the fake Gordon with Dr. Light (Kimiyo Hoshi) at STAR Labs. Eventually, the Manhunters are defeated by dozens of heroes. Specifically, a bunch of heroes, including Green Lanterns Arisia Rrab and Kilowog, defeat the Manhunter Highmaster to save Earth. Afterward, Mikoyan’s Rocket Red #7 suit goes into the JL Trophy Room. A new superhero team, The New Guardians, debuts as well. Handpicked by the Guardians of the Universe, the team consists of Harbinger, Extraño, Tom Kalmaku, Gloss, Floronic Man (Jason Woodrue), Dreamer (Betty Clawman), Jet, and Ram.
–REFERENCE: In Red Hood and The Outlaws Vol. 2 Annual #1, All-Star Batman #10, and Batman Vol. 3 #56—originally told in “TEN NIGHTS OF THE BEAST.” Batman fights deadly Russian super-assassin KGBeast (Anatoli Knyazev). In order to evade capture, the Beast severs his own hand. Despite immediately resurfacing with a weaponized robot hand, Batman still defeats him.
–REFERENCE: In The Human Target #4. Thanksgiving. Bruce holds a Thanksgiving dinner for his JLI teammates. Big Barda decides to bring a Parademon to the gathering. Trouble/hilarity ensues. Cranberry sauce is involved.
–REFERENCE: In Detective Comics #957-958. Batman encounters Lady Shiva—Cassie Cain’s mother—for the first time.
–FLASHBACK: From Detective Comics #1000 Part 2. Batman fights Clayface (Basil Karlo) aboard a cruise ship that has just berthed at one of Gotham’s harbors.
–FLASHBACK: From Batman: Urban Legends #10 Part 4. Christmas. Bruce and Alfred spend Xmas with Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl (all of whom are in their Bat-Family costumes for some reason, although everyone is wearing an Xmas sweater as well).
–FLASHBACK: From Harley Quinn 25th Anniversary Special #1 Part 2. Batman, Robin, and Batgirl bust Joker (the Comedian) and Harley Quinn on Harley’s birthday. (This flashback—a memory narrated by Harley herself—is impossible to place error-free because it supposedly takes place at a time period where: one, Harley is still dating Joker; two, Harley will still be dating Joker a year from now; three, Batgirl is active; and four, Batgirl is wearing her Burnside costume.) So, how do we handle this one? It’s gotta go right here, obviously prior to the events of The Killing Joke, which means the Burnside costume has to be outright ignored.
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<<< Rebirth Era Year 7 <<< ||| >>> Rebirth Era Year 9 >>>
- [1]COLLIN COLSHER: Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? All that exists is the blank nothingness of the Overvoid aka Overmonitor, an omnipotent and infinite-sized living void. (Note that Mar Novu will also later call himself both “Monitor” and “Over-Monitor,” likely as a nod to the original.) While nothing yet exists in the various dimensions of the multiverse, the Overvoid acts as a potential incubator for future life. Within the Overvoid reside the Great Hands—The Source (aka The Presence aka The Hand of the Light aka The White Hand of Creation aka The Great Hand of Creation, later to be known as the Abrahamic God) and its polar opposite the Great Darkness (aka the Hand of the Great Darkness). It’s unclear if the Hands of Light and Darkness are spawned from the Overvoid or vice versa, but at some point, other Great Hands are born forth from the Overvoid, such as the Empty Hand (who is linked to the Great Darkness) and the Judges of the Source and Perpetua (who are both linked to the Source). (Despite being associated with the Light, Perpetua goes rogue and rebels against the Source.) Notably, 2022’s Justice League Incarnate #5 reveals the Empty Hand as the “right hand” of the Great Darkness and Darkseid as the “left hand” of the Great Darkness.
Cut to twenty billion years ago. From the 6th Dimension, Perpetua partly creates the local multiverse, which comprises matter, anti-matter, and dark matter. (Perpetua is either manipulated by or openly aiding the Great Darkness.) Perpetua also creates monitors for matter, anti-matter, and dark matter—and thus, Mar Novu (The Monitor), Mobius (The Anti-Monitor), and Alpheus (The World Forger) are born. Perpetua is also “mother to the seven primal cosmic energies,” creating those Dark Forces as well. Alpheus’ job, besides monitoring over dark matter, is to sculpt potential new universes from the World Forge aka the Forge of Worlds, a “place of creation and beginnings” that is seemingly bi-located in both the Dark Multiverse and in the 6th Dimension. Alpheus—along with his minion Barbatos—spends the next five billion years creating new universes based upon the hopes and fears of all living things (i.e. gods and celestial beings), doing so using a cosmic hammer and anvil at the World Forge. The most stable worlds are allowed to ascend into the multiverse above whereas the unstable ones descend into dark matter to form the Dark Multiverse. In direct reaction to all of Perpetua’s actions, the Source creates a living embodiment of light known as The Entity, which also acts as part-demiurge of the Multiverse, spawning the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum in an effort to counteract Perpetua’s machinations. (The Great Darkness will in turn create the Anti-Life Entity, continuing the never-ending trend of oneupmanship between the rival Great Hands.)
Because the cosmology of the DCU has been fleshed out by various creators, there remains some lingering confusion. It’s worth addressing this confusion in order to clear things up. In Justice League Vol. 4 #22, James Tynion IV implies that Perpetua herself could be the original Great Hand, but in Dark Nights: Death Metal #1, Scott Snyder says definitively that she isn’t while simultaneously reconfirming that the Source and the Presence are one and the same. In Dark Nights: Death Metal, Snyder hints that Perpetua was around from the get-go while also revealing that she is but one of several Great Hands. In the finale of Dark Nights: Death Metal, the original Great Hand appears to be Perpetua, but this is only part of Perpetua’s failed attempt to recreate everything in her own image, not a legitimate depiction of history. It’s clear that Perpetua is a Great Hand, but not one of the original Great Hands. Justice League Incarnate #4 confirms that Perpetua is not the original Great Hand while better explaining the Great Hands concept in general by flashing back-to Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #50. Justice League Incarnate #4 also connects the Great Darkness to the Empty Hand, confirming the latter is a minion/emanation of the former.
In terms of a publishing perspective, the Great Hands, Mar Novu, Mobius, Alpheus, and Barbatos are the same incarnations from as far back as the Golden Age. As referenced in James Tynion IV’s Justice League Vol. 4 #22, they are super-celestials existing on a high enough plane of existence that they’ve literally survived and bore witness to all the reboots! There’s plenty of precedent for this fictive concept as it reflects Kal-L and Superboy-Prime in Infinite Crisis, über Brainiac in Convergence, the emanations of the New Gods from The Multiversity Guidebook, The Keeper from Bryan Hitch’s Justice League Vol. 3, and others (notably Dr. Manhattan and the Great Darkness). However, writers would be wise to not have pre-existing characters live through reboots. Anytime you try to fuck with a prior continuity, paradoxes emerge. And paradox is the cousin of continuity error. Now, Tynion’s use of the precedent here isn’t as clunky as Jeff King’s use of it in Convergence, but it does fall extremely close, giving us a flashback to the pre-original Crisis (Silver Age) timeline. It’s one thing to reference prior continuities and reality-alterations, but to actually show old timelines outright is a dangerous game. It would make so much more sense (from the quantum mechanical/metaphysical perspective) to have ultra-cosmic characters simply be aware of prior reboots. That way, paradox is avoided while the same narrative effect still remains. In any case, while the New 52 continuity demonstrated that the Great Hand of Creation was a time-displaced Volthoom, this idea has been erased, replacing Volthoom with the Source/the Presence. It’s possible that a time-displaced Volthoom had some influence on the creation of the multiverse, but he’s not the original Great Hand.↩
- [2]COLLIN COLSHER: Note that Alexander Luthor was originally from Earth-3, Superboy-Prime was originally from Earth-Prime, and Kal-L was originally from Earth-2. Of course, since the 1980s, when Crisis was first published, the infinite Earths (along with their designations and histories) have undergone several changes. As such, we shouldn’t regard these characters as coming from the current iterations of Earth-2, Earth-3, and Earth-Prime—hence the reason why I’ve simply listed them each as coming from various non-specified alt-Earths from within the omniverse. Notably, in Grant Morrison’s The Green Lantern #10, there is mention that universe designation isn’t consistent (with concretized Earth numbers) until the Monitors come around at the end of the original Crisis. I don’t take this to mean that “original” Earth-2, Earth-3, or Earth-Prime still exist in current continuity. While The Green Lantern #10 can be interpreted in different ways, thus making things inconclusive, we know with relative certainty, even if Earth designations changed over time, that the Earths themselves (i.e. their histories) should/must remain consistent per continuity. Therefore, the Earth-2 we have in current continuity could resemble some aspects of the pre-Crisis Earth-2, but it absolutely isn’t one and the same.↩
- [3]COLLIN COLSHER: Depending on the writer, the language pertaining to Barry Allen’s death here in “Crisis I” is variable. Most writers refer to it as a legitimate death whereas others, notably Mark Waid in Dark Crisis: Big Bang, say that Barry merely gets “lost in the Speed Force.” One could easily argue that “getting lost in the Speed Force” is akin to death—if not a fate worse than death. After all, in Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi becoming “one with the Force” meant his death.↩
- [4]COLLIN COLSHER: The “metaverse,” a term conceived by Geoff Johns in 2019, is a type of continuity, but one different from (and outside of) fictive story-driven flow attached to fantasy narrative timelines. Johns’ metaverse is not to be confused with the more commonly known use of the word metaverse, which is defined as any virtual reality cyberspace. For DC Comics, the metaverse (maybe better named “fictional metaverse”) can be described as the literal complete publication archive of DC Comics since the 1930s—scilicet, a real world publication progression as it appears to the level of creator/reader (our reality). As invented timelines move and and go through reboots, relaunches, and writer switches, these massive changes can be measured via the manifestation of the metaverse. To explain it another way, metaverse-continuity shows a history where Superman appears out of the ether in 1938 (his Golden Age debut), then gets split in twain in the 50s (dawning of the Silver Age), then rebooted into one character in 1986 (original Crisis Modern Age reboot), then rebooted into a new character in 2011 (Flashpoint New 52 reboot), etc. Unlike regular fictional timelines, the metaverse only has one single chronicle whereas the former has myriad accounts. To behold metaverse history is to behold an unexpurgated, singular, real life publication history. Conversely, omniverse/multiverse history consists of multiple fictive timelines (Golden Age, Silver/Bronze Age, Modern Age, New 52, Rebirth/Infinite Frontier, etc). In other words, while there have been and will continue to be many omniverse/multiverse timelines, there can only ever be one metaverse.↩
- [5]COLLIN COLSHER: As noted here, the initial reference for Lois Lane’s pregnancy and Jon Kent’s birth comes from Dan Jurgens’ Action Comics #978 (2017). Jurgens’ timeline from Action Comics #976-978 has Lois’ pregnancy go after Superman’s death/return and the Lois/Clark marriage, thus anachronistically forcing Superman’s death/return and the Lois/Clark marriage earlier on the timeline (i.e. way early as compared to how it originally went down in the Modern Age) and placing Jon’s birth in Year 6 (2007). Lois Lane Vol. 2 #2 (2019) echoes this by saying that Lois and Clark married and had Jon in Year 6 (2007). Superman: Son of Kal-El #9 (2022) gets close to echoing this by telling us that Jon turned eleven-years-old in Year 18 (2019), placing his birth in Year 7 (2008). Adventures of the Super-Sons #1-12 (2018-2019), which is specifically a summer story occurring in Year 18 (it happens in-between school years), places Jon at ten-years-old during summertime of Year 18 (2019), which also means that he is born in September of Year 8 (2009). Both Brian Michael Bendis’ original conception of Jon’s age from Superman Vol. 5 #1-15 (“Unity Saga,” 2019) and Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s Action Comics #1038 (“Warworld Saga,” 2022) confirm Jon being born in Year 8 (2009)—with the latter specifically stating that Jon is nearing twelve-years-old by late Year 20 (2021). Furthermore, Joshua Williamson’s Justice League: Road to Dark Crisis #1 Part 1 (2022) says that the Rebirth/Infinite Frontier Era versions of Superman’s death/return and marriage to Lois mirror the chronology of the Modern Age, meaning that Lois’ pregnancy and Jon’s birth, which were not even originally part of the Modern Age, don’t bear any ties to her marriage in Rebirth/Infinite Frontier canon. Divorced from the marriage (pun intended), Lois’ pregnancy and Jon’s birth can go earlier—and, yes, out of wedlock. According to this logic, Lois’s pregnancy occurs prior to Superman’s death/return and the Lois/Clark marriage, which still won’t happen for a few years. In any case, all these contrasting variances stem from multiple different writers clashing with one another when it comes to Jon’s birthdate. Therefore, Jon’s birth year is really a personal headcanon choice. Some folks—like site contributor Kipfan—have Jon’s birth in 2007. Others have his birth in 2008 or 2009. It’s really up to you. Having Jon born in 2007, 2008, or 2009 shouldn’t have negative continuity impact on the decades to come. However, the Batman Chronology Project has chosen to go with 2009 based upon the combination of Adventures of the Super-Sons #1-12 , “Unity Saga,” “Warworld Saga,” and Justice League: Road to Dark Crisis #1 Part 1 (trumping the opposition from Action Comics #976-978, Lois Lane Vol. 2 #2, and Superman: Son of Kal-El #9). For me, there are a couple things that really tip the scales in favor of 2009. First, in multiple comics, Damian is (and always has been) said to be older than Jon, so it makes sense for the latter to be born a few years after the former. Second, and maybe most importantly, pushing Jon’s birth earlier forces Superman’s death/return and his marriage years to also go earlier, which then throws almost everything else into whack, up to and including the debuts of major characters like Doomsday, Tim Drake as Robin, Steel, Superboy, and others. It also throws into whack the ages of Tim, Dick, and others. For this particular period of the Rebirth/Infinite Frontier timeline to function well, it needs to generally reflect the order of the Modern Age—and not in a way that drastically compresses or stretches out chunks of time. Jon, being the anomaly that was never a part of the Modern Age in the first place, can and should have more flexibility in terms of the placement of his birth. In other words, I would refrain from radically shuffling around the continuity of potentially dozens of pre-existing characters simply to accommodate the continuity of one new character. (The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few!) Again, with emphasis, there’s no right answer here. It’s unfortunate that editors have been lax and allowed different creators to say different things over time, likely as part of an effort to keep Jon as young as possible (despite Bendis inexplicably aging the character up, but we’ll get to that when we get to it). That’s the hand we’ve been dealt. It’s up to the reader, as usual, to make sense of the senseless.↩
- [6]COLLIN COLSHER: See the above footnote about Lois’ pregnancy reveal for details about why Jon Kent is born here on our timeline and not earlier. But since you are already here… let me paraphrase a bit. Essentially, new continuity is based on old continuity, so it’s important for writers to try to adhere to the original order of previous continuities when drawing upon history for contemporary narrative. The old continuities exist as historical consensus. Thus, in the case of Lois Lane and Clark Kent’s Modern Age marriage, which was an important event that directly connected to other important items of its time, it really shouldn’t be divorced (sorry, I can’t stop using this pun) from said items (i.e. Doomsday’s debut, Superboy’s debut, Steel’s debut, Tim Drake becoming Robin, Superman’s death and return, and more). Seeing Jon’s birth attached to Lois and Clark’s marriage might seem to make sense at first glance (especially in a first comes marriage then comes the baby kind of way), but Jon isn’t just a new addition to the Kent family; his birth/existence is a new addition to canon. There was no Jon in the Modern Age. Therefore, do we slide around and misshape our entire shared foundation in order to accommodate the one new thing? Or do we place the new thing where it needs to go without rearranging everything else? This is the continuity game that must be played. If a player is hellbent on keeping Jon’s birth after Lois and Clark’s wedding, then they could get creative with headcanon and separate the wedding from everything else, pushing it earlier. Or they could shovel entire heaps of associated storylines into different positions along with it. But I think it’s easier to go my route and simply have Jon born out of wedlock.↩
- [7]COLLIN COLSHER: Cyclotron is killed on the first Suicide Squad mission, after which Amanda Waller discusses Task Force X logistics with President Barack Obama, which helps place this item here in 2009.↩
