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The world of comics has generally played fast and loose with continuity. Stories evolve, and characters change over time to stay fresh and interesting. Sometimes, old ideas fall out of style and no longer fit with modern understandings of characters. For instance, many like to point out that Batman once used guns and was a violent killer. While that version of Batman no longer aligns with who he is today, in another universe or timeline, that version still exists.
Elseworlds, an imprint of DC Comics, was created to tell stories outside the regular continuity. The first Elseworlds story was 1989’s Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, which saw Batman taking on Jack the Ripper. Elseworlds stories have been adapted into animated features, served as the theme of one of the Arrowverse crossovers, and will run alongside the new DC Cinematic Universe to brand movies outside its main continuity. DC recently revived the Elseworlds branding for comics as well. Many great stories have emerged from Elseworlds in recent years. Some may not carry the official brand but still embrace the same concept.
10
Justice League Infinity
This Series Brings the Animated World Back to Life
One of the more popular versions of the DC canon was the DCAU, or DC Animated Universe. It began with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992 and was quickly followed by Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, and finally, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. For many viewers, these portrayals became the quintessential versions of the characters. This version of the Justice League became so iconic that, for some, it serves as the blueprint for the team, making any other version feel incorrect by comparison.
Justice League Infinity follows the continuing adventures of the DCAU version of the Justice League. This seven-part series follows them as they take on a new villainous opposite of Superman called Overman. The story takes these heroes through the multiverse to uncover the secrets of this monster and to help them solve the mysterious disappearance of countless people who are then replaced by similar duplicates.
9
Batman/Catwoman
Witness The Tragedy Of The Bat And The Cat
While writing the flagship Batman series during DC Comics’ Rebirth era, writer and former CIA agent Tom King sought to bring Batman and Catwoman closer than ever before. Their relationship deepened to the point where The Dark Knight proposed to Selina Kyle. Although the two wouldn’t marry in the main series, the story continued in Batman/Catwoman, a spin-off that expanded on events from King’s run on the main title.
King’s tenure on Batman was marked by controversy and behind-the-scenes drama. He eventually left the series, with James Tynion IV taking over. Batman/Catwoman was eventually rebranded as a DC Black Label book, an imprint for mature stories set outside regular continuity. The series generated considerable hype and sold well. It also included a Christmas special that paid tribute to artist John Paul Leon, who contributed to the issue. It featured a touching love story highlighting Bruce and Selina’s enduring affection across different periods.
8
Gotham By Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age
The Steampunk World Expands Exponentially
The original Elseworlds title, Gotham by Gaslight, was an epic tale written by Brian Augustyn and illustrated by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. It follows Batman during Gotham’s Industrial Revolution era as he confronts Jack the Ripper, who has made his way to the city. Fans widely regard this steampunk story as one of the best Batman stories ever written. A 2018 animated adaptation was released, though it significantly deviates from the source material. Batman’s distinctive costume from the book has appeared in several video games, and a game inspired by the story was once in development but ultimately canceled.
The second sequel series, Gotham by Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age, expands the Earth-19 universe by bringing more of the standard DC heroes into the fold. In this story, a meteor strikes the United States, bringing characters like Catwoman, the League of Shadows, and the Man of Steel to Gotham.
7
Dark Knights of Steel
Justice In an Age of Magic
The concept of DC heroes in a high fantasy setting has been explored in Elseworlds books before, but never as expertly as in Dark Knights of Steel. Created by Tom Taylor, this series follows a fleeing Jor-El and Lara-El from Krypton, who land on Earth-118 during an age of castles and dragons. The Els eventually claim royalty over the land, with knights in their service, including Bruce Wayne, Richard Grayson, Duke Thomas, Jason Todd, and Stephanie Brown.
Tom Taylor is no stranger when it comes to stories outside of regular canon, having written the Injustice tie-in comics, the zombie-centric DCeased series, and Hellblazer: Rise and Fall. Dark Knights of Steel also spawned a spin-off, Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter, which introduced Deathstroke.
6
Batman: One Dark Knight
In Which the Hunter Becomes the Hunted
Few in the industry possess the artistic prowess of Jock, so when his DC Black Label book Batman: One Dark Knight was announced, readers knew they were in for something special. Jock has delivered some of the best comic art in decades, not only with his work on other Batman stories like The Black Mirror and The Batman Who Laughs but also across numerous other series like 2000 A.D.
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10 Most Interesting DC Elseworlds Universes
DC Comics’ Elseworlds gave readers wonderful stories, creating alternate universes that have become fan favorites.
In Batman: One Dark Knight, Batman is on a routine GCPD escort mission, transporting a dangerous metahuman named E.M.P. to Blackgate. However, the plan falls apart, and a badly beaten Batman must fight his way through a blacked-out Gotham, delivering E.M.P. one block at a time. The city becomes a riotous hell, henchmen stalk the Bat, and countless secrets lurk in the dark.
5
Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Crisis on Infinite Earths
When Worlds Collide
The Dark Multiverse is a fascinating concept. First introduced just before the Rebirth event and featured prominently in Dark Nights: Death Metal, the Dark Multiverse is composed of Earths formed from the bad decisions made or imagined in the main multiverse. It’s a place where the worst possible outcomes come to life. This dark reflection of the multiverse gave rise to The Batman Who Laughs, the worst possible version of Bruce Wayne imaginable: a twisted fusion of Bruce and The Joker.
Elsewhere in the Dark Multiverse, other versions of Bruce became nightmare versions of Justice League members. The Bat-Family wasn’t the only group to suffer; major events in DC Comics history also played out with horrifying twists. A series of one-shots explored these dark takes on events like The Death of Superman, Flashpoint, and Blackest Night. The biggest DC event, Crisis on Infinite Earths, revealed what happened when the Anti-Monitor was defeated in a dark timeline. On Earth -2 (the negative identifier marking it as part of the Dark Multiverse), the Justice League fell to the forces of Surtur. Alan Scott offered himself as a sacrifice, leading Surtur to new worlds to devour in exchange for Earth’s safety, thus taking on the ominous new identity of the “Dread Lantern.”
4
Rorschach
A Worthy Successor to a Powerful Series
Between Human Target and Strange Adventures, Tom King has shown that he can really tell a great detective story.King’s Rorschach series follows the original Watchmen while ignoring Doomsday Clock and briefly referencing events from the Watchmen television series. In this story, Rorschach, seemingly alive 35 years after his death at the hands of Doctor Manhattan, attempts to assassinate a presidential candidate. But this can’t be Walter Kovacs returned from the dead, so who is it?
Each issue received high praise upon release, with Jorge Fornes’ art being a major highlight. At the center of the story is an unnamed detective who is attempting to uncover the identity of this new Rorschach. Expanding on something as iconic and timeless as Watchmen is a massive undertaking, but King approaches it with the respect and gravity the material deserves.
3
Hellblazer: Rise and Fall
An Excellent Adventure for One of DC’s Darker Heroes
Tom Taylor takes a jab at DC’s favorite demonologist and petty dabbler in the dark arts, John Constantine, in this DC Black Label book. The story begins with a paranormal event: the body of a billionaire falls from the sky, impaled on a church spire. Upon closer inspection, the body has angel wings. Soon, dozens of other winged bodies fall from the skies, leading Constantine to team up with a childhood friend and detective to solve the mystery.
This is currently the only Constantine story under the Black Label imprint. Since it doesn’t rely heavily on prior Constantine lore, some have suggested it as an excellent entry point for new fans exploring the character and his mythos. The book received favorable reviews upon release and is available in both hardcover and individual issues.
2
The Other History of the DC Universe
One of the Most Important DC Books of Recent Years
In 1986, DC published History of the DC Universe, a two-issue series that sought to canonize events following Crisis on Infinite Earths. The Other History of the DC Universe is a five-part series that revisits these events but through the perspective of characters from marginalized groups. The first issue follows Black Lightning, with subsequent issues focusing on Thunder, Mal and Karen Duncan, Renee Montoya, and Katana.
The Other History of the DC Universe was written by screenwriter John Ridley, best known for writing 12 Years A Slave. The book is not told in a traditional comic format but rather through prose from the point of view of the characters, with caption boxes primarily detailing events as if they were telling the story to the reader. The series was met with glowing reviews and praise for the subject matter and the strong representation of its characters.
1
Superman: The Space Age
An Age of Hope Forms In This Reimagined Origin Story
In Superman: The Space Age, The Man of Steel is introduced to the world at the height of the Cold War. Following the assassination of JFK in 1963, Superman revealed himself to humanity, hoping to usher in an era of peace during one of history’s most uncertain periods. His courage and willingness to work with the world toward a better future inspire others, leading to the emergence of other Justice League members. However, not all is well. During an interview, Clark meets a man who calls himself Pariah, who warns of an impending doom set to arrive in 20 years, a threat even these new heroes cannot stop.
This mini-series is a beautiful love letter to the Silver Age of comics, a time when fascination with space travel and science fiction was at its peak. It pairs well with Darwyn Cooke’s Golden Age tribute, DC: The New Frontier. Featuring incredible art by Michael Allred, the distinct visuals perfectly capture the style of the period, with a story that reflects the era’s sense of wonder and optimism.
“}]] From Gotham By Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age to Dark Knights Of Steel, these are the best Elseworlds comics of the last decade. Read More