Timeline of the DC Universe

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This timeline is an attempt to track the chronology of the major events in the fictional DC Universe, a setting for most of the stories featured in DC Comics's publications. DC has published several official timelines but they are either disparate or obsolete by now. Please note that DC has officially revised its universe's history thrice (in the limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985), Zero Hour (1994) and Infinite Crisis (2006)) and events in the current continuity might no longer be the same as when they were originally published.

Note also that due to the "floating timeline" that is applied to the DC universe, events from comics published in the past 5 decades are considered to have taken place only years ago (in about a decade). This is known within the DC Universe as the "Modern Era of Superheroes".

All dates are approximate unless stated otherwise.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Contents

[edit] Before the Big Bang

[edit] Dawn of Time

  • c. 20,000,000,000 B.C. – The Anti-Monitor appears at the dawn of creation to undo the universe. The Spectre, backed up by superheroes, fights the Anti-Monitor and allows the universe to be created (Crisis).[4]
  • c. 19,000,000,000 B.C. – The current universe is created by (and in turn creates) The Source (Jack Kirby's Fourth World). Notably, in a Marvel Comics publication detailing the end of their previous universe and the creation of their current one, DC's Spectre is shown to collaborate with the Living Tribunal to initiate the Big Bang that births both the current DC and Marvel universes. Though immediately questionable in its relevance to the DC universe, it is notable in that the story was co-written by DC's Executive Editor at the time, Mike Carlin.
  • c. 18,000,000,000 B.C. – GodWorld is formed.
  • c. 17,000,000,000 B.C. – Life begins to evolve on GodWorld.
  • c. 15,000,000,000 B.C. – Humanoid beings on the GodWorld became known as the Old Gods and fought titanic wars.
    • Imperiex is reborn in the new universe and begins his eons-long destiny of remaking the universe again.

[edit] Billions of years ago

  • The GodWorld is destroyed in a great war caused by the Old Gods' greatest weapon, Mageddon. The gods are killed, and the "Godwave" is unleashed on the universe. This creates forces in the universe (such as the Speed Force and the Metagene) that will allow certain superpowers to work. It also gives birth to new gods on planets all around the universe, including Earth.
  • Mageddon is imprisoned in a gravity sink on the outer curve of space-time.
  • The remains of Godworld form the planets Apokolips and New Genesis.
  • An experiment by Krona, a member of an immortal race of aliens from the planet Oa creates the Anti-Matter Universe; his people decide to atone for allowing this to happen by becoming the Guardians of the Universe. (52 Week 2)
    • c. 3,000,000,000 B.C. – The Oans split between females (the Zamarons) and males (the Oans).
    • The Guardians bind all the wild magic in the universe into the Starheart orb at the farthest reaches of space. (52 Week 2)
    • The Zamarons decide to reside on the planet Korugar. The male Oans swear not to interfere with them, so that the killing of a male Korugarian by them or their agents, can result in the destruction of the main Green Lantern power battery.
    • The Guardians create the Manhunter androids to serve as their agents. However, they eventually rebel against their masters. (52 Week 2)
    • The Guardians replace the Manhunters with living agents, the Green Lantern Corps. (52 Week 2)
    • The Psions are created from genetically altered lizards by the Guardians.

[edit] Ancient Times

  • Civilization begins on the planet Krypton.
  • 100 million years ago. – Captain Atom travels through time in chase with Monarch. He also encounters Chronos.
  • c. 50,000 YA
    • Caveman Vandar Adg gains immortality from exposure to a strange meteor, setting him on the path to becoming the evil Vandal Savage. (As retold in The Flash (1st series) #137 and other DC Comics)
  • c. 30,000 YA
    • Anthro, the first Cro-Magnon Man, is born. He will become a leader among early humans. (52 Week 2) (Date from Cro-Magnon Man article.)
    • The Guardians of the Universe accomplish mass genetic tampering with the Martian species, giving them a weakness of fire and making them shy away from being chaotic creatures. (JLA)
    • A spaceship crashes into Earth, containing a Guardian of the Universe and a Burning Martian. The Martian kills a tribe of Cro-Magnons and is later killed by Vandal Savage. (JLA)
  • A great civilization, rich in both magic and technology, forms on the continent of Atlantis.
  • Many years after its formation, Atlantis sinks. Some cities survive underwater thanks to their protective domes. The surviving Atlanteans use magic and technology to change themselves into water-breathing forms, and continue to live under the sea, unknown to the rest of mankind.
  • A plague wipes out most of the Martian race.
  • To protect the Amazons from persecution, the Greek gods transport them to the island of Themyscira, where they do not age.
  • 64 AD – Evil Genius Doctor Doome summons the Roman emperor Nero to battle the Seven Soldiers of Victory in 1942. Five tyrants from the past were summoned with his time machine. Nero captures Captain Atom. The alien civilization has settled on Earth waiting in disbelief for Monarch and their leader returning (Alpha Centurion joins the alien civilization and spends centuries with these aliens).
  • 6th century middle ages.
    • Merlin gives the Shining Knight, Sir Justin of the Round Table, magical equipment.
    • Morgan Le Fay destroys Camelot; Merlin and his half brother, the demon Etrigan curse a man named Jason Blood into serving as Etrigan's host body. (The Demon #1)

[edit] 20th Century

  • October 31, 1938 : Coinciding with the panic caused by Orson Wells' infamous broadcast, Newspaper publisher Lee Travis, assisted by his Asian chauffeur Wing How, makes his debut as the Crimson Avenger, the first of the twentieth century's masked heroes.
  • 1940: The first superheroes debut; they soon form the first superhero team, the Justice Society of America.
  • December 7, 1941: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brings the U.S.A. into the second World War; America's heroes try to retaliate only to find that a spell cast by Hitler and the Dragon King (using the Spear of Destiny and the Holy Grail, respectively) causes magical and magic-sensitive people to fall under their control if they enter Nazi-held territory. This leaves most of the truly powerful heroes out of the War. President Roosevelt then organizes all of America's superheroes into the All-Star Squadron, to protect the homefront. Normal people without special powers (such as Easy Company) fight the war, along with secret experimental soldiers like the Creature Commandos.
  • 1951: The Justice Society of America disbands, after being subject to McCarthyism. (Adventure Comics #466) Superhero activity declines (but doesn't totally disappear) afterwards. In response to this, the covert government organization Task Force X is formed to fill the gap left by the departing heroes.
  • c. "56 Years Ago"
    • The planet Krypton explodes. The Kryptonian scientist Jor-El manages to save his baby son, Kal-El, by sending him to Earth in a prototype starship. The planet's remains become kryptonite.
  • 1968: Nathaniel Christopher Adam, a United States Air Force airman in the Vietnam War, is sentenced to death; as an alternative to execution, he participates in a military experiment which Adam survives as alien metal melted into his body and the excess energy threw him forward in time.
  • c. "36 Years Ago"
    • A scientist, Dr. Saul Erdel, accidentally teleports J'onn J'onzz, the last living Martian, to Earth. He is secretly active for years, studying humanity and fighting crime under several false identities.
    • Kal-El's spacecraft lands outside of Smallville, Jonathan and Martha Kent find him. They adopt him and name him Clark Kent. (Flashback in various Superman comics)
    • Bruce Wayne is born to Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne.
    • American lighthouse keeper Arthur Curry raises the son of exiled Princess Atlanna of Atlantis.
  • c. "28 Years Ago"
    • A mugger murders Thomas and Martha Wayne in what will come to be known as "Crime Alley" in Gotham City. Their son Bruce swears to fight a war on crime. (Flashback in Detective Comics #33, November, 1939 and in various other issues). The killer, Joe Chill, is eventually caught. (Infinite Crisis #7).
  • c. "27 Years Ago
    • Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, yearns for a child and carves a statue of a little girl out of clay; her gods grant her wish by turning it into a real girl that she names Diana. (Wonder Woman (2nd series) #1]
  • c. "20 Years Ago"
    • Bruce Wayne begins his training in a variety of disciplines.

[edit] Modern Era of Heroes

Some information in this article or section has not been verified and may not be reliable.
Please check for any inaccuracies, and modify and cite sources as needed.

[edit] c. "13 Years Ago"

  • Clark Kent starts his superhero career as Superman. This inspires a new generation of superheroes to debut as well. Later, he joins the staff of the Daily Planet as a reporter. [5]
  • Bruce Wayne begins his career as the Batman in Gotham City.[6]
  • Diana, princess of the Amazons, arrives in America, where she takes the costumed identity of Wonder Woman. (Infinite Crisis #7)
  • Central City police scientist Barry Allen is hit by lightning (actually, a manifestation of the "Speed Force") and chemicals, becoming the (second) The Flash. (Showcase #4)
  • A dying member of the Green Lantern Corps, Abin Sur of Korugar, chooses test pilot Hal Jordan to succeed him.
  • Oliver Queen makes his debut as Green Arrow.
  • Roy Harper makes his debut as Speedy.
  • Arthur Curry Jr. begins adventuring as Aquaman.
  • J'onn J'onzz reveals his existence to the public and becomes known as the Martian Manhunter.
  • Dinah Laurel Lance makes her debut as the second Black Canary.
  • A number of superheroes form the Justice League.

[edit] c. "11 Years Ago"

  • Dick Grayson debuts as Robin.
  • Wally West makes his debut as Kid Flash.
  • Garth makes his debut as Aqualad.
  • Donna Troy makes her debut as Wonder Girl.
  • Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad unite in Hatton Corners to defeat the villain Mr. Twister [The Brave and the Bold #54]. Shortly thereafter, the three join forces with Wonder Girl and Speedy and call themselves the Teen Titans (Teen Titans (1st series) #53; Secret Origins Annual #3).

[edit] c. "Crisis on Infinite Earths, Five Years Ago."

[edit] c. "Three Years Ago"

[edit] The Death of Superman.[8]

[edit] c. "Two Years Ago"

  • Superboy, Robin, and Impulse form Young Justice.
  • The Titans reform.
  • No Man's Land. Gotham City is struck by a massive earthquake. The Federal government, finding that the cost of rebuilding Gotham would be too great, declares the city a "No Man's land", meaning Gotham is no longer a property of the United States. Most of the populace evacuates, but those who remain form territorial tribes in order to protect themselves. After restoration by Lex Luthor, the order is lifted one year later, and Gotham city is readmitted into the U.S.
  • Our Worlds at War. Planets such as Almerac and Warworld are destroyed. Imperiex Prime almost succeeds in destroying the universe and recreating a Big Bang only to be deterred by the Earth and its the alien alliance.

[edit] c. "One to Two Years Ago"

  • Donna Troy is killed by a Superman robot and Brainiac 8[11]
    • Young Justice and the Titans disband, reform as the Outsiders & the new Teen Titans.
  • The Spectre erases the Flash's secret identity from the world.
  • Kara Zor-El arrives on Earth.[12]

[edit] Identity Crisis

  • Sue Dibny is murdered by Jean Loring.
  • Wally West and Zatanna return the Top's memories, and he subsequently starts the Rogue War.
  • Hal Jordan is resurrected.[13]
  • The return of the Guardians of the Universe
  • Green Lantern Corps re-forms, doubles its membership.
  • Guy Gardner is promoted to the Green Lantern Honor Guard.
  • Jack Drake, Robin's father, and Captain Boomerang kill each other simultaneously.

[edit] War Games

  • The Spoiler becomes the fourth Robin but is soon fired.
  • Black Mask unites the gangs of Gotham City. The Spoiler is killed.

[edit] Countdown to Infinite Crisis

  • Superman erects a new Fortress in Ecuador.
  • Alexander Luthor II begins to masquerade as Lex Luthor and forms the Secret Society.
  • Max Lord kills Blue Beetle Ted Kord.
  • Superboy-Prime instigates the Rann/Thanagar War.
  • Jason Todd reveals his presence for the first time since his death as the Red Hood.
  • The Justice League disbands.
  • Psycho-Pirate reveals the existence and destruction of the Multiverse to Power Girl.
  • Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Superboy, and Indigo attack the Titans and Outsiders.
  • The Seven Soldiers of Victory repel an invasion by Gloriana Tenebrae, the witch queen from the future.

[edit] Infinite Crisis

  • Kyle Rayner becomes Ion.[14]
  • Jaime Reyes finds the Blue Beetle scarab.[15]
  • The Battle of Metropolis[16]
  • Superboy, Kal-L, and Alexander Luthor are killed. Superboy-Prime imprisoned.
  • Superman loses powers, and becomes Clark Kent full time.

[edit] c. "One Year Ago"

"The Lost Year" begins.

[edit] c. "Now" (One Year Later)

  • Superman[22] and Batman[23] return after being missing for nearly one year. Diana returns to the role of Wonder Woman.
  • Bart Allen becomes The Flash[24]
  • Cyborg awakens, and Robin returns to lead the Teen Titans.[25]
  • The Justice League reforms.
  • Sinestro Corps forms.[26]
  • Superman rebuilds the Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic.[27]

For more major events that take place within this time period, see Major Events of the DC Universe.

[edit] Future

  • 25th Century Booster Gold and Skeets come from this era.[28]
  • c. 2800 AC: Bizarro-Brainiac enlarges McMurdo City, which becomes Big City.[29]

[edit] Legion of Super-Heroes

  • c. 3000 AC: Legion of Super Heroes is formed.[30]
    • Barry Allen lives during this era, following his murder trial and before his death in the Crisis on Infinite Earths.[31]
    • The Legion is officially sponsored by United Planets.
    • Death of Dream Girl.
    • Supergirl arrives from the past following the Zeta Beam accident after Infinite Crisis.[32]
    • Bart Allen is born.[33]

[edit] Alternate and possible future events

As of Infinite Crisis, these future events are unconfirmed.

  • 2030 Monarch reigns for 20 years on Earth and the being Waverider is born. He uses the Timestream to change the future.
  • 853rd century Solaris destroys thousands of Superhumans and with the aid of Supermen, Justice Legion Alpha save the solar system. An android Hourman escapes to the past.

[edit] The End of Time

  • The Legion of Super-Heroes' enemy, the Time Trapper, lives at the end of time. The universe begins to collapse as it is consumed by entropy.
  • Krona tries to look past this time to view the beginning of the universe, only to unleash entropy on the early universe wiping out countless lives. Doomsday is sent here, consumed by entropy, and later escapes.
  • Epoch the Lord of Time goes to the year 1 billion and creates the Timepoint.
  • 100,000,000,000 A.D – The universe finally ends. Mister E and Timothy Hunter visit here briefly. Destiny closes his book and dies, and Death sends Mr. E and Tim Hunter back. Death figuratively closes shop on the universe. (The Books of Magic)
  • The universe loops back to the beginning. It is the job of Imperiex to end and recreate the DC Universe.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Zero Hour #0, 1994
  2. ^ Action Comics #782
  3. ^ Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey 1994
  4. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths #12, 1985.
  5. ^ The Man of Steel, Superman: Birthright
  6. ^ Batman: Year One
  7. ^ Batman #457, 1990
  8. ^ Superman (2nd series) #75, 1992
  9. ^ Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight
  10. ^ Batman #497-500, 1993
  11. ^ Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day
  12. ^ Superman/Batman #8, 2004
  13. ^ Green Lantern: Rebirth limited series
  14. ^ Rann/Thanagar War: Infinite Crisis Special
  15. ^ Infinite Crisis #2, 2005
  16. ^ Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special, Infinite Crisis #7 (2006
  17. ^ 52: Week One
  18. ^ 52: Week Five
  19. ^ 52: Week Eleven
  20. ^ Mentioned in Batman #651
  21. ^ Wonder Woman #1, 2006
  22. ^ Superman #652, 2006
  23. ^ Batman #651
  24. ^ Bart first appeared in costume during Infinite Crisis, but became the Flash in The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #2, 2006
  25. ^ Teen Titans #33
  26. ^ Green Lantern #10, 2006
  27. ^ Action Comics #840
  28. ^ Infinite Crisis #2, 2005
  29. ^ Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #20, 2006
  30. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes #1, 2005
  31. ^ The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #2, 2006
  32. ^ Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #16, 2006
  33. ^ The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #2, 2006

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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