Timeline of the DC Universe

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The DC Universe Timeline is a timeline of the major events in the fictional DC Universe. It represents fictional settings for most of the stories featured in DC Comics' publications. DC has published several official timelines with publications such as History of the DC Universe. These timelines coincide with each other because they were published by DC Universe. Plotholes are common in the Golden Age of Comics throughout the Modern Age because of the concept of the Multiverse. The timeline represents fictional time in the Golden Age, Silver Age, and Modern Age of comics. Due to the "floating timeline" that is applied to events in the Modern Age, everything published in the past 5 decades are considered to have taken place in the present. 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. All dates are approximate unless stated otherwise and all listings include the individual timelines of the DC Universe.

Contents

[edit] Before the Big Bang

[edit] Dawn of Time

  • c. 20,000,000,000 B.C.Crisis on Infinite Earths: 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.[4]
  • c. 19,000,000,000 B.C. – The current universe is created by (and in turn creates) The Source .
  • 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 allow certain superpowers to exist. 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 creatures from the planet Oa, creates the Anti-Matter Universe; his people decide to atone for this accident by becoming the Guardians of the Universe. [6]
  • Many of the then existing cosmic entities meet to discuss the ways and means of the universe. There the first Despair convinces Rao to spark life on the planet Krypton, doomed at the onset, and suggests that he should let one Kryptonian survive, in order that he might despair at the loss of his home.[7]

[edit] Ancient Times

[edit] 20th Century

  • October 30, 1938 : Coinciding with the panic caused by Orson Welles' 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 8, 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. A time travelling heroine from the future clad in Red, White & Blue arrives and is in pursuit of an entity called Dark Angel. She is Queen Hippolyte of the Amazons who has replaced her daughter as Wonder Woman. 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.
    • Sgt. Frank Rock and the men of Easy Company appears, to battle against the Nazis.
  • 1951: The Justice Society of America disbands, after being subjected 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.

[edit] Character origins

  • c. "22 Years Ago"

[edit] Modern Era of Heroes

[edit] Modern Era of Heroes: Year One

Current 2000 Timeline Zero Hour Timeline Other Notes
20 years ago 12 years ago 10 years ago
  • Clark Kent emerges 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.[20]
  • Bruce Wayne begins his career as the Batman at age 25[21] in Gotham City. Selina Kyle is inspired by Batman to become Catwoman shortly afterward.[22] The Joker appears within weeks.[23]
  • Diana, Princess of the Amazons, arrives in America, where she takes the costumed identity of Wonder Woman. (Infinite Crisis #7) She later rescues her long lost "twin" Donna after she was left to die in a building fire by Dark Angel and brings her home to Paradise Island where she is trained by both the Amazons and the Titans of Myth. (Wonder Woman Annual# 1/Vol. 3)
  • Central City police scientist Barry Allen is hit by lightning and chemicals, becoming the (second) Flash. [24]
  • A dying member of the Green Lantern Corps, Abin Sur of Ungara, chooses test pilot Hal Jordan to succeed him. [25]
  • Roy Harper makes his debut as Speedy.
  • Arthur Curry Jr. begins adventuring as Aquaman. (Aquaman Year One Annual)
  • 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: Black Canary, The Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Superman & Batman form the Justice League. (JLA: Year One)

[edit] Modern Age of Heroes: Year Two

Current 2000 Timeline Zero Hour Timeline Other Notes
19 years ago 11 years ago 9 years ago
  • Harvey Dent has acid splashed in his face by his assistant, who was bribed by a gangster. Dent's face is ruined, and his mind cracks in two, creating Two-Face.
  • Dick Grayson, then age 12, debuts as Robin.[26]
  • Wally West makes his debut as Kid Flash.
  • Garth makes his debut as Aqualad.
  • Donna Troy returns to America. Inspired by her sister, Wonder Woman, she 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 #53; Secret Origins Annual #3).

[edit] Modern Age of Heroes: Year Three

Current 2000 Timeline Zero Hour Timeline Other Notes
18 years ago 10 years ago 8 years ago
  • Kara Zor-L, then age 18, lands on Earth after her rocket ship departs the Krypton of the Earth-Two dimension.[27] She is discovered by Superman and eventually joins the JSA and makes her debut as Power Girl.[28]

[edit] Modern Era of Heroes: Year Six

Current 2000 Timeline Zero Hour Timeline Other Notes
15 years ago 7 years ago 5 years ago

[edit] Modern Era of Heroes: Year Seven

Current 2000 Timeline Zero Hour Timeline Other Notes
14 years ago 6 years ago 4 years ago
  • Wally West graduates high school.
  • Raven arrives and helps create the New Teen Titans: Raven, Starfire, Cyborg, Changeling, Robin, Wonder Girl & Kid Flash.
  • The wizard Shazam grants Fawcett City pre-teenager Billy Batson the power of Captain Marvel. Dr. Sivana's bodyguard Theo Adam learns how to access the powers of his ancestor Theo-Adam to become Black Adam.[30]

[edit] Modern Era of Heroes: Year Eight

Current 2000 Timeline Zero Hour Timeline Other Notes
13 years ago 5 years ago 3 years ago

[edit] Crisis on Infinite Earths

[edit] Modern Era of Heroes: Year Nine

Current 2000 Timeline Zero Hour Timeline Other Notes
5 years ago 4 years ago 2 years ago

[edit] Modern Era of Heroes: Year Ten

Current 2000 Timeline Zero Hour Timeline Other Notes
4 years ago 3 years ago 1 year ago

[edit] The Death of Superman

[edit] Modern Era of Heroes: Year Eleven

Current 2000 Timeline Zero Hour Timeline Other Notes
3 years ago 2 years ago 0 years ago

[edit] Identity Crisis and Green Lantern: Rebirth

  • Sue Dibny is murdered by Jean Loring.[58]
  • Jack Drake (Robin's father), and Captain Boomerang kill each other simultaneously.[59]
  • The Atom shrinks himself to microscopic size and disappears for time away, after discover his wife was a psychopath.[60]
  • Wally West and Zatanna return the Top's memories,[61] and he subsequently starts the Rogue War.
  • Coast City is reconstructed.[62]
  • The Vanishing, a mysterious force of nature, causes millions of people, including Lois Lane, to disappear. Superman, as it turns out, finds them in an alternate universe Phantom Zone-type dimension, where he tries to create a new world for humans to avoid the same fate as Krypton. Eventually, he destroys this place after an alternate Zod tries to take over, the Fortress of Solitude is destroyed after a fight with Wonder Woman, and Lois and the other humans are returned with their memories of the whole event erased.[63]
  • Hal Jordan is resurrected and Parallax is imprisoned in the Central Power Battery.[64] The Spectre remains without a host.[65]
  • The Guardians of the Universe return.
  • Green Lantern Corps reforms; doubles its membership.[66]
  • Guy Gardner loses his Vuldarian abilities and rejoins the Green Lantern Corps with a promotion to the Green Lantern Honor Guard.

[edit] Batman: War Games

[edit] Countdown to Infinite Crisis

[edit] Infinite Crisis

[edit] Modern Era of Heroes: Year Twelve

Current 2000 Timeline Zero Hour Timeline Other Notes
2 years ago Post 2000 Timeline Post Zero Hour There is a year between Infinite Crisis & One Year Later.

[edit] 52

[edit] Modern Era of Heroes: Year Thirteen

Current 2000 Timeline Zero Hour Timeline Other Notes
1 year ago Post 2000 Timeline Post Zero Hour

[edit] One Year Later

[edit] Countdown to Final Crisis

[edit] Final Crisis

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

[edit] Future

[edit] Legion of Super-Heroes

  • c. 3000 AC: Legion of Super Heroes is formed.[125]
    • Barry Allen lives during this era, following his murder trial and before his death in the Crisis on Infinite Earths.[126]
    • 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.[127]
    • Bart Allen is born.[128]
    • Owen Mercer is born.[issue # needed]
  • c. 64th Century AC: Magic and Science have become one and the criminal Abhararakadhararbarakh is exiled to the 20th Century where he again takes up a life of crime.
  • 64th century: Brainiac 13's home time.

[edit] Alternate and possible future events

As of Infinite Crisis, these future events are unconfirmed.

  • c. 2020 Superman returned from ten year retirement to stop those new generation heroes from corrupting current society and possibly start an apocalypse.
  • 2030 Monarch reigns for 20 years on Earth and the being Waverider is born. He uses the Timestream to change the future.
  • c.2030 The son of Donna Troy torned Lord Chaos, an oppressor king of world. The Monarch will create the Team Titans.
  • 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.
  • The Great Disaster. Jack Kirby's Fourth World presented a scenario known as The Great Disaster, which destroys human civilization sometime between the 20th and 30th centuries. Infinite Crisis and Countdown have contained a number of implicit and explicit references to the event, and that it may come to pass in the near future.
  • Future Earth A.D. (After Disaster)- the world is ruled by evolved animals with intelligence, Kamandi is the last human on Earth.

[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 Sandman
  6. ^ 52 Week #2, 2006
  7. ^ Sandman
  8. ^ 52 Week #2, 2006
  9. ^ 52 Week #2, 2006
  10. ^ 52 Week #2, 2006
  11. ^ The Flash #137
  12. ^ 52 Week #2, 2006
  13. ^ JLA
  14. ^ JLA
  15. ^ Action Comics #850, 2007
  16. ^ Flashback in Detective Comics #33, November, 1939
  17. ^ Infinite Crisis #7
  18. ^ Wonder Woman vol. 2, #1
  19. ^ Green Arrow Year One Annual: From the Beginning, Green Arrow: Year One
  20. ^ The Man of Steel, Action Comics #850
  21. ^ Batman: Year One
  22. ^ Batman: Year One, Catwoman: Her Sister's Keeper
  23. ^ Batman: The Man Who Laughs
  24. ^ (Showcase #4)
  25. ^ Green Lantern v.4 #30, 2008
  26. ^ Detective Comics #38, Robin: Year One
  27. ^ Showcase #97
  28. ^ All-Star Comics #58
  29. ^ Batgirl: Year One
  30. ^ The Power of Shazam! (1994, graphic novel)
  31. ^ Batman #408, Nightwing #101
  32. ^ Batman #422, Nightwing #103
  33. ^ Tales of the Teen Titans #44, Nightwing #104
  34. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths, 1985
  35. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths, 1985
  36. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths, 1985
  37. ^ Hawkworld: Book Three
  38. ^ Batman: A Death in the Family
  39. ^ No official publication has fixed the position of Lonnie's existence within the timeline of the DC universe. However, Anarky's debut was proceeded by the death of Jason Todd, and followed by the introduction of Tim Drake as Robin. His location on this version of the DC timeline is an estimate in relation to these two events and may be subject to change. Detective Comics #608, 1989
  40. ^ Batman #457, 1990
  41. ^ Batman Annual #25, 2006
  42. ^ Superman: They Saved Luthor's Brain!
  43. ^ Superman vol. 2, #75, 1992
  44. ^ Emerald Twilight, Green Lantern: Rebirth
  45. ^ Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight
  46. ^ Green Lantern #50
  47. ^ Batman #497-500, 1993
  48. ^ The Power of Shazam! #4, #7
  49. ^ Final Night
  50. ^ Superman v.2 #122, 1997
  51. ^ Superman: The Wedding Album, 1996
  52. ^ Final Night
  53. ^ Day of Judgement, 1999
  54. ^ Batman: Hush
  55. ^ Titans / Young Justice: Graduation Day
  56. ^ Superman/Batman #8, 2004
  57. ^ JSA: Black Reign
  58. ^ Identity Crisis #1, 2004
  59. ^ Identity Crisis #5, 2004
  60. ^ Identity Crisis #7, 2004
  61. ^ Flash: The Secret of Barry Allen
  62. ^ Green Lantern: Rebirth #1, 2004
  63. ^ Superman: For Tomorrow
  64. ^ Green Lantern: Rebirth #3, 2005
  65. ^ Green Lantern: Rebirth limited series
  66. ^ Green Lantern Corps: Recharge
  67. ^ Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1, 2005
  68. ^ JLA #119
  69. ^ JSA Classified #4
  70. ^ Wonder Woman 219
  71. ^ Rann/Thanagar War: Infinite Crisis Special
  72. ^ Infinite Crisis #2, 2005
  73. ^ Infinite Crisis #6
  74. ^ Villains United: Infinite Crisis Special, Infinite Crisis #7 (2006)
  75. ^ Infinite Crisis #7
  76. ^ Infinite Crisis #7
  77. ^ 52: Week One
  78. ^ 52: Week Five
  79. ^ 52: Week Eight
  80. ^ 52: Week Eleven
  81. ^ 52: Week Twelve
  82. ^ 52: Week #15
  83. ^ 52 Week #37, 2007
  84. ^ 52: Week Thirty-Five, Batman #651
  85. ^ Wonder Woman #1, 2006
  86. ^ 52:Week Forty
  87. ^ 52 #42, 2007
  88. ^ 52 Week Forty-Five, World War III
  89. ^ 52 #52
  90. ^ 52 #52, 2007
  91. ^ Superman #652, 2006
  92. ^ Batman #651
  93. ^ Action Comics #840
  94. ^ Bart first appeared in costume during Infinite Crisis, but became the Flash in The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #2, 2006
  95. ^ Teen Titans #33
  96. ^ Green Lantern #10, 2006
  97. ^ Sinestro Corps Special #1, 2007
  98. ^ Amazons Attack #6
  99. ^ Amazons Attack #1
  100. ^ The Flash - The Fastest Man Alive #13,2007
  101. ^ Justice League of America #10, 2007
  102. ^ Sinestro Corps War #1, 2007
  103. ^ Green Lantern #23, 2007
  104. ^ Green Lantern Corps #17, 2007
  105. ^ Green Lantern #24, 2007
  106. ^ Green Lantern #25, 2007
  107. ^ Green Lantern #25, 2007
  108. ^ Green Lantern #25, 2007
  109. ^ Countdown Presents The Search For Ray Palmer #1, 2007
  110. ^ Countdown: Arena #1, 2007
  111. ^ Booster Gold #1, 2007
  112. ^ Justice League of America: Wedding Special #1, 2007
  113. ^ Justice Society of America #9, 2007
  114. ^ The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul #4, 2007
  115. ^ Salvation Run #1, 2007
  116. ^ Death of the New Gods, 2008
  117. ^ Countdown to Final Crisis #2, 2008
  118. ^ Countdown to Final Crisis #1, 2008
  119. ^ Robin #174, 2008
  120. ^ DC Universe: #0, 2008
  121. ^ DC Universe: #0, 2008; Justice League of America #21, 2008
  122. ^ Final Crisis #1, 2008
  123. ^ Infinite Crisis #2, 2005
  124. ^ Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #20, 2006
  125. ^ Legion of Super-Heroes #1, 2005
  126. ^ The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #2, 2006
  127. ^ Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #16, 2006
  128. ^ The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #2, 2006

[edit] See also

[edit] External links