10 Best Comics That Forever Changed DC’s Most Iconic Superheroes (For The Better)

0
10 Best Comics That Forever Changed DC’s Most Iconic Superheroes (For The Better)

While the biggest stars of DC Comics have remained the same for decades, the publisher’s stories have seen a lot of changes, redesigns and reinventions. Although some of these recons and alterations were – and still are – unpopular, others have aged like fine wine, and continue to bear fruit even today.

If it weren’t for some of these stories of tremendous change, DC might not be as successful or influential as it remains to this day. Ranging from tonal shifts to a character’s story, to an outright replacement and full-blown redesign, The DC Comics completely changed their characters, forever.

10

The New Teen Titans reinvented Dick Grayson

Marv Wolfman and George Perez

In the 1980s, Dick Grayson made the shocking decision to retire as Batman’s sidekick, and join the Teen Titans. Thanks to the collaboration between Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, Grayson later assumed the mantle of Nightwing, signaling the end of his time as a Dark Knight sidekick and the beginning of his own story.

The New Teen Titans took Robin and turned him into a character who is now seen as DC’s best street-level vigilante, second only to Manny. Had Wolfman and Pérez not allowed Grayson to become a hero distinct from the world of Batman, the character would likely have fallen into obscurity as “The Golden Age Robin,” rather than a character in his own right. This cross channeled what so many young readers felt about their own identity, celebrating independence from their parents.

9

“Hard-traveling heroes” defined the greens for decades to come

Dennis O’Neill and Neal Adams

During the 1970s, Dennis O’Neill and Neal Adams became arguably the best creative team in DC, thanks to their handling of both Batman and Green Lantern. After joining the last book, they added Green Arrow to the list, and began their “hard-traveling heroes” run. The series followed the duo around America, where they would fight criminals and face the social problems that allowed crime to take hold.

The Hard-Traveling Heroes run achieved the impressive feat of DC beating Marvel as the more socially-conscious publisher, thanks to its tackling of drug addiction, prejudice and social neglect. In most of the stories, Green Lantern and Green Arrow are confronted with a social ill, with Jordan taking a conservative view to Quinn’s progressive view. It was ultimately Green Arrow who was best, as O’Neill embraced the idea of ​​him as a modern-day Robin Hood. Since then, most Green Arrow stories have been defined by this era.

Related

8

Shazam: The New Beginning made Billy Batson the key

Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas and Tom Mandrake

Shazam: The New Beginning Got the post-Crisis DC makeover for Shazam, a character DC had acquired just the decade before. In the Golden Age, the hero then known as Captain Marvel had a simple premise: Billy Batson would say the magic word, Shazam, and transform into the Captain, a champion of the gods imbued with their powers. The story follows its new beginning after Billy is taken by Sivana, only to run away, meet the Wizard and become the champion.

Shazam: The New Beginning Insured in a few changes for the character, but the most lasting alteration is The idea that Billy Batson’s mind remains when he turns into the captain. This made the hero notably more wholesome, as he is effectively the optimistic, all-American kid who represents the pinnacle of what superhero escapism can be.

7

Peter David’s Aquaman set the mold for his modern identity

Peter David, Martin Egeland and Howard Sum

One of the earliest heroes of DC’s Golden Age, Aquaman is a man who lives in both worlds, as a land-raised descendant of Atlantis. As a founding Justice League member, he has proven key to the DCU thanks to his unique powers. However, the Aquaman people know today, thanks to the DCEU, is a far cry from the 1940s version. It wasn’t until Incredible Hulk Writer Peter David took over the title so readers got the rugged, bearded Atlantean that has since defined the character in the mainstream.

Before Peter David’s Aquaman run, the character was considered by many readers to be something of a joke, as his powers often required a water setting to be useful. David, however, turns him into a rugged hero closer in tone to Wolverine than to his Silver Age past. While some creative teams have returned to its classic look, it always comes full circle back to the ’90s design.

6

Green Lantern Rebirth turns Hal Jordan from villain to icon

Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver

In the 1990s, Hal Jordan turned evil when, during the “Death of Superman” event, Mongul and Cyborg Superman destroyed Coast City. After giving his life to save Earth in The last nightGeoff Johns and Ethan van Sciver teamed up to redeem him in a way that absolved him of his crimes. The Green Lantern Rebirth Miniseries suggested Hal’s case as the work of a villainous parasite, Parallax. Here, it was revealed that the Emerald Hero was never the one responsible for the murders of his teammates.

Green Lantern RebirthAs well as the subsequent ongoing series, taking Hal Jordan from one of DC’s most infamous characters to a sales boom, second only to Batman. The miniseries not only improved the character, it also pushed him back to the status of a solo hero, rather than one who relied on the Corps.

Related

5

The New 52 Wonder Woman proved that Diana had room to grow

Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chang

Created by William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman was among the first female superheroes in comics. Born on Paradise Island, the heroine made her way to the “human world”, where she joined the war effort against the Germans during the First World War. Since then, she has become a crucial part of the DCU, as an original Justice Leaguer and one of the few heroes who can go toe-to-toe with Superman.

The new 52 Wonder Woman Is considered one of the era’s “love it or hate it” runs, as it made the heroine much more powerful, because she was portrayed as the daughter of Zeus. This version of the character was much more of a warrior, something clear when she replaced Ares as the god of war. Although aspects of the series have been reconnected, it was an upgrade for the character and one of the better New 52 runs.

4

Superman: Man of Steel redefined DC’s hero for a new era

John Byrne

Still Crisis on Infinite Earths (Marv Wolfman and George Perez), John Byrne was charged with reinventing Superman for the modern age. As a character who slipped into relevance during the Bronze Age as Batman grew in popularity, the Blue Boy Scout was in need of a fresh start. Through his miniseries The Man of Steel, Byrne revisited his origin and powers, exploring a “year one” type story.

John Byrne Man of Steel incorporated elements of the Golden Age in the 80s, but also gave him something of an abrasive personality, which led to the animated series. His powers were reduced to make him more vulnerable and, best of all, the writer emphasized Clark Kent’s humanity, downplaying his alien roots. While not every change stuck, Kent’s association with Earth as his true home is the best part of Byrne’s Superman legacy.

3

Showcase #4 helped the bottle launch the Silver Age

Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino and Joe Kubert

Throughout the Golden Age of comics, Jay Garrick was DC’s resident Scarlet Speedster, as well as one of the first heroes to actually headline his own book. As a founding member of the Justice Society of America, he helped usher in the superhero age alongside Superman and Batman. Until the 1950s, he was the fastest man in all of comics, and it wasn’t even close.

Showcase #4 dethroned Jay Garrick as the resident Flash, reinventing the entire character to be Barry AllenA younger man in a more modern-style superhero costume. This was part of an initiative started by editor Julius Schwartz, who wanted the publisher to remain relevant to the new generation of readers – and it has worked ever since.

Related

2

Showcase #22 made Green Lantern a new breed of superhero

John Broome and Gil Kane

Although the Green Lantern Corps is what many readers think of when they hear the mantle today, the original hero was completely different. Debuting in the pages of All-American Comics #16, Alan Scott was the first hero to bear the name of Green Lantern. His story began when he discovered, after the train wreck, a mysterious lantern and ring that, when used, imbued him with magical powers.

As impressive a redesign as Barry Allen was for The Flash, it pales in comparison to what Hal Jordan brought to the table. Showcase #22 took a fairly street-level magical hero and turned him into a Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon mash-up, a space-based hero with science-based powers. Now, the hero’s abilities stem not from an unknown form of magic, but rather the power of will, and DC has a cosmic superhero for the American Space Age.

1

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns cements his ‘big’ image

Frank Miller, Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley

The Dark Knight returns Takes place in a future where Bruce Wayne has retired as Batman, and Gotham is experiencing an unprecedented crime wave. In response to the escalating violence of the mutant gang, Wayne returns to the cape and moves to put an end to the brutality. However, as he does, he inadvertently triggers the return of the Joker, drawing the ire of President Reagan for his vigilantism, leading to an epic showdown.

The work to transform Batman from, as Alan Moore once called him, “your gay uncle” into a dark and brooding character began under Dennis O’Neill and Neal Adams. however, It wasn’t until Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns That this transformation was already complete and that after its success, there was no turning back.. To this day, the Prestige miniseries is the blueprint for a good Batman story.

Leave A Reply