10 Best DC Comics That Prove The 90s Wasn’t As Bad As People Claim

The 1990s are known for many things when it comes to comics, from edgy stories to shocking events, but DC Comics managed to maintain great consistency over the years. These years contain some of the more absurd series and concepts, but also deliver character-defining moments and epic events. Although the decade is not well remembered by many readers, others point to it for housing some of the best.

Although DC has a number of great parallel imprints with fantastic stories, such as Sandman And PreacherThese stand out independently of the core universe. For the stories centered around the core heroes and villains of the DCU, they helped the ’90s stand out for the company – even if the decade wasn’t kind to other publishers. From Elseworld’s stories to action-packed events, DC’s era continues to be underrated.

10

Nightfall

Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, Alan Grant, Graham Nolan, Jim Aparo and Norm Breyfogle

in Revenge of the trainDC introduced readers to the latest Batman villain, a prisoner given superhuman strength by a serum called Venom. Driven by envy and resentment towards the Caped Crusader, whom he deemed unworthy of his position, Bane left for Gotham. In Nightfall, his plan comes to fruition when he stages a breakout from Arkham Asylum, forcing the city’s defenders to exhaust themselves by rounding them all up. With his strength fading, Bruce is powerless when Bane strikes, breaking his back.

“Knightfall” is a good representation of how the ’90s were a decade of change, defeat and renewal for many heroes, with Batman making his comeback in “Knightsend.” The original nineteenth issue event is a grand tour of Gotham’s villains and a look at how far the Dark Knight will go to protect his city.

9

The return of the JSA

James Robinson, David S. Guyer, Steven Sadowski, and Michael Bair

Once DC’s sole superhero team during the Golden Age, the JSA has been absent from the publisher’s main continuity for decades. That changed after Crisis on Infinite Earths (Marv Wolfman & George Perez). Although the team had a couple of limited series in the aftermath of the event, it wasn’t until 1999 that they finally made their true comeback – and did so in spectacular fashion.

The first issues of the renewal JSA Series follows the reconstitution of the team, now composed of heroes both old and new. After killing Wesley Dodds Sandman, the heroes set out to discover what happened, fighting the Dark Lord Mordru along the way. As a reintroduction to a classic team for a new generation, the first five issues did an excellent job of establishing an element of mystery and Golden Age-inspired action.

8

Crisis Times Five

Grant Morrison, Howard Porter and John Dell

As the first major crossover between the JSA and JLA since the former’s return, Crisis Times Five does not disappoint. The story follows the League as they are caught up in a war with Fifth Dimensional Djinn, while also facing a coup attempt against the team by Triumph. With Specter imprisoned, Shazam and Green Lantern trapped in the fifth dimension and the team in crisis, the story almost ended in total defeat.

“Crisis Times Five” is impressive for many reasons, but the balancing of several major plot threads all at once elevates it to one of the decade’s best JLA tales. With a fun exploration of the politics of the fifth dimension, combined with the League stoking off a coup and an interdimensional war, the story is the perfect way of honoring the classic crossovers between the JLA and JSA.

7

Power of Shazam!

Jerry Ordway

After DC’s official acquisition of Shazam, Jerry Ordway started the hero with a clean slate in 1994s. Power of Shazam!. The graphic novel opens with the murder of Batson’s parents at the hands of Black Adam, later exploring how Billy first encountered the Wizard and gained his powers. After foiling a scheme hatched between Adam and Sivana, the hero battles his magical foe in an epic brawl.

Power of Shazam! was designed to set up the ongoing series of the same name, and it excelled in that mission. The story not only brought a deeper, more dramatic rivalry between the Captain and the Black Adam, it also gave the hero the mission to find his sister and pit Sivana’s motivations against the hero.

6

Batman/Hellboy/Starman

Mike Mignola and James Robinson

Batman has a long history of fun crossover stories, often capitalizing on successful properties and promoting others. In 1999, he teamed up with ’90s newcomers Hellboy and Jack Knight, the last Starman. The story begins when the demonic detective from Dark Horse makes his way to Gotham, where he is pursuing a gang of supernatural Nazis. When they kidnap the original Starman, Ted Knight, Jack joins forces with the detectives to get him back.

Batman/Hellboy/Starman Blends normal super heroics with Lovecraftian terror, as the heroes discover that the Nazis mean to challenge an ancient, cosmic entity. In just two issues, the story is short and sweet, and does a good job of not letting Batman dominate the story, instead following the other heroes in the second issue. The story blends adventure, science fiction and cosmic horror to form a story perfect for the 1990s.

5

Batman/Dracula: Red Rain

Doug Moench, Kelly Jones and Malcolm Jones III

Batman/Dracula: Red Rain Takes place on an alternate Earth where, after discovering an infestation of murderous vampires preying on Gotham’s homeless, Batman reluctantly becomes one himself. Intent on using his supernatural strength to defeat the Prince of Darkness, the now literal creature of the night is forced to control his thirst for blood long enough to defeat his enemy.

Batman’s fight with Dracula is, thematically speaking, as good as it gets, with two creatures of the night going toe to toe in a fight for blood. The first in an Elseworlds trilogy, Red rain remains the best of the three stories, as it follows the Dark Knight in his psychological descent into bloodlust – one that leaves him unrecognizable.

4

The death of Superman

Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Brett Breeding, Karl Kesel, Roger Stern, Louise Simonson, Jon Bogdanove, Tom Grummett, Rick Burchett, Denis Rodier and Doug Hazlewood

One of the things the ’90s is best known for is the never-ending trope of killing off major heroes—and nowhere was that better than the “Death of Superman” event. The story follows the arrival of the Kryptonian monster Doomsday to Earth, immediately tearing a path of devastation to the Man of Steel, leaving innocent victims in his wake. When he finally arrives, it forces a deadly confrontation with the hero, who proves ultimately outmatched by the terror.

“The Death of Superman” and the stories surrounding it, like “Return of Superman,” remains a key moment in Kal-El’s history. Not only did the story show how valiant the man of tomorrow can be in battle, it also explored how the city of Metropolis would respond to the loss of their protector, and what he means to them. Concluding with the team-up between a resurgent Superman and Steel, it features some of the best art of the decade.

3

Stone of ages

Grant Morrison and Howard Porter

“JLA: Rock of Ages” follows Wally West, Kyle Rayner and Aquaman as they are led to a parallel timeline by Metron. The New God of Knowledge drops them into a world dominated by Darkseid, who has used the anti-life equation to conquer Earth’s will. They meet dark, tired Ligers, who lead an underground resistance against the tyrant, and fight for freedom.

“Rock of Ages” was something of a glimpse into what would later become Final crisis (Grant Morrison & JG Jones), and follows the heroes as they navigate a lost dystopia. Despite appearances from Batman – masterfully disguised as Desaad – the story is a good look at the JLA members who often lose the spotlight to the Trinity.

2

Batman: The Long Halloween

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale Batman: The Long Halloween Follows the Caped Crusader as he investigates a string of murders in Gotham. Each murder takes place on a public holiday, earning the serial killer the nickname Holiday, as he targets people involved in the city’s organized crime. Working alongside Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent, the hero faces off against the mob, the serial killer and his classic rogues gallery.

The Long HalloweenDespite being almost thirty years old, remains one of the best detective-oriented Batman stories in the hero’s history. This is partly due to how it avoids the trope of the killer revealed to be a recurring villain, instead developing a crime thriller story as the backdrop and motivator.

1

Kingdom come

Mark Waid and Alex Ross

Kingdom come Takes place in a violent future of the DCU, where a new generation of brash anti-heroes run amok against increasingly extreme villains. When a confrontation between metahumans results in a catastrophic explosion, a retired Clark Kent steps back into his role as Superman. When the hero reconstitutes the Justice League, he gives other heroes an ultimatum: get on his side or face incarceration. Like Lex Luthor’s Legion of Doom plot, it builds to the final civil war between the heroes – before Marvel got there.

Ultimately, Kingdom Come served as a rebuke to the crude and crude nature of 90s comics, pushing back against the idea that violent anti-heroes were the future — or that Golden Age heroes were obsolete. In that sense, the series was a resounding success, and it heralded the end of the extreme nature of 90s comics, leading DC into a brighter, more optimistic 21st century.