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.…
Author: Ashley Land
DC Comics’ de facto flagship superhero, Batman, has dominated the company’s sales for decades, especially when he clashes with his arch-nemesis, The Joker. For many readers, there is some debate as to whether this villain is even the best choice for the Caped Crusader’s true match, with characters like Bane and Ra’s al Ghul challenging him more directly. All the best opponents of the hero have their own gimmicks, and these only serve to enrich the comic book history of Bruce Wayne. With the Joker stealing the limelight from other villains so often, even in their own stories, it’s worth…
DC Comics is home to some of the most recognizable and iconic superheroes in print, from Batman and Superman to the Flash and Green Lantern. The publishing house’s history has seen many changes, redesigns, and reinventions of both heroes and villains. While some of these retcons and changes were—and still are—unpopular, others have aged like fine wine and continue to bear fruit even today. DC’s superheroes are constantly evolving as the publisher and its creative teams strive to keep the heroes fresh and timely. Without some of these changes, the company would not be as successful as it is today.…
Batman Not only is DC Comics’ most successful and iconic hero, he also has an equally famous set of villains. Having faced the same enemies for eight decades, the Caped Crusader was forced to forge temporary alliances with these foes for the greater good. From unwanted members of the Justice League to conflicting characters trying to right their wrongs, some of these unlikely partnerships made for great adventures. Batman’s collaborations with villains have been some of his best adventures, forcing him to balance his pursuit of justice with the greater good. These stories also reveal the depth and complexity of…
Since the 1950s, Hanna-Barbera became one of the greatest Saturday morning cartoon creators of the 20th century with properties such as Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones And The Jetsons. As the company continued to produce excellent and popular shows, it developed a strong nostalgic reputation that has continued into the 21st century, despite the company going out of business. Along the way, the company’s best characters and shows received several funny comics as a gift. Hanna-Barbera properties are created by two visionary creators, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, whose unique animation style dominated television for nearly two decades. From legendary crossovers to…
First established as a national publication in the 1930s, DC Comics has amassed an impressive history of comic book stories with characters such as Batman and Superman. Each decade brought its own unique style to the industry, and nowhere was this truer than at DC. While some decades were marked by dark and gritty stories, others were more experimental. As for the 2000s, DC experienced a period of optimism, renaissance, epic sagas, and fan-favorite creative teams. While the 2000s were seen by some as a downturn for Marvel Comics, the DC books of the era were almost unanimously considered one…
Since 1969, Scooby-Doo has become an iconic part of American pop culture and paved the way for an entire era of Saturday morning cartoons. Like all the biggest franchises of the time, the detective show quickly infiltrated the comic book industry, where the gang’s adventures were translated into pencils and inks. Here, readers were given a whole new set of cases, monsters, and places for the gang to explore. While some of these stories remain true to the gang, others offer shocking changes to the gang’s origins and adventures. Scooby-Doo has been in print almost continuously since the 1990s, and…
Since his first appearance in comics Superman was one of the most iconic characters in fiction. Known for his wholesome personality, massive levels of power, and genre-defining origins, the Man of Steel has gone down as one of the best stories in comic book history. While many of his best stories were written during his first half-century in the 1900s, there is no shortage of classic Superman comics from the modern and post-Renaissance era. Superman’s recent history has been controversial and always controversial, but many stories, events, and series have become loved by almost everyone. Although not everyone can be…
From the very beginning DC Comics Universe drew not only on the trinity of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, but also on countless other heroes, teams, crossovers and events. But between the massive team books and solo adventures lies a real gem: a two-way partnership or dynamic duo that allows for everything from romance to political differences to medium-changing stories. DC’s heroic partnership covers a lot of ground, some more volatile and others just useful. The company continues to experiment with such teams, as seen in the Brave and the Bold comic book series, which focuses on unusual and sweet…
Since the dawn of the Golden Age of Comic Books, DC Comics Has stood among the best publishers in the industry thanks to heroes like Batman and Superman. While the publisher often does some of its best work through street-level heroes, DC also boasts some of the most outrageously overpowered characters in fiction. From cosmic deities to heroes with almost unmatched strength, the publisher is arguably more stacked with power than even Marvel. Arguably better known for its powerful cosmic and magical heroes than any publisher in the industry, DC often takes pride in its handling of these figures, spawning…