10 Years On, DC Is Re-Evaluating The Most Hated Era (& You Should Too)

by

DC Comics has seen a major resurgence recently. The launch of *DC All-In* #1 has revitalized the DC Multiverse, leading to some of the most acclaimed DC comics in years. Plus, the publisher’s Absolute editions have been consistently bestsellers since they were released. It’s a fantastic time to be a DC fan, but this feeling isn’t entirely new. DC has a history of successful line-wide reboots that eventually lose momentum. The New 52, launched in 2011, is a prime example. It, like the reboot following *Crisis on Infinite Earths*, aimed to refresh the DC Universe by restarting continuity with familiar characters and concepts – and it was initially very popular. However, that popularity didn’t last.

While DC’s New 52 reboot initially gained popularity, many readers later felt disappointed. Looking back, it’s clear DC rushed into the reboot without a solid plan for how to maintain sales. They later tried to fix things with DC Rebirth and have largely distanced themselves from the New 52 ever since. However, DC is now starting to revisit ideas from the New 52, particularly in *The New History of the DC Universe* and, most recently, *DC K.O.* #1. This suggests it might be time to re-evaluate the reboot that was once so criticized.

The New 52 Is Due for Re-Evaluation

Let’s be honest, the New 52 had some weak spots. Titles like *Teen Titans*, *Superboy*, and *Supergirl* weren’t very successful, and many Superman storylines were just okay. Some ideas, like the romance between Superman and Wonder Woman, didn’t really work, and most of the big event comics weren’t memorable—though *Forever Evil* was a standout. But it’s easy to forget that DC really made an effort to bring more diversity to its characters and stories during this period.

As a fan, I was really impressed with how expansive DC’s New 52 felt at the beginning. They weren’t afraid to pull from all corners of their universe! Books like *Demon Knights*, *All-Star Western*, and even the more mature Vertigo titles – *Animal Man*, *Swamp Thing*, and *John Constantine: Hellblazer* – were all brought into the main DC continuity. It was cool to see them revisiting Earth-2 with titles like *Earth-2* and *World’s Finest*, and they even brought in characters from the old Wildstorm line. They gave the Legion of Superheroes two books of their own, and a ton of lesser-known heroes finally got their moment to shine. Honestly, there was something for every kind of reader, and it made those first few months of the New 52 incredibly exciting!

DC Comics saw incredible work from creators like Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo on *Batman*, Grant Morrison’s *Action Comics*, Geoff Johns’ runs on *Green Lantern* and *Aquaman*, and Pete Tomasi and Patrick Gleason’s *Batman and Robin*. Tom King, Tim Seeley, and Mikel Janin’s *Grayson* was also a standout. The New 52 initiative expanded the Justice League with five different series. While the New 52 eventually transitioned into DCYou, that final push included some excellent titles like *Action Comics*, *Batgirl*, *Black Canary*, and *The Omega Men*. *The Multiversity* was a landmark alternate universe story, surpassed later by the Absolute Universe. Though DCYou arrived late in the game, it deserves more recognition for its quality titles.

DC Comics is known for quality, and while the New 52 initiative had some great moments, it didn’t quite live up to the publisher’s previous successes. Compared to past reboots after events like *Crisis* and *Infinite Crisis*, and the momentum DC built after *Blackest Night*, the New 52 felt like a step back. However, it wasn’t all bad. There are genuinely fantastic stories within the New 52 – Grant Morrison’s *Action Comics* is a prime example – and it deserves a fresh look from fans.

The New 52 Isn’t Perfect but It has More Greatness than It’s Given Credit For

The New 52 initially saw great success, but that momentum didn’t last. While some comics continued to perform well, many readers became frustrated by the lack of a clear, consistent storyline and confusion about what was considered official canon. Even when things improved, some fans who had been disappointed by the early issues chose to avoid the New 52 altogether. Ultimately, it’s a complicated era for DC Comics – a mix of strong titles and frustrating inconsistencies, but with some truly excellent stories.

The story arc *DC K.O.* revised the origins of the New 52 universe—again—explaining that Doctor Manhattan’s involvement stemmed from Darkseid’s win. The recent *New History of the DC Universe* series has built upon these ideas. DC Comics seems to be embracing the New 52 more now, and that’s positive. While the publisher didn’t fully succeed with all its goals for the New 52, it was a bold undertaking with many strong points.

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/10-best-dc-stories-of-the-10s/embed/#

Read More

2025-10-12 00:10