14 Years Later, DC’s Is About To Make Its Most Controversial Failure Canon

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DC Comics has seen significant success recently. The launch of “DC All-In” and the introduction of the Absolute DC Universe have been incredibly popular, and core DC comics are selling better than ever. Projects like *Creature Commandos*, *Superman*, and *Peacemaker* on the DCU platform have also increased fan interest. It’s a fantastic time to become a DC fan, and the publisher is actively working to welcome new readers. That’s where the four-issue series *New History of the DC Universe* comes in – it’s defining the official story for both longtime fans and newcomers.

Issue #3 of *New History of the DC Universe* jumps into the modern era of DC Comics, covering the period immediately after *Crisis on Infinite Earths* and leading up to *Flashpoint*. This is a notable point to conclude this section of the story for a few key reasons. The series is framed as a book written by Barry Allen, whose actions directly cause the events of *Flashpoint*, and the comic doesn’t avoid acknowledging this. Furthermore, based on what’s been revealed so far, it seems DC might be officially recognizing its previous reboot, the New 52, as part of its established history.

The New 52 Decimated the DC Fandom

Ever since DC announced *New History of the DC Universe*, fans have been curious about how the company would address the previous reboot, the New 52. The New 52 revamped the DC Multiverse for five years, from 2011 to 2016, and was initially presented as a fresh start for DC Comics, similar to the impact of the classic *Crisis on Infinite Earths*. It started strong, attracting new readers by relaunching all titles with issue #1 and simplifying decades of complex history. However, over time, both longtime fans and newer readers of the New 52 began to lose interest.

The first issue of *New History of the DC Universe* confirmed that characters and stories from the *Demon Knights* comic were officially part of DC’s established history. The second issue revealed that the origin story of the Justice League matched the one presented in the first six issues of the New 52 *Justice League* series. It also connected this origin to earlier versions found in *The Brave and the Bold* #28 and the twelve-issue *JLA: Year One* series, creating a unified history.

The third issue of *New History of the DC Universe* officially establishes many stories from the postCrisis* era as canon. It ends with Barry Allen foreshadowing that his resurrection in *Final Crisis* will ultimately lead to disaster. This strongly suggests that the New 52 continuity will also be made official, which is a fascinating concept. The New 52 was largely treated as a separate universe, with even familiar events having slight variations-a pattern DC has followed before, as seen with the differences between the *Crisis on Infinite Earths* comic and the in-universe version of the event. It will be interesting to see how all these different timelines are integrated.

It’s surprising to see DC revisiting the New 52 era, especially since they’ve been actively trying to distance themselves from it for years. While the New 52 produced some memorable comics, it also had a lot of misses, ultimately leading to its end in 2016. Many fans expected DC to simply incorporate the best stories, like the Batman run by Snyder and Capullo or Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern, into current continuity while leaving the rest behind. However, this new development suggests the events of the New 52 actually happened, which opens up some interesting possibilities for fans.

New History of the DC Universe Is Taking DC in Directions No One Expected

As a long-time DC fan, I have to say the New 52 was a real letdown. They basically threw away over 25 years of established continuity – everything since the Crisis on Infinite Earths – and rushed into a reboot with very little thought. While it started with some initial buzz, it quickly became clear things weren’t working. Ever since it ended in 2016, it feels like DC’s been working overtime to distance itself from that era and win readers back.

The creation of *New History of the DC Universe* is largely due to the shortcomings of the New 52. The New 52, a five-year storyline, didn’t meaningfully advance DC’s overall narrative and now feels like a detour in the company’s history. That’s why hints of its return are both unexpected and intriguing. Exploring how the New 52 functioned, and offering a detailed explanation, could be a really compelling approach. Importantly, DC has confirmed the New 52 is part of the official continuity, which is a significant decision for the universe.

New History of the DC Universe #3 is on sale now.

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2025-09-25 22:22