DC Comics has restarted its comic book universe several times, primarily to refresh storylines and character backgrounds for new readers. Early on, the transition from DC’s ‘Golden Age’ to the ‘Silver Age’ happened gradually with updated versions of existing heroes. However, that changed with *Crisis on Infinite Earths*, the first major storyline to dramatically alter the DC Universe. Several more *Crisis* events followed, and then *Flashpoint* brought about another big shift, leading to the ‘New 52’ era. Since then, DC has continued to reshape its universe with events like *Convergence*, *Rebirth*, and *Doomsday Clock*, most recently attempting to unify everything with *Infinite Frontier*.
DC Comics has gone through several major reboots, but three stand out as particularly significant. While two of these were truly needed, one nearly caused serious problems for the company. Let’s take a closer look at these three reboots and why one was so risky.
3) Crisis On Infinite Earths
The *Crisis on Infinite Earths* was DC Comics’ attempt to untangle its complicated history. By the 1980s, the DC universe had become confusing with many alternate realities, different versions of heroes, and some heroes missing altogether. This storyline brought all these realities together to fight a powerful enemy, the Anti-Monitor. Ultimately, it streamlined everything into a single Earth, giving the characters updated backstories and fresh starts.
The DC reboot was crucial for the comic books, making them easier for new fans to jump into without needing to know years of backstory. This reboot, largely shaped by John Byrne, redefined characters like Superman and Lex Luthor. It also saw Wally West take over as the Flash and paved the way for a new Green Lantern. Many fans consider *Crisis on Infinite Earths* to be DC’s most successful attempt at a reboot.
2) The New 52
The story arc *Flashpoint* resulted in the launch of the New 52, DC Comics’ biggest overhaul since *Crisis on Infinite Earths*. It began with the Flash traveling back in time to prevent his mother’s death. But his actions had disastrous consequences, creating a timeline where Bruce Wayne died as a child and Superman was quickly captured upon landing on Earth, turning the world into a bleak place. The Flash ultimately corrected the timeline, leading to the creation of the New 52 universe.
The DC Comics reboot was largely considered a failure by fans, primarily because it didn’t deliver on its promise of meaningful change. While some aspects, like the new Superman, Justice League, and Wonder Woman series, were well-received, Batman remained unchanged, highlighting DC’s lack of clear direction. Ultimately, the reboot felt pointless, and DC eventually had to course-correct, making the entire effort a misstep.
1) Rebirth/Doomsday Clock
After fans didn’t respond well to the New 52, DC Comics decided to make changes, doing so in four phases. They started with ‘Convergence,’ which reintroduced characters and worlds from previous DC storylines with new tales. When that proved successful, they launched ‘Rebirth,’ essentially resetting the DC Universe to how it was before the New 52. But they didn’t just go back to the old status quo; they also made some updates, like establishing Superman and Lois Lane as a married couple with children.
This eventually resulted in the *Doomsday Clock* storyline, which brought the characters from *Watchmen* together with DC’s superheroes. Doctor Manhattan then completed the changes that DC had begun with its Rebirth initiative. This effectively resolved inconsistencies created when DC rewrote its history to align with what fans desired. Following that, DC launched *Infinite Frontier*, an attempt to establish everything as official canon through the concept of the Omniverse, including the New 52 continuity. However, it all felt needlessly complex, ultimately leading to the *Dawn of DC* era.
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2025-10-16 20:13