7 DC Experiments That Went Horribly Awry

by

DC Comics has consistently tried to innovate and redefine what a superhero comic can be, more so than Marvel. Throughout its history, DC has repeatedly attempted to change how people view the genre. Many elements that fans now appreciate in independent comics actually originated with DC’s Vertigo imprint and creators from the British Revolution. They pioneered giving villains their own series back in the late 1970s, introduced the idea of a multiverse within comics, and were also responsible for creating both the classic super team and the teen superhero team formats. Ultimately, DC’s willingness to experiment has benefited the entire comic book industry.

Not all creative attempts succeed. Occasionally, ideas simply don’t resonate with audiences, forcing publishers to discontinue them. Here are seven times DC Comics tried something new that unfortunately didn’t work out and caused more issues than benefits.

7) Azrael as Batman

DC Comics has often experimented with darker storylines, with mixed results. One example that didn’t quite work was when they replaced Batman with Azrael. Following the popularity of “Death of Superman,” DC tried to show how overly aggressive and violent heroes common in the ’90s wouldn’t be sustainable – and unfortunately, it backfired. Readers disliked Azrael, missing the original Batman. While DC proved their point about extreme heroism, this storyline ultimately harmed the Batman franchise during that era.

6) The Flash: Rebirth

Barry Allen’s return to the comics wasn’t successful, and many felt it was predictable. The story, The Flash: Rebirth by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver, closely followed the structure of their previous Green Lantern: Rebirth, but wasn’t particularly strong. The artwork suffered too, as Van Sciver self-inked, lacking the polish Moose Baumann had provided on Green Lantern: Rebirth. This made the art feel weaker and negatively impacted the overall book. The decision to make Barry the origin of the Speed Force felt unnecessary, and the concept of the Negative Speed Force wasn’t explored as effectively as the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum introduced in Green Lantern: Rebirth. Ultimately, DC’s attempt to bring Barry back fell short from the beginning.

5) Integrated Hawkman

Hawkman’s history is notoriously complex, largely due to the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths. Originally, there were two distinct versions: Carter Hall, an Egyptian pharaoh from the Golden Age of comics, and Katar Hol, a police officer from the Silver Age. This worked when multiple Earths existed in the DC Universe, but when those Earths were merged into one, it created a mess with Hawkman’s backstory. Zero Hour: A Crisis in Time attempted to resolve these issues by combining all of Hawkman’s different incarnations into a single character with the combined memories of Carter, Katar, and an ancient Hawkgod. However, this only added to the confusion, as the combination felt forced and illogical. That version of Hawkman eventually disappeared, and DC Comics successfully streamlined the character’s origins in the early 2000s.

4) Ric Grayson

Nightwing is a beloved DC character, and while the company has experimented with his story in the past, the ‘Ric Grayson’ era remains its biggest misstep. From issues #50-74 of Nightwing (Vol. 4), this period saw then-DC executive Dan DiDio actively try to damage the character – seemingly unable to accept Nightwing’s popularity with fans. This even included a drastic plot point involving a headshot and a complete overhaul of Dick Grayson’s personality, turning what people loved about him into something they disliked. It’s particularly unfortunate because the creative team, including DC veteran Dan Jurgens and artist Chris Mooneyham, initially tried their best to make the storyline work. Ultimately, it failed due to its flawed premise and was thankfully cancelled after two years – a run that felt far too long for many readers.

3) Bendis at DC

Brian Michael Bendis was a hugely popular comic book writer in the early 2000s, though his star power waned as the years went on and readers grew tired of his style. In 2018, he made a big move to DC Comics, announced with a campaign similar to those used when Jack Kirby joined decades earlier. However, unlike Kirby’s success, Bendis’ time at DC wasn’t very successful. While I enjoyed his run on Justice League, his work on titles like Superman and Action Comics, as well as events like Event Leviathan and Checkmate, didn’t resonate with fans the way his Marvel projects had. His Wonder Comics line also underperformed expectations, with Batman Universe being a notable exception. Ultimately, DC didn’t see a significant return on their investment in Bendis.

2) DC Rebirth

DC Rebirth began strong as a way to revitalize things after the struggling ‘New 52’ era. The idea was to return to familiar elements from before the Flashpoint event, reintroducing classic characters like Superman and Lois Lane – along with their son Jon – who had been established during Convergence. While many of the initial Rebirth comics were excellent, it ultimately couldn’t overcome the limitations of still being rooted in the ‘New 52’ continuity. Like its predecessor, DC Rebirth lasted around five years before a major event, Dark Knights: Death Metal, reshaped the entire DC Multiverse yet again.

1) The New 52

The New 52 reboot is now widely considered a misstep for DC Comics. Following a successful period in the 2000s, sales began to decline, and Dan DiDio opted for a complete relaunch of the DC Universe. The event, Flashpoint, initially gained traction, but internal problems quickly surfaced. Many writers left their titles, often replaced with less experienced talent, and several new series struggled to attract readers. While the line eventually found some stability, too many books failed, leading to a downturn DC couldn’t recover from. Despite some strong stories emerging from this era, it’s generally remembered as a disappointing period.

Read More

2026-06-14 16:46