New History of the DC Universe #3 Canonizes DC’s Most Important Period (Review)

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DC Comics is currently enjoying a surge in popularity, attracting more readers than ever before. Known for its complex history, DC is releasing *New History of the DC Universe* as a guide to help newcomers understand its world. The first two issues were excellent, covering the earliest days of the DC Multiverse and the Silver and Bronze Ages. Now, *New History of the DC Universe* #3 dives into the modern era following the *Crisis* event. This issue is another strong addition to the series, offering something for both longtime fans and those just discovering DC, and includes some unexpected twists.

Mark Waid continues to demonstrate his deep understanding of DC Comics with this issue, much like he did with his groundbreaking *New History of the DC Universe*. He accurately portrays the postCrisis* DC era, a particularly fascinating period for fans. Waid respects the streamlined universe that *Crisis on Infinite Earths* created and builds upon it effectively. As someone who grew up reading these comics, this issue felt like a wonderful trip down memory lane. This era is where Waid established himself as a writer, so it’s fitting that he remains faithful to its core elements.

The comic also included some unexpected developments, notably the full integration of the Milestone universe into DC’s main continuity. For readers unfamiliar with DC’s past, Milestone was a line of comics created in the early 90s by a group of talented African-American creators, including the late Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Christopher Priest, Michael Davis, and Derek T. Dingle. Additionally, the events of *The Killing Joke* and the divisive *Identity Crisis* are now officially part of the established DC storyline. The comic references Supergirl’s return from the early 2000s *Superman/Batman* series, but doesn’t explain how she came back to life, considering her death in *Crisis* is still considered canon. Overall, writer Mark Waid does an excellent job of detailing DC’s history from 1986 to 2011, highlighting key moments and giving them emotional weight.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Pros Cons
Some surprising events are canon Jurgens’s art is a bit too shiny and happy for some of its imagery
Waid is able to give readers a great narrative for a history book
The art is fantastic, especially Mahnke’s pages

New History of the DC Universe #3 Uses Two of DC’s Most Underrated Artists

The artwork is a real highlight of *New Universe of the DC Universe* so far. Each page is filled with dynamic, large-scale panels, and this issue features two talented artists from the ’90s and early 2000s who deserve more recognition. Dan Jurgens, known for famously killing Superman, has a clean and polished style. He’s drawn almost every DC character over the years and does a great job showcasing their current appearances. The only minor criticism is that his bright, optimistic style sometimes feels a little out of place with the darker storylines, but overall, the art is fantastic.

Doug Mahnke, known for co-creating The Mask, first gained prominence at DC with *Major Bummer*. Since then, he’s created stunning artwork for many DC characters. His work in *New History of the DC Universe* is noticeably darker and more realistic than Jurgens’s, which suits the tone perfectly. His later pages, depicting the aftermath of *Infinite Crisis*, brilliantly capture events like *Final Crisis*, “The Sinestro Corps War”, “Batman and Son”, “Last Son of Krypton”, *Blackest Night*, and more – they’re some of the most impactful images in the entire collection. I’ve always admired Mahnke’s artistic style, and his work in this particular issue is my personal favorite.

New History of the DC Universe #3 Is Everything You Could Want

While technically a guidebook, *New History of the DC Universe* truly feels like a compelling story thanks to Mark Waid’s skillful writing. Issue #3 continues the series’ success, demonstrating Waid’s impressive knowledge of DC Comics and his ability to weave that knowledge into an engaging narrative. The artwork by Jurgens and Mahnke is outstanding, elevating the book to a high standard. This is a fantastic issue and a great example of DC Comics at its finest.

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

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2025-09-24 14:10