Near Mint Memories: DC\'s Multihyperverse

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HAPPY HO HO

Merry Christmas.

Happy Kwanzaa.

Belated Hanukkah good tidings.

Have a joyous Festivus for the rest of us.

Happy “whatever-you-celebrate-this-time-of-year”.

Hope you get plenty of Boxing Day deals!

Best of the New Year to you all as well.

(Ok, I think that about covers it…)


A NON-HOLIDAY HOLIDAY COLUMN?

Last year we did a few holiday themed NMM columns, but that seems so passe and cliche this time of year. So, let’s have a non-traditional traditional column this year. Cool? I thought you’d like that.

I was intending to post my completed Deadshot column this week and I also started my intended next column on DC’s Manhunter(s).

However, all these good plans were upturned after I read this week’s Wizard #160. There are so many developments on what’s up for DC in 2005, with the exception of their planned big “Crisis”. All these developments, from DC’s new All Star line to Alex Ross’ Justice series, lead me to believe that DC’s multiverse is back! Whether they are called “hypertimes” or “alternate earths”, divergent DC realities are now the norm.

DC has officially forsaken continuity! (IMHO)


A GUIDE TO DC’s NEW MULTI-HYPER-VERSE

For a guide through DC’s new multi-hyper-verse keep on read’n.


Earth Prime

The “real” world that you and I live in. Where we work, play, and are merry. Where Boston Legal is the best show on TV and where we go to our local comic book shoppes to read about the monthly adventures of, say, the best new comic on the shelves: DC’s Manhunter.


Earth 1

This seems to be the world where Geoff Johns and all other DC creators that understand and work within DC’s established post-Crisis on Infinite Earths and post-Zero Hour: A Crisis in Time continuity.


Earth 2

Destroyed in the pages of JLA/Avengers. This was the world where the Crime Syndicate of Amerika (CSA) originated in. These characters where displaced in now reside in the anti-matter universe that is linked to the positive-matter Earth 1 verse. The CSA are causing for the Justice League of America (JLA) in the current pages of JLA title penned by writer extraordinaire Kurt Busiek.


Earth 1,000,000

DC One Million anyone?


Earth A

This is the universe where DC’s new All-Star line occurs. This is DC’s answer to Marvel’s Ultimate line kinda. It’s a creator-driven line where the industry’s top artists and writers get to play with outside-of-continuity versions of DC’s biggest icons. This is where we’ll be able to read “classic” pre-Crisis versions of All-Star Batman and Robin pencilled by top artist Jim Lee and a mystery writer!

You’ll also get to read All-Star Superman by uber-scribe Grant Morrison and limey artist Frank Quitely.


Earth B

This would the world of DC editor Eddie Berganza and the “new” Superman as revealed in Mark Waid’s Birthright reboot.


Earth C

Darwyn Cooke’s DC: The New Frontier takes place on Earth C.

One could also make the case that this also where James Robinson’s Golden Age takes place as well as a precursor to Cooke’s opus.


Earth D

This is likely where John Byrne’s new Doom Patrol series takes place. This team debuted in the JLA: Tenth Circle arc with zero explanation as to what happened to the many incarnations of the team before it. Niles Caulder and others… poof… back in the living. The JLA? Never met the Doom Patrol until recently. Huh?

Its unclear right now as to whether his new Blood of The Demon series takes place here as well. Its “continuitiness” is unknown at this time.


Earth E (1 to ?)

These are the multiple earths that comprise DC’s Elseworlds line.

From Gotham by Gaslight to JLA: Another Nail and beyond.


Earth F (1 to ?)

DC’s Focus line, with books like Hard Time reside on… multiple earths?


Earth G (1 to ?)

The world of… Amalgam!


Earth H

A world taken over by the… DOL!!!!


Earth I

A world that the DOL gave to his #1 monkey.


Earth J (1 to ?)

This is where Alex Ross’ new bi-monthly Justice series will take place. While it also has the “classic” JLA in it, like the All Star line, these heroes battle a reconstituted and much more serious and dangerous Legion of Doom (inspired by ye olde Superfriends 1970s/80s cartoon).


Earth K

Another Alex Ross and Mark Waid inspired universe! This one? You guessed it… the world of Kingdom Come.


Earth L

This appears to be the world where writer Jeph Loeb plays. From his work on Superman/Batman to his new ongoing Supergirl series.


Earth M

This world is inhabited by writer Mark Waid’s and artist Barry Kitson’s new Legion of Super-Heroes ongoing series.


Earth N

This where the previous Dan Abnett aNd Andy Lanning Legion Lost and all the post-Zero Hour Legion of Super-Heroes stories occurred. This world was destroyed in the Teen Titans/Legion one-shot earlier this year.


Earth O

Where Kurt Busiek’s Superman: Secret Identity series took place. A world where an average guy named Clark Kent, who lives in a world without super-heroes, actually becomes one. Superman in fact. Quoi?


Earth P

Joe Kelly’s Space Ghost calls this world “home”. I had to put this in. Its a nod to a classic… even if Joe Kelly is involved.


Earth Q (1 to ?)

Where DC’s Johnny DC kids line reside… on multiple earths. All of DC’s kid-friendly worlds are here.


Earth R

Still for sale. (Chris D. has dibs.)


Earth S

Where Jeff Smith’s soon to be released new Shazam! mini-series likely occurs. This book will appear to negate previous continuity and include a different first appearance of Mary Marvel than the one we grew to know in the pages of Jerry Ordway’s Power of Shazam! series.


Earth T

The world of George Romero’s Toe Tags.


Earth U

The world of “Titans Tomorrow” glimpsed in the same-named arc in 2004’s Teen Titans #17-19.


Earth V (1 to ?)

Where DC’s Vertigo line resides… on multiple earths.


Earth W (1 to ?)

Where DC’s Wildstorm lines reside… on multiple earths.


Earth X (1 to ?)

Where DC’s Humanoids line resides… on multiple earths?


Earth Y

Still for sale. (Babos is eyeing this sweet property.)


Earth Z

Remember DC’s !mpact line? Sadly, so do we.


You Tell Me…

I’m sure there are even more earths / hypertimes / whatever at DC.

Does DC need a Crisis in 2005? (Let me know.)

I think so… Happy Holidays.

John is a long-time pop culture fan, comics historian, and blogger. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief at Comics Nexus. Prior to being EIC he has produced several column series including DEMYTHIFY, NEAR MINT MEMORIES and the ONE FAN'S TRIALS at the Nexus plus a stint at Bleeding Cool producing the COMICS REALISM column. As BabosScribe, John is active on his twitter account, his facebook page, his instagram feed and welcomes any and all feedback. Bring it on!