Five years ago, DC rebooted its entire comic lineup as the New 52 and threw out decades of continuity to bring in new fans. For a while, it worked very well. But now DC is ready to start over again with DC Rebirth, a new line wide event that will once again reset the counter on every title in the DC Universe…except two. Action Comics and Detective Comics will revert to their original numbering.
According to DC’s Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, DC Rebirth is not another reboot and the continuity will remain intact this time. However, Johns’ interview with CBR left the impression that DC Rebirth may restore some characters who were lost in the New 52 as he strives to restore the “legacy” of the DC U.
“DC Universe: Rebirth is about bringing back what makes the DC Universe the DC Universe. There are certain things, like legacy, that are missing,” said Johns. There are other things that I don’t want to totally spoil. But there are a lot of things in there that I think are unique to the DC Universe, and really need to be pushed back to the forefront. The world’s greatest heroes and the world’s greatest villains. The epic stories. The expanding mythology. The obscure and legacy characters getting their due alongside the classics. And then, the new and unexpected. The surprising. Inspiration. Threats. Miracles.”
Johns will kick off the event with the 80-page one-shot, DC Universe: Rebirth, which will be illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver, Ivan Reis, Gary Frank and Phil Jimenez. That one-shot will be released on May 25, and it will set the tone for the relaunch that begins in June.
DC is dramatically cutting back on its titles, with only 32 ongoing comics. However, several of DC’s flagship titles will now be released twice-a-month for the lower price rate of $2.99 per issue. The new titles also have a heavy Batman and Superman presence, with few of the more experimental titles that characterized the DC You era that launched last year.
A complete list of DC’s new lineup is included below.
Photo Credit: DC Comics
June
Rebirth Specials:
Aquaman Rebirth # 1
Batman Rebirth # 1
The Flash Rebirth # 1
Green Arrow Rebirth # 1
Green Lanterns Rebirth # 1
Superman Rebirth # 1
Titans Rebirth # 1
Wonder Woman Rebirth # 1
New #1 Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
Aquaman # 1
Batman # 1
The Flash # 1
Green Arrow # 1
Green Lanterns # 1
Superman # 1
Wonder Woman # 1
New Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
Action Comics # 957
Detective Comics # 934
July
Rebirth Specials:
Batgirl & The Birds of Prey Rebirth # 1
Hal Jordan & The Green Lantern Corps Rebirth # 1
The Hellblazer Rebirth # 1
Justice League Rebirth # 1
Nightwing Rebirth # 1
Red Hood & The Outlaws Rebirth # 1
New #1 Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
Hal Jordan & The Green Lantern Corps # 1
Justice League # 1
Nightwing # 1
New #1 Issues (Shipping monthly):
Batgirl # 1
Batgirl & The Birds of Prey & 1
The Hellblazer # 1
Red Hood & The Outlaws # 1
The Super-Man # 1
Titans # 1
Fall
Rebirth Specials:
Batman Beyond Rebirth # 1
Blue Beetle Rebirth # 1
Cyborg Rebirth # 1
Deathstroke Rebirth # 1
Earth 2 Rebirth # 1
Suicide Squad Rebirth # 1
Supergirl Rebirth # 1
Teen Titans Rebirth # 1
Trinity Rebirth # 1
New #1 Issues (Shipping twice monthly):
Cyborg # 1
Deathstroke # 1
Harley Quinn # 1
Justice League America # 1
Suicide Squad # 1
New #1 Issues (Shipping monthly):
Batman Beyond # 1
Blue Beetle # 1
Earth 2 # 1
Gotham Academy: Next Semester # 1
Supergirl # 1
Superwoman # 1
Super Sons # 1
Teen Titans # 1
Trinity # 1
