When "Convergence" ended, a new era of DC Comics began: the era of "DC You." Featuring 24 new series and brand new status quos for multiple continuing titles, the new umbrella is meant to be both more accessible to readers and more diverse, in terms of the types of stories being told, the creators involved and the characters represented.
WEEK 1: "Justice League" #41 Shockers and More 'DC You' Week 1 Revelations
WEEK 2: Discover An All-New Batman, Earth 2, Gang a' Harleys & More
WEEK 3: Wonder Woman's All-New Look, Lots of Dead Supermen & More
This week marked the final week of new releases from the "DC You" and it gave readers a new Green Lantern title, a meeting between the new Batman and Batgirl and much, much more. Here's a recap of the major occurrences went on during the fourth week of DC Comics' brand-new era.
"Batgirl" #41
Having defeated a computer-coded version of herself, Barbara Gordon is glad that things have gone relatively back to normal and that she's faced with some bad guys she can punch -- until the new Batman shows up, at least. Babs makes a quick escape as the new mech-suited Dark Knight finishes what she started, but not before learning that her namesake has issued a warrant for her arrest. To make matters worse, her father -- Jim Gordon -- subsequently reveals that he has become the new Batman, meaning that her own father is out for her arrest, unbeknownst to him. Add in a fatherly guilt trip, and Barbara is headed into a world of trouble no matter which way it falls out. Livewire also puts in her first "Batgirl" appearance with some deliciously corny puns.
"We Are Robin" #1
In "We Are Robin" #1, it looks as though the events of "Batman: Endgame" will have long lasting and far reaching consequences as a reimagined Duke Thomas searches for his parents after they were turned into Joker zombies. Shunted from foster home to foster home, Thomas takes it upon himself to find them, as he isn't entirely convinced that the Gotham Police Department is doing anything about it. On his search, he encounters not only an extensive underworld in Gotham's sewers but a group of peers who have taken up the mantle of Robin after being rescued by Batman -- though it seems as though they have no affiliation with Batman beyond that.
"Superman" #41
If you were expecting the next chapter of "Truth," then it might be a bit of a surprise to find out that Gene Leun Yang and John Romita Jr. are instead telling the story before the story about what happens once Superman's secret identity is outed to the world. In this issue, Lois Lane is still in the fog as to the reality of the Man of Steel's dual identity, but a mysterious, texting benefactor knows, and in exchange for Clark's cooperation, promises to keep his secret.
Meanwhile, a modern take on Intergang appears to be forming, Superman is already fine-tuning his new supernova power and Clark and Jimmy Olsen's friendship has grown into something even the longest of long term Superman fans has never seen before.
"The Flash" #41
Just when it appears that the comic's storyline is dovetailing solidly into territory explored by the television show, "The Flash" changes course. In a somewhat surprising revelation, we learn that Barry Allen's mild-mannered father may actually deserve to be in prison. At the very least, Henry Allen has developed some serious pull behind bars, with super-powered inmates threatening his and Barry's lives and he himself orchestrating a full-on prison break with the help of Girder, Mogul and Black Mold. Plus, Reverse Flash is back, but he's taken on the Professor Zoom moniker, is more powerful than ever and appears to have a history with Henry.
"Justice League 3001" #1
A year has passed between "Justice League 3000" and Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis and Howard Porter's relaunch of the title, heralding the team's continued work, a new member and a new-old villain. Brought back to life through the same DNA-splicing technology that resurrected the rest of the League, Guy Gardner is back on the team, though this time he's been reincarnated as a woman (to some rather uncomfortable gender jokes). What's more, Lois Lane is back as well -- and in the body of Ariel Masters, the woman who created the resurrection process in the first place. Now, her identity unbeknownst to the team, Lois is out to slowly and painfully destroy the Justice League due to some unknown past grudge by working with a team that calls themselves the Injustice League. The Justice League is going to need all the help they can get to figure out this new inside threat; thankfully, Fire, Ice, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle are still kicking around, and the original Kara "Supergirl" Zor-El is on her way by the issue's end.
"Aquaman" #41
"Aquaman" takes full advantage of the "Convergence"-induced break and new creative team (writer Cullen Bunn and artist Trevor McCarthy) by setting up a new status quo for the King of Atlantis -- well, former King of Atlantis, it turns out. The issue picks up with Aquaman in Bunn's home state of Missouri, having been displaced from his throne, away from Atlantis for three months, and separated from Mera. Flashbacks begin to tell the story of how things got to that point, but there's still plenty mystery yet to be revealed -- and like the current Superman status quo, this sees an iconic DC superhero and premier Justice Leaguer placed in a, well, fish out of water situation, without access to what's usually at their disposal.
"Green Lantern: The Lost Army" #1
It's a big week for Guy Gardner, who not only has a notable turn in "Justice League 3001," but also makes a return to the contemporary timeline in this series -- written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Jesus Saiz. With much of the Green Lantern Corps lost in space, John Stewart and his adrift crew (including Kilowog, Arisa Raab, Xrill-Vrek, Two-Six and Krona) encounter Guy, recently "flung across the universe" and wearing not only the Red Lantern ring that he's sported as of late, but also a more familiar Green Lantern ring.
"Gotham by Midnight" #6
The first "DC You" issue of "Gotham by Midnight" doesn't spend a lot of time catching readers up to speed, something many other "DC You" titles have been doing via heavy exposition and flashback. There's a little bit of exposition, but you get the gist of it all pretty quick: these guys work strange "X-Files"-y type cases, Jim Corrigan has the literal spirit of vengeance inside of him and they recently lost one of their own while fighting the good fight. The issue is a pretty standard done-in-one, with the team investigating a haunting, but the big moment comes at the very end of the issue when Kate Spencer -- a.k.a. Manhunter -- makes her debut.
"Teen Titans" #9
There's a lot happening in "Teen Titans." Some plot points are definitely bleed overs from previous issues/storylines that may leave newcomers a little confused - Superboy is straight up wanted for mass murder, which if you haven't been reading is a very, "Wait, what?" moment - while others are new and kind of intriguing. You've got Manchester Black up to some shenanigans, recruiting Wonder Girl, Power Girl and Kid Flash in order to bring in Superboy, and the addition of Klarion and Kid Guardian to the title. There's also the addition of a Durlan to the Titans team, a.k.a the alien race Superboy is accused of murdering the heck out of.
CBR Senior Editor Stephen Gerding, Managing Editor Albert Ching, Assistant Editor Meagan Damore and Reporter Kevin Mahadeo contributed to this article.