With so many universes throughout the DC comic books, it's fun to think which Earths within the different multiverses would be the best ones to live in. And which ones would provide its inhabitants with the worst lives imaginable.
From Earths where Batman turns everyone into vampires to Earths where Captain Carrot and Yankee Poodle save the day, the worlds of DC fall someone between terrifying and whimsical, or deadly and optimistic. But which of these are the absolute best and the absolute worst to be a part of? In this list, the Dark Multiverse and universes directly connected to other mediums are excluded.
10 Worst: Earth-Three As It's Ruled By The Evil Crime Syndicate Of America
After first appearing Justice League of America #29 by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, and Bernard Sachs, the Crime Syndicate of America of Earth-Three has been a dark reminder in the DC comics of just how dangerous it would be if the members of the Justice League were evil.
Mostly made up of Ultraman, Superwoman, Johnny Quick, Owlman, and Power Ring, they rule their Earth with an iron fist, and have survived in some capacity throughout DC's crises, either on Earth-Three, Earth-3, or Earth 3.
9 Best: Earth-C, or Earth 26, Where The World Is Full Of Cartoons
The only thing better than the Justice League is an anthropomorphized animal version of the Justice League, specifically the Zoo Crew. While technically an alternate dimension and not an exact parallel Earth when first introduced pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths, Earth-C's Zoo Crew is made up of superheroes like Captain Carrot, Fastback, and Rubberduck having similar powers to Superman, The Flash, and Plastic Man.
Earth-C became Earth 26 in 2007 and continued on into the New 52 where it remains cartoon-ish, cute, furry, and fun.
8 Worst: Earth-X, or Earth 10, A World Where The Nazis Won WWII
Even with Uncle Sam and his Freedom Fighters fighting on, a world where the Nazis won is undoubtedly one of the worst universes to be a part of. Pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths, this universe was referred to as Earth-X and its superheroes were originally from Earth-Two.
With 52 and New 52 however, it was renamed Earth 10 and was altered so that a Kryptonian had landed in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia instead of the U.S., where he was raised to be Ultraman and fight for Adolf Hitler.
7 Best: Earth-S, or Earth 5, Home To The Marvel Family & Referred To As A "Kinder, Simpler World"
Before Crisis on Infinite Earths had Shazam living on New Earth in DC's main continuity, he resided on Earth-S where he fought evil alongside his friend Freddy as Captain Marvel Jr., his twin sister Mary as Marvel Girl, and a tiger called Tawky Tawny.
When DC decided on there only being 52 parallel universes to Earth, Earth-S was revitalized as Earth 5 where it was described as "a kinder, simpler world" as it harkens back to the idealistic comic books of the 1940s and 1950s.
6 Worst: Earth 29, AKA Bizarro World Where Everything Is Backwards & Confusing
Originally a cube-shaped planet created by the main continuity's Bizarro, Htrae (otherwise known as Bizarro World) was given its own universe in 52 and New 52 as a way to explore Bizarro's Unjustice League of Unamerica and their enemies, the Legion of Fun.
On Htrae, garbage collectors bring garbage to people's homes, children give snakes to their teachers instead of apples, cats chase after dogs, and every other thing is meant to be the complete opposite of Earth 0, which sounds like a true nightmare.
5 Best: Earth 2, DC's Golden Age & Beyond Where New Heroes Inspire The Next Generation
Based on DC's original Golden Age superheroes, the original Earth-Two had Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle's daughter Helena becoming Huntress and Dick Grayson taking on the mantle of Batman. After Crisis On Infinite Earths, Earth-Two was destroyed but was eventually re-worked as Earth 2 in the New 52.
A world where the original "Wonders" (AKA Justice League) were killed in a war against Apokalips, requiring a new generation of superheroes like Val-Zod, who gives new hope and a breath of fresh air to a traumatized Earth.
4 Worst: Earth-1191, or Earth 43, Where Everyone's A Blood-Thirsty Vampire
Originally imagined as a one-shot in 1992's Batman and Dracula: Red Rain by Doug Moench, Kelley Jones, and Malcolm Jones III, this world was once known as Earth-1191 and is now referred to as Earth 43.
Filled with bloodthirsty vampires, this universe is dark, grim, and terrifying as Batman, after becoming a vampire in order to defeat Dracula, went on to turn everyone else in the world into a vampire. Batman's new vampiric Justice League, known as the Blood League, hunted for blood throughout the universe.
3 Best: Crossover Earth, Where The DC/Marvel Crossovers Exist & Make Comic Book Fans Happy
Over the years, there have been several stand-alone crossover events between DC and Marvel characters, starting with Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man #1 by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru, and Dick Giordano in 1976.
For any comic book fan, living in this universe would be a dream come true as debates could be put to the test and whether or not the Justice League could beat the Avengers could be tested again and again, March Madness-style. In the Marvel comic books, Crossover Earth is called Earth-7642.
2 Worst: Earth 0's Futures End Where Cyborg Bugs Have Destroyed Everything
A possible alternate future where Terry McGinnis' Batman and Mr. Terrific have created their own Ultron with Brother Eye. Brother Eye is an A.I. that acquired sentience and succeeded in turning all of the superheroes into techno-organic killer bugs in an effort to take over the world.
Future's End is such an awful possible universe to live in that barely anyone survives the bugs and, during the Convergence crossover event in 2016, the Future's End cy-bugs destroyed every city they were set upon once unleashed.
1 Best: Earth 21, A Bright, Optimistic Universe Inspired By DC: The New Frontier
Set up as a way to link DC's Golden Age and Silver Age, Earth 21 is a world where John F. Kennedy was never assassinated and the Cold War ended peacefully in the 1960s.
A DC universe from a series that won an Eisner that follows so closely to real-world events would be an intriguing Earth to live within as Earth 21's superheroes deal with the tumultuous issues of 40s, 50s, and 60s, making the world a more progressive and optimistic place to live in.