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DC comics was founded in 1934 by Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson as National Allied Publications.(would later be changed to DC comics in 1970 after the popular detective comics logo.)
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This era began with the introduction of Superman in Action Comics #1 (1938) and Batman a year later. It saw the debut of many iconic characters and the formation of the Justice Society of America (JSA). 1938-1956
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The character Superman made his debut in Action Comics #1 (cover date June 1938), which launched the superhero genre and was a massive sales hit. -
Batman was introduced in Detective Comics #27, which was published on March 30, 1939, with a cover date of May 1939. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. -
Wonder Woman was introduced in October 1941, in the comic book All Star Comics #8. Then she later got her own series, Wonder Woman #1, in June 1942. The character was created by psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (under the pseudonym Charles Moulton) and artist Harry G. Peter, with inspiration from the feminist movements of the early 20th century. -
Following a decline in superhero popularity, this age revitalized characters, often with a more science-fiction bent. The introduction of the Multiverse concept in "Flash of Two Worlds" helped to reconcile the older Golden Age heroes with the newer Silver Age heroes. 1956-1970
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The team was created by writer Gardner Fox and editor Julius Schwartz as a revival of the Golden Age's Justice Society of America. The original lineup of the Justice League of America included Aquaman, Batman, the Flash (Barry Allen), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), the Martian Manhunter, Superman, and Wonder Woman. -
Stories in this period generally adopted a darker, more socially relevant tone, tackling real-world issues. 1970 to 1984
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This era began with the landmark Crisis on Infinite Earths event (1985), which dramatically rebooted the universe, merging many parallel Earths into a single continuity to simplify the complex history. 1985 -present -
A massively popular storyline where the hero is killed by the villain Doomsday, leading to a temporary change in the universe and a significant cultural impact. -
A sequel to Crisis on Infinite Earths that dealt with the consequences of the original event. It led to the creation of a new multiverse of 52 universes and dramatically changed many characters' lives, including depowering Superman for a time.
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A universe-altering event that reset the DC timeline, leading to The New 52 and a new continuity for all of DC's characters, with major changes to their origins and relationships. -
Rebirth was a major publishing event that aimed to course-correct from the previous "New 52" era by re-emphasizing legacy, history, and classic character traits, while also integrating pre-New 52 continuity.
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The current eras, which embrace a vast, interconnected history where almost all stories are considered part of the overarching, evolving narrative. 2021-present
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https://www.dc.com/blog/2025-09-24/a-complete-timeline-of-the-new-history-of-the-dc-universe https://culturefly.com/blogs/culture-blog/dc-comics-history?srsltid=AfmBOopo8JKZSVDxHqt7-K8aXXDEn7dtclTw0iRzmmSJKdfV9mXn157F https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-30/batman-comic-debuts-1939 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/origin-story-wonder-woman-180952710/ https://www.ohiohistory.org/origin-story-the-creation-of-superman/