Significant Transformation of DC Comic Multiverse Over the Years
DC Comics is a subsidiary of Warner Bros Entertainment which is a division of the Time Warner Company. It is an American comic book publisher and the publishing unit of DC Entertainment.
The name ‘DC’ was conceptualized from the company’s most popular series called Detective Comics which featured Batman’s debut and eventually became part of the company’s name.
Besides publishing comics, the company has further ventured onto non-comic dynasties to produce universe related material such as Watchmen, V for Vendetta and several other titles under Vertigo which has been their alternative print.
Marvel Comics, which was acquired in 2009 by The Walt Disney Company is the main competitor of DC comics.
The Origin of DC Comics
Malcom Wheeler-Nicholson founded the National Allied Publications in 1934 which debuted with a new comic labelled The Big Comic Magazine.
In December 1935, during the Golden Era of Comic Books, the company produced a second comic, which was quite a standard for comic books at that time. This second title was called New Comics.
This title evolved into Adventure Comics which became one of the longest running comic book series.
In 1935, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster who were the future creators of Superman created Doctor Occult who is the earliest DC Comic characters still existing in the DC universe. The final series from Malcom was the title Detective Comics in December 1936.
This was later followed by the introduction of Batman in May 1939. Earlier on in 1937, Wheeler had been forced to partner with Harry Donenfeld, a distributor and owner of a printing firm in a bid to settle an existing debt. Detectives Comics was the published.
A third partner, Jack S. Liebowitz was also on-boarded and Detective Comics Inc. was then registered with the three as owners.
Detective Comics later bought off the remains of National Allied from Nicholson who had suffered a major cash crisis and soon launched a fourth title, Action Comics which premiered with the introduction of Superman.
The company immediately then introduced two other famed characters, Batman and Sandman. It was around this time that Detective Comics became colloquially known as DC Comics. In 1977, the company officially adopted the name of DC Comics.
Renowned Fictional Characters & teams in DC Comics
DC comics is considered to be one of the oldest and largest American comic book companies.
It prides itself in producing materials featuring famous on screen fictional heroic characters such as: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman, Black Canary, Hawkman, Supergirl, Hawkgirl, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Cyborh, Statis, Zatanna and Shazam.
Most of the activities take place in the fictional DC universe. This fictional universe additionally features teams such as the Justice League, The Justice Society of America, The Suicide Squad and The Teen Titans.
Famous villains like The Joker, Lex Luthor, The Cheetah, Darkseid, Catwoman, Ra’s al Ghul, Deathstroke, Reverse-Flash, Sinestro, Black Adma and Brainiac are also prominently featured.
DC Comics Production Focus
The focus of DC Comics through the years has shifted to more conventional film genres like science fiction, westerns, comedies, romance, crime and horror although in a relatively tame manner.
In the mid-1950s there was an insignificant renaissance in the super hero genres especially with the introduction of Flash.
Although Flash had featured in previous comics, a revamp and reimaging garnered some popularity which saw a similar treatment for the fictional character Green Lantern. This era also lead to the sprout of most prominent superhero teams such as the Justice League of America.
Main stay characters were not spared either. Characters of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman experienced a radical overhaul including Superman’s family ties and the extended Bat family.
After the overhaul, Wonder Woman was repositioned to have greater adventures in a more mythological context. Batman was then re-emphasized as a detective.
The springing up of this imagination and creativity was greatly acknowledged and became very elemental in the history of DC Comics.
Such inspiration influenced other companies to create new teams such as the Fantastic Four. There was also the advent of sharing of universes between characters which led to the famous facet of the DC multi universe.
This concept divided characters into ages or eras where the Golden age characters lived in a parallel universe called Earth 2 while the new age or modern fictional heroes resided on Earth 1.
Between the 1970s and 1980s there was a relaxation of comic book censorship which opened up the arena for exploration of darker themes. This was the era where comics became more naturalistic and so real such that fans felt as if they existed in the contemporary world.
It was in the 80’s that DC comics debuted the legendary comic, The Dark Knight Returns which portrayed Batman as a tortured and tragic character. Its massive success greatly influenced further course for DC comics.
The Modern Age & Future of DC Comics
With the revitalizing silver age enjoyed by DC Comics, DC was keen to seek for a wider universe. This was aimed at providing an opportunity for the company to jettison and realign some of the character’s complicated backstory and continuity of some discrepancies.
The History of DC Universe set out the revised history of the major DC characters while Crisis featured many key deaths that ultimately reshaped the DC universe.
At about the same time also, there were important updates in the non-superhero and horror titles notably The Saga of the Swamp Thing, a revitalized horror series, being worth mention.
This influx of sophisticated horror and fantasy material led DC Comics to establish Vertigo matured readers imprint.
Further, DC series like Batman — The Dark Knight Returns and The Watchmen drew attention in the mainstream press for their promotion of anti-hero tactics and their dark psychological complex. This paved way for acceptance of the comics especially in the literary criticism circles and creation of inroads into the book industry.
The mid-80’s saw the end of most of the long running DC Comics.
Innovation is key as new art and styles are being developed and explored. New discoveries and profound scientific discoveries are on the rise. In the 1980’s DC published some of the most important comics in the world but have been creatively tied down to them ever since.
With the recent leadership shakeup at DC and Warner Bros, there is a pivot which has placed the long time DC comic writer and Chief Creative officer in charge of a newly formed DC unit, along with an experienced studio executive to oversee future superheroes movies adaptations, the primary selling point being hope and optimism.
The history of DC Comics is that of the comic book industry as a whole layered with intrigue, greed, great stories and financial mishaps which ultimately, creates an innate desire for all fans in anticipation of greater developments.
