The Justice Society of America has been mysteriously absent in DC Comics Rebirth initiative. To be more correct, we haven’t seen a JSA title even though the characters have been spotted in DC Comics promotional material. Several of the JSA members have even made appearances in other Rebirth comics.

The Justice Society of America is a superhero team that was popular in DC Comics Golden Age. Before Rebirth the Justice Society was part of the main DC Earth as a team of seasoned heroes who mentored younger legacy characters.

Back in 2016 Geoff Johns promised the JSA would return. He said the return of the JSA needed “room to breathe” so it would not get lost among immediate announcements.

We have been given hints pointing toward JSA becoming a part of the DC Rebirth Universe. We have seen Jay Garrick trying to re-enter the DCU only to be pulled back out due to nobody remembering him (it seems their memories tether them to the DCU). Johnny Thunder is constantly trying to get his Genie and use him to bring the JSA back.

We have seen other characters like Mr. Terrific, Phantom Girl, Hawkman, Saturn Girl make appearances in other Rebirth comics. Some of the JSA/Legion of Superhero characters like Dr. Mid-Nite, Alan Scott Green Lantern, Doctor Fate, and Hourman have appeared in promotional material.

Any fan of these Golden Age superheroes will be ecstatic to see their return to the main DCU. To make it even better it looks like these characters will be playing a very important part in the explanation behind what is going on with DC Comics Rebirth initiative.

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DC Comics has been dropping numerous hints that the Watchmen will be crossing over into the mainline DC Universe.  One of the biggest hints is the fact Batman found the Comedian’s blood-stained smiley face button lodged into the wall of the Batcave.

The Button story-line is a four part series in Batman #21 & #22 and Flash #21 & #22.

Batman and Flash (Barry Allen) are arguably two of the best detectives in the DC Universe.  They team up to discover the meaning behind the button appearing in the Batcave.  We don’t actually see Dr. Manhattan or Ozxymandias, but there have been plenty of hints up to this point.

One thing that is perplexing is the fact the button is activated when it comes in close proximity of the Psycho Pirate’s mask.  It emits a blast that knocks Batman across the Batcave.

Reverse Flash (Eobard Thawne) appears and gives Batman a beat-down.  The only mistake Eobard made was touching the button.  It momentarily zapped him out of this reality.  When he popped back in his body was deteriorating and he said he had seen God.

Reverse Flash doesn’t use Speed Force for his powers.  His is a synthetic power.  Upon investigation, Barry finds Eobard is covered with Barry’s Speed Force.

It seems that “The Button” parts 1 & 2 introduce more questions than it answers.  DC Comics has 2 more issues to tie this all together.  I keep hoping to see any of the Watchmen characters, but so far I’ve only been teased.

Since Batman seems to be teaming up with everyone lately, I’d love to see a Batman/Rorshach limited series.  What do you think about the Watchmen characters being brought into the DC Universe? Who would you like to see in a crossover between DC and Watchmen characters?

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Jack and Troy from ZiaComics.com share the nerdiness that is emanating from DC Comics Rebirth.  We have covered this before (several times) but this line wide reset (It’s not a reboot, Geoff Johns made absolutely sure everyone knew that) is spinning a really good story so far.

Warning, spoilers are contained below.

It all started with the DC Universe Rebirth one shot that had Wally West trapped within the speed force.  In order for him to escape the speed force and not be broken down and become part of the speed force, he needed someone to remember him.  Most of that issue followed Wally around trying to get those close to him to remember him so he could return to our world as Wally West.  He tried his former girlfriend, team mates, and even the greatest detective in the world (Batman of course).  It wasn’t until he visited Barry Allen that he finally broke through.  Wally said his goodbyes, told Barry he had lived a good life, and resigned himself to become part of the speed force.  Something caused Barry’s memories of Wally to come back and he was able to save him.  The issue ended with an emotional reunion between Barry and Wally.

In the meantime, Batman investigated the area of the Batcave where he saw the premonition of Wally and discovered a bloody happy face pin (like the Comedian from the Watchmen wore) embedded in the wall.  The last few panels show a watch being unassembled/reassembled and you hear the voices of a couple of characters out of the frame.  One characters keeps referring to the other as “Adrian” (Ozymandias).

There are enough clues there that even those not real familiar with comics can conclude the Watchmen, specifically Dr. Manhattan, are involved.  We find out Dr. Manhattan has taken 10 years away from all the DC characters.  Heroes that were old are now young, romances that existed are no longer, and everything is set back 10 years.

So far there has been no explanation as to why Dr. Manhattan would do this, but a lot of people are enjoying having their characters put back as they were pre-New 52.  They are even making Dick Grayson Nightwing again.  Finally, after the New 52 and Convergence we are finally getting the DC Universe that should be.  I trust in Geoff Johns story-telling ability in a single title.  I hope he can work the same magic for ALL of DC Comics now.

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DC Rebirth is a 2016 relaunch by DC Comics of its entire line of ongoing monthly superhero comic books. The launching point is the end of The New 52 initiative (May 2016).

DC Rebirth is intended to restore the DC Universe to a form much like that prior to “Flashpoint”. It will incorporate the New 52 continuity as well as numerous other elements.

In January 2016 DC Comics co-publisher Dan DiDio and Jim Lee tweeted an image of a blue curtain with the word “Rebirth” on it, teasing the event. The following month DC announced its Rebirth initiative as a line-wide relaunch of its titles to begin in June 2016. It would kick off with an 80-page one-shot which was released on May 25, 2016.

As part of the Rebirth initiative Action Comics and Detective Comics will return to their previous numbering (#957 and #934 respectively). A number of existing titles will relaunch with new #1 issues. There will also be the release of several new titles.

Geoff Johns (narrator of this video) describes the 80-page one-shot as “re-laying the groundwork for DC’s future while celebrating the past and present. It’s not about throwing anything away. It’s quite the opposite.” Johns calls Rebirth more “in the same vein as Green Lantern: Rebirth and The Flash: Rebirth.

Some things alter and change but it’s more character-driven. It’s also more about revealing secrets and mysteries within the DC Universe about “Flashpoint” and The New 52 that are part of a bigger tapestry.” The Rebirth initiative will reintroduce concepts from pre-Flashpoint continuity, such as legacy, that were lost with The New 52 and build “on everything that’s been published since Action Comics #1 up thru The New 52.” Lee said that Johns “came up with this brilliant story [for the DC Universe: Rebirth Special] that basically allows us to seat the New 52 within the continuity that preceded it. So it really synchronizes and harmonizes pre-52 with New 52 continuity”.

Johns worked with each writing team and the editors for the titles to help refocus “on these characters, deconstructing them down to their core DNA and building out story arcs based on that DNA”. Two titles that were part of the initial announcement in February, Gotham Academy: Second Semester and Earth 2, were revealed to no longer be considered Rebirth titles. Instead these titles will be continuations of their New 52 titles.

Regarding the release of variant covers for titles, Lee said, “we’re only using specialty variants with comic book shops and variant covers in judicious ways. We’re not going to have a gazillion SKUs across the entire line. We find that at that point why publish a story inside at all. If you’re just going to build a business based on variant covers. We’re still using variant covers, but we’re actually using one variant cover artist for each book. And they’re going to be responsible for being the alternate cover artist on that book. And we’re only doing it on our top-selling books.”

With the release of DC Universe: Rebirth Special characters not seen during The New 52, including Wally West, Jackson Hyde/Aqualad, Ryan Choi and Doctor Fate, return to continuity. Other characters such as Ted Kord and Ray Palmer/Atom returned to their characterization from prior to Flashpoint. Wally West explains the in-universe cause of the reboot following Flashpoint was not due to Barry Allen attempting to fix the timelines. For unknown reasons Doctor Manhattan of Watchmen interfered and removed approximately 10 years from each character. This resulted in the younger age of heroes in The New 52 and the loss of legacy and previous relationships.

DC revealed the titles under four different “families” grouping similar characters or titles together.

The Batman family of titles includes Batman, Detective Comics, Batgirl, Nightwing, All-Star Batman, and Batgirl and the Birds of Prey.

The Superman family of titles includes Action Comics, Superman, Wonder Woman, New Super-man, Superwoman, Supergirl, and Trinity

The Justice League family of titles includes Aquaman, The Flash, Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps, Justice League, Titans, Cyborg, Justice League of America, and Teen Titans.

The other family of titles includes Green Arrow, Deathstroke, Harley Quinn, The Hellblazer, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Suicide Squad, Blue Beetle, Super Sons, and Batman Beyond.

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Jack and Troy from ZiaComics.com geek out about Wally West coming back into DC Comics line-up during the Rebirth event.

Wally West was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino and introduced in The Flash #110. The character was the nephew of the existing Flash character’s girlfriend and later wife, Iris West.

During a visit to the Central City police laboratory where Barry Allen worked the freak accident that gave Allen his powers repeated itself. Wally was bathed in electrically-charged chemicals.

Now possessing the same powers as the Flash, West donned a smaller sized copy of Barry Allen’s Flash outfit and became the young crime fighter Kid Flash. Wally had a strained relationship with his own parents and often looked to his beloved aunt and uncle for moral support and guidance.

This costume was later altered in The Flash #135 to one that would make him more visually distinctive. The original red was replaced with a costume that was primarily yellow with red leggings, gloves, and ear-pieces.

In addition to his appearances within the Flash title, the character was a founding member of the newly created Teen Titans. Kid Flash eventually left the group to focus on school, while also continuing a part-time solo career and partnership with the Flash on a handful of cases.

The Crisis on Infinite Earths brought him out of retirement, and the death of Barry Allen gave him a new sense of purpose. Despite the risk, he took the name and costume of The Flash, and was determined to live up to the example that Barry Allen had set for the world.

After the events of Flashpoint, history was altered and the people of Earth lost all of their memories. However, Wally managed to escape through the Speed Force and avoid being lost forever.

He was able to project himself onto the New 52 Earth. He needed someone to remember him before being revived fully.  After several unsuccessful attempts to contact his friends and family Barry recognized him and returned him to life. This saved the entire pre-Flashpoint universe with him.

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DC Comics Rebirth discussion with Brett Booth

Jack and Troy from ZiaComics.com talk with DC Comics artist, Brett Booth about his origin story, his part in the upcoming DC Comics Rebirth line wide relaunch, and just plain old comic book stuff. We tried every trick we know to get him to divulge information on the Rebirth story-line. We even said pretty please, but he skillfully dodged our every attempt.

DC Comics Rebirth is a 2016 relaunch by DC Comics of its entire line of ongoing monthly superhero comic books. It is intended to restore the DC Universe to a form much like that prior to the “Flashpoint” story-line. It will incorporate numerous elements of The “New 52”.

DC Comics decided to reset their universe to correct continuity problems introduced by “DC You”. Rebirth will also address the fans desires to see teams such as the Justice Society return to continuity.

This resetting will also bring the printing arm of DC Comics more in line with their popular television series. The comics will more closely align with DC’s TV series Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow, as well as the feature films Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad.

Rebirth begins with the 80 page giant sized DC Universe: Rebirth Special by Geoff Johns. DC Comics will publish numerous Rebirth issues of many current comics followed by new number one issues thereafter.

Numerous DC Comics flagship titles such as Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman will continue bimonthly. All bi-monthly titles will start their numbering at #1 with the exception of Action Comics and Detective Comics. Action Comics and Detective Comics will return to their original, pre-New 52 numbering without a Rebirth issue.

Rebirth is intended to run for two years. Action Comics numbering will pick up with issue #957 and Detective Comics with #934. This means that on the intended bimonthly schedule Action Comics (original lauch date in 1938) will reach issue 1000 just over two years after Rebirth is initiated. This is a significant landmark in American comics publishing.

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