DC’s Elseworlds bring new versions of familiar characters
Any interest in comic books means you’re familiar with different versions of your favourite superheroes. If that’s your jam, good news, DC is bringing back its famous Elseworlds.
The concept of alternative versions of superheroes has existed since the introduction of the superheroes themselves. The chances are you thought to yourself as some point, “Is this part of regular continuity?”
The widening world of superhero films with multiple version of the same character (sometimes played by the same actor), have made the idea of multiverse increasingly commonplace, but it has been around for a while.
Marvel’s What if? comics started in 1977 and produced dozens of different stories. Despite the more extravagant Disney+ TV show, What If? comics were narrower in focus and presented a familiar comic book world with a single change. Such as What if Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben Had Lived? Or What if The Fantastic Four Had Not Gained Their Super–Powers?
DC Comic took a little longer to formalise their approach. Instead of single issue stories focused around a narrow choice, DC’s produced longer stories around more distinctive universes.
In 1989, Gotham by Gaslight became the first Elseworlds story (and remains one of the most popular, to the point it spawned an animated movie and a sequel).
What made Gotham by Gaslight so good (apart from Batman) was the combination of familiar characters and relationship (Batman and Gordon both appear) in different settings (in this instance Victorian London terrorised by Jack the Ripper.
The stories allowed readers to rediscover characters and be surprised by different dynamics. In an Elseworld, a hero does not have to be a hero but can turn out to be the villain. We also get the opportunity to revisit characters who might have been sidelined or have been taken in a different direction.
It is with some measure of optimism that the news of six new Elseworld stories were received.
First up is a sequel to Gotham by Gaslight. Andy Diggle and Leandro Fernandez ae bringing Gotham by Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age. This will be second sequel to Gotham by Gaslight (the other one was Batman: Masterof the Future in 1991). The Kryptonian Age will see a Victorian Justice League (maybe a little League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?). And, of course, some Superman (the clues in the title).
The list is a little Batman heavy. Batman the Barbarian by Greg Smallwood is the second title (four of the six titles include Batman and we suspect he’ll make an appearance in a couple of others). In this six-issue limited series we are going to see Batman looking little like he did in Grant Morrison’s Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne.
Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter by Jay Kristoff and Tirso Cons with continue the excellent 12 issue run of Tom Taylor and Yasmine Putri's Dark Knights of Steel. We ca look forwards to more of Game of Thrones mixed with our favourite DC characters. And we are being promised a Viking Deathstroke!
Tate Brombal and Werther Dell’Edera’s seven issue Green Lantern: Dark looks to be a little more of a departure from familiar stories. A female Green Lantern (for a change) is taking on a post-apocalyptic world of monsters. The visuals on this one look interesting along with a story that offers the possibility of new characters.
Batman: Nightfire by Clay and Seth Mann is set to be a time travelling attempt to avert disaster. It feels like it could have been given to a character other than Batman, but Clay Mann has done so many great Marvel characters, you know he was holding out for Batman.
DC vs. Vampires: World War V is last on the list. Matthew Rosenberg is bringing back his familiar looking title with some great looking visuals and some exciting ideas. The team image standing around the charger, awesome.
DC Elseworlds looks to be providing a promising line-up of titles. A few safe options. A couple of new stories. Heavy on the Batman, but hopefully the first of many for the new Elseworlds Imprint.
Looking for a little Elseworld action? Pick up your copy of the classic Gotham by Gaslight, or DC vs. Vampires volume 1, or Knights of Steel volume 1 (these are paid affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I will earn a small income from qualifying purchases, but won’t cost you any more).