It would be fair to say that the timeline of DC Comics became somewhat muddled over time. Crisis on Infinite Earths attempted to fix this, only for the single, streamlined timeline it created to become conflicted. Later events like Zero Hour, Final Crisis, and Infinite Frontier did little to help matters. Now, the publisher is trying to simply lay out the history as it stands now, with New History of the DC Universe.
Written by Mark Waid, with art by Jerry Ordway and Todd Nauck, New History of the DC Universe has a daunting task. Beyond the many reboots and revivals, many aspects of DC Comics’ cosmos are unrelated or contradictory. For instance, is there any connection between the Endless from The Sandman and the Emotional Spectrum tapped by the Green Lantern Corps? Thankfully, the series has a narrator who is uniquely qualified to consider these questions and enumerate the fine details.
The first six pages of New History of the DC Universe #1 may be viewed below.
Why Barry Allen writes New History of the DC Universe
The opening page of the preview reveals Barry Allen as the narrator of the story. This is fitting for a number of reasons. Chief among them is that Barry is currently retired from heroism, having lost his super speed during Absolute Power. Before that, however, Allen mapped the multiverse, as one of the many heroes to uphold the legacy of The Flash.
The choice is also fitting from a metatextual level, as Barry Allen is historically significant to DC Comics. His first appearance is used by many comic historians to mark the start of the Silver Age. He is also notable as one of the first classic superheroes to die, sacrificing himself to save reality during Crisis on Infinite Earths. Barry also had a role in reshaping reality due to his actions in the Flashpoint and DC Rebirth storylines. Given that, there are few others qualified to detail the New History of the DC Universe like the former Fastest Man Alive.
New History of the DC Universe #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on June 25, 2025.
