In 2011,DC Comicsrebooted their entire universe through the New 52, an initiative designed to offer a new generation of readers a clean slate to start at all-new first issues and origins. While some characters were only slightly tweaked for the new decade, others were fully reinvented, leaving many readers with a love/hate attitude towards the publisher. As much as the era has gone down as unpopular in the eyes of the average reader today, there are plenty of comics still worth a read.
The New 52 was somewhat derailed by its DCYou initiative, whose failure sealed the fate of the era, prompting DC to pursue a return to form with Rebirth. As the company moved back to a more optimistic tone, readers have made it clear which they prefer, but the influence of some key runs from the early 2010s continues to be felt. Just because some of the New 52 comics missed the mark shouldn’t mean the entire era gets forgotten – and these runs show there’s plenty to still enjoy today.
10Batgirl
Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf, Vincente Cifuentes, Ed Benes, Fernando Pasarin and Jonathan Glapion
During the late 2000s, Gail Simone cultivated one of DC’s biggest creator fan bases through work on series likeThe Sinister SixandThe Atom. During the New 52, she was assigned writing duties on Batgirl, and turned in a run that’s still considered a fan-favorite take on the character to this day. Balancing the personal life of Barbara Gordon against her vigilante activities, the series introduced a variety of sympathetic foes to her rogues gallery.
Simone’s tenure onBatgirlmoved beyond the grim history ofThe Killing Joke, exploring a more relatable, deep take on the character and her role in Gotham. In contrast to other Bat-family members, this version of Batgirl was one defined by empathy as much as intelligence and fighting skills.
9Aquaman
Geoff Johns, Joe Prado and Ivan Reis
Aquaman has long been dismissed by the mainstream as one of DC’s goofier heroes, even to the point where many modern writers would shy away from including him on the JLA. In his New 52 run, Geoff Johns attempted to emulate Peter David’s own tenure on the hero by bringing seriousness back to the character. Focusing on Arthur Curry’s journey as he renounces the Throne of Atlantis, the series contributed a lot to improving the character’s image, adding a horror tone to the story.
The New 52Aquamanseries served as direct inspiration for the DCEU movies, from Black Manta’s vengeful motivations to the monsters of the Trench. For many, Johns' run on the Justice League’s aquatic hero is the best since the ’90s, thanks to its exploration of Atlantis and building up the threat of Manta.
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8Wonder Woman
Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang, Kano, Tony Atkins, Dan Green and Goran Sudzuka
Wonder Woman has proved a challenge for many writers in the modern era, but several creative teams have stood out in the minds of readers. Among the best of these is Brian Azzarello’s tenure on the Amazon, which gave her a new origin as the daughter of Zeus, as opposed to having been sculpted from clay. Now at her most powerful, the warrior princess sets out to rescue a woman from the Underworld.
Azzarello’sWonder Womanseries is somewhat divisive among DC readers, with some lamenting its direction while others saw it as a breath of fresh air. Not only did this series give Diana what many now regard as her definitive origin story, it also elevated her to her most powerful, and pitted her against the best gods and monsters of the DCU. The series also explored a darker side of the Amazons, forcing a confrontation with Diana.
7Sinestro
Through the Johns/Van Sciver run on Green Lantern, Thaal Sinestro was built up to be one of the greatest villains of the 2000s, thanks to added depth and the formation of the Sinestro Corps.In his New 52 solo series, readers are shown the hero living in exile after having lost control of his corps to Arkillo, who has made it no better than a criminal gang. After being persuaded to take control, the villain sets out to rebuild his team, and establish himself as the true law and order faction of the universe, ruling through fear.
TheSinestroseries follows the villain on an epic journey of conquest against his own former allies, exploring the philosophy that sets him apart from ordinary villainy. As he rebuilds his empire and faces off against both rival corps and competition within his own ranks, Sinestro takes on the forces of evil, even rescuing survivors of his world from slavery.
6Shazam
Geoff Johns and Gary Frank
Shazam has undergone a series of changes under DC since they first started publishing his adventures in the 1970s. During the New 52, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank were hired to reinvent the hero for the 2010s. This began with a reimagining of the hero’s origin, now as a member of the Vasquez family, a diverse foster family where he meets his new siblings. Beginning with his journey to the Wizard and being imbued with the powers of the gods, Billy faces off with Black Adam.
Unlike most heroes of the New 52 – and despite the character’s popularity – Shazam’s story was actually told through a series of back-ups in the main Justice League series. With some of the best art of the decade combined with a story perfect for modern America, readers were given an origin so great it survived the various DC reboots since.
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5Green Lantern
Geoff Johns, Robert Venditti, Charles Soule, Doug Mahnke, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Billy Tan and Rob Hunter
Continuing on the stellar success of hisGreen Lanternrun during the 2000s, Geoff Johns ushered Hal Jordan into the New 52 masterfully. The series follows Hal, no longer a Lantern, as he gets pulled back into his superhero career by Sinestro. Forming a reluctant partnership, the two rivals team up to liberate Korugar from the Sinestro Corps. From there, the two Lanterns set off on more adventures, though the series later opens the door to the story of new characters, like Simon Baz.
The New 52 era of Green Lantern continued the franchise’s post-2004 success, delivering great stories like the “Godhead” event and a plot to overthrow the Corps. While Johns led the series into the new era, Robert Venditti emerged from the New 52 as the leading Green Lantern writer of the 2010s, something that carried over into his Rebirth series.
4The Multiversity
Grant Morrison, Ivan Reis and Joe Prado
As the core events of the New 52 raged on, Grant Morrison explored the Justice League Incarnate as they explored the wider multiverse. Made up of heroes like Calvin Ellis Superman, Thunderer, Dino-Cop and Captain Carrot, the series leads readers on an exploration of worlds like Earth-8, which houses a parody of the Avengers. From facing off against Nazis to a battle with the Gentry, the story highlights the heroes charged with protecting alternate worlds, which would later lay the groundwork for DC’s Infinite Frontier era.
The Multiversitywas one big adventure into the depths of the DC multiverse, and was followed by a slew of excellent tie-ins, which explored the best state of various superheroes, like Shazam. Effectively a tour of the company’s history and its alternate universes, the series built up the Justice League Incarnate as the multiverse’s most underrated and essential team.
3Justice League: Darkseid War
Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok and Francis Manapul
The concluding chapter to Geoff Johns’Justice Leaguerun, “Darkseid War” follows thewar between Darkseidand the Anti-Monitor, who begins destroying worlds and targets the evil New God. With the Crime Syndicate and New Gods stepping in to join forces with the Justice League, heroes and villains alike stand against Mobius for the fate of their world.
“The Darkseid War” remains the most epic chapter of Johns' Justice League series, one that saw key transformations for its heroes, with Wonder Woman becoming God of War as Batman took over the Mobius Chair. The event preceded the demise of the New 52 and paved the way for Rebirth, making it one of the era’s most important stories.
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2Action Comics
Although the early days of Superman’s career have been explored by writers like John Byrne, the New 52 gave Grant Morrison freedom to reimagine a younger Clark Kent as he learns the ropes of being a superhero. Serving as a modern-day “Year One” story, Morrison’s run explores the tension between the Man of Steel and Metropolis, with the hero defending the city from alien threats.
Morrison’sAction Comicsrun gave readers a young, energetic Superman, one who honored his Golden Age roots as a champion of the ordinary person. Alternating between present-day and young Clark Kent, the series offers a fantastic and fresh take on the Man of Tomorrow, reintroducing his rogues gallery for the 21st century.
1Batman: The Court of Owls
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo
One of the flagship titles of the New 52 was Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s lengthy run on Batman, something that proved so popular the pair reunited for theirMetalevents. Their time on The Dark Knight kicked off to ringing success with “The Court of Owls,” which explained that Gotham City has long been manipulated by a shadowy organization of elites. In response Batman uses his identity of Bruce Wayne to his advantage, attempting to infiltrate the cabal.
“The Court of Owls"is still seen by many readers as the best modern Batman entry point for new readers, especially as it explores the dynamic between Bruce and Damian. Replete with plenty of action, a great conspiracy thriller subplot and Batman stepping into a suit of mechanized armor, the story assured readers the Caped Crusader was in good hands for the 2010s.
