DC – Multiversity

Grant Morrison’s limited series The Multiversity (2014) established a multiverse for DC comics.

The creator-owner works of Rob Liefeld have directly inspired (at least) two of DC’s Earths. This is a complete reading order for DC Comic’s Multiversity, from the point of view of those two Earths.

Earth-35 is an analogue for the characters of Rob Liefeld’s Awesome Comics, written most notably by Alan Moore, who in his run on Supreme introduced “idea space”, similar to the “concept space” which formed Earth-35. Its team the Super-Americans is based on Awesome’s Allied Supermen of America. Majesty is an homage to Glory of Awesome Comics, created by Rob Liefeld and reinvented by Alan Moore in his run on Supreme, herself a pastiche of Wonder Woman. Mercury-Man is an homage to Doc Rocket of Awesome Comics, created by Alan Moore in his run on Supreme, himself a pastiche of Flash. Miss X is an homage to Alley Cat of Awesome Comics, created by Alan Moore in his run on Supreme, herself a pastiche of Black Canary and Catwoman. Morphin’ Man is an homage to Polyman of Awesome Comics, created by Alan Moore in his run on Supreme, himself a pastiche of Plastic Man. Olympian is an homage to Fisherman of Awesome Comics, created by Alan Moore in his run on Supreme, himself a pastiche of Green Arrow. The Owl is an homage to Professor Night of Awesome Comics, created by Alan Moore in his run on Supreme, himself a pastiche of Batman. The Owl is also confirmed by creator Grant Morrison as the Batman-analogue seen in Batman #256, making him additionally his universe’s version of Bruce Wayne. Starcop is an homage to Spacehunter of Awesome Comics, created by Alan Moore in his run on Supreme, himself a pastiche of Martian Manhunter. Supremo is an homage to Supreme of Awesome Comics, created by Rob Liefeld and influentially reinvented by Alan Moore, himself a pastiche of Superman.

Earth-41 is an analogue for Image Comics. The Nimrod Squad is based on the Image Comics team Youngblood, each member being a fusion of a DC character and an Image character—Fletch is a combination of Green Lantern and Shaft the archer; Flintstein is a fusion of Martian Manhunter and the stony hero Badrock; Vague is based on Wonder Woman and Vogue; and Nightcracker combines two robotic heroes, Red Tornado and Diehard while sharing some qualities with Swamp Thing. Sepulchre combines Chapel with elements of Deadman. . Kal’Amity is an alternate version of Superman inspired by the character Combat. Spore was designed as a pastiche of the Image Comics character Spawn. Dino-Cop is a pastiche of the Image Comics character Savage Dragon.

The Multiversity Guidebook gives a glimpse of each of these Earths and some of the heroes that live there.

Reading Order:

  • Superboy (1949) #132 [DC Comics] 09/1966
    • Supremo is Earth-35’s Superman analogue
    • this issue has the first appearance of DC’s main Earth’s Supremo
  • Superboy (1949) #182 [DC Comics] 02/1972
    • a flashback recounts the tragic story of Supremo
  • Batman (1940) #256 [DC Comics] 06/1974
    • “If Bruce Wayne Had Not Become the Batman” story
    • We are given glimpses into five alternate universes where Bruce Wayne was inspired to base his super-hero persona not on a bat, but on other animals and objects. Thus, we see Bruce Wayne become the Scorpion, the Stingray, the Owl, the Shooting Star and the Iron Knight.; Scorpion (Earth-41), Stingray (Earth-34), Owl (Earth-35), Shooting Star (Earth-47), and Iron Knight (Earth-36).
  • Final Crisis (2008) #7 [DC Comics] 03/2009
    • Supermen of the Multiverse includes Earth-35’s Supremo (also on cover)
  • The Multiversity (2014) #1 [DC Comics] 10/2014
    • cameo from Earth-41’s Spore and Dino-Cop <orange>
  • The Multiversity: The Society of Super-Heroes: Conquerors of the Counter-World (2014) #1 [DC Comics] 11/2014
  • The Multiversity: The Just (2014) #1 [DC Comics] 12/2014
  • The Multiversity: Pax Americana (2015) #1 [DC Comics] 01/2015
  • The Multiversity: Thunderworld Adventures (2015) #1 [DC Comics] 02/2015
  • The Multiversity Guidebook (2015) #1 [DC Comics] 03/2015
    • detailed entries for Earth-35 and Earth-41
  • The Multiversity: Mastermen (2015) #1 [DC Comics] 04/2015
  • The Multiversity: Ultra Comics (2015) #1 [DC Comics] 05/2015
  • The Multiversity (2014) #2 [DC Comics] 06/2015
    • appearances from Earth-41’s Flintstein & Dino-Cop <orange>
    • cameo from Earth-35’s Super-Americans
  • Convergence Question (2015) #1 [DC Comics] 06/2015
    • Supremo (Earth-35)
  • Flash (2016) #52 [DC Comics] 10/2018
    • Mercury-Man (Earth-35) cameo
  • Justice League (2018) #26 [DC Comics] 08/2019
    • Earth-35’s “Super Americans” cameos
    • Earth-41 cameos
  • Flash (2016) #75 [DC Comics] 09/2019
    • Mercury-Man (Earth-35) cameo
  • Dark Nights: Death Metal Multiverse’s End (2020) #1 [DC Comics] 11/2020
    • Dino-Cop (Earth-41) appearance <colored green like Savage Dragon, not orange like before>
  • Dark Nights: Death Metal Rise of the New God (2020) #1 [DC Comics] 12/2020
    • Dino-Cop (Earth-41) appearance <orange again>
  • Infinite Frontier (2021) #2 [DC Comics] 09/2021
    • Dino-Cop (Earth-41) appearance <orange>
  • Justice League Incarnate (2021) #1 [DC Comics] 01/2022
    • Dino-Cop (Earth-41) appearance <orange>
  • Justice League Incarnate (2021) #2 [DC Comics] 02/2022
    • Earth-41’s Nimrod Squad (analogue for Youngblood) cameos in preview at end of book
    • Dino-Cop (Earth-41) appearance <orange>
  • Justice League Incarnate (2021) #3 [DC Comics] 03/2022
    • Earth-41’s Nimrod Squad (analogue for Youngblood) appears
    • meta comic-within-a-comic “Nimrod Squad” is an homage to Youngblood #2 with Captain Carrot in place of Prophet; “A Carrot Cometh!”
    • Scorpion (Earth-41’s Batman) appearance
    • Dino-Cop (Earth-41) appearance <orange>
    • Spore & Annihilator (Earth-41) appearance (analogues for Spawn & Violator)
    • WildC.A.T.s and Wetworks appear
    • 1:25 Retailer Incentive Variant Cover features a Dino-Cop cover by by Jorge Fornes
  • Justice League Incarnate (2021) #4 [DC Comics] 04/2022
    • Dino-Cop (Earth-41) appearance <orange>
  • Justice League Incarnate (2021) #5 [DC Comics] 05/2022
    • Dino-Cop (Earth-41) appearance <orange>
    • 1 for 25 Retailer Incentive Variant Cover by Andrei Bressan includes Dino-Cop (Earth-41)
  • Justice League (2018) #75 [DC Comics] 06/2022
    • Dino-Cop (Earth-41) appearance <orange>
  • Dark Crisis The Dark Army (2022) #1 [DC Comics] 01/2023
    • Dino-Cop (Earth-41) appearance <orange>
  • Dark Crisis Big Bang (2022) #1 [DC Comics] 02/2023
    • Earth-41 appears with a cameo of Flintstein (of The Nimrod Squad)
    • back of book includes “From the notes of Barry Allen:” with notes on each Earth in the Multiverse that Barry Allen has charted
      • Earth-35 — The Super-Americans
      • Earth-41 — Spore, Dino-Cop, Nightcracker, and others
  • Dark Crisis On Infinite Earths (2022) #7 [DC Comics] 02/2023
    • Dino-Cop (Earth-41) appearance <orange>
  • Multiversity Teen Justice (2022) #1-6 [DC Comics] 08/2022-01/2023
    • a miniseries that takes place on Earth-11
    • first series to carry the Multiversity header since the original series
  • Multiversity Harley Screws Up the DCU (2023) #1-6 [DC Comics] 05/2023-10/2023
    • second series to carry the Multiversity header
    • back of book references Final Crisis (2008) #7 and Supermen of the Multiverse which includes Earth-35’s Supremo
  • Knight Terrors Harley Quinn (2023) #1-2 [DC Comics] 09/2023-10/2023
    • Harley Quinn encounters (dreams?) the ‘Multiversity Guidebook’ in both issues of this series.

Additional Reading:

  • Space Adventures (1952) #44 [Charlton Comics Group] 02/1962
    • Earth-35 is based on Alan Moore’s work in the Liefeld universe
    • Moore was know for re-inventing characters like he did with old Charlton Comics characters for Watchmen
    • It is possible Earth-35’s Mercury-Man is based on the Charlton Comics character Mercury Man. This is Mercury Man’s first appearance.
    • intro text says he “can fly at any speed”
    • has a human appearance by the end of story
  • Space Adventures (1952) #45 [Charlton Comics Group] 05/1962
    • this is the only other appearance I could find for Mercury Man
  • Charlton Premiere (1967) #1 [Charlton Comics Group] 09/1967
    • Earth-35 is based on Alan Moore’s work in the Liefeld universe
    • Moore was know for re-inventing characters like he did with old Charlton Comics characters for Watchmen
    • It is possible Earth-35’s Morphin’ Man’s look and powers are based on the Charlton Comics character The Shape. This is The Shape’s first appearance.
  • Superman and Batman: World’s Funnest (2000) [DC Comics] 11/2000
    • Shooting Star (Batman of Earth-47) appearance
    • five alternate Batmen were introduced in Batman (1940) #256 and re-introduced in Multiversity; this is one of the only other appearances of these Batmen.
  • Flashpoint: Secret Seven (2011) #1 [DC Comics] 08/2011
    • Earth-35 includes a character named Miss X that I can’t find elsewhere
    • this issue mentions a Miss X as a former teammate of Shade
  • Action Comics (2011) #9 [DC Comics] 07/2012
    • Iron Knight (Batman of Earth-36) mentioned
    • five alternate Batmen were introduced in Batman (1940) #256 and re-introduced in Multiversity; this is one of the only other appearances of these Batmen.
  • Convergence (2015) #1 [DC Comics] 06/2015
    • Earth-47 cameos
  • Flash (2016) #57 [DC Comics] 12/2018
    • sometimes listed as a Mercury-Man (Earth-35) appearance; I believe this is an error.
    • there is a page referencing Flash (2016) #52 where Mercury-Man (Earth 35) appeared, but I can’t find him in this new page
  • Flash (2016) #76 [DC Comics] 10/2019
    • sometimes listed as a Mercury-Man (Earth-35) appearance; I believe this is an error.
  • Flash (2016) #79 [DC Comics] 11/2019
    • sometimes listed as a Mercury-Man (Earth-35) appearance; I believe this is an error.
  • Men of Mystery (1996) #114 [AC Comics] 07/2020
    • I was trying to track down “Miss X” from DC’s Earth-35, either as a character or as an homage to some other Golden Age character.
    • Comic Vine solicit text for this issue says: “By popular demand, another “all girl heroes” issue showcasing never previously reprinted stories of RARE costumed/super gals of the Golden Age !! Miss X, Lady Fairplay (her origin!!), Wildfire, Pat Patriot, Blue Lady, Black Orchid and 13 other classic adventuress’ Artists include Baker, Crandall, Mooney, Kamen, Moriera and other greats.” BUT, there is no Miss X in this issue. The text from AC Comics’s web site does not match Comic Vine.
  • DC’s Very Merry Multiverse (2020) #1 [DC Comics] 02/2021
    • Shooting Star (Batman of Earth-47) appearance
    • five alternate Batmen were introduced in Batman (1940) #256 and re-introduced in Multiversity; this is one of the only other appearances of these Batmen.
  • Dark Nights: Death Metal (2020) #7 [DC Comics] 03/2021
    • confirms that within the new DC ‘omniverse’ “The Earths we were already aware of exist again.”
  • Super Freaks (2022) #1 [Image Comics] 06/2022
    • solicit text: Celebrating 10 years of the Savage FINcast podcast with an official fan tribute to everyone’s favorite Fin-Head! SAVAGE DRAGON fans unite to produce one of the wildest comics ever created! It’s crude! It’s rude! It’s hilarious! It’s the most offbeat, off-the-wall comic book ever committed to paper! SUPER FREAKS comes with our highest possible recommendation.
    • The first story in the book, “Fin to the Dragonverse” by Raven Perez, prominently features a Dragon variant with a police uniform and Stegosaurus-like fin, similar to Dino-Cop’s look. He is called “Prehistoricop”.