Titles launched with a May 2006 cover date: Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #40-45 retitled fromAquaman vol. 5 Blue Beetle vol. 7, #1–6 Firestorm: The Nuclear Man vol. 2, #23–27 retitled fromFirestorm vol. 2 Hawkgirl #50–56 retitled fromHawkman vol. 3 Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #16–19 retitled fromLegion of Super-Heroes vol. 5
Titles launched with a June 2006 cover date: Checkmate vol. 2, #1–4 Crisis Aftermath: The Battle for Blüdhaven #1–6
Titles launched with a July 2006 cover date: Crisis Aftermath: The Spectre #1–3 Secret Six vol. 2, #1–6 Shadowpact #1–8
"One Year Later" is a 2006 comic book storyline running through the books published byDC Comics. As the title suggests, it involves a narrative jump exactly one year into the future of theDC Universe following the events of the "Infinite Crisis" storyline, to explore major changes within the continuities of the many different comic books within the DC Comics range.
Following the events of the "Infinite Crisis" storyline, every DC comic series jumped ahead in-story by one year. The events of the missing year were depicted inreal time in the weekly comic book series52. The "One Year Later" storyline started in March 2006, starting the same week thatInfinite Crisis #5 went to press, and before the first issue of52. Most first issues bearing the "One Year Later" logo were the first parts of multi-issue storylines, and featured major changes to the status quo of each character, often intentionally left unexplained as these details would be filled in by the remaining issues ofInfinite Crisis and the52 series.
The year-long absence of the three most prominent superheroes of the DC Comics universe—Superman,Batman andWonder Woman—and their return to active duty was a significant part of both the "One Year Later" series and52 series.
The Superman storyline "Up, Up and Away!", was co-written byGeoff Johns andKurt Busiek, with art byPete Woods (and two issues by Renato Guedes), and cover art byTerry and Rachel Dodson. The four-month, eight-part introductory story arc ran through bothAction Comics #837–840 andSuperman #650–653. The story features a depoweredClark Kent who, having lost his powers in the climax ofInfinite Crisis, uses his skills as a journalist to defendMetropolis from both organized crime andLex Luthor, who is newly bankrupt and disgraced due to his actions in the series52. Superman regains his powers in time to battle the embittered Luthor, who is seeking revenge on him and wieldingKryptonian technology.
The storyline concerns Batman andRobin's return to Gotham City after a year-long absence, and their investigation of an unknown person who has been murdering other supervillains (includingVentriloquist andKGBeast) These villains appear to be connected toHarvey Dent, who has reformed and taken up battling crime on Batman's behalf during the latter's absence. It is learned that Dent is not responsible for the killings; the mastermind isGreat White Shark, who has established himself as Gotham's reigning crime boss. Dent's resulting stress, paranoia, and resentment of being under suspicion leads to the return of his Two-Face persona and his self-scarring, thus returning him to his life of crime. In the finale, Bruce Wayne offers to adopt Tim Drake, whose parents had previously died.[1]
In addition to the return of Two-Face, "One Year Later" also saw the reappearance of several other significant elements of the Batman mythos that had previously been written out or retired, including the return ofJames Gordon as Gotham's police commissioner and DetectiveHarvey Bullock.[2]
Unlike theBatman andSuperman series,Wonder Woman was reintroduced with a new volume at issue one in June 2006. The introductory storyline was titled "Who Is Wonder Woman?" and was written byAllan Heinberg, with art byTerry andRachel Dodson.
In the story,Donna Troy is depicted as having taken over the Wonder Woman title in Diana's absence, while Diana is shown to have accepted a government position at the Department of Metahuman Affairs under the alias of Diana Prince atBatman's urging. She is directed bySarge Steel and is ironically assigned to the rescue mission of the new Wonder Woman, who has been captured by several of Wonder Woman's superpowered foes who demand that the "real" Wonder Woman be submitted to them. She is partnered on the case with a reluctantTom Tresser, also known as Nemesis. Within the story it is revealed that prior to her admission into the department, Diana was also photographed in the company of an Eastern mystic code-namedI Ching, and that theWorld Court has dropped the charges against her for the killing ofMaxwell Lord. The story was completed in the series' first Annual in 2007.
A newAquaman (named Arthur Joseph Curry) appears and allies himself withKing Shark and the Dweller of the Depths. The original Aquaman (Orin) has mysteriously disappeared.[5]
Vandal Savage crashlands back on Earth without his immortality and learns he has only 11 days to live.[18] He seeks outAlan Scott for one last battle and fails. The clone that Savage used in his plot ends up being eaten by Savage himself, extending his life another year.[19]
Bruno Mannheim launches many flying energy spheres on Metropolis to try to destroy Superman. He then grows to a colossal size, and before teleporting away, he tells Superman that he now "has a new master, more powerful thanDarkseid".[23]
Donna Troy becomes the new Wonder Woman andHercules replaces Wonder Woman as an agent of Olympus.[25][26]
"1,001 Years Later",Supergirl appears in the 31st century and is revered as a member of the Superman family. Upon her arrival, she concludes that she is dreaming and that she is not actually in the future.[27] TheLegion of Super-Heroes believes that she has merely deluded herself into thinking that she is the Supergirl of the 21st century, but they nevertheless accept her as a new member.[28]
Legion of Super-Heroes is renamedSupergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes starting with issue #16. The title also used a "1,001 Years Later" logo for several issues.
Secret Six is a six-issue limited series spun off fromVillains United, with writerGail Simone and artist Brad Walker. An ongoing series began in September 2008.
Blue Beetle has a new character following in the footsteps of Ted Kord, written byKeith Giffen andJohn Rogers, with art byCully Hamner. The series concluded in February 2009 with issue #36.
Crisis Aftermath: The Battle forBlüdhaven is a six-issue limited series written byJimmy Palmiotti and Justin Grey, with art byDan Jurgens and Palmiotti.
The Flash: Fastest Man Alive was started with the first seven issues written byDanny Bilson and Paul De Meo (the producers of the 1990sFlash TV series) with art by Ken Lashley. With the death ofBart Allen at the hands of theRogues in issue #13, and the subsequent return ofWally West to the DCU, this title has reverted to being calledThe Flash, and picked up its numbering from prior to the name change. ThusThe Flash #231 was released in August 2007 and ran through to December 2008 with issue #247. The title was put on hiatus prior to release ofThe Flash: Rebirth in April 2009. A subsequent reissuing of a newFlash title chronicling the new adventures ofBarry Allen began in April 2010, but was brought to an end at issue #12 ahead of theFlashpointDC Comics event. A newFlash title began in September 2011 as part of theDC Comics decision to relaunch 52 titles from issue #1.
Green Lantern Corps is an ongoing series spun off fromGreen Lantern Corps: Recharge, beginning in April 2006. It ended with issue #63 in August 2011 ahead of theDC Comics decision to relaunch it as part of 52 titles from issue #1 in September 2011.
Justice League of America, an ongoing series spun off fromJLA, began in July 2006, written byBrad Meltzer and drawn byEd Benes. It concluded in August 2011 with issue #60 ahead of theDC Comics decision to relaunch 52 titles from issue #1 in September 2011, of which a newJustice League of America title would be a part.
Wonder Woman, volume 3, began in June 2006 with writerAllan Heinberg and artistTerry Dodson. It will be relaunched from #1 in September 2011 as part of theDC Comics decision to relaunch 52 titles from issue #1.
The All-New Atom was an ongoing series, beginning in July 2006, written byGail Simone and drawn byJohn Byrne. It concluded in July 2008 with issue #25.
Martian Manhunter is an eight-issue limited series starting in August 2006, written by A.J. Lieberman and drawn by Al Barrionuevo.
OMAC is an eight-issue limited series starting in July 2006, written byBruce Jones and drawn by Renato Guedes.
The Trials of Shazam! is a 12-issue limited series, featuring the entire "Marvel Family" (Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel & Captain Marvel Jr.); spun off from bothDay of Vengeance andInfinite Crisis, starting in July 2006, written byJudd Winick and drawn byHoward Porter.
Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters is an eight-issue limited series spun off fromCrisis Aftermath: Battle for Blüdhaven, starting in August 2006, written byJimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray with art byDaniel Acuña. A second eight issue limited series was launched in September 2007, written by Palmiotti and Gray with art by Renato Arlem, which had some ties to the previous series.
Replacements for canceled titles:
Batman Confidential was an ongoing series with revolving creative teams. It concluded in March 2011.
Superman Confidential was an ongoing series with revolving creative teams. It was canceled in April 2008.
In July 2006, most DC Comics titles wrapped up their 'One-Year Later' story lines and no longer display the 'One-Year Later' bullet on their covers.
Aquaman's mysterious disappearance was subsequently followed by the arrival of one Arthur Joseph Curry. This new Arthur's origin appears to be similar to the Golden Age Aquaman's. Arthur meets 'The Dweller', who has an enchanted hand similar to Orin's and has been confirmed tobe the original Aquaman. 'The Dweller' also tells Arthur of his future, which seems to be describing past events involving the originalAquaman.
There is a new Freedom of Power Treaty. The specifics and structure have not been detailed, but it appears to place limits on the activities of heroes outside their nation of origin. Having broken the treaty numerous times,Hal Jordan is considered a criminal by most of the world. Only theRocket Red Brigade,Green Lantern Hal Jordan, and theOutsiders have been confirmed to be affected by it (Green Lantern #10, 2006). The Outsiders operated illegally and underground with all current members at the time (excludingNightwing) presumed dead by the general public. As well as this, the Chinese government has formed a team called theGreat Ten in the intervening year, and is currently working on a supersoldier program.
James Gordon has returned to the role of Gotham City Police Commissioner. Although the exact details have not been revealed as yet, it is known that his return - and that ofHarvey Bullock - to the GCPD follows the cracking of a major corruption case in the GCPD by Bullock. Harvey Dent, believed cured of the multiple-personality disorder/psychosis issues that created his Two-Face persona, has been in charge of keeping Gotham safe as a result of a deal with Batman.
Monuments to the fallen hero have been erected in at least two locations:
In Metropolis, the statue depicting Superman holding an eagle dating back to his first battle withDoomsday has been joined by one ofSuperboy (as seen inAction Comics #837), honoring his sacrifice and actions duringInfinite Crisis.52 #1 depicts the memorial, apparently erected within only a few days of Superboy's death.
A second statue has been erected in San Francisco, in front ofTitans Tower.
One of the more noticeable occurrences to come out ofInfinite Crisis and One Year Later was the change in Batman's demeanor. He has become more accepting of others' opinions, is more polite, and apologizes to allies when he makes errors in judgment. This does not change his approach to crime, however. Some may argue that while he has "softened" his approach to his friends, he has hardened his approach to his enemies.
ManySilver Age components have been reintroduced to Superman and his supporting cast. The character ofMon-El, the interior design of theFortress of Solitude, Superman starting his career by being known as a "super-boy" (sans uniform), and his teenage membership in theLegion of Super-Heroes are all recognizable Silver Age components that were not included in continuity beforeInfinite Crisis. The stories are also beginning to aesthetically resemble theSuperman feature films by using the same exterior design for the Fortress of Solitude, as well as modelingJor-El more after actorMarlon Brando. These changes also bring current Superman stories more in line with the television seriesSmallville, which incorporates many of the same elements of classic comics and the feature films.
Wonder Woman actively keeps her secret identity and has a flirtatious relationship withNemesis, a co-worker at the Department of Metahuman Affairs. The finale of the "Who is Wonder Woman" arc established that her secret identity is now a physical as well as aesthetic transformation; as "Diana Prince", she is physically a normal human, regaining her powers only when she transforms into Wonder Woman.
Bart Allen's tenure asThe Flash was one of the shorter lived occurrences, as the new series starring him lasted 13 issues, the last of which included the character's death. PredecessorWally West has since retaken the mantle of the Flash. Many heroes, most notably members of the Teen Titans, mourn his loss. This has also led into a subplot in DC's weekly seriesCountdown to Final Crisis, where many heroes are shown to be actively searching for theRogues that caused Allen's death.
TheGreen Lantern Corps members that were recovered from the Manhunter homeworld of Biot still despise Hal Jordan for actionsParallax committed while in control of him. Because of this, various personal cliques have formed among certain Lanterns that question Jordan being among them still. Often Jordan is defended by Green Lantern Honor Guard memberGuy Gardner. The lost Lanterns proved to be valuable field Lanterns on the front lines in theSinestro Corps War, with some of them joining the ranks of theAlpha Lanterns.
