#boundless.txt

After DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths #1–12, their previous canon continuity (Earth 1, were their Silver and Bronze Age era comics took place) was abandoned and they tried to start fresh, starting by retelling character origins in an attempt to draw in new readers. All of DC’s titles were not immediately rebooted, it happened between 1986 and 1989. The first Post-Crisis issue of Batman was #401, and the first Post-Crisis issue of Detective Comics was #568. For a more in-depth explanation of what "Post-Crisis" means, see: A quick(ish) primer on DC comics eras for new readers.

Keep in mind that "Year One" is a frequently used naming convention for character origin stories in the DC Universe, not a reference to any specific date.

Also keep in mind that this isn't some sort of ultimate definitive "true" guide, I might be wrong sometimes, timelines are famously wonky, and I'm only including the broad strokes without focusing too much on any given character. I don’t purchase comics. I'm not necessarily telling you to pirate or purchase or borrow, just do whatever you feel like.

Comics are identified in this guide using the following conventions:

Series Title (Year issue number 1 of this title was published) # Issue Number. "Issue Title" for specificity if there is more than one story in the issue or "Arc Title" if needed.

Collected issues, trade paperbacks and omnibuses will just be identified with: Title (ISBN).

Single issues will just be identified with: Title (Year Published).

Optional pre-Batman stories:

Detective Comics (1937) #806-807. "Alfred: Regnum Defende." Alfred’s backstory.

Batman: Gordon of Gotham (1998 Miniseries) #1-4. Prequel to Batman: Year One about Jim Gordon before he was transferred to Gotham City's Police Department.

Batman’s Post-Crisis origin story.

Pick one or read them all and choose a favorite, they don't contradict each other.

Batman (1940) #404-407 (1987). "Batman: Year One." Shows Batman’s early days as a vigilante, his first meeting Jim Gordon, etc. (This story is also responsible for some mild retconing: The Gordons are shown to be childless, leading to Barbara having to be retconned as Jim's niece who he adopted after her parents passing, instead of the Gordons' biological daughter).

Secret Origins of the World's Greatest Super-Heroes (1990) (ISBN 0-930289-50-1) "The Man Who Falls," recaps Bruce's backstory up to the first time he donned the Batman suit. Also includes reprints of the Post-Crisis Origins for Superman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Flash (Barry Allen), Martian Manhunter, and the start of the Justice League of America (the original founding members' lineup in this new continuity is made up of Aquaman, Black Canary, the Flash, Green Lantern and, Martian Manhunter, but without Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman because DC was being weird about Wonder Woman at the time. Later on, Justice League of America (2006) #0, would restore Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as founding members alongside Aquaman, Black Canary, the Flash, Green Lantern and, Martian Manhunter). Note that "The Man Who Falls" is also collected in Batman: Secrets of the Batcave (ISBN: 978-1-4012-1370-1).

Batman Secret Files and Origins (1997). "Gazing Back: The Secret Origin of the Batman" in which he reflects upon his backstory while saving a family of tourists from a mugging, from his parents murders to first donning the suit and building the Batcave. Includes in-universe written features (magazine interviews with Bruce Wayne, Lucius Fox, and Alfred Pennyworth, an article about Gotham's founding families, and a psychiatrist's profiling of Batman), a short explaining how Batman gets his equipment (Lucius Fox notices equipment has been going missing from the company for years and Bruce gently dismisses his concern), a charming short of Tim and Alfred running all over the Batcave to catch a fox that stole Tim’s sandwich, a Batman timeline up to that year, and lots of character profile pages.

A new kind of criminal appears

Costumed criminals start appearing in Gotham, on top off all the corruption and organized crime. Origin stories for some of Batman’s best known villains happen around this time.

Batman: Birth of the Demon (ISBN: 978-1-4012-3381-5), which collects Batman: Son of the Demon (1987), Batman: Bride of the Demon (1990), and Batman: Birth of the Demon (1992).

Catwoman (1989) #1-4. "Catwoman: Her Sister's Keeper." and/or Catwoman (1993) Annual #2. "Catwoman: Year One."

Batman and the Monster Men (2006) #1-6.

Batman and the Mad Monk (2006–2007) #1-6.

The Man Who Laughs (2005).

Batman: Night Cries (1992) should probably go about here, as it has no mention of Barbara or Dick.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) Annual #3. "Year One: Poison Ivy."

Detective Comics (1937) Annual #8. "Riddler: Questions Multiply the Mystery."

Batman (1940) Annual #19. "Scarecrow: Masters of Fear."

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #89-90. Origin of Matt Hagen as Clayface, said to occur during the third week of Batman’s mission.

Batman: The Long Halloween (1996) #1-13.

Batman and Superman meet for the first time.

The Man of Steel (1986) #3.

Superman/Batman Secret Files & Origins (2003).

Superman/Batman (2003) Annual #1.

Leslie Thompkins learns Batman’s secret identity.

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1989) #21-23.

Dick Grayson becomes Robin.

Optional: Batman: Dark Victory (1999) #0-13. It’s a sequel to The Long Halloween that includes Robin’s origin.

Robin (1993) Annual #4.

Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet (1997).

Robin: Year One (2000 Miniseries) #1-4.

Batman and Superman meet Wonder Woman.

Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity (2008 Miniseries) #1-3 (ISBN: 978-1401203092).

Batman joins the Justice League.

Justice League of America (2006) #0.

Dick Grayson joins the Teen Titans, and becomes the leader of the team.

Secret Origins (1986) Annual #3.

Barbara Gordon becomes Batgirl.

Secret Origins (1986) #20. "Flawed Gems."

Batgirl: Year One (2003).

Batgirl meets Catwoman.

Birds of Prey: Batgirl/Catwoman (2003).

Batman Confidential (2007) #17-#21. Collected in Batman: The Cat and the Bat (ISBN: 978-1-4012-2496-7).

Helena Bertinelli becomes Huntress.

Huntress: Year One (2008).

Dick Grayson becomes Nightwing.

Nightwing (1996) #101–106. "Nightwing: Year One."

Jason Todd becomes Robin.

Batman (1940) #402-416 (or just Batman #416 for a recap if you're in a hurry).

Legends

Darkseid makes a wager with the mysterious Phantom Stranger that he can turn humanity against its heroes. Jason Todd was Robin during this.

Batman (1940) #401.

Detective Comics (1937) #568.

Legends (1986) #1-2.

Justice League of America (1960) #258.

Legends (1986) #3.

Justice League of America (1960) #259.

Legends (1986) #4.

Justice League of America (1960) #260.

Legends (1986) #5.

Justice League of America (1960) #261.

Legends (1986) #6.

In the aftermath, Martian Manhunter, Batman, Blue Beetle, Guy Gardner, Black Canary, Captain Marvel and Fate form a new Justice League in the comic series Justice League (1986) #1-6, later renamed Justice League International for issues #7-25, and then renamed Justice League America for issues #26-113.

Barbara Gordon becomes Oracle after being shot in the spine by the Joker.

Batman: The Killing Joke (1988).

Showcase '94 #12. "Oracle: A Little Knowledge."

Batman Chronicles (1995) #5. "Oracle: Year One — Born of Hope."

Joker kills Jason Todd.

Batman: The Cult (1988 Miniseries) #1-4. (This one isn't super relevant to the chronology, but I really like it, and it’s referenced offhand in A Death in the Family.)

Batman (1940) #425-429. "A Death in the Family."

Batman grieves Jason's death.

Batman (1940) #436–439.

Batman meets Tim Drake and Tim meets Nightwing in "A Lonely Place of Dying."

Batman (1940) #440.

New Titans (1984) #60.

Batman (1940) #441.

New Titans (1984) #61.

Batman (1940) #442.

First appearance of Harold Allnut.

Batman (1940) #448-449 and Detective Comics (1937) #615. "The Penguin Affair."

Joker revealed to be alive.

After "A Lonely Place of Dying" revealed he had been hospitalized intead of killed at the end of "A Death in the Family," the Joker finally makes his big return, and Gordon and Batman have their first confrontation with him since the horrific acts he committed against Barbara and Jason.

Detective Comics (1937) #616-617.

Batman (1940) #450-451.

Tim Drake’s first successful solo case (tracking down a cybercriminal). Meanwhile, Batman travels to Haiti to rescue Tim’s parents, who had been kidnapped. (cw: racism, btw.) The Drakes drank poison believing it was water. Janet Drake died and Jack Drake barely survived.

Detective Comics (1937) #618-621. “Rite of Passage”

Tim Drake officially becomes Robin.

Batman (1940) #455-457.

Robin (1991 Miniseries) #1-5. (Tim’s training overseas.)

Batman decides that Harold Allnut would be safer living in the Batcave. Sarah Essen (who was last seen during "Batman: Year One" where it was said she moved to New York) returns to Gotham and reunites with the now-divorced Jim Gordon.

Batman (1940) #458-459.

Detective Comics (1937) #626.

Sarah Essen, Vicki Vale, and Catwoman meet.

Batman (1940) #460–461. "Sisters in Arms."

Batman meets Ragman (Rory Regan).

Ragman (1991) #1-8.

Tim returns and does his first patrol of Gotham.

Batman (1940) #465.

First appearance of Renee Montoya.

Batman (1940) #475.

Detective Comics (1937) #642.

Batman (1940) #476.

Stephanie Brown becomes Spoiler to thwart her father, the Cluemaster.

Detective Comics (1937) #647–649.

Jean-Paul Valley becomes Azrael, avenging angel of the Order of St. Dumas, after his father, the previous Azrael, is killed. Azrael and Batman’s first meeting.

Batman: Sword of Azrael #1-4 (1992 Miniseries).

Prelude to Knightfall/Knightfall:

The saga of Bane going to Gotham, freeing all the villains from Arkham to wear Batman down for several days, discovering his secret identity, and breaking his back.

Vengeance of Bane #1.

Batman (1940) #484-486.

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1986) Annual #2. (Jim Gordon and Sarah Essen get married).

Batman (1940) #487.

Detective Comics (1937) #654-656.

Batman (1940) #488.

Detective Comics (1937) #657–658.

Batman (1940) #489-492.

Detective Comics (1937) #659.

Batman (1940) #493.

Detective Comics (1937) #660.

Batman (1940) #494.

Detective Comics (1937) #661.

Batman (1940) #495.

Detective Comics (1937) #662.

Batman (1940) #496.

Detective Comics (1937) #663.

Batman (1940) #497.

Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins (1998). "How Bane Infiltrated Wayne Manor."

Detective Comics (1937) #664.

Showcase ’93 #7-8 "2 Face (Part 1 of 2): Double Cross" and "2 Face, Part Two: Bad Judgment."

Batman (1940) #498.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #16-18.

Detective Comics (1937) #665.

Batman (1940) #499.

Detective Comics (1937) #666.

Batman (1940) #500.

Knightquest: The Crusade

The story of Jean-Paul Valley as he became increasingly violent and mentally unbalanced after he replaced Bruce Wayne as Batman in Gotham.

Detective Comics (1937) #667–668.

Robin (1993) #1.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #19-20.

Batman (1940) #501-502.

Detective Comics (1937) #669-670.

Catwoman (1993) #6.

Batman (1940) #503-504.

Catwoman (1993) #7.

Detective Comics (1937) #671-673.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #24.

Batman (1940) #505.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #25.

Batman (1940) #506-507.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #26-27.

Detective Comics (1937) #674.

Batman (1940) #508.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #28.

Detective Comics (1937) #675.

Knightquest: The Search

Follows Bruce Wayne and Alfred's search for Jack Drake and Dr. Shondra Kinsolving, a physiotherapist with whom Bruce Wayne had fallen in love in the midst of his rehabilitation sessions. Kinsolving's brother-by-adoption Benedict Asp kidnapped her to use her special powers to kill people at a distance. Alfred quits his job, refusing to watch Bruce push himself despite his spine injury. When Bruce finds Shondra, he gets caught in the middle of a telekinetic tug-of-war between Asp and her. The battle climaxes with her refocusing her energy to defeat Asp, with a side effect being that Bruce's broken spine becomes healed. However, the drugs forced onto her by Asp, and the strain of the fight, reduce her mind to that of a child, and Bruce buys her a house and hires a nurse to assist her.

Justice League Task Force (1993) #5-6.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #21-23.

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1986) #59-61.

KnightsEnd

Returning to Gotham, Bruce meets Robin, who tells him Jean-Paul caused the death of the villain Abbatoir. Bruce sneaks into the Batcave and demands that Jean-Paul step down. Jean-Paul refuses and threatens to kill Bruce if he ever returns. In response, Bruce asks the deadly assassin Lady Shiva to retrain him. During a fight in the Batcave, Bruce escapes into a passage that is too narrow for Jean-Paul to go through in his armor, forcing him to remove most of it. Bruce then opens a hatch to the outside, which covered the very hole that he fell into as a child, allowing sunlight to stab at the night lenses in Jean-Paul's helmet. After being momentarily blinded, Jean-Paul sees Bruce staring down at him in the original Batman costume and concedes defeat, saying "You are Batman... and I am nothing." Bruce comforts Jean-Paul, who leaves Gotham to travel the world and find his purpose as Bruce had done. Bruce decides not to take Jean-Paul to the police because it was his decision to make Jean-Paul the Batman.

Batman (1940) #509.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #29.

Detective Comics (1937) #676.

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1986) #62.

Robin (1993) #8.

Catwoman (1993) #12.

Batman (1940) #510.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #30.

Detective Comics (1937) #677.

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1986) #63.

Robin (1993) #9.

Showcase ’94 #10. "Azrael: Aftermath."

Zero Hour: Crisis in Time

A 1994 DC-wide crossover event intended to deal with numerous possible futures and alternate timelines in the same way the earlier Crisis on Infinite Earths had dealt with alternate earths. The main storyline featured the destruction of the timestream by the efforts of Parallax (Hal Jordan), attempting to restructure the universe and correct things that he perceived to be wrong. Another supervillain, Extant, took advantage of the chaos and tried to use it to recreate the world in his own image. The leader of the fight against Parallax and Extant was Waverider of the Linear Men. The conflict resulted in an entirely new Big Bang, which served as an opportunity for DC to clear up continuity problems caused by the Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot, and fix plot elements and pieces of history that no longer worked well.

Batman (1940) #511. "The Night Before Zero."

Detective Comics (1937) #678. "Yesterdays Gone."

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #31 "The Battling Butler!"

Robin (1993) #10. "Two Birds One Stone."

Catwoman (1993) #14. "Broken Mirrors."

If you want to see how the event affected DC at large, then check out the comics listed in Zero Hour: Crisis in Time 25th Anniversary Omnibus (ISBN: 978-1401294366). Following Zero Hour, Nightwing stepped down as leader of the Titans, and the role was given to Arsenal.

In October of 1994, all of the existing mainstream DC Comics titles released a special "0" issue to coincide with the Zero Hour crossover event. The purpose of the "0" issue was to reveal a previously unknown aspect of the title character's background. So these could technically go in the early chronology, but I chose to list them here for context.

Batman (1940) #0.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #0.

Detective Comics (1937) #0.

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight (1986) #0.

Catwoman (1993) #0.

Robin (1993) #0.

Prodigal

Dick Grayson temporarily replaces Bruce Wayne as Batman, directly following the Knightfall crossover and tie-ins to the Zero Hour event.

Batman (1940) #512.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #32.

Detective Comics (1937) #679.Robin (1993) #11.

Batman (1940) #513.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #33.

Detective Comics (1937) #680.Robin (1993) #12.

Batman (1940) #514.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #34.

Detective Comics (1937) #681.

Robin (1993) #13.

Troika

Bruce Wayne finally returning for good to be Gotham's Batman. Now he wears a sturdier, darker Batsuit (similar to the costume of the Tim Burton Batman movies), and drives a new, state-of-the-art Batmobile. The arc also shows how Batman makes changes to his life as Bruce Wayne, his relationships with his "family", plans to live without Alfred, and coping with the decision of having made Jean-Paul Valley his replacement.

Batman (1940) #515.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #35.

Detective Comics (1937) #682.

Robin (1993) #14.

Alfred returns to his job at Wayne Manor at Dick’s request.

Nightwing: Alfred's Return (1995).

Nightwing (1995) #1-4.

Contagion (ISBN 978-1-56389-293-6):

A lethal virus has been released on the unknowing inhabitants of Gotham City, causing excruciating pain and ultimate death within 48 hours. Batman races to contain the chaos and find a cure, with help from Robin, Nightwing, Azrael, Huntress, Catwoman and Poison Ivy.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #48.

Detective Comics (1937) #695.

Robin (1993) #27.

Catwoman (1993) #31.

Azrael (1995) #15.

Batman (1940) #529.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #49.

Detective Comics (1937) #696.

Batman Chronicles (1995) #4. "Huntress: Exposure" and "Beggar's Banquet."

Catwoman (1993) #32.

Azrael (1995) #16.

Robin (1993) #28.

Oracle and Black Canary form the Birds of Prey.

Birds of Prey (2002) (ISBN: 978-1563894848).

Legacy (ISBN: 978-1563893377):

A new strand of the Apocalypse Virus emerges, this time controlled by Ra's al Ghul with Bane's help.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #53.

Batman (1940) #533.

Detective Comics (1937) #700.

Catwoman (1993) #36.

Robin (1993) #32.

Batman: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #54.

Batman (1940) #534.

Detective Comics (1937) #701.

Robin (1993) #33.

The Golden Age of comic books began in 1938 with the debut of Superman in Action Comics #1. This was the moment the superhero archetype was born. Stories were often simple, with heavy pulp magazine influences, and (during WWII) often featured propaganda of heroes battling the Axis powers.

In 1954, German-born American psychiatrist Fredric Wertham published Seduction of the Innocent and the Comics Code Authority (CCA) was created to regulate the content of comic books in the United States. The CAA seal began appearing on DC Comics covers in March, 1955.

The Silver Age began in 1956 with the publication of Showcase #4, which introduced a new, modernized version of The Flash, Barry Allen, who replaced the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick. This revitalized the superhero genre (which had waned in popularity during the 50s), leading to a creative renaissance at DC Comics and the birth of Marvel Comics, whose more character-driven approach to storytelling drew in a new generation of comic book fans.

During the Silver Age, it was revealed in the storyline “Flash of Two Worlds” (where Barry meets Jay) that the characters of the Silver and Golden Ages actually live on parallel alternate universes. The Silver Age characters live on “Earth 1,” and the Golden Age ones on “Earth 2.” (The Earths were named by Barry, that’s why his is 1 and the other one 2.)

The Bronze Age is often said to have begun in the early 1970s. The CCA’s influence began to wane during this period, allowing writers to explore darker and more complex subject matter. For example, the April 1970 issue of Green Lantern, which added Green Arrow as a title character (so instead of Green Lantern #76 it was titled Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76), written by Dennis O'Neil and penciled by Neal Adams (inking was by Adams or Dick Giordano), began to tackle issues like drug abuse, racism, and poverty. In DC, the Bronze Age is a continuation of the “Earth 1” continuity and characters, but the stories have a grittier tone. Antiheroes start to pop up.

The Modern Age of comic books, also known as the Dark Age, began in the mid-1980s with a series of dark and cynical works about the superhero genre such as Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen and Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Even more antiheroes pop up. The Modern Age has also been defined by the rise of independent publishers like Image Comics, the increasing popularity of creator-owned comics, and the growing influence of digital comics and webcomics. Historians are currently debating whether we’re in a new, unnamed age yet or not. In 2025, the DC wiki began referring to 1986–2011 as the Iron Age, and post-2011 as the Modern Age.

So now we get to the DC-specific part of this guide:

In DC, “Pre-Crisis” describes the comics before the Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot that took place during 1986–1987, and “Post-Crisis” describes the comics published from 1986 to 2011.

At the end of the Bronze Age, DC did a massive crossover between all their books called “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” The event would end with a single new universe that merged elements of Earth 1 and 2 together, called New Earth. Following the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, some characters were radically altered (for example, Barbara Gordon went from being Jim Gordon’s daughter to being his teenage niece he adopted as a daughter after the death of her parents), while others weren’t changed at all.

Whilst technically one continuous era, Post-Crisis would have several events that would retcon or otherwise change its continuity in small ways. The Zero Hour Event was a partial reboot that didn’t change the entire DC history, but acted to tidy up some continuity errors and oddities created in the first few years of Post-Crisis. The Infinite Crisis Event was another partial reboot that brought back parallel earths but limited them to exactly 52 and made minor tweaks and character history rewrites to fix things that DC didn’t think were working well.

In 2011, after the “Flashpoint” storyline rebooted the continuity, New Earth was destroyed and turned into Prime Earth, also called Earth-0. This Earth has a completely new continuity and thus a new timeline. Since then, there have not been any more Earth destroying Crisis events, but there have been soft reboots and series relauchs. In September, 2011, DC Comics consolidated and relaunched their comic lines, discontinuing some series, and introducing yet other series, resulting in 52 titles, each with a new #1. The New 52 branding ended after the completion of the "Convergence" storyline in May 2016, although the continuity of The New 52 continued. The "Convergence" revived every Earth from before Crisis, and New Earth from before Flashpoint.

DC Rebirth was a 2016 relaunch of DC's entire line of ongoing monthly superhero comic book titles. Using the end of The New 52 (2011–2016) initiative in May 2016 as its launching point, DC Rebirth restored the DC Universe to a form much like that prior to the 2011 "Flashpoint" storyline while still incorporating numerous elements of The New 52, including its continuity. It also saw many of its titles move to a twice-monthly release schedule. (To put it bluntly: New 52 had mixed-to-bad reception by fans and DC tried to bring back some of the elements of Post-Crisis/New Earth without rebooting the continuity again.)

Doomsday Clock was an event that altered Prime Earth, though thankfully not rebooting it entirely. Instead, another Earth was created: Earth-52. This Earth is essentially Prime Earth before Doomsday Clock. Prime Earth post Doomsday Clock would resemble New Earth more. Doomsday Clock explains that Prime Earth is actually a “Metaverse”, the entire Multiverse is ebbed from it, and reacts to it, specifically when and where Superman’s rocket lands. This is to explain the various reboots that DC has undergone and will continue to undergo.

New Justice was a 2018 relaunch of DC Comics' entire line of ongoing monthly superhero comic book titles, using the end of Dark Nights: Metal as its launching point, followed by the Year of the Villain event.

Infinite Frontier was a 2021 relaunch of its entire line of ongoing monthly superhero comic book titles. It is the follow-up to the 2018 New Justice relaunch. The continuity and repercussions established by Infinite Frontier continue into the 2023 Dawn of DC relaunch. Infinite Frontier begins after the events of Dark Nights: Death Metal, Generations, and Future State. The DC Multiverse has expanded into a larger "Omniverse" where everything is canon.

Following the events of the 2022 crossover events Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths and Lazarus Planet, DC Comics started the Dawn of DC line in January 2023 with Action Comics #1051 and concluded with Absolute Power #4 in 2024.

DC All In started in October 2024. It is the successor of Dawn of DC, following the end of Absolute Power.

In 2025, it was announced at New York Comic Con that the next publishing initiative, titled DC Next Level, would launch in March 2026 with several new series putting a focus on lesser-known superheroes. It is described as the "second act" to the All In saga; the "first act" ending with the finale of the DC K.O. event.

So do not be intimidated if you see the New Justice, Infinite Frontier, Dawn of DC, DC All In, or DC Next Level stamps (or whatever else they’ll come up with next) on a comic’s cover. They only signal DC trying to create starting points for new readers by having all their series start new story arcs at roughly the same time, frequently accompanied by starting the numbering of their titles over at #1.

TL;DR:

Pre-Crisis = Published before 1986, sometimes used interchangeably with Earth 1 in particular.

Earth 2 = Golden Age (1938-1956) characters and stories.

Earth 1 = Silver Age (1956-1970s) and Bronze Age (1970s-1986) characters and stories.

Post-Crisis = New Earth (1986–2011). From Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event to Flashpoint crossover event.

Prime Earth = New 52 (2011–2016), Rebirth (2016–2017), Doomsday Clock (2017), New Justice (2018–2021), Infinite Frontier (2021–2022), Dawn of DC (2023–2024), DC All In (2024–2026), and DC Next Level (2026–). This is the universe where the current main continuity of DC takes place.

Those are the main canon of DC, but there are also comics set outside those main continuities.

In 1989, DC created the Elseworlds imprint under which they could publish out-of-continuity stories, mini-series, and original graphic novels (OGNs). The concept was introduced by the Victorian-era tale Batman: Gotham by Gaslight. The imprint wound down in 2003, but starting in 2024 with Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter (2024), DC rebranded many of their ongoing series set explicitly outside of DC continuity as “Elseworlds,” with a specific cover logo. Some of these series are set in ongoing story universes, such as “Dark Knights of Steel” and “DC vs. Vampires” (which was retroactively added to this brand). Others launched as standalone series.

Some other standalone Alternate Universes in DC include: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, and its sequels. New Frontier (1996). DCeased. Kingdom Come. Tiny Titans. Batman: White Knight. The terrible mess that was All Star Batman And Robin, The Boy Wonder (2005), which has nothing to do with All-Star Superman (2006), and neither of them are related to All-Star Section Eight (2015).

DC Black Label is a Mature-Readers line that began with a plan to release a mix of in and out-of-continuity stories, but soon it was decided to focus it on out-of-continuity stories. These tend to be more similar to DC Prime continuity than the anything-goes Elseworlds stories.

There is also DC Graphic Novels for Kids (formerly known as DC Zoom), which is an imprint consisting of original one-shots and reprints of books previously published under other imprints intended to present traditional DC Universe characters for middle-grade readers. And DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults (formerly known as DC Ink), which does the same but for YA.

DC Absolute Universe is an alternate universe created in the aftermath of the Absolute Power event in 2024. The Earth at the center of DC Absolute Universe was originally a primordial “Alpha World” born in the wake of the Death Metal event and obscured from the sight of Prime Earth’s heroes. Darkseid’s actions in DC All In Special (2024) #1 gave him a unique influence over this multiverse, and his influence created the Absolute Universe. The DC Absolute Universe is different from the DC Elseworlds because it is a single continuity shared by all of its characters across several comic series.

DC also publishes webtoons about their characters. Wayne Family Adventures, Vixen: NYC, and Zatanna and the Ripper.

Tie-ins for TV, Film, and Video Games, and crossovers between DC and other companies (such as Marvel, Dark Horse, Image Comics, etc.) are also set outside of the main canon continuity.

You can grab any out-of-main-canon comic and read it on its own, though be aware that being an Alternate Universe means that these stories might have characterization wildly differ from DC canon.

Other resources for total beginners to comics in general:

JoiningSaturn46’s Comic Book Newcomers Post

Goblin’s No, Comics Aren’t (That) Hard to Get Into (YouTube video)

Publication history of DC Comics crossover events (Wikipedia article).

Casually Comics (YouTube channel).

BizarroPal (YouTube channel).

Comic Book Treasury.