A DC Universe Chronology

When I decided to do a quick chronology of the DC Comics universe, I opted to take the opposite approach as my OMU project. Whereas with the Original Marvel Universe, I disregard publishing dates to “defragment” the timeline, I here used the publishing dates as a starting point to catalog the events of the DC universe, creating an entirely new history in the process.

For example, I placed Batman’s debut in Spring 1939, as that was the date of the character’s first appearance. I then extrapolated from that a date for Bruce Wayne’s birth, then plotted out a reasonable lifespan and worked into it the major events of his life. Other men replaced him as the generations passed. Other characters were dealt with in the same manner, causing them all to intersect in very interesting ways.

The result was something akin to the “Earth-Two” alternate reality, or the tales of “Batman II and Robin II” that appeared occasionally in Silver-Age Batman titles, or John Byrne’s Generations series. I was inspired primarily by the 1995 graphic novel The Golden Age by James Robinson & Paul Smith.

In this version of the DC world, the characters age, reproduce, and die like real-life people. I find it opens up all manner of story possibilities, and it’s fun to ponder what it might have been like had the DC Universe evolved in this manner. The timeline is limited pretty much to the 20th century, and is by no means complete.


Here, then, is a (not “the”) Chronology of the DC Universe!

1894

Cyrus Gold is murdered in Slaughter Swamp outside Gotham City. His corpse will later be reanimated as the failed elemental Solomon Grundy.

1899

Richard Occult is born, and is soon after rescued from devil worshippers by the Mystic Order of the Seven, along with a baby girl who will be raised as his sister and called Rose Psychic.

1900

James Corrigan is born.

James Gordon is born in Gotham City.

1908

Kent Nelson is born to Sven and Celestine Nelson.

1912

Janos Prohaska is born in Krakow, Poland.

1913

Wesley Dodds is born to Edward and Marina Dodds.

Rex Tyler is born.

1915

Bruce Wayne is born to Thomas and Martha Wayne in Gotham City.

1916

Carter Hall is born.

Lois Lane is born to Sam and Ella Lane.

1917

Alan Scott is born.

Oliver Queen is born.

Johnny Thunder is born.

1918

Jay Garrick is born.

1920

Kryptonian infant Kal-El crash lands outside Smallville, Kansas and is found by Jonathan and Martha Kent, who rename him Clark Kent.

Archaeologist Sven Nelson is killed in Mesopotamia after accidentally awakening the ancient entity called Nabu the Wise. Nabu trains young Kent Nelson in the arts of magic.

1921

Selena Kyle is born.

1922

Sheira Sanders is born.

Ted Grant is born.

Libby Lawrence is born.

1924

Thomas and Martha Wayne are shot dead in front of their terrified son Bruce.

1926

Billy Batson is born.

Sylvester Pemberton is born.

1927

Dinah Drake is born.

1928

Dick Grayson is born.

Roy Harper is born.

Daniel Dunbar is born.

1929

Barry Allen is born.

1931

Katherine Kane is born.

1933

Jason Todd is born.

1935

Richard Occult becomes the mystical detective known as Dr. Occult.

Ray Palmer is born.

Will Magnus is born.

1936

Hal Jordan is born.

1937

Selena Kyle first becomes a prostitute.

Summer 1938

Clark Kent moves to Metropolis and adopts the identity of Superman. He meets ace reporter Lois Lane at the newspaper where they both work, The Daily Star.

Wealthy socialite Tex Thompson decides to become an amateur crimebuster.

Giovanni Zatara begins using his magical abilities to fight crime as Zatara, Master Magician.

Late 1938

Superman meets his first great nemesis, the wheelchair-bound mad scientist called the Ultra-Humanite. He also first meets cub reporter Jimmy Olsen.

Publisher Lee Travis takes on the underworld as the shadowy Crimson Avenger, assisted by his Chinese manservant Wing.

Spring 1939

Bruce Wayne begins his crusade against crime as the fearsome Batman. He presents something of a problem to new Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon.

Summer 1939

Wesley Dodds becomes the gas-mask-wearing hero called the Sandman. He meets the lovely Dian Belmont.

Batman battles his first major villain, the evil Doctor Death.

Fall 1939

Batman perfects the helicopter-like vehicle called the Batgyro. As Bruce Wayne, he meets the lovely Julie Madison.

Late 1939

Selena Kyle changes professions, becoming a jewel thief.

Darrell Dane becomes the size-changing hero Doll Man.

Early 1940

Jay Garrick leaves Midwestern University to become the super-fast crime-fighter known as the Flash.

Also, Carter Hall begins his career as Hawkman, and meets Sheira Sanders, whom he believes to be the reincarnation of his wife from a previous life in ancient Egypt.

Policeman Jim Corrigan is murdered, but returns as the mysterious crime-fighter the Spectre.

After taking his newly-developed Miraclo pill, chemist Rex “Tick-Tock” Tyler becomes the super hero known as Hourman.

Johnny Thunder develops uncontrollable magical powers courtesy of his “pet lightning bolt.”

Billy Batson first says the magic word SHAZAM and becomes earth’s mightiest mortal, Captain Marvel.

Batman first encounters the sadistic genius Dr. Hugo Strange. Also, after shooting many a criminal, Batman renounces the use of guns in his crimefighting crusade.

Spring 1940

Orphaned Dick Grayson joins Batman’s crusade as Robin, the Boy Wonder.

Superman first encounters villainous tycoon Lex Luthor.

Batman and Robin first battle the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker. Soon after, they clash with seductive jewel thief Selena Kyle, better known as the Cat. Batman also unveils the original Batplane.

Kent Nelson begins his career battling supernatural villains as Doctor Fate and meets the lovely Inza Cramer.

The Metropolis newspaper The Daily Star changes its name to The Daily Planet.

Summer 1940

Gotham City resident Alan Scott discovers a mysterious artifact and becomes the costumed adventurer Green Lantern.

Lanford “Happy” Terrill gains energy-manipulating abilities and becomes the superhero known as the Ray.

Selena Kyle adopts the new nom de crime Catwoman.

Batman and Robin fight Basil Karlo, the first Clay Face.

Fall 1940

Al Pratt becomes the diminutive hero called the Atom.

Carter Hall marries Sheira Sanders.

The Ultra-Humanite has his brain transplanted into the body of movie starlet Delores Winters, and perishes in a volcano soon afterwards.

Catwoman dons her first super-villainess costume.

Late 1940

Flash, Hawkman, Green Lantern, the Atom, Doctor Fate, the Spectre, Hourman, and the Sandman band together to form the loose-knit Justice Society of America, and put up with irritating hanger-on Johnny Thunder.

Inspired by the recent appearances of costumed crimefighters, middle-aged housewife Abigail Mathilda Hunkle dons a makeshift costume and calls herself the Red Tornado as she battles neighborhood menaces.

While battling Batman, Dr. Hugo Strange is killed.

Alan Scott takes a job as a radio engineer at the Apex Broadcasting Company.

Perry White is made editor of the Metropolis paper The Daily Planet.

Early 1941

Scientist Ted Knight becomes the caped hero Starman.

Tex Thompson fights the good fight as the mystery man called Mr. America.

Paul Kirk becomes the masked crimebuster Manhunter.

After the final defeat of Clay Face, Batman unveils the first customized Batmobile.

Spring 1941

Charles McNider swings into action as Doctor Mid-Nite.

Summer 1941

Sheira Hall becomes Hawkgirl.

Small-time hood Eel O’Brien becomes the super-elastic Plastic Man.

The military squad called the Blackhawks is formed to combat the Nazis. They are led by Janos Prohaska.

Joan Dale becomes the costumed crimefighter called Miss America.

Sandra Knight becomes the Phantom Lady.

Chemist Roy Lincoln transforms himself into the Human Bomb.

Superman’s nemesis Lex Luthor loses his hair in a freak accident.

Green Lantern first meets his streetwise sidekick Doiby Dickles.

Fall 1941

Superman and Batman meet for the first time.

Newsreel photographer Johnny Chambers becomes the lighting-fast hero Johnny Quick.

Sylvester Pemberton and Patrick Dugan join the war effort as the Star-Spangled Kid and his adult sidekick Stripesy.

Mystery writer John Law becomes the mystery man called the Tarantula.

An Arthurian knight called Sir Justin emerges from suspended animation to battle evil as the Shining Knight.

Batman and Robin must defeat Jonathan Crane, the eerie criminal called the Scarecrow.

Starman first battles the villain known as the Mist.

Late 1941

Oliver Queen debuts as crime-fighting archer Green Arrow, along with his teenaged sidekick Roy Harper, a.k.a. Speedy.

Aquaman first leaves Atlantis for the surface world.

The Sandman trades in his gas-mask for a superhero costume and picks up a young sidekick, Sanderson Hawkins, also called Sandy, the Golden Boy.

Greg Saunders becomes the gun-slinging mystery man called the Vigilante.

Bob Daley assumes the identity of Fatman and serves as Mr. America’s sidekick.

Japan bombs Pearl Harbor, thereby drawing the United States into the war.

When American Army aviator Steve Trevor crashes on Paradise Island, Amazon princess Diana is selected to accompany him back to the world of men, where she comes to be called Wonder Woman.

In Gotham City, Oswald Cobblepot begins a life of crime as the umbrella-wielding Penguin.

Early 1942

Terry Sloane begins his career as Mr. Terrific, Man of a Thousand Talents.

Boxer Ted Grant becomes the masked adventurer called Wildcat.

Dr. Mid-Nite and Starman join the JSA.

Hourman perfects his powerful Miracle Ray machine.

Doiby Dickles learns Green Lantern’s secret identity as Alan Scott.

Green Arrow, Speedy, the Star-Spangled Kid, Stripesy, the Shining Knight, the Vigilante, and the Crimson Avenger band together as the Seven Soldiers of Victory.

While on a mission as Manhunter, Paul Kirk vanishes without a trace.

The JSA offers an associate membership to FBI director J. Edgar Hoover.

Spring 1942

Four slum orphans and Metropolis policeman Jim Harper join the war effort as the Newsboy Legion and the Guardian.

Chemistry teacher Thomas N. Thomas and his student Dan Dunbar also fight the Axis powers as TNT and the Dyna-Mite.

Summer 1942

Captain Rip Carter leads the international quartet of teenagers called the Boy Commandos.

When district attorney Harvey Dent is disfigured by acid, he becomes the criminal mastermind Two-Face.

Superman first battles Oswald Loomis, better known as the villainous Prankster.

Dr. Robert Crane’s brain is installed in a mechanical body, and he soon comes to be called Robotman.

After a return to Paradise Island where she wins her magic lasso, Wonder Woman joins the JSA.

Fall 1942

Tex Thompson joins the war effort, now calling himself the Americommando.

Late 1942

Kent Nelson enrolls in medical school, using his magical abilities to assist him with his studies.

Tim Drake is born.

Early 1943

Rex Tyler is forced to stop taking the Miraclo pill and retire as Hourman.

Bob Daley parts ways with the Americommando and retires as Fatman.

Spring 1943

When her father is killed by the Nazis, Libby Lawrence becomes a costumed adventuress called Liberty Belle.

John Law gives up his costumed identity as the Tarantula.

Summer 1943

When TNT is killed in action, his sidekick the Dyna-Mite returns to civilian life as Daniel Dunbar.

Fall 1943

Superman first battles the villainous Toyman.

Wonder Woman first faces the wrath of Priscilla Rich, a.k.a. the Cheetah.

Green Lantern encounters the ageless conspirator known as Vandal Savage.

1944

Wally West is born.

“Snapper” Carr is born.

The second Speedy, later Arsenal, is born.

Summer 1944

Tex Thompson’s heroic career comes to a sudden halt.

Fall 1944

Superman first encounters the mysterious extradimensional imp known as Mr. Mxyztplk.

Starting a new trend, the Joker and the Penguin join forces against Batman and Robin.

Ma Hunkel dons her Red Tornado guise for the last time.

Late 1944

The undead strongman Solomon Grundy first menaces the world.

The Justice Society first battles the Psycho-Pirate when he kidnaps Hawkgirl.

Early 1945

The Spectre leaves earth for an extended period.

Kent Nelson retires from adventuring as Doctor Fate to practice magic and medicine privately.

Spring 1945

The war in Europe ends with the defeat of the Axis Powers.

The Seven Soldiers of Victory disband and Lee Travis retires his Crimson Avenger identity.

Summer 1945

The war in the Pacific ends with the nuclear bombing of Japan.

Late 1945

Libby Lawrence calls off her quest for vengeance as Liberty Belle.

Wildcat is made a member of the JSA.

Early 1946

Wesley Dodds retires as the Sandman.

Ted Knight hangs up his cape as Starman.

Spring 1946

Connor Hawke is born to Oliver Queen and his girlfriend Sandra Hawke.

Zatanna Zatara is born to Giovanni and Sindella Zatara.

Summer 1946

Alan Scott becomes manager of radio station WXYZ in Gotham.

Late 1946

Kent Nelson marries Inza Cramer.

Early 1947

Terry Sloane abandons his identity as Mr. Terrific.

The menace of Solomon Grundy is finally ended by the Justice Society of America.

Spring 1947

Green Lantern first battles small-time hood “Crusher” Crock.

Garth is born in Atlantis.

Summer 1947

Dinah Drake begins her stint as the crimebuster called the Black Canary.

The JSA first battles the time-traveling villain Per Degaton.

“Crusher” Crock adopts the identity of the Sportsmaster to again battle Green Lantern.

Fall 1947

The Injustice Society of the World forms to counter the invincible JSA. Its founding members are the Wizard, Brain Wave, the Gambler, Per Degaton, the Thinker, and Vandal Savage.

Molly Mayne is hired as Alan Scott’s secretary at WXYZ. To attract the attention of the dashing Green Lantern, she decides to become the costumed criminal called the Harlequin.

Late 1947

Flash meets Rose Canton, the split-personality villainess called Thorn.

Early 1948

Black Canary joins the JSA, and first meets private detective Larry Lance.

Barbara Gordon is born to James and Sarah Gordon in Gotham City.

Spring 1948

Batman first meets Vicki Vale.

Summer 1948

Batman finally discovers the identity of the man who shot his parents, a minor thug by the name of Joe Chill.

Dick Grayson assumes the identity of Nightwing. Jason Todd is recruited to be the new Robin.

The Atom begins to manifest super-strength.

A new Injustice Society replaces the first: the Wizard, the Fiddler, Huntress, the Icicle, Sportsmaster, and Harlequin, who betrays her criminal comrades to free the JSA from their clutches.

Fall 1948

Batman and Robin first encounter Eddie Nashton alias Edward Nygma alias the Riddler.

Green Lantern learns the Harlequin is now an undercover agent for the FBI.

Late 1948

Sylvester Pemberton and Pat Dugan end their partnership as the Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy.

Early 1949

Flash learns the Thorn’s true identity, and he, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman help her find treatment for her condition.

Al Pratt retires as the Atom to wed Mary James.

Spring 1949

Ted Grant gives up his career as Wildcat.

Late 1949

Superman first encounters the deadly mineral called kryptonite, and discovers he is not from Earth at all, but is the last son of the planet Krypton.

Early 1950

When the original Batmobile is destroyed, Batman and Robin build a new, more advanced model.

Late 1950

When the original Batplane is stolen, Batman and Robin build a new, more advanced model.

Early 1951

Jay Garrick retires the Flash in order to settle down and marry long-time girlfriend Joan Williams.

Alan Scott relinquishes the role of Green Lantern when he is made vice-president and general manager of the Gotham Broadcasting Company.

Charles McNider gives up being Dr. Mid-Nite.

Zatara mysteriously disappears.

Spring 1951

Carter and Shiera Hall are killed in action as Hawkman and Hawkgirl.

The Justice Society of America disbands after battling a villain known as the Key, who makes good his escape.

Summer 1951

Captain Comet goes into action.

Sir Justin ceases to battle as the Shining Knight.

Dinah Drake retires as the Black Canary and marries her boyfriend, detective Larry Lance.

Spring 1952

Dinah Lance is born to Larry and Dinah Drake Lance.

Summer 1952

The mysterious Phantom Stranger makes his first appearance.

Superman and Batman finally learn each other’s secret identities.

Fall 1952

Jason Todd is killed by the Joker.

Late 1953

Billy Batson ceases to transform into Captain Marvel.

Summer 1954

Superman and Batman begin occasionally working as a team.

Late 1954

Johnny Chambers finally gives up being Johnny Quick once and for all.

Greg Saunders retires as the Vigilante.

Captain Comet’s brief career also comes to a close.

Late 1955

J’onn J’onzz arrives on Earth and assumes the identity of John Jones, but soon becomes known as the Martian Manhunter.

Early 1956

Bruce Wayne retires and Dick Grayson succeeds him as the new Batman. Tim Drake is recruited as the new Robin.

Alan Scott gets Rose Canton pregnant, but their relationship ends.

Summer 1956

Plastic Man retires from crime-fighting.

Katherine Kane adopts the crimefighting identity of Batwoman.

Fall 1956

Barry Allen develops super-speed and begins calling himself the Flash.

Late 1956

Rose Canton gives birth to twins and puts them up for adoption. The girl becomes Jennifer-Lynn Hayden (adopted by Julian and Myrna Hayden) and the boy becomes Todd James Rice (adopted by Jim and Shirley Rice).

Early 1957

Four non-super-powered men form the Challengers of the Unknown in order to seek out adventure.

Jessie Chambers is born to Johnny Chambers and Libby Lawrence.

Spring 1957

Oliver Queen is killed in action and Roy Harper becomes the new Green Arrow. The second Speedy joins him.

Stephanie Brown is born.

Fall 1957

Selena Kyle retires as Catwoman and opens her own escort service.

Late 1957

Charles McNider begins working for the FBI keeping tabs on metahumans.

Summer 1958

Superman first battles the villainous Brainiac.

Late 1958

Adam Strange is first transported to the planet Rann in the Alpha Centauri system.

Spring 1959

Batman and Robin first tangle with the sinister Mister Freeze.

Scientist Rip Hunter invents a time machine, which he uses to explore earth’s past and future.

Fall 1959

Test pilot Hal Jordan receives his power ring and becomes the new Green Lantern.

Late 1959

Wally West becomes the Flash’s sidekick, Kid Flash.

Early 1960

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Flash, and Green Lantern band together to form the Justice League of America, and they acquire a teen-aged associate called “Snapper” Carr.

Garth first joins Aquaman on his patrols of the seas as Aqualad.

Spring 1960

Ralph Dibny becomes the Elongated Man.

Early 1961

Two aliens from the planet Thanagar assume the identities of Carter and Shiera Hall, as well as Hawkman and Hawkgirl, to study earthly crime-fighting.

Spring 1961

Green Arrow joins the Justice League.

Summer 1961

Green Lantern first crosses swords with the evil Sinestro.

Kathy Kane’s niece Betty Kane begins her occasional outings as the original Bat-Girl.

Ralph Dibny marries his sweetheart Sue Dearborn.

Fall 1961

Ray Palmer becomes the size-changing hero called the Atom.

Late 1961

Batman and Robin must battle Matt Hagen, the second Clayface.

Early 1962

J’onn J’onzz makes his first return to Mars after being marooned on Earth six years earlier.

Spring 1962

Dr. Will Magnus unveils his team of shape-shifting robot crimefighters, the Metal Men.

Fall 1962

Atom joins the Justice League.

Early 1963

Rex Tyler marries actress Wendi Harris.

Summer 1963

Dr. Niles Caulder recruits Cliff Steele (the new Robotman), Rita Farr (Elasti-Girl), and Larry Trainor (Negative Man) to become the Doom Patrol.

Summer 1964

Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad join together as the Teen Titans.

Batman unveils a new state-of-the-art Batmobile.

Barry Allen gets engaged to Iris West.

Fall 1964

Kathy Kane retires as Batwoman.

Late 1964

Hawkman joins the Justice League.

Rita Farr marries Steve Dayton, but remains in the Doom Patrol.

Zatanna first casts her spell over the world’s evildoers.

Early 1965

While in Egypt, Rex Mason is transformed into Metamorpho, the Element Man.

Spring 1965

Garfield Logan becomes a junior member of the Doom Patrol known as Beast Boy.

Summer 1965

Donna Troy becomes Wonder Girl, and she and Speedy join the Teen Titans.

Dinah Drake Lance has an extramarital affair with Ted Knight.

Fall 1965

Buddy Baker becomes the super-hero Animal Man.

Late 1965

Barry Allen and Iris West are married.

Early 1966

Batman and Robin first meet the deadly villainess Poison Ivy.

Teenager Robby Reed discovers a mysterious dial that transforms him temporarily into a wide variety of super-heroes.

Spring 1966

Rick Tyler is born to Rex and Wendi Tyler.

Summer 1966

Barbara Gordon becomes the motorcycle-riding heroine Batgirl.

Fall 1966

The Flash’s wife, Iris Allen, dies.

Late 1966

Ted Kord becomes the super-hero Blue Beetle.

Early 1967

The Spectre returns to earth after more than 20 years.

After years of searching, Zatanna is reunited with her missing father, Zatara.

In Africa, Mike Maxwell becomes the super-hero B’wana Beast.

Summer 1967

Barry Allen is killed in action, and Wally West becomes the new Flash.

Fall 1967

After circus aerialist “Boston” Brand is randomly murdered, he begins a posthumous crime-fighting crusade as Deadman.

Summer 1968

TV reporter Jack Ryder begins his nocturnal adventures as the Creeper.

The android crimefighter called the Red Tornado makes his debut.

Fall 1968

The Doom Patrol are killed while on a mission to a remote island, although Beast Boy is not among them.

Early 1969

After Wonder Woman temporarily loses her powers, Steve Trevor is killed.

Spring 1969

Dinah Lance becomes the new Black Canary.

Summer 1969

Dick Grayson retires and Tim Drake succeeds him as the new Batman, joined by Stephanie Brown as the fourth Robin.

Roy Harper retires and Connor Hawke becomes the new, goateed Green Arrow.

Larry Lance is killed.

Fall 1969

The new Black Canary joins the JLA.

Early 1970

Ted Grant retires from boxing as the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world.

Spring 1970

Green Lantern and Green Arrow take to the road in search of America.

Summer 1970

Batman meets the terrifying creature called the Man-Bat.

Early 1971

The second Speedy becomes a heroin addict.

Summer 1971

Batman first matches wits with the devilish Ra’s Al Ghul.

Fall 1971

Murdered scientist Alec Holland seemingly rises from the dead as the Swamp Thing.

Spring 1972

Jenny-Lynn Hayden becomes the super-heroine Jade and her twin brother Todd Rice becomes the super-hero Obsidian. They are reunited via an empathic connection after their powers begin to manifest themselves.

Early 1973

Jessie Chambers becomes the superfast heroine Jessie Quick.

Summer 1973

A mysterious crimefighter calling herself the Black Orchid makes her debut.

Ray Terrill is born.

Early 1976

Another refugee from Krypton, Kara Zor-L, arrives on Earth and becomes the super-heroine Power Girl.

Spring 1976

Barbara Gordon is crippled by the Joker, forcing her to give up being Batgirl.

Late 1976

Tim Drake’s back is broken by Bane and he must retire as Batman.

Early 1977

High school principal Jefferson Pierce becomes the super-hero Black Lightning.

The second Speedy, now clean and sober, becomes Arsenal.

Alan Scott loses his job when the Gotham Broadcasting Company goes bankrupt.

Early 1978

Superman kills off his Clark Kent identity, rather than explain why he has not aged in 40 years.

Jay Garrick gives Alan Scott a job at his company, Keystone Labs. Soon after, Jay reveals to the world that he was the original Flash in an interview in We magazine.

High school student Ronnie Raymond and physicist Martin Stein are fused into a single being known as Firestorm, the Nuclear Man.

Summer 1978

Bruce Wayne briefly returns as Batman and kills the Joker.

Spring 1979

Guy Gardner first becomes a member of the Green Lantern Corps.

Summer 1979

Katherine Kane is murdered.

Fall 1979

Terry Sloane, the former Mr. Terrific, is murdered.

Fall 1980

Recovered from his injuries, Tim Drake returns as Batman.

Late 1980

The new Teen Titans form. Members include Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire.

Early 1981

Teenagers Chris King and Vicki Grant discover Hero Dials that transform them temporarily into a wide variety of super-heroes and super-heroines.

Summer 1981

Wonder Woman reveals her true identity to the world.

Lee Travis dies.

Late 1982

Connor Hawke retires and settles down with Dinah Lance to start a family.

Late 1984

John Stewart takes over as the new Green Lantern.

Summer 1985

The Spectre leaves Earth once again.

Early 1986

Michael Jon Carter arrives from the future and becomes the super-hero Booster Gold.

Lois Lane dies of lung cancer.

Selena Kyle dies of a sexually-transmitted disease.

Summer 1986

Having slowly gone insane, Hal Jordan dies while trying to destroy the universe.

Fall 1987

Kent and Inza Nelson both die.

Late 1987

Superman first battles Siobhan McDougal, a.k.a. the Silver Banshee.

Summer 1988

Sylvester Pemberton dies.

Spring 1989

Bruce Wayne dies. Tim Drake retires as Batman.

Summer 1989

Mary Elizabeth Kane becomes the superheroine Flamebird.

Summer 1990

Dinah Drake Lance dies of cancer.

Fall 1990

Jessie Chambers retires from her career as Jessie Quick.

Early 1992

Ray Terrill becomes the second superhero known as the Ray.

Early 1994

Kyle Rayner becomes the new Green Lantern.

Summer 1994

Bart Allen becomes the super-hero Impulse.

Johnny Thunder contracts Alzheimer’s disease.

Fall 1994

Rex Tyler dies.

Charles McNider dies.

Al Pratt dies.

Early 1996

Cassie Sandsmark becomes the new Wonder Girl.

Johnny Chambers dies.

Summer 1997

Cissie King-Jones becomes the super-heroine Arrowette.

Summer 1998

The super-hero team Young Justice is formed.

Summer 1999

Courtney Whitmore becomes the new Star-Spangled Kid.

Wesley Dodds and Dian Belmont die within weeks of each other.

Late 1999

Hal Jordan rises from the dead as the Spectre.

Late 2000

Ted Knight dies.


While a new generation of super-heroes moves into the 21st century, it is interesting to note that Superman and Wonder Woman are functionally immortal and are still going strong at the end of this chronology.