Even a publisher likeDC Comicshas a few storylines that not only miss the mark, but stand out as stories that are better left in the past. While few stories are without flaws, some are absolutely filled with decisions that leave fans gobsmacked, even years after their publication.
To be fair, pretty much every story since the creation of time has its supporters and nothing captures thespirit of comic book fandomlike discussing a story’s quality. But some, like the following eight comics, are just so out-there that most fans agree that the less said about them, the better.
8JLA: Created Equal
An Interesting Idea Squandered by Odd Choices
JLA: Created Equaladmittedly has a fairly interesting premise where every biological male dies due to a disease from the stars. However,this DC Elseworld doesn’t really liveup to the premise. One of the only things people remember about it is how Superman is one of the only men who survived the plague and to restart humanity, he leaves an entire canister filled with his ‘genetic material’ (read between the lines here) and departs from the world. Again, not the worst idea for an Elseworlds, but its execution was kind of icky and left a lot to be desired.
7All-Star Batman and Robin
A Controversial Take on the Dynamic Duo
Frank Miller captured everyone’s attention with The Dark Knight Returns in the ‘80s so there was a lot of anticipation surroundingAll-Star Batman and Robin. However, this series was far from what readers had come to expect from Miller. In the series, Batman is cartoonishly over-the-top with the way he treats Dick Grayson, swearing at him and essentially kidnapping him (going so far as to tell him to hunt down rats in the Batcave in order to eat). There’s no doubt thatFrank Miller made one of the best Batman stories, but he’s also responsible for one of the worst.
6Convergence
A Complex Mess Meant to Tide Fans Over
Several years into the New 52, DC Comics decided to revisit elements from its pre-Flashpoint history in an event known asConvergence. The series followed Brainiac collecting the DCU’s heroes and villains from across time and putting them together to see what happens. For the months of April and May 2015, every book that DC Comics was putting out at the time was put on hiatus for a series of one-shots, many of which were criticized for being underdeveloped at best.Convergencedid help lay the groundwork for the return of DC’s continuity, but it’s largely considered a forgettable event.
5Heroes in Crisis
The Whodunnit That Character Assassinated a Fan-Favorite
DC Rebirth did a lot to earn longtime fans’ trust back after the New 52, but that trust was almost shattered thanks toHeroes in Crisis. The miniseries had a decent idea, revolving around a multiple murders at Sanctuary, a mental health facility for superheroes. However, the perpetrator ended up being Wally West, who had just returned after being lost in time during the New 52, enraging fans. Aside from that shocking choice, the book was filled with other unbelievable moments, none stranger thanHarley Quinn managing to defeat Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman when they try to apprehend her.
4Countdown to Final Crisis
A Year-Long Slog That Didn’t Matter in the End
52was a beloved, year-long endeavor that really pushed what fans had come to expect from DC. In the year leading up toFinal Crisis, DC decided to create a similar comic calledCountdown to Final Crisis. Though the event was supposedly referred to as “52 done right.” by previous DC Editor-in-Chief Dan Didio, the series was anything but. Unlike52, which was meticulously planned and told a grand story,Countdownwas a hodgepodge of ideas, with little-to-no focus. Worst,despite its name, the series did absolutely nothing to set upFinal Crisis(though that’s probably for the best).
3Amazons Attack!
Only Remembered for a Meme of All Things
Let’s be real, not every event is a hit, but none are as wild or strange asAmazons Attack!. The idea behind the event is simple, the Amazons attack Washington. The problem was that there was nothing substantial beyond that. After Wonder Woman is detained by the government, the Amazons attack America in order to free her. Unfortunately, for the plot to work, it required multiple characters, not just the Amazons, to act completely out-of-character. Not to mention, one of the Amazons’ plans is to use a deadly bee weapon,leading to Batman uttering the infamous line, “Bees. My God.”.
2Cry For Justice/Justice League: The Rise of Arsenal
One of the Most Cynical Storylines in DC History
These are technically two different stories, but considering how rough a deal Roy Harper got, it’s fair game.Cry for Justicesaw Prometheus manipulate his way into the Justice League, where he severed Red Arrow’s arm before blowing up Star City, killing Harper’s daughter, Lian. This plot is followed up on inThe Rise of Arsenal, where the pain drives Roy back to drug use. But nothing in this comic is worse than seeing Roy lose his mind and cradling a dead cat thinking it’s his daughter.DC has put characters through dire circumstances before, but this was just cruel.
1Identity Crisis
Hands Down One of the Most Controversial Superhero Stories
Anyone who’s had a passing interest in DC Comics knows the horror story that is Identity Crisis. This comic has rightfully earned the scorn of many fans due to its controversial story elements and its tone-deaf execution. From having Sue Dibny raped by Doctor Light for shock value to revealing that the Justice League has been mind-wiping villains (also Batman when he discovered this fact), this comic is filled with retcons that are almost certain to get fans’ blood boiling. Thankfully, most have ignored this story anddon’t bother too much with keepingIdentity Crisisa part of DC canon.
