5 DC Rebirth Series to Pick Up

James Akinaka
Comics DC
Comics DC

We’re just over a month into DC Rebirth, so now is a good time to check out the best of DC Comics’ new publishing initiative. DC Rebirth, as its name suggests, aims to restore the post-Crisis continuity, following the Flashpoint crossover and The New 52 program. Its creators have described it as a restoration instead of a reboot, in contrast to the controversial New 52. Almost every series, new and returning, has a new creative team, each committed to deliver a fresh take on their story.

Take a look at some of the most promising series in DC Rebirth.

Wonder Woman

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More so than others, the new Wonder Woman series is a true rebirth, in that it restores writer Greg Rucka to the mantle of the Themyscira princess’s main title. Rucka was responsible for a stellar pre-Flashpoint run on the character, from issues 195 (2003) to 226 (2006), so he’s no stranger to the Lasso of Truth. In fact, that’s the main focus of Rucka’s first story arc, entitled The Lies.

The Lasso of Truth has stopped working for Diana, and more frighteningly, she cannot find her way home to Themyscira. The groundbreaking Justice League: Darkside War also revealed that Diana had a twin brother, leaving Diana with more questions than answers. Rucka, along with artist Liam Sharp, will redefine what it means to be Wonder Woman. As has been done for Batman and Green Arrow, Rucka and Sharp will also deliver a “Year One” story for Diana, so you don’t want to miss it.

Green Arrow

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After his horror-driven take on the Emerald Archer, writer Benjamin Percy delivers what fans have been clamoring for: the fated post-Flashpoint reunion between Green Arrow and Black Canary. This series might as well be called Green Arrow/Black Canary, since this is Dinah Lance’s main title until Batgirl and the Birds of Prey begins.

Besides developing Oliver’s relationship with Dinah, Percy and artist Otto Schmidt embrace elements from the only run of the New 52 Green Arrow series that I loved: writer Jeff Lemire‘s exploration of the Queen family. Oliver’s half-sister Emiko and her mother, Shado, have a surprising role in this new series. So does erstwhile crime-fighter John Diggle. With The CW’s Arrow TV series still going strong, Green Arrow remains at the forefront of DC Rebirth’s evolving pantheon.

Batman

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The legacy of the Bat mantle has always been in question. Now, Bruce Wayne must contend with a pair of new metahuman superheroes who call themselves Gotham and Gotham Girl. Alongside co-writer Tim Seeley (who’s helming the new Nightwing), author Tom King had a superb spy-filled take on Grayson. King is now in charge of the Dark Knight’s new series. His first story arc, I Am Gotham, is poised to examine how Batman stands toe-to-toe with other metahumans.

King has arguably the hardest job of the DC Rebirth era: serving as the successor to superstar writer Scott Snyder. Snyder and artist Greg Capullo crafted what undoubtedly became the best series of The New 52. Nevertheless, King and artist David Finch waste no time in taking risks and establishing a distinctive tone for themselves. Only time will tell how memorable their take on the Bat becomes.

Detective Comics

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When I first heard that Detective Comics was becoming a team book, I was skeptical. This is the first time that DC Comics’ namesake series has focused on a team instead of individuals. Yet, with the return to the historic issue numbering that dates back to 1937, the series doesn’t disappoint. From the get-go with issue 934, writer James Tynion IV and artist Eddy Barrows hit their stride.

Poor Gotham City. It’s never safe. Both Scott Snyder’s Batman and the Batman Eternal weekly series explored why people live in the terror-ridden city. Tynion and Barrows’s first story arc, Rise of the Batmen, showcases yet another threat to Gotham. Yet, this time, the entirety of the Bat-Family is in the crosshairs.

Knowing that the next generation of heroes need to evolve if they are to survive, Batman enlists his cousin, Batwoman, to hold Bat Boot Camp. Their recruits: Red Robin (Tim Drake), Spoiler (Stephanie Brown), Orphan (Cassandra Cain), and… Clayface (Basil Karlo)? Looks like fans can finally shout, “Bat-Family Unite!”

Titans

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I may or may not have teared up when DC Rebirth’s opening one-shot, DC Universe: Rebirth #1, revealed who the “missing hero” was: Wally West, who had tenures as both Flash and Kid Flash. Sure, there’s been another Wally West running around the pages of The Flash, but he’s the cousin of the original. The in-universe reason for The New 52 reboot is that a powerful being robbed the DC Universe of ten years. Relationships and friendships were forgotten, as was a certain team called the Teen Titans.

With the success of TV shows like Teen Titans and Young Justice, it’s well past time that DC had a successful series with these iconic characters. (I’m ignoring The New 52’s Teen Titans series, which created a few great characters but had embarrassingly awful plot lines.) Now, we’re finally getting one with Titans, from writer Dan Abnett and artist Brett Booth. Alongside Wally, the roster includes Nightwing (Dick Grayson), Donna Troy, Tempest (Garth), Lilith Clay, and Arsenal (Roy Harper).

Titans serves as a sequel to Titans Hunt, an eight-issue limited series during The New 52. Titans Hunt was the first to suggest that something was amiss about the forgotten Teen Titans, particularly due to the demon Mister Twister. With Titans, Abnett and Booth fully embrace the nostalgia that accompanies Wally’s return to continuity. Despite the mystery of the missing ten years, it’s clear that Titans will become something wonderful.

James Akinaka
James Akinaka arrives at Fandom by way of Wookieepedia. He covers Star Wars, superheroes, and animation and has mastered the art of nitpicking. Since he works in publishing, he reads far too many books.