DC Universe

The comics will pick up right where the animated series left off.

Q: Why is the Justice Society of America of such fundamental importance to the DC Universe? -- @M_Morse A: I've been doing this column for a pretty long time, and almost every week, I get a question like this one, where the question itself assumes a pretty specific premise. Sometimes, they go as far as actually answering the question before the end of the sentence, making my part in the whole thing pretty irrelevant --- like, say, "who is the dreamiest guy and why is it Batman?" --- but sometimes, it's that premise that grabs my attention more than what's actually being asked. All of which is just a longwinded way to say that I'm not sure I can really explain why the JSA is a fundamental part of the DC Universe, because I'm not actually sure that they are.

Q: What are the arguments against a shared universe? Like, would Hawkman be tolerable if he wasn't standing next to Superman? -- @Dan_Toland A: I gotta say, I am probably the last person on the face of the planet that you should be coming to with this question. Not only do I love the concept of a shared universe in general, but I love it specifically in how it's evolved to become a defining feature of superhero comics, to the point where it's actually as much a part of what I think of when I hear the word "superhero" as powers and costumes. On the other hand, I am also a dude who has never passed up an opportunity to make fun of Hawkman, so allow me to answer that part of your question first: No. Nothing will ever make Hawkman tolerable. Hawkman is the worst.

Q: Do Superman-esque characters like The Sentry or Blue Marvel work in the Marvel Universe? -- @SuperSeth64 A: You know, Seth, this is one of those questions that seems really simple when you first look at it. I mean, it's a yes or no question, so the short answer is about as short as it can possibly be. The thing is, the reasoning behind that answer has to do with how entire shared fictional univ

Sculpted by the Four Horsemen, Mattel's DC Universe Classics line is a favorite among 6" action figure fans for balancing detailed sculpts with hearty amounts of articulation and often spotlighting some of the DCU's more obscure heroes and villains. But there's an element of collectibility that goes beyond the line's basic figures and even limited edition variants. The most hardcore collector

The Vertigo version of John Constantine meant for mature audiences will exit stage left this February in Hellblazer #300, as DC Comics launches a new ongoing title for its more PG-13 "New 52" take on the character simply dubbed Constantine...

There've been a number of sprawling Batman Lego sets, but the latest to be unveiled at BrickCon 2012 in Seattle over the weekend may be the most impressive yet. In January Batman fans will be able to pick up Lego DC Universe Super Heroes set #10937, Arkham Asylum...

Earlier this summer fans got an initial look at a trailer for Warner Home Video's animated adaptation of Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, which established the feature's basic premise and showcased voice actor Frank "RoboCop" Weller's take on the grim and gritty Caped Crusader...

I wasn't expecting a whole lot out of Superman vs. the Elite, the latest from DC's line of direct-to-video animated features. With a few notable exceptions, the "DC Universe" line hasn't really thrilled me, and I had absolutely no desire to spend a couple of hours revisiting the story this one's based on, Action Comics #775's "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American W

Reading Comics author Douglas Wolk runs down the hottest comics and graphic novels coming out this week. KEY: * The realm of the quotidian % The realm of the fantastical * SHOWCASE PRESENTS YOUNG LOVE VOL. 1 Holy wedding dresses, this looks great, even in a week as full of excellent new and old material as this one...