On two occasions DC Comics has published compact “official” timelines of the DCU's history. (There have also been partial ones in various issues of Secret Files, occasionally useful but more often inconsistent not only with the comprehensive ones, but with each other and even with the stories they catalog.)
As explained in the Introduction, these two document aren’t actually reliable on their own terms, for a number of reasons. However, I’m offering this table summarizing the contents of the two, for the sake of comparison by those who may not own the comics they appeared in. It doesn’t repeat all the content verbatim from either one—that would be problematic for reasons of both space and copyright, especially in the latter case—but it’s based directly on the originals.
| Zero Hour #0 <9.94> | Guide to the DC Universe 2000 Secret Files <3.00> | |
|---|---|---|
| (The ZH timeline also included a brief survey of prehistoric and Golden Age events) | ||
| Year One (10 years ago/12 years ago) |
Superman Batman Joker Catwoman Flash Green Lantern J’onn J’onzz goes public Black Canary Aquaman Original Blue Beetle Adam Strange Katah Hol exiled on Thanagar Speedy (joins Green Arrow) JLA |
Superman Luthor Bizarro Batman Catwoman Joker Flash Green Lantern Black Canary Aquaman Atom Metal Men JLA Green Arrow Speedy Doom Patrol Green Arrow joins JLA |
| Year Two (9 years ago/11 years ago) |
Atom Kid Flash Elongated Man JSA re-forms Doom Patrol dies Creeper Hawk & Dove New Gods Cadmus Project Zatanna Aqualad |
JSA Two-Face Aqualad Kid Flash Black Adam (kills Batsons) Red Tornado Graysons killed |
| Year Three (8 years ago/10 years ago) |
Robin Plastic Man Eclipso The Demon Wonder Girl Deathstroke |
Robin JLA Satellite Teen Titans Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) Hawk & Dove Speedy’s drug addiction Ra’s Al Ghul |
| Year Four (7 years ago/9 years ago) |
Teen Titans Manhunter (Paul Kirk) John Stewart GL |
Batgirl Reverse-Flash |
| Year Five (6 years ago/8 years ago) |
Power Girl Shade Rose & Thorn Black Lightning |
Zatanna joins JLA Firestorm New Teen Titans GA leaves JLA |
| Year Six (5 years ago/7 years ago) |
Omega Men Batgirl Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) Blue Devil Fire & Ice Captain Atom New Teen Titans Infinity Inc. Firestorm |
Outsiders Robin injured, leaves Batman Infinity, Inc. Nightwing |
| Year Seven (4 years ago/6 years ago) |
Outsiders Nightwing CRISIS Wonder Woman Captain Marvel Question Vigilante |
JLA Detroit Jason Todd Robin CRISIS Booster Gold Captain Marvel Wonder Woman LEGENDS New JL |
| Year Eight (3 years ago/5 years ago) |
LEGENDS New JL Jason Todd Robin Barbara Gordon shot Suicide Squad MILLENNIUM Gangbuster Rocket Reds Manhunter (Mark Shaw) Jason Todd killed Supergirl |
MILLENNIUM Barbara Gordon shot Mr. Mxyzptlk Brainiac INVASION Jason Todd killed Superman exile in space |
| Year Nine (2 years ago/4 years ago) |
INVASION L.E.G.I.O.N. Valor (Lar Gand) Will Payton Starman Rip Hunter |
Superman returns, creates Fortress Tim Drake Robin Clark proposes to Lois Luthor fakes death WAR OF THE GODS |
| Year Ten (1 year ago/3 years ago) |
Tim Drake Robin Katar Hol Hawkman WAR OF THE GODS The Ray ARMAGEDDON 2001 JSA returns from limbo Linear Men (“Time & Time Again”) Superman killed |
JSA returns from limbo Azrael Superman killed Superboy, Steel, Eradicator, Cyborg “Emerald Twilight” (Parallax, Kyle Rayner) “Knightfall” (Batman crippled, AzBats) Superman revived |
| Year 11 (“Now”/2 years ago) |
Superman revived Superboy, Steel, Eradicator, Cyborg Azrael NEW BLOOD “Emerald Twilight” “Knightfall” (Batman crippled, AzBats) Kyle Rayner GL Damage “Fall of Metropolis” Guy Gardner, Warrior Impulse ZERO HOUR Jack Knight Starman |
Kyle Rayner GL Batman returns Impulse ZERO HOUR Guy Gardner, Warrior Jack Knight Starman Connor Hawke Artemis WW UNDERWORLD UNLEASHED Extreme Justice/JL Task Force Birds of Prey Luthor weds Contessa Wonder Girl II FINAL NIGHT |
| Year 12 (—/“During the past year ”) |
New JLA, Watchtower Clark marries Lois Electric Superman JLA vs. Worlogog Lena Luthor born Gotham Earthquake DC ONE MILLION Young Justice Original Titans re-form Gotham declared “No Man’s Land” New JSA DAY OF JUDGMENT Gotham rebuilt & reopened JLA vs. Mageddon Brainiac 13 attacks |
Original contents ©2002-2008 Chris J. Miller. All characters and concepts referred to are ™ and/or ©DC Comics Inc., except where otherwise specified. This site is not authorized by DC Comics; it is a work of commentary and criticism, created for non-commercial purposes, and no infringement is intended or should be implied. Permission to reproduce material contained herein is granted provided this notice of authorship and copyright is included.