"One Year Later" is a 2006 comic book storyline running through the books published by DC Comics. As the title suggests, it involves a narrative jump exactly one year into the future of the DC Universe following the events of the "Infinite Crisis" storyline, to explore major changes within the continuities of the many different comic books within the DC Comics range.
Synopsis Following the events of the "Infinite Crisis" storyline, every DC comic series jumped ahead in-story by one year. The events of the missing year were depicted in real time in the weekly comic book series 52. The "One Year Later" storyline started in March 2006, starting the same week that Infinite Crisis #5 went to press, and before the first issue of 52. Most first issues bearing the "One Year Later" logo were the first parts of multi-issue storylines, and featured major changes to the status quo of each character, often intentionally left unexplained as these details would be filled in by the remaining issues of Infinite Crisis and the 52 series.
Numerous prominent heroes were missing or inactive for most of the year as the "One Year Later" issues commenced. Heroes known to have been gone for the missing year were Aquaman, Batman, Blue Beetle, Green Arrow, Hawkman, Martian Manhunter, Nightwing, Robin, Superman and Wonder Woman. The Flash went missing, but Jay Garrick had been protecting Keystone City in his absence.
The DC Trinity The year-long absence of the three most prominent superheroes of the DC Comics universe—Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman—and their return to active duty was a significant part of both the "One Year Later" series and 52 series.
Superman The Superman storyline "Up, Up and Away!", was co-written by Geoff Johns and Kurt Busiek, with art by Pete Woods (and two issues by Renato Guedes), and cover art by Terry and Rachel Dodson. The four-month, eight-part introductory story arc ran through both Action Comics #837–840 and Superman #650–653. The story features a depowered Clark Kent who, having lost his powers in the climax of Infinite Crisis, uses his skills as a journalist to defend Metropolis from both organized crime and Lex Luthor, who is newly bankrupt and disgraced due to his actions in the series 52. Superman regains his powers in time to battle the embittered Luthor, who is seeking revenge on him and wielding Kryptonian technology.
Batman The Batman storyline "Face the Face", was written by James Robinson, with art by Leonard Kirk and Don Kramer. It ran through Detective Comics #817–820 and Batman #651–654.
The storyline concerns Batman and Robin's return to Gotham City after a year-long absence, and their investigation of an unknown person who has been murdering other supervillains (including Ventriloquist and KGBeast) These villains appear to be connected to Harvey Dent, who has reformed and taken up battling crime on Batman's behalf during the latter's absence. It is learned that Dent is not responsible for the killings; the mastermind is Great White Shark, who has established himself as Gotham's reigning crime boss. Dent's resulting stress, paranoia, and resentment of being under suspicion leads to the return of his Two-Face persona and his self-scarring, thus returning him to his life of crime. In the finale, Bruce Wayne offers to adopt Tim Drake, whose parents had previously died.Batman #654 (July 2006)
In addition to the return of Two-Face, "One Year Later" also saw the reappearance of several other significant elements of the Batman mythos that had previously been written out or retired, including the return of James Gordon as Gotham's police commissioner and Detective Harvey Bullock.
Wonder Woman Unlike the Batman and Superman series, Wonder Woman was reintroduced with a new volume at issue one in June 2006. The introductory storyline was titled "Who Is Wonder Woman?" and was written by Allan Heinberg, with art by Terry and Rachel Dodson.
In the story, Donna Troy is depicted as having taken over the Wonder Woman title in Diana's absence, while Diana is shown to have accepted a government position at the Department of Metahuman Affairs under the alias of Diana Prince at Batman's urging. She is directed by Sarge Steel and is ironically assigned to the rescue mission of the new Wonder Woman, who has been captured by several of Wonder Woman's superpowered foes who demand that the "real" Wonder Woman be submitted to them. She is partnered on the case with a reluctant Tom Tresser, also known as Nemesis. Within the story it is revealed that prior to her admission into the department, Diana was also photographed in the company of an Eastern mystic code-named I Ching, and that the World Court has dropped the charges against her for the killing of Maxwell Lord. The story was completed in the series' first Annual in 2007.
Storylines Green Lantern leads an assault on the Guardians' Manhunters and their new self-proclaimed leader the Cyborg Superman, and in the process manages to free Ke'Haan, Laira, Jack T. Chance, Honnu, Graf Toren, Kreon, and Boodikka, who were previously presumed dead.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #12 (July 2006) The Lanterns rejoin the Green Lantern Corps shortly thereafter.Green Lantern (vol. 4) #13 (August 2006) A new Aquaman (named Arthur Joseph Curry) appears and allies himself with King Shark and the Dweller of the Depths. The original Aquaman (Orin) has mysteriously disappeared.Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #40 (May 2006) A revised Doom Patrol debuts.Teen Titans (vol. 3) #36 (July 2006) Bart Allen becomes the new Flash.Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1 (August 2006) Captain Atom is imprisoned within Blüdhaven by the military. Initially, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd both operate in New York City as Nightwing, but Jason uses lethal force.Nightwing #118 (May 2006) Jason eventually returns to the Red Hood identity. Hawkman has been missing for a year, and Hawkgirl has taken his place as St. Roch's protector.Hawkgirl #50 (May 2006) Lorraine Reilly replaces Martin Stein as a component member of Firestorm following his disappearance.Firestorm (vol. 3) #23 (May 2006) Lady Shiva and Gypsy join Oracle's team in Birds of Prey.Birds of Prey #92 (May 2006)Birds of Prey #93 (June 2006) Black Canary returns, and Shiva takes Bethany Thorne, daughter of Matthew Thorne, the Crime Doctor as her student. Oliver Queen is the mayor of Star City and has not appeared in public as Green Arrow for a year.Green Arrow (vol. 3) #60 (May 2006) Cassandra Cain, under the influence of Deathstroke, has become the new leader of the League of Assassins. Robin leads the Teen Titans, which now includes Cyborg, Kid Devil, and Ravager (Rose Wilson).Teen Titans (vol. 3) #34 (May 2006) The mysterious new Titans East is based in New York. Robin is secretly trying to reclone Superboy, who was killed during Infinite Crisis. Beast Boy and Raven have broken up and left the team. Selina Kyle's friend Holly Robinson replaces her as Catwoman. Selina, now using the alias Irena Dubrovna, gives birth to a daughter named Helena.Catwoman (vol. 2) #53 (May 2006) Supergirl and Power Girl work together as Nightwing (Power Girl) and Flamebird (Supergirl) in the bottled city of Kandor.Supergirl (vol. 5) #6 (April 2006) The Outsiders are believed dead, but continue their work underground. The members, again led by Nightwing (Dick Grayson), are Grace, Thunder, Katana, Metamorpho, and Captain Boomerang (Owen Mercer).Outsiders (vol. 3) #34 (May 2006) Vandal Savage crashlands back on Earth without his immortality and learns he has only 11 days to live.JSA Classified #10 (May 2006) He seeks out Alan Scott for one last battle and fails. The clone that Savage used in his plot ends up being eaten by Savage himself, extending his life another year.JSA Classified #13 (August 2006) A new Justice League forms with 10 members, including Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Jaime Reyes, the third Blue Beetle, wakes up in the Arizona desert and is surprised to learn that it has been one year since the attack on Brother Eye.Blue Beetle (vol. 7) #1 (May 2006)Blue Beetle (vol. 7) #2 (June 2006) The Global Guardians recruit new members including Jet and Gloss from the New Guardians, Freedom Beast, the third Crimson Fox, Syrian hero Sandstorm, and a new Manticore.Green Lantern (vol. 4) # 11 (June 2006) Bruno Mannheim launches many flying energy spheres on Metropolis to try to destroy Superman. Before teleporting away, he tells Superman that he now "has a new master, more powerful than Darkseid".Superman #654 (September 2006) A new Justice Society of America debuts, led by Alan Scott, Jay Garrick, and Ted Grant.JSA #83 (May 2006) Donna Troy becomes the new Wonder Woman and Hercules replaces Wonder Woman as an agent of Olympus.Wonder Woman (vol. 3) #1 (August 2006)Wonder Woman (vol. 3) #3 (October 2006) "1,001 Years Later", Supergirl appears in the 31st century and is revered as a member of the Superman family. Upon her arrival, she concludes that she is dreaming and that she is not actually in the future.Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #16 (May 2006) The Legion of Super-Heroes believes that she has merely deluded herself into thinking that she is the Supergirl of the 21st century, but they nevertheless accept her as a new member.Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #17 (June 2006)
Cancellations In line with of the events of Infinite Crisis and 52, DC Comics canceled some of its long-running series, including; Wonder Woman vol. 2, The Flash vol. 2 (which was restarted after the death of Bart Allen), Gotham Central, Batman: Gotham Knights, Plastic Man, JLA, Superman vol. 2, and Batgirl.
Renaming Adventures of Superman has been renamed to simply Superman, restoring the original title of this series with issue #650. Aquaman is renamed Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis with issue #40, starring a new lead character. Firestorm is retitled Firestorm: The Nuclear Man from issue #23 onwards. Hawkman is renamed Hawkgirl from issue #50 onward. Legion of Super-Heroes is renamed Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes starting with issue #16. The title also used a "1,001 Years Later" logo for several issues.
New series As they are new titles, many of the following do not have the "One Year Later" to indicate a time jump since the previous issue.
Spin-offs from the Countdown to Infinite Crisis mini-series: Checkmate was an ongoing series spun off of The OMAC Project, with writer Greg Rucka and artist Jesus Saiz. The series ended with issue #31 in October 2008. Secret Six is a six-issue limited series spun off from Villains United, with writer Gail Simone and artist Brad Walker. An ongoing series began in September 2008. Shadowpact was launched as an ongoing series spun off from Day of Vengeance, with writer and artist Bill Willingham. It concluded in May 2008 with issue #25.
Follow-ups to Infinite Crisis: Blue Beetle has a new character following in the footsteps of Ted Kord, written by Keith Giffen and John Rogers, with art by Cully Hamner. The series concluded in February 2009 with issue #36. Crisis Aftermath: The Battle for Blüdhaven is a six-issue limited series written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Grey, with art by Dan Jurgens and Palmiotti. Crisis Aftermath: The Spectre is a three-issue limited series written by Will Pfeifer with art by Cliff Chiang. Ion is a 12-issue limited series spun off from Green Lantern and Rann-Thanagar War, with writer Ron Marz and artist Greg Tocchini.
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