Illustrator Scott Koblish drew four variant covers for The New History of the DC Universe (2025). This one below, for the first issue, is astonishing for its rigor and obscurities. It includes characters from the Golden Age of DC Comics publishing, as well as Quality and Fawcett Comics (plus Blue Beetle).
In this promotional preview, a few characters are cut off on the right, but images from Koblish's Instagram show them in full. Here is the full image:
Variant cover art for The New History of the DC Universe #1 (2025) by Scott Koblish.
Here are the breakdowns:
Psycho-Pirate is in his Silver Age costume (1965), a totally different person, even.
Ivanhoe and the Three Musketeers starred in features based closely on their historical originals.
In the original version, Catwoman appears twice — also as "the Cat." But before print, the decision was made to change the Cat to Betty Bates, Lady at Law (Quality)
Red Logan appeared with this exact coloring, though his usual coloring was more ordinary.
Note: The Magno depicted in the promo image is not that from Quality Comics, rather from Ace Comics' Super-Mystery Comics, not the one from Quality. It was corrected before print.
Many have noted the absence of Speedy, but he was reserved for the cover of issue #2.
Ibis (Fawcett) is cropped off at the right, but DC's Lando had similar coloring.
Notes on Changing Continuity
The items I list below are notable because they either (a) intoduce a change to continuity or (b) re/establish a key point from earlier continuities. Some events from the New 52 and Rebirth Eras have become so seminal to certain characters' histories that they are now canon.
In large part, the series reestablishes the sensibilities of post-Crisis continuity.
New History of the DC Universe #1 (Aug. 2025)
From The New History of the DC Universe #1 (2025).
The New 52 continuity for Shazam et al., which debuted in Justice League #7 (2011), supplants all earlier versions of the characters.
The Golden Age Batman and Supermanare (appropriately) shown on the cover as a nod to their place in history, but they are not a part of the wartime continuity of the mainstream DCU. This continues the precendent of post-Crisis continuity.
The New 52's Demon Knights are now a part of mainstream continuity.
The Fawcett character Golden Arrow is included among DC's heroes of the Old West.
(Finally) the text acknowledges that Doctor Occult "donned a red suit and cloak, making him the century's first super-hero."
Amazing Man may now be a retconned member of the Justice Society? He is included alongside Mister Terrific, Wildcat, Doctor Mid-Nite and Wonder Woman. This comes before any reference to the All-Star Squadron's formation.
Hippolyta joined the JSA as the first Wonder Woman.
The original Aquaman ("Adam Waterman") is part of history. This character was reintroduced in The New Golden Age #1 (Jan. 2023).
Keith Everet's alter ego, "Grim Ghost," is apparently still more palatable than the original "Gay Ghost."
First real appearance of Justice Society Dark (also created in The New Golden Age), assembled by Mister Miracle (Thaddeus Brown) with Doctor Fate, Zatara, Doctor Occult and Blue Beetle. They "used magic to permanently slow their own aging."
After the war, Captain Cometformed the Justice Alliance with (obscure early Silver Age heroes) Prince Ra-Man, Tiger-Man, Automan and Congorilla. This team is a new invention, perhaps in support of Mark Waid's use of Captain Comet in his 2025 run on Action Comics. This name was used before to refer to the version of the Justice League from Earth-D
(Legends
of the DCU: Crisis On Infinite Earths #1, 1999). This recalls a similar retcon, the Justice Experience, from Chase #6 (July 1998), which was a group formed with the Martian Manhunter in his first alias as the "Bronze Wraith," and others, in the late '60s.
The New 52/Rebirth idea of the "Superman Project" persists: Niles Caulder, Will Magnus, Martin Stein and Simon Stagg succeed in creating metahumans (from Doomsday Clock, 2018).
New History of the DC Universe #2 (Sept. 2025)
From The New History of the DC Universe #2 (2025).
The Justice Society face Surtur for the first time and return "rejuvenated." This is a retcon.
Clark Kent has costumed adventures as Superboy, which included many with the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Contradicting a host of Rebirth lore, Princess Diana debuts contemporaneously with Superman and Batman, retconning away her previous history in the early 20th century (which itself was an influenced by the Wonder Woman feature film).
Wonder Woman rescues Donna Troy and brings her to Themyscira.
Significant: the heroes who would soon form the Justice League of America — plus Cyborg — teamed once prior to defeat Darkseid. This is the story of the New 52 Justice League. Cyborg, like the other heroes, is 'freshly minted' and has to go in stasis afterwards. The JLA then formed as canonically told, to battle the Appellax aliens. Cyborg's origin is amended to have been an attack from Apokolips.
Supergirl's original Silver Age debut is restored. However, her adoptive parents in Midvale were Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers (not Fred and Edna).
Plastic Man is a Silver Age hero.
The Superman Project phase two, under the Department of Metahuman Affairs, is responsible for the creation of Captain Atom, Element Woman, Firestorm, Killer Frost, Man-Bat and Lady Clayface.
A "revived and revitalized" Cyborg joins the new Teen Titans.
In the Crisis on Infinite Earths, the multiverse was temporarily reduced to a single reality.
The original Kathy Kane/Batwoman and Bette Kane/Bat-Girl existed.
Aquaman's first son was murdered by Black Manta.
Infinity Inc.'s Fury is the daughter of the original Fury, who trained under Queen Hippolyta.
New History of the DC Universe #3 (Nov. 2025)
From The New History of the DC Universe #3 (2025).
The New 52 continuity for Shazam aka the Captain (never "Captain Marvel") supplants all earlier versions of the character, which debuted in Justice League #7 (2011). His introduction follows the Crisis on Infinite Earths. He joins Maxwell Lord's Justice League.
The Matrix Supergirl is described as a successor to the original, who died in the Crisis.
Diana of Themyscira is labeled "Wonder Woman II."
Conner Kentreferred to as "Superboy II," confirming Clark Kent's role as the original Superboy.
Supergirl: history changed so that her 2003 revival was a resurrection of the original (pre-Crisis) Kara Zor-El—not the debut of the post-Crisis Kara.
Jon Kent, the future Superman II, is said to have been born during his father's sabbatical, which coincided with the events of 52 (2006). This backdates Jon's birth, which was first shown in Convergence: Superman #2 (July 2015).
The Retroboot Legion participates in the plan to revive Impulse (Bart Allen; from "The Lightning Saga," 2006).
Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds (2008) is canon.
New History of the DC Universe #4 (Dec. 2025)
From The New History of the DC Universe #4 (Dec. 2025).
In the current continuity, the New 52 era was partly caused by Barry Allen, via the "Flashpoint" event. His attempt to undo it resulted in "rewriting nearly every corner of reality." ... "Old history intertwined with new."
Highlights of the New 52 remain: Barbara Gordon regaining use of her legs; Justice League Dark; Emiko Queen/Red Arrow; the Court of Owls; Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz.
Allen describes his universe, "Histories, events, even memories, would sometimes fluctuate without our realizing it."
When Wally West returned, certain "inconsistencies" were forgotten, including the New 52 origins of Superman and Wonder Woman.
Though anomalous, Kendra Saunders and Shayera Thal exist contemporaneously. (The alter egos of the Hawks who joined the Justice Leauge were not specified but it is probably Carter and Shiera, as in post-Crisis times.)
Doctor Manhattan, a watcher from afar, was the cause of the New 52 universe. He ultimately chose to 'leave their reality' and healed the last vestiges of the New 52 timeline—most importantly returning the JSA.
Some futures are shown: Helena Wayne, Professor Zoom, Kamandi, Wonder Woman's daughter, Tornado Twins, DC One Million.
Only two nods to the Legion of Super-Heroes are shown: the Time Trapper and 3 Legionnaires sillouhettes in a Time Bubble. The Legion is not shown in full.
My autographed series, by Mark Waid and Scott Koblish, plus a custom sketch! Purchased via Collector's Paradise.
