I’ve always been a fan of alternate universe stories, so when I heard DC was bringing back their Elseworlds imprint I was beyond excited! A while ago I wrote about some of my favorite multiversal stories, but this list is focused specifically on the classic DC Elseworlds from the 1980s to the 2000’s. DC has already been doing alternate universe style stories for a while (like Dark Knights of Steel) and some of these titles are getting sequels in the new imprint. But, I’m here to talk about some old school essentials you should check out before reading some of the new books on offer. Here, in no particular order, are some of my all-time favorite Elseworld stories.
Batman Holy Terror by Alan Brennert and Norm Breyfogle
The first Elseworlds book I ever read (and the first book to be called an “Elseworld”), Batman Holy Terror shows an alternate history England ruled by the religious elite. After witnessing his parent’s violent demise, Bruce Wayne joins the church as a priest. Following many years of blind allegiance, Bruce finds out the dark truth behind his parent’s deaths and rebels against the church buy hunting down hypocrites within the church’s upper management. Dystopic and dark, this perfectly encapsulates the nature of an Elseworlds story by staying true to the character’s core while putting them in an unexpected scenario.
Superman: The Dark Side by John Francis Moore, Kieron Dwyer, Hilary Barta
Most of the Superman Elseworld stories are “what if [blank] had raises Superman instead of the Kent’s?” A simple idea with a massive payoff if it’s done right. In this case, Superman crash-lands on Apokolips instead of Kansas and is raised in the loving arms of none other than Darkseid. With an awesome set of armor, Superman is raised to fight the New Gods of New Genesis. A three-issue series as opposed to a one-shot, Superman: The Dark Side is a fantastically executed Elseworld, and definitely a must read for fans of the New Gods.
Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
Hands down one of the best Elseworlds stories, and maybe even one of the best comics ever made. Kingdom Come isn’t particularly focused on one character like most Elseworld stories, but instead looks at the DC Universe as a whole. Set in a future where all of the heroes are old and have taken a step back, the newest generation of heroes and villains fight without much distinction being drawn between good and evil. When a hero named Magog causes a disaster, Superman is dragged out of retirement to reform the Justice League and put the so-called “heroes” in their place. Beautifully illustrated by Alex Ross, this is essential reading for DC fans and comic fans in general.
Superman: True Brit by Kim “Howard” Johnson, John Cleese, John Byrne, Mark Farmer
A ridiculous and hilarious book co-written by John Cleese (Monty Python, Fawlty Towers), Superman: True Brit is as clever as it is dry. Baby Kal-El crash-lands in England, and is takin in by the Clark’s. Taught to hide his powers for fear of sticking out in a crowd, Colin Clark becomes a mild-mannered reporter for a tabloid magazine. Full of gags reminiscent of a Monty Python sketch, this is perfect for fans who want a more humorous take on Superman.
Justice Riders by Chuck Dixon and J.H. Williams III
Steampunk and the Wild West? This book has it all! U.S. Marshall Diana Prince has her mentor killed by Felix Faust, a deadly wizard working for railroad tycoon Maxwell Lord, and goes on a classic western quest for justice. Joined by Wally “Kid Flash” West, Katar “Hawkman” Johnson, Michael “Booster Gold” Carter, and J’onn Jones, Diana makes her way to El Inferno to confront Lord and Faust. A story ripe for expansion, but ending on a high-note, this story is great even if you don’t know anything about DC and just want a fun western to read.
My favorite thing about Elseworld stories is that the possibilities are only limited by the creative teams. There are endless stories that can be told, and the people telling them don’t have to be worried about mucking up continuity. Sure, main universe stuff is fun, but don’t you want to see what it would be like if Superman was raised by the Doom Patrol? Or if Wonder Woman came to the world of man during the dark ages? I’m very excited to see where these new stories take us, and hope DC continues to expand on Elseworlds new and old.
