Events of the DC Universe lost year

The Lost Year is the unofficial term given to a period of time in the fictional DC Universe. In 2006, DC Comics published the "Infinite Crisis" crossover, at the end of which reality is altered. Concurrently with the publication of "Infinite Crisis", DC Comics' superhero comic book line featured "One Year Later" stories, which advanced the series' narratives one year in time. Readers found the series' protagonists for the most part in vastly different circumstances, changed by the events depicted in "Infinite Crisis" and the passage of a year's time.

Following the publication of the limited series "Infinite Crisis", DC released "52", a weekly series set during the lost year. A first in comics, the series' narrative progresses in real time, in that each issue depicts events set in a successive week of the year. In addition to "52" and flashback sequences in the "One Year Later" stories, the storylines in "Shadowpact", "The Battle For Blüdhaven", and "" begin during the lost year. A four part chronicling of World War III will takes place during week 50 of "52".

Character changes

*Bart Allen is a scab worker at a Keystone City auto plant. Secretly, he is still bonded to the Speed Force. ("Flash: The Fastest Man Alive" #1-2)
*Animal Man spends time on an alien planet along with Starfire and Adam Strange ("52" #5)
*Black Adam opens a Kandaq Embassy in New York City and works with other nations to create and enforce the Freedom of Power Treaty. ("52" #1, #6)
*Sasha Bordeaux becomes Black Queen of Checkmate and Mister Terrific (Michael Holt)'s lover.
*Brick uses his influence and powers to help the people living behind the wall in Star City.
*Bumblebee returns from space, shrinks in size, gains the ability to create electrical blasts and joins the Doom Patrol. ("Teen Titans" (vol. 3) #36, "52" #4)
*Jesse Chambers returns to the life of a superhero, using her mother's superhero name, Liberty Belle. ("Justice Society of America" (vol. 3) #1)
*Cheetah uses magic to hide her feral appearance and controls a group of wild cheetahs.
*Harvey Dent is trained and put in charge of defending Gotham City by Batman until his return.
*Ralph Dibny investigates a resurrection cult supposedly based on Kryptonian theology, which defaces his dead wife Sue Dibny's grave stone ("52" #1) and comes into possession of the Helm of Nabu, which is actually Felix Faust posing as the Helm. ("52" #18)
*Grace and Thunder of the Outsiders begin a sexual relationship. ("Outsiders" #41)
*Herald returns from space fused with part of Red Tornado, loses his lungs and vocal cords, changes his name to Vox, and joins the Doom Patrol. ("Teen Titans" (vol. 3) #36, "52" #4-5)
*John Henry Irons, involuntarily injected by Lex Luthor, gains stainless steel skin and subsequently loses it. ("52" #4)
*Natasha Irons voluntarily becomes a subject in Lex Luthor's metagene therapy.
*Hal Jordan repeatedly ignores the Freedom of Power Treaty, causing multiple nations to consider him a criminal. ("Green Lantern" (vol. 4) #10)
*Clark Kent regains his journalistic reputation and focuses on his relationship with Lois Lane.
*Kid Devil's meta-gene is tampered with by Neron, giving him a demon-like appearance with the deal that if Kid Devil's trust with Blue Devil was broken before his 20th birthday, he would become Neron's protogé in hell. ("Teen Titans" (vol. 3) #42)
*Selina Kyle becomes pregnant and retires as Catwoman. ("Catwoman" (vol. 2) #53}
*Lex Luthor retakes his seat as CEO of LexCorp and offers metagene therapy, granting superhuman powers to normal people.
*Mister Terrific (Michael Holt) becomes White Bishop of Checkmate and Sasha Bordeaux's lover.
*Monolith and his friends Alice Cohen and Tilt provide relief and protection for the refugees of Blüdhaven.
*Jimmy Olsen wins a Pulitzer for photo-journalism.
*Diana Prince becomes a secret agent after stepping down from the role of Wonder Woman. ("Wonder Woman" (vol. 3) #1)
*Cassie Sandsmark becomes affiliated with a Kryptonian resurrection cult. ("52" #1)
*Lorraine Reilly (Firehawk) takes her father's seat on the United States Senate and is merged with Jason Rusch as Firestorm; the two cannot be separated by more than a mile or an explosion occurs.
*Alan Scott loses his eyes and gains one of someone else's during a scrambled Zeta Beam that returns him to Earth. He later becomes the White King of Checkmate.
*Shift, stricken with guilt after having killed many people, is re-absorbed into Metamorpho. ("Outsiders" #40)
*Starfire spends time on an alien planet with Animal Man and Adam Strange.
*Adam Strange loses his eyes and spends time on an alien planet with Animal Man and Starfire. ("52" #5)
*Donna Troy becomes Wonder Woman after Diana disappears.
*The Riddler becomes a police informant, apparently cured of his OCD and other compulsions.

Debuts

*A new JLA debuts and lasts for a week. Members are Firestorm, Firehawk, Super-Chief, Bulleteer and Ambush Bug.
*Crispus Allen observes his family, his murderer, and another killer for a year before becoming the new host of the Spectre.
*A new Batwoman appears in Gotham, the alter-ego of socialite Kate Kane.
*A new Firebrand appears in the refugee camps outside the ruined Blüdhaven.
*The Great Ten, a Chinese super team, debuts.
*Isis appears in Kahndaq after Black Adam convinces Captain Marvel to grant former slave Adrianna Tomaz the power of Shazam.
*Osiris, Isis' brother is born when Black Adam grants some of his own power to the crippled Amon Tomaz. ("52" #23)
*Holly Robinson trains with Selina Kyle and Wildcat to become the new Catwoman. ("Catwoman" (vol. 2) #53)
*A new Starman appears in Opal City. ("Justice Society of America" (vol. 3) #1)
*The Science Police forms as a branch of the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit. ("Superman" #654)
*Supernova debuts.
*The Teen Titans recruit several new members:
**Bombshell
**Little Barda
**Más y Menos
**Miss Martian
**Molecule
**Offspring
**Osiris
**Power Boy
**Riddler's Daughter
**Talon
**Young Frankenstein
**Zatara
*The Four Horsemen debut on Oolong Island. ("52" #38)
*Chang Tzu appears on Oolong Island, as the head of Intergangs Research and Development operations. ("52" #25)
*Renee Montoya becomes the new Question. ("52" #48)

Deaths

*Intergang member Noose is killed by Black Adam. ("52" #3)
*Terra-Man is ripped in two by Black Adam before assembled press in front of the Kahndaq Embassy in New York City. ("52" #3)
*Devilance is gutted and beheaded by Lobo. ("52" #17)
*Tim Trench is killed by Felix Faust, who turns into water after he tries to wear the Helmet of Nabu (in reality Faust) without going through the proper trials first. ("52" #18)
*Eliza Harmon (aka Trajectory), a member of the Luthor-sponsored new "Infinity Inc." team, dies in a fight with Blockbuster III. ("52" #21)
*A dozen of the heroes created by Lex Luthor's Everyman Project, including E.S. Pete, Crimson Ghost, Gladiator Giant, Immortal-Bald-Man-in-Armor, Pole Dancer, and Jack of All Trades, are slaughtered by Skeets. ("52" #24)
*Super-Chief is killed by Skeets. ("52" #24)
*Mirage and Kite-Man are killed by Bruno "Ugly" Mannheim. ("52" #25)
*Waverider, the Time Commander and Clock Queen are all killed by Skeets. ("52" #27)
*Persuader is killed by Osiris. ("52" #34)
*An unspecified amount of heroes created by Lex Luthor's Everyman Project are killed due to the deactivation of their powers by Lex at the first stroke of the new year, including Leviathan. ("52" #35)
*Green Lantern Ekron is killed by a Sun-Eater. ("52" #36)
*The Question dies from cancer just outside of Nanda Parbat ("52" #38)
*Skyman is killed by Hannibal Bates (Everyman). ("52" #39)
*Elongated Man is killed by Neron. ("52" #42)
*Osiris is killed and eaten by Sobek. ("52" #43)
*Isis is killed by Zorrm. ("52" #44)
*Sobek, Zorrm, and Roggra are killed by Black Adam. ("52" # 44)
*Every man, woman and child in the middle eastern country of Bialya are slaughtered by a rampaging Black Adam. ("52" #45)
*Azraeuz, the final Horseman, is killed by Black Adam. ("52" #45)
*Teen Titans Terra and Young Frankenstein are killed by Black Adam. ("World War III" #3)

Disappearances

*Numerous mad scientists, including Dr. Sivana are abducted. Among the abducted are Will Magnus (creator of the Metal Men), Thomas Oscar "T.O." Morrow (creator of the android Red Tornado), Dr. Tyme (Who lost 52 seconds), Dr. Death, Dr. Cyclops, Rigoro Mortis, Baron Bug, Veronica Cale, Komrade Krabb, and Ira "I.Q." Quimby.

Characters who spend much or all of the year missing or out of action

*Aquaman (Orin) ("Aquaman" #40) later reappears in 52 #39
*Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Tim Drake travel the world for the majority of the year, re-training and re-building trust. ("Infinite Crisis" #7) Nightwing returns early, and Batman and Robin return in Week Fifty-One.
*Blue Beetle disappears for an entire year, which to him covers only a couple of minutes. ("Blue Beetle" (vol. 2) #7)
*Cassandra Cain gives up the identity of Batgirl, is brainwashed and drugged by Deathstroke, and takes control of the League of Assassins.
*David Cain is imprisoned in Gotham's Blackgate Prison.
*Captain Atom is kept comatose and imprisoned in Blüdhaven by agents of S.H.A.D.E. who administer doses of his radiation to human subjects.
*Cyborg returns from space inoperable. He spends the year de-activated, but undergoing repairs. ("Teen Titans" (vol. 3) #34)
*Oliver Queen survives nearly fatal wounds inflicted by Merlyn; trains for life as a combatant under numerous masters, including martial arts, swordsmanship, and technology; and is elected mayor of Star City. Additionally, he becomes a billionaire, following the "Gun Run Stock Market Crash", which he causes. ("Green Arrow" (vol. 2) #60, 63 and 66)
*Hawkman (Carter Hall)
*Hal Jordan spends time as a POW in Chechnya. ("Green Lantern" (vol. 4) #14)
*Vandal Savage travels into space, losing his immortality and experiencing the worst year of his life. ("JSA: Classified" #10)
*Shadowpact members Blue Devil, Detective Chimp, Enchantress, Nightmaster, Nightshade and Ragman, are in Riverrock, Wyoming, trapped inside a shield of solid blood that a group of magical supervillains called the Pentacle constructs over the town, which they destroy by sacrificing a year of their lives as well as everyone else in Riverrock. ("Shadowpact" #1, "Shadowpact" #3)
*The Spectre waits for the recently departed Crispus Allen to agree to join with him.
*Clark Kent is de-powered and earns a Pulitzer for his coverage of Intergang. ("Infinite Crisis" #7)
*Uncle Sam spends the year regenerating in the Mississippi River. ("Brave New World")
*Wonder Woman (Diana of Themyscira) ("Infinite Crisis" #7)

Organizational changes

*The Atomic Knights run an underground railroad to smuggle citizens out of Blüdhaven.
*Checkmate is repurposed under the United Nations as an intelligence/intervention force designed to maintain a balance between Earth's humans and metahumans. See "Checkmate Personnel Changes" for more details on the changing face of Checkmate.
*The Doom Patrol's roster grows with the addition of Mento, Beast Boy, Vox and Bumblebee. The team is headquartered in Dayton Manor, which is furnished with souvenirs from every incarnation of the team. Niles Caulder manipulates the team into following and psychologically depending on him.
*Metropolis detective Maggie Sawyer has been sidelined and put off duty.
*Gotham City Police Department sees James Gordon returning to the role of Gotham City Police Commissioner. Former detective Harvey Bullock is reinstated on the force with the understanding that he is not allowed another mistake this time.
*The JSA informally disbands, rarely meeting.
*The Outsiders fake their own deaths and work underground.
*The Metropolis Special Crimes Unit creates the Science Police branch. ("Superman" #654)
*The Suicide Squad is reformed by Amanda Waller to engage the Black Marvel Family in combat. This incarnation consists of Atom Smasher, Captain Boomerang, Count Vertigo, Electrocutioner, Persuader and Plastique. ("52" #33)

Checkmate personnel

*Alan Scott becomes the White King. Michael Holt becomes Scott's Bishop, and Thomas Jagger his Knight.
*Dr. Amanda Waller becomes the White Queen. King Faraday becomes her Bishop, and Count Vertigo her Knight.
*Sasha Bordeaux becomes the Black Queen. Cmdr. Jessica Midnight becomes her Bishop, and Jonah McCarthy her Knight.
*Col. Taleb Beni Khalid becomes the Black King. Shen Li Po becomes his Bishop, and Fire his Knight.

Teen Titans members

The following characters join the Teen Titans: ["Teen Titans" #38]
*Aquagirl
*Argent
*Bombshell
*Captain Marvel, Jr.
*Flamebird
*Hawk and Dove
*Hot Spot
*Joker’s Daughter
*Kid Devil
*Little Barda
*Mas y Menos
*Mirage
*Miss Martian
*Molecule
*Offspring
*Osiris
*Power Boy
*Ravager
*Red Star
*Red Talon
*Riddler's Daughter
*Young Frankenstein
*Zatara

Changes in the features of the DC Universe

*The Freedom of Power Treaty is created to address the imbalance in nationality of metahumans. It places limits on heroes' activities outside their nation of origin.
*Superboy memorials are erected in Metropolis next to Superman's memorial, and San Francisco, in front of Titans Tower. The Metropolis memorial appears to be erected within only a few days after Superboy's death, according to its appearance in "52" #1.
*A resurrection cult supposedly based on Kryptonian theology appears, led by a man named Devem. Its influence spreads among youngsters. The cult seeks to resurrect Superboy but attempts to restore Sue Dibny as a test of the cult's methods.
*In what is known as the "Gun Run Stock Market Crash", thousands of investors buy stock in companies with huge defense contracts and then suddenly sell everything off, scaring the market. Three gigantic companies that make weapons crash. There are theories that, in an act of economic terrorism, someone took the companies down and made a lot of money from it. In "Green Arrow" v2, #63, Green Arrow implies that he is responsible for the Crash and is now a billionaire because of it.
*Many of Blüdhaven's residents live in refugee camps outside the mostly empty city's walls. Protests and riots frequently occur, and American soldiers shoot rioters. Radiation fallout from the city gives some people superpowers. S.H.A.D.E., under the command of Father Time, takes control of the city to study the effects of the radiation produced by an imprisoned Captain Atom.
*World War III takes place around the time of week 50 of "52".

References