View source for Generations (DC Comics)

{{Distinguish|Superman & Batman: Generations}}
{{Infobox comic book title
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| title               = Generations
| image               = Generations Shattered cover.jpg
| imagesize           = <!-- default 250 -->
| alt                 = 
| caption             = ''Generations: Shattered'' cover. Art by [[Ivan Reis]] and Joe Prado.
| schedule            = 
| limited             = 
| Superhero           = Y
| publisher           = [[DC Comics]]
| startmo             = September
| startyr             = 2020
| endmo               =February 
| endyr               =2021 
| issues              = 
| main_char_team      = {{Plainlist|
* [[Batman]]
* [[Sinestro]]
* [[Kamandi]]
* [[Booster Gold]]
* [[Starfire (Teen Titans)|Starfire]]
* [[Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)|Doctor Light]]
* [[Steel (John Henry Irons)|Steel]]
* [[Superboy (Kal-El)|Superboy]]
* [[DC Universe]]
}}
| issn                =
| writers             = {{plainlist|
* Dan Jurgens
* [[Andy Schmidt]]
* [[Robert Venditti]]
}}
| artists             = 
| pencillers          = Multiple
| inkers              = 
| letterers           = 
| colorists           = Hi-Fi
| editors             = 
| creative_team_month = 
| creative_team_year  = 
| creators            = 
| TPB                 = 
| ISBN                = 
| subcat              = 
| altcat              = 
}}

'''''Generations''''' is an event published by [[DC Comics]]. The event was originally announced as a limited comic book series that would have united all eras in the history of the [[DC Universe]], and was scheduled to begin on [[Free Comic Book Day]] on May 2, 2020. However, following the career change of publisher [[Dan DiDio]] and the effects of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] on the comics industry, the series was delayed and intended plans changed. The event then gained a new form with the announcement of two one-shots titled ''Generations: Shattered'' and ''Generations: Forged''.<ref name="Shattered" /><ref name=":2" /> The event received generally positive reviews with critics praising the unique idea but criticized the pacing.

==Publication history==
===Initial plan===
''Generations'' was originally planned as the event that would unite all eras in the history of the [[DC Universe]],<ref name="The Beat" /><ref name="THR" /> starting with ''Generation Zero'', which was scheduled to release during [[Free Comic Book Day]] on May 2, 2020.<ref name="Meaww" /> However, following the exit of publisher [[Dan DiDio]] from DC Entertainment in February 2020,<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Rich Johnston]]|date=February 21, 2020|title=Dan DiDio No Longer Publisher of DC Comics, As Of Today|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2020/02/21/scoop-dan-didio-no-longer-publisher-of-dc-comics/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222044653/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2020/02/21/scoop-dan-didio-no-longer-publisher-of-dc-comics/|archive-date=February 22, 2020|access-date=February 21, 2020|website=[[Bleeding Cool]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Ryan Faughnder|date=February 21, 2020|title=DC Entertainment shakeup continues with the exit of co-publisher Dan DiDio|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-02-21/dc-comics-co-publisher-dan-didio-exits|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222044740/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-02-21/dc-comics-co-publisher-dan-didio-exits|archive-date=February 22, 2020|access-date=February 21, 2020|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> and effects of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] on the comics industry, the series was delayed. Writer [[Scott Snyder]] stated the plans for ''Generations'' had become more "fluid", and in June 2020, ''Generation Zero'' was not part of DC's plans for the revised Free Comic Book Day.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/dcs-revised-free-comic-book-day-plans-no-longer-includes-generation-zero-gods-among-us/|title=DC's revised Free Comic Book Day plans no longer includes Generation Zero: Gods Among Us|last=Arrant|first=Chris|magazine=Games Radar|date=June 19, 2020|access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref> A story featured in ''Wonder Woman'' #750 was considered a prelude to the event in its original form.<ref name="Shattered" />

===Revised plan===
The story "Generations: Fractured" that appeared in ''Detective Comics'' #1027 is considered the first chapter in the event's new form.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/missing-dc-generations-event-pops-up-in-detective-comics-1027-preview/|title=Missing DC Generations event pops up in Detective Comics #1027 preview|last=Arrant|first=Chris|work=[[Newsarama]]|date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 11, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Shattered" /> In September 2020, DC announced the one-shot ''Generations: Shattered'' for release in January 2021.<ref name="Shattered">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-generations-event-shattered-original-batman/|title=DC Generations event returns reimagined with the homecoming of "the original" 1939 Batman|last=Arrant|first=Chris|work=[[Newsarama]]|date=September 9, 2020|access-date=September 9, 2020}}</ref> As well, DC Comics publisher and chief creative officer [[Jim Lee]] stated that the 5G initiative, which would have occurred at the end of the original plan for ''Generations'', was no longer happening. He said: "We had a lot of great ideas that we were floating around. And rather than dumping it all in one month and renumbering the line and going for that really short term spike in sales, we just naturally gravitated to the story ideas and concepts we love and building them into the mythology, the ongoing mythology, in a very organic way".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-shoots-down-5g-or-reboot-speculation-not-going-to-happen/|title=DC shoots down '5G' or reboot speculation - "not going to happen"|last=Arrant|first=Chris|work=[[Newsarama]]|date=September 12, 2020|access-date=September 13, 2020}}</ref> Writer/artist [[Dan Jurgens]] added the revised version of the event came about through "a very organic process with a natural evolution of ideas".<ref name="JurgensNewsaramaOct2020" />

''Generations: Shattered'' was originally teased as ''Generations: Future State'' in the ''Detective Comics'' #1027 story,<ref name="FutureStateNoConnection" /> suggesting a connection to the planned event "[[Future State]]", which was released in January and February 2021.<ref>{{cite web|last=Arrant|first=Chris|title=DC Future State teased for 2021, part of Generations event|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-future-state-teased-for-2021-part-of-generations-event/|access-date=October 15, 2020|work=[[Newsarama]]|date=18 September 2020 }}</ref> While this was originally the plan, ''Generations'' no longer connects to "Future State", with Jurgens stating: "Originally, we were going to touch on what's coming with Future State. We're detouring from that a bit to focus more on our own story". Batman group editor Ben Abernathy also confirmed ''Generations'' was now its own story.<ref name="FutureStateNoConnection">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-future-state-and-generations-events-no-longer-connected/|title=DC Future State and Generations events no longer connected|last=Arrant|first=Chris|work=[[Newsarama]]|date=November 6, 2020|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref> ''Generations'' also picks up from the events seen at the end of ''[[Dark Nights: Death Metal]]''. The characters featured in the event were selected "to reflect different periods of DC publishing history" and because they "made for a very interesting mix of personalities, backgrounds, powers, and capabilities". The [[Batman]] in the event is from 1939, to represent the [[Golden Age of Comic Books]]; [[Sinestro]] represents the [[Silver Age of Comic Books]]; [[Kamandi]] is a representation of DC Comics' 1970s publishing and a link to the Great Disaster future; [[Booster Gold]], [[Starfire (Teen Titans)|Starfire]], and [[Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)|Doctor Light]] represent the 1980s; and [[Steel (John Henry Irons)|Steel]] represents the 1990s.<ref name="JurgensNewsaramaOct2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/talking-generations-shattered-dc-special-with-writer-dan-jurgens/|title=Talking Generations: Shattered DC special with writer Dan Jurgens|last=Doran|first=Michael|work=[[Newsarama]]|date=October 13, 2020|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref>

==Plot==
===Original storyline===
* ''[[Wonder Woman]]'' #750
* ''[[Flash (comics)|The Flash]]'' #750
* ''Flash Forward'' [[Trade paperback (comics)|TPB]]

During the [[1939 New York World's Fair]], [[Wonder Woman]] saves [[President of the United States|President]] [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] from terrorists which causes inspiration around everyone in the country including people like [[Alan Scott]].<ref>{{cite comic|writer=|artist=|title=Wonder Woman|issue=750|date=2020|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref>

Following his incarceration for his role in the massacre on Sanctuary,{{refn|name=Heroes in Crisis|group=N|As depicted in ''[[Heroes in Crisis]]''.}} [[Wally West]] is forcibly recruited by Tempus Fuginaut to restore the balance between the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)|Light and Dark Multiverses]]. When Wally finds [[Metron (comics)|Metron]]'s Mobius Chair, he also finds his children, [[Turtle (comics)|Jai]] and [[Kid Flash (Iris West)|Iris]], being trapped. Before sitting on the chair, he makes a deal with Tempus to save his children and return them to his wife [[Linda Park (comics)|Linda Park]]. Tempus agrees and Linda, Jai and Iris are reunited. Meanwhile, it is revealed that the Mobius Chair was upgraded with a big portion of [[Doctor Manhattan]]'s powers, which causes Wally to become a godlike persona of himself.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Scott Lobdell|artist=Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund|title=Flash Forward|date=2019-2020|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref>

With Manhattan's powers, Wally begins investigating reality and finds out time and space are out of synchronicity, in spite of Manhattan restoring the universe.{{refn|name=Doomsday Clock|group=N|As depicted in ''[[Doomsday Clock (comics)|Doomsday Clock]]''.}} During a brief conversation with Tempus, Wally decides to complete the restoration of the timeline by mending all realities in one. But as he attempts to do that, Wally is interrupted by the presence of [[The Batman Who Laughs]] who wants to obtain those new powers. Wally has no choice but to find the Batman Who Laughs first.{{refn|name=Dark Nights: Death Metal|group=N|As depicted in ''[[Dark Nights: Death Metal]]''.}}<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Josh Williamson|title=The Flash|volume=5|issue=750|date=May 2020|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic|writer=|title=Flash Forward|volume=TPB|issue=|date=July 2020|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref>

===Revised storyline===
* ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #1027''<ref name=":0" />''
* ''Generations: Shattered''<ref name="Shattered" />
* ''Generations: Forged''<ref name=":2" />

In [[Gotham City]], [[Batman]] is searching for a gang of museum vandals led by [[Calendar Man]]. As a mysterious flash of light appears to break reality, Batman is transported back to 1939 and transformed into his [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] [[Batman (Earth-Two)|counterpart]] when he meets [[Kamandi]], who was sent by [[Booster Gold]] to search for him.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{cite comic|writer=|title=Batman: Detective Comcis|volume=|issue=1027|date=September 2020|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref>

In a distant future, a phenomenon causes reality to be erased, and Kamandi in being hunted by [[Man-Bat]]s, blaming him for the event, until he is rescued by an elder Booster Gold, who is shot by the Man-Bats. Booster delivers Kamandi his gauntlet containing Skeets, causing Kamandi to travel through time, recruiting [[Batman]] (from the 1940s),<ref name=":1" /> Pre-[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]] versions [[Sinestro]], [[Starfire (Teen Titans)|Starfire]], [[Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)|Doctor Light]], [[Steel (John Henry Irons)|Steel]], and [[Superboy (Kal-El)|Superboy]] (recruited by mistake instead of [[Brainiac 5]]) and a younger Booster Gold. Together they face the [[Linear Men]], who were brainwashed by [[List of minor DC Comics characters#Dominus|Dominus]], the mastermind behind the phenomenon. Once again, the timeline is disrupted and the heroes end up marooned across several points of history.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=|title=Generations: Shattered|volume=|issue=|date=January 2021|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref>

While in a different dimension, Dominius changes his own history in where he neglected his loved ones before, and dispatches others taken from various timelines to find and deal with the scattered heroes. Starfire, Dr. Light, and Kamandi are on pre-destruction [[Krypton (comics)|Krypton]]
where they are attacked by [[General Zod]]. Kamandi flees while Starfire and Dr. Light are captured, but the pair are then rescued by [[Jor-El]]. Superboy and Steel are on prehistoric Thanagar where the two of them bond and talk about the future before they are attacked by [[Nemesis Kid]] and [[Eradicator (character)|Eradicator]]. In the future, Sinestro is fighting against [[Ultra-Humanite]] and Booster Gold contends with [[Major Force]]. Dr. Light realizes her team is marooned in several points of history, and reassures Jor-El and [[Lara (character)|his wife]] that their [[Superman|son]] will be a great hero. Kamandi is attacked by [[OMAC (Buddy Blank)]], [[Artemis of Bana-Mighdall|Artemis]], and [[Knockout (DC Comics)|Knockout]] when Starfire saves him and gives him a lecture on not abandoning teammates. Dr. Light absorbs Krypton's red sun to manipulate the time stream and orders everyone to go to the Vanishing Point. Superboy and Steel barely defeat Eradicator and Nemesis Boy and make it to the Vanishing Point, while young Booster Gold saves Batman and they meet up with Sinestro and his group.

The Heroes meet up at the Vanishing Point and realize that Dominius created an alternate timeline where he can still be with his family. Batman confronts Dominius and tries to reason with him but his children attack Batman. Batman is saved by his allies and they all weaken Dominius to the point where his family disappears. Enraged, Dominius nearly kills the heroes, but Steel realizes that if the heroes attack Dominus' chestplate he will be defeated. The heroes debate on killing him, but Steel realizes that if they destroy Dominius' source of power (a clock) then Dominius will live but he will be powerless. The heroes destroy the clock, allowing time to reset back to normal and all the heroes return to their respective timelines. When Matt Ryder takes Batman to his timeline, he reveals that the timeline is more like a Linearverse where characters age far more slowly which allows their legacy to live on forever.

==Titles involved==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" 
! Title / Issue
! Story
! Writer(s)
! Artist(s)
! Colorist(s)
! Release date
!Critic rating
!Critic reviews
!Ref.
|-
! colspan="9" |Original Storyline
|-
| ''[[Wonder Woman]]'' #750
| "A Brave New World"
| [[Scott Snyder]]
| [[Bryan Hitch]]
| Mike Spicer
| January 22, 2020
|8.8/10
|19
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wonder Woman #750 Reviews|url=https://comicbookroundup.com:443/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/wonder-woman-(2016)/750|access-date=2021-01-08|website=ComicBookRoundup.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Flash (comics)|The Flash]]'' #750
| rowspan="2" | "Generation Zero"
| rowspan="2" | [[Scott Lobdell]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Brett Booth]]
| rowspan="2" | Luis Guerrero
| March 4, 2020
|8.3/10
|12
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flash #750 Reviews|url=https://comicbookroundup.com:443/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/flash-(2016)/750|access-date=2021-01-08|website=ComicBookRoundup.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| ''Flash Forward'' [[Trade paperback (comics)|TPB]]
| July 8, 2020
|7.0/10
|67
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flash Forward Collected Reviews|url=https://comicbookroundup.com:443/comic-books/trades/reviews/dc-comics/flash-forward-(2019)/-collected|access-date=2021-01-08|website=ComicBookRoundup.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="9" |Revised Storyline
|-
| ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #1027<ref name=":0" />
| "Generations: Fractured"
| [[Dan Jurgens]]
| Dan Jurgens<br />[[Kevin Nowlan]]
| rowspan="3" | Hi-Fi
| September 15, 2020
|8.7/10
|19
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Detective Comics #1027 Reviews|url=https://comicbookroundup.com:443/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/detective-comics-(2016)/1027|access-date=2021-01-08|website=ComicBookRoundup.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="2" | ''Generations: Shattered''<ref name="Shattered" />
| rowspan="2" | Dan Jurgens<br />[[Andy Schmidt]]<br />[[Robert Venditti]]
| Oclair Albert<br />Doug Braithwaite<br />Bernard Chang<br />Scott Hanna<br />Klaus Janson<br />Dan Jurgens<br />Aaron Lopresti<br />Emanuela Lupacchino<br />Danny Miki<br />Rags Morales<br />Kevin Nowlan<br />Fernando Pasarin<br />Yanick Paquette<br />Paul Pelletier<br />Mike Perkins<br />Joe Prado<br />[[Ivan Reis]]<br />John Romita Jr.<br />Matt Ryan<br />Wade von Grawbadger
| January 5, 2021
|8.0/10
|15
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Generations Shattered (2021) Reviews|url=https://comicbookroundup.com:443/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/generations-shattered-(2021)|access-date=2021-01-08|website=ComicBookRoundup.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="2" | ''Generations: Forged''<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-february-2021-solicitations-and-covers-revealed/|title=DC February 2021 solicitations and covers revealed|author=<!--Staff-->|work=[[Newsarama]]|date=November 14, 2020|access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref>
| Bernard Chang<br />Andrew Currie<br />Colleen Doran<br />Bryan Hitch<br />Dan Jurgens<br />Kevin Nowlan<br />Paul Pelletier<br />Mike Perkins<br />Joe Prado<br />Norm Rapmund<br />Marco Santucci
| February 23, 2021
|7.2/10
|12
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Generations: Forged #1 Reviews|url=https://comicbookroundup.com:443/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/generations-(2021)/forged-1|access-date=2021-02-23|website=ComicBookRoundup.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
|}

== Reception ==
The overall series received mixed to positive reviews. According to Comic Book Roundup, the series received a score of 7.5 out of 10 based on 31 reviews.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Generations (2021) Reviews|url=https://comicbookroundup.com:443/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/generations-(2021)|access-date=2021-02-26|website=ComicBookRoundup.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Collected edition==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Title
!Material collected
!Published date
!ISBN
|-
|''Generations''
|''Generations Shattered'' #1, ''Generations Forged'' #1, and material from ''Detective Comics'' #1027.
|June 2021
|{{ISBNT|978-1779510099}}
|}

==References==

===Notes===
{{reflist|group=N}}

===Footnotes===
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="Meaww">{{cite web |last1=Babu |first1=Armaan |title=DC's 'Generations' explains the new DC timeline and a Doctor Manhattan-ed Wally West kickstarts it all |url=https://meaww.com/dc-comics-generations-wally-west-doctor-manhattan-free-comic-book-day-crisis |website=Meaww |date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=February 14, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

<!-- <ref name="Newsarama-1">{{cite web |last1=Marston |first1=Geroge |title=DC’s FCBD Release GENERATION ZERO Links WALLY WEST and DR. MANHATTAN - & New Timeline |url=https://www.newsarama.com/48911-dc-s-fcbd-release-generation-zero-links-wally-west-and-doctor-manhattan-and-new-timeline.html |website=[[Newsarama]] |date=February 5, 2020 |access-date=February 14, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

<ref name="Newsarama-2">{{cite web |last1=Marston |first1=Geroge |title='The Charge Toward DC's Future' Begins in GENERATION ONE |url=https://www.newsarama.com/49033-generation-one-age-of-mysteries-dc.html |website=[[Newsarama]] |date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=February 14, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> -->

<ref name="The Beat">{{cite news |last1=Quaintance |first1=Zack |title=DC's GENERATION ZERO to tease publisher's future on FCBD |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/dcs-generation-zero-to-tease-publishers-future-on-fcbd/ |website=The Beat |date=February 5, 2020 |access-date=February 14, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

<ref name="THR">{{cite web |last1=McMillan |first1=Graeme |title=DC to Reveal Hidden History With 'Generation' Comics |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-reveal-hidden-history-generation-comics-1279347 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=February 14, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
* [https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2020/02/05/dc-reveals-epic-game-changing-plans-for-free-comic-book-day-2020 DC Comics' official announcement]

{{DC events}}
{{DC Multiverse}}
{{Watchmen}}

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