Does DC do original character OGNs?

[Tzigone]

I know they've done some OGNs. Some of which are out of continuity. And I've also heard about how difficult it is to launch a truly new character in comic books without giving them someone's else hero-identity or tying them to a family. Also heard about difficulty of accessibility in comics. I understand both of those.

So I was wondering, has DC tried launching any new characters via OGNs recently? Not ones meant to be part of the actual DC universe, I mean, but something old-school with a non-shared universe? Or would that be done under another name? I don't really know anything about the business end. I understand it doesn't help with monthlies or existing IP values, just wondered if they did that sort of thing. Seems like it might well suit a different type of buyer.

[the illustrious mr. kenway]

They haven't but maybe they should.

[jb681131]

I know they've done some OGNs. Some of which are out of continuity. And I've also heard about how difficult it is to launch a truly new character in comic books without giving them someone's else hero-identity or tying them to a family. Also heard about difficulty of accessibility in comics. I understand both of those.

So I was wondering, has DC tried launching any new characters via OGNs recently? Not ones meant to be part of the actual DC universe, I mean, but something old-school with a non-shared universe? Or would that be done under another name? I don't really know anything about the business end. I understand it doesn't help with monthlies or existing IP values, just wondered if they did that sort of thing. Seems like it might well suit a different type of buyer.

Well no DC has never really done that.
All their characters either appeared on an anthologie title or on a team title before having it's own title.

The only one I can thing of is Harley Quinn with Mad Love (collected as Batman: Mad Love and other stories). But it's not really a ture first introduction, she was first introduced in the tv animated Batman show.

To also note, DC has done some Backstories of monthlies series to introduce new characters. Such as Batwoman (collected as Batwoman: Elegy) or New52 Shazam! (collected as Shazam! vol.1 tpb).

DC is also doing some more realistic origin stories with their "Earth-one" titles (Batman: Earth-one vol.1-2, Green Lantern: Earth-one, Superman: Earth-one vol.1-3, Teen Titans: Earth-one vol.1-2, Wonder Woman: Earth-one vol.1-2).

[LordMikel]

I would say some of their Vertigo line might fall under that. Not that I read it, but perhaps Cave Carson. They also did their ... Animal print, something like that. Which I think was also some original. I didn't read that either.

[Tzigone]

I would say some of their Vertigo line might fall under that. Not that I read it, but perhaps Cave Carson. They also did their ... Animal print, something like that. Which I think was also some original. I didn't read that either.

Were any of those OGNs instead of periodicals? I was specifically wondering if they ever did both the format and original characters, especially with non-shared universes, all in one. Not existing characters in OGNs or new characters in periodicals.

[dancj]

If you go back far enough, they've done loads.

Under other imprints:
A History of Vilence
Stuck Rubber Baby
Why I Hate Saturn
A Sickness in the Family
Barnum
Bigg Time
The Bronx Kill
Cairo
Can't Get No
Luna Park
The whole Vertigo Crime line
The whole Minx line

etc...

Under DC it's trickier, but:
A Fax from Sarajevo
Starjammers
Metalzoic

Those last two were part of a regular line of OGNs (copying Marvel's line at the same time I think). I'm sure a lot of those were original characters.