Hey all. So, Rebirth! DC, in the Rebirth special effectively retconned to New 52 into simply being an extension of the Pre-Flashpoint DC Universe. I get that there is some disagreement among people here about the truth of that statement, but we can talk about that in the "Rebirth Universe" thread. However, what people can't deny that is DC is DEFINITELY re-establishing a lot of Pre-Flashpoint stuff as canon in the current DCU and undoing a lot of the changes that were wrought under the New 52. So...I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread that catalogued the stuff from Pre-Flashpoint that was being made (or remade) canon. I think it would be useful to get a handle on what exactly is happening with the DC Universe going forward from Rebirth and to get a handle on who the characters of the DCU are.
So, I'm encouraging people here to post on this thread with examples they notice in the books they're reading of things that they see that either references a story arc or development or elements from Pre-Flashpoint or implies that such a story arc development or element has now been recanonized.
That is the mission of this thread: to keep tabs on the stuff they're bringing back
I'll start off with the things I have noticed:
- Big One: Well, Pre-Flashpoint Superman is back with 100% of his memories from before Flashpoint intact. So, pretty much both Superman books (Superman and Action) are just 100% continuation of Pre-Flashpoint.
- Another Big One: Wally is back, with memories of his Pre-Flashpoint life (his marriage to Linda. his kids, his time as the Flash) intact. He is effectively established as being Pre-Flashpoint because, in the solicits, Titans #7 says that Wally and Superman will "recognize" each other. So, if Superman is 100% Pre-Flashpoint Superman, then Wally is then from Pre-Flashpoint himself.
In Deathstroke:- Rose is now established as having been trained by Nightwing again, as she has referenced this. This was something that originally happened during Devin Grayson's run on Nightwing
- In Deathstroke #5, Damian brings up how Grant Wilson (Slade's oldest son) ran off and joined H.I.V.E. as the first Ravager and then died. This seemingly tracks with his first appearance in New Teen Titans #2 from 1980 and goes directly against the New 52 (which showed him as alive)
- The Creeper is returning as his Pre-Flashpoint self
- Pat Trayce, the third vigilante and Slade's former lover, makes an appearance in a flashback in Deathstroke #6
In Batman:- Selina now remembers that Batman is Bruce Wayne again, implying that Hush (the story arc where Bruce tells Selina his secret) is now back in continuity. Again, this goes against the New 52, which apparently erased her knowledge of Batman's secret identity.
In All-Star Batman:- The Great White remarks to KG Beast that everybody believed that he was dead before they contacted him to track down Batman, suggesting that "Face to Face," the story arc that kicked off Batman's return to active duty after Infinite Crisis is back in continuity
- Cheshire appears in issue #2 as her Pre-Flashpoint self
In Green Lanterns:- Issue #9 shows Hal Jordan in a flashback rescuing the Flaming Spear, in what essentially is a scene ripped directly from Showcase #22 (1959). The dialogue is even more or less the same. It turns out that Frank Laminski (the "bad guy") was actually the pilot of the Flaming Spear.
- That same issue also makes reference to Jeremiah Clutcher when recounting John's first appearance. In 1971's "Beware My Power" (aka John Stewart's debut), Jeremiah Clutcher was the racist Senator who planned a shooting to take place at his own rally and John had to save a cop from the gunman's bullet. Green Lanterns #9 shows John saving that same cop and shows him looking exactly the same as he did in that story.
- Again, in that same issue, we see 90s-style Kyle fighting Mongul.
In Nightwing:- Dick references that he got his Nightwing identity from Superman: "Big Blue told me about these legendary heroes from his home planet, Nightwing and Flamebird." I believe that goes against what was established in the New 52. I think "Nightwings" may have been established as some sort of Kryptonian creature in New 52. They've reverted back, apparently.
In Doom Patrol:- The current Doom Patrol volume picks up from Morrison's run, and disregards the New 52 versions of the Doom Patrol that were introduced (including young Niles Caulder)
- In issue #3, Flex Mentallo makes explicit reference to the Men from N.O.W.H.E.R.E. and the counterfeit version that tried to kill Danny the Street and the battle with the Doom Patrol that ensued.
- Also in Issue #3, Larry Trainor (aka Negative Man) makes explicit reference to him, Rita Farr, Cliff, and the Chief all dying on Oolong Island (the classic death of the Doom Patrol story) and also recounts Crazy Jane.
- Here's the link to the preview for issue #3 for those interested: http://comicvine.gamespot.com/articl...3/1100-156174/
In Detective Comics:- During Night of the Monster Men, Dick says that he was Robin "as a kid." New 52 changed his origin so that he became Robin in his late teens (around 17). This would appear to be a signal of them retconning it back to the age he was previous to Flashpoint.
In Wonder Woman:- Barbara Ann Minerva (aka Cheetah) basically gets her old origin back. Remember when she popped up in the New 52 Justice League, Johns cast her as a con woman who had had multiple different identities? Now, she's just plain old Barbara Minerva, British archaeologist, again. Plus, instead of being possessed by the Goddess of the Hunt because of being cut by the Amazonian dagger (the New 52 origin), her becoming Cheetah is once again the product of her being cursed by the plant god Urzkartaga (the pre-Flashpoint origin).
In Red Hood & the Outlaws:- Jason gets his pre-Flashpoint origin back.
Batman Annual #1: A virtual treasure trove of Pre-Flashpointness
In the story by Dini and Adams:- It is fully established that Harley Quinn's New 52 look is not her original look, as several people are dressed up as her in her Pre-Flashpoint garb. There's even a balloon of her that is modeled on her Pre-Flashpoint look
- Batman is seen in his classic costume: i.e. no bat-guantlets and, yes, WITH the trunks.
- And, last but not least, Harley references Silent Night of the Batman from 1970's Batman #219, in which Batman goes carolling with the Gotham City Police.
Direct Current Magazine:- There's a page with the super villains that will be the center of the conflict between the JLA and the Suicide Squad (Lobo, Johnny Sorrow, Emerald Empress, Rustam, Dr. Polaris, Max Lord) and their origins and backstories that are laid out in the text boxes match up with their Pre-Flashpoint backstories
- Also, Max now has his powers back. I can't remember if he had them in his New 52 appearance or not. I wonder if he or Wonder Woman will remember how she killed him