Recent comics like Metal have been adding old characters back pretty fast, so it's time for another update to DC's ever-convoluted and still fractured continuity. Here's the basic shape of it as it stands these days. Feel free to point out any corrections or additions in the comments
This Google Doc has the in-depth version, all with color pictures and lots more detail: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing
For those of you who just want the stripped-down basics, here it is:
Recent retcons are in bold
Events that have been hinted at, but not yet re-established are in italics.
The Justice Society of America formed and operated as a covert team of costumed Mystery Men during World War II, but disappeared following the Communist Witch Hunts of 1951. Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt erased all memory of their existence.
WW2 flying aces, The Blackhawks, established their headquarters on Blackhawk Island. Years later, survivors of a nearly-fatal plane crash banded together as The Challengers of the Unknown. Inventor Doc Magnus first constructed the robotic Metal Men.Working with each of them, Hawkman & Hawkgirl began investigating the origins of Nth Metal.
Superman, Batman & Wonder Woman first appeared several years ago, inspiring the modern age of the Super-Hero, which culminated in the formation of the original Justice League with The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter. Hawkman & Hawkgirl, The Atom, Black Canary, Zatanna and others also joined the expanding Justice League. Green Arrow worked with the League on several occasions, but was never offered membership due to his abrasive personality.
Shortly afterwards, Robin, Kid Flash, Speedy, Aqualad & Wonder Girl formed the original Teen Titans. Other young heroes including Hawk & Dove and Batgirl also began their adventures.
Bizarre new heroes like Metamorpho, Deadman, Animal Man and the Doom Patrol first appeared. Archaeologist Adam Strange was first transported to the planet Rann by a Zeta Beam. Blue Beetle, The Question, Nightshade and Peacemaker debuted.
Clark & Lois fell in love, Catwoman first matched wits with Batman, Mera met Aquaman after he was crowned king of Atlantis, Carol became Star Sapphire, and Sinestro forged his original yellow ring. T.O. Morrow invented his Red Tornado android.
When Hal Jordan & Ollie Queen took their roadtrip across America, Queen's sidekick, Roy Harper, was exposed as a heroin addict, and John Stewart joined the GLCorps. Batman met Ra's Al Ghul & his daughter Talia, who soon conceived their son Damian. The New Gods of Apokolips and New Genesis brought their war with each other to Earth.
Black Lightning & Firestorm debuted, Travis Morgan became lost in Skartaris, and Alec Holland was transformed into Swamp Thing, who eventually met John Constantine.
Not long after the New Teen Titans first encounter with the mercenary Slade Wilson, Deathstroke, Jason Todd debuted as Robin when Dick Grayson left his days as the Boy Wonder behind to become Nightwing, who had fallen in love with an exiled alien princess named Starfire.
While Batman quit the League to form the Outsiders, Hal Jordan was exiled from Earth, prompting John Stewart to take his place the Justice League.
During their battle with Mr.Twister, Dove was killed and Lilith erased the world's memory of the Teen Titans' adventures. Furthermore, Wally West was trapped in the Speed Force by Abra Kadabra.
Following the Crisis begun by the Anti-Monitor, a new Justice League was created with Batman, J'Onn, Black Canary, new Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Mr.Miracle, Blue Beetle and others. This team was soon manipulated by Checkmate agent Maxwell Lord into becoming Justice League International with an expanded membership including Booster Gold, Rocket Red, Fire & Ice.
An uneasy alliance between Highfather & Darkseid banded together a group of Earth's heroes with Orion, Lightray and Forager to defeat a dark entity seemingly given life by the Anti-Life Equation, resulting in the destruction of the entire planet Xanshi. The alien Dominators gathered an Alien Alliance of Khunds, Durlans and Daxamites to plunder Earth's metahuman population. During the Invasion, a gene bomb was detonated over Earth, triggering and mutating the latent powers of hundreds of metahumans.
Jason Todd was murdered, Batgirl was crippled & Harley Quinn was seduced by the Joker. With the grieving Batman growing increasingly unstable, Tim Drake chose to become the third Robin. Batman's back was broken by Bane. Barbara Gordon became Oracle and formed the Birds of Prey with Black Canary.
After Superman died fighting Doomsday, armored Steel and the Cyborg Superman first appeared. This culminated in the return of Superman and the destruction of Coast City, which led to Sinestro's corruption of Hal Jordan with Parallax, the destruction of the GLCorps and Kyle Rayner's debut as Green Lantern, who soon joined the reformed JLA to thwart a White Martian invasion, and the attack of Maggedon. During this period, Aquaman temporarily lost his hand and replaced it with a harpoon.
Soon after Lois & Clark were married, Superman rallied together Earth's heroes against the invasion of Imperiex. Meanwhile, Lois had become pregnant and gave birth to their son, Jonathan Samuel Kent, who went into hiding with his parents in California when Lois’s investigation into Intergang threatened their lives. During this period, Superman mostly worked clandestinely at night.
Wonder Woman relocated to Gateway City while Nightwing moved to Bludhaven. Revived by the Lazarus Pit, Jason Todd returned as the Red Hood, Jamie Reyes became Blue Beetle, Kendra Saunders became the newest reincarnation of Hawkgirl, collection of magical heroes formed the Shadowpact, and Kate Kane debuted as the new Batwoman.
After his death reigniting the Sun and his return as the ghostly Spectre, Hal Jordan was resurrected when Kyle Rayner uncovered the schemes of Sinestro, who soon formed his own Corps. During the Final Crisis, Darkseid seemingly killed Batman by sending him back in time, prompting Dick Grayson to train Damian Wayne as the new Batman & Robin while Tim Drake searched for Bruce Wayne as Red Robin.
The Blackest Night brought back the dead and united the seven Corps of ring-bearers, Bruce Wayne returned and established Batman Incorporated around the world, Barry Allen accidentally created Flashpoint by traveling back in time to prevent his mother's murder, and Zatanna & Constantine formed Justice League Dark to combat magical threats.
Supergirl arrived on Earth, Batgirl recovered from her spinal injuries, and Batman faced the Court of Owls. After the Crime Syndicate of Earth-3 invaded, the Anti-Monitor and Darkseid waged a war against each other on Earth. Wally West returned with knowledge that history is being manipulated by outside forces, which was also discovered by The Atom during his explorations of the Microverse. Wonder Woman learned the Paradise Island she had returned to in the past was an illusion to keep Ares imprisoned from Man's World.
Kendra Sanders returned as the new Lady Blackhawk to warn Batman about his investigations into Nth Metal, which unleashed an army of evil Batman from the Dark Multiverse. The mysterious Mr. Oz, who had secretly kidnapped Tim Drake, Mr. Mxy, and others, revealed himself to Superman as Jor-El. Wonder Woman first met her twin brother, Jason.
And there you have it. I'm sure future stories will require some further tweaks here and there, but this seems to be the general shape of DC history right now.