History ComicBook / TheNewUniverse

* ''Star Brand'' - Kenneth Connell, a mechanic from UsefulNotes/{{Pittsburgh}}, is given vast cosmic powers by the titular ArtifactOfDoom. He initially attempts to use them as a genuine superhero, but that doesn't work in this kind of world. He eventually decides to [[IJustWantToBeNormal get rid of his powers]] and lead a normal life. However, his attempt to do so results in the aforementioned destruction of UsefulNotes/{{Pittsburgh}}. It's later revealed that due to a StableTimeLoop, the White Event was caused by Connell's older self making an earlier attempt to get rid of the Star Brand. Storylines eventually explored other wielders of the Star Brand. the series lasted for 19 issues, from October, 1986 to May, 1989.

* ''ComicBook/ThePitt'' (March, 1988)- A one shot detailing the destruction of UsefulNotes/{{Pittsburgh}} and its aftermath.

* ''The War'' (October, 1989-March, 1990)- A mini-series in which the New Universe [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin goes to war]]. Will this lead to TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt? Blaming the destruction of UsefulNotes/{{Pittsburgh}} on a known group of Soviet paranormals, the United States prepare for war against the [[SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn Soviet Union]]. The first battle of WorldWarIII takes place in Africa. American paranormals are sent to assist South Africa against Cuba, in a conflict based on the historical South African Border War (1966-1989).

* ForbiddenZone: "The Pitt", the huge crater which is all that's left of UsefulNotes/{{Pittsburgh}} after The Black Event.

* PersonOfMassDestruction: Ken Connell in ''Star Brand''. He accidentally vaporizes UsefulNotes/{{Pittsburgh}}.

** FunnyAneurysmMoment: After he saves their butts, Connell gives the engineers a stern lecture on using their power responsibly. A few months later, Connell's attempt to get rid of ''his'' power results in the destruction of UsefulNotes/{{Pittsburgh}}. It's almost {{Foreshadowing}}, except that "The Black Event" probably hadn't been planned by the writers yet.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/New_Universe.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:A promo ad showing [[MassSuperEmpoweringEvent The White Event.]]]]

* ColdWar: A factor in some of the stories.

** In the series ''Legends,'' GreenLantern Guy Gardner battles a character called Sun Spot, who looks suspiciously similar to Ken Connell. Sunspot exclaims, "I wield the ultimate power...the power to create a New Universe!" and ends up shooting himself in the foot. This is a jab by JohnBryne at JimShooter (see AuthorAvatar, below). Byrne ended up writing the end of the ''Star Brand'' comic.

* AuthorAvatar[=/=]SelfInsertFic: It is widely believed that Creator/JimShooter based Ken Connell on himself, making the first seven issues of ''Star Brand'' (written by Shooter) was one big SelfInsertFic. Among the similarities between Shooter and Connell were their physical appearances (except for hair color), a hometown of Pittsburgh, and a self-centered ego. Shooter himself even admits Ken's girlfriend Debbie "the Duck" was based on an old girlfriend of his.

* TakeThat: After Creator/JimShooter left Marvel Comics, Ken Connell was depicted as an unrepentant JerkAss taken UpToEleven. As Ken was an AuthorAvatar of Shooter, this is obviously the remaining Marvel creators getting some licks in on their former boss.

JimShooter, editor-in-chief of Marvel at the time and creator of the New Universe, went on to found another comics universe at ValiantComics, which can be seen as having similarities to the concept.

** In the series ''{{Legends}}'' GreenLantern Guy Gardner battles a character called Sun Spot, who looks suspiciously similar to Ken Connell. Sunspot exclaims, "I wield the ultimate power...the power to create a New Universe!" and ends up shooting himself in the foot. This is a jab by JohnBryne at JimShooter. Byrne ended up writing the end of the ''Star Brand'' comic.

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1986 was the 25th anniversary of MarvelComics. That is, the company itself had existed since 1939, but it started ''calling'' itself Marvel in 1961; similarly, the comic that launched the MarvelUniverse, ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'', had started publishing in November of that year. [[ThePowersThatBe The Powers That Were]] decided that it was time for something new.

* TheWatcher: The Witness, a character who dies as a result of the White Event, but continues to exist as an intangible ghost. He is drawn to places where people are manifesting paranormal powers, but can only watch what happens, unable to intervene in any way.

* VetinariJobSecurity: In ''Spitfire and the Troubleshooters'' #5, the heroine's engineer buddies try to operate the robot without her. Not only do they fail miserably, but they overheat the robot's power pack, and only the intervention of Ken "Star Brand" Connell prevents the resulting explosion from taking out downtown UsefulNotes/{{Boston}}.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Averted. Two of the people given powers by the White Event were UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan and Ayatollah Khomeini. Several other real celebrities appear (Music/{{Madonna}} performs at a "Pitt Aid" charity concert) or are mentioned (John Tensen tells someone that Justive is his actual first name, "like Judge Reinhold").

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Two of the people given powers by the White Event were RonaldReagan and Ayatollah Khomeini.

* ComicBookTime: Intended to be averted but it ended up ZigZagged. Each issue was supposed to occur in "real time" in that a month passes between issues. However, Mark Grunwald didn't read the memo. He decided that the chase story of ''D.P. 7'' was important, so all 12 issues of the first year took place over the course of a few weeks, followed by a jump to the next year as of issue 13.

Something similar to ''newuniversal'' was started in the pages of ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' with a Nightmask and Star Brand appearing in the title. They will play a part in the 2013 storyline ''Infinity''

!!Titles in TheNewUniverse include:

** In the series {{Legends}} GreenLantern Guy Gardner battles a character called Sun Spot, who looks suspiciously similar to Ken Connell. Sunspot exclaims, "I wield the ultimate power...the power to create a New Universe!" and ends up shooting himself in the foot. This is a jab by JohnBryne at JimShooter. Byrne ended up writing the end of the StarBrand comic.

** GreenLantern Guy Gardner battles a character called Sun Spot, who looks suspiciously similar to Ken Connell

Thus, The New Universe was launched. It was a new imprint with new heroes operating in a new world. It aimed to be more realistic, with [[MohsScaleOfSciFiHardness harder science]] and lower power levels than the regular MarvelUniverse. The premise was that The New Universe was just like the real world until a MassEmpoweringEvent called "The White Event" gave extraordinary powers to ordinary people all over the planet, which is why the line's [[{{Slogans}} slogan]] was "The World Outside Your Window".

* BettyAndVeronica: Star Brand had this, with {{Jerkass}} Ken Connell mainly concerned with who he was attracted to more; HotMom Barbara and TheDitz Debbie "Duck" Fix. He eventually goes with the Duck, because she seems to be blindly devoted to him due to apparent self-esteem issues whereas Barbara and her kids would be in danger from the Star Brand (one of which seems to already have been altered by a Star-Brand powered MindScrew). To be fair, Connell cements his {{Jerkass}} status by being temporarily attracted to Barbara's 15-year-old babysitter and sleeping with AnythingThatMoves.

* ''Kickers, Inc.'' - Pro football players form a superhero team. Seriously. (To be fair, only the quarterback had actual superpowers. Even then, he didn't realize he was a paranormal at first; he thought his SuperStrength was the result of a machine his brother had invented.) The title was not overly successful, and did not particularly fit with the premise of the New Universe. It lasted for 12 issues, from November, 1986 to October, 1987.

* ''Spitfire and the Troubleshooters''[=/=]''Codename: Spitfire'' - Jennifer "Jenny" Swensen, a HollywoodNerd girl inventor and professor at the [[IvyLeagueForEveryone Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], develops a PoweredArmor. She goes on to have adventures with a team consisting of her five prodigy engineering students. Less awesome in execution then the premise makes it sound. The title changed marks when the Troubleshooters dissolved. One was killed in battle, one permanently crippled, and the other three went into retirement. Under both formats the title lasted for 13 issues, from October, 1986 to October, 1987. Spitfire continued appearing in other books as a member of an ensemble cast. But was eventually mutated to a ChromeChampion.

Problems set in almost immediately. Some writers apparently didn't get the memo that TheNewUniverse was supposed to be just like the real world up until a single occurrence, "[[MassSuperEmpoweringEvent The White Event]]", introduced superpowers; they created comics with pre-existing magic realms, aliens, and powered armor suits as their premises. The line's budget was cut unexpectedly by Marvel Comics higher-ups. After the first year, four titles were canceled. Those in charge tried to salvage the line by having big shake-ups, such as "The Black Event", in which one of the paranormals accidentally destroys UsefulNotes/{{Pittsburgh}}, plunging America into war. Unfortunately, it was no longer "The World Outside Your Window", and readers continued to hemorrhage.

In 1989, all TheNewUniverse titles were cancelled.

Thus, The New Universe was launched. It was a new imprint with new heroes operating in a new world. It aimed to be more realistic, with [[MohsScaleOfSciFiHardness harder science]] and lower power levels than the regular MarvelUniverse. The [[{{Slogans}} slogan]] of TheNewUniverse was "The World Outside Your Window".

* TeleportersAndTransporters: Sedara Bakut, a character from later issues of ''Psi-Force'', can create door-like portals in space.

* ''Nightmask'' - Keith Remsen is a therapist [[DreamWeaver who can enter dreams]]. Further applications and disturbing implications concerning his powers were explored through his appearances. His series lasted 12 issues, from November, 1986 to October, 1987. But his storyline continued in other books, with Nighmask as part of an ensemble cast.