History Reconstruction / TheDCU

* The ''[[ComicBook/TheFlash Rogues Reloaded]]'' storyline from The Flash does this for the Flash's villains. Though beloved for their sympathetic backstories, likable personalities, and code of honor, the Rogues are often overshadowed by the more threatening villains like the Reverse-Flashes and Gorilla Grodd, to the point where they're almost considered "Flash's sidekicks" (even in-universe). ''Rogues Reloaded'' shows that while the Rogues have redeeming qualities, they're still ruthless, unrepentant criminals who are only out for themselves and while they don't go out of their way to hurt people, they have zero sympathy for those affected by their crimes.

** After decades of superheroes becoming "serious" DarkerAndEdgier {{Anti Hero}}es who are full of angst over having powers and are somewhat grounded in reality, the eponymous ''Series/TheFlash2014'' rebuilds the type of superheroes who functions on GoodFeelsGood basis. [[Characters/ArrowverseBarryAllen Barry Allen / The Flash]] is also a hero despite his tragic backstory, not because of it, lives in a fantastical setting, and isn't afraid to get a little silly along the way. The Silver Age FriendlyEnemy relationship with his RoguesGallery also shows up, mostly with [[Characters/ArrowverseLeonardSnart Leonard Snart/Captain Cold]], and the Flash recognizes a lot of them as having redeeming qualities and is trying to protect them from themselves. At the same time, it doesn't shy away from the fact that some of the villains (such as [[Characters/ArrowverseEobardThawne Reverse-Flash]] and especially [[Characters/ArrowverseHunterZolomon Zoom]]) are brutal monsters who can and do kill dozens of people with no issues.

** After decades of superheroes becoming "serious" DarkerAndEdgier {{Anti Hero}}es who are full of angst over having powers and are somewhat grounded in reality, the eponymous ''Series/TheFlash2014'' rebuilds the type of superheroes who functions on GoodFeelsGood basis. [[Characters/ArrowverseBarryAllen Barry Allen / The Flash]] is also a hero despite his tragic backstory, not because of it, lives in a fantastical setting, and isn't afraid to get a little silly along the way. The Silver Age FriendlyEnemy relationship with his RoguesGallery also shows up, mostly with [[Characters/ArrowverseLeonardSnart Leonard Snart/Captain Cold]], and made more plausible in that The Flash recognizes a lot of them as having redeeming qualities and is trying to protect them from themselves. At the same time, it doesn't shy away from the fact that some of the villains (such as [[Characters/ArrowverseEobardThawne Reverse-Flash]] and especially [[Characters/ArrowverseHunterZolomon Zoom]]) are brutal monsters who can and do kill dozens of people with no issues.

!!Comic Books

!!Films

!!Live-Action TV

!!Web Comics

!!Western Animation

** ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' as a whole is a reconstruction for the modern version of Superman from the Post-Crisis comics. While there are many deconstructed elements within the series and a lot of things where [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome surprisingly realistic outcomes]] that were previously hand-waved during the silver age of comic books then being deconstructed during the bronze to dark age of comic books, the series overall is firmly on the ideal side of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism with Superman being more down to earth and normal yet still being the BigGood everyone expects him to be. In spite of the darker moments in some of the episodes, there is always an underlying theme of optimism, idealism, and hope.

* The ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' episode "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS1E18And19Legends Legends]]" is both an AffectionateParody and reconstruction of MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks. In it, a few members of the league travel to an AlternateUniverse and meet the Justice Guild of America, [[CaptainErsatz ersatz]] versions of the [[ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica JSA]]. The episode points out the racism and sexism prevalent in the Golden Age, and the Flash mocks the Guild's cheesy "let justice prevail!" catchphrase, but at the end of the story [[spoiler:the Guild helps defeat the villain, knowing that they'll fade from existence when they do, and when they yell "Let justice prevail!" ''that'' time, it's completely awesome.]] The episode was in dedication to comic book writer Gardner Fox, who created several superheroes from DC's Golden and Silver Ages. Not only that, but Fox wrote "The Flash of Two Worlds," which introduced the concept of a comic book multiverse. The episode wasn't just a reconstruction but an {{Homage}} to the man.
* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' as a whole is a reconstruction for the modern version of Superman from the Post-Crisis comics. While there are many deconstructed elements within the series and a lot of things where [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome surprisingly realistic outcomes]] that were previously hand-waved during the silver age of comic books then being deconstructed during the bronze to dark age of comic books, the series overall is firmly on the ideal side of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism with Superman being more down to earth and normal yet still being the BigGood everyone expects him to be. In spite of the darker moments in some of the episodes, there is always an underlying theme of optimism, idealism, and hope.

* ''ComicBook/BatmanJamesTynionIV'': AntiHeroSubstitute reconstruction with the Ghost-Maker. He's basically yet another "evil" or "anti-hero" counterpart to Batman, having the same level of skill but none of the moral restraints when it comes to just outright killing the criminals he fights. But while he is often antagonistic and critical of Bruce, he has genuine respect for him and Bruce reciprocates it. Ghost-Maker may not have qualms about killing, but he's not stupid or unreasonable, and is willing to make compromises and restrain himself for Batman's sake. In fact, he's not so out of line that Batman doesn't consider him for [[ComicBook/BatmanGrantMorrison Batman Incorporated]].

** ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' starts out as a deconstruction of the two characters, however it eventually gives way to being a reconstruction in how it brings both of them back to something closer to their classic forms. Consider how much each's characterization at first aligns to how a bunch of people complain about them on the internet, often in the name of "realism". Superman is a figure with so much power that people have trouble relating to him on a human level, and without it completely under control, accidentally contributes to the loss of lives during the battle between him and Zod in Metropolis. Batman, rather than being the noble hero with a strict no-killing policy, is here more unhinged at first, being more jaded and perfectly willing to kill even someone like Superman. However by the end Superman proves that he can live up to the ideal he's supposed to represent by willingly sacrificing himself to destroy Doomsday, which brings about him the adoration of the masses that he usually receives. Batman begins to renounce his more extreme ways, as shown by his decision not to give Lex Luthor the Bat-Brand and how he's now willing to work with metahumans, to the point that he decides to put a team of them together in order to continue Superman's mission in his stead. ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'' completes the Reconstruction by showing Superman as a more genuinely heroic figure who has come to terms with his powers and role of protector of Earth.

*** The film mixes ReimaginingTheArtifact with moving away from Arthur's gruffer portrayal in ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'' and utilises elements that Aquaman is regularly mocked for to its favour. Those silly supervillain names? Titles. The orange and green costume? An ancient king's armor (made golden at that). Talking to fish? Pretty useful when it can control both an army's shark cavalry and bloodthirsty seafaring humanoid beasts, [[spoiler:converse with a sea Kaiju]], and create an army of fishes in an instant.
*** Black Manta's classic bubble-head deep sea diver design has been a difficult thing to process in the modern era, coming across as a silly, impractical top heavy look. The first film shows Kane building the suit from scratch, adapting Atlantean weaponry alongside his own high-tech armor designs and specifically making the helmet huge so that it could fire a plasma blast without frying his own head. When Black Manta finally shows up in full costume he is presented as a MightyGlacier, and can believably fighting Arthur on even footing.

** ''Film/BatmanBegins'' is a reconstruction of the idea of Batman, not only giving a plausible explanation for how Bruce Wayne acquired all of his Bat-themed crime fighting equipment and training, but also exploring the motivations behind what would drive a man to dress up in a rubber Batsuit to fight crime.

** "Why doesn't Bruce Wayne just take all the money he's spending on Batman and donate it to charity?" In this continuity, Thomas Wayne tried this by putting most of his fortune into the Gotham Renewal Fund, which was intended to improve the city through charitable means. However, since the institutions of Gotham [[WretchedHive were almost universally corrupt,]] Thomas was murdered in short order. Without any oversight, the Fund was soon looted and used as a money-laundering scheme by anyone who wanted a piece, including the Mob, crooked cops, and corrupt politicians.

** Riddler himself often gets mocked for his [=MO=]: he's the supervillain who literally leaves clues so that Batman can catch him. In this film, Batman solving the riddles actually ''helps'' Riddler proceed with his larger plan, and while Riddler does allow himself to get caught, [[spoiler:he assumed that Batman would carry on the mission in his stead, and had several dozen radicalised followers who ''definitely'' would.]]

** After decades of superheroes becoming "serious" DarkerAndEdgier {{Anti Hero}}es who are full of angst over having powers and are somewhat grounded in reality, the eponymous ''Series/TheFlash2014'' rebuilds the type of superheroes who functions on GoodFeelsGood basis. He is also a hero despite his tragic backstory, not because of it, lives in a fantastical setting, and isn't afraid to get a little silly along the way. The Silver Age FriendlyEnemy relationship with his RoguesGallery also shows up, mostly with Leonard Snart/Captain Cold, and made more plausible in that The Flash recognizes a lot of them as having redeeming qualities and is trying to protect them from themselves. At the same time, it doesn't shy away from the fact that some of the villains (such as [[Characters/TheFlashEobardThawne Reverse-Flash]] and especially [[Characters/TheFlashHunterZolomon Zoom]]) are brutal monsters who can and do kill dozens of people with no issues.
** The Earth-2 AlternateSelf of [[ComicBook/BlackCanary Dinah Laurel Lance]] reconstructs the BackupTwin and AntiHeroSubstitute concepts. She's originally an EvilDoppelganger who is forced to do a DeadpersonImpersonation of her DeadAlternateCounterpart out of necessity. Most of her late doppelgänger's friends detest her and she scoffs at the idea of being turned into a ReplacementGoldfish. However, living the life of her late counterpart and interacting with these people helps her regain her diminishing humanity and ultimately makes her a better person without her losing her own identity.

* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' is a series built on the repeated reconstruction of comic book superheroes. While most of Creator/KurtBusiek's works involve nuanced reconstruction on some level, ''Astro City'' has it as its lifeblood. You will be hard-pressed to find a single issue that doesn't reconstruct one ComicBook trope or another, whether it's the CrisisCrossover, the BadassNormal, MundaneUtility, the IntrepidReporter, [[SecretIdentity Secret Identities]], the NinetiesAntihero, PostModernMagik...