History YMMV / New52

** A common gripe with the New 52 is that despite a large number of changes, the ContinuityLockOut that was typical for the old DCU did not disappear, and many characters (such as Green Lanterns) still require extensive knowledge of their old DCU stories to understand what is going on, instead of having a fresh start. What makes things even more confusing is that many older fans who would be otherwise immune to ContinuityLockout are confused as well, due to the fact that whatever continuity that ''has'' been retained has been very hazily defined. For example, according to the new "superheroes debuted five years ago" compressed timeline, Batman started his career and took on all four male Robins within ''six years''. In the end, all that it's accomplished is make it so everyone, even long time fans, is confused by what's going on.

* CriticalBacklash: Quite a few comic book fans, particularly younger ones, have started reading series from the New 52 and found it's negative reputation somewhat undeserved.

*** The results of ''Convergence'': On one end, it undid ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' and now ''all'' stories published by DC are canon someplace -- they can be expanded upon in a future time. However, many liked AlternateUniverse characters ended up coming BackForTheDead (some with more respect than others) and the stories were advertised as the GrandFinale of whichever arcs were left in the air before ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' occurred, so maybe they will ''not'' be visited again in some time (if ever), and the one revisit we had ''ComicBook/TheButton'', had a Universe once again come BackForTheDead. On the other side of things, ''Comicbook/TheMultiversity'' went ahead and completely restructured the DC multi-verse, with some universes and characters from that multiverse coming BackForTheDead ''also'', [[spoiler:and the story introducing an EldritchAbomination that ''eats universes'' (and ''is still digesting the Pre-ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} DC Universe''), is the ''physical manifestation of the growing RealLife DarknessInducedAudienceApathy in the comic book audience'', and the story ends with it not being destroyed, but held back for the time being... which means that if someone comes along in the future and wishes to create ''their'' version of ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''...]]

*** The results of ''Convergence'': On one end, it undid ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' and now ''all'' stories published by DC are canon someplace -- they can be expanded upon in a future time. However, many liked AlternateUniverse characters ended up coming BackForTheDead (some with more respect than others) and the stories were advertised as the GrandFinale of whichever arcs were left in the air before ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' occurred, so maybe they will ''not'' be visited again in some time (if ever), and the one revisit we had ''ComicBook/TheButton'' had a multiverse come BackForTheDead. On the other side of things, ''Comicbook/TheMultiversity'' went ahead and completely restructured the DC multi-verse, with some universes and characters from that multiverse coming BackForTheDead ''also'', [[spoiler:and the story introducing an EldritchAbomination that ''eats universes'' (and ''is still digesting the Pre-ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} DC Universe''), is the ''physical manifestation of the growing RealLife DarknessInducedAudienceApathy in the comic book audience'', and the story ends with it not being destroyed, but held back for the time being... which means that if someone comes along in the future and wishes to create ''their'' version of ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''...]]

*** The results of ''Convergence'': On one end, it undid ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' and now ''all'' stories published by DC are canon someplace -- they can be expanded upon in a future time. However, many liked AlternateUniverse characters ended up coming BackForTheDead (some with more respect than others) and the stories were advertised as the GrandFinale of whichever arcs were left in the air before ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' occurred, so maybe they will ''not'' be visited again in some time (if ever). On the other side of things, ''Comicbook/TheMultiversity'' went ahead and completely restructured the DC multi-verse, with some universes and characters from that multiverse coming BackForTheDead ''also'', [[spoiler:and the story introducing an EldritchAbomination that ''eats universes'' (and ''is still digesting the Pre-ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} DC Universe''), is the ''physical manifestation of the growing RealLife DarknessInducedAudienceApathy in the comic book audience'', and the story ends with it not being destroyed, but held back for the time being... which means that if someone comes along in the future and wishes to create ''their'' version of ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''...]]

* [[TaintedByThePreview Tainted by the First Issue]]: Since DC released fifty-two first issues in one month, even people willing to buy all fifty-two #1s were unlikely to give anything they didn't like a second chance. (How many #2s are you going to buy of comics you already have a bad impression of? When there might be ''dozens'' of them?) Ergo, any writer who put something controversial in the first issue, expecting readers to ''stick around'' for justification in later issues, was making a grave mistake. Several of the series died due to their first issue not being as good as later ones.

** This backfired even harder when ''ComicBook/TheLastDaysOfSuperman'' came out, [[KilledOffForReal killing off the New 52 Superman]] (and the first issue of the following ''Action Comics'' arc with the pre-''Flashpoint'' Superman in the starring role pretty much setting in stone that (at least for now) he's DeaderThanDead). The way how New 52 Supes went and [[FaceDeathWithDignity Faced Death With Dignity]] was a strong enough TearJerker than people [[AlasPoorScrappy who didn't liked this version of Supes really mourned seeing him go]].

** This backfired even harder when ''ComicBook/SupermanSuperLeague'' came out, [[KilledOffForReal killing off the New 52 Superman]] (and the first issue of the following ''Action Comics'' arc with the pre-''Flashpoint'' Superman in the starring role pretty much setting in stone that (at least for now) he's DeaderThanDead). The way how New 52 Supes went and [[FaceDeathWithDignity Faced Death With Dignity]] was a strong enough TearJerker than people [[AlasPoorScrappy who didn't liked this version of Supes really mourned seeing him go]].

* ContinuityLockout: With the near-constant BatFamilyCrossover flow of the various ''Franchise/GreenLantern'' comics from in the very least the beginning through "Godhead", it has become increasingly difficult to recommend the series to newcomers. Although this [[ComicBook/SinestroCorpsWar was]] [[ComicBook/BlackestNight already]] [[ComicBook/BrightestDay the case]] before, the common crossovers have become unending, especially with "Green Lantern" and "Green Lantern Corps", which some think may as well not be separate books at all for the amount of interconnecting they have.

** As stated above, new Lobo.

** Joker's Daughter, full stop.

** {{Franchise/Superman}} and Franchise/WonderWoman as a couple, [[ShipToShipCombat especially from the Clois fans and the Batman/Wonder Woman shippers.]] Those who like the relationship enough to at least give it a chance are now hating the brutal devolution it's getting in the most recent arcs of the ''Superman'' and ''Superman/Wonder Woman'' comics.

** There's been a recent phenomena of what's referred to as 'House Style', where creative teams tend to make each book look and feel almost identical. Artwork tends to be similar to Jim Lee's art, with the colourists using the same techniques, and writers sticking to writing and characterizing the heroes in a similar TrueArtIsAngsty way; because of this, many feel that the bulk of the line-up isn't really bad, just ''boring'' because they all feel generic. The few books that succeed to escape this 'House Style', either by unique artwork, creative writing, or some combination, tend to get more interest online for actually being different.

* BrokenBase[=/=]InternetBackdraft: The reboot in general was very controversial when it was announced, and even years after it happened opinion was divided and discussions could get very heated about certain aspects of it. Overall, some fans consider it an interesting and fresh new take on the universe, while others consider it the return of some of the worst tropes from UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks.

*** Superman is introduced as a more angry brooding figure who is considerably more violent than before, being willing to throw defenseless white collar criminals out of windows and dangle them off ledges, mocking the police in his early twenties and choke slamming Batman in their first encounter. In many ways, this is a return to his [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness early, rougher characterization]] in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks (see the image for WifeBasherBasher), but people are too used to him [[CharacterizationMarchesOn being an]] IdealHero at this point.

** About the only thing the ComicBook/{{Green Arrow}} fandom agrees upon regarding the ''Green Arrow' title is that continual changes to the creative team have ruined the title. Opinion on which of the runs is the best vary depending on individual opinions regarding adherence to the classic series mythology and how much they like/dislike Series/{{Arrow}}.
** And of course, the ExecutiveMeddling is still going strong. Some fans are upset that the comics appear to be even ''more'' editorial-driven than before the reboot.
*** DC's "trial and error" method of publishing books. To clarify: whenever they publish a new book, they only give it a few issues to establish a dedicated readership. If the book has strong sales, the book continues publication and the creative team is put in charge of another book; otherwise the book is cancelled. What makes it controversial is that DC keeps starting and cancelling books left and right so the number of publications is always [[ArcNumber 52]]. It remains to be seen if this will continue after ''The New 52'' ends.
** And then we have what they did to Captain Marvel, now called ComicBook/{{Shazam}}, and further retconning CheerfulChild Billy Batson into a jaded cynical teenager who flat out tells to The Wizard that there is ''no one'' [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForkids truly good in the world]]. However, the character does change over the course of the series into a more idealistic, heroic person, [[FridgeBrilliance which seems to have been the point all along]].
** The long absence of long time fan favorites such as Wally West (the third Flash - along with his wife and kids), Cassandra Cain (Batgirl II/Black Bat), Donna Troy and Stephanie Brown (Spoiler/Robin/Batgirl III/etc.) among others while supposedly "inferior" or less beloved characters such as Bart Allen remain has not sat well with many fans. Now that some of these fan favourites have been incorporated into the New 52, opinions are divided regarding how these characters have been handled and whether or not the changes made to their histories work.
** Speaking of Bart Allen, the changes made to him are practically FanonDiscontinuity, people hate them that much. Suffice to say that trying to make a character who was FunPersonified into a morally ambiguous angst-machine did not go down well.
** And look down at TrueArtIsAngsty for another example.
** Reaction to Villains Month was, for the most part, lukewarm at best. Grievances range from normal issues of the entire line of books being put on hold for a month, to the stories being boring and/or uninspired, to the 3D covers being an excessive gimmick no one particularly wanted and unnecessarily driving up cost.
** Also the decision to update the ''Justice League''[='=]s roster, first by removing Firestorm and Element Woman after they barely did anything since joining the team, the addition of Shazam (with fans preferring he and his foster family get their own book), and most of all, removing The Flash and Superman and replacing them with Captain Cold and Lex Luthor respectively.
** The ''Future's End'' crossover event not only showcasing a pair of ''even more'' DarkerAndEdgier futures, each much worse than the last, but the pretty high possibility that they are set in stone, which makes all the events and victories you see on the universe's "present time" even more heartbreaking. [[DarknessInducedAudienceApathy And some would say "worthless"]].

** One comic book critic flat out said, "Creator/DanDiDio is the worst thing to happen to DC Comics in the history of the company", and in response a lot of fans have not only vocally agreed with this assessment, they've publicly posted in various social media that as long as "that man" is involved in DC, and until "DC stops shitting where they eat", they will ''not'' be giving DC Comics any more of their money.

* DorkAge: Considered one for the DC Universe due to just how laughably bad the attempts to be "darker and edgy" tried to make the comics be. It barely clicked with the majority and was thoroughly mocked for it's attempts to replace the old continuity of the DC history. At best, it was commended for at least sticking with the idea and trying something new (not all of it was bad and some good stories came out of it). But it was obvious in the end this wasn't the best direction to go for the company and was doing them more harm than good. DC wisely got the hint and brought things back to semi-normalcy with ''Rebirth'' which allowed the history of the previous continuity to return, kept some of the good parts of the New 52, re-injected some much needed levity to the comics again and re-railed a lot of the heroes personalities back to the former selves.

** Lobo's [[TallDarkAndHandsome new]], ''Franchise/{{Twilight}}''-esque design has not gone over well with fans.

*** "ComicBook/DeathOfTheFamily" (ComicBook/TheJoker being a borderline Villain Sue after some time out of the spotlight and the Bat Family falling apart).

** Harvest, for being an AllAccordingToPlan-spamming villain who just won't shut up about his InformedKindness and UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans.

* VindicatedByHistory: Downplayed but, now that the dust has settled, fans are a bit more willing to give praise to the venture, noting that, even if they didn't agree with it, DC stuck to their guns and there were a lot of genuinely good, even great, moments such as Scott Snyder's work with Batman, Greg Pak and Geoff Johns' run on Superman and the introduction of Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz, who have become immensely popular. If nothing else, Marvel's [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/DorkAge/Marvel issues from 2015 onwards]] have shown fans that it could have been handled much, much worse.

** Harvest, for being an AllAccordingToPlan-spamming VillainSue who just won't shut up about his InformedKindness and UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans.

* GrowingTheBeard: A few titles, such as Superman, did improve noticeably as time went on.

* GrowingTheBeard: The general consensus is that the initiative got better as it went along, even if some titles never quite found their footing in it.

** Mr. Freeze's backstory's alterations have come under fire, partially because they screwed up his TragicVillain background, and partially because, in the original, the CorruptCorporateExecutive who caused all the problems was a disgusting asshole who was just such a good liar and fake that everyone loved him. Both the original episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' and the adaptation of it in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'' were highly praised, and the episode won an Emmy. So, what did they do? Changed it so that, instead, it was Bruce Wayne.

* CompleteMonster: See Monster/DCComics.