DC You was a comic book initiative launched by DC Comics in 2015, spinning out of Convergence, which saw the end of the New 52 branding. The initiative put an emphasis on "story over continuity", loosening the restrictions of continuity to allow for a diverse range of genres. Many notable characters also underwent status quo changes.
While DC You brought some acclaim to the company with an emphasis on diversity (namely in titles like Midnighter, Omega Men, and Black Canary), overall sales of their books hit new lows, sinking down to what they were before the New 52 launched, making it pathetically short. Because of it, DC Rebirth —a line-wide rebranding— launched in June 2016, revitalizing sales.
DC You
June 2015 — May 2016 (DC You)
Arkham Manor, Aquaman and the Others, Batman and Robin, Batman Eternal, Batwoman, Constantine, Earth 2, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: New Guardians, Infinity Man and the Forever People, Justice League 3000, Justice League Dark, Klarion, Secret Origins, Star-Spangled War Stories, Supergirl, Swamp Thing, Trinity of Sin, and Worlds' Finest were all officially canceled in February 2015, making way for an ambitious slate of new titles to be launched after Convergence. Most notably, this initiative marks the end of the New 52 branding, but will not reboot current continuity. In May 2016, all titles ended and were restarted with #1s save for two (Action and Detective) as part of the new initiative DC RebirthReplacing the above titles are:
- All Star Section Eight: Limited series focusing on characters from the 90s comic Hitman.
- Batman Beyond (Rebirth): Moving from digital-first to print. Spinning out from Futures End.
- Bat-Mite: Limited series about the titular imp; one of three "off-beat" comics.
- Bizarro: Limited series, the second of the three "off-beat" comics.
- Black Canary: Spinning out from Batgirl, following Dinah's adventures on tour with her new band.
- Constantine: The Hellblazer: Replacing Constantine.
- Cyborg: His first ongoing title.
- Doomed: Doomsday plagues a young college student in this new title. Announced as ongoing, but reclassified as a six-issue miniseries.
- Dr. Fate: An Egyptian-American college student becomes the next Dr. Fate.
- Earth 2: Society: Focusing on the Justice Society of the Earth-2, after the events of Convergence.
- Green Lantern: The Lost Army: Replacing all the Green Lantern titles, focusing on the remaining Green Lanterns. Announced as ongoing, but reclassified as a six-issue miniseries.
- Harley Quinn/Power Girl: A limited series focusing on the duo, set between two panels in Harley Quinn #12.
- Justice League 3001: A continuation of Justice League 3000, featuring Supergirl.
- Justice League of America: A new volume of the title.
- Martian Manhunter: His first major comic since StormWatch.
- Midnighter: Spinning out of Grayson, focusing on the former Stormwatch character.
- Omega Men: Deals with the aftermath of the (apparent) murder of Green Lantern Kyle Rayner.
- Prez: Limited series, the last of the three "off-beat" comics, in which a teenage girl becomes POTUS.
- Red Hood/Arsenal: Continuation of Red Hood and the Outlaws.
- Robin: Son of Batman: Focusing on Damian Wayne, the current Robin.
- Starfire (2015): Starfire's first ongoing title.
- We Are Robin: A series focusing on teenage Gothamites who've donned Robin's "R" in order to help fight crime.
Two additional titles — Mystik U and Dark Universe (a renamed replacement for Justice League Dark)— were also announced, but ended up delayed and eventually unpublished.
These titles joined the continuing final lineup of The New 52, Action Comics, Aquaman, Batgirl, Batman, Detective Comics, Batman/Superman, Catwoman, Deathstroke, The Flash, Gotham Academy, Gotham By Midnight, Grayson, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Harley Quinn, Justice League, Justice League United, Lobo, Secret Six, Sinestro, New Suicide Squad, Superman, Superman/Wonder Woman, Teen Titans, and Wonder Woman, all of which resumed after Convergence.
Fall 2015
Batman & Robin
- Batman and Robin Eternal — The sequel to Batman Eternal, a six-month weekly title said to be dealing with the Robin legacy and Dick Grayson's history, as well as formally reintroducing Cassandra Cain to the DCnU.
- Robin War — An event playing out in December's issues of Robin: Son of Batman, Grayson, We Are Robin, and Gotham Academy, bookended by two one-shot issues.
Superman
- Coming of The Supermen — A six-issue limited series pitting Superman against Darkseid and his son with the help of a few heroes from New Krypton.
- Superman: American Alien— A seven-part anthology of stories told at various times in Clark Kent's life. Written by Max Landis.
Justice League: Darkseid War
A series of one-shots tying into the Justice League Darkseid War story, each focusing on a different character:- Justice League: Darkseid War — Batman
- Justice League: Darkseid War — The Flash
- Justice League: Darkseid War — Green Lantern
- Justice League: Darkseid War — Lex Luthor
- Justice League: Darkseid War — Shazam!
- Justice League: Darkseid War — Superman
Convergence spin-offs
The following series will pick up on threads left by the Convergence event:January 2016
Green Lantern
- Green Lanern Corps: Edge of Oblivion: A replacement for Green Lantern: The Lost Army.
Limited titles
In July 2015, DC announced they'd be launching a set of limited series meant to bring some older characters back into the spotlight, with many of them being written by their original creators. Ultimately, only some of them ended up being published as their own titles:- Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life & Death: Her first solo title.
- Swamp Thing: Written by Len Wein, his creator.
- Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot / Katana: A six-issue anthology comic focusing on the two characters in their own solo stories. note
Legends of Tomorrow
The rest of them (minus a planned Raven series written by Marv Wolfmann) were consolidated into a monthly anthology called Legends of Tomorrow — not to be confused with the television series of the same name.- Firestorm: Written by Gerry Conway, his creator.
- Metal Men: Written by Len Wein.
- Metamorpho: Written by Aaron Lopresti.
- Sugar & Spike Written by Keith Giffen; a "grown-up spin on Sheldon Mayer's popular comic-book toddlers of the 1950s and '60s."
DC YOU contain examples of the following tropes:
- Lighter and Softer: Some characters (such as Starfire, Doctor Fate, and Black Canary) adopted more lighthearted directions aimed at younger audiences.
- Nothing Is the Same Anymore: Let's see...
- Superman has lost his powers and become a vagrant. He loses the cape, goes around in short sleeves and jeans and gets a buzz cut.
- Bruce Wayne is presumed dead and James Gordon is the new Batman. Gordon initially wears Bat-themed Powered Armor and later gets a capeless suit.
- Hal Jordan has abandoned the Green Lantern Corps and uses Krona's old Power Gauntlet to bring justice to a lawless universe.
- Significant Wardrobe Shift: To go with the characters' change in personality, their outfits change as well.
- Younger and Hipper: Batgirl and Black Canary were given overhauls to appeal to younger audiences, the former by moving in with her friends and getting a new suit and the latter by joining a music band. James Gordon also appears to be several decades younger as Batman instead of having his traditional grizzled senior look with no explanation.
