DC Comics Will Put an End to the ‘New 52’ Line

DC Comics is contracting its universe. Again.

It’s not quite the DC Implosion of 1978, but the roster of titles is shrinking from 52 to 49, and the “New 52” moniker is going away — even as the company says continuity will remain the same and therefore this is not another reboot or relaunch.  And, in fact, DC is launching a whole slew of new titles — including a few mini-series — to replace the dead ones, and rebranding some existing comics with new titles.

Apparently, DC just wants to shed the “New 52” label — maybe Warner Bros. lawyers are big on truth in advertising now? And there is only a net loss of three titles, following the cancellation of a bunch of comics with the March solicitations.

As of June 3, DC’s post-New 52 comics line will be 24 titles and 25 ongoing comics that will retain their numbering (Yay, no new “collectors’ item” No. 1 issues!).

DC Comics Casualties Coming in March

Since DC will be introducing 24 new titles to supplement its ongoing series this summer, that means something (okay, a lot of somethings) has to go.

Here are the titles being canceled in the wake of DC‘s “Convergence” storyline in April and May:

• Aquaman and the Others #11
  Arkham Manor #6
  Batman Eternal #52
  Batwoman #40
  Earth 2: World’s End
  Green Lantern: New Guardians #40
  Infinity Man and the Forever People #9
  Injustice: Gods Among Us – Year Three #12
  Klarion #6
  The New 52: Futures End
  Red Lanterns #40
  Secret Origins #11
  Star-Spangled War Stories Featuring G.I. Zombie #8
  Swamp Thing #40
  Trinity of Sin #6
  World’s Finest #32

It’s a shame that Swamp Thing wasn’t able to hang on, and I suppose there will be no need for an Earth 2 title after “Convergence.” We shall see.