Dawn of the Modern Age
The current Heroic Age has lasted two decades and shows no sign of abating. Beginning with the first appearance of Superman, the years that followed saw an explosion of costumed heroes and villains unprecedented in history. Such is the scope of the events that only the major highlights can be provided here for each year of this Modern Age of Heroes.
Year 1
Superman makes his dramatic debut saving a space plane from crashing in Metropolis. In short order the first reports come from Gotham City of the mysterious Batman and the Amazon princess Wonder Woman makes her first appearance in Boston. The next few months sees new heroes with old names as the second Flash appears in Central City and the second Green Lantern debuts in Coast City. Then comes the first appearance of Aquaman and the public debut of the Martian Manhunter. A short time later these six would band together to stop an alien invasion, leading to the creation of the Justice League. As the first year of the Modern Heroic Age comes to a close, the Green Arrow appears in Star City, and he would be the first of the new heroes to take on a kid sidekick, Speedy.
Year 2
More new heroes appear, individuals like the Atom, the Elongated Man, and the first Blue Beetle and teams like the Doom Patrol and the Metal Men. The Green Arrow would join the Justice League as its first new member, followed a few months later by the Atom. Several members of the Justice League take on and train young sidekicks, with Robin fighting alongside Batman, Kid Flash joining the Flash, and Aqualad being mentored by Aquaman. The three would become friends after teaming up against the villainous Mr. Twister. The Flash would free Keystone City from its dimensional prison with the help of his predecessor. The return of the original Flash prompts many of his Justice Society teammates to also come out of retirement. Exposure to strange energies during an adventure in the 1940s had allowed them to maintain their vitality despite advancing years and the Justice Society would team up with the Justice League several times over the coming years. Hawkman would join the Justice League to act as a liaison between the two teams.
Year 3
Robin, Kid Flash, Speedy and Aqualad are joined by Wonder Girl to help stop the Justice League, who have been taken over by a malevolent force. After freeing their mentors the youngsters form the Teen Titans. The original Black Canary resigns after the death of her husband and her mantle is taken by her daughter, the second Black Canary, who joins the Justice League.
Year 4
The Justice League establishes their satellite headquarters. The New Gods return to visit Earth. The Justice League and Justice Society rescue the time-tossed Seven Soldiers of Victory. The Doom Patrol are killed.
Year 5
The Elongated Man and the Red Tornado join the Justice League. John Stewart temporarily replaces Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern of Sector 2814 when the latter becomes incapacitated. Batgirl makes her debut in Gotham City helping Batman and Robin capture Killer Moth.
Year 6
Power Girl debuts helping the Justice Society. Black Lightning starts fighting crime in Metropolis' Suicide Slum neighborhood. Prof. Martin Stein and student Ronnie Raymond are transformed into the hero Firestorm. The magician Zatanna joins the Justice League. The short-lived Titans West is formed, consisting of Lilith, Beast Boy, Flamebird, Golden Eagle, Hawk and Dove, Herald and Bumblebee.
Year 7
The second Blue Beetle debuts after the apparent death of the first. Nathaniel Adam emerges from the Quantum Realm, having been transformed into Captain Atom. Firestorm joins the Justice League just in time to join in an adventure with the Justice Society where the two teams meet the New Gods. The New Teen Titans form in New York City, made up of Robin, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Changeling (formerly Beast Boy), Raven, Cyborg and Starfire. Green Lantern discovers the alien Omega Men hiding on Earth and helps them battle the Citadel.
Year 8
Several children of the Justice Society, now teens and young adults, petition to join the team but are rejected. Rather than give up they for their own team, called Infinity Inc., and are based out of Los Angeles. Batman quits the Justice League and forms a new team called the Outsiders. Dick Grayson, the original Robin, gives up his identity feeling he has outgrown it. He adopts the new costumed identity of Nightwing. Meanwhile Batman takes on a new sidekick, Jason Todd, who assumes the Robin identity. The Justice League's satellite headquarters is destroyed. In the aftermath Aquaman disbands the team and forms a new one, based out of Detroit, consisting of himself, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, Elongated Man, Steel, Gypsy, and Vibe.
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