Divergence and Rebirth
From this point onward the campaign timeline diverges from mainstream DC Comics. Many of the events presented here are variations on ones that happened in the New 52 comics and later Rebirth comics, while others are original. By Year 21, the time period of the start of the DC Heroes Rebirth campaign, there are few similarities with the mainstream DC Comics universe.
Year 18 (continued)
FLASHPOINT. The Flash Family of heroes battles the Reverse Flash and Zoom. With Reverse Flash's defeat several alterations he had made to the timeline are undone, most notably the murder of Barry Allen's mother when he was still a child but also several other major and minor traumas the villain had inflicted on the second Flash and his friends and family over their lives. Zoom tricks the second and third Flash into breaking the Force Barrier, revealing previously unknown fundamental Forces that were parallels to the Speed Force including the Sage Force, the Strength Force, and the Still Force.
With Maxwell Lord in charge of a rogue Checkmate organization, Batman uses his influence and Bruce Wayne to help create a new incarnation of the UN-sponsored Justice League International. The new team is initially based out of the Hall of Justice in Washington, DC. The loss of Checkmate also leads the US government to create the Advanced Research Group Uniting Superhumans (A.R.G.U.S.), initially headed by former USAF Colonel Steve Trevor.
THRONE OF ATLANTIS. Loyalists attempting to return Aquaman to the throne of Atlantis manipulate events to trigger a war between Atlantis and the surface world. Several cities on the American East Coast are inundated by tidal waves, including Boston and Gotham City. A newly reformed Justice League battles the Atlantean forces, while Aquaman discovers the deception that led to the war. Aquaman ends the conflict by taking back the kingship of Atlantis.
Batman Incorporated's ongoing struggle with the terrorist organization Leviathan results in the death of the current Robin, Damian Wayne.
Year 19
FOREVER EVIL. Fleeing a powerful enemy threatening Earth-3, the Crime Syndicate infiltrate and seemingly kill the Justice League ahead of invading and effectively conquering the mainstream Earth-0. They unite the majority of Earth-0's supervillains into an army loyal to them which is able to keep most of the planet's remaining heroes at bay. Nightwing is captured by the Syndicate and his secret identity as Richard Grayson is revealed to the world. The Justice League are eventually discovered to still be alive and are freed, but it is a small group of supervillains led by Lex Luthor who succeed in defeating the Crime Syndicate.
With his secret identity as Nightwing revealed, Dick Grayson is sent undercover by Batman to infiltrate and take down the rogue intelligence group known as Spyral. Using technology from Apokolips and a powerful artifact called the Chaos Sliver, Batman is able to resurrect his son Damian, who resumes his role as Robin. A short time later Batman and the Joker both apparently die in a final confrontation with each other. Commissioner Gordon briefly assumes the role of a new Batman using an experimental robot suit, but the original Batman is later revealed to be alive and he retakes the mantle.
DARKSEID WAR. The being that ravaged Earth-3 arrives on the mainstream Earth-0 and is revealed to be the Anti-Monitor. The Anti-Monitor has been manipulated into attempting to kill Darkseid by Darkseid's secret daughter, Grail. The battle between the two beings threatens all of the Earth, with the Justice League desperately attempting to contain the damage. Darkseid is killed, which frees the Anti-Monitor from the Anti-Life Equation that had originally corrupted him, restoring him to his true form of Mobius. Grail uses Superwoman of Earth-3's newborn child as a host to resurrect Darkseid with the help of the Anti-Life Equation released from the Anti-Monitor. Mobius is apparently killed and Grail flees with the resurrected Darkseid, who has been reverted to an infant.
Year 20
DARK NIGHTS: METAL. Barbatos, a powerful being from the Dark Multiverse, seeks to destroy the regular Multiverse. It tricks Batman into granting access to Earth-0 to its servants, the Dark Knights, nightmarish versions of Batman born from his fears. Captured by Barbatos, Batman is then used to lure Superman to the Dark Multiverse, where the Man of Steel is imprisoned to serve as a source of power allowing Barbatos to sink the Earth into the Dark Multiverse. While Earth's heroes fight a desperate battle to try and stop the Dark Knights and Barbatos' forces, Batman escapes and in turn frees Superman. With the help of Dream of the Endless they reach the World Forge and joined by Wonder Woman, are able to use the Element X from the Forge to give themselves and the rest of the Justice League the power to defeat Barbatos and his forces and raise Earth out of the Dark Multiverse.
EVENT LEVIATHAN. Mark Shaw, the former Manhunter, usurps control of Leviathan from Talia al Ghul. He gathers skilled intelligence agents from agencies across the world and, aided by advanced technology, proceeds to take down global intelligence groups like the D.E.O., A.R.G.U.S., Checkmate, and Spyral. Shaw's intention is to reveal the secrets of all the governments of the world, believing this will lead to a better world. His plan is thwarted by an eclectic team of detectives. Shaw is later killed and Talia retakes control of Leviathan.
THE SUNDERING. The Empty Hand attempts to use the Multiversal disruptions caused by the invasion from the Dark Multiverse to shatter the Orrery of Worlds, with its efforts centered on Earth-0. The Justice Incarnate are able to send a warning from the Hall of Heroes, alerting Earth's heroes to the threat. The Justice League assembles an army of Earth's superheroes to confront the servants of the Empty Hand. The Empty Hand is eventually driven back to the darkness and the damage to the Orrery repaired, with the realignment of the 52 universes resulting in the restoration of some destroyed worlds like Earth-3.
JUSTICE UNLIMITED. Seeing a need for better coordination in case of another crisis event, Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman form a coalition of teams under the Justice League umbrella. The coalition includes the primary Justice League team, a Legacy team made up of the core members' former sidekicks and protegés, an International team, and a Dark team dedicated to magical threats. Under the supervision of the Martian Manhunter there are also Task Force teams assembled as needed for specific threats. The League also maintains a close relation with the latest incarnation of the Justice Society as well as with the Teen Titans, and watches over a new version of Young Justice made up of the newest generation of heroes.
Year 21
Present day, the setting for the start of the DC Heroes Rebirth campaign and the twentieth anniversary of the start of the Modern Age of Heroes.
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