In the upcoming miniseries The Other History of the DC Universe, readers will witness the Teen Titans of the 1970’s through the eyes of black heroes Bumblebee and Herald.
The long anticipated 5-issue miniseries, written by award-winning screenwriter John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, American Crime) - with art by Giuseppe Camuncoli (The Amazing Spider-Man, Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith) and Andrea Cucchi - will tackle race through the perspectives of DC’s minority superheroes. The Other History of the DC Universe will be published through DC Black Label, a brand intended for mature readers ages 17 and older, which can be taken as an assurance that material will be addressed authentically and with adult sensibilities.
Set in a racially tense America during the 1970’s, Issue #2 of The Other History will explore Karen Beecher-Duncan, AKA Bumblebee, and Mal Duncan, AKA Herald, as they fight for their spots on the Teen Titans. Their story is intentionally taking place prior to the iconic New Teen Titans of the 1980’s, which included Cyborg as the only black team member of the team. Check out the official cover and synopsis for Issue #2 below:
- THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE #2
- Written by JOHN RIDLEY
- Art by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI and ANDREA CUCCHI
- Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI and MARCO MASTRAZZO
- Variant cover by JAMAL CAMPBELL
- PRESTIGE PLUS FORMAT | ON SALE 1/26/21
- $6.99 US | 48 PAGES | 2 OF 5 | FC
- DC BLACK LABEL | AGES 17+ | BIMONTHLY
- Before the New Teen Titans, there were the original Teen Titans. In the tumultuous 1970s, in an America that was very different than today but in many ways all too familiar, the trials and tribulations of these young heroes were witnessed by two of DC’s first Black superheroes: Karen Beecher-Duncan, better known as Bumblebee, and Mal Duncan—even if their versions of events are often at odds. And across that decade, they fought for their seats at the Titans’ table while joining the battle against injustice.
The miniseries aims to re-contextualize famous moments from DC’s history through the perspectives of a diverse roster of superheroes, although which moments in particular is still uncertain. These stories will celebrate the power and importance of identity, highlighting heroes of color who have long been overlooked. Ridley promises to challenge readers with a grounded version of DC they thought they already knew, but had only seen a whitewashed take on. Along with Bumblebee and Herald, The Other History will showcase superheroes Jefferson Pierce, AKA Black Lightning, with his daughter Anissa, AKA Thunder. The miniseries will also see the return of fan favorite Renee Montoya’s the Question, and feature Tatsu Yamashiro AKA Katana.
It is currently unclear if the entire miniseries will take place in the 1970’s, or if it will alternate throughout the decades from issue to issue, providing a greater perspective on the pasts of both America and the DC universe. It would be reasonable to speculate that each issue will act as a standalone story in an anthology, culminating in a new way that readers will see the whole of the DC Universe they felt was so familiar. The only other notable DC project that aims to address race in superheroes is the upcoming Milestone Media reboot, which recently previewed plans to explore race identity through Static Shock. The Other History of the DC Universe will debut on November 24 and span over the course of five issues, featuring covers by Camuncoli and Jamal Campbell.