This article contains SPOILERS for Batman vs. Robin!As New York Comic Con begins in earnest, DC Comics is giving fans a shocking look at Lazarus Planet, the publisher's first major event planned for 2023. The event spins out of Batman vs. Robin and is bringing some shocking new forms to DC's biggest characters.
Batman vs. Robin is an ongoing event by Mark Waid and Mahmud Asrar, that itself spins out of Batman/Superman: World's Finest and Robin. The Devil Nezha has escaped his long imprisonment and is launching a full-scale assault on the magic users of the DC Universe. Working for Nezha is Damian Wayne's Robin, who has betrayed his allies and is helping usher in the corruption of DC's most notable magic heroes like Zatanna and John Constantine. With the state of magic hanging in the balance, Batman has no option other than to pursue his son and stop him before he's lost forever.
Now, it seems the events of Batman vs. Robin are going to have consequences that affect the entire DC Universe, not just its magic users. As part of its announcements at New York Comic Con, DC revealed Lazarus Planet, an event coming January and February 2023 and overseen by event showrunner Mark Waid. After the Lazarus Volcano explodes, dangerous and powerful chemicals change the entire atmosphere of the Earth, leading to some wild and powerful transformations for many of DC's heroes. Lazarus Planet is roping in a number of talented creators for the event such as Riccardo Federici, Gene Luen Yang, Billy Tan, Nicole Maines, Skylar Patridge, Francis Manapul, Dan Watters, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, and Josie Campbell. DC has also teased what's ahead for its heroes in a series of images that show some heroes and their dramatic, yet powerful new changes. The event has the tagline, "Heroes Transformed. Secrets Revealed. Powers Unleashed."
Lazarus Planet Is Changing the DC Universe
With Superman taking on electric powers, Martian Manhunter becoming a hulking monster, and Batman wielding the Helmet of Fate, it's clear Lazarus Planet will include some truly extreme changes. In addition to the characters seen here, Power Girl, Raven, Firestorm. the Question, and Dreamer will also be dealing with the fallout of the Lazarus Volcano explosion. Lazarus Planet will run weekly beginning January 10, 2023 with Lazarus Planet: Alpha all the way through February 21 with Lazarus Planet: Omega, though DC has remained quiet regarding its particular creative teams. For now, fans can be assured that the events of Batman and Robin #4 are going to lead to a trying period for the DC Universe, with a range of tie-ins including:
- Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton (January 17)
- Lazarus Planet: We Once Were Gods (January 24)
- Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn (January 31)
- Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution (February 7)
- Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate (February 14)
Batman vs. Robin has had some deadly implications for the DC Universe. In his bid to claim the world, the Devil Nezha has corrupted the DC Universe’s magic, which affects a sizable number of heroes. But the explosion of a Lazarus Volcano is something much more wide-ranging and consequential. From the looks of things, Martian Manhunter has found himself turned into a Doomsday-like monster and Cyborg's tech appears to be out of control. What other alterations have happened to the heroes of the DCU? And how easily will they be able to come back from this dark period? The wild transformations of the DC Universe and what it means for the heroes promise to make Lazarus Planet 2023's most important event.