Nicholas Ahlhelm

Iowa

Writer of fiction. Lover of super-heroes. Father of black children. he/him #BLM Newsletter: https://t.co/sHxTZeDMkx Buy the books: https://t.co/t3Kx9Gd7Yf

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Articles

Double the Superman, Starman faces his first villain, and Erik Larsen’s DC swan song

3 weeks ago | medium.com | Nicholas Ahlhelm

Member-only storyAdventures of Superman 447, Cosmic Odyssey 2, Doom Patrol 15, Starman 3, Swamp Thing 79Nicholas Ahlhelm·FollowPublished inDC: A New Dawn·9 min read·--We close out the month of August with this week’s comics, where we see the second installment of Cosmic Odyssey, Erik Larsen’s last Doom Patrol, and Starman’s first super-villain! Let’s dive into the action!Our first comic of the week opens with an aircraft carrier heading into Metropolis Harbor. It hits a mine in the water.
A final battle with the Beast and the return of George Perez to Titans!

1 month ago | medium.com | Nicholas Ahlhelm

Member-only storyAnimal Man 4, New Titans 50, Power of the Atom 5, Secret Origins 33, Superman 24Nicholas Ahlhelm·FollowPublished inDC: A New Dawn·12 min read·--We continue our look at comics from September of 1988 with the conclusion of the first arc for Grant Morrison’s Animal Man, a new name for the former Teen Titans, and the arrival of Kerry Gammill as a regular Superman artist.
All the espionage action you can shake a stick at, plus bonus Wonder Woman!

1 month ago | medium.com | Nicholas Ahlhelm

Member-only storyCaptain Atom Annual 2, Deadshot 2, Manhunter 6, Suicide Squad Annual 1, Wonder Woman 23Nicholas Ahlhelm·FollowPublished inDC: A New Dawn·12 min read·--We return to our regularly scheduled programming with a week of comics very much tied to the espionage realm of the DCU.
The end of Robin begins and Flash runs into some old enemies!

2 months ago | medium.com | Nicholas Ahlhelm

Member-only storyBatman 426, Doom Patrol Annual 1, Firestorm 78, Flash 19, Justice League International 20Nicholas Ahlhelm·FollowPublished inDC: A New Dawn·12 min read·--We reach the middle of a very full month of comics here as we see several solid series continue.
Introducing bat-guns and a bat-tank, plus the end of the New Teen Titans

2 months ago | medium.com | Nicholas Ahlhelm

Member-only storyBatman: The Cult 4, Captain Atom 21, Checkmate 9, Hawk & Dove 3, New Teen Titans Annual 4, Young All-Stars 19Nicholas Ahlhelm·FollowPublished inDC: A New Dawn·12 min read·--The second week of August 1988 features the conclusion of Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson’s Batman: The Cult, the end of the latest epic for the Young All-Stars, and the final issue of New Teen Titans. What do I mean by that last one? Just wait and see.
Heroes in search of direction and villains in the spotlight

2 months ago | medium.com | Nicholas Ahlhelm

Member-only storyDetective Comics 592, New Guardians 3, The Spectre 20, Suicide Squad 19, Wonder Woman Annual 1Nicholas Ahlhelm·FollowPublished inDC: A New Dawn·9 min read·--We kick off the comics released in August of 1988 today. This month saw only three new number ones by DC, but none within the DC Universe.
Looking back at Legends

Jan 25, 2025 | medium.com | Nicholas Ahlhelm

DC’s second major event series!Nicholas Ahlhelm·FollowPublished inDC: A New Dawn·16 min read·--When I started DC: A New Dawn, my goal was to cover the width and scope of the new era of DC Comics that started in the aftermath of Crisis on Infinite Earths. There’s not a particularly clear delineation line for a lot of titles in that period, but the subsequent event that came hot on Crisis’ heels does serve as a strong starting point for the new line of books.
An end of the universe… and a moment that changes Superman forever

Dec 7, 2024 | medium.com | Nicholas Ahlhelm

Animal Man 2, Batman 424, Doom Patrol 13, Flash Annual 2, Secret Origins 31, Superman 22Nicholas Ahlhelm·FollowPublished inDC: A New Dawn·14 min read·--After over two years at the helm of the Superman titles, John Byrne’s time at the helm of the Super-titles comes to an end with this issue. (His final issue of World of Metropolis next month was actually written well ahead of this.) That’s easily the biggest moment for the weeks of June 21–28, 1988.
The return of Lobo and the secret of Dumas!

Nov 30, 2024 | medium.com | Nicholas Ahlhelm

Justice League International 18, Manhunter 4, Swamp Thing Annual 4, Wonder Woman 21, World of Metropolis 3, Young All-Stars 17Nicholas Ahlhelm·FollowPublished inDC: A New Dawn·14 min read·--Our coverage continues with several series that we’ve grown to know well over the last year and a half of coverage, as well as Byrne’s final mini-series before returning to Marvel and the recently launched Manhunter. Let’s dive into our coverage of these comics released on June 14, 1988.
A future Image Comics superstar debuts his first series and Flash finally gets running

Nov 23, 2024 | medium.com | Nicholas Ahlhelm

Checkmate 7, Detective Comics 590, Firestorm 76, Flash 17, Hawk & Dove 1, Suicide Squad 17Nicholas Ahlhelm·FollowPublished inDC: A New Dawn·14 min read·--As we dive into a stack of comics published between June 7–14, 1988, we have also reached the series debut of a young up-and-comer named Rob Liefeld, who then was only twenty years of age.