10 Best DC Story Twists That Never Actually Paid Off

The world of DC Comics has been round for over eight a long time and has informed tons of of hundreds of tales over these historic years. From Batman to Superman to Arm-Fall-Off-Boy and extra, the writer has an extended record of characters to play with — from the long-lasting to the actually unusual. However not each story beat will get the follow-up it deserves.

With a universe over eighty years previous and with so many various writers, artists, and editors coming and going whereas engaged on such a excessive number of characters, not each story that begins really will get to finish. Due to this, there are numerous tales that merely haven’t any resolutions or endings. These are the ten greatest examples of plot threads and tales launched by DC Comics — after which by no means completed.

10 Inexperienced Arrow Might Destroy The Justice League

The Justice League has handled tons of universe-ending threats through the years, however typically these threats solely come to be due to the Justice League themselves. After the occasions of Darkish Nights: Steel, the universe was in a weakened state, and the Supply Wall had come crumbling down. As a result of the heroes had such an enormous impact on the universe, Martian Manhunter determined that they wanted a failsafe, and he entrusted an odd field to Oliver Queen in Justice League: No Justice #4 by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Joshua Williamson, Francis Manapul, Hello-Fi, and AndWorld Design. Martian Manhunter states that this field may kill the League if needed and that it’s the most harmful weapon on Earth; regardless of this, the field is rarely used, and when Oliver abandons it within the woods, it is by no means seen once more.

9 The Future State Traitor

One line-wide storytelling transfer that by no means actually bought off the bottom was DC’s Future State, which was a time leap into DC’s future that put older characters in new conditions. The plots of then-current comics supposedly laid the groundwork for the occasions of Future State, however these occasions have been, for essentially the most half, diverted. DC as a substitute launched into its Infinite Frontier period. Future State has now change into an alternate timeline with out true foundation in continuity. One of many greatest unresolved Future State mysteries is the opportunity of a traitor inside the Justice League. Whereas the traitor is talked about in Future State: Justice League #1 by Joshua Williamson, Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Tom Napolitano, the wrongdoer is rarely really revealed — that means they may nonetheless pop up any time, their traitorous tendencies mendacity in wait.

8 Cybeast

Among the many dropped Future State plot factors is the concept of Cybeast. After an assault on Titans Tower in Future State: Teen Titans #1 by Tim Sheridan, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Alejandro Sanchez, and Rob Leigh, Cyborg and Beast Boy merge into one being generally known as Cybeast. This occasion is definitely later explored within the still-in-continuity sequence Teen Titans Academy by Tim Sheridan and Rafa Sandoval, the place, as a way to save Beast Boy’s life, Cyborg fuses with him to create a single character. Regardless of this intriguing new twist for these beloved characters, when Beast Boy and Cyborg seem agaun throughout Darkish Disaster on Infinite Earths by Joshua Williamson and Daniel Sampere, Cyborg and Beast Boy are separate characters once more, and the Cybeast plot is fastidiously dodged “off-panel.”

7 Physician Manhattan Kidnaps Jor-El=

One of many key figures of DC’s Rebirth period is the mysterious Mr. Oz. Mr. Ouncesspends his early appearances kidnapping key DC characters, together with Tim Drake, in addition to those that pose a risk to Superman, like Doomsday. Ultimately, starting in Motion Comics #985 by Rob Williams, Guillem March, Hello-Fi, and Rob Leigh, the “OuncesEffect” storyline reveals that Mr. Ouncesis none apart from Jor-El. After Superman and Jor-El reunite, although, there is a big flash of blue gentle — strongly implied to be from Physician Manhattan — and Jor-El is dragged away as Superman swears to search out him. Jor-El would later reappear, with little to no clarification, in The Man of Metal #4 by Brian Michael Bendis, Kevin Maguire, Jason Fabok, Alex Sinclair, and Josh Reed. Each Lois Lane and Jon Kent act like they’re assembly him for the primary time, regardless of assembly him in “The OuncesEffect.” Jor-El’s disappearance and sudden reappearance are by no means defined.

6 The Riddler’s Redemption

Loads of villains have advanced and altered through the years, together with Batman villains like Purple Hood and Man-Bat, who’ve each been acknowledged as heroes within the modern DCU. However in Yr of the Villain: The Riddler #1 by Mark Russell, Scott Godlewski, Marissa Louise, and Travis Lanham, Edward Nygma swears to surrender his id because the Riddler and to start out over as one thing new — one thing extra. Regardless of this character improvement, Riddler didn’t cease being a villain. The subsequent time the Riddler seems, he has gone proper again to his previous methods of plotting ingenious crimes to mess with Batman, and his sudden change of coronary heart — together with his want “to start out over” — is rarely touched on once more.

5 The Widening Gyre

Batman: The Widening Gyre #6 by Kevin Smith, Walter Flanagan, Artwork Thibert, Artwork Lyon, and John J. Hill includes a main cliffhanger that has left followers reeling for over a decade — and it is unlikely DC will ever resolve the threads established on this story. This miniseries options Batman slowly opening as much as a brand new vigilante in Gotham generally known as Baphomet. The 2 start working collectively, and Batman even finally brings Baphomet to the Batcave and divulges his secret id as Bruce Wayne — just for Baphomet to right away reveal his true id because the brutal villain Onomatopoeia by slitting the throat of Batman’s then-fiancée, Silver St. Cloud. Regardless of this being a completely surprising cliffhanger, this e book has infamously by no means gotten a follow-up, so Silver’s destiny is finally unknown.

4 Pandora’s Storyline

When the DC Universe was rebooted into the New 52, one of many new and most mysterious characters of that period was Pandora. In each first concern of the unique New 52 line, Pandora is featured someplace within the background, watching occasions unfold. She is unbelievably highly effective, able to defeating even the Phantom Stranger. She additionally appears to hate the Gods and swears to pressure the Justice League to assist her defeat them. Despite the fact that DC arrange Pandora as one of many new DCU’s best mysteries, Pandora turned a plothole as a substitute. Her final objective and motivations are by no means defined, and when DC launched its Rebirth period with DC Universe: Rebirth #1 by Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Ethan Van Sciver, Brad Anderson, Jason Wright, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Hello-Fi, Phil Jimenez, Matt Santorelli, and Gabe Eltaeb, Pandora is definitely murdered by Physician Manhattan. She has but to be talked about once more.

3 Lex Luthor Grew to become God — And Then Vanished

The ultimate look of DC’s post-Disaster model of Lex Luthor takes place in Motion Comics #900 by Paul Cornell, Pete Woods, Brad Anderson, Jesus Merino, Blond, Dan Jurgens, Norm Rapmund, Rags Morales, Ardian Syaf, Jamal Igle, Jon Sibal, and Gary Frank. The conclusion of the “Black Ring” story, this concern sees Luthor searching for out the facility of a God. In the end, he succeeds, and Lex Luthor performs a joke on the universe. With the last word energy of God, Lex’s mere existence fills everybody within the universe with pure pleasure, together with Superman. Infuriated at Superman feeling pleasure due to him, Lex assaults the Man of Metal and loses his energy, in addition to inflicting everybody to lose that feeling of pleasure. Afterward, Lex is sucked right into a portal, and that is the final anybody sees of him — till the New 52 reboot, which launched just a few months later.

2 Merlin Unleashes Arion

Justice League Darkish’s whole goal is to search out magical threats — together with the immense risk of Merlin. Of their closing confrontation, Merlin unleashes the Atlantean god of magic, Arion. Collectively, the 2 simply decimate Justice League Darkish and are solely pressured to retreat as a result of Zatanna tapping into the facility of the Upside-Down Man. This all takes place within the back-up to Justice League #70, “Enjoying At Gods” by Ram V, Sumit Kumar, Jose Marzan Jr., Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Rob Leigh. After Merlin and Arion escape, the Justice League Darkish back-up tales conclude, and shortly after the Justice League e book was closed down for the Demise of the Justice League storyline that leads into Darkish Disaster. Merlin is final talked about in Justice League #72 by Bendis, Emanuela Lupacchino, Wade Von Grawbadger, Szymon Kudranski, Hello-Fi, and Josh Reed, however the pair of rogue wizards have been lacking ever since.

1 Clayface’s Redemption

Batman has confronted dozens of brutally merciless enemies over his time combating crime — however typically his enemies can flip into mates, as is the case for the Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface. Clayface performs a serious position within the Rebirth period of Detective Comicsas is especially proven in Detective Comics #963 by James Tynion IV, Christopher Sebela, Carmen Carnero, Ulises Arredla, Kelly Fitzpatrick, and Sal Cirpiano. Karlo basically turns into a member of the Bat-Household — with Clayface changing into notably shut with Batgirl. Regardless of this character-defining second, in recent times Clayface is nothing greater than one other DC Comics prison who has utterly forgotten his earlier redemption.