1986 is the new Year One. Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman is rebooted with John Byrne's The Man of Steel. Batman and Wonder Woman follow with new origins the next year. To fulfil contractual obligations with the Marston estate, The Legend of Wonder Woman (Volume 1) is published. The first crossover, Legends, reintroduces Darkseid. DC's most popular title, New Teen Titans (Volume 2), was not affected. Green Lantern (Volume 2) is renamed Green Lantern Corps (Volume 1) and changes its focus to a group of Lanterns living on Earth.
DC also publishes two more mature tales, both critically acclaimed and trendsetting: Frank Miller's dark future Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Alan Moore's Watchmen. Moore also writes Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?, a conclusion to the previous Superman continuity.
Creators
The following creative talent are known to have been born in 1986:
- Ales Kot
- Carmen Maria Machado
- Cathy Yan
- Chrissie Zullo
- DYM
- Henrik Jonsson
- James Harren
- Joel Novoa
- Marieke Nijkamp
- Sina Grace
- Stephen Byrne
- Thony Silas
The following creative talent passed away in the year 1986:
- Cliff Young
- Don Towsley
- Ed Kressy
- Edd Ashe
- Gardner Fox
- George Gordon
- Jack Binder
- Joe Archibald
- Klaus Nordling
- M.W. Wellman
- Ralph Daigh
- Ronald Santi
Titles
The following comic titles debuted with a 1986 cover date:
- 'Mazing Man (Volume 1)
- Angel Love (Volume 1)
- Aquaman (Volume 2)
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Volume 1)
- Blue Beetle (Volume 6)
- Booster Gold (Volume 1)
- Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew: The Oz-Wonderland War (Volume 1)
- Cosmic Boy (Volume 1)
- Deadman (Volume 2)
- Electric Warrior (Volume 1)
- Elvira's House of Mystery (Volume 1)
- Green Lantern Corps (Volume 1)
- Hawkman Special (Volume 1)
- Hawkman (Volume 2)
- History of the DC Universe (Volume 1)
- Legends (Volume 1)
- Legionnaires 3 (Volume 1)
- Lois Lane (Volume 1)
- Lords of the Ultra-Realm (Volume 1)
- Roots of the Swamp Thing (Volume 1)
- Secret Origins (Volume 2)
- Son of Ambush Bug (Volume 1)
- Super Powers (Volume 3)
- Teen Titans Spotlight (Volume 1)
- The Legend of Wonder Woman (Volume 1)
- The Man of Steel (Volume 1)
- The Shadow (Volume 2)
- Watchmen (Volume 1)
The following Comic titles were last published with a 1986 cover date:
- 'Mazing Man (Volume 1)
- Amethyst (Volume 2)
- Aquaman (Volume 2)
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Volume 1)
- Blue Devil (Volume 1)
- Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew: The Oz-Wonderland War (Volume 1)
- Crisis on Infinite Earths (Volume 1)
- DC Challenge (Volume 1)
- DC Comics Presents (Volume 1)
- DC Graphic Novel (Volume 1)
- Deadman (Volume 2)
- Green Lantern (Volume 2)
- History of the DC Universe (Volume 1)
- Legionnaires 3 (Volume 1)
- Lois Lane (Volume 1)
- Lords of the Ultra-Realm (Volume 1)
- MASK (Volume 1)
- Nathaniel Dusk (Volume 2)
- Omega Men (Volume 1)
- Roots of the Swamp Thing (Volume 1)
- Shadow of the Batman (Volume 1)
- Son of Ambush Bug (Volume 1)
- Super Powers (Volume 2)
- Super Powers (Volume 3)
- Supergirl (American Honda) (Volume 1)
- The Best of DC (Volume 1)
- The Legend of Wonder Woman (Volume 1)
- The Man of Steel (Volume 1)
- The Shadow (Volume 2)
- V (Volume 1)
- World's Finest (Volume 1)
The following One Shots were published with a 1986 cover date:
- Ambush Bug Stocking Stuffer #1
- Amethyst Special #1
- Atari Force Special #1
- Heroes Against Hunger #1
- Last Days of the Justice Society Special #1
- Supergirl (American Honda) #2
Characters
Selected 1986 character debuts. See all.
- Bruce Wayne (New Earth)
- Kal-El (New Earth)
- Lois Lane (New Earth)
- Alexander Luthor (New Earth)
- J'onn J'onzz (New Earth)
- Joker (New Earth)
- Alfred Pennyworth (New Earth)
- Victor Sage (New Earth)
- Michael Carter (New Earth)
- Amanda Waller (New Earth)
- Oswald Cobblepot (New Earth)
- Theodore Kord (New Earth)
- Billy Batson (New Earth)
- Sodam Yat (New Earth)
- Lana Lang (New Earth)
- Jor-El (New Earth)
- Lucy Lane (New Earth)
- Perry White (New Earth)
- Kilowog (New Earth)
- Bizarro I (New Earth)
- Great Darkness
- Adam Strange (New Earth)
- T:D:H:D (New Earth)
- Jonathan Kent (New Earth)
- Sigrid Nansen (New Earth)
- Skeets (New Earth)
- Ranx (New Earth)
- James Olsen (New Earth)
- Henry Ballard (New Earth)
- Dorcas Leigh (New Earth)
- Daniel Garrett (New Earth)
- Margaret Pye (New Earth)
- Qull (New Earth)
- Langford Terrill (New Earth)
- Gregory Sanders (New Earth)
- Roy Lincoln (New Earth)
- Emmett Vale (New Earth)
- Lara Lor-Van (New Earth)
- Ub'x (New Earth)
- Bog Venus (New Earth)
- Siegfried Horatio Hunch III (New Earth)
- Hugh Dawkins (New Earth)
- Buck LeSabre (New Earth)
- Earl Dukeston (New Earth)
- Nuada Silverhand (New Earth)
- Eochaid Bres (New Earth)
- Brimstone (New Earth)
- Burt Weston (New Earth)
- Marlene Simmonds (New Earth)
- Varix (New Earth)
Teams
Selected 1986 team debuts. See all.
