Cartoon Network is a cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting, a Time Warner company, which, as the name suggests, primarily shows animated programming. It has been the home of many DC Comics animated projects, both in their original run and in reruns. DC in return published a number of tie-in comics of Cartoon Network properties.
History
Cartoon Network is primarily youth oriented, but it has an adult orientated block called Adult Swim. DC Comics-related projects that debuted on the network include The Batman, Justice League/Unlimited, Teen Titans, Young Justice, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, DC Nation, Beware the Batman and Teen Titans Go! In the past, the channel also showed reruns of Super Friends, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, and Static Shock.
Following Time Warner's merger with Turner Broadcasting in 1996, DC Comics obtained the license to publish comic books based on Cartoon Network's original programming, along with the Hanna-Barbera license (previously held by Archie Comics). From 1997 to 2012, DC published a long-running series of anthology comic books featuring Cartoon Network's shows, with two particular shows, Dexter's Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls, getting their own ongoing titles. Eventually, DC was publishing two different anthology titles, Block Party and Action Pack, with the former focusing on the humor-oriented shows while the latter focused on stories based on action-oriented shows. However, both titles were eventually cancelled in 2009 and 2012, respectively.
Cartoons based on DC Comics properties still premiere on Cartoon Network, with their respective comic tie-in books being published by DC itself. However, the comic book license for past Cartoon Network shows later moved to IDW Publishing (who also reprinted several of DC's Cartoon Network comics), while comic books based on newer, non-DC-related Cartoon Network originals (such as Adventure Time and Regular Show) are currently handled by Boom! Studios.
Content
Ongoing series
- Teen Titans Go! (2013 - present)
- Batwheels (2022 - present)
- My Adventures with Superman (2023 - present)
Completed series
- Justice League (2001 - 2004)
- Teen Titans (2003 - 2006)
- Justice League Unlimited (2004 - 2006)
- The Batman (2004 - 2008)
- Krypto the Superdog (2005 - 2006)
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008 - 2011)
- Young Justice (2010 - 2022) (Seasons 1 & 2 Only)
- Green Lantern: The Animated Series (2011 - 2013)
- Beware the Batman (2013 - 2014)
- Justice League Action (2016 - 2018)
- DC Super Hero Girls (2019 - 2021)
Licensed comics
- Cartoon Network Presents (Volume 1)
- Dexter's Laboratory (Volume 1)
- Cartoon Network Starring (Volume 1)
- Powerpuff Girls (Volume 1)
- Cartoon Cartoons (Volume 1)
- Cartoon Network Block Party (Volume 1)
- Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi (Volume 1)
- Cartoon Network Action Pack (Volume 1)
See Also
- Pages related to Cartoon Network
- Cartoon Network Characters
Trivia
- My Adventures with Superman is the first DC animated series to run during Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block.
- Batwheels is the first DC animated series to air during Cartoon Network's Cartoonito block.
Links and References