Rebirth Chronology

Another shard of the Totality falls to Earth, and is discovered by Ted Knight. He uses it to create a cosmic rod becoming Starman, then entrusts it to the U.S. government.

Justice League vol. 4 #31 (Early Nov. 2019)

1940s: Hawkman and Hawkgirl (Carter and Shiera Hall, first Rebirth appearance) begin collecting Nth metal artifacts, investigating their metal powers. They theorize that it conducts energy from elsewhere.

Dark Days: The Forge #1 (Aug. 2017)

1940s: From his museum in St. Roch, Louisiana, archaeologist Carter Hall learns that his history is older than Egypt. He calls a gathering of immortals (including Shazam and Ra's al Ghul).

Dark Days: The Casting #1 (Sept. 2017)

1940s: Carter and Shiera Hall create the Blackhawks. Note: The Rebirth version of the Blackhawks first appeared in All-Star Batman vol. 2 #6-9 (2016–17). Their first historical appearance was Military Comics #1 (Aug. 1941).

Dark Nights: Metal #1 (Oct. 2017)

1941: The Justice League's Flash (Barry Allen) and Green Lantern (John Stewart) arrive from the future in pursuit of a Totality fragment. They meet the Justice Society of America (first Rebirth appearance) in their secret New York headquarters: the Atom, Dr. Fate, the Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Hourman, Sandman, Starman and Wildcat.

Justice League vol. 4 #30 (Late Oct. 2019)

December 7, 1941: The Justice League heroes have never heard of the Justice Society (except for Doctor Fate and Hawkman). Barry's mention of Shiera Hall sends Hawkman into a rage. The Legion of Doom have somehow targeted Starman for his cosmic rod. They travel to find it in Hawai'i. Wildcat says that Sandman is a writer of pulp fiction.

Justice League vol. 4 #31 (Early Nov. 2019)

Sinestro pursues the Justice League into the past. Aquaman surprises them all with an appearance and leads the heroes to Atlantis.

Justice League vol. 4 #32 (Late Nov. 2019)

Aquaman seeks the Conch of Arion to call to Starman II in the future. In Atlantis, the Legion of Doom captures Poseidon. Vandal Savage and his contemporary Legionnaires Club step in to defend the city. Note: There are four Legionnaires, unnamed.

Justice League vol. 4 #33 (Early Dec. 2019)

Starman's cosmic rod activates the Conch of Arion which calls to Starman II. It links the past, present and future Starmen, who open a portal to bring all heroes together and banish Perpetua. Will Payton is killed by her instead. The Justice Society is transported to the 21st century.

Justice League vol. 4 #34 (Late Dec. 2019)

13 Jan. 1941: Dr. Fate and Salem search Slaughter Swamp for Mister Miracle of the Justice Society Dark (referencing Diamond Jack and Zatara). Note: First in-story appearance of Salem, anticipated by a profile in The New Golden Age #1 (Jan. 2023).

Justice Society of America vol. 4 #2 (Mar. 2023)

In battle with the Clock King, Green Arrow ad Speedy are sent back to the 1940s, where they join the Seven Soldiers of Victory.

Stargirl Spring Break Special #1 (July 2021)

Late 1941: The Crimson Avenger, Wing, Green Arrow, Speedy, the Shining Knight, the Star-Spangled Kid, Stripsey and the Vigilante join forces as the Seven Soldiers of Victory (a.k.a. the Law's Legionnaires).

Leading Comics #1 (Winter 1941)

1944: The Unknown Soldier delivers intel about Per Degaton to Sgt. Rock. They're too late to capture him before he escapes into the future, 1947. Notes: Per Degaton first appeared in All-Star Comics #35 (June/July 1947). The Unknown Soldier first appeared in Star-Spangled War Stories #151 (July 1970); Sgt. Rock in Our Army at War #81 (Apr. 1959).

Justice Society of America vol. 4 #3 (May 2023)

In pursuit of understanding of the Nth metal, Carter and Shiera Hall build Challengers Mountain and create the Challengers of the Unknown.

Dark Days: The Casting #1 (Sept. 2017)

Carter Hall meets Green Lantern Abin Sur.

Dark Nights: Metal #2 (Nov. 2017)

1948, London: After the Shade helps Hawkman drive off the Gentleman Ghost, Carter gifts him a raptor-headed cane.

Hawkman vol. 5 #16 (Jan. 2018)

31 Oct. 1951: The Justice Society faces the House Unamerican Activities Committee. They ultimately choose to retire rather than reveal their secret identities.

Adventure Comics #466 (Nov./Dec. 1979); The New Golden Age #1 (Jan. 2023)

Carter Hall recruits Dr. Will Magnus and T.O. Morrow, and their creations, the Metal Men and Red Tornado.

Dark Nights: Metal #1 (Oct. 2017)

1988: Lionel Luthor's scientist aboard the Stellaron-5 intercepts the Totality. A fraction of its power strikes Will Payton on Earth. He becomes Starman II and is captured by Lex Luthor — from the future.

Justice League vol. 4 #8 (Late Nov. 2018)

Carter Hall recruits the help of Starman II (Will Payton, first Rebirth appearance).

Dark Nights: Metal #1 (Oct. 2017)

Carter Hall finds the way to penetrate the Dark Multiverse and leaves Earth. He leaves his testament in the house of Thomas Wayne; its location to be triggered by metal at the rise of dark energies.

Dark Days: The Casting #1 (Sept. 2017)

Kendra Saunders destroys her Nth metal wings and dedicates herself to eliminating the metal from the multiverse. Notes: Carter's journal mentions Kendra (not Shiera). The fate of Shiera Hall is unknown.

Dark Nights: Metal #1 (Oct. 2017)

The hawk avatars are reborn as Wingmen Katar Hol and Shayera Thal of Thanagar.

Hawkman vol. 5 #4 (Nov. 2017)

Khalid Nassour becomes Dr. Fate VI. Note: Khalid's first appearance was Convergence: Aquaman #2 (July 2015).

Doctor Fate vol. 4 #1 (Aug. 2015)

Doctor Fate tells Ted Kord and the new Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes) that the beetle scarab is not alien, it is magical. Notes: Johnny Thunder is a resident of a nursing home who raves about a "Thunderbolt." Thunder's appearances in this and Doomsday Clock are not a part of Rebirth continuity. In these stories he is an "antibody," ostensibly created by the Metaverse to maintain the integrity of Superman's timeline. When the timeline is realigned in Doomsday Clock #12, Johnny's reality changes to become more like his pre-Flashpoint fate.

DC Universe: Rebirth (July 2016)

Khalid Nassour meets his (maternal) great-uncle, Kent Nelson, the original Doctor Fate (first Rebirth appearance). (#12) Nelson lives in the Tower of Fate in Salem, Massachusetts, demonstrates magic powers, and wears copies of the helmet and amulet. (#14–15) and refers to the Justice Society. (#16) Notes: This story was published at the dawn of "Rebirth," when the classic Dr. Fate also reappeared in DC Universe: Rebirth.

Doctor Fate vol. 4 #12–16 (July–Nov. 2016)

The Flash glimpses a vision of Jay Garrick's "helmet of Mercury," and it gives him a sense of hope.

The Flash vol. 5 #9 (Dec. 2016)

The Shade begins having doubts and fears about maintaining his happy life with Hope O'Dare. His shadows develop a will of their own and he seeks help from the Flash and Kid Flash. Note: This story validates events from Starman vol. 2 (pre-Flashpoint).

The Flash vol. 5 #10–12 (Jan.–Feb. 2017)

"The Button," part 4: While using the Cosmic Treadmill to pursue the Reverse-Flash, the Flash and Batman encounter Jay Garrick, the original Flash, and pull him momentarily back into the reality.

The Flash vol. 5 #22 (July 2017)

Mister Terrific (Michael Holt) returns to Earth-0 to help Batman investigate his mystery metals. They prepare to free Plastic Man (first Rebirth appearance) from an imposed dormancy. Note: This story clearly references Mr. Terrific's (pre-Rebirth) time on a parallel Earth.

Dark Days: The Forge #1 (Aug. 2017)

The Justice League meets Kendra Saunders aka Lady Blackhawk, who takes them to Blackhawk Island, a place that exists under "phantom frequencies" that disrupt space-time. She reveals the forgotten legacy of Carter Hall, Nth Metal, and its connection to a "Dark Multiverse," the source of their own existence. Batman discovers Hall's journal, left inside his mansion. Dr. Fate is a key ally in battling the approaching dark army.

Dark Nights: Metal #1 (Oct. 2017)

Lady Blackhawk meets again with Vandal Savage and his legion of immortals: Shazam, Morgaine Le Fay, Phantom Stranger, Uncle Sam, Ra's al Ghul, Cain and Abel. Batman is anointed with the 5 secret metals, and the doorway to the Dark Multiverse is opened. The Batman Who Laughs and his dark army step through.

Dark Nights: Metal #2 (Nov. 2017)

The Justice League comes up against the Dragon of Barbatos: Carter Hall! (#4) Hawkgirl frees Carter from his prison in the Dark Multiverse. (#5)

Dark Nights: Metal #4–5 (Feb.–Mar. 2018)

Kendra joins the Justice League as Hawkgirl II. Carter Hall recovers on Blackhawk Island.

Dark Nights: Metal #6 (May 2018)

Mr. Terrific becomes energetically tethered to three other heroes: Metamorpho, Phantom Girl and Plastic Man. They form a team that is later called the Terrifics. Note: This series ran for 27 issues (2018–2020). Its Phantom Girl was a 21st century hero, not from the future.

The Terrifics #1 (Apr. 2018)

Lois Lane receives a computer drive from Lex Luthor with newsreel footage from April 2, 1941 that shows the "Justice Society of America"; she does not recognize them. Note: The single-panel appearance depicts Hawkman, Green Lantern, Dr. Fate, Spectre, Sandman, Flash, Hourman.

Doomsday Clock #8 (Feb. 2019)

Doctor Manhattan reverses his tampering with history, restoring the event that led Alan Scott to become the first Green Lantern, and the legacy of the Justice Society of America. The timeline of Earth-0 (the "Metaverse") realigns around Superman's current existence and the current-day Justice Society spontaneously joins his side to battle Black Adam and an army of international metahumans. First Rebirth appearances of Atom-Smasher, Cyclone, Dr. Midnight (Beth Chapel), Damage, Hourman II, Jade, Jakeem Thunder, Liberty Belle, Obsidian, Power Girl, Sand, Stargirl, S.T.R.I.P.E. and Wildcat II (Yolanda Montez). Note: Manhattan's tampering was revealed in Doomsday Clock #9 (May 2019). This appearance is a resurrection from the dead for Damage, Dr. Midnight and Wildcat II, who were deceased prior to "Flashpoint."

Doomsday Clock #12 (Feb. 2020)

Carter Hall resumes his expeditions and visits Madame Xanadu to analyze his own blood. He glimpses the truth of his existence: he has been reincarnating across space, and for longer than he realized.

Hawkman vol. 5 #1 (Aug. 2018)

On Dinosaur Island, Hawkman meets a "feral flock" of Feitherans.

Hawkman vol. 5 #2 (Oct. 2017)

A fragment of the broken Source Wall, breaks off and rockets to Earth, shedding fragments across all times. It contains the Totality, an essential energy of existence. Vandal Savage has been preparing for this event for eons, building his Injustice Society. Lex Luthor kills him, takes his fragment of the Totality and also his floating headquarters as the base for his Legion of Doom (Grodd, Sinestro, the Joker, Black Manta and Cheetah). They begin collecting the Seven Dark Forces of the universe. Note: Cameo appearances of the Justice Legion A and Starman (Ted Knight).

Justice League vol. 4 #1 (Early Aug. 2018)

Starman II (Will Payton) arrives from the past to warn the Justice League of impending doom. He is powered by a fragment of the Totality.

Justice League vol. 4 #7 (Early Nov. 2018)

Hawkman enlists the help of the Shade to fight the Shadow Thief.

Hawkman vol. 5 #15–17 (Oct.–Dec. 2019)

Starman senses a Totality fragment in the past. He opens a gateway for the Flash and Green Lantern John Stewart to go to 1942.

Justice League vol. 4 #35-36 (Jan. 2020)

The Justice Society joins the Justice League and the Justice Legion A in fighting Perpetua and the Legion of Doom. Perpetua destroys universe-19 (Gotham by Gaslight).

Justice League vol. 4 #35-36 (Jan. 2020)

Perpetua destroys universe Earth-44 but the heroes begin to turn the energies on Earth-0 back toward the side of good.

Justice League vol. 4 #37 (Early Feb. 2020)

When the Martian Manhunter returns, it looks as though the heroes have triumphed against Perpetua. But the people of Earth have lost too much faith, and Perpetua wins. She returns past and future heroes to their places and destroys the League. The Justice League are saved by the Quintessence (Highfather, Phantom Stranger, Ganthet, Hera and Shazam, with the Spectre), who preserved the essential histories of the multiverse. The Justice League accepts their offer to be "reinserted" into the current (Rebirth) state of reality. Notes: The mechanics of the Quintessences's actions are very vague, but this event syncs with Dr. Manhattan's restoration of the JSA and Legion in Doomsday Clock #12, the official end to the New 52 timeline.

Justice League vol. 4 #39 (Mar. 2020)

Detective Jim Corrigan is kidnapped in Gotham City by the Cult of the Divine Hand. They separate him from the Spectre in an attempt to control its power. The Spectre recruits Batman to help.

Detective Comics #1006–1007 (Aug.–Sept. 2019)