The Golden Age

(DC, 1993, 2001)
™ and © DC Comics

In the early ’40s, America was engulfed in the bloodiest war it had ever seen. But for all the tragedy, it was also a time of wonder and heroes. On the home front, legends such as Hawkman, Green Lantern, Dr. Mid-Nite, Hourman, and countless others fought the good fight against crime and sabotage. They would have fought the war itself had it not been for a German superman called Parsifal, whose power negated theirs. Parsifal was eventually defeated by the Americommando, but by then the bomb had been developed. Soon it was all over.

It was the beginning of a new age of hope for America, but the end of the Golden Age for its heroes. Some retired, others went insane. Some did worse.

The Golden Age is a masterfully crafted Elseworlds series by James Robinson and Paul Smith. Because it’s an Elseworlds story, it didn’t happen—but it could have.

Jump to issue: