The New Age, from about 1993 to present.

 

Zero Hour

Zero Hour was a five issue mini-series that was designed to straighten out, once and for all, the problems that lingered after Crisis.  It established a DC Universe timeline and brought back members of the JSA to the forefront, arguing that although there was a plot-device to keep them young, they were actually very old and should no longer be operating.  Therefore, heroes such as the Atom were killed when they resumed their appropriate ages.  This series also cleared the slate for an all-new generation of JSA stars, pulled from the sons and daughters of the originals, many of whom who had already been spotlighted in Infinity Inc.

 

Batman/Detective Comics/Batman: Shadow of the Bat/Legends of the Dark Knight

The character of Batman of the 90s was one under tremendous strain and turmoil, especially in the many, well-written mega-crossovers that often involved all the bat-titles.  Robin, Batgirl, Oracle, Azrael, even Anarchy, all achieved their own books during this period.  Two influential crossovers, Knightfall and No Man's Land, established to DC that good storytelling and money could be made, hand in hand.  These stories could then be packaged into Trade Paperbacks and sold on newstands.  Shadow of the Bat was later replaced by Gotham Knights, a title that explored untold tales.

 

Superman/Action Comics/Adventures of Superman/Superman: Man of Steel

Superman was more popular than he had been in years, thanks to some startling crossovers that lit up the mainstream media.  Superman 'died' and was reborn in the Reign of Superman storyarc.  The Eradicator returned, Matrix evolved into a supergirl angel, and a fifth Superman title began.  Now there was a Superman story virtually each week, not to mention the other titles that began, such as Superboy, Steel and Supergirl.  Steel would begin in 1994 but would be cancelled shortly after.

 

Supergirl

Peter David took hold of Supergirl and told her story beginning in 1994.  Supergirl had been the John Byrne Supergirl, who for many years was a protoplasm creation, given powers by Luthor and not a very well-developed character.  David twisted the character and added some new powers, then took those powers away and even gave Supergirl a new costume remiscent of one presented in the Superman cartoon in 2000.  Supergirl was also subtly regressed in age.

 

Superboy

A third series featuring Superboy was started in 1994 following the Reign of Superman storyline.  This time, Superboy was a clone of Superman himself, created by Project Cadmus.  The series had comedy and character development, but was never a huge, market-seller.  It would be cancelled with issue 100.

 

 

Green Lantern

Green Lantern Corps and Green Lantern Corps Quarterly were cancelled in the 90s.  Green Lantern: Mosaic, which featured Jon Stewart, was also cancelled.  Hal Jordan was killed in the Final Night storyline and Green Arrow was also cancelled.  The ring was awarded to newcomer Kyle Rayner and a third series was started in 1990.  This new series outsold all of the old Green Lantern comics that languished through the 80s.

 

Robin

After a series of mini-series, a new series started in 1993 starring Robin III, Tim Drake.  This comic featured the teenage Robin and other supporting characters that were distinquishable from Batman and his comics.  Robin also developed his very own supervillain gallery as well, including the King Snake.  Spoiler later became very popular on into 2000 and became pregnant in a contraversial story.

 

Aquaman

Aquaman's fifth series began in 1994 and languished in the basement of sales until Peter David stepped in and created a new version of Aquaman in 1997, a hardened man who had lost his arm and daughter, to enemies.  He was essential to the new JLA series, but his series would be cancelled in 2001.  He would then be killed in a crossover event.

 

JLA

Justice League of America, with an ethnically diverse cast and old-mainstays such as Guy Gardner, was cancelled in 1996.  However, when Grant Morrison stepped on board, he created an all-new JLA, bringing together the big five heroes that had made the Silver Age League popular.  His writing was excellent and so good that it overshadowed every writer that came afterward.  Morrison not only established these New Age characters as a team, but also brought back Silver Age villains, such as Starro and Dr. T.O. Morrow.

 

 

Wonder Woman

Byrne would visit Wonder Woman in 1997 when the series was suffering from low-sales.  In a vastly overrated and cliche event, Diana was 'killed' and replaced by Artemis as Wonder Woman.  Diana was later returned and Byrne left the book, thankfully.  It was only when Phil Jimenez stepped in did Wonder Woman achieve critical acclaim and become one of the most influential books in 2000-1.

 

Birds of Prey

Although Barbara Gordon had been paralyzed in the critically acclaimed Killing Joke, she became one of the most popular heroes in an all-new Birds of Prey series in 1999.  With Green Arrow dead, the Black Canary character was able to grow and evolve under Chuck Dixon.  Barbara Gordan, Oracle, was voted the best superheroine in 2002.

 

JSA

Although most of the old-time JSA members had either retired or died in Zero Hour, an all-new JSA was started in 1999 thanks to Geoff Johns.  This series was remincient of Infinity Inc., as it starred second generation heroes, such as Sandy the Golden Boy who became not only inherited the Sandman monikor from Wesley Dodds, but became leader of JSA.  An african american Mr. Terrific was later elected chairman and Johns also re-established Hawkman and Hawkgirl, who had been lost in a mess of continuity.

 

Batgirl

This series was as contraversial as it was popular.  It established the new Batgirl, who had been introduced in the No Man's Land crossover over in the Batman comics.  She was young, had a bit of a reading disability but also had new age art to drive it.