DC/Marvel merged timeline

Context

This is an unfinished timeline I developed for my combined Marvel-DC campaign. Since my players are mostly “beer and pretzels” types who don’t really care about such trivia, I never got around to finishing it.

Besides the “amalgam”  aspect, the main conceit is that all the heroes aged in real time from the date of their first appearance. Which means most of them are conveniently dead or retired by the time the PCs come along. Feel free to suggest additions or alternatives…

This article is one of the various campaign timelines on writeups.org.

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Chronology

1918

• The planet Krypton explodes, killing most of the inhabitants. Scientist Jor-El manages to save his infant son Kal-El by sending him in a rocket to Earth. Two cities, protected by atmospheric domes, survive: Argo City, a peaceful scientific colony; and Kree-Lar, a military outpost. The two clash over the division of resources, and a long civil war begins.
• Young Bruce Wayne sees his parents murdered before his eyes. He swears to spend the rest of his life making war on criminals, and begins an intensive training program to fulfill that vow.

1920

• The Atlantean princess Fen meets and falls in love with the human sailor Leonard MacKenzie. The two are separated shortly thereafter, but not before Fen becomes pregnant with twin sons. The Atlantean people accept one twin, Namor. The other is considered too human looking and is given to lighthouse keeper Tom Curry to raise. Curry names his new son Arthur.

1938

• Kal-El, a.k.a. Superman I, makes his public debut.
• Stage magician John Zatara turns his sorcerous talents to fighting crime.

1939

• Millionaire Bruce Wayne adopts the guise of Batman I.
• Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, is first seen by surface dwellers.
• The android known as the Human Torch I is unleashed on the world.

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1940

• When criminals kill young circus acrobat Dick Grayson’s parents, Bruce (Batman I) Wayne adopts him. Dick becomes his sidekick, Robin I.
• The Kree discover Kal-El’s presence on Earth, and send a scout ship to capture him. But a malfunction in the ship causes it to explode in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Two escape pods survive the destruction and land at different locations.
  A mortally wounded Mar-Vell lands near Fawcett City and staggers into an abandoned subway tunnel. There he meets the ancient Egyptian wizard, Shazam, who saves Mar-Vell’s life by placing him in stasis in the other-dimensional Negative Zone.
  Shazam then gives a pair of mystical bracelets to a young orphan named Billy Batson. The bracelets allow Billy to trade places with Mar-Vell for a few hours at a time. Americanizing his name to Captain Marvel I, the Kree warrior becomes a powerful force for good on his adopted planet.
  Yon-Rogg, meanwhile, lands in Germany, where he forges an alliance with Adolph Hitler and takes on the new name of Captain Nazi.
• Exposure to strange chemicals turns Jay Garrick into the super-speeding Flash I.
• Alan Scott acquires the miraculous artifact that turns him into Green Lantern I.
• Archeologist Carter Hall discovers an anti-gravity metal and adopts the identity of Hawkman I.
• Policeman Jim Corrigan dies, but is resurrected as the spirit of vengeance called The Spectre.
• Kent Nelson, disciple of the ancient sorcerer Nabu, makes his public debut as the heroic magician Dr. Fate.
• Flash I, Green Lantern I, Hawkman I, Hourman, the Spectre, the Atom I, Sandman, Dr. Fate, and Johnny Thunder form the Justice Society of America.

1941

• Steve Rogers volunteers for the government’s secret “Project Rebirth” and becomes Captain America I.
• A chemical accident turns criminal Eel O’Brien into the heroic Plastic Man.
• Millionaire Oliver Queen and his ward Roy Harper adopt the identities of Green Arrow I and Speedy I.
• Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman, is first seen by surface-dwellers.
• Fearing that his study of magic is causing him to lose his humanity, Dr. Fate rejects Nabu. He dons a new helmet, and continues his fight against evil relying solely on the physical powers he’s developed.
• Green Arrow I, Speedy I, the Star-Spangled Kid, Stripesy, Vigilante, the Shining Knight, and the Crimson Avenger join forces as The Seven Soldiers of Victory.
• In the wake of Pearl Harbor, the Justice Society attempts to invade Japan. Unfortunately, a young prodigy named Victor Von Doom uses a mind-control device to prevent the most powerful members from entering the Axis territories.
• Captain Nazi arms the Germans with Kree war machines and leads an attack on America. Captain Marvel I defeats the invasion, with some help from a heroic young lad named Freddy Freeman. Freddy is mortally wounded in the battle, but Captain Marvel I uses the Kree machinery to heal his wounds.
  As a side effect, Freddy gains Kree-like abilities, and takes on the identity of Captain Marvel Jr.

1942

• Princess Diana of the Amazons comes to America as Wonder Woman I.
• Billy Batson discovers he has a long-lost twin sister, Mary. When they are reunited, their close bond somehow causes some of Captain Marvel I’s energies to transfer to her, giving her the powers of Mary Marvel.
• With the JSA unable to enter the war effort, British Prime Minister Winston Chruchill suggests forming a second team to fight in Europe. Captain America I, Bucky I, Human Torch I, Toro, and Sub-Mariner answer the call as The Invaders. Later in the war they are joined by such stalwarts as Black Condor, Doll Man, the Human Bomb, the Ray, and Phantom Lady.

1945

• In a climactic battle with Baron Zemo, Captain America I is thrown into suspended animation, and Bucky I is killed. For the duration of the war, President Truman asks Stripesy and The Star-Spangled Kid to fill in as Captain America II and Bucky II.
• Superman I and Lois Lane are wed, and their son Superboy is born nine months later.

1946

• The Sub-Mariner, Captain America II, Bucky II, Human Torch I, Toro, Phantom Lady, and The Ray unite to form the short-lived All-Winners Squad.

1947

• Batman I marries his long-time girlfriend Linda Page. Their son Bruce Jr. is born soon after.
• Dinah Drake adopts the identity of Black Canary.

1951

• Mutant Adam Blake makes his first appearance as Captain Comet.
• In response to accusations from Senator Joseph McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities Committee, the Justice Society disbands. The chief witness against them is Captain America III, a man recruited by the government to assume the role.

1952

• The enigmatic Phantom Stranger is first sighted.

1954

• Dr. Sivana murders Billy Batson and steals his magic wristbands, stranding Captain Marvel I in the Negative Zone. Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr. find their powers fading away as well, and retire from adventuring. Mary later marries scientist Fred Danvers and they have a daughter, Carol.
• Captain America III and Bucky III are placed into suspended animation by the government when they become a political embarrassment.
• Captain Comet is crippled during a battle with General Immortus. He goes into seclusion to further develop his mental powers.

1955

• J’onn J’onnz, the Martian Manhunter becomes stranded on Earth.
• The villainous Destiny completely wipes out the Sub-Mariner’s memory.

1956

• Lightning and chemicals combine to transform Barry Allen into Flash II.
• Circus aerialist Kathy Kane first dons the costume of Batwoman.

1957

• After escaping certain death, four daredevils unite to become the Challengers of the Unknown: Red, Prof, Rocky, and Ace.

1958

• Superboy travels to the 30^th century to join the Legion of Super-Heroes. Though he spends several years there, he returns only a few moments after he left. Now an adult, he adopts the name Superman II.
• Earthman Adam Strange makes the first of many journeys to the distant planet Rann.

1959

• The Kree attack and destroy Argo City. The only survivor is Kara Zor-El, who escapes to Earth and meets her cousins, Superman I and Superman II. Inspired by them, she takes on the identity of Supergirl. Superman I arranges for Kara to be adopted by his friends Fred and Mary Danvers, and she becomes “big sister” to their young daughter Carol.
• A dying Alan Scott passes his ring to Hal Jordan, dubbing him Green Lantern II.

1960

• Robin I takes over the role of Batman II, while Bruce Wayne Jr. becomes the new Robin II.
• Aquaman adopts Aqualad as his partner.
• Roy Harper becomes Green Arrow II and takes on a young carnival performer named Hawkeye (Clint Barton) as his partner.
• Superman II, Batman II, Flash II, Wonder Woman I, Green Lantern II, Aquaman, and the Martian Manhunter gather together to form The Justice League of America.

1961

• Four would-be astronauts are exposed to cosmic rays and become the Fantastic Four: Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, Human Torch II, and the Thing.
• With the Sub-Mariner missing and presumed dead, Aquaman ascends to the throne of Atlantis.
• Research partners Ray Palmer and Hank Pym go their separate ways when they can’t agree on the best way to proceed in their miniaturization experiments. Palmer’s theories are vindicated when he discovers the white dwarf meteor that allows him to become Atom II.
• Alien policemen Katar and Shyera Hol are taken “under the wing” of the original Hawkman I and become Hawkman II and Hawkgirl II.
• Batman II and Batwoman are wed. They adopt Batwoman’s young niece, Betty Kane, when her parents pass away. Betty takes on the identity of Bat-Girl for a few years, but gives it up when she leaves home to go to law school.
• Research scientist Bruce Banner has a brief, torrid affair with Betty Ross. Betty’s father, General Ross, does not approve of the relationship and breaks the two up.
  When Betty turns out to be pregnant, her father covers up the pregnancy and the resulting daughter, Jennifer, is put up for adoption. Banner does not learn of her existence for many years.

1962

• A gamma bomb explosion turns Bruce Banner into the Jekyll-and-Hyde creature called the Hulk.
• Dr. Don Blake discovers the hammer of Thor.
• The bite of a radioactive spider turns Peter Parker into Spider-Man.
• The Human Torch II discovers the Sub-Mariner living in the Bowery, and helps him regain his memory. Upon returning to his people, Namor is outraged to learn that his brother is now king. A civil war ensues, with the people of Poseidonis siding with Aquaman, and the citizens of Tritonis backing Namor.
• Dr. Henry Pym matches his ex-colleague’s accomplishments when he discovers the shrinking gas that allows him to become Ant Man I (a.k.a. Giant-Man, Goliath, and Yellowjacket).
• Brothers Will and Joseph Magnus construct a group of amazingly lifelike robots, The Metal Men: Iron, Gold, Lead, Mercury, Tin, and Platinum. But when Will realizes that his brother’s intentions are not as altruistic as his own, he throws Jospeh out of the laboratory. Developing his mutant powers of magnetism, Joseph takes on the nefarious identity of Magneto.

1963

• While suffering from amnesia, Superman II meets and falls in love with Sally Selwyn. When his memory returns, he reveals his true identity to her, and the two are wed. Before long, they have a son, Clark Kent III.
• His heart injured by shrapnel, inventor Tony Stark creates the life-saving armor of Iron Man.
• Thor, The Hulk, Ant Man, The Wasp, and Iron Man meet and form The Avengers.
• Having developed his mental powers to the fullest, Captain Comet forms a team of operatives to help him protect the world from evil. His X-Men consist of mutants like himself, as well as other outcasts from society: Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Angel, Robotman, Elasti-Girl, and Negative Man. In later years, such stalwarts as The Beast, Mento, Havok, and Polaris will join them.
• An aging Nabu passes his responsibilities on to a new disciple, Dr. Stephen Strange.
• The Justice Society of America comes out of retirement for the first of several meetings with the Justice League.
  Black Canary’s daughter, Natalie Lance, is kidnapped and brainwashed by Russian spies into becoming their ally. Renamed “Natalia Romanoff”, she becomes better known as The Black Widow.
• A scratch from a magical black diamond transforms Bruce Gordon into the villainous Eclipso. His wife Mona and their friend Professor Bennett follow Eclipso’s trail, thwarting his schemes and hoping to somehow return him to normal. In the meantime, Bruce and Mona’s daughter Barbara is left in the care of her grandfather, Commissioner James Gordon.

1964

• Captain America I is revived from suspended animation and joins the Avengers. Soon after, his eternal nemesis The Red Skull is likewise returned to life by the criminal organization called A.I.M..
• Blind lawyer Matt Murdock uses his other enhanced senses to become Daredevil.
• Donna Troy, a young orphan rescued and taken in by Wonder Woman I, becomes Wonder Girl.
• Robin II, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Hawkeye, and Aqualad form the Teen Titans. Hawkeye leaves the team in disgrace when it is discovered that he has been having an affair with — and aiding the schemes of — The Black Widow.

1965

• Col. Nick Fury becomes director of the Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-Enforcement Division (S.H.I.E.L.D.).
• Mr. Fantastic and The Invisible Girl are wed.
• An ancient meteor transforms Rex Mason into Metamorpho.

1966

• Galactus makes his first attempt to consume the Earth. He is thwarted by the Fantastic Four and his own rebellious herald, the Silver Surfer, who is exiled to Earth as a result.
• Spider-Man marries his sweetheart Gwen Stacy. The two soon have a daughter, Jessica.
• African prince T’Challa, a.k.a. the Black Panther, is revealed to the world.

1967

• The robot villain Ultron rebuilds the Human Torch I into The Vision as part of a scheme against the Avengers. But the Vision rebels and becomes a valued member of the team.
• Barbara Gordon creates the costumed identity of Batgirl II for a Halloween party, but soon finds herself fighting crime for real.
• Circus aerialist Boston Brand is murdered… but his ghost remains on Earth to track down his killer as Deadman.

1968

• The Red Skull kills Captain Comet, Robotman, Elasti-Girl, and Negative Man. The remaining X-Men are left to carry on without their leader.
• Diana Prince gives up the powers and immortality of Wonder Woman to live as a normal human. She marries Steve Trevor, and the two eventually have a daughter, Lyta. Diana’s adopted sister, Wonder Girl, takes over as Wonder Woman II.
• Franklin Richards, the son of Mr. Fantastic and The Invisible Girl is born.
• Reporter Jack Ryder takes on the identity of the Creeper.

1969

• The wizard Shazam finally discovers the location of the stolen wristbands. He mentally influences young Rick Jones to retrieve them, allowing him to free Captain Marvel I from the Negative Zone.
• Hawkeye manages to rescue and deprogram The Black Widow. A loyal American citizen once more, The Widow goes on to become a valued member of the JLA.

1970

• The Thing marries his long-time sweetheart Alicia Masters. Their daughter Sharon arrives not long after.
• Cyclops and Marvel Girl are married. They are soon blessed with the birth of a daughter named Rachel.

1971

• Darkseid, evil lord of Apokalips, takes an active interest in Earth. His schemes are opposed by the heroes of New Genesis: Mr. Miracle, the New Gods, and the Forever People, as well as Jimmy Olsen Jr. and his allies The Teen Brigade.
• While attempting to replicate “Project Rebirth”, a laboratory accident transforms scientist Alec Holland into the hideous Man-Thing. Holland’s mind comes and goes… in his moments of lucidity, he is a force for good, while searching for a cure for his condition. But the rest of the time, he is a near-mindless monster, who’s very touch is burning death.

1972

• Parapsychologist Jason Blood discovers that he is in fact The Demon Etrigan.
• Count Dracula is revived, and comes to America to resume his reign of terror.
• Wrongly convicted prison inmate Luke Cage volunteers for the experiment that turns him into Power Man.
• A different sort of experiment turns Greer Nelson into The Cat.

1973

• Against their fathers’ wishes, grade-schoolers Clark Kent III and Bruce Grayson take on the identities of Superman Jr. and Batman Jr., respectively.
• The Green Goblin kidnaps Spider-Man’s young daughter Jessica. The Goblin’s accomplices take her to Europe for safekeeping, and the Goblin uses her to blackmail his old foe. But Spider-Man defies the Goblin, and the villain is accidentally killed in the subsequent battle. Spidey has no way of tracking down his daughter and the resulting stress destoys his marriage.
• The cosmic axis shifts, trapping Howard the Duck in a world of hairless apes.

1974

• The gun-toting vigilante known as The Punisher begins his war on crime.
• The Canadian government’s secret weapon, Wolverine, first appears.
• Paul Kirk is revived by the villainous Council, and Manhunter returns to action. He turns against his evil masters, however, and sacrifices his life to defeat them.

1975

• Cyclops and Marvel Girl recruit a new group of X-Men: Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Negative Woman, Celsius, and Tempest.
• Dr. Strange, the Sub-Mariner, and the Hulk form the loose association known as the Defenders.

1976

• Superman II’s daughter Kara, a.k.a. Power Girl, makes her superhero debut.
• In order to restore peace and unity to Atlantis, Aquaman willingly steps down in favor of Sub-Mariner.
• Rachel Summers is killed by the robotic Sentinels, but her previously unsuspected powers emerge, and she is resurrected as Phoenix. The transformation causes her to physically age to adulthood, but she still has the emotional maturity of a child, and the X-Men have an increasingly difficult time keeping her powers under control.

1977

• When the League of Assassins murders Batwoman, Betty Kane comes out of “retirement” to avenge her death. Since another woman has adopted the identity of Batgirl, Betty creates a new costumed persona: The Huntress.
• Captain Nazi returns to Earth, determined to kill Captain Marvel I. As part of his scheme, he kidnaps Mary Batson’s daughter, Carol Danvers. Nazi dies, and Carol is rescued, but the radiation from Captain Nazi’s machinery have a strange effect on her. The dormant powers she inherited from her mother surface, and Carol becomes Ms. Marvel.

1978

• Spider-Man’s daughter is taken under the wing of the international terrorist organization Hydra. They train her in the use of the spider-powers she inherited from her father, in hopes of creating the ultimate assassin. Jessica eventually turns against them and attempts to make a life for herself as Spider-Woman.

1979

• Batman I is killed in battle with Baron Mordo.
• The interdimensional travelers known as The Micronauts first arrive in our world.
• The alien Spaceknight called Rom comes to Earth to thwart a secret invasion.
• Henry Pym’s estranged son (from his first marriage), Scott is reconciled with his father and becomes Ant-Man II.

1980

• Bruce Banner’s long-lost daughter, Jennifer Walters, discovers her true parentage when she spontaneously transforms into She-Hulk.
• Phoenix loses control of her powers, and threatens to destroy the universe. The X-Men try to restrain her, and Cyclops is killed in the battle. Phoenix is overcome with remorse, and commits suicide. The X-Men disband.

1982

• Robin II elects to take on the new identity of Nightwing, leaving Batman Jr. to inherit the mantle of Batman III.
• Captain Marvel I dies of cancer. Before he passes on, he manages to transfer his powers to a policewoman named Monica Rambeau, turning her into Captain Marvel II.
• Marvel Girl gathers a group of New Mutants: Sprite, Cannonball, Sunspot, Karma, Psyche, and Wolfsbane.

1983

• Age and a bout with alcoholism cause Tony Stark to give up his suit of armor, and designate his friend Jim Rhodes as Iron Man II.

1984

• Lyta Trevor takes on the mantle of Wonder Woman III.
• On his deathbed, Green Lantern II divides the power of his ring among his four children, creating the Power Pack: Gee, Mass-Master, Energizer, and Lightspeed.

1985

• A mysterious being called The Monitor from Beyond gathers the villains of Earth into a massive army to conquer the universe. In return, he grants them increased power and renewed youth. Earth’s heroes attack and eventually defeat this army, and many of the older heroes sacrifice their lives in order to destroy The Monitor.

1988

• Nick Fury retires as director of S.H.I.E.L.D., and names Captain America I as his replacement.

1989

• Mr. Fantastic, The Invisible Girl, The Human Torch II, and The Thing retire from the Fantastic Four. They are replaced by Ultiman (Franklin Richards), She-Thing (Sharon Grimm), Nova (Frankie Raymond), and ???

By JK Carrier