Overview:
“Our Worlds at War” is a DC event that took place in 2001 and left a lasting impact on the DC Universe. This acclaimed event, featuring notable authors and artists like Jeph Loeb, Joe Casey, Phil Jimenez, and Mike Wieringo, captivated readers with its engaging storyline and stunning artwork.
The core narrative centered around an immense war threatening the entire DC Universe, with Earth becoming the battleground for an intergalactic conflict. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and a myriad of other major characters joined forces with teams like the Justice League, Teen Titans, and the Outsiders to defend their planet and save lives.
Following the event, “Our Worlds at War” led to significant changes within the DC Universe. The Superman family of titles underwent restructuring, with “Superman” being rebranded as “Adventures of Superman,” exploring Superman’s adventures outside Metropolis. “Superman: The Man of Steel” delved into the aftermath of the war, impacting Superman’s world.
The event also introduced compelling story elements and character developments, notably shaping Wonder Woman’s growth as a warrior and diplomat. These changes laid the foundation for future storylines, leaving an indelible mark on the DC Universe that continued to influence its comic book landscape for years to come.
Background Reading:
- None
Related Guides
Best Way To Read:
Superman: Our Worlds at War
For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.
For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.
Reading Order:
| Title | Importance | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| Superman Vol. 2 #171 | Prelude to War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Green Lantern: Our Worlds at War #1 | Prelude to War | Uncollected |
| Adventures of Superman #593 | Prelude to War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Batman: Our Worlds at War #1 | Prelude to War | Uncollected |
| Superman: Man of Steel #115 | Prelude to War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Young Justice: Our Worlds at War #1 | Prelude to War | Uncollected |
| Superboy Vol. 4 #89 | Prelude to War | Uncollected |
| Action Comics #780 | Prelude to War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #171 | Prelude to War | Uncollected |
| Supergirl Vol. 4 #59 | Prelude to War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Superman: Our Worlds at War Secret Files and Origins #1 | Prelude to War | Uncollected |
| Superman Vol. 2 #172 | All-Out War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| JLA: Our Worlds at War #1 | All-Out War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Young Justice #35 | All-Out War | Uncollected |
| Adventures of Superman #594 | All-Out War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Nightwing: Our Worlds at War #1 | All-Out War | Uncollected |
| Superman: Man of Steel #116 | All-Out War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Superboy Vol. 4 #90 | All-Out War | Uncollected |
| JSA: Our Worlds at War #1 | All-Out War | Uncollected |
| Action Comics #781 | All-Out War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Batman #593 | All-Out War | Uncollected |
| Supergirl Vol. 4 #60 | All-Out War | Uncollected |
| Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #172 | All-Out War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Wonder Woman: Our Worlds at War #1 | All-Out War | Uncollected |
| Superman Vol. 2 #173 | Casualties of War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Young Justice #36 | Casualties of War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Adventures of Superman #595 | Casualties of War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Flash: Our Worlds at War #1 | Casualties of War | Uncollected |
| Impulse #77 | Casualties of War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Superman: Man of Steel #117 | Casualties of War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Harley Quinn: Our Worlds at War #1 | Casualties of War | Uncollected |
| Superboy Vol. 4 #91 | Casualties of War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Action Comics #782 | Casualties of War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #173 | Casualties of War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Supergirl Vol. 4 #61 | Casualties of War | Uncollected |
| Batman #594 | Casualties of War | Uncollected |
| World’s Finest: Our Worlds at War #1 | Casualties of War | Superman: Our Worlds at War |
| Superman/Batman #64 | Extended Story in 2010 – Prologue | Uncollected |
| Superman/Batman #68 | Extended Story in 2010 | Uncollected |
| Superman/Batman #69 | Extended Story in 2010 | Uncollected |
| Superman/Batman #70 | Extended Story in 2010 | Uncollected |
| Superman/Batman #71 | Extended Story in 2010 | Uncollected |
References:
Feature Image World’s Finest: Our Worlds at War #1 cover art by Jose Villarrubia and Jae Lee
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