New History of the DC Universe #4

Mark Waid Writer

Howard Porter & Hayden Sherman Artists

Hi-Fi & Tríona Farrell Colorists

Todd Klein Letterer

Chris Samnee & Giovanna Niro Cover Artists

Megen Bellersen, Louis Prandi & Curtis King Jr. Publication Design

Marquis Draper Associate Editor

Brittany Holzherr & Andrew Marino Editors

Superman created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster.

Superboy created by Jerry Siegel.

Supergirl based on the characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster.

By special arrangement with the Jerry Siegel Family.

Unsurprisingly, Impulse was not included on this issue's cover or any of the variant covers, either. Regardless, we're still treated to another beautiful work from Chris Samnee — except for poor Damien Wayne. His head got sqooshed for some reason.

Anyway, Bart was not included in the coverage of Blackest Night or Flashpoint, but we did get a tiny glimpse of our old New 52 friend, Bar Torr. The most interesting thing for me was seeing that Dr. Manhattan was the one who put together the New 52 universe — not Pandora, as was originally intended.

We don't actually get to see the real Bart Allen until the formation of the new Young Justice (unfortunately drawn in a style I don't care for by Hayden Sherman). And that is all the Impulse we get until the timeline at the end.

New History of the DC Universe Timeline Part Four

Written by Dave Wielgosz

Based on research by Mark Waid & Dave Wielgosz

Special thanks to John Wells

Bar Torr is mentioned in the timeline (as Kid Flash III), but we don't see him. We do get to see Impulse with the re-formed Young Justice, which was explained as a result of Bart's return in The Flash #50. And that's all we get until the timeline dips its toes in what it calls "The Many Tomorrows of the DCU..."

We get to see the adult Bart Allen as a member of the Titans of Tomorrow. And Bart's dad, Don Allen, is mentioned as having fathered our lovable speedster in the 30th century. And ... that's it. The timeline concludes at the end of time, where Doomsday has evolved into the Time Trapper, which perfectly sets up the next big event.

I admit I probably should have skipped this issue due to the lack of Impulse in it. But I had to do the last one because he was on three of its covers. And I like how the ending of the timeline leads us right into DC K.O. Naturally, Bart isn't a big player in that main title, but — much to my delight — Mark Waid found something genuinely interesting to do with Impulse in the Flash series.

Next time: The Flash #26