2021 is already looking like it will be an exciting time to be reading DC Comics. In January and February, there’s Future State, which will look to the future of the DC Universe. When the publisher returns to the present in March, there will be an exciting publish initiative known as Infinite Frontier. Even better, it will be a great place to start reading DC for new and lapsed readers.
Find out everything you need to know about Infinite Frontier in this comprehensive guide. It covers what it is, the comics involved, how DC is doing things differently, and much more.
What Is Infinite Frontier?
It’s a brand new era for DC Comics! Series (some new and many existing) under the New Frontier banner offer the start of new stories, new creative teams, and plenty of storytelling possibilities.
As the name implies, DC are looking ahead when it comes to new stories and ideas. The comics will go in new directions, retaining the core of their characters and the history behind them.
It’s an exciting time to be a DC Comics reader, with plenty of awesome comics to look forward to. These will be great places to start reading whether you’re existing, lapsed, or brand-new.
Is Infinite Frontier A Reboot?
No. DC is not wiping the slate clean with Infinite Frontier. The history will still be there but there is a renewed focus at looking forward. As a result, it looks like many stories don’t rely on what has come before.
The comics themselves should get you up to speed with anything you need to know.
Is it A Good Jumping On Point?
Yes. Most of the comics will be a great place to jump on! Infinite Frontier draws a line in the sand for brand-new stories and series to jump-on to. As you will see below, some of these will have new #1s, while others will continue with the issue numbering.
For the comics which have kept their existing numbering, you can still jump-on. They will have brand-new stories that are made to be a good starting point.
How Is Infinite Frontier Different From Before?
There are two ways that Infinite Frontier will differ from how they were publishing comics in 2020. The most notable is in their publishing strategy.
They have done away with publishing series twice-a-month (as was done with Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and a few others) and instead decide that some of these series should come out the traditional once-a-month but with more pages. These have the main story focusing on the title character and a back-up story starring a less-known character. These comics will $4.99 instead of the usual $3.99 but have more pages to justify the price.
Not every comic will have back-up stories. Check out details further down the page to see which series will have them.
DC Comics will also be experimenting with anthology series, such as Batman: Urban Legends. Find out more about the anthologies further down this page.
The other notable difference is that there should be a much wider variety of tones on offer. Depending on the story and comic book series, some will be bright while others will be a bit grimmer.
Does This Relate To DC’s Future State Comics?
Before DC Comics launches Infinite Frontier in March, they will be looking to the future with Future State in January and February. These comics look to the DC Universe years into the future (thousands of year in some cases) to see what things will be like. Due to being years apart, you do not need to have read Future State to understand Infinite Frontier.
If you read any of Future State then some elements will look familiar. Many of the creative teams will be moving onto comics that are part of Infinite Frontier. For instance, Future State: Dark Detective’s writer and artist (Mariko Tamaki and Dan Mora) will be working on Detective Comics. Further to this, some new characters that were introduced in Future State will see be seen in the present day.
Future State comics are not essential in understanding Infinite Frontier but will give readers a taste of what the creative teams have to offer.
Want to know more about Future State? Check out How to Love Comics’ Future State Guide.
Where Does It Start?
Infinite Frontier kicks off with Infinite Frontier #0 on March 2nd. This 64-page issue sets the tone for the DC Universe going forward and gives readers a taste of what’s coming. Expect to see some teases for upcoming stories that will be found in DC comic books, foreshadowing, and possibly some mysteries too.
This zero issue will give you a good taste of what some of the comics will be like and help you decide what to read next. Speaking of what’s next, after reading Infinite Frontier #0 you can jump onto any of the comics that are listed in the next section.
Infinite Frontier #0 is written by Scott Snyder, Geoff Johns, James Tynion IV, Joshua Williamson, Geoffrey Thorne, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Brian Michael Bendis, Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, Joëlle Jones, and Tim Sheridan. Artists include John Timms, Howard Porter, Joëlle Jones, Jorge Jimenez, Alitha Martinzez, David Marquez, Stephen Byrne, Jamal Igle, Dexter Soy, Rafa Sandoval, Alex Maleev, and John Romita Jr.
Which Comics Are Part Of Infinite Frontier?
Find out all about the comics that will be part of Infinite Frontier. I’ll try to add as much detail about these comics (without going into spoilers). This includes the issue to jump-on with, creative teams, release dates, story premise, and more.
Batman #106
Main story: Written by James Tynion IV. Art by Jorge Jimenez.
Back-up story: Written by Joshua Williamson. Art by Gleb Melnikov.
Batman and his newly formed ally Ghost-Maker will need to team-up to deal with a new gang that’s possibly connected to the villainous Scarecrow. At the same time, a shadowy billionaire has just pitched an advanced law-enforcement system to the city. But is it all that it seems?
In the back-up, we get the first part of a Damian Wayne story.
Batman #106 will be available on March 2nd.
Detective Comics #1034
Main story: Written by Mariko Tamaki. Art by Dan Mora.
Back-up story: Written by Joshua Williamson. Art by Gleb Melnikov.
With his fortune lost in the wake of The Joker War and a growing anti-vigilante climate in the city, Bruce Wayne must revaluate how to be Batman. At the same time, there’s a big crime-wave in Gotham. This culminates in a murder mystery that will require all of the Dark Knight’s detective skills.
Detective Comics #1034 also has the second and final part of the Damian Wayne story that started in Batman #106.
Detective Comics #1034 will be available on March 23rd.
Wonder Woman #770
Main story: Written by Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad. Art by Travis Moore.
Back-up story: Written by Jordie Bellaire. Art by Paulina Ganucheau.
Wonder Woman wakes up one day to find herself in Valhalla, the Norse afterlife. The problem is that she has no idea how she got there!
In the back-up story, we go back to Wonder Woman’s childhood to explore how she grew up in Themyscira. Expect to see plenty of hidden secrets from her past.
Wonder Woman #770 is available from March 9th.
Superman #29
Main story: Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson. Art by Phil Hester and Eric Gapstur.
Back-up story: Written by Sean Lewis. Art by Sam Basri.
Superman #29 is the first chapter in a two-part crossover with Action Comics that will set up the next era of Superman stories.
Jonathan Kent, aka Superboy, must come to terms with the fact that Superman may die one day. Any threat could be the one that kills him – and a nasty foe has just appeared from outer space.
For the back-up story, we meet the various folk of Metropolis. The first lucky citizen is Bibbo Bibbowski.
Superman #29 is available from March 9th.
Action Comics #1029
Main story: Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson. Art by Phil Hester and Eric Gapstur.
Back-up story: Written by Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad. Art by Michael Avon Oeming.
Action Comics #1029 is the second and final part of a crossover with Superman #29. If you’re not too keen on reading both Superman titles, it should be noted that the comics won’t crossover every month and will go in their own directions from April onwards.
The back-up story will feature Midnighter.
Action Comics #1029 is available from March 23rd.
The Flash #768
Written by Jeremy Adams. Art by Brandon Peterson.
Much to fans’ dismay, DC has put Wally West through the wringer over the past decade. Now he’s ready to retire from super-heroics. But Barry Allen needs him more than ever!
This jumping-on point promises to begin Wally’s redemption arc and set him up for a much better position in the DC Universe.
The Flash #768 is available from March 16th.
Justice League #59
Main story: Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Art by David Marquez.
Back-up story: Written by Ram V. Art by Xermanico.
In this jumping-on point for Justice League, readers are treated to a brand-new team line-up which includes Green Arrow, Superman, Batman, the Flash, Hawkgirl, Aquaman, Hippolyta, Naomi, and Black Adam. Superman is looking to reinvent the team, while at the same time, they will need to tackle a cosmic threat from Naomi’s world.
Brain Michael Bendis has a long history of team comics, writing the Avengers over at Marvel for 9 years. It’ll be interesting to see what he can bring to the Justice League.
In the back-up featuring the supernaturally-focused Justice League Dark, the world is under threat by Merlin, who has a bloody plan for humankind.
Justice League #59 is available from March 16th.
Batman: Urban Legends #1
Written by Chip Zdarsky, Matthew Rosenberg, Stephanie Phillips, and Brandon Thomas. Art by Eddy Barrows, Marcos To, Ryan Benjamin, Laura Braga, and Max Dunbar.
Batman: Urban Legends is an experiment in highlighting the heroes and anti-heroes of Gotham City for DC Comics. This ongoing series is an anthology with a structure similar to 2000 AD. Each 64-page comic serialises multiple stories, with some of them told in a single issue, while others will be over many.
The debut issue will kick off the following stories:
- Chip Zdarksy and Eddy Barrows will tell a six-part story that teams-up Batman and Red Hood. The pair will investigate a new drug that has hit Gotham.
- Last seen in Batman #101, Grifter is back in a solo story which will explain why he’s in Gotham City. This will be written by Mathew Rosenberg and drawn by Ryan Benjamin.
- Setting up her brand-new series, Batman Urban Legends #1 will have a one-off Harley Quinn story by Stephanie Phillips and Laura Braga. In this story, Harley will be on a quest to find Poison Ivy.
- Finally, there will be three-part Outsiders story by Brandon Thomas and Max Dunbar. This will reunite Black Lightning, Katana, and Metamorpho as they confront a person from Katana’s past.
It sounds like new creative teams, stories, and characters will rotate in and out as the series progresses. This makes it a fantastic way to sample the different happenings of Gotham City.
It’s worth noting that this oversized comic series will retail at $7.99 an issue. That being said, DC looks like it will also be giving it higher production values, with the solicitation stating it will be in the square-bound prestige format.
Batman: Urban Legends #1 is available from March 9th.
The Joker #1
Main story: Written by James Tynion IV. Art by Guillem March.
Back-up story: Written by James Tynion and Sam Johns. Art by Mirka Andolfo.
Based on the events of Infinite Frontier #0, The Joker is on the run and is the most wanted man in the world. A lot of the series will be told from Commissioner Gordon’s perspective, who’s leading the search in tracking the Clown Prince of Crime.
The comic will also have a back-up feature, which stars The joker’s right-hand woman Punchline. Locked-up in Blackgrate Penitentiary, she is slowly taking control of the prison. This story will also feature Batman ally Harper Row, aka Bluebird, who will do everything she can to stop Punchline’s influence.
The Joker #1 is available from March 9th.
Harley Quinn #1
Written by Stephanie Phillips. Art by Riley Rossmo.
Harley Quinn is back in Gotham and ready to make up for her previous wrong-doings. As part of this, she’ll do what she can for the city’s recovery process after the recent Joker War. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people who want to keep the city broken for their own personal gain.
Harley Quinn #1 is available from March 23rd.
Crime Syndicate #1
Main story: Written by Andy Schmidt. Art by Kieran McKeown.
Back-up story: Written and art by Bryan Hitch.
Spinning out of Dark Nights: Death Metal, this six-part miniseries will be taking a trip to Earth-3. This alternate world is home to a villainous Justice League known as the Crime Syndicate and will show readers their origins.
The back-up stories will dig deeper into a specific character and their origins.
Crime Syndicate #1 is available March 2nd.
Suicide Squad #1
Written by Robbie Thompson. Art by Eduardo Pansica.
With a new Suicide Squad series comes a brand-new team. Lead by Peacemaker (who will be played by John Cena in the upcoming movie), Task Force X is looking for new members. It’s time to break into Arkham Asylum to find their latest member!
Suicide Squad #1 is available March 2nd.
The Swamp Thing #1
Written by Ram V. Art by Mike Perkins.
This ten-issue series will explore a brand-new Swamp Thing. Levi Kamei has been chosen as the new Guardian of the elemental force known as The Green. But it won’t be easy adjusting to being the new avatar and the horrors that lie ahead.
This version of Swamp Thing has a fresh perspective, exploring Levi’s past events in India. Further to this, it makes it a great jumping-on point as you will learn about the comic’s lore as the character do. As for long-time readers, there will be new layers to it that make it unique from what has come before.
The Swamp Thing #1 is available March 2nd.
Teen Titans Academy #1
Written by Tim Sheridan. Art by Rafa Sandoval.
The original Teen Titans – Nightwing, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy – have started up a school for superheroes to “shape the next generation of heroes.” Expect a student body full of new and familiar characters such as Shazam, a speedster from Australia, and Red X.
Teen titans Academy #1 is available March 23rd.
Batman/Superman #16
Written by Gene Luen Yang. Art by Ivan Reis and Danny Miki.
This new jumping-on point for Batman/Superman sounds like an alternate reality-hopping adventure that will offer plenty of new ideas. There will be new versions of Batman and Superman, new villains, and heaps more.
Readers will be introduced to new villains such as the poisonous Spider Lady, Kryptonite wearing Dr Atom, and the Unknown Wizard.
Batman/Superman #16 is available from March 23rd.
Catwoman #29
Written by Ram V. Art by Fernando Blanco.
Catwoman will be faced with a brand-new foe and a riddle that she cannot crack. Reluctantly, she’ll need The Riddler’s help to solve it.
Catwoman #29 is available from March 16th.
Nightwing #78
Written by Tom Taylor. Art by Bruno Redondo.
Nightwing is back in Bludhaven. Since he was gone, there’s been a new mayor with the same last name as the man who murdered his parents. With Batgirl’s help, he’ll have to get to the bottom of this.
Nightwing #78 is available from March 16th.
Green Lantern #1
Written by Geoffrey Thorne. Art by Dexter Soy.
In this new era of Green Lantern comics, the United Planets and the Guardians of the Universe are holding a summit, which will decide how each organisation will protect the galaxy. Based on this, readers should expect to see the Green Lantern Corp morph into something new.
Expect a range of characters to be featured in this series. This includes John Stewart, Teen Lantern Keli Quintela, Simon Baz, and others.
Green Lantern #1 is available from April 6th.
Robin #1
Written by Joshua Williamson. Art by Gleb Melnikov.
Spinning out of the back-up features serialised in Batman #106 and Detective Comics #1034, Damian Wayne is getting his own series. As part of it, he’ll be competing in a secret League of Lazarus tournament, with the winner will be crowned the greatest fighter in the DC Universe.
The comics promises plenty of new characters as well as a brand-new supporting cast.
Robin #1 is available from April 27th.
Batman: The Detective #1
Written by Tom Taylor. Art by Andy Kubert.
Batman is going on a Euro trip in this new six-issue miniseries. He’ll be forced to leave Gotham to track a deadly new villain known as Equilibrium throughout Europe.
This series originally announced as Batman: The Dark Detective, but has since changed it’s name.
Batman: The Detective #1 is available from April 13th.
The Next Batman: Second Son #1
Written by John Ridley. Art by Tony Akins, Travel Foreman, and Mark Morales.
In Future State: The Next Batman, it was revealed that Tim Fox would inherit Batman mantle in the future. In this four-part digital-first series, we discover his origin story.
The Next Batman: Second Son is available digitally from February 23rd and in print from April 6th.
Mister Miracle: The Source of Freedom #1
Written by Brandon Easton. Art by Fico Ossio.
Future State introduced readers to a brand-new Mister Miracle. This six-part miniseries will explore how Shilo Norman became the new version of the moniker.
Based on the description, it will explore how being a superhero collides with show business.
Mister Miracle: The Source of Freedom #1 is available from May 5th.
Wonder Girl #1
Written and art by Joelle Jones.
Future State introduced readers to the Wonder Woman of the future, Yara Flor. In this new series, we get to explore her early days as a hero, when she was still only Wonder Girl.
Wonder Girl #1 is available from May 18th.
Stargirl Spring Break Special
Written by Geoff Johns. Art by Todd Nauck.
Been digging Stargirl on CW? Then you’ll want to check out this 48-page special! When school is out, she’ll be heading out on an adventure with the Seven Soldiers of Victory.
Stargirl Spring Break Special is available from May 2nd.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
Written by Tom King. Art by Bilquis Evely.
Tired of living in Superman’s shadows, Supergirl heading into outer space to pave her own path. She befriends an alien girl and agrees to help her get revenge on those who destroyed her home planet.
Krypto fans will be excited to hear that the super powered dog is tagging long for this eight-part series.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1 is available from June.
Infinite Frontier
Written by Joshua Williamson. Art by Xermanico.
This 6-issue miniseries will continue story threads that have been introduced in Infinite Frontier #0 and explore them. It stars Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern, who will explore why some characters have returned from the dead while others have not. The comic promises to explore the new DC Multiverse and expose new corners of it.
Tip: You should read Infinite Frontier #0 for this comic to make sense.
Infinite Frontier #1 will be available from June 22nd.
Where Can I Find These Comics?
Want to read Infinite Frontier? You can find all of these comics at all good comic book shops, online stores, eBay, and digitally on Comixology.
Will There Be More Infinite Frontier Comics?
Yes! DC mentioned at the ComicsPro Retailer conference that there are more comics coming on the horizon. Nothing formal has been announced yet, but I’ll add them to the list when they are.
Do I Need To Read Every Comic?
You don’t have to read every comic in order to understand Infinite Frontier. Pick the comics that appeal to you the most and go from there.
Have Your Say On Infinite Frontier!
Are you looking forward to DC Comics’ Infinite Frontier? Which comics are you excited to read? Share your thoughts in the comments below or via Facebook or Twitter.
Hey, thanks for the cool guide! Very helpful!
Hi,
I’m new to your web site and love the articles. May I make a suggestion? You may want to have an editor proofread prior to publication. Many problems with additional words that make the sentence awkward. Ex: “ Any threat could be the one that kills him – and one a nasty foe has just appeared from outer space.” ( omit the “a” before nasty). But I love the content.
I think I am most excited for James tynion IV ‘s
Joker I thought he did a great job with his batman run. I’m very interested in reading it
Did DC cancel SHAZAM? I know there were a couple issues during Future State.
Hey Eric, the Shazam series finished up with issue #15 last year. No news on a new series yet, but I suspect there won’t be one too far away.
hoping someone will come along who will do Supergirl justice.She has always been misused as a character.The samthese should be recognisede goes for the martian manhunter.this character is one of the most powerful men on earth yet is always shown as a pushover who is always beaten by fire .he also has powers superman does not have and these should be recognized.he is also a great detective{hello detective comics]
Deep in the new universe of DC comics starting from the last day of 2020, great start! Thx for the infos!