Last year may not have had a proper Arrowverse crossover due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but DC Comics is stepping up to fill the void for fans of The CW‘s many superhero series. Today the publisher announced Earth-Prime, a three-month, six-issue miniseries that will feature in-continuity stories set in the world of the Arrowverse. Five solo character tales will culminate in a sixth issue that brings heroes including The Flash, Stargirl, and the Legends of Tomorrow together for one massive adventure.
The first two issues of Earth-Prime will star the characters of Batwoman and Superman & Lois, respectively, and will sport covers by Kim Jacinto, as well as photo variants. Here’s how DC describes the first issue:
Ryan Wilder, aka Batwoman, makes her costumed comic book debut in a story co-written by series writers Natalie Abrams and Kelley Larson, plus series cast member Camrus Johnson (Luke Fox/Batwing), with art by Clayton Henry.
Ever since the tech that created many of Batman’s rogues hit the streets, Ryan Wilder has been running herself ragged trying to contain the new villains popping up around Gotham City. But when Clayface’s (making his CW debut) mud binds itself to a local high schooler, Batwoman will need help from an unexpected source to contain this muddy foe! Also, follow how Luke Fox balances his life as a super hero and a boyfriend!
Ryan Wilder has appeared a number of times in the DC Universe proper already, but never as Batwoman, so this will make her comic book debut in the identity. Actor Camrus Johnson has also previously written a story for DC, with a Batwing tale in the pages of Batman: Urban Legends #4.
And here’s DC’s description for the second issue, which is illustrated by iconic Superman artist Tom Grummett:
Superman & Lois series writers Adam Mallinger, Jai Jamison and Andrew Wong join DC fan-favorite artists Tom Grummett and Norm Rapmund in a story spotlighting Clark Kent and Lois Lane’s first anniversary. Trying to celebrate their marital bliss is never easy when you’re a super hero husband and news reporter wife; especially when world-saving and creating hard-hitting stories continue to spoil your plans! Plus, the true origins of the evil Superman from John Henry Irons’ world are finally revealed!
Earth-Prime is not the first time that DC Comics has published stories set in the continuity of the Arrowverse. In 2014-2015 DC published Arrow and The Flash tie-in series featuring stories set during the then-current seasons of both series, and a six-issue Adventures of Supergirl miniseries was released in 2016. In 2019 the publisher put out a two-issue Crisis on Infinite Earths tie-in that included stories filling in gaps in the five-episode CW crossover. Last year’s Pride anthology one-shot also featured the comic book debut of Supergirl‘s Dreamer, in a story written by actress Nicole Maines.
The title of the new series comes from the designation given to the new, consolidated Arrowverse Earth following Crisis, and is not to be confused with the DC Universe’s current Earth-Prime, which is a world that resembles our own and that only has one superhero, Ultra. The inclusion of Stargirl, a series established as being set on Earth-2 in the new post-Crisis multiverse, is interesting, and would mark the first cross-Earth Arrowverse team-up since the conclusion of Crisis.
Look for Earth-Prime #1 to arrive in stores and digitally on Tuesday, April 5th, with Earth-Prime #2 following two weeks later on Tuesday, April 19th.