So in some alternate universe, Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross brought their idea for a four issue miniseries which would provide snapshots of superhero/comic book history as seen through the lens of a newspaper reporter not to Marvel Comics but to DC. From the debuts of Superman, The Crimson Avenger, and Batman in the 1930's through first hand accounts of travelling into Nazi Germany with The Boy Commandoes in the 1940's, to typing up stories about the revival of such Golden Age heroes as The Flash and Green Lantern as Roy Raymond plays on TV in the background in the 1950's, and onward throughout history ending with the advent of strange, ominous red skies in 1985, this Daily Planet reporter has seen a lot. But what exactly has he seen? Which events of DC history from, say, it's beginnings in 1935 until, let's go with the start of Crisis in 1985/86 as the series ending point for fairly obvious reasons, would be the events which must be included in DC's answer to Marvels to be a truly worthy history of the DC Universe. Just as Marvels had to show us the unveiling of The Human Torch from Marvel Comics 1, his battle with The Submariner in Marvel Mystery Comics 9, the wedding of Sue Storm and Reed Richards from Fantastic Four Annual 3, the coming of Galactus from Fantastic Four 48-50, etc for it to be complete, which weddings, deaths, debuts, battles, costume changes, whatever would Busiek and Ross have to depict in this series for DC's companion piece to equal Marvels?



There are some rules, of course.



1. Only events which actually occurred in the time period being depicted count. That is, if a comic from 1970 retroactively introduced a World War II hero or villain into its history, then that character would be off limits when Busiek and Ross are presenting what went on in the DC Universe during the war regardless of how important those Bronze Age stories make this character out to be. In other words, only the characters, stories, information available at the time being focused on would be permitted for use during those moments. No Lobo showing up to fight the JSA because a 90's comic said he did for instance. Of course, if you can find an All Star Comics from 1940-51 with Lobo, feel free to include it.



2. Assume that everything depicted within happened on the same Earth. I know this might arguably contradict my edict that this title must contain the most important events in DC history, but since I think the story should have a linear narrative from Point A to Point Z I simply don't see how our Phil Sheldon proxy can start off his tale introducing one history only to switch over to another history halfway through the narrative without this everyman becoming a dimension spanning, time travelling super being which sort of defeats the definition of "every man". So certainly, incorporate the JSA and JLA into this history, but avoid any admission that they belonged to separate Earths. It's a handicap I know, since some of the biggest tales of DC history focused on Earth 2 heroes visiting Earth 1, but let's try to work around it.



3. Include only events and details that a reporter would have reasonable access to. Supergirl's debut to the world in 1962 would be fair game; her landing in Metropolis in 1959 however, would not since no reporters were present and her existence was a secret shared between Superman and Supergirl at that time.



So that's about it. Anyone interested in playing this game?

Here are the start of my selections.

1.  Action Comics 7, 1938. After hearing reporters of the elusive Superman waging war on racketeers, wife beaters, dictators, and common criminals - often first hand from co-worker Lois Lane, our Daily Star/Planet reporter/narrator is present when Superman makes his debut in front of a crowd of people attending the Jordan Circus in Metropolis.  Superman juggling dumb bells and a strong man, lifting a elephant above his head singlehandedly was the first time Superman appeared from the shadows to conclusively prove that yes, rumours of a strangely garbed mystery man performing unbelievable feats were in fact true.

2.  Batman 7, 1941.  Though present when rays from a dirigible over the skies of Gotham cause enough destruction to result in the deaths of thousands, and on the scene when the victims of The Joker are revealed by the police to the press shortly after the start of his murders, our reporter has never actually caught a glimpse of the mysterious Bat-Man who protects this city.  He's spoken with Police Commissioner Gordon on several occasions about the man - sometimes interrupting discussions the Commissioner is already having on the subject with his millionaire friend Bruce Wayne - but other than being present when Batman seemingly murders a handful of policemen in Batman 2 but is gunned down and exposed as an imposter, he doesn't actually get a look at the real man until Batman
7 when, on the verge of being arrested for acts of vigilantism in a court of law, does Commissioner Gordon leap to his defence, gives a rousing speech about his importance to the city, and offers the until now, mysterious figure the chance to become a duly deputized officer of the law.