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DC New 52 Reading Order

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Let’s go back in time, 10 years ago! We are in September 2011 and it’s the beginning of a new era for DC Comics, named The New 52. Following the conclusion of the Flashpoint limited series (see Reading Order), all titles set in the DC Universe were canceled and relaunched with new #1 issues. It’s a partial reboot for most of our DC’s heroes and villains with a new continuity.

Presented as a new entry point (but not always new reader-friendly, to be honest), various changes were made to sort of update the characters and make them more attractive for newcomers. And for the occasion, the Wildstorm and Vertigo imprints were absorbed into the DC Universe.

Following is a reading order for the New 52 era, going from September 2011 to May 2016. The New 52 branding ended with the conclusion of the ‘Convergence‘ storyline (see our full reading order), but the continuity didn’t stop after that and was maintained during what has been called DC You — a period covered here.

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Let’s begin by pointing out that there is no official DC mini-era during New 52, and it is then a personal way to split the period to make it a little easier to apprehend. You’ll find other approaches on the web, some with more Phase/Part and some with less.

  1. The New 52 era in omnibus form
  2. The New 52 Year One, from Justice League: Origin to Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Blood
  3. Zero Month, from Superman: Action Comics Vol. 2: Bulletproof to Earth 2. Vol. 2: The Tower of Fate
  4. Trinity War and Forever Evil, from Wonder Woman Vol. 4: War to Batman/Superman Vol. 2: Game Over
  5. Futures End, from Aquaman and the Others Vol. 1: Legacy of Gold to Constantine Vol. 4: The Apocalypse Road
  6. Convergence, with Earth 2: Society
  7. DC You, ending New 52 and the Road to Rebirth

We also have a few character(s) reading order :

  1. Batman New 52 Reading Order
  2. Superman/Action Comics New 52 Reading Order
  3. Justice League New 52 Reading Order
  4. Earth 2 New 52 Reading Order
  5. Green Lantern New 52 Reading Order
  6. Jason Todd Reading Order
  7. Tim Drake Reading Order
  8. The Flash Reading Order

New 52 Reading Order

Part 0: The New 52 era in Omnibus form

Let’s begin with a listing of omnibus covering the New 52 era. Most of them are out of print, but you can still try to buy them second-hand.

  • DC Comics: The New 52 Omnibus
    The first issues from the following 2011 New 52 series: Action Comics, All-Star Western, Animal Man, Aquaman, Batgirl, Batman, Batman: The Dark Knight, Batman and Robin, Batwing, Batwoman, Birds of Prey, Blackhawks, Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, Catwoman, DC Universe Presents, Deathstroke, Demon Knights, Detective Comics, The Flash, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E., The Fury of Firestorm the Nuclear Men, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: New Guardians, Grifter, Hawk and Dove, I…Vampire, Justice League, Justice League Dark, Justice League International, Legion Lost, Legion of Super-Heroes, Men of War, Mister Terrific, Nightwing, OMAC, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Red Lanterns, Resurrection Man, Savage Hawkman, Static Shock, Stormwatch, Suicide Squad, Superboy, Supergirl, Superman, Swamp Thing, Teen Titans, Voodoo, Wonder Woman.

  • DC Comics: The New 52 Villains Omnibus
    Issues from the 2011 New 52 series: Action Comics #23.1–23.4, Aquaman #23.1–23.2, Batman #23.1–23.4, Batman and Robin (vol. 2) #23.1–23.4, Batman: The Dark Knight #23.1–23.4, Batman/Superman #3.1, Detective Comics #23.1–23.4, Earth 2 #15.1–15.2, The Flash #23.1–23.3, Green Arrow #23.1, Green Lantern #23.1–23.4, Justice League #23.1–23.4, Justice League Dark #7.1–7.4, Justice League of America #23.1–23.2, Superman #23.1–23.2, Swamp Thing #23.1–23.4, Teen Titans #23.1–23.2, Wonder Woman #23.1–23.2
  • DC Comics: The New 52 Zero Omnibus
    The Zero issues from the following 2011 New 52 series: Action Comics, All-Star Western, Animal Man, Aquaman, Batgirl, Batman, Batman and Robin, Batman Incorporated, Batman: The Dark Knight, Batwing, Batwoman, Birds of Prey, Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, DC Universe Presents, Deathstroke, Demon Knights, Detective Comics, Dial H, Earth 2, The Flash, Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E., The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men, G.I. Combat, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: New Guardians, Grifter, I…Vampire, Justice League, Justice League Dark, Legion Lost, Legion of Super-Heroes, Nightwing, Phantom Stranger, The Ravagers, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Red Lanterns, Resurrection Man, The Savage Hawkman, Stormwatch, Suicide Squad, Superboy, Supergirl, Superman, Swamp Thing, Sword of Sorcery, Talon, Team 7, Teen Titans, Voodoo, Wonder Woman, World’s Finest
  • Superman by Grant Morrison
    Action Comics (vol. 2) #0–18, Annual #1
  • Batman by Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo Vol. 1
    Collects Batman (vol. 2) #0–33, 23.2, Annual #1–2
  • Batman by Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo Vol. 2
    Collects Batman #34-52; Detective Comics #27; Batman Annual #3-4; Batman: Futures End #1; DC Sneak Peek: Batman #1; Detective Comics #1000 and Batman: Last Knight on Earth #1-3
  • Batman by Grant Morrison Vol. 3 (contains the first Batman Inc series, published before New 52)
    Collects Batman Incorporated (vol. 1) #1–8; Batman: The Return #1; Batman Incorporated (vol. 2) #0–13; Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes #1; Batman Incorporated Special #1
  • Batman Eternal Omnibus
    Collects Batman Eternal #1–52; Batman (vol. 2) #28.

  • Batman and Robin by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason
    Collects Batman and Robin #20–22; Batman and Robin (vol. 2) #0–40, 23.1, Annual #1–3; Robin Rises: Omega #1; Robin Rises: Alpha #1; material from Secret Origins (vol. 3) #4; Detective Comics (vol. 2) #27
  • Batwoman Omnibus (contains stories published before the New 52 era)
    Collects Detective Comics #854–863; Batwoman #0–24, Annual #1
  • Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang
    Collects Wonder Woman (vol. 4) #0–35, 23.2; material from Secret Origins (vol. 3) #6
  • The Flash by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
    Collects The Flash (vol. 4) #0–25, 23.2, Annual #1–2
  • Red Hood and the Outlaws: The New 52
    Collects Red Hood and the Outlaws #0–27, Annual #1; Teen Titans (vol. 4) #16; Batman (vol. 2) #17
  • Nightwing: The Prince of Gotham
    Collects Nightwing (vol. 3) #0–30, Annual #1; Batman (vol. 2) #17; Young Romance: A New 52 Valentine’s Day Special #1; material from Secret Origins (vol. 3) #1
  • The New 52: Futures End – Five Years Later
    Collects Futures End #1; the Futures End #1 issues from the following New 52 series: Aquaman, Aquaman and the Others, Batgirl, Batman, Batman and Robin, Batman/Superman, Batwing, Batwoman, Birds of Prey, Booster Gold, Catwoman, Constantine the Hellblazer, Detective Comics, Earth 2, The Flash, Grayson, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: New Guardians, Harley Quinn, Infinity Man and the Forever People, Justice League, Justice League Dark, Justice League United, New Suicide Squad, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Red Lanterns, Sinestro, Star-Spangled War Stories Featuring G.I. Zombie, Superboy, Supergirl, Superman, Superman/Wonder Woman, Swamp Thing, Teen Titans, Trinity of Sin: Pandora, Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger, Wonder Woman, Worlds’ Finest
  • Grayson: The Superspy Omnibus
    Collects Grayson #1–20, Annual #1–3; Grayson: Futures End #1; Secret Origins (vol. 3) #8; Robin War #1–2; Nightwing: Rebirth #1
  • Deathstroke: The New 52 Omnibus
    Collects Deathstroke (vol. 3) #1–20, Annual #1–2; DC Sneak Peek: Deathstroke #1
  • Harley Quinn by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti Vol. 1
    Collects Harley Quinn (vol. 2) #0–16, Annual #1; Harley Quinn: Futures End #1; Harley Quinn Holiday Special #1; Harley Quinn Valentine’s Day Special #1; Harley Quinn Invades Comic-Con International: San Diego #1; Harley Quinn and Power Girl #1–6; Secret Origins (vol. 3) #4
  • Harley Quinn by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti Vol. 2
    Collects DC Sneak Peek: Harley Quinn; Harley Quinn (vol. 2) #17–30; Harley Quinn Road Trip Special #1; Harley Quinn: Be Careful What You Wish For #1; Harley Quinn and her Gang of Harleys #1–6; Harley’s Little Black Book #1–6
  • Justice League: The New 52 Omnibus Vol. 1
    Collects Justice League #0-22; Aquaman #14-16; Justice League Dark #22-23; DC Comics – The New 52 FCBD Special Edition #1; Justice League of America #6-7; Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #11; Constantine #5; Trinity of Sin: Pandora #1-3.
  • Justice League: The Darkseid War Saga
    Collects Justice League (vol. 2) #40–50; Justice League: The Darkseid War Special #1; Divergence #1; Justice League: The Darkseid War – Batman #1; Justice League: The Darkseid War – The Flash #1; Justice League: The Darkseid War – Green Lantern #1; Justice League: The Darkseid War – Lex Luthor #1; Justice League: The Darkseid War – Shazam! #1; Justice League: The Darkseid War – Superman #1
  • Justice League Dark: The New 52 Omnibus
    Collects I, Vampire #7-8; Justice League Dark #0-40; Justice League#22-23; Justice League Dark Annual #1-2; Justice League of America#6-7; Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #14-17; Constantine #9-12; Trinity of Sin: Pandora #6-9; Justice League Dark: Futures End #1

Part 1: The New 52 Year One

It is where our New 52 era starts! Flashpoint happened and we enter a new phase in our favorite characters’ history. During that period, Blackhawks, Hawk and Dove, Men of War, Mister Terrific, O.M.A.C., and Static Shock titles will not go beyond their eighth issue and DC launched new titles dubbed the Second Wave: Dial H, Earth 2, G.I. Combat, World’s Finest, Ravagers and Batman Incorporated (placed later on this reading order). Let’s notice that there is no event during that time.

Part 2: Zero Month

For the first year anniversary of the New 52 Initiative, all New 52 titles were renumbered to #0 for a single month, with the goal to tell new origin stories or fill in gaps that were left in the five-year gap between the emergence of superheroes in the current universe, and present day.

This time around, Justice League International, Captain Atom, Resurrection Man, and Voodoo were canceled and a third wave of titles was launched: Talon, Sword of Sorcery, Phantom Stranger, and Team 7.

Event alert! Night of The Owls is a Batfamily crossover event that pits the Batman and his allies against the Court of Owls organization as they attempt to cement their control over Gotham City, which they have been manipulating in secret for centuries. For more information, see our reading Order.

  • Batman: Night of the Owls (event)
    Collects Batman #8-11, Nightwing #8-9, All Star Western #9, Catwoman #9, Batgirl #9, Batman: Dark Knight #9, Batman and Robin #9, Birds of Prey #9, Red Hood and the Outlaws #9. All those issues can be found in other trades.
  • Batman Vol. 2: City of Owls
    collects Batman #8-12 and Batman Annual #1

Event alert!  The Culling: Rise of the Ravagers is a crossover event with The Teen Titans and the teen heroes from Legion Lost trapped in a deadly arena where young teen metahumans must fight each other to the death for survival! For more information, see our reading Order.

Event alert! After having the skin of his face cut off of his head, the Joker returns and begins to target the Bat-Family in the event Batman: Death of the Family. For more information, see our reading Order.

  • Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family (event)
    Collects Batman Vol. 2 #13–17
  • Joker: Death of the Family (event)
    Collects Batman Vol. 2 #17, Catwoman Vol. 4 #13–14, Batgirl Vol. 4 #14–16, Batman and Robin Vol. 2 #15–17, Nightwing Vol. 3 #15–16, Detective Comics Vol. 2 #16–17, Red Hood and the Outlaws #15–16, and Teen Titans Vol. 4 #15 plus pages from Batman Vol. 2 #13, Batgirl Vol. 4 #13, Nightwing Vol. 3 #14, Red Hood and the Outlaws #13–14, Suicide Squad Vol. 4 #14–15, and Teen Titans Vol. 4 #14, 16. All those issues can be found in other trades.

Alert! This is where Morrison’s run on Batman ends. I always advise reading his two trade paperbacks from the New 52 era together, as it is not impacted by other Bat events. It has repercussions on the Bat-Family.

Event Alert! Andrew Bennett is dead, and with his death, Cain, the sire of all vampires, has risen in Gotham, leaving it up to the Justice League Dark to attempt to retrieve Andrew from the realm of the dead in order to seal away Cain once again in I, Vampire: Rise of the Vampires.

Event Alert! The avatars of the Green (the Swamp Thing) and the Red (Animal Man) must stop the Rot or the world will end in the epic crossover Rotworld.

Event Alert! A vengeful Ocean Master returns and the war for Atlantis triggers a battle between Aquaman and the Justice League in Justice League: Throne of Atlantis.

Event Alert! Absolute power corrupts absolutely—and the Guardians’ time is finally here in Green Lantern: Rise of the Third Army, a storyline that leads into the Wrath of the First Lantern. For more information, see our reading Order.

  • Green Lantern: Rise of the Third Army (event)
    Collects Green Lantern Vol. 5 #13–16, Green Lantern Corps Vol. 3 #13–16, Green Lantern: New Guardians #13–16, Red Lanterns #13–16, Green Lantern Corps Annual Vol. 3 #1
  • Green Lantern: Wrath of the First Lantern (event)
    Collects Green Lantern Vol. 5 #17–20, Green Lantern Corps Vol. 3 #17–20, Green Lantern: New Guardians #17–20, Red Lanterns #17–20

Event Alert! Superman, Superboy and Supergirl go head to head with a powerful Kryptonian being known as H’el in Superman: H’el on Earth. This Superman event is followed by the storyline Krypton Returns, which will also link into Lobdell’s run in Teen Titans and Superman #23.3, which featured H’El in the Forever Evil event.

Part 3: Trinity War and Forever Evil

The villains get the spotlight, thanks to Villains Month, in September 2013 in conjunction with the event Forever Evil (following Trinity War) and it was the first major crossover in the New 52. And one of the most major storylines during the 2013–2014 period was Batman: Zero Year, a yearlong comic book crossover event with the ambition to redefine the origin of Batman in The New 52.

We have also some new titles during that time, including Justice League of America, Katana, Constantine, Batman/Superman or Superman/Wonder Woman.

Event Alert! The Justice League, Justice League of America and Justice League Dark will take it to the next level! And so are DC’s Trinity; Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as they fight to find the truth of who could pit them against one another in this lead-up to a bigger event known as Forever Evil. For more information, see our reading Order.

  • Justice League: Trinity War (event)
    Collects Justice League Vol. 2 #22–23, Justice League of America Vol. 3 #6–7, Justice League Dark #22–23, Constantine #5, Trinity of Sin: Pandora #1–3, Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger Vol. 4 #11. All those issues can be found in other trades.

Event Alert! Zero Year is a yearlong comic book crossover event detailing the New 52 origin of the Dark Knight, as well as adventures featuring other characters during that period (Barbara Gordon, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Barry Allen, John Stewart, and others). You can read here the full Zero Year reading Order.

Event Alert! Relic has arrived! The lights of the Lanterns are fading as the emotional spectrum is being drained. It’s up to Hal and the Green Lanterns to rally the Corps if they are going to survive in Green Lantern: Lights Out, a crossover that involves the four Green Lantern books,

Event Alert! The outcome of Trinity War or what will happen when the heroes of the DC Universe fall and there is no one left to stop the villains from taking over? In Forever Evil. For more details on this event, you can consult our Forever Evil Reading Order.

Alert! Batman: Requiem is a crossover dealing with the aftermath of Batman Incorporated (Volume 2). No trade paperback collects all those issues, which are: Detective Comics Vol. 2 #18, Batman and Robin Vol. 2 # 18, Batman Vol. 2 #18, Batgirl Vol. 4 #18, Catwoman Vol. 4 #18, Nightwing Vol. 3 #18, Red Hood and the Outlaws #18, Batman Incorporated Vol. 2 #9, Teen Titans Vol. 4 #18.

Event Alert! Krypton Returns is a follow-up to the events of H’El on Earth. H’El has returned to Krypton’s past in order to change history.

Part 4: Futures End

We enter The New 52: Futures End, an eleven-month weekly comic book miniseries, published by DC Comics, that began in May 2014 and ran through April 2015. Set five years in The New 52’s future, Prime Earth is feeling the after-effects of war across the multiverse. As a new threat approaches the vulnerable Earth, Batman Beyond travels back in time to help the heroes of Prime Earth fend off the impending apocalypse. And for more information on that subject, see our Reading Order.

Aquaman and the Others, Sinestro, Justice League United and Multiversity are some of the new titles launched during that time.

Event alert! Rebellion has spread across the universe as former allies join forces with the Durlans, Khunds, and Outer Clans to overthrow the authority of the Corps in Green Lantern: Uprising.

Event alert! Kara is done with people pushing her around, taking advantage of her and betraying her. Now all that’s left is rage in Red Daughter of Krypton.

Event alert! After going all-out fighting a brutal battle to stop Doomsday, Superman undergoes a transformation that puts the world and all those he cares about at risk in Superman: Doomed.

Green Lantern LogoEvent Alert! In the aftermath of Green Lantern: Lights Out, Highfather learns that ring-wielders stole secrets from beyond the Source Wall! Now, Highfather must breach the wall—but first, he needs his own set of rings in Green Lantern/New Gods: Godhead!

Event alert! Gotham City is miraculously transformed into a bright and happy utopia where most Batman Family members have new identities in Gothtopia. Here are all the issues concerned: Detective Comics Vol. 2 #27, Batwing #27, Batgirl Vol. 4 #27, Birds of Prey Vol. 3 #27, Catwoman Vol. 4 #27, Detective Comics Vol. 2 #28, Birds of Prey Vol. 3 #28, Catwoman Vol. 4 #28, Detective Comics Vol. 2 #29.

Event Alert! After the events of Batman Eternal, the Joker makes his return, following his disappearance in Death of the Family, in the story-arc Endgame.

  • Batman Vol. 7: Endgame
    Collects Batman Vol. 2 #35–40
  • Arkham Manor
    Collects Arkham Manor #1–6
  • Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 7: Anarky
    Collects Detective Comics Vol. 2 #35–40, Detective Comics: Engame #1, Detective Comics: Futures End #1
  • Joker: Endgame (event)
    Collects Batman Vol. 2 #35–39, Batman Annual Vol. 2 #3, Gotham Academy: Endgame #1, Batgirl: Endgame #1, Detective Comics: Endgame #1, Arkham Manor: Endgame #1. Almost all those issues can be found in other trades.


Taking place in the future of its current stories’ history, Batman Beyond (vol. 5) continues, wraps up what was left hanging in Futures End and goes beyond. The complete run from this period is collected in three paperbacks.


Earth 2: World’s End was a weekly companion series to the event Futures End, but taking place in the current timeline. The last issues led to Convergence.

DC Comics New 52

Part 5: Convergence

As said in our full reading order dedicated to Convergence, this limited series happened while the publisher moves its offices from New York City to Burbank California. It examines the worlds of the DC Universe over the decades, as well as the heroes and villains contained within. More importantly, it will lead to the end of the New 52 era. At the end of this part, the New 52 branding is over, but the continuity goes on for a little while after, with DC You.

  • Convergence
    Collects Convergence #0-8
  • Convergence: Flashpoint Book One
    Collects Convergence: Superman #1-2, Convergence: The Question #1-2, Convergence: Batgirl #1-2, Convergence: Nightwing/Oracle #1-2 And Convergence: Justice League #1-2.
  • Convergence: Flashpoint Book Two
    Collects The Atom #1-2, Speed Force #1-2, Titans #1-2, Batman And Robin #1-2 And Harley Quinn #1-2.
  • Convergence: Zero Hour Book One
    Collects Convergence: Justice League International #1-2, Convergence: Catwoman #1-2, Convergence: Superboy #1-2, Convergence: Green Arrow #1-2 And Convergence: Suicide Squad #1-2.

  • Convergence: Zero Hour Book Two
    Collects Superman: Man Of Steel #1-2, Batman: Shadow Of The Bat #1-2, Supergirl: Matrix #1-2, Aquaman #1-2 And Green Lantern/Parallax #1-2.
  • Convergence: Crisis Book One
    Collects Convergence: Batman And The Outsiders #1-2, Convergence: Adventures Of Superman #1-2, Convergence: Green Lantern Corps #1-2, Convergence: Superboy And The Legion Of Super-Heroes #1-2 And Convergence: Hawkman #1-2.
  • Convergence: Crisis Book Two
    Collects The Flash #1-2, Wonder Woman #1-2, Justice League Of America #1-2, Swamp Thing #1-2 And The New Teen Titans #1-2.
  • Convergence: Infinite Earths Book One
    Collects Convergence: Justice Society Of America #1-2, Convergence: Infinity Inc. #1-2, Convergence: Detective Comics #1-2, Convergence: World’s Finest Comics #1-2 And Convergence: Action Comics #1-2.
  • Convergence: Infinite Earths Book Two
    Collects Shazam! #1-2, Blue Beetle #1-2, Crime Syndicate #1-2, Convergence: Booster Gold #1-2 And Plastic Man And The Freedom Fighters #1-2

Earth-2 Society DC Comics New 52 Reading OrderComing from the conclusion of the Convergence event is Earth 2: Society, a new series following the survivors on a new world.

Part 6: DC You

The aftermath of Convergence marks an end to the New 52 imprint, but not to the continuity established at the beginning of this era. DC Comics continue publishing 25 of their existing ongoing titles and launched 24 brand-new series during that time, including Batman Beyond (see above, placed after the Futures End event in this reading order), Midnighter, Starfire, Justice League of America, Robin: Son of Batman, Justice League 3001, Superman: Lois & Clark and much more…


Harley Quinn Reading Order Icon DC New 52Harley Quinn is a member of the Suicide Squad but also the star of her own series. Despite the fact that both series were running at the same time, there are no references and relate quite different stories. Harley Quinn could almost be out of continuity, and for this reason, I put all the trade paperbacks together, but you can read them when you want!


Event Alert! Superman’s secret is exposed! His life no longer private and his powers decreasing, Superman embarks on a journey across the United States, seeking to rediscover his heroic nature in Truth.

Event Alert! A legion of teens is putting on the yellow “R” and following in the footsteps of their crime-fighting icons. And when a tragic accident makes the movement illegal, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake and Damian Wayne are back in Gotham and are determined to save the kids who have taken up their legacy in Robin War (reading order).

Event Alert! Following Superman’s showdown with Vandal Savage in the 2015 Superman Annual #3 and the event Truth, Kal’El has become desperate to regain his powers. Time is running out and his enemies are determined to destroy him, so Superman must try the unthinkable in Savage Dawn.


Khalid Nassour is the new Doctor Fate during the New 52 era and the star of his own series. It does not require any past knowledge and can be read without interruption.


Event Alert! The Justice League is caught in a war between Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor in Justice League: The Darkseid War (reading order here), the penultimate story of The New 52 leading into DC Rebirth.

Event Alert! Superman discovers he is dying and decides to form a group of heroes that will protect Earth in his absence. These are the last days of the Superman of the New 52.

What to read after New 52?

The end of an era. The beginning of a new one. After New 52 came Rebirth, and the reading order of that period is here.

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