Superman Anthology - Timeline

[thecomicperson]

I don't really see the need to split it into different unofficial Earths, especially to accommodate tie-in comics; we already knew just from Crisis that they were kind of putting two different continuities into one Earth based on broad strokes similarities (with an additional continuity seemingly created at the end of the event), but they seem to be holding that line so far. I think we may have a better sense of how consistent (if at all) WB and DC is going to be with the live action multiverse after The Flash movie; no need to jump the gun before then.

As it is, we still have at least one multiversal reset to explain discontinuities between the movies and comics connected to the original Superman film; I'd lean on that or theoretical unseen time travel events, or even just noting the different continuities at play before creating unofficial Earths just for the sake of the timeline.

IDK man, looks like DC and WB like this thing of destroying contuinities, i hope they to make everything clear in a near future

 

[Pro Bot]

I don't really see the need to split it into different unofficial Earths, especially to accommodate tie-in comics; we already knew just from Crisis that they were kind of putting two different continuities into one Earth based on broad strokes similarities (with an additional continuity seemingly created at the end of the event), but they seem to be holding that line so far. I think we may have a better sense of how consistent (if at all) WB and DC is going to be with the live action multiverse after The Flash movie; no need to jump the gun before then.

As it is, we still have at least one multiversal reset to explain discontinuities between the movies and comics connected to the original Superman film; I'd lean on that or theoretical unseen time travel events, or even just noting the different continuities at play before creating unofficial Earths just for the sake of the timeline.

The only way that the Crisis ending could have changed/linked everything is if post-crisis Earth-96 Superman was much older and experienced everything in the 1970s/1980s. Otherwise, a shared continuity would be under the assumption that everything is set in present day I would assume.

 

[Pro Bot]

As it is, we still have at least one multiversal reset to explain discontinuities between the movies and comics connected to the original Superman film; I'd lean on that or theoretical unseen time travel events, or even just noting the different continuities at play before creating unofficial Earths just for the sake of the timeline.

I'm not legitimately making up random Earths and labeling them official. Superman Returns was supposed to be a separate using the first two films as a springboard. Crisis... kinda tried to link it all.

I used Earth-78 to make a point, I'm not saying those films are actually in that universe.

Hell, if you like, do this:
Pre-Crisis
2006 - Superman Returns: Prequel
2006 - Superman Returns
2019 - Crisis on Infinite Earths

Post-Crisis
1977 - Superman: The Movie: Extended Cut
1979 - Superman II
1980 - Superman III
1984 - Supergirl: Director's Cut
1985 - Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
1989 - Superman '78
2020 - Crisis on Infinite Earths

Or, you know. The previous version with modern day setting of all the films. That works fine, too.

 

[Pro Bot]

I'm not legitimately making up random Earths and labeling them official. Superman Returns was supposed to be a separate using the first two films as a springboard. Crisis... kinda tried to link it all.

I used Earth-78 to make a point, I'm not saying those films are actually in that universe.

Hell, if you like, do this:
Pre-Crisis
2006 - Superman Returns: Prequel
2006 - Superman Returns
2019 - Crisis on Infinite Earths

Post-Crisis
1977 - Superman: The Movie: Extended Cut
1979 - Superman II
1980 - Superman III
1984 - Supergirl: Director's Cut
1985 - Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
1989 - Superman '78
2020 - Crisis on Infinite Earths

Or, you know. The previous version with modern day setting of all the films.

Hell, could throw The Richard Donner Cut in pre-crisis even though it doesn't make much sense. You'd have to say Superman started a relationship with Lois, impregnated her... and then made her forget they did it somehow.It doesn't have any timeline references, too. I'm... not sure.

Pre-Crisis
1968 - Superman Returns: Prequel #1
1997 - Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
2006 - Superman Returns: Prequel #2-4
2006 - Superman Returns
2019 - Crisis on Infinite Earths

Note: Alternate version of Superman: The Movie with alternate dialogue, time travel and modern setting occurs. The same can most likely be said for every film.

Post-Crisis
1977 - Superman: The Movie: Extended Cut
1979 - Superman II
1980 - Superman III
1984 - Supergirl: Director's Cut
1985 - Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
1989 - Superman '78 #1-6
2020 - Crisis on Infinite Earths

Can't really think of any continuity errors doing that.


Edit: with more thought, I end up at the beginning:
1. Different Earths
2. Same Earth, different timeline
3. Same timeline, modern day retcon

No matter how I do it, something isn't right.
1. Can't be different Earths, they're confirmed the same despite the fact Superman Returns was meant to be seperate.
2. Calling them different timelines is speculatory and not suggested in any media.
3. Superman Returns is "confirmed" to take place after Superman IV per Marc Guggenheim, which doesn't make sense. The prop dates and technology don't match.

I'll keep it the same for now.

I'll also put Supergirl before Superman Returns because that "serveral trillion light-years" feat is way too absurd to be true if it takes him 5 years to go 21 light-years and back. I'm going to assume that the scientists made a really bad estimate or the guy on the radio was exaggerating to get a reaction.

 

[selfishmisery]

Does Supergirl Explain the Time Gap in Superman Returns?

Could a throwaway line in Supergirl tell audiences when Superman set out to rediscover Krypton? Let's take a closer look at a tangled continuity.

www.cbr.com

Thoughts?

 

[Pro Bot]

Does Supergirl Explain the Time Gap in Superman Returns?

Could a throwaway line in Supergirl tell audiences when Superman set out to rediscover Krypton? Let's take a closer look at a tangled continuity.

www.cbr.com

Thoughts?

Their conclusion on Martha Kent is a little flawed. There's no reason why Superman Returns has to follow Superman III, especially when it was seemingly following the idea that Jason was conceived in Superman II.

But yeah. I'm pretty confident this is the best way to structure the continuity.

2000 Superman: The Movie
2001 Superman II
2001 Supergirl
2006 Superman Returns
2008 Superman III
2013 Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
2014 Superman '78 (comic book)
2019 Crisis on Infinite Earths

Supergirl fits more neatly like this than between III and IV.

 

[selfishmisery]

Their conclusion on Martha Kent is a little flawed. There's no reason why Superman Returns has to follow Superman III, especially when it was seemingly following the idea that Jason was conceived in Superman II.

But yeah. I'm pretty confident this is the best way to structure the continuity.

2000 Superman: The Movie
2001 Superman II
2001 Supergirl
2006 Superman Returns
2008 Superman III
2013 Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
2014 Superman '78 (comic book)
2019 Crisis on Infinite Earths

I know that, about Martha Kent, I meant the Supergirl being set during the gap part.

 

[Pro Bot]

I know that, about Martha Kent, I meant the Supergirl being set during the gap part.

Yep, I agree with that bit.

 

[Avilos]

I been a fan of these movies my whole life. Even had my own timelines I wrote in the 1990s when I was in high school. When we had much less source material to work with. My own ideas have changed back and forth over the years.

It never occurred to me to have Superman Returns after 2 with the other sequels following it. Figured easy to ignore Martha Kent’s death because it was a only one line in 3 with no effect on the plot.

Thinking about it made me wonder where is Jason White if Returns happens before 3 and 4? I had an interesting thought - it’s a stretch but hear me out. What if “Jeremy” in Quest for Peace is Jason White. Obviously you need to ignore certain details. But we know so little about the character. It actually adds to the story. Presumably “Jeremy” still does not know who his father is. Lois is the one who presents the letter to Clark at the Daily Planet. He sits with her at the United Nations.

Maybe he was given new identity to protect him after what happens in Returns. But still feels a connection to Superman he does not know what it means yet.

In terms of Superman 3 we see so of Lois it’s easy to imagine any scenario of what her personal life is like at the time.

 

[Pro Bot]

Cool head-canon, never considered that. That'd make Jason 11 years old.

 

[selfishmisery]

I feel like we're making this more complicated than it needs to be...