For non-comic-reading fans, it's easy to assume that there's only one version of their favorite DC heroes. That's basically because, for the most part, DC's movies and TV shows haven't really touched on the idea of parallel universes within the company. In the comics, however, it's a completely different story. While its main competition hasn't made much of its multiple universes, DC is known for tapping into alternate realities, and some of the company's biggest events have come from the idea of a multiverse.
Then in 2011, DC announced New 52, an event designed to relaunch DC comics as a whole with updated characters and plots. It was an attempt to simplify the immense backstory of DC's heroes, and while the event was generally well-received, it had a lot of fans worrying. Many believed that their favorite universes and characters were gone for good, and decades of storytelling would no longer matter.
However, it seems that those fans don't have to worry anymore. Speaking with USA Today, DC Comics co-publisher Dan DiDio announced Convergence: a new event that not only confirms the DC Multiverse still exists, but brings it back to the forefront.
The return to DC's multiple universes was first teased at the end of Superman: Doomed, but was only confirmed with the announcement of Convergeance. The event will see the return of Brainiac as the villain who manipulates the very fabric of reality. It seems that Brainiac has cherry-picked planets and locations from various dead universes, and has combined them into one planet that sits outside of space and time. While the event comics will deal with Brainiac and new villain Telos, the crossover comics will depict what's been happening throughout the DC multiverse since fans last saw them.
What's interesting is that the main Convergence event comics will be written by one Jeff King. While the event will serve as King's first foray into comics, it's certainly not his first time writing: the man has extensive TV writing experience with shows such as Stargate SG-1 and Continuum. With both DC and Marvel focusing so heavily on theatrical releases these days, it makes sense to bring Hollywood talent in to make sure that the comics fit their big-screen counterparts. It's not hard to see Hollywood becoming an even greater influence on comic books in the near future, and this may only be the first step.
For many longtime DC fans, Convergence is great news. Many were worried that DC was throwing decades upon decades of history away with the New 52 storyline. It was a strange move at first - DC differentiated itself from Marvel with its multiple universes, and it didn't seem to make much sense to get rid of such a unique trait. Thankfully, with Convergence and the return of the parallel realities, DC isn't just bringing back the multiverse, but embracing it as well.
