In the comic book industry, several different elements decide which stories get printed. How lines are rearranged or dropped depends on several factors, including a budget, schedule, and fan opinion. Sometimes, even shows with the most committed audiences have to end before they’re done. Because of this, the author is stuck and cannot write a satisfying ending or end the dispute.
DC has a track record of successfully combining unfinished plots from canceled publications with ongoing comics, although this isn’t always the case. This leaves readers with an unresolved cliffhanger.
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An “Emerald Interlude” Was Meant To Follow up “Emerald Twilight”
DC had planned to publish “Emerald Interlude,” a three-issue follow-up to their plot “Emerald Twilight,” in Legends of the DC Universe, but they canceled the LDC line before it could be released.
Kyle Rayner becomes the latest Green Lantern in the “Emerald Twilight” storyline. The Guardians pool their remaining energy into making a ring for Rayner after a distraught Hal Jordan destroys the rest of the Corps and transforms himself into the villain Parallax. There are still several unanswered issues about the “Twilight” universe even after some of the storylines were concluded.
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A Black Canary Miniseries Never Came To Fruition
In 1984, Greg Weisman and Mike Sekowsky intended to create a miniseries centered on Black Canary, with Weisman writing and Sekowsky providing artwork. DC canceled the project after Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters portrayed the character prominently. Green Arrow, a short film released in 2010, takes place in the same universe as Young Justice (2010-) but focuses mostly on Green Arrow, hence several elements originally meant for Canary’s series were repurposed for Green Arrow.
Sekowsky produced a lot of penciling for the Black Canary book before it was canceled, and while it wasn’t meant to be a successor to any particular storyline, it was still interesting enough to be worth mentioning. There is, therefore, an air of incompleteness about it. DC could do the bare minimum and publish Sekowsky’s already completed artwork for the series.
The Second Iteration Of The Teen Titans Didn’t Get Closure
Although it was ordered to air in 1976, the resurrection of Teen Titans was abruptly canceled. Teen Titans vol.2 #53, written by Bob Rozakis and drawn by Juan Ortiz and John Fuller, depicts the youthful heroes’ decision to go their separate ways after the series runs for less than two years and only 10 issues. This novel does have a conclusion, but it is poorly executed and leaves the reader with many unanswered questions.
Next up was a comic by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, which featured the Teen Titans’ now-iconic lineup. Even with the new members, the absence of Speedy, Mal, Bumblebee, and Harlequin is felt in The New Teen Titans. This is especially true considering that Robin, Kid Flash, and Wonder Girl have been re-enlisted.
A Second X-Men And Teen Titans Crossover Was Stonewalled By Corporate Politics
Forty years ago, crossovers between Marvel and DC haven’t fanned fiction but official stories published by both companies. However, due to editorial disputes between publishing corporations, crossovers between the Big Two were already on the decline by 1983.
A year prior, in issue #1 of Marvel and DC’s The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans, writers Chris Claremont and Walter Simonson introduced their characters. They include a conflict between Darkseid and Dark Phoenix and their teams. To continue the story, Marv Wolfman and George Pérez were recruited to pen the sequel. Due to disagreements over a proposed JLA/Avengers crossover earlier in 1983, issue #2 of Marvel and DC Present The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans was never released.
Starfire Was Canceled After Just Eight Issues
Neither Koriand’r Princess of Tamaran nor Leonid Konstantinovich Kovar—Starfire, the rebel warrior from the realm of Pytharia—ever finished Starfire’s story. In the four years following Supergirl’s 1972 debut, she was the first woman to star in her series.
After promising to continue her journey in the eighth issue, Starfire was canceled before the ninth. Since then, the main character has made (short) cameos in the canceled Time Masters: Vanishing Point, Swamp Thing, Starman, and Star Hunters series.
Supergirl Was Written Out Of Continuity Before Her Story Concluded
DC’s Supergirl title from the 1980s didn’t last very long. The Kara Zor-El storyline, written by Paul Kupperberg and drawn by Carmine Infantino (with the idea of concluding it in a crossover with Superboy), was canceled after issue #23. This was never realized because they were both erased from continuity by the Crisis on Infinite Earths event.
Paul Kupperberg was caught off guard by the decision to cancel Supergirl. Even though Supergirl ultimately defeats the episode’s villain, the issue concludes with her romantic relationship in limbo after she kisses another man.
The Shadow’s Cultural Importance Should Have Saved It
The second book of DC’s run on The Shadow, a character who has been adapted several times since his debut in a 1930s radio series, ran from 1987 to January 1989. Success awaited him in the worlds of comics, literature, and movies. After 19 issues, the publisher decided to end the publication of The Shadow even though the original plan called for 24.
The titular Shadow is a vigilante/detective with exceptional covert abilities. At the end of the second volume in his DC series, a new antagonist is introduced. However, DC’s creative team didn’t continue the story from where the second volume left off when the company chose to buy another The Shadow line in late 1989.
Batman Family Was Almost Saved Before Being Quickly Canceled
The Batman Family comic book series originally lasted from 1975 to 1978 before becoming the moniker for a large group of vigilantes. Meanwhile, DC Comics’ namesake title, Detective Comics, was published from 1937 to 2011. Despite this, during the DC Implosion, the publisher decided to combine Batman Family with the main Batman comic. The first appearance of Denny O’Neil’s script and Marshall Rogers’ illustrations occurred in issue #481.
However, the finale of Batman: The Family was still sudden despite the change. After issue #496, the Batman Family series (written by Michael Fleisher and drawn by Don Newton and Daniel Adkins) was canceled by Detective Comics.
Mister Miracle’s Second Volume Never Got An Ending
Mister Miracle, Vol. 2 was a reprint of the original 1971 book. Volume 2 began with issue #19, continuing the story that began in Volume 1. Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers and Ilya Hunch were responsible for the artwork. The second volume debuted in 1977 and ran until 1978 when it was once again canceled.
Multiple situations were left unanswered in Mister Miracle #26 because it was the final issue of the collection. Steve Gerber and Mike Golden’s “Freedom is a Four Letter Word” promises viewers a “Next” plotline on the closing page of issue #25.
Claw’s Line Was Short-Lived
Claw is a strong sorcerer who sports a magical crimson claw on his right arm. Both he and the second Starfire are natives of the land of Pytharia. Claw’s solo series was canceled after only twelve issues, leaving readers hanging.
Claw has made occasional appearances in DC’s main continuity since the discontinuation of his publication. Aside from Dark Nights: Death Metal, he also appeared in Wonder Woman vol. 2 and Time Masters: Vanishing Point. Although DC’s subsidiary Wildstorm Comics released the second book of Claw: The Unconquered in 2006, the series itself was first published by Image Comics.