DC Comics

Characters - Organizations - Locations - Timeline - NPCs

Backstory...

Years ago during the GOLDEN AGE of heroism, a group of government agents, law enforcement officers, and costumed vigilantes banded together to create the JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA, to keep their nation safe from the insidious influences of the Nazis and Communism. After decades of fighting against organised crime, fifth columnists, and an assortment of magical and malevolent foes, a TRAGIC INCIDENT forced most of the Justice Society into retirement or hiding.

Some of America's heroes remained active, establishing the autonomous clandestine agency CHECKMATE to keep the nation safe from continued danger. Across the nation, small pockets of villainy and vigilantism have persisted, most notably in the crime-infested city of GOTHAM.

It was not until the arrival of KAL-EL OF KRYPTON however that a new era of heroes began, led by SUPERMAN and his JUSTICE LEAGUE. New superheroes, vigilantes, and villains become active every day, which has forced the government to create the DEPARTMENT OF EXTRANORMAL OPERATIONS, which publicly investigates the actions of such individuals, in parallel with (and sometimes in opposition to) Checkmate. Seeking to equip itself with the technology needed to keep the world safe, Checkmate has acquired QUEEN CONSOLIDATED, which has begun conducting secret and often morally dubious R&D at various facilities throughout Gotham. With crime in the city on the rise, BATMAN has joined forces with the OUTSIDERS to aid the GCPD in keeping crime at bay.

Roleplay

The DC Comics setting on TheHolo.net draws inspiration from comics, television, movies, and original ideas. Some characters are similar to well-known portrayals, while others are completely different. Currently, most of the roleplay focus is centred on Gotham City, with storylines explaining why characters like Supergirl, Green Lantern, and Kid Flash are not in their usual locations.

Anyone is welcome to tell their stories within our continuity, but new players should be mindful of the existing characters and ongoing storylines that are already in play.

Factions

The characters in the DC Comics setting are divided into various teams, groups, organisations, and agencies. Some of the main ones are listed below.

Agencies:

• Checkmate: A secret government organisation that owns/controls Queen Consolidated. It was created by a mix of government agents and Golden Age vigilantes to covertly protect America after the Justice Society disbanded. Checkmate is so covert that many in the intelligence and law enforcement community think of it as a ghost story. It recruits veterans from the military and other agencies, and also employs mercenaries and convicted criminals (ie. Suicide Squad) for it's less savoury missions.

• Department of Extranormal Operations: A government agency established to investigate, monitor, and police metahumans and extraterrestrials, as well as incidents involving unregulated advanced technologies and artefacts or individuals of a magical nature. While the DEO is not specifically responsible for acts of vigilantism, they do provide support to local law enforcement when heroes or vigilantes have abilities or technology that are beyond what law enforcement is equipped to deal with. Some heroes, vigilantes, and even criminals agreed to work with the DEO to avoid criminal prosecution, such as Booster Gold.

• Gotham City Police Department: The law enforcement agency of Gotham City, led by Commissioner James Gordon. The Major Crimes Unit is a special task force created to deal with crimes that go above and beyond what normal police officers and detectives are equipped to deal with, such as vigilantes and supervillains. Another division nicknamed "Infernal Affairs" investigates crimes alleged to involve magic.

• STAR Labs: A network of national laboratories overseen by the Department of Energy, created to promote research into everything from quantum physics to biomedical research. There are several facilities scattered across the country including a particle accelerator in Central City, a bio research lab in Metropolis, an R&D lab in Gotham City, and Mercury Labs in Nevada. In addition to research, STAR Labs provides tech support to the DEO and to local law enforcement when required.

Vigilantes:

• Superman Family: An informal term used by the DEO to refer to the various heroes associated with Superman. His cousin Kara Zor-El (alias Supergirl) is currently operating as an Outsider in Gotham City. A clone of Superman (codename Superboy) has also found his way to Gotham, living under the alias Connor Kent. The family unofficially includes Jonathan and Martha Kent - Superman's adoptive parents - who have been helping Supergirl acclimatise herself with Earth.

• Bat Family: An informal term used by the GCPD and the DEO to refer to the vigilante heroes closely associated with Batman, including his sidekicks Robin and Batman. The former Robin, Jason Todd, is currently an inmate at Arkham Asylum following his rampage as Red Hood.

• Team Arrow: A group of vigilantes from Star City, associated with the Green Arrow. Though Oliver Queen is currently operating in Gotham City, his sidekick Roy Harper (alias Arsenal) has been fighting crime in a Green Arrow costume back in Star City to help obscure the Arrow's real identity. His current sidekick, Mia Dearden (alias Red Arrow) is also active in Star City.

• Team Flash: A group of superheroes from Central City and Keystone City, associated with the Flash. Because of Barry Allen's involvement with the CCPD, Team Flash operates in full cooperation with law enforcement, helping to keep the Central City Rogues under control. The Flash's sidekick, Kid Flash, has recently moved to Gotham City.

• Outsiders: A term used by the GCPD and the DEO to refer to the various "non-native" vigilantes who have begun to operate in Gotham City. The term encompasses several heroes, including Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Kid Flash, and Supergirl.

Corporations:

• Queen Consolidated: A company (formerly Queen Industries) famous for it's fashionable high-end consumer electronics - such as the QPhone, QPad, and the Qube games console - that is secretly controlled by Checkmate. Over the last decade, QC has acquired several subsidiaries owned by former vigilantes or by supervillains as part of secret R&D projects for Checkmate, overseen by Consolidated's FutureTech division. After his presumed death at sea, the company is no longer owned by Oliver Queen; it is run by President William Glenmorgan and CEO Isabel Rochev.

• Scott Telecommunications: A corporation founded by Alan Scott. It owns the Gotham Broadcasting Company television network, and the Gotham Gazette newspaper.

• Wayne Enterprises: A multinational conglomerate involved in everything from manufacture and construction (Wayne Industries) to aerospace and electronics (WayneTech), and biomedical research (Wayne Pharmaceuticals). Through the not-for-profit Wayne Foundation, the company provides healthcare to Gotham City and supports numerous charitable endeavours. The Wayne Entertainment subsidiary owns hotels, theatres, movie studios, sports teams, and even the Daily Planet newspaper. The President of Wayne Enterprises is Bruce Wayne, with Lucius Fox serving as the CEO.

Settings

• Gotham City: