Constructing a Continuity - Building the DCAU Timeline

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was….”

Well, it depends on your sources. John 1:1 claims the word was God. According to The
Trashmen, “bird is the word”, and then Cameo seems to be convinced it’s “word up!” (But that's
two words?).

And I guess that's what it boils down to. Given evidence (some of it contradictory) what do we
believe and why?

In 2005 Bruce Timm, perhaps the largest guiding force of the DCAU (hence the nickname
Timmverse) stated the following:

“the dcau observes "peanuts time", not "dick tracy" time (and certainly not anything like "real
time"): batman is always in his early to mid-thirties if the story is set in "the present"...the
BATMAN BEYOND world is always 50 years from NOW, whenever "now" is, not 50 years from
1997 (note that we NEVER put an actual date in the shows, and try to avoid topical references
whenever possible, in a blatant attempt to extend the respective series' shelf-lives)....” -
Toonzone Boards 2005

Now, while to most people, it would make sense to leave it at that and just watch the shows as
aired, I'm not content with that answer. Let's break it down and I'll give some reasons why:

Most of it stems from this part of the quote: “note that we NEVER put an actual date in the
shows, and try to avoid topical references whenever possible, in a blatant attempt to extend the
respective series' shelf-lives” which, whether Timm intended it or not, is a bold faced lie.

● As early as ​Batman​’s 18th episode “Beware the Gray Ghost” we see a magazine dated
1992.
● Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero​ shows Gregory Belson’s vehicle registration dates
between July 10th 1996 and 1997.
● The New Batman Adventures​’ “Cold Comfort” shows a recording of Bruce Wayne
holding a check dated 1997.
● Static Shock​’s “Brother-Sister Act” refers to Y2K as last year (not to mention a multitude
of topical references throughout).
● The Zeta Project​’s “Quality Time” gives us 2041 as the date Zeta went renegade (and
Batman Beyond​’s “Zeta” happens mere days later).
● We also have references to “The Near Apocalypse of ‘09” in ​Batman Beyond​ and ​Justice
League Unlimited​.
From there we have countless references to time passing between shows making it possible to
place years and dates on almost everything just from those couple of slip ups. With that
deconstruction, we know a few other things from Timm’s statement don't hold water:

● If at least 5 years pass from “Gray Ghost” to “Cold Comfort”, Batman can't always be
early 30s. Time doesn't work that way.
● If ​Batman Beyond​ and ​The Zeta Project​ are firmly set around 2041, it can't always be 50
years from “now, whenever now is.”

So if the word of the creator can't be trusted as infallible, how do we determine the continuity?
The easiest route is to go by what's presented in the television shows and related movies.

Let's set up a few simple rules:

1. Time passes the same as the real world. Any reference to exact amounts of time should
follow real world rules. Days are days, weeks are weeks, etc.
a. Caveat 1: the longer a time period, the more open to interpretation it is. I.E. two
years could mean two years to the day/month or could mean two calendar years
ago (as small a gap as December year 0 to January year 2).
b. Caveat 2: there are times in the DCAU we see loose interpretations of time
passing. This occurs as early as “On Leather Wings” when we see dates on
Batman’s computer from June 28th-July 13th, a time period of 15 days, yet he
states the robberies listed on those dates occurred “this week”. In cases like this
leniency can be given so long as it's within the bounds of reason.
2. So long as it can, real-world events referenced within the DCAU coincide with their
real-world dates. This includes, but is not limited to, pop culture and history. If it can't
coincide due to references of time passing in the shows, then that event occurs where it
would have to take place in the DCAU rather than in the real world.
a. Example: Despite evidence revolving around Static’s age placing “Hoop Squad”
in February 2003, Karl Malone didn’t join The Lakers until October of that year in
the real world.

However, with a universe spanning over 14 years (25 and counting now with the new “Batman
and Harley Quinn” movie) there's obviously going to be a lot more to take into consideration.
You know, because marketing!

With tie-in comics, novels, video games, books on tape, etc. how does one decide which trumps
the others?

Obviously, the first tier of canonicity would include all the animated properties. This includes:
● Batman: the Animated Series
○ Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
○ Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero
● Superman: the Animated Series
 ● The New Batman Adventures
○ Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman
● Batman Beyond
○ Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
● The Zeta Project
● Static Shock
● Justice League
● Justice League Unlimited

In this first tier we can also include adaptations of anything from these shows and movies. This
includes novelizations, comics, and the like.

For the sake of thoroughness, we’ll include a subsection for “debatable” animated projects in
this tier. These aren’t necessarily canon, but do share character models or have other reasons
that fans may think they’re in line with the shows. These properties shouldn’t be considered
canon unless they fit into what was presented in the original shows. This subsection includes:

● The Dark Knight’s First Night (1992)

● Justice League Test Footage (2000)
● Gotham Girls (2000)
● Lobo (2000)
● Teen Titans (2003)
● Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006)
● Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)
● Batman the Brave and the Bold: “Night of the Batmen” (2011)
● Justice League: Doom (2012)
● Batman Beyond (2014)
● Batman: Strange Days (2014)
● Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)

At this point is where I want to introduce something I call “The ‘Epilogue’ Clause”. For some
reason, Timm and co. decided they didn’t like that ​Batman Beyond​ was 40 years into the future
instead of 50. We see this laid out for us in “Epilogue,” where despite dialogue telling us Terry
and Dana have been dating for 15 years, we see a “65 years later” title card during the intro.
With piling evidence placing ​JLU​ in 2004, this would place “Epilogue” in 2069, and “Rebirth” in
2054 directly contradicting the 2041 date we’re given in ​The Zeta Project​. They also tried
slipping a second retcon into the mix, in implying that the flashback from ​Return of the Joker
occurred “over 40 years ago”. If it had been almost 40 years at the time, and it’s been about
another 15 years, then it would stand to reason the dialogue should have been “at least 50
years ago” or something to that effect. Because of these attempts at retconning, we try to move
with caution when placing anything that came out post-​JLU​.
Secondarily, this is a universe based on comic book characters, so it only makes sense to hit
the comics next!

In 2012, Bruce Timm stated (in regards to ​The Batman Adventures​ Annual #2) “Of course, we'd
teamed them up previously in the comics- we'd done that annual. The comic book animated
continuity is actually different than the actual animated continuity- they'll do things that contradict
what we do and vice versa. But for the sake of the Demon story we did in the animated show,
we subsumed the annual we had done into the animated continuity just to get things moving
faster.” - ​Modern Masters Vol. 3: Bruce Timm

This is one of those things that I feel like Bruce can be both right and wrong on. While it's clear
that there are differences between the comics and the cartoons (for instance, Batman meeting
Superman during the“​Batman Adventures​ title) it's very clear that the animated continuity
heavily influences the comic continuity (to the point the aforementioned Superman meeting was
retconned into oblivion when an adaptation of “World’s Finest” was published for ​Superman
Adventures​. ​Or a Booster Gold/Blue Beetle issue of ​Justice League Adventures​ being canceled
because it might contradict the show​). That being said, if Bruce Timm can subsume a comic or
two here or there (and we've already established his word isn’t 100% law) why can't we
subsume some as well? So long as we have hard-set rules.

1. Of course, the very first rule is the simplest: the comic cannot contradict the TV show in
a way that's non-reconcilable.
a. See aforementioned Batman/Superman meet-up
b. Caveat: if in doubt, contact a member of the creative team.
i. For instance, in ​Gotham Girls​ we see a flashback of Poison Ivy watching
the groundbreaking of Stonegate on TV rather than in person as seen in
“Pretty Poison.” When asked, series author Paul Storrie stated that while
that was a writing mistake on his part there were multiple reasons within
the narrative of the DCAU that could explain the inconsistency.
2. That being said, just because a comic treats the DCAU (or parts thereof) as canon, that
doesn't necessitate canonicity of that comic. We’ll call this “The Batman Beyond Clause.”
a. Writer Kyle Higgins’ run on ​Batman Beyond 2.0​ was a follow-up to Adam
Beechen’s run and influenced by the DCAU to the point of multiple flashbacks to
BTAS/TNBA/BB​ episodes and movies. However, as a follow up to Beechen’s run
we have to accept that canonically the Joker was still active near Batman’s
retirement, which doesn't work with on-screen evidence from the DCAU.
3. So long as they’re set in DCAU style, and don’t contradict on-screen events, Timm/Dini
stories are always canon. Comics that contradict these are to be thrown out.
4. If over 50% of the tie-in series contradicts on screen events then the whole thing is out
a. Caveat: See rule #3
i. Example: ​Adventures in the DC Universe​ #3 - “Cruise to Nightmare”
ii. Example: ​Harley Quinn​ (2016) - “Harley Loves Joker”
 5. If written by a show writer, even if a comic contradicts, it can be considered partially
canon if it either gives more detail to an episode they wrote, or later became adapted to
an episode.
a. Example: ​Batman Adventures​ Holiday Special
b. Example: ​Superman Adventures​ #21
c. Example: “Mad Love”
d. Example: ​Batman Adventures: The Lost Years

Since the showrunners didn’t have a hand in any of the other related media past the comic
books, we can place production team statements next on the list of importance. This could
include anything from interviews, series bibles, DVD commentaries, published works that the
team had a hand in, etc. These statements are only valid so far as they don’t contradict what we
see in the shows or their supporting comics. For example, when Dwayne McDuffie said “​It hasn't
happened yet. I'd be surprised if our "present" ever caught up with Return of the Joker. I'm
confident that the Joker will recover from his drubbing at Ace's hands and bedevil Batman many
more times before tht [sic] final battle.​” his comment is good so far as the flashback of ​Return of
the Joker​ occurring post ​JLU​, but can be thrown out when referring to the present never
catching up to it. We know ​Return of the Joker​ happens relatively soon past August 2041, Tim
states that the flashback occurred “almost 40 years ago” (i.e. 35-39 years). 2042 - 35 = 2007,
and that’s the latest that the events can canonically occur.

Next, we have other tie-in material from 1992-2006 that tells a new story. This could be anything
from books, to video games, to what have you.

On top of the retconning mentioned in “The Epilogue Clause,” there’s also the fact that the
DCAU models have become so iconic that they’re used for the sake of familiarity rather than to
imply stories actually occurred within the DCAU. Any non-animated/non-comic property
released past 2006 (especially when not specifically pointed out by their creator as intended to
be DCAU) falls behind any other storytelling on our canonicity totem pole.

Next is promotional material. This includes things such as guide books, official bios from show
websites, toy packaging, etc.

And finally we have canceled projects. With a universe spanning so much material, obviously
not everything pitched is going to be made. Plenty of scripts were finished and never moved on,
comics were started and never published, a few deleted scenes have found their way into the
public, etc. These stories are debatable on whether or not to even include.

Just to recap, here’s the breakdown:

1. The animated shows + movies + adaptations
a. Subsection: Debatable animated properties
2. Tie-in comics
3. Commentary from production staff
 4. Pre-2006 tie-in materials
5. Post-2006 tie-in materials
6. Promotional materials
7. Canceled projects

We’re well aware that the entirety of this set of rules is subjective. With a universe so vast it’s
hard to set rules that every single fan will agree with. This set of rules however is an attempt to
make sense of everything in the most agreeable way possible, and is the result of countless
hours debating information and input from members of a community that have long studied the
DCAU and its properties.

If you’d like to join the discussion, feel free to contact us with your ideas at
timeline@watchtowerdatabase.com!