Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
DC just beat Marvel in 2025… so why are they panic-resetting Prime Earth back to 1994? Superman gone, Hal shuffled, Titans gutted, Barry on the bench — all at the same time, right after a “winning” year.
This isn’t some bold masterplan, it’s the oldest move in the playbook: treat the core heroes like a problem to fix, chase a short-term shock, and hope readers don’t notice the line is soft. We’ve seen this movie before — Death of Superman fallout, Emerald Twilight, “kill the Titans,” reshuffle the League — and we remember how the ’90s crash actually felt on the ground.
This breakdown digs into what DC’s really signaling with this 1994 button: a fragile line propped up by Absolutes and nostalgia, a main universe acting like its own history is disposable, and a publisher willing to risk long-term loyalty for one more stunt pop. If you care about DC’s future beyond the next gimmick, this is the one you need to see.
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🎥 The DC Sales Catastrophe Nobody Saw Coming
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Covered in this Video
* DC beats Marvel in 2025 market share and what that actually means for Prime Earth
* Absolute Universe success vs Prime-Earth soft sales and weak momentum
* Why DC is leaning into mid-90s stunt marketing again
* Reign of the Superboys and Superboy-Prime replacing Superman
* Why Joshua Williamson’s Superman run wasn’t the problem
* Green Lantern #600 and Kyle Rayner replacing Hal Jordan
* Why Jeremy Adams rebuilt Green Lantern and why the pivot risks momentum
* Titans relaunch as New Titans with Tate Brombal and Sami Basri
* Why the classic Wolfman and Perez Titans roster still moves the needle
* Barry Allen sidelined after Absolute Power and what DC is doing with him now
* Why Wally West has struggled post Heroes in Crisis and the sales impact
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📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thinkingcrit
📘 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/1368359010382132
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Contact Wes
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📧 Email: wesdigscomic@gmail.com
🔊 Automatic Dubbing Disclaimer
This video includes YouTube’s automatic dubbing feature for non-English speakers. Translations may contain minor errors and do not always reflect tone or expression. You can switch back to the original English track in the settings if needed.
DC just beat Marvel in 2025… so why are they panic-resetting Prime Earth back to 1994? Superman gone, Hal shuffled, Titans gutted, Barry on the bench — all at the same time, right after a “winning” year.
This isn’t some bold masterplan, it’s the oldest move in the playbook: treat the core heroes like a problem to fix, chase a short-term shock, and hope readers don’t notice the line is soft. We’ve seen this movie before — Death of Superman fallout, Emerald Twilight, “kill the Titans,” reshuffle the League — and we remember how the ’90s crash actually felt on the ground.
This breakdown digs into what DC’s really signaling with this 1994 button: a fragile line propped up by Absolutes and nostalgia, a main universe acting like its own history is disposable, and a publisher willing to risk long-term loyalty for one more stunt pop. If you care about DC’s future beyond the next gimmick, this is the one you need to see.
SPONSOR
Big thanks to The 616 Comics — the #1 producer-retailer in the comic book industry — for supporting honest conversations like this one.
Use code THINKINGCRITICAL at checkout for 10% OFF their exclusive variant covers on their site or app: 🔗 the616comics.com
NEXT VIDEO:
🎥 The DC Sales Catastrophe Nobody Saw Coming
🔗 youtu.be/B22_pjGZ5Co
Back Thinking Critical on Channel Memberships
🔗 youtube.com/@Wes_From_TC/join
Support Thinking Critical on Patreon for Exclusive Content
🔗 patreon.com/thinkingcritical
🛒 Official Thinking Critical Merch
🔗 redbubble.com/people/T-Critical/shop?asc=u
Covered in this Video
* DC beats Marvel in 2025 market share and what that actually means for Prime Earth
* Absolute Universe success vs Prime-Earth soft sales and weak momentum
* Why DC is leaning into mid-90s stunt marketing again
* Reign of the Superboys and Superboy-Prime replacing Superman
* Why Joshua Williamson’s Superman run wasn’t the problem
* Green Lantern #600 and Kyle Rayner replacing Hal Jordan
* Why Jeremy Adams rebuilt Green Lantern and why the pivot risks momentum
* Titans relaunch as New Titans with Tate Brombal and Sami Basri
* Why the classic Wolfman and Perez Titans roster still moves the needle
* Barry Allen sidelined after Absolute Power and what DC is doing with him now
* Why Wally West has struggled post Heroes in Crisis and the sales impact
Follow the Channel
📱 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thinking_critical
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thinkingcrit
📘 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/1368359010382132
💬 Discord: discord.gg/uHM3Z68
🎮 Twitch: twitch.tv/thinking_critical_yt
Contact Wes
🐦 Twitter: twitter.com/Wes_from_TC
📧 Email: wesdigscomic@gmail.com
🔊 Automatic Dubbing Disclaimer
This video includes YouTube’s automatic dubbing feature for non-English speakers. Translations may contain minor errors and do not always reflect tone or expression. You can switch back to the original English track in the settings if needed.
