No matter how you feel about this past year, there’s no arguing that it brought us plenty of exciting, entertaining, and at times, powerfully impactful new work from DC. From the end of a remarkable era of films—featuring the first big screen shared universe in DC’s history—to the dawning of a spectacular new age in comics, it was a great year to be a DC fan. So, as we say goodbye to 2023, we thought we’d share a few of our recent DC favorites. Look for a new DC.com writer’s 2023 Top Three every day this week!
How was your 2023? I spent mine taking care of a baby, going on adventures with work friends, and embarking on a journey through the multiverse. Okay, those are actually things that happened in my favorite DC projects from this past year, but I got to enjoy them, so that should count for something! (Plus, I kind of did 2/3 of those things. I’ll leave it up to you to guess which ones.)
Joker: One Operation Joker
I can guarantee that you’ve never seen a Batman/Joker story quite like this. Joker: One Operation Joker is a new DC manga by Satoshi Miyagawa and Keisuke Gotou that finds the Clown Prince of Crime pulling one of his most unusual capers yet—fatherhood. After Batman is transformed into a baby, the Joker finds himself without a purpose. After all, without a Batman to torment, who is the Joker? So, he decides to do the only logical thing: raise Batman to adulthood so he can get his old enemy back.
This leads to some fun scenarios like the Joker struggling to get a decent amount of sleep and trying to find the perfect daycare. Joker: One Operation Joker is part of a collaboration between DC and the Japanese publisher Kodansha, meaning it isn’t a DC story done in manga style—it’s a true manga. I read lots of Batman comics every year, and I can say that this stands apart from the rest. It truly was one of the most refreshing reading experiences I’ve had this year.
My Adventures with Superman
Every time I watch My Adventures with Superman, I can’t help but smile. There are so many great moments from this new Adult Swim/Max series that entertain me and warm my heart. DC’s newest animated series is a fun retelling of the Superman mythos, focusing on the Man of Steel’s early days as a superhero and reporter. The entire series can almost be considered an attempt to do Superman as a ‘90s-era Toonami anime.
Of course, the series is more than Superman. The charm of this show is the trio of Clark, Lois, and Jimmy. Their friendship serves as the backbone and heart of the show. The connection between the three of them is so endearing that you will constantly find yourself rooting for their success. My Adventures with Superman also gives us fun updates on existing DC characters like Mallah and the Brain, Steve Lombard and Cat Grant.
It’s a Superman story, it’s a romance anime, it’s a science fiction television show, and it’s a workplace comedy. I had high expectations for My Adventures with Superman, and it exceeded every single one!
Titans, “Dude, Where’s My Gar”
In 2023, Titans aired its fourth and final season, ending things on a memorable note. The final batch of episodes featured a creepy Stepford town and an ominous showdown with Brother Blood, but the episode that got my attention was a character-focused story on Beast Boy. “Dude, Where’s My Gar” brings Gar Logan’s story full circle, as the young Titan comes to terms with his past while forging a new future.
The episode finds Beast Boy exploring the Red, learning about his true purpose. If you’re a fan of Grant Morrison’s Animal Man run, there were lots of treats here for you, including a cameo appearance from Grant Morrison themself, breaking the fourth wall in a reality-bending scene. The episode also served as a love letter to the DC Universe as a whole. During Gar’s journey through the Red, we heard snippets from the 1978 Superman film, the 1966 Adam West Batman series and more, plus got some fun cameo appearances from the heroes of DC’s recent streaming shows, including a lively interaction between Beast Boy and Brec Bassinger’s Stargirl.
Many of those shows are near and dear to my heart, and I loved seeing this episode pay tribute to them. Plus, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that all of this led to a great conversation between myself and Geoff Johns, who co-wrote the episode. (It was even quoted in Entertainment Weekly, one of the coolest things that’s ever happened to me in my professional career.)
“Dude, Where’s my Gar” entertained me, warmed my heart, and led to some cool real life moments for Joshua Lapin-Bertone. Who could ask for more?
Be sure to read the rest of our 2023 Top Three lists!
Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Twitter at @TBUJosh.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC Entertainment or Warner Bros., nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
