Overview

Genesis is a DC Comics crossover storyline published in 1997 through a self-titled four-issue weekly miniseries and a broad set of tie-in issues across the publisher's superhero titles. Written by John Byrne and illustrated by Ron Wagner, the event draws heavily on DC's Fourth World mythology, including the Source, New Genesis, Darkseid, and the Source Wall. The story is built around the Godwave, an interstellar phenomenon generated by the Source. According to the event's cosmology, the Godwave travelled across the universe and created gods during its first passage. After reaching the universe's edge and returning, it produced demigods and metahumans. When the wave threatens to reach its point of origin, its return begins to disrupt the structure of reality and the powers associated with many superhuman characters. Some metahumans lose or experience changes in their abilities, while ordinary people experience a sense of absence or incompleteness. The central conflict involves Earth's superheroes, the New Gods of New Genesis, and Darkseid. Darkseid and his forces exploit the crisis by invading Earth and attempting to capture or control the Godwave's power. The heroes eventually pursue the conflict to the Source Wall, where they confront Darkseid and seek to prevent the destabilization of the universe. The miniseries provides the principal narrative, while the tie-ins show how the event affects characters and titles including Green Lantern, The Power of Shazam!, Starman, Steel, Superman, Batman, Impulse, Supergirl, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, The Spectre, Teen Titans, and others. Genesis was structured as a weekly four-issue event with issues cover-dated October 1997. Its reading order interleaves the four core chapters with numerous tie-ins, making it an example of the large, interconnected crossover format used by DC during the 1990s. The event was later collected in The Fourth World by John Byrne Omnibus, published in July 2021, alongside Byrne's Fourth World material and the Genesis miniseries. As a publishing property, Genesis is not a continuing consumer brand or standalone company; it is a completed comic-book storyline within the DC Comics catalog.

History

Genesis was published by DC Comics as a 1997 crossover event connecting a four-issue weekly miniseries with tie-in chapters in a wide range of ongoing series. The core miniseries was written by John Byrne and drawn by Ron Wagner. Its narrative and visual identity are closely associated with DC's Fourth World mythology, particularly the Source, New Genesis, Darkseid, and the Source Wall. The story's premise is the Godwave, a cosmic phenomenon created by the Source. The wave moves through the universe in successive passes. Its first passage creates gods, while its return generates demigods and metahumans. The narrative begins when the Godwave's continuing movement threatens to return to its origin and alter the foundations of reality. The effects are felt throughout the DC Universe: the powers of some metahumans are changed or neutralized, and ordinary humans experience an unexplained feeling that something is missing. Darkseid attempts to exploit this instability. His forces invade Earth and pursue the Godwave's power, placing him in opposition to Earth's superheroes and the New Gods of New Genesis. The conflict ultimately extends beyond Earth to the Source Wall, where the heroes confront Darkseid and work to prevent his plan. The four central chapters are titled “Resonance,” “Edge of Destruction,” “Event Horizon,” and “The Final Battle – To Save the Source.” The crossover's publication format required readers to follow a substantial reading order. Tie-in stories appeared in Green Lantern, The Power of Shazam!, Starman, Steel, Superman: The Man of Steel, Azrael, Batman, Impulse, Jack Kirby's Fourth World, Sovereign Seven, Supergirl, Superman, The Adventures of Superman, Aquaman, Lobo, Young Heroes in Love, Resurrection Man, Legion of Super-Heroes, Robin, The Spectre, Superboy and the Ravers, Teen Titans, Wonder Woman, and Xero. These chapters depict individual characters' responses to the cosmic crisis and broaden the event beyond the main miniseries. Genesis remained a completed storyline rather than an ongoing publishing line. In July 2021, the miniseries was republished in The Fourth World by John Byrne Omnibus, alongside Byrne's New Gods and Jack Kirby's Fourth World issues. This collection renewed the story's availability in a later archival format while preserving its place as a 1990s DC crossover.

2021
Genesis receives an omnibus collection
[1]Genesis (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
The Fourth World by John Byrne Omnibus collected Genesis #1–4 with related Fourth World material and was published in July 2021.
1997
Genesis crossover published
[1]Genesis (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
DC Comics released the four-issue weekly Genesis miniseries and its associated tie-in issues, all cover-dated October 1997.

Products and positioning

A cosmic DC Comics crossover event combining Fourth World mythology with a broad, line-wide superhero storyline.

Comic-book miniseries · 1997
Genesis #1–4
The four-issue core of the crossover, written by John Byrne and illustrated by Ron Wagner. The miniseries follows the Godwave crisis from its initial effects on Earth through the confrontation with Darkseid and the struggle to protect the Source.
Crossover comic issues · 1997
Genesis tie-in issues
A sequence of connected stories published in DC titles including Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Spectre, Teen Titans, and Fourth World-related books. The tie-ins expand the event's impact across the DC Universe and form part of the recommended reading order.
Collected edition · 2021
The Fourth World by John Byrne Omnibus
A later DC collection that includes Genesis #1–4 together with The New Gods #12–15 and Jack Kirby's Fourth World #1–20. The omnibus places the crossover alongside related Fourth World material associated with John Byrne.

Controversies

2026
Genesis Vehicles Recalled Over Fire Risk
Hyundai issued a recall covering 94,622 certain 2015–2016 Hyundai Genesis and 2017–2020 Genesis G80 sedans because a power seat control could overheat and potentially cause a fire. Hyundai also urged affected owners to park outside until a remedy is available.
Source 1 Source 2
2021
Hyundai and Genesis vehicles recalled over seat belt pretensioner issue
Hyundai and Genesis models were reported as being recalled because seat belt pretensioners from a suspect production lot may deploy abnormally in a crash, potentially sending metal fragments into the cabin and increasing the risk of injury. Hyundai had not determined the cause of the abnormal deployment.
Source
2021
Recall of Genesis sedans over ABS module fire risk
The NHTSA issued a recall affecting 94,646 Hyundai Genesis and Genesis G80 models and 552 Genesis G70 models because certain ABS modules could short and cause smoke or fire. The article reports three confirmed fires outside the United States and no confirmed crashes, injuries, or fires in America from the fault.
Source

Brand decisions

2021
Genesis included in a Fourth World omnibusOther
Background
DC revisited John Byrne's Fourth World-related work in a comprehensive collected edition.
Action taken
The publisher included the complete Genesis miniseries in The Fourth World by John Byrne Omnibus.
Aftermath
The storyline became available in a later archival collection alongside related Fourth World issues.
Source
1997
DC structures Genesis as a line-wide crossoverProduct launch
Background
The storyline was designed around a four-issue weekly core series supported by tie-in chapters in numerous DC superhero publications.
Action taken
DC released the main miniseries together with an ordered sequence of related issues, linking the event to characters and titles across its shared universe.
Aftermath
The result was a completed 1997 crossover storyline that was later preserved in a collected omnibus edition.
Source

Recent events

2021
The Fourth World by John Byrne Omnibus collects Genesis[1]Genesis (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
Product launch
DC collected Genesis #1–4 in The Fourth World by John Byrne Omnibus, which also includes Byrne's New Gods and Jack Kirby's Fourth World material.
1997
DC publishes the Genesis crossover miniseries and tie-ins[1]Genesis (DC Comics)en.wikipedia.org
Product launch
DC Comics released the four-issue Genesis miniseries and related crossover chapters across multiple superhero titles. The event was cover-dated October 1997.

Related entries

DC Comics