The World of Black Hammer

**The World of *Black Hammer*** is the fictional universe of *Black Hammer* and its various spinoff titles created by Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston. The spinoffs are marked by a black band along the top of the cover which reads "From the World of *Black Hammer*".

## *Black Hammer*

   The series that began it all. *Black Hammer* began July 2016 and ran until September 2017. It was relaunched as *Black Hammer: Age of Doom* on April 2018. While the main story focuses on the superheroes stranded in Rockwood, it also features flashback material spanning at least a century of history, and over time that grew into new stories.

Black Hammer *is a story I’ve had in my imagination for ten years, and it’s been really great seeing it come together. But as I made the book, I started to get new ideas for other characters and other stories. I mean I love superhero comics, and I love the history of superhero comics. There’s just such a rich history to draw from that I started to come up with new characters that didn’t really have a place in the main story, but have their own story.*
—Jeff Lemire, *August 1, 2017*
### *Black Hammer / Justice League* crossover

In March 2019, Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics announced a five-issue *Black Hammer* and *Justice League* crossover miniseries called *Hammer of Justice!*, written by Jeff Lemire and drawn by Michael Walsh. In the initial announcement, Lemire assured readers he was going to keep *Black Hammer* character driven without endless tie-ins and events. *Hammer of Justice!* is not "a throwaway ‘imaginary story’" either, and will have lasting repercussions in future *Black Hammer* stories according to Lemire.

When discussing whether there could be further crossovers in future, Lemire said, "If there is a very good story to be told, I am open to it, but I doubt we will see many, or any, other crossovers in the future. This particular opportunity really worked and was a great once in a lifetime chance to tell a really fun story."

## Spinoffs

### *Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil*

Dark Horse Comics announced *Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil* in July 2017. The story was set-up in August 2017's *Black Hammer* #12, which served as a prologue for the miniseries. The minseries was written by Jeff Lemire and with *Black Hammer* guest artist David Rubín illustrating. *Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil* premiered October 2017.

### *Doctor Andromeda and the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows*

In December 2017 a second *Black Hammer* spinoff was announced. Written by Jeff Lemire with art by Max Fiumara, the series focuses on Dr. James Robinson (the titular Doctor Andromeda), who had initially appeared during the first arc of *Black Hammer*. The miniseries premiered March 2018.

### *The Quantum Age*

A third miniseries was announced in March 2018. Set one years in the future, *The Quantum Age* features a group of superheroes inspired by the heroes of Black Hammer farm. Written by Jeff Lemire with art by Wilfredo Torres, the miniseries debuted in July 2018. As part of Free Comic Book Day 2018, Dark Horse released a short story called *Black Hammer: The Quantum Age*, featuring art by both Wilfredo Torres and *Black Hammer* co-creator Dean Ormston, which introduced readers to the world of *The Quantum Age* and some of its characters.

### *Black Hammer ’45*

Jeff Lemire first indicted he was working on a *Black Hammer* spinoff with Ray Fawkes and Matt Kindt in a Twitter post. On December 7, 2018, SyFy Wire announced *Black Hammer ’45*, a four-issue miniseries about the Black Hammer Squadron in World War II. This miniseries marks the first time a *Black Hammer* title isn't solely written by Jeff Lemire, with Ray Fawkes joining as co-writer.

### *Skulldigger + Skeleton Boy*

A series known only as *Skulldigger* was first hinted at in the note from the editor in the *Stanger Things / Black Hammer* Free Comic Book Day issue in May 2019. It was formally announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2019. This series is the first in Phase II of the World of *Black Hammer*.

### *Colonel Weird: Cosmagog*

Announced early January 2020, this four-issue miniseries explores Colonel Weird's past and his future beyond the ending of *Black Hammer: Age of Doom*. Lemire has said this series will act as a bridge from *Age of Doom* to the next arc of *Black Hammer*.

### *Barbalien: Red Planet*

Announced in March 2020, *Barbalien: Red Planet* is a five-issue miniseries set in the 1980s during the AIDS crisis. The series is written by Jeff Lemire and Tate Brombal with art by Gabriel Hernández Walta.

### *The Unbelievable Unteens*

Announced in May 2021, *The Unbelievable Unteens* is a four-issue miniseries written by Jeff Lemire with art by Tyler Crook. The series had been in development for several years before its announcement, teased in 2019's "Horrors to Come" and *The World of Black Hammer Encyclopedia*. The series sets up elements that will play out in *Black Hammer: Reborn*.

## References

1. ↑ https://comicsverse.com/jeff-lemire-sherlock-frankenstein-the-legion-of-evil/
2. ↑ https://au.ign.com/articles/2019/03/13/exclusive-dcs-justice-league-meets-black-hammer-in-hammer-of-justice
3. ↑ https://previewsworld.com/Article/231428-Interview-Black-Hammer-And-Justice-League-Crossover-In-World-Colliding-Event
4. ↑ http://www.mandatory.com/culture/1293195-exclusive-mike-mignola-covers-sherlock-frankenstein-legion-evil-1
5. ↑ http://www.denofgeek.com/us/books-comics/black-hammer/269508/doctor-star-takes-center-stage-in-new-black-hammer-spinoff-exclusive-preview
6. ↑ https://twitter.com/JeffLemire/status/977992303515021313
7. ↑ https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/black-hammer-45-miniseries-dark-horse
8. ↑ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dark-horse-expands-black-hammer-universe-colonel-weird-1267843
9. ↑ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/black-hammer-spinoff-comic-launch-timed-lgbtq-pride-month-1284127
10. ↑ https://screenrant.com/black-hammer-new-spinoff-unbelievable-unteens-exclusive/