This 2004 series, created by Darwyn Cooke, was supposedly influenced by other DC series such as Kingdom Come, The Golden Age, Watchmen, and The Dark Knight Returns. Like The Golden Age, New Frontier takes place primarily in the 1950s, and depicts the Golden Age superheroes (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman) meeting Silver Age characters (Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter). It was intended to bridge the gap from the end of the Golden Age to the beginning of the Silver Age in the DC Universe.
The mini-series takes place on Earth-21 in DC’s multiverse. Captain Atom does not appear in this series and doesn’t appear to exist in this continuity. However, in Book 5 we are introduced to Nathaniel Adam, an Air Force Captain working out of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
It seems that on Earth-21, Nate is just an Air Force career man with no super powers.
He butts heads with Green Arrow, who seems incapable of getting along with other heroes no matter what continuity he exists in.
Just when it looks like Green Arrow and Captain Adam are about to come to blows, Superman intervenes and nips that crap in the bud.
Superman gives a rousing speech about destiny and fighting oppression and persecution.
Martian Manhunter shows up, and everyone’s attitude shifts almost instantly. Guess old John Jones has been mucking about in peoples’ heads again.
The good cheer only lasts as long as Superman is fighting. When the monster burns him and dumps him in the sea, everyone seems to be in despair. Could be that in his own grief, Jones let go of his grip on their minds.
Captain Adam shows up in the pages if the next and final issue, but is more of a background character. This particular issue contained his meatiest role. He never does gain any super powers, but fights alongside the superheroes anyway. Of course, Superman is not dead and in the next issue the heroes win and everyone lives (more or less) happily ever after.
DC: The New Frontier #5 was written, pencilled, and inked by Darwyn Cooke. Colors were by Dave Stewart with letters by Jared K. Fletcher.
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