Welcome to the Wold Newton Superhero Universe.

On December 13, 1795, a meteorite fell to Earth near the village of Wold Newton, Yorkshire, England.  Several people were travelling in carriages nearby and were exposed to the intense ionization caused by the impact.  These people passed on to their offspring a mutated gene.  Over the next several generations, this gene was reinforced, producing people with above average strength and intelligence.  The descendants of this group produced more than their fair share of explorers, inventors, scientists, crimefighters, and criminals.

These families, the Wold Newton families, include such amazing historical figures as Zorro, the Phantom, Doc Savage, the Shadow, Tarzan, the Spider, G-8, the Domino Lady, Professor Challenger, Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Philip Marlowe, Fu Manchu, Professor Moriarty, Arsene Lupin, the Batman, Captain America and many others.

This concept is the creation of noted science fiction author, Philip Jose Farmer, and the essential texts on the Wold Newton families are his Tarzan Alive and Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life.

In the twentieth century, the world of crimefighters and adventurers has grown to include men and women with capabilities far beyond those of normal humans.  People with superstrength, strange mental powers, the ability to fly, and even stranger characteristics.  We call these people "superheroes" and "supervillains."  People like Superman, the Fantastic Four, the Flash, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man.  Many of these "metahumans" are also members of the Wold Newton families.

Here at the Wold Newton Superhero Universe we are going to be looking in the world in which these people live.  We will be asking questions about the nature of reality in that world (What was the Crisis in Infinite Earths?  Unity? Zero Hour?  Who is Access?).  We will be looking into historical questions (ie., the history of government created heroes from Operation: Rebirth to Team 7, the related but distinct history of government super-teams from T.H.U.N.D.E.R. to Youngblood, the future evolution of mankind: mutant or harbinger?).  We'll be asking "What is the origin of the metagene?" and other questions.

In other words, we'll be examining the nature of the superhero world, as well as taking a look at some of the personal and family histories of our favorite heroes.

Naturally, in a Wold Newton Universe of any sort, there will be discussion of characters, places and events from other media.  But don't worry.  This is THE WOLD NEWTON SUPERHERO UNIVERSE!

Other Wold Newton Sites:

Philip José Farmer's Wold Newton Universe by Win Eckert

Secret History of the Wold Newton Universe by Dennis Power

Some Unknown Members of the Wold Newton Family by Jess Nevins

This page was most recently updated on Feb. 23 , 2001.  It was created by Mark K. Brown.  The first articles have now been posted.

The Green Light of Justice by C. Richard Davies takes a look at the origins of the lantern used by the Golden Age Green Lantern, Alan Scott.

Scions of the Dark Knight by C. Richard Davies, a look at the life and legacy of the Batman.

The Super-Soldier Project by Al Schroeder takes a look at the origins of Operation: Rebirth and some of its suprising ramifications.

That Laughing Young Daredevil, Dick Grayson by Kai Axel Jansson examines a possible take on the adult life of the Boy Wonder.

The Reign of the Supermen by Kai Axel Jansson.  An examination of some early supermen and their legacy.

Dark City, Dark Knights by Loki Carbis.  An alternate look at the Batman and the history of Gotham.

Supersoldiers by Brad Mengel.  Another look at the history of the Super-Soldier Project

 

Of Hawkmen and Hawkworlds by C. Richard Davies  NEW

 All rights to characters depicted or mentioned here belong to their respective copyright holders.  I claim to no interest in these characters, except as a fan.  Do all of us a favor and buy comics starring these characters so that the copyright holders become very rich and continue to produce the adventures we all love.

Feel free to  contact me with comments, suggestions and submissions.

I'd like to draw special attention to one of the Wold Newton Websites out there.  It's not my intention to slight any of the other excellent sites, but Schroeder's Speculations by Al Schroeder is doing the same sort of thing I'd like to do here.  If you like Wold Newton-style speculation and the world of comic book heroes, check it out.