The DC Fan Universe is a shared fanfiction universe, featuring reimaginings of DC Comics characters. It's published on the r/DCFU
subreddit on Reddit.
Starting in 2016, the project unites dozens of writers to create a coherent universe from ground zero with the characters. The universe is published through chapters in different fanfiction series, reflecting the comics they're based on.
The history of the universe spans centuries, with many of the characters origins spread trough them. However, the defining moment of the universe is Superman's public debut, which kicks off the age of heroes in the public eye.
Since its inception, the DCFU has had a variety of series, many completed/shelved, many currently ongoing and some in hiatus. They range from Superman and Batman to B and C-list heroes such as Booster Gold and the Doom Patrol.
See also Marvel Non Canon Universe, a Marvel fanfiction universe with the same concept, sharing some writers and officially partnered with DCFU. Can be found on r/MarvelsNCU.
DC Fan Universe contains examples of:
- Adaptational Backstory Change:
- Batman: While Bruce's parents are killed like you'd expect, everything after that goes differently. Instead of returning to Wayne money and Alfred's/Uncle Philip's guard, he instead runs off into Gotham's streets, where he is taken by a street gang controlled by a man known as the "Rat King". From there, things go on as he receives his training all trough the experience gained from his hard times, instead of voluntary international travels. Eventually, he returns to Gotham, but with a heavily diminished Wayne fortune.
- The Flash: Downplayed. Barry gets his powers from the lab accident like in the comics, but instead of immediately becoming a hero, he instead spends his life using the powers casually and hidden until later, when, inspired by Superman, he becomes a hero himself. Another downplayed case is that in this version, his mother is alive and his dad is a free man, which while incompatible with more recent versions of Flash, was actually also the case in the comics up until the late 2000s.
- Epistolary Novel: News From the Nation #1 is written as an in-universe newspaper about events around the formation of the Justice League.
- Fan Verse: This universe involves a reimagining of the DCU characters, by many writers in a group of fanfics.
- First-Person Perspective: Harley Quinn is written from the perspective of Harley Quinn, narrating her story to the reader.
- How Do I Shot Web?: Clark Kent has to learn to use his natural Kryptonian powers, which leads to accidents such as setting a barn on fire with his heat vision.
- Our Presidents Are Different: John Henry Irons is president of the US at the start of the universe, and is also the super-hero Steel, using a metal armor to fight evil.
- Parental Abandonment: King Trevis and Queen Atlanna are forced to abandon their son, Orin, due to an prophecy of an ancient curse.
- Shared Universe: The universe is made by dozens of writers, involving hundreds of characters, all in one single cohesive timeline.
