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Time Travel

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Time Travel can be achieved by many means, one more weird than the other .

The first Time Travel story in a comic book by DC Comics or its predecessors was Magic Crystal of History: "Ancient Egypt, Part 1" , by Adolphe Barreaux , in New Fun Comics #1 , Feb 1935.

The second Time Travel story in a DC comic was Strange Adventures of Mr. Weed: "The Time Machine, Part 1" , by Sheldon Mayer , in New Comics #1 , Dec 1935.

Since that time, hundreds of stories have featured characters and vehicles and devices and potions for accomplishing various forms of time travel.

Time Travel Theory

Three distinct, and irreconcilable, theories regarding time travel have long co-existed, in the DC Universes:

Fixed Time: The past cannot be changed. Events will conspire to prevent any meaningful changes to history. [1] [2] In some cases a time traveler is forced to be part of the very event they were to observe and make sure it happens as recorded. [3] [4] In others a person will become a phantom unable to interact with events. [5] [6]

Plastic Time: History can be changed, but there can be consequences from doing so. [7]

  • The concept of hypertime can be viewed as a strange version of the Plastic Time theory.
  • An extreme version of Plastic Time is Chaotic Time where the smallest of changes can have mammoth effects on the timeline. [8]

Parallel Universes: Time travel to your own actual past or future is impossible, and all time travel does is either shift you into a parallel universe, [7] or into an alternate timeline. In some cases travel to "the" future was actually travel to an parallel Earth with a similar but also different history. [9]

  • Appearances of Time Travel
  • Catalogued images related to Time Travel
  • ↑ Superboy #85
  • ↑ Superman #141
  • ↑ DC Comics Presents Annual #2
  • ↑ Captain Marvel Adventures #80
  • ↑ Superman #61
  • ↑ Superman Family #202
  • ↑ 7.0 7.1 Superman #146
  • ↑ Flash: Flashpoint
  • ↑ Action Comics #399
  • 1 Batman (Bruce Wayne)
  • 2 Bruce Wayne (Earth -22)
  • 3 Dead Boy Detectives

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A History Of Time Travel In The DC Universe

As Convergence gets ready to turn the world of DC Comics upside down and The Flash begins experimenting with travelling back and forth in time on TV, it feels like a big time for DC's take on time travel. But really, time travel has been a crucial part of the way DC has structured its comics for decades.

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Essentially, so your brain doesn't leak out of your ears trying to grasp all the vagaries of various time travel arcs across the history of DC, it's easier to understand the way DC creators have used time travel over the years not as simply sliding back and forth across a single timeline. That kind of time travel is relatively simple in the DC Universe. Advanced time travel ,however, is essentially the crux at which the various states of the DC Multiverse over the years hangs itself: alternate worlds are born of alternate timelines, and travel between the various numbered Earths over the years. It's less about reality hopping and more about bending the fabric of time to transpose yourself into another timeline. To understand time travel as a concept in DC's history is essentially to understand how the Multiverse has expanded and contracted over the years.

Simply put, from a metatextual level, time travel is an excuse often an excuse for alternate stories featuring familiar DC heroes, and over the years, the chance to reboot continuity. The DC Multiverse, and thus the role of time travel in DC comics, has waxed and waned over the years of the companies' existence — the more prominent the existence of alternate worlds, the more likely time travel stories are going on. Here's a brief recap of how time travelling shenanigans have torn down and reshaped the DC Comics universe over the years.

The Time Travel Wilderness

In the earliest days of the comics, outside of crossover series like Justice League, DC's universe wasn't exactly cohesive and connected. You had the splits between the Golden Age and Silver Age versions of their stalwart characters already creating a continuity mess, but in reality writers and editors didn't really care - each standalone series essentially sat in its own bubble, adventures only effecting each other as and when required, rather than huge ramifications playing out across multiple series as you might expect with a comic event today.

Amid these various continuities and canonical disputes, there emerged perhaps the DC Universe's premiere time traveller (at least, in terms of the mainstream heroes): Barry Allen, a.k.a The Flash. Barry's connection to the speed force, and his ability to race around at almost seemingly infinite speeds, played naturally into the character's move into time travel. In 1961, the character's iconic 'Cosmic Treadmill' was introduced, and Barry began to use his speed to combat enemies not just in the present, but in the far future of the 30th Century.

In the early days of the '50s and '60s, time travel was a simple concept for writers: A single stream, and effects on the past changed things in the future. But as the DC Comics world expanded and expanded, and the desire to knit things together grew, these once standalone series and spinoffs and what ifs all slowly started to merge and link into what would become the first take on the Multiverse. But instead of worlds co-existing, DC's Multiverse essentially relied on disparate timelines to connect itself all together — different events throughout history formed alternate worlds and existences on separate timelines, and Time travel would be used to hop between those worlds, rather than any other sort of explanation. Eventually, it became too much for DC to handle: There needed to be a way to wipe the slate clean again, and despite time travel essentially being what created the problem in the first place, time travel would be used to solve it.

Crisis On Infinite Timelines

Crisis on Infinite Earths had a monumental impact on the DC universe in the mid-80's. We've already discussed how the event was used to revert Superman's power level to a more believable level , but its main impetus was to act as hard reboot of the DC timeline.

The plans of the Anti-Monitor ultimately slashed the number of remaining 'Earths' in DC canon down to five, before ultimately, through the heroes and villains uniting to stop the Anti-Monitor by travelling across the stretches of time to stop his plans from even happening — and Barry Allen perishing to stop Anti-Monitor from destroying the remaining Earths — saving the day at the cost of merging the remaining five Earths into a singular amalgam: a new earth, and a new reboot for the DC timeline.

Post-Crisis also put a soft limit on time travel for DC's writers - with the new universe largely free of alternate timelines with the reboot, DC were hesitant to let it things get out of hand again. There was an unspoken rule put in place to try and limit the amount of what-ifs and alternate realities that lead to Crisis in the first place: A character could only time travel a handful of times, before the stress of attempting to jump through time would destroy their bodies.

A Big Ball Of Wibbly-Wobbly, Hypertimey-Wimey Stuff

But as time passed after Crisis, and the DC Universe began to re-expand itself, writers began to find away to expand into the multiverse once more. The main example of this semi-aborted attempt to recreate the multiverse came in 1999, when writers Grant Morrison and Mark Waid coined the concept of 'Hypertime'.

Morrison and Waid subscribed to the belief that, as far as DC Canon was concerned, everything was true and everything mattered (not to dissimilar to Disney's current approach to the new Star Wars universe). Alternate realities and different interpretations of DC's characters could exist alongside the 'canon' heroes of Earth-1, designated the 'main' timeline, as different splintered branches from the source, which was collectively known as 'Hypertime', introduced in the comic book arc The Kingdom .

But outside of the fiction, Hypertime was essentially a handwavey way to approach telling alternate stories - only a few heroes of the central Timeline would ultimately be aware of Hypertime and its branching existence at the end of the events of The Kingdom - and the way Morrison and Waid intended for the concept to weave a single timeline and its branches in and out of each other was met with stark disapprovement from other DC writers. As the pair stepped away from DC for extended periods to work with other companies, Hypertime was essentially sidelined and ignored by DC, until they flat out disavowed its existence in 2005.

The Rise And Fall Of New Timelines

In short time though, time travel and the multiverse concept would come to a head again, Hypertime be damned. Infinite Crisis , a 2006 semi-sequel to the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths , saw the alternate Alexander Luthor - who had survived the events of the first Crisis - reattempt to create the original Multiverse timeline, and acted in a similar capacity as a reboot of the DC Timeline, but on a far less extensive scale. During the story, Luthor originally succeeds in re-expanding the single Post-Crisis Earth into several alternate realities once more, before being undone and re-slammed together as 'New Earth'. This impacted on the main timestream of the DC canon in various ways, but nothing as earth-shattering as the first Crisis - certain characters like Jason Todd were brought back to life (despite their deaths being remembered), and disparate origins for heroes were all merged into one existence.

The soft reboot would only last for 6 years though. Unbeknownst to the heroes of New Earth, Luthor's attempt to recreate the different timelines actually worked. Little by little, branches off the timeline started to bleed out, forming a new Multiverse of 52 Earths: each very similar to New Earth, but then ripples in Time diverging them into the alternate timelines they would come to be known as.

The Barred Gates Of The New 52

But once again, this all changed - and once again, it was down to the efforts of the Time Travelling Barry Allen. 2011's Flashpoint , set in an alternate timeline created by the Reverse-Flash, Eobard Thawne, saw Barry trapped in a reality he couldn't remember - a quasi-apocalyptic existence where war between the Atlanteans and the Amazonians was tearing the planet apart. Thawne eventually revealed this timeline was brought about by Barry himself, in an attempt to travel back in time and save his mother Nora from the Reverse-Flash (a story we're currently seeing play out on The Flash TV show, essentially). Barry once again has to use his speed to revert the timeline, but in the process, actually recreated the DC universe once more. Three disparate timelines, the DC Universe, the Vertigo Universe, and the Wildstorm Universe - a.k.a, the three imprints DC Comics were currently running - were merged into a single Universe: The New 52.

This new reality, at first met with great hostility by DC fans, created a new slate of 52 Earths, but unlike before, contact between them and the main, Prime Earth that much of DC's comics currently take place in was restricted - Time Travel between the earth's is currently much more strongly inhibited, with communication and travel between the worlds restricted (and, in a slightly bizarre metatextual manner, can only be conducted through comic books in each Earth retelling the adventures of other Earth timelines).

This though, will soon change, with DC's new Convergence Event setting the stage, 30 years after Crisis, to throw the current timeline asunder. Supervillain Braniac, outside of Space and Time, plans to pluck various worlds and timelines from throughout DC's entire history, including pre-crisis events, and throws them all together for fun.

Time Travel. It can never be simple, can it?

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DC's Legends of Tomorrow

Olivia Swann, Shayan Sobhian, Nick Zano, Amy Louise Pemberton, Matt Ryan, Adam Tsekhman, Caity Lotz, Tala Ashe, Jes Macallan, and Lisseth Chavez in DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)

Time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter must recruit a ragtag team of heroes and villains to help prevent an apocalypse that could impact not only Earth, but all of time. Time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter must recruit a ragtag team of heroes and villains to help prevent an apocalypse that could impact not only Earth, but all of time. Time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter must recruit a ragtag team of heroes and villains to help prevent an apocalypse that could impact not only Earth, but all of time.

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  • Trivia Brandon Routh (Ray Palmer) and Courtney Ford (Nora Darkh) are married and have a child in real life.
  • Goofs In several different episodes, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, who plays Vixen, occasionally slips into her natural English accent when speaking her dialogue.

Leonard Snart : This isn't my first prison break.

  • Connections Featured in DC's Legends of Tomorrow: Their Time Is Now (2016)

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Warning: Contains spoilers for Stargirl: The Lost Children #4! DC has confirmed the full and mind-blowing power of the Flash’s time-traveling abilities. The Flash’s super speed has allowed him to travel through not only the multiverse but time as well, and in Stargirl: The Lost Children #4 , it is revealed that, thanks to the Flash's time travel powers , he is one of very few who can truly change the course of history–and it may prove crucial to saving the time-lost sidekicks.

Stargirl: The Lost Children #4 is written by Geoff Johns, illustrated by Todd Nauck, colored by Matt Herms and lettered by Rob Leigh. The issue sees Corky Baxter, the sidekick to Rip Hunter the Time Master, telling Stargirl and the teen sidekicks his story. While cruising the time stream with Rip, the Time Masters watch the Flash race by them; Hunter detects a massive tachyon surge, unlike any since Crisis on Infinite Earths . The Flash has just created the world of Flashpoint , and Corky and the other Time Masters get a glimpse at this dark reality. Corky goes on to say the Flash realized his mistake and tried to set it right– essentially the creation of the New 52 . Corky tells the sidekicks that the Flash is one of “ a handful of people out there who truly have the power to change history .” Corky is quick to point out this is different from simply creating an alternate timeline–which anyone can do. Related: DC Confirms Who's Faster: Flash or Superman?

The Flash's Time Travel is More Powerful Than Fans Realize

The Flash’s ability to travel through time (and the multiverse) has been central to his character, and some of his most noteworthy stories usually involve some sort of time travel component, such as Flashpoint . Corky witnesses the creation of both the Flashpoint timeline and the New 52, and it leads to a revelation at exactly how the Flash's speed powers work in relation to time travel. In the DC Universe, anyone can create an alternate timeline–it is, according to Corky, easy to do. However, the Flash is in a league of his own and can affect genuine change in the timeline–such as the events of Flashpoint . In creating the world of Flashpoint , and the subsequent New 52, the Flash altered the course of DC history–he did not simply create another timeline, he changed the fabric of the universe itself.

Corky does not explain why the Flash in particular can do this, or who some of the others who change history are, but it does set up some intriguing possibilities–one of which is saving Stargirl, Corky and the rest of the time-lost teens. These sidekicks, including the Jay Garrick Flash's daughter, have been seemingly erased from the timeline, some missing for over 50 years, and the Flash’s ability to change history may be their salvation.

Is the Flash the Most Important DC Character?

The Flash’s ability to reset history has been crucial to the DC Universe. Without it, the New 52 and the subsequent Rebirth initiative never would have happened–yet this ability has factored into other key stories as well, such as Crisis on Infinite Earths , Zero Hour and others. Each of these events and stories helped fundamentally shape the DC Universe of today, and it is all thanks to the Flash . In their epic Multiversity , Grant Morrison touched on this idea, and it is one that bears exploring. The Flash’s ability to travel through time is impressive on its own, but now DC has confirmed just how far this power extends.

More: The Flash Officially Confirms The Existence of Alien Speedsters

Stargirl: The Lost Children #4 is on sale February 28th from DC Comics!

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Experience History With Time Travel Tours

Liberation to White House Tour

Those who established the abolitionist movement and the underground railroad led the nation to embrace Americans of African Descent in the White House. In this tour you will meet them where it all began. Your 8 hour bus tour will take you from DC aboard the "Pearl" pursuing Liberation with 70 others from enslavement in DC. Crossing the Chesapeake Bay you will visit 3 events and sites associated with the Liberation of Frederick Douglass on the Eastern Shore. Next you will time travel to 5 events and sites associated with the Liberation of Harriet Tubman reaching to freedom in Delaware. The tour will conclude with a visit to the Memorial which honors both Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and 209,145 other freedom fighters at the United States Colored Troops Memorial in DC. Full liberation tour details are available by clicking "Liberation" .

Fight The Power Tour

From the moment you board the luxury tour bus at 8am with a get your day started breakfast at the George Floyd Memorial on Richmond's Robert E. Lee Statue, you will be transported through time to some of the most consequential battles against injustice in Virginia's history. On June 7th, 1610 join Chief Powhatan Wahunseneca on his defeat of all the British in Virginia driving them into the sea. On September 19th, 1676 join African and European Descent men capture and burn to the ground the Virginia colonial capital led by Nathaniel Bacon. On November 15, 1775 join Liberated Freedom Seekers collaborating with the British to launch the largest rebellion in Virginia's history (30,000), by killing 7 of Virginia's Minutemen and capturing Minutemen Colonel Joseph Hutchings, with two of those who had earlier escaped his forced confinement. On August 30, 1800 join General Gabriel and his great plan to burn half of Richmond to distract the city's defenses as you raid the armory and capture the Virginia Governor to force a new balance of power in Virginia like General Baron did in Suriname in 1772. On May 24, 1864 join Liberated Freedom Seekers to unite with European Descent Soldiers to form the United States Colored troops and build Fort Pocahontas on the James River, to defeat, though outnumbered 2 to 1, the best Cavalry unit in the Confederate Army led by Robert E. Lee's nephew's son Fitzhugh Lee who is intending to re-enslave you all. Finally, on May 29, 2020 join thousands of Richmonders who sought justice for George Floyd's murder and overturned 130 years of paraded enslaver violence replacing it with hope for continuing Virginia's 410 year history of Fighting The Power of injustice. Full Fight The Power Tour details are available by clicking "Fight" .

First Americans Tour

The First Americans having lived on the Eastern Shore for 450 generations showed great hospitality to visitors in the 1600s as they do today in their home Nations which are 15,000 years old. On this tour, make friends with the peoples of the Indigenous Nations near Washington DC. Your 8 hour bus tour will take you down the East Coast's "First Highway," the 100,000 rivers, creeks and streams which make up the Chesapeake (Algonquian translation: Great Water) to visit with 7 Indigenous Nations of the Tsenacommacah Confederacy south of Washington DC. These First Americans are closely associated with the River basin central to their Nations, and we will meet the Annacostian Indigenous Nation by the Annacostian (the Trading river); the Taux Indigenous Nation by the Occoquan (the End of Water) and the Quantico (the Long Stream); the Potomac Indigenous Nation by the Potomac (Swan River) and Acokeek (Edge of Hill Creek); the Rappahannock Indigenous Nation by the Rappahannock (Quick Rising River); the Pamunkey Indigenous Nation by the Pamunkey ( Sacred Temple River); the Mattaponi Indigenous Nation by the Mattaponi (River of High Banks), and finally the Paspahegh Indigenous Nation by the Powhattan (honoring the Chief of the Tsenacommacah Confederacy from 1550-1618 and translates as One Who Dreams River). Full First Americans tour details are available by clicking "Indigenous" .

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Time Travel

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Time Travel , also known as Temporal Navigation , [1] is a concept of movement between certain points in one or more timelines using special devices or traveling through extradimensional planes.

  • 1.1 Speed Force and Negative Speed Force
  • 1.2.1 Time Spheres
  • 1.2.2 Continuim
  • 1.3.1 Timeships
  • 1.3.2 Time Couriers
  • 1.5 Still Force
  • 2.1 Time Fragmentation
  • 2.2 Outside of Space-Time
  • 3.1 Erased from the Timeline
  • 3.2 Replaced
  • 3.3 Immune to Timeline Changes
  • 3.4.1 History's Last Line of Defense
  • 3.4.2 Time Wraiths
  • 3.5.1 Rules of Time Travel
  • 4 Side Effects
  • 5 Physics of Time Travel
  • 6 Known Time Travelers
  • 7 Appearances
  • 8 References

Methods [ edit | hide | hide all ]

Speed force and negative speed force [ edit | hide ].

dc time travel

Metahumans with connection to the Speed Force known as Speedsters are able to enter the Speed Force in order to travel across time. Time Traveling in the past can result in the creation of an entirely new timeline or small alterations to it. Speedsters are also able to coexist with their past self(s) and even interact with them. However, this is not always the case as it is also possible to replace their past self(s) as seen when Barry Allen created Flashpoint and became the Allen of that timeline.

Using the Speed Force for Time Travel may result in being killed (later erased) from the timeline by Time Wraiths and being recreated as a Time Remnant which are their counterparts from erased/alternate timelines. Time Remnants are often created to maintain the stability of the timeline in order to avoid further damage to the timeline. As seen when the Speed Force released a Time Remnant of Thawne despite his ancestor committing suicide and erased him from existence. However, the use of Time Remnants is often abused by several individuals including Savitar and Eobard Thawne .

Speedsters that decided to live in a new timeline may result in losing their memories of the original one as seen when Barry started slowly losing his memories and speed as he lives in the new timeline (Flashpoint) longer and longer. Despite this regular effect of Time Travel, Eobard Thawne is able to retain his memories of the erased timeline for more than 15 years. It is possible this is due to his fading connection to the Speed Force delaying his memory loss.

Time Travel to the past to fix timeline alterations often results in the creation of a newer timeline. As Jay Garrick explains that the timeline is like a broken cup, no matter how many times you fix it, it will never be the same anymore.

Despite the consequences and side effects of altering the timeline, Savitar has stated that the more a speedster Time Travels, the less the rules apply to them. [2]

After the death of Eobard Thawne , the Negative Speed Force created a blue crystal that allowed it to seek a new avatar. The crystal itself travels across space and time, and grants its users to open Temporal Wormholes to travel to another point in time, as shown with Eddie Thawne . [3]

Breach in Space-Time [ edit | hide ]

Time spheres [ edit | hide ].

See Time Sphere (Earth-1: Pre-Crisis) .

dc time travel

The first Time Sphere was designed by Rip Hunter at an unknown time for Time Travel. Time Spheres are able to create a wormhole and allow the vehicle to enter. However, some Time Spheres are not equipped with that design as it occasionally needs a boost from Eobard Thawne's speed and the Speed Force Bazooka energy. Despite its futuristic designs, Cisco Ramon is able to create one using 21st century technology.

Continuim [ edit | hide ]

dc time travel

By using Continuim and saying past events, a temporal gateway will open and teleport the user to the time and place they desire. [4]

Temporal Zone [ edit | hide ]

dc time travel

The Temporal Zone is an extradimensional realm where the timeline converges. It is proved that the Temporal Zone will delay the timeline alterations and preserve the erased timeline self(s) as long as they don't exit the realm. Despite being out of time, the zone allows individuals to age and experience time passing through with Temporal Time . Time Couriers are able to enter the Temporal Zone on a timeship in the zone as long as the courier is calibrated to temporal time. [5] The Temporal Zone is also shown to allow Timeships to travel across the Multiverse and to any part of the universe. At the edge of the timeline (Temporal Zone), the Vanishing Point is located and is immune to any timeline changes which served as the Time Masters ' headquarters until it was destroyed by Leonard Snart .

Timeships [ edit | hide ]

See Timeships (Earth-1: Pre-Crisis) , Legion Cruisers (Earth-38) , Waverider (Earth-74) , and Timeships (Earth-21) .

Timeships are vehicles equipped with Time Drives allowing the vehicle to instantly travel into the Temporal Zone and enter different time periods. The Timeships are formerly used by Time Masters and Time Pirates until the former being destroyed and the latter being defeated. The current individuals using Timeships in order to Time Travel are the Legends of Tomorrow . However, there are still several Time Masters on missions still in possession of Timeships, presumably in hiding. [6] Other universes such as Earth-74 , Earth-1 and Earth-21 have their own timeships.

On Earth-38 , different types of Time Traveling vehicles are created. Instead of naming them Timeships, they are named as time cruisers . They are only seen used by The Legion and are presumed to be created some time before the 31st century. The time cruisers use breach-like wormholes instead of traveling through the Temporal Zone . [7]

dc time travel

On Earth-Prime , both types of vehicles are used and were created in the distant future for the Time Masters . [8] [9] The concept of Time Travel originated from an obscure scientist from New York City 1925, Dr. Gwyn Davies , who laid the foundations and was recorded in Time Bureau manuals. [10] The first Time Travel testing took place on November 7, 1925, in New York City . [11] In the erased timeline of the testing, the experiment failed and Davies was killed, though his death was prevented when the Legends interfered with the event and ensured they could be able to travel across time safely. [12]

On Earth-21 , Time Traveling technology is only known to a small number of people, with Laura De Mille's capsule being one of the very few vehicles capable of breaking through the wall of time. The capsule was also considered to be a valuable item for individuals aspiring to travel through time, most notably the Brain of the Brotherhood of Evil . [13]

Time Couriers [ edit | hide ]

See Time Couriers (Earth-1: Pre-Crisis) .

dc time travel

After the Legends broke time, Rip Hunter created the Time Bureau under the supervision of the federal government. Each field agent of the organization was given a Time Courier allowing them to open a portal between space-time and even enter the Temporal Zone . Despite their use of the Time Couriers, they still have training for piloting a timeship . [14]

On Earth-Prime , the Time Couriers of the disbanded Time Bureau were given to the Legends and scattered across facilities of the organization. [15] Among those devices, one of it was given to Mia Queen to return to 2020 from 2040 in order to attend her her father's funeral. [16]

Magic [ edit | hide ]

dc time travel

Magic allows individuals to use objects or spells to travel across time for example, the Time Stone and a failed exorcism of Nora Darhk . [17] Aside the use of magic, some Demons are able to travel across time as seen when Mallus being able to possess different individuals from different time periods using Time Travel. [18]

Using the Thanagarian Meteorites in 1958, 1975 and 2021, Vandal Savages of the three time periods used the blood of Kendra Saunders and Scythian Torvil to perform a ritual in order to return Earth back to the first meteor impact in 1700 B.C. [19]

Still Force [ edit | hide ]

dc time travel

Using the Still Force connection, Deon Owens was able to travel back in time and create a Time Pocket in Central City and nearby towns . He was also able to put the residents of Masonville in a time loop with it resetting every time people realizes their displacement. Following every reset, the people's memories will revert to their respective age in that era with the only exception of Chester P. Runk , who was shielded by the Isotopic Signal Amplifier . When the pocket arrived in Central City, it also caused Time Aberrations all over the city as well as changing the outfits of the residents until he gave up in 1998. [20]

Other [ edit | hide ]

  • The Flash (Earth-90) : After being hit by a missile in 1991, The Flash accidentally arrived in 2001 and witnessed his future. [21]
  • Dinah Drake : After Oliver Queen's funeral, Dinah Drake was mysteriously sent into the future and her history in the past being erased. [22]
  • Timeless Wells : After being resurrected by Multiversal energy to maintain a balance due to the deaths of all Harrison Wells in an instant, the original Harrison Wells was given the ability to Time Travel. [23]
  • Kryptonians (Earth-167) : The Kryptonians of Earth-167 created different methods to send individuals across space and time. [24]
  • Legion Rings : The Super Friends of Earth-38 were able to find a way to Time Travel using Legion Rings and time disruptions . [25] Additionally, Clark Kent of Earth-167 was also able to use Legion Rings of his universe to travel across space and time. [26]
  • The Monitor : In 7980 B.C., Mar Novu entered the Temporal Zone and travelled to the Dawn of Time in the Antimatter Universe . After that, he gained the ability to send himself and others across space-time using Breaches . It is presumed that he was mutated by the radiation emitted by the Temporal Zone .
  • Vandal Savage : Vandal Savage has claimed to be able to go in and out of the time stream to achieve Time Travel after witnessing Rip Hunter's return in 1975 after last seeing him in 1700 B.C. [19]

Timelines and Multiverse [ edit | hide ]

When the timeline is changed in a universe, the history of the other universes remains unchanged. However, if the history of two universes crossed paths including people traveling between them, the individuals who took part in previous events will be changed and will be replaced once the individual returns from the parallel universe. [27]

When Barry Allen first travelled to Earth-38 , he spent a day there and returned to Earth-1 seconds after his leaving. [28] It is possible that he Time Travelled as well as inter-dimensional travelled , but it is unlikely (or that the universes share different time flows). The Multiverse is also explained to have unique time flows as seen when Earth-1 is in 2019, Earth-16 is in 2046, Earth-99 is in a distant future and Earth-666 is in between 2011 and 2015. [29] [30]

Time Fragmentation [ edit | hide ]

In the timeline, few fragmentations are present and are invisible to Time Masters as well as the Oculus . This allows Time Travelers to hide from them for a short time before the Hunters search the fragmentation they are hiding in. [31]

Outside of Space-Time [ edit | hide ]

Several dimensions exist outside of space and time which allow Time Travelers to hide from the Time Masters. In there, they are able to protect themselves from timeline changes, being spotted by the Oculus , based at the Vanishing Point .

Timeline Alterations [ edit | hide ]

dc time travel

As the timeline is a fluctuating presence, it requires protection to prevent alterations from ever being stable. As stated by multiple Time Travelers that the timeline is easy to change but takes time to get into effect. Seen with the Flashpoint timeline, it was unstable, and it started to turn into "cement" after 3 months with the example of taking away Barry's erased timeline memories as well as his speed. The timeline is described as a mirage by Thawne. [32]

Erased from the Timeline [ edit | hide ]

When the timeline alterations are big enough and individuals from an erased future are present, they will be erased and will only be seen again if the new timeline includes them. However, this does not apply to Speedsters as time remnants are preserved in the Speed Force and will be used to support their presence in the timeline to avoid complications in the timeline. Despite the presence being supported, it is not always supposed to appear in the new timeline. Therefore, consequences will occur to those altering the timeline too much.

Replaced [ edit | hide ]

Apart from erased, individuals from an erased timeline might be replaced by their new timeline self. After Flashpoint being "resolved", several individuals and the history of the universe are different from his perspective including Sara Diggle being replaced with JJ Diggle , the death of Dante Ramon , etc. [27]

Immune to Timeline Changes [ edit | hide ]

See Time Aberrations .

Protected from timeline alterations, several locations and realms are able to withstand the force of changing timelines.

  • Temporal Zone : Being time itself, the Temporal Zone is immune from timeline changes as long as the individual from the altered timeline stays in the Temporal Zone.
  • Speed Force and Negative Speed Force : Speed Force and Negative Speed Force are energy realms allowing speedsters to survive the timeline changes. If the speedster is being erased, a time remnant will be placed in the timeline to maintain the timeline intact. Chronologically, it would be like the speedster never left the timeline.
  • Vanishing Point : Existing outside of space and time, the Vanishing Point is able to be immune from timeline changes. As it is immune from timeline changes, the Time Masters and the Legion of Doom used the facility as their base of operations.
  • Hell : Hell is immune to timeline changes as damned individuals from different time periods end up arriving in Hell at the same time.
  • World Between Worlds : Totem of Zambesi wielders will be living in their totem if they die or being erased from existence. This allows the same individual from two different timelines to communicate with each other. [33]
  • Another Universe in the Multiverse : When timeline changes are done on a universe, the history of other universes remain unchanged. Even when the history of two universe cross paths, only objects and individuals being present in the universe where the timeline changed will have an altered history. [27]

Supervisions and Protection [ edit | hide ]

History's last line of defense [ edit | hide ].

At an unknown time, the Time Masters became the guard of the timeline and sworn an oath to protect the timeline at all cost. The Time Masters monitor the timeline through the Oculus and see everything in the timeline, allowing them to know what to fix and what not to. Despite their professions, they chose to allow the immortal tyrant Vandal Savage to stay on Earth even though he acquired future technology in order to protect the planet from being invaded. The Legends later discovered that they were manipulated by the Time Masters during their entire crusade and later destroyed the Oculus, freeing people from being controlled while exposing the organization's aim is just a lie to fellow Time Travelers. [34]

After the Time Masters is being destroyed along with the Oculus, the Legends were forced to step up and safeguard the timeline. During their missions, they defeated countless Time Pirates and the Legion of Doom . While defeating the latter, they met their younger self and worked together in order to protect the reality from being altered using Magic . However, they violated the physics of Time Travel and created time displacement across the timeline. Luckily, Rip Hunter , who left the team after their success, went to 2012 in order to create the Federal Time Bureau .

When the Legends return to 2017, they met Rip, who has already experienced 5 years, and he disbanded the Legends as he thinks they are no longer required. [14] [35]

Six months later, Mick Rory met Julius Caesar and contacted his former teammates. The Legends then went to the Star City Time Bureau Field Office . The Bureau then sent agents to bring Caesar back. However, they failed and unknowingly pushed the blame to the Legends. The Legends then felt guilty as they were the cause of the anachronisms and hijacked the Waverider in order to clean up their own mess. After defeating Caesar, they were approved of guarding the timeline under the supervision of the Time Bureau . [14] Unknowingly, they were slowly fighting Mallus and eventually defeated him in Salvation 1874. [18]

After defeating Mallus, they were reached by John Constantine that freeing Mallus while fighting him caused magical creatures to escape from the Realm of Mallus and bring harm to the timeline. A few months later, the Legends solved the final aberration caused by themselves and claimed that the magical creatures do not exist. However, Sara Lance and Ava Sharpe found out that a time aberration occurred in Woodstock in 1969. The Legends went to investigate and witnessed a unicorn brutally stabbing a woman with its horns. The Legends then realized Constantine was right and asked him for assistance. Constantine then helped them and subsequently join the Legends in order to protect himself from Neron , the Demon who possessed his ex-boyfriend, Desmond . [36] Soon as they met another fugitive Charlie in 1977 London , she turned into the appearance of Amaya Jiwe according to Ray Palmer's photo. The Legends are unable to bring her to Hell and brought her on board. Over time, they bonded and realized magical fugitives were not all bad after all. They then chose to bring the fugitives to the containment facility in the Time Bureau HQ in Washington, D.C. In order to defeat Neron, they gathered the fugitives in Heyworld and let them bring joy to people instead of causing fear, where they reside for their future. [37]

dc time travel

During their defeat of Neron , they asked for the help of Astra Logue , and she unleashed Encores of historical figures across the timeline. The Legends once again stepped up due to the Time Bureau being disbanded during the fight against Neron. [8] The Legends stopped the Encores and found out that Logue was not totally evil and the true "big bad" was the Fates who were in search of the Loom of Fate after the scattered pieces in the Original Multiverse gathered together on Earth-Prime due to the Crisis merging universes together. [38] The Legends then worked with Logue to fight the Fates and eventually got trapped in the TV Universe . They were freed by their allies in the Loomworld and proceed to fight the Fates. [39] After defeating the Fates, Sara Lance and the team travelled to 1977 London to bid farewell to Charlie until Lance is abducted by aliens. [40]

Soon after recovering from a full night of celebration, the Legends discovered that Lance was kidnapped by their former ally Gary Green , who was hired by the man who survived the Destruction of Earth . During Lance's attempted escape, she released a series of aliens meant to be sent to Bishop and created dozens of aberrations. [41] The aliens served as clues to Lance's whereabouts while the Legends hunted down the aliens for information. [42] Eventually, they were able to rescue their co-captain from danger and continued their job to rid the timeline of aberrations. [43] Unfortunately, Bishop was revealed to have survived Lance's escape and plotted an invasion on 1925 Odessa , Texas . [44] [45] The Legends then thwarted the invasion, only to sow the seeds of another conflict by recruiting a younger Bishop and erasing his memories. [46]

Shortly after the invasion, the Waverider was blown to pieces by a younger Bishop, who thought the Legends abducted him and swore to seek revenge. [9] [46] However, Bishop discovered his alliance with a replica Gideon was a mistake and escaped from his Waverider , joining the Legends who were on the run with the inventor of Time Travel, Gwyn Davies . [47] The Gideon then created a team of her own, sending them across time to do the real Legends' job with no hesitation and purely on logic. This led to a conflict between the two Time Traveling teams and the real Legends' retirement from protecting the timeline, leaving the human Gideon and A.I. Gideon as the only two defenders of the timeline. [48]

Time Wraiths [ edit | hide ]

Time Wraiths are demonic creatures from the Speed Force to maintain the timeline stability and to prevent speedsters from altering the timeline too much. However, no Time Wraiths were present when Eobard Thawne changed the erased timeline. The reason of it is unknown.

Time Wraiths also hunt Time Remnants who abuse themselves to alter the timeline as seen when the Speed Force sent Black Flash to hunt Thawne's Time Remnant who was working with the Legion of Doom to alter reality in order to protect himself from the consequences of Time Travel. [35]

Additionally, Time Wraiths are indirectly in charge of guarding "Fixed Points" in time, giving individuals such as Eobard Thawne the job to manipulating a certain event such that it happens no matter any form of interference. [49]

Fixed Points [ edit | hide ]

Certain events in time are supposedly meant to happen, with no Time Travelers capable of altering them. However, even though they were thought to be a natural result of the timeline, they were, in fact, guarded by "fixers", Time Travelers issued with a Time Manipulator . They were then allowed to prevent anyone from changing the event whatever it takes, including killing the traveler. [49]

Rules of Time Travel [ edit | hide ]

The following only contains information on Time Traveling in the Temporal Zone .

The rules of Time Travel are established by the Time Masters and bounty hunters along with assassins are hired to kill rogue Time Travelers.

  • Changing events where their past self(s) participated: Doing that action will cause time to fold on itself and create a Temporal Vortex . [50]
  • Interacting with your past self(s): In doing so, a Time Storm will occur and "breaks time". The consequences of it was seen when the Legends interacted with their past selves to stop the Legion of Doom. [14] [35] However, this is not always the case as the Legends are able to interact with their past selves to bring them to The Refuge . [51]

Side Effects [ edit | hide ]

The following only contains information of Time Traveling in the Temporal Zone .

As human bodies are used to time folding linearly, Time Traveling causes the human body to feel sick and takes time to adapt to the Time Traveling side effects. The side effects will slowly fade away over time and does not occur to everybody. If a Time Traveler has done time jumps for a high amount of times, the side effects will not come into action unless they travelled between two distant periods. [31]

  • Temporary blindness
  • Triple vision
  • Blurriness in one eye
  • Bleeding from eyes (rare)
  • Linguistic disorientation
  • Time Drift: Staying in a foreign time period for too long will result in a time drift, causing the person to lose memories and start to adapt to the foreign time period. [31]
  • Personality rewrite: Coming in contact with a Time Drive will scatter the person to a foreign time period and change their personalities. [52]
  • Memories from erased timelines: If a person came in contact with objects their erased versions are deeply connected with, the person will receive flashes and retrieval of memories from that timeline. [53]
  • Amnesia : Memory loss was shown in several time travelers, most notably Laura De Mille and Rita Farr , with their memories returning after interacting with important objects and individuals from their original time period. [13]

Physics of Time Travel [ edit | hide ]

  • Temporal Radiation : Temporal Zone emits radiation that mutates humans and aliens as seen when it gives cosmic powers to Mar Novu . [54] However, too much radiation will cause humans to age at a rapid speed which can only be solved by a single time jump. [55]
  • Time Quakes : Time Quakes are shocks in the timeline that are caused by massive timeline changes. Timeships in the Temporal Zone are able to feel the shockwaves. Gideon is also able to detect shockwaves that are not strong using the time seismograph created by Nate Heywood .
  • Time Storm : Interacting with your past self(s) will cause a Time Storm and "breaks time". The consequences of it was seen when the Legends interacted with their past selves to stop the Legion of Doom. [14] [35] However, this is not always the case as the Legends are able to interact with their past selves to bring them to The Refuge . [51]
  • Temporal Vortex : Changing past events where you previously participated may result in a temporal vortex which is caused by "time folding on itself". Additionally, a Time Storm may lead to a Temporal Vortex being created. This was seen when the Legends defeat the Legion of Doom with their past selves. The resulting Time Storm spun random people, animals and objects throughout the timeline to a different point, resulting in Time Anachronisms . [14] [35]
  • Time Wave : When the timeline changes, the point of change (location) will emit a shockwave to the entire timeline and resets future events. The wave is able to hit a grown man backwards and affect the direction of vehicles. [56]

Known Time Travelers [ edit | hide ]

See Category:Time Travelers .

Appearances [ edit | hide ]

References [ edit | hide ].

dc time travel

Best time-traveling villains of all time

These best time traveling villains will get your timelines in a twist

panel from Fantastic Four #35

Time travel is becoming big business for the Marvel Universe, both in movies and comic books, with Marvel's most prominent time-traveler Kang the Conquer taking center stage as one of the biggest upcoming villains for the MCU, and as a currently recurring villain throughout Marvel Comics (as well as the star of his own limited series).

The publisher seems to be setting up even bigger things for Kang in 2022 with a one-shot titled Timeless #1 , due out on December 22, which Marvel promises will set the stage for several of the biggest stories planned for 2022. 

A series of teasers for Timeless #1 have shown Kang as one of the main characters anchoring the one-shot, potentially positioning him for his own 2022 storyline.

But Kang - and even Marvel Comics - doesn't have a corner on the time travel market. In both Marvel and DC, some of the most vicious villains throughout the history of both publishers have possessed the mastery of the timestream.

So without further ado, here are the ten best time-traveling supervillains ever!

image of Nimrod

Nimrod is a mutant-hunting robot built from technology derived from the original Sentinels. Hailing from the X-Men: Days of Future Past timeline, and virtually indestructible, Nimrod followed Rachel Summers into the past, causing no end of destruction and trouble for the present-day X-Men.

Eventually, he was absorbed by Master Mold, the gigantic core Sentinel. When both were sent through the Siege Perilous, a dimensional gateway that erases the identity of those who travel through it, Nimrod and Master Mold merged into the being known as Bastion, a fully sentient, fully evolved Sentinel who has been destroyed and rebuilt using pieces of Nimrod's previous body several times.

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Recently, Nimrod has been shown as the greatest impending threat to mutantkind and the nation of Krakoa, with a highly advanced version of the super-sentinel recently having been built by the villains known as Orchis.

9. Epoch, Lord of Time

image of Epoch

Though the man known as Epoch, or the Lord of Time, was one of the biggest nuisances to the Justice League in their early days, he's also caused numerous problems for characters like the android Hourman, the Legion of Super-Heroes, and has even shown up in the post-apocalyptic world of Kamandi.

Epoch started out with good intentions; gaining his time-traveling powers in the year One Billion AD, he built a prison called Timepoint that existed outside of the time stream and began imprisoning the world's greatest villains there. 

After a few years out of the spotlight due to a series of continuity reboots, Epoch returned to the DC Universe in the title Justice League Odyssey .

8. Per Degaton

image of Per Degaton

Per Degaton was once a normal man who was employed by a scientific group known as the Time Trust, who were dedicated to finding a way to travel to the future to obtain technology to help end WWII. 

When the Time Trust sent the JSA into the future, Degaton sabotaged the anti-bomb shield technology they brought back. Degaton fled the Time Trust, embarking on a career as a mad scientist and terrorist in pursuit of time travel technology of his own.

In one of his attempts to build a time machine, Degaton enlisted the help of a scientist named Professor Zee. Degaton double-crossed Zee, intending to steal the machine for himself, but accidentally sent it into the future. Forced to wait forty years for the machine to re-appear, Degaton continued his life of crime. When the machine re-appeared, it contained not only the dying Professor Zee but a "chronal duplicate" of Degaton himself.

The older Degaton disintegrated upon contact with the chronal duplicate, causing his robotic partner Mekanique to kill the duplicate. It is later revealed, however, that thanks to the magic of time travel, the duplicate continued to exist, controlling the time machine before his death, leading him to become a longtime foe of the JSA.

7. Time Trapper

image of the Time-Trapper

Time travel in the DC universe is a dicey proposition at best thanks to nearly constant reboots, crises, and retcons, and none have suffered as much as the Time Trapper. The Time Trapper's origin has fluctuated so wildly, and so frequently, that it's actually a little unclear who is actually under that cloak. 

Over the years, the nemesis of the Legion of Super-Heroes has been revealed as a future version of Cosmic Boy, a Controller, a woman named Lori Morning, as the embodiment of the force of entropy, as an alternate timeline given sentience, and even an older version of Superboy-Prime.

Whoever the Time Trapper may actually be, he has menaced the Legion of Super-Heroes almost as long as they've been around, and has also gone up against Wonder Woman, and even appeared as a villain on The Super Friends. 

Most of his history was wiped out during Zero Hour, and he didn't appear again until Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds when he was revealed as Superboy-Prime. Time Trapper hasn't appeared since DC's Flashpoint reboot. But as they say, it's just a matter of time.

6. Immortus

image of Immortus

Though Immortus and Kang are technically both actually Nathaniel Richards, they aren't the same person. You see, Immortus and Kang hail from diverging timelines - in modern Marvel terms, they're Variants . 

One of the pitfalls of time travel, at least in the Marvel universe, is that too much of it can result in multiple futures, some of which are often at odds with each other. 

In Immortus's timeline, he is a much older version of Kang who, weary of the cost of constantly doing battle and dealing with the deaths of his consort Ravonna and son Marcus, joins a group called the Time-Keepers who are dedicated to preserving the integrity of important timelines (viewers of Disney Plus' Loki show know the MCU Time-Keepers well).

Immortus' affiliation with the Time-Keepers hasn't stopped him from being manipulative and menacing, often enlisting the Avengers themselves to try and take on his rival Kang, as seen in the classic Avengers Forever limited series.

image of Bishop

Bishop is unique to this list in that he began his time-traveling career as a hero, sent back in time from a future where mutants are hunted to prevent a traitor from betraying the X-Men and kickstarting the future from which he hailed. 

After years spent fighting alongside the X-Men, Bishop turned on the team and attempted to kill the mutant infant Hope in the story X-Men: Messiah Complex , nearly killing Professor X in the process and becoming the very traitor he sought to stop.

When fellow time-traveler Cable saved the child, fleeing into the timestream, Bishop followed, pursuing the pair through numerous eras as Cable raised Hope as a soldier and a survivor. Bishop wreaked devastation across numerous timelines in his hunt for Hope, justifying his actions by dismissing the millions of deaths he caused as people who didn't actually exist. 

Bishop finally teamed with Cable's evil clone Stryfe, himself a time-traveler, to track Cable and Hope to the present day. In their final confrontation, Bishop killed Cable, but a now mature Hope damaged Bishop's time-travel device, stranding him in the far future.

However, Bishop has since returned to the X-Men as a heroic mutant in good standing, even recently being named the Captain Commander of the forces of the mutant nation of Krakoa.

image of Chronos

DC Comics actually had two characters named Chronos. The first was David Clinton, the arch-enemy of the Atom, Ray Palmer. 

Originally, Clinton was simply an engineer who used his intellect to commit crimes using time and clock-themed weapons. He long sought to actually perfect time travel, and eventually began stealing not for his own fortune, but to obtain money to continue his research. 

Eventually, he achieved his goal, but still seeking more power, struck a deal with the demon Neron that eventually lead to his downfall. David Clinton reappeared in the 'New 52' as an agent of A.R.G.U.S. specializing in time travel.

The second Chronos, Walker Gabriel, was actually something of an anti-hero. He obtained David Clinton's time travel technology after Clinton's death and acted as either hero or villain depending on his goals at any given time. 

Eventually, Gabriel erased his own existence to save his mother's life, but due to the circumstances of time travel, a version of Gabriel remained. He was later killed by fellow time traveler Per Degaton - but when Degaton's scheme failed, he was returned to life. 

3. Monarch/Extant

image of Extant

As tends to happen with time-travelers, the true identity of the despot known as Monarch remains a little confusing. 

Originally conceived as a future version of the hero Captain Atom, driven to conquer the world as the main villain of DC's Armageddon 2001 crossover, his identity was changed mid-story when the secret leaked. 

Instead of Captain Atom, Monarch was revealed to be Hank Hall, AKA Hawk of Hawk and Dove. Years later, in the disastrous limited series Countdown , Monarch resurfaced with his original origin intact, as a future version of Captain Atom.

Before that, when he was still technically Hank Hall, Monarch was defeated when he traveled into the past to defeat Waverider, a being he empowered to travel time, who betrayed Monarch and attempted to decipher his true identity. 

Later, Hank Hall became known as Extant, a time-traveling menace who caused yet another rebooted version of DC continuity in the Zero Hour mini-series. Extant went on to challenge a reformed JSA but was defeated by the time-traveling android Hourman.

2. Doctor Doom

image of Doctor Doom

Doctor Doom is kind of a renaissance man of villainy. 

Not only is he possessed of the greatest intellect in the Marvel universe, limited only by his own hubris, he is also the second greatest sorcerer of our world - and most important to this list, the inventor of time travel technology. 

Doom has used this technology for numerous purposes but has traditionally refused to use it to defeat his hated nemesis, Reed Richards, instead insisting that he must best Richards as an intellectual, and not through such underhanded means.

Though time travel may not be his primary gig, Doom is an important time-traveler nonetheless, having actually devised the technology from which all other time travel devices in the Marvel universe are derived. 

Many, many others have used this technology, including Reed Richards's father, Nathaniel Richards, and his namesake, the villainous Kang. In the current Kang the Conqueror limited series, Kang is shown confronting Doom as his ancestor and the progenitor of his own time travel technology.

1. Kang the Conqueror

image of Kang the Conqueror

Speaking of Kang...

Kang the Conqueror is the unquestioned master of time-traveling villainy. In his numerous guises (or, to use current Marvel terminology, Variants ), such as Rama-Tut, Blue Man, Victor Timely, and the Scarlet Centurion, he has traveled back to the present day from the 30th century time and time again to test his mettle against the greatest warriors of all time; the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and other of the Marvel universe's finest heroes.

Kang has always traditionally refused to use his power over the time stream to best his enemies before they gain their power, but in his recent appearance in Uncanny Avengers, he seems to have abandoned this code of honor. 

Kang's strength as a warrior is not to be denied. He has conquered Earth in numerous ages, even adopting strange aliases and identities to do so. Still, he has never bested the Avengers.

Kang is currently on the rise in the Marvel Universe, with a major 2022 storyline apparently being set up in the upcoming Timeless #1 one-shot, and his own current limited series.

George Marston

I've been Newsarama's resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011. I've also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them)

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How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Washington, D.C.

Discover the best hotels, restaurants, and things to do with this highly curated Washington, D.C. travel guide.

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Best Hotels

Things to do, best shopping, best restaurants, best times to visit, how to get there, neighborhoods to know, how to get around.

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Washington, D.C. is so much more than the political epicenter of the U.S. The city offers legendary museums, one of the best hotels in the country in 2022 (as voted by T+L readers), and a calendar full of fun events for the entire family. History buffs will love stepping back in time at the National Mall, and anyone with a passion for reading will swoon at the book collection in the Library of Congress. Nature lovers should opt for a springtime visit, when the cherry blossoms bloom and events start to trickle outside, including the Blossom Kite Festival. And let's not forget that the country's capital is also a college town, with universities like Georgetown, Howard, George Washington, and American all within city limits.

Whether you're headed there to learn, play, or even just as a stopover before your next destination, you should explore everything the capital city has to offer. These are the best places to stay, eat, and shop in Washington, D.C.

Riggs Washington, D.C.

Riggs Washington D.C. is the place to stay in the capital city, and it's got the accolades to prove it. The property was named the best hotel in Washington, D.C . in 2022 by T+L readers. Once a national bank headquarters, the hotel combines its past and present beautifully. You'll find small bespoke touches that pay homage to its history, including in-room minibars designed like vintage safes.

The Jefferson

The Jefferson , also voted one of the city's best hotels in 2022 by T+L readers, is an independently owned boutique that features "99 guest rooms inspired by our third president’s travels in Paris and home in Charlottesville, Virginia," T+L contributor Rebecca Ascher-Walsh previously reported . The hotel is currently offering a "Summer of Discovery" package, where guests can receive a daily itinerary curated by the hotel's in-house historian, a $50 daily dining credit, and late checkout.

Rosewood Washington, D.C.

Rosewood Washington, D.C. is a chic retreat in Georgetown set along the C&O Canal and is a favorite among T+L readers . The property features 55 rooms, 12 suites, and six town houses designed for long-term guests. Enjoy a meal on-site at Cut, a Wolfgang Puck steakhouse. The restaurant is open seven days a week and hosts brunch on the weekend. Reservations are recommended.

The Hay-Adams

This historic hotel, also loved by T+L readers , overlooks Lafayette Square and has great views of the White House and the Washington Monument. The Hay-Adams was named after its original residents — John Hay and Henry Adams. Scott Bay, a T+L contributor, reported that "the details seen throughout the Italian Renaissance-style mansion and its 145 rooms evoke a sense of timelessness that keeps visitors coming back year after year."

Pendry Washington, D.C. The Wharf

The Pendry is one of D.C.'s newest properties and was named one of the best new hotels in 2023 by T+L editors. The 131-room hotel features high-end amenities, including "a panoramic pool terrace with cabanas, sun loungers, and a swimming pool; spa facilities; and a rooftop restaurant," T+L contributor Dobrina Zhekova previously reported . Most rooms in the hotel feature floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase stunning views of the Potomac River and monuments like the Jefferson Memorial.

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, and the building itself is a work of art, with a beautiful, intricate reading room and other fine architectural details. It provides a great respite for anyone seeking knowledge or just a break from the D.C. humidity. Kevin Fanning, former D.C. tour guide and current regional sales manager at tour company WeVenture, recommends that travelers get themselves a library card. "You [might never] go into the reading rooms, but [it'll be] a souvenir that says you are a member of the Library of Congress." The library is closed on Sundays and Mondays, and all visitors must reserve a timed-entry pass before visiting. You can reserve them for free online.

George Washington's Mount Vernon

Tour George Washington's estate home and learn about the first president's life and legacy at this historic site. In addition to the mansion, which offers timed entry, Mount Vernon has a museum and education center, gardens, a slave memorial, a working farm, and Washington's tomb. There are also seasonal events here as well, including whiskey tastings, a colonial market, and fireworks. The estate is open 365 days a year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $28 for adults, $15 for children between six and eleven, and free for children under five.

National Mall

Often referred to as "America's front yard," the National Mall is home to iconic monuments like the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. "The easiest way to get around the National Mall is the D.C. Circulator, " Kevin Fanning noted when asked about the two-mile-long stretch of monuments. "There's a city bus that runs around the National Mall every 10 minutes." Make sure you check its website for regular and seasonal schedules.

Washington, D.C. is home to 74 museums that cover topics ranging from history and art to science and aerospace. Notable museums include the National Museum of African American History and Culture ; the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History ; and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum , dedicated to the ongoing preservation of Holocaust history. Carolyn Crouch, founder of popular D.C. walking tour company Washington Walks, also recommends visiting the Capital Jewish Museum. "[It] includes the city's oldest synagogue building. [Check out] 'Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsberg,' its inaugural exhibition."

United States Botanic Garden

While the National Arboretum is larger in scale, don't pass up the opportunity to see this curated nature exhibition right in the heart of downtown D.C. Established in 1820, this is the oldest continuously operated public garden in the U.S. — and a great place to escape the city and learn about various plants and flowers.

Cady's Alley

This design district is home to high-end designers and local antiques, including home furnishings, fashion, and other chic shops. The 19 stores that currently occupy the alley include high-end jewelry shop Brilliant Earth; Relish, which sells clothes and accessories; and District Doughnut , which sells — you guessed it — donuts.

M Street Shops, Georgetown

M Street is a must-visit for D.C. visitors keen on shopping the city's high-end boutiques. You can also stop in at some national favorites, like Patagonia, Urban Outfitters, and Brandy Melville .

Politics and Prose

Known for their almost-nightly author talks, this independent bookstore carries thousands of books and includes an expanded children's section. Additional locations at Union Market and the Wharf make it accessible as part of any just about sightseeing day in town. For exclusive discounts and perks, become a Politics and Prose member for just $35 a year.

CityCenterDC

CityCenterDC , located in downtown D.C., is your one-stop shopping destination, with 34 retail options, nine dining venues, and even lodging at the Conrad Washington D.C . Shops include high-end brands like Gucci, Dior, and Chanel. Carolyn Crouch recommends visiting some of the gourmet food stores while you're here, too. "Stop in at Mercato Centrolina for house-made pasta and sauces, and stop at Piccolina for delectable cakes and tarts."

The Restaurant at District Winery

Inside D.C.'s first operational commercial winery is an upscale dining room with expansive windows overlooking the nearby Anacostia River. Chef de cuisine Nicholas Fulginiti created a delicious vegetable-forward menu inspired by local ingredients. Stop in for dinner on weekdays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., or hit up brunch on the weekends, when doors open at 11 a.m.

Call Your Mother

This D.C. deli is one of President Joe Biden's favorite spots — he picked up bagels at the Georgetown location shortly after he was sworn in as president. Call Your Mother's bagels are inspired by New York and Montreal-style bagels, and they sell deli favorites like tuna melts and pastrami sandwiches as well. Their seven D.C. locations are open every day, though each has its own set hours. Check the hours online before you go, and order in advance if you can.

Fiola Mare delivers high-end service, delicious seafood and beautiful waterfront views. The sophisticated, seasonally changing menu reflects the fare found along some of Italy's most famous coastlines, including the Amalfi Coast and Sicily. It makes for a great fine-dining option around Georgetown and welcomes guests seven days a week — though be aware it's only open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays. Reservations are recommended.

Award-winning chef José Andrés started his legacy here in 1993, helping to transform the Penn Quarter neighborhood into a bustling food destination. Jaleo celebrates Spanish culture through delicious signature tapas, paellas, and cured meats. "No one should travel to Washington, D.C. without dining at one of José Andrés restaurants," Carolyn Crouch remarked when asked about Jaleo. "Why not start with the original? It's where countless Washingtonians have fallen in love with Spanish tapas." Stop by during the weekday for "sangria hour," where sangria, wine, and certain tapas are reduced in price from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Note that the restaurant is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Union Market

Currently home to 41 vendors, this artisanal hub boasts an array of delicious restaurants, from smaller names like TaKorean , which only operates in the D.C. and Maryland areas, to French pastry giant Ladurée. There's something here that'll suit everyone's taste buds, including Argentinian empanadas, avocado toast, and Southern comfort food. The hall is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The best time to go to Washington, D.C. is between April and June, when temperatures are moderately warm and events abundant.

The spring brings D.C.'s famous cherry blossom season, arguably the most beautiful time of year in the capital city. "Few cities undergo [a] seasonal transformation more beautifully and dramatically than Washington, D.C.," T+L contributor Katie Chang previously reported . "Its 3,000-plus cherry blossom trees remain a visually striking symbol of renewal, hope, and friendship." The National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place from late March to early April, and guests can enjoy a kite festival, parade, and cherry blossom-themed eats.

May brings graduation season, and the city's hotels start to book up with proud family members. Reserve a room well in advance — especially at the city's top hotels — if you plan to travel during this time.

Washington, D.C.'s high season is July and August, which are also the hottest months of the year here. The Fourth of July is a big draw for the nation's capital. When the weather is nice, Carolyn Crouch urges tourists to "get out on the water. Take a water taxi from the Southwest waterfront to Georgetown or Old Town Alexandria. You'll see iconic sites along the way."

Read More: The Best Times to Visit Washington, D.C. to See the Cherry Blossoms, Tour the National Mall, and More

You can get to Washington, D.C. by plane, train, and bus. Washington Dulles International Airport is the largest airport in the area and is serviced by all major U.S. airlines. However, it is located about 26 miles outside of D.C. in Chantilly, Virginia. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is only about five miles from D.C., but has significantly less flight options, as it is only served by eight airlines.

Amtrak trains have daily routes from major cities like New York, Boston, and Chicago that run directly to Union Station, which is within walking distance of some of D.C.'s most popular landmarks.

If you prefer the bus, companies like MegaBus offer several different routes to the capital city. MegaBus currently offers trips to D.C. from most major cities, including New York, Pittsburgh, and Boston.

Downtown: Downtown is home to the most important address in America: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. In addition to the White House, you'll find a number of D.C.'s most famous museums downtown, including the National Geographic Museum, which is currently being renovated to include amazing new experiences for visitors. (Keep an eye on its website to see when it will be open to the public.) And if you're looking for stunning views but don't want to deal with the crowds at the Washington Monument, Kevin Fanning recommends you head to the old post office and clock tower, located on the corner of 11th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. "The clock tower goes up 257 feet, giving you unparalleled views of Pennsylvania Avenue. You don't need tickets to go to the top, as it is owned and operated by the National Park Service."

Georgetown: The neighborhood around Georgetown University is more than just your classic college enclave. You'll find upscale restaurants and hotels along the C&O Canal, luxury shopping on M Street, and historic homes dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

Capitol Hill: Home to the U.S. Capitol building, the Supreme Court building, and the U.S. House and Senate, this neighborhood is the political epicenter of our country. You'll find plenty of tourists and the political working crowd here, some of whom reside in the lovely 19th-century Capitol Hill row houses.

The Wharf: This trendy neighborhood is helping to reestablish D.C. as a waterfront destination. Crouch says you can have the ultimate D.C. experience in this neighborhood. "Start with a bit of shopping at Shop Made in D.C., where everything is made by local makers. Next door is a branch of Politics & Prose, one of Washington's favorite independent bookstores. Across the way is Surfside, a locally owned taco stand with an island vibe. For dessert, head over to the family-owned and -operated Southwest Soda Pop Shop for homemade ice cream and vegan soft serve."

Trains: The city's Metrorail , run by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), operates across Washington, D.C. and into parts of Virginia and Maryland. It has six lines — yellow, orange, red, blue, green, and silver. Metrorail rides cost anywhere between $2 and $6, depending on where you're traveling and when. You can also buy a one-day pass for $13, a three-day pass for $28, and a seven-day pass for $58. Download the WMATA SmartTrip App to plan your metro and bus trips, and pay in advance.

Buses: The city's Metrobus system, also run by WMATA, will change drastically in the coming years for the very first time since the network's creation in 1973. WMATA has created Better Bus , an initiative meant to completely revitalize the bus system. Changes will include the integration of new bus lanes, new transit signals, and better service times and locations that reflect the needs of D.C. residents. The project is still in its planning stage, but changes are set to roll out in 2024.

Taxis and Car Service: Uber and Lyft are available in the greater Washington, D.C. area, and there are taxi stands spread out across the city. To schedule a cab in advance, book through a local company like D.C. Yellow Cab . You can also schedule a local black car through services like ExecuCar.

Cars: Driving in the capital city isn't necessary because the public transportation system is so comprehensive, but you can download apps like SpotHero to find and reserve parking spaces all across the city if necessary.

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The 30 best things to do in D.C. this weekend and next week

European embassies open their doors to the public, Eurovision takes over bars and the Smithsonian’s IlluminAsia festival returns.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated with a three-day festival at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, a family day at the Library of Congress, and new beers and a lion dance at Lost Generation Brewing. Following on last weekend’s Around the World Embassy Tour, the embassies of the European Union open their doors to visitors this weekend for cultural activities including music, beer and wine tastings, fashion shows, dog shows, and the Smurfs. Drive-in movie fans can welcome outdoor films — and “Grease” — back to Union Market. It’s also a big weekend for lovers of kitschy music, thanks to the Eurovision Song Contest and costume-friendly viewing parties. Spring garden tours and markets take place across the area on Saturday, while local breweries are banding together to help one of their own start making beer again.

Thursday, May 9

JxJ Jewish Film and Music Festival

Held at locations around the DMV (including the DCJCC in Washington, Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema and Cinema Arts Theatre in Fairfax), the annual festival returns to showcase music and films by Jewish area artists. The screenings include dozens of genres, and the music portion of the festival showcases international acts like the Maccabeats, Polyphony Quartet and Mister G. Through May 19. Prices and locations vary.

AAPI Beer Collab Launch Party at Lost Generation

For the second year in a row, Eckington’s Lost Generation Brewing marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by releasing a beer that benefits charity. Except this time, it’s releasing two beers. One, Asian Glow, is a fruited sour with dragon fruit, mango and litchi, brewed in collaboration with Falls Church’s High Side and Richmond’s the Answer, that benefits Act to Change, an organization fighting the bullying of AAPI youth. The other is Briefly Gorgeous, a saison made in collaboration with Bluejacket, which uses 50Hertz’s Sichuan peppercorns, yuzu and Buddha’s hand. Both beers debut at a party featuring a lion dance, plus food by Bun’d Up and Dine With Claudine. 6 to 9 p.m. Free .

Willow Smith at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Downtown D.C.’s massive Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library hosts Gen Z superstar Willow Smith for a teen-focused evening event. As the daughter of Hollywood royalty — her parents are Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith — Willow has already explored career paths from music to acting to performance art. She’s also written a book, a sci-fi fantasy called “Black Shield Maiden” with author Jess Hendel. In partnership with local bookshop Mahogany Books, Willow Smith discusses her debut novel. 7 p.m. $32; ticket includes signed copy of the book .

Eurovision Semifinal Watch Party at Wunder Garten

The finals of Eurovision — the Europe-wide pop music competition known for turning both costumes and stage performances up to 11 — take place Saturday. But first, judges need to select the tunes that will feature in the grand final. Sixteen countries are competing for 10 places on Thursday, including Switzerland’s Nemo and Italy’s Angelina Mango, both among the favorites to win. Wunder Garten is opening early to show the performances live from Sweden. 3 p.m. Free .

Home by Midnight at Jimmy Valentine’s

Do you ever wish you could go out to a bar, dance to great music and still get to bed at a reasonable hour? Home by Midnight hears you. This new night at Jimmy Valentine’s promises the music you’d expect at a late-night rave, but with a DJ who starts at 9 p.m. Perfect for the older raver — or the old at heart. Doors at 8 p.m., music at 9. Free .

‘Mummy in the Closet: Evita’s Return’ at GALA Hispanic Theatre

Eva Perón stars from beyond the grave in GALA Hispanic Theatre’s “Mummy in the Closet: Evita’s Return,” a macabre musical comedy based on the true journey of the Argentine political icon’s embalmed body after her death in 1952. This is a new production of the show, which was a hit for GALA during its world premiere there in 2009. At the time , The Post called it a “breathtakingly freakish mix of black comedy, serious historical musing, disciplined vaudeville and sheer ghoulishness.” For this revival, choreographer Valeria Cossu has set dance moves to the rhythms of tango, waltz and salsa. Through June 9: Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. $25-$48; $20 opening night. In Spanish with English subtitles .

Audrey Hepburn film series at the Miracle Theatre

In honor of film icon Audrey Hepburn’s May 4 birthday, Barracks Row’s movie house the Miracle Theatre will run a spate of Audrey flicks throughout the month. If you’ve only seen “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” go deeper into the perennially stylish actress’s repertoire with four other classics that also star classic Hollywood leading men like Gregory Peck, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart and Fred Astaire. The series begins Thursday with “Roman Holiday” and continues with “Charade” (May 17), “Sabrina” (May 24) and “Funny Face” (May 30). All screenings begin at 7 p.m. $8 .

Friday, May 10

IlluminAsia at the National Museum of Asian Art

The Smithsonian’s IlluminAsia festival returns to the National Museum of Asian Art this weekend, celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with three days of culture and entertainment. The party starts Friday with Asia After Dark, a wellness-focused evening that includes journaling, sound baths, and a zero-proof and low-ABV bar (5 to 9 p.m.). Saturday brings curator-led tours of the museum’s exhibits; panel discussions about identity, healing and the arts; empowerment workshops; and an outdoor market with vendors and food trucks (noon to 6:30 p.m.). Electronic artist Madame Gandhi headlines an evening concert (6:30 p.m.; registration suggested). The event wraps Sunday with a Mother’s Day theme, featuring craft making and family activities, as well as a guided sound bath (noon to 3 p.m.). Through Sunday. Free .

‘Grease’ at the Union Market Drive-In

Drive-in movies became a trend during the pandemic, but Union Market has been hosting outdoor screenings in its parking lot since 2013. This year’s series, which features films one Friday a month, kicks off with the singalong classic “Grease.” Drivers can reserve a space, ease the seat back and listen to the sound through their FM radio, while the carless masses are free to walk up to Neal Place, the closed street in front of the market, with blankets and camp stools. Either way, get there early and pick up a meal from one of the vendors inside. Parking lot opens at 7:30 p.m.; film begins at 8:45. $20 per car; free for pedestrians .

Animania at Union Stage

It might be another 11 months until Awesome Con (D.C.’s take on Comic-Con) returns, but in the meantime, fans can try out their next cosplay in a more intimate venue. Costumes aren’t required but are strongly encouraged. Dance to anime hits and try your hand at a variety of video games. 10 p.m. $20.

Firehouse Fridays at Hill Country

Firehouse Fridays, which has been offering country line dancing lessons and a dance party at the Vienna Moose Lodge, is making the leap to Penn Quarter. Both levels of Hill Country Barbecue will be open for two-stepping, line dances and country swing. The evening starts with a beginner-level country swing lesson at 8:30 p.m., followed by dancing on both floors from 9:30 until midnight. 8:30 p.m. $15 at the door .

Saturday, May 11

E.U. Open House

The members of the European Union open the doors to their embassies on Saturday, following last weekend’s Around the World Embassy Tour. Drop into 21 embassies, as well as the European Union’s office and “partner venue” Ukraine House, for live music, food and drinks, mini-language classes, and more cultural activities. Each country puts its own spin on the day: La Maison Française, which brings Germany and France together, is highlighting the Paris Olympics; Poland honors Maria Skłodowska-Curie (better known as Marie Curie) with “chemical workshops and molecular cuisine”; the Czech Republic celebrates with beer, a dog show and a performance by award-winning singer Kaczi; and the Netherlands and Belgium team up for free waffles and beer tastings with the Smurfs. Lines can be long, so wear comfortable shoes. Early arrival is suggested if you’re looking for free snacks and swag. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission; some embassies sell food and drinks .

Eurovision Grand Final viewing parties

Speaking of Europe, Saturday is also the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest, the annual pop music competition known for over-the-top performances, cheesy tunes and an abundance of glitter. The event is a spectacle in Europe — this year is hosted by 2023 champion Sweden — but it’s popular in D.C., too. (So popular, in fact, that the official viewing party at the House of Sweden has a wait list.) DC9 is hosting its annual celebration, with a live broadcast beginning at 3 p.m. Join in with Eurovision bingo, where sample squares include “fire (real or video)” and “Vikings,” as well as trivia and drink specials. After the winner has been crowned, it’s time for a Eurovision dance party featuring songs from past winners, including Abba, Céline Dion, Katrina and the Waves, and, hopefully, Finnish masked metal gods Lordi. There’s a $100 prize for the best Eurovision-inspired costume. ( Free tickets available at dc9.club . ) Adams Morgan’s Duplex Diner is showing the contest live with “ drink specials all day .” ( 3 to 6 p.m. Free. ) Over on H Street, the Queen Vic pub is hoping to put the U.K.’s traditional misery behind them — Mae Muller finished 25th out of 26 in 2023 — at a party with bingo, singalong tunes and a costume contest. ( 3 p.m. thequeenvicdc.com . Free. )

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Family Day at the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress welcomes all ages to its Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration. Families can learn about the different experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders documented in the library’s collections, then draw or write about their own family’s history. ( 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free; timed entry pass required, but events are drop-in. ) Artist and educator Jeffrey Yoo Warren, whose work has created virtual reconstructions of five historic Chinese American and Korean American communities, leads a mask-making workshop for 6- to 12-year-olds, before letting them explore portals to the 3D reconstructions. ( 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free; timed ticket required. ) Finally, actor and activist George Takei discusses his new book, “My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story,” in the Coolidge Auditorium. ( 2 p.m. Free; reservations required. )

Save Hellbender Beer Fest

Hellbender Brewing had its boiler break down in late April, and without a way to heat water and boil wort, the Fort Totten brewery can’t make beer. To help offset the high costs of a replacement, the local brewing community is rallying around Hellbender. Head to the taproom for a party featuring draft beers from at least 15 breweries, including Other Half, Ocelot and the Brewer’s Art, available in full or half pours; food from Beef Space BBQ and El Jefe Woodfired Pizza; and music by DJ TLH. 1 p.m. Free admission .

That’s So Vintage Market at Union Market

The hugely popular market returns to Union Market’s Dock 5 with over 30 of the area’s vintage sellers. Vendors include viral curators the Disco Loft and Libby & My (the full list of vendors is available on the market’s website ). Next door, experiential pop-up shop Playhaus is offering workshops on sewing and embroidering vintage clothes, which you can add on to your ticket price. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. $24 for 11 a.m. entrance; $8 for 1 p.m. entrance or later.

Ivy City Makers Market and Bar Hop

This pop-up celebration of local makers is really multiple markets in one, with artists, crafters and vintage vendors spread among Atlas Brew Works , Other Half Brewing , Throw Social , and Don Ciccio and Figli ’s tasting room. It’s a shopping excursion-cum-bar crawl that might introduce you to a new favorite beverage as well as a new favorite outfit. 1 to 6 p.m. Free .

Del Ray Artisans Spring Art Market

This curated show in a Del Ray park features three dozen artists — potters, painters, photographers, sculptors, jewelers, fiber artists and more — selected by the Del Ray Artisans collective. Browse for Mother’s Day gifts or just for yourself, while kids can be entertained and have their faces painted. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free .

Diggin’ Thru the Crates at Dock 5

Diggin’ Thru the Crates is a celebration of hip-hop culture with a twist: Members of the audience get to flip through stacks of vinyl records to pick the song they want to hear, while DJs Alizay and B-Sharp work those selections into a playlist on the fly. The result is magic, and often surprising. Art by Maurice James Jr., Shay Will and the Jay Stewart Collection features at the Union Market event space, while Young Guru is the host. 9 p.m. $20 .

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop Family Day

The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop has been “building community through the arts” for more than 50 years, and if you’ve never experienced this local treasure, Saturday is a good time to explore. Family Day features activities for all ages on the arts center’s front lawn, including 3D scanning and printing, creating collage sculptures, and drawing “fill in the blank” comic strips. Noon to 2 p.m. Free .

Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour

Run by the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, this tour is a great chance to peek inside those multimillion-dollar rowhouses that grace the streets of Capitol Hill. Attendees will see nine homes and gardens and three semipublic buildings, all within the historic district, and grab refreshments from local vendors at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, where an architectural tour is offered both days. Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.; Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. $40-$50.

Del Ray House & Garden Tour

Step inside the bungalows and rowhouses of Del Ray, a walkable Alexandria enclave with its own bustling main street and blocks packed with dog parks and playgrounds. The Del Ray House & Garden Tour returns for the first year since 2018, and this year’s self-guided tour will include 11 properties showcasing manicured gardens, new-construction homes and small-scale accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Spend an entire day here with a VIP ticket, which sends you to Mount Vernon Avenue after the tour for an evening yoga class at Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga, followed by a drink from Hi/Fi TexMex BBQ. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. $45-$75 .

Dacha Spring Beer Fest

Think of Frühlingsfest as the warm-weather cousin of Oktoberfest: Instead of drinking beer outdoors in the cool fall air, people in Munich come together to drink beer and celebrate the return of flowers and longer days. Dacha’s inaugural spring festival at its Navy Yard location — inspired by Frühlingsfest — features unlimited pours of seasonal beers from at least 18 breweries, spanning European (Weihenstephaner, Duvel, St. Bernardus), American (Allagash, Boulevard) and regional (Denizens, Väsen, Pen Druid) selections. VIP tickets include early admission, a pint glass and other perks. Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. $50-$90; two day tickets $90-$170 .

Sunday, May 12

Mother’s Day ideas

Need a last-minute idea for Sunday? We can’t guarantee restaurant reservations are still available, but we do stand by our ideas for things to do from a few weeks back, including two all-you-can-eat brunch shows with the swinging Eric Byrd Trio at the Hamilton, a few trips on the historic carousel and a tour of galleries at Glen Echo Park, or a waterfront stroll in Alexandria.

Momedy Kumite at the DC Improv

Instead of the usual card or flowers, maybe Mom needs a good laugh for Mother’s Day. The DC Improv has revamped its signature stand-up tournament Comedy Kumite just for the holiday: All of the participating comics in Momedy Kumite are mothers themselves, and they’re competing for the unofficial title of Funniest Mom in D.C. The tourney consists of back-to-back sets from two comedians, followed by an audience vote to see who advances to the next round and, ultimately, the victor of the final showdown. 6 p.m. $20-$35 .

Monday, May 13

Hot Water Music at the Howard Theatre

The members of Hot Water Music seem as surprised as anyone that they’re celebrating their 30th anniversary on the road as they prepare to release their 10th album, “Vows.” The Gainesville, Fla.-founded act, fronted by singer-songwriter-guitarists Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard, can still whip up punk tunes with heart-on-sleeve emotion and anthemic hooks. The band promises to “dust off some oldies” on tour; perhaps it will play 1997 favorite “Turnstile” — the namesake of the current generation’s biggest hardcore band. Joining Hot Water Music is Quicksand, a New York band whose renewed existence — albeit after a long hiatus — is even more surprising. Quicksand’s metallic approach to post-hardcore laid the blueprint for countless punk and alt-metal bands alike. 8 p.m. $35-$60 .

Tuesday, May 14

The Dog and Cat Film Festivals at Arlington Drafthouse

After the annual New York Dog Film Festival and its feline-focused counterpart, the two-hour programs of new short films featuring pets — animated, documentary and narrative features from around the world — the festival screening travels to cities across the country. Arlington Drafthouse is hosting the two festivals back to back (dog people, go on Tuesday, and cat people, go on Wednesday ). Proceeds benefit the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. Note that admission is 21 and over unless accompanied by a parent. 6 p.m. $38.

Wednesday, May 15

NMWA Nights at the National Museum of Women in the Arts

The new exhibition “ New Worlds: Women to Watch 2024 ” is the inspiration for the National Museum of Women in the Arts’ latest after-hours party, with a costume contest inspired by exhibition themes, such as “creative” and “sustainable.” After capturing your lewk in the photo booth, try hands-on art-making activities; dance to Les the DJ’s mix of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander musicians; and watch a performance by Pretty Boi Drag. Two cocktails from locals Please Bring Chips are included in the ticket price. Be warned: This is the last NMWA Nights until September. 5:30 to 8 p.m. $22-25 .

Kathleen Hanna at the Lincoln Theatre

Bikini Kill and Le Tigre punk frontwoman Kathleen Hanna embodies the title of her memoir “Rebel Girl.” One of leaders of the ’90s “riot grrrl” feminist movement — the book takes its title from Bikini Kill’s iconic song — Hanna is embarking on a 10-stop nationwide book tour to discuss her boundary-breaking life in music. See her at the Lincoln Theatre in conversation with Mira Jacob, where hopefully she’ll share her memories of the District’s punk scene, since the members of Bikini Kill spent a climactic year in D.C. and originally wrote “Rebel Girl” in Mount Pleasant. 7 p.m. $66-$81; ticket includes a book.

Gaby Moreno at the Hamilton Live

Guatemalan singer, songwriter and producer Gaby Moreno’s work in the last decade and a half has culminated in recent months in back-to-back public-facing accomplishments. In February, she both performed at the Grammys and won the award for best Latin pop album for “X Mí (Vol. 1).” The seven-song record, released in 2023, revisits favorites from previous albums, set only to Moreno’s acoustic guitar. Also in February, Moreno released “Dusk,” her soulful ninth studio album. 8 p.m. $15-$25.

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The latest on the massive solar storm

By Angela Fritz, Elise Hammond and Chris Lau, CNN

Incredible lighthouse picture from Maine

From CNN's Chris Lau

A long-exposure photo shows the aurora borealis over Portland, Maine, on May 10.

Among a flurry of surreal images capturing the dazzling auroras is one taken by Benjamin Williamson of a lighthouse in Portland, Maine.

"It's one of the most incredible things I've ever seen, the awe and wonder," Williamson told CNN.

He said he used a long-exposure technique to snap the shot, but did not edit it.

Watch the full interview with Williamson here .

Things could be about to ramp up

If you still haven't seen the aurora, hold on for another 30 minutes to an hour, according to CNN meteorologist Chad Myers.

The next wave of coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, which cause the aurora, is about to arrive, he said.

"Just wait a minute because things are going to start to ramp up here," he said, adding that the increase could arrive "anytime now." "When it comes, get outside, get ready, put your coat on."

For those who are too busy to witness the phenomenon tonight, Myers said the aurora is expected to last three nights.

Why does the aurora last for a weekend?

By CNN's Chris Lau

The northern lights can be seen from Eaton Rapids, Michigan, on May 10.

Generally, it takes just eight minutes for light to travel 93 million miles to the Earth from the sun, but astrophysicist Janna Levin said the energized particles causing the current wave of aurora travel a lot slower, causing the phenomenon to last for the weekend.

"Some of these mass ejections are trillions of kilograms," she said. "They're slower. So they're taking longer, but still hours, maybe tens of hours."

Here's how the solar storm looks in the South and on the East Coast

The aurora was visible across the East Coast and in the South Friday.

Here's how it looked in Chester, South Carolina.

Down in Florida, waves of color swam through the sky.

Up north in New Jersey, a purple-ish haze could be seen in the sky.

Will solar storms get more intense and risky in the future?

The answer is probably not in the short term, according to astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi.

He said scientists study what is constantly happening on the surface of the sun and have found a pattern.

“Geological data shows us that in the past the sun was way more active than it is today. It has cycles where it goes very quiet ... and you have events that show that the solar activity was much, much greater,” he told CNN. “So there's no evidence that we're going to see those big maxima this cycle." 

But the astrophysicist also spoke of a caveat - the limitations of modern science.

“Even though it's predictable in the short term, we still don't quite understand what creates the magnetic fields in the sun,” he said, adding: “That's why NASA has so many satellites looking at the sun.”

In Pictures: Auroras light the sky during rare solar storm

From CNN Digital's Photo Team

The northern lights glow in the night sky in Brandenburg, Germany, on May 10.

A series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun are creating dazzling auroras across the globe .

The rare solar storm may also disrupt communications. The last time a solar storm of this magnitude reached Earth was in October 2003, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.

See more photos of the aurora from tonight.

Behind dazzling aurora could lie “real danger,” Bill Nye the Science Guy says

Bill Nye the Science Guy speaks to CNN on Friday, May 10.

The massive solar storm could present “a real danger,” especially with the modern world relying so much on electricity, according to Bill Nye the Science Guy , a science educator and engineer.

Scientists are warning an increase in solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun have the potential to disrupt communication on Earth into the weekend. Solar flares can affect communications and GPS almost immediately because they disrupt Earth’s ionosphere, or part of the upper atmosphere. Energetic particles released by the sun can also disrupt electronics on spacecraft and affect astronauts without proper protection within 20 minutes to several hours.

In comparison to tonight's event, Nye drew comparisons with another incident in 1859, known as the Carrington Event, when telegraph communications were severely affected.

“The other thing, everybody, that is a real danger to our technological society, different from 1859, is how much we depend on electricity and our electronics and so on,” Nye said. "None of us really in the developed world could go very long without electricity."

He noted that there are systems in place to minimize the impact, but “stuff might go wrong,” stressing that not all transformers are equipped to withstand such a solar event.

“It depends on the strength of the event and it depends on how much of our infrastructures are prepared for this the sort of thing,” he said.

Bill Nye breaks down significance of the solar storm | CNN

Bill Nye breaks down significance of the solar storm | CNN

This post has been updated with more details on solar flares' impact on electronics.

Here's where clouds will block the view of the northern lights in the US

From CNN's Angela Fritz

An infrared satellite image taken around 10:30 p.m. ET.

After an incredibly stormy week, most of the Lower 48 has clear skies to see the northern lights. But there are some areas where clouds and rainy weather are spoiling the view.

A deck of clouds is blocking the sky in the Northeast, from parts of Virginia into Maine, as an area of low pressure spins off the East Coast.

In the Midwest, the aurora will be hard to see through thick clouds in parts of Wisconsin, Michigan — including the Upper Peninsula — and Illinois.

A stripe of clouds is tracking across Texas, including Dallas-Forth Worth, and into Louisiana.

And in the Southwest, patchy clouds across the the Four Corners region could make the northern lights difficult to spot.

Aurora seen at least as far south as Georgia

Barely visible to the naked eye, the aurora can be seen in Atlanta in the 10 p.m. ET hour. 

It is easier to see through photographs using a long exposure. The photos below, taken by CNN's Eric Zerkel and Emily Smith, used 3- and 10-second exposures.

Aurora seen in Atlanta around 10:15 p.m. ET.

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A man sits in a hammock looking out at Concepción volcano in Nicaragua.

Should I Use a Travel Agent? Our Travel Expert Says It Makes All the Difference.

The new age of travel agents know how to find deals, book off-the-beaten path adventures, and get you out of any jam. Especially if you know who to use.

A man sits in a hammock looking out at Concepción volcano in Nicaragua.

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I’ve always thought that planning my own trips was the most cost-effective way, but I’ve been hearing more about travel agents making a comeback and saving their clients a lot of money. What kinds of outdoor trips should I turn to a travel agent for, and are there any who specialize in working with adventurers like me?

Technically, I’m a professional traveler. As a journalist, it’s my job to research and connect with locals to get beneath the surface of a destination. So I have never really used travel agents. What could they plan better than I could?

A lot, it turns out. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know many travel specialists, and I consider them magicians. My big aha moment happened two winters ago on a trip to Iceland . A massive storm shut down internal flights for a day, causing me to miss my return flight to the U.S. Normally, I would have spent frustrating hours on hold with the airline. But because I’d paid $65 to have Ana Gloria Garcia, an air-support specialist at the travel agency EmbarkBeyond, find and book the most affordable and convenient flight option for me, she handled the rebookings while I soaked in the Blue Lagoon.

A woman soaks in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon.

During the pandemic, agents became advocates helping travelers get refunds on canceled flights and trips. As travel has come roaring back, an agent’s superpower is now their access to the best hotel rooms, most in-the-know guides, free amenities, and more, says Cory Hagopian, senior vice president of sales and partnerships for Virtuoso , a global network of travel agencies.

And they’re attracting a young clientele. According to a recent industry survey , 38 percent of millennials and Gen Zers are opting to use travel agents as opposed to booking on their own trips. That number is far greater than Gen Xers and baby boomers, of whom only 12 and 2 percent respectively use agents.

What Do I Gain from Using a Travel Agent?

I recently had a friend tell me she spent close to 40 hours researching a family trip online. She probably could have gleaned the same intel from an hourlong conversation with a travel adviser. Knowledge is priceless, and advisers act as your insiders. They know what you don’t and fill in the blanks for things you might not have considered, says Erika Richter, a spokesperson for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). Their firsthand knowledge, vast network, and on-the-ground connections all combine to provide a unique perspective for crafting the perfect itinerary for you.

Kayak, paddle, raft—a river trip down Costa Rica’s Pacuare is good fun. And Danielle Meyer of Coastline Travel likes to book clients in the riverfront, all-inclusive, 20-suite Pacuare Lodge. “The way to get to the property is by whitewater rafting, so you truly begin with adventure!”

Most travel advisers specialize in certain regions and countries and travel to them frequently, so they have up-to-date intel on not only the best safari camps but the perfect tent to book for the most incredible views and the best local restaurants you won’t find on Tripadvisor. They want their client’s trips to go well to keep them coming back, so it’s in their interest to have sussed out hotels and itineraries before they send you out into the world.

Nicole Forster, 29, considers herself a savvy traveler. She’s been to 20-plus countries and enjoys destination research. But when it came to planning her honeymoon in Africa, she felt overwhelmed, so she reached out to Danielle Meyer at Coastline Travel Advisors , which specializes in bespoke itineraries. “Originally, I wanted to go to South Africa, Victoria Falls, and Madagascar,” Forster recalls. “Danielle convinced me that if we wanted to relax, we should stay in South Africa and save the other countries for separate trips.”

Over five phone conversations and multiple emails, they crafted a 15-night itinerary that included Cape Town, the winelands, the Cape Peninsula, and a safari at the Thornybush Game Reserve. Forster established her budget early in the process, and Meyer sent her a variety of lodge options to choose from.

“I initially wanted to start with the safari, but she pointed out that we’d be jet-lagged and would need to wake at sunrise for game drives,” says Forster. “The safari was our highlight, so it was a perfect way to end the trip.”

A man sitting in an open-air vehicle while on safari in South Africa smiles at the camera while an elephant is just over his shoulder, approaching.

Not only did Meyer book all of the flights, hotels, and transfers, but she created a detailed, day-by-day trip app for the couple that included useful information like check-in times at hotels and how much to tip guides .

Agents also act as advocates. If something goes wrong during your travels, they’re on call 24/7 to handle it. When Forster left the battery and charger for her camera at a hotel, Meyer arranged for an on-the-ground contact to go to a camera store and buy new ones that would be delivered to her hotel the next day.

The cost for the honeymoon planning: $150 per person. “I wouldn’t use a planner for a trip to Hawaii ,” Forster says, “but if I ever took a big trip like this again, I’d 100 percent work with an expert.”  

When to Consider Using a Travel Agent

For savvy trip planners, the best time to use a travel agent is for complicated international travel. It can save you hours of planning and peace of mind that if anything goes wrong in your chosen far-flung destination, there’s someone a What’sApp message away to handle it.

Domestically, I’d consider using a travel agent when planning a multi-week national park trip or multi-island trip in Hawaii. They will save you time, guarantee you get the best guides, and help you land reservations at always-booked lodges and hotels.

Dream Trips Delivered

Jessica Cook and her husband both work in the travel industry. Decision fatigued, they handed their honeymoon logistics over to the team at Askari Travel , an agency that specializes in South Africa. Their original plan was also an African safari, but just as they were about to put a deposit down, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus made headlines. Worried about getting stuck abroad, they reached out to Askari’s founder, Muriel Truter, who is from Zimbabwe, and upon her advice, changed their focus to South America.

Knowledge is priceless, and advisers act as your insiders. They know what you don’t and fill in the blanks of things you might not even have considered.

Truter suggested they stick to Colombia rather than country-hop. Cook supplied a budget and a wish list: 12 days, no more than three destinations, a barefoot-luxe feel, and adventures like horseback riding and mountain biking. The rest was a surprise that Askari pretty much nailed, with the exception of one hotel.

“Everything felt so authentic, but this one hotel on Barú island felt really fabricated and was full of American tourists,” recalls Cook. She immediately messaged the Askari team, saying, “Hey, this place really isn’t our vibe,” and within an hour they were on a water taxi headed to Blue Apple, a B Corp hotel—and an Outside pick for tropical adventures —on Tierra Bomba island. “It was honestly the best trip we’ve ever taken,” she says.

Tierra Bomba, a 15-minute boat ride from the Colombian capital of Cartagena, is an affordable Caribbean destination with a relaxed pace and soft white sands.

Are Travel Agents Expensive?

It depends. Cost varies. Some travel agencies won’t charge any fee, as they receive a commission from the bookings, while some high-end agencies will charge pricey annual membership fees for their services. Still others charge nominal “professional” fees starting at $150. Fees often fluctuate based on the length and intricacy of a trip and how far out you do the planning (6 to 12 months is recommended). You may occasionally come across agents who charge a percentage of the total trip price or hourly rates.

Basic travel enquiries are generally free. In 2016, Leah Smith, founder of Tafari Travel , opened an old-school brick-and-mortar location in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood so her services would feel less intimidating to first-time users. “With our retail-office location, we’ve become part of the community, and both clients and non-clients are welcome to pop in and ask whatever questions they may have, no charge,” she says.

Matt Lindsay, founder of the surf-guiding and travel company LuxSurf Travel , builds relationships with resorts and property owners to get discounted rates that he can then pass on to guests.

Matt Lindsey of LuxeSurfTravel can arrange a surf safari on a 165-foot boat, complete with dive masters. surf guides, and a spa. Guests spend a week cruising around atolls in the Maldives seeking out perfect swell and swimming with whale sharks and manta rays.

Dominic Allan, the founder of Real Latin America , specializes in travel to Belize and Nicaragua and caters to independent travelers who are happy to book their own flights and hotels but are seeking his local intel. Allan’s three-tier pricing structure starts at $300 for up to three hours of phone calls, during which he might weigh in on where to eat (or not to), the best room to request in a certain lodge, or whether you really need a guide to hike.

”Totoro Eco-Lodge, in Nicaragua, has always been one of our favorites,” says Dominic Allen of Real Latin America. In addition to its laid-back vibe, it’s spectacuarly placed on Ometepe Island, with views out to the active Conception volcano. Allen recommends volcano hikes, rainforest excursions, tours of a chocolate farm, and sunset paddles in search of caiman.

Value Versus Savings

If you’re just looking for deals and steals, you might not be ready to work with a travel adviser, says Richter of the ASTA. “Anything you invest in with a travel adviser comes back to you in the form of amenities, customer service, peace of mind, better access to unique experiences, and handcrafted itineraries,” she says. “You could save money by cutting your own hair, too, but most people go to someone who knows what they’re doing.”

Agents work with preferred partners who can guarantee perks for clients, such as free upgrades, early check-in or late check-out, and resort credits. Those add-ons often translate into savings, says Justin Huxter, cofounder of the UK-based Cartology Travel . “We had a client go to Maui for a week, and because of our partnership with the resort, breakfast was included,” he says. When breakfast costs $120 for two, that’s a savings of $840.”

A meerkat sits atop a man wearing a ball cap and scans the horizon of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans.

Some of the Best Travel Agents in the Adventure World

Some of my go-to resources for finding a person to work with include travel expert Wendy Perrin’s annual Wow List of tried and trusted agents, the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s adviser network , and the ASTA’s advisor directory .

In addition to the agents mentioned throughout this story, others I highly recommend for adventurous travelers include:

  • Dan Achber of Trufflepig , for Africa and the Middle East
  • Miguel Cunant of Sri Lanka in Style
  • Javier Echecopar of Journey Costa Rica
  • Daniel Fraser of Smiling Albino , for Southeast Asia
  • Elizabeth Gordon of Extraordinary Journeys , for Africa
  • Kleon Howe of the Art of Travel , for French Polynesia
  • Jay Johnson of Coastline Travel , for Hawaii and California
  • Antonello Losito of Southern Visions Travel , for Puglia, Italy
  • Rabia Malik of Fora Travel , for general worldwide travel
  • Robyn Mark of Mayamaya Travel , for Africa, the Alps, Patagonia, and Japan
  • Marisol Mosquera of Aracari , for Peru and Bolivia
  • Zach Rabinor of Journey Mexico
  • Raluca Spiac of Beyond Dracula , for Romania

The author immersed in the hot waters of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, with mud on her face. It beats being on the phone trying to reschedule a flight cancellation.

Travel-advice columnist Jen Murphy is now a believer in using a travel agent. Thanks to their expertise and connections, she’s avoided dozens of trip catastrophes. 

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FOX 5 DC Summer 2024 Zip Trip Destinations: Here’s the full list

WASHINGTON - FOX 5 can’t wait for summer to get here – because the start of summertime means the beginning of Zip Trip season! 

We can hardly wait because this year is a very special one for everyone here at FOX 5! That’s because it’s the 10th anniversary of our summer Zip Trip celebrations!

Steve, Tucker, Marissa, Mikea, Stephen, Annie, Taylor and the rest of the FOX 5 team is ready to make our 10th Zip Trip year the best!

Check out the FULL LIST of destinations that we’re traveling to this year for fun in the sun!

MAY 24: HYATTSVILLE, MD

MAY 31: MIDDLEBURG, VA

JUNE 7: ARLINGTON, VA

JUNE 14: GAITHERSBURG, MD

JUNE 21: CULPEPER, VA

JUNE 28: NORTH BEACH, MD

JULY 5: BOWIE, MD

JULY 12: FAIRFAX CITY, VA

JULY 19: EASTERN MARKET, DC

JULY 26: ALEXANDRIA, VA

AUGUST 2: LEONARDTOWN, MD

AUGUST 9: HERNDON, VA

AUGUST 16: WALDORF, MD

AUGUST 23: MANASSAS, VA

AUGUST 30: NATIONAL HARBOR, MD

FLASHBACK: Past FOX 5 Zip Trip Fun!

FOX 5 DC Summer 2024 Zip Trip Destinations: Here’s the full list

dc time travel

Where Are DC’s Cities Located?

BY: Alex Jaffe

Wednesday, May 8th, 2024

Welcome back once more to another edition of ASK…THE QUESTION. I’m Alex Jaffe, better known to the DC Community since 2018 as HubCityQuestion, and I’m here to dispense my expertise on the breadth and depth of DC’s history. Where exactly do you come in? I’m so glad you asked. All you have to do is stop by my place of business in the official DC Community , drop your inquiry and I’ll take it from there. Away we go.  

STORM’S A-BREWING

dc time travel

OGSAMSON507 asks:

What titles were on the first wave of DC/WildStorm in 1999? What do you think ghosts are?

WildStorm Productions began life as an independent entity in 1992, at first associated with Image Comics before migrating to DC at the end of the decade. The first year of WildStorm titles as a DC imprint included:

  • A relaunch of WildCATS
  • The debut of The Authority
  • The Night Tribes one-shot
  • The Darkchylde Summer Swimsuit Special
  • Wild Times , an Elseworlds-style series of one-shot treatments for Deathblow, DV8, Gen13, Grifter, Wetworks and WildCATS, featuring cameos by DC characters
  • Mr. Majestic
  • The “Divine Intervention” WildCATS/Gen13 crossover
  • Deathblow: Byblows
  • Desperadoes: Epidemic!
  • Ball and Chain
  • Speed Racer
  • Nightfall: The Black Chronicles
  • Steampunk: Catechism

dc time travel

That same year, the new Alan Moore-led WildStorm imprint, America’s Best Comics, launched with:

  • The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
  • Tomorrow Stories

At this time, WildStorm also continued publication of a number of creator-owned titles inherited from Image Comics, including Kurt Busiek’s Astro City, Crimson, Leave It to Chance and Danger Girl.

I believe ghosts are like dogs and they just sort of do things arbitrarily.  

MARRIAGE MATERIAL

dc time travel

Moonknightrider2.98991 asks:

Before Crisis , very few superheroes actually took their relationship to the next level. I know Jay Garrick and Joan were married, even though it happened after Jay retired. Were they the first DC couple to get married?

Almost, but not quite. Jay and Joan were depicted as married for the first time in 1961’s The Flash #123 , when Barry checked in on them over in Earth-Two. But just a few months before that, in The Brave and the Bold #34 , Hawkman and Hawkwoman were depicted as a married couple for the first time for their own Silver Age relaunch.  

dc time travel

Wrightline1.42741 asks:

Bat-mite has been around a very long time, but I’ve never seen him unmasked. Has his true face ever been revealed and I just missed it?

Nope. As far as we know, that’s just what his face is. One should keep in mind that fifth dimensional imps don’t really have physical forms in the way we perceive them and merely assume those shapes for the benefit of lower beings. The Bat-Mite form we know is the icon he’s chosen to represent himself on Earth, cowl and all.  

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

dc time travel

ken.cramercohen.12391 asks:

Could you explain where most of the major DC cities are currently located, and where they were originally supposed to be?

I’ve addressed this in the column previously, though it was in an older edition that’s no longer publicly available. So, let’s tackle this one again with a few updates.

The truth is that in the Golden Age, most fictional cities didn’t have any specific basis and were simply intended to be Anytown, USA. It was only as continuity between titles got more established in the 1960s and 1970s that creators started thinking about where specifically each of their fictional cities were located. With that in mind, let’s go through each of DC’s most memorable cities and see if we can figure out their location based on accrued evidence.

dc time travel

Amnesty Bay: Home to the lighthouse of Tom Curry, father of Aquaman, and the sleepy fishing town that Arthur and Mera call their home away from Atlantis. Firmly located in coastal Maine.

Blüdhaven: Nightwing’s solo stomping grounds after parting ways with Batman. Located in reasonable driving distance either south, or to the west or southwest of Gotham, depending on the writer. (See my Gotham City entry below.)

Blue Valley: Birthplace of Wally West and where we first meet Stargirl in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. Located in Nebraska, as per Wally’s origin story, “The Flash: Year One - Born to Run.”

Central City: Barry Allen’s hometown is the twin city of Jay Garrick’s Keystone City, each lying across from the other on opposite sides of the Kansas-Missouri border. As shown in The Flash #188 , Central City is on the Missouri side, and Keystone City is on the Kansas side.

dc time travel

Coast City: My spiritual predecessor Bob Rozakis placed Hal Jordan’s “City Without Fear” in California in his own ’70s column, “Ask the Answer Man.” While Paul Kupperberg’s The Atlas of the DC Universe places it in Northern California near San Francisco, the broadcast of its destruction in “Reign of the Supermen” puts Coast City in Southern California, just south of Santa Barbara.

Dakota City: Milestone Comics cofounder Dwayne McDuffie placed the home of Icon, Static and Hardware in Michigan, having based the city off his own upbringing in Detroit.

Fawcett City: Prior to the New 52, Fawcett City was home to the characters DC inherited from Fawcett Comics, including the Shazam Family. The JSA vs. Kobra miniseries placed it in Minnesota. Currently, as of Mark Waid’s Shazam! relaunch, it’s considered a fictional borough of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Gateway City: Home base of Wonder Woman in the ’90s, as well as Wonder Girl Cassandra Sandsmark, the Spectre and the first Mister Terrific, Terry Sloane. It’s overtly based in California, but its visual similarities to San Francisco specifically suggest Northern California.

dc time travel

Gotham City: It’s common lore that Gotham City was originally meant to be New York, before it was masked under a fictionalized identity in 1940’s Batman #4. For the most part, Gotham’s true location is typically obscured. But when specified at all, most sources place Gotham in New Jersey, including the “Amazing World of DC Comics” fanzine of the 1970s, 1981’s Detective Comics #503 (where it’s specifically twenty miles south of the Jersey Shore), 1990’s Atlas of the DC Universe , and the 2016 film Suicide Squad .

Happy Harbor: First home of the Justice League of America, and later to Young Justice. JLA: Year One is one of many sources to establish it in Rhode Island.

Hub City: You didn’t think I was going to leave this one out, did you? Home to the characters DC acquired from Charlton Comics in the 1980s, including Blue Beetle, Captain Atom and that one guy with no face. Hub City was depicted most thoroughly in Denny O’Neil’s The Question . Denny himself wrote that he partially based his version of Hub City on East St. Louis, and as such, Atlas of the DC Universe places it in Illinois.

Ivy Town: A college town, home to both Ray Palmer and his successor as the Atom, Ryan Choi. As such, Titans #28 appropriately places it in Massachusetts.

Keystone City: See Central City.

dc time travel

Metropolis: Of all the cities in the DC Universe, the location of Metropolis is the most in flux. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster originally based Metropolis on their home city of Cleveland, but later writers and artists drew inspiration from New York City. In media such as Superman: The Animated Series and Smallville , Metropolis is seen in Kansas. But in comic book continuity, Metropolis is often placed on the Delaware side of Delaware Bay, just across the water from its sister city of Gotham. This correlation began in the previously alluded to “Amazing World of DC Comics” fanzine and found confirmation in Atlas of the DC Universe . But today, just as many sources suggest Metropolis to be in New York, including the “Death of Superman” storyline. Personally, I prefer the Delaware location—New York already has a pretty huge city to its name, and shouldn’t have to be crowded by Metropolis. But either way, it’s a quick flight from the City of Tomorrow to Gotham and back.

Midway City: A big museum city and former home to Hawkman, Hawkgirl and the Doom Patrol. It was originally based visually on Chicago, but “Ask the Answer Man,” Atlas of the DC Universe and Tony Isabella’s The Shadow War of Hawkman all place it in Michigan.

Midvale: Home of Midvale Orphanage, where Supergirl spent many of her first years on Earth. Midvale’s exact location is unknown, but it lies on the outskirts of Metropolis.

National City: The modern-day home of Supergirl in both comics and television, National City is a highly fictionalized version of the city of the same name in the San Diego metropolitan area.

dc time travel

Opal City: The glamorous setting of James Robinson’s Starman series, and probably the best city to move to in the DC Universe. The JLA tie-in to Identity Crisis establishes Opal City in Maryland, after a long history of interview comments by Robinson opining the same.

Ozma Gap: Hometown of Galaxy, the Prettiest Star. Based on the area around the real-life Green Bank Telescope, this small town can be found in West Virginia. 

Palmera City: The new home of Blue Beetles Ted Kord and Jaime Reyes as of Blue Beetle: Graduation Day. Although it appears to be based on Miami in the 2023 Blue Beetle film, the comics put it on the East Coast of Texas, across the state from Jaime’s hometown of El Paso.

Platinum Flats: Home to the Birds of Prey for a brief time, beginning in 2008’s Birds of Prey #116 . Located squarely in the Silicon Valley area of California.

Port Oswego: Home to one of DC’s newest breakout characters, Naomi McDuffie. Located explicitly in Oregon.

dc time travel

Smallville: Kansas, naturally—though its location wasn’t nailed down until more recently than you might think. Kansas was first established as home to the Kent Farm in the 1978 Superman movie (though the actual filming was done in Alberta, Canada) and was canonized in the comics by John Byrne’s Man of Steel in 1986.

St. Roch: Introduced in the 2002 Hawkman series as Carter and Kendra’s new Louisiana home.

Star City: Over the decades, Green Arrow has divided many of his adventures between the real city of Seattle, Washington and the fictional Star City—which earlier sources place in Northern California. But in the 2016 Green Arrow series, these two parts of Oliver Queen’s career were reconciled by establishing Star City as an alternate name for Seattle itself.

Vanity: Home of Aztek, the Ultimate Man. Vanity is shown to be somewhere in Oregon.  

But no matter what city you’re from or may find yourself in, it’s easy to find yours truly. Just stop by my place of business in the DC Community and have a chat about the finer points of the DC Universe. You’ll never regret it when you ASK…THE QUESTION .  

Alex Jaffe is the author of our monthly "Ask the Question" column and writes about TV, movies, comics and superhero history for DC.com. Follow him on Bluesky at @AlexJaffe and find him in the DC Community as HubCityQuestion.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Alex Jaffe and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.

MORE DC NEWS & FEATURES

Where Are DC’s Cities Located?

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Why Biden and Harris Are So Busy on Wednesdays, When Trump Isn’t in Court

The president and vice president have been keeping up a busy schedule in the middle of each week, just as Donald Trump takes a break from his trial in New York.

  • Share full article

President Biden saluting as he departs Air Force One. Two members of the military stand near the stairs.

By Reid J. Epstein

Reporting from Washington

  • May 8, 2024

It’s Wednesday, so President Biden will be on the road.

Later today, Mr. Biden is set to travel to Wisconsin for a speech in Racine about his economic agenda. Vice President Kamala Harris is also on the move, heading to Philadelphia for planned remarks on abortion rights.

Last Wednesday, Ms. Harris flew to Jacksonville, Fla ., to try to paint former President Donald J. Trump as the face of Florida’s newly enforced six-week abortion ban. On other recent Wednesdays, Mr. Biden signed legislation for a $95.3 billion package of aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan; accepted a key labor endorsement ; and traveled to Pittsburgh to call for new tariffs on steel and aluminum products from China.

What’s so special about Wednesdays? In part, the flurry of midweek Biden-Harris activity and travel has to do with the fact that Mr. Trump’s trial in Manhattan takes a break on Wednesdays, leaving the former president with only that day and weekends to campaign.

So by holding events and putting Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris in the public eye on Wednesdays, the White House and the Biden campaign choke off one of the few days when Mr. Trump could drive news media coverage on his own. That leaves the focus on his trial or creates a split-screen day between the two presidential rivals — a valuable contrast as voters in battleground states size up their options, Biden aides believe.

The Biden campaign sought to begin this Wednesday’s news cycle by announcing $14 million in new advertising across the battleground states. On a call with reporters on Tuesday afternoon, Michael Tyler, the campaign’s communications director, offered few details about the spending beyond that it would appear on television and digital platforms with a focus on live sports — he noted that an abortion-focused ad had run during Saturday’s broadcast of the Kentucky Derby. Mr. Biden also plans to sit for an interview with CNN that is scheduled to run Wednesday evening.

Mr. Trump’s campaign has done next to no advertising on television since he clinched the Republican nomination, and it has a scant presence on digital advertising, according to firms that track political spending.

“The Trump team and outside groups is hoping for the best while they spend their free time on the golf course or elsewhere,” Mr. Tyler said.

Mr. Trump, for his part, has maintained a relatively light campaign schedule since his criminal trial in New York began on April 15. He scheduled a rally in North Carolina for April 20 but canceled it, citing bad weather.

On Wednesday he will be at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida residence and club, but with no campaign events planned. Mr. Trump does have on his schedule a dinner at Mar-a-Lago with people who bought digital trading cards of himself .

“Crooked Joe spends his days shuffling his feet like a short-circuited Roomba,” said Steven Cheung, Mr. Trump’s campaign spokesman. “The fact is that he’ll have to take responsibility for the out-of-control border, runaway inflation and surging crime rates that have decimated every American.”

Last Wednesday, Mr. Trump held campaign rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan. On that trip, he reiterated that he had wanted to go to the Capitol during the attack by his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, and said he might not accept the results of the election if he lost.

Michael Gold and Maggie Haberman contributed reporting.

Reid J. Epstein covers campaigns and elections from Washington. Before joining The Times in 2019, he worked at The Wall Street Journal, Politico, Newsday and The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. More about Reid J. Epstein

Our Coverage of the 2024 Election

Presidential Race

Donald Trump leads President Biden in five crucial battleground states, a new set of polls shows , as young and nonwhite voters express discontent with the president over the economy and the war in Gaza.

Biden’s campaign brushed off the findings of the new polls , dismissing their significance and arguing that the president still has six months left before Election Day to persuade voters to support him.

The new polls showed that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is polling stronger than any third-party candidate has in decades , sapping support from both Biden and Trump.

Trade War With China:  Biden ran for the White House as a sharp critic of Trump’s crackdown on trade with China. In office, though, he has escalated Trump’s trade war  with Beijing, albeit with a very different aim .

A Return to Normal?:  Biden has argued for years that he is the politician to restore normalcy to American politics. But a subset of American voters, have argued that they do not want his version of it .

Trump’s Exaggerated   Emails:  Trump’s campaign has sent supporters a steady stream of fund-raising solicitations that depict a highly dramatized account of his actions at his criminal trial .

Split Over Israel:  Democrats’ divisions over the war in Gaza flared in New York as a tense debate between Representative Jamaal Bowman and his primary opponent, George Latimer, exposed sharp divisions in their party .

DC Comics: 5 Time Travelers Who Saved The DCU (& 5 Who Endangered It)

The DC Universe is constantly at risk due to time-traveling heroes and villains, and while some have managed to save the universe, others did damage.

The DC Universe is full of time-traveling characters who have interfered in the timeline over the years, and regardless of whether it was with good intentions like saving the universe, most time-meddling tends to have the opposite effect.

RELATED:  DC Comics: 10 DC Comics Heroes Who Traveled Through Time

Even characters like Flash and Superman have found themselves caught up in time-travel events that have endangered the whole universe and even led to line-wide reboots, time-crunches, retcons and other near-disasters that would have gone differently if time-travelers weren't around unless they caused the problem in the first place. Time travel!

10 SAVED: BOOSTER GOLD

Booster Gold is from the 25th Century, and his superhero career started after he stole a number of powerful items from a future museum including a time machine and his security robot friend Skeets in his bid for wealth and power in the past.

However, Booster Gold would leave a different legacy as he has saved the timeline a number of times, but he saved a whole multiverse of timelines during the year-long weekly event  52 , which saw Booser team up with fellow time-traveler Rip Hunter to stop Master Mind from devouring the reborn DC multiverse.

9 ENDANGERED: BOOSTER GOLD

Booster Gold has threatened the timeline almost as many times as he has saved it, like when he got a gift for  Batman after his engagement to Catwoman , and hoping to give the hero a unique kind of closure, Booster saved his parent's life in the past.

This created a new dark timeline where Gotham City was controlled by villains and Batman ( Dick Grayson ) was darker than ever. Bruce Wayne was happy with his parents and destroyed Skeets, but Booster was eventually able to restore the original timeline after Bruce's entire family was murdered by that timeline's Catwoman.

8 SAVED: CAPTAIN ATOM

The controversial  Armageddon 2001 featured the mystery of the futuristic villain known as Monarch, who was revealed to have been a former DC hero who snapped and killed his allies before becoming the despotic ruler of the future.

RELATED:  DC: 10 Best Time Travel Stories

While Captain Atom was originally supposed to be the hero in the Monarch armor, after the reveal was leaked it was changed, and Captain Atom (who was himself a man out of time) fought and defeated Monarch (Hank Hall/Hawk now) in a battle that jumped across time and left Monarch lost in the timestream.

7 ENDANGERED: THE FLASH

Fans were introduced to the  Flashpoint universe alongside Barry Allen, the hero formerly known as the Flash who was now depowered in an unfamiliar world on the brink of superhuman war, though none of the usual heroes of the DC Universe seemed to exist.

The survival of Barry's mother, who had been murdered when he was a child, eventually revealed that Barry had been the one to cause the new broken timeline when he went back in time to save his mother's life. He was able to rewrite the timeline just as the  Flashpoint  Earth was torn apart by the superhuman war.

6 SAVED: WAVERIDER

There have been a few beings known as Waverider over the years that have managed to save the DCU, though fans of the TV series  Legends of Tomorrow may recognize it as the name of the team's time-traveling ship .

Matthew Ryder was first transformed into Waverider during the  Armageddon 2001 event, though he would prove instrumental in saving the timeline during the  Zero Hour event as he helped create a new big bang. The new 52 version of Booster Gold would later be turned into Waverider by the timestream to help stop Brainiac during the  Convergence event.

5 ENDANGERED: PARALLAX

While the time-traveling villain known as Monarch/Extant was instrumental in setting up the events of  Zero Hour: Crisis in Time , it was under the command of Hal Jordan, the former Green Lantern who was under the influence of the Parallax entity.

Parallax was hoping to use the energy he absorbed from the GL Central Power Battery to rewrite the timeline to erase the tragic events that cost the DC heroes their friends and family over the years, and while he succeeded in erasing the timeline, Waverider and other heroes were able to stop him and save a new, altered timeline .

4 SAVED: SUPERMAN

Superman may not be considered a time-traveler in the general sense , though he has actually traveled to the past and the future a number of times over the course of his adventures, like the time he saved the DCU at the end of creation.

RELATED:  DC Comics: 10 Villains Who Can Time Travel

Following Darkseid 's conquest of Earth in  Final Crisis that led to the destruction of time and the Multiverse, Superman and a gathering of heroes managed to survive in the last surviving shard of time as they built the Miracle Machine, which Superman was able to power in the universes' final moments to wish for a happy ending and rewrite reality, saving the timestream.

3 ENDANGERED: DOCTOR MANHATTAN

While Barry Allen's reckless manipulation of time caused the  Flashpoint universe, there was another powerful being involved in the reformation of the DC Universe, as it was revealed in  Doomsday Clock that  Watchmen 's Doctor Manhattan had changed things as well.

After an incomplete vision featured a confrontation between himself and Superman, Doctor Manhattan began to remove moments in time from the DC Universe to see what would happen, resulting in the New 52 timeline and a number of subtle changes that cost heroes their history, lives, and families.

2 SAVED: SUPERBOY

After a galactic conspiracy around the destruction of Krypton by Rogol Zaar had brought the universe to the brink of war, the various planets of the DC Universe were gathered together by Superman and the House of El to discuss the crimes against Krypton.

It was young Jonathan Kent/ Superboy who made the suggestion to create the United Planets, which he based on Earth's United Nations, in order to discuss things before they led to war. Superboy was then invited to join the Legion of Super-Heroes , becoming a time-traveler as well as the savior of the universe.

1 ENDANGERED: EPOCH

Epoch, the self-proclaimed Time-Lord has used his own time-traveling inventions in various ways over the rebooted continuities of the DC Universe, from creating a prison outside of time known as Timepoint to the advanced Eternity Brain which almost destroyed time.

Most recently, Epoch created the Revision Mechanism to rewrite the universe's timeline without Great Universal Threats like Darkseid and Perpetua. However, that power made Epoch one of the threats he feared, with the Justice League Odyssey crew left to destroy the machine and save reality.

NEXT:  Top 10 Most Powerful Superheroes Who Can Travel Through Time

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Air Travel Consumer Report: February 2024 Numbers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today released its Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on airline operational data compiled for the month of February 2024 for on-time performance, mishandled baggage, and mishandled wheelchairs and scooters. The ATCR is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by airlines. 

For February 2024, 0.6% of flights were cancelled, far lower than the 1.8% cancellation rate for February 2023 and the 3.2% cancellation rate for pre-pandemic February 2019.  

DOT expects that airlines will operate flights as scheduled and that when they do not, airlines will provide consumers the services promised when a flight is cancelled or delayed because of an airline issue. After a two-year DOT push to improve the passenger experience, the 10 largest airlines now guarantee meals and free rebooking on the same airline and nine guarantee hotel accommodations. Consumer-friendly information regarding airline commitments to their customers is available on the Department’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard at FlightRights.Gov . DOT also pushed airlines to provide fee-free family seating and rolled out a new family seating dashboard that highlights the airlines that guarantee fee-free family seating, and those of the 10 largest that do not, making it easier for parents to avoid paying junk fees to sit with their children when they fly.

DOT recently announced two final rules that require airlines to provide automatic cash refunds to passengers when owed and protect consumers from costly surprise airline fees . These rules will significantly expand consumer protections in air travel, provide passengers an easier pathway to refunds when owed, and save consumers more than half a billion dollars every year in hidden and surprise junk fees.

In addition, DOT is improving transportation for individuals with disabilities. In July 2023, DOT finalized a rule which requires airlines to make lavatories on new, single-aisle aircraft more accessible. Then, in February 2024, DOT issued a proposal to address other barriers that Americans who use a wheelchair encounter when it comes to air travel by, among other things, proposing to mandate enhanced training for airline employees and contractors who physically assist passenger with disabilities and handle passengers’ wheelchairs.

Further, when necessary, DOT takes enforcement action against airlines and ticket agents that fail to comply with the Department’s aviation consumer protection requirements. In 2023, DOT issued the largest fines in the history of the consumer protection office. This includes a $140 million penalty against Southwest Airlines for failing passengers during the 2022 holiday meltdown. That penalty, which was in addition to over $600 million DOT already ensured was refunded by Southwest to passengers, requires Southwest to establish a $90 million compensation system for passengers affected by significant delays and cancellations beginning April 30, 2024 .  Additionally, DOT has helped return more than $3 billion in refunds to travelers since the pandemic began.

In April, DOT announced the launch of the bipartisan Airline Passenger Protection Partnership with 18 state attorneys general to investigate airlines and ticket agents and hold them accountable when they violate aviation consumer protection laws. The partnership significantly expands the Department’s oversight capacity by establishing a new fast-track system prioritizing misconduct cases from state attorneys general who uncover unfair or deceptive airline practices. Through the partnership, DOT will provide state attorneys general with access to the federal complaint database and help ensure that airlines cooperate with state investigations.

Flight Operations

The 549,439 flights operated in February 2024 were 104.35% of the 526,543 flights operated in February 2023. Operated flights in February 2024 were up 4.35% year-over-year from the 526,543 flights operated in February 2023 and down 1.95% month-over-month from 560,352 flights operated in January 2024. 

U.S. Airlines Operated Domestic Flights Graph from February 2022 to February 2024

In February 2024, the 10 marketing network carriers reported 552,691 scheduled domestic flights, 3,252 (0.6%) of which were cancelled. In January 2024, airlines scheduled 582,425 domestic flights, 22,073 (3.8%) of which were cancelled. In February 2023, airlines scheduled 536,229 domestic flights, 9,686 (1.8%) of which were cancelled.

February 2024 On-Time Arrival

In February 2024, reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 83.7%, up from both 72.8% in January 2024 and 79.5% in February 2023. The year-to-date on-time arrival rate for 2024 is 78.1%.

Highest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates February 2024 (ATCR Table 1)

1.    Delta Air Lines Network – 88.4% 2.    American Airlines Network – 84.1% 3.    United Airlines Network – 83.2% 

Lowest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates February 2024 (ATCR Table 1)

1.    JetBlue Airways – 74.3% 2.    Spirit Airlines – 77.8% 3.    Frontier Airlines – 79.8%

February 2024 Flight Cancellations

In February 2024, reporting marketing carriers cancelled 0.6% of their scheduled domestic flights, lower than both the rate of 3.8% in January 2024 and the rate of 1.8% in February 2023. The year-to-date cancellation rate for 2024 is 2.2%.

Lowest Marketing Carrier Rates of Cancelled Flights February 2024 (ATCR Table 6)

1.    Allegiant Air – 0.1%   2.    Frontier Airlines – 0.2%    3.    American Airlines Network – 0.3%       Highest Marketing Carrier Rates of Cancelled Flights February 2024 (ATCR Table 6)

1.    JetBlue Airways – 1.4%     2.    Hawaiian Airlines – 1.1%     3.    Alaska Airlines Network – 1.1%    

Complaints About Airline Service

The release of air travel service complaint data in the Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) has been delayed primarily because of the continued high volume of complaints against airlines and ticket agents received by the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) and the time needed to review and process these consumer complaints. The Department is investing in modernizing its system for handling consumer complaints with the support of a Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) investment to improve the customer experience for the tens of thousands of consumers who use the system each year and enable OACP to more effectively engage in oversight of the airline industry. 

As DOT modernizes its system, given the continued high volume of air travel service complaints concerning airlines and ticket agents, DOT has revised how it processes consumer complaints received after June 1, 2023. From June 2023 until the date its system is modernized, DOT intends to revise the ATCR to display consumer submissions (complaints, inquiries, and opinions) as opposed to complaints for this period. The Department will continue to display civil rights complaints in the ATCR in a similar manner as before and anticipates publishing submission and civil rights complaint numbers in June 2024.

Tarmac Delays

In February 2024, airlines reported ten tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights, compared to 71 tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights reported in January 2024. In February 2024, airlines reported two tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights, compared to six tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights reported in January 2024. 

Airlines are required to have and adhere to assurances that they will not allow aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international flights without providing passengers the option to deplane, subject to exceptions related to safety, security, and Air Traffic Control related reasons. An exception also exists for departure delays if the airline begins to return the aircraft to a suitable disembarkation point to deplane passengers by those times.

The Department investigates extended tarmac delays.

Mishandled Baggage

In February 2024, reporting marketing carriers handled 36.1 million bags and posted a mishandled baggage rate of 0.48%, lower than both the rate of 0.75% in January 2024 and the rate of 0.61% in February 2023.

The Department began displaying the mishandled baggage data as a percentage (i.e., per 100 bags enplaned) in January 2022. This is consistent with the manner that the mishandled wheelchairs and scooters rate is calculated and displayed.     In the prior three calendar year reports (2019 to 2021), the Department calculated the mishandled baggage rate based on the number of mishandled bags per 1,000 checked bags. 

Mishandled Wheelchairs and Scooters

In February 2024, reporting marketing carriers reported checking 54,929 wheelchairs and scooters and mishandling 716 for a rate of 1.30% mishandled wheelchairs and scooters, lower than both the rate of 1.48% mishandled in January 2024 and the rate of 1.40% mishandled in February 2023.

To address many of the significant barriers and challenges experienced by passengers who use wheelchairs, the Department has proposed a rulemaking that, if adopted after public comment would, among other actions, make it an automatic violation of the Department’s Air Carrier Access Act regulations for airlines to mishandle a passenger’s wheelchair. This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would also enhance training requirements for airline personnel who provide hands-on transfer assistance to passengers and handle wheelchairs. Interested parties may comment on this rulemaking by the docket number DOT-OST-2022-0144 at https://www.regulations.gov .

Bumping/Oversales

Bumping/oversales data, unlike other air carrier data, are reported quarterly rather than monthly. For the fourth quarter of 2023, the 10 U.S. reporting marketing carriers posted an involuntary denied boarding, or bumping, rate of 0.20 per 10,000 passengers, lower than both the rate of 0.35 in the third quarter of 2023 and the rate of 0.30 in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Incidents Involving Animals

As part of its IT modernization, DOT’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) is improving the options for covered carriers to submit their monthly and annual Reports on Incidents Involving Animals During Air Transport. While the new system is being developed, OACP is permitting covered carriers to delay submission of reports on incidents involving animals during air transport. Annual data on such incidents will be published when DOT receives carriers’ complete submissions of the 2023 data. 

In February 2024, carriers reported 2 incidents involving the death, injury, or loss of an animal while traveling by air, up from the zero reports filed in January 2024, but down from the four reports filed in February 2023.

Consumers may file air travel consumer or civil rights complaints online at   https://secure.dot.gov/air-travel-complaint , or they may mail a complaint to the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-70, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590.

The ATCR and other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer .

IMAGES

  1. Time Travel

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  2. 10 Times Time Travel Changed The DC Universe

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  3. DC: The 10 Best Uses Of Time Travel In The Comics

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  4. [Comic Excerpt] Time Travel! (Justice League #31) : r/DCcomics

    dc time travel

  5. Marvel and DC Comics: Time Travel Explained

    dc time travel

  6. List of 10 Greatest DC Time Travel Storylines

    dc time travel

VIDEO

  1. Lex Musta

  2. The Science Behind Time Travel

  3. 9/12 Protesters Washington, D.C. Time Lapse Footage

  4. Marvel Time Travel And Dc Time Travel #shorts

  5. We Are Washington DC

  6. S.E. DC TIME

COMMENTS

  1. Time Travel

    The first Time Travel story in a comic book by DC Comics or its predecessors was Magic Crystal of History: "Ancient Egypt, Part 1", by Adolphe Barreaux, in New Fun Comics #1, Feb 1935. Time Travel can be achieved by many means, one more weird than the other. The first Time Travel story in a comic book by DC Comics or its predecessors was Magic Crystal of History: "Ancient Egypt, Part 1", by ...

  2. The Flash: How Does Time Travel Work In the DC Movie?

    The Flash relies on Keaton's Bruce Wayne to illustrate the rules of time travel by using a bowl of pasta as a visual aid. Essentially, reality exists as a mass of different strands of time (or ...

  3. DC: 10 Best Time Travel Stories

    1 Adventure Comics #247. This is the time travel story that launched a team that lasted for over 60 years. The Legion of Super-Heroes travels through time to recruit Superboy. They take him to the future where he gets a hazing before being accepted into their super-hero club.

  4. DC Comics: 10 DC Comics Heroes Who Traveled Through Time

    One of the more integral members of the DC Comics heroes who is a major player in regards to time travel is Rip Hunter. Originally an ordinary man who built a Time Sphere to travel through time, Rip became important to the timeline when he aided the remaining heroes in traveling to the dawn of time to battle the Anti-Monitor in Crisis on Infinite Earths, and later in destroying the villain.

  5. A History Of Time Travel In The DC Universe

    In the early days of the '50s and '60s, time travel was a simple concept for writers: A single stream, and effects on the past changed things in the future. But as the DC Comics world expanded and ...

  6. DC: The 10 Best Uses Of Time Travel In The Comics

    Perhaps the most important time travel story in all of DC Comics, Adventure Comics #247, written by Otto Binder with art by Al Plastino, saw the young Superboy meet the Legion of Super-Heroes for the first time. Coming from the 30th-Century, the Legion of Super-Heroes, represented by Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad, put Superboy through a series of tests to see if he has what it ...

  7. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (TV Series 2016-2022)

    DC's Legends of Tomorrow: Created by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Phil Klemmer, Andrew Kreisberg. With Caity Lotz, Amy Louise Pemberton, Dominic Purcell, Nick Zano. Time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter must recruit a ragtag team of heroes and villains to help prevent an apocalypse that could impact not only Earth, but all of time.

  8. How One Batman Story Changed Time Travel in the DC Universe Forever

    Time travel has long been a staple of the DC Universe, from the Legion of Superheroes to Booster Gold, but one Batman story rewrote the very nature of time travel while revealing how humanity discovered it. DC's time travelers are often from the future, making the technology's unlikely creator that much more impressive for inventing it in the past.

  9. DC Confirms the Full Power of Flash's Time Travel Abilities

    DC has confirmed the full and mind-blowing power of the Flash's time-traveling abilities. The Flash's super speed has allowed him to travel through not only the multiverse but time as well, and in Stargirl: The Lost Children #4, it is revealed that, thanks to the Flash's time travel powers, he is one of very few who can truly change the ...

  10. Exploring Time Travel in the DC Universe: A Unique Approach and ...

    Time travel has long been a staple of science fiction storytelling, offering endless possibilities for narrative exploration. In the DC Universe, where superheroes and cosmic phenomena abound ...

  11. Time travel in The Flash explained

    In The Flash, Barry Allen is able to travel back in time by running faster than the speed of light. It's as simple as that, really. We've seen Barry Allen, aka The Flash, enter the Speed Force before in DC movies, such as Justice League, in order to turn back time. It has always been something the character has in his repertoire.

  12. Chronos (character)

    Expert thief. Use of high-tech gadgets. Time travel. Chronos is the name of several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. These characters take their name from the Greek personification of time and have the ability to time travel. He is the archenemy of the Atom. [1]

  13. 10 Best time-travelling superheroes of all time

    9. Iron Lad. (Image credit: Marvel Comics) The Young Avengers' first leader sought to balance the scales for things that he'd do later in life - time travel can get weird, when it comes to cause ...

  14. DC Time Travel Tours

    Your 8 hour bus tour will take you from DC aboard the "Pearl" pursuing Liberation with 70 others from enslavement in DC. Crossing the Chesapeake Bay you will visit 3 events and sites associated with the Liberation of Frederick Douglass on the Eastern Shore. Next you will time travel to 5 events and sites associated with the Liberation of ...

  15. 10 Deadliest Time Travelers In DC Comics

    4 Booster Gold. Booster Gold is one of the more heroic DC time travelers, but that doesn't make him any less deadly. The hot-headed Hollywood star is looking for fame and doesn't always understand the consequences. Booster's recklessness and irresponsibility throughout time are deadly despite his best intentions.

  16. Time Travel

    The first Time Travel testing took place on November 7, 1925, in New York City. [10] In the erased timeline of the testing, the experiment failed and Davies was killed, though his death was prevented when the Legends interfered with the event and ensured they could be able to travel across time safely.

  17. Best time-traveling villains of all time

    Time travel in the DC universe is a dicey proposition at best thanks to nearly constant reboots, crises, and retcons, and none have suffered as much as the Time Trapper. The Time Trapper's origin ...

  18. How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Washington, D.C.

    The project is still in its planning stage, but changes are set to roll out in 2024. Taxis and Car Service: Uber and Lyft are available in the greater Washington, D.C. area, and there are taxi ...

  19. The 30 best things to do in D.C. this weekend and next week

    The Smithsonian's IlluminAsia Festival features three days of events, including curator-led tours of exhibits, panel discussions, an after-hours party focused on wellness and a concert on the ...

  20. Aurora lights up the sky in geomagnetic storm

    Generally, it takes just eight minutes for light to travel 93 million miles to the Earth from the sun, but astrophysicist Janna Levin said the energized particles causing the current wave of ...

  21. Dozens of Vintage Planes Will Fly Over the National ...

    If you hear a low rumble from the skies between noon and 1 PM this Saturday, look up. You may see some of the more than 50 vintage and modern aircraft expected to fly over the National Mall—considered one of DC's most restricted flight zones—during an event celebrating general aviation, a broad term that encompasses all civilian, non-commercial flight.

  22. Flashpoint & The Flash's Other Best Time Travel DC Comics

    The Flash's time travel abilities evolved overtime, with many retcons and rewrites. Originally, the Flash could only precisely travel through time with the aid of the Cosmic Treadmill. In issue #125, Barry and Wally use the treadmill to travel to both the past and future to combat a time-traveling alien race known as the Dokris.

  23. When to Use a Travel Agent

    The new age of travel agents know how to find deals, book off-the-beaten path adventures, and get you out of any jam. Especially if you know who to use.

  24. FOX 5 DC Summer 2024 Zip Trip Destinations: Here's the full list

    Check out the FULL LIST of destinations that we're traveling to this year for fun in the sun! MAY 24: HYATTSVILLE, MD. MAY 31: MIDDLEBURG, VA. JUNE 7: ARLINGTON, VA

  25. Where Are DC's Cities Located?

    Coast City: My spiritual predecessor Bob Rozakis placed Hal Jordan's "City Without Fear" in California in his own '70s column, "Ask the Answer Man." While Paul Kupperberg's The Atlas of the DC Universe places it in Northern California near San Francisco, the broadcast of its destruction in "Reign of the Supermen" puts Coast City in Southern California, just south of Santa ...

  26. Why Biden and Harris Are So Busy on Wednesdays, When Trump Isn't in

    In part, the flurry of midweek Biden-Harris activity and travel has to do with the fact that Mr. Trump's trial in Manhattan takes a break on Wednesdays, leaving the former president with only ...

  27. DC Comics: 5 Time Travelers Who Saved The DCU (& 5 Who Endangered It)

    1 ENDANGERED: EPOCH. Epoch, the self-proclaimed Time-Lord has used his own time-traveling inventions in various ways over the rebooted continuities of the DC Universe, from creating a prison outside of time known as Timepoint to the advanced Eternity Brain which almost destroyed time. Most recently, Epoch created the Revision Mechanism to ...

  28. Air Travel Consumer Report: February 2024 Numbers

    February 2024 On-Time Arrival. In February 2024, reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 83.7%, up from both 72.8% in January 2024 and 79.5% in February 2023. The year-to-date on-time arrival rate for 2024 is 78.1%. Highest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates February 2024 (ATCR Table 1) 1. Delta Air Lines Network ...