The minute the Crisis was over, creators were rushing in to fill in this new continuity's missing history and solve the mystery of who WAS there if now-expurgated character A wasn't. If we're not going to go with the original, silly origin of Super-Horse, what are we going to do with him? Who is the NEW Comet, the Super-Horse? How about Mer-Boy? And Bird-Boy? How can we reclaim every single item from the past we just discarded and bring them all back again, immediately and perfectly in sync with our NEW DC Universe continuity? 

Rather than leaving all that to be determined later and simply telling stories forward, DC was intoxicated by all that open, untrammeled ground BEHIND them now.  After all, anyone can write some cheeseball bank robber with super swimfins or something for Superman to fight this month. If I write the story of how he lost his virginity, then I, and only I, will forevermore be the guy who wrote the story of how Superman Lost His Virginity! The past is far more prestigious and permanent than the mangy ol' malleable present. 

Except no, once too many mistakes pile up, and they pile up quickly under this new model, pfft! Everything goes away and we all start over again! Which is terrific, because I have this really great idea for a story in which Superman Loses His Virginity! For the First Time!!

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I wonder how much of that came from fans constantly asking them those types of questions? I guess JB would know how often some fan as a con would ask about "character X" or "issue XXX" and if they were in continuity. 

I remember being quite excited when Spider-Man showed up in a Transformers comic. 

Yet I do recall some having a problem with it. "Why hasn't anyone mentioned giant robots before?" or "Giant robots from Cybertron don't really work in the Marvel Universe."

First, how do they know Marvel characters HADN'T mentioned giant robots? Could have happened off-panel. Perhaps Jonah Jameson mentioned it over lunch or the Avengers mentioned it during a meeting. All off-panel, of course.

Secondly, how can they accept magical realms, giant aliens and various robot characters, but not the Transformers? I could understand if Transformers showed up in LAW & ORDER, but I had zero issues with them being in the MU.

I simply *accepted* it. Spider-Man teamed up with the Autobots. It happened. I enjoyed the story. Why pick holes in it?

Brian H. - some points...

ITEM: Another of COIE's biggest faults is that NOT every title and feature restarted from ground zero. Green Lantern, Batman, the Titans (including Wonder Girl), all carried on from pre-Crisis canon - so the instant ANY "contamination" of the new universe met the old universe, it was instantly screwed. (Mr. Byrne deftly avoided it in MoS when Batman met Superman... but who else even CARED?)

ITEM: For the Marvel Universe, everybody should have Gungnir and Quantum bands as well. Maybe an Ultimate Nullifier too. And the In-Betweener and Galactus should be on the team. So should the Super Adaptoid if you think his capabilities are sufficient. And Sise-Neg if he's still around.

ITEM: In the DC Universe, you could probably add the Infinity Man and the Spectre. And a passel of those ultra super mega heroes that Grant Morrison created for JLA. And let's add Duplicate Boy and Amazo to Justice League Infinity. And don't forget Mopee and Qwsp and Zook. And YOU get a power ring, and YOU get a power ring, and EVERYBODY gets a power ring!

***

Indeed.

I always say to folk that we don't see every character's moment of every day. Who's to say that Captain America or Doctor Doom haven't talked about Autobots in the privacy of their homes? Maybe J. Jonah Jameson has discussed the Autobots - in private and off-panel.

I don't know why fans worry about it.

***

Well, if they had intended it, that's some foresight, eh, given that MAN OF STEEL was published 48 years after the character first appeared? 

Fits perfectly with her mission of peace and gives her a cool visual that showcases her skills without throwing punches or busting out a sword. Kind of a Cap throwing his shield vibe.