For most fans of comic books, the mid 1980’s can be defined by four words: Crisis On Infinite Earths. This massive crossover event didn’t just shake up the lives of DC heroes like Superman and Batman. It redefined how comic books were created, sold and marketed.
The crisis also left its mark on one of the most popular role playing games of the era. The designers of DC Heroes Role-Playing Game worked directly with the creators of the comics of the time to make a game that felt like an extension of the classic superhero universe. Infinite Earths happened in the middle of the game’s run and the different editions reflected the changes to the DC Universe.
Cryptozoic Entertainment is currently running a Kickstarter to reprint the two product lines that marked the different editions of the game. DC Heroes Role Playing Game influenced superhero RPGs for decades after its release. I spoke with Ray Winninger, one of the most prolific designers of DC Heroes, about how the reprint project came into being and what he recalled about each of the editions he helped create.
“I was chatting with John Nee, the CEO of Cryptozoic, about the RPG business,” said Winninger. “I mentioned how much fun I had working on DC Heroes all those years ago. John pointed out that a handful of RPGs from that era had seen recent reprints, and we agreed that [DC Heroes] was a great candidate for a reprint itself since it still attracts an active community of enthusiasts. Cryptozoic was already working with DC and John himself is ex-DC (he co-founded WildStorm with Jim Lee!), so it was easy to get a real conversation started.”
DC Heroes RPG First Edition
The first edition boxed set marked an unprecedented collaboration between Mayfair Games and DC Comics. The game featured contributions from many of the writers and artists working on books at the time. It also acts as a time capsule of the world from the era of Super Friends toys, Nightwing’s high collared costume and Batman and Superman in happier times.
“The first edition DC Heroes boxed set blew my mind when I first encountered it,” said Winninger. “I love Mike Stackpole’s Batman sourcebook for 1E and All That Glitters, Greg Gorden’s Booster Gold adventure. I’ll also call attention to a couple of oft-overlooked gems: Matt Costello’s two solo adventures for 1E: Wheel of Destruction and Escort To Hell. Mr. Costello is known for creating innovative solo experiences and these are two of his best.”
DC Heroes RPG Second Edition
“I’m still proud of the 2e boxed set,” said Winninger. “It was a joy and honor to rework and expand one of my favorite games of all time. I’m pleased we convinced so many of DC’s writers to contribute. I’m also a big fan of the Magic and Apokolips Sourcebooks. In the 2E era, I made behind-the-scenes contributions to almost every product but of the 2E products that were all mine, my favorites are the Watchmen Sourcebook, World At War, and the Swamp Thing Sourcebook. World At War gave them opportunity to stat up all of DC’s Golden Age heroes as well as the World War II characters like Sgt. Rock and the crew of the Haunted Tank. I particularly enjoyed creating the new game rules allowing players to create wartime adventures. Swamp Thing is my very favorite DC character, so that project was a labor of love. It features a very unusual solo adventure which very much captures the spirit of the Swamp Thing comics, in my opinion, but is very unusual for a role playing adventure. One of the things I appreciated about DC Heroes was the willingness to take big swings with unconventional experiences.”
The second edition offered the designers a chance to revise the system while adjusting characters for their new post-Crisis power levels. The second edition came with a game aid dial that helped make play move even faster. One roll determined success, damage and even additional effects based on how the dice came up.
“DC Heroes is built atop one of the very best and most innovative RPG game systems I’ve seen,” said Winninger. “The system does a fantastic job of recreating the feel of the DC comics it’s based and smoothly scales from throwing punches to throwing mountains. Combat is fast and fun, and the plethora of published products adapts it to everything from the gritty heroics of the Watchmen to the gentler stories of DC’s Golden and Silver Ages, and beyond. DC Heroes is bristling with ideas that were ahead of their time. After forty years, it remains my ‘go to’ RPG for superheroics.”
DC Heroes RPG 40th Anniversary
The reprint offers players a chance to pick up new, archival editions of the game materials in one place. Older materials are still vailable but they are at the mercy of collectors and the wild secondary market. Beyond the original boxed sets, the company is looking to reprint the adventures, sourcebooks and other elements of the full line for both editions.
These books include rare work from some of the most notable creators at the time. One of the monst unique parts of the collection are official Watchmen supplements with material from creator Alan Moore. These collaborations occured before his relationship with DC Comics famously soured over their treament of his work for the company.
Beyond the reprints there are some game aids and accessories available to backers. Themed sets of premium dice are available as well as dice trays, and a new premium GM screen. Winninger also expressed hope that DC Entertainment might commission a new edition of the game if sales from the Kickstarter are strong enough.
Fans can back the project from now through Wednesday, December 18th, 2024. The reprint is for physical product only; no electronic rewards are offered. Cryptozoic currently estimates the books will be available to backers and the public in Q4 of 2025.
“I never stopped playing DC Heroes so several of my old books are worn out and begging to be replaced” said Winninger. “I suspect I’m not alone!”