Summary
The Dakotaverse will make its return this fall withMilestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet #1with some big shifts coming. The latest events in DC’s universe - and the latest shifts caused by Brainiac - will cause a major ripple effect within the Milestone Universe. With a new status quo for the universe’s major heroes, there will be numerous dangers upcoming for the world’s inhabitants.
The Dakotaverse made its triumphant return in 2021, bringing back several of the iconic heroes created by Milestone Media. These heroes included Static, Hardware, Icon, and Rocket. Also making a return has been the Shadow Cabinet. A merge with the DC universe has long been rumored, particularly given some possible teases inTitans: Beast World - Waller Rising #1.
Variant Covers:
Nikolas Draper-Ivy & Sean Murphy
In the six months since Brainiac’s incursion into the Milestone Universe, the nefarious Dr. Edwin Alva has gone missing, Icon’s embarked on a deep space voyage, and Rocket has stepped up to fill the role of Earth’s protector - but it sure does feel lonely at the top. That is, until Rocket finds herself recruited by the Shadow Cabinet, a mysterious cabal of powered individuals who’ve been saving the world in secret for decades! In Dr. Alva’s absence, his estranged half-sister Angela has led a hostile takeover of S.Y.S.T.E.M. - the evil organization of world superpowers he left behind. Angela’s dead set on proving herself even more ruthless than her brother, and nothing and no one will stand in her way…unless the Shadow Cabinet steps back into the light. They want to bring Rocket into the fold to take S.Y.S.T.E.M. down. But after a few too many rocky partnerships, is she willing to hear them out? With original Milestone Media contributor Joseph P. Illidge at the helm, the world-spanning story that began in Milestone Returns will reach its fever-pitch climax - and no one in the Dakotaverse is safe!
Milestone’s return has been rather successful thus far, bringing the classic 90s icons into modern storytelling very effectively. With the ongoing conflict of DC heroes with Brainiac, the world of Milestone faces major dangers.
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Milestone Universe Starts the Dakotaverse’s Next Chapter
The Return of the Shadow Cabinet Marks Major Shift
The synopsis forMilestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet #1(2024) mentions an incursion by Brainiac, likely tied into the recentCouncil of Light and Brainiac Queendevelopments in the DC universe. Already, DC had teased an all-Milestone team that would come together and join forces, as seen inTitans: Beast World - Waller Rising #1.Given the other ongoing conflicts in the Milestone Universe, and the concept of a “world-spanning story” as set up byMIlestone Returns,this team could be closer to fruition and about to have its ultimate merge.
The Milestone Universe, also known as the Dakota-verse, has undergone numerous changes in recent years (and the previous couple of decades). Heroes like Static were included in DC’sNew 52era, but then were left to the wayside for years after until Milestone’s resurgence in 2021. Nonetheless, it has been operating independently outside of DC’s primary comic universe, the way it originally did when it wasrun primarily by Milestone Comicsbefore its acquisition by DC. Following the intrusion of Brainiac into the Dakota-verse, a paradigm shift could lie ahead now that the Shadow Council is back in play recruiting Rocket, particularly with Dr. Alva’s disappearance.
The Future of the Dakotaverse Will Soon Be Revealed
Following the intrusion of Brainiac into the Dakota-verse, a paradigm shift could lie ahead now that the Shadow Council is back in play recruiting Rocket, particularly with Dr. Alva’s disappearance.
Most exciting about the Dakotaverse’s next stage of storytelling is the return of Joseph P. Illidge. Illidge was an editor with Milestone, making it his first foray into editorial work. That work eventually led to his editorial work with DC. He has since won numerous awards for his accomplishments within the industry, making hisreturn to the Milestone Universeparticularly notable. With the universe in good hands and with each hero having their hands full, the next era of the Dakotaverse could prove to be its most exciting yet as the universe comes together inMilestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet #1this Fall.
Milestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet #1will be released on November 20, from DC Comics.
