The Culling was a major crossover storyline published by DC Comics in 2012 as part of their "The New 52" initiative. It primarily involved the ongoing series Teen Titans, Superboy, Legion Lost, and launched the new series The Ravagers. The storyline focused on a shadowy organization known as N.O.W.H.E.R.E., which was abducting and experimenting on young metahumans.
Plot Summary The Culling storyline is centered around N.O.W.H.E.R.E.'s facility, a floating island known as the "Colony," where captured teenage metahumans are subjected to brutal trials and experiments. The organization's goal is to create a powerful, controllable army of super-beings or to identify and eliminate potential threats. N.O.W.H.E.R.E. operates by pitting the young metahumans against each other in deathmatches and survival tests, "culling" the weak and further conditioning the strong.
Several key characters find themselves trapped in the Colony. Superboy (Kon-El), who was previously under N.O.W.H.E.R.E.'s control, struggles to remember his past and escapes to warn other captives. The Teen Titans (Red Robin, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, Solstice, Bunker, and Skitter) arrive at the Colony while searching for Superboy and Kid Flash, having been drawn into N.O.W.H.E.R.E.'s machinations. Similarly, members of the Legion Lost, stranded in the present, investigate the disappearances of metahumans and are drawn to the facility.
Within the Colony, characters like Fairchild, Ridge, Beast Boy, and Raven are introduced as participants in N.O.W.H.E.R.E.'s gruesome games. They are forced to fight for survival, often against their will. The crossover culminates in a massive breakout attempt and a confrontation with N.O.W.H.E.R.E.'s leadership and its most dangerous creations.
Participating Titles The core storyline unfolded across the following titles:
- Superboy #8-9
- Teen Titans #8-9
- Legion Lost #8-9
- The Ravagers #1 (launched directly from the events of The Culling)
Key Characters
- Heroes: Superboy (Kon-El), Red Robin (Tim Drake), Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark), Kid Flash (Bart Allen), Solstice, Bunker, Skitter, Legion Lost members (Wildfire, Dawnstar, Timber Wolf, Tellus, Gates, Tyroc), Beast Boy, Raven.
- New Characters Introduced/Prominently Featured: Fairchild, Ridge, Thunder, Lightning.
- Antagonists: N.O.W.H.E.R.E. (including Harvest).
Impact and Significance "The Culling" was a pivotal early storyline in "The New 52" era, serving to establish the origins and current situations of several prominent young heroes. It delved deeper into the mystery of N.O.W.H.E.R.E., an organization that played a significant role in the background of various titles involving teenage metahumans. The event directly led to the formation of the team featured in The Ravagers series, comprised of characters who escaped the Colony and were profoundly affected by their experiences. It also set the stage for future interactions between the various groups of young heroes in the DC Universe.