Milestone Returns or Earth-M is a relaunch of American comic books published by DC Comics that began in September 2020. The line features reimagined versions of the fictional characters and shared universe of Milestone Media by Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, Derek T. Dingle and Dwayne McDuffie.
Publication history Background In a January 2015 interview, writer Reginald Hudlin discussed a relaunch of Milestone Media Group, along with surviving co-founders Denys Cowan and Derek Dingle. The following July, DC Comics announced the creation of "Earth-M" within their multiverse, which would be home to the earlier Milestone characters as well as new ones, and that one or two Earth M imprint titles would be published annually, as well as miniseries and one-shots. No further developments took place until October 2017, when it was revealed that Milestone would be returning in 2018 with five titles, including Milestone (featuring Icon and Rocket), a new Static series, Duo (based on the character Xombi), and two other new titles: Earth-M and Love Army. Charlotte Fullerton, Dwayne McDuffie's widow who inherited his 50% share in the original Milestone Media company, sued in August 2017 over being excluded from the revived company despite the new Milestone taking over the original's Milestone IPs.
Development In 2020, Earth-M was retitled as Milestone Returns, with the initial issue being published in September. An extended version was published in February 2021. The issues are available in print, digitally, and on DC Universe Infinite since April 2021.
Setting Milestone Returns is set in Earth-M, which is officially non-canon to the DC Universe. In Dark Crisis: Big Bang, Earth-M is designated as Earth-93 in the Multiverse.Dark Crisis: Big Bang (2022). DC Comics.
In Earth-M, famous characters like Static, Icon, Rocket, Hardware, and several others have new origin stories related to the Big Bang, the event that happened in Dakota City.Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0 (2021). DC Comics. While they still do not know each other, the enigmatic Dharma prepares them in secret for a war to come.Milestone Returns #0 (2020). DC Comics.
List of titles Title Issue(s) Writer(s) Artist(s) Colorist(s) Premiere date Finale date Ref. Prelude Milestone Returns #0 Reginald HudlinGreg PakRyan BenjaminDenys CowanScott HannaDon HoJim LeeJimmy PalmiottiKhoi PhamBill Sienkiewicz Hi-FiAlex SinclairChris Sotomayor September 13, 2020 Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition Reginald Hudlin ChrisCrossDenys CowanNikolas Draper-IveyBill SienkiewiczJuan Castro Nikolas Draper-IveyWil QuintanaChris Sotomayor February 24, 2021 Year 1 Static: Season One #1–6 Vita Ayala ChrisCross Nikolas Draper-Ivey June 15, 2021 March 1, 2022 Icon and Rocket: Season One Reginald Hudlin Doug BraithwaiteAndrew CurrieScott Hanna Brad Anderson July 27, 2021 March 22, 2022 Hardware: Season One Brandon Thomas Denys CowanBill Sienkiewicz Chris Sotomayor August 10, 2021 May 31, 2022 Year 2 Blood Syndicate: Season One #1–6 Geoffrey Thorne Juan CastroChrisCross Wil Quintana May 10, 2022 October 25, 2022 Duo Greg Pak Scott HannaKhoi Pham Chris Sotomayor May 17, 2022 October 18, 2022 Milestones in History #1 Steve BarnesPat CharlesAmy ChuMelody CooperTananarive DueKaryn ParsonsAlice RandallTouré Eric BattleFrancesco FrancavillaMike GustovichRay-Anthony HeightDon HudsonJamal Yseem IgleArvell JonesJose Marzan Jr.Maria Laura SanapoDominike "Domo" StantonRon Wilson Michael AtiyehDan BrownAndrew DalhouseEva de la CruzFrancesco FrancavillaHi-FiEmilio LopezChris Sotomayor June 21, 2022 Year 3 Static: Shadows of Dakota #1–7 Vita Ayala ChrisCross Nikolas Draper-Ivey February 7, 2023 November 28, 2023 Icon vs. Hardware #1–5 Leon ChillsReginald Hudlin Denys CowanYasmin Flores Montanez John FloydChris Sotomayor February 14, 2023 November 7, 2023 Milestone 30th Anniversary Special #1 Nikolas Draper-IveyEvan NarcisseGeoffrey ThorneStephanie Williams Juan CastroChrisCrossNikolas Draper-IveyAnthony Fowler Jr.Sean Damien HillAtagun IlhanYasmin Flores MontanezNorm RapmundDexter Vines Nikolas Draper-IveyRomulo Fajardo Jr.Noelle GiddingsWil QuintanaChris SotomayorMarch 21, 2023 New Talent Showcase: The Milestone Initiative June 6, 2023 Static Team-Up: Anansi Evan Narcisse Jose Marzan, Jr.Charles Stewart III Luis Guerrero June 13, 2023 Year 4 Milestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet #1–4 Joseph P. Illidge Darryl BanksAtagun Ilhan TBA November 20, 2024 February 2025
Collected editions Title Material collected Pages Publication date ISBN Static: Season One Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0 Static: Season One #1–6 200 February 1, 2022 Icon and Rocket: Season One Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0 Icon and Rocket: Season One #1–6 192 June 28, 2022 Hardware: Season One Milestone Returns: Infinite Edition #0 Hardware: Season One #1–6 October 4, 2022 Blood Syndicate: Season One Blood Syndicate: Season One #1–6 152 April 11, 2023 Duo Duo #1–6 186 April 25, 2023 Static: Shadows of Dakota Static: Shadows of Dakota #1–7 Static Team-Up: Anansi 200 February 6, 2024 Icon vs. Hardware Icon vs. Hardware #1–5 192 February 6, 2024 Milestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet Milestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet #1-5 Milestone 30th Anniversary Special #1 208 August 19, 2025
References