10 Insanely Detailed Comic Book Worlds That Blew Fans' Minds
10. Dakotaverse - Milestone
Milestone Media's Dakotaverse may have ultimately joined the DC universe years after its creation, but it's still a unique and beloved wing of the publisher's arm all the same.
Created by the late, great Dwayne McDuffie along with co-founders Derek Tingle, Denys Cowan and Michael Davis, Milestone shone a spotlight on marginalised voices at a time when the industry was really quite ambivalent towards the topic. From Milestone emerged characters like Icon, Rocket and Static, the latter of whom went on to star in a cult-favourite cartoon in the early noughties, also co-produced by McDuffie.
So, yes, even though Milestone was ultimately integrated into the DC universe, the Dakotaverse still remains a unique entity within that property. It manages to exist effortlessly within that wider world, but it's still distinct enough to be its own thing.
Centred entirely within the fictional city of Dakota, Milestone's Dakotaverse comics brought readers a modern, relevant city into the superhero genre. It's a setting that's been criminally under-utilised in the years since Milestone's acquisition, but one no less compelling all the same.