Sideways #1
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeSideways #1 marks the first full appearance and origin of Derek James — a Puerto Rican teenage metahuman whose dimension-hopping powers grew directly out of the Dark Nights: Metal crossover — making him one of the most concrete character births tied to that event's cosmological fallout. The issue also introduces Tempus Fuginaut, a cosmic guardian of the Dark Multiverse who would go on to play a role in later DC continuity well beyond this title. As part of the New Age of DC Heroes line, the book represented DC's deliberate effort to diversify its roster, pairing a minority lead character with a Puerto Rican artist in Kenneth Rocafort — a creative pairing that attracted pointed editorial attention at the time. Derek's hook — a socially awkward teenager who would rather livestream his rift-leaping stunts for followers than fight crime — gave DC a contemporary spin on the classic accidental-hero archetype that read as distinctly of its era.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
The character and series were first announced in spring 2017 under DC's 'Dark Matter' banner, a line of titles conceived to spin out of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Dark Nights: Metal and structured around an artist-driven model. The lineup was subsequently rebranded 'The New Age of DC Heroes' and publication was pushed back several months, with Sideways #1 ultimately arriving on February 14, 2018. DC Co-Publisher Dan DiDio co-wrote the series alongside Justin Jordan, with DiDio describing the character as filling the niche of the 'loner teenager trying to discover themselves'; Grant Morrison was publicly attached as a creative collaborator on the broader line and later co-wrote the series' Annual with DiDio. Like every other first issue in the New Age line, the cover featured a distinctive vertical gatefold format.
Trivia · 7 facts
- First full appearance and origin story of Sideways (Derek James), a Puerto Rican high-school junior who gains the power to tear interdimensional rifts after falling through the Dark Multiverse during the events of Dark Nights: Metal.
- First appearance of Tempus Fuginaut, a cosmic guardian who confronts Derek during his first live-streamed outing as Sideways, accusing him of damaging the fabric of space-time.
- First appearance of supporting characters Ernestine 'Ernie' Edgars (Derek's best friend and costume designer), Emeline 'Emie' Edgars (Ernie's twin sister), and adoptive parents David and Helen Flynn.
- Created by writer/co-publisher Dan DiDio, co-writer Justin Jordan, and artist Kenneth Rocafort, who served as penciler, inker, and cover artist; Rocafort notably remained the series' lead artist for the bulk of its run.
- The entire series ran 13 issues plus one Annual (co-written by Grant Morrison) before concluding in February 2019 — the character never received a second volume.
- Sideways #1 was reprinted in Teen Titans Giant #1 (2018), a Walmart-exclusive anthology title, giving the debut issue a second wave of distribution outside the direct market.
- The series is collected in two trade paperbacks: Sideways Vol. 1: Steppin' Out (issues #1–6, ISBN 978-1401283377) and Sideways Vol. 2: Rifts and Revelations (issues #7–13 and Annual).
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Reprinted in Teen Titans Giant #1 (2018), Sideways #1 (2018)
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