Back in 1985 Mayfair Games released the DC Heroes Roleplaying Game Box Set. I was already a big fan of TSR’s Marvel Superhero RPG (still love the FASERIP system to this day) as well as Games Workshop’s Golden Heroes, but as I loved comics and Superhero RPGs the DC set inevitably ended up coming home with me.

I only played it a few times (the Marvel game was my go-to, followed by Golden Heroes and then Champions) but I enjoyed the game and brought a number of the adventures and sourcebooks for reference. It was a popular system, that was actually resurrected in the Blood of Heroes RPG (by Pulsar Games) in 1998

Mayfair released a 2nd (1989) and 3rd (1993) edition of the game, as well as a spin-off Batman RPG (1989) before the license expired. West End Games then picked up the DC license for their D6 system DC Universe RPG (1999) which they supported through to 2002. Green Ronin were up next with their DC Adventures RPG (2010) using the Mutants & Masterminds system. We also had the Batman: Gotham City Chronicles RPG (2023) from Monolith, which tied directly into their boardgame of the same name and was funded through the same campaign (Monolith are actually going to be launching a reprint campaign for their RPG on Gamefound in the near future).

Now Cryptozoic Entertainment are going back to the source and bringing us the DC Heroes Role-Playing Game 40th Anniversary.

“The Legend Returns!

DC Heroes is an innovative and award-winning role-playing game that was first published in 1985. It allows you and your friends to take on the roles of iconic Super Heroes like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg, or to create heroes of your own. The object of the game is to create brand-new stories pitting these heroes against The Joker, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Sinestro, or any of the hundreds of other villains who threaten the DC Universe!

Over eight years of product releases, DC Heroes produced dozens of adventures and sourcebooks, many featuring contributions from some of DC’s finest writers and artists of the 1980s—Jack Kirby, Alan Moore, Denny O’Neil, George Perez, John Byrne, and many others. Thousands of gamers and comics fans are still playing DC Heroes even though it’s been unavailable for decades.

To celebrate DCH’s 40th anniversary, we’re reprinting the line in definitive archival editions. Whether you’ve never experienced DCH before or you’re a long-time fan looking to plug the holes in your collection, we’ve got you covered.”

You can pre-register on their Kickstarter page to be notified as soon as the campaign is launched.