In the 1998–1999 series The Kingdom, author Mark Waid and co-creator Grant Morrison introduced the concept of Hypertime, a super-dimensional construct that allowed for all publications to be canon or in-continuity somewhere.

[2] Following Infinite Crisis, the year-long weekly maxiseries 52 (2006–2007) led to the revelation that the Multiverse still exists, in the form of 52 alternate universes.

Author Grant Morrison stated that the return of the Multiverse was intended to launch new franchises, explaining: The parallel Earths you see in issue #52 are not the familiar pre-Crisis versions.

We all wanted to do something new with the multiple Earths so what you've already seen in 52 is simply the tip of the iceberg – each parallel world now has its own huge new backstory and characters and each could basically form the foundation for a complete line of new books.

[22] Morrison also confirmed that The Multiversity had not been affected by anything in The New 52, but would still feature a "little sort of wave over to the DC Universe,"[23] and that The New 52 fits "really nicely into the scheme without doing any damage.

The announcement also revealed more of the series' artists including Chris Sprouse, Karl Story, Ben Oliver, Frank Quitely, Cameron Stewart, Ivan Reis, and Joe Prado.

In July 2014, during San Diego Comic-Con, DC Comics held a panel titled "The Multiversity Enrollment", featuring creators Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart with editor Eddie Berganza.

The Gentry come from beyond the immediate DC "local" multiverse, and each member is a cultural fear or "bad idea" personified as a living, demonic entity.

Intellectron is the immoral genius; Demogorgunn is the mindless, sprawling horde; Hellmachine is unchecked, uncontrollable technology; Dame Merciless is the ultimate extreme of the femme fatale; and Lord Broken is insanity and despair.

The Gentry were drawn to the Multiverse by the emanations of ruined dreams and negative ideas and they seek to seize ownership of every single mind in existence and, in so doing, to control all thoughts and stories.

Morrison incorporated this device into The Multiversity, stating "they're reading each other's adventures, so there's some way that if a real big emergency arises, they can communicate using comic books.

Immortal Man stabs and kills Vandal Savage with a piece of the fallen meteorite that gave them both their powers thousands of years before.

[36] In this chapter of the story, Dame Merciless is the Gentry member who is assigned to this world, working confusion and disorientation into the lives of Kyle Rayner/Green Lantern, Alexis Luthor and Offspring, as well as appearing in a piece of artwork by Kon-El/Superboy.

The fourth chapter, illustrated by Frank Quitely,[11] Pax Americana: In Which We Burn[39] takes place on Earth-4 and features characters from Charlton Comics.

[45] The fifth chapter, illustrated by Cameron Stewart,[12] Thunderworld Adventures[46] takes place on Earth-5 and features characters from the Captain Marvel family.

[47] In this chapter, Doctor Sivana reads a copy of The Society of Super-Heroes: Conquerors of the Counter-World, and the comic book inspires him to recruit an army of alternate versions of himself from across the multiverse.

While reporting for WHIZ Media, Billy Batson sees a vision of himself from the future, warning his past self to keep careful track of time.

The meaning of the message is revealed: each member of the Legion of Sivanas stole Suspendium from the group, depriving Sivanaday of the full 24 hours needed to last a complete day.

The sixth chapter, illustrated by various artists, featured the Multiversity Guidebook, consisting of detailed entries on all 52 Earths, a map showcasing "all known existence", and a history of the "Crisis" events.

The slain members of the Little League return to life, commanded to live and die over and over again by the unseen master of the Gentry: the all-powerful "Empty Hand."

The seventh chapter, illustrated by Jim Lee and Scott Williams,[49] Mastermen,[50] takes place on Earth-10,[30] and features characters from Quality Comics as part of the Freedom Fighters and Nazi versions of various heroes.

The concept is borrowed from Earth-X, a universe where Nazi Germany won World War II, featured in stories before Crisis on Infinite Earths.

The guilt-ridden Overman is haunted by the death of his cloned sister, Overgirl, and has recurring nightmares of a towering, ruined house – Lord Broken of the Gentry.

After the Human Bomb attacks an Overgirl memorial in Metropolis, Overman and the Reichsmen attempt to uncover the truth behind a new terrorist organization called the Freedom Fighters and their leader, the mysterious figure known only as "Uncle Sam."

Overman has growing doubt about his cause, but prepares to attend a performance of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen with his wife, Lena.

The eighth chapter, illustrated by Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy,[53] Ultra Comics takes place on Earth-33 (aka Earth-Prime) and features Ultraa, the first superhero of this world.

After exploring the ruins of a bizarre, post-apocalyptic New York City, Ultra Comics is betrayed and the Hostile Independent Thought is revealed to be Intellectron of the Gentry.

[53] The corrupted Monitor Nix Uotan opens doorways across the Multiverse that allow the Gentry to complete their invasion, despite attacks from Aquawoman, Thunderer, President Superman, Captain Carrot, Red Racer, and the Retaliators of Earth-8.

Ultimately, Nix Uotan is freed from Gentry control by the Red Racer, working in tandem with every speedster superhero in existence.

The Harbinger AI from the House of Heroes transmits a cosmic SOS across every Earth, calling on all superheroes everywhere to rise to the defense of their worlds.