Does the world need a DC Compact Classics reading order? Some would say no. Many would say absolutely not. And yet… here I am! Welcome to the world’s only guide to read all the DC Compact Comics editions chronologically!
What are Compact Classics? These savvy collected editions, measuring a convenient 5.5″ x 8.5″, pack major storylines into a more manageable, reader-friendly format, making them a uniquely popular draw for new fans looking for clear entry points or seasoned veterans wanting to revisit classics without breaking the bank (in America, the books go for $9.99). For years, superhero comics audiences have wondered how DC and Marvel could mirror the success of manga. Turns out affordable wee collections of famous stories was the answer!
For reasons I can’t fully explain, I pulled together a comprehensive reading order for all the DC Compact Comics, laid out chronologically so you can journey through decades of incredible storytelling. From the gritty streets of Gotham to the cosmic reaches of the DC Multiverse, this list is your streamlined guide to experiencing some of the best of DC Comics history, all presented in an order that takes you from 1986 to present day. The books certainly won’t need to be read in order to be enjoyed (for that, there’s Comic Book Herald’s full DC Comics Reading Order), but it’s kind of interesting to see the progression of the publisher and characters like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman over the decades.
The OGs: Late 80’s Graphic Novels Defining DC
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Collects: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1–4
This seminal work by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley reimagines Batman in a dystopian future, forcing an aging Bruce Wayne out of retirement for one last, brutal stand.
It’s one of my 10 favorite comics of all time!
Watchmen
Collects: Watchmen #1–12
If you’re looking for the groundbreaking graphic novel that changed comics forever, this Compact Classic provides the complete, impactful experience in a perfectly portable package.
It’s my favorite comic book of all time!
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Collects: Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth OGN
Batman does a dungeon crawler (just like the Video Game) but brought to life by an up-and-coming Grant Morrison and the visual mastery of Dave McKean.
90s Babies: DC Classics from the 1990s
Kingdom Come
Collects: Kingdom Come #1–4
Mark Waid and Alex Ross tackle the next generation of superheroes in a world where an older Clark, Bruce and Diana are beginning to feel dated.
Batman: The Long Halloween
Collects: Batman: The Long Halloween #1–13
Follow Batman during his early years as he hunts a mysterious serial killer targeting Gotham’s crime families only on holidays, masterfully crafted by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.
One of my 50 favorite comics of all time!
The Authority: Relentless
Collects: The Authority (vol. 1) #1–12, Planetary/The Authority: Ruling the World #1, “Requiem” from WildStorm: A Celebration of 25 Years
There’s really no question that The Authority belongs among DC’s Compact Comics, especially with James Gunn’s plans to integrate the franchise into his DC Movie Universe. Bryan Hitch’s famous “Wide-screen” action absolutely revolutionizes the way comic book stories are told in the new millenium. Unfortunately, though, the book is written by Warren Ellis, an incredibly famous comic book writer who was revealed to have manipulated and groomed over 60 women and non-binary individuals during his career. You can read more about that here.
DC Comics of the Early 2000s
Catwoman: Trail Of The Catwoman
Collects: Catwoman: Selina’s Big Score, Catwoman (vol. 3) #1–9, “Trail of the Catwoman” from Detective Comics #759–762
Comic book legends Darwyn Cooke and Ed Brubaker team up for the quintessential modern Selina Kyle story, only rivaled this millennium by Cliff Chiang’s Catwoman Lonely City!
Batman: Hush
Collects: Batman #608–619
I’ve got my quibbles, but Hush by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee is an excellent new readers selection that will leave you craving more Batman. Come for Jim Lee’s amazing Killer Croc, stay for the mystery of the criminal mastermind pulling the strings.
Superman: Red Son
Collects: Superman: Red Son #1–3
Imagine a world where Superman’s rocket landed in the Soviet Union instead of Kansas, leading to a fascinating alternate history where the Man of Steel becomes a champion of communism, by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson.
Superman: Birthright
Collects: Superman: Birthright #1–12
A modern retelling of Superman’s origin from Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu.
Gotham Central
Collects: Gotham Central #1–10
The streets of Gotham from the perspective of the ordinary police detectives who deal with the fallout of Batman’s war on crime, from the acclaimed team of Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka and Michael Lark. If you like what you read here, definitely track down more Gotham Central because the next story arc is an all-time Joker story titled “Soft Targets.”
One of my 50 favorite comics of all time!
Superman/Batman: Book One
Collects: Superman/Batman (vol. 1) #1–6, 8-13, “When Clark Met Bruce” from Superman/Batman Secret Files & Origins 2003
The Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness run is most well known as the modern reintroduction of Supergirl.
DC: The New Frontier
Collects: DC: The New Frontier #1–6, Justice League: The New Frontier Special
Travel back to the 1950s in this retro-futuristic masterpiece, exploring the dawn of the Silver Age of heroes and the challenges they face in a world grappling with the Cold War and social change, from the legendary Darwyn Cooke.
DC From the Mid Aughts up to the New 52
All-Star Superman
Collects: All-Star Superman #1–12
The first compact edition I bought… and I already own an over-sized hardcover copy of the Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely classic! Honestly, I’m looking at the beautiful Quitely art brought to life in miniature on my desk right now and… I’ll be right back… in an hour or so.
One of my 50 favorite comics of all time!
Green Arrow: Year One
Collects: Green Arrow: Year One #1-6
Andy Diggle and Jock reimagine the origins of Oliver Queen, inspiring the hit CW series, Arrow, that followed a few years later.
Joker
Collects: Joker (graphic novel)
Whatever you think about Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo’s Joker, the graphic novel’s inclusion among the Compact Classics line highlights how willingly DC will print wildly fluctuating page counts for “premium” work. Many of the compacts are in excess of 300 pages of story. In the case of The Dark Knight Returns coming in at 200 pages, I’d argue in favor of the perennial best-seller/all-timer. In the case of the Joker compact edition coming in at 136 pages for the same $9.99 price point? That’s a bad deal!
I don’t know exactly what the answer is – In theory, DC could have blended Azzarello and Bermejo’s Luthor graphic novel into this collection for a more in-line page count – but to me this is a striking rare example where the compact line misses.
Batwoman: Elegy
Collects: Detective Comics #854–863
The defining Batwoman run from Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams. If you want to see some of the most stylish, inventive page layouts in comics, look no farther.
The Flash: Rebirth
Collects: The Flash: Rebirth #1–6, The Flash (vol. 3) #1–7
The return of Barry Allen as the Flash. If you’ve read nothing but compact classics so far, you have no idea he ever left! Personally, I don’t think this is a good introduction to The Flash, so hopefully there’s an update coming in hot off the cosmic treadmill soon!
Harley Quinn and the Gotham City Sirens
Collects: Gotham City Sirens #1–13
Harley, Poison Ivy and Catwoman run this town! Paul Dini (of Paul Dini and Bruce Timm’s Batman The Animated Series fame) and artist Guillem March prove just how much room there is in Gotham City for comics in a delightful series focused on the trio of anti-heroes. This run plays off Dini’s work on Detective Comics, so get ready for Eddy Nigma’s time as a detective!
DC’s New 52 (2011 to 2016)
Batman: The Court of Owls Saga
Collects: Batman (vol. 2) #1–11
The start of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s iconic New 52 Batman run, introducing the Court of Owls and their connection to the legacy of Gotham.
If you want to see where these comics fit in the era, check out Comic Book Herald’s New 52 reading order.
Wonder Woman: Blood And Guts
Collects: Wonder Woman (vol. 4) #1–12
New 52 Wonder Woman is somewhat controversial in how Brian Azzarello reimagines Diana and Themyscira’s origins, but what isn’t controversial is that Cliff Chiang should be drawing Greek mythology whenever he darn well pleases.
Harley Quinn: Wild at Heart
Collects: Harley Quinn #0–13
Husband and wife duo Amanda Connor and Jimmy Palmiotti helped usher in the modern Harley Quinnaissance, and the Margot Robbie driven surge of popularity that’s followed. While it’s otherwise a somewhat odd pick for the first three New 52 runs to highlight, it’s Harley’s world, and we’re just living in it.
DC’s Newest Hit Comics (2017 to Present Day)
Batman: White Knight
Collects: Batman: White Knight #1–8
Sean Gordon Murphy and Matt Hollingsworth’s take on an out-of-continuity Batman alternate universe where a “redeemed” Joker is the one hunting the Batman.
DCeased
Collects: DCeased #1–6, DCeased: A Good Day to Die #1
While it’s not Tom Taylor’s best reimagining of the DC Universe (that would be Injustice), DCeased is another spin on the DCU that works far better than it has any right to. Yeah, it’s Marvel Zombies for DC, but Taylor and Trevor Hairsine have their own vision for the zombie apocalypse.
Green Lantern: Far Sector
Collects: Far Sector #1–12
In retrospect, it’s kind of a miracle DC got N.K. Jemesin to write a Green Lantern limited series, like Marvel getting Scorsese to direct 6 episodes of The Hood on Disney+ (a man can dream!). Far Sector is as good as advertised, with Jamal Campbell in top form, and a new Green Lantern, Jo Mullein, added to the DC fabric.
Wonder Woman: Earth One
Collects: Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 1–3
Ironically, this would probably be my very last pick for Grant Morrison written DC comics to highlight, but I do appreciate the Wonder Woman love DC is attempting.
Nightwing: Leaping into the Light
Collects: Nightwing (vol. 4) #78–88
Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo attempt to answer what Dick Grayson would do with Bruce Wayne’s wealth.
Static: Season One
Collects: Static: Season One #1–6
You love to see Static and the Milestone Universe getting some love. Finally!
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
Collects: Supergirl: Woman of Tomorow #1−8
With a James Gunn celebrity endorsement, an impending Supergirl movie inspired by the work, and star-making visuals from Bilquis Evely, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow might be DC’s biggest hit of the 2020s. Ironically, it’s still Tom King’s most tedious narration, but the fact of the matter is a hit’s a hit!
Vertigo Compact Classics
Vertigo was DC’s “mature” oriented comics line from 1992 to 2020 (and seemingly relaunched again for the future!). The line is home to many of my favorite comics like Hellblazer, Preacher and Daytripper, generally (but not always!) set outside of the DC superhero universe. DC’s compacting select entries from the catalog of Vertigo classics, as seen below.
Y: The Last Man: Unmanned
Collects: Y: The Last Man #1–10
One of my 50 favorite comics of all time!
We3
Collects: We3 #1–3
American Vampire: Book One
Collects: American Vampire #1–11
What’s Coming Next?
- V for Vendetta
- Batman: Gotham by Gaslight
- Batman: Under the Red Hood
- Batgirl of Burnside
- Injustice: Gods Among Us – Year One
What Else Should DC Turn Into a Compact Comics Edition?
These are my picks for stories I’d love to see turned into compact comics in upcoming rounds for DC. Primarily these are taken from my picks for the best comics of all time, but I do take into account the nature of compact comics trying to fit complete stories into each package, making longer runs more difficult to promote this way.
While I understand why the compact classics don’t offer anything produced before 1986, DC’s ignoring almost 50 years of history! Let’s rectify that and take a swipe at Marvel with a compact of Kirby’s first year at DC building his Fourth World mythos. The original Fourth World omnibus was just under 400 pages, so honestly, give or take a few issues of Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen and you can fit in Kirby’s first salvo covering the first three issues of The Forever People, New Gods, and Mister Miracle. You’re telling me comics readers won’t be here for the origins of Darkseid? Get out of town ya clown!
Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga
Speaking of older Darkseid classics, Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen’s Great Darkness Saga is my favorite Legion of Super-Heroes story, and a great intro to the franchise for all kinds of readers.
All these people watching the 2025 Superman movie, and so few of them understanding the depth of Nathan Fillion’s haircut’s backstory! This one could easily fit the first six issues (titled Justice league), the first rebrand issue (Justice League International #7), and JLI Annual #1. One punch. One punch!
From the writer of The Boys and Preacher, you’ve got one of the best John Constantine Hellblazer arcs. I’d love to get more of Garth Ennis with his Preacher cohort Steve Dillon’s run on Hellblazer in here, but Dangerous Habits is definitely the place to start.
Direct sequel to Long Halloween, with Tim Sale just as strong as ever. You’re gonna compact only the first half of a story? This one’s a no-brainer.
The current state of compact classics are quite lite on the Justice League, and this is the best way to fix that. Mirror the old paperbacks and reproduce the first 9 issues of the run to get that Justice League Unlimited flavor back in people’s lives!
The best Suicide Squad run of the 2000s, with Gail Simone, Nicola Scott, Dale Eaglesham and friends turning Catman, Ragdoll, and Scandal Savage into must read DC Universe staples. The trickiest part here is whether you include the Villains United lead-in to Infinite Crisis or just start straight from Secret Six as its own series.
Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher and Karl Kerschl’s Gotham Academy is sweet, charming, and full of the mystery you expect from a classic kids at a boarding school story. The best thing about adding Gotham Academy is it gives another compact edition for younger readers so the kids don’t think it’s all “Jack Kirby” this and “Alan Moore” that.
If DC’s looking to promote The Authority, the best modern run comes from Steve Orlando and Aco. This taps into everything that makes the Midnighter so cool – like Batman on performance enhancing drugs – with a queer author who better understands how to characterize a gay man in this position of power.
Tom King and Mitch Gerad’s best work. An absolute no-brainer. I’m upset I even have to say it!
Leave a Reply