DC has the longest running history in comics, with a library full of brilliant characters and stories dating back to Superman’s first appearance in 1938. The thing about 1938 is literally nobody remembers what it was like then. For all science can tell us, DC may have been around since the beginning of time (Stephen Hawking just shed a tear, and he has no idea why).
This depth and breadth of stories makes fast track guides to the best of DC particularly challenging. There’s so much to read! Nonetheless, I’ve narrowed DC Comics to an essential best DC Comics guide, in relative chronological order, that will get any new or interested reader up to speed with DC Universe.
Eagle-eyed readers will notice a few things about this guide:
1) This fast track extends until 2000. If you want a fast track for more modern era DC, I recommend the following —
Comic Book Herald’s Fast Track Guide to DC From 2000 to 2012
Comic Book Herald’s New 52 Fast Track Guide
Comic Book Herald’s DC Rebirth reading order
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2) Proportionally, there are many more comics after DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths
Otherwise, below you’ll find the only guide you’ll need to DC essentials before the year 2000!
PRE CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS (1942 to 1985)
Issues: All Star Comics #8, Sensation Comics #1-24 And Wonder Woman #1-7
There are few reads in either Big 2 superhero universe that are more pure joyous comic book fun than the debut of Wonder Woman. Don’t worry, with DC Comics you don’t need to go all the way back to the late 30’s to understand every facet of Superman and Batman continuity. Nonetheless, in Wonder Woman’s case, these stories by creator William Moulton Marston are well worth the dive into the past.
Batman by Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams
Issues: Batman #232, 235, 240, 242, 243, 244, Detective Comics #411, 485, 489, 490, and DC Special Series Volume 2 #15
Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams are frequently credited for transitioning Batman out of his campy Batman ’66 persona and into “The Dark Knight” we know and love today. These issues are a great look at that development, centered around the introductions of Ras and Talia Al Ghul.
Green Lantern/Green Arrow by Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams
Issues: Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76-87 And 89, Plus The Flash #217-219 And 226
Speaking of Denny and Neal, the duo also teamed up for the early 1970’s Green Lantern/Green Arrow shared comic, subsequently subtitled “Hard Travelin’ Heroes.” While the issues feel their age today, Green Arrow insisting Hal Jordan respond to social ills of the time was a big step forward for superhero comics.
Issues: See Comic Book Herald’s New Gods reading order!
After his departure from creating approximately 92% of the Marvel Universe, DC snagged Jack Kirby and he proceeded to build out his Fourth World universe of New Gods, Darkseid, and Apokolips. The frenetically energetic Kirby style takes some getting used to, but also features unbeatable highs for the likes of Orion and Mister Miracle.
Manhunter by Walt Simonson and Archie Goodwin
Issues: Detective Comics #437 to #443 (Manhunter)
Artist Walt Simonson would go on to deliver the greatest Thor run of all time for Marvel in the mid 1980’s, but in the mid 70’s he teamed with Archie Goodwin for a shockingly great “Manhunter” series. One of the most underrated entries on the list, and well worth digging up.
Please note the most accessible collected or digital versions of these comics are listed in a “Tales of the Batman” edition!
The Joker: The Clown Prince of Crime
Issues: The Joker #1 to #9
For the Joker 75 Years Collection, only read these issues in the following order:
- Batman #1, 5
- Detective Comics #64
- Batman #25, 32
- Detective Comics #168, 180
- World’s Finest Comics #61
- Batman #85, 163, 251
- Detective Comics #475-476
- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #65-68
- Detective Comics #726, 826
Joker’s first solo series in the mid 70’s pits the Bat’s arch nemesis against a variety of DC Universe staples. Then, in the “Celebration of 75 Years” collection, you can see when the Joker truly began transitioning into the chaotic evil enemy in “Joker’s Five Way Revenge” and “The Laughing Fish.”
Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga
Issues: Legion Of Super-Heroes #284 to #289, Annual #1, #290 to 296
Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen deliver one of my all-time favorite DC stories with a tale of The Legion of Super-heroes against a dark threat from the time of Superman. You don’t need to be a longtime Legion fan to enjoy.
Issues: See Comic Book Herald’s Complete Teen Titans reading order!
DC’s answer to Marvel’s X-Men success, Marv Wolfman and George Perez reassembled the sidekicks of the DC Universe into a strong ensemble book. If the opening arcs don’t grab your attention, make sure to give “The Judas Contract” a fair chance, as The New Teen Titans cement Deathstroke as their ultimate enemy.
Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow
Issues: Superman #423, Action Comics #583, DC Comics Presents #85, Superman Annual #11
I’ve never been particularly impressed by Alan Moore’s take on a “final” Superman story, but I do include this collection for collecting the Alan Moore story “For the Man Who Has Everything.” It’s one of my favorite single Superman issues of the era.
Issues: Swamp Thing #20 to #31, Swamp Thing Annual #2, #31 to #64
All-time great comic book writer Alan Moore took the reigns of Swamp Thing and (with Stephen Bisette and John Totelbon) crafted the series into one of the best horror comics in the DC Universe (and one of the best DC Comics of all time). If memory serves, I also believe the Moore Swamp Thing run (retroactively Vertigo) actually crosses over with Crisis on Infinite Earths in the middle of the run.
Issues: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 to #12
Before comic book events were a yearly occurrence, DC launched the mother of events, gathering their entire Universe together to face the threat of the Anti-Monitor in Crisis on Infinite Earths. The book’s a doozy for anyone without a PHD in DC Comics, although still has enough strong character moments from Marv Wolfman and George Perez for newer fans to grasp onto.
AFTER CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS (1986 to 1989)
Issues: Batman #404 to #407
Arguably the best Batman story ever told, Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli’s retelling of Bruce Wayne’s first year as Batman is a seminal graphic novel and a must-read for any DC fan.
Issues: See Comic Book Herald’s complete Superman reading order
John Byrne took the post-Crisis responsibility for redefining Superman, and launched a lauded and lengthy run on the Man of Steel.
Issues: See Comic Book Herald’s complete Wonder Woman reading order!
Miller’s Batman and Byrne’s Superman get more of the attention, but George Perez shared similarly successful reinventions with his take on Wonder Woman. Perez’s run would come to define Ares as Wonder Woman’s archnemeiss, as well as the role of the Gods of Olympus in Wonder Woman comics moving forward.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Issues: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 to #4
One of the best graphic novels of all time, Frank Miller’s take on an older, more brutal Batman is a classic for good reason.
Prior to DC Rebirth, I wouldn’t have included Watchmen on my guide to DC Comics essentials. Although the publisher has always retained the rights to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s masterpiece (and my favorite comic book of all time), it’s only in recent years that it has genuinely felt like part of the DC Universe fabric. A highly recommended read regardless.
Issues: Legends #1 to #6
A recommended reads list through DC’s history is pleasantly devoid of many events, but Legends has to fit in somewhere.
Issues: Suicide Squad #1 to #66
It’s now a controversial DCEU film, but even so, nothing beats John Ostrander, Kim Yale, and Luke McDonnel’s original run on Suicide Squad. Amanda Waller, Deadshot, and Boomerang have never been better.
Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters
Issues: See Comic Book Herald’s Complete Green Arrow reading order
Although “The Longbow Hunters” graphic novel remains gorgeous, its themes, treatment of Black Canary, and overextended grit feel tired in today’s era. Mike Grell nonetheless deserves credit for an era-defining take on Green Arrow.
Literally the only time anyone has ever had good reason to recommend a Hawkman story!
Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s Killing Joke has undergone a critical reexamination in the 2010’s, with even Moore himself disavowing the book. The graphic novel detailing the Joker’s origin has always been one of my least favorite Moore stories, but that doesn’t negate Bolland’s excellent art and The Killing Joke’s standing as one of the most popular and influential reads in Batman history.
Issues: Batman #426 to #429
Jim Starlin, best known for his brilliant Marvel Cosmic comics involving Captain Marvel, Adam Warlock, and Thanos, writes one of the more brutal entries in Bat-family lore.
Much like The Killing Joke, Arkham Asylum is far from my favorite Grant Morrison work, but the graphic novel with Dave McKean’s stylized haunting art is an all-timer for good reason. The comic also deservedly sets the stage for much of what was to come in Rocksteady’s excellent Arkham Asylum video game series.
ENTER THE 1990s (1990 to 2000)
Issues: Doom Patrol #19 to #63
Speaking of my favorite Grant Morrison comics, Doom Patrol by Morrison and (primarily) Richard Case is one of the most inventive, exciting, and off-the-walls comics ever published by DC. Doom Patrol is another retroactive addition to the Vertigo stable, but the cast is very much integrated in the DCU, even interacting with the Justice League.
Issues: Animal Man #1 to #26
Slightly less weird than the Doom Patrol… but only slightly. Grant Morrison’s run on Animal Man redefined the character, as well as the role of comic book creators in their art.
Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight, New Dawn
Issues: See Comic Book Herald’s Complete Green Lantern reading order
One of the most notorious Green Lantern stories of all time, with Hal Jordan possessed by Parallax and the introduction of Kyle Rayner.
Issues: See Comic Book Herald’s Complete Flash reading order
The Flash run that made Wally West the fastest man alive, introduced hyper-time, and remains to this day the go-to recommendation for Flash readers.
James Robinson takes a Watchmen-esque look back at DC’s earliest heroes, the Justice Society of America.
Chuck Dixon’s excellent takes on Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson’s first years fighting crime alongside Batman.
Issues: See Comic Book Herald’s Complete Batman reading order
The story of how Bane broke the Bat.
The Death and Rebirth of Superman
Issues: See Comic Book Herald’s Complete Superman reading order
Doomsday and Superman fight to the death, and although we all know how it ends, the Rebirth portion of Superman generates some excellent Supes stories.
Batman: The Long Halloween + Dark Victory
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale partner for a month-by-month retelling of Batman’s earlier days facing a new villainous rogue in each issue. Highly influential series on the Harvey Dent elements of Batman stories moving forward.
John Constantine: Hellblazer – Dangerous Habits
John Constantine fights cancer in the way only he can, from Preacher writer Garth Ennis. My personal favorite Hellblazer story.
Issues: Starman #0 to #81, plus annuals!
One of my all-time favorite extended superhero comics runs, from James Robinson and (primarily) Tony Harris. This is everything you want from a comic series starring a non A-lister.
Issues: Hitman #1 to #60
Hitman could have fallen flat on its face, but the Garth Ennis and John McCrea became one of the best DC Comics of the 90’s. Less gleefully grotesque than Preacher, but with similar humor and heart, Hitman may well be Ennis’ best superhero universe work.
Issues: See Comic Book Herald’s Complete Justice League reading order
Grant Morrison restored the Justice League in the late 90’s, assembling the modern popular roster of Batman, Superman, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman before extensively expanding the cast. A great place to start reading Justice League.
Speaking of King Impulse (aka Morrison), DC One Million proved to be one of DC’s best gimmicks, with every issue numbered #1,000,000 and taking place in the distant future.
Mark Waid and Alex Ross delivered one of the definitive graphic novels of the 90s, with a look at a younger generation of heroes challenging the aging DC heroes we know for supremacy.
Issues: Batman Adventures Annual #1-2, Batman Adventures Holiday Special, Adventures In The Dc Universe #3 And Batman Black And White #1
The classic Batman: The Animated Series origin of Harley Quinn loses very little of its magic in this comic book adaptation.
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale together again for four issues of Superman, each taking place in a different season of his life. Batman: The Long Halloween gets most of the attention, but for my money, Sale’s Superman is some of his finest work.
Issues: Orion #1 to #25
Legendary Thor creator Walt Simonson took on Orion and the New Gods for over 25 issues, channeling a deep and abiding love of all things Jack Kirby for the new millennium!
In addition to Wonder Woman’s first Golden Age Omnibus, I would also recommend Superman’s and Batman’s. All three are actually pretty fun reads.
Will there be DC’s version of My Marvellous Year in some time in the future? :D.
Working on it now, Andy!
Is this still being worked on?
Now that there is DC Unlimited, is it possible to get reading list (at least for the events and tie-ins) from Crisis to 2000’s (like you did for the Marvel Comics starting Marvel Knights-era)?
Two years later, I would like to second this!!
Hey Dave, for the Batman by Denny O’Neal collections, do we get all 3?
Thanks!
For the Batman series, rather than getting the collections, you can get “Batman – Tales of the Demon” which has the issues Dave lists.
Cheers.
Thanks Mate
Hi. I wanna start with DC comics and I wanna read from 40’s. Is this order for me? I mean will I understand everything after reading all of this till Doomsday Clock?
You can read it here
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/dc/dc-master-reading-order-part-1/
A slight change: I suggest reading Emerald Twillight after Death of Superman, as it started there.
Thanks for all the reading orders, these are unbelievable! Question though, for the second book on the list. Batman by O’Neil and Adams, the amazon link takes you to a listing of books that none match the exact reading order you put out. Are you referring to the Batman illustrated volumes 1-3 to get all the issues? The Batman by Adams omnibus doesn’t have all the issues either. Thanks!
No love for Justice League International? In the post Crisis/pre-90s era that is one of the best series from the Distinguished Competition. Knightfall is apocalyptic and big and famous, but it really wasn’t all that good. The Giffenn/DeMatteis run is as good as the Morrison stuff.
Amazing work as always.
Btw. Minor glitch. Link under Batman Knightfall directs to Robin Reading order instead of Batman Reading order.
Great guide as always.
Regarding Swamp Thing: The 1970s material by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson in my opinion also deserves a place on a best-of-list. Alan Moore’s take took off with Saga of Swamp Thing #21, he wrote #20 but it is not necessary to read. Much of the “American Gothic” storyline in Swamp Thing #37-#50 ran in parallel to “Crisis on Infinite Earths”, #44 and #46 were tie-ins, and the conclusion in #50 is also a kind of a cross-over.
The Legends mini-series was concluded before the Suicide Squad emerged.
It’s seems a little strange to put “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” after “Crisis on Infinite Earths” and after John Byrne´s “Man of Steel”.
Good feedback, I’m updating!
Too bad there isn’t a DC Unlimited!
Agreed!
Much appreciated. Thank you.
Glad you enjoy!