A while back, DC announced a new line of reprints, called DC Finest, that packages about 500 pages of comics from various eras into a $40 softcover. From all appearances, it looks to be an attempt to mimic Marvel's successful Epic Collections line, in which complete runs of their books are reprinted in similar paperbacks, but often out of order. So you might get Fantastic Four volume 3 (The Coming of Galactus) before volume 1 (the early stuff), but the volumes have all been mapped out, and gaps get filled in as time goes on.
DC announced a bunch of collections, ranging from the Golden Age (All-Star Comics, Superman) to the 2000s (Wonder Woman), with plenty in between. In October's solicitations, they've finally nailed down the contents for most of the announced books. Here's what's been announced so far.
DC FINEST: WONDER WOMAN: ORIGINS & OMENS
ON SALE 10/8/24
DC Finest: Wonder Woman: Origins & Omens collects these Wonder Woman issues from October 2007 to 2009: Wonder Woman (vol. 3) #14-35, Outsiders: Five of a Kind – Wonder Woman/Grace #1, and The Brave and the Bold #7.
DC FINEST: SUPERMAN: THE FIRST SUPERHERO
ON SALE 11/5/24
The First Superhero covers Summer 1938 to Fall 1940 and reprints classic stories from Action Comics #1-25, Superman #1-5, and New York World’s Fair #1.
DC FINEST: BATMAN: BATMAN: YEAR ONE & TWO
$39.99 US | 592 pages | 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″ | Softcover | ISBN: 978-1-77952-835-3
ON SALE 11/5/24
Collects Batman #404#401-414, Batman Annual #11, and Detective Comics #571- #568-581.
DC FINEST: CATWOMAN: LIFE LINES
ON SALE 12/17/24
Collects Catwoman (vol. 1) #1-4, Catwoman (vol. 2) #1-12, Catwoman Annual #1, Batman/Catwoman: Defiant #1, and stories from Action Comics Weekly #611-614 and Showcase ’93 #1-4.
DC FINEST: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: THE BRIDGE BETWEEN EARTHS
ON SALE 11/19/24
Collects Justice League of America #45-72 from July 1966 to June 1969.
DC FINEST: GREEN LANTERN: THE DEFEAT OF GREEN LANTERN
ON SALE 12/3/24
Featuring works from revered comics writers and artists such as John Broome, Gardner Fox, and Gil Kane, this volume collects classic stories from Green Lantern #19-39, The Flash #143, and The Brave and the Bold #59.
DC FINEST: EVENTS: ZERO HOUR PART ONE
ON SALE 12/10/24
This first of two collections features Superman #93, The Flash #94, L.E.G.I.O.N. #70, Green Lantern #55, Super-man: The Man of Steel #37, Team Titans #24, The Darkstars #24, Valor #23, Batman #511, Batman: Shadow of the Bat #31, Detective Comics #678, Legionnaires #18, Hawkman #13, Showcase ‘94 #8-9, Steel #8, Superboy #8, Outsiders #11, and Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #3-4.
DC FINEST: LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES: ZAP GOES THE LEGION
ON SALE 12/10/24
This first collection starring the greatest heroes of the 30th century features stories pulled from the pages of Action Comics #378-387 and #389-392, Adventure Comics #374-380 and #403, and Superboy #172-173, #176, #183-184, #188, #190-191, #193, #195, and #197-203.
DC FINEST: THE FLASH: THE HUMAN THUNDERBOLT
ON SALE 11/26/24
Collects Showcase #4, #8, and #13-14, and The Flash #105-123.
DC FINEST: JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA: FOR AMERICA AND DEMOCRACY
ON SALE 12/3/24
Collects All-Star Comics #3-12.
DC has also announced three more for January, although the exact contents aren’t announced yet:
DC Finest: Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters – 21st of January, 2025
The most iconic stories starring Green Arrow! (From the cover, it looks like it’s the start of the Grell run, starting with The Longbow Hunters miniseries.)
DC Finest: Supergirl: The Girl of Steel – 14th of January, 2025
The earliest stories starring Supergirl! (Looks like Supergirl, from the beginning.)
DC Finest: Aquaman: The King of Atlantis – 7th of January, 2025
The earliest stories starring the King of the Seas: Aquaman! (Silver Age Aquaman, with Jack Miller, Robert Bernstein, and Ramona Fradon listed as creators.)
So for the purposes of discussion... which ones of these interest you the most? And looking forward, where would you go for the second volumes of these titles?
Replies
OK, here's one for March!
DC Finest: Superman Family: The Stray Superdog
Author Cary Bates; Illustrated by Kurt Schaffenberger, Curt Swan
664 pages, March 9, 2027
Heroes, friends, and one super-powered dog—adventures from across the Superman Family in a new DC Finest collection. Superman isn’t the only hero in Metropolis. From Lois Lane to Jimmy Olsen to Krypto the Superdog, the Superman Family is filled with characters who each bring their own adventures, challenges, and personalities to the world of heroes. In these stories, brave reporters chase dangerous leads, young heroes step into their own, and loyal companions—both human and animal—prove that heroism comes in many forms. Whether solving mysteries, facing unusual threats, or helping those in need, every member of the Superman Family has a role to play.
Filled with imagination, humor, and heart, this collection captures a time when Superman’s world expanded beyond one hero into a full cast of unforgettable characters, including this book's titular Superdog, Krypto.
Collects Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #163 and Superman’s Girl Friend, Lois Lane #136; and stories from Superman #271, #275, #279, #282, and #286-287; Action Comics #436, #438, #440-441, #461-462, #465, #467-468, #472, and #475; and Superman Family #164, #166-167, #169-170, #172-173, #175-176, #178-179, and #181-186.
We're jumping forward in time with this one, with the last issues of Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane before they were combined into the Superman Family title! I imagine the Supergirl stories that appeared in Superman Family will be omitted, since she has her own DCF line.
That would explain why there are missing issues in the Superman Family listings Rob. With the series combining three titles, it alternated between hosts in the beginning so the unincluded ones must have been Supergirl issues. But a lot of Kara's 1970s material, including her first solo series, is still unreprinted. A mistake I hope DC corrects someday.
I'm sure they intend to change that with this line. Whether they get around to it is another matter.
And looking at the GCD, I see what you mean -- in these early issues of Superman Family, there are stories from a bunch of the stars, but at first only the lead stories are new, while the others are reprints. By the time I started seeing the title on the stands, a few years later, it had switched to all-new stories. (Some of those issues are represented here, as the format change happened in issue 182.)
True Rob, but will DC include the Supergirl stories from the all new issues of the day? Despite being on the cover, she isn't mentioned in the write up of the collection.
I would be surprised if they did -- especially since they're avoiding the earlier issues where she's the lead feature. My thought is that she'll be in some stories that officially star other people (or dogs), but the stories with the Supergirl logo at the top will generally be left for the Supergirl line. The cover is taken from the cover of Superman Family 182, which had all the title's features together in one image.
I think you're right about all the Supergirl stuff, Rob. I looked up Superman Family #180, for example, which wasn't listed as in the collection. Sure enough, the only new story starred Supergirl. So they skipped that one for Superman Family, whch apparently just consists of Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Perry White and Krypto, and specifically not Supergirl. (Even though she is Superman's only blood-related family!) I imagine if I looked up the other missing issues, I'd see the same. Of course, if they're saving those stories for a Supergirl collection, that raises the question of when such a collection might materialize!
Here's one more, for April. This was not on my radar at all:
DC Finest: Hitman: A Rage in Arkham
By Garth Ennis and John McCrea
April 20, 584 pages
DC Finest spotlights the origin of Hitman, as Garth Ennis and John McCrea launch a cult-classic antihero saga in Gotham's criminal underworld. Tommy Monaghan is a Gotham City hitman with an unusual advantage: telepathy, X-ray vision, and a talent for surviving situations that should kill him. Working among organized crime, corrupt officials, supernatural threats, and costumed vigilantes, Tommy navigates a dangerous world where loyalty is rare, and every job could be his last. Armed with a sharp sense of humor and a practical view of life, he quickly discovers that superpowers create just as many problems as they solve.
Before starring in his own series, Tommy first appeared alongside Etrigan the Demon, becoming an unlikely ally in a series of supernatural adventures that helped establish his place within the DC Universe. These stories chart his evolution from supporting player to leading man, laying the foundation for one of DC's most acclaimed cult-classic antiheroes. Written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by John McCrea, Hitman combines crime fiction, black comedy, supernatural action, and genuine emotional depth into a uniquely entertaining series that remains a fan favorite decades after its debut.
Collects The Demon Annual #2, The Demon #42-45 and #52-54, Batman Chronicles #4, Hitman #1-14, and pages from JLA #5.
And here's that Warlord book:
DC Finest: The Warlord: This Savage World
Author Mike Grell
February 16, 688 pages
Adventure, survival, and fantasy collide in this DC Finest spotlight on a modern man lost in a dangerous, hidden world. Travis Morgan was a pilot—until a crash changed everything. After flying into a mysterious opening at the North Pole, he finds himself in Skartaris, a hidden world filled with ancient kingdoms, deadly creatures, powerful sorcery, and constant danger. Stranded far from home, Morgan must rely on his skill, determination, and instincts to survive. As he navigates this unpredictable land, he becomes a reluctant hero, forging alliances, facing powerful enemies, and shaping the fate of a world he never knew existed.
Combining fast-paced action with fantasy and adventure, these stories introduce a hero caught between two worlds; one familiar and one full of endless possibilities. This volume collects the earliest adventures of the Warlord, offering an accessible entry point into one of DC’s most unique and beloved fantasy series.
Collects Warlord #1-36 and 1st Issue Special #8, written and drawn by Mike Grell.
This is pretty much exactly the contents of the omnibus, which I already have, so I'll be holding off on this one (but will probably buy volume 2 as a DC Finest)
SUPERMAN FAMILY: I fondly recall the first 100 Pagers of SF. Having only two new Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane stories a year removed a lot of the silliness and melodrama that their solo books were known for. And they were good stories as well!
I'm hoping that they'll include the Perry White, Pete Ross, Jon Ross and Lori Lemaris featured and solo stories along with Krypto's!
WARLORD: suprised it took so long! Could Arak and Arion be next?
HITMAN: never read it! Probably still won't unless convinced otherwise!
I'd be surprised if Superman Family didn't include the ancillary Superman characters -- there were a couple Perry White stories in the first volume. I think it'll have everything but the Supergirl stories.
As for Arion and Arak, I doubt it. I think it'd be more likely that they'd be folded in to a genre line, something like DC Finest: Fantasy, that could also include things like Stalker and Beowulf. I don't see any of them having the sales power on their own.
Hitman's terrific, but not for everybody. It was definitely one of my favorite books of its era, and I suspect it holds up better than Preacher these days.
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