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 #404-414, Batman Annual #11, and Detective Comics #571-581.
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
Good point!
Previously, I've been reading the DC Finest volumes one by one... but Aquaman and Green Arrow are SO different, I'm tackling them both at the same time. I'm farther along in the Green Arrow book -- around 300 pages in -- but I've only read like 4 stories: Longbow Hunters, two two-parters in the Green Arrow ongoing, and a 2-part Question story guest-starring Ollie. I'm enjoying all of them -- hard-boiled, gritty stuff written by Mike Grell, aside the two Denny O'Neill Question issues -- and MAN, are they influenced by low-budget 80s thrillers and action movies. It's a great change of pace, and there's pretty much nothing like it in comics today (aside from the most recent issues of Green Arrow, which finally start getting back to this vibe). There's really only 3 stories left: two more GA 2-parters, and a 3-part annual crossover between Green Arrow, Question, and Batman.
Meanwhile, I'm less than 200 pages into the Aquaman book, and I've read like a million stories -- lots of them variations on the same themes: Why is Aquaman (or his fishy friends) acting strangely? Who else has Aquaman's powers, and what are they doing with them? Aquaman has gone to the future; a couple stories later, he goes to the past. They're puzzle stories, usually setting up a premise, demonstrating it 3 times, and then offering a solution. Full of Ramona Fradon's confident, charming linework and kiddie logic. At some point this book will start telling longer stories -- the Showcase issues and his solo series loom in the distance -- but I've got an Archive edition's worth of stories between me and them. But I'm having fun taking panels out of context and posting them on Facebook and Bluesky.
Next week, I'll be ordering two more: Team-Ups and Harley Quinn. Hopefully I'll be finished with at least Green Arrow before they arrive.
Next week, I'm ordering Plastic Man, Suicide Squad (which I originally wasn't but it has LEGENDS included) and the Team-Ups!
Nice! I'm really torn on Suicide Squad. An Omnibus is coming out with the same material (plus more, as it's longer). Do I go for the gorgeous, but expensive and unweildy, omnibus, or do I go for the less extensive (but cheaper and more convenient) DC Finest? I was leaning toward the omnibus, but I'm not certain...
I have all the Suicide Squad trades so I probably won't get anymore DC Finests but Volume 1 has a lot more stories from other books!
I've always been on the omnibus train but now I'm having second thoughts.
Initially they were the answer to certain prayers. For example, how else was I going to get 20 years of mostly not-good Wonder Woman stories (1940-1960)? Individual TPBs would take too long and would sell unevenly -- it's unlikely DC would continue such a project beyond the first flop. But omnibuses were the ideal delivery system -- a minimum of books with a baseline of interest, and once published, the material could be sold again in smaller increments with little production overhead. A win-win-win, for reader, publisher and comics history.
And I am glad of those books (and Batman and Superman). But now I'm thinking "omnibus" isn't the answer to everthing. I mentioned elsewhere that I've been waiting for "DCeased" to be published in omnibus. Recently there was a solicitation for just that. But in the meantime, DC has also released the same material in a boxed set of trades. I'm really starting to lean that way. Not only would that be cheaper than an omnibus, but it would make for a better reading experience. Individual trades are less bulky and awkward, plus the story would be separated naturally into its component parts. And unlike flimsy and vulnerable trades, a boxed set means they could stand on their own anywhere, protected from bent corners and other vicissitudes of life.
But! But! Omnibuses! One book! Convenient! Durable! One-Stop Shopping!
I dunno. I'm torn, as I said.
It's the day I've been waiting for! I did my regular "DC Finest" search on Bluesky and noticed Kurt Busiek talking about four new volumes, listed at the Penguin Random House site! In publication order, they are:
Justice League of America: The Return
Encompassing Gerry Conway’s epic run on Justice League of America through the 1980s, DC Finest: Justice League: The Return weaves a story of the Justice League facing off against some of the greatest foes, including Amazo and the Brotherhood of Evil! Featuring stories starring Steel, Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, Elongated Man, and Vixen!
Collects Justice League of America #241-261; Infinity, Inc. #19; Justice League of America Annual #3.
Blue Beetle: Blue Beetle Challenges the Red Knight
The legacy of Blue Beetle begins here in this thrilling collection of his earliest adventures!
Unleashing the inventive and action-packed tales that made Blue Beetle a fan favorite! Dive into the pages where it all began for the Blue Beetle! This thrilling DC Finest collection captures his debut in Captain Atom #83-86 and a range of gripping adventures from his solo Charlton Comics runs. Full of inventive gadgets, daring battles, and high-stakes action, these stories lay the foundation for Blue Beetle’s enduring legacy in the superhero world.
This volume collects stories from Captain Atom (1965) #83-86; Blue Beetle (1964) #1-5; Blue Beetle (1965) #1-5, #50-54, Charlton Bullseye #1.
Batman: Red Skies
From deadly new villains to apocalyptic skies—Batman’s greatest challenges await in this definitive DC Finest collection!
From the dark alleys of Gotham to the red skies of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC Finest: Batman: Red Skies presents some of the most compelling stories in the Dark Knight’s history. This collection spans the debut of Black Mask, Hugo Strange’s master plans, and Batman’s high-stakes confrontations with Two-Face, Catwoman, and the False Face Society. Through it all, Batman must navigate the line between his personal losses and his unyielding commitment to justice.
This collection showcases the depth and evolution of Batman’s character during a pivotal era in his history. Brimming with action, mystery, and unforgettable storytelling, Red Skies is a cornerstone of the DC Finest series, celebrating the timeless appeal of the Dark Knight.
This volume collects stories from Secret Origins #6, Batman Annual #10, Batman #386-400, and Detective Comics #553-567.
Events: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part One
The ultimate battle for the multiverse begins in DC Finest: Events: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part One
The multiverse is on the brink of collapse, and only the greatest heroes can stand against the darkness consuming reality. This volume collects the first wave of stories that set the stage for the Crisis on Infinite Earths. From Swamp Thing’s battle to fix his gravest mistake to Batman and Catwoman’s deadly struggles under red skies, these stories delve into the heart of DC’s characters as they fight for survival. With heroes like Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lantern, and the Justice Society of America uniting to combat a cosmic threat, this collection captures the monumental stakes and emotional depth that define Crisis on Infinite Earths.
This volume collects stories from Swamp Thing #39; Batman #389-391; Detective Comics #555-558; Justice League of America #244; Green Lantern #194; Wonder Woman #327; DC Comics Presents #78; Infinity, Inc. #18-19; The Fury of Firestorm #41; All-Star Squadron #50-52; Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-4; The Losers Special #1
Some reactions:
Justice League of America: The Return isn't the entirety of the Detroit era: It covers from the Amazo storyline onward, but it misses the first couple Detroit storylines. That said, of the missing issues, 233-240, three of them feature the original League in side trips or untold tales.
Blue Beetle: Blue Beetle Challenges the Red Knight is the shortest Finest volume so far. I'm guessing it's all of the Charlton material? I expect Cap can set me straight on this if I'm wrong.
Batman: Red Skies dovetails into Batman: Years One and Two, which was the first DC Finest volume released. I'm really excited for this one, as it was the late pre-Crisis era when I first really started getting into Batman (my regular readership started about a couple years earlier, but I remember this stuff really fondly).
And Events: Crisis on Infinite Earth Volume 1 looks like it's the first of 3 volumes; it only includes issues 1-4 of the original Crisis series. Interestingly, it includes 6 issues also included in Batman: Red Skies.
I expect more DC Finest volumes to be revealed soon. Apparently there have been some regular uploades to the PRH website this week, and a few more are expected; this is just the first to include DC Finest collections.
My reactions:
Justice League of America: The Return - I've got the "Detroit Era" omnibus.
Blue Beetle: Blue Beetle Challenges the Red Knight - I've got this in "The Blue Beetle: Volume 9" from Gwandanaland.
Batman: Red Skies - There's some good stuff here, from right around the time I first started to collect Batman regularly. I would have picked a different cover and title for the collection, but I'll have to give this one some serious thought.
Events: Crisis on Infinite Earth Volume 1 - These tie-in have already been collected in hardcover. If I wanted them (which I don't), I'd' already own them.
Are you sure about the Blue Beetle volume? The Archives have all the Ted Kord stories, but I think there are 10 Dan Garret issues here as well.
Out of this bunch, I think the Batman and Blue Beetle ones will be my purchases. I'm tempted by the JLA volume, as I don't have that omnibus, but I've already given the books a fairly recent reread. (By fairly recent, I mean in the last 10 years or so -- which, with my collapsing sense of time, probably means in the last 20 years.)
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