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
Great analysis, which sparked a question in my muck-encrusted mockery of a mind: Was Joker: The Last Ha-Ha the only one that wasn't a comprehensive chunk of time; i.e. the only one that focused on a theme instead of consecutive issues?
I haven't seen it yet, but I think it's a little of both. (The upcoming Robin book might be the same -- all we know about it is that it "collects key stories from Batman, Detective Comics, World’s Finest Comics, and Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, spanning the Silver and Bronze Ages.") My impression is, it's a comprehensive look at all the Joker appearances in that time period. Because he's not the title character, he doesn't appear in every issue. Which is similar to the first half of the first Harley Quinn volume, before she got her own book.
The only other one I can think of that's close to that setup is Peacemaker, whose second half in the 80s is largely guest appearances (aside from his 4-issue limited series).
Oh yeah, I've got Peacemaker. I hadn't read all the Charlton issues, which is what I think is all I read. The '80s stuff was too awful to read a second time. (And L.A.W. is another one of those things whose existence I studiously avoid acknowledging. I don't know if Peacemaker included it, but I won't be re-reading it either way.)
It's a bit overwhelming! I'll comment more when I've processed everything!
I think Blackhawk is the odd one out.
That's what I thought.
Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn also came out in this period, which I’d hope a DC Finest: Green Lantern would skip, since it’s a standalone miniseries that has been reprinted in standalone HC and TPB.
I hope they skip it, too... for an entirely different reason.
My interest in reprints from this period is pretty close to zero, as there is no nostalgia factor for me. Mileage will certainly vary for Legionnaires of the right age.
I have all those GL series, but I don't feel the need to own reprints of them. It's like with music. With some groups or artists, I'm content to own just their "greatest hits" album; others, I might want their best known album (whether instead of or in addition to their greatest hits); others, I need to own all their albums.
I sure appreciate you keeping us up to date, Rob!
Seconded!
I was going to go through the entire list at this point, giving each a "yea" or a "nay," but most of my "nays" either amount to I already have them reprinted elsewhere, or I'm just not interested*. I hadn't realized there were no Golden age volumes until you pointed it out; I'm still disappointed that the "Superman" volume that picked up at the end of the GA omnibus series was taken off the scedule. The one I have pre-ordered so far is the "Western" volume. I haven't seen the second "Horror" volume solicited yet, but I'll likely get that one, too. The only volume I have bought so far that I've been disappointed in is "Team-Ups" so it's unlikely I'll buy the second. As you may or may not be aware, an omnibus of Legends (all issue of the mini plus crossovers) has recently been solicited. I would like to have a collection of just the mini*, but I don't need the crossovers, espectially if they're split over two volumes.
*I reserve the right to comment futher on them as they are releasaed.
**In point of fact, I do have such a collection, but the paperstock is dull and faded.
I think the Legends mini is entirely included in the first Suicide Squad DC Finest, if you'd be interested in getting it (and maybe a dozen issues of Suicide Squad) that way.
Thanks, I didn't know that. I'll keep it in mind, but I would probably be more likely to buy the DCF volume. Speaking of DC's "Big Five" (code-approved), I'm gearing up to read it by reading Battlefield (pre-code). Did you know Marvel had nineteen pre-code war books in the "Atlas" era?
Someone made a list of all the DC Finest volumes that don't have a second book yet, and I'm stealing it and posting it here. Legion's the oldest book of the bunch, the only one from 2024.
Top of my list for a second volume would be...
I'm definitely down with more genre books, but of the superhero ones, I'd like to see Legion, Superboy, and Spectre get continued. Also Super Friends, which is surprisingly engaging, and Blue Beetle, since we'd be moving into the Len Wein/Paris Cullins era.
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