DC Comics titles considered the best or most underrated
This is a list of comic book runs, mini-series, and graphic novels published by DC Comics. I compiled it from over a hundred recommendation threads and other lists on the web.
Normally, I avoid presenting the lists I publish here as “top X” or “the best of” lists. Instead, I refer to them as lists of the most popular or frequently recommended items within a particular category or theme. However, this time I allowed myself to use the prase “the best” in the title, because the theme is the best items out of a very large collection. Still, in the interest of objectivity and avoiding clickbaity sensationalism, I would like to emphasize that these are not my personal recommendations, but rather the comics that are often described as the very cream of the crop of DC publications.
The present list is actually an outgrowth of my research into DC Comics’ magical and occult stories, as well as cosmic or sci-fi stories. While admittedly my own interests are limited to a very small region of the DC Universe, I compiled this ranking to keep the big picture in mind.
However, I didn’t want this to end up as yet another boring “starter pack” of so-called essential titles. The problem with the many alleged canonical lists of works that get reposted ad nauseam with little variation is that they focus on works that are supposed to be “important” (usually for historical reasons), but are not really anyone’s favorites. That’s why I was picky with my sources, preferring lists made by people who seemed both knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their DC favorites over cookie-cutter “ideal collections”.
To go a little off the beaten path, I included in my sources not only “best of” lists, but also lists of comics that are recognized as lesser known and underappreciated, despite having cult followings. I also did my best to avoid the prevalent presentist bias by consulting multiple sources focused on earlier eras of DC (though I took the pre-Crisis Bronze Age as a rough starting point). As a result, my final list is a mix of crowd-pleasing blockbusters and more niche, slightly forgotten titles.
I decided to allow Vertigo titles that have at least a tangential connection to the mainline DC Universe (or were later glued to it, as in the baffling case of Watchmen). Comics from various DC imprints that are entirely their own thing were not included. I did publish, however, a separate list of Vertigo comics.
Green Lantern
by Geoff Johns
(2004–2013)
5 figs out of 5
Saga of the Swamp Thing
by Alan Moore
(1984–1987)
5 figs out of 5
Starman
by James Robinson
(1994–2001)
4.5 figs out of 5
Batman
by Scott Snyder
(2011–2016)
Also Batman: The Black Mirror
4.5 figs out of 5
The Flash
by Mark Waid
(1992–2000)
4.5 figs out of 5
Kingdom Come
by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
(1996)
4.5 figs out of 5
All-Star Superman
by Grant Morrison
(2005–2008)
4.5 figs out of 5
JLA
by Grant Morrison
(1997–2000)
4.5 figs out of 5
Watchmen
by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
(1986–1987)
4.5 figs out of 5
The New Teen Titans
by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez
(1980–1996)
4.5 figs out of 5
Batman
by Grant Morrison
(2006–2013)
4.5 figs out of 5
Animal Man
by Grant Morrison
(1988–1990)
4.5 figs out of 5
JSA
by Geoff Johns
(1999–2006)
4.5 figs out of 5
The Sandman
by Neil Gaiman
(1989–1996)
4.5 figs out of 5
DC: The New Frontier
by Darwyn Cooke
(2004)
4.5 figs out of 5
Doom Patrol
by Grant Morrison
(1989–1993)
4.5 figs out of 5
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
by Frank Miller
(1986)
4.5 figs out of 5
Justice League International
by Keith Giffen and J.M Dematteis
(1987–1996)
4.5 figs out of 5
52
by Grant Morrison, Mark Waid, et al.
(2006–2007)
4.5 figs out of 5
Batman: The Long Halloween
by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
(1996–2000)
Also Batman: Dark Victory
4.5 figs out of 5
Batman: Year One
by Frank Miller
(1987)
4 figs out of 5
The Flash
by Geoff Johns
(2000–2005)
4 figs out of 5
Wonder Woman
by George Pérez
(1987–1992)
4 figs out of 5
Suicide Squad
by John Ostrander
(1987–1992)
4 figs out of 5
Gotham Central
by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka
(2002–2006)
4 figs out of 5
The Question
by Dennis O'Neil
(1987–1990)
4 figs out of 5
Legion of Super-Heroes
by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen
(1981–1989)
4 figs out of 5
Wonder Woman
by Greg Rucka
(2003–2006)
4 figs out of 5
Aquaman
by Geoff Johns
(2011–2013)
4 figs out of 5
Green Arrow
by Mike Grell
(1987–1994)
Also Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters
4 figs out of 5
Mister Miracle
by Tom King
(2017–2019)
4 figs out of 5
Crisis on Infinite Earths
by Marv Wolfman
(1985–1986)
4 figs out of 5
Birds of Prey
by Gail Simone
(2003–2007)
4 figs out of 5
Secret Six
by Gail Simone
(2005–2007)
4 figs out of 5
Nightwing
by Chuck Dixon
(1996–2002)
4 figs out of 5
The Spectre
by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake
(1992–1998)
3.5 figs out of 5
Fourth World
by Jack Kirby
(1970–1973)
3.5 figs out of 5
Batman: Hush
by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee
(2002–2003)
3.5 figs out of 5
Batman: The Killing Joke
by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland
(1988)
3.5 figs out of 5
Hitman
by Garth Ennis and John McCrea
(1996–2001)
3.5 figs out of 5
Animal Man
by Jeff Lemire
(2011–2014)
3.5 figs out of 5
Superman
by Peter J. Tomasi
(2016–2018)
3.5 figs out of 5
Green Lantern / Green Arrow
by Dennis O'Neil
(1970–1972)
3.5 figs out of 5
Superman: The Man of Steel
by John Byrne
(1986–1988)
3.5 figs out of 5
Teen Titans
by Geoff Johns
(2003–2007)
3.5 figs out of 5
Manhunter
by Marc Andreyko
(2004–2009)
3.5 figs out of 5
Batgirl
by Bryan Q. Miller
(2009–2011)
3.5 figs out of 5
Young Justice
by Peter David and Todd Nauck
(1998–2003)
3.5 figs out of 5
Superman
by Dan Jurgens
(1991–1999)
3.5 figs out of 5
Superman: Red Son
by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson
(2003)
3.5 figs out of 5
Omega Men
by Tom King
(2015–2016)
3.5 figs out of 5
Hellblazer
by Jamie Delano
(1988–1991)
3.5 figs out of 5
Wonder Woman
by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang
(2011–2014)
3.5 figs out of 5
Catwoman
by Ed Brubaker and Darwyn Cooke
(2002–2005)
3.5 figs out of 5
JLA
by Mark Waid and Bryan Hitch
(1998–2002)
3.5 figs out of 5
Identity Crisis
by Brad Meltzer and Rags Morales
(2004)
3.5 figs out of 5
Superman
by Geoff Johns
(2006–2009)
3.5 figs out of 5
Batgirl
by Kelley Puckett
(2000–2003)
3.5 figs out of 5
Superman for All Seasons
by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
(1998)
3.5 figs out of 5
Batman
by Dennis O'Neil, Neal Adams, and others
(1970–1980)
Some stories also collected in Batman by Neal Adams
3.5 figs out of 5
All-Star Squadron
by Roy Thomas
(1981–1987)
3.5 figs out of 5
Hawkworld
by John Ostrander and Timothy Truman
(1989–1993)
Mini-series and an ongoing series
3.5 figs out of 5
Final Crisis
by Grant Morrison
(2008–2009)
3.5 figs out of 5
Seven Soldiers of Victory
by Grant Morrison
(2005–2006)
3 figs out of 5
Batman & Robin
by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason
(2011)
3 figs out of 5
Sandman Mystery Theatre
by Matt Wagner and Guy Davis
(1993–1999)
3 figs out of 5
Batman: No Man's Land
by Jordan B. Gorfinkel and others
(1999)
3 figs out of 5
Green Arrow
by Jeff Lemire
(2013–2014)
3 figs out of 5
Green Arrow
by Kevin Smith
(2001–2002)
3 figs out of 5
Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
by Alan Moore
(1986)
3 figs out of 5
Hellblazer
by Garth Ennis
(1991–1995)
3 figs out of 5
Supergirl
by Peter David
(1996–2003)
3 figs out of 5
Robin
by Chuck Dixon
(1991–2002)
3 figs out of 5
Aquaman
by Peter David
(1994–1998)
3 figs out of 5
Shade, the Changing Man
by Peter Milligan and Chris Bachalo
(1990–1996)
3 figs out of 5
Infinite Crisis
by Geoff Johns
(2005–2006)
3 figs out of 5
L.E.G.I.O.N. / R.E.B.E.L.S.
by Keith Giffen, Alan Grant, and others
(1989–1996)
3 figs out of 5
Batman
by Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers
(1977–1979)
3 figs out of 5
Superman: Birthright
by Mark Waid
(2003–2004)
3 figs out of 5
Batman
by Paul Dini
(2006–2009)
3 figs out of 5
Injustice: Gods Among Us
by Tom Taylor
(2013–2016)
3 figs out of 5
Grayson / Nightwing
by Tim Seeley
(2014–2017)
3 figs out of 5
Booster Gold
by Geoff Johns
(2007–2008)
3 figs out of 5
Justice League
by Geoff Johns
(2011–2016)
3 figs out of 5
Batwoman
by J.H. Williams III and Greg Rucka
(2009–2013)
Batwoman: Elegy and Batwoman (Volume 2)
3 figs out of 5
Batman: Knightfall
by various
(1993–1995)
3 figs out of 5
Batman
by Jim Starlin
(1987–1989)
Also Batman: Second Chances, A Death in the Family, and The Cult
3 figs out of 5
Martian Manhunter
by John Ostrander
(1998–2001)
3 figs out of 5
The Multiversity
by Grant Morrison
(2014–2015)
3 figs out of 5
JSA: The Golden Age
by James Robinson
(1993–1994)
3 figs out of 5
Batman: Arkham Asylum (A Serious House On Serious Earth)
by Grant Morrison
(1989)
3 figs out of 5
Green Lantern
by Ron Marz
(1994–2000)
3 figs out of 5
Green Arrow
by Benjamin Percy
(2015–2018)
3 figs out of 5
