15 Best DC Comics of All Time!

The greatest DC comics and graphic novels ever!
Let's celebrate the long history of DC comics with a look at the 15 highest rated DC comics in Comic Book Herald's best comics of all time. I highly recommend giving all these a read, and then letting me know your favorites in the video comments!
Best DC Comics Mentioned in Video:
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15) Jack Kirby's Fourth World Saga
14) JLA by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter
13) Superman Smashes the Klan
12) Hitman
11) The Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga
10) Batman (The New 52)
9) Saga of the Swamp Thing
8) Batman The Long Halloween + Dark Victory
7) Batman: Year One
6) Gotham Central
5) All Star Superman
4) Starman
3) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
2) Mister Miracle
1) Doom Patrol by Grant Morrison and Richard Case
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About Comic Book Herald:
My name's Dave, and Comic Book Herald is a labor of love designed to help new, lapsed, and curious comic book readers explore and enjoy the wonderful world of comics. I've been developing reading orders, chronology guides, and detailed comics recommendations since late 2011. Comics can be confusing and intimidating; I try to help.

[@kaineshigaraki5253]

15.) 4th World Saga 14.) JLA (Morrison’s) 13.) Superman Vs. Klan 12.) Hitman 11.) Darkness Saga 10.) Batman (Nu52/Snyder) 9.) Saga SwampThing 8.) The Long Halloween 7.) Batman Year One 6.) Gotham Central 5.) All Star Superman 4.) StarMan 3.) Dark Knight Returns 2.) Mr Miracle (Tom King) 1.) Doom Patrol (Morrison’s) Watch the video to know why.

[@piotrd7355]

I love Starman. For my part, I can recommend Spectre by John Ostrander.

[@jense5668]

literally went onto this video to see if he mentioned starman, and to comment on it, its my favourite comic ever lol

[@WhyAreWeStilllHereJustToSuffer]

I never read starman comics, only seen him in his appearances of Scott Snyder JL run which I thought he was really interesting

[@rjhemedes]

I agree with all the Vertigo picks along with the LSH Great Darkness saga. So glad the HBO Max Doom Patrol series stayed true to its comic book roots. I did enjoy Geoff Johns run on Green Lantern as well especially when he revamped and introduced all the color spectrum lanterns, including the black and white lanterns.

[@floorboss]

Go read _Giffen's_ doom Patrol (2008-ish), nobody overstands the inner working coloquim of [the Patrol] members better than _Keith Giffen_ (Rest in Peace). Thus the dialogue is on an S-tier level. And Clark's art suits it all perfectly! A DC #MustRead > A read, that will make you hate the redundant "one-eyed" liberally ridiculous; corny & heavy virtue signaling filled- HBO DP show.

[@rjhemedes]

​@floorboss I luv Keith Giffen (RIP) but I prefer his work on LSH, Lobo, Ambush Bug and Justice League over what he did in Doom Patrol. Grant Morrison for me did the best version of Doom Patrol and Animal Man and he did a great job on Justice League as well.

[@Jorge-cf6xk]

I am glad that you added Starman......... who is seemingly long forgotten. I would add The Planetary.

[@210SAi]

Thanks for the list! There were a few (Gotham Central) that I’d never even heard of.

[@CAPS0L]

Gotham Central is such a good read. Definitely dont miss out on this one

[@dawsforfun6456]

A lot Morrison but no Animal Man. Great video.

[@MisterFantastic1961]

My favorite DC Stories are: The Death and Rebirth of Superman (introducing Superboy, John Henry Irons Steel, The Eradicator, Hank Henshaw Cyborg Superman, and Doomsday) Batman Knightfall (Introducing Bane, all of Batman's villains getting a chance to shine including the many of the minor ones, Jean Paul Valley's breakdown going from an okay Batman to a psychotic Batman, the return of Bruce Wayne, and Bruce's retaking of the Batman mantle from Valley) Geoff Johns' Aquaman (Introducing the Trench, the Others, The Throne of Atlantis which ended with Aquaman retaking the throne, introducing the Dead King who is the first King of Atlantis) Scott Snyder's Batman (Introducing the Court of Owls and their undead assassins the Talons, Death of the Family, Zero Year, making the Riddler more dangerous, Endgame, the temporary loss of Batman, Jim Gordon becoming Batman, introducing Mr. Bloom, the return of Bruce Wayne as Batman, then the epilogue which showed how important Batman is to both Gotham City and the DC Universe)

[@phillipcasey101]

I’d take Morrison, O’Neal/Adams, Englehart’s Batman runs over Snyder’s, but to each their own. I’d also take Morrison’s Superman, Azzarello’s Wonder Woman, Johns’ Justice League, and Lemire’s Animal Man over Snyder’s Batman run if we’re talking about N52 launch books. Snyder’s run isn’t bad, but there’s a lot better stuff out there.

[@jesusaguilar-sanchez8336]

I disagree but again as you said each their own do you have any superman good comic/graphic novel recommendations for 2023/2024???

[@w1-em4nq]

Azzarello WW is one of the few good things if 52. Zack Snyder or Scott?

[@w1-em4nq]

not fan of Court of Owls, Jim Gordan as batman was stupid. they just did the court a few years before the court.

[@willsherman4044]

@@jesusaguilar-sanchez8336 Superman brainiac and action comics the war world saga

[@hankscorpion9939]

I'd definitely take Morrison's as well. While not for everybody, that run felt genuinely epic and exhilarating. No idea where it was going and what could happen. I loved the Court of Owls the first time I read it, but never really feel like going back to re-read it. And I liked very very little of Snyder's run after that, aside from some brief moments.

[@jdc4483]

Geoff Johns New 52 AQUAMAN run (#1-25)is also exceptional

[@WhyAreWeStilllHereJustToSuffer]

Is it worth mentioned here? I seen it but I don’t read much aqua man so is it worth buying the first few issues?

[@dawsforfun6456]

True

[@mattburton31]

@@WhyAreWeStilllHereJustToSuffer Yes! Most definitely!

[@31LaschG]

I would say you forgot The Longbow Hunters by Mike Grell, Blackhawk by Howard Chaykin, Cinder and Ashe by Gerry Conway and Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, The Aquestion by Denny O’Neill and Rick Magyar and Hawkworld by Timothy Truman!

[@sohamghosh9016]

Not only Longbow Hunters, the entire Grell run is one of the greatest Dc runs ever. I'm a slow reader but I still finished the entire run in one week. I've never seen anyone mention Blackhawk and I'm kinda on the fence if I should get it. Would you say it's a good run?

[@ghoul5371]

@@sohamghosh9016for real that might just be top 10 long runs ever

[@Swampthing71]

My top 10 favorite DC comic books are 1. Doom Patrol by Grant Morrison and Richard Case 2. Batman The Dark Knight Returns 3. Saga Of The Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, & John Toleben 4. Green Lantern Rebirth 5. John Constantine Hellblazer by Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon 6. Flash Rebirth 7. The New Teen Titans by Marv Wolfman and George Perez 8. Batman Year One 9. All Star Superman 10. Green Arrow Year One

[@traviscreason1911]

Happy to see Hitman getting some much needed love… this series is totally under the radar

[@KobyLysaght]

Thanks for sharing this, truly excellent content!

[@TrudieSheriff7777]

Great video, appreciate you sharing it!

[@DinaGalbassi]

Thanks a ton, this was super helpful!

[@RudigerCarvalho]

Fantastic vid!!! Thanks a lot!

[@rebelpunk13]

Such a great list! Love all these books except Star man which I haven’t read yet, definitely on my wishlist

[@cody3757]

Big shoutout to these dudes. Their website has helped me so much with reading orders and other shit. So dope

[@Red-Wolf-Ben]

Great Darkness Saga is a great story, to be sure, but really all of Pre-Crisis Legion is awesome! Best version of the Legion, and still my favorite superhero team! LONG LIVE THE LEGION!!!

[@CarosoRibeiro]

Great show guys, thank you

[@TevyaSmolka]

Great list man on top 15 best dc comics of all time.😊

[@AlanAmazing1993]

I really appreciate that you said “please consider subscribing and liking” the video. No else I have heard or watched has said that. Like and subscribed has been accomplished!

[@hungfao]

It has been decades since I've read any comics, but the best thing I've ever read was the Watchmen series. I may even still have my originals sealed in a storage room.

[@iftekharahmed6799]

Danger Street by Tom King is a must read, it's a comic that features all the obscure characters from DC First Issue Special into an interwoven narrative.

[@samshughart3479]

bruh i just read tat! finally jack Ryder/the creeper is back!

[@dawsforfun6456]

Thanks for suggestion.

[@peptobsmol]

I've always skipped over gotham central and a couple other of these, I'll definitely check em out

[@coreycase7859]

How many of these are found on DC's digital subscription service?

[@psichotic7349]

Outstanding watch! I grew up in the world of comics, far before they had any sort of widespread cinematic appreciation. So many people who want to get into them don’t know how. I love established readers like you who do their best for the next wave, and help them take the journey we loved taking. Keep it up, pal!❤

[@GertrudeBaish427]

Can't wait to start my collection

[@dreamtiger2]

No Sandman, Lucifer or Hellblazer?!

[@mannygonzalez8303]

I think he didn’t include them since they’re technically vertigo

[@joluoto]

I guess because Vertigo

[@rjhemedes]

@@mannygonzalez8303 but Swamp Thing and Doom PAtrol were part of the Vertigo Universe. I would say the Vertigo Universe foundation rested on the Swamp Thing.

[@jense5668]

@@rjhemedes dc vertigo universe is canon to dc

[@TheOne-zn1bd]

He literally says at the start he's including Vertigo as part of DC in this list

[@hankscorpion9939]

Starman and Great Darkness Saga, nice!! :D

[@austincrawford8717]

Mister Miracle is absolutely amazing

[@theCPeter]

Excellent selection. I'm a bit biased, I wouldn't put Mr. Miracle above All-Star Superman but other than that it's a great list.

[@taraishot100]

I would love to see an animated or live action movie about the new gods sick of just Batman and Superman movies

[@candald]

Thanks, Dave!

[@jdoa46]

Where can I get this "all time" list?

[@xeno1121]

Great list! Wonder Woman’s Hiketeia by Greg Rucka, should have been on the list.

[@williamastout9509]

Hitman could be DC's Deadpool in the cinemas... it'd be sooo cool as a film adaptation.

[@CoreyMason-r8g]

Awesome episode ❗🔥💯👍

[@AdrianM.Guthrie]

ill definitely try that, thanks!

[@AdahnFlorence]

Not sure which I'm more surprised by, the absence of Watchmen or the presence of Hitman.

[@paulpizzlewizzle]

DC made superheroes art.

[@chrisevans2961]

Kudos for finding Starman .. Great series ... have you considered Kingdom Come, Batman / Bane - Breaking of the Bat, or The Metal Men?

[@pranabpkhajuria]

new to comics. But what about The Sandman and Watchmen?....Are those not DC comics or they are not in top 15?

[@1111kkkk]

Yep they're dc just not in the op's top 15

[@theminecommanders8013]

Both are very much DC. Sandman has multiple DC characters and Watchmen had a semi recent tie in called Doomsday Clock

[@floorboss]

Im Puzzled here.. You got _Morrison's JLA_ pretty high (and I Love Grant's DC). You noted JLA WORLD WAR III. Which isn't very good without the 'PROMETHEUS UNBOUND' 3 or 4 comics prologue set-up anyway. Which makes the WORLD WAR 3 pay-off relevant. And also No mention of 'TOWER OF BABEL' ?? Hmmmm...... > I find that perplexing. As I do You NOT mentioning; The _Brad Meltzer_ & _Ed Benes_ JLA -- or JLoA -- run (( i.e. the beganning of 'the Lightning Saga" via the JLoA / JSoA x-over )). _Benes'_ brilliantly sexy- Justice League art, along w/ the colorfully classic _Garcia-Lopez_ designs (obviously); are the pop cultural standard online. As they are for tee's; lunch boxes, stickers, JLA B-Day party deco & other odd chotskys. And its all for good reason i'll argue. So, A Young _Howard Porter's_ art; fun & full of energy (at times a little anatomically unproportionate) IMO doesn't come close to rivaling - in his prime - _Ed Benes,_ along w/ _Shane Davis & Dale Eaglesman's_ LIGHTNING SAGA pencils anyway ...... > Thus does _Morrison & Mark Waid's_ JLA from an audio / prose standpoint- trump _Meltzer & Geoff Johns'_ stuff? That features A multi-leveled Legion of Super Heroes time-travel Mystrey *((* that echoed into LEGION OF 3 WORLDS & was later concluded when _James Robinson_ stepped in w/ those Awesome; BRAINIAC, THE LoSH & THE LAST STAND OF NEW KRYPTON _Adventure Comics_ tie-ins *))* !? Yes its A mouthfull.. Never the less, I think at minimal - their brillant run that started waaaay back in JLoA #0 - should of been mentioned in your video. Especially when your talking "JLA" & "BEST OF DC COMICS". I also find it strange you noted _Tom King-_ "the Batman Propagandist." An ya Talked up _Snyder's_ New52 BATMAN. & Yet, You didn't mention _Snyder's_ DETECTIVE COMICS: _Black Mirror_ (871-882).... I Like that run much better than his New 52 Bat. Which IMO fell off A cliff- after Owls ended in like #10. > So I got to ask, Did you ever read _Black Mirror_ ? Or _Morrison's Batman_ ?? epecially BLACK GLOVE (664-665, & 667-669, & 672-675) the uber based RIP. prelude /set-up. Before _"the dance of the macabre"_ begans. That stuff was the eptimoe of suspensful comics, I thought. Also _Morrison's_ BATMAN & ROBIN (1-16) w/ Greyson in the Cowl is truly E P I C !!! Than when Bruce returns from the Omega beam sanctioned purgatory bit *(Batman RIP. = A Bat-man "Reborn in Purgatory")* returning in the flesh- via the BATMAN REBORN 1 one-shot. Which than segways into BATMAM INCORPORATED (the than, New status quo).. > ALL That is collected in A 265pg over-sized page (only $30) Hardcover. Its easily one of the TOP 10 single Best DC Comics graphic novels you can buy! Hell, The whole _Batman REBORN_ Era might be the single Best Batman era. For reading Bat comics. Which started back in BATMAN 687; the actual RIP epilogue (taking place immediatley after FINAL CRISIS). > The noteworthy "Reborn era" also features _Paul Dini's_ #MustRead HUSH Trilogy. Starts w/ _Heart of Hush,_ via DETC 845-850 & 852 (Hush 'Faces of Evil). Which bridges into STREETS OF GOTHAM 1-4; _Hush Money_ than 14 & 16-22; _House of Hush._ A Massively UNDER-RATED saga indeed (especially for people who think the sheep headed- pedestrian _Loeb/ Lee_ OG HUSH story is so "Great") Anyways,,, Thanks for the videos. PS: All the Marvel ULTIMATE synopsis video stuff you did was really well done.

[@NUCLEARDASH]

Im quitting the video with new 52 batman getting, somehow, ahead of any comic on the list that came before it

[@Magnusblackbakugan]

1. In Dick Grayson's chronology you wrote #234-23. It is not clear to me what topic you intended to write about, so I would appreciate it if you could tell me and sort it out on the site. 2. Could you please write here the chronological order for reading Batman the Battle for the cowl and also write it on the website? 3. I would like to know if there is an email address or something on your website through which I can ask you about issues in the comics.

[@TheOne-zn1bd]

Kingdom Come is in the top 10 of so many best ever conics lists and a lot have it at number 1, but don't even make this... just Wow

[@rosswilson8917]

in no particular order: All Star Superman Alan Moore Swamp Thing Morrison Animal Man Batman Year One Morrison Doom Patrol Morrison JLA What Ever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? Walt Simonson Orion Teen Titans The Judas Contract For the Man Who Has Everything JL The New Frontier Batman: The Long Halloween Green Arrow Longbow hunters P.S. Tom King's Mister Miracle is complete garbage imo.

[@Melanie-jy2nw]

I really enjoy Tom king’s mini series but I found Mister Miracle a bit too confusing. I didn’t have any familiarity with the new gods or mister miracle so that probably didn’t help

[@sheshotjfk8375]

FINALLY! Someone else who thinks this. I thought Tom King's Mister Miracle was SOO Bad. I don't know what people are thinking. It makes me question reality. Are they reading a different book than me? Like, is there another universe with a different version?

[@darthmetalus7469]

I like the list but what about the Watchmen?

[@martyemmons1859]

I'm at a loss for why "The Pact" New Gods #7 wasn't on your list.

[@philbarrera6117]

It’s part of Kirby’s Forth World comics, which is #15 on the list.

[@theresurrection6561]

your vids are awesome. Can you upload more? really like the where to start lists. maybe make them for individual characters like: "Where To Start With Green lantern"

[@thebilldozer7970]

Nah... New 52 Wonder Woman is also a must read.

[@trowanetworkYT]

I really like your guy's Reading orders on your website. Can you please try to take down the huge challenge of making a list of every marvel comic every released in order of release date?

[@DIMz.11]

Beast-boy will be hella mad for your number one 😂

[@tommcdonald9337]

Yikes, you left out some big ones. Watchmen? Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern. The Teen Titans/ The Judas Contract? Kingdom Come? Sandman? Maybe stick to Marvel?

[@Mr.ExtrodinThinks]

Thank you so much for this. I love it.

[@JohnHTuck]

What about The Judas Contract and Crisis on Infinite Earths?

[@floorboss]

Listen, JLoA _The Lightning Saga_ is A #MustRead (see the Wikapedia page for its entirety).... As well as _Villains united_ (mini-series) which leads into INFINITE CRISIS. Read those GN's! > As well as, _Paul Dini's_ Batman; HUSH trilogy (starts in Detective Comics 846-850 & 852 than Streets of Gotham 1-4, 14 & 16-22). & Of course _Geoff Johns_ OG Green Lantern _Rebirth_ (2005) w/ EVS (mini-series); it leads into _the Sinestro Corp War_ (Just to name A few). ARE ALL MUCH BETTER than _Judas Contract_ & _Crisis on Infinite Earths_ (which is ridiculously long & somewhat of A slog to read).

[@Anonymous-zy7ve]

How is watchman and the killing joke not on here

[@supercard9418]

I really wanted to like King's Mister Miracle but I couldn't. It's so....bland. (And confusing---as if just for the sake of appearing 'deep'.) What is it with King and writing alcoholics? (Mister Miracle, Supergirl, Christopher Chance, etc.) I much enjoyed De Matteis's and Giffen's run a lot more.

[@sheshotjfk8375]

Ok. Thank you for making me feel like I'm not crazy for hating that run on Mr. Miracle. Was so lonely thinking I was the only one.

[@fidker]

I recommend Animal Man by Grant Morrison and New 52 Animal Man by Jeff Lemire

[@joaquinoking]

Where’s Kingdom Come?

[@31LaschG]

And The Sandman!

[@dennishicks2440]

You mean" the ADOPTED son of Darkseid is "Scott Free" !🌈🤓

[@Chaos_of_2020]

No killing joke ??

[@megamasher3]

My DC Year when?

[@alltheworldsastage4785]

Yeah, but where TF is Kingdom Come?!

[@redmangoose182]

Wheres the all time list?

[@techyougo]

15 best marvel comics next?

[@SatireNewsNetwork]

Sure. Just use the marvel knock offs of all the ones in this list. Done.

[@burgerking8475]

Kingdom Come?

[@shanegreen2933]

I really disliked Mister Miracle

[@rodrigocarrillo9267]

I only disliked the ending. One of the worst, actually three of the worst I really hated the multiple endings

[@shanegreen2933]

@@rodrigocarrillo9267 it felt like he just stopped writing the story and it turned into fanfic

[@rodrigocarrillo9267]

Tom King new he couldn’t just kill Darkseid so he made it as if Mr. Miracle killing him was just an illusion or some kind of dream. I agree he shouldn’t have made the final battle if it meant he had to undo everything the fight with Darkseid didn’t need to happen and even if it happened Mr. Miracle wouldn’t be able to do it alone

[@spiderhamilton1]

Not having Kingdom Come on this list completely negates its legitimacy in my eyes. Also, it was never stated whether you were making an objective or subjective listing. But you switch from saying "the best" to "my favorite" throughout and that made this list feel disingenuous to me. That may not have been your intent and I do understand subjectivity and personal bias and preferences are part and parcel in such rankings. I just don't think that was conveyed clearly. I may be wrong and just butt hurt

[@piotrd7355]

Kingdom Come is by no means some kind of gold standard. Its presence or absence on such a list is a matter of personal preference.

[@whiteruis]

What would an "objective" listing be? Ranked by sales? Goodreads rating?

[@seymourcox6112]

Dark knight returns is one is the most overrated comic all time

[@sheshotjfk8375]

My little 13 year old mind was blown. 🤯 Would be interesting to see what I think of it now.

[@cjdg7807]

No just no