DC Compact Comics Comparison: Who Are They For?

Welcome to The Brave and the Boys! In this video, we dive into the brand-new DC Compact Comics line, featuring the first two releases: Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, and Batman: Court of Owls by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo.
We'll explore what makes these compact editions unique with their 5.5" x 8.5" trim size and affordable price of $9.99. Are they worth adding to your collection? How do they compare to other editions like the Absolutes and Omnibus versions? We've got you covered!
All of Our Links bit.ly/m/TBATB-Links
Click here to subscribe for more awesome content from us!!! bit.ly/TBATBKZbin
Check out Organic Price Books: bit.ly/TBATBOPB
Buying 1 to 3 books? Save $2 with our code Braveboys
Buying 4 or more books together? Save 5% with our code Braveboyssit
Thank you for watching, and until the next time, keep reading and stay brave!
📣 Connect with us on social media:
Our Discord: / discord
Our Website & Blog: bit.ly/TBATBWebsite
Our Instagram: bit.ly/TBATBInstagram
Our Tiktok: thebraveandtheboy
Our Twitter: @BraveandtheBoys
Our FaceBook: profile.php?...
00:00 Introduction
01:13 Who are they for?
02:17 Comparing them
04:06 What books are coming out
05:50 Contest
06:10 Watchmen
08:58 Court of owls
11:06 Final thoughts

[@juselara02]

Really amazing concept!. 10 bucks for a full color complete story! Yes please.

[@TBATB]

You can’t beat that price!

[@thakatspajamaz]

I'm double dipping with these but I LOVE them. They look great on your shelf and they can FINALLY COMPETE WITH MANGA

[@blurjose]

It’s not for me but if it gets more people into comics somehow I’m all for it.

[@TBATB]

That’s the best attitude!

[@DBZALLSTAR]

I hope these are successful and that the line continues beyond the initial announcements.

[@TBATB]

I agree!

[@user-ys4tg2ru6r]

It would be awesome if they print all the Golden, Silver, Bronze and Copper Ages comics on the compact edition

[@pattongilbert]

I would really adore a DC: The New Frontier compact. Being able to easily share that with my friends sounds awesome.❤️

[@TBATB]

That’s my number 1 pick!

[@TheJFGB93]

Here in South America, DC's publisher has been coming out with similar editions to these for a few years, and, though not as cheap as these Compact Classics, they're still a lot cheaper than trades or hardcovers. I got "V for Vendetta" a year ago, and recently "Dark Victory" (I already had "The Long Halloween" in a very cheap format that was released a decade ago). Other stories published like that include "Blackest Night" in two volumes, "The Death Of Superman" and a whole lotta others. I hope this format reaches its intended audience, and maybe even more people.

[@TBATB]

I love dark victory so much

[@nestorcsamacho6328]

Ey man, puedes decirme cual serie o colección es esa? O sea como se llama el formato y en que país lo venden

[@nathanbenson9166]

I personally won’t get them but I’m glad they exist

[@TBATB]

That’s completely fair!

[@ae_films]

Nice little cute format, even though i prefer the Absolutes and the Omnis. My answer would be TheLongHalloween, cause it's also very new reader friendly

[@TBATB]

Great answer!

[@pac-mansuit4246]

I used to be a comic fan but moved to manga because of the cost but now I am so interested in reading more comics

[@TBATB]

These seem perfect for you!

[@mikehailer9353]

Would love to see an Elseworlds Anthology. Red Son, Gotham by Gaslight etc in a single volume. Congratulations on 4000! Keep up the great work.

[@TBATB]

I was thinking red son would be perfect! Thank you for the kind words!

[@williamsherman4294]

My picks for the next rounds of compact editions: 1. Batman the Long Halloween/ Dark Victory: By Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. 2. The Flash Rebirth: By Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver 3. Black Lighting: Cold Dead Hands by Tony Isabella and Clayton Henry 4. The Blackest Night: By Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis 5. Strange Adventures: By Tom King and Mitch Gerads 6. Nightwing vol 1: By Tom Taylor and Bruno Redando. I have more though, Jake and Jordan heart the comment if you want the other ideas.

[@TBATB]

Nightwing is an amazing pick!

[@rickyschmidt5272]

I dig these. The price point is great, and it'll allow me to build out a collection of DC stories.

[@TBATB]

Anything that shares comics with more people!

[@jonathankidd1362]

would love to see something like the human target collected in the compact format, having that all in one book would be amazing.

[@TBATB]

We need a deluxe of that book

[@user-zd9yn5mz1f]

Thanks for the update! I will definitely check these out. A terrific, economical way to catch up on DC titles.

[@TBATB]

I just got the second batch in!

[@willsherman4044]

He’s doing the top 10 lists. such as top 10 runs by a writer, 10 best villains in dc. You could make a video explaining what makes comic books are great and not boring. Convince people who find the material to be “embarrassing” specifically the studio heads of Warner Bros.

[@TBATB]

Great ideas friend!

[@willsherman4044]

@@TBATB I’m so happy a KZbinr likes my ideas

[@DittyWolf]

I want to see more Batman compact editions as he's one of my favorite heroes so something like the long Halloween would be awesome. I just got into comics so these new compact editions are going to be a great way to read more stories without worrying too much about the cost.

[@TBATB]

More Batman is always better!

[@AngelicaCohen-jm6iw]

As someone who does a lot of traveling for work and just got into comic books in the last two years, I love the compact. Crisis on Infinite Earth as a compact would be insane and awesome to see!

[@TBATB]

Haha that art in that size would be wild

[@austinkieckhefer8047]

I’ve been reading comics for years and I’m about to go to college. I wanted a way to be able to bring some of my favorite DC stories and I’m so glad that they’re doing this right when I’m about to head out. It’s very exciting and very nice. Hopefully this is a sign comic sales will start to go up again.

[@TBATB]

That is awesome!

[@CarlosDias-er6dd]

I would love Batman Year Two in this Compact Edition. I have trades, I have standard size hardcovers, Deluxe Editions and Omnis, but there's some stories that I want to read but that I don't want to spend so much money on them. So this format is perfect!

[@TBATB]

Haha year 2 is a bold choice

[@GrantLairdJr88]

This compact book is perfect for work, as it will easily fit in my lunch bag. It is also useful for use in the bathroom.

[@TBATB]

Just don’t mistake it for your sandwich and take a bite!

[@kurodoodle4876]

This is why I own watchmen. 9.99$ for a brand new copy of watchmen is hard to beat

[@TBATB]

Such an amazing value

[@AltoSaxamaphonist]

Might’ve missed it but I would love to see a vid talking over the Geoff Johns green lantern/blackest night reading order. Keep up the great vids!

[@TBATB]

Great idea!

[@valerierosehuggins145]

Just got my copy of the compact watchmen. Literally was the perfect book at the perfect price point to get my partner more into comics

[@TBATB]

That’s amazing! They are the perfect gateway comic books!

[@artu9913]

I'd love to see Grayson by Tom King in this format, it maybe not be entire in one volume but it's a great story.

[@TBATB]

I love Grayson so much I named my cat that!

[@afifthofjackgaming]

I think after last night's discussion I would like to see The New Frontier in compact edition... I think it will be a great gateway for new readers into other characters. They would get a array of characters, while getting some origins of few characters as well.

[@TBATB]

My number 1 pick!

[@colesonlamb5981]

I would love to see this format replace tpb all together honestly. $10 for 12 issues is a much better value but then #15-19 for 5-6 issues. I think the paper quality/colours being not as nice is totally fine. Or make tpb in the same paper/colour quality to bring the price down

[@TBATB]

Good idea!

[@boombapdoom493]

Who would want miniature art? I’ll pay the extra dollars for the way the art is supposed to be seen.

[@colesonlamb5981]

@@boombapdoom493 I'd pay a little bit extra to get full tpb size as well, but I wouldn't pay 4x the price if I had the option to get a cheaper format

[@standabout]

I would like to see a V for Vendetta compact edition, would be interesting to see if Marvel and Image does this sort of thing too.

[@TBATB]

V would be awesome!

[@Lemurion287]

New Frontier should have been in the first wave, and I do think it's a good idea though my old eyes work better with an Absolute.

[@TBATB]

It’s my number 1 favorite dc comic!

[@tableprinterdoor]

Just picked up the compact watchmen today, I enjoy it since I like a smaller book and I can read it well, also easy to take if I wanna read on the go.

[@TBATB]

Totally agree!

[@TheNightBadger]

There are so many good stories that could come out in these budget compact editions. I really like the concept. I agree Watchmen is a little dense for a shrunken format, but I think they might be having one heavy-hitter book with each run of releases. I would be very surprised if these books continued and we didn't have a 'Dark Knight Returns', 'Batman Year One', 'V For Vendetta', etc, as a 'core' book for other releases to orbit.

[@TBATB]

All three would be awesome books and day one pick ups for me

[@thetoongrump9801]

I know it goes against the “single story” approach to these volumes, but I’d kill for some Batman and Robin Adventures in this format. Those comics seem perfect for this price point and size.

[@TBATB]

I just got the Omni!!

[@BerryCherry131]

I would LOVE a compact Long Halloween. The story, especially with chapters, is so easy for a new reader. Definitely in my top 2 Batman stories.

[@TBATB]

That would be perfect!

[@TMNerdy]

I hope they do a compact of Swamp Thing by Moore

[@TBATB]

Awesome idea!

[@danielMC96]

I think I'll be picking them up for my canoe camping trip in Sweden this summer. I can't take a lot of (expensive) books with me and I won't mind that much if a 10 dollar book gets wet!

[@TBATB]

That sounds like an awesome time! Email me a photo of you reading comics on a canoe someday!

[@ChristianPierce]

this is how i got into invincible theres a small size version that are starting to come out and are great for people getting into comics from the show like me, ended up getting the hardcover compendiums and now im saving up to get the library editions lol

[@TBATB]

Haha you sound like me!

[@tbynlogan]

I thought the "compact" comics would legit be the same size as manga, but oh, I guess not. Watchmen is a weird choice because it's text-heavy... but maybe the higher ups at DC just went with it since it's a best seller. I think Tim Sale's art could work since it's simple, so it won't suffer as much if it's shrunken down. So The Long Halloween, Superman: For All Seasons, and Superman: Kryptonite I think could all be good compact comics. Jeph Loeb's dialgoue isn't too wordy if I recall. Maybe even Darwyn Cooke's art could work well if it's in a smaller format too, since it's pretty simple. Like, you can look at Tim Sale's and Darwyn Cooke's art at a smaller size and there wouldn't be too big of a loss.

[@TBATB]

Those are great suggestions! Also I love your profile pic of a sad Manhattan! Long Halloween and New Frontier are my two most wanted picks!

[@therancorbattalion]

I would buy a compact edition of Long Halloween in a heartbeat

[@TBATB]

You and me both!

[@justincholos.balisang6884]

I stumbled upon these compact comics last night in my local bookstore and immediately thought tha they looked like Comics in manga format/size.

[@TBATB]

That’s definitely the idea!

[@LARGELEMONLIME]

I would kill for a compact edition of Legends of the Dark knight, especially Venom and Shaman but there’s so many good ones I’ve been waiting on this manga style books from marvel/dc FOREVER! So excited for this format for me and my friends who exclusively read manga!

[@TBATB]

I want deluxes of those stories!

[@newspooiechannel]

That's one well worn Watchman TPB. 😉 These seem like a perfect type of book to reach new audiences for an affordable price and easy to pick up and take on the go. Nice that they're also getting more than 2 or 3 issues.

[@TBATB]

Haha I got that trade at 13 and have loved it

[@newspooiechannel]

I had two TPBs (one I gave to my brother), a hardcover edition and now the single-issue hardcover boxed set. Spotted that again at Ollie's maybe two months ago. My oldest copy I've had over 20 years now!

[@shemgreenwood559]

The size and price point makes it much for viable for educators like me to use comics in English/ Language Arts curriculum! I am making it my quest to get Far Sector Approved for my AP Language course!

[@TBATB]

That is so cool! I would love to hear how it goes!

[@mariuspatrick4524]

Thank you for explaining the compact comics because I was contemplating getting All Star Superman but now I'll wait for the compact edition(I'm one of the broke students).😂 I'd want a compact version of the Long Halloween and Dark Knights of Steel

[@TBATB]

Hey I use to be a broke student! I would have loved these as a student!

[@ChristopherLono]

Excellent, I only think that they should slightly change in which order those books are going to be released: 1st week is obviously All Star Superman and Batman Court of Owls 2nd WW Earth One and GL Far Sector 3rd Batman Hush and Harley & GC Sirens 4th Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow and Catwoman Trail of Cat 5th Superman Birthright and Aquaman by Johns 6th New Frontier and Hawkman by Venditti 7th Watchmen and V for Vendetta

[@TBATB]

Out of curiosity why do you think that’s the best order? I like your order a lot!

[@ChristopherLono]

@@TBATB I just thought to myself which stories are either standalone or serve as good entry points (that are 10-13 issues long). 16 modern titles in 2 months would be a smart publishing move for a first wave this year. B&S are THE superheroes of DCU so they are great at launching this, WW has to be spotlighted next and that GL is both fresh and different enough that earns it's spot. Since the Bat is probably the most popular character on the planet it's not surprising that they would want to release a second book, Hush is a good choice because Long Halloween has been reprinted in other editions a lot. Harley is here because she has become very recognizable recently and this tale does a nice job promoting those women. Later Supergirl makes sense if they want to prepare/polish her for the upcoming movie and Catwoman represents just a fun story that would help in scratching that itch for potential new customers :) At this point they need to show some love to our Man of Steel again, while Aquaman simply deserves to have his own spot in this line-up. Also there should be something that's generaly liked with a larger cast of JL and another title that deserves to get his chance. I choose that Hawkman run because it has finally made me interested in the character and this run was really underappreciated. Thanks for showcasing those. Any ideas for Flash or Arrow in a compact format?

[@ckhendrick]

Batman Years 1-3 in one volume. Death and Return of Superman in 2-3 Volumes. Geoff Johns Teen Titans run spread over a few volumes. Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1 volume.

[@TBATB]

Those are all amazing! I actually haven’t read Batman year 3. Is it good?

[@user-ys4tg2ru6r]

I hope they print the Golden Age and Silver Age eras in their compact editions

[@TBATB]

I’m looking forward to comparing them with a finest collection

[@abassler]

The book I want collected the most is Will Pfeifer's run on HERO it's 22 issues so it might need to be split in 2. Other books would be Superman : BIRTHRIGHT and Kingdom Come both by Mark Waid

[@TBATB]

KC and Birthright would be perfect!

[@greyfire64]

hopefully my book store has this bc i might get these my problem with trades is that they are way to expensive

[@TBATB]

That’s awesome! I hope you can get some that you love!

[@ronan3183]

I'd love to see a Grayson compact edition! I'm just getting into comics and these seem perfect for me. Would be amazing to win the giveaway too, but I might just end up buying court of owls regardless!

[@TBATB]

I named my cat Grayson!

[@zhelldog]

I'd like to see some Vertigo reprints like this. Or Chronoligical Batman starting in the 70's

[@TBATB]

Ahhhh but I’d want that Batman as an omnibus!

[@seito1276]

The next compact should be something easy to get into. Something like Final Crisis by Grant Morrison 😅 Ok, seriously now: Supersons and Batman The Long Halloween. I wanted to say Superman Red Son, but you stole my thunder. Great vid!

[@TBATB]

Haha you joke but final crisis was my first dc story!

[@seito1276]

@@TBATBthat is an interesting 1st story. Lol. I’ve yet to read it myself, but very interested in doing that soon. Were you confused reading it??

[@TBATB]

@@seito1276 I didn’t know enough to not know what I didn’t know if that makes any sense. I took the story at face value and just went on the wild ride afterwards I read everything backwards chronologically so 52 then infinite crisis crisis on infinite earth and it made much more sense.

[@seito1276]

@@TBATBsometimes (not usually), just sometimes, it’s good to go into it completely blind and reverse engineer things. That way you can piece it together without going into it with presuppositions.

[@danielcowell1152]

Hopefully these are successful and you can collect full runs through this like the stories that follow after Catwoman or court of owls.

[@TBATB]

I agree!

[@RushedAnimation]

Tom Strong and Jonah Hex would be my picks, though I could see the Loeb/Sale Batman books fitting the format well and being a hit with the manga crowd

[@TBATB]

I’d love Tom strong but worried he’s not well known enough for one of these!

[@abrahamhimself]

From the looks of it, these compact editions won’t have volumes as they’re gonna compact everything there is to the story and nothing else into one book. With that, I’d like to see Crisis on Infinite Earths get the treatment. Such a stellar cosmic story that could introduce new readers to the crisis events and how the multiverse works in DC. These would be great at airports!

[@TBATB]

They do say America vampires book one tho!

[@Moyeeshen2304]

I think it also helps someone to explore other character outside of their favourite. I have no idea what Far Sector is about, but 9.99 a whole story? why not? At least it will look pretty on my shelf if I don't like it (and it is affortable to just gift to anyone else)

[@TBATB]

It will be my first way reading far sector!

[@stefanosanastasiades8007]

Would love to see Superman Red Son or Dark Knight Returns

[@TBATB]

Both awesome choices! Dark Knight could fit DKR & DKSA

[@DannyWhittingham-yk9oq]

When ypu consider you are paying upto 5 quid for a 20 page single issue, these are Fantastic value and like epic collection it's ordered...I've often wondered why dc or marvel dont actually compete with manga formats and this is an alternative

[@TBATB]

I definitely agree!

[@robbofwar57]

Huge Flash fan, would love to see some Waid, Geoff Johns, or new 52 flash in compact

[@TBATB]

Okay but if you could only pick one flash story what would you pick?

[@robbofwar57]

@@TBATB I’m still reading through some runs, but so far… “The Return of Barry Allen” I saw a lot of potential in the rest of Mark Waid’s run by the time I was through this story

[@sviadoiv]

Perfect for re-reading lol but not for my collections. Absolute, Omnis and deluxe only for me. 😅

[@TBATB]

Haha fair point! Maybe good as gifts to others?

[@LordOfClarkness]

Just by looking at it I would guess it fits better on a manga-shelf.

[@TBATB]

Definitely the crowd I think they are going after!

[@peterdaremedia]

I would love to see them print Batman Year One in this format! (And would also love to win the giveaway lol!)

[@TBATB]

Entered!

[@majestyzx9081]

They're for everybody! At $10, it's a ridiculous value. This could be comics answer to really breaking into box stores. Comics don't really have that product that people get as "impulse purchases". These in large box stores like Walmart & Target could really become a large market for them. I wouldn't be surprised to see Marvel, Image, IDW, & Boom! Move to release collections at the standard Manga Volume size & Price Point.

[@TBATB]

I 100% agree!!

[@majestyzx9081]

@@TBATB being able to sell a full story from start to finish for $10. Rather than nickle and coming your new readers for a full , can really hurt new readers. Selling full complete. ,mmmmmmmkk MMS;

[@danielcowell1152]

Would be great is for ones like Catwoman or batman they continue the runs moving into the next 11 issues ext

[@TBATB]

I think it could work!

[@Rillant]

As someone who has been reading and collecting manga for almost two decades, but always found DC too confusing to get into, these are 100% for me. Already picked up both books and very much looking forward to reading them.

[@TBATB]

Which ones are you most excited for?

[@Rillant]

@@TBATB Definitely the Batman ones!

[@cameronulrich7281]

I'd like to see the Green Arrow Quiver story by Kevin Smith or the classic Ted Kord Blue Beetle run.

[@TBATB]

Great choice!

[@Kevin.kevin_kevin]

I just picked up compact watchmen on Wednesday, my watchmen trade was very worn out

[@TBATB]

Haha you could tell my trade is worn out too

[@jadecasssie]

I would love a compact Green Arrow: Long Bow saga

[@TBATB]

Haha great choice

[@waza987]

I don’t think it matters how many of these sell to comic fans. The success or failure will be measured by how they sell to general book readers in department stores, bookshops, airports etc.

[@TBATB]

Great points!

[@Mickykovs]

Why aren’t they doing a dark knight returns compact version?

[@TBATB]

It hasn’t been announced for ether wave 1 or 2 but I’m sure it will come someday along with new frontier!

[@erwinmeisel2545]

I would love darker titles like Deadman, The Spectre and the 2022 Poison Ivy.

[@TBATB]

I need that spectre omni!

[@crazybeire]

green lantern would be sick or maybe a swamp thing one but damn i will just buy all of them door get all my non comic book friends addict

[@TBATB]

Gateway comics!

[@omarreyesjr1920]

If they are trying to do iconic into stories, Batman Year One would have made more sense then Court of Owls. CoO is great but it's not even Bruce lol

[@rickygreviews4637]

Out of the gate, I think they are trying to show a substantial amount of story. Year One is very short. I agree it's more influential, but it would need to be paired with another story.

[@TBATB]

Maybe year 1 and year 2 combined like the finest

[@boombapdoom493]

Magnifying glass 🔎 not included 💀

[@TBATB]

Haha lucky I have young eyes

[@boombapdoom493]

@@TBATB sure

[@user-ur4dj1um6x]

Is Watchmen okay for a 13.5 years old boy 😅😅 tell

[@TBATB]

I read it at 13 but probably not. Every kid is different so I’d say read it yourself first and choose for yourself!

[@crimefightingspider]

They could have found a better wonder woman story to do. I think batman: year one would make a great compact edition, the long Halloween would be cool too.

[@TBATB]

I wanted dead earth or Gail’s WW

[@DannyWhittingham-yk9oq]

V for vendetta would be a great compact imo

[@TBATB]

Yes!!