Skip to content

DC Comics

Roy Harper Comics Reading Order (Team Arrow)

While Robin is the most iconic sidekick in the DC Universe, he is not the only one. Speedy made his first appearance alongside Oliver Queen in More Fun Comics #73 (November 1941). The duo shared similarities with the famous dynamic duo for many years. Like Robin, Speedy would also go on to live many stories far away from his mentor. In fact, Roy Harper built most of his heroic career away from Green Arrow.

Still, Roy Harper’s journey started as a sidekick. Green Arrow took him under his wing and acted as a mentor and father figure for the young man. Roy has been trained in archery and combat, laying the foundation for Roy to become the Superhero Arsenal, and later Red Arrow. Roy also became one of the founding members of the Teen Titans.

One of the most pivotal moments in Roy Harper’s life happened in the early 1970s, in the two-part classic Snowbirds Don’t Fly (Green Lantern/Green Arrow #85–86). Written by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams, the story explores Roy’s fall into addiction. He battles to overcome it and chooses to go solo afterward, to find his path in life.

Read More »Roy Harper Comics Reading Order (Team Arrow)

Milestone Comics Reading Order (Hardware, Icon, Blood Syndicate, and Static)

In 1993, DC Comics launched two major lines: Vertigo and Milestone. The first was developed to cater to an older, more mature audience, than the regular DC Comics line. The second was historically more significant as Milestone Comics was the first minority-owned comic book company, cofounded by four African-Americans who wanted to introduce a more realistic cultural diversity in American Superhero comics.

Dwayne McDuffie, Derek T. Dingle, Denys Cowan, and Michael Davis made a deal with DC Comics. Milestone would control the copyrights, the characters, the merchandising, and the creative direction, while DC Comics would print, license, and distribute the comics for a share of the profits. And so, Milestone Comics was launched in February 1993 with the publication of Hardware #1 by Dwayne McDuffie and Jimmy Palmiotti. Then came Blood Syndicate by Ivan Velez Jr. and Chris Cross, Icon by McDuffie and M.D. Bright, and Static by McDuffie, Robert Washington III, John Paul Leon, and Steve Mitchell.

The launch was a total success, but it didn’t last long. Milestone Comics ceased regular publication in 1997 due to financial difficulties. Its cultural impact was nevertheless important (and still is) and its return was discussed for a long time. It finally happened in 2021 and came with a modernized take on the now-classic comics.

Read More »Milestone Comics Reading Order (Hardware, Icon, Blood Syndicate, and Static)

Batman By Grant Morrison Reading Order

  • by

Grant Morrison’s 7-year long run on Batman remains one of the most celebrated, influential, and divisive takes on the Caped Crusader. It all started in 2005 when editor Peter Tomasi approached  Morrison about writing the monthly Batman comic. As Morrison later explained, he thought at the time he had “said most of what had to say about the character with Arkham Asylum, Gothic, and Batman’s appearances in JLA. Clearly, I was wrong.” (Batman Incorporated Special #1, October 2013).

Morrison’s work on Batman started at the end of the Modern Age and concluded at the start of New 52. His approach—treating the entire publishing history as Batman’s life story—created one of the most iconic sagas featuring the Dark Knight. It’s an epic, metaphysical tale filled with weird sci-fi elements, colorful and dangerous villains, unexpected plot twists, and, at its core, the tragic effects of trauma and broken families. As often, Bruce Wayne’s loss of his parents is still at the heart of the story, the same way that Damian Wayne, Son of Batman, is.

Structured in three parts, Morrison’s epic tale takes the reader on a wild ride, from the deconstruction of Batman’s history in the first part, to the playful spirit of adventure in the second, and finally, to the ambitious, James Bond-style story of the third. Not everything works, but there is no doubt that when it is, it is sort of magical.

Read More »Batman By Grant Morrison Reading Order

Outsiders Reading Order, A DC Comics Team (featuring Batman!)

When Wayne Enterprises manager Lucius Fox goes missing in Markovia, Batman recruits the Justice League of America (JLA) to find him, only to have Superman informing him that he promised the State Department that no member of the team would interfere in the Markovian Revolution.

As a result, Batman resigns from the JLA and goes to Markovia with Black Lightning. The duo encounters Metamorpho along with new heroes Katana, Halo, and Geo-Force. At the end of their mission, Batman convinces them to come together as a team. And thus, The Outsiders were formed!

Created by writer Mike W. Barr and artist Jim Aparo, The Outsiders first appeared in a preview of The Brave and the Bold #200 (July 1983), the final issue of that series, before making their official debut in the own title, Batman and The Outsiders, the following month.

Read More »Outsiders Reading Order, A DC Comics Team (featuring Batman!)

Batman Rogues Gallery: Who are The Dark Knight’s Enemies?

Batman is one of the most iconic comic book heroes, so it is not a surprise that some of his enemies are iconic comic book villains in their own right. But the infamous Batman Rogues Gallery comprises more than your usual suspects. With 85 years of comics under his belt, the Dark Knight had to stop a lot of criminals. As he is not a hero with powers, but one known for his high intelligence and fighting skills, he had to face a lot of intelligent, creative, and often misguided individuals.

These antagonists aren’t just obstacles for Batman. They are larger-than-life with personas that are often connected to the city’s corruption, darkness, and extremes. Most of them have been created to be reflections of his character, each embodying a different facet of his psyche, his mission, or the city he protects. This made the Rogues Gallery as diverse as it is iconic, with criminal masterminds, deranged psychopaths, tragic antiheroes, and cunning opportunists.

Also, you may ask where the term “Rogues Gallery” comes from. It finds its origin in law enforcement as it historically refers to a collection of criminal mugshots. 

Follow the guide as we introduce you to the most notable antagonists who regularly face the Caped Crusader!

Read More »Batman Rogues Gallery: Who are The Dark Knight’s Enemies?

How to Start Reading DC Comics in 2025?

With a new year often comes resolutions to improve our lives—whether it’s eating healthier, exercising more, or reading more books. If reading more is on your list, you might have considered exploring or rediscovering the DC Comics Universe.

Chances are, you’re already a bit familiar with the DC Universe—whether it’s from animated shows, movie adaptations, or even video games. Maybe the start of James Gunn’s new DC Universe has caught your attention, and now you’re curious to learn more about the characters and their comic book stories.

However, with several decades of stories, you’re bound to face the classic question: where do I even start? The sheer volume of comics can make it feel like an overwhelming task.

We’re here today to make sure your start reading DC Comics is as fun and enjoyable as it should be, full of great stories, and the beginning of many years of reading comics!

Read More »How to Start Reading DC Comics in 2025?

The Complete Guide to DC Comics Omnibus Releases in 2024

As 2024 concludes, it is time to reflect on the last 12 months of collected omnibus editions published by DC Comics. Unlike the continuous flow of new releases and reprints of omnibus coming from Marvel Comics, DC Comics was still lagging far behind during the year’s first half. But after almost two years of slow releases, things are picking up.

DC Comics launched new collections, the popular DC Compact Comics and its version of the Epic Collection, DC Finest. And of course, the publication of new omnibuses became a lot more regular, with some welcome reprints added to the schedule.

Nevertheless, new comic books are still hitting the shelves every week and you may have missed something during the last 12 months (if you didn’t follow our page–updated once a month!–dedicated to the release schedule of DC Omnibuses). That’s why it’s time to take a look back with a complete listing of all the omnibuses published (or republished) in 2024 by DC Comics.

Also, you can find most of these in the reading orders dedicated to their main superheroes.

Read More »The Complete Guide to DC Comics Omnibus Releases in 2024

Captain Atom Reading Order (Nathaniel Adam)

Created by Joe Gill and Steve Ditko in 1960, Captain Atom first appeared in Space Adventures #33 published by Charlton Comics, a publishing company later acquired by DC Comics. Back then, the character was named Allen Adam, a technician who was trapped in a rocket that exploded. He should have died but instead became a superpowered atomic hero. His series continued for a few years (until December 1967). Back then, he had a red and yellow outfit and pretty generic powers.

In 1983, DC Comics acquired Charlton Comics’ action heroes and asked Alan Moore to do something with them. That’s how Captain Atom became Doctor Manhattan in Watchmen. Moore’s take on the characters was not what DC’s editors had in mind for them and the British writer had to rewrite some of them to create his own version while the publisher introduced Charlton’s super-heroes (like Blue Beetle) in its Post-Crisis universe. During the Crisis on Infinite Earths, it was established that they were on Earth-4. After that, they found their way into the main continuity.

Captain Atom was then reinvented as Nathaniel Christopher Adam, a United States Air Force officer and Vietnam War veteran. Framed and condemned for a crime he didn’t commit, his only option to survive was to join the military experiment called ‘Project: Captain Atom‘ during which he was placed in an alien craft positioned next to an atomic bomb. The goal was to test the resistance of the ship, but the result was ultimately the creation of a superhero. During the explosion, Nathaniel was disintegrated, but he mysteriously reappeared 18 years later, now bonded with the alien metal that has the ability to tap into the “Quantum Field”. Captain Atom can absorb energy to a certain point (beyond that, he jumps in time).

In 1986, as Captain Atom just reappeared, the military forced him to work for them. He eventually joined the Justice League and later became the leader of Justice League Europe. Through the years, he joined other teams, fought his enemy through times, and became a villain before returning to normal.

Read More »Captain Atom Reading Order (Nathaniel Adam)

Jessica Cruz Reading Order, member of the Green Lantern Corps

The Green Lantern Corps has at least 7,200 members! It would be easy to be just one among many, living in the shadows of brighter stars like Hal Jordan or Kyle Rayner. Despite initially being forced to accept the famous ring and join the Corps, Jessica Cruz quickly made a name for herself with DC Comics readers.

For her co-creator Geoff Johns, Jessica Cruz is all “about fear.” In a Comic Book Resources interview, he explained that her character was about “a lot of emotional fears and someone dealing with crippling anxiety, depression, and worry. That was a totally different type of fear to tackle.” Jessica Cruz embodied this, starting with the ring as a curse—from Earth-3’s Power Ring—and eventually overcoming her own fears and personal struggles to earn a Green Lantern ring. Johns felt it was “a compelling story and a very different one than the other Lanterns.”

Jessica Cruz wasn’t the most willing member of the Green Lantern Corps, but she has left her mark, becoming an inspiration to readers facing anxiety. Like many DC superheroes and fellow ring-bearers, her journey is full of challenges, obstacles, and the determination to face her fears.
 
Discover now our Jessica Cruz reading order, guiding you through the essential comics and story arcs featuring the first female human Green Lantern!

Read More »Jessica Cruz Reading Order, member of the Green Lantern Corps

Batman: The Intercompany Crossovers, From Alien to Spider-Man, Hellboy, TMNT, Spawn, Dredd, and more

With the DC Versus Marvel Omnibus coming out, we are reminded that comic intercompany crossovers, when heroes from different publishing houses meet, are a popular yet rare occurrence. Maybe not that rare as it is a profitable endeavor after all. In fact, DC’s own Batman has met a lot of heroes from other comic book universes, he even catches criminals on a monthly basis with Scooby-Doo‘s Mystery Team nowadays!

Some of the Dark Knight’s adventures side by side or even against other non-regular DC Comics characters have become the stuff of legend when others have been forgotten. One thing most of them (not all) have in common though, is that they are totally out-of-continuity stories. But some are quite interesting to discover for curious fans who want to know how Batman would fare against Aliens and/or a Predator, or what would look like a team-up with Tarzan, Spider-Man, Danger Girl, or Spawn.

Yes, some of those intercompany crossovers seem to be (and are) oddities. Here is our guide to those crazy and unpredictable comic book meetings.

Read More »Batman: The Intercompany Crossovers, From Alien to Spider-Man, Hellboy, TMNT, Spawn, Dredd, and more