10 Best DC Comics Miniseries of All Time, Ranked

DC Comics may not always be the sales leader, but they have become known for putting out some of the greatest comics of all time. One of the best example of this are their miniseries’. A miniseries is basically any comic ranging from 2 to 9 issues, each one telling a completely story. DC has put out numerous miniseries, some of them are set in the main universe but many of them set on alternate worlds from across the multiverse. This is honestly a big reason why a lot of DC miniseries are amazing; creators get to create new worlds with characters that we all know and love, and are able to take them to places they might be able to go on the mainline DC Earth.

Over the decades, DC miniseries have been a cut above the rest. These short stories have changed the way that readers look at numerous characters, taking fans on a journey unlike anything they have ever seen before. These ten DC miniseries are the best of them all, game-changing comics that are massively beloved.

10) JSA: The Liberty File

The ’90s brought the Justice Society of America back to prominence, although it took some time, leading to some of the best stories starring the team. In the year 2000, Dan Jolley and Tony Harris teamed up for an Elseworlds series called JSA: The Liberty File. This two-issue series took place in an alternate reality version of WWII, where a team of costumed heroes — the Clock (Hourman), the Bat (Batman), and the Owl (Doctor Mid-Nite) — work for the Allies in the war. They are sent to find Jack the Grin (the Joker), a smuggler who has plans for a secret German superweapon. This is an awesome comic, pulpy superhero action at its best. This is a pretty obscure story, but it’s worth the hunt.

9) The New Frontier

The ’00s were a great time for DC, with the publisher firing on all cylinders creatively. There are numerous great miniseries from the decade, and one of the most beloved is The New Frontier, by Darwyn Cooke. This story took readers back to the Silver Age, with a new batch of heroes joining Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman just as a new threat rears its monstrous head. The New Frontier was a classic from the first issue, enthralling readers immediately. The late, great Cooke was able to capture the feel of the Silver Age, giving readers some momumental moments. This comic is brilliant, and anyone who loves DC will adore it.

8) Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow redefined the character, and is about to hit the big screen in 2026. This eight-issue series, from Tom King and Bilquis Evely, saw Supergirl, on a planet with a red sun so she can get drunk for her 21st birthday, help a girl track down the man who killed her father. The two of them begin an intergalactic journey that will take them to the heart of Supergirl and beyond. This story brought the Maid of Might back into the spotlight, showing readers how easy it is to modernize the character. While the writing is amazing, it’s the art that really makes this story. Evely’s pencils are gorgeous, bringing all of the wild ideas and sheer emotion of this story to life perfectly. This is peak Supergirl, and it deserves its flowers.

7) Superman For All Seasons

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale were one of the greatest duos in comic history. They worked a lot on Batman together, and the success of those stories saw them get a chance to do Superman. Superman For All Seasons is a four-issue masterpiece that focused on four different Superman supporting characters — Jonathan Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Lana Lang — and how they see the Man of Steel. Each issue takes place in a different season (hence the title), and perfectly illustrated why Superman is one of the greatest heroes in comics. This book is a stone cold classic, enchanting readers for almost 30 years.

6) JSA: The Golden Age

The Justice Society have starred in some amazing stories and one of the best is, as is so often the case, an Elseworlds classic. JSA: The Golden Age (originally published as The Golden Age), by James Robinson and Paul Smith, takes place in the days following WWII, as the heroes of the world try to figure out what to do next. However, the greatest supervillain of the Golden Age has a plan, one that will bring back the most evil monster in history. This story concentrated on numerous Golden Age heroes, with obscure characters like Manhunter, Liberty Belle, the Tarantula, and Cheetah I getting a lot of focus. This is a brilliant comic and it played a huge role in the rebirth of DC’s Golden Age heroes in the modern day.

5) Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons

DC Comics has ruled the 2020s, giving readers some of the best superhero comics of the 21st century. There are so many brilliant stories from the first five years of decade, and the best of them is easily Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha, and Nicola Scott. This three-issue Black Label series tells the story of the Amazons, as the female Greek Gods create warriors to protect the women of the world. This story has everything you could want from a story starring the Amazons. It’s fiercely feminist and has some of the most gorgeous art you can imagine. This comic is flawless, and will grab your frontal lobe and never let go.

4) Superman: Red Son

Superman: Red Son, by Mark Millar, Dave Johnson, and Killian Plunkett (there are rumors that Grant Morrison was heavily involved in writing the story as well), took Superman fans to a completely new place. The story takes place in a world where Kal-El landed in Russia instead of the US, and was raised to be Stalin’s greatest weapon. In the US, the government calls in Lex Luthor to destroy the alien menace to capitalism. What follows is one of the most unique stories in Superman history. Communist dictator Superman is a completely different kind of Superman, but the core of the character still shines through. It’s yet another Elseworlds classic and shows why fans loved those game-changing tales.

3) JLA: The Nail

The ’90s gets a bad rep when it comes to quality comics, thanks to Marvel and Image Comics concentrating more on the art than the writing. However, DC was putting out amazing comics the whole decade, many of which aren’t as well-known as they should be. JLA: The Nail, by Alan Davis, is yet another Elseworlds story, a three-issue miniseries that takes place in a world where the Kents got a nail in their tire and never found Kal-El. Superheroes still show up, just no Superman, and the Justice League and the metahuman community are targeted by an unknown enemy, using using alien technology that no one ever seen before. Davis is one of the greatest talents in the comic industry, and this series is a perfect example of that. The art and the writing are sensational, and the last issue has a massive shock that makes the story even better.

2) The Dark Knight Returns

The Dark Knight Returns helped change comics forever. Frank Miller’s four-issue series took place in the future, with a retired Bruce Wayne trying to find meaning in his life. This leads to him putting the cape and cowl back on, fighting crime in a worse than ever Gotham City, eventually getting the attention of the federal government and their big blue boy scout. This story is one of the books that is given credit for helping mature the comic medium, and has become a legendary story that even many people who would never read a comics knows about. Miller’s writing and art are awesome, taking readers on a ride that no expected.

1) Kingdom Come

Kingdom Come, by Mark Waid and Alex Ross, is considered by many to be the best DC book of the ’90s. Taking place in a future where the retirement of Superman led to his generation of heroes retiring and being replaced by a newer, more violent type of hero, it shows the consequences of the Man of Steel’s loss of faith. A disaster brings the older generation back, leading to shadowy forces enacting a plan to destroy all the heroes. Waid and Ross’s story was meant to be a reaction to the “extreme” comics of the ’90s, yet its messages about heroism and humanity still ring true. This is, in a lot of ways, the ultimate DC story, one that has stood the test of time.

What’s your favorite DC miniseries? Leave a comment in the comment section below and join the conversation on the ComicBook Forums!

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