DC Comics has been on quite a roller coaster ride in the 2020s. DC Rebirth had gave DC some momentum in the mid ’10s, but much of that was squandered by 2020, with Marvel firmly in control of the sales charts. 2020 and 2021 weren’t the best years to be a DC fan; after Death Metal ended, we got the Infinite Frontier publishing initiative, which can best be described as all Batman, all of the time. However, 2023’s Dawn of DC changed all of that, and we’ve been riding that momentum ever since. The 2020s have given readers some quality stories, and DC is now sitting in a much better place than it had been in other parts of the decade.
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Quality is obviously subjective, but for my money, DC has been giving readers the best mainstream superhero comics of the last five years. These stories have run the gamut of excellence, taking some of DC’s greatest characters and giving them unforgettable stories. These ten 2020s DC stories are the cream of the crop, and have helped show readers that DC is more than just Batman.
10) Dark Knights: Death Metal
Dark Knights: Death Metal, by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, was the sequel to Dark Knights: Metal and the culmination of a couple of years of storytelling. Perpetua and the Batman Who Laughs had taken over the DC Multiverse, creating a composite world using the Dark Multiverse. Wonder Woman is the world’s last hope, as she has made a plan that will not only defeat Perpetua and the Batman Who Laughs, but also all of creation. Death Metal is big fun action; it’s not the deepest story out there, but it doesn’t need to be. It gave readers a story with massive stakes, and it delivered completely. Great writing and beautiful art make this the best DC event of the 2020s.
9) “Warworld Saga”
We are in the middle of a Super-ssaince right now. DC Rebirth brought back the fan-favorite post-Crisis Superman, and the Superman books got popular again. However, DC decided to put Brian Michael Bendis on the Superman books, and all of the good will was squandered. Things got much better after Bendis left the Superman books. We got Grant Morrison’s last Superman comic, establishing that Superman was losing his power, and that led to writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson taking over Action Comics. Johnson gave readers “Warworld Saga”, a story that ran through Action Comics #1029-1046, ending with Superman: Warworld Apocalypse. The story followed a weakened Superman and the Authority trying to free Warworld from Mongul, leading to an epic that redefined Warworld’s lore while giving readers a brilliant Superman story. “Warworld Saga” is one of the best modern Superman stories, and it reminded readers what a great Superman story can really be.
8) Stargirl: The Lost Children
Geoff Johns came to prominence in the ’00s, and was partly responsible for the success of the Justice Society of America. However, his first major DC work was Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E.S, a book that introduced readers to Courtney Whitmore, the hero who would become Stargirl. Johns based her on his sister, who had died in a plane crash, and she became one of the most loved teen heroes of the day. The character had some ups and downs in the 10s, but Johns brought her back in the “New Golden Age” publishing initiative, teaming with former Stargirl artist Todd Nauck for Stargirl: The Lost Children. Stargirl discovers that a villain called the Childminder is holding a group of teen heroes hostage, heroes she’s never seen before. What follows is an amazing Stargirl story, introducing readers to a small army of new characters, all while showing why Stargirl is one of the best DC teen heroes ever. Johns loves Stargirl and every page is a love letter to the character. Nauck’s art is gorgeous, and makes them this an unforgettable story.
7) Aquaman: Andromeda
Ram V is one of the greatest writers working in comics today, and that’s all there is to it. DC has gone all-in on the Indian writer, and basically anything he’s wrote at the publisher (and in general; go get The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, These Savage Shores, and Rare Flavours) is amazing. One of his best works at DC in the 2020s is Aquaman: Andromeda, with artist Christian Ward. The story revolves around a sub sent to investigate something that crashed in the ocean, with Aquaman and Black Manta getting involved. This is prime cosmic horror with gorgeous, atmospheric art that will draw you in. This is the best Aquaman story of all time, and exactly the kind of book that DC’s Black Label was built for. It’s sensational, and will show why Ram V is one of the best writers working today (and honestly ever).
6) Superman: Space Age
Superman: Space Age is a brilliant Superman story. This story by Mark Russell and Mike and Laura Allred is a retro Superman masterpiece, taking place in a world where Superman started his career in the 1960s. From there we get a story that shows Superman helping form the Justice League, Lex Luthor’s machinations to destroy the Metropolis Marvel, and Superman discovering a threat to the entire multiverse. This story blends Silver Age DC with modern sensibilities, and shows off just what a great Superman story can be. Russell has an amazing grasp on Superman and his fellow DC characters, giving readers a tale that will draw them in. The Allreds are one of the greatest art teams ever, and their style is perfect for this kind of story, detailed retro work that brings it all to life perfectly. This is one of those comics that you just marvel at as you read, a masterpiece of comic craft that makes up for some of its shortcoming.
5) Absolute Wonder Woman
DC’s Absolute books are fantastic, and have helped DC become more popular than ever. We’re going to have two Absolute books on this list and we begin with Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman, and fill-in artist Mattia De Iullis. Absolute Wonder Woman follows Diana, raised in Hell by Circe and coming to Earth. The book has ran for 11 issues so far, and every single one of them is a must-read. Thompson just gets how to write Wonder Woman, giving us a Wonder Woman comic unlike any we’ve had in decades while also standing with the greatest Wonder Woman classics like those George Perez, Phil Jimenez, Gail Simone, and Greg Rucka. Sherman’s art is gorgeous, really bringing the book’s mythology meets superhero flavor to life. Absolute Wonder Woman is everything you could want from a DC comic, and stands tall among the Absolute books.
4) “Gotham Nocture”
In 2022, Ram V was given the helm of Detective Comics and he gave readers, along with Si Spurrier and Dan Watters, what I consider the best Batman story ever. “Gotham Nocturne” ran in Detective Comics #1062-1089, a three act epic that sees Batman face off against a threat unlike he’s faced before. The book focuses on the conflict between Batman and the Orgham family, an ancient family with ties to Gotham City that reach back to the city’s beginning. “Gotham Nocturne” is a true Batman epic, bringing in characters from around the Gotham City to tell a story that digs into the Batman mythos in entirely new ways. “Gotham Nocturne” is definitely a long story, but it’s so very rewarding. A small army of artists work on the main and back-up stories — Rafael Albuquerque, Ivan Reis, Riccardo Federici, Dani, Hayden Sherman, Casper Wijngard, Stefano Raffaelle, Liam Sharp, and many more — giving readers gorgeous visuals. This is unlike any Batman story you’ve ever read and will keep you hooked until its perfect ending.
3) “Return to Kingdom Come”
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest has been one of the best superhero books since it launched, and if you like DC, I would recommend reading the whole series. However, if you want the best story of the entire series, look no further than “Return to Kingdom Come”, a story that sees writer Mark Waid return to Kingdom Come, which had been teased since the early story arcs of World’s Finest. Waid and former series artist Dan Mora give readers an amazing tale that sees Superman and Batman get exposed to their future through the actions of the Boy Thunder, a boy thrown into Hypertime by parents on another Earth who was Superman’s sidekick earlier in the book, and how he became Magog. This return to Kingdom Come is sensational, with Waid and Mora giving readers a compelling story that redefines the mythos of Kingdom Come.
2) Absolute Martian Manhunter
Absolute Martian Manhunter is a superhero comic as high art, and it stands head and shoulders over nearly every superhero comic on the stands. Written by Deniz Camp with art by Javier Rodriguez, the book tells the story of John Jones, an FBI agent that has bonded with the Green Martian. Using Jones’s detective experience and the power of the Martian, the two of them are drawn into a battle against the White Martian, who is trying to destroy humanity, using the darkness in their minds against them. This book is perfect. It’s an amazing fusion of art and writing, every page dripping with emotion and meaning. I’ve been reading comics for over 30 years and I’ve rarely experienced anything on this level. Absolute Martian Manhunter‘s first story arc has just ended and you need to check it out before the next six issue arc begins. It’s casually brilliant and will change the way you look at comics forever.
1) Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons
Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons is a work on another level. Written Kelly Sue DeConnick with art by Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha, and Nicola Scott, this three issue Black Label miniseries gave readers the origin of the Amazons, as the Greek goddesses do their best to create a force of women who will defend the women of the world from depredations of the gods and men. This is a heavily feminist work that takes the feminist origins of the ideas behind Wonder Woman and puts them right up front, and it works perfectly. DeConnick’s writing is brilliant, giving readers a deep and engaging story that will astound you. The art is amazing in every issue; each artist uses the oversize page format of certain Black Label books to give readers visuals that are perfect. This series took a year to come out and it was worth the wait. Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons is a true work of art, and you will never forget it after you read it.
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