DC Compact Comics Coming Summer 2024 | News

DC Comics has announced the coming release of the DC Compact Comics line, beginning June 2024. These graphic novel reprints have a smaller size and an affordable price, at $9.99 US for a 5.5″ x 8.5″ standard book trim size. DC provided the following image for size comparison.

The line is described as repackaging “bestselling, new-reader-friendly titles from DC’s evergreen library [for] this new lineup of compact editions of adult graphic novels.” It remains to be seen how well art and lettering designed for a larger scale reproduces at the smaller size.

There are ten books in the first release batch:

• Watchmen (9781779527325) by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
• Batman: The Court of Owls (9781779527271) by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo
• All-Star Superman (9781779527257) by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
• Far Sector (9781779527295) by N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell
• Wonder Woman: Earth One (9781779527332) by Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette
• American Vampire Book One (9781779527349) by Scott Snyder, Stephen King, and Rafael Albuquerque
• Batman: Hush (9781779527264) by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee
• Joker (9781779527318) by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo
• Harley Quinn & the Gotham City Sirens (9781779527301) by Paul Dini, Peter Calloway, Tony Bedard, Guillem March and Andres Guinaldo
• Catwoman: Trail of the Catwoman (9781779527288) by Darwyn Cooke and Ed Brubaker

These titles, for the most part, feature well-known characters, particularly those who’ve been in movies, and name creators; that approach is typical for an outreach project. The Far Sector book is specifically called out as “DC’s recent Hugo Award-winning sci-fi graphic novel.”

Anne DePies, SVP & General Manager, DC, said, “The DC Compact Comics price and sizing is perfect for readers of prose and manga looking to pick up a new-reader-friendly storyline in a self-contained full-color graphic novel. This 5.5″ x 8.5″ paper cut is the most widely circulated softcover book size in the US and is popular among graphic novel aficionados in international markets.”

Of note is that they feature on the cover a genre label, with “science fiction”, “thriller”, “fantasy” (for Superman), and “mystery” (for Batman) shown on the sample covers. Also mentioned in the press release are “horror” (a popular comic genre currently) and “adventure”. “Superhero” doesn’t seem to be used, tying into the goal of reaching new readers.

While these are specifically aimed at adults, it’s likely older teens would find them of interest, and there is potential for interested readers to look for more books featuring the characters.

Filed under: Graphic Novels, News, Young Adult