10 DC Comics Runs You Haven’t Read (but Definitely Need To)

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For decades, DC Comics has consistently delivered incredible superhero stories. They launched iconic characters during the Golden Age, revolutionized the genre in the Silver Age, produced some of the best comics ever during the Bronze Age, and continue to impress readers today. Many legendary writers and artists have contributed amazing work, enhancing these beloved superheroes. While we all recognize the most famous creators, there’s a wealth of talent behind these stories that often goes unnoticed.

Many fantastic DC comic book series from the past haven’t received the attention they deserve. While some fans are familiar with them, they can be difficult to locate. Others are even more obscure and nearly impossible to find, but all are worth the effort. Here are ten amazing runs you might have missed.

10) Abnett’s Titans (Vol. 3)

DC Rebirth successfully brought back many characters, and the Titans series, written by Dan Abnett with art by Brett Booth, Kenneth Rocafort, and Brandon Peterson, was a standout. Abnett has a strong history of writing team books, having previously worked on popular runs of Legion of Superheroes and Guardians of the Galaxy. He continued the Titans legacy with a team including Wally, Nightwing, Donna Troy, Tempest, Bumblebee, Lilith Clay (as Omen), and Arsenal, in a 36-issue run. The series is generally excellent, although a later storyline connected to Justice League: No Justice wasn’t quite as strong as the initial issues. Overall, Titans felt fresh and avoided simply retreading old ground, and Abnett really excelled at capturing the dynamics of the team.

9) Phil Jimenez’s Superwoman

Phil Jimenez is a truly exceptional writer and artist, especially when it comes to portraying superheroines. When DC launched Rebirth, he took on the Superwoman title, a series focused on Lois Lane and Lana Lang after the death of the New 52 Superman – both women unexpectedly gained powers. The story immediately throws a huge twist at readers with a shocking death, leaving one character to fight against a villainous version of Lena Luthor. Jimenez’s work on this book was incredible, and I won’t reveal the surprise ending! It’s a fantastic series, and well worth reading if you can find it.

8) Marc Andreyko’s Manhunter

The Manhunter identity has a surprisingly long history in DC Comics, and many fans consider the third series, written by Marc Andreyko with art by Jesus Saiz, Jimmy Palmiotti, and others, to be the best. This version featured Kate Spencer, a lawyer who fought crime both in and out of the courtroom, all while grappling with the dangerous legacy of the Manhunter mantle – a burden that has destroyed others. Despite facing cancellation, passionate fans kept the series going, and for good reason. It was a hidden gem during a creatively strong period for DC in the mid-2000s.

7) Ram V’s Detective Comics

Look, Detective Comics doesn’t have the mainstream sales of a regular Batman title, but honestly, it consistently delivers some of the best stories around. In 2022, Ram V – a truly exceptional writer – took the reins and gave us “Gotham Overture,” an absolutely stunning Batman epic. Spanning issues #1062 to #1089, it introduced the Orgham family – these ancient, immortal Indian nobles who’ve been secretly controlling Gotham for centuries. And let me tell you, it’s incredible. What really elevates it are the accompanying back-up stories, which are some of the best I’ve ever read. Ram V collaborated with a fantastic team – Simon Spurrier, Dan Watters, and a rotating cast of incredible artists like Rafael Albuquerque, Ivan Reis, and so many others – to build this truly unique narrative. It’s a Batman story unlike anything else, a weird, wonderful masterpiece that will stick with you long after you finish reading.

6) Judd Winnick’s Green Arrow (Vol. 3)

Green Arrow is a long-standing DC Comics hero, and the 2000s were a particularly strong period for the character, rivaling even the 1980s. The Green Arrow comic series (Volume 3) gained attention by bringing in writers from outside the traditional comics world, like Kevin Smith and Brad Meltzer. Judd Winnick, a key DC writer during that decade, soon took over with issue #26 and continued writing until issue #75, later concluding the story in Green Arrow and Black Canary #1-14. Winnick’s run, from 2004 to 2009, delivered a string of successful issues, supported by talented artists including Phil Hester, Ron Garney, Ron Lim, Scott McDaniel, and Cliff Chiang, making it a very productive time for the character at DC.

5) Peter David’s Supergirl

Peter David’s work on Supergirl (Volume 4) is a highlight of 1990s DC Comics. The series, which lasted 81 issues, focused on Supergirl – a shapeshifting alien from another Earth created after the Crisis event – as she connected with Linda Danvers, a struggling teenager, and tried to figure out Linda’s mysterious background. David collaborated with artists like Gary Frank (whom he’d previously worked with on The Incredible Hulk), Ed Benes, and others, creating a series that both honored Supergirl’s history and felt fresh. DC should consistently reprint this run, as it’s a fantastic series that deserves a wider audience.

4) Peter David’s Aquaman Books

Peter David revitalized Aquaman in the 1990s, transforming a previously unpopular character into a fan favorite. He began by establishing a new backstory for the underwater kingdom of Atlantis with the 1990 series, The Atlantis Chronicles. In 1993, his four-issue miniseries, Aquaman: Time and Tide, and subsequent run on Aquaman (Vol. 5) – issues #0-46 – dramatically reshaped the hero. David portrayed Arthur as a powerful warrior king, giving him a distinctive harpoon, altering his abilities, and introducing compelling new adversaries. Many consider this era to be the definitive Aquaman, and one of the best comic book runs of the decade.

3) Chase #1-9, #1,000,000

Let’s talk about overlooked ’90s DC comics – specifically, Chase by Dan Curtis Johnson and J.H. Williams. This ten-issue series followed DEO agent Cameron Chase as she navigated the challenges of investigating the heroes and villains of the DC Universe. It was a really great book, but it never gained a large audience. Chase is a true hidden gem – a character-driven spy/detective comic that deserved more recognition.

2) Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning/Butch Guice’s Resurrection Man (Vol. 1)

Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning were successfully working on the Legion series when they got the opportunity to create a brand-new hero, Resurrection Man, alongside the acclaimed artist Butch Guice, who sadly passed away last year. The series focused on Mitch Shelley, a man who gained the ability to die and come back to life with different superpowers after being kidnapped and implanted with tektites. Over 28 issues, Mitch investigated the mystery of his transformation, embarking on thrilling adventures brought to life by Guice’s exceptional artwork.

1) Grant Morrison and Mark Millar’s Aztek: The Ultimate Man

As a huge comics fan, I always find the stories behind the stories fascinating, and the rivalry between Grant Morrison and Mark Millar is legendary. But before they were at odds, they actually teamed up at DC in the ’90s – yeah, I know, the ’90s! – and one of their most intriguing collaborations was Aztek: The Ultimate Man. They also did some great work on Swamp Thing and The Flash around that time, but Aztek was something special. It introduced this brand new hero, powered by the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, tasked with saving the world. It’s a really unique, wonderfully weird take on the superhero genre, and it feels like Aztek should have been huge. Morrison did eventually wrap up the character’s story in JLA’s “World War III” arc, but it’s a shame we never got the full, planned-out story. Still, what we did get is absolutely worth checking out if you’re looking for something a little different.

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2026-03-25 19:16