10 Greatest Events in DC Comics History, Ranked

DC Comics is a pioneer in the world of superhero comics, responsible for many of the genre’s defining elements. However, the large-scale, industry-wide ‘event comic’ wasn’t their invention. While DC had crossovers that resembled events, Marvel is credited with creating the modern event comic format. Despite this, DC has become incredibly skilled at producing these events, and many fans consider their event comics to be the best in the industry, consistently year after year.

Marvel may have started the trend of large-scale comic book events, but DC has truly mastered it. The current hit series, DC K.O., is a perfect example – it’s incredibly popular, with strong sales across its related titles, and has generated more excitement than any Marvel event in recent years. DC simply understands how to create a successful event comic, and the following ten DC events represent the very best of their efforts.

10) Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths

Despite its reputation, Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths is a genuinely fun DC event. While it definitely borrows from past storylines – a common criticism – it delivers a classic, over-the-top superhero experience, especially if you follow the related tie-in comics. It leans heavily into DC tropes and clichés, and that’s actually part of its charm. The artwork by Daniel Sampere is outstanding, ranking him among legendary artists like Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, George Perez, and Phil Jimenez. He consistently makes characters look fantastic, and the action sequences are impactful. While criticisms of the story are understandable, it embraces those familiar elements, making it a highly enjoyable read for fans of DC events.

9) Dark Knights: Metal

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Dark Knights: Metal is delightfully chaotic, which is a big reason why fans love it. The story throws the heroes of the DC Multiverse into an epic battle against the dark god Barbatos and his evil counterparts – twisted versions of Batman from across the multiverse – all to decide the fate of reality itself. It’s a massive, action-packed story that’s completely captivating. Snyder and Capullo deliver everything you’d expect from a DC event, with an extra dose of Batman, thanks to Snyder’s signature style. The more you read, the more you appreciate its over-the-top, energetic feel – it’s the kind of comic that feels like a classic metal album cover. Seriously, the artwork would look amazing painted on the side of a van! If pure, unadulterated superhero fun could be captured in a single comic, this would be it.

8) Dark Knights: Death Metal

The comic series Dark Knights: Death Metal, from the creative team behind Metal (Snyder and Capullo), feels similar to its predecessor but offers a stronger narrative. Continuing the story from Snyder’s Justice League, the multiverse is now under the control of Perpetua and the Batman Who Laughs, with Wonder Woman working secretly to restore balance. What makes this series special is that Wonder Woman takes center stage – a rare occurrence for a major DC event – and it’s a truly compelling story. With a more exciting and impactful ending, and everything amplified from the previous installment, Dark Knights: Death Metal is a standout event in the DC universe.

7) Cosmic Odyssey

Jim Starlin and Mike Mignola’s Cosmic Odyssey is a truly great comic that deserves more recognition. Though it’s not a typical, large-scale crossover event, it delivers the epic action you’d expect from one, featuring a massive conflict between DC’s biggest heroes and villains. The story centers around Darkseid, who alerts the universe to an unprecedented threat – a living embodiment of the Anti-Life Equation – forcing an uneasy alliance between Earth’s heroes, the forces of New Genesis, and even Apokolips to save all existence. Essentially, it’s the mind behind Infinity Gauntlet tackling a Darkseid story, illustrated by the creator of Hellboy. If that doesn’t pique your interest, it’s hard to say what will! This is a wonderfully strange and captivating cosmic DC story from the post-Crisis era that’s sure to entertain.

6) Absolute Power

DC’s recent success is largely thanks to the Absolute Power storyline. The creative team of Mark Waid and Dan Mora, known for their work on Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, delivered a compelling story that unfolded throughout 2023 and 2024. The plot centers around Amanda Waller, who, aided by Failsafe and Lady Brainiac, launches a devastating attack on the heroes, stripping them of their powers with Amazo technology and manipulating public opinion. What follows is a chaotic struggle as these iconic heroes fight to overcome an enemy who has taken everything from them. While Mark Waid’s writing is exceptional, the artwork by Dan Mora truly shines, especially when paired with the colors of Alejandro Sanchez – it’s arguably his best work yet. Absolute Power represents DC Comics at its very best.

5) DC One Million

DC One Million is a largely overlooked gem from the 1990s that’s sure to impress. Stemming from Grant Morrison’s JLA run, this four-part series follows the Justice League as they’re transported to the 853rd century for a celebration of the Prime Superman, only to find chaos erupting. Stranded in the future, the heroes face a threat from Vandal Savage and Solaris the Tyrant Sun, who endanger both the past and future. It’s a remarkably well-executed event, enhanced by some of the best tie-in issues ever created. Most collected editions include these #1,000,000 issues because they consistently stand out and enrich an already excellent story. DC One Million truly delivers on all fronts and remains a complete package.

4) Blackest Night

The decade of the 2000s was a fantastic era for DC Comics fans. The publisher was incredibly creative, consistently releasing some of the best comic book events of the time. They finished the decade with a high note thanks to Blackest Night, a story by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. After building anticipation for two years in the popular Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps comics, Blackest Night featured the villain Black Hand and his Black Lantern Corps bringing back the dead to feed on the living. Readers enjoyed thrilling and intense action, and it provided a satisfying conclusion to storylines that had been developing for years. What made this event so great was that it wasn’t about huge, universe-altering changes or reboots – it was simply a well-crafted and enjoyable comic book event.

3) Infinite Crisis

In my opinion, Geoff Johns, Phil Jimenez, George Perez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway’s Infinite Crisis is the best comic event of the 2000s. DC Comics spent years building up to it, and the result was a worthy sequel to the classic Crisis on Infinite Earths. The story features heroes struggling against overwhelming odds, villains gaining the upper hand, and the unexpected return of past heroes with their own agenda. It truly redefined what an epic comic could be, delivering everything you’d hope for in a big event: incredible action, impactful moments, and a satisfying conclusion. It’s a nearly perfect comic and a prime example of what happens when a publisher fully commits to creating a major event series.

2) Final Crisis

Grant Morrison’s Final Crisis is a truly masterful comic book event, and those who disagree simply miss the point. The story depicts a terrifying scenario: the day evil triumphs as Darkseid conquers Earth using the Anti-Life Equation. What follows is an epic battle between the universe’s strongest heroes and its most formidable villains. While complex and often sprawling, Final Crisis isn’t just chaotic; it’s a surprisingly profound exploration of creation, the nature of creators, and the limitations we impose on our creations. It’s a grand, visually stunning, and endlessly re-readable story in the classic Morrison style. Don’t miss the excellent tie-in series, especially Final Crisis: Superman Beyond 3-D, which is crucial to the overall narrative, the visually striking The Last Will and Testament of the DC Universe, and the outstanding Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds.

1) Crisis on Infinite Earths

Many fans consider Crisis on Infinite Earths to be the greatest superhero event comic of all time. While similar to earlier crossovers like Marvel Super Heroes Contest of Champions and Marvel Super Heroes Secret War, Crisis was far more ambitious. It pitted heroes from five different Earths against the incredibly powerful Anti-Monitor, with the fate of all existence hanging in the balance. The story featured massive stakes – worlds were destroyed and the DC Universe was fundamentally changed. For twenty years, Crisis reshaped DC Comics, leading to many memorable stories. It’s a truly epic and influential event that remains unmatched, and its reputation is well-deserved.

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2026-01-04 22:12