DC Comics

DC Comics is one of the largest companies in comic book and related media publishing. Today a subsidiary of Time Warner, DC is responsible for such famous characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and their teammates in the Justice League. For decades, DC Comics has been one of the two largest American comic book companies (the other being Marvel Comics). For many years, its headquarters were located at 575 Lexington Avenue, and then 666 Fifth Avenue, both in New York City; in the 1990s, they moved to 1700 Broadway. The initials "DC" are an abbreviation for Detective Comics, after one of the company's flagship titles.

Recommended reading

DC Universe

• Crisis on Infinite Earths - The event comic which revamped the DC universe to become more accessible. Written by Marv Wolfman with art by George Perez.
• Man of Steel - A retelling of Superman's origin. Story and art by John Byrne.
• - A retelling of the origin of Batman. Written by Frank Miller with art by David Mazzucchelli.
• Nightwing #1-60 - Featuring the original Robin, the boy wonder, in his new identity and a new city trying to establish his own identity. Written by Chuck Dixon with art by Scott McDaniel and Greg Land.
• Starman - A more realistic take on a lesser known superhero. Written by James Robinson with art by Tony Harris, Peter Snejbjerg, et al.

DC Universe - Elseworlds

Stories considered as "Elseworlds" use DC universe characters in a "hypothetical" alternate reality, history, or future.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Kingdom Come - An authoritarian future of the DC universe. Written by Mark Waid with art by Alex Ross.
• Dark Knight Returns - A dystopian future of Gotham City without Batman. Written by Frank Miller with art by Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley.
• The Golden Age - A retelling of the "classic" superheroes and what happened to them after World War II. Written by James Robinson with art by Paul Smith.
• - An alternate telling of the history of the DC universe set in the late fourties and early fifties. Written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke
• - A reconceptualization of Superman as being raised in Russia. Written by Mark Millar with various artists.

Vertigo

• Swamp Thing - Originally a B-horror comic, it developed intellectual praise after Alan Moore was assigned to the title. (Note: Although not originally a Vertigo title, it started the concept of the Vertigo imprint and was immediately included under their banner.
• Watchmen - Not set within the DC universe, it tells a more realistic and disturbing world of superheroes. Often regarded as the most significant and profound work in comic books. Written by Alan Moore with art by Dave Gibbons. (Note: Watchmen is not technically a Vertigo title, but was a primary influence for starting that line)
• Sandman - This is often considered the first Vertigo title and is certainly the most acclaimed, often reaching non-comic book readers. It depicts a modern mythology of modern "Gods." Written by Neil Gaiman with various artists.