DC Compact Comics is a line of full-color paperbacks from DC Comics. Announced in November 2023, ahead of a June 2024 launch, they were described as "perfect for readers of prose and manga looking to pick up a new-reader-friendly storyline in a self-contained full color graphic novel".
At 8.5in x 5.5in, they are smaller than the traditional 10.2in x 6.6in of a collected trade paperback comic.
The initial 10 titles released in 2024 were: Batman: The Court of Owls, Watchmen, All-Star Superman, Far Sector, Batman: Hush, Wonder Woman: Earth One, Harley Quinn & The Gotham City Sirens, Joker, American Vampire Book One, and Catwoman: Trail of the Catwoman - with a further 15 books announced for 2025.
As well as being dedicated to a specific character or series, each release is also designated by genre via a tag in the top right of the cover. These genres include Science Fiction, Thriller, Horror, Fantasy, Adventure, and Mystery.
Reception
The announcement was largely greeted positively in the comics community with SKTCHD's David Harper saying the line was, "...honestly the best thing to come from one of the Big Two in I don’t even know how long.". Gordon Jackson at Gizmodo noted that "DC’s Compact Comics Line Is the Smartest Thing It’s Done in Years." In Comicsbeat, Joe Grunenwald stressed that: "the size, price and content are all suitable for mass market."
Sales
Four of 2024's overall top-10 bestselling graphic novels came from DC's Compact Comic line. Batman: The Court of Owls ranked fourth, with All-Star Superman fifth, Batman: Hush sixth, and Watchmen seventh.
Impact
The line launched five months ahead of the DC Finest series, which was aimed at a similar market to the Marvel Epic Collection.
In late 2024, at the New York Comic Con, Marvel Comics announced the Premier Collection: a similar line of digest-sized 9in x 6in releases "featuring Marvel’s most celebrated and prestigious storylines and creators from its entire comic book legacy".
