I’m sure I’m not the first person here on DC.com to say that there’s never been a better time to be a comic book fan, but I’ll bet I’m the first person who wasn’t being hyperbolic when I said it. There really hasn’t been a better time to be a fan because there’s never been more ways to read comics. You, of course, have your monthly periodicals and trade collections available at your local comic book shop. But these days, you also have digital comics, which can be bought individually or read as a part of a subscription, vertical scroll comics like DC GO! and comics faithfully adapted to audiobooks and narrative podcasts. And you have my personal favorite—DC Compact Comics. Sized at 5.5” x 8.5”, these graphic novels are small enough to carry with you wherever you go and the perfect size to fit neatly on a bookshelf alongside your paperback novels and manga. And did I mention that they’re only $10 a book?

Best of all, it’s a diverse line, with some of DC’s most popular titles, like All-Star Superman and Batman: Arkham Asylum already available in the format. But what I find equally exciting is how many DC Compact Comics are…well, let’s call them “cult favorites.” These are books that are acclaimed and beloved by just about everyone who’s read them but aren’t quite as well-known among the casuals as Watchmen, Hush and DC’s other blockbusters. Here are my current cult favorites. If you’ve never read them, I highly suggest you find a comic shop or bookstore near you that stocks Compact Comics and pick them up. You’ll walk away with weeks’ worth of reading for less than the cost of a night out!
 

DCeased

Here’s the elevator pitch. You ready? DCeased tells the surprisingly emotional story of a “zombie” apocalypse set within the DC Universe. It’s gripping, it’s bloody and it’s absolutely devastating. This is humanity’s gravest threat and even Earth’s greatest heroes like Superman and Batman might not be able to save the day. Darkseid’s Anti-Life Equation is spreading death across the planet and turning people into mindless, violent beings that have one goal and that goal is death. You will see some of your favorite heroes turned into bloodthirsty monsters—and yes, they still have their powers once turned.

DCeased was one of the very first DC comics that I read. I couldn't put this comic down when I first discovered it as a teenager! Here, the compact size and matte paper manage to capture the details so well. Read this on the train, at the dentist or when waiting in line at the grocery store. Who doesn't love travel sized horror?

Written by the incredible Tom Taylor (Dark Knights of Steel, Nightwing) with outstanding art by Stefano Gaudiano (The Walking Dead, Batman) and Trevor Hairsine (Killapalooza, 2000 AD), this 232-page compact graphic novel collects DCeased #1-6 and DCeased: A Good Day to Die #1.
 

V for Vendetta

Remember, remember the 5th of November…which is perfect because the compact comic edition of V for Vendetta dropped this past election day on November 4th. You might be familiar with James McTeigue’s 2006 movie by the same name starring Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving—well, this is the source material.

Set in a terrifying totalitarian England, this is a story of rebellion against a fascist government following a devastating world war. Sporting the iconic Guy Fawkes mask, this series follows V, an anarchist and political rebel who saves a young girl, Evey Hammond, and takes her on as his protégée. And let’s just say, V will do whatever it takes for the cause. Do you want a good dystopian story that is grounded in reality? Do you want the spirit of anti-fascism and rebellion to inspire you? If you answered yes, then this is the comic for you. Published in the 1980s, the art looks stunning printed on the DC Compact Comics matte paper. Pocket-sized rebellion never looked better! 

Written by the legendary Alan Moore (The Saga of Swamp Thing, Watchmen) with art by the extraordinary David Lloyd (The Territory, Night Raven), this 368-page compact graphic novel collects the entire series.
 

Far Sector

This series has a very special place in my heart because it introduced one of my favorite Green Lanterns: Sojourner “Jo” Mullein. This was also the first Compact Comic I bought when the line dropped last year. Far Sector is a thrilling sci-fi murder mystery that explores incredibly important and relevant themes. Unlike most Green Lanterns, Jo’s ring has the ability to self-charge, and as a result, she is sent on a mission in the farthest corner of the universe, far from any other Green Lantern or power battery.

The City Enduring is home to three species of aliens, all once enemies. Their disdain for each other led to a brutal war that nearly wiped them all out. So, to avoid further conflict, they have all been genetically altered to no longer feel emotion. When a new drug begins to circulate that turns their emotions back on—well, this society isn’t qualified or equipped to deal with crimes of passion after 500 years of “peace”. So, they call in an expert, a human, a Green Lantern. This series is a fantastic example of sci-fi by an author who’s one of the best working in the genre and isn't afraid to get weird with world-building and lore. And besides, who wouldn’t want to carry around an entire galaxy in their pocket?

Written by acclaimed sci-fi novelist N.K. Jemisin (The Fifth Season, The City We Became) with art by the incredible Jamal Campbell (Zatanna, Naomi), this 296-page compact graphic novel collects all twelve issues of the series.
 

Batwoman: Elegy

This series is a quintessential Batwoman story! Learn about Kate Kane, and her past, as she fights a madwoman and her criminal cult. The Religion of Crime is obsessed with Kate Kane and has already come close to killing her once. Now a new leader has stepped up, known only as Alice. Yes, there are now two Lewis Carroll-themed villains in Gotham City! Batwoman is determined to figure out why this cult is obsessed with her and stop them for good. Alice, on the other hand, is in her own world—her own Wonderland, if you will—and plans on releasing a deadly poison throughout all of Gotham.

This is a thrilling story full of action that will keep you on your toes. As you likely know, Kate Kane is one of the most influential queer characters in DC history, and for those who like a little romance, we do get to see Kate and Maggie Sawyer meet for the first time in this run! The art is stunning in Elegy—the layouts and spreads are masterful and the colors absolutely pop in the Compact Comic edition!

Written by the amazing Greg Rucka (Wonder Woman, Lazarus) with art by the incredible J.H. Williams III (Promethia, Batman), this 240-page compact graphic novel collects Detective Comics #854-860.
 

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow

Considering this Eisner-winning miniseries is what next year’s Supergirl movie is based on, I suspect we won’t be calling Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow a cult favorite for much longer. Heck, I’m not even sure it’s one now, but I had to include this title! I love Kara Zor-El and this is my favorite Supergirl story of all time, and I need everyone to read it so we can all collectively nerd out about it.

Woman of Tomorrow is a sci-fi/fantasy epic that follows Kara as she meets a young alien girl who asks her for help tracking down the people who killed her father so that she can avenge him. This leads them on a galaxy-wide journey that will both inspire them and disturb them to their cores, while holding a mirror up to the grief Kara still feels over the loss of her world. It’s a fantastic deep dive into Supergirl as a character, with absolutely spectacular art that needs to be seen to be believed.

Written by DC alumnus Tom King (Wonder Woman, Mister Miracle) with art by Bilquis Evely (Helen of Wyndhorn, The Dreaming), this 216-page compact graphic novel collects all eight issues of the series and drops in a few short weeks on January 6th!
 

DC Compact Comics can be found at a comic shop or bookstore near you, or can be purchased through your favorite online retailer.

Sami DeMonster writes about superheroes, horror and sci-fi for DC.com and reviews comics every week on social media. Follow her at @samidemonster on Instagram and Substack.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Sami DeMonster and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.