DC Compact Comics, according to many local comics shops, are selling very well, and seem very popular with fans of all ages!
I SAW SOME LOCALLY RECENTLY
I try to stay in touch with the stores I frequent as well as those running other comics shops I have been a regular customer with. Recently, I visited the store I buy the vast majority of my “stash” with, and I was intrigued when I noticed that the owner now had three, count ‘em, THREE shelves filled with DC Compact Comics.
I had to ask her about that. She pointed out that these books are very popular with younger readers and even with many adults!
She had some good reasons for this. First, they are pretty much complete stories. Second, they are more portable sized, easily kept in bags and other storage units so you have them with you when you have time to read. Third, they are choosing the more popular and interesting of the stories that DC has told. Fourth, the reasonable price really makes a difference if someone is having to tighten their financial belts these days. Part of that is that these are not printed on glossy paper, but more reasonable, newspaper-like paper stock.
I was convinced. I actually picked up one, Batman: White Knight by Sean Murphy and Matt Hollingsworth for only $9.99. I enjoyed this “alternate” universe when it first came out, but I had trouble keeping them in order so I could go back and revisit them when I wanted to.
Yes, the book is smaller than I prefer given my older eyes. But I have been able to adjust by holding the book closer than I normally do, so it’s working out.
Granted, I still prefer larger volumes like the old Alex Ross DC books. But, in a pinch, I think this smaller size has some merit, particularly if it is drawing in new readers!
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
So, just what are DC Compact Comics? I’ve seen them described this way: “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 5.5″ x 8.5″ (digest size), they are smaller than the traditional 6.6″ x 10.2″ 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. Another 15 books were 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.
The announcement was largely greeted positively by 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.”
Of course, DC isn’t the only one getting in on this bandwagon. Marvel has their Premier Collection, a 9”x6” series, although my local store wished there were more of these. Vault has their Vantage line, which is the same size as DC’s Compact Comics. IDW also has their Classic Collection, which includes Locke & Key, The Rocketeer, Godzilla, and others.
If you prefer the bigger volumes, you can certainly request books produced in the regular graphic novel size.
IS THIS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE?
I always like to ask comics people, be they pros or fans, if this new trend is the future of comics. I used to ask if digital was going to overwhelm paper copies. That hasn’t happened, although digital hasn’t vanished. It simply is an option fans can still choose, which helps me to keep current with storylines I might have missed an issue or two of.
So, will comics reduce to match the digest size? I’ve asked several fans and pros, and much like digital, the outlook is uncertain. The stores are resistant to it because it would likely require all the local shops to rework their comics displays so they would fit appropriately.
This might make “floppy” individual issues more appealing to new readers, but older fans like me still prefer a larger format, so if this replacement takes place, it will likely be in the future, possibly years from now when fans are more used to this manga-sized format.
Until then, the availability of several options, including digital and smaller size books, only help the industry, in my opinion. Of course, I remember when I was absolutely sure that trade paperbacks were just a fad. How wrong I was! They seem to be here forever!
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