This is Chapter 0 – The Early Years, showing the stories that take place from the start of the universe to right before the debut of Superman.
Also check out the issue-by-issue version of this chapter, which features a more thorough reading experience by including releases that have not been collected.
| DC Reading Order: Early Years (Collected Editions) | |
|---|---|
 | Aquaman: The Atlantis Chronicles Estimated Event Date: 9,600 BCE Issues include: The Atlantis Chronicles #1-7 Notes: Origin of Atlantis. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | The Odyssey of the Amazons Estimated Event Date: The First Millennium CE Issues include: The Odyssey of the Amazons #1-6 |
 | Demon Knights Vol.1-3 Estimated Event Date: The Eleventh Century CE Issues include: Demon Knights #1-23 Notes: Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Showcase Presents: Bat Lash Estimated Event Date: 1868 Issues include: Showcase #76: “Pheseant in Aspic” Notes: Bat Lash debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | DC Finest: Western – The Hangman Never Loses Estimated Event Date: 1870 Issues include: All-Star Western #2 second story: “The Devil Has Two Faces!” Notes: El Diablo debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Showcase Presents: Enemy Ace Estimated Event Date: 1914 Issues include: Our Army at War #151 second story: “Enemy Ace!” Notes: Enemy Ace debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Sandman Mystery Theatre Compedium 1-2 Estimated Event Date: 1938-1939 Issues include: Sandman Mystery Theatre #1-16, Annual #1, 17-70 Notes: Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Last Days of the Justice Society of America Estimated event date: May-July 1940 Issues include: Secret Origins #24 second story: “The Secret Origin of Doctor Fate”; Secret Origins #18 second story: “The Tale of the Green Lantern” Notes: Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson) and Green Lantern (Alan Scott) debut. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | JSA: Year One Estimated Event Date: 1940 Issues include: JSA #13-18 |
 | Wesley Dodds: The Sandman Estimated Event Date: 1940 Issues include: Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #1-6 |
 | The Shazam! Archives Vol. 4 Estimated Event Date: 1941 Issues include: Master Comics #21 first story: “The Coming of Captain Nazi” Notes: Captain Nazi debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | DC Finest: Justice Society of America – For America and Democracy Estimated Event Date: 1941 Issues include: All-Star Comics #5 first story: “The Mysterious Mister X” Notes: Hawkgirl (Shiera Hall) debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Aquaman: 80 Years of the King of the Seven Seas – The Deluxe Edition Estimated Event Date: 1941 Issues include: More Fun Comics #73 fourth story: “The Submarine Strikes” Notes: Aquaman (Adam Waterman) debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Seven Soldiers of Victory Archives Vol. 1 Estimated Event Date: 1941 Issues include: Leading Comics #1 Notes: The Seven Soldier debut with Green Arrow and Speedy traveling through time from the Modern Age. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | The JSA All-Stars Archives Vol.1 Estimated event date: 1941 Issues include: Sensation Comics #1 third and seventh stories: “Mr. Terrific; Wildcat” Notes: Mr. Terrific (Terry Sloane) and Wildcat (Ted Grant) debut. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Alan Scott: The Green Lantern Estimated Event Date: 1941 Issues include: Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1-6 |
 | Showcase Presents: All Star Squadron Estimated Event Date: 1942 Issues include: Justice League of America #193 second story: “All-Star Squadron” and All-Star Squadron #1-5, 9, 13, 17 Notes: The All-Star Squadron debuts. Steel is promoted to Commander. Baron Blitzkrieg debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | DC Finest: The Spectre – The Wrath of the Spectre Estimated Event Date: Winter 1942 Issues include: All-Star Squadron #28: “By Hatred Possessed!” Notes: Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Green Lantern: 80 Years of the Emerald Knight Estimated Event Date: 1943 Issues include: Green Lantern #10 first story: “The Man Who Wanted the World!” Notes: Vandal Savage debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | DC’s Wanted: The World’s Most Dangerous Super-Villains Estimated Event Date: 1944 Issues include: All-American Comics #61 first story: “Green Lantern: Fighters Never Quit” Notes: Solomon Grundy debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Showcase Presents: Sgt. Rock Vol. 1 Estimated Event Date: 1944 Issues include: Our Army At War #90 first story: “3 Stripes Hill!” Notes: Sgt. Rock debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | DC Goes to War Estimated Event Date: 1944 Issues include: G.I. Combat #87 first story: “Introducing — The Haunted Tank” Notes: The Haunted Tank debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Showcase Presents: The Haunted Tank Vol. 2 Estimated Event Date: 1944 Issues include: G.I. Combat #138 first story: “The Losers” Notes: The Losers debut. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | DC Showcase: The War that Time Forgot Estimated Event Date: 1944 Issues include: Star-Spangled War Stories #101-103, 125 Notes: G.I. Robot debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Showcase Presents: Men of War Estimated Event Date: 1945 Issues include: Men of War #1 first story: “Codename: Gravedigger” Notes: Gravedigger debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | The Creature Commandos! Estimated Event Date: 1945 Issues include: Weird War Tales #93 first story: “The Creature Commandos!” Notes: The Creature Commandos debut. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman – The Deluxe Edition Estimated Event Date: 1949 Issues include: Detective Comics #60 tenth story: “The Case of the Missing Evidence!”; Detective Comics #64 third story: “The Commandos Are Coming”; Detective Comics #151 sixth story: “The Origin of Pow-Wow Smith!” Notes: Air Wave (Larry Jordan), the Boy Commandos and Pow-Wow Smith debut. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Justice Society of America: The Demise of Justice Estimated Event Date: 1951 Issues include: Adventure Comics #466 third story: “The Defeat of the Justice Society!” Notes: The JSA disbands. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Gotham City Year One Estimated Event Date: 1961 Issues include: Gotham City Year One #1-6 |
 | Captain Comet Archives Vol. 1 Estimated event date: 1960s Issues include: Strange Adventures #9-10 first stories Notes: Captain Comet debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | The Phantom Stranger Omnibus Estimated Event Date: 1970 Issues include: The Phantom Stranger #10 first story: “Death… Call Not My Name!” Notes: Tannarak debuts. Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | DC Finest: The Demon – Birth of the Demon Estimated Event Date: 1972 Issues include: The Demon #1: “Unleash the one who Waits” Notes: Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | I… Vampire! Estimated Event Date: 1980 Issues include: House of Mystery #290 Notes: Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | World of Krypton Estimated Event Date: 25 years before Superman’s debut Issues include: World of Krypton Vol.3 #1-6 |
 | Green Lantern Corps Vol. 1: Beware Their Power Estimated event date: 10 years before Green Lantern’s debut Issues include: Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #2 fourth story: “Tygers” Notes: Reintroduced to continuity by New History of the DC Universe #1 |
 | Superman: Action Comics Vol. 1-2 Estimated Event Date: Ten years before Superman’s debut Issues include: Action Comics #1087-1098 |
 | Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton Estimated Event Date: Ten years before Superman’s debut Issues include: Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1-5 |
 | Wonder Woman: The Adventures of Young Diana Special Estimated Event Date: Ten years before Superman’s debut Issues include: Wonder Woman #770-779 and 785-796 second stories |
 | Batman: The Knight Estimated Event Date: Five years before Superman’s debut Issues include: Batman: The Knight #1-10 |