THE MATERIAL
RECORD
publisher

DC Comics

One of the foundational American comic-book publishers, tracing its publishing lineage to National Allied Publications in 1935 and home to characters including Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

Overview

DC Comics

The company’s early publishing lineage begins with National Allied Publications and New Fun Comics in 1935. Action Comics #1 introduced Superman in 1938, followed by Batman in Detective Comics in 1939 and a rapidly expanding superhero mythology. The initials ‘DC’ derive from Detective Comics; the DC Comics name became the company’s formal public identity later in the twentieth century.

Why it matters

DC is central to TMR’s comics collection because its publications document the development of the American superhero, serial comic-book production, cover design, creator histories and the movement of comic characters through wider popular culture.

Coverage

American comicsSuperheroesPopular cultureComic-book designCreator history
The Material Record

68 objects

TMR holdings represented across 1987–2026.

TMR-000071Batman #404Feb 1987 cover date★ 9.7 / 10TMR-000072Batman #405Mar 1987 cover date★ 9.3 / 10TMR-000073Batman #406Apr 1987 cover date★ 9.3 / 10TMR-000074Batman #407May 1987 cover date★ 9.4 / 10TMR-001007The Face No. 91November 1987 (original issue cover date)★ 9.5 / 10TMR-000062Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #1Nov 1989 cover date8.8 / 10TMR-000063Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #2Dec 1989 cover date7 / 10TMR-000132Gotham by GaslightDec 19898.8 / 10TMR-000064Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #3Jan 1990 cover date7 / 10TMR-000065Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #4Feb 1990 cover date7 / 10TMR-000066Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #5Mar 1990 cover date7.2 / 10TMR-000067Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #6Apr 1990 cover date8 / 10TMR-000068Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #7May 1990 cover date7.5 / 10TMR-000069Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #8Jun 1990 cover date7.5 / 10TMR-000070Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #9Jul 1990 cover date7.5 / 10TMR-000055Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #10Aug 1990 cover date7.8 / 10TMR-000056Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #21Aug 1991 cover date6.8 / 10TMR-000057Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #22Sep 1991 cover date6.5 / 10TMR-000058Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #23Oct 1991 cover date6.5 / 10TMR-000059Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #24Nov 1991 cover date7.5 / 10TMR-000060Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #25Dec 1991 cover date7 / 10TMR-000061Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #26Jan 1992 cover date7 / 10TMR-000054Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #27February 1992 cover date8.2 / 10TMR-000081Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #28March 1992 cover date7.5 / 10TMR-000075Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #29Apr 1992 cover date7.2 / 10TMR-000076Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #30May 1992 cover date7.3 / 10TMR-000077Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #31Early Jun 1992 cover date7 / 10TMR-000078Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #32Late Jun 1992 cover date8.8 / 10TMR-000079Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #33Early Jul 1992 cover date8.2 / 10TMR-000080Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #34Late Jul 1992 cover date8.2 / 10TMR-000084Judge Dredd #1Aug 19948 / 10TMR-000085Judge Dredd #2Sep 19947.2 / 10TMR-000086Judge Dredd #3Oct 19946.8 / 10TMR-000087Judge Dredd #4Nov 19947 / 10TMR-000088Judge Dredd #5Dec 19946.8 / 10TMR-000089Judge Dredd #6Jan 19957.2 / 10TMR-000090Judge Dredd #7Feb 19956.8 / 10TMR-000091Judge Dredd #8Mar 19957 / 10TMR-000092Judge Dredd #9Apr 19957.2 / 10TMR-000093Judge Dredd #10May 19958 / 10TMR-000094Judge Dredd #11Jun 19957 / 10TMR-000095Judge Dredd #12Jul 19957 / 10TMR-000096Judge Dredd #13Aug 19957 / 10TMR-000082Batman #600April 2002 cover date7.5 / 10TMR-000130Batman: The Killing Joke — The Deluxe Edition2 Mar 20167.5 / 10TMR-000134Detective Comics #1000 — Deluxe Edition20197.5 / 10TMR-000136Joker20197 / 10TMR-000588The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #14 October 2022 on sale · December 2022 cover date7.8 / 10TMR-000586Knight Terrors: Detective Comics #125 July 2023 on-sale date · September 2023 cover date7.8 / 10TMR-000083Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham Noir Edition #1September 20237.5 / 10TMR-000440Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #116 September 20238 / 10TMR-000445Detective Comics #110020 August 20258 / 10TMR-000594Detective Comics #110020 August 2025 on sale · October 2025 cover date8 / 10TMR-000585Batman and Robin #2510 September 20257.8 / 10TMR-000491Absolute Batman #138 October 20258.5 / 10TMR-000426Bleeding Hearts #111 February 20267.8 / 10TMR-000427Bleeding Hearts #111 February 20267.8 / 10TMR-000428The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #125 February 20267.8 / 10TMR-000520Green Lantern #3325 March 20268 / 10TMR-000425Swamp Thing 1989 #129 April 2026★ 9.3 / 10TMR-000441Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #410 June 20267.8 / 10TMR-000442Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #410 June 20267.8 / 10TMR-000443Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #410 June 20268.2 / 10TMR-000587Superman #3924 June 20268 / 10TMR-000469Barbara Gordon: Breakout #412 August 20268 / 10TMR-000584Batgirl #232 September 2026 on sale · November 2026 issue date8 / 10TMR-000590Batman #132 September 2026 on sale · November 2026 issue date8.2 / 10TMR-000135Batman: White Knight7 / 10