DC COMICS: 2020 KEY ISSUE CATALOG
| ISSUE TITLE & NUMBER | CREATORS | WHY IT IS A KEY | COVER DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batman #89 | James Tynion IV, Guillem March | 1st appearance of Punchline (cameo). High-demand modern key. | Apr 2020 |
| Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #3 | James Tynion IV, Steve Epting | 1st full appearance of Punchline. Major modern character debut. | May 2020 |
| Batman #90 | James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez | 1st appearance of The Designer. Origin of the "Joker War" seeds. | May 2020 |
| Batman #92 | James Tynion IV, Guillem March | 1st appearance of Punchline in the main Batman title (full). Massive cover hype. | Aug 2020 |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal #1 | Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo | Start of the Death Metal event. 1st appearance of the Batman Who Frags and various Dark Multiverse Batmen. | Aug 2020 |
| Batman #96 | James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez | 1st appearance of Clownhunter (Bao Pham) in cameo. Start of "Joker War." | Oct 2020 |
| Batman #100 | James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez | 1st full appearance of Clownhunter. Finale of "Joker War." 1st cameo of Ghost-Maker. | Dec 2020 |
| Catwoman #25 | Ram V, Fernando Blanco | 1st cameo appearance of Ghost-Maker. Start of Ram V's acclaimed run. | Nov 2020 |
| Batman #101 | James Tynion IV, Guillem March | 1st full appearance of Ghost-Maker. New status quo for Gotham post-Joker War. | Dec 2020 |
| Batman: Three Jokers #1 | Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok | Launch of the long-awaited Black Label prestige series exploring the mystery of the three Jokers. | Oct 2020 |
| Wonder Woman #750 | Various | Massive anniversary issue. 1st appearance of the modern "Goddess of Truth" armor. | Mar 2020 |
| The Flash #750 | Various | Anniversary issue. Key development for Wally West and the Mobius Chair. | May 2020 |
| Rorschach #1 | Tom King, Jorge Fornes | Launch of the Black Label political thriller set in the world of Watchmen. | Dec 2020 |
| Dark Nights: Death Metal #4 | Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo | 1st full appearance of The Robin King. | Dec 2020 |
| Strange Adventures #1 | Tom King, Mitch Gerads, Evan Shaner | Launch of the critically acclaimed re-examination of Adam Strange. | May 2020 |
| Legion of Super-Heroes #6 | Brian Michael Bendis, Ryan Sook | 1st appearance of the Gold Lantern (Kala Lour). | Aug 2020 |
| Punchline #1 | James Tynion IV, Sam Johns, Mirka Andolfo | First solo one-shot/special for Punchline, exploring her origin and social media influence. | Jan 2021 (Nov 2020 ship) |
| Joker War Zone #1 | Various | Anthology issue featuring the first solo story for Clownhunter and seeds for future Bat-Family arcs. | Nov 2020 |
DC COMICS: 2021 KEY ISSUE CATALOG
| ISSUE TITLE & NUMBER | CREATORS | WHY IT IS A KEY | COVER DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Future State: Wonder Woman #1 | Joëlle Jones | 1st appearance of Yara Flor (Wonder Girl). Breakout character of the Future State initiative. | Mar 2021 |
| Future State: The Next Batman #1 | John Ridley, Nick Derington | 1st appearance of Jace Fox as Batman. 1st appearance of the Peacekeepers. | Mar 2021 |
| Infinite Frontier #0 | Various | Relaunch of the DC Omniverse. 1st appearance of X-Tract. Reveal of the Totality and the return of Darkseid. | May 2021 |
| Batman #106 | James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez | 1st appearance of Miracle Molly and the Unsanity Collective. 1st appearance of Master Wyze. | May 2021 |
| Batman #108 | James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez | 1st full appearance of Miracle Molly. Significant secondary character development in the Tynion era. | July 2021 |
| The Joker #1 | James Tynion IV, Guillem March | 1st appearance of Vengeance (the daughter of Bane). Start of the hit solo series. | May 2021 |
| Robin #1 | Joshua Williamson, Gleb Melnikov | 1st appearance of Flatline. Start of the "Lazarus Tournament" arc. High demand for Flatline's debut. | June 2021 |
| Nightwing #78 | Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo | Start of Tom Taylor's critically acclaimed run. 1st appearance of Bitewing (Halley the dog). | May 2021 |
| The Nice House on the Lake #1 | James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno | Launch of the massive Black Label horror hit. Winner of multiple industry awards. | August 2021 |
| Suicide Squad #1 | Robbie Thompson, Eduardo Pansica | 1st appearance of Peacemaker in the mainstream modern continuity. | May 2021 |
| Batman #109 | James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez | 1st appearance of Simon Saint (the architect of the Magistrate/Fear State). | August 2021 |
| Wonder Girl #1 | Joëlle Jones | First solo series for Yara Flor. 1st appearance of various Amazonian tribe members. | July 2021 |
| Mister Miracle: The Source of Freedom #1 | Brandon Easton, Fico Ossio | Shilo Norman takes center stage as the modern Mister Miracle. | July 2021 |
| Batman #117 | James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez | Conclusion of "Fear State." Final issue of the Tynion run. 1st appearance of Seer (Anti-Oracle). | January 2022 (Nov 2021 ship) |
| Stargirl Spring Break Special #1 | Geoff Johns, Todd Nauck | 1st appearance of the modern Seven Soldiers of Victory. Return of Emiko Queen to the spotlight. | July 2021 |
| Justice League #59 | Brian Michael Bendis, David Marquez | Start of the Bendis run. Naomi officially joins the Justice League. | May 2021 |
| Icon and Rocket: Season One #1 | Reginald Hudlin, Doug Braithwaite | The official return of the Milestone Universe to modern DC continuity. | September 2021 |
| Catwoman #35 | Ram V, Nina Vakueva | Start of the "Fear State" tie-ins. 1st appearance of Father Valley in a major role. | November 2021 |
DC COMICS: 2022 KEY ISSUE CATALOG
| ISSUE TITLE & NUMBER | CREATORS | WHY IT IS A KEY | COVER DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justice League #75 | Joshua Williamson, Rafa Sandoval | "Death of the Justice League." The historic death of the main team roster, leading directly into Dark Crisis. | Jun 2022 |
| Batman #125 | Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimenez | Start of Chip Zdarsky's run. 1st appearance of Failsafe (cameo). 1st appearance of the Executor. | Sep 2022 |
| Batman #126 | Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimenez | 1st full appearance of Failsafe. Significant modern villain debut. | Oct 2022 |
| Dark Crisis #1 | Joshua Williamson, Daniel Sampere | Start of the "Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths" event. Pariah attempts to restore the original Multiverse. | Aug 2022 |
| Batman/Superman: World's Finest #1 | Mark Waid, Dan Mora | Launch of the modern classic series. 1st appearance of Nezha (in modern continuity). | May 2022 |
| Batman/Superman: World's Finest #7 | Mark Waid, Dan Mora | 1st appearance of Boy Thunder (David Sikela), a new sidekick for Superman. | Nov 2022 |
| Superman: Son of Kal-El #13 | Tom Taylor, Nicole Maines, Clayton Henry | 1st appearance of Dreamer (Nia Nal) in the main DC Comics continuity. | Sep 2022 |
| Flashpoint Beyond #0 | Geoff Johns, Eduardo Risso | The official return of the Flashpoint universe and Thomas Wayne Batman. | Jun 2022 |
| Batman #121 | James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez | 1st appearance of Abyss. Conclusion of the "Abyss" storyline. | May 2022 |
| Dark Crisis: Young Justice #1 | Meghan Fitzmartin, Laura Braga | Launch of the mini-series exploring the legacy and mental state of Tim Drake, Conner Kent, and Bart Allen. | Aug 2022 |
| Shadow War: Alpha #1 | Joshua Williamson, Viktor Bogdanovic | Start of the "Shadow War" crossover between Batman, Robin, and Deathstroke. Death of Ra's al Ghul. | May 2022 |
| Poison Ivy #1 | G. Willow Wilson, Marcio Takara | Launch of the highly acclaimed ongoing solo series redefining Pamela Isley's mission. | Aug 2022 |
| Justice League Road to Dark Crisis #1 | Various | 1st appearance of the new generation heroes reacting to the death of the JLA. Key prelude issue. | Jul 2022 |
| Wonder Woman #792 | Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, Marguerite Sauvage | 1st appearance of the new International team of Wonder Women (cameo). | Nov 2022 |
| Rogues #1 | Joshua Williamson, Leomacs | Launch of the gritty DC Black Label heist series featuring Captain Cold and the Rogues in their old age. | May 2022 |
| Tim Drake: Robin #1 | Meghan Fitzmartin, Riley Rossmo | Launch of Tim Drake's first ongoing solo title in over a decade. 1st appearance of Bernard Dowd in a major role. | Nov 2022 |
| Batman: One Bad Day - The Riddler #1 | Tom King, Mitch Gerads | Launch of the "One Bad Day" prestige series. Acclaimed psychological deconstruction of Edward Nygma. | Oct 2022 |
| Detective Comics #1062 | Ram V, Rafael Albuquerque | Start of the "Gotham Nocturne" opera. 1st appearance of the Orgham family. | Sep 2022 |
DC COMICS: 2023 KEY ISSUE CATALOG
| ISSUE TITLE & NUMBER | CREATORS | WHY IT IS A KEY | COVER DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action Comics #1050 | Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Tom Taylor, Joshua Williamson | Dawn of DC officially begins. Superman's secret identity is restored as a secret to the world via Lex Luthor's intervention. | Feb 2023 |
| Superman #1 | Joshua Williamson, Jamal Campbell | Relaunch of the main Superman title. 1st appearance of Marilyn Moonlight (cameo). Start of the Lex Luthor/Superman "partnership." | Apr 2023 |
| Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 | Mark Waid, Riccardo Federici | 1st appearance of Monkey Prince in mainstream event. 1st appearance of City Boy (Cameron Kim). | Mar 2023 |
| Superman #2 | Joshua Williamson, Jamal Campbell | 1st full appearance of Marilyn Moonlight. High-demand modern character debut. | May 2023 |
| Batman #135 / #900 | Chip Zdarsky, Mike Hawthorne, Jorge Jimenez | Milestone 900th issue. 1st appearance of Darwin Halliday (The Red Mask). Batman journeys through the Multiverse. | Jul 2023 |
| Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 | Joshua Williamson, Howard Porter | 1st appearance of Insomnia. Start of the Knight Terrors event that put the DCU into a nightmare sleep. | Sep 2023 |
| Wonder Woman #1 | Tom King, Daniel Sampere | Dawn of DC relaunch. 1st appearance of The Sovereign. 1st appearance of Trinity (Elizabeth Marston) in a backup story set in the future. | Nov 2023 |
| Titans #1 | Tom Taylor, Nicola Scott | The Titans officially replace the Justice League as Earth's premier superhero team. 1st appearance of the modern Brother Eternity (cameo). | Jul 2023 |
| Green Lantern #1 | Jeremy Adams, Xermanico | Dawn of DC relaunch. Hal Jordan returns to Earth and acquires a new power ring. 1st appearance of the modern United Planets Lanterns. | Jul 2023 |
| The Flash #1 | Si Spurrier, Mike Deodato Jr. | Dawn of DC relaunch. Focuses on the cosmic horror elements of the Speed Force. Wally West remains the lead Flash. | Nov 2023 |
| Batman #131 | Chip Zdarsky, Mike Hawthorne | 1st appearance of Jewel. Start of the "The Bat-Man of Gotham" storyline in an alternate dimension. | Mar 2023 |
| Spirit World #1 | Alyssa Wong, Haining | 1st appearance of Xanthe Zhou (The Spirit World hunter). Launch of the "We Are Legends" initiative. | Jul 2023 |
| City Boy #1 | Greg Pak, Minkyu Jung | First solo series for Cameron Kim (City Boy). Explores the mythology of living cities in the DCU. | Aug 2023 |
| The Vigil #1 | Ram V, Lalit Kumar Sharma | 1st appearance of The Vigil (Arclight, Saya, Castle, and Dodge). A new Indian black-ops team in the DCU. | Jul 2023 |
| Knight Terrors #3 | Joshua Williamson, Giuseppe Camuncoli | 1st appearance of the "Golden Age" Sandman's Nightmare form. Key development in Insomnia's origin. | Oct 2023 |
| Batman #136 | Chip Zdarsky, Belen Ortega | Batman returns to the main DC Universe. 1st appearance of the modern robotic hand for Bruce Wayne. | Aug 2023 |
| Birds of Prey #1 | Kelly Thompson, Leonardo Romero | Dawn of DC relaunch. 1st appearance of the new roster including Cassandra Cain, Big Barda, and Zealot. | Nov 2023 |
| Titans: Beast World #1 | Tom Taylor, Ivan Reis | Start of the Titans-led event. Beast Boy transforms into a massive Starro-level threat (Garro). | Jan 2024 (Nov 2023 ship) |
DC COMICS: 2024 KEY ISSUE CATALOG
| ISSUE TITLE & NUMBER | CREATORS | WHY IT IS A KEY | COVER DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Batman #1 | Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta | 1st appearance of Absolute Batman (Bruce Wayne). Launch of the Absolute Universe. Massive sales and collector interest. | Oct 2024 |
| DC All-In Special #1 | Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Daniel Sampere, Wes Craig | Launch of the "All-In" era. Darkseid and the Spectre merge to create the Absolute Universe. 1st appearance of the Absolute Universe. | Oct 2024 |
| Absolute Wonder Woman #1 | Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman | 1st appearance of Absolute Wonder Woman (Diana). Relaunch of the character as a hell-raised warrior. | Oct 2024 |
| Absolute Superman #1 | Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval | 1st appearance of Absolute Superman (Kal-El). A working-class, lone-survivor take on the Man of Steel. | Nov 2024 |
| Absolute Power #1 | Joshua Williamson, Dan Mora | Start of the Absolute Power event. Amanda Waller, Failsafe, and the Brainiac Queen successfully steal the powers of every meta-human on Earth. | July 2024 |
| Batman #142 | Chip Zdarsky, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Andrea Sorrentino | Start of "The Joker Year One." New definitive origin for the Joker's early days and his connection to the three Jokers mystery. | Feb 2024 |
| Green Lantern #9 | Jeremy Adams, Xermanico | 1st appearance of Razer (from the Green Lantern Animated Series) in mainstream DC comic continuity. | Mar 2024 |
| Zatanna: Bring Down the House #1 | Mariko Tamaki, Javier Rodriguez | Launch of the critically acclaimed DC Black Label series. High-end artistic execution and modern Zatanna key. | June 2024 |
| Absolute Power: Ground Zero #1 | Nicole Maines, Joshua Williamson, Various | Key prelude to Absolute Power. 1st full appearance of the Brainiac Queen. | June 2024 |
| Action Comics #1061 | Jason Aaron, John Timms | Start of the "Superman Superstars" initiative. 1st appearance of the Bizarro World's version of the Justice League. | Jan 2024 |
| Wonder Woman #7 | Tom King, Daniel Sampere | Key development for the Sovereign and the introduction of the modern "History of the Amazons" as a weaponized narrative. | Mar 2024 |
| Nightwing #118 | Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo | The grand finale of Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo's legendary, award-winning run on Nightwing. | Sept 2024 |
| The Nice House on the Sea #1 | James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno | Launch of the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster Black Label series "The Nice House on the Lake." | July 2024 |
| Superman #11 | Joshua Williamson, David Baldeon | Prelude to "House of Brainiac." 1st appearance of Lena Luthor in the modern Dawn of DC status quo. | Feb 2024 |
| Batman #150 | Chip Zdarsky, Denys Cowan, Jorge Jimenez | Milestone 150th issue. Features a story connecting to the original 1939 Batman themes and a modern Catwoman milestone. | July 2024 |
| House of Brainiac Special #1 | Various | Major expansion of the Brainiac mythos. 1st appearance of the Brainiac Queen's sentient sub-processes. | April 2024 |
| Metamorpho: The Element Man #1 | Al Ewing, Steve Lieber | Launch of the modern solo series following Metamorpho's increased popularity from "The Terrifics." | July 2024 |
| Absolute Power #4 | Joshua Williamson, Dan Mora | Conclusion of the Absolute Power event. Major status quo shift for Amanda Waller and the Green Lantern Corps. | Oct 2024 |
DC COMICS: 2025 KEY ISSUE CATALOG
| ISSUE TITLE & NUMBER | CREATORS | WHY IT IS A KEY | COVER DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Flash #1 | Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles | 1st appearance of Absolute Flash (Barry Allen). A radical reimagining of the Speed Force as a psychological burden. | Mar 2025 |
| Absolute Green Lantern #1 | Al Ewing, Caspar Wijngaard | 1st appearance of Absolute Green Lantern (Jo Mullein). Relaunch of the Corps as a specialized cosmic task force in the Absolute Universe. | Mar 2025 |
| Justice League Unlimited #1 | Mark Waid, Dan Mora | Official launch of the premier "All-In" team. Every hero on Earth is technically a member of the League. | Jan 2025 |
| Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 | Deniz Camp, Javier Rodriguez | 1st appearance of Absolute Martian Manhunter. A sci-fi horror take on J'onn J'onzz. | May 2025 |
| New Gods #1 | Ram V, Evan Cagle | Landmark relaunch of the Fourth World. 1st appearance of the modern "Goddess of Life" iteration of Highfather. | Feb 2025 |
| Absolute Batman #6 | Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta | Conclusion of the first "Absolute" arc. Major reveal regarding the Absolute Joker's true origins in this timeline. | Mar 2025 |
| Green Lantern #17 | Jeremy Adams, Xermanico | 1st appearance of the modern "Spectral Lanterns." Key shift in the United Planets war. | Jan 2025 |
| Action Comics #1075 | Jason Aaron, John Timms | Start of the "Phantom Zone King" arc. Superman discovers a forgotten city within the Zone. | Apr 2025 |
| Metamorpho #1 | Al Ewing, Steve Lieber | The official launch of the much-anticipated solo series. 1st appearance of the "Elemental Council." | Feb 2025 |
| Absolute Wonder Woman #4 | Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman | 1st appearance of the Absolute Universe version of Steve Trevor. | Jan 2025 |
| Batman #158 | Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimenez | The "Gotham Nocturne" finale crossover begins. 1st appearance of the Vane family. | May 2025 |
| Absolute Superman #5 | Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval | 1st appearance of the Absolute Universe's version of Supergirl (Kara). | Mar 2025 |
| Challengers of the Unknown #1 | Christopher Priest, Karl Kerschl | Modern high-concept relaunch of the classic Jack Kirby team. | Jun 2025 |
| Justice League Unlimited #6 | Mark Waid, Dan Mora | The first meeting between the core Justice League and a survivor from the Absolute Universe. | Jun 2025 |
| Batgirl #1 | Tini Howard, Sweeney Boo | Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown relaunch. 1st appearance of the "Oracle Network" status quo. | Apr 2025 |
| Black Canary #1 | Tom King, Leonardo Romero | Launch of the gritty spy-thriller solo series. 1st appearance of the "Seven-Second" scream technique. | Jul 2025 |
| Absolute Flash #4 | Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles | 1st appearance of Absolute Reverse-Flash. | Jun 2025 |
| Darkseid Special #1 | Various | Key expansion on the origin of the "Absolute Seed." Significant for Multiverse lore. | Aug 2025 |
DC COMICS: 2006 KEY ISSUE CATALOG
| ISSUE TITLE & NUMBER | CREATORS | WHY IT IS A KEY | COVER DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinite Crisis #3 | Geoff Johns, Phil Jimenez | 1st appearance of Jaime Reyes (the 3rd Blue Beetle). | Feb 2006 |
| Infinite Crisis #5 | Geoff Johns, Phil Jimenez | 1st appearance of Jaime Reyes as Blue Beetle. 1st appearance of the Scarab in its modern form. | Apr 2006 |
| Batman #655 | Grant Morrison, Andy Kubert | 1st appearance of Damian Wayne (cameo). Start of Grant Morrison's legendary Batman run. | Sep 2006 |
| Batman #656 | Grant Morrison, Andy Kubert | 1st full appearance of Damian Wayne. | Oct 2006 |
| 52 #7 | Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid | 1st appearance of the modern Kate Kane (Batwoman). | Jun 2006 |
| 52 #11 | Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid | 1st appearance of Kate Kane as Batwoman in costume. | Jul 2006 |
| Action Comics #844 | Geoff Johns, Richard Donner, Adam Kubert | 1st appearance of Lor-Zod (Chris Kent). Start of the "Last Son" storyline. | Dec 2006 |
| Infinite Crisis #7 | Geoff Johns, Phil Jimenez | Final issue of Infinite Crisis. Death of Earth-Two Superman (Kal-L). 1st appearance of the modern Multiverse (cameo). | Jun 2006 |
| 52 #1 | Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid | Launch of the historic year-long weekly series. 1st appearance of the modern Intergang and Ralph Dibny's investigation. | May 2006 |
| Justice League of America #1 | Brad Meltzer, Ed Benes | Relaunch of the JLA. 1st appearance of the new roster including Vixen, Red Arrow, and Black Lantern. | Oct 2006 |
| Blue Beetle #1 | Keith Giffen, John Rogers, Cully Hamner | First issue of Jaime Reyes' ongoing series. 1st appearance of the Reach (cameo). | May 2006 |
| Wonder Woman #1 | Allan Heinberg, Terry Dodson | "One Year Later" relaunch. Donna Troy officially assumes the mantle of Wonder Woman. | Aug 2006 |
| 52 #12 | Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid | 1st appearance of Adrianna Tomaz (Isis). | Jul 2006 |
| Justice Society of America #1 | Geoff Johns, Dale Eaglesham | Relaunch of the JSA. 1st appearance of the modern Cyclone (Maxine Hunkel) and Damage (Grant Emerson). | Feb 2007 (Dec 2006 ship) |
| Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #40 | Kurt Busiek, Butch Guice | 1st appearance of Arthur Joseph Curry as the new Aquaman. Major "One Year Later" shift. | May 2006 |
| Green Lantern #10 | Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis | 1st appearance of the modern Manhunters (relaunch). | May 2006 |
| Batman #658 | Grant Morrison, Andy Kubert | 1st appearance of the Ghost Dragons and key Damian Wayne development. | Dec 2006 |
| Checkmate #1 | Greg Rucka, Jesus Saiz | Launch of the acclaimed political espionage series. 1st appearance of the modern White Queen and Black King structure. | Jun 2006 |