DC Master Reading Order Part 1

Many early DC Comics are anthologies with multiple stories. In these cases the relevant story to read will be noted after the issue.

Action Comics #1 (1938) - First appearance of Superman, Lois Lane

Action Comics #6 - Superman’s Phony Manager, The Man Who Sold Superman. First appearance of Jimmy Olsen

Detective Comics #27 - First appearance of Batman

Detective Comics #38 - First appearance of Robin

Batman #1 (1940) - First appearance of The Joker, Catwoman

Action Comics #60 - Lois Lane - Superwoman

Superman #30 - The Mysterious Mr. Mxyzptlk. First appearance of Mister Mxyzptlk

All-American Comics #61 - Fighters Never Quit. First appearance of Solomon Grundy

DC Special #29

Superman #45 - Lois Lane, Superwoman!

Golden Age Secret Files and Origins #1 (2001)

Superman #53 - The Origin of Superman

Batman #47 - The Origin of The Batman!

Superman #61 - Superman Returns to Krypton!

Detective Comics #168 - The Man Behind the Red Hood

Superman #76 - The Mightiest Team in the World

The Golden Age #1 (1993)
The Golden Age #2
The Golden Age #3
The Golden Age #4

Adventure Comics #210 - The Super-Dog from Krypton!.  First appearance of Krypto

Superman #90 - Superman’s Secret Past

Adventure Comics #214 - The Dog of Steel

Detective Comics #235 - The First Batman

DC: The New Frontier #1 (2004)
DC: The New Frontier #2
DC: The New Frontier #3
DC: The New Frontier #4
DC: The New Frontier #5
DC: The New Frontier #6

Showcase #4 - First appearance of Barry Allen

Adventure Comics #239 - The Super-Tricks of the Dog of Steel

Showcase #9 - The New Lois Lane
Showcase #10 - The Sightless Lois Lane

Superboy #64 - The Rebel Super-Dog

Adventure Comics #247 - First appearance of the Legion of Super-Heroes

Superboy #65 - Superboy’s Moonlight Spell

Action Comics #242 - First appearance of Brainiac

Superboy #68 - First appearance of Bizarro

Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane #5 - The Fattest Girl in Metropolis

Superman #129 - The Girl in Superman’s Past

Action Comics #252 - The Menace of Metallo, The Supergirl from Krypton! First appearance of Supergirl, Metallo

Adventure Comics #259 - The Blind Boy of Steel!

Action Comics #254 - The Battle with Bizarro!
Action Comics #255 - The Bride of Bizarro!

Adventure Comics #262 - The Colossal Super-Dog!

Adventure Comics #266 - The Super-Pranks of Krypto!

Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane #14 - Three Nights in the Fortress of Solitude!

The Flash #110 - First appearance of Wally West, Weather Wizard

Adventure Comics #271 - How Luthor Met Superboy
Adventure Comics #272 - The Super-Star of Hollywood!

Superman #141

Superboy #85 - The Impossible Mission

World’s Finest #113 - Bat-Mite Meets Mr. Mxyzptlk

The Flash #117 - First appearance of Captain Boomerang

Superman #143 - Bizarro Meets Frankenstein!

Tales of the Bizarro World #1 (2000) - Collects back-ups from Adventure Comics #285-299

Superman #147 - The Legion of Super-Villains

Action Comics #277 - The Battle of the Super-Pets!

Superboy #89 - Superboy’s Big Brother
Superboy #90 - The Girl Who Saw the Future Superboy!

The Flash #123

Superman #149

Green Lantern Vol. 2 #13

Showcase #37 - First appearance of the Metal Men
Showcase #38
Showcase #39
Showcase #40

Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #61 - Jimmy Olsen’s Wildest Adventure

The Flash #131

Superman #156

Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane #39 - The Kryptonian Courtship

Superman #159 - Lois Lane, the Supermaid from Earth

The Flash #137

Superman #161 - The Last Days of Ma and Pa Kent!
Superman #162

Justice League of America #21
Justice League of America #22

Metal Men #1 (1963)
Metal Men #2
Metal Men #3
Metal Men #4
Metal Men #5

Superman #164 - The Showdown Between Luthor and Superman!

Batman #156 - Robin Dies at Dawn

Superman #167
Superman #168

My Greatest Adventure #80 - First appearance of the Doom Patrol
My Greatest Adventure #81
My Greatest Adventure #82
My Greatest Adventure #83
My Greatest Adventure #84
My Greatest Adventure #85

After My Greatest Adventure #85 the series was retitled Doom Patrol.

Superman #169 - The Bizarro Invasion of Earth

Justice League of America #29
Justice League of America #30

Action Comics #318 - The Death of Luthor!
Action Comics #319 - The Condemned Superman

The Flash #148 - The Day The Flash Went Into Orbit!

Read Zatanna's Search here.

Metal Men #6
Metal Men #7
Metal Men #8
Metal Men #9
Metal Men #10
Metal Men #11
Metal Men #12

Doom Patrol #86
Doom Patrol #87
Doom Patrol #88
Doom Patrol #89
Doom Patrol #90
Doom Patrol #91
Doom Patrol #92
Doom Patrol #93
Doom Patrol #94
Doom Patrol #95
Doom Patrol #96
Doom Patrol #97
Doom Patrol #98
Doom Patrol #99
Doom Patrol #100

Superman #174 - Super-Mxyzptlk... Hero!

Adventure Comics #322 - The Super Tests of the Super-Pets

The Flash #155 - First appearance of The Rogues

Metal Men #13
Metal Men #14
Metal Men #15
Metal Men #16
Metal Men #17
Metal Men #18

Deadman #1 (1985)
Deadman #2
Deadman #3
Deadman #4
Deadman #5
Deadman #6
Deadman #7

Deadman Vol. 2 #1 (1986)
Deadman Vol. 2 #2
Deadman Vol. 2 #3
Deadman Vol. 2 #4

Superboy #126 - Krypto’s Family Tree

Doom Patrol #101

Challengers of the Unknown #48

Doom Patrol #102
Doom Patrol #103
Doom Patrol #104
Doom Patrol #105
Doom Patrol #106
Doom Patrol #107
Doom Patrol #108
Doom Patrol #109
Doom Patrol #110
Doom Patrol #111
Doom Patrol #112
Doom Patrol #113
Doom Patrol #114
Doom Patrol #115
Doom Patrol #116
Doom Patrol #117
Doom Patrol #118
Doom Patrol #119
Doom Patrol #120
Doom Patrol #121

Superboy #131 - The Dog from S.C.P.A.

Metal Men #19
Metal Men #20
Metal Men #21
Metal Men #22
Metal Men #23
Metal Men #24
Metal Men #25
Metal Men #26

Action Comics #340 - Power of the Parasite! First appearance of Parasite

Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane #68

Adventure Comics #352
Adventure Comics #353

Action Comics #347

The Brave and the Bold #71

Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #104

Metal Men #27
Metal Men #28
Metal Men #29
Metal Men #30
Metal Men #31
Metal Men #32

Action Comics #360

The Flash #179

Showcase #73 - First appearance of The Creeper

Beware the Creeper #1 (1968)
Beware the Creeper #2
Beware the Creeper #3
Beware the Creeper #4
Beware the Creeper #5
Beware the Creeper #6

The Brave and the Bold #80

Adventure Comics #369
Adventure Comics #370

Justice League of America #70

Aquaman #40
Aquaman #41
Aquaman #42
Aquaman #43
Aquaman #44
Aquaman #45
Aquaman #46
Aquaman #47
Aquaman #48

Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #113

Action Comics #373

Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #1 (1969)
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #2
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #3
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #4
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #5
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #6
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #7
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #8
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #9
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #10
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #11

The Brave and the Bold #85

Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #122

Green Lantern Vol. 2 #76
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #77
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #78
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #79
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #80
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #81
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #82
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #83
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #84
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #85
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #86
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #87
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #88
Green Lantern Vol. 2 #89

Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #131

Superman’s Girlfriend, Lois Lane #106 - I Am Curious (Black)!

Detective Comics #411 - Into the Den of the Death-Dealers!. First appearance of Talia al Ghul

Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #12
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #13
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #14
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #15
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #16
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #17
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #18
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #19
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #20

Detective Comics #418 - ...And Be a Villain

Superman #233 - Superman Breaks Loose
Superman #234 - How to Tame a Wild Volcano!
Superman #235
Superman #236
Superman #237
Superman #238 - Menace at 1000 Degrees!

Superman #240 - To Save a Superman
Superman #241 - The Shape of Fear!
Superman #242 - The Ultimate Battle!

Batman #232

House of Secrets #92 - First appearance of Swamp Thing

Batman #234 - Half an Evil
Batman #235 - Swamp Sinister

Batman #237 - Night of the Reaper

Superman #247 - Must There Be a Superman?

Batman #240 - Vengeance for a Dead Man

The Brave and the Bold #100 - The Warrior in a Wheel-Chair

Batman #242 - Bruce Wayne R.I.P.
Batman #243
Batman #244 - The Demon Lives Again!

Justice League of America #100
Justice League of America #101
Justice League of America #102

Swamp Thing #1 (1972)
Swamp Thing #2
Swamp Thing #3
Swamp Thing #4
Swamp Thing #5
Swamp Thing #6
Swamp Thing #7
Swamp Thing #8
Swamp Thing #9
Swamp Thing #10
Swamp Thing #11
Swamp Thing #12
Swamp Thing #13

Justice League of America #107
Justice League of America #108

Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #21
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #22
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #23
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #24
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #25
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #26
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #27
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #28

The Brave and the Bold #106

Batman #250 - The Batman Nobody Knows!
Batman #251

Read Jack Kirby’s Fourth World here.

Detective Comics #437 - Deathmask!

Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #29
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #30
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #31
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #32
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #33
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #34

Detective Comics #439

Wrath of The Spectre #1 (1988) - Reprints Adventure Comics #431-440.
Wrath of The Spectre #2
Wrath of The Spectre #3
Wrath of The Spectre #4

Superman #283 - One of Our Imps is Missing!

Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #35
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #36
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #37
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #38
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #39
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #40
Phantom Stranger Vol. 2 #41

Superman #287 - Who was that Dog I Saw You With Last Night?

Detective Comics #447 - Enter: The Creeper
Detective Comics #448
Detective Comics #449 - The Mystery Man Who Walked on Air
Detective Comics #450 - The Cape and Cowl Deathtrap

Joker #3

1st Issue Special #7

Superman #292 - The Luthor Nobody Knows!

Super-Team Family #2

Plastic Man 80-Page Giant #1 (2004)

Detective Comics #457 - There is No Hope in Crime Alley!

Superman #301

The Brave and the Bold #129
The Brave and the Bold #130

Justice League of America #135
Justice League of America #136
Justice League of America #137

Action Comics #467 - A Superman’s Best Friend is His Superdog

Secret Society of Super-Villains #9
Secret Society of Super-Villains #10

Action Comics #471 - One of Our Phantoms is Missing!
Action Comics #472 - The Phantom Touch of Death!
Action Comics #473

Detective Comics #469
Detective Comics #470
Detective Comics #471
Detective Comics #472
Detective Comics #473
Detective Comics #474
Detective Comics #475
Detective Comics #476

Detective Comics #478
Detective Comics #479 - If a Man be Made of Clay

Batman #291
Batman #292
Batman #293
Batman #294

The Brave and the Bold #136

Read Aquaman: Death of a Prince here.

Showcase #100

Action Comics #484

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #241
Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #242
Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #243
Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #244
Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #245

The Brave and the Bold #143 - Cast the First Stone
The Brave and the Bold #144 - The Arrow of Eternity

DC Comics Presents #8

DC Comics Presents #12

DC Comics Presents #14

The Flash #275
The Flash #276
The Flash #277
The Flash #278
The Flash #279
The Flash #280
The Flash #281
The Flash #282
The Flash #283
The Flash #284

Superboy Vol. 2 #5

Action Comics #507
Action Comics #508

Superman #349

DC Comics Presents #28 - Warworld!
DC Comics Presents #29 - Where No Superman has Gone Before!

The Brave and the Bold #168 - Shackles of the Mind!

Justice League of America #183
Justice League of America #184
Justice League of America #185

New Teen Titans #1 (1980)
New Teen Titans #2 - First appearance of Deathstroke
New Teen Titans #3
New Teen Titans #4
New Teen Titans #5
New Teen Titans #6
New Teen Titans #7

Batman #332 - Fallout!
Batman #333 - The China Syndrome!
Batman #334 - Infinity Island
Batman #335

Detective Comics #500

Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #1 (1981)
Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #2
Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #3

Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #277
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #278
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #279
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #280
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #281
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #282
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #283

Superman Annual #9

The Flash #300

The Brave and the Bold #178 - Paperchase

Phantom Zone #1 (1982)
Phantom Zone #2
Phantom Zone #3
Phantom Zone #4

Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #284
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #285
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #286
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #287
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #288
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #289

Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 Annual #1 (1982)

New Teen Titans #8
New Teen Titans #9
New Teen Titans #10
New Teen Titans #11
New Teen Titans #12
New Teen Titans #13
New Teen Titans #14
New Teen Titans #15
New Teen Titans #16
New Teen Titans #17
New Teen Titans #18

The Brave and the Bold #185 - The Falcon’s Lair

The Brave and the Bold #187 - Whatever Happened to What’s’ername?

Justice League of America #207

All-Star Squadron #14

Justice League of America #208

All-Star Squadron #15

Justice League of America #209

Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #290
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #291
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #292
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #293
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #294

New Teen Titans #19
New Teen Titans #20

Tales of the New Teen Titans #1 (1982)
Tales of the New Teen Titans #2
Tales of the New Teen Titans #3
Tales of the New Teen Titans #4

New Teen Titans #21
New Teen Titans #22
New Teen Titans #23
New Teen Titans #24
New Teen Titans #25

New Teen Titans Annual #1 (1982)

New Teen Titans #26
New Teen Titans #27

Detective Comics #523

Batman #357

Detective Comics #524

Batman #358

Detective Comics #525

Batman #359

Detective Comics #526

The Brave and the Bold #197

Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #295
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #296
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #297
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #298
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #299
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #300

New Teen Titans #28
New Teen Titans #29
New Teen Titans #30
New Teen Titans #31
New Teen Titans #32
New Teen Titans #33
New Teen Titans #34

New Teen Titans Annual #2

Action Comics #544
Action Comics #545
Action Comics #546

Superman #385
Superman #386

Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #301
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #302
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #303

Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 Annual #2

Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #304
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #305
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #306
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #307
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #308
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #309
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #310
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #311

New Teen Titans #35
New Teen Titans #36
New Teen Titans #37

Batman and The Outsiders #5

New Teen Titans #38
New Teen Titans #39
New Teen Titans #40

After New Teen Titans #40 the series is retitled Tales of the Teen Titans.

Tales of the Teen Titans #41

Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #20
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #21
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #22
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #23
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #24
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #25
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #26
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #27
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #28
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #29
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #30
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #31

Swamp Thing Vol. 2 Annual #2

DC Comics Presents #71

Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #312
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 #313

After Legion of Super-Heroes #313 the series is retitled Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #314
Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #315

Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2 Annual #3

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #316
Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #317
Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #318
Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #319

Tales of the Teen Titans #42
Tales of the Teen Titans #43
Tales of the Teen Titans #44

Tales of the Teen Titans Annual #3

Tales of the Teen Titans #45
Tales of the Teen Titans #46
Tales of the Teen Titans #47

All-Star Squadron #36
All-Star Squadron #37

Superman vs. Shazam #1 (2013) - Collects All-New Collectors’ Edition #58, DC Presents #33-34, 49, Annual #3.

Tales of the Teen Titans #48
Tales of the Teen Titans #49
Tales of the Teen Titans #50
Tales of the Teen Titans #51
Tales of the Teen Titans #52

Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #320
Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #321
Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #322
Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #323
Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #324
Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #325

Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #32
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #33
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #34
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #35
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #36
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #37 - First appearance of John Constantine
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #38
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #39
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #40
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #41
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #42
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #43

Green Lantern Vol. 2 #188 - Mogo Doesn’t Socialize

Superman Annual #11

Tales of the Teen Titans #53
Tales of the Teen Titans #54
Tales of the Teen Titans #55

New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #1 (1984)
New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #2
New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #3
New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #4
New Teen Titans Vol. 2 #5

Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 3 #1 (1984)
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 3 #2
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 3 #3
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 3 #4
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 3 #5

Superman #416

Lois Lane #1 (1986)
Lois Lane #2

Batman #400

Read Crisis on Infinite Earths here.

Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #47
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #48
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #49
Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #50

Superman #423 - Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?

Action Comics #583

Legend of Wonder Woman #1 (1986)
Legend of Wonder Woman #2
Legend of Wonder Woman #3
Legend of Wonder Woman #4

Legionnaires 3 #1 (1986)
Legionnaires 3 #2
Legionnaires 3 #3
Legionnaires 3 #4