DC Comics has launched a new graphic novel line, DC Compact Comics, which will republish "bestselling, new-reader-friendly titles" from the comics giant's backlist in a trim size more commonly associated with trade paperback novels.
DC Compact Comics will be priced at $9.99, rather than the typical $19.99 for trade paperback comics collections and graphic novels, and printed in a 5.5" x 8.5" standard book trim for trade paperback novels, rather than the standard 6.625" x 10.1875" trim. (International editions of DC’s graphic novels are already printed at this size.) All the books will be in full color, and are intended to be sold in traditional books and comics outlets, mass retailers, transit bookstores, and other outlets alongside trade publishing offerings including science fiction/fantasy and mystery/thriller titles.
The first books in the line will go on sale in June 2024. Those are:
- All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
- American Vampire, Book One by Scott Snyder, Stephen King and Rafael Albuquerque
- Batman: The Court of Owls by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo
- Batman: Hush by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee
- Catwoman: Trail of the Catwoman by Darwyn Cooke and Ed Brubaker
- Far Sector by N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell
- Harley Quinn & the Gotham City Sirens by Paul Dini, Peter Calloway, Tony Bedard, Guillem March, and Andres Guinaldo
- Joker by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo
- Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
- Wonder Woman: Earth One by Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette
Anne DePies, senior v-p and general manager at DC, described the format's "price and sizing" as "perfect for readers of prose and manga," calling it "a new graphic novel reading experience that fits in the palm of their hands, with no loss of readability."
