Following a weird week for the world and then…well, another weird week for the world, this edition of Comics Disassembled is fittingly a bit odd. But as I feel I’ll be saying a whole lot going forward, the show must go on, and go on it shall, as we start with a look at the expansion of one of 2024’s true winners in comics publishing.

1. DC’s Compact Comics, Expanding

There are a few different ways to know that DC’s Compact Comics line — you know, the one that’s collecting classic DC releases into digest sized editions for $9.99 — is doing well. One is hearing from the folks who are selling them, which I have. These books are molten lava, a format with a good problem to have in that the trickiest thing about them might be that they’re always selling out. Then there’s subtler nods, like the fact that DC decided it would create a video ad to promote them. That meant that there was enough enthusiasm behind the line that the publisher elected to fan the flames of its success.

The most surefire way to know that this is more than just a ho hum seller, though, was when the publisher announced there were more of these books coming in 2025 about a month ago. That said, it was a muted addition of only five books. Some folks I talked to even responded with a bewildered, “Why only five?” when I talked to them about that addition. That was a good question, and one DC clearly agreed with. This week, DC announced ten more Compact Comics for 2025 alongside second and third printings of the already published releases. That means between May 6 and November 18, there will be 15 new Compact Comics released over a span of 28 weeks, so just under one every two weeks.

And the slate is both quite good and quite smart…for the most part. While there is one oddball in there from a timing standpoint — *stares intensely at the Death release* — there are some dynamite choices like DC: The New Frontier, Batman: The Long Halloween, and my personal favorite in Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s We3, which should see a legion of new fans if the world is a fair place (and that’s a heavy TBD on that). Not only that, but they’re smartly scheduled. DC has wisely surrounded the release of James Gunn’s Superman on July 11th with Superman: Birthright on June 24th, The Authority Book One on July 1st, and Superman/Batman: Book One on July 15th. Retailers and booksellers will have a bevy of reasonably priced, impeccably crafted editions to pitch excitable movie fans on, which is a good choice.

As someone noted to me on Bluesky, it is interesting how many Book Ones will be part of the line in its first two years with no Book Twos in sight. That is a tricky proposition, as complete stories fit the format better and are a strength for DC. But at the same time, it’s possible that the second books are coming and/or DC is maybe hoping these volumes act as introductions to other editions as much as anything. The publisher’s intent is unknown, though, and anything I’d say here is conjecture. But I will say that I agree with the idea that committing too heavily on the multi-book series beat might be a challenging plan, unless DC is planning on speeding up the rate of release for follow up editions (like the newly announced Y the Last Man, which has nine volumes to follow). We’ll see what comes from that, though. Either way, it’s a big win for the folks who are holding onto DC Compact Comics stock! We’re on the rise, people!

2. Jamal Campbell, Gnitirw dna Gniward

If there’s a single comic character that’s having a better year from a creative/quality standpoint than Zatanna, I’m not aware of them. Because Zatanna? S’ehs no erif. Err…sorry, was committed to the bit there for a second. I meant to say, she’s on fire. Coming off Mariko Tamaki, Javier Rodriguez, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s excellent Zatanna: Bring Down the House at DC Black Label, the character is now getting another elite creative team working on a story about her. Except this time, the creative team is one person.

It’s the electric Jamal Campbell, who will be writing and drawing a new six-issue miniseries for DC’s All In initiative with the gifted Ariana Maher lettering the series. While I’ve never read Campbell’s writing before, I suspect he’ll be excellent at it given his immense gifts as a storyteller on the art side, and even if this just proves to be a showcase for him as an artist, it’s well worth a read. Everything about the book sounds amazing, though. It’s a focused story with an excellent supporting cast — including Blue Devil! — and a grounded feel to the cast. I already know this is going to be a sensation when it launches in February.

I just have to say this before we go, though: DC is on one right now. The Marie Javins Era has proven to be a fertile one for great comics, bold takes, and impeccable castings, with a lot of moves that look like risks on the surface that are typically so smart you’re immediately like, “Why didn’t they do this a long time ago?” It’s been a win for fans of great art in particular, as we’re seeing inspired decisions on that front that show real creative vision. I don’t know what’s happening over there, or what it means for the success of the publisher.

But as a reader? I’m delighted, and want to see to see this continue going forward.