DC Comics is home to some of the most exciting and compelling comic book characters and stories the medium has ever had, and while they all fit into a myriad of genres and subgenres, one of the most essential to DC storytelling is science fiction. Heroes and villains from across the DCU constantly find themselves starring in sci-fi tales, and they’re some of the best in the company.
Whether they’re space epics of aliens and super-powered tyrants, low-stakes sci-fi and low-Earth fiction, or anywhere in between, the sci-fi stories of the DC Universe are often the boldest and most tantalizing tales in the business. With so many years of stories already established, there are an endless number of excellent DC sci-fi tales, but these ten stand out as some of the best the comic book icon has to offer.
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a messy classic
Without Crisis on Infinite Earthstoday’s DC Universe would be very different. It’s a bold and beautiful epic, one that pushed the world of comics in a direction that had never really been seen before. Written by Marv Wolfman and drawn by the legendary George Pérez, Crisis on Infinite Earths“Twelve issues have made this one of the greatest sci-fi tales the DCU has ever seen.
So many events happened as a result of Crisis on Infinite Earthsand while many of them arguably succeeded narratively and thematically more effectively than the 1985 original, there’s no denying that Crisis on Infinite Earths is one of the most impactful and influential science fiction stories in comics history.
Mister Miracle is a bold take on a classic hero
Writer Tom King is a somewhat controversial figure in the contemporary landscape, and while many fans aren’t too happy with his work on books like Batman, Wonder WomanAnd Heroes in crisisit is hard to deny that books like Strange adventures, Supergirl: the woman of tomorrowand of course Mister Miracle, are wonderful science fiction epics.
With the spectacular art of Mitch Gerads, Mister Miracle sizzles and overflows with style, thematic depth, splendid characters and incredible world-building. It’s an incredible continuation of the ideas established by Jack Kirby with his original Fourth World Sagaand it remains one of the best DC books in years.
Cosmic Odyssey is a forgotten gem
Spanning four issues from 1988 to 1989, Cosmic Odyssey by Jim Starlin and Mike Mignola is a wonderfully dense and highly emotional tale of sci-fi action, terror, and sacrifice. Featuring some of the best story arcs for characters like John Stewart, Martian Manhunter and Darkseid, Cosmic Odyssey also crackles with incredibly dynamic art from the legendary creator of Hellboy.
Cosmic Odyssey may not be as well considered or remembered as something like Crisis on Infinite Earthsbut it’s arguably a superior event, and despite its smaller scale, shorter runtime, and smaller cast of characters, it still packs more of a punch. It’s an understated masterpiece, and it absolutely deserves more recognition.
Batman: Off-World is a recent success
Batman isn’t necessarily a character that fans immediately think of when contemplating DC’s sci-fi characters, but that in no way indicates that he hasn’t played a major role in many sci-fi tales. Notably, Batman is almost always a core member of the Justice League, whose stories are almost always science fiction, and he regularly faces off against fantastical villains in Gotham City.
Out of World sees Batman heading…well, off-world, and it’s a wonderful change of pace for the Dark Knight. Set earlier in the hero’s career, this Batman has not come into contact with many aliens, and when he is defeated on his own streets, he decides to embark on a quest to the stars to train and gain experience against alien threats. What follows is an epic odyssey across the galaxies to free enslaved aliens, battle tyrannical rulers, and make friends along the way.
Y: The Last Man is an otherworldly epic
Not actually set in the DC Universe proper, but released under DC’s Vertigo imprint, Brian K. Vaughan’s Y: The Last Man is one of the greatest post-apocalypse comics ever made. Set in a world where all of Earth’s male mammals have died suddenly (except for one man and his pet monkey), the book sees the titular Last Man trying to navigate a terrifying new landscape.
A long, epic journey of self-discovery, hope for humanity, and the fall of the modern age, Y: The Last Man unlike any other book DC published at the time, and it remains the benchmark for Vertigo’s non-superhero output. The series even received its own short-lived live-action television series.
Superman: Up in The Sky is a space masterpiece
Once again hosted by writer Tom King, Superman: In the Sky is perhaps the definitive Man of Steel sci-fi tale of the last decade. Featuring the iconic hero as he travels into deep space to try to save a little girl who has been kidnapped from Earth by terrifying aliens, In the sky is the ultimate ode to Superman.
Overflowing with love and admiration for the character and his comic book history, In the sky plays out like an anthology, with each issue generally focusing on Superman tackling a whole new threat or problem on his way to saving the little girl. Each issue builds dramatically until the finale, where he and the girl are reunited and return home. It’s a love letter to Superman and superheroes in general, and it’s Tom King’s finest work.
Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern is magnificent from start to finish
In the wake of Emerald Twilight In the 1990s storyline, Hal Jordan, arguably the most famous character to ever take on the mantle of Green Lantern, was sidelined for a time in favor of new blood like Kyle Rayner and John Stewart. That changed somewhat when superstar writer Geoff Johns brought Jordan back. Green Lantern: Rebirth, the book that launched his founding journey on the hero.
THE Green Lantern The run that followed absolutely dominated the DC Universe at the time. Green Lantern became THE book to read, and every major event of the time resulted either from Lantern book or strongly involved its characters. The SInestro body War, The darkest nightAnd Brightest day are just a few of the masterpieces released during this series, and it goes to show just how high quality the sci-fi epic truly was.
Absolute Martian Manhunter is a brand new masterpiece
Although the book has only published its first six issues, Deniz Camp’s book Absolute Martian Manhunter is without a doubt one of the best comics of the last ten years. He’s redefined what’s possible in the superhero comics landscape at almost every turn, and Javier Rodríguez’s artwork can’t be beat.
Blending social commentary, psychological and emotional depth, and some of the most creative formal work for a comic book in decades, Absolute Martian Manhunter has everything. The book outperformed all other books in the Absolute Universe, and that says a lot when the competition consists of excellent books like Absolute Batman And Absolute Wonder Woman.
DC: The New Frontier is the definitive team-up story
Writer and artist Darwyn Cooke brought fans one of the most dazzling DC stories of the 2000s with his six-issue miniseries, DC: the new frontiera book that saw the heroes of the DC Universe transition from the Golden Age to the Silver Age literally in the pages of history. Hal Jordan, Martian Manhunter, Barry Allen and even smaller characters take center stage, and this masterful epic has remained a centerpiece of comic book fiction since its release.
Cooke’s artwork is spectacular and fits effortlessly with his narrative pacing and dialogue work. There’s nothing like reading DC: the new frontier for the first time. It’s the kind of comic that effortlessly blends science fiction, real history, and superheroic silliness into one incredible story.
Superman All-Star is invincible
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely brought fans the greatest Superman story of all time with their twelve-issue miniseries, Superman All-Star released between 2005 and 2008. Chronicles the final days of the Man of Steel after he was poisoned by solar radiation and received a terminal diagnosis, Superman All-Star is the definitive version of the hero.
Superman All-Star Effortlessly brings together the silly, sci-fi-oriented tales of Superman comics from the ’50s and ’60s, while simultaneously modernizing and reinvigorating the character and his tropes for the contemporary era. Superman All-Star is full of iconic moments, stunning art, and fantastic characterizations, and it’s the best DC sci-fi tale of all time.