DC Through the 80s: The Experiments

DC Through the 80s #2

by Paul Levitz (Editor/Contributor), Keith Giffen, Neil Gaiman

The 1980s were a period of great achievement and transition for DC Comics, one that introduced some of DC's all-time bestselling titles including Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns. For the first time, DC offers a retrospective of this monumental decade in one collected edition.

Collects Secret Origins #48, Swamp Thing #40, The Sandman #8, Doom Patrol #25, Warlord #48 and #55, The Legion of Super-Heroes #298, Nathaniel Dusk #1, Infinity, Inc. #14, The New Teen Titans #16, The Best of DC: Blue Ribbon Digest #58, Watchmen #1, Camelot 3000 #1, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #2, Angel Love #1, and The History of the DC Universe #1-2.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels

504 pages, Hardcover

First published June 22, 2021

Reviews

[Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at DC's transitional period in the mid-1980s, when they were so desperate to catch up with Marvel that it seemed like they were willing to try just about anything until they found their winning formula with Miller's Dark Knight Returns and Moore & Gibbons' Watchmen.

[Desire Manara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siguen los experimentos ochentosos destacables, con menos sorpresas pero más clásicos en el índice. Lo malo de eso es que aumenta la cantidad de material repetido en otras ediciones.

[Tom Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second installment of DC Through the 80s hardcovers, the first one being DC Through the 80s: The End of Eras. The Experiments refers to the types of stories which DC had hoped would increase their audience as the traditional avenue of comics distribution was dwindling. For the most part, these stories are excellent examples of DC's ability to pivot to or create new genres.

While I had read most of these stories in their original form, it was nice to re-read the less popular stories (Nathaniel Dusk, Captain Carrot, Amethyst) and discover stories that I hadn't read (Arak, Arion, Angel Love). The Vertigo examples are really good one-shot stories in Sandman #8, Swamp Thing #40, and Doom Patrol #25.

Also contained in here are a couple of Frank Miller stories (The Dark Knight Returns #1 and Ronin #1)--great examples of the darker stories that would become the norm. Alan Moore's Watchmen #1 is a classic, and History of the Dc Universe (both issues!) was a fine way to finish the book.

Interspersed between the comic stories are essays by various writers/artists/editors who were instrumental in creating these stories. I always enjoy getting some inside baseball on the stories--especially the background on the Angel Love stories.

This would have been a 5 star recommendation, but a few of the stories are excerpts instead of the full story. A curious choice, but I would rather read a full story rather than experience parts of multiple stories.

[Chris W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting retrospective into the 80s era of DC where they had experimented with various new characters (a few of which failed) until the Vertigo and the Miller Era began. In this collection you see the immediate jump in quality once you run into issues from Alan Morrison's swamp thing, Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol, Neil Gaimans Sandman, Miller's Dark Knight Returns and Ronin (inspiration for Samurai Jack) and of course the groundbreaking Watchmen.

There's a lot to like in this compilation, especially towards the end of it. The only negative is just the earlier experimental issues were lackluster (their inclusion serves a purpose once when you see the successful experiments in the latter half).

[Buddy Scalera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Themed collection of single-issue stories from the 80s. Paul Levitz has done a fine job of picking representative stories. Some have aged well. Others, not to much.

One minor complaint. There's some introductory text to the book and chapters. It would have been more impactful with a detailed introduction to each story. It would offer context and relevance to the innovative nature of these comics at the time of publication.

Otherwise, an excellent package. Part of a set of collections.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot to like here: previews of new series, WATCHMEN, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, Alan Moore's SWAMP THING, Neil Gaiman's SANDMAN, RONIN.

There's also the inexplicable: NATHANIEL DUSK #1 only gets the first 8 pages included in the volume??? C'mon, DC! This is a series that deserves to be collected in a deluxe edition and readers don't get more than a tease?

[Mike A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look back on one of DC greatest ear the 1980's

DC through the 80's the experiments is a fantastic read. With interesting articles and eye witness events that changed comics.

[Graham Vingoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommended.DC in the 80s was the pinnacle of comics and this sums up the era well.

[Index Purga]

Segunda antología de DC en los 80s, esta vez dedicada a los experimentos (exitosos) de después de la Crisis.

[Red Equis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una selección mucho más "exitista" que el tomo anterior, pero igualmente interesante.