We’ve done this topic many times before, but never as a poll, I don’t think. When looking over lists of the worst comics that DC has ever published, I always seem to see the same six titles mentioned more than any others. But which of them is THE worst comic that DC ever published? Please choose one, or if you don’t agree with any of the choices, please select “Other” and let us know which title you think is worse than any of those listed.
In no particular order:
All-Star Batman and Robin
Amazons Attack
Heroes in Crisis
Justice League: Cry for Justice/The Rise of Arsenal
For me it comes down to Heroes in Crisis and Justice League Act of God. Act of God has much, much, much better/less bad art so I am going with Heroes in Crisis for the worst.
There’ve been some real stinkers. Chuck Austen’s JLA run, the “City of Crime” arc in 'Tec, Larry Hama’s Batman.
But number one for me is a tie between Batman & Robin Eternal and Tynion’s run on Detective Comics. They weren’t just underwhelming, bloated, inconsistent and lazy, they did what the previously mentioned comics I mentioned didn’t do as egregiously: fundamentally change what didn’t need to be changed, and (from what I can tell) all for the sake of one writer’s poetry-filled fan-fiction rather than anything new, necessary, or respectful to the characters involved.
All Star Batman and Robin: The Boy Wonder stands as the worst, but something that should be admired because of how crazy it is. I mean come on, these pages are iconic. It is DC Comic’s “The Room” but with Batman as Tommy Wiseau
I do agree that the mystery, characters, and plot points are bad or predictable but what makes it a step up from something like All Star Batman for me is the art by Clay Mann. Beautiful stuff.
Jim Lee gave beautiful art (which clashes so beautifully with the writing like a butterfly of bad. It reminds me of “The Prayer” in Quest for Camelot). I thought HiC’s art was mostly very bad facial expressions and body language.
From the list, definitely Heroes In Crisis because it just failed to do what it set out to do. I thought the idea of Sanctuary was fantastic and it was squandered immediately. The mystery never actually felt like a mystery. Not that I guessed the ending but it just didn’t play out as one. Harley taking down the Trinity was absurd and the stink of HiC will always follow poor Wally.
I also personally think Tom King is one of the most overrated and self indulgent writers out there and his dialogue makes me wish for A Quiet Place so people just wouldn’t speak.
Tom King: In my adaptation of a Quiet Place I will have so much internal monologue that nobody can see any of the art with all those thought bubbles. It will be more like “A Blind Place.”
I wouldn’t vote any of those titles “Worst. DC Title. Ever.”, as they all have worthwhile strengths to some degree (said strengths don’t necessarily make up for any shortcomings select titles may have, however).
Regarding a modern title that was “disappointing, unsatisfying and didn’t really add all that much to the modern narrative”, that “award” can most definitely be hoisted upon this mini.
I did see this one pop up on “worst of” lists a lot, but I decided to go with only one Frank Miller title for the poll, so I chose the more “famously bad” one.
Interesting how people have so many different answers. But there does seem to be an early consensus forming around “Heroes in Crisis”. Also interesting how Tom King is responsible for both one of the most critically acclaimed DC Comics in recent years (Mister Miracle) and one of the most utterly reviled (Heroes in Crisis). Kind of like how Frank Miller produced both Batman Year One/Batman: The Dark Knight ReturnsandDark Knight Strikes Again/All-Star Batman and Robin. Bit of a head-scratcher there…
