Going through the Silver Age history of Aquaman and Green Arrow I realized that, despite being mainstays of the DC Universe, they had very bad luck sustaining a series.
Which got me thinking: which heroes have the longest run as the title character?I’m focusing on DC for now; Marvel will get its own spotlight at some point, which will be a separate thing because they really go crazy with the legacy numbering.
ACTION COMICS
Uninterrupted: 904 issues
Current numbering: 1026 issues (as of 2025)
While starting out as an anthology series, Superman was the breakout star from the beginning.
Besides a 4 month hiatus in 1986 because of Crisis and a weekly schedule between 1998 and 1999, it was published monthly from 1938 to 2011 for a staggering 904 issues.
It was relaunched with a “Volume 2”, but in 2016 it picked up from issue #957 and it’s continuing its numbering.
Other Superman and Superman-adjacent long runners include:
SUPERMAN VOLUME 1: 488 issues (1939 to 2011)
WORLD’S FINEST VOLUME 1: 322 issues (1941 to 1986)
SUPERMAN VOLUME 2: 228 issues (1987 to 2006)
LOIS LANE: 137 issues (1958 to 1974)
SUPERMAN THE MAN OF STEEL: 136 issues (1991 to 2003)
JIMMY OLSEN: 163 issues (1954 to 1974)
SUPERGIRL VOLUME 4: 81 issues (1996 to 2003)
I’ll get back to those later. But first let’s move to the other well-known long runner.
DETECTIVE COMICS
Uninterrupted: 881 issues (#27 to #855)
Current numbering: 1077 issues (#27 to #1103, as of 2025)
While this was also an anthology series, Batman didn’t debut until #27 so I’m counting the series from that moment forward.
It’s the longest running series of DC Comics (which takes its name from the series).
It lagged behind Action Comics in terms of numberings because of the aforementioned weekly phase, and the fact that Detective Comics was bi-monthly for a while in the 70s.
Similarly to Superman, in 2011 it was relaunched with a “Volume 2” and the numbering picked up again in 2016 with #951.
It surpassed the numbering of Action Comics thanks to being a weekly series for a bit, and it’s currently published twice a month.
Other Batman and Batman-adjacent long runners include:
BATMAN VOLUME 1: 715 issues (1940 to 2011)
WORLD’S FINEST VOLUME 1: 322 issues (1941 to 1986)
BATMAN LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT: 216 issues (1989 to 2007)
ROBIN VOLUME 1: 185 issues (1993 to 2009)
NIGHTWING VOLUME 1: 155 issues (1996 to 2009)
BATMAN VOLUME 3: 163 issues (2016 to 2025)
NIGHTWING VOL4: 132 issues as of 2025 (2016 and currently ongoing)
BATMAN SHADOW OF THE BAT: 96 issues (1992 to 2000)
BIRDS OF PREY VOLUME 1: 127 issues (1999 to 2009)
WONDER WOMAN VOLUME 1
Uninterrupted: 329 issues
Highest numbering: 800 issues
The other character surviving uninterrupted publication after the end of the Golden Age, but trailing behind her male colleagues thanks to starting later and not always being monthly.
The series became Volume 2 with Crisis, resuming the old numbering with #600 in 2010 and continuing it until #800 in 2023.
That’s confusing, I know. The only Wonder Woman series with a very high numbering is Volume 2, which isn’t that far off from the uninterrupted publishing of the first volume.
WONDER WOMAN 2: 228 issues (1987 to 2006)
WONDER WOMAN 3: 44 issues (2006 to 2010)
WONDER WOMAN 4: 55 issues (2011 to 2016)
WONDER WOMAN 5: 83 issues (2016 to 2020)
WONDER WOMAN 6: 27 issues as of 2025 (2023 and ongoing)
And speaking of complicated!
THE FLASH VOLUME 1 (Barry Allen)
Uninterrupted: 246 issues (#105 to #350)
Highest numbering: 800 issues
The Barry Allen series actually continues the Jay Garrick numbering, even though the Golden Age series was technically “Flash Comics”. It continued uninterrupted until his death in Crisis with #350. And that went on through several re-numberings, until picking up the original numbering in 2020 with #750, until #800 when it changed back to a different numbering and often switching between Barry Allen and Wally West
I look forward to DC restoring the original numbering once they can get away with a #1000.
THE FLASH VOLUME 2: 250 issues (1987 to 2009), counted as #351-597
THE FLASH VOLUME 3: 12 issues (2010 to 2011) , counted as #598-609
THE FLASH VOLUME 4: 51 issues (2011 to 2016) , counted as #610-661
THE FLASH VOLUME 5: 88 issues (2016 to 2020) , counted as #662-749
THE FLASH VOLUME 6: 27 issues as of 2025 (2023 and ongoing)
GREEN LANTERN VOLUME 2 (Hal Jordan)
Uninterrupted: 200 issues (1960 to 1986)
Volume 1 was the Golden Age Green Lantern and it lasted 38 issues, which the Silver Age didn’t pick up for the new version.
It’s still the longest running Green Lantern series to date.
GREEN LANTERN VOLUME 3: 183 issues (1990 to 2004)
GREEN LANTERN VOLUME 4: 67 issues (2005 to 2011)
GREEN LANTERN VOLUME 5: 52 issues (2011 to 2016)
HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS: 50 issues (2016 to 2018)
I’ve already talked about these two. Now you see how badly they compare to their Justice League colleagues. Their highest numbered series are:
AQUAMAN VOLUME 5: 77 issues (1994 to 2001)
GREEN ARROW VOLUME 2: 139 issues (1988 to 1998)
Still better than Martian Manhunter.
MARTIAN MANHUNTER VOLUME 2: 38 issues (1998 to 2001)
This is embarrassing considering the other green DC hero is not someone you would expect to see among the long runners.
SWAMP THING VOLUME 2: 171 issues (1982 to 1996)
The last JLA member worth exploring gets a bit better only on a technicality…
HAWKMAN VOLUME 4
Uninterrupted: 49 issues
Highest numbering: 66 issues
…because Hawman only stars in the first 49 issues: #50 to #66 are retitled “Hawkgirl”.
That was the last JLAer worth discussing for the sake of this overview, so…
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VOLUME 1
Uninterrupted: 261 issues (1960 to 1987)
Out of the many, many, MANY incarnations of the team, the only other one managing a relatively lengthy run was the Morrison relaunch.
JLA VOLUME 1: 126 issues (1997 to 2006)
And speaking of Morrison, his series is still the longest running incarnation of the Doom Patrol (not all under his writing of course).
DOOM PATROL VOLUME 2: 91 issues (1987 to 1995)
Remaining on the topic of teams, the Teen Titans ran for so long that midway through they dropped the “Teen” part of the title. I’m still considering it the same series.
NEW TEEN TITANS VOLUME 2: 131 issues (1984 to 1996)
I can’t really do the same for the following character.
SUPERBOY VOLUME 1
Uninterrupted: 258 issues (1949 to 1979)
Highest numbering: 354 issues, as “Legion of Super-Heroes”
This is an interesting case. Superboy is the only title character until #196, after which he shares it with the series becoming “Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes”.
He’s kicked off entirely from the title with #259, but the numbering continues as “Legion of Super-Heroes” well until 1987 (the last years are reprints, but still).
And speaking of the Legion, its longest running series stretches two continuities.
Because despite its name, the Reboot is the only Legion reboot that doesn’t immediately re-number the series.
LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES 4
Uninterrupted: 127 issues (1989 to 2000)
More on how that stacks up against the other titles soon.
But what about the series that DC picked up from acquiring other publishers?
Captain Marvel brought with him A TON of Golden Age stories.
WHIZ COMICS: 155 issues (1940 to 1953)
CAPTAIN MARVEL ADVENTURES: 150 issues (1941 to 1953)
CAPTAIN MARVEL JR: 118 issues (1942 to 1953)
MARVEL FAMILY: 89 issues (1945 to 1954)
But that just pales in comparison to what Quality Comics brought, and this one WAS continued by DC Comics.
BLACKHAWK VOLUME 1: 265 issues (1944 to 1984)
That pushes them in front of the other long-running WWII franchise.
Technically speaking Sgt Rock is the protagonist for more issues, but he started out on the anthology “Our Army At War” which wouldn’t be retitled “Sgt Rock” until #302.
SGT ROCK
Uninterrupted: 120 issues (1977 to 1988)
Highest numbering: #422
The last title I have to mention is Adventure Comics.
It began using that name in 1938 (it was previously New Comics) and had an incredible unbroken publishing streak until #503 in 1983. A 2006 relaunch eventually brought the highest number to #529.
It would have had the potential to be VERY high on the final list if it had a single title character, but over the decades the series has starred A TON of characters.
Just give you a hint, the cover characters have been *deep breath* Sandman, Hourman, Starman, Manhunter, Superboy (in multiple separate runs), the Legion of Super-Heroes, Supergirl, Black Orchid, the Spectre, Aquaman, Dial H for Hero and A LOT of reprints.
That was BY NO MEANS intended to be a complete list. I was only looking to see who would make it on the Top Ten.
UNINTERRUPTED PUBLISHING STREAK
Pretty much what you would expect, with the only surprise being Blackhawk.
#1: ACTION COMICS: 904 issues
#2: DETECTIVE COMICS: 881 issues
#3: BATMAN VOLUME 1: 715 issues
#4: SUPERMAN VOLUME 1: 488 issues
#5: WONDER WOMAN VOLUME 1: 329 issues
#6: WORLD’S FINEST VOLUME 1: 322 issues
#7: BLACKHAWK VOLUME 1: 265 issues
#8: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VOLUME 1: 261 issues
#9: SUPERBOY VOLUME 1: 258 issues
#10: THE FLASH VOLUME 2: 250 issues
If we go further down the list, more surprises pop up and there is more than one series tied at the same spot.
But please consider that this list is VERY incomplete, it’s entirely possible I forgot at the very least one or two series.
#11: THE FLASH VOLUME 1: 246 issues
#12: SUPERMAN VOLUME 2: 228 issues / #13: WONDER WOMAN 2: 228 issues
#13: BATMAN LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT: 216 issues
#14: GREEN LANTERN VOLUME 2: 200 issues
#15: ROBIN VOLUME 1: 185 issues
#16: GREEN LANTERN VOLUME 3: 183 issues
#17: SWAMP THING VOLUME 2: 171 issues
#18: BATMAN VOLUME 3: 163 issues / JIMMY OLSEN: 163 issues
#19: WHIZ COMICS: 155 issues / NIGHTWING VOLUME 1: 155 issues
#20: CAPTAIN MARVEL ADVENTURES: 150 issues
But there are multiple series starring the same character.
What if we remove the duplicate entries, meaning only 1 series for Superman, only 1 series for Batman and so on?
Counting Superboy as the same character as Superman, and only one Flash series despite multiple people taking the name (since he goes back and forth).
This is where the list gets interesting!
#1: ACTION COMICS: 904 issues
#2: DETECTIVE COMICS: 881 issues
#3: WONDER WOMAN VOLUME 1: 329 issues
#4: BLACKHAWK VOLUME 1: 265 issues
#5: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VOLUME 1: 261 issues
#6: THE FLASH VOLUME 2: 250 issues
#7: GREEN LANTERN VOLUME 2: 200 issues
#8: ROBIN VOLUME 1: 185 issues
#9: SWAMP THING VOLUME 2: 171 issues
#10: JIMMY OLSEN: 163 issues
I am shocked that Captain Marvel doesn’t get on the Top Ten despite its enormous number of stories in the Golden Age, but I didn’t expect Swamp Thing to hang in there or especially to see Blackhawk right behind the trinity!
And finally, what if we restrict the list to only team series?
There aren’t enough teams in the books I’ve examined to get a Top Ten, but the Legion still manages to hang in there by tying with Birds of Prey.
#1: BLACKHAWK VOLUME 1: 265 issues
#2: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VOLUME 1: 261 issues
#3: NEW TEEN TITANS VOLUME 2: 131 issues
#4: LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES VOLUME 4: 127 issues / BIRDS OF PREY VOLUME 1: 127 issues
#5: JLA VOLUME 1: 126 issues
Unsurprisingly everyone is still way behind the Justice League, but the Blackhawk are STILL the longest running DC team series, despite beginning in 1944 and ending in 1984.
I miss in this list Hellblazer, with 300 issues. The longest Vertigo title by a longshot. Not to forget Fables with 162.
I knew I was missing a big one.
Hellblazer at 300 issues should be in there. For about a year and a half post New 52 it was even DC’s highest-numbered current title.
Green Lantern vol. 2 could be disqualified by a four-year break after issue 89.
Another Superman-adjacent book is Connor Kent’s 102-issue run as Superboy (2/1993-10/2002). The highest regular issue number is 100, but there’s the Zero issue and the One Million issue to add up to 102.
When “Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen” was cancelled in 1974, its numbering continued for about six years more with “Superman Family”, an anthology title that kept having Jimmy as a regular feature up until the very least issue.
Wonder Woman and the Blackhawks also had significant participation in anthology titles of their own – Sensation Comics and Military Comics, respectively.
Here is a tidbit about Swamp Thing: about a year after his first series ended with #24 (without much of a proper resolution), Alec Holland returned in 1977-1978 in “Challengers of the Unknown” #82-87, where he also resumed _being_ Swamp Thing. #86’s letter column has editor Jack C. Harris pointing out that “for the time being” Alec’s publishing venue would be that revival of “Challengers”.
Only for the Challengers’ series to be cancelled again in the very next issue. Then Volume 2 of Swamp Thing (initially “Saga of The…”) debuted in 1982, Alan Moore took over the title in late 1983 with #20, and history was made.
Shows how hard it can be to predict which characters will be successful.
Plus, Alan Moore’s run on Swamp Thing introduced the character of John Constantine, who went on to star in Hellblazer for 300 issues, bringing us back to the first comments.