At the end of last summer, DC unveiled one of the most ambitious events in comics history: The complete revamp and relaunch of its entire line of books. It was a massive gamble that paid off: The event was an incredible success that led to huge sales. Now, every single #1 issue of the relaunch has been collected in one gigantic volume.

As you may expect, such a giant book is a bit unwieldy. More than a bit, actually. It’s heavy, sometimes hard to maneuver while reading (such as when the panels are laid out nontraditionally), and at times you have to struggle to see the panels that stretch toward the gutter. That’s the drawback (it’s a bit pricey, too, but considering how much story is packed into its pages, it’s worth it if you want all these tales). The upside is that you get a huge snapshot of the entire new DC Universe, all in one volume.
 
Even though most of the comics in the new DC line were presented as standalones, they turn out to benefit from the inclusion with all the others. Seeing this overhaul of the DCU in complete form adds to the majesty of it all, it seems, and gives the entire storyline greater heft and depth. Suddenly it becomes clearer just how much of an undertaking this all was, what it all means for the superheroes (and other assorted characters), and makes it seem just a little more solid.
 
It will be fascinating to see where this all goes for DC, how it all unfolds and what effects it has on characters. It’s the beginning of a bold time in DC history, and it’s exciting to watch it grow.