One of the best things about 2025 has been seeing Mister Terrific finally getting his well-deserved moment in the spotlight, especially after his scene-stealing appearance in James Gunn’s Superman. With that renewed interest, it felt like the perfect time to revisit The Terrifics – The Complete Collection, a book that shines a massive spotlight on one of DC’s most underrated heroes and one of the most genuinely fun team books DC has produced in years.
Physical Build & Presentation
This Complete Collection comes in at a hefty 760 pages, collecting issues #1–30 plus the annual. The cover art by Iván Reis looks fantastic, and the unique spine design immediately pops on a shelf. It’s a thick, satisfying omnibus-style paperback that feels premium without the oversized price tag. Extras like variant covers, character sketches, and design pages round out the back of the book for fans who love behind-the-scenes material.
Story Setup & Team Dynamics
The series launches right after the events of Dark Knights: Metal, and that connection ends up giving the book a great blend of cosmic weirdness and character-driven storytelling. Simon Stagg, being the perpetual menace that he is, attempts to open a portal to the Dark Multiverse for his own gain. Naturally, things go sideways, and Mister Terrific, Metamorpho, and Plastic Man (still in his hilarious egg-state) are pulled into the chaos. They eventually meet Phantom Girl—new to many readers—with a Superman-like origin tied to the planet Bgztl.
One of the best narrative hooks is that the team is literally forced to stay together. If they separate too far from each other, they die. That simple idea fuels a lot of the early conflict, character banter, and comedic tension. Mister Terrific is reluctant to lead, Phantom Girl is trying to discover her heritage, Plastic Man’s still dealing with family drama, and Metamorpho is… well… Metamorpho. The chemistry is natural, endearing, and often hilarious.
Writing & Artistic Direction
The run is split between Jeff Lemire (issues 1–14) and Gene Luen Yang (issues 15–30). Lemire sets up the team dynamics incredibly well, balancing heartfelt moments with classic DC weirdness. Yang picks up the baton without missing a step, keeping the characters’ voices consistent while expanding the world and delivering some wild and imaginative arcs.
A standout surprise is the “choose your own adventure” issue (#25), beautifully drawn by Dan Mora. It’s inventive, playful, and unlike anything else DC was publishing at the time. There’s also a memorable Bizarro storyline that Yang has mentioned was tough but rewarding to write—something that certainly comes through on the page.
The series was also part of the “New Age of DC Superheroes” initiative, which spotlighted artists by crediting them first in the single issues. Even in collected form, you can see the strong emphasis on dynamic visuals, expressive layouts, and vibrant character work.
Final Thoughts
The Terrifics – The Complete Collection is one of the most enjoyable team books in DC’s modern library. It’s full of heart, humor, and character interactions that never get old. If you like Mister Terrific, or if you just want a fun, self-contained series with great writing and a sense of adventure, this is absolutely worth picking up. The renewed interest in Mister Terrific makes this collection feel even more timely—almost like rediscovering a gem that was ahead of its time.
Highly recommended.
And if you still want more Mister Terrific reading material, I highly recommend Mister Terrific Year one which recently wrapped up.
Check out out our other omnibus and collected edition reviews here!