DC Special began publication with an issue focusing on the work of artist Carmine Infantino and cover dated October–December 1968.

[1] Some of the themes the title covered were special issues devoted to individual artists such as Infantino and Joe Kubert, strange sports stories, origins of super-villains, and stories of historical literary adventure characters such as Robin Hood and The Three Musketeers.

Issue #27 was a book-length Captain Comet and Tommy Tomorrow story by Bob Rozakis and Rich Buckler.

[4] That same issue introduced the Quakemaster, an enemy of the Batman co-created by writer Bob Rozakis and artist John Calnan.

[5] Paul Levitz and Joe Staton finished the series with a Justice Society of America story which revealed the team's origin.