where do you start collecting DC comics

[hawkeye comeback]

i am an avid marvel fan yet i always wondered about Dc and after running across the dc countdown to infinte crisis i wanted to start reading mainstream dc comics but where to start?

[mrc1214]

What kind of comics are you into or what DC character do you think you'll like.

[Pinnacle]

You might want to check out the thread on this board ANNOUNCEMENT: Crisis on FAQ if you liked Countdown and are interested in reading the stories that surrounded it. I suggest that you go from there and pick out what characters you like from there since you'll be up to date by reading Infinite Crisis and 52.

[Sizzle]

The new Justice League might be a good starting point.

Teen Titans is pretty good.

[CaptainAwesome]

i am an avid marvel fan yet i always wondered about Dc and after running across the dc countdown to infinte crisis i wanted to start reading mainstream dc comics but where to start?
Ive offered this advice to other people: Start out big and narrow it down. Sizzle's idea is good, start with the new Justice League and find someone you care about.

Another good way is to go out and find a cover you like and just buy that one. If the character is of any interest to you you could start picking up that series.

There is no way to tell you what you will like so you just have to experiment on your own.

[Citizen V]

Hard to say,if you want to start now.Try and search for 52,if you want to start with the barebones,buy or read Batman or Superman TPB`s.

[Jack Zodiac]

I'll reiterate the team book idea. Get the new Justice League of America books, and if you like any of the characters in there, you can get their solo book (if they have one).

Otherwise, if you can tell us what you like about Marvel, which characters interest you, and what you like about comics in general, any of us should be able to help you.

[K'Nort]

52 seems to be trying really hard to be friendly to new readers. Those Donna features in the back pretty much summed up the entire universe up to this point. But they're also up to issue 15 or so, so maybe that's too late. The Showcase edition of Justice League could be good. It's classic stories, all the primary characters, and $15. Black and white, though. That's distracting sometimes.

[Jack Zodiac]

I don't know. Nothing I've seen so far in 52 seems like it'd be great for new readers. Everything in it picks up something from another story, and the book itself is an epilogue/prologue for Infinite Crisis and the One Year Later jump.

[K'Nort]

I don't know. Nothing I've seen so far in 52 seems like it'd be great for new readers. Everything in it picks up something from another story, and the book itself is an epilogue/prologue for Infinite Crisis and the One Year Later jump.

Yeah, I'm still not clear on how effective it is, but that does explain the whirlwind recap they did in that History thing. And I figure I can't judge whether the stories themselves are new-reader friendly because I'm not a new reader. But I have picked up other, totally unrelated titles that regular readers thought were continuity-heavy and still could follow them just fine. I was missing levels, but the story worked on my level too. So 52 might be working the same way.

[hawkeye comeback]

i liked kurt busiek writing ( i think thats how u spell it) and thanks for the suggestions

[mrc1214]

i liked kurt busiek writing ( i think thats how u spell it) and thanks for the suggestions

Well if you like Busiek hes writing Superman, Action until October, and Aquaman Sword of Atlantis i recommend all 3.

[caats19]

i'd say picking up justice league, any superman or batman would be a good choice. green lantern maybe too

[hawkeye comeback]

thanks for the suggestions again might try the jla

[Spastic Minnow]

Well if you like Busiek hes writing Superman, Action until October, and Aquaman Sword of Atlantis i recommend all 3.

There ya go. Initially at least I'd forget trying to look for a character you like. It's not like creators are completely exclusive to a company anymore. Look for the writers and and artists you like. It's also somewhat likely that that will lead you to characters you will like. It's the ultimate recommendation if the writer/ artist you like sees something they like in a character from another company.

[mrc1214]

There ya go. Initially at least I'd forget trying to look for a character you like. It's not like creators are completely exclusive to a company anymore. Look for the writers and and artists you like. It's also somewhat likely that that will lead you to characters you will like. It's the ultimate recommendation if the writer/ artist you like sees something they like in a character from another company.

Thats what i think its best to do follow a writer? If you just follow a series i feel like your going to read alot of crappy stuff.

[CjP]

I don't know. Nothing I've seen so far in 52 seems like it'd be great for new readers. Everything in it picks up something from another story, and the book itself is an epilogue/prologue for Infinite Crisis and the One Year Later jump.

I agree about 52 *not* being a good jumping on point. There's no Big Three, the plotlines will seem random and disconnected unless you know the back story (try explaining to a comics noob 'yeah, there's no superman, but there *is* this cult that kinda worships him (by extension), but the 'S' is upside down...'), and the back stories, nice as they are, are nothing that can't be summed up in a forum post. This is not to say that 52 isn't a good series, I'm rather enjoying it so far, it's just not that... accessable to new readers.