I want to get into comics... Where would be the best place to begin?

[chipmammy]

I want to get into comics... Where would be the best place to begin? What would give me a good overview and path into comic books and graphic novels?

[Chris Nowlin]

Lots of answers there. Probably beginning in a comic store if there's one close to you and browsing.

If you talk a bit about what you look for in books and movies or what you're looking for in comics, we can recommend some here.

[Loren]

I want to get into comics... Where would be the best place to begin?

New York, probably.

[Paul McEnery]

You could do worse than check out the all time greats thread at the top of the page.

[chipmammy]

Cheers. I looked in my local comic store and took an interest in the following:

DC - Justice League of America
- the Flash
- 52
- Justice

Marvel - Captain America
- House of M

Where would be the best place to begin with these? Any back issues i will need to help with origins and understanding?

[Chris Nowlin]

The DC or Marvel forums on this board may be the better place to ask. Series always have "jumping on" points for new readers at some point, and people there may be able to point to these better.

So Justice is a miniseries which can be read entirely on its own. Should introduce the characters well enough. They have a collection of the first half of the series with a collection of the rest forthcoming.

Nice paintings. Classic superheroes. If you know Aquaman swims and Flash runs fast, you should be fine.

52 just ended and was a bit intensive, but a new follow-up series called Countdown is about to begin. It will be weekly and will involve many DC characters. While confusing, it will also introduce you to lots of characters, so if you can get past initial feelings of drowning, you can from there decide what characters you like and check out their series.

House of M was a big crossover for Marvel and is collecting in a bunch of softcover collections. It seems like a poor place to start Marvel as it is rather... involved.

Captain America you could probably start picking up the latest stuff. It's going to be interesting right now because he just died. If you get starting with #25 you should be in good shape. A new series began recently and can be read pretty much on its own. Again 4 volumes of collections should be available to catch you up, beginning with volumes entitled "Captain America: The Winter Soldier". That's actually a good starting point and a good inroad to the Marvel Universe.

Somebody else will have to talk to you about Flash.

If superheroes are the way you want to go, there good about collecting recent back issues and there are always "jumping on" points for new readers. Spider-Man for instance has one coming up in a few months after a story called "One More Day".

But, good luck. Comics contain lots of wonderful stories. And superhero comics are great. Have fun!

[Iangould]

Cheers. I looked in my local comic store and took an interest in the following:

DC - Justice League of America
- the Flash
- 52
- Justice

Marvel - Captain America
- House of M

Where would be the best place to begin with these? Any back issues i will need to help with origins and understanding?

52 ended recently and hasn't been collected yet.

There's a sequel of sorts called Countdown which has just started. Countdown is written by Paul Dini who was the main writer fro the very successful Batman animated series.

Countdown is numbered backwards from #51 which came out last week. So I'd suggest starting there.

[mgs]

Probably beginning in a comic store if there's one close to you and browsing.

</p>
agrees. and if it sucks, try another one, if you have to, another one. just don't give up. see what stores have a website and visit them if you can. you have to physically hold a comic in your hand to understand.

[BoosterBronze]

Go to a comic store, find their $1 or less bin, and blow some cash grabbing everything that grabs your attention. For 20 bones you'll have a fun primer course in the world of comics.

One tip though... you're bound to see about 85 copies of a comic called "Brigade." Skip that one.

[StarsAndGarters]

Captain America you could probably start picking up the latest stuff. It's going to be interesting right now because he just died. If you get starting with #25 you should be in good shape. A new series began recently and can be read pretty much on its own. Again 4 volumes of collections should be available to catch you up, beginning with volumes entitled "Captain America: The Winter Soldier". That's actually a good starting point and a good inroad to the Marvel Universe.

Somebody else will have to talk to you about Flash.

If superheroes are the way you want to go, there good about collecting recent back issues and there are always "jumping on" points for new readers. Spider-Man for instance has one coming up in a few months after a story called "One More Day".

I couldn't agree more about Captain America. Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting have really been on fire. Same with Spider-Man, though I'd say wait until after One More Day. That seems to be the culmination of the last 6 years of stories and might be complicated. Who knows until it comes out.

As for the Flash, Geoff Johns just completed a great run that's in trade paperback. The recent reboot wasn't that great until Marc Guggenheim started on it. Anything from issue #9 on has been fantastic. He really seems to grasp Bart Allen (the current Flash) and his place in the Flash history. And he does the Rogues well!

[Chris Nowlin]

p Bart Allen (the current Flash)

Boy am I out of the loop on Flash...

Didn't he just become Kid Flash?

[BoosterBronze]

Boy am I out of the loop on Flash...

Didn't he just become Kid Flash?

And Hector Hall just became Dr. Fate.

Out with the old, in with the new.

(I agree with you, I can barely keep up. Did you hear Ted Kord was dead?!)

[Frankie Dennis]

Moore's run on Swamp Thing was excellent, you may want to check out those trades.

[glorificus]

I'm fairly new to comics myself. I just started getting into them because of Buffy Season 8 (I'm a major Buffy fan). I didn't know where to start and felt overwhelmed by all the different characters and comics. So instead of just going to a comic book store and picking out anything I decided to research everything on the internet. I did my homework. I didn't want to spend money on something I wouldn't enjoy. So I thought to myself what was most important to me. I realized it was the villains. For me, it's all about the villains. So I researched and decided what comics I thought had the most fun and interesting villains. I really liked what Batman's villains had to offer. I liked their darkness and psychology. So I picked up issues of Batman, Detective, Catwoman and Harley Quinn. I'm really enjoying what I'm reading so far.

[BlairH]

Your best bet will be to pick up some of the Marvel "Essentials".

[Chris Nowlin]

I'm fairly new to comics myself. I just started getting into them because of Buffy Season 8 (I'm a major Buffy fan). I didn't know where to start and felt overwhelmed by all the different characters and comics. So instead of just going to a comic book store and picking out anything I decided to research everything on the internet. I did my homework. I didn't want to spend money on something I wouldn't enjoy. So I thought to myself what was most important to me. I realized it was the villains. For me, it's all about the villains. So I researched and decided what comics I thought had the most fun and interesting villains. I really liked what Batman's villains had to offer. I liked their darkness and psychology. So I picked up issues of Batman, Detective, Catwoman and Harley Quinn. I'm really enjoying what I'm reading so far.

Batman has the best rogue's gallery, I think.

You can check this thread (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=35000), which lists recommended Batman trade paperbacks (collections) and has some descriptions.

I'll highlight the Killing Joke, as a solid Joker story. It can be found on its own or in this trade (http://www.amazon.com/DC-Universe-Stories-Alan-Moore/dp/1401209270/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/104-2460971-7373528?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182477659&sr=8-2), which has a wealth of great stories by comics' best writer.

Also, somewhat different from what you'd have read so far, but excellently showcasing Batman's villains in a unique and disturbing way is Arkham Asylum (http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Arkham-Asylum-15th-Anniversary/dp/1401204252/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2460971-7373528?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182477755&sr=1-1)

My intro to Bats' villains was this (http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Knightfall-Part-One-Broken/dp/1563891425/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2460971-7373528?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182477797&sr=1-1), which I still cherish to this day, but is overall not very popular. But it has Batman fight all his foes one-by-one and tests the limit of his endurance.

Those three examples are about as different as can be and which you prefer will tell us enough about your tastes in Batman to make better recommendations

Your best bet will be to pick up some of the Marvel "Essentials".

Well, he did talk about Batman villains...

However, two great villains to get into the head of are Dr. Doom and Magneto. These can be found at their best in the Essential Fantastic Four and Essential X-Men trades respectively.

Also see Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne for other good Dr. Doom stories.

EDIT: Last note is that I love Buffy and would recommend the Ultimate Spider-Man collections for something of that flavour. There are also Buffy comics from before but I was never too impressed with them. The best I read was a series called Fray, which is the Buffy of the future and written by Joss himself. Also, Joss Whedon has been writing great X-Men comics. They're called Astonishing X-Men and collections are available. Also, he just started writing a series called Runaways, which is excellent and relatively new. 7 collections priced at $8 each will get you the whole story so far. Little off the path of Batman villains, but good drama/characterisation about teenagers with powers and up the alley of the person I think of when I think of fans. OK, that's probably more than you wanted now.

[glorificus]

Thanks for all the recommendations coke & comics! Arkham Asylum definitely sounds like something up my alley. I definitely have to get that. The Knightfall book sounds awesome too. The idea of Batman fighting each villain sounds really exciting. Books/comics of Batman that focus on the villians is what interests me most right now :)

[Chris Nowlin]

Thanks for all the recommendations coke & comics! Arkham Asylum definitely sounds like something up my alley. I definitely have to get that. The Knightfall book sounds awesome too. The idea of Batman fighting each villain sounds really exciting. Books/comics of Batman that focus on the villians is what interests me most right now :)

You're welcome.

Note my late edit above about Joss Whedon stuff too.

[Michael P]

52 ended recently and hasn't been collected yet.


The first 52 trade is now in stores. I haven't read it, 'cause I really don't give a damn, but it's there.

Glorificus, if'n you like the villains, you'll probably want to check out Gail Simone's Villains United and Secret Six: Six Degrees of Devastation. Marvel's Thunderbolts, as well, from issue 110 on up.

[glorificus]

Glorificus, if'n you like the villains, you'll probably want to check out Gail Simone's Villains United and Secret Six: Six Degrees of Devastation. Marvel's Thunderbolts, as well, from issue 110 on up.

Thanks Michael :). I've heard about the Secret Six book and it definitely interests me because I love the Mad Hatter! Another book I'll have to pick up. It seems trade paperbacks are my best bet at collecting stuff since looking for back issues of regular comics seems like it would be grueling.

[glorificus]

EDIT: Last note is that I love Buffy and would recommend the Ultimate Spider-Man collections for something of that flavour. There are also Buffy comics from before but I was never too impressed with them. The best I read was a series called Fray, which is the Buffy of the future and written by Joss himself. Also, Joss Whedon has been writing great X-Men comics. They're called Astonishing X-Men and collections are available. Also, he just started writing a series called Runaways, which is excellent and relatively new. 7 collections priced at $8 each will get you the whole story so far. Little off the path of Batman villains, but good drama/characterisation about teenagers with powers and up the alley of the person I think of when I think of fans. OK, that's probably more than you wanted now.

I pretty much love everything Joss touches so Astonishing will go on my list of things to get. He blends humor, action and drama so well.

[stealthwise]

This Rob Liefeld character appears to be quite the hot artist. ;)

[XL83]

I recently got back into comics and the stuff I've been reading has helped ease me back into it very well.

Y: The Last Man is probably the best one I've read for ushering in someone new to comics. The artwork is simple but gorgeous, the premise is instantly engaging, and its very well written all the way through. If you look at it and don't think its right for you, I'd also try Wanted and Transmetropolitan. Wanted is good because it's only 6 issues, you can walk away with one tpb and read the whole story. The writing is great and the artwork is probably the best I've ever seen in a comic. Transmetropolitan is probably my favorite right now, as a fan of Hunter S. Thompson I appreciate the nods given him by Warren Ellis. Ellis' vision of the future is captivating, the writing and art are great, it effectively builds a whole world for the story to take place in.

If you have the money, I'd recommend Wanted, and the first tpb of both Y: The Last Man and Transmetropolitan. If you have even more money, pick up Preacher and 100 Bullets as well. Just my opinion, I'm just getting back into it, but I know quality and all of these titles are oozing with it.

EDIT: If you definitely prefer the superhero route, I'd look into Peter David-era Hulk, Frank Miller's runs on Batman, and almost any Fantastic Four. I lost my Marvel collection years ago, but Peter David's run on Hulk was my favorite stuff to read. My knowledge is limited, and dated, but I figure I'll throw down whatever I can.