Comic Newbie Seeking Good Titles

[Lex Kitten]

Hiya!

I'm new to the forum, and new to reading DC comics in general. I've been a long time of (girly)Manga:redface: , but recently I've been reading a few western comics too.

I'm looking for some good titles to help ease me into the (sometimes complicated!) DC universe. I'd like to read more comics, but I don't know where to start!:confused:

I've read (and enjoyed) Runaways, Teen Titans "Year One" (I think thats what it's called... the one that only three issues long so far), and some X-Men (Uncanny X-Men and Astonishing X-men).

What I really like is really archetypal *superheros*. I am enamored of characters like Superman, and Wonderwoman (and I also really like side-kicks like Robin).

Can anyone suggest any titles I might like?:confused: I was having a look at JLA: Identity Crisis today in the local comic book store... and I'd also like to read more Teen Titans, if anyone can suggest some. Or any good Wonderwoman or Superman series? I'd really appreciate some suggestions on what are good series for someone new to comic books ^^; (and I don't really mind if it's Marvel or DC).

I hope this is the right place to ask. Sorry if it's not >.< *blush!*

[Jack Zodiac]

Wonder Woman is a good book to pick up now. Try finding the beginning of Gail Simone's run, I think it started with issue thirteen. Also, Blue Beetle, you should try picking up the first trade and seeing if you like the character. The Atom also a fun superhero book. And those last two have relatively little baggage because they're brand new superheroes.

As for Superman, you should check out All-Star Superman. Great book, comes out every four months or so, easy to catch up on, and outside normal continuity, which means it's easier to just get into and read.

[4thHorseman]

Like Jack said, Blue Beetle and Atom are good characters with lots of fun behind it. They are both in their mid-twenties issue wise, so it wouldn't be too hard to grab a few trades to catch up.

All Star Superman would be the best bet for a Superman title. Hasn't been an issue yet (there's only been 10) that made me regret buying it. Action Comics is pretty good as well and seems to finally be taking off after plenty of major delays (with one arc still not being finished), and the Superman title is about to change writers, so I'm unsure of how that may go.

Batman...is good depending on what you get. All Star Batman and Robin is definately one of those like/dislike series. Only 9 or 10 issues in so far again, but really not much has been accomplished. Detective Comics tends to be more one-issue stories for the most part focusing on a villain every issue. Course there's been fill ins that lasted a few arcs, but if you find the writer being Dini, more than likely it'll be pretty good. Lastly Batman...well...to fully like it you'll definately want to backtrack to Grant Morrison's beginning run. Lots of people hated it, but now that everything is starting to tie together, people are enjoying it a bit more. Definately seems more epic in the long run, and the finale is going to be happening in the next few issues if I recall.

Just be sure to stay far away from titles like Countdown, Supergirl, and Justice League. There are others, but those definately come to mind first.

[Agent_Torpor]

I dunno about the WW recommendation. Simone's still finding her niche on WW and it's been a fairly mundane run as of yet. We don't want to turn the n00b off DC entirely!

My recommends? Catwoman, Bedard's Birds of Prey, and Morrison's Batman.

And don't forget Blue Beetle, give that book some support. It deserves it.

[Jack Zodiac]

I dunno about the WW recommendation. Simone's still finding her niche on WW and it's been a fairly mundane run as of yet. We don't want to turn the n00b off DC entirely!

You're gonna tell a newbie that, "hey, this friendly and unburdened Wonder Woman run isn't right for you to pick up, but Catwoman, which is a creative mess right now, and Birds of Prey, which is even worse; those are books to get into?"

Disagree. Read Wonder Woman. One of DC's better books right now, and the only one with a female lead that is written more than just "adequately."

[Lunal]

Wonder Woman is pretty good, definately well worth it. The only other DC title I can recommend right now is Green Lantern.

Catwoman? I finally broke down and picked up an issue of that a month ago to try it out and wow was it a stinker. Yeeecccchhh!

[Zombiezilla]

Not a big DC guy, but from what I have read I would back the Green Lantern. Good stuff there.

[Hawkman]

I've become a pretty big Manhunter advocate now after having finished the entire series' run just the other day, so I'd recommend that. It's been on hiatus for about a year and starts up again in June, so there's plenty of time for you to research the character before diving into the series. Kate's a newer hero, too (though she carries an old mantel), so there's not as much clout to trudge through as compared to other heroes.

Also, since you said you like manga, I believe the first issue of Batman: Death Mask comes out tomorrow, written and illustrated by Yoshinori Natsume, most notable for his Togari series and Metal Gear Solid designs. I don't read much Batman myself, but I'm seriously considering picking it up simply due to Natsume's involvement.

[Agent_Torpor]

You're gonna tell a newbie that, "hey, this friendly and unburdened Wonder Woman run isn't right for you to pick up, but Catwoman, which is a creative mess right now, and Birds of Prey, which is even worse; those are books to get into?"

Disagree. Read Wonder Woman. One of DC's better books right now, and the only one with a female lead that is written more than just "adequately."

How's Catwoman a creative mess? The Salvation Run thing is a letdown, but a mess it's not.

And yeah, WW? I can safely say that WW may be friendly, but gripping it is not. I couldn't in good conscience recommend it over Simone's prior work on BoP (or even Bedard's work on the title).

I have full faith in Bedard to pick that book out of the clusterfunk that McKeever left it in.

[Mr. Palmer]

I've been reading a few western comics...

Which ones?

[Hawkman]

I have full faith in Bedard to pick that book out of the clusterfunk that McKeever left it in.
Just wanted to add for the sake of Lex Kitten, that I agree with this. Start getting Birds of Prey when Bedard takes over the writing chores in May. It's been lacking since Gail (the previous writer) left, but it has a great cast of characters and Bedard's demonstrated, to me at least, that he knows how to write them.

[Jack Zodiac]

How's Catwoman a creative mess?

What were two of the biggest promising changes in the book over the past year? Selina becoming a mother and Holly becoming her replacement/sidekick. And how long did either of those last? And to "wizard" it all away, her and Batman fake her death and Holly just up and disappears into the crapstorm of Countdown? How the hell is that gripping? At least Wonder Woman has Gail making something work out of that cluster!@#$, Amazons Attack, and of Wonder Woman being a government agent. Those concepts are actually interesting now, because she worked with them, instead of seeing something now and saying "well !@#$ that."

I'm really disappointed in Pfeifer's Catwoman recently.

[Superheroic]

Green Lantern. Get it. Now....

[Jack Zodiac]

Y'know, I'll throw my hat in on that one, too. Right now is a great time to dive into Green Lantern. Johns is building something huge, but he's taken a moment to go back and build up the foundation some more. Might be the best time for a newbie to get in on what's bound to be the biggest book of 2009.

[Raker616]

Green Lantern would be my pick it just started Hal's Secret Origin arc in GL #29, it's the perfect time for any new fan to jump right in and enjoy the ride.

[Seraku]

Green Lantern absolute no question. Also JSA, Booster Gold, GLC and Batman are good.