DC Gives me a headache...

[Chino]

Aside from Batman, I've only ever read Marvel. I started reading Action Comics from 858 (waiting on the last son trade) and I'm really liking it but I feel like I'm missing a big part by not knowing what the hell is going on with all these crisis', countdowns and corp wars stuff :eek: :confused:

I'm liking the two DC books im reading and I'd like to give Green Lantern a try, only I don't know a thing about the character. Where do I start? OYL? HALP! I hate not understanding what i'm reading...

[pariah-1972]

Aside from Batman, I've only ever read Marvel. I started reading Action Comics from 858 (waiting on the last son trade) and I'm really liking it but I feel like I'm missing a big part by not knowing what the hell is going on with all these crisis', countdowns and corp wars stuff :eek: :confused:

I'm liking the two DC books im reading and I'd like to give Green Lantern a try, only I don't know a thing about the character. Where do I start? OYL? HALP! I hate not understanding what i'm reading...Stick with stuff that isn't cross- over heavy like Birds of Prey, Detective Comics (until batman r.i.p at least) and Jsa are the ones im really interested in right now.

[Ullar]

For green lantern start with rebirth and work up to sinestro corps war.

[Matt K]

I know you didn't ask for it but I would also recomend picking up Blue Beetle. As a Marvel person myself I have to say the story is very acessible by a non-DC reader. Plus the story itself is great and is collected in trade. Finanally the green laterns do have some involvement with the story if only by name (and a small Sinestro Corp tie in).

[Raker616]

GL, start with Rebirth then the montly book and you can finish with SCW and you'll be all caught up for the most part.

[David Atkins]

When getting into a series, I generally start with the latest issue and assimilate as things move forward. Try that. You'll be happier. Trust me.

[Umberto]

When getting into a series, I generally start with the latest issue and assimilate as things move forward. Try that. You'll be happier. Trust me.
I alway do the same:wink:

[Ghost Shark]

I also recommend MANHUNTER. It's like Daredevil but with less whining,.

[Skeets]

When getting into a series, I generally start with the latest issue and assimilate as things move forward. Try that. You'll be happier. Trust me.
that's how to do it.

[pariah-1972]

When getting into a series, I generally start with the latest issue and assimilate as things move forward. Try that. You'll be happier. Trust me.I can't really do that really, like i wanted to get into Runaways so now i have there first two volumes.


I read almost all of the x-men books just to catch up after not reading comics after so many years.

[Don Quixote]

As a fellow Marvel fan, who only recently started reading DC books, I certainly sympathise.

I started with Nightwing at issue #140 and have enjoyed it quite a lot. I decided to give it a go because I was intrigued by the idea of the first kid sidekick being all grown up and out on his own (Yeah, ok, I was so ignorant of DC goings on that I only knew Dick Grayson wasn't Robin anymore when I saw a documentary on comic book superheroes recently). I've since gotten my hands on a few TPBs, and I know people have been saying the Nightwing book has been awful, but I've not found it to be the case. Mostly enjoyable, and a refreshing change from everything going on in Marvel at the moment.

And since, I got my hands on a bunch of Nightwing TPBs, which have naturally led me into Teen Titans, both the old and new iterations. I've found that using one character as a focus, especially one who is as widereaching in the DCU as Nightwing appears to be, I've kept expanding my reading into other books, like Birds of Prey and Outsiders.

I read Infinite Crisis, thinking it would give me a better understanding of the status quo. Boy, was I wrong. That event was completely impenetrable to a new reader. Too many characters, too much DCU mythology and too little focus.

[pariah-1972]

As a fellow Marvel fan, who only recently started reading DC books, I certainly sympathise.

I started with Nightwing at issue #140 and have enjoyed it quite a lot. I decided to give it a go because I was intrigued by the idea of the first kid sidekick being all grown up and out on his own (Yeah, ok, I was so ignorant of DC goings on that I only knew Dick Grayson wasn't Robin anymore when I saw a documentary on comic book superheroes recently). I've since gotten my hands on a few TPBs, and I know people have been saying the Nightwing book has been awful, but I've not found it to be the case. Mostly enjoyable, and a refreshing change from everything going on in Marvel at the moment.

And since, I got my hands on a bunch of Nightwing TPBs, which have naturally led me into Teen Titans, both the old and new iterations. I've found that using one character as a focus, especially one who is as widereaching in the DCU as Nightwing appears to be, I've kept expanding my reading into other books, like Birds of Prey and Outsiders.

I read Infinite Crisis, thinking it would give me a better understanding of the status quo. Boy, was I wrong. That event was completely impenetrable to a new reader. Too many characters, too much DCU mythology and too little focus.
That tends to be the case for all there universe wide crossovers.

[suttercain]

I'm with you. Aside from Superman and Batman, I can't stand the 'DC Universe' anymore. It's all done over and over with little originality. "Oh look another 'Crisis'!"

Supergirl started of promising and died. Countdown should have been called letdown. The only thing 52 had going for it was booster gold and they gave him his own series which started out pretty good but again, became much of the same ole' same ole'

I did like Superboy-Prime in Final Crisis though.

It's costly to try and keep up with the entire thing. But DC likes it that way.

[Samy]

Just give it time. It took me five years until I felt "comfortable" in the DCU, and I'm *still* learning new stuff every month. Don't expect to get every reference two months after you entered the DCU. Don't get greedy, don't overexpect. Take one arc at a time, just take in the main plot and ignore any minor references to crossovers and such. Inch slowly, 2-3 books for a year or two, then maybe grow to 4-5 books after a couple of years...over time, your pull list will grow organically at the rate you're comfortable learning new stuff.

Don't expect to get every reference, or you'll just ruin the experience for yourself and sour yourself on DCU.

[stealthwise]

Just give it time. It took me five years until I felt "comfortable" in the DCU, and I'm *still* learning new stuff every month. Don't expect to get every reference two months after you entered the DCU. Don't get greedy, don't overexpect. Take one arc at a time, just take in the main plot and ignore any minor references to crossovers and such. Inch slowly, 2-3 books for a year or two, then maybe grow to 4-5 books after a couple of years...over time, your pull list will grow organically at the rate you're comfortable learning new stuff.

Don't expect to get every reference, or you'll just ruin the experience for yourself and sour yourself on DCU.

It's really not worth suffering through at this point. DC's level of quality has been slipping drastically in years, with some titles varying from atrocious to brilliant. Having to learn tons of crap just to enjoy the five minute read every month isn't worthwhile.

[Samy]

Nonsense. Green Lantern, Booster Gold and Superman/LOSH are some of the best comics I've read in my lifetime.

Maybe if you have some kind of an obsession to read 30 different DC titles, then I'd agree that you have to read some crap to pull together that many titles.

But as long as you're sticking with 2-3, I guarantee you can find that many good books at DC, no matter what your tastes are like.

[boshobosho]

I

I read almost all of the x-men books just to catch up after not reading comics after so many years.

I'm sorry.

[Herr Mike]

I don't get it. Just stop reading them if you don't like them. If you need to know something buy the back issues, trades, or look it up on the internet.

[The Xenos]

Aside from Batman, I've only ever read Marvel. I started reading Action Comics from 858 (waiting on the last son trade) and I'm really liking it but I feel like I'm missing a big part by not knowing what the hell is going on with all these crisis', countdowns and corp wars stuff :eek: :confused:

I'm liking the two DC books im reading and I'd like to give Green Lantern a try, only I don't know a thing about the character. Where do I start? OYL? HALP! I hate not understanding what i'm reading...

I just roll with it. I read Infinite Crisis without reading Crisis on Infinite Earth. Though I guess it was a waste of time because, from what I hear, the original Crisis was much better. Still, I just rolled with the story and enjoyed it.

As for the main DC books, I've also just rolled with it. I don't think it's any better or worse than Marvel. I'm skipping Secret Invasion. I skipped World War Hulk and the numerous X-crossovers. Yet I still have a number of books I like at Marvel. Even when they cross over I assume some big story is happening somewhere and it's simply affecting this one I like. I'm even reading X-Factor and it has a character spawned in a crossover and I don't care. I like the book and characters.

To me, that's the key with these shared universe comics. Just find a title you enjoy and stick to it. Don't bother with crossovers unless they sound good.

[Samy]

Exactly. When I joined the DCU, in the mid-nineties, I picked up PAD's Aquaman and Supergirl, and Claremont's Sovereign Seven and just stuck with them. Sure, there was the occasional crossover breaking the rhythm -- Final Night, or Genesis, or Millennium Giants or whatever. I didn't get the big picture in those issues. But I didn't really need to. After the crossover issue the books got on with their regular plots, and life as usual. The crossovers were, ultimately, meaningless to the overall book.

(Except over in Aquaman where PAD milked Final Night spectacularly.)

[Babylon23]

Aside from Batman, I've only ever read Marvel. I started reading Action Comics from 858 (waiting on the last son trade) and I'm really liking it but I feel like I'm missing a big part by not knowing what the hell is going on with all these crisis', countdowns and corp wars stuff :eek: :confused:

The Sinestro Corps War is pretty much contained purely to Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps. Everything you need to know is in those titles. I'd start with Rebirth, since this was the return of Hal Jordan and the lead-in to the new series. Everything up to Sinestro Corps War is available in trade.

Also, Final Crisis isn't really crossing over into many ongoing titles, so you should be able to read most titles without worrying about the crossover too much. DC has plenty of 'fringe' books that might appeal to you, plus there's All-Star Superman if you're looking for a completley self-contained Superman title.

Gerneally speaking, trades are an excellent way to get up to speed on any title you're interested in . If things are a little confusing, jump on the net. You cna find out just about anything you want ot know about most characters through wikipedia and other sites.

[Kevin Street]

Aside from Batman, I've only ever read Marvel. I started reading Action Comics from 858 (waiting on the last son trade) and I'm really liking it but I feel like I'm missing a big part by not knowing what the hell is going on with all these crisis', countdowns and corp wars stuff :eek: :confused:Don't worry about it. Action Comics has been a pretty self contained series for the last couple of years. You really don't need to know anything about Countdown or Final Crisis or anything else to enjoy it.

When James Robinson takes over the "Superman" series, they say his stories are going to be closely linked with Geoff's Action, so maybe it would be more fun to read both of those series. But I don't know, that's in the future.

I'm liking the two DC books im reading and I'd like to give Green Lantern a try, only I don't know a thing about the character. Where do I start? OYL? HALP! I hate not understanding what i'm reading...

You're in luck, because Green Lantern just started retelling Hal Jordan's origin story a few months ago in the "Secret Origin" arc. It started with #29, so that looks like a perfect jumping-on point for new readers.

[ashez2ashes]

I'd like to second (or is it third?) Blue Beetle, Booster Gold and Manhunter. If I could only get three titles, I'd get those in a heartbeat. Blue Beetle and Manhunter are a little more new user friendly. I actually got into the DCU because of Booster Gold (and his JLU ep) though, so its not impossible for a newbie to like it.

[Supermancho]

I started with Nightwing at issue #140 and have enjoyed it quite a lot. I decided to give it a go because I was intrigued by the idea of the first kid sidekick being all grown up and out on his own (Yeah, ok, I was so ignorant of DC goings on that I only knew Dick Grayson wasn't Robin anymore when I saw a documentary on comic book superheroes recently).

Wow:eek: I guess that's common to many Marvel zombies.
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