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Fast
11-06-2010, 04:45 PM
I have been a marvel for a while now and have loved it, but I have always wanted to delve into the DCU for awhile now but don't really no where to start.

I love quite a few high powered characters at Marvel like FF and Namor and others, but mainly I love the street level guys like Spidey, DD, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, The new (now finished) Heroes for Hire book with Misty Knight, Coleen, etc

So my question is besides the Bat-Family which I hear is somewhat popular, what other good street level characters are there that are out there and what are some of the best runs to follow (even for Bats and gang since I don't really know where to dive in there either)?

Sorry if you got this question before looked but didn't see anything like it with the search function
Skaddix
11-06-2010, 04:53 PM
Secret Six is pretty good and is pretty much the only non Bat related street level book besides Green Arrow which is okay.
Desaad
11-06-2010, 05:22 PM
Do you mean at the moment, or 'ever'?

Probably one of the biggest is "The Question", by O'Neil and Cowan. I believe it's all out in paperback now.

"Hitman" was likewise a street level guy, and if you like Ennis' "Punisher MAX", you'll like Hitman (Ennis and Mcrea, also out in TPB).

Green Arrow by Mike Grell (Longbow Hunters and the series that followed) was extremely gritty, realistic street level. They rarely even called him Green Arrow!

Birds of Prey is a great pick as well. By Dixon and then Simone. Lots of kung fu fightin' during Simone's run too (you might know her from Agent X over at Marvel).

Batman and his associated titles have had so many good runs that it's going to be hard to pick anything out for you. Chuck Dixon's "Nightwing" run was pretty good fun (if you like Spiderman, check out his Nightwing) and his Robin run was also quite fun.

Of the current stuff, you might try Batman and Robin, Red Robin, Batgirl (this one is like Spiderman as well), Birds of Prey (Heroes for Hire analog I guess, but with more superhero stuff), and Batman Beyond. Those are my personal favorites.
Free-Man
11-06-2010, 05:29 PM
It ended years ago, but definitely Hitman by Garth Ennis (the guy behind Punisher). If you like Punisher, you'll like this.
Hawkman
11-06-2010, 05:31 PM
Go back and get the Manhunter trades by Marc Andreyko. Awesome stuff right there.
Spiros
11-07-2010, 12:14 AM
The Flash has some really cool street level moments. Take a look at Geoff John's first run it's great fun.
andybmcd
11-07-2010, 12:30 AM
I'll second the Secret Six recommendation.

Birds of Prey is another street-level ongoing. I'm not really a fan, but if you like Oracle and Black Canary, I'd pick it up.
BrianT
11-07-2010, 08:18 AM
JONAH HEX is a western.

AZRAEL is a non-obvious Bat-title that's relatively new.

The "First Wave" books, while a separate continuity, are all street level characters: The Spirit, Doc Savage...

THE TITANS is somewhat street level, one could say.

And I second the recommendation for the MANHUNTER trades.
daveageallen
11-07-2010, 09:49 AM
secret six


also sandman mystery theater. its a great noir book.
The Beast Of Yucca Flats
11-07-2010, 10:23 AM
While Secret Six is quality work, it's really more of a high-tech, espionage, globetrotting super-piece than 'street level.' Hitman is a much better fit of that description (though the two books do share some similarities).
Libaax
11-11-2010, 05:30 PM
Hitman
Manhunter
Nightwing(Dixon run)
Green Arrow
Sandman Mystery Theatre is more like pulp hero noir.
Jvan
11-11-2010, 06:05 PM
I'm amazed nobody's mentioned Gotham Central yet. Pretty much as street level as you can get.

Paul Dini's run on Detective Comics have some pretty good short street level stories, too.

I think both titles are all collected.
Libaax
11-11-2010, 06:19 PM
I'm amazed nobody's mentioned Gotham Central yet. Pretty much as street level as you can get.

Paul Dini's run on Detective Comics have some pretty good short street level stories, too.

I think both titles are all collected.

Gotham Central is better than most DCU stories i have read but in this thread i thought too much about street level superhero.

When its street level otherwise you cant get more street than cops in Gotham city.
Free-Man
11-11-2010, 06:39 PM
I'm gonna reccomend Red Robin as well. It's a great read.
TonyStark1012
11-11-2010, 07:23 PM
Green Arrow, Red Robin, First Wave, Vigilante and Secret Six.
dreyga2000
11-11-2010, 08:47 PM
Most of the best street stuff is Bat Family... It's kinda their niche in the universe they're the street guys.... Most street stories are spin-offs or tie in into Gotham...
argon31pf
11-11-2010, 09:24 PM
You definitely should try GOTHAM CENTRAL. It's a great entry into the Batman books. If you're already familiar with the Batman universe it definitely makes Gotham Central a richer read. There are only forty issues of this run and all the arcs are excellent but if you have to pick, get 'Soft Targets' and 'Unresolved', both are being sold as one TPB: 'Unresolved Targets'.

Also SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE is also good. Try Annual No. 1 to see if you like it.
prescribeddrone
11-11-2010, 10:15 PM
Red Robin
Secret Six
Detective Comics
Fast
11-12-2010, 03:35 AM
Thanks for all the suggestions. Kind of a quick question about Crisis then. Did this most recent Crisis basically reboot the universe? or did it just streamline origins and stuff? Essentialy if I read a bat back from 10-15 years ago would that have actually happened and it was only moved time-period wise? or did that not happen to current batman?
ffaristocrat
11-17-2010, 05:30 PM
Thanks for all the suggestions. Kind of a quick question about Crisis then. Did this most recent Crisis basically reboot the universe? or did it just streamline origins and stuff? Essentialy if I read a bat back from 10-15 years ago would that have actually happened and it was only moved time-period wise? or did that not happen to current batman?

Final Crisis was a multiversal epic but didn't tinker with origins or anything. Infinite Crisis did some tinkering (and provided an in-story catch-all explanation for retcons) but really, the change there was bringing back the Multiverse. Even Zero Hour was really just some house-cleaning retcons.

So back to your point, most everything in the past 10, 15 or even 25 years is still in continuity unless it's been gradually retconned over the years. Like Knightfall and Death of Superman (both mid-90s) are both definitely in continuity but there'll be smaller elements and characters from those stories that may or may not be anymore.

But there's been nothing like the wholesale line-wide reboot of Crisis on Infinte Earths lately.

(And then going the opposite direction, you've got Grant Morrisson who basically holds that every single Batman story ever is in continuity in some form or another...)
Flash Gordon
11-17-2010, 05:41 PM
Batwoman in Detective Comics. It's collected and fantastic. One of the most gorgeously rendered comic books I've ever seen.
FanboyStranger
11-17-2010, 05:43 PM
AZRAEL is a non-obvious Bat-title that's relatively new.
.

Azrael has been getting a bit esoteric for a street level title the past few months, though. Don't get wrong: it's a great book and I love it, but some of the recent revelations have been out there.

I agree with everyone who has mentioned O'Neil's Question, Ennis' Hitman, and Andreyko's Manhunter. I'd thrown in Sandman Mystery Theatre if you're willing to check out Vertigo material.