DC Hardcover Discussion Thread (Absolutes, Omnibuses, Deluxes, etc)

[Deviates]

With a not-so-cheery Christmas and New Year out of the way I thought it best to share my haul from the festive period, before then realising how little of it was DC. Just the one book in fact, Batman: Black Glove deluxe. Having read it and at risk of going off topic, I've focused on some of the other reading, namely Manhattan Project (amazing!) and Baltimore which I heard mixed things about but I love.

[regomar]

I am fairly new to DC comics, coming over from being a long-time Marvel fan. I have read and enjoyed Sandman, Watchmen, etc... but know very little about normal DC continuity.

Query: I really like the look of and reviews of the Infinite Crisis Omnibus. If I bought that will I get lost immediately? Should I read Crisis on Infinite Earths first?

Also, I've heard very good things about Kingdom Come. Is that new DC reader friendly? What other books would you guys recommend to a hardcover/omni/absolute collector that is just getting into DC?

[Deviates]

I am fairly new to DC comics, coming over from being a long-time Marvel fan. I have read and enjoyed Sandman, Watchmen, etc... but know very little about normal DC continuity.

Query: I really like the look of and reviews of the Infinite Crisis Omnibus. If I bought that will I get lost immediately? Should I read Crisis on Infinite Earths first?

Also, I've heard very good things about Kingdom Come. Is that new DC reader friendly? What other books would you guys recommend to a hardcover/omni/absolute collector that is just getting into DC?

I've always been of the opinion that the best way to get in to it is to dive right in, but Infinite Crisis may not be one of those cases. I think you could easily read it and enjoy but you may not get some of the significance.Kingdom Come is a story which could be read on but would benefit with the most basic of knowledge regarding the key players in the DCU.

As far as Absolutes go I'd say New Frontier, Batman Long Halloween (followed by Dark Victory)and All Star Superman are newbie friendly and all worthy of the format. Omnibus-wise I'd say IC is doable though you'd get more out of it if you familiarised yourself with the DCU beforehand which would also allow you to pick up the 52 omnibus which is great. Most of the other omnibus runs are very accessible; The Flash v1,2 and 3 and Hawkman are especially so. Hardcovers the two most recent runs that stick out in my mind are Morrison's Batman and Johns' Green Lantern. GL will initially feel like you are playing catch up straight away with Rebirth and some people suffer from the 'that's not my Batman' thing with the Morrison run initially but both are worth persevering with.

Additionally, if you do go the IC, 52 Omnibus route be sure to pick up Justice League: Generation Lost hardcovers. They're far more recent but relate back to them and is a great story even if they were caught up in the lukewarm-received Brightest Day event.

Hope you enjoy what DC has to offer, there's some great stuff and some excellent Omnibuses being put out at the moment.

[TomSlick]

I am fairly new to DC comics, coming over from being a long-time Marvel fan. I have read and enjoyed Sandman, Watchmen, etc... but know very little about normal DC continuity.

Query: I really like the look of and reviews of the Infinite Crisis Omnibus. If I bought that will I get lost immediately? Should I read Crisis on Infinite Earths first?

Also, I've heard very good things about Kingdom Come. Is that new DC reader friendly? What other books would you guys recommend to a hardcover/omni/absolute collector that is just getting into DC?

For the most part as long as you know who Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman and Shazam are. It's just a futuristic story. An awesome one.

[ER Prest]

I am fairly new to DC comics, coming over from being a long-time Marvel fan. I have read and enjoyed Sandman, Watchmen, etc... but know very little about normal DC continuity.

Query: I really like the look of and reviews of the Infinite Crisis Omnibus. If I bought that will I get lost immediately? Should I read Crisis on Infinite Earths first?

Also, I've heard very good things about Kingdom Come. Is that new DC reader friendly? What other books would you guys recommend to a hardcover/omni/absolute collector that is just getting into DC?

Deviates pretty much nailed it as good as anyone could. I think, of what's been released in ohc/omnibus/absolutes, Flash 1-3 and CoIE are most important to understanding IC, but not completely necessary. Those books would give you a great grasp on modern DC prior to the new 52. But they're also really good. I think IC is probably my favorite company crossover. Don't forget the recent 52 omnibus(not the new 52). That series is AMAZING. And it picks up hours after the conclusion of IC

[Batman9]

I think you should start with Absolute Final Crisis

I can not recommend New Frontier enough, especially to a newer DC reader. It not only has incredible art, but a compelling and well written story. If you can get the Absolute, more power to ya! It's truly an amazing book.

Reading IC omnibus, pretty good so far. spoilers:

So I guess that they're going to do a lot of killing off in this book? 75 pages in, and Blue Beetle get's his brains blown out. Granted, I stopped right after that, so I don't know if it's for real. Don't spoil this by telling me more though

end of spoilers

[LordJulius]

I am fairly new to DC comics, coming over from being a long-time Marvel fan. I have read and enjoyed Sandman, Watchmen, etc... but know very little about normal DC continuity.

Query: I really like the look of and reviews of the Infinite Crisis Omnibus. If I bought that will I get lost immediately? Should I read Crisis on Infinite Earths first?

Also, I've heard very good things about Kingdom Come. Is that new DC reader friendly? What other books would you guys recommend to a hardcover/omni/absolute collector that is just getting into DC?

If you get Absolute CoIE and read especially the companion volume that's included it will provide you with a great overview of the pre-Crisis DC Multiverse, the results of CoIE and a general who-is-who. CoIE is one of the best crossovers in comic history, imo, but it should come with a warning since it's the exact opposite of today's de-compressed storytelling.

Then you should read Identity Crisis because it is excellent (though controversial) and sets up some of the events in Infinite Crisis.

And if you're still not satisfied, you can read 52 which directly follows IC, picking up on some of the major results of IC.

Kingdom Come is also an excellent book and will help you familiarize with the DCU as well, as will JUSTICE (both available in Absolute format).

[RedNave]

There's a copy of Absolute Planetary Vol.1 on eBay Uk at the moment, starting at £125.00.

[ER Prest]

If you get Absolute CoIE and read especially the companion volume that's included it will provide you with a great overview of the pre-Crisis DC Multiverse, the results of CoIE and a general who-is-who. CoIE is one of the best crossovers in comic history, imo, but it should come with a warning since it's the exact opposite of today's de-compressed storytelling.

Then you should read Identity Crisis because it is excellent (though controversial) and sets up some of the events in Infinite Crisis.

And if you're still not satisfied, you can read 52 which directly follows IC, picking up on some of the major results of IC.

Kingdom Come is also an excellent book and will help you familiarize with the DCU as well, as will JUSTICE (both available in Absolute format).

I always forget Identity Crisis is an absolute. I still need to pick that one up, along with KC and Justice.

[Batman9]

I knew I recognized that name from somewhere...IC spoilers and questionspoilers:

Maxwell Lord. Wonder Woman snaps his neck. Is that in this book?

end of spoilers

[ER Prest]

I knew I recognized that name from somewhere...IC spoilers and questionspoilers:

Maxwell Lord. Wonder Woman snaps his neck. Is that in this book?

end of spoilers

Should be in the Superman/Wonder Woman issues that happen during the OMAC issues

[titansupes]

^In Superman: Sacrifice Pt 4, wasn't it? Been a while.

[Batman9]

I just skimmed and found it. Really enjoying this book so far! It's just some good DCU fun, with a conspiracy!
But, alas, I have another issue (I know, I know). It appears that the pages have separated from the sewn binding. It looks unhealthy for the book. Sorry for the cruddy picture, blame Apple!


What I'm asking is, how bad is this for the book, if at all?

Edit: It's kind of hard to tell, but can you see a separation from the binding and the pages?

[Drakul]

So I know this is kind of OT since this is the HC thread but I thought I'd share my TPB collection anyway.
Arranged in DCU chronological order. Do you guys see any trade that doesn't seem in the right place?

[chicainery]

So I know this is kind of OT since this is the HC thread but I thought I'd share my TPB collection anyway.
Arranged in DCU chronological order. Do you guys see any trade that doesn't seem in the right place?

It's always fun to see a lot of books together, especially when it's from a Batman fan! Thanks for sharing.