NEW READERS: Where are you coming from?

[Ezio_Howlett]

I read mostly Marvel graphic novels like Wolverine, X-Men etc, Spawn from Image and Red Sonja from Dynamite and Conan from Dark Horse.
But recently I've started to buy alot of Batman graphic novels, but will buy more DC graphic novels this summer, I was thinking about Crisis On Inifinite Earths and maybe Indentity Crisis. The old DC universe is definetly darker than the Marvel universe, but I have no problem with reading dark graphic novels

[mattobin]

My experience was always been out of what I thought was mainstream comics. The idea of glitzy-perfection American hero post-Vietnam archetype was something that really grated with the ideologies that sat within me. Many, many years ago, I stumbled into a comic shop and asked for a 'good story' and that artwork wasn't important. The comic-book seller, praise the Lord, handed me an issue of Neil Gaiman's Sandman which was being published at the time; I forget from which of the books the story came but it stuck with me. I've always been buying 200ad right from the mid eighties and still get it now and that's been my staple diet of comic: a little spoilt really. I recently came back to comics, rather ashamedly, after watching repeated episodes of 'The Big Bang'. I found a local shop and proceeded to do the same thing as last time: look for story. This time the comic-book seller handed me 'Transmetropolitan' and 'Y The Last Man'; these were great but not quite Sandman; but then will anything be like that? I have also strayed heavily into Japanese comic books including 'Lone Wolf and Cub' and 'Lady Snow-Blood' both of which I thoroughly enjoy. I have also tried some of the DC New 52 and been mainly unimpressed except for Animal Man whose layout and story have been superb; I can't afford to keep buying the huge amount that I do so I'll need to begin cutting soon...we'll see.

[Zarquon]

I'm in the used to read comics category, I used to read a quite regularly then it dipped off - but generally tended to go more for indies. Of the "mainstream" I was always a fan of DC over Marvel though (still read some Marvel stuff). Like many I thought the new 52 would be a great point to jump back on, and I'm glad I did. Missing the JSA though :(

[Hwlights92]

Not sure if I ever posted in here or not. Prior to the new 52 I was an on off comic reader than mainly bought the occasional trade or graphic novel, essential spider man vol 1, some showcase presents collections. Never anything to serious though. Then I found out that they were doing the new 52 and a comic store had just moved into the mall. I'm still getting settled into being a full time comic reader but as of today I'm following about 8 dc titles.

[Marc]

I read a lot of Image titles. I really like the creepy/off-the-wall/cool books over there. After being around my LCS so much, I realized I didn't really like Marvel. The about two weeks ago I learned of the New 52 reboots, and I'm on my way to catching up on some series.

[tomstewdevine]

Hey new readers, if you want a rundown of whats good and what's not. Check out this show, it address every book of the new 52. They do a great job of sifting through the crap for you:

[new52]

I've been reading comic books since I was about 10...I'm now in my early *cough* 40's *cough*. I was always exclusively Marvel. Back in the early 80's I just couldn't get into DC...AT ALL. I stopped reading them when I was about 16ish...got REALLY tired of the Marvel Arcs that required me to buy almost all of their titles every month.
Skip ahead several years when my son got interested in Batman. I returned to comics again but with mostly Marvel...got interested Batman and one or two other but mostly still Marvel.
Skip ahead again to about 8 months ago...and Marvel is hardly seen anywhere in my reading list. I'm reading most of the new 52 titles and loving nearly every one of them! The stories are great...soooo much better than that trash Marvel puts out. I love the change in the characters and how much easier it is to follow their back stories. Maybe it's because I'm not hindered with "what was" and all the other conveluted back stories and continuity problems that kept me from reading DC in the first place. I love the new 52 (even Aquaman!!!) and plan to read them for many years to come and Marvel can just go away...or better yet...take a lesson from DC!!

[consafo80]

I started with Flashpoint as had heard this would lead into the new 52 Haven't looked back since

[Zomy]

I started buying The Walking Dead because I loved the game and tv show, I picked up some DC and Marvel comics as well, I didn't like Marvel much but loved DC. I'm reading Swamp Thing, Batman, Action Comics, Aquaman, and Animal Man.

[Frequency]

I used to collect Marvel titles, especially Silver Age but sold everything when I got divorced. Now I'm all DC and nothing but DC since the reboot.

[The Kid]

never read a comic before. guess I'm gonna start with DC titles. I've already started Batman from issue #1. any other books I should get?

[vampiric_cannibal]

never read a comic before. guess I'm gonna start with DC titles. I've already started Batman from issue #1. any other books I should get?

There are any number (well, 51 from DC alone. Plus Vertigo. Then there are Marvel, Image, BOOM! and the like) to choose.

If you like Batman, get B&R, the other two solo Batmans are mixed in quality I gather, and Batman INC (which will probs be awesome) is starting soon. If you like other Gothamites, Batwoman, BoP, Red Hood and/or Nightwing are fairly reliable choices.

If you want main JL members, then Flash, Action Comics, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Green Lantern are all well thought of. GL and Superman also have 3 other books in their sub groups, though only Supergirl stands out quality wise from them. At the moment. GLC has Guy Gardner and John Stewart, and alien GLs, instead of Hal Jordan and Sinestro. GL:NG has Kyle Rayner and a bunch of aliens. Other titles are eponymous.

If you want a 'dark' book, just about all of them are awesome, Animal Man and Swamp Thing especially so.

If you want a Teen book, then Titans was good, now variable, the solos are rubbish, Legion and Legion Lost I gather are ok, Ravagers is yet to start but is probably going to be 90s (which is euphemism for gratuitous... everything. Art, exposition, sex, violence, red and black) but might be good.

Earth 2 and Worlds Finest are well received, despite some costume changes.

I would not presume to tell you, but I suggest:

Red Hood
Teen Titans
Supergirl
Action Comics (Superman's main book)
Animal Man
Earth 2
And solos of any characters you like or think look interesting.
BoP, Batwoman, Swamp Thing, GL, Aquaman are oft recomended by the community at large. There are many good books and choices. But refrain from immediately buying anything with a credit to Rob Liefeld. He is an acquired taste.
And, from next month, take your pick of any Batman book except Tec. TDK is getting a new, better, writer.

[The Kid]

There are any number (well, 51 from DC alone. Plus Vertigo. Then there are Marvel, Image, BOOM! and the like) to choose.

If you like Batman, get B&R, the other two solo Batmans are mixed in quality I gather, and Batman INC (which will probs be awesome) is starting soon. If you like other Gothamites, Batwoman, BoP, Red Hood and/or Nightwing are fairly reliable choices.

If you want main JL members, then Flash, Action Comics, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Green Lantern are all well thought of. GL and Superman also have 3 other books in their sub groups, though only Supergirl stands out quality wise from them. At the moment. GLC has Guy Gardner and John Stewart, and alien GLs, instead of Hal Jordan and Sinestro. GL:NG has Kyle Rayner and a bunch of aliens. Other titles are eponymous.

If you want a 'dark' book, just about all of them are awesome, Animal Man and Swamp Thing especially so.

If you want a Teen book, then Titans was good, now variable, the solos are rubbish, Legion and Legion Lost I gather are ok, Ravagers is yet to start but is probably going to be 90s (which is euphemism for gratuitous... everything. Art, exposition, sex, violence, red and black) but might be good.

Earth 2 and Worlds Finest are well received, despite some costume changes.

I would not presume to tell you, but I suggest:

Red Hood
Teen Titans
Supergirl
Action Comics (Superman's main book)
Animal Man
Earth 2
And solos of any characters you like or think look interesting.
BoP, Batwoman, Swamp Thing, GL, Aquaman are oft recomended by the community at large. There are many good books and choices. But refrain from immediately buying anything with a credit to Rob Liefeld. He is an acquired taste.
And, from next month, take your pick of any Batman book except Tec. TDK is getting a new, better, writer.

Thank you so much for your advice! I'll look into many of these titles and get into as many as I can

[ILoveVibe]

I started as a casual reader in the late 70s (much to shows like Aquaman and the SuperFriends). In early 80s it was the Titans ( I love Aqualad) that brough me in seriosuly until about 04/05. Comics just seemed to be changing to much for me to enjoy and after Identity Crisis I was crushed. When I learned about the entire reboot (always been a DC guy)- a place where I could come back to a new restarted DCU in which I could again be a part of I was extremely excited to come on board. Oh yeah, I am in Boston, MA - give a shout out if you are there too!

[thc-1138]

I started reading comics in 5th grade back in 85 (Secret Origins, Blue Beetle, Superman). I started out mostly DC. When I got older I read a little Marvel, but Dc was still my favorite. In college I read mostly manga and image (and other indy labels). After a 10+ year hiatus form comics, I started back again with the new 52. I personally am very happy with the books, i get all 52 every month (along with all of the miniseries) and I like the sense that all of them take place in the same universe (or multiverse). I get like maybe 5-7 marvel titles a month, and then about 40 image/idw/dark horse/etc.. titles. Marvel is least favorite, something about them just doesn't do it for me personally. I mainly get Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk (the new series), uncanny X-force and wolvering and the x-men, and then maybe 1-3 other titles if something looks interesting.