Which franchise should I collect Marvel or DC?

[carabas]

Start collecting Marvel comics because you get more bang for your buck. The MU (Marvel Universe) is truly a shared universe and you'll never be short on reading material because there are so many leads to follow.

It just seems more bang because you're paying more...

Avengers, X-Men, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four are all franchises that you should consider immeadiately (or NOW). That's at least 24 books to choose from to get ya started.

Wait, hang on. TWENTY-FOUR books over four franchises?!? (and really, how many FF book are there? Just the one, I thought.)

[Hulk_Is]

It just seems more bang because you're paying more...

Um...yeah...right. :rollseyes:

Wait, hang on. TWENTY-FOUR books over four franchises?!? (and really, how many FF book are there? Just the one, I thought.)

There is the secondary Fantastic Four book called FF written first by Jonathan Hickman, but now by Matt Fraction.

Yeah, Marvel keeps the universe both tight and accesible so it absolutely feels like a universe that is familiar, but it is always expanding as well.

[Superchino]

Why are you wanting to pick a publisher rather than scrutinizing individual titles and creative teams in relation to your personal interests and passions. There are amazing things being done within both camps, but there are also great comics being published by Image, Dark Horse, and Valiant (just to name a few). Sample the previews available on sites like this, and see whose writing tone, art, and story arcs grab your attention so you can spend wisely. Utilize free books on itunes and comixology for those same purposes. This is the way I go about getting the most out of my collecting dollars.

[LtMarvel]

Well, good for you for choosing just one--if you are spending other money on other non-super hero books.

That's what I did. I buy some DC for my super-hero kick, and then go get me some Usagi Yojimbo, Groo, and other award-winning titles.

[Valerie]

At the moment all I'm reading is from Image, IDW, and smaller publishers. And I'm filling in my collection of back issues.

Regarding Marvel and DC, I would not recommend committing to anything at the moment new right off the bat. Peruse any issue that catches your eye, and if you like it, get it. But what I'd recommend more is to go through your collection if you still have it, and if you have any gaps, try to find the missing books in back issues or reprints.

[carabas]

Yeah, Marvel keeps the universe both tight and accesible...

Well, it's tight, basically just having 4 franchises. Accessible, not so much.

[Hulk_Is]

Well, it's tight, basically just having 4 franchises. Accessible, not so much.

Very accessible, my friend. Between recap pages, point one issues (periodically), and accesible crossovers, I don't know what more a reader could need.

Marvel. Your universe. It's that easy.

[Paradox]

Oh, lord, don't argue with the obsessive compulsive outlier. He'll just "Nuh uh!" everything you say.

[carabas]

I guess that when one thinks .1 issues makes things more instead of less accessible to somebody who isn't a complete Marvel diehard, any further discussion is indeed pointles.

[Hulk_Is]

You'd literally have to be mentally retarded to find Marvel's .1 issues inaccessible. You read them and then carry on with subsequent issues if interested. If not interested, one stops at the .1 issue. If you carry on reading you will be introduced to other accessible areas of the Marvel Universe in short time.

[Nova2814.1]

Very accessible, my friend. Between recap pages, point one issues (periodically), and accesible crossovers, I don't know what more a reader could need.

Marvel. Your universe. It's that easy.

And if none of that works, then we're guaranteed that Marvel will relaunch the book at least once in the next 18 months

On topic, I think the OP should follow pretty much everyone's advice and choose books based on story and creators, and not just publisher. That said, in terms of genre diversity, Image is probably a great place to start.