I'm Looking for a Good Place to Start Reading Comics... But I Need Some Advice

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JonSherwell

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Mar 21, 2013
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So, I've never been into comic book series, whether DC, Marvel, or otherwise. However, I've been batting the idea of reading a series for awhile, and considering MCU's big reveal, I figured now was as good a time as any to ask. Which series are accessible to newer readers? What should I dip my feet into? I've always thought that Marvel has a more prolific set of heroes/villains, but I can definitely be persuaded, and am willing to try most anything.
 

Zontar

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Feb 18, 2013
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Well it all depends on your taste of genre, tone and the like, since the different comic lines tend to be pretty diverse even within what would at first glance be pretty mono tonal franchises (though New 52 DC has become pretty mono tonal as a whole lately). I could say "start anywhere and see what clicks", but that would be too vauge.

Since you seem to like the MCU (and by your comment I'd also assume Agents of Shield), I'd recommend Secret Avengers. The current line follows Agent Coulson, Nick Fury Jr and a few heroes working for Shield. It's a spy thriller series which deals with their work for shield under secrecy and out of the public eye.

Something to remember for any comic, though, is that unless it's a 6-12 part miniseries there's really no need to start at the first issue. Marvel recently started or restarted a lot of lines, so it shouldn't be too hard to find Issue #1's of current series, but even then a good 90% of all comics aren't that big of a deal if you start at issue 5 or 20 or 163, since almost all of the story tends to be self contained. The other 10% tend to be miniseries, lone series set in their own little world or crossover events.
 

Vault101

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Sep 26, 2010
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JonSherwell said:
So, I've never been into comic book series, whether DC, Marvel, or otherwise. However, I've been batting the idea of reading a series for awhile, and considering MCU's big reveal, I figured now was as good a time as any to ask. Which series are accessible to newer readers? What should I dip my feet into? I've always thought that Marvel has a more prolific set of heroes/villains, but I can definitely be persuaded, and am willing to try most anything.
are you interesting in self contained non-marvel DC stuff? because there's plenty of good stuff there

off the top of my head

Southern Bastards

Revival

Saga

Locke and key

Preacher

to name a few
 

JonSherwell

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Mar 21, 2013
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Zontar said:
Since you seem to like the MCU (and by your comment I'd also assume Agents of Shield), I'd recommend Secret Avengers. The current line follows Agent Coulson, Nick Fury Jr and a few heroes working for Shield. It's a spy thriller series which deals with their work for shield under secrecy and out of the public eye.
Hmm, this sounds like it might be up my alley, I'll look into it. Any heroes I would recognize off hand?

Vault101 said:
are you interesting in self contained non-marvel DC stuff? because there's plenty of good stuff there

off the top of my head

Southern Bastards

Revival

Saga

Locke and key

Preacher

to name a few
Yeah, self-contained is good, DC or Marvel are fine with me. Like I said, I'm somewhat ignorant of both beyond some general knowledge from movies/articles/friends. I've heard of Locke and Key and Preacher. I'll give them a quick look. Southern Bastards sounds interesting as well.
 

Zontar

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JonSherwell said:
Zontar said:
Since you seem to like the MCU (and by your comment I'd also assume Agents of Shield), I'd recommend Secret Avengers. The current line follows Agent Coulson, Nick Fury Jr and a few heroes working for Shield. It's a spy thriller series which deals with their work for shield under secrecy and out of the public eye.
Hmm, this sounds like it might be up my alley, I'll look into it. Any heroes I would recognize off hand?
The team is made of of Nick Fury Jr, Agent Coulson, Spider Woman and Black Widow, with Hawkeye being an on-again off-again member and Maria Hill being in charge of it and shield. There's also a reformed MODOK who builds them new and interesting toys. So there's basically only two relevant characters who haven't been part of the MCU.
 

JonSherwell

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Mar 21, 2013
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Zontar said:
JonSherwell said:
Zontar said:
Since you seem to like the MCU (and by your comment I'd also assume Agents of Shield), I'd recommend Secret Avengers. The current line follows Agent Coulson, Nick Fury Jr and a few heroes working for Shield. It's a spy thriller series which deals with their work for shield under secrecy and out of the public eye.
Hmm, this sounds like it might be up my alley, I'll look into it. Any heroes I would recognize off hand?
The team is made of of Nick Fury Jr, Agent Coulson, Spider Woman and Black Widow, with Hawkeye being an on-again off-again member and Maria Hill being in charge of it and shield. There's also a reformed MODOK who builds them new and interesting toys. So there's basically only two relevant characters who haven't been part of the MCU.
Sounds excellent, I will definitely be looking for a copy. Do you suggest reading from vol. 1 or is starting at vol. 3 ok?
 

Zontar

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JonSherwell said:
Sounds excellent, I will definitely be looking for a copy. Do you suggest reading from vol. 1 or is starting at vol. 3 ok?
Either one works, though the cast I mentioned is that of Volume 3. It's the one I got in with and it's worked out for me so far.
 

WolfThomas

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There's really no bad place to jump in on comics. I'd recommend you look around see what grabs your attention, if you like the character, team or the writer then find some of their stuff.
 

Tanis

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Find some arc that piques your interest, and use a wiki to fill in the blanks.

I'd also suggest 'self contained' stories like 'Kingdom Come' or 'Superman For All Seasons' or 'The Red Son'.

Heck, even the new 'Injustice' is kind of good.
 

Vault101

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Sep 26, 2010
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JonSherwell said:
Yeah, self-contained is good, DC or Marvel are fine with me. Like I said, I'm somewhat ignorant of both beyond some general knowledge from movies/articles/friends. I've heard of Locke and Key and Preacher. I'll give them a quick look. Southern Bastards sounds interesting as well.
over on DC's end there's gotham central (an older series of arcs written by Greg Rucka) they focus on the police/detectives in gotham and how they have to deal with both batman and the villans

there's also the Punisher MAX series (by garth ennis) which is a gritty/dark take on the punisher....except its Garth Ennis to expect both gore and a bit of bizarreness

both are available in trade paperback and shouldn't be too hard to find
 

Kae

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Listen to Vault she knows what she's talking about, also you really should read Locke & Key, everyone should read that...

OK I just really like Locke & Key it's what got me into comics again, because I stopped reading after my physical collection burned in a fire, but seriously Locke & Key is good, I also would recommend to read the new Ms. Marvel series if you like funny superheroes, I'd also recommend a comic called "The Runaways" it's set in the MCU, but anyway it's about some kids that find out their parents are super-villains and decide to stop them, it's pretty good.

[HEADING=3]READ SAGA![/HEADING]
Everyone will mention this and they are right, you should listen to them, just do it.
 

JonSherwell

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Mar 21, 2013
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Vault101 said:
JonSherwell said:
Yeah, self-contained is good, DC or Marvel are fine with me. Like I said, I'm somewhat ignorant of both beyond some general knowledge from movies/articles/friends. I've heard of Locke and Key and Preacher. I'll give them a quick look. Southern Bastards sounds interesting as well.
over on DC's end there's gotham central (an older series of arcs written by Greg Rucka) they focus on the police/detectives in gotham and how they have to deal with both batman and the villans

there's also the Punisher MAX series (by garth ennis) which is a gritty/dark take on the punisher....except its Garth Ennis to expect both gore and a bit of bizarreness

both are available in trade paperback and shouldn't be too hard to find
Sounds like an interesting perspective, and Punisher has always piqued my interest some, thanks for the suggestions!
 

Rabbitboy

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I haven't read many american superhero comics but I can recommend you to try out Archer and Armstrong.


As a child my favorites were

Tintin, Lucky Luke, Asterix and Spirou & Fantasio.