Where to start with comics?

[rowan-thats-me]

Hi guys, first off, I have never read a comic book in my entire life, but I keep hearing about them and the imaginativeness (is that a real word? doubt it, never mind) of the medium and I'm starting to get interested.

But, seeing that they have been around for so many years, where do I start? I know the escapists has many comic book fans so help would be appreciated. Batman is the guy that seems to interest me the most(especially the joker after playing Arkham Asylum, but I'm not sure whether that's an accurate portrayal of his comic book form) but any other gems you could recommend would be excellent.

P.S I read something about "one year later" is that important?

Thanks in advance,
Rowan-thats-me

 

[vehystrix]

I'd start at the first page, quite obviously...

j/k, I'd guess pick a series you like and go to the 1st comic in it, and start there

 

[Lust]

-The Killing Joke
-The Sandman
-Fables

To name a few....................and........uh................that's about all I got. As of right now.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Watchmen! Seriously, that was my first experience with reading comic books properly.

 

[Frybird]

Hi guys, first off, I have never read a comic book in my entire life, but I keep hearing about them and the imaginativeness (is that a real word? doubt it, never mind) of the medium and I'm starting to get interested.

But, seeing that they have been around for so many years, where do I start? I know the escapists has many comic book fans so help would be appreciated. Batman is the guy that seems to interest me the most(especially the joker after playing Arkham Asylum, but I'm not sure whether that's an accurate portrayal of his comic book form) but any other gems you could recommend would be excellent.

P.S I read something about "one year later" is that important?

Thanks in advance,
Rowan-thats-me

If you are already into Batman, "Batman: Year One", "The Long Halloween" and "The Dark Knight Returns" are pretty much mandatory.

Other than that, I'd personally recommend stuff by Warren Ellis (especially Transmetropolitan and NEXTWAVE, although latter has lots of In-Joke-Comic-Trope Stuff, you might want to save that one for later) and Alan Moore (especially V for Vendetta, my favorite Graphic Novel, and Watchmen)

Also be sure to check out The Sandman, 100 Bullets, Y: The Last Man, and last but surely not least, the awesomeness that is the Scott Pilgrim Series.

 

[tzimize]

The suggestions so far have been EXCELLENT. I also want to recommend Elfquest (which you can read for free!! on their website).

I am a big fan of spawn, and also Rising Stars.

 

[rowan-thats-me]

thanks guys, this is helping, my mate owns about 4-5 sandman novels and the killing joke, so I may borrow those, also I loved the V for vendetta movie, so I may have to try that too, dose anyone know a good place to order/buy them in the UK

 

[b15h4m0n]

Neil Gaiman's Sandman - my clear #1

 

[solarus2120]

Amazon is usually a good source for this kinda stuff if you don't have a local comic store.

And just to add my tu'penn'orth, Hellblazer, which is what the Constantine film was based on.

 

[Frybird]

thanks guys, this is helping, my mate owns about 4-5 sandman novels and the killing joke, so I may borrow those, also I loved the V for vendetta movie, so I may have to try that too, dose anyone know a good place to order/buy them in the UK

I'd guess Amazon.co.uk would be as good as any.

And yeah, you should really read V for Vendetta. I for one liked the movie, most other fans of the book don't, and i can see why, given that many many great stuff from the book is just missing.

(Including an amazing Song that was written for the book. HOW CAN A SONG BE IN A VISUAL MEDIUM BUT NOT IN AN AUDIOVISUAL ONE??)

 

[phryndmnnt]

Instead of a list of series, I will supply a list of authors all good dorks should know:

Garth Ennis (gruesome and perverse, but sublime)
Brian K. Vaughan (extremely well composed, excellent concepts)
Frank Miller (classic, and for you good Batman stuff)
Mark Millar (done some good stuff recently, including costume stuff)
Alan Moore (classic, awesome, and completely batty i.e. also has a good batman book)
Luna Brothers (new school, and super neat)
Brian Azzarello (modern wordy style, some excellent titles both costumed and otherwise)
Kurt Busiek (I love his conan book, but I'm a fan of the character and the art therein)

I would also add Barry Windsor-Smith's Weapon X, if you like Wolverine, because this is, in my opinion, the best origin story for Wolverine, and it's all done by one guy. Normally a book would suffer from this, but in this case it gives the book a really organic, flowing, and natural feel. Seldom seen or talked about nowadays, but its SO much better than the other Wolverine origins. I think it was reprinted because of the Wolverine movie, so you might be able to pick it up.

A lot of these authors are not known for their super hero books. Some are, or have notable hero books to their resumes. I hope this helps.

Matt

 

[rowan-thats-me]

thanks guys for all the feedback, I'm just wondering about one thing: cost, how much do you guys generally spend, say, in a year.

 

[octafish]

My favorite all time comics are Suicide Squad and Grant Morrison's run on Doom Patrol. Don't start with those though. Well maybe Suicide Squad, but steer away from Doom Patrol for a few years. I'd recommend you start with Maus: A Survivors Tale by Art Spiegelman the greatest, and most important graphic novel ever written.

 

[WolfThomas]

For somone who is begining, for Marvel, Ultimates 1 and 2 is pretty good, a concise and fresh take (at the time) on old super heroes, completely in it's own continuity so it's not reliant on any previous history. Runaways is a good choice, it's fun and exciting, doesn't need much backstory. Also Nextwave is just so kickass it deserves mentioning.

As for DC, probably Year One and the Dark Knight Returns, both fantastic. Also an odd choice, but I think Superman: Red Son is actually a good start for beginners, it's standalone and shows that Superman is more complex than the people who criticise him give him credit. Superman : Birthright is a good start for Superman and All Star Superman will blow your mind.

As for others, well anything Vertigo really can't go wrong (yeah I know it's DC, but it feels different).

Spoiler: Also general advice I give to everyone

Find authors you like, they're usually consistent in quality.

My favourite authors in no particular order are:
Warren Ellis (Next Wave: Agents of Hate, The Authority, Transmetropolitian, Ultimates Galatus Trilogy), Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher), Alan Moore (Watchmen, V for Vendetta, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), Grant Morrison (All Star Superman, Animal Man, The Invisibles) Mark Millar (Kickass, Wanted, Ultimates 1 and 2, Superman : Red Son, The Authority) Neil Gaimon (Sandman, Marvel 1602) and Brian K. Vaughn (Y - The Last Man, Runaways, Ex Machina).

thanks guys, this is helping, my mate owns about 4-5 sandman novels and the killing joke, so I may borrow those, also I loved the V for vendetta movie, so I may have to try that too, dose anyone know a good place to order/buy them in the UK

Buying in collected editions is usally cheapest best if you shop around and don't ever underestimate a public library, some good ones have a lot of classic comic editions. Sometimes companies have some free comics that can be viewed online, as well as viewers that allow you read last back catalogues for a small fee.

Also I'm loath to mention this, but popular comics are often scanned and uploaded to the internet. One the one hand it most likely damages comics sales, but I've also know quite a few people who've gone on to regularly buy comics and buy collected editions, something they wouldn't have gotten into if not for this medium. I don't support illegaly downloading them, but I do believe that perhaps the future of comics lies in electronic media as much actual print.

 

[SimuLord]

Start with Action Comics #1, then read every comic book that came after it in sequence. Allow some time.

 

[FalloutJack]

I recommend Hellblazer for your smarmy British supernatural investigation needs and Deadpool for everything else. Also, Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman.

 

[waspygravy]

Try Your local library They usually Have collections of comics.
(I Suggest CHEW)