Ask Slashdot: I Want To Get Into Comic Books, But Where Do I Start?

An anonymous reader writes: Hi fellow readers. I don't recall reading many comic books as a kid (mostly because I could not afford them), but of late, I have been considering giving that a shot. I wanted to ask if you had any tips to share. Do I start with paperback editions, or do I jump directly into digital? Also, could you recommend a few good sci-fic comic book series? Thanks in advance!

Comments

Comic Books or Graphic Novels?

[chill]

What are you interested in? Are you looking for short (comic books) or long (graphic novels)?

My recommendation would be Neil Gaiman's Sandman series.

Re:Comic Books or Graphic Novels?

[xevioso]

I would heartily second this. This is the best series ever written, in my opinion. Many people say that the Watchmen is the best, but if you saw the movie, you might know to take that with a grain of salt. The Watchmen was great because it deconstructed the whole superhero mythos, but that makes no sense if you haven't been reading comics for a while.

I'd also recommend Astro City by Kirk Busiek. Saga is probably the best sci-fi series out right now. You might also read Y the Last Man, and Lucifer as well, which is a spinoff from the Sandman series.

Re:Comic Books or Graphic Novels?

[Tuidjy]

Sandman, Watchmen, and Transmetropolitan would be my "best three series", if we stick to those originating in English. Which one is my current favorite depends on the mood in which I happen to be.

Lucifer, Hellraiser (John Constantine), Preacher, The Books of Magic (Tim Hunter), The Boys, Stray Bullets... there is a ton of other series I've enjoyed, and which I reread occasionally. But the ones above are the ones I consider "must read".

Should one start with them? Probably not. It's best to start with something short, fun and sweet, or maybe pick up a maganize which includes a number of stories and styles, and then search for more of what you like.

Although, now that I think about it, those magazines were popular and common when I was growing up, but I have not seen any for a long time. To be honest, once my daughter came along, I stopped buying comics... and 90% of what I own will be unsuitable for her for a long, long time.

Where to start?

[Anonymous Coward]

Usually, I start with the first page. Beware, though, some Japanese titles might start with the last page.

I'd recommend starting 40 years ago

[SensitiveMale]

So much shit is being printed now. Even the "limited edition" prints aren't limited.

Don't.

[Anonymous Coward]

Seriously, just don't.

If you must, go for the indie authors and limited series. Pick already complete series, or ones by creators that will end their series.

Marvel and DC have rebooted, reset, rehashed, and redone their series so many times that you will never stop being disappointed and disgusted by the garbage they've come up with for this year's 'special'. They never end, never progress, so you will never be able to stop spending money - you'll have to give up, disappointed.

Long format recommendations

[turp182]

Individual Titles:
The Watchmen
V for Vendetta
300 (get the hardback, the movie is a perfect rendition of the original comic)

Series:
Sin City

graphic novels / compilations

[roc97007]

I'd go with the graphic novels / compilations rather than try to start with individual comics, as with a compilation you're more likely to start at the beginning of a story arc.

As to which titles to read, that's a very individual choice. I can tell you what titles *I* liked, but your mileage may vary. Wildly.

I hadn't really followed the DC universe very closely in the last couple of decades, but ended up picking up the Supergirl: Power and Supergirl: Identity compilations a couple years ago and really enjoyed them. Kara is a more complex and tragic character in these stories than I'd remembered her being.

The first two Marvel: The Ultimates compilations are pretty good. Each is a complete story, of the "what if super heroes existed in the real world" type that Watchmen started in the 1980's. Extremely violent, character deaths, creepy in parts.

Just about anything by Neil Gaimen. Sandman, Coraline, Stardust, "How to talk to girls at parties", American Gods.

Pretty much any of this century's Green Lantern Corps compilations. Well written, engaging characters.

Alan Moore's Miracleman (Marvelman) compilations are finally available, after being in legal hell for a couple decades. Well worth reading. Start with "A dream of flying". It starts out as a straight superhero story, but rapidly takes a really dark, science-fiction turn.

In my opinion, Marvel had a good thing going with the Ultimate universe (Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four, The Ultimates, Ultimate Iron Man) until Marvel apparently got bored with the universe and destroyed it. The early Ultimate graphic novels were mature, interesting and lacked all the decades of baggage that their regular titles had.

And finally, I have to put in a word for Schlock Mercenary, a "comic space opera" webcomic that starts out a gag-a-day but over the years has become a complex and compelling science fiction story in a very plausible, scientific framework. The online strips are available as softbound compilations. Also recommended is the Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries, the beat-up edition filled with handwritten notes from the Schlock characters who had previously owned it.

Also check out the Pibgorn webcomic. Start with "the girl in the coffee cup".