# How do you have any clue where to start on comic books? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 16, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407 "2012-07-16T13:23:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/61 "2012-07-18T17:49:10Z")
You might really be surprised at what your library has to offer - that’s how I’ve been satisfying my Captain America thing lately because the least exciting weekend I can imagine starts with my fiance opening up the long boxes. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/62 "2012-07-18T17:54:06Z")
olivesmarch4th: > [@](#): > > Anything written by Peter David is golden. AMEN. I don’t think there’s a single comic-book writer whose work is as consistently good as his. Hulk, Young Justice, Supergirl, Aquaman, X-Factor…he’s amazing. Heck, I still remember his run on the “New Universe” series Justice. Such a minor title in the grand scope of comic-dom, but I can still vividly remember many scenes and lines. One of those is a joke that I still love to tell (it requires facial expressions, that’s why I don’t straight-out post it here. But in a comic book, it’s great). ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/63 "2012-07-18T18:17:51Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Do you still live in the Albany area? Because there are several good comic book stores in that region. > > Earthworld - 537 Central Avenue, Albany (It can hard to find a parking space here) > Zombie Planet - 1238 Central Avenue, Albany (Their comic book shop is on the second floor) > Electric City Comics - 1704 Van Vranken Avenue, Schenectady (Not a great neighbourhood) Yup, I just went to Zombie Planet which is really close to my office and my home. They were super friendly and nice, though I had an entertaining moment. I wasn’t really listening as I was browsing…apparently they were bashing Robert Pattinson in Twilight. I kind of wandered over there and they looked at me and said “Oh, no, you’re not a Twilight fan, are you?” I said, “Me? Good heavens, no! I’m actually kind of sick of vampires altogether.” They said, “Oh, god, we thought you were coming over to hit us because we were mocking it.” Anyway as said, they are not cheap, so I just bought three. I bought Watchmen, because everybody and their brother recommends it, and when I glanced through it, I liked the art. I bought a Hellboy one - the one the second movie was based on. I really thought the second movie was disappointed and am hoping the comic will be better. And I bought a Call of Cthulu one because the art was just gorgeous. I saw no Y the Last Man. They had Fables but they only had the first four books in this really expensive hardcover. They said they’d be getting the softcover in soon. He laughed when I mentioned Scrooge McDuck, and I don’t think he had it. They do not have Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. I looked at Deadpool. I really wanted to get one, but there were like 20 and I had NO idea where to start. There didn’t seem to be any “origin story” or beginning. I forgot entirely to ask about Hellblazer. And he showed me a ton of other stuff. They have a whole wall of DC and…argh I’m blanking on the other one. They have an even bigger wall of “new comics”, and a decent sized section of trade paperbacks. Then I wandered around the gaming section a bit - pretty good selection. A nice store. I am going to try the library tomorrow when I return Unseen Academicals. I have no idea what they even have. One more thing. I started reading Watchmen in the car when I got back here…I had a few moments before I had to come in. I can tell I am already hooked on the comic, so I think I made a good choice. Thanks all! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/64 "2012-07-18T18:38:02Z")
“The other one” is Marvel. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/65 "2012-07-18T18:41:51Z")
Right. My mind was like NOPE! WE AIN’T REMEMBERIN! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/66 "2012-07-18T19:01:29Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Yup, I just went to Zombie Planet which is really close to my office and my home. Get on their mailing list. They’ll send you coupons that are good for twenty percent off your entire purchase. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/67 "2012-07-18T19:04:20Z")
If you liked _Watchmen_, you’d probably also like _Kingdom Come_ by Alex Ross and Mark Waid and _The Golden Age_ by James Robinson and Paul Smith. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/68 "2012-07-18T19:06:39Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Get on their mailing list. They’ll send you coupons that are good for twenty percent off your entire purchase. I did. I also got a frequent shopper card. Every $10 gets a stamp, and then after $100, I get a free $10. Not bad! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/69 "2012-07-18T19:52:35Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If you liked _Watchmen_, you’d probably also like _Kingdom Come_ by Alex Ross and Mark Waid and _The Golden Age_ by James Robinson and Paul Smith. Seconded. Good recomendations. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/70 "2012-07-18T20:11:43Z")
I’m really happy you’re reading Watchmen. That was the first graphic novel I ever read. And I was like, “Oh, comics are art!” It completely blew every preconceived notion I had out the window - and the beauty of it is that_only in that medium_ that story could be told. Just breathtaking. I would also highly recommend Planet Hulk, which is just beautiful. It’s a good standalone trade paperback if you just want to dive in. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/71 "2012-07-18T20:38:39Z")
Well, the publishers aren’t helping with the way they number them. Personally, I prefer webcomics anyway. More continuity of creative vision, and pretty much free! But yeah, if you like, say, Incredible Hercules, ask someone who works in a comic shop, or people in an online community (this is one thing journal networks like LiveJournal, InsaneJournal, and DreamWidth are good at) like noscans\_daily, for help in finding them. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/72 "2012-07-18T20:41:42Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I saw no Y the Last Man. > They had Fables but they only had the first four books in this really expensive hardcover. They said they’d be getting the softcover in soon. > He laughed when I mentioned Scrooge McDuck, and I don’t think he had it. > They do not have Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. I get most of my trade paperbacks from Amazon these days and I know they have all of those for sale. So it’s easy to start at #1 and you can read what people have to say about the stories to see if you would be interested or not. And usually it’s cheaper than the comic shop. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If you liked _Watchmen_, you’d probably also like _Kingdom Come_ by Alex Ross and Mark Waid and _The Golden Age_ by James Robinson and Paul Smith. I forgot about **Kingdom Come**. Another of my top five. > **[Kingdom Come (comics)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_Come_(comics))** > > Kingdom Come is a four-issue comic book miniseries published in 1996 by DC Comics under their Elseworlds imprint. It was written by Mark Waid and painted in gouache by Alex Ross, who also developed the concept from an original idea. > The story is set in an alternate future of the DC Universe. The new generation of heroes have lost their moral compass, becoming as reckless and violent as the villains they fight. The previous regime of heroes—the Justice League—returns under dire circumstances,... If you want nice art this is a good one. Alex Ross painted the whole damn thing. Each panel is a painting. The story is it’s the future and Superman and most of the old schools have retired and the next generation of heroes and bad guys are more interested in fighting each other than about the safety of the public. So something has to be done about these unruly bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/73 "2012-07-18T20:42:40Z")
Any recommendations on where/how to start on Deadpool? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/74 "2012-07-18T20:58:24Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > You might really be surprised at what your library has to offer - that’s how I’ve been satisfying my Captain America thing lately because the least exciting weekend I can imagine starts with my fiance opening up the long boxes. Yeah, I got into _Y: The Last Man_ by checking out volumes from the local library. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/75 "2012-07-18T21:21:05Z")
In general, you just start somewhere and start pulling at threads, I think. > [@grude](#): > > Surprised no one has mentioned Watchmen yet, it is a relatively short story and self contained universe and is considered the best of the genre. It is a mix of alt-history/superhero deconstruction and commentary/and sci fi. NO. **Watchmen** is a deconstruction; why would you start with that over the source material? Also, it’s ridiculously dark. > [@Anaamika](#): > > Sorry, I meant to say, I did both. I picked the Alien vs Predator because I knew I liked it, same with X-Men and Batman. I know I like all three of those. > Then, I picked a few at random to try some new things. > > You all ask me what I like though, and I really have no idea. I’ve read about five different comics over the years. Let’s see what my little experiences are: > > I really liked the graphic novels of Maison Ikkoku. Also Ranma 1/2. > Someone gave me the Adventures of Baron Munchausen in a White Elephant exchange. BORING. > X-Men and Batman are cool. Spiderman or Superman, NO. > > Let’s see. I don’t like the comics with minimal writing and nothing but pictures, like one word on a single panel. I think that’s why I liked the AvP; it had a lengthy story as well as the graphic art. > > Maybe I should stick with graphic novels instead. What is a trade paperback? > > As to genres: > > - probably comedy is the best. I like sharp, biting satire and sarcasm more than physical humor. Fart and poop jokes are right out. > - I also like sci-fi. I don’t generally like romance dirtying up my sci-fi, unless it’s superbly done and doesn’t hijack the story. > - I love dystopias in any other genre, so I see no reason why I wouldn’t love them in comics. > > Story is far, far more important than the art. Actually, that’s why I never really got into comics - the few small examples I’ve seen tend to focus on art and leave the story in the ditch. > > I saw the movie of Watchmen. I may or may not like the comic. The movie was very dark, as is I’m sure the comic. Can I start on something a little lighter first? OK.\*\* _Maison_ Ikkoku\*\*, comedy, science fiction, dystopias. This is my planet. Warning: I’m not that up on new stuff, since my comics-junkie phase was in the 1990’s. There’s a lot of Predator, Aliens, and Terminator stuff, the trick is finding it all. But it’s out there. For lighter stuff akin to (but not the same as) _Maison_ Ikkoku, try [Azuma’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiyohiko_Azuma) stuff: **Azumanga Daioh** , **Yotsuba&!** Also, there is a lot of other [Takahashi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumiko_Takahashi) stuff (lot of comedy, but also some horror). I like the “Rumic Theatre” stories, but I think they are out of print. I read some in inter-library loan. Of Western works, maybe **Strangers in Paradise** would work for you, but I never got into it myself. Dystopian sci-fi? Maybe\*\* The Ballad of Halo Jones\*\*, if you can find it? Ian Gibson’s art is pretty trippy. I mean, it’s still Alan Moore, so vomiting is…certain. Second thought, never mind. Try [Carla Speed McNeil](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carla_Speed_McNeil)’s stuff instead. Lots of fantasy biotech, some creepy dystopian stuff, but an art style more Takahshi-esque as well. Oh! [Svetlana Chmakova.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetlana_Chmakova) Her series are pretty self-contained. And trippy awesome. (Note that I am not recommending female-written girly stuff to you because you are a woman. I’m recommending it because that’s a lot of what I like. But, that said…) If you can find some\*\* Alien Legion\*\*, give that a shot. Really alien aliens in a sort of groundpounder foreign Legion unit IN SPACE. The first series is by Alan Zelenetz, who had some old-warrior poetry in him. The second is by Chuck Dixon (of 1990’s Batman/Nightwing/Robin fame) and more action-movie. But this is besides the point of your question. \_ There are websites that critique comics and advertise them: [Scans\_Daily,](http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/) the infamous slash community banned from LiveJournal when one of its members told Peter David to Die In A Fire. They are still around, and still very very gay. They do excerpt a lot of other neat stuff, though; it’s not all slashy stuff. [Comic Book Resources](http://comicbookresources.com) has a lot of stuff. Like [Comics Should Be Good!](http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/) I’m not sure where to start on blogs. [MightyGodKing](http://mightygodking.com/) isn’t that much about comics now, but you could just pick stuff out of his page of links at random, and get some hits. There are some tumblrs. Like [DC Women Kicking Ass](http://dcwomenkickingass.tumblr.com/), which is superheroes, of course. Marvel and DC used to have official websites with discussion boards, but I don’t know what kind of state those are in. I can’t find DC’s right now. [http://www.comicboards.com/](http://www.comicboards.com/) seems to still be up. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/76 "2012-07-18T22:00:23Z")
Sorry, I guess my opinion on **Watchmen** is nonstandard. It is clever (one of the cleverer things Alan Moore has ever done) but it annoys me (as does Moore in general) for meta reasons. Long story. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/77 "2012-07-18T23:18:15Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Sorry, I guess my opinion on **Watchmen** is nonstandard. It is clever (one of the cleverer things Alan Moore has ever done) but it annoys me (as does Moore in general) for meta reasons. Long story. I don’t agree with the part about _Watchmen_ being too dark but I do agree it’s a bad first book in the superhero genre. It’s a meta-work - it’s about the superhero genre. If you don’t go into it already knowing the genre, you’re going to miss a lot of the point. Of course, this was a lot truer back in the eighties. Nowadays, most superhero comic books start out in the post-Moore post-Miller world. _Watchmen_ and _The Dark Knight Returns_\* are now just the origins of what’s become the new standard. \*And _Elementals_. I’ve always said Bill Willingham doesn’t get the credit he deserves. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/78 "2012-07-19T04:37:54Z")
Hey, Willingham is clever, crazy, \*and \*American. He’s _our_ nutjob horror writer. Well, him and Joe R. Lansdale. Take that, limeys! ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/79 "2012-07-19T14:59:32Z")
If you like Batman and dystopias, you really can’t go wrong with one of the classics: “The Dark Knight Returns” by Frank Miller. (But by all means avoid the sequel “The Dark Knight Strikes Again”) And I would be remiss in my duties as #1 Maxx-head if I didn’t recommend **The Maxx** by Sam Kieth. A trippy, surrealist, psychological spin on the super-hero genre, with gorgeous art. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407/80 "2012-07-19T15:06:51Z")
As much as I like to support my local comic shop when I find a good one, if price is an issue, you can often get TPB’s for 50% or less than cover price on amazon, ebay, etc. (sometimes used, sometimes even new). I recently bought 6 Buffy TPB’s, new, from an amazon seller for a total of $50. (the last 2 of “season 8,” which list at $17 each and 4 of the Omnibuses, which list at $25 each) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-have-any-clue-where-to-start-on-comic-books/628407.md?page=5)