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[Synbios459]

I particularly want the Superman and Batman ones, however I know that they've been making comics for those respective characters forever so for someone like me who has never collected them before, is it even worth it to try to get into them? And if so, where on earth should I start?

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

Don't do it!

Maybe pick up a graphic novel that interests you every now and then. Go to Borders, read through a few pages - buy the one you like. Not to mention I believe they still have that Buy X, Get Y free sale running on Graphic Novels.

Attempting to stick with the ebb and flow of the American comic market's creative lulls will surely kill your interest.

 

[Gattsu25]

Yes. Especially the black and white ones from Japan :b

 

[Biff Hardbody]

I particularly want the Superman and Batman ones, however I know that they've been making comics for those respective characters forever so for someone like me who has never collected them before, is it even worth it to try to get into them? And if so, where on earth should I start?

I just got back into comics. Yes, its worth it to get into them. I don't read Super-Man or Batman, but I buy allot of Batman trades. I'll throw out some suggestions. They may not be for everybody, but these are my current faves.

Batman trades-

Killing Joke
Dark Knight Returns
Dark Victory
Long Halloween

There's also a new Batman series coming out soon, which will probably be pretty good. All Star Batman I think its called.

Punisher MAX series-

They just started a new arc with the newest issue, and it looks like a doozy. If you are interested in the character of The Punisher, the MAX series takes it into some of its best work. Check out the trade "Born" to get a feel for the gritiness that is MAX Punisher. If you like it, go for the newest issue and get the trade of "In the beginning".

Spider-Man/Human Torch

This is my favorite series today, to bad its limited. It takes Spidey back to his roots, him at his best imo. Its got good humor, nice artwork, and fun stories. Everything a comic should be.

Marvel Team Up

This is another fun series. You'll get a good feel for all the players in the marvel universe.

Incredible Hulk
Some say its slow, but I've really enjoyed the last couple issues. Hulk is a really cool, interesting character who I stayed away from for to long. He's worth getting into.

Conan

This owns. Get the trade that just came out. Then snag the back issues that you can.

I'd write more, but I'm sick. Also check out the Sin City books for some good stories.

 

[weehomer]

My addiction ended yesterday.
The comic book store I went to each week is now gone.

 

[tralfazz]

I'm more interested in Batman comics. I've picked up Dark Night 1 & 2 GN and plan on getting Hush and Long Halloween. Any other gotta haves? I love the edgy Bat stuff. I'd love to see a series of him taking on the Justice League that I have seen posts about. Any info on that would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Spike Spiegel]

A deadly new foe is unmasked in Batman #638

Batman at odds with the Justice League starting in JLA #115

Batman's paranoia tears the JLA apart

 

[Drensch]

My addiction ended yesterday. The comic book store I went to each week is now gone.

Happened to me too, in 1997. Haven't really bought much since. Games are actually cheaper.

 

[MoxManiac]

Volume 1 of the complete X-Men Age of Apocalyspse saga is out! Buy buy buy!

I haven't read the new AoA books that came out recently, though I did pick them up. Hope they are good.

 

[DaveH]

Is it even worth it to try to get into them?

I'm going to say, "No." if only because they've become an obession of mine that is taking up entirely too much of my time, money, thoughts, and life.

 

[Ford Prefect]

I've never understood the appeal of comic books.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

i tried getting back into comics a few years ago, but just couldn't wrap my head around paying $3 for something that takes like 2 minutes to read, and then having to wait another month just to get the next chapter. I wish comics in their current format would die and writers/authors just did graphic novel type works.

 

[nomoment]

I'm going to say "yes," but I don't even know if there's a point, anymore.

Everytime someone starts one of these threads, there's either twenty manga fanbitches damning the state of comics, or TToB running his mouth about how "things were better when I was 16" (which was around 1970).

Comics are good. This isn't the 90s.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

I'm going to say "yes," but I don't even know if there's a point, anymore.

Everytime someone starts one of these threads, there's either twenty manga fanbitches damning the state of comics, or TToB running his mouth about how "things were better when I was 16" (which was around 1970).

Comics are good. This isn't the 90s.

Liefeld, bitch. Liefeld.

 

[J2 Cool]

Watchmen
Batman DKR
Batman Year One

Go, now!

 

[FortNinety]

Fuck the haters. I can't think of a better time to be a comics fan. There's something for everybody.

And buying individual comics is expensive, I know, but sometimes you have to, in order to show your support. And in today's comic economy, every penny counts and says something.

 

[Shig]

It should be noted that any worthwhile comic shop has a way to get discounts of 20% or more on your books, usually by setting up a weekly/monthly pull box. This helps enormously with costs.

 

[Tamanon]

Personally, I just started getting into comics, used to read the old Transformers ones all the time. Long Halloween is great for Batman. As far as the Batman vs. JLA, you MUST read Tower of Babel, what a great TPB for Justice League Or just start reading the OMAC Project mini that's coming out this month I'm thinking.

I've also been surprised by how great Green Lantern Rebirth has been, considering I never really paid much attention to GL before.

 

[borghe]

My addiction ended yesterday.
The comic book store I went to each week is now gone.

where did you go?

as to the question at hand... now is as good a time as any to get into comics. there are great comics coming out now, great collections in trades, and the market is arguably as healthy and diverse as it has ever been. there are plenty of titles for almost every taste, and plenty of titles to read for any single given taste.

the only sticking part is that comics are pretty damn expensive now. $3 a pop. if money is a concern, or if you are interested in picking up a large number of titles or characters, go with trades.

 

[Tabris]

Quick question. If I wanted to get into Batman through trade books, what are the top 5 I should get? and in what order?

So far I have Batman Year One.

I really enjoyed the style of writing but don't like the artstyle as much.

I don't want like lame TV batman or early batman. I want either one like year one, or one similar to tim burton's batman. Just darker.

 

[borghe]

Quick question. If I wanted to get into Batman through trade books, what are the top 5 I should get? and in what order?

So far I have Batman Year One.

I really enjoyed the style of writing but don't like the artstyle as much.

I don't want like lame TV batman or early batman. I want either one like year one, or one similar to tim burton's batman. Just darker.

dark knight returns, knightfall (I enjoyed it), Long Halloween, Killing Joke, Dark Victory, Son of the Demon, Child of Dreams (just excellent, manga), The Cult, Batman in the 70's, Batman in the 80's.... umm those should get you started.

edit - if you wanted me me to order them... hmmmm
Dark Knight Returns
Killing Joke
Child of Dreams
Son of the Demon
Long Halloween
Batman in the 70's
Batman in the 80's
The Cult
Knightfall

 

[Tabris]

That's quite a bit.

I think the thing I dislike about comics so much is they have like a billion different writers and artists work on batman, spiderman, superman instead of letting them do their own original works.

I wish comics were more like TV. Writer/Artist no longer want to work on it? well end it with a series finale and then close that series forever. Maybe do some side stories, but none of this re-doing, re-imagining, re-mixing, continuations they do in comics now.

Like I would really like to get into batman, but I know the next tradebook won't have the same kind of writing and style as the last one. So it almost seems pointless to get into it.

 

[borghe]

That's quite a bit.

I think the thing I dislike about comics so much is they have like a billion different writers and artists work on batman, spiderman, superman instead of letting them do their own original works.

I wish comics were more like TV. Writer/Artist no longer want to work on it? well end it with a series finale and then close that series forever. Maybe do some side stories, but none of this re-doing, re-imagining, re-mixing, continuations they do in comics now.

Like I would really like to get into batman, but I know the next tradebook won't have the same kind of writing and style as the last one. So it almost seems pointless to get into it.

hmm.. you are taking the wrong approach to it I think. Don't think of it as one character with only a single series and single continuity running.. you actually really sound like you are a prime candidate for trades.

first, you will never read all of batman. It is just impossible. The character has been running now for almost 70 years. That being said, you don't NEED to read all of batman. Is it really going to kill you if you didn't know that batman beat joker one time at the toy store to stop such and such a nefarious plot? No, probably not. Actually you probably know most of what there is to know about Batman in the broad sense. He was a child born of two billionaires, his parents were gunned down by a bad guy, he now fights crime to avenge their memory. Everything else is fluff. And that fluff is what makes the comics and stories and continuity.

At that point all that matters is reading about the characters and being entertained by the stories. Eventually you will have favorite writers/artists for a character, and that will develop into following those artists and writers to other characters and other books, etc.

The great thing about (good) comics is that you can usually jump in anywhere (story arc-wise that is). and you can read them out of order. So you read Dark Knight Returns, then read Child of Dreams, the the Cult, then some stories from the 70's, or maybe some stories from the 40's (you would probably like those also), etc.

What I seriously recommend, is just start ordering graphic novels. Seriously. You will enjoy them. Don't worry about starting the character from scratch. It is pretty much impossible and there is no real reason to do it. I don't think it will be anymore satisfying to read every batman story in existence in order of release (or chronology) than it will to read the best stories in the order that you just come across them.

and trust me.. I have been reading comics for almost 20 years..

 

[Tabris]

Yeah, I think I see my problem. I'm hoping to get into batman thinking it's a series, when infact, comics have become more like a bunch of short stories with the same setting, general characters and background.

Hmm. Well I'll start with Dark Knight Returns cause I think that's by the same guy as Year One. (Frank Miller I believe)

Any recommendations on any other comic series?

Ooohhh, I also have Astonishing X-Men: Gifted cause Joss Whedon did it. I really liked the dialogue, and the art style was pretty cool, but the characters were kind of weak and it had a lot of wtf moments (like some alien dragon? wtf?)