Beginner's Guide to Comics: DC Universe

[BreakABone]

I know I've attempted this before, and I know it won't change many people's opinions, but I'm bored and just saw Kick-Ass.
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"Where do I begin?"

This is a question that a lot of people face when it comes to reading comics. Now the easiest place to start is elsewhere. Comic book characters are everywhere these days. Movies, TV shows, cartoons, video games. I think its the best way to get to know a character (s) and can help jump-start your comic reading.

Now once you have characters/stories or a universe you are interested in, then comes the hard part.

And that's what I (and others) are here for. This series will first start on the big events that the two major companies put out, and then will focus on reading individual characters.

First up is Crisis on Infinite Earth

Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series (identified as a "12-part maxi-series") and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then-50-year-old continuity.[1] The series was written by Marv Wolfman, and illustrated by George Pérez (pencils/layouts), with Mike DeCarlo, Dick Giordano, and Jerry Ordway (who shared inking/embellishing chores). The series removed the concept of the Multiverse in the fictional DC Universe, and depicted the deaths of such long-standing superheroes as Supergirl and the Barry Allen incarnation of the Flash.

The title of the series was inspired by earlier crossover stories involving the multiple parallel Earths of the Multiverse, such as "Crisis on Earth-Two" and "Crisis on Earth-Three," but instead of lasting two to five issues and involving members from many superhero teams from many parallel worlds, it involved virtually every significant character from every parallel universe in DC's history.

Now many of us aren't old enough to have been reading comics before the event. But from what I gathered, the DCU was pretty messed up with alternate/parallel worlds, different characterizations. It was pretty hard to keep track of what was in continuity and what wasn't.

This series was commissioned to pretty much wipe the slate clean.

Crisis was originally conceived to be a celebration of DC's 50th anniversary; however, Marv Wolfman and Len Wein saw it as a chance to clean up DC's rather convoluted continuity (which was thought to have put many new readers off buying DC titles) that had built up over that time. The term "Crisis" was a word used frequently in DC Comics of the time, as it denoted an inter-dimensional crossover, such as the yearly Justice League/Justice Society crossovers that began with "Crisis on Earth-Two".

Okay, that wasn't entirely true I guess.

The series did serve to clean-up the DC Universe though, which helps in making it the perfect starting point for any new reader. As everything before it is made irrelevant (unless you are Grant Morrison and Geoff Johns).


Next Up: Zero Hour

[incredibledave]

Even though the DCU has a rich history the best series will give you enough information to understand and appreciate whats going on. Except maybe event comics (like Crisis on Infinite Earths) which bring together tonnes of heroes which really more on the reader having a knowledge of the DCU

[BreakABone]

Oh and while not perfectly legal, for those who want to check it out

http://www.htmlcomics.com/html.asp?S...Earths&Alpha=C

Don't even need to download anything.

[Teuthida]

I don't know... If I never read any DC and someone handed me Crisis on Infinite Earths I'd probably run off to Marvel with my tail between my legs. Your beloved JLU is probably the best intro to the universe. From there I think 52 might be a better route for handling a lot of characters. Identity Crisis along with all the miniseries that led up to Infinite Crisis would also be good. That's how I got into DC. Then again I never read the first Crisis. It scared me off.

[BreakABone]

Originally Posted by Teuthida

I don't know... If I never read any DC and someone handed me Crisis on Infinite Earths I'd probably run off to Marvel with my tail between my legs. Your beloved JLU is probably the best intro to the universe. From there I think 52 might be a better route for handling a lot of characters. Identity Crisis along with all the miniseries that led up to Infinite Crisis would also be good. That's how I got into DC. Then again I never read the first Crisis. It scared me off.

I've actually never read Crisis on Infinite Earth either, it does scare me, but IF you wanted a starting point, this is as good a place as any.

And I said that cartoons/movies/tv shows are probably best place to jump in, but this is about what you do when you want to start reading comics.

[Zen]

Originally Posted by BreakABone

Oh and while not perfectly legal, for those who want to check it out

http://www.htmlcomics.com/html.asp?S...Earths&Alpha=C

Don't even need to download anything.

BaB I love you, been looking for a site like this for years.

[Ginkasa]

Originally Posted by Zen

BaB I love you, been looking for a site like this for years.

Double the love.


Also, I don't think trying to jump into the entire DCU at once, particularly with one of the crises, would be best the do it whether Infinite Earths or Identity or Final or whatever.

I think someone knew should just start with one character; their favorite. Anybody actually interested in jumping in will have a favorite character (probably Batman or Superman, but it would be Green Lantern or Wonder Woman or even someone more obscure). They could then expand with that character's history and explore other venues of the DCU just by stretching out. It wouldn't take too long until they meet another character through a crossover ro whatever that they feel is interesting.

[BreakABone]

If I knew it was that easy to get love on this site...

I now think, it would have been easier for me to start a thread like this and just post the link. Haha

[Ginkasa]

The love was short-lived.