Where To Start With DC Comics (2024!)

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I think, for brand new readers, the New 52 is a great starting point along with knowing a brief history of some of the major events like COIE. After reading some new 52 titles then you can either continue into Rebirth or jump right to current runs of series! Love your videos, always so informative and well done.

My advice for jumping into the modern DC Universe: A good place to start would be with the recent Superman 1. A really great jumping-on point for new and old readers alike. There are also new runs of Doom Patrol, Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, Green Arrow, Shazam!, Superboy, Superman (Jonathan Kent), Titans, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Powergirl, Cyborg, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, The Flash, and Batman and Robin- as well as new series like Steelworks and The Penguin. Other good recent beginnings would be with Action Comics 1051 and ESPECIALLY with Dan Mora and Mark Waid’s “Batman/Superman: World’s Finest.” That run will be a classic in a very short amount of time, if it’s not already. Now, most of these series haven’t started yet or JUST started and are only 6-12 issues, making it an easier investment to make. I suggest starting with Superman or Batman/Superman and then picking a character or two you love and go from there. Then, check out books from your local library to fill gaps in knowledge and experience those great, classic stories. That’s how I did it, and it’s been blast so far.😊

Starting with Dawn of the DCU isn't a bad place to start for sure! Pro: So far it's been a pretty accessible debut with Action Comics #1051 being a pretty easy starting point and Lazarus Planet primarily being an accuse to introduce new characters and tease new launching pads. Con: A little too early. With only 11 issues to read, you will read "everything" very quickly, but the first arcs of storylines aren't out yet, and there's still a ton of questions about what is and isn't continuing from Infinite Frontier to Dawn of the DCU (like the Batman Family) If you want to do a little more to read without immediately catching up, Infinite Frontier is another great starting point. Pro: There's a ton of new characters and many Dawn of the DCU storylines foundations are in Infinite Frontier (Robin and Nezha, War World Saga, Nightwing's return to the DCU, and the elevation of characters like Jonathan Kent to new roles). Con: Like Dave said the big "storylines" of the universe: Dark Crisis, War for Earth-3, Fear State, Trial of the Amazons, and Shadow War all really struggled to deliver on the promises of the great stories that built up to them. It's also about transitioning to a new generation rather than continuing with the generation of the movies. If you want stories with heroes that are in the movies, you'll be disappointed by Jonathan Kent being the Superman of Earth, Hal Jordan basically being MIA for the entire 2 years, Aquaman being Jackson Hyde, etc. The stories with the younger heroes are some of the best of Infinite Frontier, but they aren't the DCEU versions. That being said, if you want stories that feel like their isn't a ton of history, then new heroes being the lead characters might work out well for you. Rebirth was where I personally started. It's the most "OG" version of the DCU you will get. Pros: Most of the core movie characters are in roles similar to the DCEU versions. Superman is the primary superman, there is only 1 batman, Aquaman is Arthur Curry, etc. But whatever you do, DON'T read Justice League (2016). Their hasn't been a beloved and impactful Justice League story since New52. Also the new two big characters they added Jonathan Kent and Jessica Cruz have become staples of DC Comics. With both having Animated Movies already telling their stories (Battle of the Supersons and Justice League and the Fatal Five) Con: It started 7 years ago and falls apart after Dark Nights Metal. That being said the first 2 years of Rebirth are some of the most consistent storylines DC ever release. New 52: The last official hard reboot of DC. Everything before New52 "didn't happen" even though most of it was implied to have happened. Pros: The main storylines of Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman have some of the most revered runs of the last 15 years. Cons: There are a lot of rough stories in New52, and a lot of bloat. If you start here, look at CBH's fast track guide to know what to actually read vs. skip. If I were to get into comics today, I would personally start with Infinite Frontier, but there's no 1 incredible answer. 1 Possibility is to transition from Dave's recommendation to read the greatest hits of each hero before diving into modern and/or post-modern comics.

As someone who prefers chronological order so I can get introduced to characters and stories before they show up casually comics is going to be tough to get into

When I was into reading new comics, Rebirth was a great place to start.

As someone that's been getting into comics recently this video is truly amazing, I appreciate the guide!

Thanks for making this! It’s been decades since I read a comic but I’m looking to get back into it. I was a Marvel guy but I’m hearing DC has better writers these days.

you said it all DC Rebirth is definetely the follow up to new 52 i think it is bizarre that it was so many years ago lol new 52 was awesome in some areas

I love that dc actually reboots from time to time. Im a completionist and this is why i have a hard time getting into marvel because they never rebooted so i feel like i need to read it all. I decided to start at the new 52 (technically i started at flashpoint) and im about 400 issues in. I read it as chronologically as possible and it works for me.

I’ve watched every dc movie ever I’ve seen every dc animated show and movie so I’ve always had knowledge to the characters especially from the new 52 dc animated movies so I picked up my first comic run starting out with flashpoint and the new 52 justice league 1-4 volumes. Then had a blast with Batman court of owls and transitioned to deathstroke. Since then I’ve herd we transitioned to rebirth and new frontier but they are only minor reboots so I started reading dark knights metal and then went straight to new frontier just for the sake of continuity but really just read what interest you that’s all that matters for new readers I’d say Start with elseworlds story’s like Batman killing joke or long Halloween shit maybe Batman/superman Batman hush novels that really give you knowledge of character you like

8:25 DC's released some of the very best comic books and novels of all time, absolute facts!

For me, New Teen Titans Rebirth run is the best (the one where Damian is the robin). It gives me nostalgia of Teen Titans cartoon.

I had a weird start. I started with Watchmen, then new 52 (Darkseid War, Final Days of Superman), road to rebirth, and Rebirth! Though crisis on infinite earth interest me I should probably read it

I'm getting into DC by reading all of post crisis batman. As in every comic in the mainline Batman publication all the way from #401 to #713. I just like the idea of having an entire era of a single publication collected and read. And I know it's going to take ages but I think it's worth it. Plus I can always take breaks and read something else as needed. I've been following this path for a while now and so far I'm really enjoying it. That being said, not everyone has my obsession with being a completionist. Ultimately I think it's more a case of what kind of reader you are. Do you want to follow one character or read key stories from a few different characters? Do you care about chronology or are you happy to jump around. Do you mind if you don't understand every reference to other events that you come across? Also how much are you willing to spend? Being obsessive can get pricey very quickly. And how much time do you have to read comics? They key is not to get hung up on the best way to do it and end up doing nothing. But just jump in and try a method and see if it works for you. If not then try something else, but just do it.

DC Comics is the true leader when it comes to being the Supercomics with the major titles loved by comic readers globally. That is why they are way ahead of the "world in 2075!" i.e. the world of comics and for many good reasons, the world of science fiction.

I know not everyone can start at the beginning; but during Covid I started with Fun Comics#1, 1934.

I got back into comics after a decade-plus layoff in the past year. I had never read much if any DC in my earlier fandom, but I read the Fourth World comics recently and they are by far my favorite comics of all time.

I actually started with Crisis on Infinite Earths. It was a great place because I was able to tackle some of the best stories.

Thank you!