Comic Books For Beginners
allthatyouwant
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Okay after watching the entire box set of The Big Bang Theory I have the sudden urge to start collecting comic books! Anyway as a total beginner does anyone have any suggestions where to begin?
I love Batman (especially the Christopher Nolan ones) and I like Superman (if they even exist)
Many Thanks in advance!
I love Batman (especially the Christopher Nolan ones) and I like Superman (if they even exist)
Many Thanks in advance!
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To varying degrees the Nolan movies draw from - Batman: Year One. Batman: Year Two, The Long Halloween, The Man Who Falls, The Man Who Laughs, The Killing Joke, Knightfall, No Man's Land.
Obviously the early stories featuring R'as Al Ghul and Talia inspired Nolan which are collected in a number of trades such as Tales of the Demon. The Dark Knight Returns is also a big inspiration on the look of the movies as well as the tone, not to mention it's considered to be one of..if not the best Batman story (although I personaly find it a tad overrated).
Beyond that I'd recommend A Death In The Family which adhas zero influence on the movie but has always been one of my favourites. Also depending on how realistic you like your Batman you might want to check Grant Morisson's Batman & Robin.
For Superman I'd say Superman: Secret Origin is probably the definitive origin story for him which restored a lot of the silver age elements that the 80s rebooted origin The Man of Steel (which is also a valid take on the character) got rid of.
Allstar Superman is considered by many to the best Superman story. You've also got Panic in the Sky, Brainiac and the current run of Action Comics is good as a return to the Golden Age tropes of a badass Superman just starting out, the first ac is collected under the name Superman and the Men of Steel.
The Ultimates is pretty good, it's a modern day and "realistic" (cough) take on the Avengers, it's a post 9/11 world with people scared of terrorists and mutants.
It can be cheesy but is a lot of fun, violent, sexy and over the top.
Beyond that I'd recommend so non brand comics such as Scott Pilgrim a story about love, magic, your twenties and butt kickery
Sin CIty a dark and gritty noir crime thriller that focuses on one shot, self contained stories in a city infested with crime.
Wanted a what if story that draws inspiration from both Marvel and DC, the basic plot is what if the good guys lost and the bad guys won. Tongue in cheek tale about a guy who discovers he is the son of a famous criminal.
Also much love for Scott Pilgrim and Runaways.
pop-culture works for newcomers. They have ones for Marvel's Avengers:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/love-the-avengers-movie-heres-where-to-start-readi,73461/
Batman:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/as-the-dark-knight-movie-trilogy-concludes-heres-w,82640/
Spiderman:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/as-the-spiderman-film-franchise-reboots-heres-wher,82100/
and the non-superhero comic, Love and Rockets :
http://www.avclub.com/articles/love-and-rockets,30774/
Single issue are more collectible and have 2nd hand value. An issue number 1, a character's first appearance or a death usually means that particular issue is worth more. Rare, Individual issues can sell for thousands, new issues cost about £2.50. Though don't get into it expecting to build up some great nest-egg for the future - most of the genuinely rare and expensive issues are from 40's through to the 80's.
Trade Paperbacks are collected volumes, often with around 6 issues worth of content - often focussed on one particular story-arc. They tend to be priced around £10 (hardback versions are also available but they cost more). In practice, places like Amazon often sell them for considerably less (you can pick a lot of them up for around £7). Unlike individual issues, these collected volumes have very little second hand value.
The third option is digital. If it was a year ago, I'd have said wait and see, but now the publishers have moved to having all their content available digitally on the same day as print. If you have a decent tablet device, this is a very viable option. It's convenient and saves a lot of storage space! The only downside is the price - currently digital issues cost the same as print. Meanwhile many print issues carry codes that let you download the digital version for free. So really, the print copy does give you better value for money.
I personally go the digital route now, though I used to collect single issue (mainly during the 90's) and then moved onto Trade Paperbacks, and then finally digital (I went fully digital in March of this year).
Anyway, I mainly read Marvel ,so here are a few good choices to get into some of the key Marvel characters. These are links to the Trade Paperback versions on Amazon, but I've also listed the individual issues contained within:
Avengers (New Avengers, Vol 1 #1-6)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Avengers-Breakout-TPB-v/dp/0785114793/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349781275&sr=1-1
Spider-Man (Amazing Spider-Man, Vol 1 #648-662)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spider-Man-Big-Time-Ultimate-Collection/dp/0785162178/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349781129&sr=1-1
X-Men (Astonishing X-Men. Vo 1 #1-6)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Astonishing-X-Men-Gifted-John-Cassaday/dp/0785115315/ref=sr_1_2_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349781164&sr=1-2
Daredevil (Daredevil, Vol 3 #1-6)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daredevil-Mark-Waid-Devil-Inside/dp/0785152385/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349781226&sr=1-1
nothing beyond 1982 is or will be worth massive money in the future with the possible exceptions of a few key issues