Books Necessary to Understanding the DCU

[Matt O'Keefe]

I've been a Marvel zombie for years, but only in the past year have I gotten into DC Comics. I know the basics, but what trades can I buy to understand the DC Universe better? It gets tough to know the answer with all the stupid reboots.

[Olivier E.]

the COIE trade is enough

[Generic Poster]

I've been a Marvel zombie for years, but only in the past year have I gotten into DC Comics. I know the basics, but what trades can I buy to understand the DC Universe better? It gets tough to know the answer with all the stupid reboots.

No one understands the DC universe now. Best just to focus on characters you like and sort out the details as needed.

[Howlett]

No one understands the DC universe now. Best just to focus on characters you like and sort out the details as needed.

Yeah, and know this. Just when you figure it all out, they're be a Crisis and everything will change again so you'll be right back at step one.

Best to just read and hope for the best.

Or, y'know, read Vertigo instead :lol:

[J. R. Scherer]

No one understands the DC universe now. Best just to focus on characters you like and sort out the details as needed.

Same with any superhero universe, really.

You dig street level stuff like Daredevil or Captain America then try some Batman books. You dig team books like X-Men or Avengers, then Teen Titans, JLA, or JSA might be up your alley. Just depends on what kind of superheroes you dig. If you like a certain book then it's easy enough to go back and find out more about it later.

[J. R. Scherer]

Yeah, and know this. Just when you figure it all out, they're be a Crisis and everything will change again so you'll be right back at step one.

Best to just read and hope for the best.

Or, y'know, read Vertigo instead :lol:
Or vice versa, you could get a House of M or just find things that were once considered canon are completely ignored with no explanations whatsoever.

So just read and hope for the best.

Or, y'know, read MAX and ICON instead. :lol:



;)

[Howlett]

Or vice versa, you could get a House of M or just find things that were once considered canon are completely ignored with no explanations whatsoever.

So just read and hope for the best.

Or, y'know, read MAX and ICON instead. :lol:



;)

What was ignored with no explanation in HoM? I don't remember anything being ignored (course it's been a while since I read it).

[J. R. Scherer]

What was ignored with no explanation in HoM? I don't remember anything being ignored (course it's been a while since I read it).

No, no, no... House of M was a 'reboot' of sorts for the Marvel U, similar to DC's Crisis books. While it didn't wipe out what came before it, it still changed the status quo for a lot of things and the end result was pretty much the same as for DC's books. As for the latter, I simply meant the general lack of regard for continuity in many, many Marvel books.

[Howlett]

No, no, no... House of M was a 'reboot' of sorts for the Marvel U, similar to DC's Crisis books. While it didn't wipe out what came before it, it still changed the status quo for a lot of things and the end result was pretty much the same as for DC's books. As for the latter, I simply meant the general lack of regard for continuity in many, many Marvel books.

Hmm.... not sure I agree.

Crisis seemed to erase a lot of continuity, or change things to fit in with movies or whatever (I'm judging this by what I've read now and with long time fans so I could obviously be mistaken in some regards).

Hom set a new status quo, but kept the past the same. I honestly don't remember any "history" being changed or ignored, unlike Crisis.

Could be completely wrong though. I have so much on my mind right this instant that I'm not sure I can remember most of what I know as fact if I tried :surrend:

[Deej]

I really don't think the DCU is very hard to understand. I think with a lot of the titles out there now, they're all great jumping on points. You can easily buy Superman or Batman or any other DC title and follow along. Just don't try digging too far in the past..that's when things get screwed up.

[Mister Mets]

The DC Comics Encyclopedia is probably your best best.
The biggest problem you may have with some comics is figuring out who the hell some of the more obscure characters are, and that'll really help you out.

Beyond that, just keep reading the DC books you like to read.

[Mighty Clintro]

I really don't think the DCU is very hard to understand. I think with a lot of the titles out there now, they're all great jumping on points. You can easily buy Superman or Batman or any other DC title and follow along. Just don't try digging too far in the past..that's when things get screwed up.

I agree. I felt a little lost about stuff after I switched from being hardcore Marvelite to a DC junkie. I picked up the JSA trades and they seemed to shine light on a lot of the older characters and the stories were kick ass as well.

Also should I feel like an outsider here on these boards when I'm not Pro Marvel at the moment?

[Ben]

the COIE trade is enoughWhat trades are necessary to understand COIE? I read it and had very little idea what was going on.

[Yannick_B]

There arent that many.
A lot of people over-complicate things though, its like, if they know there's years and years of continuity behind something, they suddenly block it out.

A book like New Frontier is excellent, showing the DC Silver Age through the modern lenses--its a great story but what is really cool about it is that you get the characters down to their essence--characters often get rebooted or changed, but they always go back to that core eventually.

Another cool thing is from the 52 website:
http://www.dccomics.com/sites/52/?action=specials
they print the backups from the 52 series. There's an history of the DCU that is a bit hard to swallow (but its not that important, IMHO) but they have pretty kick-ass 2-pages origins/recaps of their most important characters (adding one each week or so).

[Matt O'Keefe]

What I mean is are there any books where I can understand certain characters' backrounds, villians, etc. like Superman: Birthright and Batma: Year One. I'm enjoying Meltzer's JLA, but I'd like it more if I knew more about these B-list villians popping up and some heroes like Black Lightning, Red Tornada and Mr. Terrific (stupidest name in comics IMO)

I want to get involved in the DCU and the characters, but I want to know where I can find their backhistory. Identity Crisis didn't reboot everything, there's still a lot before it that matters and I want to learn.

[Generic Poster]

What I mean is are there any books where I can understand certain characters' backrounds, villians, etc. like Superman: Birthright and Batma: Year One. I'm enjoying Meltzer's JLA, but I'd like it more if I knew more about these B-list villians popping up and some heroes like Black Lightning, Red Tornada and Mr. Terrific (stupidest name in comics IMO)

I want to get involved in the DCU and the characters, but I want to know where I can find their backhistory. Identity Crisis didn't reboot everything, there's still a lot before it that matters and I want to learn.

Well, for Red Tornado's background, check out Volume 3 (I think - someone correct me if I'm wrong) of the Crisis on Multiple Earths TPBs (these are the collections of JLA/JSA teamups).

Johns' JSA will give you the background on the current Mr. Terrific (who originally appeared in the Ostander/Mandrake Spectre series.

The Showcase: JLA volume will give you the background on a lot of the B-listers showing up in Meltzer's JLA (I think - I couldn't make it past the first issue).

The DCU encylopedia is a good bet as well.

Hope that helps.

[modungo]

What I mean is are there any books where I can understand certain characters' backrounds, villians, etc. like Superman: Birthright and Batma: Year One. I'm enjoying Meltzer's JLA, but I'd like it more if I knew more about these B-list villians popping up and some heroes like Black Lightning, Red Tornada and Mr. Terrific (stupidest name in comics IMO)

I want to get involved in the DCU and the characters, but I want to know where I can find their backhistory. Identity Crisis didn't reboot everything, there's still a lot before it that matters and I want to learn.
Books that spolight the larger DCU:
Geoff Johns' JSA, Flash, Green Lantern & Teen Titans
Mark Waid's Flash
Giffen's Justice League
Robinson's Starman & Golden Age
If you can find old Who's Who issues they are definitely worth your money.

Also I think someone already said this but New Forntier really will let y'know all the essiential info you need for how all the classic characters tick. And it has the best art ever.

[J. R. Scherer]

What I mean is are there any books where I can understand certain characters' backrounds, villians, etc. like Superman: Birthright and Batma: Year One. I'm enjoying Meltzer's JLA, but I'd like it more if I knew more about these B-list villians popping up and some heroes like Black Lightning, Red Tornada and Mr. Terrific (stupidest name in comics IMO)

I want to get involved in the DCU and the characters, but I want to know where I can find their backhistory. Identity Crisis didn't reboot everything, there's still a lot before it that matters and I want to learn.

Wikipedia is your friend. Just add the word 'comics' after the name of whatever character it is you're looking up.

[Deej]

What trades are necessary to understand COIE? I read it and had very little idea what was going on.

COIE is really a tough read to get through. I lent the book out to a friend of mine who currently enjoys a few of the DCU titles. This was months ago...he just can't seem to get into it.

[SteveZegers]

Just this one:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v448/SteveZ/adventure21.jpg

It explains everything you need to know.

[xyzzy]

COIE is really a tough read to get through. I lent the book out to a friend of mine who currently enjoys a few of the DCU titles. This was months ago...he just can't seem to get into it.

In my opinion, it's a terrible book.

Now, it was a great event. Sure. And if you were reading a ton of DC titles at the time, it was probably fantastic.

But reading it now as someone who only started reading comics a few years ago, it's awful. The narrative is disjointed and incoherent. Characters and even entire storylines pop in and out of the book with no explanation.

I appreciate what it did, but unless you're really invested in the DCU, I don't think it's a very good read.

[Dreg]

I agree. I felt a little lost about stuff after I switched from being hardcore Marvelite to a DC junkie. I picked up the JSA trades and they seemed to shine light on a lot of the older characters and the stories were kick ass as well.

Also should I feel like an outsider here on these boards when I'm not Pro Marvel at the moment?


Eh, you appear to be pro-Wally West, and I consider him to be a Marvel character at heart. More human than iconic, I mean.

[SteveZegers]

I agree. I felt a little lost about stuff after I switched from being hardcore Marvelite to a DC junkie. I picked up the JSA trades and they seemed to shine light on a lot of the older characters and the stories were kick ass as well.

Also should I feel like an outsider here on these boards when I'm not Pro Marvel at the moment?

There are a few of us here.

[Kefky]

I find it hilarious that if someone asked me to explain Superman's comic-book origin right now, I'd have no idea what to say.

[Mighty Clintro]

There are a few of us here.

Glad to know I dont stand alone.

[J. R. Scherer]

I find it hilarious that if someone asked me to explain Superman's comic-book origin right now, I'd have no idea what to say.

He's an alien from the planet Krypton.

DUH.

[J. R. Scherer]

In my opinion, it's a terrible book.

Now, it was a great event. Sure. And if you were reading a ton of DC titles at the time, it was probably fantastic.

But reading it now as someone who only started reading comics a few years ago, it's awful. The narrative is disjointed and incoherent. Characters and even entire storylines pop in and out of the book with no explanation.

I appreciate what it did, but unless you're really invested in the DCU, I don't think it's a very good read.

I'd have to agree with that. Crisis On Infinite Earths has some really cool and important moments, but that's it.

[Yannick_B]

I find it hilarious that if someone asked me to explain Superman's comic-book origin right now, I'd have no idea what to say.

Its pretty much the same it has been since 1938 though.

[ThisSpaceForRent]

the COIE trade is enough

Yes. Definitely. It's just a pain in the ass tracking down the 40 years of back issues necessary for COIE to make sense.

[dEnny!]

What trades are necessary to understand COIE? I read it and had very little idea what was going on.

I read COIE and had to think what the heck you guys were talking about, now think about someone who never read DC Comics.

CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS

[dEnny!]

I agree. I felt a little lost about stuff after I switched from being hardcore Marvelite to a DC junkie. I picked up the JSA trades and they seemed to shine light on a lot of the older characters and the stories were kick ass as well.

Also should I feel like an outsider here on these boards when I'm not Pro Marvel at the moment?

Not at all, everyone is welcome on this board.

[Billie]

don't consider backtracking too much with DC,you'll get lost fast in all the continuity/crisis rules

i've read the article on COIE on Wiki like 5 times and still don't understand it and why all these multiverses are necessary

jumping on with a character you like is your best bet

Recommended trades of solo characters for noobs(I was a DC noob starting this past summer):

Batman Year One
Batman Long Halloween
Batman Dark Victory
Batman Dark Knight Returns
Superman Red Son
Superman Birthright
Superman Secret Identity
Superman For All Seasons
Green Arrow Quiver
Green Arrow Sounds of Violence
Green Arrow Archer's Quest
Green Lantern Rebirth

Great stories with large casts that have nothing to do with multiple earths or any of that:
JLA Year One
Kingdom Come
Golden Age
DC The New Frontier