October 22nd 2009 - New to Comics?

A lot of people write to me and ask my advice on how to get started in the vast world of comic books. Given the seemingly endless amount of titles, graphic novels, and on-going series that cover the shelves, it is no wonder many newbies find themselves overwhelmed.

Rather than just grabbing piles of choices based on what your friends like, what is most popular, or what has the prettiest cover art...slow down and take some time to approach comic collecting with a clear head and a little bit of know-how.

Here is my advice:

First - figure out what you like - Do you like characters who are basically good people? Or do you like a superhero who has a questionable past and may not always do the right thing? Do you like stories set in cities, small western towns, space, etc?? Do you like the whole Superhero get-up and crazy powers...or do you prefer your Superheroes to be more like normal people?? Do you like classic comic book writing or do you like to see elements of Science Fiction, horror, or Manga in your titles??
Figure out which heroes/series best match your answers and continue from there.

Second - Find maybe three characters or titles who most interest you- Three at the most! Seriously, if you really want to get into comics, start small and branch out as you go. Find two or three titles/characters that possess the qualities that interest you and get to know them really well. Read up on them, find important back issues (www.mycomicshop.com is awesome for back issues!), buy their trades, heck...even check out their online fansites.

Third - Get a pull- Go to your local comic shop and let them know that you are serious about getting into comics and that you would like to start a "pull list". Most shops require so many books on your list before they start pulling titles for you. Just let them know that you are starting out small as you learn the characters but plan to add on very soon. Most stores will let that fly in hopes of getting a good regular customer. Oh! And if you have a favorite character...make a note of it on your pull list. Big Deadpool fan? Well, the man shows up in more than just his own comics and you may not want to miss out on it. If you make a note of it, your shop may catch issues that he appears in that you didn't know about.

Forth - Find a Buddy- Now that you know what you want to read and you are getting regular titles....try to find someone who has been reading that series for awhile. Perhaps a friend of a friend, or someone who works at your comic shop, or an online community friend. Cause as you read, you may find that you don't understand a reference the character makes or know who some of the less important heroes and villains are who make brief appearances.
Now you could keep Wikipedia open as you read in case you stumble into the unknown. But honestly, it is much more fun to talk with someone on a personal level about it and they can give you more insight on the relationships between characters and the importance of events in that series. Plus, debating is fun and is a staple in the comic book reading world!

Fifth - Branch out slowly - Don't be in a rush to learn every character from every series. Comic book collecting is expensive nowadays and with crossover events being thrown at us every few months...it can get pretty confusing! Stick with what you know and when you feel like you have a pretty good understanding of those characters (and a little extra money to spend on Wednesdays), then maybe find another title or two to start collecting.

One more thing to consider: Many of the big comic book publishers keep continuity throughout many of their large titles, this is called a Multiverse. In the Marvel Universe, for example, most of their superhero titles take place on Earth-616. This means that Spiderman, Wolverine, and Captain America can all bump into each other on occasion. The characters are all written to exist on the same planet at the same time period.
I am telling you this because if you are considering reading books that are part of a Multiverse, it might be best to just stick with one company at a time. Trying to start out by reading DC's JLA and Marvel's Avengers at the same time may prove to be quite overwhelming. These large companies are quite fond of Crossover events (arcs that span over several titles) and will hit you with a barrage of new characters.
You may find it easier to just stick with one company's books in the beginning. Learn about the Avengers and all the heroes they frequently deal with before trying to take on a completely new universe.


Does all this seem like a lot of work? Don't worry, it is more fun than it sounds!
Take your time, do your homework, and pretty soon you'll find yourself able to converse with even the most knowledgeable comic book connoisseurs.