Getting into Comics

[Thurman Merman]

Hello, I've long considered getting into comic books(particularly Marvel). What has roadblocked me so far is that I'm worried I will never be able to catch up or know the back story when I start reading. What I'm asking is:

1) How would I break into reading comics
2) I'm from a rural town with no newspaper stands or anything of that kind, where would i purchase them?
3) Any recommendations? (I'm looking into reading Captain America, S.H.I.E.L.D., and X-Men)

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

Well, I'm no expert on U.S. comics (I only just started getting into those) but from I saw, most do a fairly good job of NOT requiring the viewer to know an insane amount of backstory to understand what's going on. Not to mention there are a lot of stand-alone issues that pretty much don't require you to know anything of the character's universe.

Again, no expert on how it works in the U.S., but I assume you can find a lot of comics at libraries and bookstores (heck, if anything, you can find complete editions, lovingly hardbacked and all).

I humbly suggest Transmetropolitan and The Walking Dead. Very awesome in very different ways.

[B'Cup x]

Order several of the essential series from somewhere like Amazon. each book contains approx 25 issues of a series and most marvel titles are covered. Theyre not the best quality (black and white on very cheap paper) but they are a very cheap way of catching up on the history of the characers and stories with out having to spend a long time tracking down issues.

This method got me into the X-men with little confusion, which is somewhat of an achievement when you look into all the convultated storylines and backstories associated with those titles x

[Legion]

Depends really.

If you want to know the ins and outs of every character, then go back and do as suggested, pick up the Essentials collections for characters you're interested in.

Alternatively, look for some lists online of 'essential trades' for certain characters and just buy them.

In terms of picking up and starting reading at the moment, the best thing to do is to go to a website like say, www.comiclist.com/index.html and look at some of the previews. When it says a new arc is starting, pick the book up/order it.

You can use the bolurb at the front of the book and wiki to look up characters/references you dont get.

For SHIELD, there isnt really a series at the moment, but you could certainly pick up the Secret Warriors trades as they come out as they feature Nick Fury alot. For Captain America, I'd wait for Fear Itself to conclude and Steve to go back in the suit then jump on board and for X-Men, I'd wait until next month and start with the Schism arc that is coming up, as that is going to 'change the face of the X universe.'

Never be afraid to ask, either with a new thread like this, or come into the comics thread and ask in there!

[Thurman Merman]

Thanks guys! I have purchased the first two essentials for Captain America off of Amazon and have checked out the website Legion suggested.

[Dub H]

you could always check www.marvel.wikia.com

its what i'm doing,i'm on the same boat as you,i'm probaly going to buy some Iron Man and something new from Spiderman or somehting with Taskmaster or Deadpool.

[AFN: Judge Shred]

May 30, 2011 19:33:56 GMT -5 Dub H said:

you could always check www.marvel.wikia.com

its what i'm doing,i'm on the same boat as you,i'm probaly going to buy some Iron Man and something new from Spiderman or somehting with Taskmaster or Deadpool.

The recent Taskmaster mini was fantastic.

Deadpool, just start with classics volume 1 and work forward.


For the TC, if you want SHIELD, try "Secret Warrirors" it is Nick Fury at his Nick Furiest.

[Dub H]

May 30, 2011 21:22:12 GMT -5 AFN: Judge Shred said:

May 30, 2011 19:33:56 GMT -5 Dub H said:

you could always check www.marvel.wikia.com

its what i'm doing,i'm on the same boat as you,i'm probaly going to buy some Iron Man and something new from Spiderman or somehting with Taskmaster or Deadpool.

The recent Taskmaster mini was fantastic.

Deadpool, just start with classics volume 1 and work forward.


For the TC, if you want SHIELD, try "Secret Warrirors" it is Nick Fury at his Nick Furiest.

I only have one place on my city that sells alot of Comics,i will check out if they have taskmaster mini and /or any Deadpool comic,thanks

[Son of Abyss]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_events_of_the_Marvel_Universe

Start with some the trades from the events listed here