DC Hardcover Collected Editions Part 3

[Balakin]

No, it's not gonna be (much) readable without any prior knowledge on the DCU IMHO. That's not a knock on Grant at all, I love Grant, but no...his stuff does tend to work off of prior DCU stuff. And Grant tends to mine some obscure prior DC material too. And The Multiversity works from prior Morrison stories like Final Crisis, etc.

I just don't think Grant wrote it with very new readers in mind so much. But rather longer time readers.

yeah, unfortunately I agree. You can probably enjoy some parts because it consists of multiple one shots with an ongoing subplot, but as a whole you gonna be lost at certain points.
That's the only thing I don't like with Morrison's DC stuff from recent years, you can't just pick up a book and enjoy it without 30 others. If you are into his writing it is very rewarding but also time and money consuming. Even his n52 Action comics didn't feel like an introduction to new readers and that was the intended purpose of the whole book!

[SkyMason21]

Hi Guys,

Is The Multiversity readable without any prior knowledge on the DCU?

I see on wikipedia/solicitations that the deluxe version contains a guidebook which explains the basic events on the different earths.

Thanks!

Yes and no. I've only been reading american comics for a year (4 months or so when Multiversity started) and I enjoyed it a lot. Plenty was lost on me, most of Pax Americana and a good amount of the meta stuff that Morrison does. But I can still say without those I really still liked almost every issue. The guidebook is half story and half filling out info for the New 52 local multiverse.

[JBatmanFan05]

That's the only thing I don't like with Morrison's DC stuff from recent years, you can't just pick up a book and enjoy it without 30 others. If you are into his writing it is very rewarding but also time and money consuming.

I have no problem with that at all. I've read enough Morrison interviews to know that he knows there's different markets (different reader groups in comics) and there's certain writers and books for one fan vs another. And I think Grant is fine saying "I'm writing for this group" (a group/market more into dense material & knows more of prior material) and letting other writers/books cater to brand new fans more (and fans of more conventional material).

I think he has a free market view that every market/group will have material catered to them (so stay true to yourself and don't necessarily try too hard to make something accessible to everyone). Film fans, long term comic readers, new readers, etc.

[Balakin]

I have no problem with that at all. I've read enough Morrison interviews to know that he knows there's different markets (different reader groups in comics) and there's certain writers and books for one fan vs another. And I think Grant is fine saying "I'm writing for this group" (a group/market more into dense material & knows more of prior material) and letting other writers/books cater to brand new fans more (and fans of more conventional material).

I have a problem with this in general, not just in Morrison's case but on the other hand I absolutely love his stuff. It just bugs me a little bit when I can't recommend Batman to a newbie from my favorite writer but that's not a major issue.

[JBatmanFan05]

That all comics should be new reader friendly is a notion that I think is especially outdated. There's a group for whom comics are not new to them, and a group for whom they are new. And I think writers and creators are perfectly free to choose which group they're writing too and should feel no guilt about that. Because the group you're not writing for?...someone else is, so there's something for everyone in a world of supply and demand.

Yes, I can't recommend Grant stories to certain fans, but that's the way it is. Perhaps, if they continue to read more, they can then read some.

[Stargasm]

Thanks for the many replies!

I tend to agree with JBatmanFan05: when you've been reading a certain universe for a long time, it's great to have your mind bent by stuff like Morrison could write. The only issue I have in this case (current state of the DCU) is that, if you want to get up to date, it's nearly impossible but that's another story.

[JBatmanFan05]

Thanks for the many replies!

I tend to agree with JBatmanFan05: when you've been reading a certain universe for a long time, it's great to have your mind bent by stuff like Morrison could write. The only issue I have in this case (current state of the DCU) is that, if you want to get up to date, it's nearly impossible but that's another story.

One thing I'll say more is that you certainly don't have to read all the New 52 comics since 2011 to understand Multiversity (or even much of any). If you know about DC's multiverse whether by reading COIE and/or Infinite Crisis or etc, and if you've read Final Crisis (and probably Watchmen), and are not averse to learning from wikis (and online annotations) perhaps....you can definitely read Multiversity and follow enough. (obviously, the more you know, the more you "get" when it comes to Morrison comics)

[Ari Gold]

I can't speak to Multiversity since I haven't read it yet, but personally I've jumped into books like this (like Final Crisis, COIE, etc.) with little to no knowledge of the DC universe outside of Batman and little here & there. And I generally love them.

I'm sure I don't appreciate them as much as long-time fans, but it usually gives me a reason to look up a bunch of different characters & series that I didn't even know about.

[SJNeal]

Of the new batch, I'm really only interested in the Absolute Green Lantern/Green Arrow. Can anyone comment on the content?

It's classic material, but like anything from the 70's, reads pretty dated. There is still some relevant social commentary, even though O'Neil tends to force-feed it to you.

The art is amazing, for the most part. You can't go wrong with Neal Adams in his prime...

[TomSlick]

It's classic material, but like anything from the 70's, reads pretty dated. There is still some relevant social commentary, even though O'Neil tends to force-feed it to you.

The art is amazing, for the most part. You can't go wrong with Neal Adams in his prime...

I agree but it's like the classic literature. There's certain books/authors all scholars should read, just like there's certain tales all comic fans should read. I've always felt this is one of them.

[SJNeal]

I agree but it's like the classic literature. There's certain books/authors all scholars should read, just like there's certain tales all comic fans should read. I've always felt this is one of them.

Oh, absolutely! O'Neil/Adams GL/GA run is up there with Watchmen, DKR, COIE... examples of the medium at its finest.

[Raffi Ol D'Arcy]

It's classic material, but like anything from the 70's, reads pretty dated. There is still some relevant social commentary, even though O'Neil tends to force-feed it to you.

The art is amazing, for the most part. You can't go wrong with Neal Adams in his prime...

I agree but it's like the classic literature. There's certain books/authors all scholars should read, just like there's certain tales all comic fans should read. I've always felt this is one of them.

Oh, absolutely! O'Neil/Adams GL/GA run is up there with Watchmen, DKR, COIE... examples of the medium at its finest.

Well, if you guys put it like that, I'll definitely be looking to pick it up. Thanks for the info.

[Pertl]

Well, if you guys put it like that, I'll definitely be looking to pick it up. Thanks for the info.

I would have preferred that they continue Green Lantern Vol 2 in a third Omnibus, including the GL/GA part (which actually are GL issues 76 to 89), but I guess they messed up already when making the first two volumes so small.

I agree, it's a classic, but I also agree, it's a little bit dated.

[FlashingSabre]

Do you guys think the current Wonder Woman N52 HCs will eventually be released as an omnibus? I'm thinking of picking up the HCs (w/ the first two being hard to find), but might just wait if there will be an omnibus.

Almost definitly. I'm holding of on getting the second half in trade so I can just get it in OHC. That's what id recommend.

[madhouse]

Not sure if this was posted before, but the new Planetary Omnibus printing has hybrid bindings, better than the first print, which was glued.