I'm a new reader to DC Comics and I don't understand what's happening with the continuity at the moment. Can anyone help me with a good starting point?
I'm a new reader to DC Comics and I don't understand what's happening with the continuity at the moment. Can anyone help me with a good starting point?
DC is changing its timeline again, and I think the best place to start would be the recently-ended Doomsday Clock miniseries to understand how it happened followed by Wonder Woman 750 to see the first major effect of the change.
ConnEr Kent flies. ConnOr Hawke has a bow. Batman's kid is named DamiAn.
To do spoiler tags, use [ spoil ] at the start of the sentence and [ /spoil ] at the end, without the spaces. You're welcome!
Honestly continuity can be confusing and as a lot of people have said they’re currently working on reorganizing it (again). If I had any real advice for you it’d be to just read. If you know you have a character, a team, or even just a creative team that you like then find a trade that you can pick up, preferably the first of the volume, and see how you enjoy it. If you can’t find anything current then read an alternate universe mini-series like Injustice, DCeased, White Knight, and etc. If you don’t want that then go find Omnibuses, collections, or trades of older runs that you may like and read those because those are just as important as anything happening now, I personally have gone back to Pre-Crisis stories and 80’s to early 90’s stories to catch up on characters I liked but wanted to read more about. The main point, find something you will enjoy and just go from there
"It's fun and it's cool, so that's all that matters. It's what comics are for, Duh."
Words to live by.
Like others have said, Doomsday Clock and the upcoming Generation one shots would probably be the best place to jump in, if you're looking to understand the continuity.
Thing is, continuity has always been weird and messed up, and since 2016 it's been even worse, on purpose. Great cosmic shenanigans have broken reality and the books have been dealing with a broken continuity since.
If you want to follow the story of DC's (current) history, you'll want the DC Rebirth Special from 2016, a Batman-Flash team up called The Button, and Doomsday Clock, then the Generation one shots this May. But I recommend not worrying about that and just looking into properties you're interested in. So what characters or creators have your attention?
"We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe."
~ Black Panther.
Hang in there and read this, I hope you'll have a clearer view after:
DC has 4-5 eras :
- 1938-1956 - Golden Age - Superman appears in Action Comics, Batman appears in Detective Comics
- 1956-70's - Silver Age - Introduction of the Comics Code
- 70's-1985 - Bronze Age - Lightening of the Comics Code, and the comming of darker comics
- 1985-now - The Moderne Age - Abolition of the Comics Code and reboot of the DC Univers
- ->1985-2011 - The Crisis Age - Starts of with Crisis on Infinit Earths
- ->2011-2016 - The New 52 - Starts of with Flashpoint event
- ->2016-2019 - DC Rebirth - Starts of with the DC Univers Rebirth event to finish up with the Doomsday Clock event
- ->2019-ongoing - The New Age - Starts with Dark Knights: Metal and Justice League: No Justice.
DC is made of Several major heroes:
Superman
Batman
Wonder Woman
Flash (there has been multiple ones)
Aquaman
Green Arrow
Green Lantern (there has been mutiple ones)
DC has also other great heroes
Shazam! (aka Capitain Marvel)
Martian Manhunter
Plastic Man
Atom
Black Canary
Booster Gold
Cyborg
Nightwing (formerly the first Robin)
Batwoman
Power Girl
...
DC has lesser known heroes that are a bit aside
Animal Man
Swamp Thing
John Constantine
Detective Chimp
The Watchmen
The Metal Men
The Question
Huntress
...
DC heroes have younguer apprentice, and other young heroes
Robin (there has been a few)
Superboy
Aqualad
Supergirl
Beast Boy (aka Chagelling)
Speedy
Starfire
Kid Flash
Raven
Wonder Girl
Batgirl
...
DC has teams with these heroes:
The Justice League
The Justice of America (aka JLA)
The Teen Titans
The Titans
The Justice League Dark
The Suicide Squad (team of vilains forced to do good by the government)
The Green Lantern Corps
...
What to read ?
Well there are different options.
You should read alongside in Chronological order:
-- Comics from the early modern age - 1985-2011
-- Newest series - 2016-onward
-- Main DC events throut time
-- a few oldies that you'd like (some are really worth it)
- The Gold/Silver/Bronze age is reffered as Pre-Crisis.
- The Crisis Age si reffered as Pos-Crisis or Pre-Flashpoint.
- The Flashpoint/Rebirth/New Age ages are reffered as Post-Flashpoint or Flashpoint Age
Here would be the main stories to read:
..continues in post 2..
post 2:
- 1938 - Action Comics #1 - 1st appearance of Superman
- 1939 - Detective Comics #27 - 1st appearance of Batman
- 1940-52 - The Spirit Archives by Will Eisner - Yes from the one of the awards - 26 vol.
- 1959-85 - Flash: The Silver Age - The Flash by Carmine Infantino - 4 vol. followed by 2 omnibus (ongoing)
- 1963-82 - EVENT - Crisis On Multiple Earths - The JSA and JLA through the ages - 6 vol. + 2 team-ups vol.
- 1966-82 - The Steve Ditko Omnibus - Charleston Comics by Steve Ditko: Shade, Hawk & Dove, Legion of Superheroes, Starman, The Outsiders, Specter, Desaad, ... - 2 omnibus
- 1970-73 - The Fourth World by Jack Kirby - Massive Saga with The New Gods, Mister Miracle, The Forever People and Jimmy Olsen - Introduces Darkseid, Big Barda and Orion as well - 4 omnibus
- 1970-72 - Green Lantern/Green Arrow - A very funny duo that commes back regularly in the comics - 1 omnibus
- 1972-76 - Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Omnibus - The original Swamp Thing saga by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson (and then others) - 1 omnibus
- 1982 - The Great Darkness Saga - The return of the great Darkseid - 1 omnibus
- 1980-96 - The New Teen Titans - The Saga by Marv Wolfman and George Perez - 11 vol. (ongoing) or 3 omnibus
- 1984-86 - STARTING POINT - Saga of the Swamp Thing - When Alan Moore takes over Swamp Thing (1st American Comics from Alan Moore) - 6 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 1986 - The Watchmen by Alan Moore - The Launching story of the Modern Age - 1 omnibus
- 1985-86 - EVENT - Crisis On Infinit Earths (aka COIE) - Regroups all heroes into one univers - 1 omnibus
- 1987 - EVENT - DC: Legends - Follow-up to COIE, story in which the modern age Justice League and Suicide Squad are put in place - 1 vol.
- 1987-89 - STARTING POINT - Justice League International - Direct follow-up to DC: Legends - 5 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 1987-89 - STARTING POINT - Suicide Squad by John Ostrander - Direct follow-up to DC: Legends - 8 vol.
- 1987-92 - STARTING POINT - Wonder Woman by George Perez - 4 vol. (ongoing) or 3 omnibus
- 1986 - STARTING POINT - Batman: Year One - Origin Story by Frank Miller - 1 vol.
- 1987 - STARTING POINT - Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunter - Start of a modern age darker Green Arrow - 1 vol.
- 1987-90 - The Question by Denis O'Neil - The Charlton Comics detective - 6 vol.
- 1988 - Batman: The Killing Joke - The popular Joker story by Alan Moore - 1 vol.
- 1988-2013 - STARTING POINT - Hellblazer - The story of John Constantine - 21 vol.
- 1988-89 - Animal Man by Alan Grant - A now classic work by the fine Alan Grant - 1 omnibus
- 1989 - Arkham Asylum: A Serious House On Serious Earth - A strange and twisted take on Arkham and the Joker by Grant Morrison - 1 vol.
- 1989-96 - STARTING POINT - Sandman by Neil Gaiman - The great Dark Fantasy saga - 10 vol. or 5 omnibus or 2 massive omnibus
- 1989-93 - STARTING POINT - Doom Patrol by Grant Morrsion - Doom Patrol are a group of super-powered misfits - 6 vol. or 3 books or 1 omnibus
- 1990-92 - Lobo by Keith Giffen & Alan Grant - The most out of the norme character you can find - 1 omnibus
- 1995-99 - The Power of Shazam! - follows the SHAZAM familly by Jerry Ordway - in various other collections
- 1987-97 - STARTING POINT - The Flash by Mark Waid - Start of the Epic 1987 reboot - 6 vol.
- 1996-00 - Batman: The Long Halloween + Batman: Dark Victory - Great saga of the early days of Batman by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale - 2 omnibus
- 2000-06 - The Flash by Geoff Johns - End of the Epic saga started by Mark Waid - 5 vol. or 3 omnibus
- 1994 - Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight/New Dawn - The downfall of Hal Jordan, the rising of Kyle Reyner - 1 vol.
- 1994 - Gen13 - Story about "gene active" teens recruted by the governament by Jim Lee - 1 vol.
- 1993-94 - The Death and Return of Superman - The Death of Superman + The Return of Superman - 2 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 1993-95 - STARTING POINT - Batman: Knightfall - The great Bane/Azrael saga - 9 vol. or 3 new omnibus
- 1994 - Batman: Mad Love - Introduction of Harley Quinn in the comics by the genius Paul Dini - 1 vol.
- 1995-2000 - Preacher - Story of a posessed preacher by Garth Ennis - 9 vol. or 6 six books or 3 omnibus
- 1996-2002 - Stormwatch + The Authority - The Warren Ellis era on this United Nation's crisis intervention team - 3 vol. or 1 omnibus + 5 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 1998-2009 - Planetary by Warren Ellis - follows agents responsible for discovering the secret history of the world - 4 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 1999 - Batman: No Man's Land - When Gotham becomes a war zone - 4 new omnibus
- 1996-06 - STARTING POINT - JLA - The great saga started by Grant Morrison - 9 vol. or 4 omnibus
- 2000 - Batman/Huntress: Cry for blood - A new take on Huntress by Greg Rucka - 1 vol. f
- 2003-04 - Superman: Birthright - Retelling of Superman's origins by Mark Waid - 1 omnibus
- 2003-06 - Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka - The main modern age saga - 3 omnibus
- 2003-06 - New Gotham + Turning Point + Gotham Central - Crime and Gand Stories by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka - 2 omni. + 1 vol. + 4 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 2006-12 - EVENT - Green Lantern by Geoff Johns - The Saga of GL including: Rebirth, Sinestro Corps War, Blackest Knight, Brightest Day, War of the Green Lanterns, GL New 52 - 20 vol. or 3 massive omnibus
- 2004-05 - Superman: For Tomorrow - Aclaimed story by Brian Azzarello - 2 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 2004 - EVENT - Identity Crisis - Follows the COIE storyline - 1 vol.
- 2005 - EVENT - Infinite Crisis - Follows the COIE storyline - 7 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 2006-07 - 52 - tells what happens in the missing year after Infinit Crisis. - 4 vol. or 2 omnibus
- 2006-08 - EVENT - Seven Solders of Victory + Final Crisis - Concludes the COIE storyline - 2 vol. or 1 omnibus + 1 vol.
- 2007-09 - Will Eisner's Spirit - The return of the Spirit - 5 vol.
- 2008 - STARTING POINT (his full run) - Superman: Brainiac - The Major story by Geoff Johns - 1 vol.
- 2006-11 - Batman by Grant Morrison + Batman Incorporated - The saga by Morrsion - 2 omnibus + 4 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 2011 - EVENT - Flashpoint - The Event by Geoff Johns - 1 vol.
- 2011-16 - Batman & Robin New 52 - Story by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason (Should have read Batman by Grant Morrison vol.1 and Batman Inc.) - 7 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 2011 - Batman: Court of Owls + Batman: Night of Owls - The Owls Saga by Scott Snyder - 2 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 2011-14 - STARTING POINT - Wonder Woman New 52 - Saga by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang - 6 first vol. or 2 Omnibus
- 2011-14 - STARTING POINT - Aquaman New 52 - Story by Geoff Johns - 4 first vol. or 1 omnibus
- 2012-13 - STARTING POINT - Shazam! New 52 - New origins by Geoff Johns - 1 vol.
- 2011-14 - STARTING POINT - Flash New 52 - Flash by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato - 4 first vol. or 1 omnibus
- 2011-14 - Green Arrow New 52 - Story by Jeff Lemire & Andrea Sorrentino - first 6 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 2012-2016 - EVENT - Justice League: Trinity War + Forever Evil + Forever Heroes + The Darkseid War Saga - The Main New 52 JL stories - 1 omnibus + 1 vol. + 1 vol. + 2 vol. or 1 omnibus
- 2016 - EVENT - Titan Hunt + DC Univers Rebirth + The Return of Wally West - The Main story for the Rebirth event (must know Flashpoint and The Watchmen) - 3 vol.
- 2016-* - Aquaman Rebirth - By Dan Abnett - 9 vol. (ongoing)
- 2016-19 - STARTING POINT - Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps - By Robert Venditti - 7 vol.
- 2018-19 - EVENT - Doomsday Clock - Concludes the Flash/Rebirth storyline - 1 omnibus
- 2019 - Mr. Miracle by Tom King - The Eisner Award story - 1 vol.
- 2019-* - STARTING POINT - The Green Lantern - By Grant Morrison - ongoing
- 2019 - Dark Knight: Metal + Justice League: No Justice - The Discovery of a Dark Multivers written by Scott Snyder - 2 vol.
- 2019 - Heroes in Crisis - Yet another Crisis - 1 vol.
There are also some must read elseworld stories:
- The Dark Knight Returns - The Famous story by Frank Miller - 1 omnibus
- Superman: Red Son - by Mark Millar, what if Kal-El landed in Russia ? - 1 vol.
- DC: New Frontier - Big saga by Darwyn Cooke - 1 omnibus
- Kingdom Come - The aclaimed story by Mark Waid and Alex Ross - 1 vol.
- All-star Superman - The aclaimed serie by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely - 1 omnibus
- Superman: Secret Identity - Unusual take on Superman - 1 vol.
Then there are lots of curren new series that are good too:
- Wonder Twins
- The Terrifics
- Justice League Dark
- Red Hood & The Outlaws
- Shazam!
- Young Justice
I hope you have a vision a little clearer of the DC timeline.
Last edited by jb681131; 02-17-2020 at 12:07 PM.
I think your best bet of getting into DC Comics is to try to follow a specific character if there is one you like. Trying to take on the whole universe's bizarre and ever shifting continuity is very daunting. Besides, I find the stories that focus on that are rarely any good (actually, they're never good, in my opinion), and are often written for shock value and to serve utilitarian purposes for the editors. Sites like comicvine and wikipedia can help you to discover what specific series characters have been in and played important roles in.
Last edited by Vampire Savior; 02-17-2020 at 01:09 PM.
download this it has all the in print tpb's of DC'S catalog and in reading order as well as other out of continuity stories this is the best guide to new DC fans.
DC-Essential-Graphic-Novels-Catalog-2019_5bb2cfc3d48d89.87985321.jpg
Here is the link to this thing:
https://www.dccomics.com/graphic-nov...ic-novels-2019
I skimed through it, it's go a lot of good things and some other that DC want's you to read but that you can easily skip (sur as Dark Knights: Metal for example).
My first thought was "how are some of these people breathing?" followed closely by "how are they reading right now?" Instead of looking at a cool picture of heroes riding sharks, I'm trying to work out the physics of it.
Sometimes I hate being an adult. Clearly, I am dead inside.
"We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe."
~ Black Panther.