I’ve often been critical of how difficult it can be for new readers to get into comics, as with so much history it is often very intimidating. These are the steps that I took to get into comics so that it was a less daunting task.

 

Step One: Identify Your Interests

What are you interested in? Once you’ve identified what you like in stories you may have a better idea of where to start. Or alternatively, pick a popular comic that you want to start reading,; Batman and Spider-Man are where most people I know started with comics (I certainly started with Spider-Man).

If you’re into the dark and bleak, comics by Vertigo are always a good place to go. If you’re more into high flying action and adventure you can never go wrong with Marvel comics, and superhero comics in general.

Just don’t think that comics aren’t for you if you read something that was popular that didn’t do anything for you. Not everyone will like superheroes, and there is far more to comics than that.

 

Step Two: Read One Shots and collected stories

I have never been one to dive completely into a series from the beginning. This is because comics early issues are often very rarely like how they are later in their run, as the writers get more comfortable with the characters, or even if the series changes hands and is completely revolutionised (like The Uncanny X-Men with Chris Claremont and Daredevil with Frank Miller).

I’m a big advocate of reading collected stories first before getting more heavily invested into a franchise. Say you want to start reading Batman, but you have no idea of where to start? The obvious choice would be Year One by Frank Miller which tells of the first year that Batman spent on the job, however there are many other great stories like The Dark Knight Returns. Personally, the first Batman comic I read was Joker by Brian Azarello which was released in 2008, which is starting to look longer and longer ago all the time.

I tend to find the best way to start is by reading these confined stories like Joker or The Killing Joke, where you don’t need to have a huge understanding of the pre-existing law to get by. Alternatively find a highly recommended story arc like Kraven’s Last Hunt for Spider-Man, that can give the series a good showing.

This is particularly easy to do with manga which tends not to have the same amount of baggage as usually one writer will helm an entire series that won’t last for nearly as long as a lot of American comics do.

This is the best way to start reading in my opinion.

Step Three: Look Up the History of Comics/Your Chosen Comic

The history of comics is something that’ll be hugely important if you’re really looking to get into. The details of the Golden, Silver, Bronze and Modern/Dark Ages of comic books are things that you’ll probably want to know about, especially if you’re looking for work with a certain tone.

Also if you particularly liked one particular comic book that you’ve read you’ll probably either want to learn more about the history of the character to find cool and interesting stories that have been recommended or that you otherwise just think sound good or just start from the first issue and work your way through.

The second option, however, is not one that I would necessarily recommend as series like Spider-Man would have entire story arcs running across multiple different comics such as: The Amazing Spider-Man, The Spectacular Spider-Man and The Web of Spider-Man. This can make it very difficult to follow a story because of the awful way writers would continue stories across series to get you buying them all. This is why it’s particularly important to me to really know the history and stories of the characters, although this can completely depend on if you’re okay with happening across accidental spoilers. I don’t tend to mind too much with long ongoing comics but with shorter series such as Sandman and Preacher I may be bothered a little more.

Most of all though just enjoy reading them, it can be very daunting to first get into comics but that is no reason not to try, it is complicated but it’s nothing that should really hamper your enjoyment of a book series… just… don’t start straight away with Grant Morrison. You need time before you dance with the devil.

 

Thank you for joining me for comic book month! It’s been an absolute blast and I hope you’re looking forward to next month as much as I am!