With a new year often comes resolutions to improve our lives—whether it’s eating healthier, exercising more, or reading more books. If reading more is on your list, you might have considered exploring or rediscovering the DC Comics Universe.
Chances are, you’re already a bit familiar with the DC Universe—whether it’s from animated shows, movie adaptations, or even video games. Maybe the start of James Gunn’s new DC Universe has caught your attention, and now you’re curious to learn more about the characters and their comic book stories.
However, with several decades of stories, you’re bound to face the classic question: where do I even start? The sheer volume of comics can make it feel like an overwhelming task.
We’re here today to make sure your start reading DC Comics is as fun and enjoyable as it should be, full of great stories, and the beginning of many years of reading comics!
Where to Get Your DC Comics?
You have decided to explore the DC Universe. Now, you need to get some comics into your hands! Following is a little guide to several (legal) options to find some good comics:
Visit a (comic) bookstore (in person or online!)
It’s always nice to see in person the object we intend to buy, especially when it’s a first purchase! For this reason, a little excursion to your local bookstore or specialized comic book store (if you have one) is a good place to start. You’ll discover that comic books can be bought in different sizes and prices, from the classic paperback trades to a big Omnibus! Here’s a simple presentation of what you can find for DC Comics and the main lines:
- Single Issue – A standalone comic book released individually, typically part of an ongoing series that look like a magazine. You can find them in a comic book shop.
- A Trade Paperback (TPB) – A collection of comic book issues bound in a softcover format, often compiling a complete story arc or run. This is what makes up most of our reading guides!
- DC Compendium – A large softcover collection that collects a great deal of comic issues in a big volume. A good value for money.
- DC Omnibus – A large, comprehensive collection of comic books, typically in hardcover format, gathering multiple issues, entire series or runs into one (or more) volume.
- DC Deluxe Edition – Oversized hardcover collection featuring the same dimensions as the Omnibus line but designed to collect shorter runs or stories that couldn’t justify a larger Omnibus edition. Some stories have been published in both formats.
- DC Finest – Recently launched, this is a collection of large-size paperback focus on characters and storytelling genres and covering a specific period.
- DC Compact – A new-reader-friendly collection at a smaller size than the traditional format and a good price to make it more accessible to everyone!
- DC Absolute – A premium hardback format, larger than typical comic books, providing a wider canvas for displaying artwork. Not for new readers!
Want to know if you have a Comic Shop or Bookstore near you? Check out Comic Shop Locator and Indie Bound.
Not everybody has a bookstore near him. Or a bookstore with the comic book you want (in the language you want). For that, you can buy on online stores, such as Amazon, Blackwell’s, Ebay, Abebooks — if you live in Europe like me! MyComicShop or Midtown Comics are also generally recommended in US.
Digital Comics
Not all comic books are destined to find their place in your physical library. Some can simply exist in your virtual library! With a subscription, you can access thousands of comics and graphic novels on DC Universe Infinite. The platform is available in several countries however the content of the libraries outside U.S. is typically smaller. You can also buy digital comics (a single issue, a whole package, a trade) through the Amazon’s Kindle platform.
And of course, don’t forget your local library!
The Rules of Reading DC Comics
You are quite ready to be part of the DC Comics Club! But don’t forget some rules:
- You do not worry about continuity.
- You DO NOT worry about continuity.
- You don’t need to start at the beginning—pick up where you like.
- You don’t have to read everything.
- If you see a crisis, don’t panic—just let it happen.
- There’s always a new hero (or villain) to discover.
- The DC Universe is vast and expanding, there’s always a corner to explore.
- If this is your first time reading DC Comics, pick a comic that excites you (or read Batman!)
At Last… Where to Start Reading DC Comics?
It’s time to read some DC Comics! You’ll find many types of stories and genres, so there is a story for everybody! The following selection highlights the incredible diversity and richness of this universe.
But first, here are a few lists containing a selection of entry points and influential comic book stories, covering many characters and genres:
- I want to start reading DC Comics superheroes, an Option For Every Readers
- Best Batman Stories for beginners
- Best Aquaman Comics to Read
- Best Vertigo Comics to read
- 25 Best and Essential DC Comics to read
Also, we invite you to check out and follow the future releases in the DC Compact Line, focused on publishing self-contained and celebrated stories for new readers, as well as the DC Anniversary Celebrations Series, a collection of omnibuses that reprint the best comic book stories for a specific character/team.
Start reading by picking a short stand-alone story
Unless you live under a rock, you don’t need someone to tell you to read Watchmen, one of DC Comics’s best-selling titles! But maybe you are less familiar with the rest of DC Comics and following are some great classics and new reader-friendly stories for becoming more familiar with the world of DC.
- DC: New Frontier, by Darwyn Cooke – A Love letter to the Silver Age that show us the spirit of DC Comics (the confusion, the craziness, the hopefulness, and everything else!)
- Batman: Year One, by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli – Batman’s classic and influential story. The Ultimate starting point for the Dark Knight.
- Superman For All Seasons, by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale – The poetic tale capturing the essence of Superman.
- Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia, by Greg Rucka and J. G. Jones – Learn more about Diana Prince in this modern Greek tragedy of duty and vengeance.
- Green Arrow: Year One, by Andy Diggle and Jock – How Oliver Queen became the Green Arrow.
- The Return of Barry Allen, by Mark Waid and Greg LaRocque – This is the story where Wally West steps out of the shadow of Barry Allen.
Start reading a comic book run
Let’s go bigger with some epic, dark, fun, and adventurous runs! We continue to explore the many corners of the DC Universe, from the streets of Gotham to the underground world of magic and into the space!
- JLA, by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter – Your blockbuster comic book series featuring our favorite DC heroes and more!
- Gotham Central, by Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, and Michael Lark – For all the crime amateurs and everyone else.
- Nightwing, by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo – A lighthearted and recently concluded run on the most accomplished DC hero not part of the Trinity!
- Super Sons, by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason – Have some fun adventures with the sons of Batman and Superman.
- Green Lantern by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Doug Manhke, Ethan Van Sciver, et al. – The epic 9-year run that entirely redefined the Green Lanterns.
- Aquaman, by Dan Abnett – Dive into the Seven Seas with the underrated King of Atlantis.
- Justice League Dark, by James Tynion IV and Ram V – Explore the magical side of DC.
- Saga of the Swamp Thing, by Alan Moore and Stephen Bissette – A Classic horror book verging on the esoteric towards the end.
- 52, by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen – Discover more DC heroes that took the spotlight during a year without Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman.
Read Some Events!
Reading crossover stories and big events are part of the adventure! The advice for new readers is to focus on the main story and pick up the tie-ins only for characters that interest you! Or read those tie-ins after! There are no rules! Just don’t let the sheer amount of tie-ins that some events have be an obstacle. Most of the time, those are completely optional.
- Crisis on Infinite Earths – A game-changing event that redefined the DC Universe in ways no story has matched since.
- No Man’s Land – Gotham’s darkest days see Batman and his allies fighting to restore hope, with the entire Batfamily in action and the debut of Cassandra Cain.
- Infinite Crisis – A big story that highlights the scale of the DCU and leads directly into 52.
- Blackest Night – A gripping chapter in Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern run, blending epic battles with emotional depth.
DC is particularly full of Crisis and you can learn more about it here.
Discovering some less famous part of the DC Universe
You can read DC Comics for many years and still don’t encounter some of their characters until a Crisis or a random team-up! Here’s a little selection to get off the beaten track.
- JSA, by Geoff Johns and David S. Goyer – A rich exploration of legacy and teamwork with the Justice Society of America.
- Secret Six, by Gail Simone, Nicola Scott and al. – A dark, witty tale of misfit antiheroes navigating the criminal underworld.
- Hawkman, by Robert Venditti and Bryan Hitch – A great look at the hero’s reincarnated past and his fight against cosmic threats.
- Madame Xanadu, by Matt Wagner and Amy Reeder Hadley – DC’s powerful sorceress confronts ancient prophecies and battles dark forces across time.
- Jonah Hex, by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti – Gritty stories starring the DC’s legendary gunslinger of the Old West.
- Sandman Mystery Theatre, by Matt Wagner and Guy Davis – Noir-inspired mysteries featuring Wesley Dodds, the original Sandman.
Simply jump into the DC pool right now!
The best way to start reading is to simply jump into the current story arc and pick up the pieces as you go! That’s how a lot of people get started (myself included). You might not catch everything at first, but if you like the story, you’ll want to keep reading and learn more.
Right now, DC has recently launched a new initiative called DC All In, which can serve as jump-in points for new readers. It features a mix old and new creatives teams for ongoing series, the launch of new series, and the start of an entirely new universe called Absolute! Here’s a list of current titles under this banner (from Wikipedia as we haven’t covered this new era yet!).
You can complement your readings with informational articles and books to learn more about the characters and the DC Universe. You can, for example, take a look at our simple guide explaining in the most simple way possible the different eras of DC Comics. You can also explore our Comic Book Index which includes topics such as the origins stories of several DC Characters, the presentation of the Batman Family and the main Lantern Corps, and a focus on the History of Crisis on Infinite Earths. Learn with a few chapters the essentials you need for many DC figures, organizations and events with the DC Comics Encyclopedia.
Discover More DC Comics to read!
Next… How to start reading Marvel Comics