Diving In To Comics

This is something that I haven’t really touched on since I started ‘A Galaxy Called Dallas,’ but there was a long time that I didn’t read comics. I used to read them when I was in junior high and high school. Early to mid 80’s had me reading “Secret Wars,” “Watchmen,” and “Amazing Spiderman” #252 when he got his new suit. I joined the Navy and left everything in the care of my parents in 1986. Little did I know that they were not hip to the future value of said comics. Of course, I wasn’t either, but I would have taken better care of my own stuff. I’m not bitter at my parents. Much.

During the next 23 years, I didn’t not read comics. I don’t know why, I just didn’t. It wasn’t until a little over 3 years ago, that I started writing this blog and getting back in to geek life. I started hitting the comic book shops. I was lost.

What? They killed Superman! Can they do that? What do you mean Batman’s dead too? No, way! Let’s sue’em!

Comics had changed. Superheroes had become human. I blame Alan Moore. That’s where it started. I’m kidding. I don’t know where it started, but what I found was that the comic universe had been evolving while I was away and now I was faced with a lot of changes. Not only had the superheroes changed, but the industry. Prices had gone up, now you had digital comics, and there were independents!

This article was inspired by Kaitlyn D’s article “Sucks To Be A Noob: Comics.” One thing that I definitely agreed with in this article is that if you are new to comics, you need too have a mentor. Befriend the guy behind the counter down at ye ole comic book shop or maybe one of your friends is a master of the paneled art. I was in luck! The guy who interviewed at one of my jobs is now one of my best friends and he lives for comics. So, if I have any questions then I can ask him. And for that, thank you, Tom! By knowing what’s going on in the stories, I can be more informed when it comes to picking out which ones I want to read, thus saving me money in the long run.

Kaitlyn also has a list that she has compiled of things that she has read with commentary or owns and will eventually read that is included in the article, so check it out.

The question of the day for you is this: I’m a noob. In whatever line of comics that YOU like to read, what would be the starting place for me to get a feel for the story? What is the perfect gateway comic issue or trade to the character that you read?