Last year I started getting into comics (you can check out what I started with here) and since I’m still a comics newb I have QUITE the TBR list of comics to get to. I thought it would be fun if I shared 10 that were on the top of my TBR list. In other news, I should have another post up detailing what other comics I’ve been reading (Paper Girls & Lumberjanes for sure) soon.
Before we get into it, two asides:
1. Obviously I’m new to the comic scene so I’m curious where you get your comics from if you are a comic reader?? I get all my comics from the library which is nice because I don’t really have money to spend to pay per issue but oh man there are some comics that I’m really wanting to do that for. It’s quite the conundrum. I hate waiting for the trade paperbacks to come out but I don’t know if I want to spend the money/don’t really have space to store them. So I’m curious, as a newbie, how you read them (digitally/print, issues/trade) and where you get them from?
2. Where does one start with the classic superhero comics?? I’m like uber intimated and don’t even know where to begin because I know many of these comics came out first when like my parents were kids. I’ve never gotten into a lot of the superhero movies or anything but I’ve been wanting to give them a try but would rather start with the comics. But I’m literally starting at zero. Like knowing who Superman or Spider-man or Batman etc are buuut that’s about it…..and I have zero idea where to start.
So..on to the ones I plan to get to soon:
1. Giant Days by John Allison: I heard this one was super cute so I’m excited to get to it!
2. Alias by Brian Michael Bendis: Will and I were totally obsessed with Jessica Jones on Netflix and I NEED to read these.
3. Alex & Ada by Jonathan Luna: I actually started reading this one but had to return it to the library before I could finish and so I still need to go get it again! It was pretty cool from what I read!
4. Rat Queens by Kurtis J. Wiebe: I’ve seen lots of people I trust love this one and it looks totally badass!
5. Monstress by Marjorie M. Liu: It’s set in an alternate matriarchal 1900’s Asia and that was pretty much all I needed to know to want it.
6. Outcast by Robert Kirkman: This is from the creator of Walking Dead and I’m a huge Walking Dead fan for the past however many years it’s been running (we caught up for season 2) and I do want to read TWD comics someday when the tv series is over but for now this one from him looks excellent! Horror! Demonic possession (freaks me out so we will see how I do)!
7. Lady Killer by Joelle Jones: 1960’s house wife at the surface but really an efficient killer for hire! Um yeah…totally my thing.
8. Ms Marvel by G. Willow Wilson: Like I said above that I’ve never really read any of the Marvel or DC comic universes but I’ve heard good things about this one!
9. The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen: This is one that I have been recommended sooo many times as soon as I started reading comics and graphic novels so I have to get to it soon. The cover is lovely looking.
10. Revival by Tim Seeley: I’m ALWAYS game for zombies soo as soon as I stumbled on to this one I was like YAS.
Top Ten Tuesday, as always, is hosted at my other blog — The Broke & the Bookish. Today’s topic was a Rewind week where we pick a previous topic to revisit but I decided to do this instead!
So tell me…have you read any of these comics? What comics should I be reading?
Grace @ Mint Novels says
Oh oh oh oh! I read the Wicked and the Divine, it was brilliant. You should definitely pick it up, the art will blow your mind.
My TTT
Jamie says
I’ve heard the art is so incredible! Cannot wait!
Savannah says
Ah, comics! For someone new to reading comics, I’d probably start with the New 52 in the DC comic verse. I don’t suggest digital at all with comics; for myself I usually wait till they come together in a 1 volume graphic novel at a time instead of the individual chapter comics.
Jamie says
Thanks for the rec! Will check it out!
Greg says
I liked Alex and Ada so that caught my eye. I hope you like them too. As for comics, I generally buy collected editions of older stuff since I read a lot of it growing up. Newer comics I’m picky about. 🙂 But there is good stuff out there. I’ve heard good things about Kelly DeConnick’s Capt. Marvel. Rat Queens- the same. And if you like quirky graphic novels with a hint of humor you could try Bone by Jeff Smith. It’s kind of a classic and is good reading.
Jamie says
Thanks for the recs! Can’t wait to check them all out!
Keely says
I’d suggest checking out DC Rebirth #1 to see if you’d like to explore characters from that world. Most of the main characters in the DC Universe are in that comic. I only started reading comics two years ago and I started with Batman but as I read his comics I found other characters I loved (Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Suicide Squad etc) then worked my way out. What I did was read up on the characters to see which one I’d like best. I thought I’d love Aquaman so I read one comic out of curiosity and now I’ve read every Aquaman comic published from the 1960s to now. I’m not sure about Marvel I’ve never read any of their comics but Ms Marvel seems a good place to start.
Jamie says
Ooh thank you for the tip! Going to try this approach!
Chrissi Reads says
Ahhh I really want to read The Wicked and the Divine. It looks brilliant.
Jamie says
It really does! Plus I hear the artwork is amazing!
Jolien @ The Fictional Reader says
I really liked the first two volumes of Rat Queens! I want to continue, but at the same time I don’t. I’ve read that one of the authors/artists is abusive to his wife and I don’t want to pay for the comic and support that person in any way. I don’t think he’ll be part of the next Rat Queens issues, but I’m not entirely sure. It’s such a difficult decision for me, because I loved to comic and want to continue!
Lady Killer sounds like a fun read, I’ll have to add that to me to-read list! And I’ve been wanting to read Alex + Ada for such a long time. As for The Wicked + The Divine, I must have been the only person that really didn’t like it. I mean, the illustrations were absolutely gorgeous! But the story? I couldn’t figure out what was happening at all…
Jamie says
Oooof that is quite the dilemma! So hard when you love something but the creator is problematic or a garbage person. I’ll have to follow that before I start Rat Queens and see if he’s not a part of it!
From what I can tell just with the other comments you are NOT the only one to think TW+TD was confusing. I am easily confused sooo I’m a little nervous now but we shall see!
Emmah says
I loved volume 1 of Ms Marvel! I sadly haven’t been able to read any farther yet 🙁
You should check out Mind the Gap!
Jamie says
Thanks for the rec! Also glad to hear you enjoyed Ms Marvel!
Cait @ Paper Fury says
I haven’t read a lot of comics…mostly because I only get them from my library and it has a pitiful selection. XD I did read a ton of the more recently-released-ish-Marvel comics though and THEY WERE GOOD. But reading out of order is so confusing and hard gah. I would looove to read Ms. Marvel! 😀 I’m hoping my library gets it eventually eheh. Here’s my TTT!
Jamie says
Yes that’s where I’m getting them from and the collection really is pretty small. Luckily I can use the interloan library system and some of the other bigger libraries in our county have MORE. I’m trying to request a couple that aren’t in any of the libraries so *fingers crossed* they will listen to me! And yeah that’s what I feel like about reading out of order…I feel like it would confuse me!!
Lisa says
I usually get trade paperbacks from the library, because getting all the comics on my radar would be way too expensive. But I’ve also started to read my comics digitally, and I get all my digital comics from comixology – but that’s mostly for when I want to read the single issues, because it can get a bit too much when reading full volumes.
I absolutely adore Giant Days, so much actually, that I’ve started reading it as single issues because I couldn’t wait for the trade paperback to come out. It’s an absolutely hilarious comic, and I find it really relatable. I’m not really one for superhero comics, but I’ve read the first three volumes of Ms. Marvel, and I’ve really enjoyed them all. I also love The Wicked + The Divine – the art is gorgeous, and I find the story very intriguing – even though it can get really confusing at times.
Jamie says
Yas that is what I’m realizing about comic reading — it can get expensive if I get all these issues of things I want to keep up with! Will have to check out Comixology more closely! I feel like there are a couple it might be time for me to read by issue because I feel SUPER invested.
I’m so happy you adore Giant Days! I think that may be the first one I get next off this list!
Leah says
Alex + Ada is GOOD! I wasn’t as into Ms. Marvel as other were, but I think that’s mainly a ME issue where I had too many expectations..??
WHEE, I have Lady Killer reserved at the library and cannot wait to read it! It sounds like a comic written specifically for me 🙂
Rat Queens.. here’s the thing. I read a few volumes and really, really enjoyed them. But then the drama started. The artist/co-creator was arrested for DV and the writer/other co-creator took up the helm and was all about empowering women and was appalled that someone connected to domestic violence could be attached to the series. Awesome, right? But then artwork began appearing on twitter and it’s all just really messy and uncomfortable. The Mary Sue has a really detailed rundown of what happened.
Jamie says
I hope you love Lady Killer!!
Somebody else in the comments mentioned the whole Rat Queens thing and GAHHHHHHH. *off to research* So do you think that you will continue on with it or won’t be able to support? I think maybe I’ll move Rat Queens further down the list and see how things play out for now.
Audrey says
When you find out how to tackle super hero comics let me know. I’d like to try them, too. Especially the X-Men series 🙂
Jamie says
THERE NEEDS TO BE A GUIDE!!! *weeps* There have been a couple good suggestions further down in the comments!
Lori says
Just added Giant Days and Lady Killer to my to-read list! I’ve read and loved Rat Queens but had no idea about all of the drama around the series. I’m going to have to look more into it and decide where to go with it now. And I read The Wicked + The Divine but didn’t love it. I think I might be the only one but the story confusing and I didn’t like the characters enough to continue with it. I hope you love it, though!
Jamie says
So sad to hear about all the drama and awfulness surrounding RQ. Thinking I may hold off on that one until I see what’s going on with that.
A couple of other people said TW+TD is confusing sooo let’s hope I don’t find it to be so…although I’m confused easily so I have a feeling I will be lol
Pui-man says
I’ve read the first three volumes of Ms. Marvel and they were awesome! Really funny and a lot of sass. I also want to get more into comics, so I think your list is a really good place for me to start!
Jamie says
Glad to hear you enjoyed Ms Marvel! If you haven’t read Saga or Paper Girls I highly rec those!
Jordan says
I’m trying to read more comics myself, as well! It’s super intimidating to me because there are just so many of so many different genres and it’s overwhelming to figure out where to start. I haven’t read any of the ones you listed (though many sounds really intriguing), but I highly recommend Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series! They were my first foray into the graphic novel/comic world and I absolutely fell in love. I hope you enjoy these and find some favorites!
Jamie says
YES I feel the same way…so intimidating, especially the superheroes! Def will check out Sandman! Thank you for the rec! And also…if you haven’t read Saga or Paper Girls I highly rec those! Saga is just incredible.
Lauren @ Bookmark Lit says
Superhero comics can be really hard to get started with. I think the best thing to do would be to decide which characters you’re most interested in and then literally browse for issue/trade paperback #1. Lots of them are interconnected but I’ve learned there’s no easy way to go super far back and read everything. Starting with Ms. Marvel would be a good place! Any of the fun woman superheroes are on my immediate TBR but my boyfriend reads all of the other Marvel ones, like Deadpool and the Civil War series of comics. So yeah – start with the hero then either ask for recs from experienced people, or just grab the first volume and start!
Jamie says
This is helpful! Thank you, Lauren!! I think that makes sense to start with one because it’s pretty overwhelming!
Jessica @ a GREAT read says
Ooh nice ones! Have to say that those are all new to me! At the moment, my comic list involves 3 issues of Scooby Apocalypse, the iZombie graphic novels, and Marie Lu’s Prodigy graphic novel. A mix of them! Usually it’s just bookish ones! LOL!
Here’s my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
Jamie says
Ooh I didn’t realize Marie Lu’s came out as a graphic novel!
Sabrina Fox says
I haven’t read many comics in my day! Except a crap-load of Archie comics. But that’s about it. Lady Killer looks like it would be a great read.
Jamie says
Doesn’t it?? I have one friend who read it and said it was AWESOME!
Imogen says
1. Where you get your comics from?
I support my Local Comic Book Store and buy from them. I pay more than Amazon but they’re lovely.
2. Where does one start with the classic superhero comics?
Pick a superhero, and either read their back story because there are trades of the important stuff. Or google when a new story arc is starting in the single issues and jump on! With the DC New 52, you can even catch up in trades and then go on to single issues.
Imogen’s Typewriter. <3
Jamie says
Thank you! This is so so helpful!!
Joyce @ Completely Booked says
So, I love anything Image does, so I definitely recommend The Wicked + The Divine, as well as Rat Queens. If you like Bryan K. Vaughan, then I recommend Paper Girls, if you haven’t already read that as well. I actually just read Giant Days and I absolutely love it and I need to get the second volume.
I usually buy my comics in trade paperback from Amazon. It’d be too hard to deal in getting them from a comic book store and moving them to and from school and home. Plus, you get more to read. Although, if you can, comic book stores are nice and I recommend supporting them.
As for where to get started, trade paperback volume ones are good. Someone recommended the new 52 for DC but they just rebooted that to DC rebirth (which is kind of frustrating). Most aspects of Marvel and DC’s tentpole characters don’t change, so I feel like you can really start anywhere, though. You don’t have to read in any particular order.
Jamie says
Yesss I just read Paper Girls last week and I cannot wait for volume 2!! So happy to hear you enjoyed Giant Days!!
I need to figure out if I have a local comic store. I know the mall has one!
Thanks for the tip re: superhero comics! I really want to get into them but it all feels so overwhelming haha
Carly says
I also get my comics from the library, thankfully the library in my city has a pretty decent selection and I can get them sent to the branch closest to me. For someone who hasn’t read many comics, I recommend the Sandman series as well as Watchmen. Tomboy by Liz Prince was also a fun graphic-memoir if you like that kind of thing!
If you do get into superhero comics, I highly recommend Neil Gaiman’s Marvel 1602 – if you know the basics of the Marvel heroes (even just the movie versions) this one is a lot of fun, plus it’s all in one book.
Maeghan says
I LOVE LOVE Giant Days! It’s definitely one of my fave comics. I’ve read some of Ms. Marvel and some Jessica Jones. Both very solid comics. I just finished reading Monstress vol. 1 and all the single issues that I got from netgalley. So cool. The art is so awesome! It kind of gave me a Marie Lu’s Young Elites vibe. I ordered Rat Queens and Outcast. I’m totally going to try Lady Killer! It sounds interesting!
Kay @ It's a Book Life says
I LOVE Giant Days and Lady Killer and I think you will too! I haven’t read Monstress, but I plan to. 😀 If you haven’t read Y: The Last Man, I feel like you would like that one too.
Figuring out where to start with the classic comics is hard. I would check out the Comixology website or any marvel or DC one because I think they have reading guides. Good luck and happy reading!
Sabrina Fox says
So I picked up the first volume of The Wicked + The Divine after reading your post and I highly recommend it! So, so good.
Sabrina Fox says
I know I came back like three times on this one post but I needed to tell you how good it was! Lol.
Ola says
I hear Giant Days is really good, I also want to read it 🙂
Stormy @ Book.Blog.Bake. says
I LOVE Giant Days! It’s my favorite comic and it just makes me SO HAPPY. There is nothing I don’t love about it. The college setting, the humor, the friendship between the three main characters. . . I hope you like it! Alex + Ada was one of the first comics I read & I adore that one too. I haven’t kept up with The Wicked + The Divine very well but I loved the first two volumes. As for where I get comics, I do get a lot of trade paperbacks from the library(I’m lucky that I live in kind of a comic-oriented town, apparently–my local library has a pretty large selection of comics & there are two comic bookstores in town, which is pretty good considering the size of the town), BUT I also read them from the library digitally. If your library has Hoopla as an e-resource, Hoopla tends to have a ton of comics & gets new ones pretty frequently.
Lauren @ Always Me says
Rat Queens and Ms Marvel are soo good! 🙂 I can’t wait to try Monstress.
Check out my TTT.
Louise says
Hi
Thanks for the recommendations 🙂 I have two series/authors to recommend:
Bill Willingham’s Fables series is brilliant – both my husband and I read them. It’s for adults, about
a large group of infamous inhabitants of folklore and faerie tales, who are forced into exile into our world – where they form Fabletown in modern day New York.
Second Japanese Jirō Taniguchi is the author of several brilliant comics/graphic novels like “The Ice Wanderer and Other Stories “
Annemieke says
I haven’t read any of these either. But I hear great things about Rat Queens and Ms. Marvel. I’m really curious about those two.
Steph says
Great post and questions 🙂 I get comics from the library too but also have a comic shop nearby and a subscription to the ones I read all the time so they are always waiting for me, there are places you can do this online too 🙂
As for the classic heroes and where to begin- DC comics started a run called “The New 52” a little while back, they are re-doing all the classic stories/ hero arcs so that newer readers can jump in from the beginnings. DC houses Batman, Superman etc so that might be a good place if you like those characters. I think Marvel is doing something similar as well but not positive.
Kailana says
I am almost embarrassed to say that I have read them all. lol Giant Days is really cute! Alias was really really good, but very different from the show. Alex + Ada was good, too! I was sad to see it end, but it ended well. I loved the first volume of Rat Queens… I was disappointed by the sequel… Others weren’t. Monstress starts off with a lot of potential. I can’t wait to see the next volume! Outcast was good, but not enough that I have rushed out and read more… At least, I think there is more? I should because it was good. Lady Killer was SO GOOD! Ms. Marvel is awesome and just keeps getting better. The Wicked + The Divine was really crazy and good and I can’t wait for more! Revival is kind of like Outcast in that I didn’t hate it, but it didn’t knock my socks off either! I recommend Wayward. It is my favourite newer discovery. And I am a huge Fables fan!
Jessica says
RAT QUEENS, YESSSS! I love this series so much and just got my hands on the third volume. Can’t wait to read it.
Jamie says
I cannot wait to get to it! Glad you are enjoying it!!