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Comic Book Herald

A Comic Book Reading Order Guide For Beginners & Fans

Doug Smith

Batman: The Court of Owls – The Dark Heart of Gotham

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Since coming to life in the pages of Batman, a question has hung in the air over the dark knight’s home: What is Gotham City? For some, like Bruce Wayne, Gotham is a city of light; one that tests its people and shapes them into something just and enduring. But there is also a darkness living in the city’s streets and skyscrapers; a malignant, hungry presence that defines Gotham as much as the dark knight himself.

It’s this ancient and powerful evil that writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo would explore in their now-legendary story The Court of Owls, sending Bruce Wayne on a chilling journey into the blackened heart of Gotham City. Built on a masterful plot, breathtaking gothic visuals, and a terrifying new villain, Court of Owls is a story that cemented an entirely new era for the dark knight, as his mission to save his city gives way to a reality darker and more mysterious than he could ever imagine.

*SPOILERS FOR THE RUN TO FOLLOW*
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FF by Jonathan Hickman | Grief, Hope, and the Quest for a Better Tomorrow

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Since their arrival in 1961, the Fantastic Four have stood as timeless icons of relatability and imagination, with their dysfunctional-yet-loving dynamic as Marvel Comics’ “first family” taking them across the stars and into the frontiers of the unknown. But when tragedy strikes, and that timeless bond is broken, the surviving members of the family will see their team and their mission evolve into something else entirely. Welcome to tomorrow. Welcome to the Future Foundation.

To many, writer Jonathan Hickman’s tenure on Fantastic Four is one of the title’s most definitive runs, weaving together years of separate stories and firmly re-establishing the team as the beating heart of the Marvel Universe. Hickman would introduce countless iconic stories over his run, but the writer’s greatest mark on the title would come through a 2011 relaunch, with the series re-emerging under the new title “FF.” Following the team as they rebuild in the wake of an immense loss, the story acts as the throughline for Hickman’s vision of the Fantastic Four, digging deep into its characters and resting cosmic, existential adventures atop a more grounded tale of grief and hope. But while the story acts as a re-invention of its characters and themes, it’s also a celebration of Marvel’s First Family, and how even in the face of tragedy, hope and adventure can spring eternal. [Read more…] about FF by Jonathan Hickman | Grief, Hope, and the Quest for a Better Tomorrow

SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN | How Jack Kirby Re-Invented the DC Universe

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In the pantheon of comic book greats, there are few names as legendary and monolithic as Jack “The King” Kirby. Breaking into the industry in the ‘30’s, Kirby would work alongside creators like Joe Simon, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee, and more, revolutionizing the superhero genre and ushering in the “Marvel Age” of comics. While his work at Marvel saw the creation of countless iconic characters, and garnered record sales and critical acclaim, Kirby’s lack of creative control and authorship credits soured his relationship with the company. Kirby would ultimately leave for DC Comics in 1970, with the publisher heralding his arrival in ads across their line. It’s here that Kirby would finally debut a saga he’d been forming for years, with its first steps arriving in an unlikely, but fitting place…Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen. No, seriously. [Read more…] about SUPERMAN’S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN | How Jack Kirby Re-Invented the DC Universe

KLAUS by Morrison and Mora | Beautiful, Unstoppable Ideas

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Once upon a time. And a place. There was a man. These days everyone knows his name, but few could tell you who he really is…or how he got started. This is the greatest untold story of them all.

To many, superhero comics are a medium of pure inspiration: stories built on the hope to grow beyond a darker, more cynical world, and in turn, leave that world better than when we found it. But what happens when we follow that hope as it grows over the years? How does a myth continue to grow, endure, and inspire? [Read more…] about KLAUS by Morrison and Mora | Beautiful, Unstoppable Ideas

Reign of X: The X-Men’s Empire Evolves!

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“We must make tomorrow happen today.”

Mutantkind has taken a giant leap forward, and the nation of Krakoa is more powerful than ever before. But as divisions grow both inside and out, how will the nation continue to evolve? And who will shape the next chapter in the species’ history?

Under head writer Jonathan Hickman, X-Men and its sister titles became the story of Mutantkind realising its full potential; transcending violence, scarcity, and death itself by uniting into a single sovereign nation. And after conquering their shadow-selves in the mystic X of Swords Tournament, the species is more driven than ever to expand what they’ve built, building Krakoa into an empire with galactic reach. To forge this new chapter, the X-Line would add creators Al Ewing, Vita Ayala, Si Spurrier and more to an already impressive roster, further elevating Hickman’s vision into a galaxy-spanning cosmic opera. [Read more…] about Reign of X: The X-Men’s Empire Evolves!