Comic Book Herald

A Comic Book Reading Order Guide For Beginners & Fans

Mikayla Laird

Best Green Arrow Comics Of All Time!

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Oliver Queen is a playboy billionaire with a secret identity as a hero. He has his own cave housing his gadgets, and a young ward working beside him to protect his city. Sound familiar? Originally created as an archery based clone of Batman, Green Arrow is a staple of the DC Universe who forged his own identity outside of his original pitch. Especially with the Arrow tv series, Green Arrow has definitely gained the respect he deserves, but that doesn’t mean his comics are as well read as they should be.

Below, you will find a list of must read stories to get the best understanding of the character. Whether you are new to comics, or just overlooked the character, the focus here is based on understanding Oliver Queen and his life, what sets him apart, and what makes him such a compelling character. [Read more…] about Best Green Arrow Comics Of All Time!

The Best of Batgirl Comics!

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The title of Batgirl has been held by several characters in DC’s history. Betty Kane, Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain, and Stephanie Brown: all have made their mark on the mantle, whether they were the first or the one most often identified by the role. We have taken into account all of the Batgirls when compiling this list, and while some are going to be favoured over others, every Batgirl deserves her chance to shine.

This list is presented in chronological order, rather than a definitive ranking. Despite its infamy, The Killing Joke will not be included here. While it is important to Barbara Gordon’s story, as it resulted in Barbara being paralysed, it is not a Batgirl story and does not focus on Barbara. The Killing Joke also has questionable canonicity, as there are conflicting statements as to weather it is an Elseworlds entry or fully canon (though Three Jokers may have changed this). [Read more…] about The Best of Batgirl Comics!

The 9 Best Batman Comics (Modern Era!)

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Every list discussing the greatest Batman stories ever told, is guaranteed to at least mention six specific stories: The Killing Joke, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, Dark Knight Returns, The Long Halloween, The Court of Owls and Batman: Year One. All of these are phenomenal stories that are more than worth their place in history, with Court of Owls being a fantastic re-introduction to the character in the New 52. You should read these if you have an interest in reading Batman comics. With that in mind, it’s perhaps best to carry out this list assuming you already know these stories, and therefore we’re disqualifying them from being mentioned here. 

The list compiled tries to cover a range of stories from Post-Crisis continuity, up to modern day. Whether you’re in for something a little darker, or hungering for some genuine detective work, there is hopefully something here for you. [Read more…] about The 9 Best Batman Comics (Modern Era!)

The 8 Best Justice League Stories (Modern DC Era)!

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The Justice League are the premier superhero team in all of comics. The first on the scene, and one that consists of some of the strongest and most interesting heroes to ever grace comics. While there are primary team members, such as the original seven, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter, the Justice League roster has found itself expanded in a number of stories and even across mediums. Including both the live action film, and the Justice League/Justice League Unlimited cartoons.

As such, Justice League stories can vary heavily in how the team’s dynamics change, or in the types of adventures they encounter. Because of this, there is a Justice League story for every type of reader, and for every mood they are in. If you were to explore the Silver or Bronze age of Justice League, you’d come across such amazing stories as Joker convincing the world that the Justice League are evil. Or the numerous crossovers between Earth-One and Earth-Two. Stories that steep heavily into the DC Universes pre-Crisis mythology. All fantastic and worth checking out, if you’re prone to picking up collected editions. Here are just a few of the amazing stories the Justice League have to offer from a more modern era. [Read more…] about The 8 Best Justice League Stories (Modern DC Era)!

The Best Scarecrow (Batman Villain) Comics!

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While not as celebrated a villain as others in the Dark Knight’s rogue gallery, the Scarecrow is still one filled with potential. Like many Batman villains, the Scarecrow is a dark reflection of Batman himself, in this case, through the use of fear and intimidation. The entire reason Batman puts on his costume is to inspire fear in the hearts of evil doers, however with Scarecrow, fear is something he wants to inspire in everyone. It’s something that deeply fascinates him to the point of obsession. 

Unlike Joker, Two-Face or even Riddler, Scarecrow gains a lot of his recognition from outside source material, such as his portrayals in cartoons such as Batman: The Animated Series, games like the Arkham Asylum series, and even block buster movies such as The Dark Knight Trilogy where he is portrayed by Cillian Murphy. When it comes to actual comic book stories, good Scarecrow stories are few and far between. But there are fundamental issues and story arcs that show just how impactful or impressive the character can be. While there still really isn’t a definitive Scarecrow story, each of these present the master of fear in a sinister and deadly light. [Read more…] about The Best Scarecrow (Batman Villain) Comics!