Take a little bit of Batman, a little bit of Joker, and a whole lot of Dark Multiverse, and you get the 2017 introduction of DC Comics’ The Batman Who Laughs. The name is a play on “The Man Who Laughs
,” itself a well beloved retelling of the Joker’s early days by writer Ed Brubaker and artist Doug Mahnke (and of course their comics work is named for a silent film that is often attributed to inspiration for the Joker’s creation!). [Read more…] about The Batman Who Laughs Reading Order!
Comic Book Herald Reading Orders
Click the following link if you're looking for the CBH Marvel Reading Order. Otherwise, enjoy a smattering of comic book reading orders below!
Baron Zemo Reading Order
Captain America’s long-standing German adversary. No, not the Red Skull- the other one. The one with the purple sock over his head. Usually wearing some sorta gold tiara/crown-type deal and some polka-dotted fur collar and/or shoulder-pad flairs? That guy. Same love of flashy pants and boots as the Skull, though, no doubt.
While the Red Skull is Captain America’s uncontested historical arch-nemesis, that doesn’t necessarily make the Zemos also-rans in their hate for the fighting man in the spangly costume. The Skull is ideologically opposed to the things Steve Rogers embodies and in that clear black and white dichotomy lies a billion broad-stroke stories depicting good versus evil.
The Zemos, however, are born of aristocracy and possess an innately misguided “old world” entitlement. It’s a bad base, sure, but it does make them inherently more “gray area” at times- kind of like how Doctor Doom will sometimes work with the Fantastic Four and everyone’s like: “See, now that wasn’t so hard was it, Victor??”. It can occasionally be like that with the younger Zemo as well. Once you work through the blind revenge, you can see his motivations lie more in being frustrated by how easily Rogers wields compassion- a quality he himself is unable to unlock. Truly a great character example of nature versus nurture…
The elder Zemo was a Nazi, though. So @#%& that guy. Straight up. [Read more…] about Baron Zemo Reading Order
She-Hulk Reading Order
Jennifer Walters is one of the best late Bronze Age character additions to the Marvel Universe, popularizing an intelligent, team-friendly Hulk before Peter David and Todd McFarlane made it cool
. It would be easy to underestimate Jen as a mere copycat of her cousin Bruce Banner, but She-Hulk is a powerful, fascinating individual, blending charisma, a legal degree, and powerhouse strength across the landscape of Marvel Comics. [Read more…] about She-Hulk Reading Order
The Essential Lois Lane Comics!
There are no small characters. Not even ones who stand next to giants.
Lois Lane is popularly thought of an adjunct to Superman. A mortal with no powers save the ability to ask a question and turn Clark down for a date. But she’s so much more than that.
She can be brave, brilliant, cunning, and utterly unique. There can be — in fact, has been — a world without Superman
. But I can’t think of DC main continuity without Lois Lane.
I’m here to show why that is. [Read more…] about The Essential Lois Lane Comics!
Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan) Reading Order!
Kamala Khan is my favorite new character in the Marvel Universe during the Marvel NOW era (2012 to 2015), with creators G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona putting a spin on the Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel legacy and creating a modern teen hero in the style of Peter Parker. [Read more…] about Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan) Reading Order!