Few writers, artists, or creative minds have influenced the DC Universe of the 2000’s the same way as Geoff Johns. Across era defining works like Green Lantern: Rebirth, Infinite Crisis, Blackest Night, and Flashpoint, Johns has dramatically shaped DC Comics as we know the today. [Read more…] about Geoff Johns DC Comics Reading Order
DC Comics
Justice Society of America (JSA) Reading Order!
When I think of the Justice Society of America, I think of my Dad, and when I think of my Dad, I think of the oldest living man I’ve known. Modern readers telling me they like the Justice Society sounds like longing for .05 cent hot dogs and the World’s Fair.
What I’m getting at here is the JSA have been around for a minute. [Read more…] about Justice Society of America (JSA) Reading Order!
Sandman Universe Reading Order!
Neil Gaiman’s work writing Sandman (co-created by Mike Dringenberg and Sam Keith) is a towering achievement in comics, defining the 90’s Vertigo aesthetic and welcoming in a new generation of readers. The first issue was published in early 1989, and the series ran for 75 issues (plus a handful of specials and short stories) until 1996.
While the initial recommendations are easy – Sandman is my *second* favorite comic book series of all time, and the first 10 volumes of collected editions are absolutely the best starting place – once you get past the core series, there’s a whole Sandman Universe that is significantly more challenging to follow. [Read more…] about Sandman Universe Reading Order!
Grant Morrison DC Comics Reading Order!
Starting around Marvel’s 2015 Secret Wars, I started thinking more about the concept of creative visions creating their own shared universe tapestry within Marvel or DC Comics. This came on the heels of what I viewed as the cohesive-yet-separate visions of a Hickman-verse, Remender-verse, and Bendis-verse within the broader boundaries of Marvel.
Of course, the grandaddy of all modern creative visions is Grant Morrison’s now thirty-plus year writings across the DC Universe. The Morrison-verse is genuinely captivating entirely on its own terms, without reading much DC in between (not that that’s a *bad* idea!). [Read more…] about Grant Morrison DC Comics Reading Order!
Swamp Thing Reading Order
There’s an intriguing dissonance between the simplicity of Swamp Thing’s creation (big ol’ fun bronze age horror monster created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson) and the character’s influence on the entire superhero comics medium. In many ways The Saga of the Swamp Thing is the godfather of the mature readers targeting Vertigo movement that swept the late 80’s and 90’s, perhaps unsurprising when you consider Watchmen