In last week’s chronology, we looked at the first 12 comics that featured Bat-Man, meeting his fiancé Julie Madison, our first look at the Batarang and the debut of Dick Grayson, also known as the first Robin, the Boy Wonder. After a year in National Comics, better known now as DC Comics, Batman became so popular that he was given his own self-titled publication, premiering 75 years ago in the Spring of 1940. [Read more…] about History of the Batman Pt. 2: The Invention of the Infamous Rogues Gallery
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!
History of the Batman, pt. 1: Batman’s Literal Year One
Created in light of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s practically invincible character Superman, editor Vin Sullivan asked Bob Kane to come up with a character that would be as popular as the Man of Steel. Inspired by pulp fiction comics and Leonardo Da Vinci’s flying machine, Kane created the Bat-Man. Once ghostwriter Bill Finger put his influence into this new hero, Bat-Man changed into a dark masked vigilante, donning a grey and black cape and cowl with small swept ears. Different as night and day, the ordinary human with extraordinary mastery of science and martial arts debuted in Detective Comics #27 in May of 1939 (cover date). [Read more…] about History of the Batman, pt. 1: Batman’s Literal Year One
X-Men Chronology: Mike Carey’s run
When you look back at the history of the X-Men, certain writers stand out. These are writers who settled down into the book, who produced definitive works that shaped and transformed the X-Men mythos, and who developed much of the continuity fans love. Top of the list is the legendary Chris Claremont, who – between 1975 and 1991 – penned no less than 186 consecutive issues. But in second place is Mike Carey, who took over the helm of ‘X-Men’ in 2006, and left in 2011, having penned a 73-issue series. [Read more…] about X-Men Chronology: Mike Carey’s run
Messiah CompleX Overview
2005’s ‘House of M’ had transformed the X-Men’s world, decimating the mutant race. But by 2006, the Marvel writers started working towards a grand crossover that would move the X-books into a new phase – an arc that was finally unveiled in the 2007 event ‘Messiah CompleX’. [Read more…] about Messiah CompleX Overview
The Complete X-Men Reading Order Guide: Chris Claremont Era
Chris Claremont turned a failing comic about mutants into one of the most successful comic book franchises of all time. Though, often criticized for being too wordy or having wooden dialogue, Claremont helped create a more literary medium bringing comics into the modern era. Claremont wrote X-men comics for 16 years! Those 16 years form one of the greatest epics ever created. All modern X-men comics use Claremont’s run as a foundation. You won’t be able to truly understand X-Men: Messiah Complex without reading these books first. The good news is a lot of these comics hold up pretty well. In this guide I’ll try to differentiate the *required reading* from the *just for fun*. [Read more…] about The Complete X-Men Reading Order Guide: Chris Claremont Era