So, a clanmate recently expressed interest in reading superhero comics. I'm an avid comics fan (don't have the encyclopedic knowledge required to be a comics nerd) and so I made a list of superhero comics worth reading. The reason I didn't include comics in other genres is because that list would be even longer (And I would never stop gushing about
Chew) and it isn't what was asked.
I've decided to share this list with anyone who might be interested, and see what other readers enjoy most in this genre. It's limited to ongoing series- that is, series that are currently being published on a regular basis. Usually monthly.
Archer & Armstrong: A classic misfit duo type book. It's got a great sense of humor and a strong sense of character development, with a subtle thread underneath the puzzle-driven adventure. Hilarious super-villain groups, such as the One Percenters (exactly what you think, and something else) and the Null, a society dedicated to the number Zero and making everything equal Zero. If you're a fundamentalist Christian self-proclaimed conservative, you might be offended.
Bandette: I'm going to say this counts as a superhero comic. Without a doubt one of the best series out there right now. Excellent writing, phenomenal art, and a sense of amusement that just flies off the page.
Batman: The only Batman book worth reading, now that Batman Incorporated is no longer under Grant Morrison. While the author wrote Dick Grayson Batman better, he's proven himself capable of writing an engaging series with Batman doing Batman-y things. Like uncovering criminal secret societies while growling and punching horses in the face. The art is consistent. The coloring is probably the most uniquely good thing about the art.
Daredevil Vol. 3: If I had one comic series to give to someone to show that person what superhero comics are all about, this would be it. It showcases, more than anything else, the collaborative nature of comics- and how having an excellent writer, artist, letterer, and colorist that know how to work together well can yield a masterpiece.
Hawkeye: My personal favorite in this genre. The way the series conveys action and conversation are, well, revolutionary. Every little bit of art and writing oozes personality. You are irrevocably drawn into the mindset of the main character in a way that just doesn't happen in any other superhero comic. It doesn't hurt that it's stylish, and the art is phenomenal. Another great example of collaborative creation at it's best. I'm going to stop now, because I could go on. And on.
Quantum & Woody: It's funny. It's witty. It's crass. All at the same time. You've got two brothers. One is uptight, easily flustered, the perfect son, and an ex-Army officer. The other is a slacker scumbag con-artist. They become super-heroes...or do they? You find out.
Superman Unchained: This series just started, so I shouldn't be judging it, but my was that first issue grand. It's the only Superman series I've seen in a long time that manages to convey just who Superman is as a person. As opposed to the punchy dude/man of the people/'badass' boyscout that he's usually portrayed as.
Wolverine and the X-Men: If you're going to read anything with Wolverine or any X-Man in it, this should be it. It's got child supervillains. And living mountains underneath a school. And stuff.
Young Avengers: I spent some of my teenaged years morosely sulking and watching Buffy. As you can imagine, I've had enough adolescent melodrama in my life, and as a result, my tolerance for teenagers in fiction isn't that high. Yet there's
Young Avengers proving that the teenaged melodrama can be awesome! It really won me over, because I went in thinking I'd dislike it. It is, ultimately, about teenagers fucking up and learning that the only solution is to fix their mistakes themselves, and accept others. The art helped, too, since, well, it's excellent. The layouts are often more like infographics and website layouts used in a creative way to tell a story than the usual comic panel setup.
And that was A list. There's quite a few superhero comics out there that are still worth reading that didn't 'make the cut' for me just because it didn't have that extra oomph. Some of these comics have first issues that are free. With the others, buying them in graphic novel form (six issues-ish published in book) is generally cheaper. As is waiting for Comixology sales, which are like steam sales for comics. If you're going to pick just one superhero comic to read, I'd suggest Bandette. Because the first issue is free, and the rest are 99 cents.
ADDENDUM: It just occurred to me that the single biggest thing that people who are new to comics don't realize is that the best thing to do is to follow a creator/creative team rather than a specific concept/superhero. I think most comics readers only figure this out in adulthood, but even then, not everyone does it. Sure, you might like Spider-Man...does that mean you'll enjoy a Spider-Man comic? Maybe. However, if you like Dan Slott (the current writer for Spider-Man), chances are, you'll like Spider-Man. Get it?
As you read comics, you'll begin to develop a taste for specific writers and artists, which will help you figure out what comics you're going to like. Every team has it's bad days, but some teams are better on their worst days than others are on their best days.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, issues of Bandette are no longer free. They're now 99 cents.
