Where to Begin – The Good in Comics

STAR WARS COMICS: WHERE TO BEGIN

Posted on November 5, 2019 by thegoodincomics

I’ve been a Star Wars fan for longer than I can remember. Really, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know what Star Wars was. Of course, that fandom joined forces with my comic book fandom pretty early, and over the years I’ve read a lot of Star Wars comics.

Because there have been decades of Star Wars comics from different publishers, and dealing with many different characters, time periods, and canons, it might be kind of confusing to figure out a good place to start. In this article, I’ve provided some series that I think any Star Wars fan would enjoy reading. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list by any means, just some good suggestions. If you’re looking to get into the world of Star Wars comics, here’s where to begin.

AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Comic Reading Guide

Posted on October 23, 2019October 27, 2019 by thegoodincomics

Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of my favorite TV shows of all time. The 2005 Nickelodeon cartoon tells the story of Aang, a boy with the power to bend the elements to his will, as he and his friends try to end a century-long war. Although it is ostensibly a children’s show, Avatar: The Last Airbender has amazing character depth and deals with the realities of trauma, loss, and war. I love the show a lot, and I recommend it to anyone of any age.

Although Avatar ended after three seasons, the story continues in the form of comics from Dark Horse Books. These comics have original story concepts by the series’ creators, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. They are all very good, seeming just like more episodes of the show. If you’re a fan who wants to give the comics a try, but doesn’t know where to begin, this guide will give you all the information you need to jump right in. These comics build off one another, so they’re best read in order. Full spoilers for the show are within, so be warned if you haven’t finished it yet.

X-MEN: WHERE TO BEGIN

Posted on October 8, 2019October 8, 2019 by thegoodincomics

Superheroes are more popular and more mainstream than ever. It seems like every week there’s a new superhero movie, TV show, or videogame hitting the screens. Nearly all of these superheroes and their stories originated in comic books. Of course, there are decades and decades worth of comics out there, and to a new fan it can be daunting trying to figure out which ones to read. In this column, I’m gonna try my best to give new fans fun, easy to understand jumping-off points into the world of comics. As far as accessibility goes, most of these comics are collected and readily available from comic shops, bookstores or online from subscription services such as Comixology, Marvel Unlimited, and DC Universe. Additionally, I always recommend your local library as a free source of comics to read, and with inter-library loan systems you can get your hands on pretty much anything.

We could be seeing the X-Men square off with the Avengers in a future MCU movie. Cover by Jack Kirby for *X-Men* 9.

For this edition of Where to Begin, I’d like to take a look at the X-Men. The X-Men have been some of my favorite superheroes since I was a kid, and I’ve always loved their movies, cartoons, and comics. The X-Men comics have become known for wide, sprawling stories with a lot of characters and spin-off series, and they can get kind of confusing to newcomers. If you’re a new fan looking for some easy entry points into the mutant world or to get ready for their eventual introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, here’s where to begin.

SHAZAM!: WHERE TO BEGIN

Posted on September 17, 2019 by thegoodincomics

Art by Evan “Doc” Shaner for *Convergence: Shazam!* 1.

For this edition of Where to Begin we’re gonna take a look at my all-time favorite superhero, the original Captain Marvel, Shazam! Shazam is a very unique and fun superhero, and with his recent movie the character is more popular than ever. I’ve been reading his comics since I was a little kid, and I thought I’d put this list together for any fans interested in giving the comics a try. For starters, there are two collections that have a good sample of stories throughout the years: Shazam! The Greatest Stories Ever Told and Shazam! A Celebration of 75 Years. Beyond those, if you want more adventures from Billy Batson and the World’s Mightiest Mortal, here’s where to begin.

FIREFLY/SERENITY Comic Reading Guide

Posted on September 11, 2019September 11, 2019 by thegoodincomics

My favorite TV show is Firefly, the 2002 space-western adventure series about the crew of the smuggling ship Serenity fighting and struggling to keep flying and eke out an existence on the wild edges of known space. The entirety of the tragically cancelled series consists of thirteen episodes and a movie, Serenity. Despite its short length, Firefly has benefitted from an army of passionate fans that have ensured the series’ recognition and passed it on to new generations of fans.

The adventures of the series’ characters have been continued in several comic books, some of them written by the show’s original creator, Joss Whedon. These comics are all very good, matching the tone, aesthetics, and quality of the TV series. They have been collected, and are easily accessible for Firefly fans looking for more familiar content. If you’re a fan who wants to give the comics a try, but you don’t know where to begin, this guide will give you all the information you need to jump right in.

INCREDIBLE HULK: WHERE TO BEGIN

Posted on September 8, 2019September 8, 2019 by thegoodincomics

Superheroes are more popular and more mainstream than ever. It seems like every week there’s a new superhero movie, TV show, or videogame hitting the screens. Nearly all of these superheroes and their stories originated in comic books. Of course, there are decades and decades worth of comics out there, and to a new fan it can be daunting trying to figure out which ones to read. In this column, I’m gonna try my best to give new fans fun, easy to understand jumping-off points into the world of comics. As far as accessibility goes, most of these comics are collected and readily available from comic shops, bookstores or online from subscription services such as Comixology, Marvel Unlimited, and D.C. Universe. Additionally, I always recommend your local library as a free source of comics to read, and with inter-library loan systems you can get your hands on pretty much anything.

For this edition of Where to Begin, I’m going to look at the Strongest Avenger himself, the Incredible Hulk. Hulk may seem at the outset like a simple character, nothing more than a big dumb green guy who gets angry and smashes things. However, when written well, the character is one of the deepest in Marvel’s entire roster. His stories often explore themes of persecution and isolation, all while providing dynamic superhero action. For everyone who enjoyed Hulk’s parts in the Avengers movies and Thor: Ragnarok, here’s where to begin.

SPIDER-MAN: WHERE TO BEGIN

Posted on August 31, 2019September 3, 2019 by thegoodincomics

Superheroes are more popular and more mainstream than ever. It seems like every week there’s a new superhero movie, TV show, or videogame hitting the screens. Of course, nearly all of these superheroes and their stories originated in comic books. There are decades and decades worth of comics out there, and to a new fan it can be daunting trying to figure out which ones to read. In this column, Where to Begin, I’m gonna try my best to give new fans fun, easy-to-understand jumping-off points into the world of comics. As far as accessibility goes, most of these comics are collected and readily available from comic shops, bookstores or online from subscription services such as Comixology, Marvel Unlimited, and D.C. Universe. Additionally, I always recommend your local library as a free source of comics to read, and with inter-library loan systems you can get your hands on pretty much anything.