Lately, this column has been going wild with huge lists that would make the most devoted fanboy cry at the hopelessness of attacking them. I’m not promising to change that for good (because, you know, I’m a bit unhinged), but as per a reader’s request I will be doing a two-parter on how to get into either DC or Marvel comics, chronologically speaking. We start with DC, skipping the early years of the JSA for the more “modern” DC heroes that most people think of when they think DC (though if you’re interested in the JSA I did a column on them a while back). Follow the jump for all sorts of Year Ones and Secret Origins.
Green Arrow: Year One
You were probably expecting me to start you off with some Batman or Superman, weren’t you? Certainly not! While this comes chronologically first anyways, it seems that most Marvel-exclusive fans seem to think that DC is really only Batman and Superman, and so I thought it necessary to start with someone other than the World’s Finest. Andy Diggle and Jock’s Green Arrow: Year One is one of my favorite superhero comics, and it’s nice to read something good featuring the Emerald Archer while his current ongoing is, quite frankly, terrible. This is a very well done story, and reading it makes me wish Diggle would stop being exclusive for Marvel so he could come back and fix the mess that DC has made the Green Arrow franchise into.
Superman: Secret Origin
Superman’s origin has been told so many different ways by this point, that there are plenty other ways to get the basic gist of it. If you want the classic Batman: Year One equivalent, you go with John Byrne’s The Man of Steel; for an interesting modernization of the tale, there’s Mark Waid’s Birthright. However, if you’re going for canonicity and beautiful Gary Frank art, there’s the as-of-yet unfinished Superman: Secret Origin by Geoff Johns. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been enjoying Secret Origin, but Birthright was only about five years ago. Any changes in the canon could have just been done with an Annual or one-shot, in my opinion. As I said, though, the book is well written, so if you are not currently reading it I recommend getting the trade once it comes out (which could be five years from now, knowing how poor DC’s trade publishing rate is).
Green Lantern: Secret Origin
Now, were I making an actual column on Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, I would recommend starting with Emerald Dawn over this. Not only does Emerald Dawn flow right into the very important Emerald Dawn II (fancy that), but I feel Secret Origin normally works best when read right shortly before that whole Blackest Night mess. However, Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern has been selling like candy, and many previously Marvel-exclusive fans jumped ship to see what all the hubbub is about, so I feel I would be betraying my (two or three) readers if I didn’t include this. If you really like Secret Origin, I recommend just jumping ahead to the rest of Johns’ Green Lantern, starting with Rebirth (the trade has a recap page that lets you know what was happening up until then).
Batman: Year One
The origin story of all origin stories, Batman: Year One has been in continuity since it was published in 1987. This is partially because it is brilliant, and partially because Frank Miller is so crazy at this point that DC’s staff are probably terrified that if they removed it from canon, Miller would go on a murderous rampage through their offices, claiming to be The Goddamn Frank Miller (kidding, kidding). Miller’s dark writing and Mazzuchelli’s gritty art go hand in hand, and I would say that this is even better than Miller’s slightly more famous The Dark Knight Returns, though that opinion is certainly debatable.
Continued belowWonder Woman: Gods and Mortals
Gods and Mortals is to Wonder Woman as Year One is to Batman: while some elements have been touched up on multiple times over the years, the core story is still canon after over twenty years. Honestly, if it were not for George Pérez, Wonder Woman might not even exist right now, or at least not at all as we know her. Nearly since her creation, the character was in need of a serious update, and the original Crisis gave DC the perfect excuse to revamp the Amazonian princess. Originally scheduled to just handle the art, Pérez soon took over writing duties after the departure of writer Greg Potter, and since then Pérez has often been labelled the classic Wonder Woman writer. If you aren’t familiar with the character, I highly recommend picking this up, as it’s quite probable that it will be unlike anything you expect.
The Flash: Born to Run
While this is more focused on Wally West than Barry Allen, there is currently no definitive origin story for Barry (though I hear we may be getting a Flash: Secret Origin sometime soon). Until then, this is the best choice for the early years of Barry Allen. I’m often uneasy about using stories told through flashbacks for these sorts of lists, as the non-flashback scenes can often give things away, but not too much is spoiled in this one other than Barry’s eventual fate, which is old news anyways. Plus, if you enjoy this, it’s the perfect place to start my list on The Flash!
JLA: Year One
What better story to end with than the formation of the JLA? This story also serves as a good introduction to those characters without easily locatable origin stories (Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, etc). Another one by Mark Waid, JLA: Year One is nothing incredible, but it’s still a fun story that is certainly worth reading. I also find this an interesting start with the JLA for people who are only somewhat familiar with DC, as they tend to be surprised by who are the JLA’s founding members – or, more importantly, who are not.
Man, that’s a lot shorter than previous lists. For some additional reading, I recommend the book DC Universe: Origins, containing all the 3-page (or was it 4?) origin stories from 52 and Countdown. It’s quite informative, though not necessarily “fun.” With that in mind, let’s look at this week’s list:
- Green Arrow: Year One
- Superman: Secret Origin
- Green Lantern: Secret Origin
- Batman: Year One
- Wonder Woman: Gods and Mortals
- The Flash: Born to Run
- JLA: Year One
See you next week for the Marvel equivalent!
