Quick Start Guide

The best thing for a new reader to do is buy a trade paperback, trade paperbacks (TPBs) are cheap (between $15-$40) collections of comic issues, or a complete graphic novel bound in a book form. These paperbacks are readily available through amazon, eBay, and can be found for half price on sites like CheapGraphicNovels and Instocktrades. TPBs are also sold at most book retailers and local comic book stores.

To get started try any of these books (all of which are available, completely free, in the Comic Book Club library). You can also click a book to find it on amazon.

The Confusing World of Comics

Ok. You don’t want the quick start guide. You should be warned that getting into comics can be a confusing process, due to illogical numbering, too many series, and weird crossovers. You can skip a lot of mistakes and wasted money if you’re smart.

How to sidestep buying things you don’t want:

1. Talk to your local comic book store staff. They’ll be able to help you out.
2. Use websites like ComicBookHerald for reading guides.
3. Keep reading this page.
4. Pick from the selection of recommendations at the bottom of this page.

What about Digital?

If you prefer to read digitally Comixology is a website that allows you to buy almost any comic from Marvel, DC or any other publisher. Marvel and DC also both have subscription services that give you access to nearly every comic from their entire histories for ~$10 a month (Marvel Unlimited, DC Universe Infinite). All of these apps will let you read from your mobile phone, and laptop.

Be careful with digital. Marvel and DC will catalog their apps by series which can cause confusion when trying to read crossovers between series. Some series are designed to be read together, swapping series between issues (Avengers/New Avengers, Fantastic Four/FF). Some series will have yearly “Annual” issues that are considered to be a different series, but often include major plot developments. TPBs will collect everything in the correct order making it much easier to follow the story.

Paperbacks, Issues, Hardcovers and More

Issues

When you think comics, you’re probably imagining an issue. Issues are floppy 20-30 page comics that typically cost $4-$5. These have ads and are held together by staples. Issues are exclusively sold at comic book stores and online retailers. To find your local comic book store click here. New series always release issues first, which are typically collected into paperbacks and put on digital around six months later. New DC issues come out on Tuesdays and everything else comes out on Wednesdays.

Issues are the kind of comics collectors buy, meaning they can often be expensive if you don’t get them on release day. Comic scalpers may buy them up hoping to flip them for a quick buck. To avoid this, you can set up a Pull Box, with your comics store which will tell them to reserve any comics you might want.

Back Issues are old issues. Back issues can be from anywhere between the 1930s to about 6 months ago. Every comic book store designates back issues and current comics differently, but back issues are typically stored in boxes while new comics are displayed on racks. Back issues are often more expensive and better suited for collectors.

These can be confusing because often they are numbered poorly, or require a lot of existing knowledge to understand. Read the section about legacy numbering, or talk to your comics store to learn more.

Paperbacks/TPBs

TPBs (Trade Paperbacks) are typically the cheapest way to read physical comics. They contain between 4-12 issues of a series (150-300 pages) and will typically collect a complete storyline running through those issues. Sometimes TPBs will be part of a series, and sometimes they will be standalone. TPBs are normally between $15-$30

Like most comics these are available anywhere you would look for books, at your local comics store, and can be found for half off on websites like CheapGraphicNovels and Instocktrades.

Hardcovers

There are two types of hardcover, Standard Size Hardcover and Oversized Hardcover, like the names suggest a standard size hardcover is about the size of an issue or a TPB, and an oversized hardcover is slightly larger. Standard size hardcovers can collect between 6-12 issues (150-300 pages) and will cost around $20. Most hardcovers these days are oversized. Oversized Hardcovers will collect anywhere from 12-20 issues (300-400 pages) and will cost between $30-$75. Both of these formats can be numbered or standalone.

These are sold anywhere that sells books but can be found for half off on websites like CheapGraphicNovels and Instocktrades.

Omnibus

These are gigantic Oversized Hardcovers, typically collecting between 30-50 issues (700-1400 pages) and costing between $75-$150. These are mostly for hardcore collectors who want to contain a large section of a series in a single book. These will often collect entire runs of comics or entire series but can sometimes be part of a numbered set.

Omnibus editions are massive, heavy, and sometimes difficult to read.

These are sometimes sold at comic book stores but can be found for half off on websites like CheapGraphicNovels and Instocktrades.

Absolute

About as big as comics can get. If you ever wanted to see art on pages double the size they were originally printed, absolute editions are perfect for you. These are in the same price range as an omnibus, $75-$150, but collect less material, typically between 12-30 issues (400-600 pages). Absolute editions may collect an entire run or series, or they can be standalone.

Side note: DC comics calls these Absolute Editions but other companies sometimes call them Library Editions, or Gallery Editions. These are sometimes sold at comic book stores but can be found for half off on websites like CheapGraphicNovels and Instocktrades.

Printing Schedules

This is only important if you care about knowing what books are coming out and when. If you’re just looking to get started in comics I’d recommend looking for some comics on Amazon and exploring the comic book club library.

Comics have a set amount of time they are in print. An in print book will be much cheaper than an out of print book. Issues are mostly only printed once although some high-selling comics will return for a second printing. Second printing issues will normally have a different cover the same price, but lower resale value.

TPBs and Hardcovers will occasionally have second printings but it’s rare. Sometimes certain lines of books (like Marvel’s Epic Collections) will receive reprints. Famous or Iconic material will sometimes be evergreen, meaning it’s constantly in print. Books like Watchmen and Saga are unlikely to ever become unavailable.

Omnibus’ and Absolutes will almost always be reprinted after going out of print. If you find an Omnibus or Absolute that’s currently out of print if you wait a couple years it’s almost certain there will be a new printing. If you’re getting into buying Omnibus’ or Absolutes it’s best to keep an eye on what’s coming into print so you can pick up the best deals.

Almost any sort of collected edition (TPBs, Hardcovers, Omnibus, Absolute) will be available for half off cover price while in print. Instocktrades and CheapGraphicNovels offer large discounts and have great shipping. If you’re collecting this material it’s best to do it on these websites. Unlike issues, secondary printings of collected editions are not less valuable to collectors.

To see what’s coming into and out of print you can visit the coming soon section on Instocktrades and CheapGraphicNovels, or you can visit PreviewsWorld.

A Crash Course on Issue Collecting

Collecting issues is the most confusing, and frustrating part for of collecting for any fan, so make sure you don’t accidentally buy the wrong thing while you’re shopping. If you’re not planning on buying single issues (it’s not the most cost effective or easy way to read comics) feel free to skip over this section.

The Numbers

There have been 6 (soon to be 7) Amazing Spider-Man #1’s, and only one of them is the first #1.

The most annoying thing about collecting comics is Legacy Numbering. Legacy Numbering basically means that the series restarted at #1 while technically still continuing its original numbering.

The shorthand for specifying which numbering is meant is <series name> (<year renumbering started>). For example the current Amazing Spider-Man series could be called Amazing Spider-Man (2022), which would have a different numbering than Amazing Spider-Man (1963). If two separate #1’s for the same series came out in the same year you would say Spider-Gwen(2015A) and Spider-Gwen(2015B)

Issue #1 of the Amazing Spider-Man(1999) was technically also Amazing Spider-Man #442.

Here is a Graphic from Marvel showing the numbering for Amazing Spider-Man up to 2018

Yes, this is stupid. Yes, it’s annoying. One of the series counting towards the Amazing Spider-Man numbering isn’t even called Amazing Spider-Man. The new #1’s are typically a gimmick to get new fans to buy the comic.

None of this is helped by the fact that at random points Marvel will decide to return to legacy numbering as the official numbering, typically when they realize they can sell a big anniversary issue. You’ll get things like Amazing Spider-Man #900 being sandwiched between issues #5 and #7.

DC’s re-numberings are different because when a DC book is renumbering it typically means that the entire DC universe is being rebooted (it happens more than you would think).

The good news is that typically a new #1 issue means it’s a good time to pick up a series even if you’ve never read any of the previous issues.

Recently marvel has started placing a small legacy number under the series number on all of its legacy numbered books. Any other legacy numbered series will not include both numberings. This includes all series from DC.

All of this means that you should be extra careful when looking for an issue in a comic book store. Just because it has the same name and number as the book you’re looking for doesn’t mean it’s the same book. When in doubt ask the person working in the store, or consult the internet.

Sometimes a series will release an Annual issue which typically happens every year instead of every month. Recently annuals have become much less common but they still happen every so often. The annuals and the main series will have entirely different numberings. Sometimes an annual will be released that doesn’t tie into a currently ongoing series.

Variant Covers

A Connecting Pair of X-Men (1991) Variant Covers

Sometimes one comic can have multiple covers. Any cover that isn’t the main cover is called a Variant Cover. Variant covers have become increasingly popular, to the point that it seems like every comic these days has at least two covers.

Some variant covers are called incentive variants. These variants are given to stores if they buy a certain amount of the comic. A 1:25 variant will be given to any comic book store that orders 25 copies of a book. Incentive variants are often more expensive. Non incentive variants may have have a higher or lower resale value than the main cover but will normally be sold at cover price on release day.

The Back Issues

Back issues can vary in price widely. In most comic book stores the expensive issues are displayed in some sort of case or on a wall behind the counter. Most back issues are stored in white boxes and are preserved in plastic bags with cardstock boards.

Comics in a hard plastic shell are graded.

What to Read

First check out some of the posts on this website. There’s a number of books featured that are great for new fans. Then check out the comic book club library, it’s completely free and contains lots of great books.

If you’re still looking for more comics all of the books in the list below should be available anywhere books are found.

Click on any book to find it on Amazon.

Batman

Superman

Spider-Man

Other Superhero Books

Non-Superhero