Reading comic books in order and other questions?

Question

Hi, I'm still a newbie with Comic Books since I just started getting into them recently but I had a few very newbie questions....

1. How should they be read? like do you read them in chronilogical order as if every issue is telling a long story or is can you just pick out a random comic in a series such as Batman #457 and know whats going on because its one set story?

2. Do you usually just get the graphic novels containing many of the comic strips instead of the actual single comic book? or just get the single issues when you get the chance and have the money?

3. Whats a comic book cross over?

4. Is Watchmen by Alan Moore a good starting point for a beginner to enter the world of Superhero Comics?

Thanks,

Any other tips on reading would be great, and I know is isn't rocket science, was just wondering.

Answer 1

Hello ,

1) It's challenging to just jump in but that is probably best to just start and catch up with the story-line(s) and character(s) .

Comic books ;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_books

2) I only get the graphic novel if it's an independent plot of the on-going monthly comic .

Graphic novels ;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_novels

3) A cross over is where a character or characters jump over from another series or plot-line .

4) Watchmen , V For Vendetta or The Dark Knight Returns would be excellent introductions into the comicbook universe .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_for_Vendetta

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_The_Dark_Knight_Returns

5) The book "Comics and Sequential Art" by Will Eisner would be a good way to introduce yourself to the world of the comic artist .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comics_and_Sequential_Art

6) You can care for your books by putting them in dedicated protective materials .

http://www.bcwsupplies.com/products/Comic-Book-Supplies/

7) Try to avoid the "collecting for profit" craze . Just read them for your own enjoyment ! Good luck !



=^,,^=

Answer 2

1. Try to start a title at the begining of an story arc, you can always find trades to fill you in on the characters backstory.

2. I prefer to get the individual issues instead of waiting for the trades. A graphic novel is a self contained work starring a established character (usually), while a tradepaperback is the collected issues of a title that have already been published.

3.It involves characters and teams from different titles appearing in each others books , usually to defeat some powerful menace.

4. Probably not, while i recomend it as a good read you would be better served picking something that you have some interest in.

Answer 3

well this section is usualy reserved for manga but i would read in order so you get the story.i buy manga all come in the larger.and a crossover is when like to different storys combine and the seperate usually in one episode.and for you last question no. i would just start reading the comic now

Answer 4

it depends. If you want to start in the middle, I would suggest searching online about previous chapters so that you can at least understand what is going on. I would recommend that, or just starting from the beginning then jumping chapters in between.