5 Comic Books For Beginners!

Truthfully, it can be a little overwhelming to jump into the community of comic book readers because the history of just a single character can span decades. But I'm here to attempt to make reading comics just a little less scary with 5 comic books that I think are excellent for comic newbies!

1. Batman: Court of Owls (New 52 Volume 1)

DC Comics Database / Via dc.wikia.com

Let's start with a character you have probably already heard of; Batman. Maybe you have seen Batman Begins or saw a cartoon when you were younger. Either way starting with a character like Batman is great because there are basically endless stories to choose from. But for a new reader, I would recommend reading Batman: Court of Owls. In 2011 DC decided to reboot their entire universe with the intention of attracting new readers. And guess what, it worked! Scott Snyder is a boss and if you love his writing (which of course you will) this will open a lot more doors for you!

2. Scott Pilgrim

Bryan Lee O'Malley / Via en.wikipedia.org

Scott Pilgrim is a great read for adults, teens and everything in between! This is a slice of life story about a group of early-twenties living in Canada. They spend their days chilling in their apartment or rocking out in their garage band. Plus, they made a movie out of it if you're into that!

3. Sweet Tooth

Jeff Lemire / Via en.wikipedia.org

Now, this one is a personal favorite. Sweet Tooth (written AND drawn by the genius Jeff Lemire) is an apocalyptic tale of sorts that deals with a future full of half-animal hybrids. We follow Gus, an innocent half-deer child who has lived his whole life in the woods with his father, forbidden to venture beyond the safety of their secluded cabin. It's a story of loss, of triumph, of friendship, discovery, love and so much more. It's quite a tear-jerker so don't say I didn't warn you!

4. The Walking Dead (Volume 1)

Robert Kirkman / Via en.wikipedia.org

Let's go back a little bit to something you already know. The Walking Dead is a wildly popular TV show but did you know that it originally was published as a comic book? I have read the comics and watched the show and let me tell you, the comic is absolutely amazing. There are about 10 years of comics already in existence, but don't let this overwhelm you. Pick up volume one, settle in and prepare for a wild adventure that is similar enough to the show to make you feel comfortable, but different enough that it's a separate experience.

5. Y: The Last Man

Brian K. Vaughn / Via en.wikipedia.org

So maybe you like the idea of post-apocalyptic stories but you want something with some humor and realism? Look no further! Y: The Last Man is a tale by Brian K. Vaughn and it follows Yorick and his pet male monkey, the only male mammals to survive a mysteriously deadly virus. You might think that the only dude left alone left on a planet full of women would be like paradise but oh no, you would be very wrong. There's so much to love about this story but it's main attraction is the characters themselves.

These comic books only scratch the surface of what creators have to offer. Honestly, this article could have been a million pages long but I decide to keep it short and sweet. Let me know if you have some other great suggestions for comic newbies.

Stay awesome, nerds!