I’m pretty new to reading comics. I’ve always been a fan of DC, I have all the animated DC movies.
I just finished reading Dark Knight Metal and the available issues for Batman Who Laughs.
Any recommendations on what I should checkout next?
In terms of Batman, And since you started with Batman who laughs, I would suggest Scott Snyders New 52 run starting with The Court of Owls, one of the best Batman runs of all time. In terms of classics, I would say
Batman: Year One
The Dark Knight Returns
Long Halloween
Dark Victory
Killing Joke
The Man who Laughs
A Death in the Family
Scott Snyder’s main fame started with his runs of
Batman 2011
Swamp Thing 2011
After Metal
Justice League No Justice
Justice League 2018
If you like Batman
Go to Comics
Find Get to Know
Sort Alphabetically
Find Batman
There are some New Articles
A Start Reading Batman
Scott Snyder recommends Batman
If you don’t know much about DC
Watch Secret Origins Siory of DC Comics. it covers DC Comics up to the the big three British Authors Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore and Grant Morrison
It only takes an hour and a half and gives you a solid background in the History of DC Comics
If you have favorite characters go to
in Comic Books
Browse
Get To Know
Sort Alphabetically
There are start Reading Guides
for
Batman
Dick Grayson
Supergirl
Superman
The Flash
The Teen Titans
Wonder Woman
Storylines in Browse can also be sorted
alphabetically
that makes it easier to find great Batman storylines among other characters.
The Encyclopedia may give you important titles and issues for the character you are interested in.
You can join.a Book.Club
A good link for Batman is
In general
Crisis events comics are the worst to start with
Too many unfamilar characters with little character development
If you want to gain basic knowledge of a wide range of DC characters over the entire history of DC Comics
My two lists of best DC stories, 13 historic and 54 recommended are found at
Just try to read first arc in a title
Then go to next title
Either by the timeline
Or by characters you are interested in
Emphsis was for coverage of most major characters and teams, while giving enough on these characters so could understand their basics.
The idea was that there are probably more than great ten Superman Origin Titles, so just pick one.
Coverage of Titles
Aquaman 2
Batman 3
Blue Beetle Jamie 1
‘Dark’ Solo characters 4
‘Dark’ Teams 3
Earth 2 2
Flash JLA Earth 2 Beginnings 1
Gail Simone 2
Hawkman 3
Jessica Cruz 2
Justce League 3
Justice Society 3
Legion of Super Heroes 1
Solo Female Super Heroes 5
Suicide Squad 1
Superman 3
The Terrifics 1
Titans/ Young Justice 4
Vertigo Sandman Death 1
Wonder Woman 2
Warren Ellls 2
Other Titles in Recommendations
Legends by John Bryne
DC New Frontier
DC Universe Rebirth
Flintstones
Doomsday Clock not yet finished in our library which contains issues a year after publication.
My Super Hero Genre History lists significant DC Titles and issues
It is by year
Look.at the start of each post for starting year to
Find issue or titles that might interest you
After Crisis on Infinite Earth is year 1986
I would recommend checking out these three sections of the site, in this order:
I’m going to throw out my favorites.
Any Dan Jurgens Superman work.
Any John Byrne Superman work.
Robin by Chuck Dixon (including minis).
Superboy (Connor) Especially #’s 83-88.
I like fun comics over dark comics. I love a lot of the stuff mentioned above, but I can’t imagine starting out with Arkham Asylum, Killing Joke, Kingdom Come. To me that’s like wanting a snack and eating Shepherd’s Pie.
I agree with @AlexanderKnox.
I agree with not pushing ‘Dark’ characters or stories
Especially since many dark comics are 'meta ’ or deconstructions, which rely on you knowing something about the characters being disected.
I tried to pick arcs which a reader beginning in.DC comics could easily understand.
I would say the Dark or Mature titles in my list are relatively few
Spectre by Ostrander
Batman Year One by Miller
Planetary and Global Frequency by Warren Ellis
Secret Six by Gail Simone
Dearh by Neil Gaiman not in library
The other series I call dark are more mainstram
Swamp Thing by Wein and Moore
Frankenstein by Lemire
Demon Knights
Shadowpact
Justice league Dark
That is 6 to 12 arcs out of 54 arcs.
All of which could be skipped easily.
My DC Universe is bright and fun but there are dark places in it, as is everywhere.
@TurokSonOfStone1950 I agree with yours, but I just read your list. I didn’t the first skim. I’m sorry, man. You know I think you’re a comic genius. If you told me I was wrong about my recommendations I’d immediately agree.