by Jesse Hudgins
Comic books can be a daunting hobby to get into. Depending on the character(s) that catch your attention, you can be looking at 50+ years of history and stories revolving around them. Not to mention, you may feel like you’re missing out on something if you don’t read it, or you may only want to gravitate toward IPs you recognize out of safety. Luckily, I think right now is one of the best times to start getting into comics.
Currently, in comics, there’s a plethora of new number one issues, mainly coming from indie comics and DC. New indie companies are starting up constantly, releasing their first books that encompass plenty of different genres. DC is also giving new readers plenty of chances to get into comics with their current Next Level initiative. New first issues are popping up consistently from the brand, most being mini-series. They usually come in batches as well, offering up variety of styles. Even then, there are a fair number of reprints across the board in comics, giving second, third, and even fourth chances for readers to jump on a book. Recently, DC reprinted almost every issue of their Absolute titles due to the phenomenon they’ve been for DC. Even on the indies, there have been reprints of every Assorted Crisis Events book with brand new covers.
For those trying to delve into DC Comics and their rich history of books but are terrified of the cost and have no way to get them digitally, DC has introduced a cost-effective new form of collecting. In the summer of 2024, DC launched its brand of compact comics. These were small portable graphic novels that cost about half the cost of a typical trade paperback. They were made to be a more affordable means of reading classic stories. These also get produced at a frequent pace, with even some newer stories like the Absolute books getting adaptations into compact form. This was a brilliant move from DC, with most shops reporting that they’re selling out of the compacts and having to order more. The one downside people have mentioned is the cheaper, lower-quality paper the books are printed on. That’s how the books can be so affordable, and it clearly doesn’t bother those who buy them.
Again, there really hasn’t been a better time to begin getting into comic books. There are plenty of different avenues to indulge in if you are someone who wants to get into the hobby but doesn’t know where to start. Even then, your local comic bookstore should be able to help you with starting points or even book recommendations!
