Just Starting out

[atm-3]

If anybody has any tips or info I am just starting to collect any advice?
I like Batman
Thanks!

[CPT Space Bomb]

What do you mean? Like, tips on how to collect comics, or do you mean you just want some advice for the site? I'm not sure I follow you. But, Batman is a cool guy to like.

[atm-3]

yes to collect I started looking on e-bay should I be going to a store?

[jonsnow]

yes to collect I started looking on e-bay should I be going to a store?
Whew. Ok, I guess the advice I would give to you would be first to get a couple of tradepaperbacks. You can find these at any Barnes and Noble/Borders store. They are a collection of several monthly issues of comics into one story. This would let you get a few good stories, in their entirety. Might be a bit better than just jumping straight in. However, if you want actual monthly issues. The best place to start is this months issue of Detective Comics and Batman. You will be confused, but read, then come back here and people will be more than willing to fill you in on what exactly is going on. You can get those issues at any comic store. As for locating a comic store, go to this link, http://csls.diamondcomics.com/
just enter your zip and it will show you the closest stores.
If you go the tradepaperback route, I suggest getting Batman: The Long Halloween and/or Batman Year: One. Great stories and a solid place to start. Hope this was helpful.

[atm-3]

Thanks for the info

[CPT Space Bomb]

Hey, also, you might try getting subscriptions. That way you already payed for a bunch of comics to come to you, and you get a lot of money knocked off the cover price for getting one. If you are seriously going to get in, you mise well get a subscription. But, you might want to see what you're interested in first.

[Blake Petit]

I'd actually recommend against getting a subscription. You do save money, but books frequently get lost or mangled in the mail. Find your local comic shop and head there, pick out some books to try. Most comic stores have a pull folder/subscription service, where you can tell them what books you want ahead of time and they'll reserve a copy for you.

If you're a Batman fan, I highly recommend last week's Detective Comics #817, the first part of an eight-part story that sets up a new status quo for the character. It's a really good issue and it will be the foundation for the character and his associates for the forseeable future.

If you don't know where the nearest comic shop is, go to http://csls.diamondcomics.com -- the comic shop locator service will give you a list of stores in your area.

Welcome to Comixtreme! :)

[CPT Space Bomb]

I've never had a problem with my subscriptions, maybe it's just the service you have.

[ttp585]

I too would recomend picking up some Trade Paper Backs. When I got back into reading comics (after I dropped out in the mid 90's, I'm sure you all know why, lol.) I picked up TPBs to help catch me up a little on the story and such. Hell, I'm still working backwards with the JSA trades. But yeah, also as its been said, a pull list at your local shop would be a great idea too.

[Blake Petit]

Oh, a subscription SERVICE? That's a different matter entirely, I thought you meant subscribing directly from the publisher.

[Liam Creswick]

Finnaly! IM the expert on something here. Ive only been reading comics for about a year and a half. Here are my tips for getting into the hobby / what I did.

First, read Long Halloween and Dark Victory. Ok, maybe not FIRST, but make sure you do this if you like Batman, cause this is some of the best Batman writing you will find. These books were some of the first comics I read and they are some of my favorites to this day. They strongly contributed to my love of the hobby.

Ok, the real advise....

Find a good comic shop. One with helpful staff and good selection. As in any hobby, a good place for "supplys" is key.

Know the characters you like. The best place to start is with what you know. The first titles I BOUGHT (Long Halloween/ Dark Victoy I borrowed) were Hulk graphic novels and the monthly series. I love Hulk the most, so thats what I went for first. Soon after I added my other favorite chacters (at the time) series (Punisher, Wolverine and the JLA). And speaking of knowing where to start..

If your going to go with the monthly issues, find the start of a story arc, and use that a a jumping on point. New arcs are the least likly place for you to be confused as to whats going on. The websites for Marvel, DC and all other publishers will tell you where in the arc the series your interested in is at this month. As Blake, said Batman is starting a new arc, so check that out. If the current arc of a series is half over, either buy the back issues, or wait till a new one starts. While you wait....

Trade paper backs and graphic novels are great. TPBs catch you up on continutiy and give you a feel for a series and writer. Graphic Novels usually make for the very best in comic books. Especilly in the case of Batman. (The Dark Knight Returns, Black and White, Hush, and of course, Long Halloween/Dark Victory, are renowed stories and books). The other great thing about TPB and GNs are they are cheep, wich is the next point....

Make sure you got the $$$. Any hobby, aside from maybe widdling, come at a cost. Comics arnt cheap, but they are worth it once you get into it. And there is nothing worse than falling in love with a title and having to stop getting it to pay the electricity bill. This is one of the factors thay stopped me from reading when I was a kid, no money. That and limited selection in my small town, and a lack of information. Wich is another segway....

Arm your self with knowlage! Like any hobby, know what your doing. Sure its a learning process, but you dont just wanna wing it. Utilize the awsome power of the internet! Browse titles on the publishers websites so you know whats out there now. (and so that the dude at the comic shop doesnt think your reading and not paying). Check comic websites and magazines for previews and reviews of books. You may be intriged by something you didnt know about. Or better yet, read the reviews and previes here at ComiXtreme! I dont know what Id be reading if it wasnt for this little corner of the interweb. I have learned sooooo much and gotten so much more enthused about comics from this site. Partake in the discussions and read the coulums. For serious. This place is a wealth of knowlage and insperation. Hell of a community. Wich is, guess what, another segway.

Friends dont let friends not read comics. The Batman stuff came from a friend who has been a causal comic fan for years, and when he showed me LH/DV I was shown what i was mission out on. From my getting into comics, he got more into them. Ive inspirded my brother to enjoy them, as well as one of his friends. Real life comunities enrich any hobbie, and its always nice to have company at the comic shop, and it also doubles the stories you can read by lending them out to each other.

The last tib bit of advise I have (I thought of while proof reading) is start small. A few books and novels here and there, and let you're self get ease into it. My brother fell victim to wanting too much too soon. He saw what I was doing and basicly bought the first of every new arc and mini series that was out that month, and he ended up with crap. He bought ever Trade with a fancy cover and actully havent read some of the stuff hes bought. So yeah, ease into it, and let them grow on you. And be selective. There are dozens of series I like to get if I has the money, but even more so, A huge stack of comics lessens the value of them all. 4 gems are better them 12 decent books. This especilly true for starting out.

Thats all i got, and that was just off the top of my head! Im sure I can think of other stuff to recomend, but thats what I got for now. My fingers hurt from typing all that. Hope it was helpful.

[CPT Space Bomb]

Oh, a subscription SERVICE? That's a different matter entirely, I thought you meant subscribing directly from the publisher.

Nah, my bad, I should have been more specific.

[DocDoom]

If you want the Best Batman comics, you have to start with:

1.Batman: Year One
2.Batman: The Long Halloween
3.Batman: The Killing Joke
4.Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
5.Batman: Dark Victory

They are all in Trade Paperback form, and I think neither of these are over 20 bucks. So i envy you because you will have the opportunity to discover these great stories....

[jonsnow]

If you want the Best Batman comics, you have to start with:

1.Batman: Year One
2.Batman: The Long Halloween
3.Batman: The Killing Joke
4.Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
5.Batman: Dark Victory

They are all in Trade Paperback form, and I think neither of these are over 20 bucks. So i envy you because you will have the opportunity to discover these great stories....
All are great reads. Year One is a good "birth" of the Dark Knight story, but I would definitely say of those listed, and any Batman story you read, Long Halloween and its sequel, Dark Victory are tops.

[Liam Creswick]

1.Batman: Year One
3.Batman: The Killing Joke

How the hell could I forget those! Damn!

[atm-3]

cool,I just got long halloween. Signed up for reserve copies at the local comic store and got Detective 817. What about the Hush box set 50 bucks too much?
Thank you for all the postings Keep em coming

[jonsnow]

cool,I just got long halloween. Signed up for reserve copies at the local comic store and got Detective 817. What about the Hush box set 50 bucks too much?
Thank you for all the postings Keep em coming
Yeah $50 is too steep for you. I really enjoyed Hush, but you can grab volumes 1 and 2 in softcover trade form for probably around 12 bucks each. It is not essential Batman reading, but I think it is the best Batman art you will ever see. That could easily be disputed though.

[DocDoom]

Hush... hmmmm

Art: 10
Story: 4
Ending: 8 (i liked it)

Overall: 7.3

Tell us what you think of Long Halloween!!!!!!!

[atm-3]

Long halloween was great liked the way all the villians were mixed in. Year one and dark victory are next. read detective 817 good stuff. I ahve bought a bunch on e-bay I am reading them also alot of legends of the dark night I am picking up on some stuff alot is still out of wack will be for awhile.

[Tiso]

Plus there are a couple of trades coming out soon and are already out out that deal with some things that Batman went through recently in comic continuity like City of Crime, Under the Hood, War Crimes. The best starting point right now for Batman is Detective Comics #817 that already came out and the soon to be released Batman #651. You will basically get a fresh start with the new DCU since everything is OYL and this is the changes to the status quo since last year (continuity) during Infinite Crisis. Then there is All Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder that is only 3 issues in, but is essentially DC's sort-of Ultimate line. It deals with characters without the years of countless continuity to tie them down in order to tell good stories. Although, to tell you the truth this is not a Batman that most like and are reading it to see how far Miller can get with writing Batman in such an out of character way. Afterall, he is the goddamn Batman!