Getting into DC Comics

[ultrazone]

Well since I am still new to Comic books and the industry, i haven't really found a way to get into DC Comics. The format seems to be a bit different or at least appears that way as opposed to Marvel. I like the pattern from going to Issue 1 through the current like i am doing with the DareDevil run by buying the Trades. Now i have been reading the Green Arrow Year One issues and have loved them and i also bought the Tim Sale and Jeph Loeb; Batman The Long Halloween. So my question is what are the good Trades out there right now for DC Comics. Specifically with the characters Robin, Green Arrow and the Green Lantern. Thanks a bunch.

[bmh]

Green Lantern Rebirth is a good trade.


I would wait a month for the new JSA trade collecting the beginning of Johns run on it.

[paper]

Just to clarify, that's Justice Society of America: The Next Age. Which is continuation of a series Johns also did called simply JSA. It's a good jumping on point. Justice Society is a favorite here on the boards.

Not sure where to start with Robin, but you can grab the first trade by Beechen. That's called "Wanted." With a little help from Wikipedia you should be good to go with that one.

For Green Arrow you want to go with Kevin Smith's "Quiver."

As a recent (happy) convert to DC, may I suggest you check out Justice League Unlimited, the animated series on DVD. Most episodes are scripted by comic writers, and though it is a slightly different continuity, it does help introduce a lot of characters.

[esophagus]

Pick up Infinite Crisis, and the parts of 52 that are out as well. They aren't great for character history, but as two of the most recent events, they will really help in understanding everything that is going on in the DCU.

[jaflanagan]

Listen to all that has been said before.

I must recommend Identiy Crisis (http://www.amazon.com/Identity-Crisis-Comics-Brad-Meltzer/dp/1401204589/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7733014-6327250?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187504711&sr=8-1), which changed much that came after it.

[miyamotofreak]

Being in your position, I just bought a collection of 52 (the full run) off ebay for $40. It helped me understand the "Crisis stuff", the characters (character bios at the end of each issue), and its a great series. Then just wait for Final Crisis and use that as a starting point. And to get the best of the DCU just pick up trades people reccomend (Batman: Year One, Long Halloween, DKR etc).

[esophagus]

Listen to all that has been said before.

I must recommend Identiy Crisis (http://www.amazon.com/Identity-Crisis-Comics-Brad-Meltzer/dp/1401204589/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7733014-6327250?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187504711&sr=8-1), which changed much that came after it.Agreed, not only will it help with that but it is a fantastic book.

[iSteve]

Listen to all that has been said before.

I must recommend Identiy Crisis (http://www.amazon.com/Identity-Crisis-Comics-Brad-Meltzer/dp/1401204589/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7733014-6327250?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187504711&sr=8-1), which changed much that came after it.

I second Identity Crisis. One of the KEY story lines in recent DC history. It is also beautifully written and drawn. Excellent.

[jo11ypenguin]

Try to pick up Green Arrow: Year One if you can the art is amazing and its a fun story so far. I also think from the news i have heard that the booster gold series will be going to important times in the DCU so it may be worth picking up as well. STAY AWAY FROM THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES BACK.

[mikegraham6]

i think this is probably the most popular topic on these boards. it seems like something similar to this pops up every few months or so (i know i started at least one).

you might also want to check out DC: the new frontier. its out fo continuity as well but like the Justice League Unlimited cartoon, it's a great way to familiarize yourself with the DC lore.

[e-tagg]

I just attempted to make this jump to DC last year, so i feel your pain. I was able to get into 52, so I'd say check that out since it uses a lot of characters that haven't been built up before very much, and the histories in the back are pretty useful. Countdown tried to be as accessible, but it has thus far failed in my opinion, so don't try that.

Otherwise, I suggest trying out some of the smaller books, cuz their characters aren't as history-laden and seemingly inaccessible to new readers. I jumped on Checkmate and Outsiders sounds like it'll be a good starting point with the new shift. Also, the new Booster Gold is fun, and it'll potentially give you insights into key DC Universe events that you'll need to know to get into it more later on. And the Sinestro Corp stuff seems to only need a cursory knowledge to jump on, so just Wiki for some quick knowledge and enjoy the action!

[s1lentslayer]

I read 0 current DC comics. Any suggestions on a book I should start reading in singles? I like team-up books but am up for anything. It doesn't necessarily have to have a new issue coming out this week. I feel bad walking past the DC section every week hehe.

[itsbecca]

I read 0 current DC comics. Any suggestions on a book I should start reading in singles? I like team-up books but am up for anything. It doesn't necessarily have to have a new issue coming out this week. I feel bad walking past the DC section every week hehe.

What are some of the books you do pick up? Just to get an idea...

[kwok_talk]

I read 0 current DC comics. Any suggestions on a book I should start reading in singles? I like team-up books but am up for anything. It doesn't necessarily have to have a new issue coming out this week. I feel bad walking past the DC section every week hehe.
Could I recommend JSA? It is pretty friendly to new readers (myself being one of them) in giving good character stories amidst a team setting. It just started a new arc that's a little tied into Kingdom Come, but I don't think it would be too difficult to jump into.

Green Lantern Corps has been getting good buzz as a fun buddy book.

[racemccloud]

I read 0 current DC comics. Any suggestions on a book I should start reading in singles? I like team-up books but am up for anything. It doesn't necessarily have to have a new issue coming out this week. I feel bad walking past the DC section every week hehe.

Green Arrow/Black Canary might be the best superhero book DC is publishing at the moment, and it's only a few issues in so you should be able to catch up pretty quick. Plus, if you like it, there's a whole world of Winick Green Arrow back issues to delve into.

Also, Green Lantern is going to be very good over the next few years. If you pick it up and like what you see and what they're building up to, you can always go back and get the "Rebirth" and "Sinestro Corps Wars" trades/hardcovers to pretty easily catch up on the first two major chapters before the major "Darkest Night" event. (Is that what it's called?)

All Star Batman and Robin is amazing. But I think I'm the only one who thinks that.

[jimski]

I have officially stopped feeling bad about the fact that I don't read any DC comics, like I'm not a well-rounded person because I don't know enough about Aquaman. I gave Robin a shot, and four issues in the creative team quit and they started some Ras ah Ghul fanwank bull****. If you don't want my money, just say so... or was that what you were doing when you cancelled Gotham Central and turned Montoya into a goddamn superhero, and every third issue of Detective was a fill-in?

I mean, I don't want to pick a team or anything. I don't want to deny myself good reading because it's not published by the right publishing company. At the same time, I'm not going to beat myself up about it or decide that it says something about me as a person because I don't give an equal amount of money to Time Warner. You know?

[s1lentslayer]

I don't read a lot of singles. Off the top of my head, Buffy, Angel, Marvel Zombies, Ultimates, and the Messiah Complex. I read mostly trades.

[labor_days]

I read 0 current DC comics. Any suggestions on a book I should start reading in singles? I like team-up books but am up for anything. It doesn't necessarily have to have a new issue coming out this week. I feel bad walking past the DC section every week hehe.

JSA. That's the book you need to read. It's Geoff Johns' open love letter to the superhero genre and DC history. Fabulously written comics. Not much to say other than that. If you like excellent comic books, this is for you.

Green Lantern is also great. But I would advise starting at least with the recent Sinestro Corps War issues. SCW sets up a lot of what is going on now and what is to come over the next few years. An easy entry into the DCU in the larger sense. And you won't have to read Countdown or any of that. ;]

Green Arrow/Black Canary, as has already been mentioned, is phenomenal. There hasn't been a single duff issue, as Winick/Chiang seem to be putting together one of the best Green Arrow stories ever. The art is gorgeous. Very fun read but Winick gets ya' with the gut punch when you least expect it.

Tomasi looks to be turning Nightwing around too. The last issue was just great. Gail Simone's Wonder Woman run starting at #14 has also been outstanding. And you got Johns' current Legion arc in Action Comics with Gary Frank doing pencils. All fantastic books with a low barrier to entry.

And speaking of the Legion, Jim Shooter's return to the Legion Of Superheroes has been just about perfect. Nobody knows the Legion like Shooter and it shows. Don't go into it with all these preconceptions of the Legion being too complex or convoluted. Shooter got back to the core of what the Legion is. It's big, it's splashy and it's funny. Recalls the team dynamic of the early X-men/Legion in that they are still kids with extraordinary powers figuring it out as they go.

Batman too. But the Morrison Batman series is...um. Well, it's Morrison. You either go with it or you don't. There is no middle ground with G-Mo. Dixon's Batman & The Outsiders is super fun though. Get that or Detective Comics.

[optimus187prime]

I read 0 current DC comics. Any suggestions on a book I should start reading in singles? I like team-up books but am up for anything. It doesn't necessarily have to have a new issue coming out this week. I feel bad walking past the DC section every week hehe.

I dont pick up any regular DC titles at all either. I do get a lot of Vertigo and a few Wildstorm. I used to keep up with Nightwing when Chuck Dixon did it, and I used to get Superman/Batman until the arch after Absolute Power. I will pick up a trade or two of Batman when I hear the arch is going well. For the most part though the only thing I grab is the occasional mini or maxi series.

[labor_days]

Sure, I'm going to regret asking this; but why would the Resurrection Ra's Al Ghul storyline be anymore "fanwank bullshit" than the Skrull nonsense in Mighty/New Avengers & Illuminati?

It's not like the Return of Ra's was terribly well done. It had it's moments. I wouldn't call it "great" on the whole, by any means.

Just curious why anyone would give a pass to one form of fan service and not another. Well, actually I know the answer.

Seems a bit...nonsensical, if you will.

[conorkilpatrick]

Sure, I'm going to regret asking this; but why would the Resurrection Ra's Al Ghul storyline be anymore "fanwank bullshit" than the Skrull nonsense in Mighty/New Avengers & Illuminati?

It's not like the Return of Ra's was terribly well done. It had it's moments. I wouldn't call it "great" on the whole, by any means.

Just curious why anyone would give a pass to one form of fan service and not another. Well, actually I know the answer.

Seems a bit...nonsensical, if you will.

Marvel vs. DC is completely nonsensical. They are both guilty of the same transgressions.

[deezer]

If you like anybit of 24 or any spy movies/TV shows/books buy Checkmate. I honestly can't seem to stop recommending this book to people. You may need to get some of the back issues (I think almost everything up to this point is out in trades now...) to get a feel for it, but it's definitely worth reading

[labor_days]

Marvel vs. DC is completely nonsensical. They are both guilty of the same transgressions.

Well, yes. You are completely in the right.

That's why it seems odd to give a pass to one company's money making crossover du jour and then castigate the other for doing more or less the same thing.

Fans.

[xyzzy]

Marvel vs. DC is completely nonsensical. They are both guilty of the same transgressions.

Not really. DC has a lot of problems with their trade program that Marvel doesn't. They've gotten better, but certainly for the last 5 years, if you were a trade only reader, Marvel was a much more friendly company.

They both have transgressions, as you put it, but to say that they're exactly the same is inaccurate. They have some problems that are the same and some that are different.

[conorkilpatrick]

Not really. DC has a lot of problems with their trade program that Marvel doesn't. They've gotten better, but certainly for the last 5 years, if you were a trade only reader, Marvel was a much more friendly company.

They both have transgressions, as you put it, but to say that they're exactly the same is inaccurate. They have some problems that are the same and some that are different.

I'm talking story-wise, not business practices. Clearly they are not the came business.

[xyzzy]

I'm talking story-wise, not business practices. Clearly they are not the came business.

Story-wise, too. While there will always be exceptions, each company has an editor-in-chief who sets the general direction for the entire line. Those aren't identical. DiDio has a vision for what he wants DC comics to be, overall. Same with Quesada for Marvel. They aren't the same vision.

[conorkilpatrick]

Story-wise, too. While there will always be exceptions, each company has an editor-in-chief who sets the general direction for the entire line. Those aren't identical. DiDio has a vision for what he wants DC comics to be, overall. Same with Quesada for Marvel. They aren't the same vision.

No one said they were IDENTICAL. They are guilty of the SAME TRANSGRESSIONS which does not mean they publish everything exactly the same.

[xyzzy]

No one said they were IDENTICAL. They are guilty of the SAME TRANSGRESSIONS which does not mean they publish everything exactly the same.

I assumed that when you said that you were trying to say that it's silly to prefer one company over the other because they both had the same problems. But since they have those problems in different degrees, I don't see what's wrong with having a preference.

[racemccloud]

No one said they were IDENTICAL. They are guilty of the SAME TRANSGRESSIONS which does not mean they publish everything exactly the same.

But Conor, what DC books would you reccomend to this non-DC reader? (To stay on topic.)

[racemccloud]

like I'm not a well-rounded person because I don't know enough about Aquaman.

Okay, that was pretty funny.

[jimski]

Marvel vs. DC is completely nonsensical. They are both guilty of the same transgressions.

"What's the difference?" is actually a pretty concise summary of my feelings.

I was once much more interested in prodding at the DC wall, looking for entry points. If your DC reading doesn't necessarily have to be current:

-Superman: Red Son was great.
-Superman: Birthright was also pretty good.
-I loved Gotham Central with all my heart.
-The Robin I read last year was good for a while.
-Are we talking Vertigo too? Fables and Ex Machina are both consistently great.

[labor_days]

What are/were the problems with DC's trade program?

I don't see much different between the two companies other than licensing and popularity.

Crossovers are crossovers, money making events are money making events and late books are late books. Marvel & DC both have the same "problems" as it were.

I don't understand why Robin tying into the Ra's story is any more dubious than Heroes For Hire tying into WWH. Or the Messaih Complex is any less a money making crossover.

Fans.

[conorkilpatrick]

What are/were the problems with DC's trade program?

It's not at all comprehensive. They seem to collect issues at random and randomly within collections.

[xyzzy]

What are/were the problems with DC's trade program?


This is all about DCU trades, not DC as a whole. Vertigo and Wildstorm have really great trade programs.

One of the big issues was timing. There was a point where in the books I was reading (Gotham Central, Manhunter, Birds of Prey), the trades were between 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years behind the issues. The reason this was a problem was that, for me, in this time I was trying to get into issues, but you can't make that transition when there's 20 issues between the trade you just read and the most recent issue. Marvel's trades were coming out about a month or two after the end of the arc that got collected. They still are, but now they've thrown PHCs into the mix, which I'm not a fan of. DC's since picked up the pace a bit, but they're still lagging. This is a specific editorial decision, as Dan DiDio has stated that it is his goal to get people into the comic stores, buying issues. He thinks that trades, particularly prompt trades, are a drain on monthly sales numbers.

The other thing was comprehensiveness. Marvel collected (and still does) pretty much everything that they could. DC did a lot of picking and choosing. A lot of missing issues from Gotham Central, Starman, etc. They also seem to have more trouble keeping things in print, but that may just be my personal experience.

Basically, Marvel was promoting trades agressively as a viable alternative to reading monthly comics. DC was not.


Other problems:

Lack of a cohesive trade dress - they fixed this, though some people probably didn't think it was a problem.

Lack of numbering - mostly fixed. This was so annoying. I walked into a comic store once, wanting to buy som Flash trades and I had no idea where to start. Give me a number 1 on the spine, please.



Things DC did better than Marvel:
Creator names on the spine - Marvel only recently started doing this, DC's been doing it for a long time.

[labor_days]

Interesting. So I am missing issues in my Birds Of Prey trades? What the hell.

[xyzzy]

Interesting. So I am missing issues in my Birds Of Prey trades? What the hell.


Yeah, for Gail Simone's run, it's missing 62 and 91. Before that, issues 7-19, 22-55 were never collected that I'm aware of.

[s1lentslayer]

Soooo.....it looks like I'll pick up JSA. If I was to get one Batman or Superman comic, which should it be?

[labor_days]

Soooo.....it looks like I'll pick up JSA. If I was to get one Batman or Superman comic, which should it be?

Detective Comics and Action Comics.

[shaundaniels]

Green Arrow Black Canary
JSA
*Booster Gold*
Green Lantern
Birds of Prey

Vertigo
Hellblazer
Scalped

*With Booster Gold knowing continuity helps with this book but at it's roots it's a time travel book trying to fix time anomilies. Booster Gold wants to save his best friend but can't. What also makes the character good is he is a glory hound but no one can know what he is doing, so he's the greates hero no one knows.

[shaundaniels]

I never care about DC vs Marvel it's a moot point. Both have thier ups and downs lateness affects both in different ways. Read good stories no matter what company it is.

[gungadin]

Well the thing that I always do when I look at collections is check the disclaimer/publication page. They always tell you what issues are in the book you're holding. That way you can know what you're getting and what you're missing... It's especially fun to look at Sandman... That book has some random issues thrown in to the collection. It's actually kinda funny. They'll backtrack and skip issues, but nothing's tossed aside...

But I prefer Marvel's trades if for nothing else because the turnaround is fantastic. So incredibly fast. I love that.

[neb]

Soooo.....it looks like I'll pick up JSA. If I was to get one Batman or Superman comic, which should it be?

Get Detective Comics if Paul Dini has written it as the other fill-ins have usually been "meh." Action Comics is really kicking ass right now. You should be able to track down the last two issues of the current arc at your LCS. Gary Frank's art is superb and Johns owns DC right now.

Also, if you could track down, Black Canary/Green Arrow issues, it's a great jump on point.

By the way, "Fanwank bull****" is probably my newest, most favoritist phrase.

EDIT: I just thought of this, but isn't the current arc on Superman/Batman pretty good as well? I think it's just one or two issues in, so you should be able to track it down through issues.

[labor_days]

Well the thing that I always do when I look at collections is check the disclaimer/publication page. They always tell you what issues are in the book you're holding.

I understand why people would do this. But I really don't care enough to, personally. As long as each trade volume tells a succinct story arc, I'm cool.

[humphrey-lee]

Speaking of Transgressions, does this mean our thread starter doesn't even buy any Vertigo or Wildstorm books, or just DCU? Because that is absolutely saddening if that's the case.

And the only one I'm going to recommend right now is Legion of Super-Heroes. Only two issues and such good old fashioned superheroing.

Green Arrow/Black Canary wouldn't be so bad either because it's only on issue four, but I think it's starting to be overhyped. It's well written with solid moments and GREAT art but it's still not a must read but probably is a Should Read.

[s1lentslayer]

I read Vertigo, just no DCU stuff.

[humphrey-lee]

I read Vertigo, just no DCU stuff.

Ahhh, good. Now I don't have to try and step on your shoelaces and trip you any chance I get. It's the only way to learn someone y'know?

[tehdave]

i'll jump in supporting legion of superheroes. you can probably get the last two issues that started shooter's run. it's been really fun and colorful, and it seems like it'd be friendly for somebody new. there's a lot of people and a lot going on in the book, but it never feels unfocused or confusing.

[labor_days]

Warms my heart to see the Legion love here. You guys.

[itsbecca]

Lack of numbering - mostly fixed. This was so annoying. I walked into a comic store once, wanting to buy som Flash trades and I had no idea where to start. Give me a number 1 on the spine, please.


Ohhh this annoyed the hell out of me when I was trying to catch up Green Arrow. I just sat there for awhile completely puzzled. Why does vol 3 come after vol 4? Why does this one have no number?? Where did vol 5 disappear to??? Bizarre and disorienting. Thank god for the internet.

[xebix]

Title says it all. I have been collecting comics off and on since the mid 90s and I have always enjoyed (for the most part) Spider-Man and X-Men books. I currently read Amazing Spider-Man and most of the X books. I also read the Star Wars books as I am a huge Star Wars fan.

I have recently been diversifying my comic reading and having no idea of the history or most of the characters in DC, I don't really know where to start.

I have also been reading some titles from other miscellaneous publishers. I picked up Pax Romana, Cemetery Blues, and Afterburn, which I enjoyed.

Any input would be appreciated.

[horatio616]

Well, you can't go wrong with the essentials, which are:

Batman: Year One
Kingdom Come
The Dark Knight Returns (dont' bother with DK2)
New Frontier

If you're wanting something quick and fun from the mainstream DCU, my first recommendation would be the first JLA trade by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter, entitled New World Order. It knocked my socks off, back in the day.

[mikegraham6]

i think this topic should be a sticky as well, it comes up a lot

[xebix]

I don't know. The first page of threads is half full of stickies already. Too many stickies = bad.

[labor_days]

No, this should be moved to the recommendations thread.

That said, Horatio gave good suggestions.

I would recommend the current Geoff Johns written Justice Society of America and Green Lantern series as excellent places to start. Paul Dini's run on Detective Comics is very self contained and great for new-ish Batman fans. Gail Simone's Wonder Woman is also excellent, but ignore the issues prior to her taking over the book. Tomasi's Nightwing is good too.

All are really good, iconic superhero books that take place in their own little corners of the DCU for the most part.

[luthor]

The last two Green Arrow series(Kevin Smith's and the current BC/GA) are excellent for jumping into DC waters. Both of them are firmly set in the DCU but aren't chokingly so.

[euchre0]

Start with Zero Hour and DC 1,000,000.

Are you looking to just jump into current titles or old stories?

[xebix]

I would prefer to just jump in to current titles; although if I need to read some back issues to get a better understanding of things, I wouldn't be opposed to it as long as I can get a hold of them fairly easliy.

@Luthor
Do you mean THE Kevin Smith? If so, I'm totally going to pick up the latest Green Arrow when I go buy my books today!

Eucher0, I see we live in the same area. Always nice to see.

[euchre0]

I would prefer to just jump in to current titles; although if I need to read some back issues to get a better understanding of things, I wouldn't be opposed to it as long as I can get a hold of them fairly easliy.
Here's my thing...since I started reading comics in the early 90s, I've always just jumped into titles where they are. It seems pretty easy, to me, to just kind of gather information as you. So, my recommendation is to do that. However, the one book that won't work with is JSA, which is what many would say is the best DC book right now. It has a ton of characters and is being influenced by a story (Kingdom Come) from the mid-90s. however, if you want to try it, basically you need to know that an older Superman has arrived from another dimension and maybe one of his enemies is here too.

I suggest:
Green Lantern - there was recently a war with one of Green Lantern's main enemy, Sinestro. They are dealing with the aftermath of that

Nightwing - He's just moved to New York and is getting settled while old villains are disappearing from their graves.

Action Comics - Superman is in the future helping the Legion of Superheroes. The Legion has been around since forever and a bit confusing, but as far as I can tell even hardcore DC readers can't tell you much about the Legion, so don't worry about that.

Robin is good too, but i forget what's going on there.

I say just gamble and hop in.

Eucher0, I see we live in the same area. Always nice to see.
Where do you get your books? I used to go to First Federal comics, but then they closed down and since I work downtown I've been going to Bee Caves Comics.

[xebix]

I actually live in Hutto, so I shop at the Rogue's Gallery in Round Rock.

Thanks for all the input guys.

[horatio616]

Start with Zero Hour and DC 1,000,000.

Are you looking to just jump into current titles or old stories?

Oh God, we want him to continue to read DC, not swear it off!

[storm-shadow]

I'd say jump on with titles which are starting a new arch, or maybe not. I got it, wait and pick up Final Crisis when it starts because that event is going to alter the whole DCU, and then make sure to pick up Trinity the weekly series that starts right after Final Crisis ends. Having Mark Bagely on a weekly book will be AWESOME!!!!!!

[zenitram]

I don't know too much about DC, but have always loved Batman. Recently, I've bought and loved (all in Tpbs):

DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore
Batman: Haunted Knight
Arkham Asylum: Living Hell
Batman: A Death in the Family
Batman: The Dark Dark Knight Returns
Superman: Red Son
Justice League of America: The Nail

So please recomend tbs of not only Batman, but other heroes I don't know much about. Thanks in advance.

[jgg0610]

Batman Year One is a great place to start also.

[humphrey-lee]

Starman

You can pretty much begin and end there, nothing else will compare. :)

[labor_days]

We have a recommendation thread stickied at the top of the forum.

[conorkilpatrick]

We have a recommendation thread stickied at the top of the forum.

He's not new or returning to comics.

[labor_days]

A failure of the thread title.

Should have been titled "Comic Book Recommendations".

[six-gun]

I'd suggest the simple things.

Detective Comics
Nightwing
Batman Confidential (the new arc, maybe. we'll have to see)
Jonah Hex

[six-gun]

Batman Year One is a great place to start also.

Maybe you should work your way up. Because after Year One everything else pales

[valoharth]

Two books that have really helped me understand the DCU in the last couple of years have been Darwyn Cooke's The New Frontier and 52. Both titles are steeped in the DCU's past and give you a basic understanding on who everybody is and how the world works.

[snowoxx]

I had a similar problem when I started to get back into comics. I recommend getting Kingdom Come if you are getting the JSA The New Age, because some of it relates to the story line from it. If you like the JSAs I also recommend the Justice series (its just Justice, not justice league/society/etc)