Are the supplemental books and Corps essential reading to Blackest Night?

[ngower]

I'm probably around ten issues behind on where I should be with Blackest Night, but that's mostly because money's been tight lately. I'm curious if the supplemental books and Green Lantern Corps are required reading if I'm just trying to get the main storyline. I don't doubt I'd get other info through these books, but are they an integral part of the story or just excess?

Thanks...

[Neb]

If you're looking for the lean Blackest Night experience, I would purchase Blackest Night and Green Lantern. Blackest Night covers the effect of the event on the whole DCU, and the Green Lantern title is following Green Lantern's role in the whole thing.

Corps isn't required reading, although it focuses on all of the other Green Lanters, so if you're interested in that, I would read it as well.

Otherwise, the tie-ins have a place in the storyline, but are not essential. I read the Batman and Superman tie-ins and they were both really, really excellent.

Hope that helps.

[deezer89]

I'd say that Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps are necessary, I don't think the other ones (BN: Superman, Batman, Titans, friggin' everyone else in the DCU) are important, but are actually pretty good. Hope this helps

[lucien21]

I certainly think that you should read the 2 Green Lantern books along with the Main issues as they give more depth relating to the various ring factions.

The other mini series vary widely in relevence and quality. The Titans 3 issue had a lot of things that will lead directly into the main story (Dove in particular), the Superman and Batman minis could easily be ignored though.

There are 3 more mini's (Flash, JSA and Wonder Woman) due in Feb and a bunch of one-shots reviving old franchises, but most of it will probably be filler (With the exception of the Flash one as he seems to be a major player in this story.

Overall you probably could get away with just the main 8 books and the 2 Green Lantern series.

[ngower]

Hmm, so if I were to make a "pull list" of books since...let's say Secret Origin, what would you say is the best route? Just anything with the Blackest Night header?

[thenextchampion]

It seems like Green Lantern is the only supplemental reading you need for Blackest Night. At least in terms of importance, cause that has really pushed Hal's story. GLC is still a soild title, but the characters involved there will most likely not be that essential for the conclusion.

Also, BN: Titans has gotten a ton of talk about the ending. Apparently the new Dove might have big importance with the story. So maybe that is a mini you need to pick as well.

[rustyautoparts]

If I were you, I would pick up Green Lantern starting with #43, GLC starting with #39, and Blackest Night itself. If you have a run of Green Lantern up to Secret Origin, you could get the issues after that, which introduce Agent Orange, but I think the real stories start where I indicated. Those are the barebones of the event, everything else is (delicious) filler.

[lantern4life]

I agree with Neb. So far is looking like BN and GL are the only essential. But GLC, BN Superman, BN Batman, and BN Titans are all good reads. Also looking forward to BN Flash.

[ngower]

Originally Posted by rustyautoparts

If I were you, I would pick up Green Lantern starting with #43, GLC starting with #39, and Blackest Night itself. If you have a run of Green Lantern up to Secret Origin, you could get the issues after that, which introduce Agent Orange, but I think the real stories start where I indicated. Those are the barebones of the event, everything else is (delicious) filler.

I'm a little after Secret Origin, I think I got to the Agent Orange parts before I went on comic-purchasing hiatus.

Appreciate the specific numbers though, I'll double check where I'm at as far as issues go.

I'm just curious how long the Superman, Batman and Titans (and anything else?) spinoffs are in terms of length? I'm assuming none would go over a few issues.

I appreciate all the help so far, just curious so I can set aside a budget and get this all in one trip rather than jumping across the few LCS and scavenging books.

[deezer89]

All of the spinoffs, I believe, are 3 issues. At least, the Batman, Superman, and Titans ones are. I think the upcoming (JSA, Flash, Wonder Woman) ones are 3 issues each, as well