I’m one of those annoying people who is loving all these superhero movies but haven’t read any of the content material. I really, really want to but I walk into a comic book store and it’s so overwhelming. I know there are so many different stories and alternate universes and different canons for all the various superheros and I just don’t know where I should start.

I talked to the guy at the store about how much I love the X-Men: First Class movie and he pointed me in the direction of Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men series of which I have read issues 1 to 18. I enjoyed them and they’re really pretty and even though he said that they’re pretty much stand alone and basically told me not to bother starting at the beginning with the stuff from the 60s I still feel like I was missing a lot when I was reading them.

I’m really excited for The Avengers movie and he also recommended me a starting point for that but I can’t remember what it was and I feel like instead of just starting when they’re all already together I should be reading each individual character’s stories first too.

I loved the older Batman movies as a kid and though I haven’t seen Batman Begins I really enjoyed The Dark Knight, and have always just loved the idea of Batman but my dad was more into Tintin and Asterix than superhero comics and no one else in my family really was either and my mum was just into the sci-fi so I had Star Wars action figures instead (which I’m totally okay with but I wish I hadn’t been so pigeonholed so early because basically all I read now is sci-fi).

Anyway. I think I’m attracted to X-Men and Batman more because even though X-Men have powers it’s science based and about evolution and there’s nothing alien about Batman, he makes himself into the hero.

But, of course there’s Superman who, if I’m going to get really into this comic thing, I obviously can’t do without. I’m loving watching Young Justice but I wasn’t sure where to start with anyone in the Justice League because again they all have such rich histories with so much content.

Just one more question, is there like a “camp Marvel” and “camp DC”? If you read one, is it blasphemy to read the other? Or does everyone get along?

SO. If you read through all of my ramblings and have any suggestions for me, please share! I’ll be forever in your debt if you can help me.

Topics: reading, comics, science fiction, comic books, Batman, Superman, graphic novels, X-Men, the avengers