DC and Marvel are without a doubt the two biggest names in the comic book industry. Their characters have survived for decades and they currently produce movies based on their properties that rake in hundreds of millions of dollars. It couldn’t be a better time to hop into comic books if you aren’t already an avid reader. Characters are more diverse than ever, they’ve got awesome storylines currently unfolding, and the talent crafting the material is top notch.
There’s just one caveat: both publisher’s timelines are messy as hell.
Whilst DC’s Rebirth line is some of the best work they’ve put out in years, to fully understand why it’s so awesome you would need to be aware of a lot of New 52 and Flashpoint details. If the words New 52 and Flashpoint mean nothing to you, forget about it. Marvel doesn’t fare any better, their current crossover event, Civil War II, is currently killing off characters left and right. If you have no knowledge of who these heroes are, the weight of other character’s choices is going to be lost on you. Whilst Marvel relaunches their comics almost every year to bring new readers up to speed, there’s always a lot of history to be aware of in order to fully grasp what’s going on, not to mention the huge dent in your wallet that trying to keep up with all the storylines brings.
All of this has lead me to recommend a line new of comics to newbie readers that actually forego both publishers: Image Comics. Here's a little-known secret, their comics are actually the best on the shelves.
Image Comics was founded in the early 90’s by industry legends, including the likes of Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee and Rob Liefield. These comic book veterans were jaded by the treatment of their characters by Marvel, who were using their popularity to great financial gain with very little of that money making its way back to creators. Image was founded with the idea that the company would never own any of the characters it published in its comics. The only intellectual property the company owned would be its name and logo. Image would go on to be an instant success and has since published popular comics such as Spawn and The Walking Dead.
Below you'll find five comics housed at Image that every comic reader, both new and old, should get into.
The Black Monday Murders
This is Image’s latest title, with issue 1 going on sale only last week. It is the brainchild of Jonathan Hickman, who is one of the best writers in the industry when it comes to world building. At first, this can actually be a very daunting hurdle to overcome, which is why I am not putting his other very excellent series East of West on this list. His worlds are so detailed that initially, it can be overwhelming. However, since The Black Monday Murders is just beginning its run, it allows you to really sink your teeth into the first issue without worrying about having to play catch up. The best way to describe this comic is NC-17 rated Harry Potter meets Wall Street. Magical schools have been replaced with investment banks that have hidden occult secrets. It has an interesting hook: the stock market crash that began the great depression was thanks to dark magic that went horribly wrong, and the book includes a lot of interesting charts that should help readers understand just what the hell is going on. If you can read a Jonathan Hickman comic, you can pretty much read anything.
Saga
If you run into almost ANY fellow comic book reader, they’ll ask you “Are you reading Saga?”, and that’s because Saga is in contention for best comic book ever written. Unlike Jonathan Hickman’s works, Saga is extremely accessible whilst also retaining great world building. It’s a mix of comedy, drama, sci-fi, and fantasy. The story revolves around Alana, who comes from the technologically advanced Landfall where inhabitants sport wings, and her lover Marko who hails from Landfall’s moon Wreath, filled with horned and magic wielders. The conflict comes from the fact that Landfall and Wreath are locked in an age-old war that has spread across the galaxy, and their child Hazel is considered an abomination by both races. The story has them on the run from their respective governments, while also focusing on the family drama that evolves from being in such a position. It’s an intoxicating read from writer Brian K. Vaughn, the creator of the critically lauded Y: The Last Man which may not be an Image comic, but I would heavily recommend to you as well.
Sex Criminals
I could just leave the title of this comic as the only incentive to read it, but I’ll explain a little further. Sex Criminals is an absolute blast to read, written by Matt Fraction who is one of the snappiest creators in the business. It tells the story of Suzie, a woman who has the ability to stop time with her orgasm. She eventually meets Jon, who is the first person she encounters who also shares this ability. Together, they become a Robin Hood-esque duo, robbing banks by having sex and freezing time, and then using the money for just causes. However, there is a police organization that can also utilize this orgasmic power that is in hot pursuit of these sex criminals. The issues wiz by, and you’ll find yourself caught up in relatively short order.
Invincible
This is the comic on the list with the longest run, currently on issue 129. Written by Robert Kirkman, who is better known for creating The Walking Dead, Invincible is one of Image’s few titles that actually features superheroes. Markus Grayson is the son of Nolan Grayson, a successful novelist whom just so happens to also be the world's greatest superhero: Omni-Man. At the age of 17, Markus begins to display his own powers and learns that his father is not actually human, but instead a part of a powerful race known as the Viltrumites. Markus becomes his own superhero called Invincible. Now, a lot of people I feel would recommend The Walking Dead as Kirkman’s magnum opus, but personally, I find Invincible to be a lot more captivating. The Walking Dead can be very dense at times, whereas Invincible retains incredible depth whilst also staying light on its feet and it does the whole “I’m just trying to live as a normal teen whilst also being a superhero” better than anyone. If you want your superhero fix without dipping into Marvel or DC, Invincible is your comic.
Trees
Warren Ellis currently has two comics under Image, the other being Injection. While I do recommend you read Injection, I feel Trees is ultimately the superior book. It’s not as heavy-handed, and its premise is more intriguing. Ten years before the comic takes place, giant structures referred by humanity as “Trees”, take root on Earth. They do nothing, other than on occasion secrete ooze that wipes out anything it comes into contact with- like lava. The series focuses on how the “Trees” affect our planet and humanity rather than where they come from or why they’re here, telling the stories of characters from all over the world. Trees is a unique sci-fi tale told through the lens of a diverse cast, and continuously dangles new information about what exactly these structures are in front of the reader.
This article is not to dissuade readers from picking up DC and Marvel comics. However, if you find it hard to know where to begin with those publishers, Image is putting out fantastic content that stands on its own. If you’ve been reading comics for years, or a new to the medium entirely, don’t skip out on these titles.
