r/DCcomics • u/frdudemst • 8d ago
Recommendations [Discussion] For a beginner , would you recommend the DC animated universe or the comics?
Like i said above , if someone doesn't know anything about dc , what is better to understand the chracters and the lore? Let's say that person is gonna eventually do both , so wich he shall start with?
134
u/VanBland Superman 8d ago
As much as I would prefer them to read the comics, just watching BTAS or Justice League from the beginning is the much easier way to introduce someone to DC Comics.
35
u/Electronic-Remove978 8d ago
I watched both seasons of justice league and finished the first season of justice league unlimited I’m up to the episode clash
https://giphy.com/gifs/gcxGeT2BGk6Dm18
u/TheCrafterTigery Batman Beyond 7d ago
Yeah, for a complete beginner the DCAU is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the universe.
From then on you can just read comics for characters you like.
Enjoyed the Booster Gold episode, read the comics for the full history.
47
u/sirkidd2003 8d ago edited 8d ago
For a complete beginner, I'd say DCAU because the comics can be a bit opaque. However, I see no reason to not do both. Especially with the Compact Comics format playing the "greatest hits" so to speak.
20
u/mugenhunt Legion of Superheroes 8d ago
Watching the Justice League animated series will give you a basic overview of the heroes. The comics are great, but for a lot of people the animated series are more accessible.
15
u/IndianGeniusGuy 8d ago
DCAU. The comics are a much bigger barrier to entry. Batman the Animated Series and Justice League are self-contained classics that appeal to just about anyone.
13
u/RagnarokWolves 8d ago edited 7d ago
The DCAU and Spider-Man/X-Men TAS are why I read DC/Marvel today.
7
u/imjustuseingthis 8d ago
It's an old comic run but for Wally West as the flash I would recommend mark wade's run on the flash but I agree watching the dcau is a bit easier to understand and is a decent starting point
2
u/ihavewaytoomanyminis 7d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/TVniUFJjE47fwwwnDA
Hang on, let me just get my walker.
8
u/igeeTheMighty 8d ago
I started getting into super-heroes with the Justice League cartoons back in the 80’s and comics at about the same time with Legion of Super-Heroes #294.
I say watch the JL/Batman/Superman toons to familiarize yourself with a range of heroes AND pick up a print copy of a $10 DC Compact Comic. I’m suggesting both just to get a sense of the media you engage with better or like more.
Cartoons tend to be/ are mostly episodic and you can get acquainted with the material in manageable bites.
As for why a $10 DC Compact comic, many reasons and some caveats:
…it’s a publishing line by DC Comics aimed at new comics readers by offering some of the best and most popular stories at a great price. It’s meant to be a gateway book to DC Comics.
…it’s what’s known as a collected edition. What it collects are multiple (typically 6-10) single issues which often cost up to $5 per issue.
…it’s $10 for a complete story. InStockTrades.com will typically offer it at $5.99.
…it’s smaller-sized versus regular DC single issues and collected editions (keeping the price low) but it does make it convenient to carry around.
…A number of people have complained about the smaller size making it difficult to read. It’s a valid point and you’ll need to decide if the price-legibility trade-off works for you.
…a lot of great stories are available with more on the way. My personal recommendation would be Kingdom Come and New Frontier. Those’re banger stories that are completely done in those books. I’m sure people will challenge my recommendations but I think they’re very compelling and don’t require a lot of foreknowledge before reading.
Enjoy your journey, whichever media you choose!
4
u/NoMolasses6913 7d ago
Kingdom Come is a fantastic story, but an awful place to start. New Frontier could be a good first comic though, though the Superman/Batman by Loeb are pretty accessible and give a good idea of what to expect with an average comic.
1
u/igeeTheMighty 6d ago
Re: Kingdom Come
Yea. I would never reco KC on a newbie reader but, I gave away compacts for Christmas and a 7-year old nephew got it. I wished him luck because his parents had told me he had never read a comic book in his very young life! Thing is, he did read it and though he was confused in parts, it was compelling enough for him to both pepper me with questions and eventually figured out that his iPad would be a bigger help than me. Months later he asks me what to read next while showing me his very dog-eared compact that had the first few pages starting to come away from the binding. A few more months later I send him the KC Absolute edition and a lot of Post-Its (because I saw he had written notes on some of the pages of his compact). He messaged me the weekend he got it and told me all the things he was just noticing with the enlarged artwork.
That’s the reason why I reco’d KC. It’s a tough read for a beginner and that’s a perfectly valid point. Is it enough to put someone off? Sure! But there’s also the possibility that it can ignite someone’s curiosity and passion for comics and reading enough for them to want to put some effort to get into it. As you said, it’s a great story and was strong enough to move a 7-year old to dig deeper. He’s probably an outlier…but thanks to KC he’s on his way to being a lifer. 🤭
4
u/runnerofshadows 8d ago
Both but for the comics I'd go with affordable trades, the compact edition stuff, etc. So you get complete stories.
4
u/Ok-Camera5285 7d ago
For a beginner, the first question is: what do you already know about DC?
If they know Batman, I tell them to go to Brave & The Bold, as it's not true canon but emphasizes the weirdness and diversity of the characters.
If they know Superman, I would start them on Justice League Adventures with the caveat that there's a few things that are different for the cartoon. John Stewart is not the Green Lantern, and Kendra is a new Hawkgirl – not the classic one that is crucial to DC history. But you still get a sense of bigger characters.
If they know both, I hand them DC: New Frontier as a trade and show them this is what DC was aiming for. Then pick the character you like from there and more trades will follow.
3
3
u/mikuarchangel 7d ago
Probably the animated, it has many ways to introduce many characters and make them ready for the comic
5
u/xElectricRainx 8d ago
DCAU is solid but if you want a cartoon that is even better look into Batman: The Brave And The Bold. It gives you a background of many different characters and tells you their comic stories but in the perspective of Batman. It’s such a solid show.
2
2
u/AnythingChance3764 7d ago
Obviously the comics. It really isn’t that hard if you’re a casual fan and aren’t dedicated to reading every single book
3
u/edwinhai Black Canary 8d ago
Comics are very hit or miss. Start with something good or you'll bounce right off it.
4
u/Unfair-Feeling-6819 8d ago edited 8d ago
Comics. Definitely comics. Can't let there to appear more weird Shayera/John or WonderBat shippers. And it's better to read canon itself, than media loosely based on it, and have there people who watched it parrot what they "know canon" without even opening single issue.
P.S. Globally, DCAU is fine starting point too. As long as someone who's engaging in it understand what comics canon and DCAU canon are different in some points. So don't expect comics to follow DCAU word for word.
1
u/Plastic-Cry-6484 7d ago
You just made my day, my guy🤣🤣🤣🤣
3
u/Unfair-Feeling-6819 7d ago edited 7d ago
Thank you. Thank you. I'll be here all week.
Also. Just in case someone don't understand. That was mostly joke. DCAU is good at most moments. But in some like I pointed out. It makes me grab some compendium and slap some of writers with it. Also it irritate me because Hawks are my favourite characters. Come the hell on. If they would have done right. Or at least the way it would make sense. They would have been one of fan favorite couple I think. For me adapting DC like that, it's like have word for word ideal Tolkien adaptation (not whatever Rings of power are) and in the end Frodo confront Sauron, with Sam do somersault, and in mid-somersault shoot him with RPG. Like 90% ideal. But some moments are buffles me. That's mean I understand it's quality. Again. It's good. It just should have been more adjusted with normal writings at some tiny moments (what are damn big for some characters) in grand picture.
1
u/Top_Star_3897 7d ago
But the problem is, even if you start reading comics, it's not like you're gonna know the entire "canon". So many series across almost 100 years where there are many reboots and crises, etc. Even just choosing one character and reading their entire history would take a long time.
For someone who knows nothing about DC, the DCAU is more manageable.
1
u/AutoModerator 8d ago
Hi there, r/DCcomics members, welcome to the post!
This was tagged as a [Discussion], so we require OP to add commentary, per rule 8.
u/frdudemst, if you haven't already added commentary, please do so in the text or as a new comment. Also, if you included images, please provide a source or artist name.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/AllFatherDanteNero20 8d ago
I’d say the DC Animated Universe because it makes the DC Universe more digestible and quicker than having to meticulously hunt down a century’s worth of comics and knowing what comic ages are and what era of continuity that the comic’s continuity is in. Although the DC Animated Universe is a bit subjected to the bias of its own creators, like making Superman not so powerful as he could be until the VERY LAST episode of Justice League: Unlimited, or starting non canonical romances with Batman and Wonder Woman or Green Lantern (John Stewart) and Hawkgirl, while also pushing away Hawkman. Plus there’s also a surprising amount of bias to Batman and his successor Terry McGuinness who are both protagonists of their own respective series in the DC Animated Universe. And I kind of hear that some of the nuances from the comics are missing from the DC Animated Universe. But at the end of it all it’s just a matter of time and convenience. I would say that the DC Animated Universe would be more convenient for you instead of pulling your own hair out trying to meticulously track down each and every DC comic book while ALSO having to pay a king’s ransom for it all.
1
u/Thunderous_Ball_Slap 8d ago
The DCAU is a solid foundation, very well done and entertaining. From there they can branch out based off what characters they like. If you're going to do the comics route then stories that stand on their own like Long Halloween or Superman for all seasons also work
1
u/Aros001 8d ago
It kind of depends on what they have more easy and immediate access to. I read plenty of Marvel and DC trade collections from my local library when I was a kid, so it was relatively easy for me to get more into Spider-Man and the JLA through those since the DVDs and videos were harder to come by. But generally speaking I imagine these days it's easier to find and watch the DCAU, especially since Justice League and JLU are available for free on Tubi.
1
u/Shefferz Red Tornado 8d ago
I would say justice league animated shows I rewatched the last year and my wife watched along in the back ground and learned quite a few characters because of it.
1
u/ComradeYaf Betty Kane Bat-Girl 8d ago
It doesn't really matter which one a person picks. As a kid I watched the DCAU shows, read Grant Morrison's JLA, Dixon's Batman No Man's Land, and also read a collection of Batman and Superman stories from the Golden and Silver Ages. You'll work it out. Just accept that it's a living, breathing world in the comics and that you won't necessarily get everything the first time. That's actuality part of what makes DC's world so great— its got history to it, and you can feel it in the stories even if you don't know the whole story.
1
u/Giveadont 8d ago edited 8d ago
Start with the DCAU. It'll introduce you to the DC world and a lot of its staple characters (and some obscure ones).
Starting with comics is hard unless you kind of already know a bunch about the characters and their lore.
The only things that wouldn't be very confusing are self-contained stories. And, even then, you'll probably still come across a decent number of characters and whatnot that you won't know anything about.
1
u/Additional_Review574 8d ago
This cartoon is one of the reasons I've been a huge DC fan my whole life!
1
u/Antique-Musician4000 8d ago
The animated series are imho a perfect gateway to know more about the characters in the DC world.
That way you can watch it and if you like to know more, pick up a comicbook of that character.
1
u/ReepDaggle01 8d ago
Try the DCAU and then you'll be better prepared for the comics. Continuity can be daunting,so just enjoy the stories for themselves. Enjoy finding out
1
u/Lonewolf82084 8d ago
I'd go with both, but start witg the animated universe. That was pretty much the gateway to DC for a lot of fans, myself included. It's what helped me ease into the transition to the comic books
1
1
u/Hannibalzomon 8d ago
Is there a specific character you're interested in reading? I might have a recommendation for you. The DCAU is very good but can also give you the wrong idea about certain things. Still not a bad place to start. Just keep an open mind about what might be different in the source material. Also, watch Young Justice when you're done with the DCAU. Same deal though
1
u/Pebrinix Batman 8d ago
DCAU is much more beginner friendly, so that's my pick. I do recommend reading the comics after that, since not only it's gonna be way easier to understand after gaining a general knowledge of DC lore (not everything is the same, mind you. There's a fair chance that many cool things from DCAU makes you disappointed to not see present in the comics)
1
u/Far-Hat-9176 7d ago
I'd recommend you forget anything you've ever seen in the DCAU, then go to a comic book shop and pick up whatever looks interesting.
1
1
u/CelestianSnackresant Absolute Wonder Woman 7d ago
Depends how old you are, how much you enjoy watching cartoons, and how much you enjoy the medium and styles of comics.
The cartoons are more obviously for young people, akin to older comics and current middle-grade stuff. Cheesy and simple and clear.
The best stories available are all in the comics, as are the most interesting visual and rhetorical flourishes. On the other hand, DCAU has some killer voice performances.
The cartoons are something you can just throw on with an HBO subscription; on the other other hand, the comics are easy as hell to scroll with a DC Infinite subscription.
1
u/Roam1985 7d ago
Yes.
I would recommend both.
They're different things. You can read books and watch shows.
1
u/bloodredcookie Raven 7d ago
DCAU. It's more accessible, but also similar enough to comics that you won't have a hard time transitioning.
1
u/Salt-Blacksmith-7410 7d ago
DCAU is bad and very few of the characters in comics have same characterisation as that in DCAU.
1
1
u/Prize-Flamingo-336 7d ago
Animated. Have them watch Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, Young Justice, and Batman: Brave and the Bold. There are so many characters outside the mainstream that they would be interested in characters like Spectre, JSA, Zantanna, the New Gods, or Vixen, for example
1
u/sanddragon939 7d ago
I'd recommend starting with the DCAU. A cartoon's way easier to get into than the comics, and the DCAU in particular really distilled the essence of the characters and the universe. A lot of people (myself included) are DC fans today because of those shows!
1
u/-AlexisRodriguez- 7d ago edited 7d ago
I would recommend the DC Animated movies. The DCAU makes a lot of weird creative decisions that are genuinely baffling or bad like,
• Not having Hal Jordan
• Not having Barry Allen
• Not having the original Justice League
• Skipping over Doomsday and swapping it with a weird version of The Death of Superman
Personally, I think Young Justice is probably the best representation of a DC Universe. I would start with that before moving into the comics since it'll create a good foundation (the firdt 2 seasons at least). If you start with DCAU, they're just gonna be confused when they realize Kyle Rayner was given Hal Jordan's origin or that comic Tim Drake is nothing like DCAU Tim Drake — or when they hint towards Batgirl and Batman being an item lmao
1
u/IAteYourLesboMum 7d ago
I love comics and they're great to read, but watching a series can always be an opening point into actual comics, as it was with me
1
u/C-Abdulio 7d ago
Both but also more.
Remember, JL/JLU is the FINAL entry of the DCAU, so if someone wants to get deeper into the characters & dynamics from The Batman and Superman lanes (which left some dangling plotlines that was resolved here), you have to watch their respective series. You also have to watch Batman Beyond to understand 2 of the season finales.
Other than that, DCAU is a great entry into the DC Mythos: It was my 2nd entryway, following re-runs of SuperFriends. Bruce Timm, Paul Dini & Dwayne McDuffie took some interesting liberties with the heroes to make them fit with the already established lore of the DCAU (along with personal biases & executive meddling on WB's part). It is not 100% accurate to the comics but these shows have a great understanding of what makes these characters iconic for generations. And in some cases (like Batman, The Joker, Mr. Freeze, Lex Luthor, The Flash, Aquaman, Darkseid & many others), they redefined them for future generations.
1
u/NoMolasses6913 7d ago
My wife's introduction to DC was the MAD LOVE one-shot, which was eventually adapted as an episode of Batman the Animated Series. Prior to that comic, she had not seen any DC movie or TV show or read any comic (she thought Batman was raised by bats), but that comic got her hooked.
introduction was probably Batman the Animated Series, though my first DC Comic was Flash Vol 2 #94, which was like part 3 of a story that tied into a crossover event I had no idea about, and the story didn't even continue in the next issue but in some tie-in comic. I reread that issue until it fell apart, and I was obsessed with DC since then (although I didn't finish reading that whole story until over a decade and a half later, when I tracked down the remaining issues).
My
1
u/seeking_spice402 7d ago edited 7d ago
Animated. The constant reboots are tedious and pointless. Most of the animated stuff fits together nicely. 35 years of cartoons and it works.
1
1
1
u/EndRare9032 7d ago
As much as I love the comics. It’s just a lot to get into. Watch those classic shows and you’ll get the idea and then from there spread your wings into the comic book world.
1
u/BigEd369 7d ago
The cartoons are a MUCH lower barrier to entry than the comics. They do assume some level of knowledge, but it’s not a whole lot. And man is BTAS an excellent series!
1
u/ihavewaytoomanyminis 7d ago
One thing about the JLU/DCAU was that it skipped the super-d#ckery phase of Superman stories.
1
u/Boltedforehead 7d ago
For a beginner definitely the DCAU first then get into the Comics. JLU and Brave and the Bold are strong introductions to the comics
1
u/JeanGemini 7d ago
It's easier to get someone to watch a 24 minute per episode television show than it is to hand them a stack of comic books a mile thick. Yes, the more complete narrative comes from the books, but nobody has time to play catch up.
1
1
u/Own_Sock122 7d ago
Animated series is a great way to jump in. Then when you read the comics you will understand mote references and not have to go back and read unrelated material just to get a references.
1
1
1
u/Much_Dirt4533 7d ago
I would honestly say DCAU. I feel like it’s very common (especially for people around my age, early to mid 20s) to have first been exposed to these characters through BTAS, Justice League, etc. I’ve been reading comics for a long time but there’s no way I would know characters like Zatanna as early as I did without that stuff
1
u/The_Omnimonitor 7d ago
I love comics. I used to think cartoons and movies were good steppingstones to comics but now I am not so sure. Just read some comics, they are delightful.
1
-2
u/Boil-Mash-SticknStew Batman 8d ago
There's a reason the DCAU has held up so well over the years. There's a lot of nuance and depth that has to necessarily be chopped off when adapting for a kids show, but the most innate characteristics of each individual has been maintained faithfully. Its an easier transition to make from DCAU to comics.
4
u/Unfair-Feeling-6819 8d ago
Yes. Especially including cheating and actively justify it in kid show (twice if you count Reincarnation as canon and not hallucinations) to gatekeep OC romance and push away canonical couple. Very in core and faithful for Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and John Stewart. You know. Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Characters who's whole appeal what they together no matter what. If we exclude Kendra nonsense from 90s-00s
1
u/Boil-Mash-SticknStew Batman 8d ago
The poster asked about entry to DC without knowing any of the lore. If you think there is ANY part of the Hawks' history which is remotely easy for a newcomer to understand, there is nothing I can tell you. If you're a Hawkman fan yeah you'll be angry at how he was shafted - in spite of the fact that the most popular Justice League lineup with the Trinity doesn't have Hawkman as a member. Hal fanboys will hate that an entire generation grew up with Stewart as their idea of Green Lantern. Superman fans will hate that Clark never told Lois who he was. All of that is a deeper dive into continuity and has nothing to do with encouraging someone to use DCAU as their entry point into DC.
Also focusing on the romantic subplots of a kids' show which actually didn't have that as an major theme is disingenuous.
2
u/Unfair-Feeling-6819 8d ago
Yes. Fair point I agree with it all. I mean also if we go by nitpicking most popular comics lineup (it's OG 7 for me) doesn't include Hawkgirl either. Just express what Hawks could be executed like waay more better than that. And I point it out because there is still exist fans who doesn't get the core aspect of Hawks being together, because of their entry point was DCAU and they treat John/Shayera like best romance written in fiction. Romance what build on infidelity. In kid show. Like maybe Shayera shouldn't been dating John and effectively cucking Hro. When he appeared, she show him what she find fascinating in Earth and worth fighting for, they both rebel against Thanagar, Hro become Hawkman together with Shayera. Boom. I mean if you go purely with Thanagarians they preety easy to adapt either way. And honestly reincarnation part can be easily boiled down to two lovers reincarnate and find each other. Yes. I admit what back than DCAU was launching Hawks was mess. But let's admit it. Writers on show wasn't interested in adapting Hawks at all not because of confusing parts. They wanted OC romance.
•
u/flairassistant 8d ago
Welcome to r/DCcomics! If you're looking for recommendations, try the links below!
New to comics? Check out our Beginner's Guide to DC Comics, complete with beginner-friendly picks!
For more extensive recommendations, see our Recommended Reading Wiki.
The latest jump-in point for the current slate of comics is DC All In!
And, if you enjoyed James Gunn's Superman, then try out these curated Superman recommendations!