There’s no time like the present with this week’s So You Want to Read Comics.  This is our weekly feature where we take a look at a single topic or genre, then give you two comic book recommendations, perfect for new readers, based on that topic or genre.  This week we’re looking at currently ongoing series coming out of DC Comics, which are great for new readers to jump into.

Reading comics can be a tricky thing to do.  Unlike large novel series or long-running TV shows, comic books tend to move very quickly from past stories and continuities.  What was once the status quo just a couple of years ago, might today be considered outdated or in some cases not even part of the current canon, something DC Comics is somewhat notorious for doing.  Now, there’s some debate about whether or not something is still canon or part of the continuity is important or not, but that has no impact on this next point:  Sometimes it is simply easier to pick a point to jump in and not bother reading what came before.   Thankfully every year a few new ongoing titles are released that offer an ideal place for someone to jump in and get their feet wet with the universe.

Here are a couple of titles from DC Comics that started in 2023 but are looking to keep going as well as release collected editions in 2024, that offer great entry points not just to the title itself but other offerings from the studio as well.

SUPERMAN

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Jamal Campbell
Publisher: DC Comics

Being that Superman is arguably the most recognizable comic book character of all time, it probably isn’t much of a surprise that he would represent a good entry point for new readers.  But being that he has such a long history and volumes upon volumes of lore behind him, the opposite is often the case.  That’s changed though with the most recent take on this Supes-centric title (there’s also Action Comics, but that’s a story for a different day).  Headed up by the creative team of Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell, this series doesn’t reboot or re-imagine Superman and his history, instead the focus is simply on telling fun stories.  The idea here is that Superman has returned to Metropolis just in time for a new threat to emerge that is tied to a secretive past belonging to his greatest nemesis Lex Luthor.  So far, this title has found a nice mix between pulling from Superman’s history in a way that doesn’t require intimate knowledge of the elements used, and introducing new characters that look to become integral parts of both Superman’s mythos and the DC Universe as a whole.  Even well-established side characters like Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen can be introduced naturally in ways that don’t feel insulting or handhold-y.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Mikel Janin and Jordie Bellaire
Publisher: DC Comics

There’s no doubt that you’ve heard of the Justice League, but what if I told you there was a superhero team that predates them both canonically as well as in regard to publishing history?  That team is the Justice Society of America, and they exist in a separate universe from most of the other characters you might be familiar with.  In 2023, Geoff Johns, who is responsible for some of the more successful re-introductions to characters within the last 20 years, took on the task of bringing back these legacy characters after decades of convoluted stories and canon.  While it might be expected that to do this there’d be a protracted period with issues devoted to introductions, that isn’t the case here.  Instead, the approach has been to get right into the action, making it clear that these stories are part of their own timeline, and then let this universe unfold naturally, allowing the reader to become familiar with things, as they’re introduced.  This series, while being enjoyable on its own, is actually part of a bigger initiative called The New Golden Age, which offers other titles for new readers to check out if they’re enjoying JSA.  The first collected volume is set to be released on February 27th, 2024.

What do you think of these recommendations?  If you’re already reading comics, what are some of your favorite ongoing titles from DC? Let us know in the comments section below.

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