How to get into comics

Comics can look like a club with too many rules. There are thousands of issues, characters with decades of history, and words like "trade" and "omnibus" that nobody explains. The good news: none of that is required. Most readers start with one story they like and follow their interest from there. This guide explains the formats, gives you a few ways to pick a first book, and shows how a local shop makes it easier.

Singles, trades and omnibuses

The same story often comes out in several formats. Knowing them makes a comic shop much less confusing.

• Single issues. The thin, stapled comics on the new-release wall, sometimes called floppies. Most ongoing series put out a new issue about once a month, with roughly 20 pages of story each. Singles are the way to read a story as it comes out.
• Trade paperbacks. "Trades" collect several single issues, usually one complete story arc, in a paperback book. They're a good place for new readers to start, because you get a full story in one go.
• Hardcovers and omnibuses. Hardcovers collect issues in a sturdier book. An omnibus is a big, heavy hardcover that collects a long run, sometimes dozens of issues. Great value per page, but a big first step.
• Graphic novels. Book-length stories told in one volume from the start, not collected from single issues. Many memoirs, literary comics and kids' books come out this way.
• Manga volumes. Japanese comics, collected in small paperback volumes of a couple hundred pages and usually read right to left. Long series can run for many volumes.

There's no right format. Many readers buy singles of a few series they love and trades or manga for everything else.

Where to start

Pick one way in and give it a few issues or one book.

• Start with a character you already like. Saw a movie or a show you enjoyed? Ask for a well-loved, self-contained story with that character, or a recent run that starts at a new #1.
• Start with a genre. Comics are more than superheroes. Horror, crime, science fiction, fantasy, westerns, humor, romance, memoir and history are all on the shelf. If you love mystery novels, start with a crime comic.
• Start with a creator. Comics are made by writers and artists with distinct styles. When you find a book you love, look up who made it and read their other work. It's the most reliable way to find your next favorite.
• Start at a #1. New series and relaunches start at issue #1 and are written to welcome new readers. For older series, the first trade of a run is the equivalent.

Publishers each have their own feel. Marvel and DC publish most of the famous superheroes. Image, Dark Horse, IDW, Boom! Studios and many smaller publishers put out a wide range of creator-owned books in every genre. Try a few.

Don't worry about continuity

Long-running superhero universes have decades of shared history. You don't need to know it. Good stories give you what you need on the page, and you can fill in background later if you're curious. If something confuses you, ask at the shop or look it up; nobody reads everything.

If a series gets too tangled in a big crossover you aren't following, it's fine to skip it and pick up when the story settles down.

All-ages and manga

Many shops have a kids' section with all-ages comics and graphic novels for young readers, from picture-book-style comics to middle-grade adventure series. These are often the easiest way to get a reluctant reader hooked. Look for age ratings on the cover or back, and ask the staff; they're used to helping parents.

Manga is a world of its own, with series for every age and taste: adventure, sports, comedy, romance, fantasy, horror. Ratings are printed on the back of each volume. Many manga series run long, so start with volume 1 and see if you want more before buying a stack. Our manga page lists comic shops whose reviews or website mention a manga selection.

How a local shop helps

• Recommendations. Tell the staff what you like in movies, shows or books, and they'll put something in your hands. It's the most useful thing a shop does.
• The whole range in one place. New issues, trades, graphic novels and often manga, so you can flip through before you buy.
• A pull list. Once you find a series you like, the shop sets aside each new issue for you. See what is a pull list.
• Back issue bins. An easy, often cheap way to catch up on older issues or try something new.
• Special orders. Most shops can order books they don't have on the shelf.
• Events. Signings, reading groups and Free Comic Book Day, depending on the shop.

If one shop doesn't feel right, try another. Shops differ a lot in what they stock and how they feel.

Reading on a budget

• Trades often cost less per issue than buying the same issues as singles, and you can wait for them.
• Back issue bins are a cheap way to sample older series.
• Your public library likely has graphic novels, trades and manga. Many libraries also offer digital comics.
• Publisher reading apps and subscriptions give access to large back catalogs, usually with a delay after print.
• Free Comic Book Day hands out free comics at participating shops once a year. See our Free Comic Book Day guide.

Questions

Should I start with single issues or trades?

Trades are easier for most new readers: a full story in one book. Switch to singles for a series you can't wait for.

Do I need to read everything that came before?

No. Start at a #1 or the first trade of a run. Good comics explain what you need.

What is a variant cover?

An alternate cover for the same issue. The story inside is the same. Variants matter to collectors; readers can pick whichever cover they like.

What's good for kids?

All-ages graphic novels and kids' series are written for young readers. Check the age rating and ask the shop's staff for current favorites.

Find a shop to start at

• Comic shops by state.
• Comic shops with manga.
• Shops with back issues.
• Shops with pull lists.
• Shops with indie and small press comics.

Find a comic shop Shops with manga