The Increasing Accessibility of Comic Books & Where to Get Started 

Review By: James Francis, Student Intern | BCS Chronicle

What You Need To Know:

• Despite its reputation for being hard to get into, comic books are more accessible than ever thanks to innovations in the industry.

• There are many different ways to read comics. The various formats each provide a unique experience in terms of accessibility and affordability. 

• There are a variety of stories told in comic books with notable recommendations at the end of this article.

It’s no secret that superheroes have become a major cultural powerhouse in the past two decades, with countless projects in television, film, video games, and even podcasts. While adaptations have dominated the attention of general audiences, the source material these stories come from has also seen a surge in popularity over the past few years. 

Comic books are a notoriously overwhelming medium to get into, but in the past few years, publishers have made strides in increasing accessibility for new readers. This has been done in a variety of ways, such as comprehensibility, technology, and affordability 

In recent years, the big two publishers have created initiatives directed at new readers by presenting new canon timelines such as DC’s Absolute Universe and Marvel’s Ultimate Universe separate from mainline publication canon. This allows a clean slate for beginners without erasing what’s come before. Both initiatives have seen critical and commercial success, with titles like Absolute Batman getting an upcoming animated adaptation less than two years since its premiere issue in October 2024.  

In terms of technological development, comic books are primarily a written/drawn medium, so the ceiling for technological development isn’t exactly sky-high; however, apps, such as Marvel Unlimited & DC Universe Infinite, have expanded accessibility for new readers to find comics. For an affordable subscription, readers can have access to nearly the entire library of both Marvel comics and DC comics since their inception almost a hundred years ago. There are also collections of stories exclusive to the apps that aren’t printed in physical format, such as remastering old stories to a more digital-friendly format or new ones exclusive to subscribers. Both apps do a great job of collecting countless different storylines and putting them into comprehensive reading guides, which is not an easy task by any means. The comics themselves are always translated to digital at high-quality, especially if read on a larger-screen device like an iPad, which mimics the size of an actual comic book without the clunkiness of a 1000-page omnibus. In terms of affordability, this is the most cost-effective and convenient way to read compared to having to buy single issues or trades for every story that you read. They are all readily accessible on your mobile device at any time. 

With that being said, comics are still a print medium, and there is nothing like physically holding a comic printed in its intended format. While reading digitally is often more convenient, I have found that stories are more memorable when you physically hold them in your hand.  Both Marvel and DC have done a good job of making the art of collection much more convenient. Essentially, physical comic books are printed in a few different formats: a single issue in paper, a trade paperback, a compact paperback, a hardcover trade, and a collected edition/omnibus.  

Single Issue: Typically 25 pages of content for around six dollars for a brand new issue. This is the most ideal way to read an ongoing series. The subscription apps are great for already completed stories, but they often take a few months to put in new issues so the best way to find issues for your favorite ongoing stories is to go to your local comic book store and pick them up there. Usually, new comics are put on shelves on Wednesdays for most local stores. Most books have around one issue per month year-round. 

Trade Paperback/Hardcover: These include around six issues of a given story printed on high-quality paper for a price of usually around $18, depending on the story length. Trades with more issues can cost up to $30. Trades are typically collected in volumes by number starting at #1. This format is pretty easy to find at Barnes & Noble or Half Price Books. Trades are usually very quick to read. Hardcovers function the same as paperbacks, except they are slightly more pricey. Some DC books can also be bought in “Absolute Editions,” which functionally is just a hardcover trade with a taller page size and even higher page quality. 

Paperback Compacts: These are a brand new strategy introduced by the big two publishers in the past few years. DC calls them “compact editions,” Marvel calls them “premier collections” (with one exception). These are meant to be extremely affordable collections of popular stories accessible to new readers. They are smaller in size and printed on lower-quality paper, but are more convenient to read. This is a great way to have access to complete stories without having to buy every volume in trade format. DC Comics takes the lead here, however, as they have a more affordable price point at $10 per compact edition compared to Marvel’s premier line at $15. Though recently Marvel has released one instance of a $10 compact for a story called Spider-Man: Brand New Day to create synergy with the upcoming release of the movie of the same name. Personally, I’m a huge fan of these compact editions. They’re usually reserved for well-regarded stories, so most of them are worth your time.  

Collected Editions/Compendiums/Omnibus: These are definitely a more advanced format due to their price and difficulty to acquire. Collected editions, compendiums, and omnibuses serve the same purpose as they often collect entire runs in a massive singular book in either hardcover or paperback format. They’re a great collector's item, but not exactly convenient to find. The price is usually very high due to their size, but that comes with a quality book printed on very nice paper. This format works well with stories like Invincible where there is a definitive starting and ending you want to collect all at once. 

Recommendations/Advice: Now that we’ve gone over the different formats in which you can read comics, here are a few recommendations in each type that are worth checking out. Of course everyone has different tastes, and what appeals to you may be different than what works for me. The best advice I can give for somebody who does not know where to start is to simply pick a character or type of story that interests you and go from there. As you read more, you’ll find what works for you and what styles of writing or art appeal to you. But here are a few recommendations in each format to help get you started. Note that every book here is also available digitally, whether through direct purchase or a subscription app. 

DC Comics:

Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Yu, & Gerry Alanguilan

My personal favorite Superman book out there. It is an incredible tale about the days leading up to Clark Kent officially becoming Superman and his first few outings as the iconic hero. Waid does a great job of answering the questions of why Superman presents himself the way he does and why he chooses to be a hero. I highly recommend listening to David Fleming’s Superman (2025) score while reading this. 

• Available in DC compact and trade format.

Batman by Matt Fraction & Jorge Jimenez

Current ongoing series in the mainline universe of DC. Writer, Matt Fraction, utilizes his knack for clever dialogue and comedy to give a slightly more positive spin on everyone’s favorite Caped Crusader. Fraction nails the characterization of Batman and his supporting cast by balancing positivity with the serious subject matter that Batman stories usually cover. Not to mention the absolutely stunning artwork by Jorge Jimenez. The story follows Batman being targeted by the GCPD under the corrupt leadership of DC villain Vandal Savage. There are tons of flashy panels and fun gadgets on display throughout this book. 

• Volume one is available in trade format with issues 1-6. The remainder of the story is available in single issues.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King, Bilquis Evely & Matheus Lopes

Undoubtedly, one of my favorite books ever written. It features Supergirl on a vast space adventure throughout the galaxy on a quest to help an injured friend. It’s full of beautiful moments of compassion and perseverance with some of the most beautiful artwork ever put to page. It is a genuine 10/10 story. I cannot recommend it enough. 

• Available in DC compact and trade format.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Cover  - Source DC Comics

Dceased by Tom Taylor, Trevor Hairsine, Stefano Gaudiano, & Rain Beredo

A three-part saga of post-apocalyptic insanity where a deadly zombie virus plagues the DC universe. Beyond the fascinating concept, this book also features solid character writing, especially for the legacy characters of our favorite heroes. Dceased is probably my favorite DC Elseworlds story. 

• Available in DC compact, trade, and omnibus format. 

Marvel Comics:

Ultimate Spider-Man by Brian Michael Bendis & Mark Bagley 

Teenage Spider-Man revamped for a separate universe designed for new readers starting at his origin. Every character is written with such care, and this book is consistently high in quality for its over 150 issues. It features some of the best dialogue in any Marvel book out there. 

• Collected in trade and omnibus format.

Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky & Marco Checcetto

An overall high-quality story with great dialogue, fun action, and some of the best artwork around by Marco Checcetto. It follows Matt Murdock dealing with his guilt after an accident changes his perspective as New York becomes increasingly hostile towards vigilantism. It’s full of great cameos from other Marvel characters, and Zdarsky’s writing is great from start to finish. 

• Collected in trades and omnibus format.

House of X/Powers of X by Jonathan Hickman, Pepe Larraz & R.B. Silva  

A starting point for a brand new era of the X-Men unlike any other. It follows Professor X as he and Magneto join forces to create a new nation for mutants to prosper on the living island of Krakoa. It’s full of complex ideas and fun concepts that highlight why the mutants of the Marvel universe are so special. Jonathan Hickman is an expert at crafting high-concept ideas and worldbuilding. This story also leads into my absolute favorite era of Marvel comics. There’s a lot of great stuff that follows this already fantastic book. 

- Collected in trade format.

House of X Cover - Source: Marvel Comics

Planet Hulk by Greg Pak, Carlo Pagulayan, & Aaron Lopresti

An action-packed epic where Hulk is exiled to a faraway planet by the heroes of Earth. He gets tangled in a web of war, politics, and romance as Hulk deals with his frustrations about humanity. It’s one of the most iconic Marvel stories of all time, and inspired much of 2019’s Thor: Ragnarok. This story is also immediately followed by another great series known as World War Hulk. 

• Available in trade and Marvel Premier format  

Independent Books

Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion, Werther Dell’Edera, & Miguel Muerto

An expertly written horror book with really interesting themes and worldbuilding. One of the best ongoing series out there. It follows Erica Slaughter, a trained monster hunter chasing down leads in a town where children are being murdered by monsters that adults can’t see. 

- Available in Omnibus format, trades, and single issues 

Invincible by Robert Kirkman, Corey Walker & Ryan Ottley 

Invincible is the quintessential coming-of-age superhero story about the duties of being the strongest hero on the planet while the family legacy hangs in the air. It’s the biggest series on Amazon Prime for a reason. The series is a faithful adaptation of this book so far, with much more left to cover.  The books have a very satisfying conclusion, so I would recommend reading to the end. 

• Available in trade format or 3 large compendiums
  
  

TMNT: The Last Ronin by Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird

A story set in a dark, dystopian future where all but one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have died. The Last Ronin seeks to avenge his brothers against dangerous odds. It's a book with tons of cool moments accompanied by a deeply sad narrative. The mystery around which of the brothers is the Last Ronin adds a nice layer of intrigue as well. 

• Available in trade format.

Transformers by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer

An ongoing with a fresh, stylistic, and heartfelt take on Transformers as they first encounter Earth. It’s full of great characterizations and surprisingly emotional moments. Daniel Warren Johnson is a truly unique talent in today’s comic book industry. 

• Available in trade and single issue formats.