I have been reading comic books since I was just a kid, in fact, I used to struggle with basic reading skills until my father introduced me to his collection of Detective Comics (issues #340 +). From that point on I read through my father’s entire collection and built a healthy library of back issues myself. The one area I always did falter, however, was with reading current runs of Marvel and DC books.

There was a point when heroes like Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Batman had a good seven issues a month each. I would pick up a book and have no idea what was going on and how the individual issue fell into the overall continuum of the hero’s universe.  That isn’t to say I never tried, just ask the Panels comic editor Mike Haynes, he tried to help me as well, but without spending a small fortune on catching up on each hero’s past, it was too late.  I also don’t think I was the only one to feel this wave of overwhelming defeat.

Well DC Comics has finally answered the call, now is the time to get back into comic books, ’nuff said.

Even our favorite heroes are reading comics again.

With DC‘s introduction of The New 52 on Aug. 31, (Justice League #1 being the introductory book) comic book fans – or those even slightly interested – now have a chance to enter the universe fresh, along with the rest of the world.  The New 52 is DC Comic’s revamp of their entire comic book line, they are releasing 52 #1 issues (including legacy titles like Action Comics, Detective Comics, etc.) throughout September.

I have taken this opportunity to start reading some of their new books, and with the Aug. 31 release of Justice League #1 I can safely say that this issue is a very welcoming introduction to the DC universe.

Let’s go back for a moment to the other issue that DC Comics released on Aug. 31, this being Flashpoint #5.  Without spoiling too much, this is the book that DC is using as a sort of acknowledgement to the reader that their books have gotten a little too convoluted and that they are starting fresh with their world.  The book also acts as a bridge between the old and the new.  With reading Flashpoint #5 the reader is placed in the proper emotional context to fully appreciate The New 52.

It can’t be much of a surprise to know that comic book sales have dropped off, they have been in a constant drop off for some time.  DC recognizes this, they also recognize how they have alienated the casual reader, it is their hope that with The New 52 both hardcore and casual collectors alike will embrace these stories.

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