Welcome to the Austin Books & Comics New Reader Guide! We’re here to introduce some of our favorite books that you may not already know about, and maybe even help you find your next favorite comic series!
Wonder Woman aka Diana Prince: Amazonian warrior princess, feminist icon, 1/3 of DC’s Trinity, and the world’s most famous female superhero, Wonder Woman has endured for over 70 years as a legendary inspiration. Her combination of strength, grace, and compassion is what has lead her to be such a high-profile figure in the DC canon.
In this guide you’ll find the recent Wonder Woman ongoing series, as well as some of the more acclaimed miniseries, story arcs, and other series.
All titles are available at the store, and if not we will be happy to special order them for you!
Current Ongoing Series
Wonder Woman (Rebirth)
Alternating between past and present, the most recent run of Wonder Woman features the Amazonian princess dealing with her powers faltering in the present, and how it ties into her early days as Earth’s guardian.
Writer: Greg Rucka Artist: Nicola Scott
Concluded Series (New 52)
Wonder Woman
The critically-acclaimed New 52 run of Wonder Woman begins with the shocking reveal of Diana’s father. Drawing elements from Greek mythology with modern twists, this was easily one of the best series to come out DC’s 2011 New 52 line-wide relaunch.
Writer: Brian Azzarello Artist: Cliff Chiang Number of Volumes: 9
Sensation Comics
An anthology series featuring stories by some of the biggest as well as up-and-coming names in comics today, Sensation Comics captures the spirit of Wonder Woman, and shows why she has lasted for so long among the world’s greatest superheroes.
Writers: Gail Simone, Amanda Deibert, Ivan Cohen, Sean E. Williams, Neil Kleid, Corinna Bechko, Adam P. Knave, Neil Googe, James Tynion IV, Cecil Castellucci, Aaron Lopresti, Josh Elder, Derek Fridolfs, Barbara Kesel, Karen Traviss, Carla Speed McNeil, Caitlin Kittredge, Trina Robbins Artists: Ethan van Sciver, Cat Staggs, Marcelo Di Chiara, Marcus To, Marguerite Sauvage, Dean Haspiel, Gabriel Hardman, Matthew Smith, Neil Googe, Noelle Stevenson, Chris Sprouse, Aaron Lopresti, Jamal Igle, Tom Fowler, Irene Koh, Emma Vieceli, Laura Braga, Andres Guinaldo, Carla Speed McNeil, Scott Hampton, Chris Gugliotti Number of volumes: 3
Superman/Wonder Woman
This series centers around the romance between the most powerful couple in the DC universe: the Man of Steel and the Warrior Princess of the Amazons, as they fight against not only enemies, but those that disapprove of their pairing.
Writer: Charles Soule Artist: Tony Salvador Daniel Number of volumes: 4
Concluded Series (Pre-New 52)
Wonder Woman (1987)
Following the conclusion of Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1986, DC relaunched Wonder Woman. Written (primarily) and drawn by the already-legendary George Perez, this series took the heroine to basics, pitting her against God of War Ares in “Man’s World,” and facing ever-difficult challenges both on the battlefield and off. Regarded as one of the most character-defining runs of all time.
Writer: George Perez, Greg Potter, Len Wein Artist: George Perez
Wonder Woman (2001)
The 2001 run by Greg Rucka pitted the Amazon warrior princess against her Justice League compatriot, Batman! Then, the publication of her book opens up the floodgates of villains looking to not only defeat Wonder Woman, but destroy her home of Themyscira. Another of the most high-regarded runs, this series was recently collected in the “Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka” collection.
Writer: Greg Rucka Artists: Shane Davis, JG Jones, Sean Phillips, James Raiz, Ray Snyder Number of volumes: 1
Wonder Woman (2006)
This series picks up after 2006’s Infinite Crisis as part of the “One Year Later” relaunch. Donna Troy now holds the title of Wonder Woman, with Diana missing. Not all is as it seems, when a terrorist takes several of Diana’s friends hostage, demanding she reveal herself. This series featured myth and legend mixed with modern spy thrills as Diana often works with the Department of Metahuman Affairs to fight evil.
Writers: Allan Heinberg, Jodi Picoult, Gail Simone Artists: Terry Dodson, Drew Johnson Number of volumes: 8
Wonder Woman (2010)
Wonder Woman’s timeline has been altered and Paradise Island has been destroyed! The 2010 run completely shook up the warrior princess’ status quo with a new outfit, new villains, and new mission. Writer: J. Michael Straczynski Artist: Don Kramer Number of volumes: 2
Limited Series, Collections, and Graphic Novels
The Legend of Wonder Woman
In this limited series, a young and adventurous Diana finds herself at odds with the leadership of Paradise Island. Read about the early days as she goes from young princess fighting against expectation to the heroic warrior of legend.
Writer/Artist: Renae DeLiz
Wonder Woman ’77
Inspired by the Lynda Carter-starring 1970s TV series, Wonder Woman ’77 is a fun throwback that captures the thrills and excitement of the iconic depiction of Wonder Woman.
Writer: Marc Andreyko Artists: Matt Haley, Drew Johnson. Jason Badower, Richard Ortiz, Cat Staggs
Wonder Woman: Earth One
Part of DC’s Earth One line of original graphic novels, Wonder Woman: Earth One is a modern retelling of Wonder Woman’s origin as she meets marooned pilot Steve Trevor and ventures into the unknown world of man, only to be brought back in chains and tried by the Amazons for violating the separation from the world that wronged them.
Welcome to the Austin Books & Comics New Reader Guide! We’re here to introduce some of our favorite books that you may not already know about, and maybe even help you find your next favorite comic series!
Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive. The Man of Steel, the Last Son of Krypton. The most famous superhero of all time, bar none. As another 1/3 of DC’s Trinity, Superman has endured as an inspiring symbol, representing the best of what we can be.
In this guide you’ll find the recent Superman ongoing series, as well as some of the more acclaimed miniseries, story arcs, and other series.
All titles are available at the store, and if not we will be happy to special order them for you!
Current Ongoing Series
Superman (Rebirth)
Introducing Jonathan Kent, the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, as the new Superboy. This series is a twist on the Kent family dynamic, putting Clark into the Pa Kent role, and being forced to decide whether he should encourage his son to embrace his powers, or hide them from the world.
Writer: Peter Tomasi Artist: Patrick Gleason
Action Comics (Rebirth)
Superman returns to Metropolis after some time away, only to find its new protector is Lex Luthor. In the midst of their confrontation they are interrupted by none other than… Clark Kent??
Writer: Dan Jurgens Artist: Patrick Zircher
Concluded Series (New 52)
Superman (New 52)
This series finds Superman in a shocking new status quo: the populace fears him, the media mistrusts him, and he is far from the inspiring figure he is known to be. Not only this, he must face a massive threat to Metropolis that he may be the cause of.
Writer: George Perez Artist: Jesus Merino, Nicola Scott Number of volumes: 5
Action Comics (New 52)
As part of the New 52 relaunch, Action Comics features a younger Superman early in his career, having just arrived in Metropolis.
Writer: Grant Morrison Artist: Andy Kubert, Rags Morales Number of volumes: 8
Lois and Clark
Effectively using the often-twisty DC continuity, this series centers around the Pre-New 52 versions of Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and their son Jonathan, who have been transported to the (then) current New 52 version of Earth. Operating anonymously and in the background for years, this Superman and his family’s secrets are about to be revealed to the world, with their son caught in the middle.
Writer: Dan Jurgens Artist: Sergio Cariello, Scott Hanna, Lee Weeks Number of volumes: 1
Batman/Superman (New 52)
It’s well-known that Batman and Superman are the best of friends. However, in the relaunched New 52 continuity, the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel barely know each other. This series depicts the early days of their partnership, and how they went from the heroes of their respective cities to the World’s Finest.
Writer: Greg Pak Artists: Jae Lee, Ben Oliver, Brett Booth, Jonathan Glapion, Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes Number of Volumes: 5
Superman/Wonder Woman (New 52)
This series centers around the romance between the most powerful couple in the DC universe: the Man of Steel and the Warrior Princess of the Amazons, as they fight against not only enemies, but those that disapprove of their pairing.
Writer: Charles Soule Artist: Tony Salvador Daniel Number of volumes: 4
Limited Series, Collections, and Graphic Novels
Superman Adventures
Inspired by the 1990s animated series, Superman Adventures captures the unique feel of the iconic series, featuring stories by comics legends Paul Dini and Scott McCloud. Full of action and thrills, this series appeals to Superman fans young and old.
Writers: Paul Dini, Scott McCloud Artists: Terry Austin, Bret Blevins, Rick Burchett, Mike Manley Number of volumes: 2
All-Star Superman
Widely considered to be one of the greatest Superman stories of all time, All-Star Superman incorporates numerous Silver Age-esque concepts while portraying Superman as the iconic, inspiring figure he was always meant to be.
Writer: Grant Morrison Artist: Frank Quitely
Superman: American Alien
Written by Max Landis with a different artist each issue, American Alien focuses on different points throughout Clark Kent’s life as he goes from rebellious Kansas farmboy to the legendary hero we all know, while developing connections to the greater DC Universe as he meets figures like Lex Luthor, Bruce Wayne, Oliver Queen, and more.
Writer: Max Landis Artists: Nick Dragotta, Joëlle Jones, Jae Lee, Francis Manapul, Tommy Lee Edwards, Jonathan Case, Jock, Ryan Sook
Superman/Batman
This series explored the friendship, camaraderie, and antagonism between the titular characters. It opens with President Lex Luthor declaring Batman and Superman has public enemies, stating that a Kryptonite asteroid headed towards Earth is part of an evil plan of Superman’s. This sends both villains and heroes after the duo, who must work together to clear their names and prove Luthor’s guilt.
Writers: Jeph Loeb, et al Artists: Ed McGuinness, et al Number of volumes: 12
Superman: Birthright
A modern retelling of Superman’s origins, Birthright follows a young Clark Kent as he goes from Kansas farmboy to Daily Planet reporter and the greatest hero the world has ever known. His journeys around the world as a young reporter, combined with his rural Kansas upbringing and alien origin, provide a unique perspective on the value of life and the inherent goodness of humanity.
Writer: Mark Waid Artist: Leinil Yu
Death of Superman
A truly shocking event for its time, the Death of Superman centered around Superman and his cataclysmic battle against the seemingly-unstoppable beast Doomsday, culminating in the apparent death of both combatants.
Writers: Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern Artists: Jon Bogdanove, Brett Breeding, Tom Grummett, Jackson Guice, Dan Jurgens
Superman: Earth One
Part of DC’s Earth One line of graphic novels, Superman: Earth One depicts a young Clark Kent first arriving to Metropolis as he tries to find his place in the world not only as Clark Kent (finding a job, living up to his potential, making his parents proud) but also as Superman (revealing his powers to the world and the consequences that follow).
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski Artist: Shane Davis Number of volumes: 3
Superman For All Seasons
A four issue miniseries that depicts Superman from the perspectives of Jonathan Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Lana Lang. This coming-of-age story divided by seasons (in the literal and metaphorical sense) depicts Clark Kent making the difficult transition from small town Kansas farmboy to big city reporter, while trying to use his powers to the best of his abilities.
Writer: Jeph Loeb Artist: Time Sale
Superman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told
A collection of essential Superman stories from over the years, most notably 2001’s “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?”, written by Joe Kelly with art by Doug Mahnke and Lee Bermejo. This story centers around Superman and his conflicts with a new superpowered vigilante group called The Elite, who often kill their foes. Despite public support, Superman disagrees with their methods, showing that there are lines that heroes should not cross.
Writers: Jerry Siegel, William Woolfolk, Edmond Hamilton, Elliot S. Maggin, Jim Steranko, John Byrne, Joe Kelly Artists: Joe Shuster, Al Plastino, George Klein, Murphy Anderson, Curt Swan, Mœbius, Dick Giordano, Mike Mignola, Karl Kese, Doug Mahnke, Lee Bermejo
Kingdom Come
In the near future, the superheroes we know have retired, replaced by edgier, more violent vigilantes that cause almost as much chaos and destruction as the villains they fight. When the world comes to the brink of destruction, Superman and his old allies must come out of retirement for one last stand for truth and justice.
Writer: Mark Waid Artist: Alex Ross
Superman: Man of Steel
After 1986’s seminal Crisis on Infinite Earths event, DC had creator John Byrne reinvent Superman for the modern era. This 6-part miniseries stripped away many of the campier elements of the Silver Age including the varying types of Kryptonite, Superman’s early career as Superboy with the Legion of Superheroes, and the other Kryptonian elements such as the bottled city of Kandor and Krypto the Super Dog. The series also reimagined many supporting characters, changing Lois Lane from damsel in distress to a strong, independent reporter and Lex Luther from mad scientist to scheming businessman.
Writer/Artist: John Byrne
Superman: Red Son
One of the ultimate “What if?” stories, Red Son asks the question of what if the most powerful being on Earth didn’t grow up with a loving family in small town America, but instead came up in the harsh, frozen wastes of Soviet Russia. A brilliant twist on the Superman mythos, this miniseries explores alternate takes on Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Lex Luthor, and others.
Writer: Mark Millar Artist: Dave Johnson
Superman: Secret Identity
This alternate take on Superman centers around a young man named Clark Kent who lives in a world where superheroes only exist on the pages of comic books. This Clark discovers that like his namesake, he has superpowers that he uses to help people. A meta take on the Superman mythos, this series explores the idea of what makes a regular person into a hero.
Writer: Kurt Busiek Artist: Stuart Immonen
Superman: Secret Origin
Following the Infinite Crisis event from 2006, this miniseries was the new definitive version of Superman’s origin. Incorporating numerous modern elements into the iconic tale, as well as reintroducing Silver Age concepts such as Superman’s early years as Superboy, the Legion of Superheroes, and more into a modern context.
Writer: Geoff Johns Artist: Gary Frank
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
Effectively a celebration of the Silver Age version of Superman, Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? features Superman facing off against his greatest foes, including a reimagined version of Bizarro, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, and more.
Welcome to the Austin Books & Comics New Reader Guide! We’re here to introduce some of our favorite books that you may not already know about, and maybe even help you find your next favorite comic series!
Easily one of the most popular superheroes of all time, as well as 1/3 of DC’s Trinity, Batman has endured as one of comic’s greatest icons for nearly 80 years. From the Dark Knight to the Caped Crusader, there have been various takes on the character that can appeal to everyone.
In this guide you’ll find the recent Batman ongoing series, as well as some of the more acclaimed miniseries, story arcs, and other series.
All titles are available at the store, and if not we will be happy to special order them for you!
Current Ongoing Series
Batman
The most recent series aims to get down to the basic ideas of the character: becoming a symbol to inspire hope among the civilians and fear among the criminals. After saving Gotham City from a massive catastrophe, Batman meets a new pair of heroes who aim to replace him as their cities sole protectors.
Writer: Tom King Artist: David Finch
All-Star Batman
This new series features reimaginings of Batman’s most iconic villains. It opens with Batman and Two-Face cuffed together, with Two-Face forcing Batman to take him to a specific location outside Gotham City. The only catch: every bounty hunter, assassin, and even ordinary citizen is out to kill the Caped Crusader before they can reach their destination.
Writer: Scott Snyder Artist: John Romita, Jr.
Detective Comics
A Batman team-up book, the new Detective Comics opens with Batman and Batwoman joining forces to train the young heroes of Gotham City, including Red Robin and Spoiler, to combat a new threat that has been terrorizing the city with precision attacks.
Writer: James Tynion IV Artist: Eddy Barrow
Concluded Series (Pre-New 52)
Batman and Robin
Following the apparent death of Batman in the Final Crisis event, this run was unique in that rather than Bruce Wayne under the cowl, it featured Dick Grayson as Batman and Damian Wayne as Robin. This series was a reversal of the usual Batman and Robin dynamic in that it featured a more lighthearted Batman paired with a gritty, scowling Robin.
Writers: Grant Morrison, Paul Cornell, Peter Tomasi, Judd Winick Artists: Frank Quitely, Philip Tan, Cameron Stewart, Andy Clarke, Frazer Irving, Scott McDaniel, Patrick Gleason, Guillem March Number of Volumes: 4
Batman Incorporated
Following the return of Bruce Wayne, Batman Incorporated featured Batman branching out and establishing other Bat-themed heroes around the world. The series features numerous new global Bat heroes fighting against an international crime organization known as Leviathan.
Writer: Grant Morrison Artists: Yanick Paquette, Scott Clark, Cameron Stewart, Chris Burnham Number of Volumes: 3
Concluded Series (New 52)
Batman
Easily one of the best titles to come out of the New 52 relaunch of 2011. One of the most notable things about this series is how Scott Snyder introduces new characters and concepts in a very original and organic way. Namely, the Court of Owls, which are tied in to the long history of Gotham City, as well as many generations of the Wayne family. This series exemplified DC’s New 52 initiative of taking a character back to their early(ish) days and making their new series easy for new readers to get into.
Writer: Scott Snyder Artist: Greg Capullo Number of volumes: 8
Detective Comics
The sister series to the New 52 Batman, Detective Comics starts with Batman investigating a new villain terrorizing Gotham City known as the Gotham Ripper. As Bruce Wayne, he romantically pursues a reporter who is covering the Gotham Ripper story, as well as trying to discover Batman’s secret identity.
Writer: Tony Daniel, John Layman, Francis Manapul, Brian Buccatello, Peter Tomasi Artist: Tony Daniel, Ed Benes, Andy Clarke, Jason Fabok, Francis Manapul, Fernando Blanco, Marcio Takara Number of Volumes: 8
Batman and Robin
The New 52 relaunch of Batman and Robin centers around Batman taking on his son Damian Wayne as the newest Robin. The two have to get used to each other, as one is the Dark Knight of Gotham City, while the other has been raised by the League of Assassins since childhood. As they adjust to their new setup, they run afoul of a figure from Bruce Wayne’s past known as NoBody, who is very displeased about Batman, Inc. exposing his secret war on crime.
Writer: Peter Tomasi Artist: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray Number of Volumes: 7
Batman/Superman
It’s well-known that Batman and Superman are the best of friends. However, in the relaunched New 52 continuity, the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel barely know each other. This series depicts the early days of their partnership, and how they went from the heroes of their respective cities to the World’s Finest.
Writer: Greg Pak
Artists: Jae Lee, Ben Oliver, Brett Booth, Jonathan Glapion, Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes Number of Volumes: 5
Limited Series, Collections, and Graphic Novels
Batman ’66
A throwback to the 1966 TV series, Batman ’66 is a different take on the Caped Crusader, dialing up the camp and style to deliver a goofy but exceedingly clever and entertaining series. Full of BIFFs, POWs, and every Bat-device under the sun, this is a series Bat-fans of all ages can enjoy.
Writers: Jeff Parker, Mike W. Barr, Harlan Ellison, Jeff Parker, Len Wein, Ray Fawkes, Gabe Soria Artists: Richard Case, Jonathan Case, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Michael Avon Oeming, Ruben Procopio, Jon Bogdanove, Brent Schoonover, Ty Templeton Number of volumes: 5
Arkham Asylum
On April Fool’s Day, the inmates of Arkham Asylum take over, demanding Batman in exchange for the hostages. Batman accepts, and has to endure a gauntlet of traps, torture, and other insanities from the nightmares of his greatest villains, including Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Joker, and others.
Writer: Grant Morrison Artist: Dave McKean
Arkham City
The prequel to the acclaimed video game of the same name, Arkham City sets up the game by revealing more of Hugo Strange and Mayor Sharp’s motivations for building the walled-off prison city.
Writer: Paul Dini Artist: Adam Archer, Carlos D’Anda, Derek Fridolfs, Ben Herrera, Ted Naifeh, Dustin Nguyen, Roger Robinson
The Dark Knight Returns
One of the greatest Batman stories, The Dark Knight Returns features an older, grizzled Batman returning to action in Gotham after a decade. With a new, ultraviolent breed of criminal running rampant along with some familiar but even more dangerous foes, Batman is pushed to his limit to protect Gotham City.
Writer/Artist: Frank Miller
A Death in the Family
One of the most well-known Batman stories because the ending was decided by a fan vote, A Death in the Family featured the second Robin (Jason Todd) acting against Batman’s warnings about the Joker and paying the ultimate price. Following this, Batman sets out to avenge his fallen ward.
Writers: George Perez, Jim Starlin, Marv Wolfman Artists: Jim Aparo, Tom Grummett
Hush
Batman sets out to discover the identity of Hush, a mysterious new foe who has been using the Dark Knight’s enemies – and allies – against him to cause chaos.
Writer: Jeph Loeb Artist: Jim Lee
The Killing Joke
Another one of Batman’s best-known stories, The Killing Joke is an origin story for the Joker, and centers around the premise that even the best of us can be driven completely insane if pushed hard enough. It features the Joker torturing Jim Gordon in all manner of ways including kidnapping and hurting his daughter (and Batgirl) Barbara while giving us glimpses at the events that drove the Joker over the edge.
Writer: Alan Moore Artist: Brian Bolland
The Long Halloween
Depicting Batman’s early days, The Long Halloween features a villain that only kills people on holidays. Batman must work with police lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent to stop this new foe known as Holiday. Not only does this story keep the reader guessing, it also ties into the origin of Harvey Dent as the villainous Two-Face.
Writer: Jeph Loeb Artist: Tim Sale
Dark Victory
The sequel to The Long Halloween, Dark Victory depicts Gotham City’s criminal underworld transforming from traditional organized crime to the powered supervillainy of Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, and the Joker. In addition to that, the serial killer known as Holiday seems to have reappeared and is wreaking havoc once again.
Writer: Jeph Loeb Artist: Tim Sale
Earth One
Part of DC’s line of Earth One original graphic novels, Batman: Earth One features a young, vulnerable, angry Bruce Wayne setting out to avenge his parents’ deaths while combating the corrupt Gotham City police that let his parents’ killers go free.
Writer: Geoff Johns Artist: Gary Frank
Year One
Another one of the greatest Batman stories, Year One depicts Bruce Wayne’s first year under the cowl fighting crime in Gotham City.
Writer: Frank Miller Artist: David Mazzucchelli
Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader
Written as the “last” Batman story, Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? depicts Batman’s allies and enemies coming together to eulogize the Dark Knight, each with a different version of how he died. Despite the wildly varying versions of Batman’s death, they all contain one central idea: Batman never, ever stops fighting.
Writer: Neil Gaiman Artist: Andy Kubert
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Ninja Turtles villain Shredder and his Foot Clan ninjas travels to Gotham City via dimensional warp, with sights set on conquest. The Dark Knight must team up with the Heroes in a Half Shell to fight the combined forces of their greatest foes.
Writer: James Tynion IV Artist: Freddie E. Williams II
Welcome to the Austin Books & Comics New Reader Guide! We’re here to introduce some of our favorite books that you may not already know about, and maybe even help you find your next favorite comic series!
Starting in 2015, Aftershock Comics has been the new publisher for creator-owned comics by some of the best writers and artists today. With a huge variety of styles and genres, Aftershock is sure to be a major player on the comics scene.
All titles are available at the store, and if not we will be happy to special order them for you!
Alters
A war between heroes and villains has been raging for years with more and more of the general populations caught in the middle. In the midst of this conflict, a third threat appears: the Alters. They appear all around the country with new and amazing powers, and are met with fear and distrust. This series centers around a young transgender woman known as Chalice, and her struggles of transitioning not only to her new gender identity, but also to her new superhero identity.
Creators: Paul Jenkins (w), Leila Leiz (a) Genres: superhero For fans of: Young Avengers, LGBTQ+ protagonists
American Monster
In a small Midwestern town, a man covered in horrific scars appears. The townsfolk aren’t sure what to make of him, until he takes on a local gang of racist arms dealers and the corrupt law enforcement. Seen as a hero, they’re shocked to realize that he’s not there to save the town, but to take it over.
Creators: Brian Azzarello (w), Juan Doe (a) Genres: crime, drama, horror For fans of: Southern Bastards, True Detective, gritty and brutal crime stories
Animosity
One day, the animals were able to think for themselves and communicate with people. They then started to take their revenge. A young girl and her dog escape from New York City to get to San Francisco in order to find the one person who can possibly save them.
Creators: Marguerite Bennett (w), Rafael de Latorre (a) Genres: black comedy, adventure, action, horror For fans of: Rover Red Charlie, Preacher, road trip stories
Black-Eyed Kids
It’s night. You’re at home, alone. Suddenly there’s a knock at the door. It’s a pair of kids, asking to use your phone. They look a little odd, but you let them in. As soon as they enter, you feel an overwhelming sense of dread. Then you notice their eyes: solid black. You desperately want to escape, but it’s too late, they have you.
Creators: Joe Pruett (w), Szymon Kudranski (a) Genres: horror For fans of: psychological horror, urban legends
Captain Kid
Middle-aged shlub Chris Vargas has a secret: he can turn into teen superhero Captain Kid! This series asks the question: if you could be a teenager again, would you?
Creators: Mark Waid & Tom Peyer (w), Wilfredo Torres (a) Genres: superhero, comedy For fans of: meta/self-aware humor
Dreaming Eagles
Inspired by true events, Dreaming Eagles recounts the story of the Tuskegee airmen, a squadron of African-American fighter pilots during World War II. These brave pilots faced huge odds not only in the skies above wartorn Europe, but also in the face of racism at home.
Creators: Garth Ennis (w), Simon Coleby (a) Genres: war, action, drama For fans of: Battlefields, war stories, historical drama
Insexts
In the late Victorian era, a pair of forbidden lovers discover a terrifying power that transforms them into monstrous creatures. Using this power, they create a new life for themselves while seeking vengeance on those that have wronged them.
Creators: Marguerite Bennett (w), Ariela Kristantina (a) Genres: horror, romance, drama For fans of: body horror, Victorian romance, LGBTQ+ protagonists
Jackpot
The world’s greatest con artists set out for a massive score: the powers of the gods themselves. Using their skills, wits, and a little luck, they’ll try to pull off the biggest heist of all time.
Creators: Ray Fawkes (w), Marco Failla (a) Genres: action, thriller For fans of: heist stories, modern mythology
Replica
At the intergalactic population hub known as the Transfer, Trevor Carter is a detective stretched too thin. Between a doofus partner, incompetent superiors, and too many responsibilities, Trevor decides to clone himself in order to better perform his duties. However, the cloning process goes awry and instead of one clone, he ends up with dozens. Each issue introduces a different clone, each with his own identity, including put-upon desk worker Number Two, stoner hippie Number Three, and half-baked legal genius Number Five.
Creators: Paul Jenkins (w), Andy Clarke (a) Genres: sci-fi, action, comedy For fans of: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Red Dwarf, British humor
Rough Riders
In the 1890s, a young Theodore Roosevelt gathers a group of remarkable individuals to uncover and stop a force that threatens all mankind. With sharpshooter Annie Oakley, magician Harry Houdini, champion boxer Jack Johnson, and scientist Thomas Edison, Roosevelt and his Rough Riders fight a secret war against an alien threat.
Creators: Adam Glass (w), Patrick Olliffe (a) Genres: action, adventure, sci-fi For fans of: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, alternate/secret history, period sci-fi
Second Sight
Former celebrity psychic Ray Pilgrim was famous for being able to see through the eyes of killers who were terrorizing London. He fell out of the public eye after being accused of the same crimes he was helping to solve. Now his daughter is attempting to uncover the truth about a secret group of child abusers that include some of Britain’s most powerful men. Desperate to expose the group and protect his daughter, Pilgrim goes down the same dark path he had long since left.
Creators: David Hine (w), Alberto Ponticelli (a) Genres: horror, thriller For fans of: psychological horror
Strayer
In a world full of giant monsters, outlaw Strayer will fight them, for a fee. He ends up teamed up with Mala, a young girl with magical powers that have not been seen in ages. They travel the world fighting monsters, attempting to uncover the conspiracy behind the sinister origins of the giant beasts terrorizing the populace.
Creators: Justin Jordan (w), Juan Gedeon (a) Genres: action, sci-fi For fans of: Shadow of the Colossus, mismatched buddy action movies, giant monster fights
Superzero
19 year old Dru Dragowski absolutely believes that she is destined for great things. Desperate to gain the superpowers in order to achieve this destiny, she tries recreating the origins of her favorite superheroes, including hiring a hobo to mug her parents and taking a bag of ants into an X-ray machine. She ends up discovering a massive threat to the earth, and that she may well end up fulfilling her heroic destiny after all.
Creators: Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti (w), Rafael de Latorre (a) Genres: superhero, action, comedy For fans of: Kick-Ass, Ms. Marvel, Faith, sendups/parodies of superhero tropes
The Revisionist
Martin Monroe is a time-travelling assassin known as the Revisionist, tasked with repairing the broken timeline. He is forced to team with his estranged father and face his sordid history in order to save the future, but can he overcome his past and live with his decisions to do so?
Creators: Frank Barbiere (w), Garry Brown (a) Genres: action, sci-fi For fans of: time travel, mind-bending sci-fi
Welcome to the Austin Books & Comics New Reader Guide! We’re here to introduce some of our favorite books that you may not already know about, and maybe even help you find your next favorite comic series!
“And there came a day unlike any other, when earth’s mightiest heroes were united against a common threat! On that day the Avengers were born!” Since 1963, the Avengers have been Marvel’s premier super-team, fighting to protect the world, the universe, and occasionally all of reality.
In this guide you’ll find a collection of both classic and modern Avengers titles.
All titles are available at the store, and if not we will be happy to special order them for you!
Classics:
The Avengers (1963)
Where it all began. Read the origins of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and their battles against the original foes that no one hero could withstand.
Kree-Skrull War (1972)
Written and drawn by comics legends Roy Thomas, Sal Buscema, Neal Adams, and John Buscema, the Kree-Skrull War is one of the most famous Avengers stories of all time. Centering around Kree hero Mar-Vell, sidekick extraordinaire Rick Jones, and the Avengers, this story brought the epic war between the Kree and Skrull empires to Earth. Notable for introducing the long-running romance between the Vision and Scarlet Witch, as well as the unprecedented massive scale and cast of characters.
Avengers-Defenders War (1973)
One of the earliest Marvel instances of superhero teams battling each other, the Avengers-Defenders War pitted the two teams against each other for possession of the Evil Eye, a cosmic artifact of immense power, only to discover that they had been manipulated by outside forces.
The Korvac Saga (1978)
One of the first big Marvel events on a cosmic scale, The Korvac Saga saw the Avengers facing down a threat of nearly limitless power. However this series was notable in that while Michael Korvac was a nearly godlike being, ultimately he wanted to help save humanity.
Under Siege (1986)
Written by comics legend Roger Stern, Avengers: Under Siege saw Baron Zemo and his reformed Masters of Evil hit the Avengers where they live, directly invading Avengers Mansion. Notable for revitalizing and establishing previously-minor villains as major threats, such as Titania and the Wrecking Crew.
The Avengers (1998)
Following the Heroes Reborn events of the late 90s, Marvel relaunched the Avengers as a flagship title in 1998. Written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by George Pérez, this run returned the franchise to a more old-school sensibility after years of grim and gritty edginess. Notable for numerous now-famous storylines such as Ultron Unlimited and the Kang Dynasty, Busiek and Pérez returned the Avengers to its former glory with a classic style while still moving the team to new heights.
Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (2005)
Taking place during the Avengers’ earliest years, this 12 issue maxiseries filled in the gaps between issues (or even pages), fleshing out the team’s and characters’ background, and adding a modern sensibility to the classic origin of Marvel’s premier super team.
Modern:
The Ultimates (2002)
Written by Mark Millar and beautifully illustrated by Bryan Hitch, the Ultimates is a modern reimagining of the Avengers as a government-sponsored superpowered strike force. Notable for its more grounded, realistic (by comics standards) takes on classic characters and concepts, “widescreen” visual style, and for inspiring the Avengers film franchise, including a version of Nick Fury modeled after Samuel L. Jackson. Note: Strong violence and adult content, recommended for at least 16 and up.
Number of volumes: 4 (collected as Ultimates vol 1-2 and Ultimates 2 vol 1-2)
Avengers Disassembled (2004)
The beginning of Brian Michael Bendis’ massive, franchise-redefining run on the Avengers. Disassembled set the groundwork by destroying and changing key elements to the Avengers franchise including killing several characters and breaking up the roster.
New Avengers (2005)
A new (at the time) and different take on the Avengers, refocusing the series on more grounded, character-driven stories. Notable for being the first Avengers series to include Spider-Man, Luke Cage, and Wolverine as official team members.
Number of volumes: 13
Great Lakes Avengers (2005)
Written by Dan Slott, the GLA was a team of D-List heroes based out of Wisconsin: Mr. Immortal, who cannot be permanently killed (though it does incapacitate him), stretchy-but-flat Flatman (not to be confused with Mr. Fantastic), human/dinosaur hybrid Dinah Soar, size-changing supermodel Big Bertha, and Doorman, who can access the dark dimension. After the events of Avengers Disassembled, they are soon joined by Squirrel Girl, and end up facing a universal-level threat in the form of Graviton, who has chosen Wisconsin as the site of his evil master plan as it’s not as obvious as New York. Full of action, heart, and pitch-black humor, this series was one of the first major appearances of Squirrel Girl, and recently came back into print after several years.
Young Avengers (2005)
Following Avengers Disassembled, a team of teen versions of the Avengers came together: Patriot, grandson of the original super soldier Isaiah Bradley, Hulkling, a Kree-Skrull hybrid, Wiccan, reality-manipulating son of the Scarlet Witch, cocky archer Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), Stature, the daughter of Ant-Man, and Iron Lad, a mysterious time traveler with powerful armor. The series finds the Young Avengers fighting Kang the Conqueror, as well as rebelling against Captain America and Iron Man over the responsibilities of superpowers.
Number of volumes: 2
Avengers (2010)
Following the Siege event, the Avengers was relaunched in 2010 part of the Heroic Age branding, which featured more old-school, bigger storylines. In addition to the previous lineup including Thor, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and others, this series featured Bucky as Captain America, and saw the team facing massive threats such as Thanos and Immortus.
Number of volumes: 5
New Avengers (2010)
The sister series to the 2010 relaunched Avengers, New Avengers continued the street-level focus lead by Luke Cage and featured Jessica Jones, Ms. Marvel, the Thing, Wolverine, and Spider-Man, as well as bringing in mystical elements with Doctor Strange and Iron Fist.
Number of volumes: 5
The Ultimates (2011)
When Marvel’s Ultimate line started in 2000, the general idea was revisiting and reimagining old plotlines with new, modern twists. When Jonathan Hickman came onto the Ultimates (and tie-in Ultimate Hawkeye miniseries), that completely went out the window. Hickman’s Ultimates run was characterized by his signature style of high concept sci-fi, meticulously detailed storytelling, and long-term plotlines. Not only did this completely shake up the Ultimate universe, it introduced numerous elements that ended up playing out in 2015’s epic Secret Wars event.
Number of volumes: 3
Avengers/New Avengers (2013)
One of the key books of 2013’s Marvel NOW! relaunches, Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers (and later sister series New Avengers) were the very core of the Marvel Universe. Driven by the idea of “going bigger,” this series did just that, including more Avengers than ever and introducing ideas and elements never before seen in an Avengers title. New Avengers came along a few months later and focused on the Illuminati (Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Doctor Strange, Namor, Black Panther, Beast, and Black Bolt) as they work behind the scenes to stop the unnaturally-accelerated end of the universe.
Number of volumes (Avengers): 6 Number of volumes (New Avengers): 4
Starting after volume 6 of Avengers and volume 4 of New Avengers, they are both collected as “Avengers: Time Runs Out.”
Volumes available: 4
Young Avengers (2013)
Relaunched as part of the Marvel NOW! line, 2013’s Young Avengers brought Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s signature brand of wit and characterization to the forefront. Incorporating previous Young Avengers such as Wiccan, Hulkling, and Hawkeye, as well as introducing new members Prodigy, Noh-Varr, Kid Loki, and Miss America, this run was met with with huge acclaim for strong characterization and style, as well as a focus on the diversity of the cast.
Number of volumes: 3
Mighty Avengers/Captain America and the Mighty Avengers (2014)
Written by Al Ewing. Spinning out of the Infinity event, the Mighty Avengers were formed when the main Avengers were off in space and no heroes were available to fight Thanos and his henchmen. Combining both street-level heroics (the Avengers hotline that anyone can call) with high-concept sci-fi (reintroducing Adam Brashear aka Blue Marvel and his explorations of the antimatter universe) as well as strong characterization and a sharp sense of humor, this series was consistently excellent from start to finish. Relaunched during Marvel NOW! as Captain America and the Mighty Avengers, the relaunched was essentially just a continuation of the previous series with some new additions to the team lineup.
Number of volumes (Mighty Avengers): 3 Number of volumes (Captain America and the Mighty Avengers): 3
Uncanny Avengers (2013)
Formed as the “Unity Squad,” Uncanny Avengers was the combination of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the Strangest Superheroes of Them All. Featuring Avengers Captain America, Thor, Scarlet Witch, along with X-Men Rogue, Havok, and Wolverine, this series featured the best of both worlds of team dynamics, villains, and plots from both Avengers and X-Men franchises.
Number of volumes: 5
Uncanny Avengers (2015)
Founded by Steve Rogers post-Secret Wars, the new Uncanny Avengers not only included members of the Avengers and X-Men, but also the Inhumans and a certain red-clad fan favorite mercenary.
Number of volumes: 3
All New, All Different Avengers (2015)
Written by Mark Waid, All New, All Different is the flagship Avengers title post-Secret Wars. As the title indicates, this series has nearly an all new lineup of characters, with twists on the classic lineups including Sam Wilson as Captain America, the new female Thor, Miles Morales as Spider-Man, Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel, and Sam Alexander as Nova. Waid brings his classic Avengers sensibilities in this very fun, very accessible series.
Number of volumes: 2 (to date)
New Avengers (2015)
Written by Al Ewing, this series and the relaunched Ultimates are spiritual successors to Ewing’s Mighty Avengers. Bringing the same blend of characterization and humor, New Avengers follows Roberto da Costa and the newly purchased and rebranded A.I.M. (Avengers Idea Mechanics) as the work outside the purview of SHIELD and the rest of the Avengers teams.
Number of volumes: 3
The Ultimates (2015)/The Ultimates 2 (2016)
Also written by Al Ewing, the post-Secret Wars Ultimates goes by the tagline “the impossible is where they start,” this series continues the crazy sci-fi elements introduced in Mighty Avengers. Consisting of Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Miss America Chavez, Adam Brashear the Blue Marvel, and Monica Rambeau, this incarnation of the Ultimates works across space and even dimensions to actively solve problems before they become threats. Their first mission? Fixing Galactus.
Ultimates 2 picks up in the aftermath of Civil War II. The team is scattered, but the impossibly huge challenges they faced before still loom large. It’s up to America Chavez, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Adam the Blue Marvel, Spectrum, and Galactus the Lifebringer to save all of reality!
Number of volumes: 2
A-Force (2015)
Spinning out of Secret Wars, A-Force is notable for being an all-women Avengers team. The team, consisting of Captain Marvel, She-Hulk, Dazzler, Nico Minoru, and Inhuman queen Medusa, are brought together by Singularity, a young girl with immense power who still retains her memories of the team from Battleworld during Secret Wars.
Number of volumes: 3
Occupy Avengers (2016)
Super heroes – they’re a privileged class. Doing what they want, when they want and suffering no consequences. They have no regard for the ordinary people who are left behind to suffer in their wake. Who will stand up for the little guy? There is a man. If you can find him, and if he believes in your story, he and his friends will put things right. Some call them outlaws, rebels, Robin Hoods. To others, they are heroes. No powers to speak of – just skills, smarts and a burning drive to do the right thing. His name is Hawkeye. Occupy Avengers: It’s time to “Take Back Justice”!
U.S.Avengers (2017)
Spinning out of Al Ewing’s New Avengers, the United States of America needs a team of heroes they can rely on. Welcome to… American Intelligence Mechanics! A.I.M. will dare any danger — no matter how awesome that danger might be — to save their nation from the wildest, weirdest threats of all! The most patriotic super-group ever is here to save the day. And they’ll do it all looking tried & true in the red, white & blue! Can you live without… the U.S.Avengers?
The Avengers (1963)
Kree-Skrull War (1972)
Avengers-Defenders War (1973)
The Korvac Saga (1978)
Under Siege (1986)
The Avengers (1998)
Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (2005)
