As a New Fan, Where do i start ?

officer.pandah

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So just got into DC lately after watching Flashpoint Paradox, Which kinda made me a Fan of him . after that i watched The Flash Series. Which i know is not the same with the comic, some difference so im just gonna treat that as a Different Flash other than the Fact He's Barry Allen .
So i want to start reading the Comic but where do i start ? The New 52 ? Which to my own knowledge is a complete Reboot if i am not wrong ?
But while i was searching for infos about Flash, i realized that after Flashpoint, it seems that they are wearing their New 52 outfit which makes it now the New 52 Universe ?
Im kind of confused here it also stated that GL and Batman in New 52 have some of their past History still intact ? Like the war of green lantern ? I thought it was a complete reboot and all.
Anyone can explain how it works ? This New 52 stuff ? The universe and all ?
Oh and not getting out of topic after that, where should i start reading the flash ?
Sorry for being less knowledgeable about DC's Universe and all .
Kinda new to this comic stuff .
 
welcome!

DC is pretty confusing. The universe has been revamped several times. Back in 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths combined the multiverse into one universe. Then in 2005 or so Infinite Crisis split it back up into 52 universes. Then Final Crisis changed some things around. Then Flashpoint revamped it all over again. Some of the history has remained, some of it hasn't. It's very confusing, but Flash is probably the most complete reboot, with much of his past history being forgotten (I think - I haven't read any DC since Flashpoint). You could start off by reading the post-flashpoint Flash without too much trouble. Or you could start with Geoff John's run on the Flash from the 2000s. He started in Flash Vol 2 #164. Anything by Johns is worth a read. But you need to know going into that that Barry died in Crisis on Infinite Earths and his nephew Wally West took over as the Flash for about 20 years in the comics. You'll be confused, but the more you read, you'll catch on.

When I got into the Flash a few years ago, I started even further back with Mark Waid's Run. Flash Vol 2 #62 is the beginning of that run and it begins with a "Year One" origin story to get you caught up to speed (pun intended). His stuff is very 90s, but good - if you don't mind that it's not Barry Allen. I think a lot of these stories are essential to understanding the Flash b/c the Speed Force and the other speedsters are introduced in them (Actually, I think most of those elements are introduced in Grant Morrison's one year run on Flash when Waid took some time off).

You could also try reading from Flash Reborn, which is the return of Barry Allen, but I GUARANTEE you'll be lost if you do. That story draws heavily from the mythology set up in Waid's run and beyond.

There is a brief overview of Flash comics at TPBwiki. The list of tpbs is a bit out of date, but the info might be helpful.

Hope that helps, and Enjoy!
 
welcome!

DC is pretty confusing. The universe has been revamped several times. Back in 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths combined the multiverse into one universe. Then in 2005 or so Infinite Crisis split it back up into 52 universes. Then Final Crisis changed some things around. Then Flashpoint revamped it all over again. Some of the history has remained, some of it hasn't. It's very confusing, but Flash is probably the most complete reboot, with much of his past history being forgotten (I think - I haven't read any DC since Flashpoint). You could start off by reading the post-flashpoint Flash without too much trouble. Or you could start with Geoff John's run on the Flash from the 2000s. He started in Flash Vol 2 #164. Anything by Johns is worth a read. But you need to know going into that that Barry died in Crisis on Infinite Earths and his nephew Wally West took over as the Flash for about 20 years in the comics. You'll be confused, but the more you read, you'll catch on.

When I got into the Flash a few years ago, I started even further back with Mark Waid's Run. Flash Vol 2 #62 is the beginning of that run and it begins with a "Year One" origin story to get you caught up to speed (pun intended). His stuff is very 90s, but good - if you don't mind that it's not Barry Allen. I think a lot of these stories are essential to understanding the Flash b/c the Speed Force and the other speedsters are introduced in them (Actually, I think most of those elements are introduced in Grant Morrison's one year run on Flash when Waid took some time off).

You could also try reading from Flash Reborn, which is the return of Barry Allen, but I GUARANTEE you'll be lost if you do. That story draws heavily from the mythology set up in Waid's run and beyond.

There is a brief overview of Flash comics at TPBwiki. The list of tpbs is a bit out of date, but the info might be helpful.

Hope that helps, and Enjoy!

Im kind of new to comics so if you dont mind i got lots of questions .
First of all what does this post-flashpoint or pre-crisis mean ?

2nd, what does the # mean ? Does it mean chapter ? If so are they consistent ? Lets say vol 1 #1 ? Is that how it works ? And it'll go #2,#3 and so on until the end of the volume ? Cause i kinda googled on order of reading the flash, there's this website that kinda give an inconsistent number, as in first its the flash #1 or something, and then it skips a couple of number and sometimes even a different comic.. I don't know.. maybe its the website's problem.. Which is why im asking this .

3rd, just did some chatting and someone recommended me to read The Flash:Rebirth, then Flashpoint and then New 52 . Is that okay ? What about the other series ? The one you mention with Wally West and stuff ?

Sorry for my confusing questions, its probably mainly cause of my Bad English .
Its just that i dont like missing a plot . where when im reading/watching something theres a part where i dont get whats going on cause of previous plot ..
 
Yeah, unfortunately DC's New 52 was horribly handled as the "reboot" it was supposed to be. Essentially some characters had their histories rebooted, and some (like Batman) didn't. It's been 3+ years since they did the supposed reboot, and they still haven't released a list of what "old" stories are canon and which aren't. It's insanely confusing. As a continuity buff, I washed my hands of it entirely.

As for the issue numbers, yeah, each issue is (usually) released consecutively (sometimes they'll do the occasional issue #0, or #1/2, or #16.1, etc that aren't necessarily released in order). Given that #1 issues tend to sell well, both Marvel and DC rely on new volumes to restart the numbering (while usually retaining the continuity of the previous volume).

Here's a list of the different Flash volumes:

Flash Comics #1-104 (1940 - 1956/1957)
The Flash #105-350 (1956/1957 - 1986)
The Flash (Vol. 2) #1/2, 1-230 (1987 - 2006)
The Flash - Fastest Man Alive #1-13 (2006 - 2007)
The Flash (Vol. 2) #231 - 247 (2007 - 2009, this is a case where they reverted back to the Vol. 2 numbering)
The Flash (Vol. 3) #1-12 (2010 - 2011)
The Flashpoint Crossover happens here (2011, this is what largely rebooted the DC universe to the New 52)
The Flash (Vol. 4) #0-23, 23.1-23.3, 24-38 (2011 - current)


I'd recommend just focusing on Volume 4, since much of Flash's history was rebooted by The Flashpoint Paradox story, though I'm sure there are many worthwhile Flash stories in the previous volumes.

Now, if you were asking about Batman, I literally have no idea what's canon and not anymore. I don't think DC knows either. They're just kind of making it up as they go along.
 
Yeah, unfortunately DC's New 52 was horribly handled as the "reboot" it was supposed to be. Essentially some characters had their histories rebooted, and some (like Batman) didn't. It's been 3+ years since they did the supposed reboot, and they still haven't released a list of what "old" stories are canon and which aren't. It's insanely confusing. As a continuity buff, I washed my hands of it entirely.

As for the issue numbers, yeah, each issue is (usually) released consecutively (sometimes they'll do the occasional issue #0, or #1/2, or #16.1, etc that aren't necessarily released in order). Given that #1 issues tend to sell well, both Marvel and DC rely on new volumes to restart the numbering (while usually retaining the continuity of the previous volume).

Here's a list of the different Flash volumes:

Flash Comics #1-104 (1940 - 1956/1957)
The Flash #105-350 (1956/1957 - 1986)
The Flash (Vol. 2) #1/2, 1-230 (1987 - 2006)
The Flash - Fastest Man Alive #1-13 (2006 - 2007)
The Flash (Vol. 2) #231 - 247 (2007 - 2009, this is a case where they reverted back to the Vol. 2 numbering)
The Flash (Vol. 3) #1-12 (2010 - 2011)
The Flashpoint Crossover happens here (2011, this is what largely rebooted the DC universe to the New 52)
The Flash (Vol. 4) #0-23, 23.1-23.3, 24-38 (2011 - current)


I'd recommend just focusing on Volume 4, since much of Flash's history was rebooted by The Flashpoint Paradox story, though I'm sure there are many worthwhile Flash stories in the previous volumes.

Now, if you were asking about Batman, I literally have no idea what's canon and not anymore. I don't think DC knows either. They're just kind of making it up as they go along.

Maybe I'll start from Volume 3 .. Watched the animation of flashpoint but people told me to read it too . they say there's a LITTLE difference in them .. Which can sometimes bother me . That little difference.
Thanks for posting all of The Flash volumes . This could help me catch up to speed (pun intended ) on The Flash comic.
Again thanks and sorry for the trouble for all of my questions .
 
Maybe I'll start from Volume 3 .. Watched the animation of flashpoint but people told me to read it too . they say there's a LITTLE difference in them .. Which can sometimes bother me . That little difference.
Thanks for posting all of The Flash volumes . This could help me catch up to speed (pun intended ) on The Flash comic.
Again thanks and sorry for the trouble for all of my questions .

That's probably a good idea. You can probably skip Flash: Rebirth and just start with volume 3 knowing that Barry just came back from the dead.

By the way, # means issue number. And pre-crisis refers to the DC universe before Crisis on Infinite Earths which was the first reboot/revamp of DC's history. Reboot is really a bad word for it, it's not starting over, just changed. Likewise, Post-crisis refers to the universe after Crisis on Infinite Earths; everything you will read will most likely be post-crisis. And Pre-Flashpoint and Post-Flashpoint are just the same thing but with Flashpoint. In other words, Post-flashpoint is the New 52.
 
That's probably a good idea. You can probably skip Flash: Rebirth and just start with volume 3 knowing that Barry just came back from the dead.

By the way, # means issue number. And pre-crisis refers to the DC universe before Crisis on Infinite Earths which was the first reboot/revamp of DC's history. Reboot is really a bad word for it, it's not starting over, just changed. Likewise, Post-crisis refers to the universe after Crisis on Infinite Earths; everything you will read will most likely be post-crisis. And Pre-Flashpoint and Post-Flashpoint are just the same thing but with Flashpoint. In other words, Post-flashpoint is the New 52.
I'll just read Rebirth . kinda interested in knowing how he came back alive and stuff ..
 
I'll just read Rebirth . kinda interested in knowing how he came back alive and stuff ..

You could read Crisis on Infinite Earths to see how he died and Final Crisis to see how he came back. They're important stories to the history of the DCU, but they rely heavily on previous stories and continuity, so you may get lost.
 

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