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55 Must Read Biographical Comics

There have been non-fiction comics for a long time. In fact, that’s what one of the appeals of True Comics (1941-1950) was, which provided educational material in a form that appealed to children while trying to help legitimize the medium maligned by criticism of superhero books. They were fairly simplified biographies of scientists, inventors, and other figures of history. It was also less impactful than Crime Does Not Pay (1942-1955), the first “true crime” comic book series, which propelled the crime comics to the top with its sensationalistic appeal.

We are not talking about “true crime” today (it will be the subject of another list), but biographical comics. Not just works of documentary value, but also autobiographies, personal memoirs, from the groundbreaking series American Splendor (1976–2008), that changed the idea of what stories comic books could tell, to the artists of the 2000s (James Kochalka, Kate Beaton, Julia Wertz, etc.) who developed their craft online by chronicling the story of their lives, and beyond.

Today, biographical comics are a widely respected genre. They range from meticulously researched historical biographies to intimate diaries and experimental visual essays. They are studied in classrooms, exhibited in museums, and celebrated with major literary awards. This once niche corner of comics has become one of its richest and most innovative traditions.

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Best Riddler Comics, Your Essential Reading Order for Edward Nygma

Question: Who turns crime into a puzzle for the Bat to solve? Answer: The Riddler! Fascinated by puzzles from a young age, Edward Nygma joined Batman’s rogue gallery in 1948. He believed the Caped Crusader to be a worthy adversary for his challenges and mind games. Suffice to say, he was right!

Created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang, the Riddler started his criminal career wearing a green, skin-tight jumpsuit with purple trim and question mark motifs. Just as Burgess Meredith’s portrayal of the Penguin influenced the character’s depiction in print, Frank Gorshin’s demand for a new costume on the TV show also had an impact. At the time, he was given a green business suit with a bowler hat. Although initially ignored in the comics, the costume appeared in Secret Origins Special #1 (1989), illustrated by Bernie Mireault. Once he had worn it, it became his official costume.

The Riddler loves a good mise en scène. His crimes undoubtedly have a theatrical flair that is perfect for the screen and other media. Thanks to his portrayal in television, movies, animation and video games, our criminal mastermind has earned his place in pop culture. Notable actors to have played the Riddler include Frank Gorshin and John Astin in the 1960s TV series Batman, Jim Carrey in the 1995 film Batman Forever, Cory Michael Smith in the 2014 Fox series Gotham, and Paul Dano in the 2022 film The Batman. John Glover, Robert Englund, Wally Wingert and others have voiced the character in animation and video games.

Now is the perfect time to solve some riddles alongside Batman and Robin with this selection of essential comics featuring The Riddler!

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Jack O’Lantern: Your Comic Guide to the many Marvel’s Pumpkin Heads

The Green Goblin. Doctor Octopus. Mysterio. Vulture. Electro. Scorpio. Rhino. Kraven the Hunter. Spider-Man has one of the most emblematic rogues galleries at Marvel Comics, and every one of them would not look out of place at a Halloween Party. But no one would fit more than Jack O’Lantern with his Pumpkin head, Pumpkin Bombs, explosive candy, and rocket-powered broomstick. 

Despite his cool design, Jack O’Lantern is still a C-list among Spider-Man villains, and a confusing one on top of that, as many different people have held the name Jack O’Lantern over the years.

To make things a little bit more complicated, there are two different types of Jack O’Lantern. While most of them use costumes, illusions, and conventional weaponry, two of them have sold their soul to Satan and were granted supernatural powers and the ability to turn into Jack at will.

From the first appearance of Jack O’Lantern in 1980 in Machine Man to the reinvention of the character as an archenemy of Venom, celebrate Halloween by discovering more about the many Jack O’Lanterns of Marvel Comics! 

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Marvel 2099 Reading Order, the dystopian future of Marvel Comics

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Welcome to the future! Or, more specifically, welcome to 2099, a cyberpunk dystopia without superheroes. Marvelophiles discovered this world in 1992 with the official launch of the Marvel 2099 imprint.

Long after the original Age of Heroes had ended, society is dominated by corporate entities in this dystopian future, the most famous of which is Alchemax. The superheroes of the past have become the stuff of religion, as seen with the Church of Thor. It is harder than ever to rise above the status quo. But things are about to change, as a new Age of Heroes is about to begin…

Marvel 2099 found success with readers and expanded until the end of the ’90s. Marvel’s top talent left for Image Comics, and the entire comic book industry struggled after Marvel challenged Diamond over distribution. These turbulent times had a financial impact that affected the 2099 line and, unfortunately, led to the firing of editor Joey Cavalieri. Many of the 2099 creators quit in protest, and the line simply didn’t survive long after that.

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DCAU Comics Reading Order: The Extended DC Animated Universe

With the launch of the Batman: The Animated Series, a new and popular version of the DC Comics universe found its way to a new generation of fans. While not connected to the main line of comics, it borrowed a lot, adapted many comics into episodes, and also created new stories and characters that would eventually be later introduced in the canonical timeline of the post-Crisis DC Comics Universe.

With its easily recognizable art style and its own developing universe, Batman: TAS opened the way for what we know call the DC Animated Universe. Guided by producers Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, and others, it’s whole universe of animated shows that was created with Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000), Batman Beyond (1999–2001), and Justice League (2001–2004) along with its follow-up Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006), but also a new line of comics was launched.

Although primarily aimed at younger readers, the comics were noted for their storytelling quality, which appealed to a broader audience. It often introduced original characters, bridged episode narratives, and explored side stories within the DCAU continuity. Serving both as accessible entry points for new readers and as canonical expansions of the animated franchise, the comics were typically written and illustrated by creators closely associated with the animated productions, including Kelley Puckett, Ty Templeton, and Rick Burchett, ensuring fidelity to the shows’ tone, characterizations, and art style.

Over time, the DCAU comics evolved into a cohesive publishing universe in their own right. The universe has been revisited through miniseries, specials, and digital-first projects well into the 2020s, establishing it as one of DC Comics’ most enduring multimedia spin-offs.

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Hawkeye Reading Order (Clint Barton)

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Today, Clint Barton is known for being a major player in the Avengers as Hawkeye. But before joining the superhero team, he was introduced as a supervillain in Tales of Suspense #57 in September 1964. His career on the wrong side of the law was short as he joined the Avengers less than a year later, in The Avengers #16 in May 1965.

Created by Stan Lee and Don Heck, Clint Barton is one of the most famous Marvel heroes and a regular member of the Avengers, who has come and gone from the team several times. He has founded the West Coast Avengers, been the leader of the Thunderbolts, worked with the S.H.I.E.L.D, and served as a mentor to Kate Bishop, the Superior Hawkeye. He also sometimes changed codenames and has been Goliath, the Golden Archer, and Ronin.

Clint has no superpowers, but he is a skilled archer and a very dangerous martial artist and swordsman. In a way, Hawkeye/Clint Barton is a mix between Green Arrow and Nightwing from DC Comics. His private life is also complicated, as he was first in love with Black Widow, married and divorced Bobbi Morse/Mockingbird, and also had a relationship with Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman, Maya Lopez/Echo, and Moonstone.

On the big (and little) screen, Clint Barton/Hawkeye is played by Jeremy Renner in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he has also appeared in numerous animated series and video games.

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Buffyverse Comic Book Reboot Reading Order by Boom Studios (2019-2023)

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After publishing stories in the ‘Buffy Universe’ for two decades, Dark Horse lost the licensing rights in 2018, which were transferred to Boom Studios. The publisher chose not to continue where the story was left off, instead choosing to start the series over from the beginning.

The Buffy comics released by Boom Studios are set in an alternate continuity and reimagine the series for modern readers. While the Slayer still looks like Sarah Michelle Gellar, she is back in high school, with Joss Whedon credited as story consultant.

Boom Studios quickly expanded the Buffyverse with an Angel spin-off, a crossover event, and a Willow miniseries. The publisher also released several stories set in alternate futures or realities.

However, the main Boom Studios continuity didn’t last long, as the publisher chose not to renew the license when the time came, thus bringing it to an official end in 2024.

This article is devoted to the Buffy Comics from Boom Studios, published between 2018 and 2023. For the Dark Horse Comics, you can find the reading order over here.

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Where to Start Reading Wonder Woman Comics? A Beginner’s Guide for the Amazing Amazon

So, you want to read some Wonder Woman comics? Whether you’re completely new to comic books, a Marvel fan, or just haven’t given the Princess of Themyscira a chance yet, there’s a Wonder Woman comic out there for you. In fact, there’s a Wonder Woman comic for everyone! Still, with over 80 years of stories, reboots, and alternate timelines, getting started can feel overwhelming.

So, where should you start? There’s no single right or wrong answer. The old, good, and proven method used by long-time fans was to simply pick a comic, just like that! But we’re here to offer a little bit more, as there are several ways to discover the world of Diana and the Amazons, depending on your tastes. Whether you’re a fan of comic book history, prefer modern stories, or want to discover her modern adventures, there’s a perfect first story for you.

To celebrate Wonder Woman Day, here’s a curated beginner’s guide with several routes to help find the perfect place to start reading about the Amazing Amazon. 

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Galactus Reading Order, Your Essential Comics Guide

One of the most emblematic characters in the Marvel Universe, Galactus was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby to break out from the archetype of the standard villain. The god-like character was also not supposed to reappear after his now classic introduction in Fantastic Four. His popularity among fans led Lee to ask Kirby for more Galactus appearances.

Known as the Devourer of Worlds, Galactus fed himself by draining living planets of their energy, without regard for the moral dilemma that consume human beings and the superhero community. Galactus doesn’t act for power, love of money, and has no ill-feeling towards the living he kills in the process. No good or evil, he simply acts to survive.

And, almost 60 years after his debut, the Devourer of Worlds is still hungry for more. From his first confrontation with the Fantastic Four to his role in the Marvel Cosmic Saga, his connection with Silver Surfer, his confrontations with Thor, and more, you can now discover the most important stories featuring Galactus with our Essential Reading Order.

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Big Barda Reading Order, The Fiercest of DC Comics Furies

With a name like that, it’s no surprise that Big Barda is no ordinary warrior among the DC Comics superheroes. She’s one of the New Gods. Created by writer and artist Jack Kirby, Barda made her first appearance in Mister Miracle #4 (1971), as part of Kirby’s “Fourth World” saga.

A warrior raised on the planet Apokolips, Big Barda was trained to lead the Female Furies, an elite fighting force in the service of the tyrant Darkseid. After aiding Scott Free, also known as Mister Miracle, to escape from their world, she accompanied him to Earth, where the two built a life together outside of Darkseid’s control. Their marriage became one of the most enduring partnerships in the DC Comics universe.

Depicted as physically imposing (way more than her husband) and exceptionally skilled in combat, Barda quickly distinguished herself as one of the most powerful female characters in the DC Universe. On Earth, she has been a member of the Justice League and also joined the Birds of Prey. 

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