Skip to content

Carole

Co-founder and owner of Comic Book Treasury. The woman behind the Batfamily Guide (and the many Robins Guides), the Fables Universe and some of your favorite Spider-People among others!

Batman: Arkham Games and Comics in Order

Batman Arkham in Order

Batman: Arkham, sometimes called Arkhamverse, is the name for the shared continuity of the video games launched with Arkham Asylum in 2009.

The franchise consists now of four main installments (and an upcoming spin-off), a few mobile games, a virtual reality game, tie-in comic books, and an animated movie.

It is important to acknowledge that the games are what is canon. The tie-in comics sometimes contradict things introduced during the games (or future games retconned what has been written in the comics).

What is it about? Here is the official synopsis: The Dark Knight was young, inexperienced, and untested when he began his one-man war to save the soul of Gotham City. The vigilante known as Batman was new to the city’s dark streets, and his errors were costly. Though his mind, body and arsenal of crime-fighting gear were all honed to near-perfection, his methods were yet unproven. But Batman’s rookie lessons were just the prelude to far more desperate tales.

Despite becoming an outlaw himself after quelling the Arkham Asylum riots, the World’s Greatest Detective takes it on his shoulders to unravel why the new mayor, Quincy Sharp, wants to create Arkham City–a section of Gotham where heinous criminals and the insane can roam freely. Now not only is the Dark Knight up against City Hall, but also the amassing armies of his numerous enemies–the Penguin, Two-Face, and even The Joker himself.

On top of the machinations of Batman’s full rogues gallery, a new vigilante emerges–the Arkham Knight. It’s a life-or-death battle unlike any other for the Caped Crusader’s allies and enemies, with no end in sight!

What to read before Batman: Arkham?

The franchise Batman: Arkham is not just an adaptation of comic book stories, it is inspired by the character and the mythos in order to give us original stories (with its own timeline).

But of course, some comics have more influence than others and you can then read the two that have helped shape the first game:

Read More »Batman: Arkham Games and Comics in Order

Hilda Graphic Novels, a Reading Guide for the Luke Pearson series and the Netflix tie-ins

  • by

Hilda Graphic novels, Reading Guide for the Luke Pearson series

Hilda is the star of her own animated TV series on Netflix, but the young heroine with blue hair originated from the graphic novels by cartoonist Luke Pearson.

The adventures of Hilda take place in a world that looks a little bit like a late 20th century Scandinavia place, inhabited by regular people and fantastical creatures like trolls, giants, elves, and spirits. In the beginning, Hilda lives with her mother in a cottage, before moving to the city of Trolberg. This fantasy world is inspired by Scandinavian folklore and The Moomins.

Hilda can never sit still for long without setting off on another adventure. She can’t resist exploring her enchanting world—a place where trolls walk, crows speak, and mountains move. The magic and folklore of the wild, windswept North come alive in this book about an adventurous little girl and her habit of befriending anything, no matter how curious it might seem.

Read More »Hilda Graphic Novels, a Reading Guide for the Luke Pearson series and the Netflix tie-ins

Superman: Doomed Reading Order (from New 52)

  • by

Superman Doomed DC New 52 Reading Order

Superman faces Doomsday in this Superman crossover story arc from the New 52 era co-written by Greg Pak, Charles Soule, and Scott Lobdell, with artwork by Ken Lashley, Aaron Kuder, and Tony Daniel.

Here is the official synopsis: Its name is Doomsday. It came from the Phantom Zone, where the Man of Steel had banished it once before. Bigger. Deadlier. Capable of killing life on Earth. Only Superman can stop it. But even that is not the end. Evil is in its blood. And when that blood is spilled, the innocent will fall — and Superman himself will discover the monster within. The Last Son of Krypton may become a destroyer of worlds himself, leaving the Earth without its greatest protector.

Superman and his allies each must make a choice. If they unleash the monster, will they lose the man? Is this Earth’s last shot at salvation, or are Superman and everyone he cares about…

What to read before Superman: Doomed?

Naturally, you can explore our complete reading order for Superman and Action Comics during the New 52 era. For a more specific start, as Superman: Doomed is mostly a crossover between the titles Action Comics and Superman/Wonder Woman, the setup for it takes place in those two series:

Totally optional, DC also teased Doomsday’s appearance in Batman/Superman #3.1 during Villains Month (part of Forever Evil and collected in DC Comics The New 52 Villains Omnibus).

Read More »Superman: Doomed Reading Order (from New 52)

Army of Darkness/Evil Dead Comics Reading Order

Hail to the King! Not content with being built around a series of cult classic films, The Evil Dead franchise grew over the years and now consists of movies, comics, games, and a TV Series.

It all began in 1982 when Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell)’s life changed forever after he discovered the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis and accidentally unleashed a Kandarian Demon. Ash’s friends are transformed into zombie-like creatures called Deadites, and he will after that never be the same.

As the king of alternate timelines, our unique hero lived multiple adventures, and we are today in his comic book ones. We have stories in different continuities, published by Dark Horse, Dynamite, and Scape Goat.

What to read/watch before the Army of Darkness Comics?

Let’s state the obvious by pointing out that the movies are must-sees. The movies and the TV series take place in what is considered the prime Evil Dead continuity, even though there are some elements in the films that have been removed from canon with the TV shows.

You can also read The Army of Darkness adaptation in comic, published the first time by Dark Horse in 1992 (and released by Dynamite in paperback in 2006).

What follows are stories that expand the universe in one direction or another, with different continuities.

Read More »Army of Darkness/Evil Dead Comics Reading Order

Superman/Action Comics New 52 Reading Order (with also Superman/Wonder Woman and Batman/Superman)

  • by

Superman/Action Comics New 52 Reading Order

Following the conclusion of the Flashpoint limited series (see Reading Order), the DC Universe has been reset to offer a new entry point to readers. Various changes were made in order to give new takes on familiar characters and attract newcomers.

What does it mean for Superman? We left behind Superman from the Modern era in favor of a younger and brasher version of the character. Superman from New 52 is not married to Lois Lane and his adoptive parents Jonathan and Martha Kent have died. But somewhere still exist another version of Superman who will find his way back to us, helped by Convergence and Rebirth…

During the New 52 period (see the full Reading Order), Superman has been written by Grant Morrison (Action Comics), George Perez (Superman), Greg Pak (Batman/Superman, Action Comics), Charles Soule, and Peter Tomasi (Superman/Wonder Woman), but also Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens, Fabian Nicieza, Scott Lobdell, Frank Hannah, Mike Johnson, and Gene Luen Yang.

Beware, the New 52 Superman is not a very popular Superman among readers!

Read More »Superman/Action Comics New 52 Reading Order (with also Superman/Wonder Woman and Batman/Superman)

Miles Morales Reading Order (Spider-Man, Champions, Ultimate)

Spider-Man: Miles Morales Reading Order

If Peter Parker is the main Spider-Man, there are a lot of alternative versions of Spider-Man in the Marvel Universe. Miles Morales is one of the superheroes who wear the Spidey costume.

When the Peter Parker of the Ultimate Universe falls, the world needs a Spider-Man — and here comes Miles Morales! But what’s the secret behind his powers — and can he master them before the Scorpion strikes? Family life gets complicated as Miles learns the truth about his uncle Aaron, and Captain America comes calling when war breaks out! Miles shares a multiversal meeting of the Spider-Men with the Marvel Universe’s Peter Parker, but what tragedy could leave the young hero swearing never to wear the webs again? There’ll be familiar faces, heroic allies, deadly menaces, a startling return and a sprinkling of romance in the complete Ultimate Universe adventures of Miles Morales!

Created by Brian Michael Bendis et Sara Pichelli, Miles Morales made his first appearance in Ultimate Fallout #4 in August 2011 — in the Ultimate brand.

A young kid from Brooklyn on Earth-1610, he follows in the footsteps of Peter Parker in the Ultimate Universe before being made a character in the main Marvel Universe. He was also the star of the animated movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, but we are here today to retrace his comic book history, so let’s go!

Read More »Miles Morales Reading Order (Spider-Man, Champions, Ultimate)

Heroes Reborn 2021 Reading Order, a world without the Avengers

What would be the Marvel Universe without the Avengers? That is the storyline explored in Heroes Reborn, the last Marvel event written by Jason Aaron and Ed McGuinness, which has no relation to the 1996–97 storyline of the same name.

In this Heroes Reborn from 2021, the Marvel Universe was altered so that the Avengers were never formed. Tony Stark never built an Iron Man armor. Thor is a hard-drinking atheist who despises hammers. Wakanda is dismissed as a myth. And Captain America was never found in the ice. So who is the biggest superhero team of this altered Marvel Universe? The Squadron Supreme of America.

But there is one man alive who seems to remember that the entire world has somehow been… reborn: Blade. And so begins his search for the cause behind this ominous shift in reality.

What to read before Heroes Reborn?

The event is pretty new reader-friendly, so you don’t have to read anything before if you want to.

But if you want, this event is actually an extension of Jason Aaron’s Avengers run, and the following is a list of his run in collected editions:

To know more about Squadron Supreme, you can read the limited series from 1985 by Mark Gruenwald:

Read More »Heroes Reborn 2021 Reading Order, a world without the Avengers

Watchmen Reading Order, from the Alan Moore books to the expanded universe

  • by

Watchmen is considered one of the greatest graphic novels in the history of the medium. It is recognized in Time‘s List of the 100 Best Novels as one of the best English language novels published from 1923 to 2005, and for what it’s worth, it is also part of our 50 Best Comics to read!

Published by DC Comics in 1986 and 1987, Watchmen is a science fiction comic book limited series by the British writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins. The story takes place in an alternate world in which superheroes emerged in the 1940s and 1940s, and their actions changed history. The all-powerful Doctor Manhattan has given the U.S. a strategic advantage over the rest of the world. But, by 1977, superheroes became unpopular and they were outlawed by the passage of the Keene Act.

In October 1985, costumed vigilante Rorschach discovered that Edward Blake, also known as The Comedian, a costumed hero employed by the U.S. government, had been murdered. Rorschach uncovered a plot to eliminate costumed heroes and warned some of his old friends. Something bigger is cooking, but the retired heroes have to first discover what it is.

Since its publication, many essays, reviews, and analyses have been written about Watchmen. The Symbol and imagery have been scrutinized and explained as much as the art and structure. Many discussions also emerged about ownership in the comic book field as the disagreements between Alan Moore and DC Comics about that subject are now fully part of history.

The World of Watchmen has also expanded. It has been adapted as a movie directed by Zack Snyder and has also inspired a one-season television series from Damon Lindelof for HBO. DC Comics also explored the universe by releasing Before Watchmen (2012), a prequel, and two sequels…

Read More »Watchmen Reading Order, from the Alan Moore books to the expanded universe

Outlawed Reading Order, The Young Heroes Civil War

  • by

Outlawed Marvel Reading Order

Following Civil War II (Reading Order), the young heroes of Marvel decided to form the latest incarnation of the Champions (including Mrs Marvel and Miles Morales) as a reaction to the way the super community was torn apart. So it seems fitting that Marvel uses them to make the teen Civil War.

Our young heroes are facing federal pressure as the United States passes a new law in the wake of a devastating tragedy making superheroes under the age of 21 became outlaws.

This quite discreet Marvel event was a victim of the pandemic. It was actually during Outlawed that a New Warriors limited series was supposed to be launched. But the pandemic delayed the event, and if Outlawed came out in the end, it was not the case for the New Warriors title.

What to read before Outlawed?

The end of Incoming!, a one-shot comic book issue published by Marvel Comics on December 26, 2019, leads to several events, including Outlawed.

Read More »Outlawed Reading Order, The Young Heroes Civil War

DC Year of the Villain Reading Order

Year of the Villain Reading Order

You catch up on some comic book reading and arrive at the Year of The Villain, a big DC Event from the Rebirth Era published between May 2019 and March 2020. Well, to be honest, it’s more a concept than an event, with the main stories taking place in Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV’s Justice League. For that, it has been compared to Marvel’s Dark Reign. It’s also what I call a mess, with other crossovers and too many tie-ins.

But what is Year of The Villain? Per DC, Evil is winning! Lex Luthor and The Legion of Doom conspire with Cosmic Gods, bending mankind toward a dark destiny. Elsewhere, the scourge of Leviathan spreads unchecked, seizing power in every corner of the world. And all the while the Batman Who Laughs busies himself in the shadows, aligned with no one – yet with sinister plans for all. More precisely, Apex Lex recruits several supervillains to join Perpetua’s cause (an ancient goddess and the most feared being in the greater Omniverse), in exchange for giving them a source of unlimited power. In response, the Justice League recruits heroes around the universe to fight against the new Legion of Doom.

What to Read before Year of The Villain?

As it is more a companion event to Scott Snyder’s Justice League, it’s better to read that run. But it’s a lot of homework if you are not already invested in Scott Snyder’s DC stories.

Read More »DC Year of the Villain Reading Order