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Batman: Hush Reading Order

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Not unlike The Batman Who Laughs, Hush is an enemy of Batman who’s visually iconic and extremely lethal, and who made a hard-to-miss entrance into the universe of the Caped Crusader.

Created by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, Hush made his first appearance during the storyline named after him that started in Batman #609 – during the Modern Age era aka the Post-Crisis era. In this 12-issue storyline, we learn his real name, his connection to Batman, and everything you need to understand his actions, but it wasn’t the end.

Hush became a regular in the gallery of enemies that Batman must stop. At least, before the start of the New 52 era. After DC’s continuity was rebooted, it took a little time before Hush was reintroduced into the world of Batman during the Batman Eternal storyline. With his return, his backstory was a little bit retconned. And then came DC Rebirth, another relaunched of the DC line. Hush briefly came back to fight the Batfamily.

If you like Hush, all you need to do is follow the reading order.

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Star Wars: Crimson Reign Reading order, the follow-up to War of the Bounty Hunters

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If the War of the Bounty Hunter is over, the story continues in another Star Wars event, Crimson Reign. Written by Charles Soule and penciled by Steven Cummings, this is the second part of a trilogy that is supposed to reshape the Star Wars galaxy during the Age of Rebellion! 

As the official synopsis reveals, “The criminal organization known as the Crimson Dawn has risen — but what is their goal, and how do they plan to achieve it? And how will the Rebel Alliance and the Empire both react to this new galactic power player? Featuring the return of beloved characters, shocking twists, epic feats of the Force, and a story that will reach from the darkest underworld all the way to the Imperial Palace on Coruscant.”

What to read before Star Wars: Crimson Reign?

This event takes place during the Age of the Rebellion. Check out our Star Wars Comics Canon Reading Order to learn more about it.

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Stargirl Reading Order (Courtney Whitmore)

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Created by Geoff Johns and Lee Moder, Courtney Whitmore made her first appearance in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 (July 1999)–she was in part based on Johns’ sister Courtney, who died in the explosion of TWA Flight 800 in 1996.

Courtney is the stepdaughter of Pat Dugan, the inventor of the powered armor suit S.T.R.I.P.E. and former sidekick of the original Star-Spangled Kid. Before becoming Stargirl, she was in fact the new Star-Spangled Kid. She joined the Justice Society of America (JSA) and, after being given Starman Jack Knight’s cosmic staff, she officially became known as Stargirl.

She stayed with the JSA for a long time, until the moment when DC rebooted its universe and launched the New 52 era. Then, Stargirl became a member of the new Justice League of America title. Her origin story was also rewritten. In this version, she found the staff and the rest of the uniform in Pat Dugan’s office who was then Barbara Whitmore’s boyfriend. Pat agreed to train her and she became a full-time superhero.

Of course, there’s now a Stargirl TV Show. You may have seen it. Brec Bassinger is playing the young Courtney/Stargirl. The character also appeared in other TV Show, live or animated, through the years (and also in Video Games).

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Green Lantern New 52 Reading Order, with the Green Lantern Corps, Red Lanterns, New Guardians and Sinestro

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Green Lantern New 52 Reading Order

A new era started in the DC Universe with the New 52. But the impact on the Green Lantern was quite limited. Geoff Johns took over creative duties on Green Lantern with the limited series Green Lantern: Rebirth in 2004 and was still the main writer for this relaunch with Doug Mahnke as penciler.

Like most DC characters, Green Lantern Hal Jordan was five years younger than his previous incarnations but there was no change in his history — all of Johns’ run on the Green Lantern title was still part of the continuity. During Geoff Johns’ time, Green Lantern Corps vol. 3 was written by Peter Tomasi, and the new Red Lantern series (written by Peter Milligan) was launched, as well as the Green Lantern: New Guardians series (written by Tony Bedard).

After issue #20, all the teams were changed with writer Robert Venditti and artist Billy Tan taking over as the main creative team for Green Lantern Vol. 5. Venditti also co-wrote Green Lantern Corps vol. 3 with Van Jensen before the latter became the sole writer. The Red Lanterns series continued with Charles Soule (#21-37) and Landry Q. Walker (#38-40), and the Green Lantern: New Guardians series was written by Justin Jordan (#21-40). The new Sinestro was launched, written by Cullen Bunn.

What to read before Green Lantern New 52?

First, you can check out our Green Lantern Reading Order which covers the history of the GL characters from start to finish. But it may be a bit too big. After all, we are here for the New 52 era. The DC Universe was rebooted after the Flashpoint event. It is not required reading, but you could take a look at it before reading anything else.

If New 52 was presented as a jumping point for new readers, Geoff Johns was the main writer for Green Lantern for almost 7 years at this stage, and, as said above, his run stayed in continuity. The events in Green Lantern Vol. 5 take place immediately after the last two books, War of the Green Lanterns and Aftermath. Don’t hesitate to check out Geoff Johns’ massive and celebrated run before entering the New 52 era. 

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Amadeus Cho Reading Order, from sidekick to Totally Awesome Hulk and Brawn

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Amadeus Cho is a 19-year-old Korean-American genius, one of the smartest people on earth. Actually, he was credited as the 7th smartest person in the world, a title he obtained after winning the Excello Soap Company’s “Brain Soap” competition (he’s maybe only the 8th or 10th smartest person in the world, but who’s counting?). It’s also where his story begins, as the game’s creator tries to kill Cho to preserve his ranking. His attempt failed but Cho’s parents were killed, and our young man had to flee for his life.

It didn’t take long for him to run across The Hulk who saved his life. As a result, Amadeus became his sidekick, a sort of modern-day Rick Jones before moving on to Hercules. But Amadeus Cho was too smart and too cocky to stay in this sidekick role and was destined to become a hero in his own right. Cho became the Totally Awesome Hulk but lost control at some point. He was somehow depowered when he finally succeeded in destroying the rage monster inside him. Amadeus chose to be called Brawn in this new form. He has also been a member of two superhero teams: The Champions and Agents of Atlas.

This reading order was requested by one of our readers! Don’t hesitate to leave a comment or write to us with some other suggestions!

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Birds of Prey Reading Order

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Birds of Prey Reading Order

At first, The Birds of Prey is a partnership between Black Canary and Oracle, which has expanded with time to include additional superheroines. The relationship between the two characters was established in Showcase ’96 #3, written by Jordan B. Gorfinkel — who is also the one who gave the team the name of Birds of Prey in the pages of the first issue of the series from writer Chuck Dixon and artist Gary Frank.

Chuck Dixon described this relationship as a clash of values, and “Dinah’s more idealistic approach is at the heart of this book.” Black Canary alias Dinah Laurel Lance is presented as more passionate and idealistic than her partner in crime Oracle alias Barbara Gordon who has a strong sense of morality but, is also less morally conflicted, per Dixon’s words who described her as a woman who knows that, sometimes, you have to kill to save lives–even if she’s not comfortable with that fact.

If Babs and Dinah made up the core team of The Birds of Prey, the two heroines are joined by other crimefighters throughout the series, including Huntress alias Helena Bertinelli who will become one of the most prominent members during Gail Simone’s run. The team was also re-imagined following the events of Flashpoint and the New 52 relaunch with Black Canary (Dinah Drake), and new character Starling (Ev Crawford). Barbara Gordon had recovered her mobility and was Batgirl once more, but didn’t join the new team until later. The line-up also added Poison Ivy and Katana. The New 52 was also a period in which The Bird of Prey, despite being an all-female team, was often assisted by male allies and had their first male member, Hawk, when Hawk and Dove briefly joined the team.

The Birds of Prey were originally based in Gotham City, with Gotham City Clock Tower serving as their base of operations. Some events made them relocate, and the team has also operated in Metropolis and California. But they also came back to Gotham.

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Scarlet Witch Reading Order, The Wanda Maximoff Story

Also known as Wanda Maximoff, Scarlet Witch first appeared in the comic book The X-Men #4 (March 1964) by legendary Marvel writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. Initially, her powers were limited to probability manipulation, but over time, she evolved into one of the most powerful sorceresses in the Marvel Universe—capable of reshaping reality itself. For decades, she was considered a mutant, but her origins were retconned in recent years.

Wanda’s journey has been full of important transformations. She debuted as a reluctant supervillain alongside her twin brother, Pietro Maximoff (Quicksilver), as members of Magneto’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. However, disillusioned by Magneto’s ruthlessness, the twins soon abandoned the Brotherhood and switched sides, joining the Avengers and becoming true heroes.

Her personal life has been just as tumultuous. She married her fellow Avenger, the android Vision, in 1975 and later found a way to have children—only for it all to end in tragedy (they would later reappear and are now the heroes called Wiccan and Speed). Over time, Wanda’s story took darker turns, involving brainwashing, newfound abilities, struggles with mental instability, and a reality-altering catastrophe that changed everything.

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Big Nate Comics in Order

Big Nate Comics in Order

Big Nate is an American comic strip written and illustrated by Lincoln Peirce that is syndicated since January 7, 1991. Its success is so massive that it became a real media franchise with multiple series of children’s books (written by Peirce: Big Nate and the Little Big Nate board books), but also with an animated television series (launched on the Paramount+ streaming service in 2022) and a stage musical adaptation (in 2013).

Big Nate tells us about the colorful life of Nate Wright. This spunky eleven-year-old holds the school record for detentions and is in little chance of losing that distinction, but that doesn’t stop him from dreaming big! He’s a self-described genius, a sixth-grade renaissance man, and a full-fledged believer in his future as a cartoonist. Equipped with a No. 2 pencil and the unshakable belief that he is No. 1, Nate fights a daily battle against overzealous teachers, undercooked cafeteria food, and all-around conventionality.

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Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance) Reading Order

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Black Canary is an alias that has been used by two DC superheroines. Created by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino, the original Black Canary (Dinah Drake) was introduced in the pages of Flash Comics #86 (1947) where Dinah was working undercover to infiltrate a criminal gang. At first a supporting character in the Johnny Thunder serial, it took just a couple of months to steal his thunder and to become way more popular than him.

Introduced in Justice League of America #75, the second and more famous Black Canary is Dinah Laurel Lance, Dinah Drake’s daughter and successor of the superhero mantle. Created by Dennis O’Neil and Dick Dillin, she is commonly affiliated with the Justice League of America and the archer superhero Green Arrow, professionally and romantically (she is considered a member of the Arrow family). Most importantly, she has shined as one of the co-founders of the Birds of Prey team, with her friend Barbara Gordon/Oracle.

As one of the major female superheroine in DC Comics, Black Canary has been adapted in various media. She has been played in the past by Alaina Huffman in Smallville and Katie Cassidy in the Arrowverse. Lately, Jurnee Smollett portrays the character in the DC Extended Universe, having made her debut in the 2020 film Birds of Prey, and should reprise the role for a movie centered on the character.

It’s now time to explore her comic book adventures in this Black Canary reading order dedicated to Dinah Laurel Lance.

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The Defenders Reading Order (Marvel Comics)

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The Defenders Reading Order

When the Dr. Strange series was canceled in the middle of a story arc in 1970, Roy Thomas searched for a way to tell the end of his crossover storyline. This led to  Marvel Feature #1 (December 1971) in which Doctor Strange, Namor, and The Incredible Hulk formed a team named The Defenders to battle the alien techno-wizard Yandroth. The Silver Surfer soon joined them, as well as Valkyrie.

Steve Englehart, Len Wein, Steve Gerber, Gerry Conway, David Anthony Kraft, J. M. DeMatteis, and more wrote The Defenders series for a long time and, after 124 issues, the title was renamed The New Defenders – a roaster that didn’t include the Strange, Namor, Hulk and the Surfer. The first three will later reunite in pages of The Incredible Hulk, then again a bit later with Silver Surfer in a crossover storyline.

It was nevertheless necessary to wait a bit longer to see The Defenders come back, in 1993, but with a new formula and a different roaster – Wolverine, Darkhawk, Spider-Woman, Spider-Man, Hulk, Ghost Rider, and others. At that time, even the name was not the same as they were called The Secret Defenders.

During the 2000s and 2010s, there were multiple attempts at launching a new Defenders series, even one that was an echo of the TV series – that was The Defenders only by name.

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