When DC relaunched 52 of their comic titles, I, like many people, saw this as an opportunity to reacquaint myself with some of the best-known characters in the DC universe. Realizing how much I had missed, I eagerly grasped at any and all #1s I could find. Some I treasured (Batman & Robin) and some I did not (Wonder Woman), but the majority of them piqued my interest enough to subscribe with my local comic book shop. Well, that was almost a year ago, and now I’m drowning in comic books. It sounds like a good thing, I know, but I’m already pressed for reading time as it is, and those long boxes of mine seem to be getting longer with every passing day. I’m getting panicked, here: the obsessive collector is at war with the pragmatist who realizes that I could probably stop now and not get through what I’ve already got for at least six months of reading. I know I’ve got to cut a few titles loose, but which ones? Here’s what I’m subscribed to, in no particular order:
Animal Man
Batman
Batman & Robin
Catwoman
Dial ‘H’ for Hero
Justice League: Dark
Swamp Thing
As you can see, I’ve got a bit of a thing for the Batman Family. I love Batman & Robin, continuing as it does the complicated relationship between Bruce and Damien Wayne. Batman, I’m particularly fond of on his own, as well. And Catwoman? ME-OW. I love Catwoman. She’s hot, sure, but she’s also a surly, smart, kick-ass heroine. And yeah, she’s in with Bruce and the boys. I like horror and weird fantasy, and Animal Man and Swamp Thing kind of go together. I really can’t get rid of one without deep sixing the other, too. I like Dial ‘H’ for Hero, not only for the concept, but also because I’ve met China a few times and really like the guy personally. I’d feel bad cutting it. Justice League: Dark is the outlier here. There’s no real connection to the rest of the stuff I’m reading. I’m tempted to cut it, but man, I really like Zatanna, John Constantine and Deadman.
I’m at a loss, here. These, plus the other comics I subscribe to (Saucer Country, The Massive, A Game of Thrones, The Cape, etc. etc.) is leaving me buried in comic book, and I need your help. Have any of you been in a similar situation, or are you all doing digital now? I’ve considered that as an option, but I don’t have a satisfactory e-Reader, and don’t want to drag around my laptop.
Anyway, Out of the stuff that I listed here, what would you keep and what would you cut?
The “Dark” line titles like Swamp Thing, Animal Man, Justice League Dark, Dial H and others that you aren’t subscribed to are all amazing. You’ll regret it if you cut any of those. Out of your list, Catwoman is probably the weakest of them. It’s about to change writers though, so it might end up improving. Still, if I were you and had to cut one of those, it would for sure be Catwoman, maybe even Batman and Robin. I’m not reading that one right now because I also have Nightwing, Batgirl, and Batwoman on my list along with Batman, and that is about as much bat as I can handle.