Unpopular opinion: I started reading comics out of order and it actually helped

I got totally lost trying to follow the main X-Men run from the start, so I just grabbed a random trade paperback from the library, 'X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills', with no context. I understood the characters and themes way better than when I was trying to track every single issue in order. Does anyone else find that jumping into a famous story arc first makes you want to go back and fill in the gaps later?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor.amy17d ago

Starting with a classic like that is actually a great move. It's a standalone story that introduces the core themes without needing backstory. Trying to read everything in order from the beginning is a sure way to burn out.

wright.lisa17d ago

Isn't that just like how we binge shows out of order now too?

quinnr4017d ago

Ever notice how the best movie sequels make you want to watch the first one? I did that with comics. Picked up Dark Knight Returns with zero Batman knowledge, and it was so cool and weird I HAD to go find out how he got that way. It made reading the older stuff way more fun, like a puzzle coming together. Starting with a big, bold story just hooks you in a way a slow start never could.