Ranked

Essential Reading Orders for New Comic Readers

mike mike | 16 Series | Jan 11, 2026

Essential Reading Orders for New Comic Readers is a curated starting point for anyone new to comics who wants great stories without getting lost in decades of continuity. This list focuses on landmark series and self-contained runs that are easy to jump into, widely acclaimed, and representative of what makes comics special across different publishers and styles. Each entry stands on its own while also helping new readers build confidence, discover their tastes, and decide where to go next without feeling overwhelmed.

1

Watchmen

DC Comics

Limited Series

1986 - 1987

12 issues

2

Batman: The Dark Knight

DC Comics

Limited Series

1986

4 issues

3

Maus: A Survivor's Tale

Pantheon Books

1986

2 issues

4

The Sandman

DC Comics

1989 - 1996

75 issues

5

Saga

Image Comics

2012+

72 issues

6

The Walking Dead

Image Comics

2003 - 2019

193 issues

7

Preacher

DC Comics

1995 - 2000

67 issues

8

V for Vendetta

DC Comics

Limited Series

1988 - 1989

10 issues

9

Marvels

Marvel Comics

Limited Series

1994 - 1994

5 issues

10

Planetary

DC Comics

1999 - 2009

27 issues

11

Hellboy: Seed of Destruction

Dark Horse Comics

Limited Series

1994 - 1994

4 issues

12

All Star Superman

DC Comics

Limited Series

2006 - 2008

12 issues

13

Kingdom Come

DC Comics

Limited Series

1996 - 1996

4 issues

14

Y: The Last Man

DC Comics

2002 - 2008

60 issues

15

Sin City: The Hard Goodbye

Dark Horse Comics

1992

1 issue

16

Fables

DC Comics

2002 - 2024

161 issues

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