Top 5 DC Comic Books for the New Reader

Here are the titles new readers of the DC comic book line should read in order to gain an overall insight into the characters and events of company's monthly output.

Batman
The Dark Knight has become the number one superhero in DC Universe. He and Superman duked it out for that title through the late 80s and early 90s. But with the successive number of Batman movies throughout the 90s and their resurgence during the past decade, the Caped Crusader pulled ahead. He is the pulse of the DC Universe and his presence or non-presence affects all of the major titles. He also supports the largest "family" of titles. Currently the character Batman is the touchstone for Batman, Batman and Robin, Red Robin, Birds of Prey, Detective Comics, Gotham City Sirens, Azrael, Batgirl, Batman Confidential and Superman/Batman.

Green Lantern
From the starting point of Green Lantern:Rebirth, Hal Jordan's ascent at DC had begun. He became increasingly central to the events that transpired throughout DC adventures. Then, with the Sinestro Corps War storyline, Hal Jordan launched to center stage as he faced his nemesis in one of the breakout stories of that year. This ramped into the DC event, Blackest Night. In this tale, Hal Jordan was central to defeating the Black Lanterns, who were DC heroes and villains that had returned from the dead. This brought incredibly large audiences to the character and his mythos and made him a central character in the comic line.

Superman
The Son of Krypton is still integral to the DC universe. He is the lynchpin for every DC event, and is still the face of the company in many ways. His own family of titles include Superman/Batman, Adventure Comics, Superman, Supergirl and Action Comics. Superman's star may be on the rise as currently in the DC Universe, an event known as The War of the Supermen looms heavy across his titles. This story involves the surviving inhabitants of Krypton and their newly formed "New Krypton", which resides close to Earth. When Kal-el is only one Superman out of hundreds, what does he do when those numbers go to war?

Justice League of America
This book has always fallen in and out of greatness, but it is always a marker as to what is happening with the major heroes of the DC Universe. The member roster changes every few issues, but the League always faces the universe's deadliest villains. If there is an event that affects the entire universe, the Justice League is always involved in some manner. It has also been a great book for which the new reader can find his or her favorite character. Even if you don't like Superman, chances are you're an Aquaman fan.

Justice Society of America
The JSA has become the perfect sister book to the JLA. The Justice Society is the legacy group, retaining members who are frontrunners to many of the JLA's heroes. The JSA Jay Garrick Flash = the JLA Barry Allen Flash. The JSA Alan Scott Green Lantern = The JLA Hal Jordan Green Lantern. Hawkman, however, can't decide what team he want to be on and tends to show up in both books. The JSA face threats just as large as JLA, but on different plains and venues. Many of the villains harken back to earlier years of DC, but modernized for today's reader.

Reading these five titles should keep a new reader sufficiently informed on the major goings-on in the DC Universe.