When I deployed to Iraq in April 2008, I continued to subscribe to my comic book pull list at Midtown Comics. I learned from my previous deployment that it was easier and less expensive to continue to subscribe during the deployment rather than try to hunt each issue down at the end of a deployment.
The problem, however, remains to be how to catch up on all of the reading.
During the publishing year of 2008 and 2009, there were several different story lines that were impacting the current DC Universe. Because of this, I couldn’t just start reading and go pick up the storylines when I had the chance—I needed to get the background before I could understand what was going on.
I began with the pressing issues.
While I was downrange, I began to hear and read about the “Batman R.I.P.” series that was taking place in the summer of 2008. I watched the published lists and made sure that they made it into my inbox. When I returned home—I was anxious to read the Batman R.I.P. story and chose that one first. This included all Batman, Detective Comics, Outsiders, and Robin comic books.
Then, I began to read the newer books from Red Robin, Batman: Streets of Gotham, Batman and Robin, and Batgirl. These kept me engaged in the overarching Batman story—so now I read these first when I receive a shipment from Midtown Comics.
The second pressing issue was the biggest story of this summer—Green Lantern: Blackest Night. Now, this series, while current, also reaches back into last year for the development of the story. So I again read all of these issues from last year leading up to The Blackest Night.
This has gotten me up to date with, what I think, are the largest stories going on right now—except for the Superman arc. Next week, I will talk about how I plan on catching up with this and other stories.