Comic Book Treasury

Ghost in the Shell Manga Order

by Carole
October 28, 2024

Following the success of Akira, a wave of influential Japanese cyberpunk works emerged, such as Battle Angel Alita, Cowboy Bebop, and, as today’s subject, Ghost in the Shell. Created by Masamune Shirow, Ghost in the Shell began publication in 1989 in Kodansha’s manga anthology Young Magazine. Consisting of only 11 chapters, the original manga concluded in November 1990.

However, it started a cyberpunk franchise that has since spawned spin-off manga and comics, animated and live-action films, several animated TV series, video games, tie-in novels, and art books. The franchise continues to expand, with a new manga in publication and an anime adaptation slated for release in 2026.

Set in the 2030s in the fictional Japanese city of Niihama, also known as New Port City, Ghost in the Shell follows the members of Public Security Section 9, a special operations task force composed of former military officers and police detectives, led by Major Motoko Kusanagi. Kusanagi is a strong-willed, intelligent cyborg who excels at deduction, hacking, and military tactics—though this doesn’t prevent her from occasionally acting immature.

Section 9 handles political intrigue, corruption, cybercrime, and counter-terrorism in a future where technology has advanced to the point that most people possess a “cyberbrain”—a device that integrates with the brain and connects individuals both physically and virtually to various platforms (a kind of brain-computer interface).

Discover the original world of Ghost in the Shell with this comprehensive reading guide, exploring the original manga and its many spin-offs in order!

Energon Universe Reading Order (Skybound’s Transformers, GI Joe, Voir Rivals…)

by Fabien
October 25, 2024

At the end of 2020, IDW lost the license to publish comic books from the Hasbro Universe. Therefore, series like Transformers and G.I. Joe went elsewhere. More precisely, they went to Image Comics via Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment imprint.

Naturally, the new creative teams didn’t continue with what was done at IDW. Instead, a new comic book universe was launched: The Energon Universe. It uses creative elements from Transformers and G.I. Joe, such as familiar concepts and characters, but also introduces original materials, notably with the all-new Void Rivals.

“I’ve loved these characters for most of my life and to have the opportunity to add to the already rich tapestry Hasbro has built with the all-new Void Rivals is an unbelievable opportunity. If you look at everything done with Transformers and G.I. Joe, you can see the inkling of a vast universe with tremendous potential for crossovers and interaction that will enhance the fan experience while staying true to the individual identities of both concepts. I look forward to exploring that potential for years to come.” – Robert Kirkman.

Juggling between ongoing and limited series, with some one-shots added to the mix, the Energon Universe was officially launched in June 2023. The creative teams are made of top talents with writers like Robert Kirkman, Daniel Warren Johnson, Joshua Williamson, Kelly Thompson, and Dan Watters (and more to come), and artists like DW Johnson, Lorenzo De Felici, Jorge Corona, Tom Reilly, Andrea Milana, Marco Ferrari, and more.

The Best of the Kingpin, Your Essential Wilson Fisk Comic Book List

by Carole
Updated on October 26, 2024

While New York City is filled with Marvel Superheroes, it never stopped Wilson Fisk from realizing his personal ambitions. He’s one of the most powerful criminals, a man who took control of the Underworld by sheer intelligence and cunning abilities. With that said, you wouldn’t want to be in Fisk’s way on a bad day, as the man has extraordinary skill in hand-to-hand combat.

Introduced in the Marvel World in the ‘60s as a Spider-Man antagonist, Wilson Fisk came a long way from his debut, becoming Daredevil’s greatest enemy while still being a menace to reckon with for Spider-Man (and sometimes other superheroes). He rose to become one of the most powerful criminal leaders known as the Kingpin, but also a legitimate businessman and an ambitious political figure who succeeded in being elected as Mayor of New York. Over the years, he rose, fell, retired, made his comeback. And more than once, he made Matt Murdock’s life hell on Earth!

He’s also one of Marvel’s most iconic villains on the small screen, thanks to Vincent D’Onofrio’s portrayal of the character in Netflix’s Daredevil. He recently appeared in the Disney+ series Hawkeye (2021), but most importantly will be in Daredevil: Born Again, Disney+’s follow-up to the Netflix series.

To learn more about The Kingpin or simply rediscover the most important stories featuring the character, follow our Essential Reading Order Guide for Wilson Fisk!

Darwyn Cooke’s Must-Read Comics: Exploring a Work Filled with Boldness and Hope

by Fabien
October 21, 2024

Graphic Ink: The DC Comics Art of Darwyn Cooke

Canadian Cartoonist from Toronto Darwyn Cooke (1962–2016) always dreamt of making comics for a living, but it was not economically viable for him for a long time. He instead worked as a magazine art director, graphic and product designer until finally going back to his first love during the 1990s. He answered an ad placed by Bruce Timm that led him to work as a storyboard artist on Warner Bros. Animation shows like The New Batman Adventures, Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond (he created the opening sequence), and Men in Black: The Series (as a director).

Cooke’s pitch to Timm, a Batman story that got him a job in animation, was later discovered by DC Comics art director Mark Chiarello who hired the artist to make a graphic novel based on it. That became the 2000 graphic novel Batman: Ego. Cooke officially transitioned to the comics world.

Despite a short career in comics, Darwyn Cooke’s distinctive artistic style became highly influential as well as his stories. He found popular success with some of his now-considered classic series and gained industry recognition with his work, winning 13 Eisner Awards, 8 Harvey Awards, and 5 Joe Shuster Awards.

The Best of Havok Comics, Our Alex Summers Recommended Reading Order (X-Men)!

by Carole
October 19, 2024

It’s never easy being the brother of a more famous X-Man. Just ask Alex Summers, who has often found himself in the shadow of his brother, Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops. While Alex may never reach his older brother’s level of fame, this longtime Marvel character has certainly lived through some wild adventures (and bad editorial decisions) since his debut in 1969!

Before young Alex Summers was introduced to the world of the X-Men, readers already knew that Scott had a brother (there’s a third Summers brother, but it is a subject for another day) who had been separated from him for many years. After their father’s plane was attacked by aliens, the two brothers jumped with the only working parachute. While they survived, they were left orphaned and separated as children. Scott grew up in an orphanage before being recruited to join the X-Men.

But surprise! When Alex made his first appearance in X-Men #54, the two brothers had been close for some time—clearly, this relationship had developed off-panel. Soon enough, Alex was revealed to have powers of his own, capable of generating powerful plasma blasts. He got his famous Neal Adams-designed costume and codename in issue #58. From there, the mutant developed a love-hate relationship with the X-Men and an on-and-off romance with Lorna Dane, a.k.a. Polaris.

DC Finest: Your Guide to the Upcoming Graphic Novel Releases (2024-2025)

by Fabien
October 16, 2024

Years ago, Marvel launched its Epic Collection, a great way to read full stories at an affordable price. You choose your favorite heroes and pick one up to have a complete run and arc, to access some old and newer, some classics, some forgotten… It was and still is a massive success. Now, DC Comics has decided to follow this with its own line of books: DC Finest.

What is the DC Comics Finest line?

The model is not completely identical to the Epic Line, but the idea behind it is relatively similar: “a new line of comprehensive collections of the most in-demand periods, genres, and characters from across DC history.” as DC Comics puts it. This large-size paperback collections start at $34.99 and, unlike most of DC’s already established collections, puts the focus on characters and storytelling genres instead of creators.

Each DC Finest book will cover a specific period and, depending on the chronology, a volume dedicated to “Robin” may feature Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, or Jason Todd. Idem with the Green Lanterns, expect stories on Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, Alan Scott, and others, depending on the era. You’ll have some of the classic silver adventures of Barry Allen and at another time some Modern Age Wally West will run toward danger in one of the Flash books.

Where to Start with EC Comics? A Beginner’s Guide to the Most Famous, Shocking, and Bizarre Tales

by Carole
October 14, 2024

When it’s time to read some gruesome horror stories, exploring comic books from the Golden Age offers chilling tales and unforgettable illustrations. While individual horror stories appeared as early as 1940, horror comics flourished with EC Comics and its sardonic horror hosts – the Old Witch, the Vault Keeper, and the Crypt Keeper – introducing shocking tales of violence to readers. They inspired a host of imitators, but none occupy the same place as EC Comics in pop culture today.

In an era when superheroes were living simple (and sometimes wacky) adventures, EC Comics pushed the boundaries with their gruesome stories, bold visuals, sharp social commentary, and shocking twists. They revolutionized comic book art through legendary talents such as Harvey Kurtzman, Al Feldstein, Wally Wood, Bernard Krigstein, Bill Elder, and Jack Davis. While the Comics Code led to the cancellation of most of their titles, EC Comics continued to survive through reprints and left a lasting influence on creators across comics and Hollywood.

Today, we get more familiar with EC Comics, one of the most influential publishers of its time, which, like a sordid creature from its pages, has recently come back to life!

Bleach Manga in Order

by Carole
Updated on October 11, 2024

While Ken Kaneki is transformed into a half-ghoul in Tokyo Ghoul, teenager Ichigo Kurosaki obtained the powers of a Soul Reaper in Bleach. Ichigo Kurosaki wasn’t your ordinary student to begin with. He was born with the ability to see ghosts, though this particular gift didn’t affect his life the same way as his encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society.

When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a malevolent spirit—Rukia transfers her Soul Powers to the young man who then becomes a Soul Reaper! That wasn’t the goal, but now, Ichigo must learn to navigate this new world, protect the innocent from Hollows, and help the spirits themselves find peace.

Created by mangaka Tite Kube, Bleach debuted in 2001 in Weekly Shounen Jump alongside Naruto and One Piece. Together, those manga became known as the “Big Three” because of their massive success. Naturally, Bleach expanded and became a franchise with the first animated series, released between 2004 and 2012. Several animated films, video games, light novels, trading cards, musicals and several artbooks were released during the following years.

Lex Luthor, Your Recommended Reading List for Superman’s Archenemy

by Carole
October 9, 2024
3 Comments

Alexander Joseph “Lex” Luthor is one of the smartest people in DC Comics and Superman’s most emblematic villain. Initially depicted as a mad scientist and narcissist, the character was reimagined in the mid-late 1980s (following Crisis on Infinite Earths) as the powerful CEO of LexCorp, willing to do anything to rid the world of Superman.

Although Luthor has no superpowers per se, he considers his genius to be his gift—and with good reason! Luthor is not only a mad scientist but also a criminal mastermind, expert tactician and manipulator, ruthless businessman, and formidable leader. His ability to survive any scandal underscores his cunning. Luthor is the master of complex, multi-layered plans to destroy Superman, with his primary weakness being, as is often the case for men like him, his arrogance—and his inability to truly understand his enemies.

Star-Lord Reading Order, Peter Quill’s Cosmic Adventure in the Marvel Comics Universe

by Fabien
Updated on October 7, 2024

The introduction of Star-Lord in the Marvel Comics Universe didn’t come with a boom but with editorial complications. Created by Steve Englehart and Steve Gan in Marvel Preview #4 in 1976, he was, according to its creator, planned to go from “being a jerk to the most cosmic being in the universe.” This changed quickly as Englehart left Marvel and Chris Claremont took the character over and revamped him–which led to some legal troubles as the writer too openly used Robert A. Heinlein’s work as inspiration. After that Star-Lord only made a few appearances before going away. This version of the character is not even considered part of the regular Marvel Universe anymore.

In 2005, Peter Quill/Star-Lord was introduced by Keith Giffen and Ron Lim in the Thanos ongoing series. This led him to play a part in the Annihilation saga, and then in the new incarnation of the Guardians of the Galaxy series from Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. With a newly revised origin story, Peter is revealed to be the son of an alien named J’son who crashed on Earth where he met Meredith Quill. When J’son left to go back to fighting his intergalactic war, he didn’t know that Meredith was pregnant. A decade later, enemies of his father came and killed his mother. Now an orphan, Peter was raised by his mother’s best friend Lisa Chang, a commander at NASA. He was destined to join the stars.

During a mission in Space, Peter Quill’s ship malfunctioned and was found by a group of space pirates led by Yondu, the Ravagers. After some convincing, he was allowed to join them. That’s how his cosmic adventures started.