Where has the time gone?! It’s been over a year (again) since the last installment of this series. If you’ve been out of the loop, DC comics has undergone yet another revamp over the past few years. Many of our beloved characters have begun anew, with changes small and large made to their characters. Therefore, I hereby christen this the resurrection of Quintessential Comics! With the theme of beginning anew in mind, this list will focus on the event in DC Comics known as Rebirth. Rebirth follows the conclusion of the New 52 series in the comic universe, and showcases all of your favorite DC characters, aiming to return them to a more familiar status quo, while also attempting to rectify the events of post-Flashpoint and Post-Crisis events. Did any of that make sense? Yeah, me neither. Anyway, here we go!
DC Universe Rebirth Omnibus
If you’re looking for a place to get started with all of this craziness, why not here? This omnibus takes many of the individual fan-favorite series pertaining to Rebirth and crams them all into one epic book. The premise of the story is that the universe’s heroes have no recollection of the past 10 years of the timeline and only the return of Wally West, the Kid Flash, reminds them of what they have lost. This book features entire teams of characters, from the Justice League to the Teen Titans, so you’re sure to be entertained. There might even be some twists that pertain to other DC owned properties! This entry will function as more of a catch-all for the main story of the event. Therefore, it won’t focus on individual characters’ story-lines too much. If you don’t want to spend time reading every issue that connected to this event and just want to jump in, this is the one you want!
Batman, Volume 1, I Am Gotham
You just know that we had to include some Batman on this list! Batman has done it all. He’s defeated a dastardly rogues gallery many times, he’s allied himself with other great heroes to win the day, and he’s saved Gotham more times than one could count. However, in this volume he might just face his greatest challenge yet: someone who wants to save Gotham from the Dark Knight himself! This is a story packed to the brim with interesting characters. Fans will be delighted to see some classic villains appear. Calendar Man, anyone? Some mysterious new players arrive as well. Be sure to check this one out to solve the mystery of Gotham Girl!
Green Arrow, Volume 1, The Death & Life of Oliver Queen
Ah, the Emerald Archer. If you’ve been a fan of the CW show for the past number of years, you owe it to yourself to check out this story featuring Green Arrow and his partner Black Canary. Oliver Queen leads a double life: Wealthy philanthropist during the day and verdant vigilante at night. When criticized for his ignorance concerning the true problems plaguing Star City, Ollie is forced to confront the grimy underbelly of his own company and those pulling the strings. Could his own naivete be contributing to the poor state of his city? This volume showcases the same drama that makes the television show so great. There’s plenty of conflict, romance and even betrayal! Don’t miss out on this one.
Supergirl, Volume 1, Reign of the Cyborg Supermen
Keeping the CW train rolling, here’s Supergirl! For fans of the show looking to get into her comics, this might be a good place to start. However, be warned: this volume is pretty wild and a fair bit different from the direction of the show. In this iteration, Kara Danvers (Supergirl) is a mild-mannered high school student juggling the responsibilities of heroism with the difficulties of living on an alien planet with foster parents, all while attempting to jump-start her powers with a plan that could put her life at risk! Remember when I said this one was pretty wild? Yeah, well, it also showcases an enemy that suffers from lycanthropy and a contains a cameo from a dangerous super-imposter. If you’re looking for a story that contains the same great qualities that makes Supergirl a great show, you won’t be disappointed with this one.
Wonder Woman, Volume 1, The Lies
To round out this list, we have Wonder Woman! With all the hype concerning the release of the WW84 film, it’s time to dive into Rebirth’s re-imagining of the iconic warrior. Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) has been around since the golden age of comics. She’s been a part of the great Justice Society. She’s tussled with deadly foes like Ares, the god of war. She’s been part of the Trinity, along with Batman and Superman. Unfortunately, she seems to be having trouble remembering. In this story, Wonder Woman has to sift through her memories in order to determine which are true and which are lies. She’ll have to team up with her greatest foe in order to discover the truth about her past and locate her lost homeland. Can she once again become Diana of Themyscira? Grab this one off the shelves to accompany the character’s return appearance to the “big screen.”
