James Gunn Reveals His Picks for DC Comics Collections Best Suited for New Readers

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James Gunn, one of the co-heads at DC Studios, has a knack for highlighting the original DC Comics that serve as inspiration for his films and streaming series. These recommendations, often shared via his social media platforms, have caused numerous comics to quickly sell out across the nation, with “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” by Tom King being a notable example.

Lately, Gunn disclosed on Threads a selection of DC Comics that he believes are ideal starting points for new readers. These selections are all highly regarded, but could they offer clues about what’s to come in the DC Universe? For some titles, it seems quite likely.

Mark Waid’s “Superman: Birthright” shares several aspects with Gunn’s “Superman,” making it an obvious choice for inclusion. The same logic applies to Tom King’s “Mister Miracle,” which is set to be adapted into an animated series soon. Another title by Tom King is “Strange Adventures,” starring 1950s sci-fi hero Adam Strange. Kelly Sue DeConnick’s recent series, “Wonder Woman: Historia,” offers a contemporary take on Amazon history. It’s possible that the upcoming “Paradise Lost” series might be inspired by this work. As for Gotham City heroes, Gunn includes the outstanding first volume of Tom Taylor and artist Bruno Redondo’s “Nightwing.” Given that Gunn is a fan of Dick Grayson, it’s comforting to see









According to Gunn’s recommendation, here are four books from author Alan Moore that you might want to check out: “The Top Ten Compendium”, “The Tom Strong Compendium”, and “Promethea”. These books were published under the “America’s Best Comics” imprint for DC’s Wildstorm label between 1999 and 2010. “The Top Ten” is a story about a police precinct in a city inhabited solely by superhumans, while “Promethea” follows a young woman who embodies a goddess. “Tom Strong” revolves around a classic 1930s-style hero, whose character influenced the creation of “Superman”. Gunn also mentioned “The Authority”, the first volume of which was created by writers Warren Ellis and artist Bryan Hitch. This book has significant ties to the new DCU (although its initial announcement has been put on hold). Additionally, a character from “The Authority”, The Engineer, appeared in “Superman”.

The comic book “Watchmen,” the fourth title by Moore, is widely recognized. Given Moore’s recent disdain for superhero comics and his decision to no longer work with DC, it seems unlikely that any of these works will receive an adaptation within the DC Universe anytime soon. In fact, “Watchmen” has already been adapted three times over a span of sixteen years. However, as Gunn points out, all these adaptations serve as excellent introductions for new comic book readers.

In the comments, a fan recommended Darwyn Cooke’s “New Frontier.” Immediately, Gunn agreed that this book is another superb starting point. Each of these books is exceptional, and if they can convert fans of Superman into comic book enthusiasts, then according to Gunn, his mission has been accomplished.

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2025-08-14 03:06