DC Graphic Novel recommendations

[DistinctlyBenign]

Basically I'm criminally under read in comics, but I've read way more Marvel stuff than DC (Not that I've read that much Marvel stuff) and want to know where I should start.

Batman is about the only DC character I have read, and I've only really read Killing Joke, Long Halloween, Knight-fall, Joker, and Arkham Asylum. Oh, and a Harley Quinn book 'Preludes and Knock Knock Jokes'.

So I'd like to read some more DC stuff. Possibly some Justice League, maybe the teen titans. I'm interested in whatever that thing was with Green Lantern and a bunch of lanterns of other colors (I think it was called Blackest Night?), and I've heard of this Superman Red Son story and it sounds interesting. But looking for recommendations.

Only thing, I would vastly prefer whatever is recommended to be available in collected graphic novel form. I don't own any individual comics, and I don't plan to start collecting them. I much prefer sturdy, collected editions, even if it means I'll never be 'current' with the story I'm following.

[Gyro LC]

Basically I'm criminally under read in comics, but I've read way more Marvel stuff than DC (Not that I've read that much Marvel stuff) and want to know where I should start.

Batman is about the only DC character I have read, and I've only really read Killing Joke, Long Halloween, Knight-fall, Joker, and Arkham Asylum. Oh, and a Harley Quinn book 'Preludes and Knock Knock Jokes'.

So I'd like to read some more DC stuff. Possibly some Justice League, maybe the teen titans. I'm interested in whatever that thing was with Green Lantern and a bunch of lanterns of other colors (I think it was called Blackest Night?), and I've heard of this Superman Red Son story and it sounds interesting. But looking for recommendations.

Only thing, I would vastly prefer whatever is recommended to be available in collected graphic novel form. I don't own any individual comics, and I don't plan to start collecting them. I much prefer sturdy, collected editions, even if it means I'll never be 'current' with the story I'm following.

Any Justice Society of America written by Geoff Johns.

https://www.amazon.com/JSA-Omnibus-Vol- ... 140124761X
https://www.amazon.com/JSA-Omnibus-Vol- ... 1401251382
https://www.amazon.com/Omnibus-Vol-Just ... 401255302/

[DistinctlyBenign]

So... is the JSA like the golden age incarnations of heroes, but in the modern era?

That's pretty interesting actually. I will look out for those.

[Gyro LC]

So... is the JSA like the golden age incarnations of heroes, but in the modern era?

That's pretty interesting actually. I will look out for those.

Yes. The golden age heroes are training up young heroes in the modern world.

[Gyro LC]

Hush is a good Batman story. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064W652A/
Identity Crisis is a good cross-over mega event. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AKVJQ7Q

[Hyperion]

I have a standard list that I give people when I'm asked this question-

300 (Not DC, but still a great read)
Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Kingdom Come
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
: The Long Halloween
: Knightfall
: Cataclysm
Superman: Man of Steel (1986)
: Death of Superman (Funeral for a Friend, Reign of the Superman, The Return)
: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
: Grounded (This is rated as a bad Superman book by some, but I think that's because it isn't as flashy as the usual Superman fare, which is why I like it.)
The Boys
Astro City
Birds of Prey (The Original. The nu52 can go suck donkey dicks)
Catwoman: Her Sister’s Keeper
: When in Rome
DC: The New Frontier
Northlanders
Legion of Super-Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga
Identity Crisis

I can strongly recommend the early Perez runs on Wonder Woman and the New Teen Titans, which are collected in Omnibus formats.

Blackest Night was ok in my book, but I quickly got tired of the Green Lanterns being the focus of the DCU.

[Appollyon]

I'll cosign Identity Crisis, The Boys (Not DC) and Red Son. I really like Batman-No Man's Land as well.

[ScoobyThulu]

Ok, this will sound odd but if you want the distilled essences of characters you can't go wrong with the initial The Batman Adventures and The Superman Adventures which are both based on the Animated Series for each.
At the time Superman Adventures was being published it really was the best Superman title out there. I particularly loved Superman's book: No baggage and continuity sanfus just great, classic style Superman stories (a little Silver Age, a little Bronze, definitely modern) written by people like Scott McCloud, Mark Evanier and Warren Ellis (yes THAT Warren Ellis) and art by Bruce Timm, Rick Burchett, the late great Mike Parobeck, Jim Staton and Ty "The Guy" Templeton.
Both series are heavily reprinted in trade.