Two new Collected Editions ebooks

Today Collected Editions announces the release of two new ebooks!

The Collected Editions Guide to the DC Comics New 52 Vol. 1

In 2011, DC Comics relaunched their entire line of titles, replacing over twenty-years of post-Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity (and some pre-Crisis continuity!) with the New 52. The Collected Editions website chronicled the newly unfolding DC Universe with reviews of each of the inaugural New 52 collections, and now those reviews are collected in a new ebook as an in-depth study of the New 52. The book includes two new, never-before-published Collected Editions reviews, as well as a new introduction by the author.

The Unofficial DC Comics Trade Paperback Timeline Vol. 2

The second volume in the Unofficial DC Comics Trade Paperback Timeline series is updated and expanded to include over 900 titles, including all the New 52 Volume 1 titles, making this the perfect guide for both new and established readers. The Timeline shows how to read DC's library of collected editions in order, offering a quick glance at the most significant DC events as well as collections that readers might have missed. Copious notes help explain how the collections fit together. Whether a fan of DC's old continuity or new, the Trade Paperback Timeline is your map to navigating the DC universe. This volume also contains a new introduction by the author.

How to order

The ebooks are just $0.99 each, available direct from Smashwords and compatible with all ebook apps and devices (Kindle see below). You can also order the books from Barnes and Noble for the Nook, the Apple iBookstore, Kobo, and the Sony ReaderStore (link to come).

Kindle users: Collected Editions ebooks are sold DRM-free from all vendors. For Kindle compatibility, download the free Calibre ebook management system and easily convert the Smashwords EPUB file to MOBI format.

For press/blogger inquiries and review copies, contact collectededitions at the Yahoo account or DM @collecteditions on Twitter.

Reviews appreciated. Enjoy your new ebooks!

More about →

Best DC Comics New 52 Guides and Reading Orders

When DC Comics announced their New 52 initiative, there were a lot of reading guides online for the various New 52 series, which were coming and going, the best and the worst and so on.

Now that the DC New 52 is in full swing, however, you might be looking for something more detailed, a reading order guide to how to read the DC New 52 or who DC Comics's new or relaunched characters are.

Presented here are some guides to the DC Comics New 52 universe I've used or that have impressed me (plus our homegrown edition). If you've got more, please leave them in the comments section and I will continue to update this post. What we're looking for are guides on how to read and understand the DC New 52, not just recaps or reviews of the first issues.

Return to this page at http://bit.ly/dcnew52readingorder

* Comicosity - Read Between The Lines: History of the DC Universe 3.0

A lot of hard work went into Keith Callbeck and company's timeline of the DC Comics New 52, which puts the major events of the New 52 in chronological order. They sorted through over 700 comics; this list is especially good for understanding how some of the New 52's more far-flung titles like Demon Knights, Shade, and All-Star Western fit into the grand scheme.

* The Unofficial Guide to the New DC Universe

This wiki is an offshoot of the equally amazing Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe, which catalogs and includes details almost every post-Crisis on Infinite Earths DC comic, along with character chronology information. The new site, editable for registered users, is building the same kind of database for the New 52, also with chronology information. For detailed, issue-by-issue questions of who's who and what happened when, this is your source.

* DC Comics Database

Also good, with maybe a smidgen more artwork but slightly less chronological information, the DC Comics Database also includes issue lists, notes, and synopsis, as well as creator credits. They've also got a great mobile site for your superhero questions on the go.

* Tor: Reader's Guide to the New DC Universe

Though Tim Callahan's reader's guide started out as snapshots of the initial DC New 52 series, he's added to it with addendum updates for the Second and Third Wave series. This set of posts may not be as technically detailed as some of the others, but it stands as a good guide to how the New 52 has unfolded over time with short write-ups of all the books.

* DC New 52 Trade Paperback Timeline

Last but not least, if I can be permitted a plug, some readers still haven't noticed that the DC Comics Trade Paperback Timeline now includes DC New 52 books! The timeline contains all the New 52 Vol. 1s, as well as a majority of the Vol. 2s and 3s. As always, the DC TPB Timeline offers a clear reading order for how to read the New 52 collections, as well as explanations for why the books are listed the way they are. Our New 52 TPB timeline follows the "old" DC Universe timeline, and makes reference to events of the past where they're still in continuity.

And even though you can go to the DC Universe Trade Paperback Timeline for all your reading order information, here's a snapshot of the guide to the DC New 52 trades -- you can find more information and future volumes on the timeline.

• Justice League Vol. 1: Origin (review)
• Superman: Action Comics Vol. 1: Superman and the Men of Steel (review)

Both of these titles take place around five years prior to the present. The story in Action Comics takes place before Justice League, but DC published Justice League first and meant it to be the starting place for the DC New 52.

• Green Arrow Vol. 1: The Midas Touch (review)

A number of DC New 52 titles reference Green Arrow Oliver Queen's company Q-Core, introduced in Green Arrow: The Midas Touch.

• Flash Vol. 1: Move Forward (review)
• Captain Atom Vol. 1: Evolution (review)
• Static Shock Vol. 1: Supercharged (review)
• Savage Hawkman Vol. 1: Darkness Rising (review)

The Static Shock book mentions Hawkman, Captain Atom, and the Teen Titans; Flash appears in the Captain Atom book.

• Supergirl Vol. 1: Last Daughter of Krypton (review)
• Superboy Vol. 1: Incubation (review)
• Teen Titans Vol. 1: It's Our Right to Fight (review)

Supergirl appears first in her own collection, then in Superboy and then in Superman: What Price Tomorrow? Superboy: Incubation takes place concurrent with the Teen Titans collection.

• Batman Vol. 1: Court of Owls (review)
• Batman and Robin Vol. 1: Born to Kill (review)
• Batgirl Vol. 1: The Darkest Reflection (review)
• Nightwing Vol. 1: Traps and Trapezes (review)
• Birds of Prey Vol. 1: Trouble in Mind (review)
• Batwoman Vol. 1: Hydrology (review)
• Batwing Vol. 1: The Lost Kingdom (review)
• Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 1: Redemption (review)

The Batman, Batgirl, and Nightwing books all interconnect.

• Animal Man Vol. 1: The Hunt (review)
• Swamp Thing Vol. 1: Raise Them Bones (review)

The Animal Man and Swamp Thing collections take place concurrent to one another.

• Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE Vol. 1: War of the Monsters (review)
• Men of War Vol. 1: Uneasy Company (review)
• OMAC Vol. 1: Omactivate (review)

The Frankenstein and OMAC volumes cross-over with one another. Frankenstein appears in Men of War. The OMAC book alludes to the Challengers of the Unknown story in DC Universe Presents.

• Hawk and Dove Vol. 1: First Strikes (review)
• Blue Beetle Vol. 1: Metamorphosis (review)
• Justice League International Vol. 1: The Signal Masters (review)

Green Arrow, Frankenstein, Hawk and Dove, Captain Atom, Hawkman, Blue Beetle, and Batman appear or cameo in the first Justice League International book.

• Blackhawks Vol. 1: Great Leap Forward (review)
• Mister Terrific Vol. 1: Mind Games (review)
• Huntress: Crossbow at the Crossroads (review)

The Blackhawks appear in the Mr. Terrific book, and also in Deathstroke and Voodoo.

• Deathstroke Vol. 1: Legacy (review)
• Resurrection Man Vol. 1: Dead Again (review)

Deathstroke appears in flashback in Resurrection Man.

• I, Vampire Vol. 1: Tainted Love (review)
• Justice League Dark Vol. 1: In the Dark (review)

I, Vampire and Justice League Dark take place concurrently.

• Superman Vol. 1: What Price Tomorrow? (review)
• DC Universe Presents Vol. 1: Deadman and Challengers of the Unknown (review)
• Stormwatch Vol. 1: The Dark Side (review)
• Grifter Vol. 1: Most Wanted (review)
• Demon Knights Vol. 1: Seven Against the Dark (review)

Stormwatch takes place after the formation of Justice League International; a member of Stormwatch guest-stars in Grifter. Superman, Stormwatch, Grifter, Voodoo, and Demon Knights each refer to a certain alien threat.

• Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 1: Hostile World (review)
• Legion Lost Vol. 1: Run from Tomorrow (review)

The Black Razers Blackhawk group appears in Legion Lost and Voodoo.

• Green Lantern: New Guardians Vol. 1: The Ring Bearer (review)
• Voodoo Vol. 1: What Lies Beneath (review)
• Green Lantern Vol. 1: Sinestro (review)
• Red Lanterns Vol. 1: Blood and Rage (review)
• Green Lantern Corps Vol. 1: Fearsome (review)

The Green Lantern book is most closely connected with the "old" DC Universe, taking place right after War of the Green Lanterns: Aftermath. Green Lantern: Sinestro, Green Lantern: New Guardians, and the Red Lanterns book all interconnect.

• Catwoman Vol. 1: The Game (review)
• Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Faces of Death (review)
• Suicide Squad Vol. 1: Kicked in the Teeth (review)

The events of Detective Comics: Faces of Death take place specifically after Catwoman: The Game and I, Vampire: Tainted Love, but before the Suicide Squad book. Suicide Squad makes a minor reference to the events of the Stormwatch book.

• All-Star Western Vol. 1: Guns and Gotham
• Aquaman Vol. 1: The Trench (review)
• Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men Vol. 1: God Particle (review)
• Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Blood (review)

The All-Star Western, Aquaman, Firestorm, and Wonder Woman books are mostly independent from the rest of the DC Universe in their first volumes.

• Superman: Action Comics Vol. 2: Bulletproof

Takes place five years before the current DC Universe.

• Batwoman Vol. 2: To Drown the World (review)
• Batman, Incorporated Vol. 1: Demon Star

The Batwoman and Batman, Inc. collections are generally unrelated to the other Batman collections at this time. Batwoman Batgirl: Knightfall Descends.

• Batman Vol. 2: City of Owls (review)
• Batman: Night of the Owls (review)
• All-Star Western Vol. 2: The War of Lords and Owls
• Batgirl Vol. 2: Knightfall Descends (review)
• Nightwing Vol. 2: Night of the Owls
• Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 2: Scare Tactics
• Birds of Prey Vol. 2: Your Kiss Might Kill
• Batman: The Dark Knight Vol. 1: Knight Terrors (review)
• Batman: The Dark Knight Vol. 2: Cycle of Violence
• Catwoman Vol. 2: Dollhouse (review)

All of these trades tie in to Night of the Owls except Batman: Dark Knight: Cycle of Violence.

• Superman Vol. 2: Secrets and Lies
• Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 2: The Starfire

The last chapter of Superman: Secrets and Lies relates to the last chapter of Red Hood and the Outlaws: The Starfire.

• Captain Atom Vol. 2: Genesis
• Justice League Vol. 2: The Villain's Journey (review)

Captain Atom: Genesis is unrelated but takes place before the end of Justice League: Villain's Journey.

• Blue Beetle Vol. 2: Blue Diamond
• Justice League International Vol. 2: Breakdown (review)
• Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men Vol. 2: The Firestorm Protocols
• Batwing Vol. 2: In the Shadow of Ancients (review)

The Justice League International trade reflects the events of Justice League: Villain's Journey. Justice League International, Firestorm, Blue Beetle, and Batwing tie into one another or contain guest appearances by the JLI.

• Green Lantern Vol. 2: The Revenge of Black Hand (review)
• Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2: Alpha War
• Green Lantern: New Guardians Vol. 2: Beyond Hope
• Red Lanterns Vol. 2: Death of the Red Lanterns (review)
• Stormwatch Vol. 2: Enemies of Earth (review)

Green Lantern: New Guardians: Beyond Hope intersects with Blue Beetle: Blue Diamond. Stormwatch: Enemies of the Earth crosses over with Red Lanterns.

• Culling: Rise of the Ravagers
• Superboy Vol. 2: Extraction
• Teen Titans Vol. 2: The Culling

The Culling collection includes the Teen Titans Annual #1; otherwise the "Culling" issues are also found in the Titans, Superboy, and Legion Lost trades.

• Swamp Thing Vol. 2: Family Tree (review)
• Animal Man Vol. 2: Animal Vs. Man (review)
• Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE Vol. 2: Secrets of the Dead (review)

Swamp Thing and Animal Man interconnect; Frankenstein leads into the Animal Man/Swamp Thing crossover "Rotworld."

• Sword of Sorcery Vol. 1: Amethyst
• Justice League Dark Vol. 2: The Books of Magic
• I, Vampire Vol. 2: Rise of the Vampires (review)

I, Vampire and Justice League Dark cross over. Amethyst appears in the Justice League Dark trade.

• Earth 2 Vol. 1: The Gathering (review)
• Worlds' Finest Vol. 1: Lost Daughters of Earth 2 (review)

Worlds' Finest will reflect events in the Batman titles with its second volume.

• Legion: Secret Origin
• Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2: The Dominators

Legion: Secret Origin expands the Legion's origin for the New 52.

• Aquaman Vol. 2: The Others
• Dial H Vol. 1: Into You (review)
• Green Arrow Vol. 2: Triple Threat (review)
• Wonder Woman Vol. 2: Guts (review)

Aquaman, Dial H, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman remain generally unrelated to the rest of the New 52.

• Shazam Vol. 1 Vol. 1
• Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis
• Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis
• Flash Vol. 3: Gorilla Warfare

The Throne of Atlantis books cross over. Shazam takes place prior to Throne of Atlantis; Flash: Gorilla Warfare takes place at the same time.

• Green Lantern: Rise of the Third Army
• Green Lantern: Wrath of the First Lantern
• Green Lantern Vol. 3: The End
• Green Lantern Corps Vol. 3: Willpower
• Green Lantern: New Guardians Vol. 3: Love and Death
• Red Lanterns Vol. 3: The Second Prophecy

These books include the Green Lantern crossovers "Rise of the Third Army" and "Wrath of the First Lantern."

• Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family
• Joker: Death of the Family
• Batman and Robin Vol. 2: Pearl
• Batman and Robin Vol. 3: Death of the Family

These titles tie in to Death of the Family but not Requiem.

• Justice League Dark Vol. 3: The Death of Magic
• Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger Vol. 1: A Stranger Among Us
• Birds of Prey Vol. 3: A Clash of Daggers
• Teen Titans Vol. 3: Death of the Family
• Red Hood and the Outlaws Vol. 3: Death of the Family

The Phantom Stranger appears in Justice League Dark; Raven appears in Phantom Stranger and then in Teen Titans; Teen Titans crosses over with Red Hood; Birds of Prey and Teen Titans connect.

• Batman, Incorporated Vol. 2: Gotham's Most Wanted
• Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 3: Emperor Penguin
• Nightwing Vol. 3: Death of the Family
• Batgirl Vol. 3: Death of the Family

These trades deal with both Death of the Family and Requiem.

• Demon Knights Vol. 3: The Gathering Storm
• All-Star Western Vol. 3: The Black Diamond Probability
• Team 7 Vol. 1: Fight Fire with Fire
• Catwoman Vol. 3: Death of the Family

Demon Knights, All-Star Western, Catwoman, and Team 7 are all part of the "Black Diamond Probability" event. Catwoman connects to Death of the Family and Requiem.

• Savage Hawkman Vol. 2: Wanted
• Green Arrow Vol. 3: Harrow
• Deathstroke Vol. 2: Lobo Hunt

Deathstroke, Hawkman, and Green Arrow participate in the "Hawkman: Wanted" crossover.

• Superman: H'el on Earth
• Superman Vol. 3: Fury at World's End
• Superboy Vol. 3: Lost
• Supergirl Vol. 3: Sanctuary

Superman, Superboy, and Supergirl participate in the "H'el on Earth" crossover.

• Ravagers Vol. 1: The Kids from N.O.W.H.E.R.E.
• Legion Lost Vol. 2: The Culling
• Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Man Vol. 3: Takeover

Superboy and the Ravagers appear in Legion Lost; Legion Lost and Firestorm connect regarding a Captain Atom storyline.

• Animal Man Vol. 3: Rotworld -- The Red Kingdom
• Swamp Thing Vol. 3: Rotworld -- The Green Kingdom

Animal Man and Swamp Thing cross over with "Rotworld."

Hope this helps you sort things out. If I've missed a good site or you have any corrections, leave a comment and I'll check it out. Cheers!

More about →

Everybody's Talking about the DC Trade Paperback Timeline ebook

To steal a line from our friends at the Source blog, the DC Comics Trade Paperback Timeline ebook launched with a bang, and I've been so excited by the attention it's received and the new readers it's brought to my timeline efforts.

Among the highlights are an interview I just completed at the Ridiculously Awesome blog, where we talked all things timeline and how new readers can approach the DC Universe. From the interview:

What made you want to put together a chronology of DC’s trades?

I started “waiting for the trade” a few years before I began the Collected Editions blog. I was tired of waiting six months to finish reading a story in single issues, and also of all the advertisements in the issues. A couple years later when DC and many other publishers began releasing collections routinely (as I talk about in the introduction to the DC Trade Paperback Timeline ebook), there was greater continuity between trades; DC published trades that were specifically branded as tie-ins to event miniseries, for instance, or characters would finish an arc in one trade and their story would continue in another. This cross-trade continuity was interesting to me, and I created the timeline so that I and others could keep track of how DC’s trades fit together from the beginning of the current DC Universe to the present.

Were there any anomalies that you encountered as far as continuity?

I encountered plenty of anomalies working on the timeline — that’s part of what makes it so useful and fun! The Hawkworld anomaly is one famous one (one Hawkman appears from Legends through Hawkworld, and then that Hawkman is retroactively replaced by another one). There’s lots of times that books published at the same time don’t fit, like when Superboy Connor Kent is resurrected after Final Crisis but the Teen Titans title acts like he’s dead almost until Blackest Night. There’s also plenty of changes to continuity as the timeline progresses — Superman gets a couple new origins and so does Green Lantern, and these changes are presented at the appropriate time to read them.

So where would you recommend someone just getting into the DC universe to start reading?

In terms of how to start reading about the DC Universe, I encourage fans to jump in anywhere. I learned about the DC Universe by reading and then reading more and reading back issues, and I reject the notion that comics continuity scares off new readers; instead I think part of the joy is finding references you don’t understand and reading older stories to fill in the gaps. Crossovers (or their aftermaths) are good places to start reading, however; DC created a “jumping on” point for their titles just after Infinite Crisis, but starting at the beginning of Countdown to Infinite Crisis is good too. Adventurous readers, however, could start just after Zero Hour or even with Legends, the first crossover of the post-Crisis on Infinite Earth’s DC universe. Of course, the DC New 52 relaunch is also designed with new readers in mind.

Check it all out at Ridiculously Awesome.

Johanna Draper Carlson also mentioned the DC TPB Timeline ebook on Comics Worth Reading as part of their "digital and webcomics" coverage.

And on the audio side, check out Chris Marshall's recent Collected Comics Library podcast where Chris also reviews the DC Timeline ebook (if you're digitally-inclined, Chris has a Collected Comics Library app, too!).

i'm also grateful to long-time reader Mark Simms, whose review of the DC TPB Timeline ebook on Smashwords calls the timeline "a sensible order to read the stories of this shared universe, often with justification, but without spoiling any of the storylines ... Perfect for those trips to the comic or book store, when you're not sure what you should read next." Thanks, Mark!

There's lots more coming up related to the DC Comics Trade Paperback Timeline -- stay tuned!

More about →

Now an ebook -- the DC Trade Paperback Timeline!

For the past six years, Collected Editions' DC Comics Trade Paperback Timeline has been your online source for how to read and understand the story of the DC Universe, in order, in collected form.

Today, we're pleased to announce the first in a new series of Collected Editions ebooks - The DC Trade Paperback Timeline Vol. 1.

This newly-updated edition of the DC TPB Timeline organizes over 800 DC Comics collections, including all the final collections before DC's New 52 relaunch. The ebook also includes a new introduction that talks about changes in DC's collection program over the years and how the DC TPB Timeline began.

The ebook is available via Smashwords in all major ebook formats for all devices, tablets, and smartphones, plus easy-to-use downloadable desktop versions. All the formats, DRM-free, are packaged together for just $0.99. You can also buy direct from the Apple iBookstore and for the Barnes and Noble Nook.

The ebook works natively on iPad and Kindle. For Android users, the free Aldiko offers good results, or most any ebook reader will work. To read the ebook on your desktop, Adobe Digital Editions is also free.

What will happen to the online DC Trade Paperback Timeline?

The DC TPB Timeline on the blog will continue to be updated normally. The updates that are appearing in the ebook today will appear on the site Friday. As the timeline is updated online, especially with DC New 52 books, new ebook editions of the timeline will be available from Smashwords. Any technical usability updates to the DC TPB Timeline Vol. 1 ebook will be provided free of charge.

The website edition of the DC TPB Timeline works for reading on your computer; the ebook edition of the DC TPB Timeline is great for taking your e-reader on the road, offline reading, or printing or taking a digital copy when you browse your local comics shop.

What if I don't have an e-reader?

The DC TPB Timeline ebook is available from Smashwords in PDF, RTF (word processor), and a number of other formats (see above), suitable for computer as well as e-reader viewing.

However you choose to read the DC TPB Timeline, proceeds from ebook sales go toward keeping Collected Editions running week after week.

Did you say "first in a series" of Collected Editions ebooks?

Yes. Start your Collected Editions library now and keep on watching this space. This is only the beginning ...

If you are a writer, blogger, or reviewer who would like to receive a review copy of the DC TPB Timeline ebook, or would like to discuss giving away a copy of the DC TPB Timeline ebook as a promotion on your site, please contact me at the Yahoo address (collectededitions).

The DC Comics Trade Paperback Timeline, now available in ebook format. Happy reading!

More about →

Watch this (DC TPB Timeline) space!

Next Tuesday, Collected Editions will announce something new regarding the DC Universe Trade Paperback Timeline and Reading Order. This will be accompanied by a much-requested Timeline update.

I'm quite excited by this announcement and what it heralds for Collected Editions. I hope you'll come back here next Tuesday (Valentine's Day!) to check it out.

Writers and bloggers, if you'd like a special sneak peek of what's coming, please email me at the Yahoo account (collectededitions).

New reviews tomorrow ... and see you next week!

UPDATE: The announcement was made in this post.

More about →

Ask Collected Editions #3 - DC Timeline and Fallen Son

For this latest edition of Ask Collected Editions, we're going to dip into the DC Comics Trade Paperback Timeline mailbag a little bit. As always, if you have a question for "Ask Collected Editions," send an email to the Yahoo account or post it on the Collected Editions Facebook wall, and your question could be used in a future segment.

First up, frequent commenter and contributor to our upcoming guest review month, Paul "Hix" Hicks:

Do you consider James Robinson's The Golden Age list-worthy? I'd encourage you to include it as it is referenced in the first Starman collection and it's a work that contributed to the existence of the JSA resurgence. I'd place it somewhere around the Death of Superman which is when it concluded.

Good question. Golden Age is technically an Elseworlds story, but Robinson employs a bit of slight-of-hand in his Starman books in establishing that some events of Golden Age actually happened. I haven't for the most part included Elseworlds stories in the timeline as they don't affect DC continuity directly; I did recently include Kingdom Come, however, because some of the characters later appear in Justice Society of America. Golden Age doesn't tie in quite so tightly as Kingdom Come, but I'd be inclined to include it with a caveat. What do others think?

Our next question comes from an anonymous commenter, who notes:

Placing Red Robin: The Grail after Batman & Robin: Batman Reborn doesn't make sense timeline-wise considering what happens to Damian in Batman & Robin #6.

Also an excellent question, and good noticing. The issue here is that indeed Red Robin: The Grail does not happen after Batman and Robin: Batman Reborn, but actually between the pages of it. Since there's no way to conflate our trade paperbacks (would that there were), we have to make a choice as to which to read first. I have always in the timeline tried to favor the main event over its subsidiaries unless there's a compelling reason otherwise -- that is, Final Crisis before the Final Crisis Companion or Batman before Nightwing; again, when there's no compelling reason otherwise, this seems to me the natural reading order.

Really, I'd have liked to put Batman & Robin: Batman Reborn right at the beginning of the "Batman Reborn" saga, seeing as how it follows almost directly from the "six months later" sequence at the end of Batman: RIP -- and also because the first Batman & Robin collection marks what I think of as the official "debut" of the new Batman and Robin. Ultimately I gave in and put Batman: Long Shadows before Batman & Robin because it deals with events leading up to Batman & Robin -- but that's why Red Robin comes afterward, because it fits between the pages of Batman & Robin, but I feel the latter is the more major of the two books.

Hope that clears it up. Keep an eye on the timeline -- new books to be added soon!

Here's one more Captain America question in the mailbag from Theon Laney; hopefully our eagle-eyed readers can help out:

The Marvel title Fallen Son has two different hardcovers for sell, and I can't tell what the difference is between them. On the covers one has several heroes gathered mournfully around a casket, and the other has a close up of Captain America's battered shield. Do you know what the difference is in these two collected editions and which one would you recommend?

Anyone? Bueller?

Thanks for checking in to this edition of "Ask Collected Editions." Don't miss our live Collected Editions event celebrating the release of Superman: Earth One, Wednesday, October 27 at 8 pm. See you then!

More about →

Trade Paperback Timeline updated with One Year Later, Countdown Volume One

Just a quick note that I've updated the DC Trade Paperback Timeline with additional details for One Year Later, through the first volume of Countdown. This is fairly complete, I think -- missing a couple recent Superman trades and a bit of Green Arrow/Black Canary stuff -- and if you see anything else that needs correcting, please let me know.

Find more details about the latest timeline update at the DC Trade Paperback Timeline Update Blog.

Also, it's slowly dawning on me that we've essentially completed our One Year Later trade reading now, moving full force into Countdown. To that end, I'm going to prepare a small One Year Later retrospective for next week; One Year Later was essentially a DC un-crossover, but yet an era with similarities to the interconnectedness of the Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis eras, and I'd like to pause and take a look before we move on.

Second, I've updated the nascent Collected Editions store with a One Year Later section, which goes along with the books you'll see on the DC Trade Paperback Timeline.

Your feedback is always appreciated -- and if you're reading along with the DC Trade Paperback Timeline, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks all.

More about →