Lots of people say that the X-books and even now Inhuman books aren't a traditional superhero narratives for all of them known reasons. But while these two specific franchises deal with tribalistic matters for the most part, that's not the exact drive I'm looking for. From DC, the most popular NTSH comic would be Suicide Squad, and while it can be said it still falls under a classic "superhero/supervillain" narrative, the fact that a governmental representative runs the show with them "villains doing good" turns it into something different, non traditional. Now, while there all of them classic superhero teamups like JL/Avengers, or TT/YA with younger superhero wannabes, what I'm looking for isn't legacy or unprecedented superheroics, (also not the imprints like Wildstorm and Vertigo) but everything in between and around it, inside the universe of superheroes, a world that lives among it, but not really lives it. For example, N52 offered books like Blackhawks, Human Bomb, OMAC, I, Vampire, Men of War, Team 7, etc. Now, the question is, what out of those (and maybe the ones I haven't mentioned) are really worth reading. Pre-52 suggestions are also welcomed. "Superheroics/supervillainy gone wrong" a la Red Lanterns and Captain Atom would also be nice. Thanks.

@adamtrmm:I don't know much about all that.

Here are a few suggestions I know of pre-new52:

• JLA: Earth 2 - What about an earth were bad would always end up by winning ?
• Jack Kirby's Fourth World - A bigger scheme about the Neo-gods
• DC elseworld - Alternate version of DC heroes and worlds
• Justice League Dark - A branch of the Justice League focussing on magic and dark arts (not much in pre-new52)
• Lobo comics - Lobo is the hero, but he is just plain bad
• Kamandi - The last boy on earth
• Jonah Hex - A cowboy raised by Indians

During New 52, Wildstorm and Vertigo were merged ! And in your N52 suggestions you have some Vertigo/Wildstorm comics (Blackhawks, Men of War, Team 7, ...)

As you may or may not know, N52 was divied in 7 Famillies:

• Justice League
• Batman
• Superman
• Green Lantern
• Young Justice
• The Edge
• The Dark

The Edge titles are titles with war, science fiction, western, or crime themes, and include titles and characters formerly belonging to the WildStorm imprint.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_New_52_imprint_publications#.22The_Edge.22

• All-star Western
• Blackhawks
• Deathstroke
• G.I. Combat
• Griffter
• Infinity Man and The Forever People
• Lobo
• Men of War
• Scuicide Squad
• New Suicide Squad
• O.M.A.C
• Secret Six
• Star-Spangled War Stories
• Stormwatch
• Team 7
• The Green Team: Teen Trillionaires
• The Movement
• Threshold
• Voodoo

The Dark titles are titles with supernatural, fantasy and horror themes, including titles and characters formerly belonging to the Vertigo imprint.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_New_52_imprint_publications#.22The_Dark.22

• Animal Man
• Demon Knight
• Dial H
• Constantine
• Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
• I, Vampire
• Justice League Dark
• Klarion
• Resurrection Man
• Swamp Thing
• Sword of Sorcery
• Trinity of Sin
• Trinity of Sin: Pandora
• Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger

Then N52 had also some mini-series:

• Human Bomb
• Huntress
• Legion: Secret Origin
• My Greatest Adventure
• Night Force
• Phantom Lady and Doll Man
• The Ray
• The Shade

All that sayd about N52, I will include some notable Vertigo/Wildstorm series that are similar:

• iZombie
• Hellblazer
• The Sandman
• The Newsboy Legion

@jb681131:

Yes, Forth World is on my list, I have a special appreciation for Kirby's concepts, and so is The Sandman regardless. JLA E2 is out, I don't really like Morrison. Elseworld.. never really heard of that. How is structured? An alt universe per arc or...? Justice League Dark, I thought it debuted with the New 52? (you said pre-new52) Classic Lobo isn't my cup of tea really, maybe that's why I wanted to try the new Hipster Lobo? lol

During New 52, Wildstorm and Vertigo were merged ! And in your N52 suggestions you have some Vertigo/Wildstorm comics (Blackhawks, Men of War, Team 7, ...)

Weren't Vertigo and Wildstorm integrated into New 52 Prime universe? Because both Team 7 and Stormwatch had main characters and took place in the main universe? Not sure about BH and MoW, I listed them for example but didn't really read.

As you may or may not know, N52 was divied in 7 Famillies:

Yes, I guess I'm looking more for the Edge and Dark, as you already figured while listing ;)

What would you personally suggest?

Watchmen.

Elseworld stories are mostly all stand alone sotries with a unique concept. Here are the ones I would recommend:

• The Dark Knight Returns (1986) - Frank Miller at his best / has inspired the Batman Vs Superman movie
• Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (1989) - A steampunk version of Batman
• Batman: Holy Terror (1991) - Bruce Wayne is a real Knight
• Robin 3000 (1992) - Robin of the future
• Kingdom Come (1996) - One of the greatest DC/Superman Arc
• Tales of the Multiverse: Batman-Vampire (1991-1999) - What if Batman is a vampire
• Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (2000) - By the great Mike Mignola (Hellboy)
• Superman: Red son (2003) - What if Superman lander in Russia (and was a communist) ?
• DC: New Frontier (2004) - a great revisite of DC's heroes
• Batman: Year 100 (2006) - by the great Paul Pope

Classic Lobo that I would suggest:

• Lobo: Portrait Of A Bastich: First real story of Lobo, tells you his back story, his powers and just how awesome he is, perfect start for any new fan.
• Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special - This one-shot issue is filled with tons of great dark humor and violence where Lobo is sent by the Easter Bunny to kill Santa Clause.

I haven't read or heard of much from The Edge and The Dark, but here would be a pick

• Swamp Thing / Animal Man / Fankenstein : Rotworld (have read, it's good)
  • Animal Man: Rotworld - The Red Kingdom
  • Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.: Secrets of the Dead
  • Swamp Thing: Rotworld - The Green Kingdom
• Charles Soule's Swamp Thing run (have read, it is very good - Charles Soule is the current Daredevil writter)
  • Swamp Thing book 4 - Seeder
  • Swamp Thing book 5 - The Killing Field
  • Swamp Thing book 6 - The Sureen
  • Swamp Thing book 7 - Season's End
• Secret Six Vol. 1: Villains United (I like the Secret Six)
• All-star Western (Jonah Hex is cool)
• Demon Knights (with Etrigan the Demon)
• Legion: Secret Origin
• Weird Worlds followed by My Greatest Adventure
• The Shade (A nice mini serie that tells a lot about the character)

@jb681131:

Thanks, I'll check out!

That's would be an obvious pick if that wasn't one of all time favorite comics already ;)

I was talking about in-the-main-universe stories that happen to not be superheroics.

Gotham Central, by Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker

The Omega Men, by Tom King

Animal Man, by Grant Morrison

Animal Man, by Jeff Lemire

Demon Knights, by Paul Cornell and Robert Venditti

@adamtrmm: I'd argue giving New 52s' Lobo series a look. I personally liked it, but I didn't like old Lobo so that might be a prerequisite to enjoying the series.

And I might say that Suicide Squad isn't really doing good. They're more doing things that lean towards Amanda Waller and the U.S.' interests. I'd argue it's still mostly them doing bad things.

Earth-2 is a bit of a different beast as far as DC goes. It's less the heroes vs. villains, and more the heroes vs. their situation, which is almost always "brink of extinction/catastrophe" with a villain just making things worse.

If you dig Fantasy, Demon Knights was an awesome book, that I recommend.

@scouterv:

You know what prevents of reading HipLobo? I've seen some scan of how terribly the Red Lanterns were mistreated. Maybe if I can get over myself lol

I meant the main concept, of course they are horrible and Waller is destined to mess up, that's the nature antiheroes in superheroics. Still, said concept isn't traditional superhero drive.

I stopped reading E2, felt directionless destruction porn to me. I mean, I can dig this when done right, but it wasn't...

Did you read I, Vampire?

Nah. I'm not a big vampire guy, so didn't have an interest in checking it out. Why do you ask?

@scouterv:

Saw some pretty nice scans from there, wanted to know if the story itself worth a read.

I confess, although I enjoy Lemire comics a TON and Snyder comics pretty consistently, I loathed the Rotworld storyline. I just felt it was excessively long and its gimmicks were trite and unamusing. With the writers and characters involved, I really felt like I ought to have enjoyed it, but I had to admit to myself that I just wasn't having any fun with it. For me, the New 52 Swamp Thing title didn't really get to be a great comic until that Charles Soule/Jesus Saiz run. I LOVED those comics. It was one of those runs that could have easily lasted 3 times as long as it did and I would have devoured them all.

I don't mean this as any kind of bash against Lemire or Snyder. I'm bonkers over Lemire's Black Hammer and Snyder's All-Star Batman. I just didn't enjoy their time helming the Animal Man/Swamp Thing titles.