With all of the comic book properties invading TV and movies over the last decade, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Comic book diehards have differing (and strong) opinions on which are the best comics of all time, what's worth reading, and what's certified garbage. The industry pumps out dozens of new issues per week, and thousands per year, making it almost impossible for new fans to know where to begin. Coming fresh from Venom or your trillionth viewing of Black Panther, you'll quickly find that when it comes to the best comics, it's important to know their origins, and what came before them, in order for things to make sense. That's where we come in.

Even without Marvel Comics and DC Comics, there's plenty of material to choose from, in both the superhero realm and beyond. That’s why we've compiled a list of the absolute best comic books from over the years, spanning every genre available. This isn’t a “Best Comics of All Time” list—it’s more of a primer course for where to start.

From classic superhero books to politically-charged thrillers and cynical, autobiographical titles, this list of the 25 comic books you need to ready before you die will start your habit off right.