Update 10-21-11 - Superman: Reign of Doomsday, Green Lantern, Resurrection Man, Chase, Warlord

Closing out the week with a reading order update to the DC Universe Trade Paperback Timeline.

One of my favorite aspects of timeline-ing are the multi-title crossovers that take place around other events in a series. For instance, I've added all the elements of the Superman: Reign of Doomsday crossover; this includes the Return of Doomsday trade that includes Steel #1 (2011) and the Superman/Batman annual, as well as issues of Outsiders, Justice League, and Superboy -- and then the individual Outsiders, Justice League, and Superboy trades that collect the same respective issues plus more. I enjoy being able to read a crossover in this way, both from the crossover perspective and then how the crossover affects other events in the individual series.

Another example of this -- Secret Six: The Reptile Brain and Superman: The Black Ring Vol. 2 both make the timeline this time and each contain the others' crossover issue; some duplication, yes, but it also allows you to read the crossover as if from each characters' perspective.

I'm also excited to add both the Resurrection Man (pre-Flashpoint) and Chase collections to the timeline. Chase is one of just a handful of collections to include a DC One Million issue, plus a bunch of Secret Files stories (which made placement a little difficult). Resurrection Man includes, even more rare, a Genesis crossover, and ends just before the series's One Million issue (which tied rather prominently to DC One Million). Hopefully the next Resurrection Man collection will also include the crossover with Peter David's Supergirl.

Finally, here's an overlooked gem: Mike Grell wrote a very short-lived Warlord revival series just in the past year or so. It didn't make much of a splash, but it did get a collection -- and later on, Gail Simone's Secret Six: Reptile Brain builds on the continuity of the Warlord trade, earning it a certain place on the timeline. I'd have overlooked this if not for Reptile Brain, so good on you Gail Simone.

Thanks as always for your comments and suggestions! Remember, we're constantly thinking out loud about trade collections on Facebook and Twitter, plus the ongoing conversations at our comment feed. Get a glimpse of what doesn't quite make the Collected Editions cut, too, at Collected Editions After Party on Tumblr.  And while you're 'round the 'net, be sure to spread the word about the Timeline.  Until next time!