The Marvel film universe has taken over the box office again and again. With releases like "The Avengers" setting box office records, and more recently "Ant-Man" adding to the depth of the heroic lineup, many newcomers to the Superhero media genre have no shortage of content.

Now with DC making a push to keep up with the Disney partnered studio, the time to delve into this media genre is now. 2016 will see the release of two mega blockbuster DC flicks in "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice," and "Suicide Squad." If you’re a life long fan of the well-established characters in the pages of the Marvel and DC universe, it’s a great time to be alive.

With the films setting records, the comics and the source material themselves have seen a revitalized interest. The problem with this, though, is that many of these beloved silver screen characters have been rehashed in comic format for the better half of a century. So, where does one begin?

It’s impossible to give a crash course on every major movie hero and where to begin in the comics, so lets narrow it down. For the DC fans, Batman is a well-established pop culture icon, and his is a long reading list. The hero has had countless writers, story arcs, sidekicks and rehashes. For a new reader, it’s tough to find a starting spot. Here are a few of my suggestions, from someone who’s probably read way too much.

"Batman: Year One" is the easy suggestion for the starting spot. Author Frank Miller and his written contributions are as essential to the Batman universe as Heath Ledger and his legendary Joker performance. The summarized beginnings of a hero still trying to figure out his place in society and how to best go about the hero business are as interesting as any other point in the Batman timeline. The trade also skips out on the young Bruce Wayne bits, figuring as most people already know what drove the emotionally fragile child to take up the mask and cape. From beginning to end, Frank Miller’s chronicle of Batman’s first year on the job is a thrill and a must read for any fan.

"Batman Earth One" is essentially what "Year One" would be if it were written today. A new hero for a new age, "Earth One" follows a similar story arc to Miller’s now classic Batman arc. If you want more on the origins and beginning of Batman’s tale, then "Earth One" should fulfill your needs.

My personal favorite, "Batman: The Long Halloween," is what Batman is all about. Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s story about a year-long murder mystery highlights what Batman is at his core: a detective. The story inspired the legendary "Dark Knight" flick, introducing us to characters like Two-Face and Carmine Falcone, and it further develops mainstays like Jim Gordon and the Batman himself. "The Long Halloween" is the deepest and one of the most interesting arcs in any superhero continuum.

"The Dark Knight Returns" is actually what Frank Miller is most known for, despite producing the essential start point for the Batman comics in "Year One." In this trade, the question of who would win in a fight, Batman or Superman is answered, and additionally, the story is the reason why Batman is still relevant today. It reestablished the Cape Crusader as one of the greatest characters in any story today, and inspired the upcoming film "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice." It also helps that the art style is unique and gritty, matching the story perfectly.

Now, if these stories still don’t satisfy your need, stories like "Knightfall," "The Killing Joke," and "A Death in the Family," are all well written and famous arcs in the Batman line. With comic books making a comeback and the film industry profiting off of the well-received adaptations, now is the time to jump aboard. Whether that’s Batman, or one of the countless other heroes, there is never a bad time to freshen up on some incredible summer reading from Marvel or DC.