Tiny Titans: Welcome to the Treehouse by Art Baltazar and Franco

Tiny Titans: Welcome to the Treehouse

This kid-friendly take on DC Comics' younger heroes takes place at Sidekick Elementary, where Robin and Starfire hang out with their friends, form a super pet club, and feud with rivals from the villains' elementary school across town. Characters reference and parody current events in the DC universe in addition to having their own adventures. Kid Flash races other speedsters only to be distracted by friends. Robin tries on a new costume and new name, but no one recognizes him. Everyone dresses up in special outfits for pink day, where our heroes celebrate all things pink.

Appeal: Kids, DC Comics, superheroes, humor, animals

Art: Caricature, bold, bright

Text: Punny, simple

Other: Art Baltazar and Franco work for DC Comics, and have also collaborated on the kid-friendly Itty Bitty Hellboy and Superman Family Adventures.

Awards: Tiny Titans won the Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids in 2009 and 2011.

Baltazar, Art. Franco. Tiny Titans Vol. 01: Welcome to the Treehouse. Place : DC Comics, 2009. Print.

The Invincible Iron Man: Extremis by Warren Ellis

The Invincible Iron Man: Extremis

Tony Stark faces a threat he might not be able to overcome: an American rebel augmented with a powerful new technology. Tony gets help from an old friend and a fellow scientist to defeat this enemy, as well as another enemy hiding behind the scenes.

Appeal: Action, science fiction, superheroes.

Art: Colors could have more depth, and faces could be more expressive, but overall a good match to the storyline.

Text: Scientific, philosophical

Other: Anecdotally considered one of the best Iron Man storylines, this arc was partially adapted into the movie Iron Man 3 and the television show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Ellis, Warren, et. al. The Invincible Iron Man: Extremis. New York : Marvel, 2010. Print.

The Invincible Iron Man (1963)

Iron Man

Tony Stark, millionaire industrialist, was kidnapped and injured while demonstrating weapons in Vietnam. He built a suit of mechanized armor to escape, and now he fights crime as Iron Man while running his company under the guise of a carefree playboy. He battles avatars of communism such as the Crimson Dynamo and Black Widow, as well as independent villains like the Mandarin. 

Appeal: Science fiction, adventure, action, drama, superheroes

Art: Clean detail, sometimes static in non-action scenes, dramatic.

Text: Scientific, dramatic

Other: Iron Man originally appeared in Tales of Suspense in 1963. It has been adapted into animated televison shows, live-action movies, and novels.

Lee, Stan. Heck, Don. Colan, Gene. Field, Tom. Iron Man. New York : Marvel Comics : 2004. Print. Volumes 3 and 4.

Amethyst (New 52 series)

Amethyst

American teenager Amy Winston's life is suddenly turned upside down one day when her mother reveals that she is a queen from another, more magical world, and that Amy is a powerful magical princess. Amy must learn to use her new powers to save Gemworld from her scheming aunt and other ambitious royals with the help of the House of Topaz and the House of Diamond, among others.

Appeal: Magical girl, fantasy, political intrigue, friendship, good female characters, high school plus.

Art: Beautiful, colorful, fantastical, and detailed. Conveys a sense of realism even when depicting magic.

Text: Expository, sarcastic (on Amy's part)

Other: The series was cancelled after 8 issues. Amethyst was animated as a series of shorts in 2013.

Marx, Christy. Lopresti, Aaron. Sword of Sorcery Vol. 1: Amethyst (The New 52). New York : DC Comics, 2013. Print.

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld (1980s maxi-series)

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld

American teenager Amy Winston discovers that she is a long lost princess from a magical land and that when she travels there, she becomes a grown woman. She must join her fellow royals, including Princess Emerald, Lady Turquoise, and Prince Garnet, to defeat Dark Opal and save Gemworld from his evil reign.

Appeal: Magical girl, fantasy, good female characters, all ages.

Art: The only available reprint is in black and white. The original art was colorful, calligraphic, and flowing. 

Text: Dramatic, fantastical

Other: The series was published first as a 12-issue maxiseries, then as an annual, an ongoing series, and again as a four-issue series. Amethyst appeared sporadically between 1986 and being rebooted in 2012. Amethyst was animated as a series of shorts in 2013.

Showcase Presents Amethyst, Princess Of Gemworld 1. New Yokrk : DC Comics, c2012. Print.