#I may do a Volume 9 full discussion/breakdown yet

[normalest-of-knees]

Did they really..... do absolutely nothing with the fact that Jaune "had" to kill Penny?.....

I thought maybe they could pull something out at the end somehow; maybe have Penny be the one to help Ruby through her rough time as well as the tree lady

Though then again with all the Summer build up I'm not surprised

But I'm.... both flabbergasted and defeated that we went through this entire Volume without ever actually addressing Jaune killing Penny.

Back after Volume 8, so many people were like "So they HAVE to address this, right? Oh man how is Ruby gonna react to this??" And many were speculating and wondering

Apparently she won't, is the answer. We don't even know if Blake & Yang know either. They just never actually talk about or react if they do know

And I'm wondering.... why? Why did they tease about the Penny angst and then it amount to nothing in the end? Why did Ruby have to pass out while Weiss talked about the subject, and then never gets to talk about it afterwards? Why did she get to find the sword (that shouldn't even exist, mind you), give it up, then when it's thrown away she just leave it at that?

I know the answer is random angst and Jaune angst, but still.

Penny deserved so much better, and so did we. The audience deserved to be treated better and respected, but we got... this.

I wished they had picked between wanting to push the Summer stuff or the Penny stuff, since they clearly couldn't do both. And what we got of each was so... nothing

[love-takes-work]

Steven Universe Comics: Where do I start???

Have you ever thought about checking out the Steven Universe comics from the beginning and can't figure out where to start . . .

Because there are literally dozens of things labeled "#1"?

In this post I will outline for you what comics exist, which #1 issues belong to what series, and where you should start.

Please see my breakdown of Issue #1 Logic after the jump.

FIRST OF ALL: Steven Universe comics generally don't require that you read them in any specific order. So any #1 that you pick up is actually almost guaranteed to be either a standalone or the beginning of a series that doesn’t depend on earlier series. The practical upshot is that if you're buying a #1, it's fine. Any #1 is a fine place to start reading and it won't ruin any enjoyment for you.

That said?

There IS an order that these things came out, and I can explain it to you. Please scroll down for an exhaustive explanation of what's what--including several individual comic series, the trade paperback collections with rereleased content, the original graphic novels, and the standalone comic issues.

Steven Universe Original Comic Series

8 issues total

Ran from 2014–2015

Generally retailed at $3.99 USD

Completed

These original comics were lovely little one-shots--several stories in each paper issue. Only one story had a “to be continued” and finished in the next issue; they’re almost entirely self-contained. Some are one-page art inserts or two- or four-page shorts, with a main story or two.

The above image depicts the main cover art for #1 by Bridget Underwood. You may find variant covers of this. They contain the SAME CONTENT inside as the above, but have different covers. Other Original #1 covers you may see include art by Andrea Fernandez, Coleman Engle, Matt Cummings, Steven Sugar, or Grace Kraft. They look like this:

And you shouldn't come across these other ones because they're ridiculously rare, but if you do find either of these covers, please know you have found an Original Comic #1. The one on the right is Rebecca Sugar’s. The one on the left is by Danny Cragg (credited to Amber Rogers).

Original Comics Trade Paperback

Contains 4 Original Comics issues + cover gallery & bonus content

Published 2015

Generally retailed at $14.99 USD

Volume 1 of 2

To make things more complicated, most comic series that come out in individual issues will later be released in trade paperback editions--for this series, it'll be the first four issues combined into one sturdier, thicker book, and you'll also see that labeled #1 or Volume 1. If you see this one and it is listed online as a trade paperback (and is selling for more than you think a comic book would), it is probably a compilation of Original Comic 1–4. It features the same cover art as individual #1′s main cover art, by Bridget Underwood. You may see Volume 1 referred to as “Believe In Steven,” with Volume 2 listed as “Keep Beach City Weird.”

You can get all of the content from the individual issues by buying the trade paperbacks, plus both the trade paperbacks for the Original Comics have bonus content (a cover gallery and extra stories that aren't individually released anywhere). Be careful not to mix these up with Volumes 1 and 2 of the later 2017 series comics (discussed below).

Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems Comic Series

4 issues total

Ran in 2016

Generally retailed at $3.99 USD

Completed

This series is a complete arc featuring the Gems investigating the mystery of the Glass Ghost. It’s a continuing story that culminates in the last issue.

The main cover #1 of the individual paper issues (by Kat Leyh) is pictured above. You may also run into one of the EIGHT different variants of this cover. They are all #1 of the same content--first in the four-part series Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems. The artists are Allison Strejlau, Missy Peña, Sam Davies, Jeremy Sorese, Josceline Fenton, Steven Sugar, and Amber Rogers (whose name is now Danny Cragg).

Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems Comics Trade Paperback

Contains 4 Original Comics issues + cover gallery

Published 2016

Generally retailed at $14.99 USD

Complete in 1 volume

Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems’ trade paperback is generally labeled without a number, but some sites may still label it “Volume 1″ even though there is no Volume 2. You can get the complete story buying the trade paperback. Kat Leyh’s cover art from issue #3 is on the front cover of this collection.

Steven Universe 2017 Series Comics

36 issues 

Ran from 2017–2020 

Generally retailed at $3.99 USD

Completed

This series has one complete story in each paper issue, but the issues don’t connect to each other and can be read in any order (with the exception of an ongoing connected story that covered issues 25 to 28, but went back to individual stories after completion). 

The main cover #1 of the individual paper issues (by Missy Peña) is pictured above. You may also run into one of the five different variants of this cover. They are all #1 of the same content. The artists are Missy Peña, Rian Sygh, and Jenn St-Onge.

2017 Series Comics Trade Paperback

Contains 4 2017-Series Comics issues + cover gallery

Published 2017

Generally retailed at $14.99 USD

Contains 1–4 

Well this is awkward. You may see either of these covers and they are the same thing. “Volume One” may be on your cover and the spine, and/or it may say “Warp Tour”--a title they gave to Volume One apparently. (If you want to know how the 2017 Series Comics work in subsequent trade paperbacks, please know that Volume Two containing 5–8 is “Punching Up”; Volume Three containing 9–12 is “Field Researching”; Volume Four containing 13–16 is “Just Right”; Volume Five containing 17–20 is “Find a Way,” Volume Six containing 21–24 is “Playing By Ear,” Volume Seven containing 25–28 is “Our Fearful Trip,” Volume Eight containing 29–32 is “To Be Happy,” and Volume 9 containing 33–36 is “Cherished Memories.”) The cover art for this volume is Missy Peña’s art for 2017 Series Comic #1. 

Steven Universe Harmony Comics

5 issues total

Ran in 2018

Generally retailed at $3.99 USD

Completed

Steven Universe: Harmony is a complete arc featuring the Gems investigating the mystery of the Harmony Core, balanced with Sadie Miller’s new life as a musician. It’s a continuing story that culminates in the last issue. The main cover #1 of the individual paper issues (by Marguerite Sauvage) is pictured above. You may also run into one of the four different variants of this cover. They are all #1 of the same content--first in the five-part series Steven Universe: Harmony. The artists are Savanna Ganucheau, Veronica Fish, Brittney Williams, and Sara Talmadge.

Harmony Trade Paperback

Contains 5 Original Comics issues + cover gallery

Published 2019

Generally retailed at $14.99 USD

Complete in 1 volume

Steven Universe Harmony’s trade paperback is generally labeled without a number, but some sites may still label it “Volume 1″ even though there is no Volume 2. You can get the complete story buying the trade paperback. Marguerite Sauvage’s   cover art from issue #2 is on the front cover of this collection.

One-Shot Comic: Greg Universe Special

1 issue total

Published in 2015

Generally retailed at $4.99 USD

One-Shot

Surprise! Steven Universe: Greg Universe Special is labeled #1 even though there was never a #2. It features lovely sentimental stories by various artists about Greg Universe, Steven’s wonderful dad. The above main cover is by Ru Xu. You likely will NOT come across this variant of the Greg Universe Special by Fellipe Martins:

...But if you do see it, for the love of god buy it and let me pay you a bunch of money for it. Anyway, it’s a variant of the above and it contains the same stories. 

One-Shot Comic: 2016 Special

1 issue total

Published in 2016

Generally retailed at $7.99 USD

One-Shot

Another surprise! Steven Universe: 2016 Special, also known as the Big Donut Special, is also labeled #1 even though there was never a #2. It features a bunch of stories that center around the Big Donut and its employees Sadie and Lars. The above main cover is by Ayme Sotuyo. You may also see these variants by Missy Peña and Katie Jones:

These two are variants of the above and they contain the same stories. 

One-Shot Comic: Fusion Frenzy

1 issue total

Published in 2019

Generally retailed at $7.99 USD

One-Shot

Steven Universe: Fusion Frenzy is another comic labeled #1 even though there (I heard?) will not be a #2. It features five stories, each by a different artist/author combo, about a different Fusion (Stevonnie, Garnet, Smoky Quartz, Opal, Sugilite). The above main cover is by Nathalie Fourdraine. It actually connects with one of its variants (also by Nathalie Fourdraine) to make a full picture, and there are two more covers (by Abigail L. Dela Cruz and Alexandra Lillie). 

These, like the other one-shots, are variants of the above and they contain the same stories. Fusion Frenzy is self-contained and the stories in it DO NOT APPEAR in any Trade Paperback. You have to find the single issue to read it--it’s a standalone. It may be released in the future as part of a larger compilation, but that has not happened yet and as far as I know has not been announced.

One-Shot Comic Trade Paperback Compilation: Welcome to Beach City

Includes the content of Greg Universe Special and 2016 Special

Published in 2019

Generally retailed at $14.99 USD

Contains two #1′s

For a long time the content for the Greg Universe Special and 2016 Special were not available if you couldn’t find individual paper issues, but that’s changed with Welcome to Beach City! It contains those two and their alternate cover galleries. The Fusion Frenzy from 2019 has not yet been released in a compilation, but these two have.

All-in-One Hardcover Edition

Includes the Original Comics from 2014 - 2015, the bonus comics that were included in the two graphic novel compilations, the 4 issues of Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems, the first twelve issues of the 2017 Series, and an abbreviated miniature cover gallery.

Published in 2019

Generally retailed at $45.00 USD

Does NOT contain one-shots, graphic novel content, or Harmony

This is a bit of a misnomer as it does not contain everything and stops at #12 of the 2017 series. (Obviously since it was an ongoing series at the time, you can’t publish a book of it until the series stops being ongoing, but if people want this because they think it’s everything, they should know it is not everything.) 

Original Graphic Novels

Individual Novels

First one published in 2016

Generally retailed at $14.99 USD

Each is a One-Shot

As if this wasn't confusing enough with all these comic issues and variant covers and trade paperback versions of them, there are also original graphic novels! These are trade paperbacks that are complete in the large graphic novel form and were not previously individually released. They're legit graphic novels, and though the released volumes are not connected to each other story-wise, they are being labeled Original Graphic Novel 1, 2, 3, and so on.

The Original Graphic Novel #1 is called Too Cool for School. You may see it listed that way, or you may see it with no number. (For your information, Original Graphic Novel #2 is Anti-Gravity; OGN #3 is The Ultimate Dough-Down; OGN #4 is Camp Pining Play; and OGN #5 is Crystal Clean.)

Too Cool for School is about Steven trying to go to school with Connie for the first time. It has a second short story at the end about Vidalia having a yard sale. Its cover art is by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell and there are no variants.

Things that are not comics

You may run into the soundtrack, the show itself, minisodes of the show, or the coloring book. (If you want the coloring book, though, it's awesome. Just make sure you get the licensed one. People sell a lot of compilations that are edited screenshots and fanart, and they pretend they're official coloring books. They are not.) 

Keep in mind also there are books--they tend not to have numbers on them, but if you see books such as The Answer, Guide to the Crystal Gems, Quest for Gem Magic, Steven Universe Mad Libs, What in the Universe?, Live from Beach City!, Best Buds Together Fun, Postcard Power!, Keep Beach City Weird!, Make Art! (On Purpose), Steven Universe: Art and Origins, Lion: Mane of Mystery, Fusion for Beginners and Experts, or the Steven Universe Sketchbook--these are standalone storybooks, insight books, or activity books for the series.

If you are a person attempting to purchase print media as a gift and just want a quick and dirty suggestion for what to buy: 

Buy the graphic novels and the trade paperback compilations. Only die-hards will need every scrap of material, so it’s okay if you can’t find the Greg Universe Special or Big Donut Special. My recommendations:

Buying ONE ITEM for a comics fan? Get Warp Tour.

Buying TWO ITEMS for a comics fan? Get Warp Tour and Punching Up.

Buying a GROUP OF ITEMS for a comics fan? Just get them all the trade paperbacks, starting with Volume 1 (”Believe in Steven”).

Buying ONE ITEM for a fan of the show, and don’t know if they’re into comics? Consider Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems trade paperback, Anti-Gravity, or The Ultimate Dough-Down--they’re more like books--or you can actually get a regular book. Keep Beach City Weird is funny for any age and Steven Universe: Art and Origins is cool for deep diggers and older fans.

Buying INDIVIDUAL ISSUES? Absolutely recommend all of the one-shots--the Greg Universe Special, 2016 Special, and Fusion Frenzy. Try to scoop up the first few of the 2017 series OR, if the person’s experienced with comics, try the original series or Harmony.

Buying stuff for a completist? Start with old copies of #1 on eBay or KaBoom’s site. Open your wallet and cry.

Feel free to read my reviews of every piece of media in the franchise if that will help you.