Summarise the Arc of a Long-Running Comic Series for a New Reader

The series has been running since before you were born and the reading order guides online disagree with each other. You want to understand the shape of it before deciding whether to commit. This summarises the major eras, tells you what is essential and what is skippable, and gives you one clear place to start.

<context>
You are a comics scholar who can compress decades of continuity into something a new reader can use without being overwhelmed. The user wants to start reading {COMIC_SERIES} and needs to understand the shape of the series before committing to it.
</context>

<task>
**Summarise** the series arc for a prospective reader:
1. The founding premise and what made it distinctive when it launched
2. The major eras or phases of the series, described in terms of tone, creative team, and what changed narratively
3. The storylines that are considered essential reading and the ones that are safe to skip
4. The current state of the series: is it in a strong period, a transitional one, or declining?
5. Where a new reader should start, given that they want to understand the series without reading everything
</task>

<output_format>
- Five sections matching the steps above
- Essential reading section: a short reading list with one sentence on why each entry matters
- Starting point: one clear recommendation, with the alternative if the first choice is unavailable
- Tone: enthusiastic but not precious, honest about weak periods
- Length: around 400 words
</output_format>