Marvel Comics Recommendations

[Sketh]

Ultimates is in another universe. It has nothing to do with the other books.

New Avengers has little to do with Infinity or Annihilation.

I'm not sure what your series you are trying to get into ... Avengers? Marvel Cosmic?

Annihilation is a GREAT read, if you like space opera / cosmic stuff. I'd recommend that regardless and it's a good jumping on point for Marvel Cosmic.

Hi good question i love scifi/space opera so good to know about Annihilation - where would i go after that one in Marvel Cosmic do you reckon?

Otherwise i am trying to get into the Avengers generally; i was particularly intrigued by the after credits final scene in the avengers assemble movie and wanted to get a good grounding in the actual comic series way before the next one came out...

John

[Flash Gordon]

Everyone should read Parker's AGENTS OF ATLAS.

[RockyBanks]

Hi good question i love scifi/space opera so good to know about Annihilation - where would i go after that one in Marvel Cosmic do you reckon?

Otherwise i am trying to get into the Avengers generally; i was particularly intrigued by the after credits final scene in the avengers assemble movie and wanted to get a good grounding in the actual comic series way before the next one came out...

John

The Ultimates (link) and The Ultimates 2 are must-reads if you're a fan of the movie. (Like Rheged says, be aware that they aren't set in the main Marvel Universe. And do not, under any circumstances, read The Ultimates 3.)

The current Avengers series launched in 2012, and it's a good entry point if you want to plug into the current Avengers canon. (link) It doesn't focus squarely on the cast of the movie, but it's an excellent Avengers story.

[victorxd1999]

Try Infinity Gauntlet (a great Avengers/cosmic story with Thanos as the main antagonist) (there is an omnibus including all the tie ins but you can do fine with just the tpb), Annihilation, Ultron Unlimited (which also has avery awesome/iconic Thor quote which I won't spoil) and Captain America Winter soldier for good stories that either tie in/have characters from the movies in them or are cosmic stories. These are all great

[Sketh]

Try Infinity Gauntlet (a great Avengers/cosmic story with Thanos as the main antagonist) (there is an omnibus including all the tie ins but you can do fine with just the tpb), Annihilation, Ultron Unlimited (which also has avery awesome/iconic Thor quote which I won't spoil) and Captain America Winter soldier for good stories that either tie in/have characters from the movies in them or are cosmic stories. These are all great

Thanks! unfortunately Ultron Unlimited seems to be out of print for UK; is it part of any collections do you know? Amazon resellers are listing it for £72 which feels like a bit of a rip-off!

John

[victorxd1999]

Thanks! unfortunately Ultron Unlimited seems to be out of print for UK; is it part of any collections do you know? Amazon resellers are listing it for £72 which feels like a bit of a rip-off!

John

Busiek's and Perez's entire run is collected in a series of paperback called Avengers Assemble. Ultron Unlimited (#19-22) are included in vol 2 (collects #12-23). Vol 1 also has some great stories but I think you should be fine with only vol 2 (I still highly recommend vol 1 too).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0785...ref=mp_s_a_1_2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0785...f=pd_aw_sims_1
these go for about 10 pounds a piece, which isn't that bad for a 10+ issue tpb.

[Rheged]

Hi good question i love scifi/space opera so good to know about Annihilation - where would i go after that one in Marvel Cosmic do you reckon?

Otherwise i am trying to get into the Avengers generally; i was particularly intrigued by the after credits final scene in the avengers assemble movie and wanted to get a good grounding in the actual comic series way before the next one came out...

John

New Marvel Cosmic doesn't sprawl too much, and follows pretty directly one after another, plus has been collected nicely.

After Annihilation, there's Annihilation Conquest, then Rise and Fall of Sh'iar Empire, then Emperor Vulcan, then Road to War of Kings, then War of Kings, then Realm of Kings. If you only one to read one thing, however, read the first one, Annihilation.

As for Thanos, who appeared at the end of Avengers ... I'd start with the Infinity Gauntlet omnibus. If you want a modern take of Thanos, that came out before Infinity, then Jason Aaron and Bianchi's Thanos Rising.

As for Avengers ... yes, I'd second the recommendation for Kurt Busiek's run.

Try Infinity Gauntlet (a great Avengers/cosmic story with Thanos as the main antagonist) (there is an omnibus including all the tie ins but you can do fine with just the tpb), Annihilation, Ultron Unlimited (which also has avery awesome/iconic Thor quote which I won't spoil) and Captain America Winter soldier for good stories that either tie in/have characters from the movies in them or are cosmic stories. These are all great

[ImprobableQuestion]

I have to make an addendum to any recommendations I've previously made. If you can only buy one Marvel Book, make it Ms. Marvel. It's basically always my #2 book each month. It's ridiculous and fun.

(#1 is MtMtE, if you're curious)

[MenInTights]

Hey everyone,
I hope you are doing well and having a great day!
I got into comics through the now in-famous new 52, due to this I have been mostle all DC for the last few years and not just new 52 I have also read now a lot of pre52 DC.

I want to really get into Marvel and the whole marvel universe. I have read some, I have read Smith's run and Bendis' run of Daredevil as well as Mack's. I have also read volume 1 of Whedon's X-men and defiantly want to read more of that and try and get into the X families and the first 2 volumes of the new Hawkeye.

These are all very well and good but I really want tot get into the whole of the universe, the best stories, the history and the real nitty gritty of the characters and universe.

In other words I don't know where to start and I need some help!

What are your thoughts?

[victorxd1999]

If you want some core events/iconic stories like Dark knight returns I say read:
Claremont's first run on Uncanny X-Men (or atleast Dark Phoenix saga) and Morrison's New X-Men for the X-Men side.
Daredevil Born Again and/or the other Miller Daredevil stuff
Infinity Gauntlet and Annihilation for awesome events
Marvels to get a nice different look on the famous events of Marvel (kinda like Kingdom come but different).
And further... I don't know, what are your favorite characters? And what exactly do you want to read? The events, the iconic runs? Older stuff, recent stuff?

[Darth Phoenix]

Start with the Civil War crossovers, then you will have a nice crossection of the marvel U and thier tones. Buy then you will have an idea of who you would like to know more about. Or if that is to large I suggest Maxium Carnage a nice Spiderman story and it gets a lot of team ups.

[Dark-Flux]

Marvel had their own "New 52" - esque relaunch a year or so ago known as Marvel NOW. No continuity was reset but every book got a new team and were all jump on points.
The first couple of volumes for each series are already out in trades.

As for past stuff;

Brubakers Captain America
Paks Hulk
JMS' Thor
Slotts Spider-man
Hickmans Fantastic Four
Fractions Iron Man
Morrisons New x-Men
Ennis' Punisher MAX

All good,

[L.R Johansson]

A new reader! Awesome! =) Welcome to the merry world of marvel, man!

All right, now let's give you some advice.


Marvel NOW! ( the recent jumping-on point)
------------------------------------------------
Captain America - Dimension Z - by Rick Remender & John Romita Jr
This story established the current status-quo of Captain America. It featured him marooned in a parallel dimension, and chronicled his struggles to get home, and his trials and tribulations there.




Amazing Spider-man - by Dan Slott and various.
New relaunch, only two months old. You can probably pick up all of the issues. It will also feature a back-up chronicling the early days of Spidey, so you'll learn everything basic about Spider-man, WHILE reading the current material as well.

Thor: God of Thunder - by Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic.
Great introduction to the character of Thor, it gives you all you need to know, in the first issue. The story is about Thor chasing down a serial-killer of gods, a truly scary and sadistic guy. Later on, you will also learn more about the history of Thor.

http://www.amazon.com/Thor-God-Thund.../dp/0785168427
http://www.amazon.com/Thor-Thunder-G.../dp/0785168435

This is a great prep for you, for the new series that's launching very soon. You can pretty much just pick up these two trades, and then jump right into the new series, with the #1.

Avengers - by Jonathan Hickman and various.
Volume 1: Avengers World
http://www.amazon.com/Avengers-Vol-W.../dp/0785168230

Tony Stark and Steve Rogers assemble a new kind of Avengers-team, feeling that the threats to the world are bigger than ever, the Avengers becomes BIGGER than ever! More active members than ever before, and more powerful ones as well. Meanwhile, unknown to Cap, Tony has in reality created the team in order to defend the Earth from the enemies which want to destroy it - in order to save the Universe.

Volume 2: The Last White Event
http://www.amazon.com/Avengers-Vol-L.../dp/0785168249

Introduces Star Brand and other new Avengers. The Star Brand is a quantum-machine-construct, which endows the user with god-like power. It's a sort of planetary defence-system, created by extra-dimensional Aliens. These same Aliens however... now want to destroy the Earth - because it's the source of a Multiversal disturbance.

Avengers and New Avengers, is currently doing one the biggest cosmic-style stories Marvel has ever done, the structure and idea, is similar in some ways, to DC's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" - multiversal stakes, tragedy, sacrifice, TONS of characters, and a constant threat to the Universe.

Just by reading the Avengers and New Avengers -series, you will get the immediate low-down on tons of Marvel-characters and concepts, since it's the book that controls the overall direction that the MU currently has.

[MenInTights]

You guys are freaking awesome!! Thank you!
OK I picked up civil war earlier and read it in one hit, LOVED IT! So good! How flipping awesome is that artwork might of just found a new fav artist! I was sadly unable to find a whole collected edition of all the tie ins as well though
I want to read more cap so I will try and find start of the current run from remender. How is Brubakers run?
Yep been wanting to read Born again and frank millers run for a long time as I love Daredevil so i will save some money for that.
Grant morrison you say? I'm listening…
I will try and get his run, are they easy to find and well collected?
Just went to my local comic book store and picked up the first couple of issues of the new Amazing spiderman What is your recommendation for superior spiderman? Sounds really interesting.
Just picked up volume 1 of Aarons thor as well from a friend, excited for that. Really like punisher so I ail try and find that Max series.
Marvels looks cool, LOVE alex ross!

What do i want? I guess I want great stories! I conic stories, Universe changing stories, Character defining stories. Never been able to connect with Fantastic four, Hulk, Iron man and Spidey but would really love to just have not been able to find my niche withe them, not sure if they need to be explained to me as characters.
My favourite characters of all time are Superman, Green Arrow, Daredevil, Batman and Aquaman. Favourite villain is Joker. Not sure if this helps :/

Just want to say a huge thank you, you guys are being incredibly helpful and awesome!

I will check out all of your recommendations if I can, thank you guys.

[FlashingSabre]

Definitely read Brubaker's Cap Run. I haven't read too much yet, but what I have was ridiculously good.

The best Fantastic Four stuff I have read was Jonathan Hickman's run. It was insanely awesome, and had some crazy high concept sci-fi. It has a pretty slow build, but the climax is so worth it.

For Hulk, Greg Pak's run is the most recommended recent run.

For Iron Man, definitely read Matt Fraction's run. Some of the only Iron Man comics I actually like. Good stuff.