Any advice for where to start with marvel after 20 years?

[nscc]

Hi all!

I used to be a huge marvel (and Valiant, DC, Image, Dark Horse, etc) fan before... well.. the comic industry went to crap in the 90's.

The last thing I really remember with the spiderman books is the horrible Scarlet Spidey/Ben Riley story. It made me drop Spiderman since I had to buy all the issues.

As far as the X-men, I stopped reading the x books when wolverine got his Adamantium removed by magneto (terrible spoiler I know!) and then I read some of Wolverine after he left the x-men.

Since then, 20 years has gone by, I've read a little about it, civil war etc, but my main concern now is...

With the reboot, is there any "required reading" or should I just jump into the new series' with the #1's and go?

I would really like to not have to buy a bunch of titles, so another question would be, are they generally self contained, or do I need to get 5 X-books or 6 Spidey titles to get the full story each month?

That is really what drove me from Marvel/DC... needing to buy everything

I have a real nice list of independents grabbed from other threads to start getting some trades for, but am still thinking about getting back into Marvel (and maybe DC), if the stories are good and if I dont have to break the bank.

I guess the above questions also apply to DC too as I stopped sometime after the reign of supermen and knightfall/quest/end.

Thanks alot for your thoughts on this, as there has been TOO much content out since 1993.

[kevinbastos]

Any chance you'd consider digital comics?

I picked these DVD's years ago - and even though they are pretty expensive on the secondary market, they are still PENNIES on the dollar for all of the issues they'd contain. Why not pick one or two (or more?) and catch right up where you left off?

X-Men
http://www.amazon.com/40-Years-X-Men-Co ... d_sim_sw_1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Civil War

http://www.amazon.com/Civil-War-Complet ... d_sim_sw_7" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FF/Silver Surfer
http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Four-Si ... d_sim_sw_1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

etc.

[ian_house]

I've always been a big DC guy only really loving a odd runs of Marvel stuff but recently I find myself reading Marvel first, in the select few titles I get. For me the best of the bunch are:

Daredevil: Mark Waid has been putting out an outstanding version of Daredevil for well over a year now. Alot lighter than Miller/Bendis great runs.

All New X-Men: I'm not a big fan of the X-Men but this is a fun series which sees Beast pulling a back to the future/bill and ted and getting the classic X-Men into current continuity to see how messed up their lives turned out.

Spider-Man: It's a little complicated at the moment and lots of people hate it but for me the whole of Dan Slotts run has been great fun comics that turned into an epic run.

Ultimate Spider-Man: Miles Morales is the new ultimate Spider-Man, it did suffer recently from being involved in an Ultimates crossover but otherwise has been outstanding from the start, especially early issues art.

[nscc]

@ kevinbastos

Holy *SQUEE*!

These are pretty amazing, I don't like digital comics compared to dead tree versions, but for that price... as you say pennies on the dollar.

With such a huge library of these it would take forever to read though, but would be a great time.

I'll have to look into these, thanks

[kevinbastos]

Don't pay some of those prices on amazon. Watch ebay - generally you can get them used relatively cheaply.

I've been reading old Valiant - new Valiant - New Universe - AND reading through all of the Marvels I can. Been blogging almost two years now, trying to read a comic a day - sometimes more. It was the only way I could force myself to keep up.

Here's the link on my website.

http://www.valiantnewuniverse.com/blog.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It also includes amazon links to all of the GIT discs. The Ghost Rider one is still relatively cheap - but when its supply runs out, it will rise, too. Some of them I paid in the $100 range. I think they're all worth it - but I am a terrible completist (completionist?).

Compare on ebay before you buy, though.

Luck!

[nscc]

I've always been a big DC guy only really loving a odd runs of Marvel stuff but recently I find myself reading Marvel first, in the select few titles I get. For me the best of the bunch are:

Daredevil: Mark Waid has been putting out an outstanding version of Daredevil for well over a year now. Alot lighter than Miller/Bendis great runs.

All New X-Men: I'm not a big fan of the X-Men but this is a fun series which sees Beast pulling a back to the future/bill and ted and getting the classic X-Men into current continuity to see how messed up their lives turned out.

Spider-Man: It's a little complicated at the moment and lots of people hate it but for me the whole of Dan Slotts run has been great fun comics that turned into an epic run.

Ultimate Spider-Man: Miles Morales is the new ultimate Spider-Man, it did suffer recently from being involved in an Ultimates crossover but otherwise has been outstanding from the start, especially early issues art.

Thanks for your views. I meant to mention Daredevil, I always enjoyed that title so I'll prob check out the new one for sure .

The all new x-men sounds intriguing too.

I'll prob just grab a couple issues of them and see how I like them.

My LCS (which only carries marvel/DC in stock) is a 45 min drive away, so I need to plan before I go

Also, if you have any recommendations on DC titles feel free to share too!

Thanks

[nscc]

Don't pay some of those prices on amazon. Watch ebay - generally you can get them used relatively cheaply.

I am a cheep *SQUEE* so I try to never pay retail for anything

I'm checking out your site now. Thanks

[lorddunlow]

As far as the new comics go, I'm really enjoying Avengers and New Avengers. Both written by Hickman (which is why I'm reading them.)

[xodacia81]

My suggestion is to not start up with Marvel again. It's like sex with an ex. Can't possibly lead anywhere good...

[tetrisdork]

I got back into Marvel in 2011, and part of that was due to a few books. Dan Slott's run on Amazing Spider-Man/Superior Spider-Man (Amazing ended after #700; Superior launched last month) is pretty great and got me back to liking Spider-Man and reading him since before One More Day/Brand New Day; start at the beginning of the Big Time arc (ASM #648) or Spider-Island (begins at ASM #666) and go from there. Wolverine & the X-Men brought back the school as the X-Men returned to New York to teach the young generation of mutants; the only X-Men book I buy singles ATM*. The third is New Mutants v3, which ended in October and is also good.

Other Marvel/DC recommendations from what I've read:

-Hawkeye: One of Marvel's best ongoing comics right now. Reads like an indie book, but stars a member of The Avengers.
-Invincible Iron Man (2008-2012): the book that launched in time for the first Iron Man movie. A really great series with some great early arcs (Five Nightmares, World's Most Wanted, Stark Disassembled, Stark Resilient)
-Batman: Knight of Vengeance: it's a three-part story from DC's Flashpoint event (the thing that caused The New 52 status quo) and the story is in one of those Flashpoint compilation books, but it is the best Batman Elseworlds-like book in a long time.
-Wonder Woman (New 52): potential mileage may vary depending on how you value Diana's origin and The Amazons since they are altered dramatically in this book, but it is the best Wonder Woman book in a long time.

*I will second All-New X-Men, as I have been trade-waiting while reading it in the store.

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

My suggestion is to not start up with Marvel again. It's like sex with an ex. Can't possibly lead anywhere good...

[nscc]

As far as the new comics go, I'm really enjoying Avengers and New Avengers. Both written by Hickman (which is why I'm reading them.)

Thanks, I'll have a look into them.

My suggestion is to not start up with Marvel again. It's like sex with an ex. Can't possibly lead anywhere good...

I considered this, but what the hell, I am a glutton for punishment

[nscc]

I got back into Marvel in 2011, and part of that was due to a few books. Dan Slott's run on Amazing Spider-Man/Superior Spider-Man (Amazing ended after #700; Superior launched last month) is pretty great and got me back to liking Spider-Man and reading him since before One More Day/Brand New Day; start at the beginning of the Big Time arc (ASM #648) or Spider-Island (begins at ASM #666) and go from there. Wolverine & the X-Men brought back the school as the X-Men returned to New York to teach the young generation of mutants; the only X-Men book I buy singles ATM*. The third is New Mutants v3, which ended in October and is also good.

Other Marvel/DC recommendations from what I've read:

-Hawkeye: One of Marvel's best ongoing comics right now. Reads like an indie book, but stars a member of The Avengers.
-Invincible Iron Man (2008-2012): the book that launched in time for the first Iron Man movie. A really great series with some great early arcs (Five Nightmares, World's Most Wanted, Stark Disassembled, Stark Resilient)
-Batman: Knight of Vengeance: it's a three-part story from DC's Flashpoint event (the thing that caused The New 52 status quo) and the story is in one of those Flashpoint compilation books, but it is the best Batman Elseworlds-like book in a long time.
-Wonder Woman (New 52): potential mileage may vary depending on how you value Diana's origin and The Amazons since they are altered dramatically in this book, but it is the best Wonder Woman book in a long time.

*I will second All-New X-Men, as I have been trade-waiting while reading it in the store.

Thanks alot!, I will check into these as well, I'm sure some of these stories are in trades now too.

A lot of people are really into the new hawkeye so I will check it out.

I have never read wonder woman in the past, so the origin issues wont bother me

I think I'm gonna have to do some reading tonight

[MarkRoseHFX]

I agree with the Hawkeye recommendation that book is AMAZING.

[nscc]

I agree with the Hawkeye recommendation that book is AMAZING.

Thanks mark, so many people have recommended it, I've gotta check it out. I'm probably gonna buy all the non valiant titles in trade, so I'll make sure to grab this one

[paradise]

If you like DD, the new series by Waid is amazing, there are two graphic novels out already which will catch you up to the latest issues.
For my money, the Bendis run on DD, (4 super thick graphic novels, I think) is the best DD and maybe the best Marvel series ever published. I re-read these at least once a year.

From the new Marvel relaunch (NOW!) I recommend:

Anything by Jonathan Hickman (Avengers, New Avengers, plus ANY of his own stuff, it's all BRILLIANT, the guy can't do wrong if he tried)
New X-Men and Uncanny X-Men by Bendis - shocked how much I am enjoying these.
Avengers Academy - fun book, Hunger Games in the Marvel Universe, very cool, Kev Walker art, fantastic.
Hawkeye - from the amazing team that did Iron Fist a few years ago, this is not a typical superhero series, but it is quite a great read
Thor God of Thunder? - Thor in the past, present and future, fighting the same villain, at the same time, BRILLIANT!!!!

There is more. Oh, and if you get a few more books going, maybe those subs we had talked about start being worth it.

[lorddunlow]

Anything by Jonathan Hickman (Avengers, New Avengers, plus ANY of his own stuff, it's all BRILLIANT, the guy can't do wrong if he tried)

I know I keep waxing poetic on my Jonathan Hickman love, but I totally agree with Ed. I have yet to read anything of his that I didn't think was brilliant. I'll be picking up his early stuff when I get around to it, but I haven't had the chance so far. If you haven't read his run on Fantastic Four, you are really missing some great comics.

[paradise]

Anything by Jonathan Hickman (Avengers, New Avengers, plus ANY of his own stuff, it's all BRILLIANT, the guy can't do wrong if he tried)

I know I keep waxing poetic on my Jonathan Hickman love, but I totally agree with Ed. I have yet to read anything of his that I didn't think was brilliant. I'll be picking up his early stuff when I get around to it, but I haven't had the chance so far. If you haven't read his run on Fantastic Four, you are really missing some great comics.

Yeah, his original stuff pre-Marvel is amazing. Nightly News, Pax Romana, Transhuman, are all fantastic books. if you want to get the trades, you know you get 20% off ALWAYS with us as a VFans member, right? Not just on Valiant stuff. We stock LITERALLY everything he does, as long as it's in print. We had him at the store for release of his first Fantastic Four issue:



More here: http://comicsandcards.net/?page_id=2116

We also did a couple of interviews with him for our then podcast:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 7awgjVLEn0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 7Y4boJ_SPU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jenkinsMachine]

check out saga, all new valiant titles, only marvel im reading is all new x-men and dc got a few good titles but best would be Dial H(reads like a indy its so out there) swamp thing, animal man, earth 2 is remaking the justice society of america really exciting things going on!

[MarkRoseHFX]

I agree with the Hawkeye recommendation that book is AMAZING.

Thanks mark, so many people have recommended it, I've gotta check it out. I'm probably gonna buy all the non valiant titles in trade, so I'll make sure to grab this one

I think the first Hawkeye TPB comes out March 13. I'm the same way the only "floppies" I buy are Valiant. everything else I either read a friend's copy or digital version.

[nscc]

If you like DD, the new series by Waid is amazing, there are two graphic novels out already which will catch you up to the latest issues.
For my money, the Bendis run on DD, (4 super thick graphic novels, I think) is the best DD and maybe the best Marvel series ever published. I re-read these at least once a year.

Ok, now that is an endorsement! I will have to check these out. Thanks!

From the new Marvel relaunch (NOW!) I recommend:

Anything by Jonathan Hickman (Avengers, New Avengers, plus ANY of his own stuff, it's all BRILLIANT, the guy can't do wrong if he tried)
New X-Men and Uncanny X-Men by Bendis - shocked how much I am enjoying these.
Avengers Academy - fun book, Hunger Games in the Marvel Universe, very cool, Kev Walker art, fantastic.
Hawkeye - from the amazing team that did Iron Fist a few years ago, this is not a typical superhero series, but it is quite a great read
Thor God of Thunder? - Thor in the past, present and future, fighting the same villain, at the same time, BRILLIANT!!!!

There is more. Oh, and if you get a few more books going, maybe those subs we had talked about start being worth it.

Thanks for these as well. I have made a nice big list here of recommendations from all the other threads out there and this one about Marvel. I am not sure if I am gonna start getting monthly books or not besides the Valiant ones. My plan has been to buy only trades of non-Valiant books, but plans change. 1 Month ago I had planned on buying only trades, and now I have hundreds of VH1 books on their way to me

I have been to my not-so-LCS (45 min drive away) for my Valiant titles, but if I decide to start getting a bunch a month or order some of the tons of trades I've got on my list, you will hear from me!

[nscc]

check out saga, all new valiant titles, only marvel im reading is all new x-men and dc got a few good titles but best would be Dial H(reads like a indy its so out there) swamp thing, animal man, earth 2 is remaking the justice society of america really exciting things going on!

Saga is certainly on my list I have been making to check out, it comes up in so many posts, I can't ignore it.

I will buy everything Valiant puts out, no worries there

Thanks for the DC recommendations, I have actually already added them to my list from seeing your signature in posts

[nscc]

...If you haven't read his run on Fantastic Four, you are really missing some great comics.

I have also added it to my list of comics to check out. I read a ton of Fantastic Four issues when I was a kid, in fact they may have been the first comic I ever read.

thanks.

[nscc]

I think the first Hawkeye TPB comes out March 13. I'm the same way the only "floppies" I buy are Valiant. everything else I either read a friend's copy or digital version.

Awesome, that's a great way to start on it, thanks!

I just cant bring myself to buy the digital versions. I got some of the freebies from comixology and its not terrible, but I just don't like it versus reading a physical book. I am also using a PC. If I grabbed a tablet, it might be a better experience too. Something to consider...

[jenkinsMachine]

check out saga, all new valiant titles, only marvel im reading is all new x-men and dc got a few good titles but best would be Dial H(reads like a indy its so out there) swamp thing, animal man, earth 2 is remaking the justice society of america really exciting things going on!

Saga is certainly on my list I have been making to check out, it comes up in so many posts, I can't ignore it.

I will buy everything Valiant puts out, no worries there

Thanks for the DC recommendations, I have actually already added them to my list from seeing your signature in posts

ha good deal i thnk everybody should do the signatures like this i picked up about 5 different titles from seeing others. yeah i know its marvel recommendations i read avengers arena its a fun read i dont expect nothing big from it. kinda reminds me of an anime named gantz.. but other than that my other friend let me borrow the marvel now thor but i dont know it takes place in 3 different times i dont like when marvel time jumps too much.