Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through mediocrity for too long. There are so many other great comics (and publishers) to explore!
First appearances/origins aren’t always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. never caring about Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained series. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories.
Marvel Unlimited for digital comics. instocktrades for physical retail (US).
Events/crossovers can be tedious. They sometimes intrude on your favorite character series and don’t feel as concise/well-planned. Generally, the best comics integrate these smoothly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to read them just to familiarize with major plot points.
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
> Im a type of person that would not like to skip anything or just jump into a point that is in the middle or something even if it is a "jumping off" point, but I'm also the type of person that doesn't want to be dragged down with all the old comics and things like that.
You are inevitably going to skip something by starting anywhere—nobody is instantly omniscient (obviously). Keep this in mind when getting into superhero comics. Are you trying to read "good" stories or become a Marvel continuity expert (not necessarily mutually exclusive)?
My copy/pasta for new readers:
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through decades of mediocre comics for far too long. Remember, there are so many other great characters/stories/publishers to explore.
First appearances/origins are not always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained stories. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character, but just try to ride along or Wiki if you must.
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US). ISBNS for price aggregate.
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
How to Get Into Comic Books (13:40) | Patrick Willems
Consider your intent/commitment. Think about your favorite stories/characters from TV, movies, games, books, etc. Do you seek quality storytelling or encyclopedic Marvel knowledge? Plan to collect? How much time/resources are available i.e. how deep do you want to dive?
Don’t try to read everything—there’s too much. Forget about “catching up”, continuity, universes, and timelines; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences, so first appearances/early origins may not be the best starting points. Creative teams change often, characters get re-worked, and origins are re-told (e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Matt Fractions’ run).
Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. Don’t get stuck “preparing”, just start reading. Focus on well-received, relatively self-contained, and complete stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary). Remember, there are so many other great characters/creators/publishers to explore, and not all comics are about superheroes.
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Discover your preferences and let them guide you. Do you like: old/new comics? Specific genres? Literary/natural narratives? Cartoony/realistic art? Familiar/weird concepts? References/self-contained? Social/political commentary? Family-friendly/explicit content? Optimism/pessimism? Have you noticed that a specific artist/writer consistently makes comics you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve this guide are welcome.
by Tigertemprr 2017-08-19
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through decades of mediocre comics for far too long. Remember, there are so many other great characters/stories/publishers to explore.
First appearances/origins are not always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained stories. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character, but try to ride along.
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US). ISBNS for price aggregate.
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve the list are welcome.
by Tigertemprr 2017-08-19
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. The best way to jump in is to just start reading.
How much time do you have for comics? The answer determines how extensive recommendations are. Regardless, don’t try to read everything. First appearances & early origins are not always good starting points—older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences. Remember, there are so many other great characters/stories/publishers to explore (and not all comics are about superheroes).
Think about your favorite stories from other media. What you might like to read in a comic? Are you more interested in good storytelling or becoming a Marvel knowledge nerd?
Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Matt Fraction’s run. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained stories. Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary).
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US). ISBNS for price aggregate.
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve the list are welcome.
by Tigertemprr 2017-08-19
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through decades of mediocre comics for far too long. Remember, there are so many other great characters/stories/publishers to explore.
First appearances/origins are not always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained stories. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character, but just try to ride along or Wiki if you must.
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US). ISBNS for price aggregate.
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve the list are welcome.
by Tigertemprr 2017-08-19
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. The best way to jump in is to just start reading. Check out the /r/Marvel sidebar.
How much time do you have for comics? The answer determines how extensive recommendations are. Regardless, don’t try to read everything. First appearances & early origins are not always good starting points—older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences. Remember, there are so many other great characters/stories/publishers to explore (and not all comics are about superheroes).
Think about your favorite stories from other media. What you might like to read in a comic? Are you more interested in good storytelling or becoming a Marvel knowledge nerd?
Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Matt Fraction’s run. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained stories. Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary).
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US). ISBNS for price aggregate.
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve the list are welcome.
by Tigertemprr 2017-08-19
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans.
First appearances & early origins are not always good starting points—older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained stories. Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary).
How to Get Into Comic Books (13:40) by Patrick Willems
Consider your intent/commitment. Think about stories/characters from TV, movies, games, etc. that you already like. Do you seek “good” storytelling or encyclopedic Marvel knowledge? Are you here to collect or read? How much time/resources are available?
Don’t try to read everything—there’s too much. Forget about continuity, universes, and timelines; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences, so first appearances/early origins may not be the best starting points. Creative teams change often, characters get re-worked, and origins are re-told (e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Matt Fractions’ run).
Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. Focus on well-received, relatively self-contained, and complete stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary). Remember, there are so many other great characters and publishers to explore, and not all comics are about superheroes.
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US). ISBNS for price aggregate.
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Discover your preferences and let them guide you. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve the guide are welcome.
by Tigertemprr 2017-08-19
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through decades of mediocre comics for too long. Remember, there are SO MANY other characters, series, and publishers to explore.
First appearances/origins aren’t always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. never caring about Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained series. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories. You may still encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character, but it’s best to just ride along or just Wiki if you must.
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US).
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
by Tigertemprr 2017-08-19
Please use the subreddit and Google search bars. This question gets asked a lot and the answers don't change much.
Anyway, here is my usual copy/paste response:
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through mediocrity for too long. There are so many other great comics (and publishers) to explore!
First appearances/origins aren’t always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. never caring about Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained series. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories.
Marvel Unlimited for digital comics. instocktrades for physical retail (US).
Events/crossovers can be tedious. They sometimes intrude on your favorite character series and don’t feel as concise/well-planned. Generally, the best comics integrate these smoothly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to read them just to familiarize with major plot points.
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
by Tigertemprr 2017-08-19
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through mediocrity for too long. There are so many other great comics (and publishers) to explore!
First appearances/origins aren’t always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. never caring about Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained series. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories.
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital comics. instocktrades for physical retail (US).
Events/crossovers can be tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major continuity changes.
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
by Tigertemprr 2017-08-19
> How do I start reading an event
By researching it online or asking comic fans IRL. Unfortunately, the companies that actually publish these events usually avoid publicly telling its customers to ONLY read specific comics from specific creators; it'd be pretty disrespectful to creators, cannibalistic to its own brand/products, and unfair to customers that might actually like such "non-essential" comics. That's why you have to refer to 3rd-parties/community for suggested/recommended reading orders (which are still partly opinion).
Keep in mind that the MCU is NOT like the comics universe and it's difficult to determine what comics are referenced or drawn inspiration from. Can you imagine trying to figure out nuances like "Captain America's personality from Winter Soldier (movie) is 60% Ed Brubaker's run pre-Civil War, 15% Millar's Ultimates, ..."? We have no script for upcoming movies, so it's all just speculation (e.g. MCU Thanos will probably pull from many comics published across several decades).
A few notes before getting into recommendations:
"optional" means relatively "non-essential" but if you wanted to read more, maybe about your favorite character, then here are good related stories)
Ultimate (Earth-1610) = separate from main universe (Earth-616). Don't get caught up in this; good comics > "canon" (and the movies stitch it all together anyway).
I usually suggest that modern audiences stick to modern comics. Older comics can be an acquired taste.
Avengers (1998-2015). The list you linked is pretty much what I'd recommend. It can be broken up into 3 runs and I'd add one more:
Recommended events/crossovers. This is in order so you can see how it all fits together. Keep in mind that events are usually more appreciated by readers familiar with relevant continuity. There's a note after each writer that indicates what overall story it mostly belongs to (e.g. "Hickman" = all related epic Hickman saga comics leading up to Secret Wars):
How to Get Into Comic Books (13:40) | Patrick Willems
Consider your intent/commitment. Think about your favorite stories/characters from TV, movies, games, books, etc. Do you seek quality storytelling or encyclopedic Marvel knowledge? Plan to collect? What time/resources are available i.e. how many comics could/should be read before burning out?
Don’t try to read everything—there’s too much. Forget about “catching up”, continuity, universes, and timelines; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences, so first appearances/early origins may not be the best starting points. Creative teams change often, characters get re-worked, and origins are re-told (e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Matt Fractions’ run).
Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. Don’t get stuck “preparing”, just start reading. Focus on well-received, relatively self-contained, and complete stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary). Remember, there are so many other great characters and publishers to explore, and not all comics are about superheroes.
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Discover your preferences and let them guide you. Do you like: old/new comics? Specific genres? Literary/natural narratives? Cartoony/realistic art? Familiar/weird concepts? References/self-contained? Social/political commentary? Family-friendly/explicit content? Optimism/pessimism? Have you noticed that a specific artist/writer consistently makes comics you like? Follow these instincts.
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through mediocrity for too long. There are so many other great comics (and publishers) to explore!
First appearances/origins aren’t always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. never caring about Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained series. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories.
Marvel Unlimited for digital comics. instocktrades for physical retail (US).
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Events/crossovers can be tedious. They sometimes intrude on your favorite character series and don’t feel as concise/well-planned. Generally, the best comics integrate these smoothly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to read them just to familiarize with major plot points.
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Modern DC characters/teams:
> Im a type of person that would not like to skip anything or just jump into a point that is in the middle or something even if it is a "jumping off" point, but I'm also the type of person that doesn't want to be dragged down with all the old comics and things like that.
You are inevitably going to skip something by starting anywhere—nobody is instantly omniscient (obviously). Keep this in mind when getting into superhero comics. Are you trying to read "good" stories or become a Marvel continuity expert (not necessarily mutually exclusive)?
My copy/pasta for new readers:
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through decades of mediocre comics for far too long. Remember, there are so many other great characters/stories/publishers to explore.
First appearances/origins are not always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained stories. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character, but just try to ride along or Wiki if you must.
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US). ISBNS for price aggregate.
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve the list are welcome.
This is what I usually recommend:
Modern Marvel events/crossovers
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Modern Marvel events/crossovers (2004-2015):
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Modern DC characters/teams:
Modern DC events/crossovers:
DC imprints:
Other publishers:
How to Get Into Comic Books (13:40) | Patrick Willems
Consider your intent/commitment. Think about your favorite stories/characters from TV, movies, games, books, etc. Do you seek quality storytelling or encyclopedic Marvel knowledge? Plan to collect? How much time/resources are available i.e. how deep do you want to dive?
Don’t try to read everything—there’s too much. Forget about “catching up”, continuity, universes, and timelines; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences, so first appearances/early origins may not be the best starting points. Creative teams change often, characters get re-worked, and origins are re-told (e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Matt Fractions’ run).
Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. Don’t get stuck “preparing”, just start reading. Focus on well-received, relatively self-contained, and complete stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary). Remember, there are so many other great characters/creators/publishers to explore, and not all comics are about superheroes.
Where to buy (US):
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
/r/Marvel sidebar for more info.
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Discover your preferences and let them guide you. Do you like: old/new comics? Specific genres? Literary/natural narratives? Cartoony/realistic art? Familiar/weird concepts? References/self-contained? Social/political commentary? Family-friendly/explicit content? Optimism/pessimism? Have you noticed that a specific artist/writer consistently makes comics you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve this guide are welcome.
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through decades of mediocre comics for far too long. Remember, there are so many other great characters/stories/publishers to explore.
First appearances/origins are not always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained stories. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character, but try to ride along.
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US). ISBNS for price aggregate.
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve the list are welcome.
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. The best way to jump in is to just start reading.
How much time do you have for comics? The answer determines how extensive recommendations are. Regardless, don’t try to read everything. First appearances & early origins are not always good starting points—older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences. Remember, there are so many other great characters/stories/publishers to explore (and not all comics are about superheroes).
Think about your favorite stories from other media. What you might like to read in a comic? Are you more interested in good storytelling or becoming a Marvel knowledge nerd?
Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Matt Fraction’s run. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained stories. Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary).
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US). ISBNS for price aggregate.
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve the list are welcome.
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through decades of mediocre comics for far too long. Remember, there are so many other great characters/stories/publishers to explore.
First appearances/origins are not always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained stories. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character, but just try to ride along or Wiki if you must.
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US). ISBNS for price aggregate.
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve the list are welcome.
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. The best way to jump in is to just start reading. Check out the /r/Marvel sidebar.
How much time do you have for comics? The answer determines how extensive recommendations are. Regardless, don’t try to read everything. First appearances & early origins are not always good starting points—older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences. Remember, there are so many other great characters/stories/publishers to explore (and not all comics are about superheroes).
Think about your favorite stories from other media. What you might like to read in a comic? Are you more interested in good storytelling or becoming a Marvel knowledge nerd?
Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Matt Fraction’s run. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained stories. Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary).
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US). ISBNS for price aggregate.
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve the list are welcome.
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans.
First appearances & early origins are not always good starting points—older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained stories. Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary).
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Modern DC characters/teams:
Modern DC events/crossovers:
How to Get Into Comic Books (13:40) by Patrick Willems
Consider your intent/commitment. Think about stories/characters from TV, movies, games, etc. that you already like. Do you seek “good” storytelling or encyclopedic Marvel knowledge? Are you here to collect or read? How much time/resources are available?
Don’t try to read everything—there’s too much. Forget about continuity, universes, and timelines; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences, so first appearances/early origins may not be the best starting points. Creative teams change often, characters get re-worked, and origins are re-told (e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Matt Fractions’ run).
Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. Focus on well-received, relatively self-contained, and complete stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary). Remember, there are so many other great characters and publishers to explore, and not all comics are about superheroes.
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US). ISBNS for price aggregate.
Recommendations:
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Check out the /r/Marvel sidebar for more.
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Discover your preferences and let them guide you. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve the guide are welcome.
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through decades of mediocre comics for too long. Remember, there are SO MANY other characters, series, and publishers to explore.
First appearances/origins aren’t always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. never caring about Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained series. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories. You may still encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character, but it’s best to just ride along or just Wiki if you must.
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital. instocktrades for physical (US).
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Please use the subreddit and Google search bars. This question gets asked a lot and the answers don't change much.
Anyway, here is my usual copy/paste response:
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through mediocrity for too long. There are so many other great comics (and publishers) to explore!
First appearances/origins aren’t always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. never caring about Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained series. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories.
Marvel Unlimited for digital comics. instocktrades for physical retail (US).
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Events/crossovers can be tedious. They sometimes intrude on your favorite character series and don’t feel as concise/well-planned. Generally, the best comics integrate these smoothly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to read them just to familiarize with major plot points.
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
Forget about continuity, universes, timelines, etc; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Don’t try to read everything, else you'll be wading through mediocrity for too long. There are so many other great comics (and publishers) to explore!
First appearances/origins aren’t always good starting points. Creative teams change often and characters get re-worked e.g. never caring about Hawkeye until Fraction & Aja’s interpretation. Focus on well-received and relatively self-contained series. Pick an interesting character or team and seek their “greatest hits” stories.
Marvel Unlimited / Comixology for digital comics. instocktrades for physical retail (US).
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Events/crossovers can be tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major continuity changes.
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Discover your preferences and let them inform your next comic selection. Do you like older/newer comics? Weird concepts? Super-smart meta-analysis and social commentary? Family-friendly content? Hyper-violence? Male/female protagonists? Humor? Horror? Have you noticed that a specific artist, writer, and/or creative team consistently produces content you like? Follow these instincts.
> How do I start reading an event
By researching it online or asking comic fans IRL. Unfortunately, the companies that actually publish these events usually avoid publicly telling its customers to ONLY read specific comics from specific creators; it'd be pretty disrespectful to creators, cannibalistic to its own brand/products, and unfair to customers that might actually like such "non-essential" comics. That's why you have to refer to 3rd-parties/community for suggested/recommended reading orders (which are still partly opinion).
Keep in mind that the MCU is NOT like the comics universe and it's difficult to determine what comics are referenced or drawn inspiration from. Can you imagine trying to figure out nuances like "Captain America's personality from Winter Soldier (movie) is 60% Ed Brubaker's run pre-Civil War, 15% Millar's Ultimates, ..."? We have no script for upcoming movies, so it's all just speculation (e.g. MCU Thanos will probably pull from many comics published across several decades).
A few notes before getting into recommendations:
Avengers (1998-2015). The list you linked is pretty much what I'd recommend. It can be broken up into 3 runs and I'd add one more:
Infinity Gauntlet/War (optional):
Infinity Gauntlet/War (1990-1992):
Civil War (2006-2007):
Civil War (optional):
Spider-Man
Peter Parker (Ultimate):
Peter Parker (616) & Miles Morales (Ultimate):
Miles Morales (Ultimate):
Other recommendations:
Black Panther
Recommended events/crossovers. This is in order so you can see how it all fits together. Keep in mind that events are usually more appreciated by readers familiar with relevant continuity. There's a note after each writer that indicates what overall story it mostly belongs to (e.g. "Hickman" = all related epic Hickman saga comics leading up to Secret Wars):
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Modern (2000's+) Marvel characters/teams:
Modern (2004-2015) Marvel events/crossovers (in rough reading order):
How to Get Into Comic Books (13:40) | Patrick Willems
Consider your intent/commitment. Think about your favorite stories/characters from TV, movies, games, books, etc. Do you seek quality storytelling or encyclopedic Marvel knowledge? Plan to collect? What time/resources are available i.e. how many comics could/should be read before burning out?
Don’t try to read everything—there’s too much. Forget about “catching up”, continuity, universes, and timelines; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences, so first appearances/early origins may not be the best starting points. Creative teams change often, characters get re-worked, and origins are re-told (e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Matt Fractions’ run).
Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. Don’t get stuck “preparing”, just start reading. Focus on well-received, relatively self-contained, and complete stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary). Remember, there are so many other great characters and publishers to explore, and not all comics are about superheroes.
Where to buy (US):
Recommendations:
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Check out the /r/Marvel sidebar for more.
Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
Discover your preferences and let them guide you. Do you like: old/new comics? Specific genres? Literary/natural narratives? Cartoony/realistic art? Familiar/weird concepts? References/self-contained? Social/political commentary? Family-friendly/explicit content? Optimism/pessimism? Have you noticed that a specific artist/writer consistently makes comics you like? Follow these instincts.
Suggestions to improve this guide are welcome.
Modern Marvel characters/teams:
Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
/r/Marvel sidebar for more info.