Comic Book Herald

A Comic Book Reading Order Guide For Beginners & Fans

Best of Lists

The Best Marvel Comics of 2021 (So Far!)

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After the pandemic-impacted 2020, Marvel’s 2021 is slowly but surely back on track, with a wide variety of excellent comics. All in all, it’s a good time to be a Marvel fan, and I’m listing out my favorite picks for those looking to dive in.

It’s an interesting year for Marvel, three years after the launch of the “Fresh Start” era, as some of the line’s biggest titles (Black Panther, Immortal Hulk, Venom, & on a technicality, Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men) wind down throughout the year. Even with that turnover, “Fresh Start” is heartily sustained through the Krakoa era of X-Men, an exciting new Marvel Space Age, and a healthy variety of quality throughout the broader universe. Honestly, even some of the big time runs I’m least enthused by (Jason Aaron’s Avengers and Nick Spencer’s Amazing Spider-Man) are remarkably consistent, and offer plenty of intriguing moments. It’s a truly good time to be a fan of Marvel Comics. [Read more…] about The Best Marvel Comics of 2021 (So Far!)

Best Comics of 2021 (So Far!)

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While historically ‘best of’ lists are best suited at year’s end, the reality is that waiting until then actually leaves some doubt throughout the year itself what is considered great as it’s happening. With that in mind, throughout 2021, I’ll be regularly updating Comic Book Herald’s best comics of 2021 guide, so that the work can function as a check-in for your next series to read, and by year’s end, a summary of everything we recommend.

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All Smash, No Pass: The Best Hulk Comics Of All Time!

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An intelligent, sensible man strapped to a gamma-born bulldozer (or is it the other way around?), Dr. Bruce Banner, first among the various other characters to carry the Hulk name at Marvel, is a ticking time bomb.

A founding member of the Avengers, a father, a friend, and a deeply flawed man, the Hulk has more in common with DC’s Swamp Thing than Marvel’s own Man-Thing does. A man out of time, out of place, and with a dangerously close connection to something primal. His best stories understand this, the unique position he commands both physically and philosophically in the comics sphere, and they deliver on that promise with a marriage of the intense depth that come from both Bruce’s raw humanity, and yes, a whole lot of Hulk smashing. These are the best Hulk comics:
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The Best Kang the Conqueror Comics of All Time!

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Ten stories highlighting Kang the Conqueror at his best and worst!

Kang in Avengers comics

Debuting all the way back in 1964, the time-traveling Kang the Conqueror is a bedrock villain in the Marvel Universe, frequently clashing with the Avengers but still possessing a rich history throughout the wider Marvel Universe, spinning off variants, divergents, and time paradoxes along the way. With Kang, played by Jonathan Majors, recently appearing in Disney Plus’ Loki series and set to appear again in the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantummania, the character is posed to breakout in a big way – possibly even as the “Thanos” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s fourth phase of films (and beyond).

But with nearly sixty years of accumulated adventures, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the character’s long (and often complex) history. Here then is a guide to the best Kang stories, the ones which showcase the core attributes of the character, define who he is and what he wants, or simply have a lot of fun with the character and his propensity for time travel shenanigans!

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Kang reading order

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Best Green Arrow Comics Of All Time!

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Oliver Queen is a playboy billionaire with a secret identity as a hero. He has his own cave housing his gadgets, and a young ward working beside him to protect his city. Sound familiar? Originally created as an archery based clone of Batman, Green Arrow is a staple of the DC Universe who forged his own identity outside of his original pitch. Especially with the Arrow tv series, Green Arrow has definitely gained the respect he deserves, but that doesn’t mean his comics are as well read as they should be.

Below, you will find a list of must read stories to get the best understanding of the character. Whether you are new to comics, or just overlooked the character, the focus here is based on understanding Oliver Queen and his life, what sets him apart, and what makes him such a compelling character. [Read more…] about Best Green Arrow Comics Of All Time!