Brilliant with a touch of madness, the High Evolutionary has a unique history even by Marvel standards. The High Evolutionary is obsessed with using genetic manipulation to advance the human race, a fixation that has taken him from early human to a being capable of going toe to toe with Galactus. He stands apart from your typical mad scientist in that his actions, while beyond extreme, are genuinely for the betterment of humanity and supported by sound science. They say to make an omelet, you have to don a metal battle suit, violate some ethical standards, and re-engineer a lot of eggs. [Read more…] about High Evolutionary Reading Order!
Marvel Characters
Betsy Braddock (Psylocke, Captain Britain) Reading Order!
Elizabeth “Betsy” Braddock (Callsign: Psylocke) is a Chris Claremont creation, making her first appearance in Captain Britain (vol. 1) #8 (Marvel UK. 1976). First introduced as Brian Braddock (Captain Britain’s) twin sister, Betsy did not initially appear to be destined for greatness. But over time, her character was given mutant telepathic abilities and brought stateside in the early 1980s, eventually becoming a core member of the X-Men and a fan favorite. [Read more…] about Betsy Braddock (Psylocke, Captain Britain) Reading Order!
Monica Rambeau Reading Order
Monica Rambeau has had a fascinating and frustrating history since her first appearance in 1982. Monica (AKA Photon, AKA Pulsar AKA Spectrum, if you nasty) has the unique ability to transform herself into any form of energy within the electromagnetic spectrum with power levels that have spiked and waned throughout her career. Monica was the first female Captain Marvel and also the first African American female Avenger, a team that she eventually led. Her history is often seen as a hot button issue among readers due to the character’s long stretches of inactivity and underutilization. Monica made her live action appearance in tiny human form in Captain Marvel and appears in Disney+’s WandaVision. [Read more…] about Monica Rambeau Reading Order
Kang the Conqueror Reading Order!
Time based hijinks are a well known trope in comic book history. While DC typically has Booster Gold and the Flash to thank for timeline troubles, in the Marvel Universe, Kang The Conqueror is usually to blame.
Kang, whose first Marvel appearance can be tied back to 1963, was born Nathaniel Richards in the 31st century on an alternative peaceful earth (earth-6311). Kang stumbled upon time travel technology developed by Doctor Doom and has been a major threat to the Avengers and earth itself over the past 60 years. [Read more…] about Kang the Conqueror Reading Order!
The Essential Marvel’s S.W.O.R.D. Comics Reading Order!
Marvel’s SWORD, the Sentient World Observation and Response Department, is the intelligence equivalent of SHIELD, dealing with the extraterrestrial threats of the Marvel Cosmic scene. Whereas SHIELD has been with the Marvel Universe since the Jack and Stan Silver Age, SWORD debuted in 2004’s Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. Since that time, SWORD, and most specifically the unit’s delightfully no-nonsense commander, Abigail Brand, have been an integrated, yet sporadic part of the Marvel Universe fabric, although most commonly tied to the pages of X-Men.
Despite the memorable debut, clear purpose, and compelling role in Marvel Cosmic, SWORD only has one solo five issue miniseries prior to the launch of Al Ewing and Valerio Schiti’s hotly anticipated entrance into the X-Men’s Dawn of X. There are good stories involving SWORD and Agent Brand – as a matter of fact I have a list of 10 essentials – but I’d also argue there’s a definite sense of untapped potential.
[Read more…] about The Essential Marvel’s S.W.O.R.D. Comics Reading Order!