A Comic Book Reading Order Guide For Beginners & Fans
The devil. Or Marvel’s closest equivalent thereof.
While it should be noted that the character Mephisto is not intended to be the actual Biblical devil, he is one of the most prominent demonic denizens of the Marvel Universe. [Read more…] about Mephisto Reading Order
Captain America’s long-standing German adversary. No, not the Red Skull- the other one. The one with the purple sock over his head. Usually wearing some sorta gold tiara/crown-type deal and some polka-dotted fur collar and/or shoulder-pad flairs? That guy. Same love of flashy pants and boots as the Skull, though, no doubt.
While the Red Skull is Captain America’s uncontested historical arch-nemesis, that doesn’t necessarily make the Zemos also-rans in their hate for the fighting man in the spangly costume. The Skull is ideologically opposed to the things Steve Rogers embodies and in that clear black and white dichotomy lies a billion broad-stroke stories depicting good versus evil.
The Zemos, however, are born of aristocracy and possess an innately misguided “old world” entitlement. It’s a bad base, sure, but it does make them inherently more “gray area” at times- kind of like how Doctor Doom will sometimes work with the Fantastic Four and everyone’s like: “See, now that wasn’t so hard was it, Victor??”. It can occasionally be like that with the younger Zemo as well. Once you work through the blind revenge, you can see his motivations lie more in being frustrated by how easily Rogers wields compassion- a quality he himself is unable to unlock. Truly a great character example of nature versus nurture…
The elder Zemo was a Nazi, though. So @#%& that guy. Straight up. [Read more…] about Baron Zemo Reading Order
Jennifer Walters is one of the best late Bronze Age character additions to the Marvel Universe, popularizing an intelligent, team-friendly Hulk before Peter David and Todd McFarlane made it cool
Kamala Khan is my favorite new character in the Marvel Universe during the Marvel NOW era (2012 to 2015), with creators G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona putting a spin on the Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel legacy and creating a modern teen hero in the style of Peter Parker. [Read more…] about Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan) Reading Order!
It’s a special kind of comic book hero that enters as a teen outsider and ultimately becomes a mainstay and leader of the supercrew. DC Comics is more frequently referenced for legacies passed on to the likes of Nightwing or Wally West (Flash). Kitty Pryde is a similar comp for the X-Men, progressing from inexperienced adolescence to principal of the Jean Grey School for Gifted Youngsters. [Read more…] about The Essential Kitty Pryde Reading Order!