Comic Book Herald

A Comic Book Reading Order Guide For Beginners & Fans

Marvel Characters

Juggernaut Reading Order!

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Cain Marko (Codename: The Juggernaut) has been rampaging through the Marvel Universe since his first appearance in 1965’s X-Men #12. The Juggernaut serves as the avatar for the ancient deity, Cytorrak, which makes him (nearly) unstoppable. At first glance, the Juggernaut is your classic heavy but once you pry off that comically oversized helmet, you discover a man struggling with his tragic upbringing, sense of morality, and place in the world.

Marko’s step-brother just so happens to be Charles “Professor X” Xavier and their unique relationship has made Juggernaut an X-Men mainstay. But it’s his shifting role between hero, villain, ally, and threat that’s made the Juggernaut to break free of the X-books with memorable parts in stories across the Marvel landscape. [Read more…] about Juggernaut Reading Order!

Ironheart (Riri Williams) Reading Order!

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Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato in the lead-up to Civil War II, Riri Williams is a 15-year-old child genius from Chicago who builds her own Iron Man-type armor and soon finds herself taking over Tony Stark’s mantle.

In recent stories, particularly Eve Ewing’s solo series, Ironheart has started to step outside of Iron Man’s shadow and into a spotlight all her own, whether as a member of the teen hero group, the Champions, or on her own adventures taking her as far from Chicago as Latveria, and recently, Wakanda. [Read more…] about Ironheart (Riri Williams) Reading Order!

The Maestro (Future Hulk) Reading Order!

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A character with a 60-year history set in a multiverse will see countless alternative versions created to support the story creatively and/or commercially. The ability to take an already successful character and make fundamental changes without impacting the original character is a valuable tool. The Hulk is no stranger to this idea and this has allowed the character to be taken to unique places. We have seen a “Nerd Hulk”, a “Punk Hulk”, Worlds where Hulk and Banner have been successfully separated, and whatever the hell Ultimate Hulk was trying to accomplish.

The Maestro stands apart from the other variations and has created his own gamma footprint in the Marvel Universe. The Maestro is the nightmare future scenario where a Post-Apocalyptic Hulk and Banner live as one with Banner’s intelligence and the Hulk’s strength aligned, and a malevolent dictator forged. [Read more…] about The Maestro (Future Hulk) Reading Order!

The Best Falcon & Winter Soldier Comics to Read With the MCU TV Launch!

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After an 18 month post Endgame pandemic hiatus, Marvel is coming back soaring onto Disney+ with a seemingly never-ending plan to release new entries in the MCU canon. Hot on the heels of the nine episode Disney+ WandaVision, the MCU’s 2021 TV takeover continues with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, starring Anthony Mackie in his role as Sam Wilson (Falcon) and Sebastian Stan in his role as Bucky Barnes (The Winter Soldier). The series promises to follow up on the big question on everyone’s mind following the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame – “Who Will Wield the Shield?” 

As comics readers know, this is far from the first time Steve Rogers has abdicated the star spangled heart of the Avengers, although the reasons (death, rapid aging, corrupted by a Hydra controlled cosmic cube) tend to oscillate. While Steve will always be the standard, there are plenty of great stories that deal with other heroes trying to fill his shoes, creating one of the best legacy mantles in the Marvel Universe. [Read more…] about The Best Falcon & Winter Soldier Comics to Read With the MCU TV Launch!

US Agent (John Walker) Reading Order

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At first glance, the US Agent looks and feels like a generic copy of Captain America. As you look deeper you instead begin to see that the US Agent represents a different interpretation of the same concept. Steve Rogers and John Walker both love America but while Rogers’s moral compass is more aligned with the nation and its people, Walker believes almost exclusively in its government. If Cap represents the idealized America that says it won World War II, US Agent top-down, “might make right” world that came after. The one that believed the power of the American military made its government infallible.

The character first appears in 1986 during Mark Gruenwald’s 10-year run on Captain America, and will make his live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Disney+’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” [Read more…] about US Agent (John Walker) Reading Order