Looking to dive into current Marvel comics, but don’t want to try to read everything? This is the guide for you – the fast track to all the essential Marvel Comics since the “Fresh Start” era kicked off in May 2018. [Read more…] about Marvel Fresh Start Fast Track Guide (2018 – Present!)
Marvel Series
The Marvel Universe of Al Ewing (Reading Order)!
In the few years since he’s joined the Marvel universe, Al Ewing has become one of the biggest names in American comic books, especially superhero comics ; not least of all because of his critically acclaimed work on The Immortal Hulk. However, his Marvel Comics history actually started back in 2013, and has since then spanned across many different characters and stories, from Loki to the Inhumans and even several different Avengers teams.
Ewing’s work at Marvel is not only noteworthy for often aiming to shake up the status quo of the Marvel universe as well as taking on cosmic proportions ; but also for his dedication to representation in his stories, especially queer representation in books like Immortal Hulk and Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as having mostly non-white teams in his Mighty Avengers and Ultimates especially.
And although Immortal Hulk is approaching its end, Al Ewing’s time at Marvel seems to only be beginning, as he is currently heading the new era of Marvel’s Galactic stories, across titles like Guardians of the Galaxy, S.W.O.R.D., and Venom; and events like Empyre and The Last Annihilation. [Read more…] about The Marvel Universe of Al Ewing (Reading Order)!
A Guide to Trans Representation In Marvel Comics
Dave Buesing: Earlier this year, my podcast co-host Zack Deane requested a Koi Boi reading order on behalf of a Comic Book Herald patron, and if that didn’t make sense, wondered if a guide to trans representation in Marvel could be an alternate. Since a CBH guide to Koi Boi would ultimately just say “read Unbeatable Squirrel Girl,” we have instead sought out a complete guide to transgender characters in the Marvel Universe, with detailed conversations about the quality of Marvel’s representation for each.
I want to be eminently clear that this is not a victory lap celebrating Marvel. Finding examples of Trans representation are few and far between in the tens of thousands of comics the publisher’s released. Likewise, there are examples of what could be considered “transgender” representation that are so reprehensible and offensive that I couldn’t bring myself to even mention them in this guide. [Read more…] about A Guide to Trans Representation In Marvel Comics
Marvel Magic: The Essential Comics Reading Order
Within the Marvel Universe, there are segments of thematic or tonal connections that create subcategories of “mini” universes readers can follow. One of the most prominent is Marvel Cosmic, but in the wake of WandaVision (honestly in a way I didn’t feel after Doctor Strange), I’m increasingly interested in the universe of Marvel Magic.
Now, the below guide will assuredly not capture every instance of magic use in Marvel Comics (I have a family you animals!), but it will give you a decades-spanning look at how magic, supernatural, and mystical elements have progressed throughout Marvel history. [Read more…] about Marvel Magic: The Essential Comics Reading Order
X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga Reading Order!
The “Dark Phoenix Saga” is among the most pivotal stories in Marvel Comics history, and without question one of the X-Men’s most iconic moments. The resurgence of Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, John Byrne and collaborators all builds to a five-years-in-the-making trial by fire of both Jean Grey and Marvel’s merry mutants.
As the My Marvelous Year reading club reads through these essentials in Marvel, I’ll be re-exploring some of the fringe comics and stories that expand the traditional read, both to establish a reading order and to determine how much value is added branching outside the core comics issues.