Given the nature of Comic Book Herald, I’m regularly thinking about “on ramps” for new comics readers. This is the premise for My Marvelous Year, the reading club and podcast where we go through the most essential storylines in Marvel history, year by year.
For a significantly more streamlined approach, though, I thought it would be fun to craft a “one book per week” read through Marvel’s now 80 year timeline. To be fair, I also think it’s fun to pick my favorite single years in Marvel publishing history by decade and to organize the entire convoluted history of Hawkman, so clearly I can’t be trusted.
Below you’ll find one Marvel story to read for every week of the year. At the end of the year you’ll have explored a wide variety of essential Marvel history, read some of the best comics in the publisher’s history, and somehow still have a Howard the Duck size hole in your heart.
The toughest self-imposed guideline I placed on this list is the exclusion of Omnibus editions. While this would have made my life significantly easier, it’s a less practical form of reading for many, and on occasion, not particularly manageable in the span of a single week! Plus, I already have guides to the landscape of Marvel Omnibus editions and it would feel repetitive.
(Side note: While DC’s New 52 branding remains strong even post-mortem, the related insistence on 52 titles in the lineup was (and remains) beyond insane. I learned this lesson first-hand as I lived out this exercise in absurdity, limiting the history of Marvel to 52 books. There are so many good comics that can’t fit into this structure! Nonetheless, at least my version fits within a calendar year. What was your excuse New 52?!)
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I’m also generally not trying to work in Marvel’s Ultimate Universe. Again, no room in the inn. Plus, I’d always recommend readers just check out the Ultimate Universe in its entirety.
Otherwise, I feel pretty confident you’ll find the below exploration of the Marvel Universe pretty enjoyable! The list is designed with the new guard of MCU fans in mind, but should be open for all to consume and enjoy.
Related:
The 80 Best Marvel Stories Per 80 Years of Marvel Comics
The Honorable Cuts!
Before we begin, the below comics represent the honorable mentions that were closest to making the list but had to be cut for the sake of only picking 52 books. All are recommended, but technically, they are not a part of this year-long guide!
Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Great Responsibility
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man #18 to #38, Annual #2
Thor by Walter Simonson – Volume 1
Collects: Thor 337-345
Collects: Elektra: Assassin 1-8
Venom by Rick Remender: The Complete Collection Volume 1
Collects: Venom (2011) 1-12, Venom/Deadpool: What If? 1
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man #698 to #700, Superior Spider-Man #1 to #16
New Avengers by Jonathan Hickman Volume 1
Collects: New Avengers #1 to #17
Comic Book Herald’s Marvel 52 – Weekly Reading Guide!
The 1960’s
Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Great Power
Collects: Amazing Fantasy #15, Amazing Spider-Man #1 to #17, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1
Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The Coming of Galactus
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) #33-51 & Annual (1963) #3
The 1970’s
Collects: Avengers #89 – #97
Spider-Man: Death of the Stacys
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man #88 to #92, #121 to #122
Black Panther Epic Collection: Panther’s Rage
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) 52-53, Jungle Action (1972) 6-24
Captain Marvel by Jim Starlin: The Complete Collection
Collects: Captain Marvel (1968) 25-34; Iron Man (1968) 55; Marvel Feature (1971) 12; Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) 1; Material From Daredevil (1964) 105 And Life Of Captain Marvel (1985) 1-5
X-Men Epic Collection: Second Genesis
Collects: Giant-Size X-Men (1975) 1, X-Men (1963) 94-110, Marvel Team-Up (1972) 53, 69-70, Annual (1976) 1, Iron Fist (1975) 14-15, Material From Foom (1973) 10
Collects: Iron Man #120-128
The 1980s
Collects: X-Men 129-138, Classic X-Men 43, Bizarre Adventures 27 (1St Story), Phoenix: The Untold Story, What If? (1977) 27
Daredevil by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson Vol. 2
Collects: Daredevil #173-184
Collects: Daredevil #226-233
Thor by Walter Simonson Volume 2
Collects: Thor 346-355
Collects: Secret Wars 1-9, Free Comic Book Day 2015 Secret Wars 0
25% of the way there!
Collects: Squadron Supreme (1985) 1-12 And Captain America (1968) 314
Collects: Marvel Graphic Novel #5
Reading Order: Web of Spider-Man #31, Amazing Spider-Man #293, Spectacular Spider-Man #131, Web of Spider-Man #32, Amazing Spider-Man #294, Spectacular Spider-Man #132
The 1990’s
Collects: Secret Wars #8, Amazing Spider-Man #252-259, #298-300 & #315-317
Silver Surfer Epic Collection: Thanos Quest
Collects: Silver Surfer (1987) 39-50, Annual 3; Thanos Quest 1-2; Material From Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 50
Collects: Infinity Gauntlet #1 To #6
Collects: Marvel Comics Presents #72-84
Collects: Marvels #1 To #4
Issues: #1 – #12
The 2000’s
The Punisher: Welcome Back Frank
Issues: #1 – #12
Fantastic Four By Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo: Ultimate Collection – Book Two
Collects: Fantastic Four #67-70, #500-502
Collects: Alias 22-28
Collects: New X-Men #114 To #126
50% of the way there!
Daredevil by Bendis and Maleev Ultimate Collection Vol. 1
Collects: Daredevil #16-19 & #26-40
Runaways: The Complete Collection Volume 1
Collects: Runaways (2003) 1-18
New Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: The Complete Collection Vol. 1
Collects: Avengers (1998) 500-503, 500 Director’S Cut; Avengers Finale; New Avengers (2004) 1-10, 1 Director’S Cut; New Avengers Most Wanted Files
Young Avengers by Allen Heinberg and Jim Cheung: The Complete Collection
Collects: Young Avengers 1-12, Special
Astonishing X-Men By Joss Whedon & John Cassaday Ultimate Collection – Book 1
Collects: Astonishing X-Men 1-12
Captain America, Vol. 1: Winter Soldier Ultimate Collection
Collects: Captain America (2004- 5Th Series) #1-9 And 11-14
Collects: Iron Man (2005) 1-6
Collects: Doctor Strange: The Oath 1-5
Collects: Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 #92-105, Plus Stories From Amazing Fantasy Vol. 2 #15, Giant-Size Hulk Vol. 2 #1, And The Planet Hulk Gladiator Guidebook
Collects: Civil War #1 To #7
Annihilation: The Complete Collection Vol. 2
Collects: Annihilation: Ronan #1-4, Annihilation #1-6, Annihilation: Heralds Of Galactus #1-2 And Annihilation: The Nova Corps Files
Guardians of the Galaxy by Abnett & Lanning: The Complete Collection Volume 1
Collects: Guardians Of The Galaxy (2008) 1-12
Immortal Iron Fist: The Complete Collection Volume 1
Collects: Immortal Iron Fist 1-16, Annual 1; Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall And The Green Mist Of Death 1; Immortal Iron Fist: The Origin Of Danny Rand 1; Civil War: Choosing Sides 1
75% of the way there!
Collects: Wolverine #66-72, Wolverine Giant-Size Old Man Logan
Dark Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: The Complete Collection
Collects: Dark Avengers (2009) 1-6, 9-16, Annual 1
The 2010’s
Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Vol. 2
Collects: Fantastic Four (1998) 579-588, FF (2011) 1-5
Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender: The Complete Collection Volume 1
Collects: Uncanny X-Force 1-19, 5.1; Wolverine: Road To Hell 1; All-New Wolverine Saga; X-Men Spotlight
Collects: Hawkeye 1-11, Young Avengers Presents 6
Collects: Spider-Men 1-5
Captain Marvel: Earth’s Mightiest Hero Vol. 1
Collects: Captain Marvel #1 to #12
Thor by Jason Aaron: The Complete Collection Vol. 1
Collects: Thor: God of Thunder #1 to #18
Collects: Ms. Marvel #1 to #11
Collects: Secret Wars #1 to #9
Collects: Vision #1 to #12
Ultimates: Omniversal Vol. 1: Start With the Impossible
Collects: Ultimates #1 to #6
Collects: Immortal Hulk #1 to #10, Avengers #684
Greg says
Awesome stuff Dave. As someone who is brand new to Marvel and basically comics in general would you recommend following this order or the 25 trades from 1961-2000 order? Just finished Amazing Spider-Man up to issue #38 so trying to figure out what list to follow and move on. Thanks!
Dave says
Thanks, Greg! Depends on what you’re looking for in some ways, but I’d actually recommend this list. Unless you’re simply more into the “classics,” I cover a good chunk of that ’61 to 2000 guide on here anyway before progressing into modernity. Enjoy the comics!
Jon says
Ah I love this! I’ve been into comics for a little over a year now but it can still feel so overwhelming.
Any chance you could do a similar thing for DC? I know it’s a lot of work, but it’d be great…regardless, thanks for the great content!