I've been thinking about creating one of these threads for awhile. After someone else asked for recommendations today, I decided to go ahead and get it started.

This thread is a resource where seasoned comic fans, can make recommendations to newer readers.

Please make an attempt to read through the thread before posting!

Contributing to this thread? Please click here before you do. Thanks!

This will ensure that the same titles are not continously recommended, and keep the thread from becoming cluttered. See my Theme team thread in Combat Formations for a good example of what happens, when people just post, without reading it through.

Some things to remember:

This is for readers who are new, or relatively new to reading Marvel comics. It's an intoduction to what Marvel has to offer. So when making recommendations, we probably don't want to innundate readers with comics and series that are laden with deep stories, or that require reading other things to get the gist of what is going on. For example, I would not recommend a new reader (with no real idea of who the characters are and what their backgrounds are like) read Civil War.

Things that are fun, show the characters at their best , are self contained, or start the reader off at the beginning are the best examples of what this thread is trying to accomplish. Keep It Simple!

I'll start off with some recommendations, and as posters make different recommendations, I will update this post to include those.
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Welcome New Marvel Readers!

I, along with the help of other comicbook readers on this forum, have developed this thread of recommendations, to assist you in finding titles that will introduce you to Marvel comics. The choices made below, are chosen with you in mind. They are books that the distinguished comicbooks fans of this site felt would give you, the new reader, an idea of where to start reading.

It is my hope that you are able to find something that intrests you enough to become a dedicated comicbook reader. These books introduce you to the characters of the Marvel universe, and lets you see what makes them special and exciting. Use the books here, as a springboard to get you acquainted with the likes of Spider-Man, The X-Men, The Avengers or The Hulk.

Good luck! You've just taken your first step into a whole new world!

First things first:

The Marvel Universe is vast. There are alternate universes that sometimes interact with one another. Here are some brief explanations of the ones that are commonly discussed on HCrealms:

616 Universe: This is the original Marvel Universe as it started when the very first Fantastic Four issue was released in the 1960's. This universe exists through the mainstream Marvel titles, such as Amazing Spider-Man, New Avengers, Uncanny X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, and countless others. Many other variations of the Marvel Universe exist, and have a different designation. But the 616 is the original and the true one.

Ultimate Universe: This can be considered as Marvel's second Universe right now. Started in the late 1990's, it was developed as a reimagination of the Marvel Universe in a more contemporary setting. This was created primarily so new readers could set foot in the Marvel universe, without being tied to the lengthy history of the 616. If you are a new reader, this is a good place for you to start. Ultimate books have Ultimate in their titles such as Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimates (Avengers in the Ultimate Universe), Ultimate Power, etc.

Supremeverse: This is a new Universe, which contains the Squadron Supreme, and was introduced in the Supreme Power maxi-series. The Squadron Supreme is the only group of super powered individuals in this universe. You will not find the likes of Spider-Man, the X-men of the Avengers there currently. Though that's not to say that the situation won't change. As of this writing, they are currently interacting with the Ultimate Universe, in Ultimate Power.

Common types of comics:

Trade Paperbacks: This is a collection of issues contained in one book. Arcs, mini-series, and maxi-series are collected in this fashion. For example, the Wolverine series by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, was originally published as four individual issues, published at a rate of 1 per month back in 1985 or 1986 (I can't remember). It has since been collected in one book, referred to as Trades, Trade Paperbacks, or TPB. Trades are good, inexpensive way to collect a series of sotries.

Graphic Novel: Comic stories told in a "novel with pictures form." Some times these can be one-shots, trades, mini-series, maxi-series or self contained with in one volume. Can sometimes be called Prestige Format books.

Limited/Mini-Series/Maxi-series: A mini-series is usually a story that has its own title and is 2-8 issues in length. Sometimes are refered to as limited series.

A Maxi-Series is usually about 12 issues in length, but have been know to be longer (DC's 52 is a maxi-series that is 52 issues long). These series can be released at a rate of 1 issue weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly. (52 is released weekly).

Ongoing Series: Ongoing series are series that are published monthly, and are permanent (or at least the plan is for them to be permanent). Some of the longest running series in comics include, Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Action Comics, Batman, and Detective comics; which have each had over 500 comics in succession published. Stories are told in arcs, or one-shots.

Arcs/One-Shots/yarns: This is the format in which comic stories are told within the ongoing series. An arc/yarn is a story like a mini or maxi-series told within and ongoing series. For example an arc may run from issue 3 to issue 7 of an X-Men ongoing title. The main story is contained in those issues, while the previous issues may build up it, and the following issues may deal with the after-affects of what took place.

A one-shot is a one-issue story, where the entire story is self-contained within one issue. These are usually done within an ongoing title(in between arcs), or as an issue independent of any story. These are also referred to as stand-alone issues.

Got it? If not, don't worry. Just go to your local comic shop, and they can straighten you out.

Now, on to the recommendations:

Notes: Unless otherwise specified, these recommendations are all Trade Paperback Form. Also, there are generally more volumes that follow the ones recommended here. So once you've checked these out and have figured out that you do like them; be sure to follow up with the following volume.

Ultimate Titles:

• Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol. 1 - Fantastic
• Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 - Power
• Ultimates Vol. 1
• Ultimate X-Men: The Tomorrow People

616 Titles:

• Essential Avengers Vol. 1
• Essential Spider-Man Vol. 1
• Essential X-Men Vol. 1 (Don't confuse it with Essential Uncanny X-Men)
• Essential Fantastic Four Vol. 1
• Essential Captain America Vol. 1
• Essential Incredible Hulk Vol. 1
• Essential Iron Man Vol. 1
• Essential Thor Vol. 1
• Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1
• Wolverine Vol. 1 by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller
• Origin by Paul Jenkins (the story of Wolverine)
• X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga
• Astonishing X-Men: Gifted (By Joss Whedon)
• New Avengers: Breakout
• Secret Wars
• Runaways Vol. 1 (reprints issues #1-18)
• Runaways: Pride & Joy (reprints issues #1-6)
• Spider-Man: Blue
• Daredevil: Yellow
• Hulk:Gray
• Exiles Vol. 1 - Down The Rabbit Hole
• Marvels
• Thor Visionaries: Walt Simonson Vol. 1
• Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 1
• Marvel Masterworks: Captain America Vol. 1
• Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 1
• Marvel Masterworks: Hulk Vol. 1
• Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 1
• Marvel Masterworks: Spider-Man Vol. 1
• Marvel Masterworks: Thor Vol. 1
• Marvel Masterworks: X-Men Vol. 1

Supremeverse Titles:

• Squadron Supreme Vol.1 - Contact
• Squadron Supreme (By Mark Gruenwald)

Misc. Stuff

• Marvel Comics
• Top 5 Comic Recommendations for New Readers by HCRealmers
• The DC New Reader Recommendation Thread
• Indy Comics New Reader Recommendation Thread

Well, I'm not sure that the Supremeverse that is crossing over with the Ultimateverse is the same "universe" That Mark Gruenwald's(spelling?) Squadron Supreme is from.
Squadron Supreme Vol1: Contact, is this the collected 12 issue Gruenwald run? If so I would recommend the 2 TPB's that collect the initial appearance of the new Squadron that appears in the Ultimate Power story. If not, I would recommend the Gruenwald TPB as well.
Clear as mud?
What I'm saying is I would recommend both versions. They are very different from each other and both very good. I'm just not sure what either is called. I think JMS wrote the newer stuff and Frank was definitely the artist.

And for a new comics reader, reading both of these versions together would help them get a grasp of how Marvel is handling different universes containing the same characters. Like 616 Avengers and The Ultimates. Except with 616, these characters have mostly changed dramaticly from the 60's until now. They have a huge history and characters have "evolved". I don't think you would get the same understanding from reading essential avengers and ultimates side-by-side as you would the 2 Squadron versions. Am I making any sense?

Anyway, I do recommend the Supreme(or is it Squadron? I have such a short memory) TPB's along with the Contact one.

I think Runaways is a nice start for new readers. It is self-contained, but it touches upon certain aspects an characters from the more established Marvel-series, which could serve as a nice introduction.

Squadron Supreme TPB
This collects the 12-issue series by Mark Gruenwald (w). This story really gives a deep look into the 616 alternate universe Squadron Supreme and is a great gateway to the Supremeverse stories. Also, this story is less harsh than the Supremeverse as it is Comics Code Authority approved.


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I would highly recommend the Exiles TPBs.

It features characters from many different universes/timelines and there is usually less back-story to keep up to date on. Each arc is pretty much self contained. The book has had both highs and lows but overall it is a good steady satisfying read.

I will always suggest Ultimate Spiderman, it's just the way to start out in the Marvel Universe, IMO. Also, this might be a bit of a stretch, but maybe New Avengers:Break Out. I thought it was great, and started reading it as soon as I started reading comics and I caught on from starting at issue 14. So I suggest that.

As I've recommended elsewhere, for the new reader, the Marvels graphic novel is a heck of a place to start.

Marvels tells the tale of some of the major events in the Marvel universe but through the eyes of a press photographer caught up in the sidelines. Drawn beautifully by Alex Ross, it ponders the impact of superheroes on the rest of the world that they live in. A cracking place to start.

Other good launch points include:

X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga - The X-Men's finest hour for many, this saw some stunning moments in storytelling, with Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne hitting peak form. For fans of Cyclops, Jean Grey and Wolverine, this is pretty much essential reading.

Wolverine Graphic Novel - This collection is available in a variety of formats, but the one you're after is the one by Claremont and Frank Miller. It was one of the first stories to really start to broaden out Wolverine as a character, helping to define the aspect of his character linked with Japan - his reasons for aspiring to be an honourable man, and his reasons for why he fears he will always fail to achieve that goal. Reprinted from his first mini-series, it's a good reason why many people rate Wolverine as their favourite character.

Secret Wars Graphic Novel - Reprinted from the limited series, this sees a character called The Beyonder pluck the greatest heroes and the nastiest villains from the Earth to battle it out for supremacy in a distant galaxy. A good heap of fun, but also a good way to get to know a whole lot of characters without getting bogged down in a lot of continuity problems - being light years removed from their private lives does simplify things.

New X-Men - The Grant Morrison era of New X-Men really shook things up. This was a fast-paced storyline that you just hung on to and hoped it ended up somewhere amazing - which it did. In spades. The entire run of Morrison's spell on the comic is collected in two hefty or one huge graphic novel, but it's well worth the read.

The Ultimates - For those indulging in the Ultimates universe who are Avengers fans, this is a very stylish reboot of the franchise. Characters have that much more edge and the art is very slick, making the whole thing look like still frames from a movie.

My personal favourite is the Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiwicz Elektra Assassin graphic novel, turning Elektra into one of the most sinister and deadly characters in the whole Marvel universe in a plot pitching towards nuclear annihilation. But the art style is as bizarre as the plot and takes some following, so mark that one down for a later indulgence.

I don't know if Gruenwald's Squadron resided in the "Supremeverse," but Marvel's ads for Ultimate Power designates the Universe where the Max/Marvel Knight Squadron currently lives.

But in order to know where they are headed to, a new reader needs to know where they came from. One of the main things about Civil War is how Captain America's and Iron Man's relationship has been affected.

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one of the newer series that i have been enjoying is Ms. Marvel..

Good enough for a noob?

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Good idea on this Darth

Thanks!

Ms. Marvel would work somewhat for a noob. It gets the character down well, but there are somethings where they won't know what the hell is going on, as in the Brood Warriors(I think that is them) that appear. Though, that might be ok, I like it and it's a good read.

Great, that helps clear it up for me. Do you see what I was trying to say that for new readers, reading the "Supreme" and the "Squadron Supreme"
trades together might help in showing how Marvel distinguishes same characters in different "universes" without having to worry too much about the convoluted 616 histories first?

Yes, which is why I added both titles up there.

For new readers I'll break some stuff down for individual characters;

Captain America:

Cap Lives! - A stand alone Cap story, set in it's own time frame and world. It doesn't tie into anything, and you don't need any history to pick it up. Just a good, alternate Earth tale of Cap being woke in the 60s with Nazis having conquered America. It's 4 issues long from Cap Vol 3, and I believe it was put into TPB

Ed Brubaker's Captain America - While this does have some 'history' involved, by and large anything you need to know is rehashed in the book (such as telling you who Bucky is, what he did, and what changes have been made to his history). This has excellent writing and top notch art

Essential Captain America Vol 1 and 2: Cap's return in the 60s to the Marvel audience. He fights all kinds of super foes and super spys. Lots of Red Skull and Baron Zemo action, tossed in with Hydra and SHIELD goodness. Cap will prove to you that all it really does take is one man. By the same token, I do not recommend Cap vol 3. It has a number of things going on that would not be suitable for new readers.

Heros Reborn issues 1-12: Say what you want, but this is what turned me on to Captain America. Since the Hero's Reborn world had no back story you had to know, each hero's 12 issue series was a perfect way to give a new and fresh take on a character, and help new readers have a solid jump on point.

Captain America and Batman: This would be a good one for DC fans who want to try Marvel. Not necessarily a new comic reader, but one wanting to dable in the other side. It could be read by a newbie to comics in general, but someone with experience with Batman will find this more enjoyable. It's a 'What If?/Elseworlds' tale of Cap and Batman teaming up during WW2 against the Joker and Red Skull. It's fun to watch the interaction between the sidekicks and the heros when they swap out. In the end, these two prove that working together is more fun, and makes for much better reading then the endless Cap vs Batman fights/comparisons in comics.

Thor:

Visionaires: Walter Simonson 1-3 - none of these really need any previous knowledge of Thor, and are instead some of the best Thor stories ever written. You can enjoy a heavy viking overtone mixed with Marvel comic style. Will give you most everything you need to know about the Asgardian pantheon, lots of great fights, and even some guest appearances

Essential Thor Vol 1: You would need to be a fan of this old style writing to truly enjoy this, but lots of good stuff here. First Loki vs Thor battle, Jane Foster, and a good representation of how Thor was originally intended to be (ie, Marvel's answer to Superman, he has basically all of Pre-Crisis Superman's powers at one point or another).

Iron Man:

Essential Iron Man 1 and 2: Vol 1 is the better of the two, but if you enjoy that you might just enjoy vol 2. These are fun books which really take you back to the Cold War. Origin of Iron Man, how responsibility can change a man (from playboy to a guy constantly willing to sacrifice himself ), Titanium Man, Crimson Dynamo, Mandarin, etc

Hero's Reborn 1-12: Again, a good, newbie friendly story arc which let's people know who Iron Man is, what he does, how he acts, and what his powers are. Lot's of cool stuff, from Dr. Doom to Living Laser.

Avengers:

Marvel Masterworks: Avengers 1-10 - Yes you can get this in the Essentials, but this is color and on very nice paper. It runs between 9.99-14.99 or so at Barnes and Noble. It covers the formation of the Avengers, the introduction of Captain America post WW2, and the first versions of the Masters of Evil.

Hero's Reborn 1-12: Starts with the SHIELD financed team (hmm...Ultimates anyone?) discovering Thor in the arctic up through Galactus' attack on Earth. Friendships, betrayal, Avengers Island with super high tech (hmm...seriously, this title IS the Ultimates before there was the Ultimates). Nice way to take a peak into the Avengers.

Incredible Hulk:

Planet Hulk: I don't have an issue start number, but comic stores arround here have every issue still in stock. It takes place away from the Marvel U 's normal continuity, and doesn't have any of the Hulk's overly confusing back story going on. Just a good, solid story about the Hulk on another planet, doing what Hulk does best, ie smash everything and get angry.

Spider-man:

Marvel Masterworks vol 1-4: Better then the Essentials as these are all in color and on nice glossy paper. I picked them up for 9.99 a pop at Barnes and Noble. I highly recommend reading them in order, it makes better sense that way, and you get to see more character development.

I do seriously recommend the Hero's Reborn line for newbies though. It turned me on to Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the Avengers (each title is named after Cap, Iron Man, or the Avengers, just like normal, I've just used 'Hero's Reborn' to let you know which line I'm talking about). You'll hear many a comic enthusiast ixnay that idea, but that's because it changed their long time favorites. If you want a taste of who these guys are, look no further. The storys have modern art, writing, and dialogue vs the Essentials or Masterworks. If you like the characters in these, you will be well prepared for picking up other issues with them in it and you will recognise who people are, why they act a certain way, where you can expect the story to go. It's my pick for best way to introduce many mainstream Marvel icons to an entirely new to Marvel audience.

The Essentials and Masterworks are a good way to get a lot of early history, and no confusing backstory for a very cheap cost. However, the writing and art can be very dated. If you are willing to sit through some campy dialogue you can find a lot of really good material here. However, these will tend to appeal to a certain sort of people and may not be for everyone. They are, however, extremely kid friendly in general. No swear words, no gratuitous violence, no nudity/scantily clad women (in general), and characters who just flat out 'hero'.

Sorry if that was a bit long, but I wanted to include a brief description of each choice so people could have an idea of what to expect.