Marvel must-read TPB/graphic novels?

[Flint Marko]

So I’m adding graphic novels to my amazon wish-list and I want to know, in your opinion, what are some seminal Marvel stories I should add? I grew up reading a lot of Spider-man stories but outside of that one character I haven’t read that many Marvel comics that were published before 2006. It was around that time I began reading the Avengers, Cap, Hulk, etc, but my comics knowledge outside of that is fairly limited.

Some books I’ve already added, for reference:

Peter David Hulk Visionaries
Daredevil Born Again
Black Panther, Panther’s Rage
Epic Collection Moon Knight Vol. 1
Captain America Epic Collection Vol. 1-3
Walt Simonsons Thor visionaries

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills

Great read.

 

[Flint Marko]

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills

Great read.

Added it

 

[Gee]

Tom King's Vision.

You're welcome.

 

[Mike Murdock]

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills

That was going to be my first choice. I'll also add Wolverine by Claremont and Miller.

To me, DC is famous for specific trades or stories that you should just read this. Marvel works best in runs by a specific author that often doesn't fit into a single trade. To me, it's best to read Frank Miller's original Daredevil run before Born Again (but if you just read Born Again, you'll enjoy it a lot). I'd also recommend Walter Simonson's Thor.

If you don't mind some verbose language and purple prose, I'd also absolutely recommend Panther's Rage. It's closer to a single trade, but it's a little bit longer (about 12 issues).

 

[Geowolf]

Weapon X - Barry Windsor-Smith
A classic nowadays

 

[BigSams50]

Me personally, i Love Daredevil Yellow

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Does Marvel have a defining 'landmark' event story/GN in the way that DC has CoIE? The terms 'pre-Crisis' or 'post-Crisis' have littered fan conversations for many, many years, and more recently there's 'pre/post-Flashpoint'. Does Marvel have something like that that's used to mark periods in their continuity?

 

[Mike Murdock]

Those stories don't mark periods in their continuity, those stories mark separation points between continuities. Marvel has had continuous continuity. Secret Wars (the recent version) is the closest example because all of Marvel had an eight month time jump, but it's still one continuity.

 

[C. Lee]

Alex Ross's "Marvels"

Excellent story and beautiful art.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Those stories don't mark periods in their continuity, those stories mark separation points between continuities. Marvel has had continuous continuity.

Yes I understand that - I probably didn't phrase it very well.

Secret Wars (the recent version) is the closest example because all of Marvel had an eight month time jump, but it's still one continuity.

Thanks.

 

[Spidey Rules]

Spiderman Blue, Daredevil Yellow, Captain America (forgot his color), Hulk (Green?) These are pretty good, but I have not seen them as one book so you'll have to get the separately. Also, Kingdom Come (DC) is very good and the art is wonderful.

 

[Mad Ones]

Not graphic novels, but the Demon Bear Saga (New Mutants 18-20) and Lifedeath 1 & 2 (Uncanny X-men 186 &198) are must read stories.

 

[Zarex]

I've gotten back into Marvel (& DC & Image) comic collecting after an extended time off due to the ease of digital purchasing. Marvel in particular has had some really great sales - back in April all of their new TPBs were discounted to 99 cents on Amazon! - and I've picked up a bunch. Here are some of my favorite runs:

Vision by Tom King and Michael Walsh
Annihilation Conquest & Guardians of the Galaxy by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Fantastic Four, New Avengers, Infinity, Avengers & Secret Wars (hell, everything!) by Jonathan Hickman
Hawkeye by Matt Fraction and David Aja
Daredevil by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee
Spider-Man and the Human Torch by Dan Slott and Ty Templeton
Avengers Forever by Kurt Busiek, Roger Stern, Carlos Pacheco and Jesus Marino
Spiderverse by Dan Slott and Olivier Coipel
Black Panther by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze
Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday