Question by a DC fan

[shallbecomeabat]

Hey marvelites!

I am a big DC comic reader, but I know not really much about Marvel. The avengers movie got me really hyped to read some Marvel stuff again, preferably some Thor, because I never really read any of his books, or some cool Avengers stuff. Where do i start, what is a good read that doesn't require to know a lot about the other books? The thing is, since my fave character of all time is Batman and I really like the DCU I already buy too much comics as it is (my wallet is in constant agony), so I would really like great Marvel stuff that is more or less stand alone and does not require for me to buy dozens of other books.

I read a lot of the Ultimate stuff when it started, the Smith/Bendis run on Daredevil, read the Brubaker CA run until Bucky took over, Morrisons New X-Men, a bit of Fractions Iron Man, Ennis Punisher and Civil War all of which I really liked.

 

[WOLVERINE25TH]

Walt Simonson's run on Thor, Mark Gruenwald's run on Cap and Essentials are good places to start.

 

[JewishHobbit]

Now's a bad time to come onto Marvel and NOT want something that doesn't somehow tie into something else. Avengers vs X-Men just started and for the next six months that'll tie up most of the Avengers and X-Men line. Not to mention if you're wallet's tight Marvel's more expensive than DC with their $4 price point on most titles and constant double shipping. Honestly, I'm trying to cut back on Marvel for that reason.

The best stand alone title I can think of is probably Venom. It's $3 an issue but prone to double ship. Good title though.

The top book I'd recommend is Wolverine & the X-Men but it's tied up in AvsX tie-ins for a while. You're best move might be to wait until AvsX ends and then try out stuff that sells solo. Hawkeye's solo title will be starting around then, as will Gambit's and the new Captain Marvel series (staring Ms. Marvel... Carol Danvers). Bendis will also be leaving the Avengers titles after AvsX so you can jump on fresh with whoever the new writer will be.

I hear Journey Into the Mystery is a great ongoing book staring Loki (who's a kid at the moment apparently) but I don't know much about it and I know it'll be crossing over with Thor soon but since you're interested in Thor anyway it might be worth checking out.

 

[shallbecomeabat]

Thanks for you opinions, guys.

Since I am a trade-waiter kinda guy, I won't be buying single issues, so their price point isn't as important for me, since they sell their big collections and omnibuses at a very fair price, in my eyes.

I did have my eye on the Thor Omnibus by Walt Simonson, so I'm going to check that one out.
How was JMS's Thor run? its also collected in an Omnibus and the artworks looks really cool.

In general I wouldn't mind getting the Avengers vs. X-Men thing also, if the main series would be all I needed to read, but I'm not sure if big Marvel events work that way.
Wolverine and The X-Men has a cool concept, I read about it a lot of good stuff. Maybe I will check out the hardcover when its out.
How is Fractions run on Thor? I loved his writing on Iron Man.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I read maybe the first 10 issues of Straczynski's Thor and liked it a lot. I don't know how it was after that but it at least started really well.

 

[THANOSRULES]

I would read Busiek's Avengers run..and those trades.

If you want a primer for the movie read Ultimates vol 1...it sounds like the movie will have a lot of similarities.

 

[Kurosawa]

Anything from 1985 back is good, the Lee/Kirby stuff from the 60's is by far the best.

Past that, Simonson's Thor, Miller's Daredevil and Busiek's Avengers are good.

 

[THANOSRULES]

I've been buying alot of 70's avengers lately..and I'll tell you..like any older comics the writing just doesnt hold up.

I love the art and covers mostly, but really like 1985 on is only relevant for writing. sacrilidge i know...

 

[Anubis]

It's that damn exposition. Takes you right outta the story. I can see that he's punching the guy in the face! You don't have to f**king tell me!

 

[CConn]

The thought bubbles were even worse.

 

[plushbug]

I did have my eye on the Thor Omnibus by Walt Simonson, so I'm going to check that one out.
How was JMS's Thor run? its also collected in an Omnibus and the artworks looks really cool.

You won't regret the Simonson omnibus--quite aside from that still being #1 hot contender for best run on Thor, ever, in its remastered form it is absolutely a thing of beauty.

The JMS omnibus is good as well. The Coipel/Martin artwork was indeed amazing.

How is Fractions run on Thor? I loved his writing on Iron Man.

Stick with his Iron Man, would be my guess. His (out of continuity Thor) Ages of Thunder trade was interesting, but as any amount of reading around online will tell you, his last year or so with Thor has had a lot of problems. If your budget's tight, there are better uses for it.

I don't have a lot of background with Avengers, but can strongly second other recommendations--Mark Gruenwald's run on Cap, Miller on Daredevil (classic!--then I'd say sample the start of the current Waid run, it's been excellent and makes a great contrast to Miller).

And yeah, Gillen's Journey Into Mystery with Kid Loki has been a treat, this past year. Best intro there would be the Fear Itself: JIM tie-in, which runs from the start of the run, and doesn't require getting anywhere near the rest of Fear Itself. Wouldn't look at any more recent JIM unless you do try that one and get as hooked on Loki and his crew as most readers do, who go on to write about the experience. Ongoing, FWIW, it's a $2.99 title.

Essentials are good for sampling, too--B&W, but good value for the money. IMO the great art of the past (thinking Kirby, here) often looks better without its original colouring.

 

[shallbecomeabat]

I've been buying alot of 70's avengers lately..and I'll tell you..like any older comics the writing just doesnt hold up.

I love the art and covers mostly, but really like 1985 on is only relevant for writing. sacrilidge i know...

Yeah, I kinda see it the same way. Bought all of Kirbys DC stuff, because I love the New Gods and Etrigan and it was cool for what it was, but it cannot compete with current writing.

I am going to get both Thor Omnibus(-es?-i? I dunno) and the whole Ultimates run from Millar first. I already read the first two trades, which were really cool, so I think I am going to like the other two also. Did anyone read his Ultimate Avengers run? Is it as good as the Ultimates stuff? I didn't even knew that this run existed until I stumbled upon it yesterday while browsing through some internet sites.

I read Millers Daredevil years ago. it was really good. Man without fear and the other one, where he doesn't even wear his costume for the most part... Mazzuchelli was on art I think.

I liked Busiek and Perez on the JLA/Avenger thingy, so I might also check their run out too.

Again, thank you for your suggestions. Its kinda hard to find your way into another comicbook universe without some help.

 

[CConn]

No, Ultimate Avengers wasn't nearly as good as Ultimates. It wasn't awful, but it was definitely really mediocre.

 

[THANOSRULES]

For the Busiek Avengers I would also strongly recommend Avengers Forever, Ultron: Unlimited and Kang: Dynasty.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

JMS' Thor is good. The first 12 issues are some of the best Thor comics ever. His last few, not so much. But it's never terrible or anything. In addition to that and Simonson's run, which others have already covered, I'd also recommend Thor: Ages of Thunder, Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers, and Thor: Son of Asgard for a really complete picture of Thor and his world.

 

[The Question]

The way I see it:

Spider-Man: Start from the beginning with Lee and Ditko. It loses a little bit of it's charm and style when Ditko is replaced by Romita Sr., but the story's still good, so stick with it after that.

Fantastic Four: The first 100 issues with Lee and Kirby are golden. After that I'd skip ahead to John Byrne's run.

The Hulk: Honestly, my personal preference is Peter David's run. It covers all the good Hulk stuff. Savage Hulk all fugitive style, Joe Fixit, and Professor Hulk who should have never gone away IMO.

X-Men: Start with Chris Claremont's run starting with X-Men # 94. That's when X-Men became relevant.

Thor: Start with Walt Simonson's run, he really defined what modern Thor is.

Daredevil: Start with Frank Miller, he did pretty much the same thing.

 

[Marvel]

Walt Simonson's run on Thor

For the Busiek Avengers I would also strongly recommend Avengers Forever, Ultron: Unlimited and Kang: Dynasty.

THOSE!

Busiek/Perez's Ultron Unlimited is my favorite Avengers story ever.

Walt Simonson's run on Thor is THE best run all-time no doubt. Early run stuff particularly.

 

[CConn]

I don't like Busiek's Avengers myself. Way too pointlessly wordy. It felt like I was reading a novel, only, y'know, without a talented prose styling to actually make it interesting.

 

[THANOSRULES]

Well it was nice to get a comic and it took you 10-15 minutes to read instead of 3 min..

Disagree bigtime!

 

[CConn]

Well it was nice to get a comic and it took you 10-15 minutes to read instead of 3 min..

Disagree bigtime!

Um, but that's not my complaint.

I didn't have a problem that it was wordy, I had a problem that there wasn't a point for it to be that wordy, and he didn't structure his prose in an effective way.

I mean, I'm sorry, but the length of time it takes you to read a comic should have absolutely no bearing on its overall quality.

 

[Franklin Richards]

...but it does. My main problem, among other things, with Millar's run on FF was I was done in 90 seconds. You whippersnappers complain about boxes and thought bubbles but with the FF and other SciFi style books it really adds a lot to the story. Byrne knew how to use 'em.

Thought bubbles and Exposition Boxes are like pouches. When used properly they are just fine.

For instance... I LOVE this exposition.

My favorite FF member and my favorite X-Man. :d

 

[THANOSRULES]

Um, but that's not my complaint.

I didn't have a problem that it was wordy, I had a problem that there wasn't a point for it to be that wordy, and he didn't structure his prose in an effective way.

I mean, I'm sorry, but the length of time it takes you to read a comic should have absolutely no bearing on its overall quality.

It sure can, not always, but it can.

I have no issues with Busiek's prose..thats certainly a rare complaint and point of view you have there...rock on.

 

[CConn]

...but it does. My main problem, among other things, with Millar's run on FF was I was done in 90 seconds. You whippersnappers complain about boxes and thought bubbles but with the FF and other SciFi style books it really adds a lot to the story. Byrne knew how to use 'em.

Thought bubbles and Exposition Boxes are like pouches. When used properly they are just fine.

For instance... I LOVE this exposition.

My favorite FF member and my favorite X-Man. :d

Millar's FF was terrible for infinite reasons.

I've honestly read great comics that haven't even had any text or dialogue in them period. Not that I prefer that or anything, but I'm just saying, it's all about how you do it, not so much what you do.

 

[shallbecomeabat]

Just ordered the whole original Ultimates run by Millar, Civil War (which I already knew but wanted to read again) and the JMS Thor Omnibus.
All should arrive within this week, I think. My next question is, does JMS' Thor run tie in to some big Marvel crossover, like Siege for example? What else is essential for modern Thor?

Next up on my list to get is the Busiek Avengers run (since I loved his run on Superman!) and the Simonson Thor Omnibus. Can someone tell me the reading order for the Busiek trades, or is it collected in an Omnibus also?

 

[Anubis]

Michael Avon Oeming's Thor: Ragnarock would be good to read before you tackle JMS. The Thor run that ties into Seige was Gilliean's(sp) run on Thor. (Which if you ask me was better than JMS'.)

Busiek's trades should be numbered in volumes.