reborn marvel comic reader...where to begin

[gsy971]

hi all. collected and read marvel comics in the 80's. now i want to get back into marvel comics but it seems there are so may crossovers, reissues, alternate universes, with so many kinds of marvel comics, etc...
i just finished marvel knights inhumans and needless to say was blown away. great writting and great artwork and I love the new "mature" look of the characters.
I need some advice on what type of marvel comics i should be reading to find this similar style of writting and art work that this inhumans gave me.
I used to read x-men, alpha flight, avengers, or maybe new teams or characters, etc... i also like to read about the more obscure marvel characters...any advice on where to begin or what to look for?...origins would be a good place to start but not required. really liked the graphic novel compilations.
Thanks for all those who respond for help

[sschroeder]

I did not read the Inhumans stories you mention, so I can't point you to anything similar, but the Inhumans do appear in the Son of M mini-series currently in progress. This covers how Quicksilver is dealing with the changes he underwent as a result of the House of M story.

I primarily recommend Daredevil, which has consistently been my favorite Mavel book for the past couple of years. Collections of much of the Bendis/Maleev run are already available or just start with the latest issue's new creative team.

[Bashful Benjamin]

I second this. But try to get the whole Bendis/Maleev run. Though it´s a new creative team, the story´s one big arc since issue, uuh, 30 or something.

If you want to get back into X-Men, you could get House of M, though many around here consider it no good read, I think it´s ok.
But you MUST read the Deadly Genesis mini, because it´s actually the beginning of the epic arc Brubaker will start in June, when he takes over Uncanny.

If you want to get summer´s Civil War event.... Road To Civil War just began last week with Spider-Man 529.

If you like Avengers, then try The Ultimates Vol. 1+2, it´s Avengers retold and IMO the best Marvel book out at the moment. You can get the back issues in Tpb, and they´re just at issue 23 anyway.

If you want some oldschool Marvel fun then you shouldn´t miss The Thing. Good stories, lotta action, lotta fun, good art and including the latest issue up to May only stand-alones, so there are many chances to jump on.

Welcome back and enjoy the ride!

[StoneGold]

Anything Ed Brubaker is writing. So Captain America, DareDevil, X-Men: Deadly Genesis, and soon to be Uncanny.

[Cactusakic]

I think I already mentioned all of these when someone asked for a similar recommendation a few days ago, but here goes again anyway:

Runaways. One of the best titles Marvel are publishing at the moment. Well written, plenty of laughs, plenty of action. Always within the first 10 or 15 titles I read each month. And you can pick up the entire first run in a really nice hardcover edition.

Daredevil. My all-time fav Marvel hero. The Bendis/Maleev run was extraordinary and now that Ed is taking over it should stay just as good. I think most of it is available in Hardcover now, and all of it is available in trades.

Captain America was voted the best title of the year by Wizard for 2005 and they were spot-on. Cap has never been one of my fav heroes (always liked him, but just not that much) but this title is a must read.

Astonishing X-Men. There seems to be some disagreement as to whether Whedon is a godsend to the X-Men universe or whether he was sent from the pit of hell. I'm in the former camp. Been a fan of his for quite a while now and he is doing a great job with this title. Cassaday's art is very easy on the eye too.

New Avengers, X-Factor and Exiles all deserve a mention also as these are quality titles.

If you are interested in the Ultimate Universe then Ultimates itself is definatley the one to read. I enjoy all the Ultimate books, but this is the stand-out one. Millar has been doing a fantastic job so far. Cant wait to see what Loeb does when he takes over.

Depending on your finances I would tell yo to pick up all of the above, however if you are only going to pick up one or two of these then make them Runaways and Daredevil, you wont be sorry.

Hope this helps.

[Sharcque]

New Thunderbolts is one of the best books, month in and month out. Highly recommended!

[Web_Spinner]

my 2 cents....

Astonishing X-Men
Not having been able to get into x-books before b/c of the complicated and dense history, this book is great. I read the first tpb, just awesome, and the 2nd looks just as good!

Captain America
Great read, mysterious and dark. Things are really picking up now, the upcoming crossbones 2 part arc looks like a lot of fun!

Marvel Knights Spider-Man vol.1
Great read by Mark Millar!!!!!! A lot of fun with Spidey's classic villains in a bit of a darker, grittier world. Lots of fun!

[karik]

I just came back to comics in the last 6 months after mostly reading in the late 80s and early 90s.

Back then I mostly read the X-books. Today, I've branched out a bit. I don't know anything about the writers today, or the story arcs really, but here are some of my thoughts:

-I really like the Ultimate line of titles. In case you don't know, it's a new continuity with characters you are familiar with but many of them reimagined to varying degrees. You might give it a shot, there are trades available.

-Amazing Spider-Man: I liked this book back in the 80s, so I picked it up again. the last story arc I read was ok. Nothing super spectacular, but better than the last arc which was not well regarded around here for retcons re: gwen stacy. The current happenings are the Civil War crossover, but I haven't read any of those issues just yet

-X-Men: I'm picking up Astonishing, Uncanny, and regular X-Men. Astonishing I've enjoyed quite a bit. Uncanny has been OK... since I've come back it's mostly been concerned with events before and after the House of M crossover, which I would grade a C. The adjectiveless X-Men book I know is not well regarded around here currently, and I haven't been getting into it much either. I still have it on my list but it's not one of the books I read as soon as it gets in.

-Books of Doom: there's a cool Dr. Doom miniseries going on right now.

-New Avengers: It's decent. Doesn't blow my doors off but it's worth the couple of bucks each month.

-Young Avengers: I think this is a really interesting book, and it's pretty well regarded around here. Worth giving a shot.

-She-Hulk, Spider-girl, The Thing: I have not read these, but they seem to get rave reviews from the other members here.

[karik]

Now that I finished reading the whole thread... I'm going to add Runaways to my list, I keep hearing about how great it is, so why not?

Is Exiles good? I have heard good things about it here, but what's the basis of the book?

[Expletive Deleted]

Is Exiles good? I have heard good things about it here, but what's the basis of the book?Did you ever see the TV show SLIDERS? It's kind of like that, but with superheroes.

[Cactusakic]

Now that I finished reading the whole thread... I'm going to add Runaways to my list, I keep hearing about how great it is, so why not?

Is Exiles good? I have heard good things about it here, but what's the basis of the book?

Good choice with Runaways, you wont regret it. I still urge you to add Daredevil as well, but thats your choice.

As I mentioned above, Exiles is good. It's very good.
A VERY basic breakdown of it is:
A bunch of mutants from various different realities travel through many more realities fixing things that should/should'nt have happened.
As someone has already mentioned it is like the show Sliders or Quantum Leap but with super-powered mutants.
The current World Tour arc is pretty sweet. The group are travelling through many of the alternate Marvel universes (New Universe, 2099, Squadron Supreme, Future Imperfect and...erm Heroes Reborn)
Well worth a look.

[sschroeder]

I would have recommended Young Avengers too, but he expressed interest in collections, and I don't think the first volume of the series is out yet in paperback. There is a HC version though. But this is a series to look for however you want to read it.