Getting back into Marvel: Start at House of M, Civil War or somewhere else?

[Drakonnen]

So recently I started trying to get back into Marvel comics as I've been more of a DC person lately.

I used to follow the X-Men books and some Spiderman loosely, though I know my fair share of the Marvel universe.

I started reading House of M thinking it would be a good place to jump back into Marvel, but I've had a hard time getting into it.

So, would you all recommend jumping back in by reading the Civil War books instead and possibly going back to read House of M later, or should I stick with House of M and lead up to Civil War?

Or is there a different place people would suggest I jump in at?

Just to give some background, I primarily plan to focus on the X-books again.

[StoneGold]

The only thing you really need to know about HoM is that there are a lot less mutants than there used to be. Anything else that deals with HoM will give you a quick catch-up. Like the issue of New Avengers that came out today. Perhaps the most direct sequel to HoM as there's been so far. And it gives you a little refresher.

As it stands right now, the only thing you might need to pick up are the previously released parts of Civil War.



And Moon Knight. Just cuz it's badass.

[a-spidey]

would also start with some previous ishs before CW to catch up whats going on.

I've read especially the books 'road to civil war' from amazing spider-man

[Sean Whitmore]

Civil War is the ideal place for you to start. Because, whether you like the story itself or not, Marvel comics for quite a while are going to be in terms of "since Civil War".


SEAN

[DDM]

Skip House of M.

[agrich]

Saying you should read House of M is like saying you should read a bunch of Marvel Annuals or something. It's just a story. Its "impact" on the Marvel Universe is that a whole lot of mutants who didn't have their own comics anyway, or were lame for the most part, now don't have their abilities any more. A few you'd barely heard of (random members of X-Factor or something) don't have powers. Certain villains don't have their powers until some writer, like with Magneto, decides to use them in a story and give them back their powers. Big deal.

I'd read Civil War, because it's an entertaining story, but if you didn't, I'm sure you'd pick up what happened fairly quickly. Marvel's not in the business of having people not want to read their comics for fear of not knowing what's going on. There will be plenty of recaps, explanations, and indeed events that just summarize what happened in a word balloon or two. (e.g., "The government passed an act, some heroes got on board and some didn't, they fought about it for a while, and then an uneasy truce occurred.")

[Polarity]

I'd say Civil War since it is the set up for the MU coming in 2007. The x-books you can pick up at any time (since Civil War won't greatly affect them, try X-men #194, New X-men #33, arcs that are beginning and then backtrack through paperback). The same with Astonishing X-men, Uncanny X-men.
Then you have the Civil War "reboots" Thunderbolts #110, New Avengers #27, Mighty Avengers #1, Omega Flight #1.

[Mister Mets]

Civil War is a good place to start, as it's an intentionally accessible mini series, and most comic stores should have copies of every issue, or its various reprints.

[scottv]

I would say to pick up the main story line of Civil War. All of the other series just add tot he main story line. It will give you the main ideas and start you off on what is going to be happening after CW. Then if you have a comic shop near you go and look through some of the issues from the other series that are the tie ins for CW and if there are any that you like pick them up. Starting soon you will have all of the post CW issues that will go in their different directions so you are getting in at a good spot.

[Lord S]

Well if you're really interested in 'House of M', then it's a good idea to first check out 'Avengers Disassembled', (Avengers 500-503). Read the first arc of 'New Avengers' if you like, to familiarize yourself with the new team, and then jump into HoM, (avoid the tie-ins, except 'Fantastic Four').

'Civil War' isn't tough to follow...just pick up the first issue, but I do suggest avoiding the endless tie-ins. They are an enormous waste of money, except for the 'New Avengers' ones.

X-books are so-so. Don't know what's going on in the adjectiveless series, but 'Uncanny' is featuring a rather large story arc called 'The Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire'...(oh, excuse me...Shi'Ar :rolleyes:). It's essential to read 'X-Men: Deadly Genesis' before you embark on this storyline. It's a decent cosmic-ish tale IMO, so far.

If you like cosmic stuff, check out 'Annihilation'! Read the 'Prologue' issue, then there comes four, four-part minis: 'Silver Surfer', 'Nova', 'Super-Skrull', and 'Ronan', then the main series.

Personally, I thought the story would center around Thanos, but it doesn't...but if you do like him, then check out the following before 'Annihilation': starting with 'Marvel: The End', then follow his adventures as a good (but not goody good) guy in 'Thanos' 1-12. BTW, 'The End' is supposed to be out-of-continuity, but sets Thanos up directly for his 12-issue run. It wouldn't be a bad idea to check out 'Drax Earthfall' (Drax 1-4)...for a better understanding of how he fits into 'Annihilation'.

Can you tell I'm a cosmic fan, yet? :D

[NickThompson]

Providing you know vaguely who the main players are, I don't see any reason why you couldn't start straight from CW.

[RAman]

As a person who's just getting into reading Marvel Comics, I'd recommend just going with Civil War. I've read enough online about House of M to know what's going on.

[scottv]

House of M is a decent story in my opinion but besides the whole thing with a lot less mutants after it there really isn't much that you would need to worry about. They make a couple references to it in CW but nothing that is important.