Where to start with Avengers?

[Assemble]

and Gambit.... X-Men volume 2: 1-current...

[XPac]

It's a great overview and also a great story but I honestly would never recommend that one to a new reader since it references a lot of Avengers history as well as using multiple versions of the same characters. Even as an Avengers fan who knew a good deal about them, I found Forever to be a bit hard to get through at times.

I agree about Avengers Forever... that was clearly made specifically for hardcore Avengers fan.

It's a great story, but a terrible starting point for a newbie Avengers reader. You've got retcons, multiple Pyms, characters from alternate future realitiers... I don't think you can completely understand, let alone apprecite the complexity of the story unless you're very familiar with Avengers history.

[Zeke0990]

Alright then, I think I got a good idea of what I will be starting with. First of all, thanks a lot, didn't think I would get so many great responses so quick. Now is there a good site to go and buy a lot of comics, in bulk. I always just went to my local comic book store for DC stuff. I don't mind spending a good amount of money for a lot of comics, I just want to get a good deal. I checked on ebay, but it was hard for me to find stuff in lots. Thx again!

- ZeKe -

[Tobias March]

The Kang Time and Time Again trade gives a few examples of classic Avengers stories that'll give you a sense of history for the team.

Also the Mansion Invasion book. I can't recall the title.

And here's Gambit!

[B. Kuwanger]

I'd say "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" and vol. 1 #181 are good starting points for the old Avengers (you can always work your way backwards), and New Avengers for current Marvel. EMH is my favorite Avengers story.

[Zeke0990]

Alright cool, well like I said, where is a good place to buy comics in bulk like this? Thx for the help guys!

[Maestro]

Amazon.com always has discounts. You can buy New Avengers Vol. 1-7 and well as stuff like House of M, Civil War, and Secret Invasion

[Zeke0990]

Now when i find comics, but it says they are in paperback, does it mean it is the whole series in one book? If so does it still have the art?
Here are some examples of what I am talking about.
Civil War
House of M
Avengers Disassembled

[Maestro]

umm, the only difference between hardcovers and paperbacks are the size and the covers. they all collect full story arcs. Hardcovers are bigger, more expensive, and of course, have hard covers.

also, here is the reading order of the Avengers books:

Avengers Disassembled
Secret War
New Avengers Vol. 1: Breakout
New Avengers Vol. 2: The Sentry
New Avengers Vol. 3: Secret and Lies
House of M
New Avengers Vol. 4: The Collective
Civil War
New Avengers Vol. 5: Civil War
Mighty Avengers Vol. 1: The Ultron Initiative
New Avengers Vol. 6: Revolution
Mighty Avengers Vol. 2: Venom Bomb
New Avengers Vol. 7: The Trust
New Avengers: Illuminati
Secret Invasion

[FoolCard]

The thing is, you can "catch up" with the Avengers without a lot of work. It's a bunch of super heroes that team up. Yeah, there's more to it, but you get the drift. Not really that complex, continuity-wise. Pick up any trade that looks fun of the Busiek run, and you'll see what it's all about. There's been roster changes, etc., but again, it's a group of super heroes, and to be an Avenger is a great honor in the Marvel Universe.

Avengers continuity hasn't really been that involved until Bendis took over. Read Avengers Dissasembled, than catch up on all the New Avengers stuff (check out the trades from the library, if you can. It's light reading to say the least), and you'll be good to go. Read Civil War, too, of course, than get into catching up with Mighty Avengers.

It might sound odd, but I reccomend renting the "ultimate avengers" animated movie. It's not true to 616, but there's some great extras that talk about the evolution of the Avengers.

[Rev. Calibos]

It's a great overview and also a great story but I honestly would never recommend that one to a new reader since it references a lot of Avengers history as well as using multiple versions of the same characters. Even as an Avengers fan who knew a good deal about them, I found Forever to be a bit hard to get through at times.

I think that's where I had my disconnect....I'm a long time Avengers fan and to me the series was just 12 issues of awesomeness that explained a lot of those nagging inconsistencies in a very satisfactory manner.

I'm not taking into account that this fella might never have heard of any of this......which WOULD make for a challenging read, lol.

The reason I thought of it, even for a newer reader, is the fact that if you want a crash course in Avengers history, THIS is the way to go. Perhaps hand in hand with a few volumes of Essential Avengers......

Come to think of it, another book that really captured what the Avengers is all about:

West Coast Avengers.

Pick up the mini and the first few issues of the regular series. Hawkeye leads a brand new team of Avengers on the Left Coast. Hawk CONSTANTLY was in Cap's ear about running the Avengers telling him that he could do a much better job. Well, Clint, here's your chance.....lol.

[Filiab]

I just finished reading Avengers Disassembled, enjoyed it very much. Was my first comic I've read in a VERY long time.

I like the Avengers series very much, my question is, is the New Avengers still running?

Anything people could recommend with this style? I would also like to get into the Cap America stuff.

For Wolverine, not really sure where to begin.

Thank you so much for the help.

[Assemble]

yup. Issue 48 just came out. I recommend you pick up all of the issues out so far.

Read House of M, no matter what anyone tells you, it's not that bad.

Once you catch up, read the Secret Invasion.

Also, try to find Mighty Avengers, most issues of it and New Avengers are in trade.

[Last_Avenger]

yup. Issue 48 just came out. I recommend you pick up all of the issues out so far.

Read House of M, no matter what anyone tells you, it's not that bad.

Once you catch up, read the Secret Invasion.

Also, try to find Mighty Avengers, most issues of it and New Avengers are in trade.

And also filiab as far as reading order of the trades:

Vol. 1-3 of NA
House of M
Vol. 4-5 of NA
Civil War
Vol. 6-(8 or 9, not sure how many there are) of NA AND Mighty Avengers Trades
FINALLY Secret Invasion


That is all essential reading. Mighty is essential for understanding Secret Invasion, as it follows Iron Man and his team from there on out when the "Mighty" and "New" team come back together in Secret Invasion.

[B. Kuwanger]

Captain America and New Avengers both begin a little while after Disassembled, best thing to do would be to get into the trades for both series. Also, the trades for Civil War and Secret Invasion. House of M isn't absolutely necessary to read but if you liked Disassembled you'd probably want to check it out.

Wolverine is tough because his stories either depend heavily on X-Men continuity or his own. I'd say just wait for his new book to start, around the time the film comes out.