New to Marvel comics! I need help!!

[TheWink]

I know there's a recommendations thread, but this doesn't really fit. I'm just picking up comics again, I haven't read them since I was really really young. And even then I didn't really retain a lot of the story line continuity and character traits and so on. Marvel seems like this giant intimidating entity and I just don't know where to start at all. What are some good collected editions of comics for me to get the crash course in Marvel? I would list some specific characters, but I just don't know any specifically that I can say. Besides the X-Men, but even then, the line up is always changing. So, basically, what issues should I start with? And I don't want to just hop into the new ones and get the jest of the whole thing, I really want to know the origins and major story arcs. But please, don't tell me to find any specific issues because I have not the time nor the money for that. Collected editions only please. But then again, any advice helps!!

[Memmorio]

I know there's a recommendations thread, but this doesn't really fit. I'm just picking up comics again, I haven't read them since I was really really young. And even then I didn't really retain a lot of the story line continuity and character traits and so on. Marvel seems like this giant intimidating entity and I just don't know where to start at all. What are some good collected editions of comics for me to get the crash course in Marvel? I would list some specific characters, but I just don't know any specifically that I can say. Besides the X-Men, but even then, the line up is always changing. So, basically, what issues should I start with? And I don't want to just hop into the new ones and get the jest of the whole thing, I really want to know the origins and major story arcs. But please, don't tell me to find any specific issues because I have not the time nor the money for that. Collected editions only please. But then again, any advice helps!!

I'm brand new myself friend. I started with Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon and I haven't looked back. It was amazing and got me into the Marvel universe in a real way. That would be my suggestion.

[PupsOfWar]

The DVD collections are the best bang-for-your-buck in terms of back-issues, short of piracy.

Things like this:
http://www.amazon.com/40-Years-The-A...+of+spider-man
look really expensive, but contain hundreds upon hundreds of issues, making them the only way to get comics at roughly Silver-Age per-issue prices without relying on clearances or bargain-bins.

They're also pretty thorough and are a good way to examine the history of it all.

This Fantastic Four one:

http://www.amazon.com/GIT-Corp-90001...fantastic+four

is available for much less $ than the others due to being replaced by a newer edition: besides the team itself it would introduce you to a lot of the less famous but significant players in the Marvel Universe.

Galactus and his Heralds
the Kree
the Inhumans
Silver Surfer
Black Panther and Wakanda
Annihilus
The modern incarnation of Namor and Atlantis
Doctor Doom and Latveria
the Watchers

all had their first-appearances there. So that's what I'd recommend if you want to get a sense of the bedrock of the setting.

There are also Omnibuses of major runs by prominent writers.
This one collects Grant Morrison's New X-Men, for instance:

http://www.amazon.com/New-X-Men-Omni...morrison+x-men

[doglee80]

The DVD collections are the best bang-for-your-buck in terms of back-issues, short of piracy.

Things like this:
http://www.amazon.com/40-Years-The-A...+of+spider-man
look really expensive, but contain hundreds upon hundreds of issues, making them the only way to get comics at roughly Silver-Age per-issue prices without relying on clearances or bargain-bins.

They're also pretty thorough and are a good way to examine the history of it all.

This Fantastic Four one:

http://www.amazon.com/GIT-Corp-90001...fantastic+four

is available for much less $ than the others due to being replaced by a newer edition: besides the team itself it would introduce you to a lot of the less famous but significant players in the Marvel Universe.

Galactus and his Heralds
the Kree
the Inhumans
Silver Surfer
Black Panther and Wakanda
Annihilus
The modern incarnation of Namor and Atlantis
Doctor Doom and Latveria
the Watchers

all had their first-appearances there. So that's what I'd recommend if you want to get a sense of the bedrock of the setting.

There are also Omnibuses of major runs by prominent writers.
This one collects Grant Morrison's New X-Men, for instance:

http://www.amazon.com/New-X-Men-Omni...morrison+x-men

Good Lord!!!! I didn't know they made those DVDs!! Those will help me out a whole lot. I haven't read comics since the early 90's and I'm trying to get back into it as well.

[Iron Maiden]

Good Lord!!!! I didn't know they made those DVDs!! Those will help me out a whole lot. I haven't read comics since the early 90's and I'm trying to get back into it as well.

I have the Fantastic Four one and an Avengers one that has "Disassembled" and some of the lead in issues. The one thing I like about them, esp the FF one is that they scanned in the ads and the letters pages. The early ones are a hoot. But the drawback is the quality is not as good as the digitized comics. You can also try out the Marvel Digital section and see what you like there

For trades, a site a recommend because they have a lot of good discounts is http://www.talesofwonder.com/ I've been a customer for many years and picked up a lot of good tpbs and Masterworks editions

[Ron Cuthbert]

I'd recommend Marvels, by Alex Ross (a) and Kurt Busiek (w) it's a wonderful tour of the Marvel Universe.

Honestly, you've picked a good time to get back into Marvel because Marvel NOW! is shaking everything up and all new storylines are starting. Just pick a book you think seems cool, and find out where the writer's run started and you'll be caught up in no time. There's plenty of cool, classic stories to read too but getting into current events, I feel, is more pertinent.

Feel free to PM me ant any time and I'll help you out :)

[BigT]

If you're into digital check out www.comixology.com, they carry every major publisher except Dark Horse. Their comics can be viewed through apps on Apple and Android devices or on their website. They are basically the go to place for digital comics and you can find some free issues and they allow you to preview a few pages of any comic you might be interested in. Marvel has $0.99 sales on comixology every Monday and Friday and you will often see sales pop up on holidays or just in the middle of the week. You could also check out the Marvel Unlimited Digital Comics http://marvel.com/digital_comics/unlimited. It's basically a yearly subscription to stream comics on your computer, they have over 10,000 streaming.

I prefer to use comixology because of it's quality and accessibility on my iPad.

[nike13]

I just started getting back into Marvel too, right now I'm sticking with these three titles:

All-New X-Men: has the original X-Men I knew in the current universe
Deadpool: Never read anything of his before but hilarious
Hawkeye: Surprisingly good with nice sarcastic humor

Since I was an X-Men only girl originally (was a 1 comic per week limit) I can honestly say you don't need to know anything about Deadpool or Hawkeye to keep up with what's going on right now.

[Centipede Damascus]

First, let me say, comics definitely can seem really dense and intimidating, but you really can just jump in on most series and they'll catch you up on what you need to know as you go along!

Anyhow, two series I would recommend to any newbie would be Hawkeye (issue #1 can be purchased digitally here) and Avengers Assemble (starting with issue #9, can be purchased digitally here) (Of course, they're also available at your local comic book store). They're both fun, well-written series with self-contained stories. Check 'em out!

[doglee80]

Man, you guys are awesome!! Thanks for the help. I've missed out on SOOOOO much! Lol. What are some of the go-to TPBs I should get?

Edit:I'm interested in pretty much anything and everything Marvel.

[Cap10nate]

Man, you guys are awesome!! Thanks for the help. I've missed out on SOOOOO much! Lol. What are some of the go-to TPBs I should get?

Edit:I'm interested in pretty much anything and everything Marvel.

Here are some of my favorites

Some of my favorite Avengers Stories came from the late 90s/early 2000s
- Ultron Unlimited - (Vol 3, Issues 0,19-22) by Kurt Busiek - Definitive Ultron tale
- Kang Dynasty - (Vol 3, Issues 41-55) by Kurt Busiek - Potentially my favorite Avengers story arc
- Red Zone - (Vol 3, Issues 64-70) by Geoff Johns - Excellent story
- New Avengers: Breakout (Vol 1, Issues 1-6) by Bendis

Captain America
- Winter Soldier Saga - (Vol 5 1-9,11-14) by Brubaker
- Death of Captain America - (Vol 5 25-42) by Brubaker
- Captain America: Man out of Time - Miniseries by Mark Waid - Great story

Cosmic
- Annihilation - One of my favorite Marvel Stories - Even better with all the prequels that go along with the story - I think it can be bought in Annihilation Books 1, 2, and 3. the Nova prequel is very good.
- Annihilation: Conquest - Not as good as Annihilation but still a good story when you read the Conquest tie-ins as well.
- Thanos Imperative - Culmination of the Cosmic run that started with Annihilation. Great story.

Additional Recommendations
- Marvels - Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross - Great telling of the Marvel U and it captures a lot of the key events of the Marvel history.
- The Marvels Project - Ed Brubaker - Tells the story of the first heroes and it is very well done.
- Civil War - Major event
- Avengers Forever - Very good story by Busiek but better to read once you are familiar with the Marvel U because it has very obscure references.
- Ultimates - Volume 1 and 2 - Fantastic story from the Ultimate Universe - Doesn't tie to any of the normal Marvel Universe but a great story.

Older Stories
- Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt
- Secret Wars
- Avengers/Defender War - first of the heroes vs heroes stories.
- Fantastic Four - Coming of Galactus
- Kree/Skrull War
- Avengers - Under Siege
- Avengers - Korvac Saga
- Operation Galactic Storm

[doglee80]

Here are some of my favorites

Some of my favorite Avengers Stories came from the late 90s/early 2000s
- Ultron Unlimited - (Vol 3, Issues 0,19-22) by Kurt Busiek - Definitive Ultron tale
- Kang Dynasty - (Vol 3, Issues 41-55) by Kurt Busiek - Potentially my favorite Avengers story arc
- Red Zone - (Vol 3, Issues 64-70) by Geoff Johns - Excellent story
- New Avengers: Breakout (Vol 1, Issues 1-6) by Bendis

Captain America
- Winter Soldier Saga - (Vol 5 1-9,11-14) by Brubaker
- Death of Captain America - (Vol 5 25-42) by Brubaker
- Captain America: Man out of Time - Miniseries by Mark Waid - Great story

Cosmic
- Annihilation - One of my favorite Marvel Stories - Even better with all the prequels that go along with the story - I think it can be bought in Annihilation Books 1, 2, and 3. the Nova prequel is very good.
- Annihilation: Conquest - Not as good as Annihilation but still a good story when you read the Conquest tie-ins as well.
- Thanos Imperative - Culmination of the Cosmic run that started with Annihilation. Great story.

Additional Recommendations
- Marvels - Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross - Great telling of the Marvel U and it captures a lot of the key events of the Marvel history.
- The Marvels Project - Ed Brubaker - Tells the story of the first heroes and it is very well done.
- Civil War - Major event
- Avengers Forever - Very good story by Busiek but better to read once you are familiar with the Marvel U because it has very obscure references.
- Ultimates - Volume 1 and 2 - Fantastic story from the Ultimate Universe - Doesn't tie to any of the normal Marvel Universe but a great story.

Older Stories
- Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt
- Secret Wars
- Avengers/Defender War - first of the heroes vs heroes stories.
- Fantastic Four - Coming of Galactus
- Kree/Skrull War
- Avengers - Under Siege
- Avengers - Korvac Saga
- Operation Galactic Storm

I'm all over these! Thanks for the info, dude!