All images courtesy of Marvel Comics
By Aubrey Carr
With the ever-growing popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the buzz surrounding the recently released “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” comic books are finally receiving the wide-spread attention they deserve.
The only issue? Comic books can be unnecessarily hard to jump into. With thousands of different series, issues, volumes and events, diving in without a little help can be nearly impossible.
To help ease the burden for any newfound comic lovers, I have prepared a list of entry-level Marvel comic recommendations for fans of any genre.
If you like horror, try: Marvel Zombies (2005)
Written by Robert Kirkman of “The Walking Dead” fame, Marvel Zombies takes readers into a world where heroes have turned from saviors into flesh-eating monsters.
The story’s not quite as dark as the original “Walking Dead,” but something about seeing so many innocently beloved characters tearing each other apart is completely terrifying.
While the origin of the story’s zombie apocalypse stems from a previous comic (Ultimate Fantastic Four #21-23), this five-issue miniseries was written for anyone to pick up, regardless of previous Marvel knowledge.
If you like mystery, try: X-Factor (2005)
After a mysterious tragedy rips the X-Men of their powers, Multiple Man and his team of mutants come together to form X-Factor Investigations –– a detective agency determined to find the cause of their species’ decimation.
Taking obvious inspiration from “The X-Files,” the near-120-issue comic is a superhero twist on a classic whodunnit.
While this series does require some previous X-Men knowledge to fully enjoy, as long as you know the mutants have been depowered, you should be good to go.
If you like romance, try: Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane (2015)
In search of an easygoing and heartfelt romance? Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane is the comic for you.
This book is not your typical Spider-Man story, focusing less on the wall-crawling arachnid and more on his infamous love interest, Mary Jane Watson.
Aimed at a young adult audience and a manga-inspired art style, this is the perfect pick for someone who isn’t ready to take the full plunge into comics.
If you like Sci-Fi, try: Star Wars (2015)
Starring Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia, Star Wars fills in the gap between “Star Wars” and “The Empire Strikes Back” with an unseen look into how the Rebels fended off the Galactic Empire.
If you are a fan of the Star Wars franchise, or just a science-fiction fan looking to get into comics, this is a must read. Don’t worry, you don’t even need to have watched the movies to enjoy.
If you like fantasy, try: Inhumans (1998)
Centered around the royal family of a vaguely-human-like alien race, Inhumans is a political twist on the fantasy genre.
With its fantastical tales of superpowered beings used as a sugar-coated look into the monarchical world of its protagonists, the comic feels reminiscent of an early “Game of Thrones.”
The entire plot is self-contained in a collected 12-issue miniseries, making it a perfect introduction to the world of Marvel’s Inhumans.
If you like comedy, try: Hawkeye (2012)
With a perfect mix of emotion and comedic timing, Matt Fraction’s 2012 Hawkeye run was near perfection. If you have ever wondered what the Avengers are up to when they aren’t saving the world, this book is for you.
The comic investigates the homelives of Clint Barton (Hawkeye) and his partner-in-crime Kate Bishop (also Hawkeye) as they fight off a gang of tracksuit-wearing mobsters.
It sounds silly, but that’s because it is meant to be. The story is simple, ridiculous and easy-going fun.
