Watcher Wednesday: Recommended Reading June 2012
With Watcher Wednesday, it’s all about introducing Marvel Comics to new audiences. Perhaps you’ve been catching the movies or tv shows of Marvel Studios. Maybe you’re a Disney fan and wondering what Marvel is really about and how it might fit in the company. This blog, and especially this post, is for you. Even if you’re a longtime fan of the comics, I thought I’d start recommending some stories to read once a month.
The Marvel app has made it really accessible to read comics. Every week there are featured free comics and discounts on several titles. But, where can one begin? What’s worth purchasing? Here’s a few suggestions…
- Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week
A couple months ago I wrote about this mini series that sets up the recent huge summer hit. It is just an excellent title to read through. The first issue is even free on the app! What I liked most about it is that it tied each of the Avengers movies together even further than the actual Avengers movie did. It really gives depth to Nick Fury as well. The artistry is terrific too.
- Avengers Vs. X-Men
This is the hot series of the summer. It’s the biggest teams of heroes in the Marvel universe and they’re pitted against each other. This event will change a lot in the Marvel universe, but there is a bit of history that is needed. If you’re a new reader to the comics, you may be confused on what exactly is going on, so be forewarned. But, if you want to see what will set up the rest of Marvel history, then this is the best group of comics to start off with.
It’s centered around what to do about something called the Phoenix Force, which has manifested itself in one of the X-Men. This member of the mutant team is also the hope of all mutants. See, the mutant population had been decimated, and they need more mutant births or they will go extinct. Since Hope, the Phoenix mutant, has arrived she has inadvertently caused some mutant births. But, the Phoenix Force is destructive, so the Avengers want to stop it. Chaos ensues. Read to find out more.
- Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man (Vol. 2)
Most of us know Spider-Man’s history pretty well. Peter Parker is bit by a radioactive spider and gets powers. He fights crime and makes jokes along the way. For Ultimate Comics it’s now a different story. This brand of Marvel is their version of a modern reboot. Peter Parker is in the main non-alternate universe, but if Marvel had done things differently it would have been Ultimate Comics’ alternate reality universe. Miles Morales is the new Spider-Man after Peter Parker sacrificed himself to save the world. He’s a very different web crawler, and if you catch up with the 11 issues soon you’ll be primed to catch the Spider-Men crossover of the summer. In this event, Peter Parker is going to meet Miles Morales. Marvel has declared it to be totally canon with both series, and that makes this event an interesting one.
Well, these few recommendations should keep anyone busy for a while in the summer season. And until next time, have a Marvel-ous day!
Murray the Bellhop has been with DAPs Magic Geeks Corner for several years now. He is a geek's geek. Knowledgeable about many things, he frequently shares his love of movies, comic books, and the comic book world with Geeks Corner.
