Where To Start In Marvel Comics For Beginners

[@kendowlingkdj1]

The Jim Shooter Era is definitely my thing. 80's baby! That's when Marvel was king of the hill. For Spiderman, nothing beats Roger Stern's run in my opinion.

[@EvandroACruz]

Best Marvel age of all times.

[@RamManNo1]

Stern might be the best writer ever.

[@spaceknight793]

Marvel was never better overall than the Shooter era. But I also love the 15-cent era, great comics there too.

[@kyshowman6847]

Weirdest suggestion The Thing Two in one special comics. They often involve other heroes and characters spanning all levels of Marvel. And the fact that character wise, the Thing is very likable

[@RamManNo1]

Thing was hands down the best Marvel character in the 70s. Those Marvel 2in1s are way underrated!! Lots of stuff going on there

[@batboy9997]

I started in 1989. When the Marvel trading cards came out in 90, a whole new world exploded into existence for me. That made it very easy. Also, the rockstar artist era was the coolest.

[@RamManNo1]

Those Marvel trading cards are what got me into comics too!

[@ChillMonger]

As a new fan the overwhelming feeling is real. I think the great art era is appreciated from veteran readers. But a new fan isn't going to appreciate the pencils & inks. The colorists and computer filters that the new comics have, will appear better. Last Great Marvel Era is the go to. I think 2004 Astonishing X-Men is a perfect jumping point like Joe says

[@rickymcn1]

I think you're right. It's hard to appreciate the older stuff when it's a younger audience. I'm an older gentleman myself and I'll admit that the newer stuff looks better at a glance but I much prefer the artwork from 1980-2000. The newer stuff is too good which makes it feel sterile to me, like it was created by, well, a computer. Which it largely is.

[@dgeci]

I totally disagree. The old art is so ICONIC and dynamic. While all these comics with CGI images give me the same feeling than any bad movie with CGI sfx. Fake, lifeless, too realistic, generic, ...

[@Lancelogos]

I think coloring can make people think that new art is better. The old coloring technique can seem flat. I love it but the new comic readers I know can’t see why old art is great and I do think it comes down to coloring. I mean I LOVE the old art but it seems like the newer generation can’t see past that. Idk just a thought.

[@rickymcn1]

Picked up the Roger Stern Spidey omni recently. So good. It includes his Spectacular Spidey issues which is great. Just remember to buy second hand. Don't give money to companies who hate you.

[@bbbhauntedbasement]

I've been buying a few Mighty Marvel Masterworks I got Daredevil and it has collection 1 through 10

[@tlou2isntcanon]

Love Joe and The Breen. Best guests. Throw Uel in there and you got yo'self a stew!

[@rolanalberto3064]

Good recommends. I'll check on these, thanks fellas! I actually started in Marvel were mostly from the late 70s to early 90s. Starting with PUNISHER MAINLINE and WAR JOURNAL, IRON MAN and WEB OF SPIDER-MAN Annuals. Those were the books on the shelf when I was a kid (yeah, I'm old) And also the newstrip Spider-Man comics which were (I think) Buscema and Bagley (early) era.

[@justinarzola5782]

I usually start with a character or writer i like.

[@basementbrotherscollectibles]

Great video and recommendations. Sometimes people can look at what’s collected in an omnibus and start there.

[@scorpionwins6378]

I agree. The omnibus route is an amazing source, if you can manage to get your hands on one. OOP second hand copies tends to have an outrageous price attached to them.

[@31altair]

I hopped right into Busiek/Perez Avengers when I started a just a few years back great place to start had no problems 👍 one of the best 90s Comic runs IMO

[@matthewward2312]

This is a great idea for a video Wes! Well done and going to listen to this while grilling in a few 😎

[@a.block.of.tofu.]

I always find it kind of funny when people say comics have gone downhill since the 90's, mostly because I have a very hard time getting into comics from before 2000. For me I started reading in the early 2000's with Ultimate Spider-man and Grant Morrisons Batman, and Jonathon Hickman in just the past 10 years or so has written some of the best comics I have read with the amazing build up to Secret Wars, and now more recently with HoX/PoX.

[@EvandroACruz]

Start with Silver Age Stan Lee.Marvel has a less messed up continuity of the DC.I don't recommend starts with post 2000's comics.

[@AL-ws5yi]

Great video! I can show this to anyone wanting to get into Marvel comics.

[@juuso7792]

Great suggestions! It was nice to see Stern Cap mentioned, something not a lot of people highlight but it was my introduction to Cap so I have a soft spot for it

[@thecartoonsthatmadeus4]

Man you guys brought back so many memories with this one

[@GreekLibra1984]

This video was incredible and perfect for someone just returning to comics after a long time hiatus. That's the main reason I purchase more Marvel Epic Collections and DC Essential Collections more then anything. Thank you so much. I can't wait to see your video on where to start with DC.

[@benevolentremnant2949]

So many good suggestions here. Thanks guys. Daredevil: Born Again is one of my favorites of all time. Definitely agree with Joe on that one.

[@michaelhorning6014]

Marvel Unlimited subscription. I've read all the early Marvel issues through about 1968. I'm currently reading all three Spider-Man comics (Amazing, Spectacular, and Marvel Team-Up) up to 1979 so far. I will go back and read FF, Avengers, and X-Men after I finish Spider-Man.

[@scorpionwins6378]

That's outstanding man. I admire your dedication. For me nothing comes close to Marvel silver-age/bronze age. I'm currently reading X-Men starting with Kirby and heading into the Claremont run. The storytelling and artwork are simply divine. I love it!

[@hellodrjeckyl]

80's to early 90's is pinnacle Marvel. Everything has been down hill since. Love the art from that era. Maybe that's my opinion because thats when I got into comics in my child hood. Lately I've been picking up Might Marvel Masterworks trades which are great. They have different series from Stan Lee, Kirby and Ditko ranging from X-Men, Avengers, Hulk, Daredevil, Thor, Dr. Strange and more and they are 10 issues each trade for $15 each. Also epic collection trades are a great value.

[@Nadafingah]

Man, I do feel bad for people starting out in comics today. When I started, my neighbor lent both volumes of The Origins of Marvel Comics (yeah, I’m old). Those books were great. Each hero came with the origin story and a newer issue from 1968! I doubt local lcs would have it, but you might get lucky on eBay or Amazon. Your recommendations are great. That Shooter era was an embarrassment of riches. So many great books.

[@JordansMortalKombatAdven-xn3qo]

You know what, being introduced to a lot of these characters through the MCU’s Infinity Saga which, to me was the “golden” era of the MCU when everything was really good. I think I really want to get into all of these characters, even the Daredevil stuff as the Daredevil series on Netflix over the past decade was easily my favorite superhero tv series of the past decade because, it didn’t feel like a normal thrown together tv series, it took the material seriously and it felt like I was getting a 1 hour feature length movie daily for like 8 days straight or however many episodes it was. Man I want to go back and watch that show again now, anyways I will definitely be getting into these comics for sure.

[@andrewgonzalez2356]

I’ll come back and watch the rest later, but I plan on picking up the Charles Soule Daredevil Omnibus, and exploring from there. [I know Marvel picked up the Aliens license, so I’m looking into that too since they’ve been re-printing the old Darkhorse issues to Omnibus format.]

[@smoore6461]

This and your DC video are fantastic and very much the kind of thing I was looking for! Thanks so I much for both of these videos!

[@vicstf8432]

I expect yout to wear a Marvel t-shirt for the DC one. :P

[@TevyaSmolka]

Great job wes on how to get into marvel comics.

[@ericbreen4340]

Kudos to Joe for being the only one of us not wearing a DC Shirt for this Marvel Video 😁

[@scottdempster7705]

LOL!

[@jcoral1]

I couldn't have done it without you two!

[@ericbreen4340]

@@jcoral1 🤣🤣

[@stephentheshywarrior2759]

Great recommendations. Please do DC as well.

[@dgeci]

I have finally decided to start reading comics (I am from the 80's, I watched and read lots of Mangas... and playing Marvel Snap) and this video is REALLY helpfull. And I will focus on the 60's to 90's to start with. After 2000 it's no more the same feeling seems like to me. Thanks a lot for this macro video !!!

[@Bolbi145]

If kids in the 80’s could start Marvel without the internet or reading guide databases, what’s stopping people today from reading those Marvel stories?

[@johnfrost5268]

Issue prices upwards of $4? I remember fondly when comics cost 20 cents apiece... My keyboard, today, doesn't even come with a cents icon... haha

[@Bolbi145]

@@johnfrost5268 I mean the back issues

[@bdgcomics9905]

@@Bolbi145 there is an overwhelming amount of books and it is intimidating to even learn where to begin. Probably one of the biggest reasons

[@johnfrost5268]

@@Bolbi145 Yeah, I started reading comics in 72... I didn't need any kind of guide. I could get 5 comics for a buck though and you can't do that anymore.

[@Bolbi145]

@@bdgcomics9905 again that didn’t stop kids in the 80’s, so what’s stopping someone from picking up those very same books that they read?

[@unodestosdiaz2998]

reading marvel thru essential editions. Got ess xmen 1, 3-5, ess wolverine 1-2, and for art appreciation, got x-men gallery edition by thomas and adams (a beautiful thing to behold) looking to get ess punisher. ff by byrne and venom gallery ed.

[@danieltinnirello2013]

For me personally I started at the year of my birth, 1972, and work my way through. I just turned 50 on May 27, so I’m still going through a lot of back issues from Marvel. Probably the best era for Marvel was the 1980s, there were a lot of good stories written then. From the 1970s-2014 was when Marvel was good, nowadays it’s just hit and miss, mostly miss. There are tons of back issues to read and collected editions. The Ultimate Universe I thought was pretty good to. It’s really up to the reader where to start. Thanks for the recommendations. Where I live, in Cleveland, Ohio, there are three local comic book shops that will probably have back issues or collected editions of the stories or runs that you mentioned. Each one has a good selection of back issues or collected editions from Marvel. Anyway, thanks again for the recommendations.

[@AL-ws5yi]

Happy belated birthday!

[@danieltinnirello2013]

@@AL-ws5yi Thank you!

[@priestmorrison6564]

!!AGE OF APOCALYPSE!!! *jeyeah(you said Ultimates But I can't Add to my List. It is ALREADY too Long!!)

[@danieltinnirello2013]

@@priestmorrison6564 Age of Apocalypse is a good story to be added to the list as well. The Ultimates, Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men are pretty good to.

[@kevingallagher188]

Started by reading the pocket books of ff, doc strange, spiderman, and hulk

[@mazthespaz1]

FF 1-57, all John Byrne FF, Spidey 1-10, 90-150, McFarlane Spidey, X-Men 1-15, GSX, 97-184, Avengers 1-15, 97-100, Perez issues, Thor every issue up to 150, Walt Simonson Thor, Conan 1-25, Gene Colan Dracula, Frank Brunner Dr Strange. Starlin Capt Marvel, Hulk up to 150, then Byrne Hulk, Weapon X run in MCP

[@jeanpoillet4805]

In France we have beautiful integral year by year, I have very enjoy fantastic four years 61-62 and 63 and Spiderman years 62-63 to 73

[@spaceknight793]

Honestly, I can't imagine anyone trying to start with any M/DC comics published after 2010. Probably best to start with 1970s if they love art, or 1980s if they love story. After they fall in love with those, only then should they go back to the Silver or Golden Age comics. After they read everything up to 2010, only then should the venture forward--and with great caution. My suggestions for when/where to start: Fantastic Four 232-295 (Byrne run). Daredevil 168 (Miller Elektra) onward. X-Men GS 1/XM 94 (the all-new era) Spider-man 39 (Romita begins). If they don't love those runs, I don't think they're gonna like much of the rest.

[@g041583]

Actually, which stories would you recommend from both Marvel and DC for people that are not in the comics environment??

[@XangoFwet]

For Black Panther fans? Start with Christopher Priest’s Marvel Knights Run in 1998. You can then either go back with Don McGregor’s run starting from Jungle Action #6 OR Start Reginald Hudlin’s Run in 2007 i believe. But you ABSOLUTELY MUST start with Christopher Priest’s run.

[@positiveproductions6699]

Do you mind doing one of these for Batgirl specifically because I know Batgirl year one is a good place to start but it's out of print as far as I know currently anyway

[@bdgcomics9905]

Interesting good video as someone who started reading comics during covid times this is an awesome video, thank you!

[@Wes_From_TC]

Glad you liked it!

[@johnfrost5268]

I think a great place to start reading comics would be to read the Image 1963 series and take it from there. You'll have an idea of where you want to start, anyway. I love the older comics... printed on newsprint... 20 cents an issue... great stuff. I quit buying comics after they went to 35 cents. I couldn't afford them and they started to change... I don't know what it was but something other than the price changed. Maybe I just out grew them.

[@RamManNo1]

Am I the only one who misses pre Frank Miller Daredevil? I mean, he’s alright now. But I miss when he wasn’t so broody constantly :/

[@valdnorc9xydr957]

I picked up Simonson's Thor run because of Beta Ray Bill, and it was a good buy.

[@Israel-Hands]

Id definitely like a starting guide for Hulk and She-Hulk. Theuve really been let down on the big/small screen.

[@Markusousa]

Thanks for the video. Can you try and do on also for DC? Thanks

[@Wes_From_TC]

That's the plan!

[@priestmorrison6564]

Age Of Apocalypse Xtinction Agenda Wolverine 87 Adamantium Pull Xforce when Cable Takes Over ALL the Way Till Storm An Psylocke {STOP DERE!!} Matt Fraction Iron Man Wolverine I THINK 255 Versus Reavers ....and, Bishop Series 1 Fer Flavor (That is 6 Months of Comics, Enjoy)

[@ricobonifacio1095]

I wish they would reissue the 1982 G.I Joe comics. I have only a few from when I was a kid, one is the infamous Causalities of war. But they weren't "official marvel comics" I would assume because they are not included in their unlimited digital comics, and haven't been reissued by the company. It's a shame.

[@smoore6461]

Im trying to rememer, i read moon knight a lot back in tge 80s and 90s but cant remener the series or the writers/artists i really enjoyed too.

[@terryhoknescomicbookshisto6482]

I really liked when Marvel reprinted all the Amazing Spiderman earliest issues in order back in 1993 - Id love to see Marvel reprint all the classic 60s titles issue by issue but priced cheap to attract new readers and more importantly young readers - first 20 issues for example of ASM, FF, X-Men, Avengers, etc. I dont see how generally any new young reader can walk into a comic shop and even start - kids dont have $5 for 1 comic and jumping in on the 3,000th appearance of the key characters is awkward

[@Rorysammy]

Wrong. You want to start with Darkhawk #1 and Sleepwalker #1.

[@RamManNo1]

Speedball #1 too. For good measure.

[@suitedcollectibles8232]

So I’m sort of new in comics so there’s some characters I’ve read a fair bit about and have already gotten into but theirs one I want get into but don’t know where to start and that’s ghost rider, does anyone know what series would be the best?

[@_TheViewer_]

Thanks for the idea and effort you guys put into it, currently planning alongside the video. Marvel Unlimited really offers every of the mentioned issues, going to be an awesome time, Greetings from Berlin !

[@Wes_From_TC]

Glad we can help!!!

[@_TheViewer_]

@@Wes_From_TC t Maybe I catch you on time for a question, where should I start if I want the most Marvel-Entity Stories ? Thanks in advance !

[@Zillawill]

I mainly read manga so I sorta jump in and out of comics maybe once a year or even couple years, one of main issues I've always had is while on paper the crossover events sounds cool its stupid that it isn't either self contained to its own separate issues or just part of the main series (depending on the crossover event), I also don't always enjoy how the writers, artists etc change or at least don't stick to how the current series is being drawn, I remember couple years back reading a New 52 comic, and the artwork was great, I finish up the arc and all sudden it was like I was reading a completely different comic, the new art style to me was horrendous Also for love of god stop with the 10000's of one shot comics, just put them all in a collected volume or something if you want to sell them

[@eduardotorres6108]

I thought Dok is #1 Marvel fan 🤯

[@mardirosekshian5330]

Total newbie here..How do we know if it's a original issue or a reprint? -Thanks

[@kidicarus2215]

This information is in the indica. It will tell you if it's a first printing, 2nd print, or reprint, and when it was first published.

[@brandonaguayo3142]

Is there a way to buy old 1st appearance re print issues? Like I wanna read issues 1 Of the x men and FF can I buy reprints that don’t come in collection books

[@Wes_From_TC]

X-Men #1 has been reprinted many times over the years.

[@johnfrost5268]

Marbles, pinball, and comic books... All gone.

[@johnfrost5268]

It's a shame kids won't be going to the corner drug and spinning the rack in frantic searches for their favorites... Nope, never going to happen, not again. Comics and kids no longer belong together. I blame the world for this... I miss newsprint. Probably, more than anything.

[@boytype]

"Where To Start In Marvel Comics For Beginners" - DONT 😁

[@jbbrolic]

Like it or not the greatest superhero stories were published by Marvel and DC, regardless of how awful the companies and the bad fan fiction they now publish are.

[@boytype]

@@jbbrolic That is only true if you totally discount all media from every nation other then the US. A lot of great (many would argue greater) stories exist and a lot of them end strong, instead of turning into poorly made woke trash if you keep reading.

[@1234_Flux]

Where To Start . . . . . . . . don't.

[@tlou2isntcanon]

The Conan the Barbarian Original Marvel Years run. Year after year of brilliance from Thomas and Buscema.

[@alexandrefrauches132]

Good recommendations. In my opinion, the best start points for the Marvel heroes are: Fantastic Four - Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's run; Mark Waid run or Jonathan Hickman's run The incredible Hulk - The Stan Lee and Jack Kirby short run; Hulk Gray Spider man - Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and John Romita's Sr run (also Bendis Ultimate run as honorable mention) Thor - Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's run; Walter Simonson run; Jason Aaron's run Iron Man - Extremis storyline Captain America - Ed Bubaker's run X-men - Giant Size X-men 1 and Chris Claremont's run; Grant Morrison run; Joss Wheadon's run; House of X and Powers of X Doctor Strange - Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's run Inhumans - Paul Jenkins Marvel Knights run Daredevil - Frank Miller's run; Daredevil Yellow Black Panther - Christopher Priest run; Reginald Hudlin first arc "Who is the black panther" Avengers - Kurt Busiek and George Perez run; Bendis New Avengers

[@jcoral1]

I LOVE that Paul Jenkins Marvel Knights Inhumans run!

[@alexandrefrauches132]

@@jcoral1 Same. Even though I prefer the Inhumans more as supporting characters in other books like F4, Paul Jenkins run, alongside saladin ahmed Black Bolt book, was one few exemp0les that show that the royal family has the potential to work as lead characters in their own stories.

[@jcoral1]

@@alexandrefrauches132 Definitely! My suggestion for the letters column in that Black Bolt run being called The Bolt Print was printed as a runner up in issue 2 or 3 of that as well.

[@purhso8721]

when you say the fantastic four stan lee and kirby's run do you mean all 100 books or the epic collection that has (1-18)?

[@alexandrefrauches132]

@@purhso8721 I mean all the 100 books including some of the duo best stories like the Inhuman saga and Galactus trilogy.

[@alexandrechampagne4948]

I disagree with the walter starting point for thor. If you really enjoy thor. First time he loose a fight and you want people to start there…

[@eroane]

❤❤❤ Thank you for this video as I just bought some Marvel Masterworks of the comic: The Uncanny X Men and Spider-Man and Daredevil…^___~❤❤❤❤ I’m psyched to start reading each of them❤❤❤❤

[@ComicsCompanion]

Very much enjoyed the discussion. Thanks!