X-Men Reading Guide - How To Get Into X-Men

[@davidtaylor142]

As a fan of classic Spider-Man, the advice "it's ok to skip comics if they seem stupid or boring" is extremely relevant

[@kbbd6999]

Yeah cuz I decided to start reading both Spider-Man and X-Men from the first issue onwards, and early Spider-Man is at least weird enough to catch my attention most of the time but a lot of early X-Men was just boring.

[@davidtaylor142]

@@kbbd6999 early Spider-Man is fun until around issue 70 when it gets really good

[@zoomerjack5435]

The less said about the issue where it’s revealed Peter Parker was molested or the one where Gwen Stacy carried Norman Osborn’s twins, the better.

[@davidtaylor142]

@@zoomerjack5435 neither of those are classic technically but yeah

[@rickrivers2021]

Classic Spider-Man isn't boring though? Arguably the best Silver Age title

[@BlueTomorrows]

"It's okay to skip some storylines in Claremont's run" Yeah that makes sense "Like the issue where Storm gets kidnapped by Dracula" Okay well first of all how dare you

[@skinc4rver]

Some of the weirdo shit he pulled works so well. Nightcrawler going through the 9 layers of hell in one of the annuals is a fave of mine.

[@MagicMonkey96]

Now I REALLY want to read X Men lmao

[@Fulcrum506]

@@skinc4rverWHAT

[@rainingcomplete3018]

What about when Doom kidnaps Storm, and he is like, REALLY into her?

[@skinc4rver]

@@rainingcomplete3018 aw man almost forgot about that i own that one. doom likes a powerful woman, what can i say?

[@PotartOnYT]

The “X-Men are my comic book blind spot” to X-Men mega fan pipeline is super real.

[@davidtaylor142]

X-Men is arguably the only consistently good comic series

[@Mr.DelicateTouch]

@@davidtaylor142 Daredevil, Moon Knight, Pre-OMD Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Batman, Superman, Flash, and Green Lantern are some other consistently great comic series. Edit: Since this clearly needs to be clarified, I’m talking primarily about PRE-OMD Spider-Man comics, specifically in the 70’s, 80’s, early 90’s, and early 2000’s. The Clone Saga in the late 90’s and OMD in 2007 are when things got bad.

[@davidtaylor142]

@@Mr.DelicateTouch I'm a huge spidey apologist and even I won't touch OMD

[@TheKryce]

​@@davidtaylor142 Daredevil would like a word

[@Pearlem]

@@Mr.DelicateTouch Spiderman consistently good? Do you actually read the comics?

[@GenerationWest]

I just watched a noob become a X-Scholar right in front of my eyes, i'm so proud.

[@therodrigosaurio1093]

A *X-cholar* if you will

[@VasudevAnandcva]

Marcus becoming an X-men nerd was the outcome no one expected from him watching all the movies in a row

[@viderevero1338]

Jokes on you, I did. No one can resist the pull of X Men comics.

[@dajokahbaby1506]

It was his destiny as a black nerd

[@WCOBDisorder]

I've also been marathons them and just finished DoFP, so I guess I am the target audience of this video

[@CIII328]

@@dajokahbaby1506 As a black nerd who got into X-Men in the first grade, it really does feel like destiny 😭

[@theamazingspooderman2697]

​@@dajokahbaby1506 😂

[@Oxiitocyn]

It absolutely tickles me pink in every possible way that Marcus will literally read nearly a thousand issues of X-Men before he reads less than 100 chapters of Steel Ball Run.

[@dankerbell]

as someone who just got into jojo's, yeah, but he liked part 4 so it makes sense that he wouldn't be interested in peak, honestly though his jojo's video was actual insanity bro was just making stuff up about polnareff

[@shawerful5209]

"Fugo is the Calm one"

[@seanperrin8524]

No way his entirely subjective rant from YEARS ago is still living rent free in Jojo fans heads

[@arrgber]

​@seanperrin8524 look I'm a fan of Marcus, and as big as he is, he certainly influences a lot of people's opinions on media. And the Jojo video was released in one of the series' peaks of popularity, and contained TONS of disinformation, thus it's completely understandable why Jojo fans would still be annoyed about him turning people away from it while just making some bullshit up about a story he read 12 years ago through terrible fan scans

[@discomacabre1]

@@shawerful5209 its been four years bro let it go 😭

[@ItsMercerSantos]

“When the world needed him most” HE DELIVERED!!

[@Elvusmiw]

Way to subvert the catch phrase. It's better now

[@vincenta8652]

Marcus, as a fan of the show Where do I start reading the x man comics?

[@raine-time]

I love how Marcus mentions Emma Frost extensively in his X-Men vids

[@Dead_Hitori]

Best character

[@ianbyrne465]

Dont get me wrong Marcus... I like the movie and tv reviews... but this kind of video is why im subbed to you tbh. This, the fighting game video, the D&D videos, the warhammer video. I just really like seeing you talk about your passions and how to get newcomers into them.

[@acecutioner]

his clone wars video convinced me to watch it and now i'm a huge fan

[@bandawin18]

It's cool when a channel specializes in one thing but I also particularly enjoy channels that just talk about whatever tf they want. Makes em feel more authentic to hear someone else's genuine opinions on things they like

[@mr.happybear7058]

Any video where he says he’s not sure it will do well and he just wants to talk about shit he likes, I’ve rewatched a million times

[@tomasclutterbuck2038]

Real talk I got into fighting games thanks to Marcus. Got to silver in SFV and SF6 when I had never played before.

[@ivolucano2455]

Ong

[@JamesVermont]

I love how, no matter which superhero you read, the Grant Morrison run is always absolutely essential. Their Batman run is so good its crazy.

[@expendableindigo9639]

They’re the perfect bridge between the pretentious Vertigo Alan Moore comic world and mainstream edgy capeshit trash.

[@TheCatWithTheMAC]

I wish I loved New X-Men as much as everyone else. But Magneto’s storyline…..whoo boy. Complete character assassination right there.

[@RoseGarden17]

@@TheCatWithTheMACYeahhhh. Their magneto is not it, despite how solid the run is otherwise

[@gregoriomassa8529]

​@@TheCatWithTheMAC That was the reason i love the whedon run more

[@ammytersau]

​@@TheCatWithTheMACHe is straight up addicted to mind-altering drugs in those issues... I think it could've been made a little better with a few more issues of leadup to show him falling into that instead of it being a one-panel reveal

[@discountwolverine1658]

To add some bonus content, I’ll recommend some Wolverine comics. -Wolverine 1-4 by Chris Claremont -Marvel Comics Presents 72-84 (Weapon X) by Barry Windsor-Smith -Marvel Comics Presents 85-92 (Bloodhungry) by Peter David -Wolverine (Vol 2) 35-37 (Blood and Claws) by Larry Hama -Wolverine (Vol 2) 55-57 by Larry Hama -Wolverine (Vol 2) 119-122 (Not Dead Yet) by Warren Ellis -Wolverine/Gambit 1-4 by Jeph Loeb -Wolverine (Vol 3) 20-31 (Enemy of the State - Agent of Shield) by Mark Millar -Wolverine (Vol 4) 1-20 by Jason Aaron -Death of Wolverine 1-4 by Charles Soule

[@roydekock656]

I haven’t read Claremont’s X-men yet and have been kinda hesitant cuz I haven’t really read any 70s comics like at all, but I HAVE read his wolverine miniseries and absolutely love it and think it holds up perfectly fine. Is that an indication I’ll like his X-men run or is set wolverine miniseries more of an exception to the rule?

[@smashmaster521]

@@roydekock656 You'll like Claremont's X-Men if you liked his Wolverine miniseries. Heck, the storyline where the X-Men are trying to get home after their latest battle with Magneto is where Mariko Yashida is introduced as a love interest for Logan.

[@swoopmott]

All New, All Different Wolverine with Laura taking over the mantle also a very good Wolverine read. The costume especially is peak

[@Sayajin3321]

Nothing from the Greg Rucka run? The bar issue might be my favorite piece of Wolverine media ever, it just gives such a fascinating and nuanced look of Logan as a character.

[@michaelschafer9331]

Okay to add to that: Wolverine (2021) by Benjamin Percy went hard af . Issues 41-50 were crazy . Sabertooth goes after wolverines entire family

[@JosephGambit]

I manage a comic book store and I'm so glad you're trying to bring more people into X-Men. Ever since Hickman took over the title and the Krakoa era started, it's been the title I've been pushing on all my friends and customers

[@icedcapplord710]

This arc on the channel of Marcus becoming the world's biggest X-Men stan outside Comics Explained has been very entertaining. Can't wait for the Bad Movie Picture Show but it's just the Chuck Austen run

[@skeletorthepublicnuisance6707]

World’s biggest is a HUGE stretch

[@ricniks4619]

Ikr I wanna see this arc end by having these 2 nerds sit down and have a trivia of X-Men

[@RunnyElephant44]

Slowly to it youll see​@@skeletorthepublicnuisance6707

[@MusicoftheDamned]

I kept half-expecting him to troll by recommending the terrible Chuck Austen run despite rightfully warning people away from the very first run of _X-Men_ and especially from the sheer stupidity of the _Avengers vs. X-men_ crossover.

[@BeazerProductions]

@@MusicoftheDamnedUgh, AvX. The classic Marvel event where they have heroes fight but they can't write each side well enough to make it a compelling debate so they just make one of the groups of heroes act evil.

[@jayboman66]

You inspired me, I went to my local shop, bought all of the New Xmen run, got obsessed, now I’m signing up for a subscription.

[@Macapta]

I love that the one way he described Batman “sitting in his cave” is the one thing about the character that changed like last week.

[@noahfense]

Wait what happened?

[@yuvalgabay1023]

Now hes standing in a cave ​@@noahfense

[@tyrellturner5602]

@@noahfenseLast I heard Vandal Savage owns Wayne manor and Bruce and Damian are living in a Brownstone

[@Macapta]

@@noahfense He lost the cave and now bought a manor in central Gotham to renovate and turn into a new hub. Literally happened in the last issue.

[@l_rob420]

@@noahfensehe’s standing in the basement of his brownstone

[@rileyhawkins9777]

As someone who quite literally just picked up a comic for the first time a few days ago this video is truly a godsend. I’ve always stayed away from them because it just seemed so complicated and daunting and I had no idea where to begin. This was super helpful and I’d also love to see something like this for some of the other heavy hitters like Justice League, Spider-Man, The Avengers, Batman, etc.

[@cyberpuma99]

I can’t read

[@thejustabox]

It be like that

[@Crano_Brakebart]

Comics have pictures

[@cyberpuma99]

@@Crano_Brakebart thanks I wasn’t aware of that

[@spacejam8765]

Shut the front door. Comic's have pictures?😂

[@RisingJay]

jared, 19?

[@Ellohir]

Peter David's X-Factor Investigation is an incredible run! Much more grounded but also very personal and introspective at times. Very cool.

[@RedHavok7]

Im glad Steven gets to learn how to read X-Men. But what about the rest of us?

[@CoolioChicken]

look, let me have this. I felt very validated when he said my name lol

[@Fan-do8xy]

Yeah like Why he don't ask Antonio 😢

[@steventurous9000]

I was shook when he called me out

[@StevetheNPC1337]

I was like... waitaminute.

[@idontzucc]

bro I was shocked when he called me out

[@StarkMaximum]

This is such a cool video; not just because it's a nice, concise intro to X-Men, but because it's so cool that you went from having very little interest in X-Men, only reading their comics for context for a video series on the movies, to being enough of an X-Men superfan with strong opinions on how to best take in the story that you can make a video like this. It's really inspiring and helps show that getting into comics isn't as bad as it seems, because for all the reasons you describe, "X-Men" as a whole is one of the hardest. It's like following a soap opera that's been going for multiple decades; yeah there's a ton of backlog to get through, but when you get current and you see that moment where Augustus Thrupp comes back for the first time since season 6 which aired fourteen years ago, and you _know_ Augustus Thrupp and you kinda thought you'd never see him again and yet here he is, being the mastermind of the current plot and actually looking kinda badass and you just feel rewarded for being invested that long ago and getting paid off now.

[@leftistdegeneratejs]

I love how much new x men media we’ve gotten ever since marvel bought back the rights, it just feels right to have marvels best team back

[@Shoulderpads-mcgee]

We’re so back!

[@roydekock656]

If only the fantastic four will come like that too

[@leftistdegeneratejs]

@@roydekock656 it will once the movie gets closer to release just trust

[@darkhorsedan]

So glad you mentioned X-Force/X-Statix, it's some of my favourite X-men adjacent comics!

[@ButtonedUpBailey]

My boyfriend is a HUGE fan of the X-Men comics (though not the movies) and I wanted to know what the hype was all about. I was almost thinking of just going through them all chronologically, which would’ve taken forever, thank god you released this guide just in time 😂

[@soandsogaming7498]

These are the kinds of videos you do that I love. I hope you consider doing more for other comic characters or do more videos talking about comics in general!

[@dajokahbaby1506]

If you can’t afford it. I recommend going to lib gen, especially for the older X-Men comics as lib gen has actual, original comic book scans rather than whatever Marvel uses that causes the colors to be obnoxiously bright. I know not everyone cares about that, but I think that’s like the comic book equivalent of adding a modern, cinematic blue filter to an older movie, and it just makes the art look way worse, too. EDIT: Just make sure you have a cbr/cbz reader or something (there’s apps for it if you’re on mobile), as that’s what the comics are all stored as. You could also just extract all the images from the cbr/cbz file if you have a file extractor.

[@gizzardgizzard3583]

torrenting too :)

[@b_delta9725]

this is the best option for almost anyone outside of the US as well

[@3n3my33]

seriously, Marvel makes all their classic comics look like garbage, it's really sad

[@dajokahbaby1506]

@@3n3my33 What’s doubly annoying is that it’s probably wayyy cheaper to just reprint them all in newsprint like the originals instead of the newer glossy paper

[@3n3my33]

@@dajokahbaby1506 I think more modern comics ought to do that too. Single issues are way too expensive. I got some issues of Shonen Jump from Japan, and it's on the cheapest paper imaginable. If comics were originally printed on cheap paper and then reprinted on high quality paper for the tpb, I think more people would be enticed to buy them

[@nicolasmasanes7477]

I've wanted a cosmonaut video about comics for so long!!! Glad you finally made one

[@crabieralloy51]

Cosmonaut Variety Hour is my favourite X-Men KZbin channel

[@dylan9025]

Oh man, Marcus, you gotta read some classic Excalibur! I used to work at a comic shop and I give this my seal of approval. Great starter guide.

[@Horror-Man]

Bro, PERFECT TIMING!!! Over literally just the past week, I've read about 80 issues of Chris Claremont's run of Uncanny X-Men!!!

[@EthanTorres-hb4ph]

Hey don’t mean to bother you but how do you go about finding these comic books? Is there a way I could read it online? Buying them physically would be awesome but I assume would cost a fair amount of money and time which I’m not sure I’d want to give up right now.

[@darksoulsthanos9940]

⁠​⁠@@EthanTorres-hb4phmarvel unlimited is the best legal way to read them. Its $70 a year, but has almost everything published before 3 months ago, and new comics are added every week. If thats too expensive comics can be pirated like anything else.

[@BrightHelix]

@@EthanTorres-hb4ph Marvel has a service called Marvel Unlimited that has a good deal of their back catalogue

[@jaylan7847]

​@@EthanTorres-hb4ph Pirate them.

[@jp3813]

@@EthanTorres-hb4ph 5:24

[@VHSAM]

Watching Marcus become an X-men fan has been my favorite Marcus character arc since his Aquaman arc.

[@sand4273]

Giant-Size X-Men #1, then start the Chris Claremont run with X-Men #94 from 1975. Claremont IS X-Men. His initial run lasted from 1975 to 1991… Stuff like that just doesn’t happen in comics, especially now. Now, some people aren’t fans of how many words Claremont uses, and some people just can’t connect with comics written before the 21st century for whatever reason, but I dunno… If you don’t like Claremont, it’s kinda hard to be an X-Men fan at all lmao. You don’t have to ready EVERY issue (you can skip around to the most notable story arcs), but part of why Claremont is so beloved is because of his long-term plotting and character development.

[@skeletorthepublicnuisance6707]

People who only read modern comics are so weird to me

[@Numberonedaredevilfan]

Marcus pretty much said that in the video

[@ee6753]

I don't know, I mean I really like the plot elements and everything, but I just can't stand Claremont's writing style at all. I like older comics too so I don't even think it's just because of the era.

[@jokesonyou91]

In an age where half of all comic runs dont even make it to the double digit issues, and authors are switched in and out like a Wwe the match, its pretty wild to see a single comic run written (Almost) entirely by one guy for nearly 20 years. When you write X-men for almost 20 years, theres going to be a few crap issues, but overall he wouldn't have been on the book for that long if he wasn't making some good shit.

[@StrawberrySoaps]

The original 1960s X-Men is not my cup of tea, but for completionists like myself, I would read the main story from the following of that run: Issue 1; X-Men Issue 4; The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants! Issue 12; The Origin of Professor X! Issue 13; Where Walks the Juggernaut Issue 14; Among Us Stalk...the Sentinels Issue 15; Prisoners of the Mysterious Master Mold! Issue 16; The Supreme Sacrifice!* Issue 28; The Wail of the Banshee!** Issue 41; Now Strikes...the Sub-Human Issue 42; If I Should Die...! Issue 50; Hail, Queen of Mutants! Issue 54; Wanted: Dead or Alive...Cyclops! Issue 55; The Living Pharaoh! Issue 56; What is...the Power? Issue 57; The Sentinels Live! Issue 58; Mission: Murder! Issue 59; Do or Die, Baby! Issue 60; In the Shadow of...Sauron! Issue 61; Monsters Also Weep Issue 62; Strangers...in a Savage Land Issue 63; War in the World Below! Issue 64; The Coming of Sunfire! Issue 65; Before I'd Be Slave… Issue 66; The Mutants and the Monster After finishing that set, you should proceed to Giant-Size X-Men, Issue 94: “The Doomsmith Scenario!”, and so forth. *Prior to reading the next issue, I would suggest reading X-Men Season One (2012). This graphic novel tells some original issues’ stories from a more modern perspective. **The storyline is not essential, but read issues 19, 26, 27, 28, and 29 for The Mimic storyline.

[@ectofriend]

Also Clairemont's solo Wolverine run is really rad.

[@neptunemedia8746]

You, sir are a LEGEND! I really hope this video does well because I could listen to you talk about comics all day

[@elixns_]

oh my god, thank you so much for making this video!! 🥲 every other "how to start reading x-men" video I've seen just kinda lists random stuff, not specifying what era they're from, and if they do they don't explain it at all, or which ones are an event of their own instead of a run (that confused me a lot). but here you took the time to not only list everything by eras in release order, but also adding stuff like "to understand this one, you probably need to follow this other one" which is really helpful in general to make the reading a lot more organized. I'm here because after watching deadpool and wolverine I got really interested in x-men. I'm still not done with the movies which is what I wanted to get into first, but regardless I wanted to look ahead and plan how I would get down to read most of them in advance. this video really helped me :)

[@user-sq3kx2nh3e]

AWW hell yeah! X-Men 97 got me interested in the X-Men again after decades.. I'm so glad Marcus is making a guide on getting started on the comics!!

[@GabrielMayer-sj1nu]

I’ve started reading a ton of the Claremont, Morrison, Whedon and Krakoa era xmen comics, and I feel like I owe all of that to your xmen videos

[@mumbo_fuze2484]

Watching this as I went through the X-men books. Astonishing X-Men, X-force 2008 and 2010 are so far the best ones I've read.

[@julianmiana5955]

You haven't read the Krakoan Era? That for me is on top 5, at least.

[@mumbo_fuze2484]

​@@julianmiana5955 I have mixed feelings with it. I haven't read it but from what I heard about it sounds strange to me. While the idea of Krakoa is unique the X-Men don't feel like X-Men to me. They feel like The Inhumans. The whole deal of X-Men is they are the underdogs trying to live in peace with people that hunt them. You throw them on an island with immortality and now I don't know how to feel.

[@smashmaster521]

@@mumbo_fuze2484 I'd say read X-Men to get a taste of Krakoa. If you still don't care for the status quo, then you can drop it. Personally, I think Krakoa is just a little too big for its own good, but I'm also comparing it to Jonathan Hickman's prior work on the Avengers, which was contained to two Avengers titles and is one of the best Marvel runs I've read.

[@Kade_Kapes]

@@mumbo_fuze2484I really like Krakoa, because it’s just the X-Men finally being fed up with all that shit lmao.

[@mumbo_fuze2484]

​@@Kade_Kapes again I completly get it but honestly Krakoa proves that the whole dream The X-Men were made opun is dead. Like they just gave up and said "Fuck humanity and co existence. We're gonna go live somewhere else away from y'all". I know this isn't the first time it happened and that the whole "Let's coexist" dream died years ago but still. It just doesn't feel X-Men to me.

[@geezersage3182]

i literally read uncanny x-men #1 a few days ago this is PERFECTLY TIMED. i love you with my entire heart cosmonaut. please do more comic book recommendation videos like this.

[@Spinna_ZA]

The same week I start contemplating on getting into X-Men, Marcus drops this banger video with impeccable timing

[@julianbowles3979]

This is actually so god damn helpful. Please make this a series if you are interested, it would be great to get recommendations to other big franchises, even the ones with obvious starters.

[@NTWoo95]

Perfect timing, right as I’m in a comics reading mood and right after payday

[@Jackrein5]

Marcus this is hands down my favorite video you’ve ever made and I’ve been watching since 2016. Love hearing you talk passionately about comics. With that being said, I can’t believe you didn’t mention ASTONOSHING XMEN into X-MEN BLUE and extermination

[@rogueguardian]

Now this is a video that I needed because the X-Men comics are so vast and complicated I don't know where to start.

[@harleycrowe2801]

I just watched this whole thing literally pausing throughout to take notes, but now I'm thrilled to have somewhere to start and a guide to follow (or stray from) >:3

[@katsasgeorge]

Krakoa era and Hickman is basically the X-Men getting upgraded from superhero comics to straight up science fiction. And probably some of the best scifi in comics ever. Like Dragonball, it trivialised death but traded it for interpersonal drama. Marcus, if you like Hickman's writing, check out his Avengers run leading up to Secret Wars. You'll understand why everyone stands by Dr Doom ;) Also, T'Challa kicks ass in this series and he's a flippin Necromancer. No, I am not kidding, it's pretty awesome.

[@Mrstobastoba]

Hickman's Avengers/New Avengers run was peak Avengers run for me. Secret Wars is my favourite comic event to date. Based comment.

[@kennethtristangaming3674]

​@@MrstobastobaCouldn't agree more,its so peak

[@barkley8285]

Hickman x men is trash, powers/house of x is incredible then it goes nowhere

[@jarviswash2307]

I've always thought grant Morrison's new X-Men and forward were science fiction.

[@mr2000s]

As a longtime X-Fan, I think this was a really great video! I’d love to see you provide reading guides for any other comic/book franchises that you like ❤️

[@Pearlem]

I really do recommend reading the Claremont run. It has a lot of text but it’s also the best at some of the characters

[@bigdoinks11]

Peach Momoko's Ultimate X-Men and Jason Aaron's Wolverine and the X-Men are also sick

[@bigdoinks11]

Also X-Men Mythos goes hard

[@darksoulsthanos9940]

Great video, but I really could not disagree more with where you recommend stopping the Claremont run. Mutant Massacre to Inferno has some of the best X-men stories out there

[@ashernotheis76]

Video starts at 1:50

[@MrMofongo-m4j]

Legend

[@shinecomics]

Really like this video Marcus! Its so awesome hearing you talk about comics, especially since youre part of the reason I got into them in the first place, and now my room is filled with boxed lol

[@aduckwithayoutubechannel]

This was a brilliant video. I’d love to see more of this kind of content, as someone who wants to get more into comic books.

[@Unexpectedstuff]

Bruh, I was contemplating asking you on street at least to tell me very short version of this, but THIS is a treat

[@G4MBITACE]

Definitely a big help! I used to like watching X-men series but never got into the comics and recently got interested in it again, so I wanted to start reading the comics but had no clue where to even start. I tried looking for recommended orders and it just seemed like a lot of jumping around, so this is nice to have especially knowing not everything has to be read for the story and gives a clear order to read it. 😭

[@alexm8]

MY GOAT IS BACK

[@nighmeansnear]

I think there's one crucial omission here, and it's the Larry Hama/Marc Silvestri run on Wolverine. IIRC it starts at issue 31 and ends at 57. These are some of the most enjoyable comics ever published under the X umbrella for sure.

[@smashmaster521]

Larry Hama's Wolverine as a whole is great...But yeah, Marc Silvestri is his best artist.

[@nighmeansnear]

@@smashmaster521 I think it got sadly derailed by having the bone claws thing forced on to it. It made so many hanging plot points completely redundant IMO. But those Mark Texeira issues are undeniably boss AF

[@smashmaster521]

@@nighmeansnear I'm going to have to go the opposite route here. Bone Claw Wolverine is one of Logan's better periods despite the caveman design working better as something only Logan would see, and Mark Texeira...His art's solid, but I much prefer Silvestri. Probably doesn't help that the issues I read with Texeira's art focused more on developing Logan's character while the action scenes took a backseat.

[@nighmeansnear]

@@smashmaster521 I’m with you on Silvestri 100%. His Logan is the definitive version. I’m going to be a cranky old man forever about the bone claws thing though. To me it was just jumping on the Death of Superman/Knightfall band wagon.

[@smashmaster521]

@@nighmeansnear How so? I don't think I've ever heard the Bone Claw era compared to either of those seminal stories from the Distinguished Competition.

[@grayhefe5989]

0:13 Screaming Maximilian Dood jumpscare

[@andrewbryden270]

Just finished the available krakoa era X-men on marvel unlimited after having read miscellaneous X-men comics for years. This is actually a perfect list for me, thanks Marcus!!

[@orbismortem]

I literally started reading x men yesterday this is good timing thank you

[@Jjb510]

I've always liked the tv/movie reviews but now I've actually started getting into comics a bit more because of this video, so thanks a lot! Wouldn't mind seeing some more of these reading guides for other Marvel (or DC) characters.

[@stevenrondina9628]

4:19 this messed me up while putting dishes away

[@TheBlackout0047]

So I started my X-Men journey thanks to this video. Got sidetracked after Astonishing X-Men because I wanted to read more about Kitty Pryde. Thank you for this video and for making me an X-Men truther.

[@TheNinjaBees]

In reference to Hickman’s HoX/PoX era 😂 it was my first journey into X-Men and I LOVED IT. Hickman is my favorite Marvel writer but he takes a while to develop the story, he’s more of a full picture guy and if you’ve read any of his other marvel work there’s a ton of Easter eggs and through context that helps with not knowing much about X-men’s history. That being said seeing the chart that has the levels of Dominion and Phalenx was crazy upon a first read it destroyed my brain

[@patte5306]

Great video, i want to add a thing about the Krakoa era since it's the latest stuff. Everything you said in the video is correct and reading Krakoa requires a bit of prior knowledge to understand it fully, but i also think it's a fantastic point where you can learn about EVERY x-man ever. Everyone has a place where they shine or get at least referenced, everyone who's every been relevant of the x-men mythos appears save for a few characters here and there (like X-man). So yeah, great place to get to know characters without having to jump around the timeline decades at a time.

[@neeco5708]

Finally, been waiting for a video like this

[@HandofOmega]

Excellent summary and recommendations! The main thing I'll add is, if you want to read the original Claremont run, I'd recommend X-Men Classic, which was a series that reprinted his original run, but with added pages that served as basically a "director's cut" of the original stories (the art is different, tho, so that can be a bit jarring); this series also came with slice-of-life short stories (by the same artist as the expanded material) that do a GREAT job of fleshing out the X-Men and their allies and enemies. These stories have been collected into two volumes and are essential reading if you've fallen for the characters as much as the setting and drama of the X-Men world!

[@rilesmcstyles780]

For me, Grant Morrison’s New X-men was a great start followed by Astonishing X-men

[@Lazarus1095]

Yeah, I forgot about that. That was cool. Also Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men run.

[@retro-ronin]

Jim Lee's '91 revamp of X-Men was my starting point, then Astonishing X-Men (Whedon's run), then Morrison's New X-Men.

[@calebreader5818]

this is it. this is exactly the way to do it

[@Antilles1974]

Let me just say that as someone who read 70s, 80s, and 90s X-Men comics growing up, but missed basically everything since 2000, thank you so much on where I need to start reading to catch up.

[@Hingertflingert12]

Literally downloaded Marvel Unlimited after watching 97’, had a hard time getting into it and thought to myself multiple times “Wish Marcus would make a video about how he got into it” not knowing you were cooking

[@MentalMa3ter]

You provide some of the best advice on reading order/guides, especially since most videos just focus on the timeline. I appreciate how you suggest starting points and recommend skipping some boring stories or unnecessary chapters-this is exactly the kind of advice content creators need, rather than just a straight order, especially with so much entertainment available these days. However, I'm curious about your standalone recommendations without including Age of Apocalypse and Mutant Massacre~ Thanks for your insights!

[@BeazerProductions]

I read Whedon's run over and over as a teenager and didn't read Morrison's run until recently. They're both great, but the conversation between them is interesting. I hadn't realized that Whedon picks up right where Morrison left off. Morrison put the X-Men in leather jackets, emphasized mutants as a culture, and explored the future of mutants, and killed off major characters. Whedon showed up and said, "That's nice, but the X-Men are superheroes so they need to wear spandex. Kitty Pryde's finally back, my favorite character's back from the dead, there's a new robot lady!" Two different approaches and I love both. But despite the pivot back to more classic X-Men material, Whedon did a good job of playing with the toys he was given, and the Cassandra Nova stuff in his run makes way more sense after reading New X-Men. I kinda can't believe that Astonishing X-Men was the first time they introduced a potential cure for mutancy, because that feels like such a no-brainer. It's the first such story that I remember, at least. New X-Men has some great art from Quitely but Van Sciver (I know, I know) does well also. A lot of the other art is a little rough. I appreciate that Astonishing had John Cassaday the whole time. I always love when a run has one creative team the whole time; it really makes it feel like a cohesive piece. Could you imagine if Dave Gibbons didn't draw an issue of Watchmen? Even if he was replaced by someone equally talented, it'd feel less whole. That's why I love the Bendis/Bagley run on Ultimate Spider-Man, or the long stretches where George Pérez was drawing Kurt Busiek's Avengers.

[@21700r]

I grew up on both 96 & Evolution, & my dad's collection of X-men comics, so this is very helpful for getting back into them as an adult. Thanks

[@judah4808]

Loved this vid, I’d like to see more comic posts like this

[@kenji7318]

This is a great guide because it covers all the classics I love and I got some new recommendations to check out

[@Battfro]

I want to add "Wolverine and the X-Men" where Wolverine runs the Jean Grey School is a must read.

[@ErnaWargan]

Thankyou for making this video, gave me the final push to start reading Xmen. Just finished Claremont's run and man what a ride. Makes me even more hype to continue reading

[@PoisonIvey2001]

Big day for people named Steven

[@bfholdingco2269]

I have literally been in stores asking how to do this all week. Love the x-men but in terms of reading comic books I have always been a DC guy. Thank you for doing this, I have always respected your point of view when it comes to taste as it largely mirrors my own.

[@MicaChuStudio]

Ed Piskor was an amazing artist, I think a lot of people need to actually look into what happened before deciding he should have been written off. He made grand design by himself, it was very much his work. He should still be here today.

[@suto5704]

I love that Marcus is doing X-men videos. Please keep talking about them Marcus

[@CharlesAlexanderAllred]

Ever since your madam web video, watching Dakota Johnson interviews is one of my favorite things to watch lol it’s like it’s own genre of entertainment

[@justwow8084]

As someone who got into X-Men recently (I started reading the Clairmont run based on the recommendation on your original X-Men movies video) I really love and appreciate this and I'm gonna be coming back to this video a LOT in the future

[@ErnaWargan]

When reading Claremont X-men I would implore anyone to not stop at just 201. Xmen gets increasingly more interesting in scope and character beyond the 200th issue. And the end feels very rewarding

[@ErnaWargan]

You're depriving yourself of : badass depowered storm era, Claremont Lee collab, Hot colossus, how Psylocke got yellow-faced, the epic grand conclusion of Claremont's foundational X run.

[@repita21]

7:04 9:35 10:35 12:33 13:50 14:49 16:48 20:45 21:06 21:33 22:30

[@Phospearl]

3:52 wow okay calm down 😭

[@squire_sterling]

Glad you included Rememder's Uncanny X-Force. It's my favorite X-Men story and Deadpool and Phantomex are INCREDIBLE in it.

[@alexjimenez747]

Cant wait for the deadpool and wolverine review!

[@MHz619]

I jumped in at Krakoa (had some knowledge on previous events) and it’s incredible. There is in fact a ton to read.

[@Lojcs0]

5:07 If you read a comic every day it takes 20 years

[@21powah]

I've always really liked X-Men. They're what got me to love "Super Hero Teams" as a concept but I've never really gotten too deep into X-Men. I always appreciate a resource like this, I look forward to reading some X Mans! Kudos to putting this together!

[@mrkaji8913]

5:47 this is what the 90’s x man adapt

[@Dramarys-k1e]

Bro I’ve been watching your channel for years now and every time you talk about X-Men, everything sounds so sick. But comics have always been overwhelming for me so knowing what to read is actually really helpful, especially when it’s coming someone who I agree with most of the time with your reviews and takes.

[@coalangley5443]

“Hee heee” is literally the noise I made when I saw this

[@rawanalahmed8086]

Mj reference

[@unfamoustalent]

This was super cool and I would LOVE to see you do some more “longer format” type videos doing reading orders and maybe even going slightly into what the arcs cover!!

[@tenbeat]

HOLY SHIT, my name is NOT Steven BUT IF IT WAS that would have BLOWN my FUCKING MIND.

[@Epicthomas1000]

I cannot stress how much I love this video even though it literally just came out today. I have already watched this like 3 times and it's still really entertaining every time. probably because i like reading comics but idk something about this video is just so good.

[@the1337euph]

19:40 lmao "if you don't like this, then go read one piece" but one piece is peak

[@aceyy445]

Already ahead on that😂

[@iamfiefo]

3:20 The "awakening" for a lot of the kids who grew up watching X-Men Evolution.

[@jamesmc7463]

PLS DO THIS FOR FANTASTIC FOUR

[@bigdoinks11]

Ryan North's Fantastic Four run is so good dude

[@spitymatt5277]

⁠@@bigdoinks11agreed, if you want to read fantastic four start with norths, hickmans, or stan lee

[@aydum3846]

I would love to see more comic book videos like this, as a comic book newbie. this convinced me to read x men and ive been reading a bunch of other comics because of this video