5 Marvel Graphic Novels You Really Need to Read

Obviously, there are more than 5 great Marvel graphic novels, but here's a small selection of the very finest. The quintet I've chosen are all accessible to anyone, really, and don't require a PhD in Marvel chronology to appreciate.

Marvels

Kurt Busiek's take on the Marvel Universe's New York through the eyes of Daily Bugle photographer Phil Sheldon isn't quite like anything else. The premise is simple: what would it be like to live a normal life in the Marvel world? Beautifully painted by Alex Ross, Buseik's narrative spans several decades of comic history, as Sheldon manages to shoot the biggest events in Marvel comics, from the arrival of Galactus to the death of Gwen Stacy.

Inhumans

When Paul Jenkins took on Jack Kirby's family of metahumans, they were hardly the hottest comic property going. But alongside artist Jae Lee, Jenkins crafted a complex tale that acts as a primer to the Inhumans, while touching upon such subjects as genetic diversity and adolescence metamorphosis. And Magnus the Mad, Black Bolt's insane brother, has to be one of the most brilliant villains in a very long time.

The Sentry TPB

Nowadays the Sentry, or Bob as we've come to know him, is the Marvel Universe's equivalent of Superman, a deus ex machina who numerous writers have exploited as an easy way to end a difficult conflict. This trade paperback collects the miniseries that introduced the character to the MU, as wasted loser Bob Reynolds suddenly recovers memories of fighting alongside the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and many more, as beloved hero the Sentry. But why does nobody else but Reed Richards remember the Sentry? Written by Paul Jenkins with art by Jae Lee.

Old Man Logan

Wanted/Kick-Ass writer Mark Millar and Civil War artist Steve McNiven teamed up once more for this futuristic take on that X-bloke known as Wolverine. 50 years from now, the heroes have fallen and Logan is forced to come out of hiding and once again take down the scum, accompanied by a blind Hawkeye. Unlike much of Millar's recent work, Old Man Logan has a real British feel to it, and evokes some of the finest 2000AD stories, and McNiven's work is incredible.

Daredevil

Ok, not a graphic novel as such, but an entire series collected in over a dozen (and counting) trade paperbacks. Kevin Smith, Brian Michael Bendis and Ed Brubaker take blind attorney Matt Murdock down an increasingly dark and tortured path. Unlike many Marvel superheroes, Daredevil actually evolves, and his relationship with Kingpin of Crime Wilson Fisk is one of the most multifaceted in comic book history.

At time of writing collected in the following volumes (and growing!), as well as several larger hardbacks:

Daredevil: Guardian Devil

Daredevil: Parts of a Hole

Daredevil: Wake Up

Daredevil: Underboss

Daredevil: Out Daredevil

Daredevil: Lowlife

Daredevil: Hardcore

Daredevil: Echo - Vision Quest

Daredevil: King of Hell's Kitchen

Daredevil: The Widow

Daredevil: The Golden Age

Daredevil: Decalogue

Daredevil: The Murdock Papers

Daredevil: The Devil, Inside and Out, volumes 1 & 2

Daredevil: Hell to Pay, volumes 1 & 2

Daredevil: Cruel and Unusual

Daredevil: Lady Bullseye Daredevil: Return of the King

Carl Doherty is a freelance writer and occasional artist. His further musings on the comic industry can be found at his personal site shelfabuse.com Comic Reviews, which features regular comic book and graphic novel reviews, and numerous other articles about Marvel graphic novels

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Marvel Comics Silver Age - What Made There Superheroes Like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk Great!

I was thinking about 1960?s Marvel Comics and what made that foundation of a comic book universe great, why those characters and books got popular, and I came up with 3 concepts which I will expand upon:

1. Community

2. Lack of Space Alien Origins

3. Relatable Heroes 

1. Community

The Marvel Heroes lived mostly in the same real world city and connected together and ran into each other. With DC Comics for example, it seems that every hero lives in their own fictional city made just for them. Batman has Gotham City. Superman has Metropolis. Green Lantern has Coast City. You get the idea.

With Marvel Comics, most of them occupied New York City. For readers, this made for a relatable setting. Where you as a reader could believe such meetings could take place. And even better was, as a writer setting up a situation to make heroes living in the same city meet is not that difficult.

2. Lack of Space Alien Origins

This was a key factor overlooked by most anyone I hear mention Marvel's success. Outside of the Silver Surfer and Thor, EVERY Marvel superhero made then was just a human being. They did not get their powers from some outer space creature, or some other unrelatable idea.

I think the whole "alien origin" aspect dilutes a character into that of "just another silly comic book character" from the mainstream public viewpoint. A regular person on the street can't relate to that. And having an alien origin just seems silly to a non comic buyer.

Now sure you can say: Is getting hit with a gamma bomb? Or a bite from a spider more relatable? I hear what you are saying, and you are right, but also wrong. I think the elements like the above are more plausible and believable for a comic book setting. The whole "suspension of disbelief" thing. But something like an alien origin is too over the top.

Check out the Spider-Man movie or the X-men movie for example. Their origins sound plausible enough on the surface that the public can accept it. Now say in the above movies, a space ship drops down and zaps a guy who then becomes Spider-Man. That sounds rather silly doesn't it? Or a space ship drops down and zaps a guy turning him into the Hulk. Not as cool an origin right? And that's my point. Whether by planning or random luck, Stan Lee and company avoided the alien origins idea.

As for Thor and the Surfer, they didn't spoil the whole thing because it was just a few that had alien origins and therefore can still fit in.

Also Thor was made very human first by Stan Lee. He was really a human who acquired Thor's power. That human base really anchored Thor as a character.

And the Surfer brought about and was used as an outside observer of humans. Looking at us from a viewpoint that we could never see. Telling us how basically how our world was a paradise. If only we would stop destroying each other and live in peace, could we see this world for the gift it really is.

3. Relatable Heroes

This is why those Marvel heroes got popular as well. These Marvel heroes had problems and situations we could relate to. Despite their fantastic powers and battles, they were also down to earth. They had anchors that made us relate or feel sorry for them. These were not invincible heroes, like DC comics had. The DC Heroes being mostly perfect and in essence rather shallow when you peeled back the layers. The Marvel Heroes were given a depth and understanding that DC did not have.

For example, with the exception of Iron Man, everyone else had financial problems. And you really did not want to be Iron Man, who had to suffer in secret.

Spider-Man had relationship, financial, and school problems.

The X-men had trouble fitting in with society, yet at the same time an obligation to protect us.

In Closing

I think these three factors were the keys that made Marvel Comics the successful universe that it is today. And the reason why back then readers picked up the books in the first place. Even today I notice many creators DO NOT use these same rules. For example when I read Image Comics Savage Dragon and the Pitt with their alien origins. My feel for them as a character got disappointed. They just lost a relatable factor with me.

Or you have generic Punisher knock offs, who are blood thirsty heroes. Yet their is no emotional origin for these heroes to make me care for them or their situations.

Making a successful comic book universe today is difficult, if not all but impossible. But I think if you stick to the above three principles, you won't be steered far wrong.

Rob is a long time comic book fan, collector and commentator. He likes to share his thoughts, opinions and ideas about comic books and related pop culture media.

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Know More About Marvel Comic Characters

Comics are a favorite of mostly all kids and quite a number of teenagers and grownups. You would get to see some or the other comic book in the rooms of the little ones. One such very famous comic book is marvel comic. Moreover marvel comic is the very company that has given the entire world the extremely famous super heroes. Yes the marvel comic characters are eminent worldwide. To name a few you have the X-Men, Thor, Ghost Rider, Wolverine, the Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, the Hulk, Namor the Submariner, Captain America, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, the Punisher, Doctor Strange; villains like the Green Goblin, Red Skull, Dr. Octopus, Dr. Doom, Venom, Galactus, Sabretooth, Kingpin, Magneto, Bullseye and others.

The marvel publishing runs by the name of marvel Entertainment under the Walt Disney Company. There are so many characters in that you could not remember the name if you come to see the list for the first time. Interestingly most of them are quite different from the other in appearance, powers, abilities, skills, likes and dislikes etc it is this uniqueness of each character that the characters are so famous individually. Each character, be it the leading super hero, the villains, the comic ones or the several others have been created with great dedication and innovation. Every character has a different voice and a specific speaking style. The company was initially founded as the Timely Publications in 1939, which later got to be known as the Atlas Comics, it got renamed as marvel comic only in the year 1961. They put forward all sorts of story lines to its readers from Crime, horror, mystery, romance, science fiction, war to Western.

The very exclusive fact about all the marvel comic characters is that exist in a hypothetical world called Marvel Universe, and know what this place looks like any other American city (New York, Los Angeles and Chicago etc.). Marvel comic launched itself with Fantastic Four and till date is the leading comic book brand. The company has surpassed some of the very famous comic publishers of the place.

Spiderman is the most famous amongst the numerous marvel comic characters. He's liked by all the children and the alders as well. His leaps and clings are the most fascinating thing to watch. Hopefully marvel comic is going to come with some new avatar soon.

Kelly Lane, regular contributor and writer to http://www.spiderman3costume.com/, a website that specializes in fun and unique Amazing Spiderman Costumes at incredible savings.

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Secret Avengers, Perfect For Longtime Marvel Comics Fans

I love Secret Avengers. I had given up on newer Marvel Comics but Secret Avengers changed my mind. The roster is a good mix of interesting characters, the art is amazing and the story is a well-written story that reminds me of the good old days of Marvel.

Writer Ed Brubaker and artist Mike Deodato are the creative team for the Secret Avengers title. The series started in May 2010 and showcases many former Avengers along with a few new ones. The roster includes Steve Rogers (the first Captain America), the Beast, War Machine, Valkyrie, Moon Knight, Nova, Black Widow, Sharon Carter, and Ant-Man.

One thing that makes this title great is Steve Rogers. He is and always will be Captain America to me and the one who should lead the Avengers. Having him joined by former Avengers Moon Knight, War Machine, Black Widow and his love, Sharon Carter, is good planning. I am most excited to see Beast, an Avenger in the 1970s and early 1980s, back with the team. I am also excited to see Valkyrie join the Avengers family.

I am a big fan of the original Defenders series that ran from 1972 until 1986. The Defenders original members were Doctor Strange, Hulk, Namor and, sometimes, the Silver Surfer. Not long after the series started Valkyrie became the first female member. Much later in the run, the Beast joined the Defenders. I hope that the past relationship between the Valkyrie and Beast is touched upon in the Secret Avengers.

It is interesting to note there has been more than one Valkyrie. The first time she appeared in Avengers No. 83, it was actually the evil Enchantress posing as Valkyrie. In the Valkyrie's second appearance, the Enchantress turned a girl, Samantha, into Valkyrie. In her next appearance in the Defenders series, it was the real deal that joined the ranks, Brunnhilde the Valkyrie. Thanks to the Enchantress, though, she could not remember who she was until years later. On the Comic Book Resources Forum, Brubaker confirmed that the Valkyrie on the team is indeed the original Brunnhilde. She was killed a handful of years ago, but she is back!

Another nice thing about Secret Avengers besides great characters like Steve Rogers, Beast and Valkyrie being around is the first storyline. It involves the Serpent Crown, which old-school Marvel fans will remember. The Serpent Crown is an object of great power that has appeared in various Marvel Comics for decades. The crown resembles a coiled, seven-headed serpent. There are classic storylines in Sub-Mariner, Avengers and Marvel Two-In-One comics involving the crown. I am looking forward to seeing how it plays out in the new Avengers title.

Using classic characters and an object that has been around Marvel for decades makes this old-school fan happy. But, do not think Secret Avengers is going to be boring and the same type of book we have read over and over again. While many team members have been around for years, there is a new character here to explore. This is not Hank Pym as Ant-Man. The Ant-Man in Avengers now is the third character to use the name. The Secret Avengers Ant-Man is Eric O'Grady who first appeared in The Irredeemable Ant-Man No. 1, Sept. 2006.

Also, Brubaker has said online that, "[Secret Avengers is] definitely going to have a lot of the espionage plots and the Steranko influence, and the crazy Kirby technology, but I don't think there's going to be much soap opera. I hope it feels different than any Avengers team, ever."

I am sure there will be some soap opera drama, though. You can't have superheroes without some drama. Reading Secret Avengers makes me want to dig out my old Avengers and Defenders comics and relive my youth! I suggest you do the same thing.

I am an owner of Halloween Hill, an online store that sells haunted house props, as well as Halloween decorations. I am also a comic book collector and have been for more than 25 years!

Visit me at http://www.halloween-hill-props.com/ (where I sell Halloween props and decorations) and at http://championfinds.com/ (for my choices of the best online comic book stores).

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