MARVEL
COMICS
Imperial (2025) 1-4, Imperial War: Black Panther, Planet She-Hulk, Exiles, Nova – Centurion, Imperial Guardians
Jonathan Hickman on Marvel Cosmic is a dream come true, so I feel bad saying I would have preferred an ongoing. Like GODS, the new direction is promising but it needed a shocking climax to truly mark the event. The powerful chaotic art adds welcomed anime flair to the action.
Death of the Silver Surfer (2025) 1-4
This was setup to lose with the off-putting MCU synergy, the protagonist effectively being an ICE agent and the tired death of a hero trope. Plus, Silver Surfer: Requiem already did it and was a masterpiece. This was a miss but I do hope it leads to more Warbound by Greg Pak.
FCBD Ultimate Universe (2025) 1, Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion 1-5
This was the first let down of the new Ultimate Universe comics that I've read. It's definitely not essential reading for the current Ultimate line. Miles just clumsily bounces between chance meetings chasing a nonsensical MacGuffin around the new universe. It's a rushed mess.
Fantastic Four X Gargoyles (2025) 1
The crossover no one asked for. I know it's Disney but Batman The Animated Series would have made much more sense. It jarringly starts in full sprint and races through the team-up tropes in record time. Every Marvel character that even slightly resembles a gargoyle shows up.
Return To Planet Hulk (2025) 1
I am always excited for Greg Pak to revisit his legendary Hulk run. Hulk is currently back in the armour as Green Scar in Imperial, so I wrongly assumed this would be contemporary. Unfortunately, it feels more like a back up story from one of those deluxe anthology issues.
Storm (2024) 1-12
After Al Ewing took Storm to new cosmic heights during Krakoa I figured the next run would bring her back down to earth. I'm happy to have been wrong. Like Phoenix it explores the fallout of Hickman's GODS. The Black Winter finale was a pretty fun idea and the art is great too.
Bring On The Bad Guys: Doom (2025) 1, Green Goblin 1, Abomination 1, Loki 1, Red Skull 1, Dormammu 1, Mephisto 1
I love a good anthology series and Doctor Doom versus Mephisto is one of my favourite rivalries. Unfortunately, this quickly devolved into a clumsy launchpad for newcomer Sister Sorrow based around a terrible MacGuffin. The ending is disappointing too. The art really carries the series.
Phoenix (2024) 1-15
Alessandro Miracolo swiping other X-Men artists work was a terrible first impression and the Sara Grey final arc left a bad taste in my mouth. That said, in between was some of the fun cosmic adventure Marvel has been lacking, including appearances from Hickman's new GODS.
Fantastic Four: Antithesis (2020) 1-4
Its set in the past but the illusion breaks as soon as Human Torch starts speaking in hashtags. The art has its moments but a few panels are unintentional jump scares. The Galactus disrespect and the Fantastic Four's terrible herald designs are really killed any interest I had in this.
Venomverse Reborn (2024) 1-4
An anthology thats more Tales Of The Crypt than Twilight Zone with The Eventuality hosting. It would have been more campy and creepy if he stayed in his hand form though. I didn’t find any of the shorts very compelling, though the inclusion of Dinosaur Comics was fun.
2010 (1985) 1-2
Jack Kirby’s adaptation of 2001: A Space Odyssey was filtered through his unique art style and unmatched creativity. 2010 is a straight forward adaptation with an impressive effort to match the look and tone, but just like the film itself, it's missing the auteur’s touch of the original.
Marvel Treasury Special: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1976) 1, 2001: A Space Odyssey 1-10
Stanley Kubrick via Jack Kirby is just as epic as it sounds. The Monolith is the perfect canvas for his imagination. The oversized movie adaptation is simply monumental. The series is a Twilight Zone-esque anthology through time before introducing Machine Man in the finale.
Fantastic Four: Fanfare (2025) 1-4
An anthology series from some of the biggest names from Fantastic Four's rich history. Standouts include Hickman and Weaver pitting the team against '80s horror icons, and an action-packed, no-holds-barred throw down by Daniel Warren Johnson and Tyrell Cannon.
West Coast Avengers (2024) 1-10
This felt like a spiritual successor to the Avengers A.I. series that spun out of Age of Ultron. The line between the Avengers and Thunderbolts is ever blurring. The Ultron angle was compelling but never really reached its potential. Killerwatt/Blue Bolt took up too much space.
Marvel All-On-One (2025) 1
When I heard about this my mind raced to Unlimited Class Wrestling or Puppet Master. Then I saw the creative team of North and McGuinness and my excitement grew. To my great disappointment, The Thing is just fighting robot replicas. Hey, at least the art is great!
It's Jeff!: Infinity Paws (2025) 1
Pet Avengers is always a good time and they have never looked cuter. I had no idea the Marvel heroes were all cat people. It's fun to see the classic Infinity Gems even if that places it outside of 616 continuity. I'd have liked the 'Nuff Said format pushed further though.
Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes & Rivals (2025) 1
They are really overthinking this. I would have preferred more pin-ups with less exposition and excuses. The Marvel Rivals previews are just tacked on at the end, but the as of yet unreleased swimsuit Punisher skull codpiece skin will be getting my hard earned units.
Doctor Doom & Rocket Raccoon (2025), Captain America & Volstagg, Nick Fury vs. Fin Fang Foom, Hulk & Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider vs. Galactus, Spider-Man vs. the Sinister Sixteen 1
J. Michael Straczynski returns for a series of one-shot Marvel Tales. Exploring the relationship between Dr. Doom and Rocket Raccoon from Al Ewing's Guardians run had me hooked. Ghost Rider vs Galactus is the other standout thanks to the epic art of Juan Ferreyra.
Predator Versus Spider-Man (2025) 1-4
I was expecting Predator in the Marvel Universe, but this is more like Spidey and Kraven in Predator 2 and I loved it. Ferreira's gritty noir style is the perfect fit. Skinner is a horrifying new Yautja. This level of gore could have been Red Band, but I bet they thought it would hurt sales.
Godzilla Vs. Fantastic Four (2025) 1, Vs. Hulk 1, Vs. Spider-Man 1, Vs. X-Men 1, Vs. Avengers 1, Vs. Thor 1
Matching the eras of the properties for each issue is great fun. Unfortunately, some artists don't capture the scale and half the plots feature Godzilla getting a power-up. The highlight is Aaron’s Thor continuing after Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, one of Godzilla's best movies.
Aliens Vs. Avengers (2024) 1-4
An epic cosmic crossover demanding the top talent at Marvel. Hickman and Ribic deliver Secret Wars via Prometheus and it's everything I could have wanted. They even squeeze in an over-the-top follow-up to the Alien: Covenant cliffhanger. Hook it right to my vein.
Timeless (2023) 1, Power Man: Timeless (2025) 1-4
A crazy cosmic, power scaling, universe shattering story reminiscent of something from a classic What If...? issue. Luke Cage truly earns the name Power Man. As the plot breaks into 616 continuity it brings an epic new Inhumans villain in Aeon The Knife.
The Infinity Watch (2024) 1-5
It's been seven years since this terrible Infinity Host status quo replaced beloved cosmic characters with a bunch of aimless nobodies. It just feels like a passionless obligation. Each time they pop up I pray it'll be the end of this abysmal team. Bring back Adam Warlock!
Venom/Spider-Man FCBD '21, Venom (2021) 1-39, Black Widow: Venomous 1, Venom War 1-5, Spider-man 1-4, Carnage 1-3, Zombiotes 1-3, Lethal Protectors 1-3, Venomous 1-3, Fantastic Four 1, Daredevil 1, Deadpool 1-3, Wolverine 1-3, It's Jeff 1
Al Ewing takes Venom on a sci-fi deep dive through a time travel knot that would make Netflix's Dark blush. It's an unwieldy epic, but Ram V and Grønbekk's contributions help keep it slightly grounded. The Venom War Zombiotes tie-in is a great Superior Foes of Spider-Man story.
Amadeus Cho 20th Anniversary Special (2025) 1
This was a lot of fun. Especially Amadeus' relationship with Angel. I fully endorse his unique brand of justice. Revisiting Greg Pak's Hercules run is nothing short of nostalgic bliss. It needs to be adapted as a follow up to She-Hulk if Season 2 isn't happening for some reason.
Marvel Rivals (2025) 1
The walls of text in the game setting up the lore was just begging to be adapted. What we got instead is a kid friendly romp more concerned with adapting the mindless action of the gameplay. While it was a disappointment, the art does really capture the energy of the game.
Wolverine: Revenge (2024) 1-5
I was expecting more from this creative team. I've been conditioned to anticipate a world shattering twist when I see Hickman. The art is great, but a brutal revenge story needs something darker and moodier. The brutal Sabretooth War also took some wind out of its sails.
Ultraman X The Avengers (2024) 1-4
I'm an Ultraman novice, having only really watched the animated Netflix movie, but this was a lot of fun. Galactus vs. classic kaiju is an easy sell. The characters mesh well and Francesco Manna delivers sleek action. It just needed another issue to fully stick the landing.
What If...? Galactus Transformed Hulk (2025) 1, Gambit 1, Rogue 1, Moon Knight 1, Spider-Gwen 1
I'm always down for new Heralds of Galactus but these picks just feel like a corporate mandate. At least throw in a villain to mix it up a bit. The series starts and ends pretty weak but Gambit and Rogue's are fun and Moon Knight's Konshu vs Galactus fight is the highlight.
Avengers Assemble (2024) 1-5
The Aveng.E.R.S. concept of heroes living together on call 24/7 like firefighters seems cool, until you realize thats how it always was back in the silver age. The only difference is now they have cool matching jackets. I can't really think of a single fun character moment.
Conquest 2099 (2024) 1-5
Listen, Dracula in space and Nova Corps Wolverine are awesome but invoking the Annihilation branding brings epic expectations. It should have been something '90s like Infinity Gauntlet or Galactic Storm 2099. I also wish they didn't fall back on Spider-Man 2099 so soon.
Web Of Spider-Man (1985) 31-32, The Amazing Spider-Man 293-294, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man 131-132
It's as old as I am but Kraven's Last Hunt is still the apex Spider-Man comic. J.M. DeMatteis pulls off the whole grandiose grimdark thing without the overkill while Mike Zeck just nails the moody noir visuals. It completely washed away the aftertaste of the bland movie.
Extreme Venomverse (2023) 1-5, Death Of Venomverse 1-5
This is the fifth Spider-Verse event with the same plot of being hunted for your powers across the multiverse. At least this time it's all action and we have a good villain in Carnage for once. Gerardo Sandoval's wild powerful art is the perfectly suited for Symbiote business.
X-Men: Blue Annal (2018) 1, X-Men: Blue 21-22, Venom 162-163, Venomized 1-5
The sequel to Venomverse ups the ante by siccing the variant bodysnatchers on the 616. The Poisons are much more interesting up until the rug is pulled on them by a lazy deus ex machina, but it's all just an excuse for some great art.
Edge of Venomverse (2017) 1-5, Venomverse: War Stories, Venomverse 1-5
I assumed it would be even more stale than Spider-Verse but I found the bitesize nature far more digestible. The shared weakness is the villains. The Poisons feel like a corporate mandate to match Symbiote toyability. It's carried by the art.
Spider-Verse / Spider-Geddon Omnibus
I had no interest before the movie knocked it out the park. It turns out all the concerns I had are prevalent in the comics. This Spider-Verse is as isotropic and homogenous as the Cosmological Principle. Plus it had already been done better in the cartoon and video game.
Thanos (2024), Amazing Spider-Man, Immortal Thor, Ms. Marvel, Wolverine, Incredible Hulk, Moon Knight, Spider-Boy, Avengers Annual 1
This Infinity Host thing has been dragged out in spurts since 2018's terrible Infinity Wars event. I was hoping this time they would finally put it out of my misery, but its all just setup for a new Infinity Watch run. Not like this.
Predator Versus Black Panther (2024) 1-4
A dream match that unfortunately doesn't live up to its potential. The omniscient story telling was a poor choice for Predator as it really kills the suspense and intrigue, but I was still onboard before the anticlimax. It's starting to look like Marvel is team Alien.
Annihilation 2099 (2024) 1-5
I was afraid it wouldn't utilize the Annihilation format, but am happy to see its building to the main event, Conquest 2099. It's loaded with fun, creative new takes on cosmic mainstays. I will say, space travel takes way too long to contain to the single year of 2099.
Marvel 85th Anniversary Special (2024) 1
The standouts are a Ms. Marvel Herald of Galactus story co-written by Iman Vellani and Yuji Kaku's manga styled Moon Warrior. The Deadpool And Wolverine frame narrative is incredibly weak and a great disservice to the anthology as a whole.
Captain Marvel (2023) 1-10
A Mar-Vell family reunion to defeat a Bible-Accurate cosmic horror. This should be exactly my thing, but the treatment of my boy Genis-Vell is unforgivable. This feels like the end of the road for Carol. A 12 year push ended by The Marvels disapointing box-office.
Blood Hunt: Red Band (2024) 1-5, FCBD 2024, Vengeance of the Moon Knight 5-7, Doctor Strange 15-17, Avengers 14-16, Venom 33-34, Fantastic Four 21-22, Amazing Spider-Man 49, Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt 1-3, Black Panther: Blood Hunt 1-3, Blood Hunters 1-4, Midnight Sons: Blood Hunt 1-3, Strange Academy: Blood Hunt 1-3, Dracula: Blood Hunt 1-3, Union Jack The Ripper: Blood Hunt 1-3, Wolverine: Blood Hunt 1-4, Jubilee: Blood Hunt 1, Laura Kinney The Wolverine: Blood Hunt 1, Magik: Blood Hunt 1, Psylocke: Blood Hunt 1, Hulk: Blood Hunt 1, Werewolf By Night: Blood Hunt 1
A derivative but fun high stakes event elevated by Pepe Larraz' moody energetic art. As usual for big events, it opens incredibly strong but ends in a messy rush to set a new status quo. The Black Panther tie-in is the standout.
What If...? Aliens (2024) 1-5
This was unexpected. Paul Reiser and his son pitched in on story. The action is surprisingly reserved for a comic. I will say, Carter Burke becomes an amalgam of Reiser's roles and the tone is much more sitcom than I expected, but it's all in good fun.
G.O.D.S. (2023) 1-8
Jonathan Hickman rebooting Marvel Cosmic is a dream come true, but I can't shake the lingering feeling of too little, too late. We really needed this after Secret Wars to distinguish the 8th Multiverse. Still, it's an intriguing anthology series that I hope leads to much more.
Fall of the House of X (2024) 1-5, Rise of the Powers of X 1-5, X-Men 30-35, Dead X-Men 1-4, X-Men Forever 1-4, Avengers 12-13, Invincible Iron Man 14-18, Cable 1-4, Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace 1-4, Marvel's Voices: Pride - X-Men: The Wedding Special 1
Wrapping up the Krakoan Era was always a trap. Jonathan Hickman set up what is quite possibly the greatest status quo of all time. Though it inescapably feels rushed, Keiron Gillen should be proud for mostly pulling off the impossible here.
Avengers: Twilight (2024) 1-6
Chip Zdarsky's dystopian vision for the Marvel Universe honestly only feels a few years off in real life. Daniel Acuña brings the prestige, making even an Owellian future look good. That said, it does feel like well-trodden ground, even within the main continuity.
Doom (2024) 1
This is what Marvel Cosmic needs. It could've even been an Annihilation style event. We never got any pay off to Dr. Doom joining the Guardians Of The Galaxy and Galactus deserves to be a threat again. Greene even snuck in an MF Doom tribute. Someone give this man a cosmic ongoing!
The Resurrection of Magneto (2024) 1-4
Ewing is easily Marvel's MVP. When tasked with putting his X-Men Red toys back in the box he goes the extra distance to not only tie-up the loose ends of Trail of Magneto but also pay off the ending of his Defenders run. Great timing with Storm's powerful X-Men '97 showing!
Thanos (2023) 1-4
How hard can it be for editorial to keep track of Marvel Cosmic continuity with so little output? It resets Thanos back to his original motivation. The characterization is abysmal across the board. Blue Marvel and Mr. Fanastic just stand around useless. It's painful.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2023) 1-10, Annual
It manages to top Bendis for the worst Guardians run. Jackson Lanzing guts the property until Star Wars is all that's left. The women are all reduced to a single note. Marvel Cosmic is currently in shambles. Help us Hickman and Ewing, you are our only hope!
Avengers Inc. (2023) 1-5
The follow-up to Al Ewing's Wasp is an old school Avengers whodunit. A fun premise unsurprisingly murdered by Marvel in its infancy. You can tell it was pitched on wrapping with MCU synergy by the way it had to be shoehorned into an already rushed finale.
Silver Surfer Rebirth: Legacy (2023) 1-5
The Rons Cosmic Rebirth trilogy comes to a close. It's no grand epic, but it is a sincere love letter to '90s Cosmic Marvel fans determined to fulfill our every wish. I sure would love a follow up bringing Legacy into the present continuity!
Mutant First Strike (2023) 1, Heralds of Apocalypse 1, Sinister Four 1, Fall of X 1, Uncanny Avengers FCBD 2023, X-Men 25-29, Immortal X-Men 14-18, Invincible Iron Man 9-12, X-Men: Red 14-18, Uncanny Avengers 1-5, Uncanny Spider-Man 1-5, X-Men Blue: Origins 1, Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant 1-4, Astonishing Iceman 1-5, Dark X-Men 1-5, Children of the Vault 1-4, Jean Grey 1-4, Realm of X 1-4, Wolverine 36-40, X-Force 43-47
I tend to get all event tie-ins as a snap shot of the full Marvel line, but bit off more than I could chew here. The Hellfire Gala was brutal, but the plethora of mini's were disappointingly pointless. Stick to the ongoings.
Predator Versus Wolverine (2023) 1-4
I don't know how it took so long. This had the potential to be the ultimate fictional manhunt, but is instead just a fun but safe tour highlighting battles spanning Logan's past. In the end, the vision gets blurred through so many artistic lenses.
X-Men Red (2022) 1-18, Heralds of Apocalypse 1
A cosmic epic staring Storm in her best look yet, ruling over a terraformed Mars on the verge of civil war. I'm having flashbacks to Al Ewing's Guardians of the Galaxy getting canceled in an event tie-in after only 18 issues. Just let him cook Marvel!
Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest (2023) 1-5
A thinly veiled culture war strawman using Carol to talk down to a group of black teens about how they should respect the "Boomers". In the end the teens go "Feral" & their mom thanks Carol for "knocking the doom and gloom out of them".
Ultimate Universe (2023) 1
Hickman's new universe humbly begins with a series of heists. I love this modern global conspiracy thriller tone orchestrated by The Illumanti and punctuated by the concussion of false flag attacks. I'm excited for Spider-Man but need more Ultimate Dr. Doom stat.
Captain Marvel: Assault on Eden (2023)
A fast paced, action packed one-shot checking in on the Kree-Skrull Alliance that's been left almost untouched since 2020. The beautifully dynamic art is the selling point. This team would be great for a Hulkling & Wiccan ongoing.
Ultimate Invasion (2023) 1-4
Hickman's return to his Secret Wars plot threads is predictably well worth the wait. His vision for the rebooted Ultimate Universe is built on a brilliantly fitting new take on The Illuminati. He's truly a master of continuity. Hitch keeps it feeling grounded and gritty.
Marvel Age (2023) 1000
A sappy nostalgic celebration of the classic Marvel tone that helped set them apart in the '60s and has remained remarkably consistent over the years. I would take more of Slott and Allred's fun Mar-Vell throwback and McNiven's Silver Surfer masterpiece!
Warlock: Rebirth (2023) 1-5
The Rons Cosmic bring more fun '90s nostalgia, though Eve Warlock feels redundant with my girl Kismet sitting right there. After a 28 year drought, we just wrapped up an Infinity Watch series the same week we got a Marvel Legends 2-Pack. I wonder if they have an MCU announcement planned.
Groot (2023) 1-5
If this is what it takes to sneak out a rookie Captain Mar-Vell book by Dan Abnett, sign me up! Come for the cute Baby Groot, stay to witness a desperate Mar-Vell hunted by a pack of blood thirsty Chainsaurs. This demands a follow-up, preferably an ongoing!
Cosmic Ghost Rider (2023) 1-5
An enjoyable low-stakes cat and mouse across the cosmos with deep cut Monark Starstalker. This has the makings of a beautiful rivalry. The expressive art is perfect for the slapstick tone. Hey Marvel, just give this team an ongoing you cowards!
All-Out Avengers (2022) 1-5, Avengers: Beyond (2023) 1-5
For an all action book to work it needs great art. A whodunit is pointless when it's a deus ex machina. Who signed off on this Beyonder retcon right after Defenders Beyond? Cause we need another to fix this mess immediately.
Thor (2020) 1-35, Annual 1, Hulk (2021) 1-8, Banner of War Alpha
An offensively bad ending. 35 issues of build up promising Thanos with an Infinity Mjolnir & Death Stone leading an army of Marvel Zombies & what we got makes the Thanoscopter look good. I should've left after issue 6.
Silver Surfer: Ghost Light (2023) 1-5
I was worried about bringing back Al Harper from the classic Silver Surfer #5, but Jennings manages to pull it off. The side characters all feel real & world feels lived in. It's a little messy but full of heart & ends on a great note.
Captain Marvel (2019) 1-50, Annual 1, Captain Marvel The End 1, X-Men 19-21
Thompson nails the landing, closing out a consistent run that lasted the years between movies. Didn't set its sights too high or try to reinvent the wheel. Just good old fashioned superhero comics from start to finish.
Guardains of the Galaxy: Bane of Blastaar (2023) 1
While its great to spend time with the criminally short lived Ewing era Guardians, the excitement is quickly drowned in exposition & handholding. It's clearly written as some movie goer's 1st comic. The art is good at least!
Wasp (2023) 1-4
Ewing doesn't miss. Even when he's not swinging for the fences, it's a good time. Carries over the great cover motif from Ant-Man, but the similarities stop there. It's a crime this is Janet's 1st solo title. Next time let's not split the spotlight with Nadia.
Sins of Sinister amp (2023) 1, Dominion, Storm and the Brotherhood of Mutants 1-3, Nightcrawlers 1-3, Immoral X-Men 1-3
The best use of the Krakoa status quo since Hickman left. Recaptures the hard sci-fi magic of House/Powers of X. Mr. Sinister & Storm on a cosmic scale is exhilarating.
Avengers (2018) 1-66, FCBD 2018, 2019, 2021, Heroes Reborn 1-7, American Knights, Hyperion & the Imperial Guard, Magneto & the Mutant Force, Marvel Double Action, Night-Gwen, Peter Parker, The Amazing Shutterbug, Siege Society, Squadron Savage, Young Squadron, Weapon X & Final Flight, Heroes Return 1, Avengers Assemble Alpha, Omega
This run should be amazing. It's nonstop epic continuity upheaving events, but it just leaves you feeling numb. It's a good case for the MCU scaling back the stakes. If it's all Endgame, then none of it is.
Planet Hulk: World Breaker (2022) 1-5
A big let down after high expectations of Pak's return to Sakaar. Setting it 1000 years in the future robbed its identity, leaving a generic garbled mess. Hulk & She-Hulk are just plot devices & Amadeus Cho is completely unrecognizable.
Secret Invasion (2022) 1-5
A small scale Skrull romp staring the unlikable Maria Hill. As an obvious companion to the MCU's take, it's odd to not focus on Nick Fury. Feels like they had their hands tied & just weren't allowed to shake things up. Great art but very skippable.
Defenders Beyond (2022) 1-5
Al Ewing & Javier Caster take us to the bottom of the rabbit hole, completing their psychedelic journey through all 8 Marvel Universes. Evokes the unattainable feeling of learning the secrets of the universe in a way you can only get in comics.
Genis-Vell: Captain Marvel (2022) 1-5
Peter David's long awaited return to Genis-Vell doesn't miss a beat. A fun reunion wrapping up old threads from the '99 ongoing, skipping over the Thunderbolts years. Bring on a new ongoing & cameo in The Marvels! Genny's time is now.
Iron Man (2020) 1-25, Iron Man & Hellcat Annual
Tony Stark has a midlife crisis & gets nostalgic for the '70s. He starts a fling with Hellcat, takes on Korvac & even has a new take on Demon in a Bottle. Starts strong with the cosmic arc but loses a little steam in the end.
Avengers - X-Men - Eternals: Judgement Day (2022) 1-6, Omega, FCBD, X-Men Red 5-7, etc.
Gillen graces us with Marvel's best event since Secret Wars in 2015 by anchoring the chaos with the personal thoughts of the bystanders living on the brink. Hits home as a doomscroller.
Fantastic Four (2018) 1-46, Reckoning War Alpha, Trial of The Watcher
Captures the atmosphere of cosmic exploration intrinsic to a great FF run. Dan Slott explodes with creativity, expanding on nearly all elements of the title's storied past, capped with a show-stopping event.
Hulk vs Thor: Banner of War Alpha, Thor 25-26, Hulk 7-8
I just can't get into this Hulk run & this is all more of same. It's rushed, lacks any originality & has a frustrating copout ending. It gets by on action alone, carried by Martin Coccolo's powerful & striking art.
Silver Surfer: Rebirth (2022) 1-5
Lim & Marz fix the Tyrant saga's 3rd act by adding a showdown with Surfer & Thanos right before the botched climax in 109. Something I always wanted but thought too obscure to entertain. Makes the most of the opportunity. Loved every minute.
Eternals (2021) 7-12, Celestia, The Heretic
As something of a Thanos purist I am happy to add Kieron Gillen to the small list of writers I trust with him. Incredible world building naturally places the Eternals centerstage of #Marvel continuity. Ribić is as epic as always.
Hulk (2021) 1-6
Takes the crazy concept of Starship Hulk & rushes right past all the hard sci-fi fun to retread old ground. Cates drags out Aaron's mad scientist Banner & wastes no time replacing Devil Hulk with a new all-powerful dark Hulk personality. A giant leap back.
Phoenix Song: Echo (2021) 1-5
Rising from Aaron's Avengers, Maya Lopez has been chosen as the perfect Phoenix host. A deep dive into not just her past, but entire ancestral line. Roanhorse Bex shows a strong grasp of continuity while bringing authenticity to the character.
The Death of Doctor Strange (2021) 1-5, Avengers, Spider-Man, Blade, X-Men/Black Knight, etc.
Starts strong with a quirky twist that livens up what may have been a stale murder mystery, but like most events it suffers from an uneven 3rd act rushing to set the new status quo.
Defenders (2021) 1-5
A revelatory space odyssey through the 8 iterations of the Marvel Universe. Al Ewing shows all his Tarot cards, revealing the secrets of the new cosmology built during his Ultimates run. Javier Caster's ethereal style fits like esoteric synchronicity.
Inferno (2021) 1-4
Hickman wraps up his tenure on X-Men early, apparently due to the popularity of the 1st act of his master plan. It certainly feels rushed but also epic & immensely satisfying. The progress made on Professor X & #Magneto's historic debate alone is worth it.
Kang The Conquerer (2021) 1-5, Timeless 1
A continuity refresh adding new context to Kang's long history while also telling a compelling story, setting him up for an eventful New Year 2022. Carlos Magno's dynamic art is well suited for a sci-fi epic spanning the ages.
SWORD (2020) 1-11
Fraught with tie-ins & a constantly mutating status quo, Al Ewing kept the momentum going throughout. Started as the X-Men's gateway into #Marvel Cosmic as Agent Brand scrambled to put out one fire after the next, but ended positioning Storm for X-Men Red.
Iron Man, Captain America, Amazing Spider-Man, Thor, Avengers Annual (2021), Black Cat 8-10, Giant-Sized Black Cat: Infinity Score, etc.
Drags out the meandering status quo left at the end of the bad Infinity Wars event to sell annuals, cashing in on the Infinity branding.
The Immortal Hulk (2018) 1-50
A shocking mix of sci-fi, body horror & the occult. Like Lovecraft's Herbert West threw Carpenter's The Thing & Kirby's Hulk into the teleporter from Cronenberg's The Fly. Fittingly applies Kabbalah to Marvel's cosmic hierarchy. The best Hulk run.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2020) 13-18, SWORD 7, Last Annihilation: Wiccan & Hulkling, etc.
Al Ewing's run was too good to be true, cut short by the Last Annihilation of an abrupt cancellation. The stars had briefly aligned for classic #Marvel cosmic fans. Best run since DnA
Eternals (2021) 1-6, Thanos Rises
Gillen & Ribic resurrect the Eternals & Thanos, reorganizing their messy history while leaning into the hard sci-fi of the classic Kirby property. Art recaptures the epic atmosphere of Secret Wars, complete with Hickman-esque text pages.
Beta Ray Bill (2021) 1-5
Bill's journey to find himself after Stormbreaker is destroyed. The creators I respect most are both writer & artist with full mastery of the medium. Finally, after all these years Daniel Warren Johnston has been found worthy of Walt Simonson's legacy.
Marauders 21, X-Force 20, Hellions 12, Excalibur 21, X-Men 21, Planet-Sized X-Men
The Hellfire Gala is a unique anti-event focused on intimate character moments across line wide tie-ins as it ushers in the new status quo in the background. Doubles as an artist fashion show.
Heroes Reborn (2021) 1-7, Heroes Return, etc.
Event comics reshaping reality is overdone, but the trope is used effectively by using various artists to dedicate each issue to self contained character studies of the Squadron Supreme, fascist satires of DC's Justice League.
Web of Venom: Wraith, Emypre's End, King In Black 1-5, Venom (2018) 31-35, etc.
Cates & Stegman wrap up Venom's best run with the long awaited arrival of Knull. A gothic cosmic epic that cuts through Venom's messy past to reveal a twist that brilliantly unites continuities.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2020) 1-12
Ewing on Guardians is a dream come true. The best run since Abnett & Lanning. Brings Star-Lord back to his astrological roots and reinvents the Olympian's into an imposing cosmic threat. Dynamic and consistent art complete the perfect package.
Doctor Doom (2019) 1-10
Christopher Cantwell concocts the perfect scenario for a character study to pry open the core of Dr. Doom. Filled with brilliant moments showing an iron grip on the character. Salvador Larroca's art brings the gravitas & sense of scale the book demands.
Yondu (2019) 1-5
The MCU inspired modern Yondu collides with the classic Yondu from 1000 years in the future. A fun buddy road trip heist with detours to obscure corners of the Marvel Universe to tie up various loose plot threads. Kinetic art & layouts by John McCrea.
Web of Venom: Carnage, Absolute Carnage 1-5, Separation Anxiety, Venom (2018) 17-20, etc.
Carnage is back from the dead hunting everyone who wore a symbiote. Cates & Stegman fittingly push the event into full on body horror. Climax is a little rushed.
Silver Surfer: Black (2019) 1-5
A space odyssey through a blackhole to the start of time to face the dark god Knull. Moore's clean & dynamic style stretches the boundaries of comic art in ways unseen since Kirby. The ending confusingly repeats that of Slott's recent run.
Venom (2018) 1-6
Cates & Stegman inject cosmic horror into Venom's origins with great success. Thankfully, it's a complete retcon of Bendis' work. Does a great job weaving other creators open plot threads to introduce Knull as a compelling & dire threat right off the bat.
Avengers: Celestial Quest (2001) 1-8
Yet another clone of Thanos is out embarrassing himself, this time hunting Mantis & her messiah son Quoi. A dragged out soap operatic mess of forced romance, continuity maintenance & exposition. Painful characterization all around.
Deadpool (1997) 33, 61-64
Deadpool's love affair with Death is thwarted when he's cursed with immortality by a jealous Thanos clone. Mostly a dragged out Death of #Superman spoof that falls flat. While the 'Nuff Said issue is good fun, the whole T-Ray plot's just plain bad.
The Mighty Thor (1998) 20-25, Annual 2000
Another Thanos clone teams with Mangog for a genocidal scavenger hunt. Gives a peek at the climax early, only highlighting what a slog the hilariously convoluted MacGuffin plot is. Nods to myth are fun & JRJR always delivers action.
Warlock (1998) 1-4
Newly returned Adam Warlock reunites with the Infinity Watch to solve the mystery of who desecrated Captain Marvel's grave & killed his widow. Overly hostile to Mar-Vell's legacy & terrible characterization for Gamora, but its got a fun cast of characters.
What If...? 112
An alternate reality where Ka-Zar was unable to stop "Thanos" from terraforming New York into a Savage Land for 5 years. The Savage NY was the best part of the original event & went completely under-utilized. Expanding on it is fun, though a little unnecessary.
Ka-Zar (1997) Annual, 8-11, Marvel 1998 Annual Starring The Incredible Hulk & X-Man
A clone of Thanos has somehow been trapped in the dimension that powers the Savage Land's terraformer, grown to Kaiju proportions & unleashed Dinosaurs in New York. A pretty absurd affair.
What If...? 108
Only a few months after the disappointing Spider-Man 431, What If swoops in to right all wrongs by delivering cover to cover Carnage Cosmic. This time the Avengers decide to show up and make a huge mess of what was originally an annoyingly peaceful affair.
Amazing Spider-Man 430-431
The Carnage symbiote understandably ditches Cletus Kasady for the Silver Surfer, taking the epic name Carnage Cosmic. They really should have done more with this concept. Unfortunately, its mostly unrelated plot lines with MJ & Robbie Robertson.
Star-Lord (1996) 1-3
Zahn & Lawlis tell the story of Sinjin Quarrel, an outsider telepath who stumbles upon the abandoned sentient ship. It's established that Star-Lord's gun steals the elements from a planet, leading to trouble. A short & sweet spinoff that adds to the lore.
Silver Surfer: Dangerous Artifacts
Surfer races White Raven, an agent of Thanos, to retrieve a power source from a mysterious comet. A great showcase of Castellini's sensory overloading art, though some detail is blurred in coloring. Still 1 of the best Surfer designs.
Rune/Silver Surfer 1, Ultraforce/Avengers 0-1, Avengers/Ultraforce 1, Rune (1995) 0-7, etc.
The Infinity Gems are literally stolen from Starlin's Infinity Watch for this rushed cash-grab crossover. Loki successfully collects them before learning of the secret 7th Ego Gem.
Silver Surfer 101-110, Cosmic Powers Unlimited (1995) 3
After a brutal series of hardships, Surfer vows to relinquish his Power Cosmic. Meanwhile, Galactus & Tyrant have their final showdown. Tyrant's B plot disappoints. Grindberg's self-reflecting art is the perfect fit.
Cosmic Powers Unlimited (1994) 1, Warlock & The Infinity Watch 26-42
It all falls apart for Warlock as his heart is broken, he's forced to sacrifice a friend & the Infinity Gems are stolen. Marvel unceremoniously canceled the book for a rushed Infinity crossover with Malibu.
Secret Defenders 12-14, Cosmic Powers (1994) 1-6, Silver Surfer Annual 7
Bored, Thanos enlists villains to uncover Tyrant's origin as the spawn of Galactus before facing him. A great format with each issue headlined by an obscure cosmic character. A little anticlimactic.
Thor 468-471, Silver Surfer 86-88, Warlock Chronicles 6-8, Warlock & The Infinity Watch 23-25
Suffering from Warrior's Madness & possessing the Power Gem, Thor is on an unstoppable rampage leading to a head on collision with Thanos. A high-stakes, fast-paced, action-packed crossover.
Infinity Crusade (1993) 1-6, Warlock & The Infinity Watch 18-22, Warlock Chronicles 1-5, Thor 463-467
Starlin controversially ends his Infinity Trilogy focusing on religion. The Goddess indoctrinates every spiritual hero, pitting them against the atheist heroes in a Marvel holy war.
Thor 461-462, Silver Surfer 79-82, Annual 3
Introduces Tyrant, a mysterious threat who kidnaps cosmic powerhouses to use as living batteries while using the term Matrix to describe his process. His design is a 90's mix of HR Giger & Clive Barker. An epic prologue.
Warlock & The Infinity Watch (1992) 11-17, Silver Surfer/Warlock: Resurrection 1-4
Fleshes out the cast & rogues gallery with new characters Maxxam & Count Abyss. Warlock faces Mephisto for Silver Surfer in order to gain powerful allies. Great character moments throughout.
Infinity War (1992) 1-6, Warlock & The Infinity Watch 8-10, Silver Surfer 67-69, Doctor Strange 42-47, etc.
The follow up to the successful Infinity Gauntlet event focuses on doppelgängers & duality. Magus' convoluted plan sets the Marvel Universe on a dash for power. Some must-read tie-ins.
Warlock & The Infinity Watch (1992) 2-7
Starlin organically pulls all of his Marvel characters together as a team to protect the Infinity Gems & they immediately mess it up. The 1st arc is focused on Adam Warlock's history in an action packed throwback to his classic runs.
Infinity Gauntlet (1991) 1-6, Silver Surfer 52-59, Doctor Strange 31-36, Warlock & The Infinity Watch 1, etc.
The biggest comics event of the 90s & the template used to this day. The basis for the highest grossing film of all time. Watch your heroes die & love every minute in this cosmic epic.
Silver Surfer (1987) 34-38, 44-45, Thanos Quest 1-2
Starlin takes over writing & brings all his characters back to life. Thanos embarks on an odyssey for the Infinity Gems through sheer cunning & willpower. Revitalized cosmic Marvel & inspired the MCU film Infinity War.
Silver Surfer (1987) 3-10
By Engleheart & Rogers. The Elders of the Universe gather the "Soul Gems" in a plot to steal Galactus' power. He eats them but gets indigestion due to their immortality from a deal made with Death. It's a lighthearted adventure and builds out The Elders lore.
The Mighty Thor 314, Avengers 219-220
Trigger Warning: Moondragon rapes Thor, enslaves an alien planet & lobotomizes Drax, her own father, to death. Not exactly the family reunion fans were expecting. Surprisingly edgy but also offers good drama & character development.
The Death of Captain Marvel (1982)
The 1st death of a mainstream superhero & its not in battle, but of cancer bedridden surrounded by his loved ones & peers. Starlin's cathartic masterpiece set the bar for mature graphic novels & inspired the "Death of" insert superhero craze.
Incredible Hulk Annual 6, Marvel Two-In-One 61-63
The Enclave create Paragon who switches genders & embarks on a journey to resurrect Her perfect mate Adam Warlock, enlisting The Thing, Moondragon & Starhawk. A fun time for mostly cleaning up Starlin's continuity.
Marvel Preview 18, Super Special Magazine 10, Spotlight 6-7, Premiere 61
Moench takes over & the quality dips. Star-Lord's first retcon loses the astrology & helmet but his struggle with killing is pushed to the point of parody. The Super Special art by Colan is the high point
Marvel Preview Presents 4, 11, 14-15
Created by Engleheart & Gan, Star-Lord's first comics portray a murderous solar messiah revenge space opera. Claremont & Byrne take over and introduce a sentient ship that catfishes the hero as a nude woman. Epic covers and dynamic B&W art.
Captain Marvel 45, Marvel Team-Up 55, Avengers King-Sized Annual 7, Marvel Two-In-One King-Sized Annual 2
Starlin continues fleshing out the "Soul Gems" and Thanos in this eclectic crossover, bringing his Warlock run to a satisfying conclusion while wrapping up all loose ends.
Strange Tales 178-181, Warlock 9-15
Starlin takes over Adam Warlock and makes "Him" his own in one of the best space operas of all time. A dark, psychedelic tale of religious genocide and cosmic suicide, inspiring a generation of comics storytelling. Also gave us Gamora & Pip.
Captain Marvel 22-33, Marvel Feature 12, Avengers 125, Iron Man 88-90
Jim Starlin took over the title completely reinvigorating it by immediately establishing Thanos as the best villain in comics & earning Mar-Vell's heroic legacy. A must read that sets up decades of epics.
Marvel Premiere 1-2, Warlock 1-8, Hulk 176-178
By Thomas & Kane. High Evolutionary gives Adam Warlock his name & Soul Gem & tasks him with saving Counter-Earth from the Man-Beast, but they crucify him in front of the Capitol while Man-Beast is president. Still relevant today!
