The Coronavirus global pandemic has forced millions of people into quarantine. It is a scary time to be alive, filled with uncertainty as everyone tries to figure out the best way to cope with COVID-19. There are no easy solutions.
Many Marvel fans are used to stories of superheroes swooping in to save the day. It is extremely unlikely that any such miraculous salvation will take place, meaning that quarantine is the best solution for the time being. The staff here at CBR believe in self-care and in the power of comics to provide some ease in distressing times, either through distraction or just the emotional catharsis provided by good storytelling. These are the 10 best Marvel comics to read for folks stuck in quarantine:
10 Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon
The X-Men have dealt with every type of hardship imaginable, yet always seem able to come back from the worst of it. When Joss Whedon took over writing the team in Astonishing X-Men, he found a way to balance humor, powerful dark storytelling, and strong character moments, giving this book something for everyone.
The first story of Whedon's run, entitled "Gifted," is also very relevant, as it deals with failures of medicine and societal infrastructure, as well as the legacy of a devastating disease that resulted in tragedy for the X-Men. There have been multiple printings of this modern-day classic, making it fairly easy to find.
9 Vision by Tom King
It's hard to be cooped up inside. Navigating domestic life can be emotionally strenuous, especially when outside pressures cause tensions to boil over in the home. Tom King's work on the 2015 comic Vision is a phenomenal examination of the ways even the most seemingly mundane aspects of daily life in the home can take on new significance and be filled with potential problems.
This book is smart, philosophical, and nuanced. While the Avengers' star android might seem distant, this comic takes readers on a powerful emotional journey that explores what happens when a man with a silicon brain tries to live like an ordinary flesh-and-blood family man. Tom King's Vision is a great book for anyone feeling tired of life stuck indoors or for fans of the MCU - especially if they plan to watch the upcoming WandaVision show on Disney+.
8 Captain America: The Winter Soldier
When times get tough, people look for a source of inspiration and hope. Captain America is the embodiment of hope in the Marvel Universe, striving to live up to the greatest ideals of what he believes his country is capable of while fully acknowledging what it can succumb to at its worst.
"The Winter Soldier" is perhaps the greatest Captain America story ever written. It follows Steve Rogers as he deals with his present-day struggles while being forced to relive the most harrowing moments from his past. This is a captivatingly dark tale that still allows for the light of hope to shine, something important in these dark times.
7 All-New Captain America: Hydra Ascendant
As Captain America is the symbol of hope, he is the only hero on this list to receive multiple entries. However, this book is actually about a different Cap. When Steve Rogers is no longer able to carry the shield, his best friend, Sam Wilson, dons the mantle of Captain America.
Hydra assembles the various enemies of Captain America, bringing them together to infect humanity with a dangerous pathogen. Both the art and writing are phenomenal and Sam Wilson proves himself more than worthy to bear the shield, soaring to new heights with outstretched wings.
6 Ms Marvel: No Normal
After being caught in a cloud of Terrigen Mists, teenage girl Kamala Khan's life is forever changed. The mists activated dormant Inhuman genetics in her DNA, giving her incredible life-altering powers. Kamala has always loved superheroes and so she uses this opportunity to become one, taking the name formerly used by her childhood hero, Ms Marvel.
This fun book is the classic Peter Parker-inspired story of a teenage outsider who becomes a hero, updating the timeless tale for a new generation. The book is fun, lighthearted, and enjoyable for readers of all ages.
5 Thor by Jason Aaron
Writer Jason Aaron was in charge of writing Marvel's Thor comics from 2012 through 2019. In this time, he wrote multiple titles involving the character, all of which are good. For this list, two titles, in particular, stand out.
The first is Thor: God of Thunder, which follows the character at different points in his life, some of the story taking place in the present-day superhero era and other bits occurring in the Viking Age or the distant future. The other Thor comic to jump into is Aaron's work with artist Russell Dauterman on the 2015 series The Mighty Thor, in which the mantle of the Asgardian Avenger is passed onto his old lover, Jane Foster, as she wields the hammer and fights to protect the realms of men and gods alike.
4 Avengers: The Final Host
This is another book by Jason Aaron and the start of his run on Avengers. The story opens as a group of Celestials attack the Earth, their power so great even the gods of the Marvel Universe are beneath their notice. Meanwhile, a swarm of creatures attack from where they've nestled in subterranean catacombs, revealing an ancient cosmic plague buried within the very planet.
The Avengers reassemble in this epic clash which shows just why the team really is comprised of Earth's mightiest heroes, even as they learn the secrets of a similar team of heroes and the infection that has been spreading since the dawn of humanity.
3 Black Panther by Reginald Hudlin
The King of Wakanda has seen a resurgence in popularity since the release of the 2018 film Black Panther. There have been many excellent comics to portray the regal superhero in all of his majestic glory, but the 2004 run by writer Reginald Hudlin is the book to pick up right now!
The first story of his classic run, entitled "Who Is The Black Panther," is one of the defining tales about the character, but fans interested in reading more should pick up the book Black Panther by Reginald Hudlin: The Complete Collection Vol. 1. This phenomenal printing begins with an attempt to overthrow Wakanda, then follows the monarch as he teams up with Blade and Luke Cage to fight a viral vampire outbreak in New Orleans, and finally ends with a story about T'Challa's search to find a partner to marry! The vampire story is relevant to the current epidemic but every part of Hudlin's run is captivating, fun, and intense.
2 Spider-Man: Spider-Verse
The one major crossover event to make this list is Spider-Man: Spider-Verse. This epic introduced the fan-favorite character Spider-Gwen and was the inspiration for the 2018 Academy Awarding-winning film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Any good Spider-Man book should be funny and this definitely is, but it is also a gripping twisted tale that looks at all the defining characteristics that make Peter Parker a hero. Just about every version of Spider-Man is given a bit of the action from the 1970s Japanese Spider-Man with his giant mech to the cartoonish Spider-Ham, Peter Porker. For people stuck in quarantine, this book will take them beyond the confines of home on a journey across the multiverse itself.
1 Star Wars: Skywalker Strikes
Sometimes superhero stories offer the perfect bit of escapism from difficulties in life; other times, it can be more enjoyable to spend time reading stories set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. That's where this comic comes in.
When Disney acquired the rights to Star Wars, two Marvel comics came out worthy to inherit the traditions of the Jedi. The first story was Kieron Gillen's chillingly dark run of Darth Vader while the other book was the main Star Wars title, whose first volume is collected in the Skywalker Strikes trade paperback. This fast-paced comic continues the story after A New Hope in what ComicBook.com called "the perfect Star Wars comic."