Ever since the early 1960s, Marvel Comics has been publishing some of the best superhero stories ever told. For people who are new to comics, it may seem overwhelming to pick from the seemingly endless selection of stories. There are plenty of legendary titles to choose from, but certain storylines just stand out as being undeniably great.
Some of the titles on this list are now considered classics from decades past, but other ones are modern titles that are excellent and deserve to be right alongside the classics. For those who are new to comics, these 10 titles are great places to dive into the expansive world of Marvel Comics.
10 The Vision
Written by Tom King, this adaptation of The Vision is incredibly unique. It is a complete 12 part series, perfect for new readers to pick up and dive right into an emotional and beautifully told story about one of the strangest Marvel heroes. The story follows The Vision as he attempts to live a normal family life, but it is difficult for a family of superpowered robots to fit into society.
After his appearances in the MCU films, The Vision will soon have his own series with Wanda on Disney+. This comic series is a story that obviously influenced the upcoming series, making it an ideal starting point for new readers that want to start exploring more of Marvel Comics.
9 Planet Hulk
Planet Hulk is a legendary storyline that will definitely captivate new comic book readers. The series was written by Greg Pak in 2006, and it is about The Hulk's conquest of an entire planet. A council of superheroes decides to send Hulk to a distant planet as a precautionary measure.
The plan backfires when the Hulk loses someone he loves along the journey. He then dominates the planet he was sent to and returns to Earth hellbent on revenge. The story is brutal at times, emotional, and ultimately it is one of the more memorable stories in Marvel Comics history. Additionally, Thor: Ragnarok took some notes from this fan-favorite storyline.
8 Days Of Future Past
Chris Claremont is one of the greatest comic book writers of all time, he is the creator of many unforgettable storylines that have been adapted into films. In the early 80s, Claremont wrote the Days Of Future Past, which many have regarded as the greatest X-Men story of all time.
Days Of Future Past is an epic saga about mutants being hunted to the point of extinction, so Wolverine must go into the past in a final effort to stop the future catastrophe. The story is incredibly ambitious and it is a great place for new readers to start, especially for those curious about its cinematic adaptation X-Men: Days of Future Past.
7 The Mighty Thor
Jason Aaron recently wrapped up his legendary work on Thor, which included The Mighty Thor storyline, where Jane Foster became worthy of wielding the hammer. For new readers, this storyline is perfect because it is a modern classic and has an epic final issue that could easily lead to further reading for those that enjoyed it.
Jane Foster is battling a life-threatening disease when she becomes worthy to fill the role of Thor. She uses her powers to defend Asgard and Earth, becoming braver and stronger than anyone else who wielded the powers before her. The Mighty Thor is an excellent modern storyline to pick up for any new reader, especially before Thor: Love and Thunder - where Natalie Portman will wield Mjölnir - comes out in 2021.
6 The Amazing Spider-Man
Spider-man is without a doubt one of Marvel's most popular superheroes. For decades, Spider-man has been swinging around the city saving people while also trying to get to his classes on time. Nick Spencer has recently started a new chapter in the character's history that does an excellent job of honoring the origins of the web-slinger while also adding modern takes on his story.
New readers should start with Back To Basics, and enjoy the new journey Spider-man is currently on. Nick Spencer's take on the character is still ongoing, so new comic readers can catch up on the past material and continue to look forward to where the story is headed.
5 Civil War
Civil War was one of the most influential Marvel events in years, both in comics and cinema. Written by Mark Millar in 2006, this epic event split the roster of heroes into two teams that disagreed on an issue about secret identities. The teams were led by Captain America and Iron Man.
Seeing two of the most influential heroes go toe to toe against each other felt historic, and the results of the conflict had a major impact on future events in the Marvel universe. Civil War made a big enough impact to be the source material for a feature film in the MCU.
4 Ms.Marvel
In 2014, writer Willow Wilson created a new and original character that has had an excellent debut in the Marvel universe. Kamala Khan is a Pakistani American who has shapeshifting and healing abilities. She goes by the name Ms.Marvel based on her idol, Carol Danvers.
Ms.Marvel's solo series has been a huge hit and it is a really fun story for any new reader. With her upcoming series on Disney+, it is a good time to get caught up on this fresh new character's origins before seeing it on the show. Wilson's take on Ms.Marvel is original and a great choice for a new Marvel fan.
3 Born Again
Born Again has been referred to as the ultimate Daredevil story. Written by Frank Miller, this story is definitely a classic that every Marvel fan should checkout. Miller has become a comic book legend, with Born Again being an excellent example of how great his work truly is.
The story pits the man without fear against the intimidating Kingpin, who has found out Daredevil's secret identity and is determined to destroy him. The story is full of suspense and plot twists that are undeniably captivating. From start to finish, this story is an absolute page-turner.
2 House Of X/Powers Of X
Jonathan Hickman has written a few series for Marvel Comics that will be regarded as classics in the years to come. His original take on the X-Men will possibly be thought of as his greatest work for Marvel. This story sets an incredible foundation for the future of mutants, and it has split off into several different X-Men series that each adds something new and unique to the grand design.
New readers may have been overwhelmed by the world of mutants, but Hickman's story makes everything clear and provides an intriguing path forward for the team of heroes. House Of X/Powers Of X is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the current state of the X-Men.
1 The Infinity Gauntlet
Written in 1991 by Jim Starlin, this epic event was one of the most influential moments in the Marvel universe. Thanos falls in love with the embodiment of death, going on a mission to collect all of the infinity stones to rid the universe of life as a tribute to death herself. Thanos establishes himself as the ultimate villain and it takes the entire team of heroes working together to stop him.
The story is truly epic, with the fate of the universe in the balance. The story has had a major impact that goes beyond comics, reaching into video games, TV, and especially movies, where it served as the basis for the epic Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. Any new Marvel reader would not be disappointed by this sprawling story that involves the entire Marvel universe.