American comics can be very hard to break into, especially long-running series' like the X-Men.
Despite this, the characters have endured for decades and now - with their return to video games, their inevitable MCU debut and an upcoming fresh start in the comics - they are poised for another resurgence.
If you are at all interested in the team, now is the best time to start reading the comics. My personal favorite modern comics author, Jon Hickman, is set to start a fresh X-Universe of comics in July. He'll be writing a 12 part mini series that sets the stage, then 1 ongoing X-Men comic book that continues his story. He will also be overseeing 2 waves of X-Comics written by others, but guided by his direction, over the year or so.
This means that we are in for a really tight, cohesive set of X-Men comics for the next few years - one with a defined start, middle & mind-blowing ending.
Hickman has gone on record saying you will not need to read anything beforehand, but if you would like to kick off your beach reading with comics, here are some great introductory books that will help set the stage for you:
X-Men: Grand Design - this is a 6-issue retelling of the first 40 years of X-Men continuity. It's just wrapping up, and would serve as a wonderful primer to get to know the history of the X-Men.
Astonishing X-Men - Joss Whedon's highly cinematic, 25-issue run is often touted as one of the best jumping-on points - and for good reason. It's a fun, breezy adventure with a classic core team.
Amazing X-Men - Jason Aaron's 5-issue mini series about the return of Nightcrawler. The character has been MIA for years, and this story really makes you understand a bit more of the 'family' feel of the team.
X-Men Red - The most recent book on the list, this is a beautiful 11 issue story centered on Jean Grey. Despite being one of the most popular Marvel characters, she hasn't gotten a lot of time to shine recently. This book rectifies it and serves as a great primer as to why she is such a wonderful character. This is a book steeped in modernity, bringing the core ideals of the X-Men into a world of fake news and growing rightwing radicalization.
If there's one good thing about all my picks it is that they are straightforward, no event books, no crossovers. Just self-contained stories that you can enjoy, each with a different feel.
So why not jump in, and get excited for July's series refresh!
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Bonus OP:
The X-Men are not the only mutants out there, and it is always fun to see the different types of groups that exist around the Marvel Universe. No doubt you'll see some of these characters pop up in Hickman's run:
New Mutants:
Demon Bear Saga (Issues 18-20 from 1984)
Zeb Wells run (Issues 1-21 from 2009)
IMO, the New Mutants embody the 'horror' vibe of mutants and these two books nail it. If you like DOOM (2016) and horror, check these out!
X-Factor: (Issues 1-12 from 2006, then issue 87 from the old series, the 13 from the 2006 series)
What about lower stakes, dirty NYC in the rain noir? Peter David's X-Factor is a blast, and you'll no doubt fall in love with this crew.
Despite this, the characters have endured for decades and now - with their return to video games, their inevitable MCU debut and an upcoming fresh start in the comics - they are poised for another resurgence.
If you are at all interested in the team, now is the best time to start reading the comics. My personal favorite modern comics author, Jon Hickman, is set to start a fresh X-Universe of comics in July. He'll be writing a 12 part mini series that sets the stage, then 1 ongoing X-Men comic book that continues his story. He will also be overseeing 2 waves of X-Comics written by others, but guided by his direction, over the year or so.
This means that we are in for a really tight, cohesive set of X-Men comics for the next few years - one with a defined start, middle & mind-blowing ending.
Hickman has gone on record saying you will not need to read anything beforehand, but if you would like to kick off your beach reading with comics, here are some great introductory books that will help set the stage for you:
X-Men: Grand Design - this is a 6-issue retelling of the first 40 years of X-Men continuity. It's just wrapping up, and would serve as a wonderful primer to get to know the history of the X-Men.
Astonishing X-Men - Joss Whedon's highly cinematic, 25-issue run is often touted as one of the best jumping-on points - and for good reason. It's a fun, breezy adventure with a classic core team.
Amazing X-Men - Jason Aaron's 5-issue mini series about the return of Nightcrawler. The character has been MIA for years, and this story really makes you understand a bit more of the 'family' feel of the team.
X-Men Red - The most recent book on the list, this is a beautiful 11 issue story centered on Jean Grey. Despite being one of the most popular Marvel characters, she hasn't gotten a lot of time to shine recently. This book rectifies it and serves as a great primer as to why she is such a wonderful character. This is a book steeped in modernity, bringing the core ideals of the X-Men into a world of fake news and growing rightwing radicalization.
If there's one good thing about all my picks it is that they are straightforward, no event books, no crossovers. Just self-contained stories that you can enjoy, each with a different feel.
So why not jump in, and get excited for July's series refresh!
---------------------------
Bonus OP:
The X-Men are not the only mutants out there, and it is always fun to see the different types of groups that exist around the Marvel Universe. No doubt you'll see some of these characters pop up in Hickman's run:
New Mutants:
Demon Bear Saga (Issues 18-20 from 1984)
Zeb Wells run (Issues 1-21 from 2009)
IMO, the New Mutants embody the 'horror' vibe of mutants and these two books nail it. If you like DOOM (2016) and horror, check these out!
X-Factor: (Issues 1-12 from 2006, then issue 87 from the old series, the 13 from the 2006 series)
What about lower stakes, dirty NYC in the rain noir? Peter David's X-Factor is a blast, and you'll no doubt fall in love with this crew.
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