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The X-Files Comics: A Reading Guide to Mulder and Scully’s Comic Book Adventures

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Not many live-action TV shows have expanded their stories into comic books. Star Trek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Firefly are the most successful examples, of course. Science fiction is a genre that lends itself perfectly to the medium. So it’s no surprise that The X-Files, the biggest sci-fi sensation on TV during the 1990s, expanded into the world of comics. 

Since the first issue was published in 1995 by Topps Comics, multiple comics have starred the famous FBI agents Mulder and Scully. Some are based on actual episodes of the show created by Chris Carter, while others are original stories that run alongside or continue the series after its cancellation. And now that there are talks about reviving the X-Files comics at Marvel, let’s take a look back at the long history of the franchise in print.

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Reading Jason Comics: A Guide to Explore the Norwegian Cartoonist’s World

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John Arne Sæterøy, known professionally as Jason, is a Norwegian cartoonist born in Molde in 1965. He began publishing comics in magazines during the 1980s but gained wider recognition in 1995 with his first graphic novel, Pocket Full of Rain (Lomma full av regn). Two years later, he launched his own comic book, Mjau Mjau, before shifting his focus exclusively to graphic novels in 2002.

Influenced notably by Hergé, Jason’s work is defined by clear line drawing, minimal text, and the frequent use of anthropomorphic characters. He often uses a four-panel grid (or nine) and favors a muted color palette, but a good part of his oeuvre is in black & white. His visual style remains consistent across his body of work, making his oeuvre coherent and immediately distinguishable from that of other cartoonists.

However, he doesn’t stick to one genre when it comes to the stories he tells. He can write crime and science fiction tales, historical pastiche, romance, and monster stories, often blending historical fiction with pulp tropes. He references Buster Keaton, explores Hemingway’s life with a twist, and talks about his long hikes in Europe. But he always focuses on human problems, exploring solitude, unspoken desire, or the absurdity of routine, often with a touch of melancholy, a dry humor, and an emotional edge.

Since 2001, Jason’s comics have been published internationally, with English editions appearing through Fantagraphics Books. His books are often released earlier in France, where he has lived since 2007 (currently in Montpellier). His work has received multiple awards, including the Eisner Award, the Inkpot Award, the Brage Prize, and the Sproing Award.

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The Best of Franklin Richards Comics, Your Essential Reading Order

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Mister, I'm the law 'round these parts, said Franklin Richards wearing a cowboy hat and pointing a smoking revolver forward, with his sister Valeria standing behind him.

With Reed and Susan Storm Richards as his parents, Franklin Benjamin Richards was destined to be anything but ordinary. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Franklin made his first appearance in Fantastic Four Annual #6 (1968), and readers have watched him grow up in the pages of Marvel Comics ever since.

Franklin Richards is a reality-warper and one of the most powerful beings in the universe. An Omega-level mutant, he manifested his powers at a very young age, far earlier than most mutants, at a time when he had little control over them. But his powers were only part of the challenge.

As the son of two founding members of the Fantastic Four, the nephew of Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), the godson of Ben Grimm (the Thing), and the older brother of Valeria Richards, Franklin has lived some extraordinary adventures and been part of some cosmic events. Over the years, Franklin has been kidnapped by Doctor Doom, traveled across space and alternate realities, put his life on the line, and even taken on the heroic mantle of Powerhouse.

Discover Franklin Richards’ most important stories with our Recommended Reading Order and explore his place in Marvel’s history.
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Tomb Raider Comics, Your Guide to the Top Cow Series Starring Lara Croft

Alongside Indiana Jones, Lara Croft is one of the most famous archaeologists in popular culture, and for good reason! The heroine of the video game franchise Tomb Raider, she is an intelligent and athletic British adventurer who travels the world in search of mysterious artifacts and other magical items. She solves complex puzzles, swims into seemingly impossible places, and shoots bad guys in dangerous locations such as ancient ruins. She does all this while wearing a tank top, shorts, socks, and combat boots, with her hair tied up in a French braid. Most importantly, she stays cool while doing it all!

The first video game was released in 1996. It was the start of a media franchise consisting of many action-adventure games, novels, comics, feature films and short films, animated television series, and even two theme park rides.

Tomb Raider’s first comic book wasn’t published by Top Cow but by the Mean Machines Sega gaming magazine in issues #47-50. Written by the game’s writer Vicky Arnold and penciled by artist Paul Peart-Smith, it was a comic book promotion for the first Tomb Raider game. Our British adventurer also featured, a few years later, in a comic book produced by French publisher Glenat, which was quickly taken off the market for licensing issues. At this stage, Top Cow has finally secured the Tomb Raider’s rights, and was starting to publish Tomb Raider comics.

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Peacemaker Reading Guide: Exploring Christopher Smith’s DC Comics Quest For Peace

“A man who loves peace so much that he is willing to fight for it!” That’s the original tagline from 1966 Fightin’ 5 #40. Published by Charlton Comics and created by writer Joe Gill and artist Pat Boyette, Peacemaker is Christopher Smith, a pacifist American diplomat, who is wearing red and white tights and a strange helmet to fight against super-criminals and other warlords. At least, he did it during the 5 issues his self-titled series lasted. He was just a bland hero of another era, but one that DC Comics acquired alongside The Question, Blue Beetle, and Captain Atom.

Peacemaker Kills For Peace in The DC Universe

It was the 1980s, and Peacemaker was one of the characters that was going to be reintroduced, making their debut in the new Alan Moore-Dave Gibbons series, Watchmen! But things got too dark, and DC Comics decided not to follow this road. Instead of Peacemaker, we got the Comedian, a character who made a bigger mark on the history of the comics industry than Christopher Smith’s vigilante alter-ego. At least, until James Gunn put him in his movie The Suicide Squad. Played by John Cena, the character is now the star of his own TV Show.

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Hellboy Omnibus Reading Order!

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A large, red-skinned half-demon with a tail, horns, cloven hooves, and an oversized right hand made of stone, Hellboy does not go unnoticed. Mike Mignola’s creation made his first appearance in the San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2 (August 1993), more than thirty years ago. Since then, a whole Universe surrounding him has taken shape, filled with governmental agents, folkloric creatures, and Lovecraftian horror.

Hellboy has worked for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.) and lived solo adventures set in many periods, but also spawned several spin-off series featuring other characters such as Abe Sapien or Lobster Johnson. Publisher Dark Horse Comics has collected many tales, story arcs, and spin-offs in several formats, such as trade paperbacks, Library Edition, and, of course, the famous Omnibus format.

The first Hellboy Omnibus (which was a reprint of B.P.R.D. Plague of Frogs) was released in 2011. It has been followed by many others, as there are more than 30 Omnibus sets in the Hellboy Universe at the time of writing. Initially only available in hardcover, paperback versions have been released since 2014. As the world of Hellboy continues to expand, we take a closer look at the Omnibus collection, which offers a great way for both new and seasoned readers to discover Big Red’s history.

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Ultimate Spider-Man Reading Order

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Thanks to the Into the Spider-Verse animated movies, it is widely known that many versions of Spider-Man exist across the Marvel Universe. And they are not all called Peter Parker. Miles Morales was one of the breakout characters of the Ultimate Universe, set on Earth-1610. But he wasn’t the first one wearing the Spidey costume in this reality. The first Ultimate Spider-Man began to appear in 2000 in his own comic series, as part of the Ultimate Imprint. 

He became a commercial and critical success at the time, and his story would be mostly told in his own comic book series, Ultimate Spider-Man. Peter Parker’s life would shape differently from the classic Spidey, offering a new perspective, but still embodying the values that the character represents since the sixties. Following later in his footsteps is Miles Morales, who has grown up to become one of the most emblematic Spider-People in the Marvel Universe since then.

And since 2024, a new Ultimate Universe has been created, introducing a new Ultimate Spider-Man. 

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How to start reading DC Comics in 2026: Part 2, The Adventure Continues!

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You have taken your first steps into the DC Universe, met the Trinity, read a few origin stories, and had fun adventures across Gotham, Metropolis, the Seven Seas, and outer space. But that’s only the beginning. With nearly nine decades of comics behind it, the DC Universe is full of tales still waiting to be discovered, characters to meet, and major events to experience.

You’re now a bit more familiar with this rich world, and chances are, you already have a few favorite heroes or villains you want to know more about. We encourage you to check if we have a dedicated reading guide for them (and if we don’t, shoot us a word!) to read more of his or her adventures. You have, after all, now dipped your toes into this vast ocean of stories, and now it’s time to dive deeper.

This guide is here to help you expand your reading, with more classic stories and celebrated runs, encounter more DC characters, and even step outside of continuity for original and timeless tales on some of the more iconic members of the DC Universe. 

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John Henry Irons, Steel Reading Order, Superman’s Ally

In the aftermath of The Death of Superman storyline, the DC Comics Universe was without a Man of Steel, but not for long, as soon appeared one man who became Steel, John Henry Irons (a reference to the African American folk hero John Henry).

First appearing in The Adventures of Superman #500 (1993), Irons was created by writer Louise Simonson and artist Jon Bogdanove as part of the Reign of the Supermen storyline, which followed the death of Superman at the hands of Doomsday. With Superman temporarily gone, four potential successors to Superman appeared to try to replace him as defender of Metropolis. Steel was one of them.

A brilliant engineer and weapons designer, Doctor John Henry Irons had once created powerful weaponry for a defense contractor, AmerTek, only to watch it fall into the wrong hands. Haunted by guilt, he abandoned his former life, faking his death and moving to Metropolis, where he was saved during a construction accident by Superman himself. Inspired by this event and Superman’s words (“live a life worth saving”), Irons finds a way to redeem himself, and, after Superman’s death, he takes up the mantle. He wanted not to replace Superman, but to honor him. To do this, Irons built a high-tech suit of armor and wielded a mighty hammer as the armored hero Steel.

When Superman eventually comes back, he accepts Steel as an ally. Since then, John Henry Irons kept fighting the good fight and was eventually joined by his niece, Natasha Irons, who would eventually become a hero in her own right. A brilliant teenager assisting her uncle, Natasha got her own armor of steel, and her relationship with John evolved as he became a true father figure for his niece. Being Steel became a family affair.

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Cyberpunk 2077 Comics – A Guide to the Stories Beyond the Game

The future in comics is not always post-apocalyptic; it can also be cyberpunk! A dystopian future is the setting of the famous Cyberpunk 2077 franchise. Based on a tabletop RPG, the Cyberpunk 2077 video game was launched in 2020. While not making a splash at the time (it was massively hyped and led to disappointment at the release), it has since become one of the best-selling games of all time.

You guessed it, the year is 2077. The action is mostly set in Night City, a place that’s known as the worst to live in America. Violence is at an all-time high and more people are living below the poverty line here than in any other location. MecaCorps control every aspect of life, while the streets are run by gangsters, tech hustlers, and illegal braindance dealers. And yet, nothing can stop humans from dreaming. Dreaming about the unattainable American Dream!

In recent years, the world of Cyberpunk 2077 has expanded in various directions, including a spin-off anime and several comic books. And today, we are taking a closer look at the Dark Horse comics set in the world of Cyberpunk 2077, telling new stories of people trying to survive and make a profit in this cutthroat world. 

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