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Maximum Security Reading Order, a Marvel Crossover

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At the end of the year 2000, Marvel Comics launched a crossover event titled Maximum Security that was written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by Jerry Ordway–at least the three-issue self-titled limited series.

Here is how Marvel presents the main plot: “Welcome to Earth: penal colony for the universe’s deadliest villains! When the civilized alien races-influenced by the Supreme Intelligence and his newly-evolved Kree-tire of Earth’s involvement in their affairs, they decide to make it their new prison planet! Featuring all the world’s greatest heroes-including the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four–against the most bizarre and deadly threats they can conceive of!”

Influenced by Australian history, and more precisely the way the British used Australia as a penitentiary–sending their convicts so far they would never come back to England!–, Busiek’s Maximum Security introduced the idea that Earth would become a prison for the scum of the galaxy. It was introduced as a way for the Intergalactic Council to deal with Earth–and its interfering heroes.

Maximum Security is composed of a three-issue limited series and almost 20 tie-in issues.

What to read before Maximum Security?

Thor, Tigra, Starfox, Moondragon, and Monica Rambeau are the Avengers in Space in the mini-series Avengers Infinity by Roger Stern and Sean Chen that set up the events of Maximum Security.

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Who is Poison Ivy? The origins of Dr. Pamela Isley

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Batman Rogues Galleries is, almost without a doubt, one of the most iconic, and Poison Ivy is no exception to the rule. She’s also one of the most visually striking characters, often barefoot with a green costume made of leaves and vines.

Poison Ivy was created by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino, at a time when Batman was massively popular thanks to the 1960s live-action television series. As a result of the show and Catwoman’s popularity in it, they wanted more female villains. To respond to this demand, Carmine Infantino and Robert Kanigher created Poison Ivy who made her debut in Batman #181 in June 1966 (where she was penciled by Sheldon Moldoff). The character never made it to the show.

The character was in part inspired by the short story “Rappaccini’s Daughter” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is about a young woman who tends a garden of poisonous plants and becomes toxic herself. Her design was modeled on Bettie Page, with Ivy having the same haircut and figure.

Poison Ivy is a woman with a poisonous touch who can manipulate all plants. She also possesses a complex and rich history and became more and more powerful with time and several retcons…

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Fantastic Four Reading Order

On November 1961, a page of comic book history was written when the Fantastic Four comic debuted. The first issue was an unexpected success, and the public simply fell in love with the First Family. It played a massive role in making Marvel the company we know, launching and influencing the superhero comics in a new direction.

Traditionally, the Fantastic Four are Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), scientific genius and leader; Susan “Sue” Storm (Invisible Woman), Reed’s partner and co-leader; Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), Sue’s little brother; and Ben Grimm (The Thing), pilot and best friend. They all gained superpowers following exposure to cosmic rays during a scientific mission to outer space.

The Fantastic Four are maybe the most famous superheroes in the Marvel Universe, as they chose to become celebrities instead of hiding their real identities from the public.

If the name of the team implies they are only four members, the roster of the famous ‘family’ has changed several times, and sometimes, other characters have been members. Crystal, Medusa (from the Inhumans), She-Hulk, Ant-Man (Scott Lang), Storm and Black Panther, and even Spider-Man have been at some point or other members of the team.

They fought and stop more than once the Supreme Leader Doctor Doom but also had several encounters with Galactus, Ronan the Accuser, Namor, Silver Surfer, the Mole Man, the Frightful Four, and more. They worked with the Avengers, the X-Men, and other Marvel superheroes to save the world.

This most emblematic team has lived a lot, and it’s time to explore those adventures with a Fantastic Four reading order!

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Luke Cage Reading Order, Marvel’s Power Man

At the beginning of the 1970s, Blaxploitation movies became quite popular and Marvel Comics wanted to cash in on the trend–as well as with other trends, see Ghost Rider or Werewolf by Night. Luke Cage was then introduced as an urban African-American hero like no other.

Described at the time as “a combination of Superman and Shaft,” Luke Cage was created by Archie Goodwin, George Tuska, Roy Thomas, and John Romita Sr. He made his first appearance in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (June 1972). He was the first black American superhero to have his own comic book series at Marvel Comics (Black Panther is not an American!).

Introduced as a prisoner in “Little Alcatraz,” the Seagate Prison, Carl Lucas is recruited by research scientist Dr. Noah Burstein to be a test subject in a cellular regeneration experiment based on a variant of the Super-Soldier process. Lucas gains superstrength and escapes. He ends up in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood where he grew up and reinvents himself. Now call Luke Cage, the “Power Man,” he becomes a freelance “hero for hire.”

The Hero for Hire comics was not a hit, but Luke Cage rapidly found his place in the Marvel universe. He befriended the Fantastic Four, fought next to the super-team the Defenders, developed a relationship with Dr. Claire Temple, and teamed up with Iron Fist and Misty Knight…

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Darth Vader Reading Order (Star Wars)

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Does Darth Vader really need an introduction? Darth Vader is one of the most iconic villains of all time. Created by George Lucas, he is the central antagonist of the original Star Wars trilogy.

But Darth Vader was not always Darth Vader. Before, he was Anakin Skywalker, The Chosen One. He was destined to bring balance to the Force and was trained by Obi-Wan Kenobi to become a Jedi. He was one of the main protagonists of the prequel trilogy.

When Skywalker chose to turn to the dark side of the Force, and pledged his allegiance to the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, his alter ego, Darth Vader, the Dark Lord of the Sith, was created.

This is the story of a tragic hero who turned villain and became one of the most famous fictional characters ever. It’s no surprise that several stories have been featuring him in the Star Wars Universe, Legends or Canon timeline.

For this reason, Darth Vader deserves, without a doubt, his own comic reading order (with a few books). For an expanded experience, check out our Star Wars Canon Comics Reading order or our Star Wars Legends Comics Reading Order.

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Winter Soldier (Bucky Barnes) Reading Order

From the beginning, Captain America wasn’t fighting AXIS alone. He had a sidekick: Bucky. Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, Bucky made his first comic appearance in Captain America #1 (March 1941) and didn’t leave Cap’s side during the war.

James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes Jr. lost both of his parents when he was quite young. Soon, he was separated from his sister Rebecca and grew up at Camp Lehigh as a ward of the state. There, he became a camp mascot before receiving special training in England.

His life took a turn when he met Steve Rogers and discovered he was Captain America. He joined him in his first mission against Red Skull, then underwent another intensive training program to become the sidekick known as Bucky. With Cap, he fought Nazi operations, joined the Invaders, formed the Young Allies, and more.

Toward the end of the war, Captain America and Bucky Barnes vanished and were declared dead during a classified mission. And it stuck for a very long time. Bucky was part of a very small circle of comic book characters (with Jason Todd and Uncle Ben) known to stay dead.

Like Jason Todd, Bucky was brought back to life. Or more precisely, after a long period of time, it was revealed that he hadn’t died at all. After being retrieved by a Russian submarine, he was brainwashed to become the deadly assassin called the Winter Soldier.

Back among the living, a whole new chapter was being written for Bucky, from the brainwashed killing machine to Captain America and a quest for redemption, and back to the Winter Soldier.

A popular hero in the MCU where he is played by Sebastian Stan, Bucky Barnes is a Golden Age character that has been smartly reinvented in the Modern Age. Below, you’ll find a reading guide exploring Bucky’s history in the Marvel Universe.

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Spider-Man Dark Web Reading Order, a Marvel crossover featuring Spider-Man and the X-Men

Barely one month after the A.X.E.: Judgment Day event, the X-Men are caught in a new crossover. However, this one also revolves around Spider-Man. Written by Zeb Wells and drawn by artist Adam Kubert, Dark Web is about clones. Here is the official synopsis:

“The worlds of Spider-Man and the X-Men collide, thanks to the unholy alliance of Madelyne Pryor, AKA the Goblin Queen, and Ben Reilly, now known as Chasm! The two most famous and famously wronged clones are back…and they’re going to claim what’s rightfully theirs! The Dark Web they spin over Manhattan is going to change the NYC skyline forever!”

So, the Dark Web event involves Spider-Man and the X-Men, but also Mary Jane Watson, Black Cat (Felicia Hardy), Venom (Eddie Brock), Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), and Scarlet Spider (Ben Reilly).

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Earth 2 New 52 Reading Order

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Earth-Two (or Earth 2) is famously known as the home of DC Golden Age heroes, including the Justice Society of America. The setting was, after all, introduced in The Flash #123 (1961) to explain the differences between the Golden Age and the Silver Age versions of the characters.

When Crisis on Infinite Earths happened, Earth-Two was merged with other planets into one, and thus was the end of the Multiverse… for a time. The Multiverse was indeed reborn following the events of Infinite Crisis, although Earth-Two was not the same world.

It was the first time, but not the last time that the setting of Earth-Two was revised. The DC Universe was rebooted following another event, Flashpoint. The series changed the DC Status quo and lead us into New 52 and a new Earth-Two, now called Earth 2.

Earth 2’s history was different with an added tragic backstory. This was the home of a group of superheroes named the Eight Wonders of the World, led by Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. They have defeated grave threats from Apokolips, but not at a grave price.

Left in their stead is a group of young, untrained heroes who pick up the pieces in the dusty aftermath. The Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl and the Atom are humanity’s nascent guardians, but not the ones we’ve all known and revered. These are different heroes, in a strange and foreign world with dangerous new villains.

Dive into Earth 2’s history during New 52 with the following reading order!

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Duke Thomas Reading Order (member of the Batfamily, The Signal)

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This has been less than ten years since Duke Thomas made his debut in the DC Universe. Created by writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo during their already classic run on Batman, Duke first appeared in Batman (vol. 2) #21, as an unnamed character, then he made his real entry in Batman (vol. 2) #30 as Duke Thomas.

Raised in the Gotham Narrows by his mother Elaine, a social worker, and Doug Thomas, a humble construction worker, Duke had an ordinary childhood. He was then unaware of who his biological father was (a villain named Gnomon) and that he was a metahuman and had powers.

Anyways, no one in Gotham can claim to have an ordinary life too long. Like so many Gothamites, Duke’s life was changed by the Joker during the events of Endgame with the disappearance of his parents. He was placed into the foster system and soon after, became the leader of a youth movement inspired by Robin.

Duke’s parents were later found, but permanently jokerized. Following this discovery, Bruce officially took Duke under his wings to make him his latest ward and partner-in-crime-fighting. He officially became The Signal in Batman and The Signal #1 (March 2018). He also joined the Outsiders, under Black Lightning’s supervision. You can’t miss him in the streets of Gotham with his yellow armor! 

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Namora: The Origin and History of Namor’s Cousin

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Less than ten years after Namor made his debut, his female counterpart was introduced on the pages of Marvel Mystery Comics #82. Namora – full name Aquaria Nautica Neptunia – is, like her cousin Namor, a hybrid and one of Marvel’s first mutants.

Soon played by Mabel Cadena on the big screen in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Namora was created by artist Ken Bald (and an unknown writer), though several of her Golden Age appearances were written by Bill Everett who also designed her costume.

She’s the daughter of an Atlantean father and a human mother who lived several adventures next to her cousin in the Golden Age but was unfortunately killed off in the ‘60s. Namora continued to appear in a number of flashbacks but only made her permanent return to the Marvel Universe in 2006.

Though Namora didn’t have the chance to become a major player in the Marvel Universe, she still had the time to become a hero and make the undersea world safer!

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