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Ultimate Marvel Universe, The Complete Reading order

In 2000, Marvel Comics redefined its heroes for a whole new generation with the launch of the Ultimate Marvel imprint. Explore the stories of Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Ultimatum, and the imprint’s relaunch with our complete Ultimate Marvel Universe comics guide, now available in Omnibus, Epic Collection, and classic trade paperbacks!

Welcome to Earth-1610! Or, more specifically, welcome to the Ultimate Universe, an alternate reality featuring reimagined and modernized versions of your favorite superheroes. Marvelophiles discovered this world in 2000 with the official launch of the Ultimate imprint.

Behind the Ultimate Marvel was Bill Jemas, a lawyer who had worked mainly in the collectible-trading-card industry. He was first appointed executive vice president of Marvel Entertainment Group in 1993, and put in charge of Marvel’s editorial direction in 2000. He replaced editor-in-chief Bob Harras with Joe Quesada, and with him, formed the public face of Marvel Comics. Together, they transformed Marvel Comics with the addition of the Marvel MAX line, the development of Marvel Knights, the increase of trade paperbacks, the removal of the Comics Code, and, of course, the creation of Ultimate Marvel.

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Knull Reading Order, The King in Black

In recent years, the most significant new villain to emerge in the Marvel Comics Universe is Knull, the King in Black. Created by writer Donny Cates and artist Ryan Stegman, he first appeared in Venom #3 (2018) and slowly grew to become one of the biggest cosmic menaces the superheroes had to face.

Knull is introduced as the god of the symbiotes and one of the primordial beings of the Marvel Universe. As his story unfolds, we learn that he existed before the current Marvel Universe, in the endless void that preceded creation. When the Celestials began shaping the universe, their light angered him, leading him to forge the first symbiote (the All-Black Necrosword) and wage war against them. After decapitating a Celestial, Knull used its head to forge more weapons and eventually created the symbiote species, which he bound into a hive mind under his control.

An embodiment of darkness and nihilism, Knull has powers that make him able to manipulate darkness and, obviously, maintain control over the symbiote, but he is also “immortal” and possesses godlike strength.

While Knull was at the center of the King in Black crossover event, he appeared before that, becoming a real menace to Eddie Brock and the rest of the Marvel Universe. He and his All-Black Necrosword.

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Where to Start Reading Fantastic Four Comics? A Beginner’s Guide to Marvel’s First Family

So, you want to read some Fantastic Four comics? Whether you have recently discovered the Fantastic Four with the new movie, is a DC Fan, or just haven’t given the F.F. a chance yet, there’s a Fantastic Four comic out there for you. In fact, there’s a Fantastic Four comic for everyone! With over 60 years of stories, you are spoiled for choice, maybe too much and you don’t know where to start! 

So, where should you start? Throughout time, the Fantastic Four have had many adventures that reflect the evolution of the Marvel Universe, from the wonder of the Silver Age to the darker tone of the Modern Age, epic family sagas, and decompressed storytelling. Whether you like the old comic book styles of the sixties, prefer more modern family adventures, or love the high-concept ideas and inventions of Reed Richards, there’s a perfect first story for you to explore the world of Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Sue, and Johnny Storm (and other temporary members of the team!).

Here’s a curated beginner’s guide with several routes to help find the perfect place to start reading Marvel’s First Family! 

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Spider-Man Spider-Verse Reading Order (with all the sequels!)

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Now widely known thanks to the 2018 animated movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the “Spider-Verse” is not one of those concepts that Marvel introduced decades ago. In fact, it was conceived as a crossover event written by Dan Slott, with art by Olivier Coipel and Giuseppe Camuncoli, in 2014. An idea that was inspired by Slott’s work on the 2010 video game Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.

Since then, the Spider-Verse has become way bigger than a simple crossover. It can now almost be considered a line of comics inside the Spider-Man publishing world. There have been sequels to the original crossovers, spin-off series, and short story anthologies. The whole concept has been used in every other media featuring Spider-Man.

Everything started years ago, during J. Michael Straczynski’s Coming Home story, when Morlun was introduced. He is a powerful being who hunts and consumes “Spider-Totems” (the essence of spider-powered heroes). When the first Spider-Verse event starts, Morlun is back with his horrible family, the Inheritors, who begin exterminating spider-characters throughout the multiverse to feed on their force. Every single Spider-Man ever is needed to save the day!

The Spider-Verse treats every alternate take on Spider-Man as part of a connected multiverse: classic Peter Parker, Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen (Gwen Stacy), Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Ham, Japanese Spider-Man with his giant robot Leopardon, and countless others. Now, there are constantly new Spider-Heroes introduced, ready to fight to save all the spiders.

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Jack O’Lantern: Your Comic Guide to the many Marvel’s Pumpkin Heads

The Green Goblin. Doctor Octopus. Mysterio. Vulture. Electro. Scorpio. Rhino. Kraven the Hunter. Spider-Man has one of the most emblematic rogues galleries at Marvel Comics, and every one of them would not look out of place at a Halloween Party. But no one would fit more than Jack O’Lantern with his Pumpkin head, Pumpkin Bombs, explosive candy, and rocket-powered broomstick. 

Despite his cool design, Jack O’Lantern is still a C-list among Spider-Man villains, and a confusing one on top of that, as many different people have held the name Jack O’Lantern over the years.

To make things a little bit more complicated, there are two different types of Jack O’Lantern. While most of them use costumes, illusions, and conventional weaponry, two of them have sold their soul to Satan and were granted supernatural powers and the ability to turn into Jack at will.

From the first appearance of Jack O’Lantern in 1980 in Machine Man to the reinvention of the character as an archenemy of Venom, celebrate Halloween by discovering more about the many Jack O’Lanterns of Marvel Comics! 

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Marvel 2099 Reading Order, the dystopian future of Marvel Comics

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Welcome to the future! Or, more specifically, welcome to 2099, a cyberpunk dystopia without superheroes. Marvelophiles discovered this world in 1992 with the official launch of the Marvel 2099 imprint.

Long after the original Age of Heroes had ended, society is dominated by corporate entities in this dystopian future, the most famous of which is Alchemax. The superheroes of the past have become the stuff of religion, as seen with the Church of Thor. It is harder than ever to rise above the status quo. But things are about to change, as a new Age of Heroes is about to begin…

Marvel 2099 found success with readers and expanded until the end of the ’90s. Marvel’s top talent left for Image Comics, and the entire comic book industry struggled after Marvel challenged Diamond over distribution. These turbulent times had a financial impact that affected the 2099 line and, unfortunately, led to the firing of editor Joey Cavalieri. Many of the 2099 creators quit in protest, and the line simply didn’t survive long after that.

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Hawkeye Reading Order (Clint Barton)

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Today, Clint Barton is known for being a major player in the Avengers as Hawkeye. But before joining the superhero team, he was introduced as a supervillain in Tales of Suspense #57 in September 1964. His career on the wrong side of the law was short as he joined the Avengers less than a year later, in The Avengers #16 in May 1965.

Created by Stan Lee and Don Heck, Clint Barton is one of the most famous Marvel heroes and a regular member of the Avengers, who has come and gone from the team several times. He has founded the West Coast Avengers, been the leader of the Thunderbolts, worked with the S.H.I.E.L.D, and served as a mentor to Kate Bishop, the Superior Hawkeye. He also sometimes changed codenames and has been Goliath, the Golden Archer, and Ronin.

Clint has no superpowers, but he is a skilled archer and a very dangerous martial artist and swordsman. In a way, Hawkeye/Clint Barton is a mix between Green Arrow and Nightwing from DC Comics. His private life is also complicated, as he was first in love with Black Widow, married and divorced Bobbi Morse/Mockingbird, and also had a relationship with Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman, Maya Lopez/Echo, and Moonstone.

On the big (and little) screen, Clint Barton/Hawkeye is played by Jeremy Renner in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he has also appeared in numerous animated series and video games.

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Galactus Reading Order, Your Essential Comics Guide

One of the most emblematic characters in the Marvel Universe, Galactus was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby to break out from the archetype of the standard villain. The god-like character was also not supposed to reappear after his now classic introduction in Fantastic Four. His popularity among fans led Lee to ask Kirby for more Galactus appearances.

Known as the Devourer of Worlds, Galactus fed himself by draining living planets of their energy, without regard for the moral dilemma that consume human beings and the superhero community. Galactus doesn’t act for power, love of money, and has no ill-feeling towards the living he kills in the process. No good or evil, he simply acts to survive.

And, almost 60 years after his debut, the Devourer of Worlds is still hungry for more. From his first confrontation with the Fantastic Four to his role in the Marvel Cosmic Saga, his connection with Silver Surfer, his confrontations with Thor, and more, you can now discover the most important stories featuring Galactus with our Essential Reading Order.

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The Death of Captain Marvel, A Tragic And Impactful Event in the Marvel Universe

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In the world of comic books, death and resurrection have become commonplace. For a long time, there was a common saying amongst readers that was “everyone comes back except for Bucky Barnes, Jason Todd, and Uncle Ben.” Or a variation of it. However, this saying had to change after 2005, when both Jason Todd and Bucky Barnes came back.

Although the deaths of some superheroes have had a significant impact on the industry, few have had the emotional impact of The Death of Captain Marvel, which was written and drawn by Jim Starlin.

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Age of Revelation Reading Order, The Marvel Universe 10 years into the future

As Marvel Comics celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Age of Apocalypse, one of the most famous alternate timelines in the X-Universe, the publisher is revisiting the cataclysmic style of the ’90s with Age of Revelation.

Instead of an alternate reality, it is an alternate future that takes over the X-Men line. To be more specific, the Marvel Universe is going 10 years into the future “where the world has been reshaped by Apocalypse’s heir, Doug Ramsey AKA Revelation!”

Arising from current events happening in the X-Men main title from writer Jed MacKay and artist Ryan Stegman, Revelation has set out on the impossible task that Apocalypse entrusted him with: creating a world where only the fittest survived. Ten years later, Doug Ramsey commands Earth with his voice, creating the Revelation Territories, a new mutant utopia built on an insidious lie. Beneath the surface, rebellion brews and as a ragtag X-Men team strikes from the shadows, Revelation faces threats from within. 

Welcome to the Age of Revelation, a spiritual sequel to Age of Apocalypse that you can explore now with our reading order and checklist! 

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