I also just love me some dynamic compelling characters with larger than life designs, personalities, and moral standards

Comics are hard to get into. Since I love superheroes so much it would make a lot more sense for me to get into a medium of superhero storytelling that was wildly more accessible. There’s just one problem with that….

Obviously that’s just my opinion, and I’m being a little dramatic, but it is generally how I feel. A lot of other mediums don’t quite capture what I like about superhero stories from the place they originated;

All that being said; here’s…

The spiritual successor to the wildly successful “New Teen Titans” series from the 80’s, in the wake of those characters growing out of their roles in the team, “Young Justice” was a “new” team of young heroes for a “new” generation. This original Young Justice run written by Peter David chronicles a group of young super heroes in a post-crisis world, where young vigilantes are frowned upon and discouraged. They work to prove themselves as worthwhile heroes, and they also grow and learn the way their mistakes affect the people around them. Characterized by its snappy dialogue, likeable characters, and mindfulness surrounding the topics of childhood trauma and growing up, Young Justice is an undeniably fun time, even for newcomers to the medium of Comic Books.

Another Tom Taylor written story, this book chronicles the adventures of New Wolverine Laura Kinney. This book predates his work on Nightwing by around 5 years, and it seems to be cut from the same cloth. Laura as a character is tormented by the legacy of her murderous predecessor, but also lovingly remembers him as a father figure to her. She has to handle these conflicting truths as she takes his name and figures out what kind of hero she wants to be. Again, Taylor delivers a dynamic cast of characters that elevate Laura’s story and growth as a character, as well as conflicts and stories that deeply push her to become an elevated version of herself.

Ok, if I’m being honest Marauders isn’t great, but I love the vibes. Kate Pryde is one of the most beloved X-Men, and the team at Marvel has been struggling to know what to do with her in a post “New X-Men” era. They figured it out. Pair her with Emma, make her a pirate. I fear that concept eats. Kate Pryde gets to rebel against the system while technically still being in the system (her favorite thing it seems) harder than ever before, and her personal story, plus the dynamic between her and Emma Frost are especially good. There are quite a bit of other fun stories here and there. Though the book does suffer from never really committing to a story long enough for it to get interesting, there’s some fun stuff in here nontheless. 

The way Johnathan Hickman writes the Avengers is with a level of admirance and respect that it almost ropes back around and reads as fear. These legendary powerful beings could destroy the world in an instant, yet they choose to protect it. No world government or even extraterrestrial force can stand against them now, they have so much literal and political power. All of humanity’s survival depends on the Avengers continually doing the right thing. The thing is, they always do, the book never even questions this (which is in direct opposition to it’s companion series ‘New Avengers’ which introduces an entirely untrustworthy super team, the illuminati, a group that regularly commits atrocities beyond belief in order for the earth to survive.) Because of that these heroes come off as paragons of peace in a world of war, and corruption and violence. This book feels mythic in the best way. It both deeply highlights how truly scary the concept of super powered beings in real life is, but also reflects on how essential it is that we have heroes; people who are willing to do what’s right no matter the cost or the opposition.

This era of Avengers is a bunch of depressed deeply traumatized divorced people who all live together and are dating each other’s exes. Everyone is constantly coming back from the dead, and killing each other, and blaming each other for their wife’s deaths, and it’s amazing. Peak 90’s comic pulp.