If you understand roughly half of what that poster means, then you don’t need to bother to read this article.
Two main complaints you get from non-comic readers about comics themselves are complete opposites.
Oftentimes, people claim that comics aren’t legitimate reading material, that they are kid stuff and something designed to be ignored by the masses.
To you I say "Nay!" But we’ll get into that at some later date.
Today’s blog revolves around those of you who claim “comics are too hard to get into." Superman’s been around for over one bajillion years (I’m rounding here), so how could I possibly know where to start?
Well, long story short, you’re right. So I’m here to complain on your behalf. In this piece, I’ll complain specifically about Marvel.
Marvel movies have been a stroke of genius. The first Iron Man movie had ties to an actual Iron Man story (issue #200) that worked for anyone of any age. It was easy to get hooked in.
But then what? The things that people know from the movies aren’t even remotely accurate. Iron Man is already tied completely into the Avengers, Thor’s been found, Cap’s been unfrozen, and in the process a series of people have died.
So am I really supposed to go back and read the stories from the '60s that tell me exactly what I’ve already heard about but with the storytelling style of the past?
It’s rough folks, and I understand why it hurts.
Just in the last five years, to keep up with Marvel, you need to have read "Avengers Disassembled," "House of M," "Civil War," "Secret Invasion," and "Siege." And that’s just the big events!
If you’re looking for something simpler, I’m not even 100 percent sure what to tell you. "Thor: The Mighty Avenger" is the best, easily accessible Thor story there is, and as movies come out, there will be more new mini-series about each character.
But if you really wanna make sense of the Marvel Universe, start saving, because it’s expensive.
-Dan
