10 Amazing Comics for Marvel Fans Who Quit the MCU

[[{“value”:”

Marvel Studios has been working on adapting the Marvel Comics universe for almost 20 years. Many times, the studio has done an amazing job, but others, not so much. The so-called superhero fatigue and the Marvel overexposure in media in recent years have led some viewers to call it quits on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This doesn’t mean they can’t keep enjoying Marvel, now in comic books.

Comics are great options for Marvel fans who don’t want the TV series or films anymore. Whether they offer something radically different to the MCU or work as a palate cleanser for a bad adaptation, these stories are perfect for fans who have left Marvel Studios behind for good.

10

Thor: God of Thunder Focuses on Thor’s Evolution As a Character

By Jason Aaron, Esad Ribić, Dean White, and Joe Sabino

Anyone unhappy about Thor’s path in the MCU will love Thor: God of Thunder. This comic kickstarts Jason Aaron’s run on the character, pitting Thor against Gorr the God Butcher, a villain with a simple but horrifying quest: kill every god in the universe. This fight forces Thor to face his biggest fear: unworthiness. This ends up with him questioning everything he understood about himself.

Thor: God of Thunder has it all: epic fights, a gruesome villain, amazing art by Esad Ribić, and most importantly, amazing character development. This is all the stuff Thor: Love and Thunder failed to provide, so fans who quit the MCU because they were tired of Thor’s treatment will love the series, especially if they hated how weak Gorr was on the big screen.

9

The Dark Phoenix Saga Is A Classic Cosmic Story

By Chris Claremont, John Byrne, Terry Austin, Glynis Wein, and Tom Orzechowski

Following an epic space mission, Jean Grey gets hit by a powerful solar flare. This evolves her telepathic and telekinetic abilities, turning her into the Phoenix. When Cyclops dies trying to save her from Mastermind, her grief unlocks a new level of power, Dark Phoenix. This cosmic entity — later retconned as the Phoenix Force in need of a host — soon becomes a threat to Earth, putting the X-Men on the front line against it.

Those who started reading comics thanks to the MCU may not be familiar with the X-Men, but this franchise is worth every panel. The Dark Phoenix Saga is a watershed comic when it comes to the X-Men. It introduces this important element, the Phoenix Force, and it’s packed with action and emotion. Overall, a perfect option for those who feel the cosmic dimension of the later MCU has been underwhelming.

8

The Children’s Crusade Starts A New Era For Wanda Maximoff

By Allan Heinberg, Jim Cheung, Mark Morales, Justin Ponsor, and Cory Petit

Following the events of Avengers Disassembled, in which the Scarlet Witch took down half of the team, Wiccan and Speed take it upon themselves to find their mother. Against Avengers orders, they start this quest alongside their Young Avengers peers and Magneto, who wants to find his daughter too.

MCU fans currently disenchanted with Scarlet Witch’s path on the big screen — and the fact that Elizabeth Olsen allegedly won’t return for Avengers: Doomsday — need to check out Avengers: The Children’s Crusade. This comic ties things up perfectly for the character and her kids, while also introducing secondary conflicts that only add to the action.

7

Civil War Is A Huge Event In The Comics

By Mark Millar, Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines, Chris Eliopoulos, and Morry Hollowell

Before Civil War, the superhero community had always worked on the same side. Following the introduction of the Superhero Registration Act, the government demanded that superpowered individuals register so they could keep them in control. Soon, two factions formed. Those who thought people with special abilities should register, and those who believed in freedom over everything. The only way to hash it out was an epic battle.

Captain America: Civil War attempted to portray a conflict like this one. However, since it didn’t have more than a dozen heroes, the final battle was underwhelming. Anyone who loves the idea of superheroes but thinks the MCU is way too limiting should check out the original Civil War in the comics. The series includes hundreds of heroes, a complicated moral quarry, and even a few history-defining moments for Marvel.

6

The Sensational She-Hulk Established Modern She-Hulk

By John Byrne, Kim DeMulder, Petra Scotese, and Janice Chiang

From 1989 to 1994, John Byrne wrote The Sensational She-Hulk. This 50-issue run covers some of the most iconic She-Hulk moments, introduces her ability to break the fourth wall, and follows her as she becomes a three-dimensional character.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is one of the lowest-rated series in the MCU so far. However, She-Hulk still has plenty of fans. Anyone who abandoned the MCU after realizing Marvel Studios would never do Jennifer Walters justice will love The Sensational She-Hulk. It has great jokes, every villain is more bizarre than the last one, and She-Hulk’s constant fourth-wall breaking makes for interesting commentary on comic books.

5

Avengers: Celestial Quest Boasts A Different Team

By Steve Englehart, Jorge Santamaria, and Scott Hanna

On Avengers: Celestial Quest, the Mad Titan is actually a clone who wants to kill Mantis aka the Celestial Madonna. To stop him, the Avengers — Thor, Scarlet Witch, Vision, and Silverclaw — assemble for this adventure in outer space to save Mantis and her son, Quoi.

Avengers: Celestial Quest may be an Avengers vs. Thanos fight, but it isn’t the Infinity Saga one. This series offers new dynamics never seen before in the MCU, and a team without the most prominent members in the MCU. Perfect for those who think the superhero fatigue is real since they’re tired of seeing the same faces again and again.

4

Gillen’s Eternals Is the Best Way To Meet Marvel’s Immortals

By Kieron Gillen, Esad Ribić, Matthew Wilson, and Clayton Cowles

Kieron Gillen’s Eternals is already the fifth volume on this team, but it feels like Gillen just invented them. His run follows a murder mystery among this immortal race — Thanos included, so readers are in for some plot twists. However, the author makes sure to expand on this race, detailing the Eternals’ history, going millions of years into the past to offer fans a properly established lore on this epic high-fantasy series.

It’s safe to say Eternals’ performance was a major disappointment, but the fandom is still divided. Fans who loved the film and are sad they won’t get a sequel, and viewers who didn’t like the movie should know that things are way better in the comics. Kieron Gillen’s run is the perfect re-introduction to these characters.

3

The MCU Butchered Secret Invasion

By Brian Michael Bendis, Leinil Francis Yu, Mark Morales, and Laura Martin

Following the Civil War, Elektra dies in battle, but her body transforms immediately into a Skrull, revealing she was never Elektra to begin with. This is only the beginning of a series of revelations on Earth — particularly among the superhero community. The thing with Secret Invasion is that it truly changed everything fans knew about the Marvel universe so far. By revealing the Skrulls have been around for a long time, it forced readers to wonder if everything their favorite heroes did was really them or not.

Few MCU projects have made viewers rage-quit watching like Secret Invasion. Not only did the series fail to adapt the original one, but it even made very little sense on its own. The original event in the comics is far superior to this miniseries, so why not check it out instead of dwelling on Marvel Studios’ mistakes?

2

Tom King’s Vision Shows Comics Are More Than Fights

By Tom King, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Jordie Bellaire, and Clayton Cowles

Ready to change his life after Ultron’s doings, Vision makes a family for himself. He creates his wife Virginia and his kids, Viv and Vin. Vision follows the synthezoids as they try to live regular lives in the suburbs, enjoying the human experience — from waving hello to their neighbors in the morning to becoming enamored with literature and dealing with mental health — but things aren’t as simple.

Like all of Tom King’s works, Vision is an introspective series. It explores the meaning of life, death, happiness, and many universal topics that readers will be delighted to ponder. This comic is a great option for viewers who gave the MCU a shot but got bored with all the action, expecting more substance.

1

Secret Wars Is For Those Who Have Lost Hope

By Jonathan Hickman, Esad Ribić, and Ive Svorcina

Doctor Doom transformed himself into a literal god by taking advantage of the Beyonders. He created Battleworld, a patchwork map of alternate realities full of variants of the fandom’s most beloved heroes. The Secret Wars event follows the heroes’ attempt to take Doom down.

Secret Wars is on its way to becoming the next big event in the MCU, but some Marvel fans are already done with what Marvel Studios has done with this universe. Needless to say, these viewers are sure the film won’t be worth it. The best option is to check out Hickman’s comic instead of accepting the movie’s potential disappointment.

“}]] While some fans have had their fill of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are quite a few Marvel Comics that might still appeal to the MCU ex-fans.  Read More