Part Three of an MCU Fan's Guide to Comics

[salmastryon.livejournal.com]

As a reminder, while I have links to places where you can buy the following comics, you can also check your local library or inter library loan for the trades as well.

Part One: Format and the Avengers
Part Two: Captain America and Iron Man
Part Three: Black Widow and Hawkeye
Part Four: Hulk, Bruce Banner, Thor, Donald Blake and Loki

The Origins of Black Widow and Hawkeye
While the recommendations cover some of their back history and personality, It doesn't cover their very beginnings in Marvel Canon. I think it is important to know how they were first introduced into Marvel canon because of how different it is from the MCU universe.

They both started out as Iron Man villains. Clint, while trying to stop a bank robbery, was mistakenly misidentified as the bank robber and Natasha helped him escape. Natasha at that time was a Russian communist spy out to take down that "rotten capitalist" Tony Stark and saw Clint as a useful tool. Clint fell in love with Natasha and followed her lead. I and others feel that, along the way she stopped pretending to be in love and actually fell in love with him.

It wasn't meant to be though. Clint after being dropped by Natasha joined the Avengers and cleared his name. Natasha was stayed as a villain serving her Russian masters until she finally cut ties and eventually made her way onto the Avengers line up as well. When they tried to make a go of it again, it didn't work out because they were different people from before and they became just friends.

While they are no longer partners, they still show up a lot in each other's story lines. I'm including a story arc that both are involved in, in my recommendations. It includes some nice information about their past and some great dialogue; so, I'm recommending it even though it covers multiple titles. I've put it below their single recs and I've mark the good stopping points in the story arc as well.

Natalia Romanova ~ Natasha Romanoff ~ Black Widow

Black Widow: The Name of the Rose - Issues: Black Widow(2010) #1-5, Trade: Black Widow: The Name of the Rose
This story, it just blows my mind and I think it is my favorite of her solo titles I've read so far. In the story, someone has found out something from her past that no one alive should know. She also has to deal with being framed as a traitor while she tracks down the culprit. These comics really shows how awesome and smart she is. There are also cameos from a bunch of other Marvel heroes and villains. Only one minor character might cause some confusion for a new reader, but it doesn't detract from the story.
Note: Black Widow(2010) #6-8 are part of the story arc listed at the bottom. At this point in time, James "Bucky" Barnes is Captain America and Steve Rogers is Commander Rogers. The James and Natasha are also in a relationship, but that's pretty obvious in the comic.
Series at Marvel~Collection at Comixology~Trade at Amazon

Black Widow: The Itsy-Bitsy Spider and Black Widow: Breakdown - Issues: Black Widow(1999) #1-3 and Black Widow(2001) #1-3, Trade: Black Widow: The Itsy-Bitsy Spider
The Russian government, a few decades after Natasha defected, has decided to appointing the new Black Widow, Yelena Belova. The two story arcs deals with Natasha facing off against her. Yelena is much younger than Natasha and reminds her a bit of when she was young and idealistic. There is some great character building in the dichotomy between the two woman.
The first story deals with a biological weapon that turns people into frenzied super soldiers, but their body quickly degrades and they die. Both the Russian and US government want it destroyed and samples to study. The second story I would recommend going in cold without reading a summary of it. You'll enjoy it better that way.
Note: Yelena's appearance in New Avengers happens after these.
Itsy-Bitsy Spider and Breakdown series at Marvel~Itsy-Bitsy Spider and Breakdown series at Comixology~Trade at Amazon

See Hawkeye and Black Widow at the end for more recommendations.

Clint Barton ~ Hawkeye

Hawkeye(Currently Ongoing) - First Issue: Hawkeye(2012) #1, First Trade: Hawkeye, Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon
Generally, if you ask what to read for Hawkeye, people will tell you to read the current Hawkeye series by Fraction. In fact, it gets recommended even if you don't ask about Hawkeye. I agree with them. The premise of the series is what Clint does when he's not being an Avenger. Since, Clint is basically a modern day knight errant, his day to day life is not boring, or easy. He has a tendency to get involved if he sees someone in distress, even if the help isn't wanted and getting involved is a really bad idea. Unlike Black Widow, Steve Rogers and Thor, he has no augmentation or healing factor. While he's the best marksman in the world, he's also a very breakable human and this comic doesn't forget that. You'll see Cap, Tony and other Avengers show up from time to time, though they are never the focus. I particularly was amused when Clint called Tony to help hook up a DVR so he can watch the latest season of Dog Cops. A new reader can pick this up and read it without any problems.
Note: If you did not like Fraction's Iron Man run I still recommend giving this a try.
Series at Marvel~Series at Comixology~First Trade at Amazon

New Avengers: The Reunion - Issues: New Avengers: The Reunion(2009) #1-4, Trade: New Avengers: The Reunion
This is a separate side arc and not part of the main New Avengers run. It takes place after the Civil War, but before Siege. It is pretty self contained, and there isn't much you need to know about what is going with the rest of the Marvel Universe at this time. The whole book deals with the fallout of what happened in one of the events during that time period. It also refers to things that happened in Civil War, so if you don't want to be spoiled than skip this one for now. In Secret Invasion it is revealed that many of characters had been replaced by Skrull Impersonators. The people replaced were rescued and dealing with what the Skrull while pretending to be them. Clint's dead ex-wife, Barbara "Bobbi" Morse, was one of the earliest Skrull substitutions. While the plot is to stop AIM from blowing up a bomb, the real story is what happened to Bobbie while she was captured and Clint figuring out his feelings and relationship with Bobbi.
Note:Clint is running around as Ronin not Hawkeye in this. Steve is dead and Bucky is Captain America.
Series at Marvel~Series at Comixology~Trade at Amazon


Hawkeye and Black Widow

Black Widow: Kiss or Kill - Issues: Black Widow(2010) #6-8, Trade: Black Widow: Kiss or Kill
A journalist is trying to find out why his father died. His father was driven to suicide after his political career was ruined. The only clue is a picture of a red-headed woman with his father. A source has revealed to him that this red-head was involved in other politicians' deaths. Enter Fatale and Natasha who both want to know who his source for this information is. Meanwhile someone is trying to kill him and he's not sure who he should trust. This is the prologue to Widow Maker and is about the Black Widow.
Note: This is not required reading for Widow Maker. It just fleshes out the back story some and explains why Natasha shows up.
Series at Marvel~Series at Comixology~Trade at Amazon

Widow Maker - Issues: Widow Maker(2010) #1-4, Trade: Widow Maker
The book starts out with the ambassador for a peace summit being killed. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are also being systematically killed off. While S.H.I.E.L.D may no longer exist, many of their agents and resources have become part of the WCA(World Counter-terrorism Agency.) Mockingbird, the leader of the WCA, and Hawkeye set out to find out who is behind the assassinations. Bobbi because a friend was killed and this is a threat to world peace and Clint because both Natasha and Bobbi are on the "hit" list. Along the way, they meet and team up with Natasha and Dominic Fortune. While the three of them working and fighting together is interesting and there are some things about the past revealed, I think my favorite part of this is the dialogue between the characters. It is pretty obvious they've known each other for a while and the one liners and come backs amused me. It does suffer a bit from the change of authors mid story arc, but it is still an enjoyable read.
Note: I only know what is reveal in this comic about Dominic Fortune and it all made sense to me, so prior knowledge of him is not necessary.
Series at Marvel~N/A at Comixology~Trade at Amazon

Hawkeye: Blindspot - Issues: Hawkeye: Blindspot #1-4, Trade: Hawkeye: Blindspot
The blow to the head that Clint received in Widow Maker was more serious than previously thought. Clint finds out he is slowly going blind. His enemies have noticed as well and find this the perfect opportunity to go after Hawkeye. They release his old mentor, tortured and dying. Clint knows this is bait for a trap. Despite that, Hawkeye, somehow, has to find out who is behind this and stop them, before he he is no longer able to. One of the great things about this story arc, is it shows just how good a fighter Clint is. It also has several flashbacks about events in his past. Stony Pluses: Tony and Steve double teaming Clint to take care of him. Commander Rogers
Note: While not required reading, I found that reading this gave more depth to some of the comments made in the current run of Hawkeye.
Series at Marvel~Series at Comixology~Trade at Amazon

Questions
Where is Deaf Clint?
Deaf Clint isn't easy for me to recommend. I plan to track down some story arcs with him and recommend them in a further reading post in the future. Mostly because I want to read about that part of his life as well.

Why didn't you recommend Black Widow: Deadly Origins?
Deadly Origins is a bit of a mess in story telling, plot and the message it sends. Black Widow fans seem to be split on whether they like the book or not. There are much better places to start off and get to know the character. Then you can come back and read it and make your own decisions on what you think.

Next Week is Bruce, Thor & Loki. Please let me know in the comments if there are any other characters you've come across in fanfiction or elsewhere, you'd like recommendations on. I'll combine those into Part Five if I get any.

Comments

[anassa-anemou.livejournal.com]

I'm very happy for this, I don't like movie verse Natashamuch, and sometimes have a huge deal to understand what people like in her.
Sometimes I think they read the comics and because of that when they saw the movies they already had a good relationship with the character, which leaves me, that doesn't know anything about her besides her brief appearances from Iron Man and that one movie kind irky.
I also appreciate the other posts, because people talked so much about the Civil War arc , that newbie like I'm, I started there and just got completely confused and had to stop everything. I'm always lost actually, because I want to read since the first one, but the style makes me go bonkers and 616 seams to be so huge that I end up looking at the lists and being terrified.

If you do that 5 part, I think I would love to see anything about Hank and Jane, just because, being a MCU fan I see a lot of things going on about them on tumblr, but don't know where to start. And maybe Bucky? I adore fics with him and it's always hard to figure out what comes from comics and what is just invention from the writers.

[salmastryon.livejournal.com]

Jan and Hank are an excellent idea. I adore Jan in EMH. I'll do some research. Bucky is someone I want to know more about as well. They tend to write him so hostile towards Tony, but I've not really seen any of that in their post-siege interactions.

I plan to do a special post about Bucky and Sam after Captain America: Winter Soldier comes out. If you want to read Bucky's origin story start with my first captain america recommendation in Part Two. That deals with the introduction of Bucky in the modern age and the retcon of Bucky and Steve's origin story.

[anassa-anemou.livejournal.com]

Yay for things with Jan and Hank. Also Bucky, so I'll totally keep checking for you posts; and yeah, I totally don't get the hostile attitude towards Tony. A few writers seem to write it because being Steve's best friend/perhaps first lover, he is jealous of how close Steve and Tony work together and/or of Steve moving on with somebody else. I don't think it's a Bucky thing, but a "second person on the love triangle thing", which I admit having written in my Howard/Steve/Bucky.

*reason why I'm giving some time before trying to write the next part of the series, because I think I need to find better motivation for them outside the usual cliche*

I'm organizing myself with the whole finding comics things, but your recommendations for Steve and Tony are pretty much all in my list, so I should read it when I get my vacations rolling. Thank you again for this!

[garrideb.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I haven't read a lot of Jan & Hank, and I don't think I've ever read them outside of Avengers comics, but here are two trades I'd recommend:

Avengers Visionaries: George Perez (http://www.amazon.com/Avengers-Visionaries-George-Perez-Collection/dp/0785107177) collects a hodgepodge of Avengers issues from the late 70's (issues 161-162, 194-196, 201, and annuals 6 and 8) and most of them have a focus on Jan & Hank, and give a good view of their ups and downs as a couple. If you don't mind the storytelling from that era, it's good.

Avengers: World Trust (http://www.amazon.com/Avengers-World-Trust-Geoff-Johns/dp/B005IUUB4M) (AKA Avengers volume 3 issues 56-62) has a pretty mediocre storyline about a mysterious entity that dumps all the world capital cities, next to each other, into a separate dimension. Hank and Jan were the only Avengers in DC at the time, so they end up in peril while the other Avengers search for answers. Has some pretty good emotional beats & good characterization of everybody. Also the trade has a fun-but-bizare one-shot where the Avengers are drawn in Simpsons-style.

And a few issues later in volume 3 there's issue 71 (http://www.amazon.com/Avengers-71/dp/B008RAVGYO), which is entirely about Jan & Hank taking a vacation in Las Vegas. On the downside, it has a super-villain who is stalking Jan and attacks her in the skeeviest way possible. And the Hank/Jan stuff is a bit awkward, a bit sweet. On the plus side, it shows them using their size-changing abilities. In bed. Probably only worth getting if you can get it electronically or if you're okay reading it as part of the The Search for She-Hulk (http://www.amazon.com/Avengers-Vol-The-Search-She-Hulk/dp/0785112022) trade, although only that issue has Hank/Jan I think (I haven't actually read the whole trade).

One nice thing is that Red Zone happens right between World Trust and The Search for She-Hulk, so you can read all three in a row, and get some Steve/Tony with your Hank/Jan that way. Again, the plots probably won't blow you away, but the characterization is pretty strong.

Salmastryon, sorry for info-dumping my Hank/Jan favorite moments in your post. Honestly not trying to step on your toes, but it's hard because Avengers comic recs are like my favorite thing ever. ;-)

[salmastryon.livejournal.com]

no no Rec away on any post and feel free to disagree with me.

I'm by no means an authority. All my recs come from recs other people gave to me. :D

And you reccing things gives me stuff to read as well. :)

[garrideb.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the recs, especially the Black Widow ones. I've been meaning to read more of her, and the stories you suggest sound interesting! And I hear you about Deadly Origins being divisive. I know a few fans who love the story and a few who think it's skeevy. Actually, I kind of want to know for myself so I might read that too.

I just got around to My Life as a Weapon, and I have to say I think it lived up to the hype. I'm not much of a Clint fan, but I really loved both him and Kate here. I've got the next trade on hold and I'm looking forward to getting it.

I'm curious to see what you rec for Bruce! I don't think I've ever read a Hulk solo book.

[salmastryon.livejournal.com]

I've not read it myself, but I did read a lot of reviews and articles on it. In best reviews I've read, they pretty much agreed on one thing. The story the author choose needed more pages to be told. The compression of the story meant that much of it fell flat because there just wasn't enough room and short cuts were taken to give the information in as little space as possible. As a result, the author wasn't able to pull off the story like they probably intended and characterization was sacrificed.

That was really the deciding factor on not recommending it. My goal with this series of recommendations is books that people who love the movies and/or fanfiction can just pick up and read with no background. I also want them to be something people will enjoy reading and want to reread, so those that spend money won't feel like they wasted it.

I'm think I'm going to have to make another series after this one is over of all the other stuff people recommended to me that was good, but required more knowledge of the verse. This project has grown a bit bigger than I originally expected in the beginning. But, one of the great things about it is it gives me a bit of direction on what to read next and some interesting things I've discovered and read along the way that I wouldn't have otherwise.