Help a lost member?

[blendertest.livejournal.com]

Evening!

So, I'm not very sure of how to phrase this, but I'll start by saying I'm absolutely new to the fandom. I came across the ship manifesto by accident and found that this pairing is pretty much everything I love. I've been trying to read the fanfics, but my lack of knowledge makes it very difficult to know what's going on. Wikipedia helps, but it's not enough, and I would love to actually understand the universe this takes place.

Because of this, I ask: what do I need to read? I already ordered Civil War 1-7, but I know there has to be more I need to be acquainted with.

Thanks in advance :D

Comments

[iambickilometer.livejournal.com]

If you're into that sort of thing, I'd definitely check out the Silver Age Avengers comics (from the very beginning of the Avengers; your library might have a hardbound collection). If you don't mind terrible art, the beginning of New Avengers is also pretty ship-heavy. Actually, I'd check the Slashy Moments list here on the comm and read the arcs or issues that get mentioned there.

Also -- it's not part of the main canon, but Marvel Adventures Avengers is a fun, happy, and hilarious way to get familiar with the personalities of Steve, Tony, and their friends and allies.

In regards to Civil War, you'll definitely want to read The Confession afterward. Actually, just see about picking up (or just reading) the Civil War: Iron Man collection. It's ridiculously ship-heavy, and it finishes up with The Confession which is sad but very, very satisfying from a shipper perspective.

I suspect there are a lot of runs from the eighties that I'm missing, as I'm not too up to date with Avengers canon from that time period, but if you can find some, eighties comics are about as good as they get. For the most part.

Good luck! Figuring out the canon is a fun, but long, project.

Hmm, it all depends

[jazzypom.livejournal.com]

The thing to note is that in addition to being August members of The Avengers, Steve Rogers and Tony Stark have their own books, and in each title, there are key 'watershed' moments that's contributed to how the character is defined in the universe, for better or worse. For Tony, his moment is Demon in the Bottle storyline, where Tony battles his alcoholism. Tony has two key drinking arcs in his canon, and apart from his scraps in a cave, that's what pretty much has made him what he is today. There's also Armor Wars, which shows the tension between Tony Stark and the government (which the second feature length movie touches on). Tony also has his own supporting cast, Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan, and James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, amongst others.

In terms Steve Rogers? I'm afraid I'm only just catching up on his canon myself. I think Red, White and Blue is supposed to be a good one, as well as various things by Mark Waid.

[cat-13145.livejournal.com]

Iron Man Civil War, is probably the best for recent Cap/Iron man (Warning, it is very sad). Failing that, Iron Man most wanted 2 is also worth looking at.
For Cap, I'd recommend anything by Brubaker. Not much Cap/Iron Man, but everyone should read him, he is the best writer Marvel has, especially at the moment.

[valtyr]

I'd have to disagree with cat_13145 - I don't think Brubaker writes a good Steve Rogers. He likes his dark and gritty, and he likes noir and spy stuff, which I don't find a good match for the character. (Also he killed Steve and I am grudgey.)

I do totally back up iambickilometer on Marvel Adventures: Avengers. It's really sweet and funny.

For a retelling of the early years of the Avengers in a not-too-confusing form, I recommend the Earth's Mightiest Heroes books.

[tsukinofaerii.livejournal.com]

(wince) Ouch, Civil War. You're going to be hurting.

Thirding the suggestion for Marvel Adventures. Everyone should read that, no matter their ship. Early Avengers canon is a good source of spare exclamation points and crack, and Red Zone is love. (What? I love that arc. :D For obvious reasons.) The problem with Steve and Tony is that they've been in each other's lives for so long, it's hard to pick that apart and assign "important! Must read!" to any single bit, and it's expensive to try and read it all. I'd say pick up what you can and don't sweat the rest unless you need it for some reason. You'll be fine. :D

[ollee.livejournal.com]

I suggest the Iron Man Extremis arc as it gives some insight to Iron Man... also Demon in a Bottle has some good Tony/Steve moments. The What If? Civil War comic is a really good read. The Marvel wiki is informative and can give you a good understanding of what's going on. The Slashiest Moments list on the cap_ironman main page can give you some good recs as well! The early, early comics though are a bit on the campy side and I wouldn't bother trying to read those unless you are just a diehard fan.

[merianmoriarty.livejournal.com]

definitely read the Confession, because without it, Civil War paints a very unfair picture of Tony. i also recommend a little Cap Reborn, so that you don't go thinking of Steve as just an underhanded jerk (which he totally was in Civil War). hm, now that i think of it, Avengers Disassembled wouldn't hurt.

[rizyu.livejournal.com]

I will have to agree with Ollee on the Demon in the Bottle and Extremis arcs for Iron Man. They are a must to understand what half of people post about XD. Hell I prob could e-mail you them for I have the collectors edition DVD rom of all the Iron Man comics and just send you those two arcs if ya want.

[blendertest.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, that would be amazing! Right now I'm waiting for my Civil War comics to arrive and looking for everything you guys have suggested, but this would make it so much easier.

I'll message you my e-mail, and thank you so much for this.

[ani-coolgirl.livejournal.com]

Uh, sign me up too? ^^; I was going to post something just like before this person beat it to me.

[twilight-fang.livejournal.com]

I don't mean to sound like a leech but I'd be amazingly grateful for the Mask in the Iron Man arc. I just can't afford to import it for $100 - used at best. T_T But only if it isn't too much trouble for you. :)