One of the most common questions I get on this site is “where is a good place to start reading Marvel?” With so many comics coming out each week, month and year it’s a pretty valid question to ask. So to help answer this question I’ve collated 20 comics which highlight the many jumping on points and new series Marvel are releasing in May 2016. Soon you will learn that it’s easy to dive into the Marvel Universe.
As I explained last month, I’ve broken this up into two sections. New series, which are brand new comics starting this month, and existing series, which have been around for a little while but are starting new stories. Along with that I’ve added the solicitation text, creator credits, covers and other things to help you make the dive into any of these new Marvel comics.
All of these will be available at any good comic book store, Comixology or the Marvel Comics App.
This column is still pretty new so any feedback on how this can be made even better is much appreciated.
If you’re looking for even more starting points for Marvel, you should check out April’s list – there’s a further 13 places to jump on.
I hope you enjoy the Marvel Universe!
New Series
Captain America: Steve Rogers
Written by Nick Spencer. Art by Jesus Saiz.
Solicitation Text:
He’s back! The original Sentinel of Liberty returns, with a new shield, a new team, and a new mission! And he’s not the only one who’s back! Like the saying goes– cut off one LIMB, two more will take its place! HAIL HYDRA!
Pages: 40
Rating: T+
Price: $4.99
Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 is available from May 25th.
The Punisher
Written by Becky Cloonan. Art by Steve Dillon.
Solicitation Text:
Frank Castle Loses Control!
A by-the-numbers drug bust is about to take Frank Castle by surprise…and he HATES surprises. The horrible fallout threatens to send The Punisher into the heart of darkness, but Castle won’t make that journey alone: A DEA agent is on his trail and attempting to get into his head…but what horrors will she find there, and will she survive the experience? First-time Punisher writer Becky Cloonan and quintessential Punisher artist Steve Dillon are forcing Frank Castle out of his comfort zone and taking him to the edge of the world he thought he knew!
Pages: 32
Rating: Parental Advisory
Price: $3.99
The Punisher #1 is available from May 4th.
Thunderbolts
Written by Jim Zub. Art by Jon Malin.
Solicitation Text:
FROM THE ASHES OF AVENGERS: STANDOFF!
They’re a renegade team rampaging across the Marvel Universe under the direction of the Winter Soldier! But are the Thunderbolts heroes or villains—and do even they know for sure?
Pages: 32
Rating: Parental Advisory
Price: $3.99
Thunderbolts #1 is available from May 4th.
Nighthawk
Written by David Walker. Art by Ramon Villalobos.
Solicitation Text:
Straight from the pages of SQUADRON SUPREME comes one of the most brutal super heroes of the Marvel Universe. Nighthawk is Chicago’s dark protector, dispensing swift, decisive justice to those that truly deserve it. When the city’s shadiest power brokers turn up murdered in gristly ways, the apparent work of an inventive serial killer, Nighthawk must ask himself, Does this predator deserve to be caught? Who is the killer? What is he after? What does he want from Nighthawk? To answer these questions, Nighthawk must first look in the mirror.
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
Nighthawk #1 is available from May 25th.
Civil War II #0
Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Art by Olivier Coipel.
Solicitation Text:
From the creative team that brought you House of M and Siege comes a blistering first chapter in Marvel’s new explosive event. Watch as the players are introduced and the table is set for a storyline that fans will be talking about for years.
Pages: 40
Rating: T+
Price: $4.99
Civil War II #0 is available from May 18th.
Daredevil/Punisher #1 (Of 4)
Written by Charles Soule. Art by Szymon Kudranski.
Solicitation Text:
A simple change of venues for one of Matt Murdock’s cases becomes more complicated when THE PUNISHER attempts to send the defendant away…permanently! If DAREDEVIL and BLINDSPOT want to get this mobster his day in court, it will take every ounce of wit and wile they have. All Frank needs to get what he wants is a bullet. The race is on!
Pages: 40
Rating: T+
Price: $4.99
Daredevil/Punisher #1 (Of 4) is available from May 4th.
New Stories
A-Force #5
Written by Kelly Thompson. Art by Ben Caldwell.
Solicitation Text:
“Rage, Rage Against The Dying Of The Light” STARTS NOW!
• When a massive dragon attacks a small coastal town, SHE-HULK, CAPTAIN MARVEL, MEDUSA, DAZZLER, NICO MINORU, and SINGULARITY spring into action. But this dragon is more than she seems and has her sights set on more than just one small town. In fact, she’s got her sights set on one of A-FORCE.
• Meanwhile, Dazzler’s got a big secret and the strangest ally ever is going to help them in this fight… or maybe try to arrest them.
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
A-Force #5 is available from May 4th.
New Avengers #11
Written by Al Ewing. Art by Gerardo Sandoval.
Solicitation Text:
A.I.M. vs S.H.I.E.L.D. Starts NOW!
• They’ve lost the Island, the money, the toys, the charismatic leader, the champagne-dispensing robot and half the membership.
• Where do the New Avengers go from here? Can you say… TIPPY-TOE’S KOOKIE QUARTET?
• Guest-starring – The Scarlet Witch! The Plunderer! And the last chance to catch your breath before CIVIL WAR II!
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
New Avengers #11 is available from May 4th.
All-New, All-Different Avengers #9
Written by Mark Waid. Art by Mahmud Asrar.
Solicitation Text:
New Story Starts NOW!
• Introducing the all-new Wasp! Who is she? What is she? And what does she intend to do about Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
All-New, All-Different Avengers #9 is available from May 4th.
Nova #7
Written by Sean Ryan. Art by RB Silva.
Solicitation Text:
SUMMER VACATION STARTS NOW!
• Nova’s father is still missing, and his only clue to his old man’s whereabouts blasted off into space last issue.
• Now, Sam is on the trail of a new mystery — one he’ll need THE AVENGERS help to solve!
• Kicks off a story that will lead into AVENGERS #10!
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
Nova #7 is available from May 4th.
The Totally Awesome Hulk #6
Written by Greg Pak. Art by Mike Choi.
Solicitation Text:
NEW STORY STARTS NOW!
• The Hulk finds himself caught between the Enchantress and the Mighty Thor!
• When the monster in the trunk breaks loose, the Ten Realms may never be the same!
• Don’t miss the shocking reveal of a side of Amadeus you’ve never seen before!
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
The Totally Awesome Hulk #6 is available from May 25th.
Uncanny Avengers #9
Written by Gerry Duggan. Art by Pepe Larraz.
Solicitation Text:
THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH starts now!
• ULTRON IS BACK! BUT THIS TIME, HANK PYM IS IN CONTROL–OR IS HE?
• The taming of Ultron creates unexpected complications and divides the Unity Squad.
• And…Rogue meets Gambit. We promise.
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
Uncanny Avengers #9 is available from May 18th.
The Vision #7
Written by Tom King. Art by Michael Walsh.
Solicitation Text:
A NEW STORY STARTS NOW!
• Once upon a time a robot and a witch fell in love. What followed was a tale of the dead and the dying, of the hopeful and the lost, of the wronged and the avenged. And in the end, after both had fallen, the witch and the robot rose from their dirt and eyed each other across a field of blood and bone.
• Forty-five years in the making, this is the story of Scarlet Witch and the Vision. Before family, there was love. And war.
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
The Vision #7 is available from May 4th.
Web Warriors #7
Written by Mike Costa. Art by David Baldeon.
Solicitation Text:
SPIDERS VS. STARTS NOW!
• Still dealing with the casualties of ELECTROVERSE, the Web-Warriors struggle to keep their team together.
• Not only is the team struggling to stay together, so is the WEB OF LIFE AND DESTINY!
• The latest special guest star from across the Spider-Verse is one of the event’s breakout hits: SPIDER-PUNK!
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
Web Warriors #7 is available from May 11th.
Rocket Raccoon and Groot #5
Written by Skottie Young. Art by Jay Fosgitt.
Solicitation Text:
RACCOON-NAROK STARTS NOW!
• Hear the epic tale of the voyage of ROCKET THE RED and LEAF GROOTERSON!
• Put on your pillaging pants and row your longboat towards shenanigans, you striking viking!
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
Rocket Raccoon and Groot #5 is available from May 4th.
Venom: Space Knight #7
Written by Robbie Thompson. Art by Ariel Olivetti.
Solicitation Text:
THE HUNT FOR BLACK OCTOBER STARTS NOW!
• Venom’s made a solid go as newly-recruited Agent of the Cosmos, aiding the hopeless and oppressed across the galaxy. He’s even picked up some powerful and powefully odd allies (sad cyborg 803, strong serpent-tressed Iqa, and MERCENARY SPACE PANDA Pik Rollo). But even they might not be enough to stop what’s coming. A fearsome new foe has set sights on Agents of the Cosmos, so it looks like Venom’s training is about to get INTENSIVE.
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
Venom: Space Knight #7 is available from May 11th.
Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur #7
Written by Amy M. Reeder & Brandon Montclare. Art by Flaviano Armentaro.
Solicitation Text:
NEW STORY STARTS NOW!
• What’s next for Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur? The all new, all different, MOST AMAZING Marvel Team-Up continues…
• Face to face with the Terrigen Cloud that could turn her Inhuman, Lunella Lafayette’s world is about to turn upside down! Now more than ever, she’ll have to rely on smarts and keep a cool head! Meanwhile, a new boy in school has moved to town from far, far away…but why is he so interested in Lunella? Plus, the most wanted T-Rex in NYC is running out of places to lie low.
• Part One of “Cosmic Cooties” begins here!!!
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur #7 is available from May 25th.
All-New Inhumans #7
Written by James Asmus. Art by Stefano Caselli.
Solicitation Text:
AN ALL-NEW ADVENTURE STARTS NOW!
• The Unpredicable Anna Kravinoff (a.k.a., one of the Kraven family) joins the cast and leads Crystal and her crew to the wilds of Africa in search of a hidden Inhuman enclave that holds answers to Flint’s past.
• Who are these isolationist Inhumans and why was Flint sent away at such a young age?!
• Those answers will cause the All-New Inhumans all kinds of problems.
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
All-New Inhumans #7 is available from May 4th.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #8
Written by Ryan North. Art by Erica Henderson.
Solicitation Text:
NEW STORY STARTS NOW!
• In this story, Squirrel Girl faces off against a giant monster, AND a gross old man, AND goes on some dates!
• So that’s three challenges right there
• Whether you’re a fan of seeing a squirrel lady punch someone OR a fan of seeing a squirrel lady struggle to make an online dating profile that isn’t weird and embarrassing, this is an excellent comic for you to purchase!
• EVERYONE IS ONE OF THOSE TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE — search your heart and you will find it is true
• Oh P.S., the story is called “I KISSED A SQUIRREL AND I LIKED IT” — how amazing is that?
• Answer: very
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #8 is available from May 25th.
Howard the Duck #7
Written by Chip Zdarsky. Art by Kevin Maguire.
Solicitation Text:
• When a case takes Howard and Tara to the SAVAGE LAND, they need all the help they can get! But instead, they make do with SPIDER-MAN, SHE-HULK, DAREDEVIL and STEVE ROGERS!
• Join Chip and special guest artist KEVIN MAGUIRE (!!!!) for an issue we like to call “Howard the Duck Volume Six, Issue Seven!”
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
Howard the Duck #7 is available from May 4th.
What Will You Be Reading?
Which of these new Marvel comics will you be checking out this month? Let me know in the comments below or via our Facebook or Twitter.
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