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 being published every month this is a very valid question to ask. To save some confusion I’ve collated 19 comics that are great places to start reading Marvel in December 2016.
This month we see a slew of new series, the start of new stories and a sweet Christmas annual.
I’ve also added the solicitation text, creator credits, covers and other things to help you take the dive into Marvel comics.
All of these will be available at any good comic book store, Comixology or the Marvel Comics App.
New Series and One-Shots
Inhumans Vs X-Men #1 (of 6)
Written by Charles Soule & Jeff Lemire. Art By Leinil Francis Yu.
Solicitation Text:
THIS IS IT!
The X-Men and Inhumans have been on a collision course since the link was proven between the Inhumans’ precious Terrigen Mist and the sickness and death of many mutants. When Beast discovers that the mutants have only two weeks before the planet is uninhabitable for them, an Inhuman/mutant war is unavoidable. Co-written by Charles Soule (Uncanny Inhumans, Daredevil) and Jeff Lemire (Extraordinary X-Men, Moon Knight), IVX delivers sensational set pieces, gargantuan grudge matches, all drawn by the sensational Leinil Francis Yu! Whether you’re for the X-MEN or the INHUMANS, IVX promises to shatter the Marvel Universe as you know it!
Pages: 48
Rating: T+
Price: $5.99
Inhumans Vs X-Men #1 is available from December 14h.
The Mighty Captain Marvel #0
Margaret Stohl. Art By Ramon Rosanas.
Solicitation Text:
Behold the mightiest, fightiest super hero there is! Captain Marvel returns to her helm as Alpha Flight commander with the world cheering her on. She’s the biggest hero in the world – but has Captain Marvel become someone Carol Danvers no longer recognizes? New York Times bestselling author Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures, Black Widow: Forever Red) makes her comics series debut in a blockbuster Marvel story decades in the making.
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
The Mighty Captain Marvel #0 is available from December 21st.
Hulk
Mariko Tamaki. Art By Nico Leon.
Solicitation Text:
JENNIFER WALTERS has survived the Civil War…barely…and having risen from the rubble, she re-enters the world a different kind of hero. Fueled by a quiet rage, she is determined to move forward, to go on with her life, but the pain of the past and all she’s lost is always there – an undercurrent, a pulse, waiting to quicken and trigger Jen’s transformation into the one thing she doesn’t have control over…
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
Hulk #1 is available from December 28th.
Hawkeye
Written by Kelly Thompson. Art by Leonardo Romero.
Solicitation Text:
Remember Hawkeye? No not that Hawkeye, our favorite Hawkeye, the chick who puts the hawk in Hawkeye, the butt-kicking hero who had to save the other Hawkeye’s butt all the time. Yup, you know her, it’s the dazzling Kate Bishop making her solo comics debut! Kate is heading west and returning to Los Angeles, with her bow and arrow and P.I. badge in tow. There are crimes to solve and she’s the best archer to handle ‘em! The City of Angels has a new guardian angel.
The talented duo of Kelly Thompson (A-Force, Jem) and Leonardo Romero (Squadron Supreme, Doctor Strange) bring you a Kate Bishop like you’ve never seen her before, in a brand-new ongoing series that really hits the mark!
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
Hawkeye #1 is available from December 14th.
Slapstick #1
Reilly Brown & Fred Van Lente. Art By Diego Olortegui.
Solicitation Text:
Steve Harmon was an average teenager who had an average job as your average clown, living in average New Jersey. But after being zapped by weird and mysterious extradimensional energy, Steve became Slapstick, a living, breathing cartoon! Now, after joining, and then quitting, Deadpool’s Mercs for Money, Slapstick is striking it out on his own terms! Sure he’s gotta move back in with his parents, but these new business ventures take time. And anyways, he gets to team-up with the Amazing Spider-Man in his first issue. That seems like he’s doing pretty well to me!
Pages: 32
Rating: Parental Advisory
Price: $3.99
Slapstick #1 is available from December 7th.
Nova
Jeff Loveness & Ramón Pérez. Art By Ramón Pérez.
Solicitation Text:
Rich Rider makes his roaring return to the Marvel Universe! How will Sam Alexander cope with this unfathomable homecoming? It’s the return you’ve all been waiting for. Or is something…else? Strap in True Believer, you’ve never seen a NOVA book like this before!
Nova #1 is available from December 7th.
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
Rocket Raccoon
Matthew Rosenberg. Art By Jorge Coelho.
Solicitation Text:
GROUNDED!
From the pages of Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket has found himself stuck in the LAST place he wants to be—the backwards, no-class, pit of a planet called Earth. It’s where those dumb furry things people say he looks like are from! One thing is clear—it doesn’t matter who or what gets in his way…he’s gotta get off this mudball, NOW. Easier said than done.
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
Rocket Raccoon #1 is available from December 28th.
Star-Lord
Written by Chip Zdarsky. Art by Kris Anka.
Solicitation Text:
GROUNDED!
Peter Quill might have been born on Earth, but he’s been away a LONG time. How does a man go from soaring through the stars as the legendary Star-Lord to living with his feet planted firmly on the ground? What kind of job options are available for a guy whose CV mostly consists of “guarding the galaxy”? One thing is certain, Earth has a new guardian. Also, a new bartender.
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
Star-Lord #1 is available from December 21st.
Gamora
Written by Nicole Perlman. Art By Marco Checchetto.
Solicitation Text:
Before the Guardians…there was Gamora!
From screenwriter Nicole Perlman—co-writer of the Guardians of the Galaxy screenplay—and Marvel superstar artist Marco Checchetto comes a killer new ongoing series! Once upon a time she was Thanos’ heartless pet assassin and favorite daughter. Today, she is the backbone of the Guardians of the Galaxy, putting her life on the line to defend the innocent. What was it that transformed her from being used as a tool of her oppressor, to a champion of the powerless? Embark on a journey of revenge and redemption, and witness how Gamora earned her reputation as the Deadliest Woman in the Galaxy.
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
Gamora #1 is available from December 21st.
Doctor Strange/Punisher: Magic Bullets #1 (Of 4)
Written by John Barber. Art By Andrea Broccardo & Jason Muhr.
Solicitation Text:
The team-up to end all team-ups is here, as two of the most different Marvel characters worlds’ collide! What new mafia threat is so great that the Punisher needs Doctor Strange’s help? Find out as the Sorcerer Supreme teams with the One Man War on Crime!
Pages: 40
Rating: T+
Price: $4.99
Doctor Strange/Punisher: Magic Bullets #1 (Of 4) is available from December 14th.
Gwenpool Holiday Special: Merry Mix-up
Written by Christopher Hastings, Ryan North, Nick Kocher, Karla Pacheco and Chynna Clugston-Flores. Art by Chynna Clugston-Flores, Myisha Haynes, Nathan Stockman & More.
Solicitation Text:
It’s the holidays yet again, and that means it’s time to join EVERYONE’S FAVORITE GWEN (take that, Stacy!) and celebrate good times, come on! Only problem is…somehow this year’s festive traditions seem to be a little…off…and Gwen’s the only one who notices. FEATURING: Gwenpool (duh), Spider-Man, Red Skull, Punisher and even Deadpool! This is one present you know you gotta buy yourself!
Pages: 64
Rating: T+
Price: $5.99
Gwenpool Holiday Special: Merry Mix-up is available fro December 14th.
A Year Of Marvels: The Uncanny
Written by Jeremy Whitley, Todd Casey & Elliott Casey. Art by Laura Braga & Paul Davidson.
Solicitation Text:
• It’s Halloween in the Marvel U! What does that mean for KATE BISHOP, A.K.A. HAWKEYE? Well, I can’t tell you here but I CAN guarantee it involves a haunted house, some witty one-liners, and a bad guy shot full of arrows…
• Then it’s time to give thanks for…THE PUNISHER?! When an op goes south, Frank Castle finds himself in a subterranean game of cat and mouse! It’s a life or death tale that’ll satisfy more than any turkey dinner!
Pages: 40
Rating: T+
Price: $4.99
A Year Of Marvels: The Uncanny is available from December 7th.
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra
Written by Keiron Gillen. Art by Kev Walker.
Solicitation Text:
BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT!
Following the blockbuster finale of Darth Vader #25, the fan-favorite character begins a new journey in STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA #1 – the new ongoing series coming this December! From superstar writer Kieron Gillen (Darth Vader) and fan-favorite artist Kev Walker (Marvel Zombies) comes Marvel’s first ongoing series starring an original character created in the comics!
Following her time in the clutches of Darth Vader, Doctor Aphra has barely escaped with her life. If he ever learns of her survival, he’ll hunt her to the ends of the galaxy. But for now, it’s time for a return to what she does best. With the droids 0-0-0 and BT-1 in tow, she’s off in search of rare artifacts from the galactic center to the Outer Rim and everywhere in between. Aphra’s got debts to pay after all. Just as long as she can stay one step ahead of the Empire, some Bounty Hunters and just about everyone else in the galaxy!
Pages: 40
Rating: T
Price: $4.99
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #1 is available from December 7th.
New Stories
Guardians Of The Galaxy #15
Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Art By Valerio Schiti.
Solicitation Text:
GROUNDED!
• The Guardians of the Galaxy are stuck on Earth!
• They’re also not necessarily a team anymore.
• What’s an urban spaceman supposed to do?
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
Guardians Of The Galaxy #15 is available from December 14th.
The Totally Awesome Hulk #13
Written by Greg Pak. Art By Luke Ross.
Solicitation Text:
GUEST STARRING BROOKLYN NETS’ JEREMY LIN!
• Amadeus Cho can calculate parabolas all day…but can he hit one from downtown?
• A classic Hulk villain returns, but not like you remember: Meet QUASI/MO/DO!
• Hulk’s on fire! Boom Shakalaka!
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
The Totally Awesome Hulk #13 is available from December 14th.
Spider-Man/Deadpool #12
Written by Paul Scheer & Nick Giovannetti. Art By Todd Nauck.
Solicitation Text:
• A special guest-issue while Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness prime the grand climax of their first uber-arc!
• It’s the holidays and both our heroes are alone…
• …which means they’re the only ones who can SAVE CHRISTMAS!
• That’s right, the holiday is under attack…from the least likely of places!
Pages: 32
Rating: T+
Price: $3.99
Spider-Man/Deadpool #12 is available from December 28th.
Spider-Man #11
Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Art By Sara Pichelli.
Solicitation Text:
• The untold history of MILES MORALES’ FATHER!
• What was life like for Jefferson Davis before his son was born…
• …When he was an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.?!
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
Spider-Man #11 is available from December 28th.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #15
Written by Ryan North. Art By Erica Henderson.
Solicitation Text:
• When the TASKMASTER comes to town – and brings with him his ability to DUPLICATE ANYONE’S SWEET MOVES – who stands between him and total domination?
• See, I can tell you’re glancing at the title of this comic and whispering “Well, it’s PROBABLY Squirrel Girl,” but guess what? This time it’s actually Nancy’s cat Mew, who has NO POWERS WHATSOEVER!
• THRILL as Mew loafs around the house! GASP as Mew chases a mouse and then has a nap! BOGGLE as you wonder how we possibly managed to pitch “an issue entirely from the cat’s point of view” to Marvel, a multinational corporation with a LOT invested in our comic continuing to star a squirrel and/or girl!
• They knew the risks when they let Hawkeye have that Pizza Dog issue though, so this was clearly inevitable.
• MEW ISSUE, BRING YOUR TISSUES!
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #15 is available from December 14th.
Star Wars #26
Jason Aaron. Art By Salvador Larroca.
Solicitation Text:
• With one of our rebel crew captured and imprisoned…
• …we turn once more to the journals of Ben Kenobi…
• …and a legendary adventure of Jedi Master…Yoda!
Pages: 32
Rating: T
Price: $3.99
Star Wars #26 is available from December 28th.
Annuals
Power Man And Iron Fist: Sweet Christmas Annual
Written by David F. Walker. Art By Scott Hepburn.
Solicitation Text:
YOU BETTER NOT POUT, YOU BETTER NOT CRY!
• ’Cause you’re getting an extra helping of POWER MAN AND IRON FIST! This Christmas will be sweet, indeed!
• But not for Luke Cage, who is feeling neither holly nor jolly.
• Surely Danny can change that! Or maybe these demonic toys will! Wait, demonic toys?! OH, NO!
Pages: 40
Rating: T+
Price: $4.99
Power Man And Iron Fist: Sweet Christmas Annual is available from December 21st.
Want Even More Jumping On Points?
If this is not enough comics for you then don’t forget to check out the DC Comics equivalent of this list, as well as last month’s Marvel list too.
Which Of These Comics Will You Be Reading?
Which of these new Marvel comics will you be jumping into this month? Let me know in the comments below or via our Facebook or Twitter.
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