Comics from the Past You Should Read Now

Secret Wars (2015) Writer: Jonathan Hickman / Artist: Esad Ribic / Marvel Comics

If you like what you’re reading in the biweekly master class that is Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men, you might want to dive a little deeper and see what other wonders he’s worked across the Marvel Universe. For example, the epic event book, Secret Wars. When a cataclysmic event tears all of existence apart, watch as it’s all put back together…in the image of Doctor Doom. Reed Richards leads some of Marvel’s finest throughout this strange new “Battleworld,” culminating in a confrontation that has been brewing for pretty much the entirety of Hickman’s Fantastic Four run. There’s a lot to like about this book, but for me the primary high point is that it poses (and answers) the question, “What happens when the ultimate villain gets his heart’s desire?” Hawkeye (2012) Writer: Matt Fraction / Artist: David Aja / Marvel Comics

With Hawkeye finding new life in a series on Disney Plus, now is a perfect time to read up on Matt Fraction’s run from 2012 to 2015. Coming off the success of the first Avengers movie, Fraction took a compelling turn with the character, highlighting his semi-everyman (mis)adventures. Rarely is there a book that takes such a well-rounded, “human” look at a superhero’s life. His landlords are his archenemies. If that isn’t “working class” hero shit, I don’t know what is. In my opinion, the biggest sell for the Hawkeye series is Kate Bishop. Fraction deftly maneuvers the Young Avenger…