We’re not in Kansas anymore! We’re in the Grimm Fairy Tales universe from Zenescope, where authors and artists explore classic fairy tales with modern twists, sexy covers, and some gore inside.
Taking inspiration from L. Frank Baum’s children’s book, Oz is one of the realms of the Grimm Fairy Tales universe, alongside Myst, Neverland, Wonderland, and Earth. But this is not the Land of Oz from the books and the movie, as Dorothy is not some ordinary farm girl from Kansas.
If the following books take place in the Zenescope universe where you can also meet Robyn Hood and Van Helsing, they do not really connect to the others.
After his run on the Fantastic Four and a few years before taking over The X-Men, Jonathan Hickman became the main writer on The Avengers titles of the Marvel Now era after Brian Michael Bendis left in 2012.
With the Avengers (Volume 5), Hickman introduced new threats, but also expand the roster and sphere of influence of the team to a global and even interplanetary level. This will lead to a cosmos-threatening event. In New Avengers (Volume 3), he focused more on the members of The Illuminati (Black Panther, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Black Bolt, Mr. Fantastic, Sub-Mariner, and the Beast) who are armed with the six Infinity Gems against an infinite legion of parallel realities.
Here is the official synopsis: As threats to Earth mount, the Avengers expand! And while Iron Man and Captain America assemble their Avengers World and strive to decipher the meaning of the White Event, Tony Stark secretly tries to solve the biggest crisis of all, along with his influential allies, the Illuminati! While they seek to prevent the collapse of reality itself, the Avengers face a war on two fronts! Protecting Earth from the Builders may only hand it to…Thanos!
In December 2006, french writer Fabrice Sapolsky (creator of Comix Box Magazine) pitched the idea of a 1930s pulp version of Spider-Man to David Hine. This led to Marvel Noir, a Marvel Comics alternative continuity combining elements of film noir and pulp fiction with the Marvel Universe. The Marvel Noir line was launched with Spider-Man: Noir #1 and X-Men Noir #1, in February 2009. For Spidey, Carmine Di Giandomenico drew the first stories and Marko Djurdjevic his cool costume.
Earth-90214, sometimes also called Earth-Noir, is a hard-boiled world. Spider-Man’s story begins in the 30s, during the Great Depression when New York is dealing with some economical issues and most of the people do not have jobs. Norman Osborn mostly rules the city, with Vulture, Kraven, and the Enforcers as members of his crew. Peter Parker has been raised by his paternal aunt and uncle, activists May and Ben Parker, and gained arachnid powers after being bitten by a supernatural spider. If you’re a fan of Batman, this Spider-Man is the closest version there is of the character in the Spider-Verse — his alias is The Spider-Man, for a good reason.
Spider-Man Noir became quickly a popular character, earning a sequel, but also appearing as a playable character in the 2010 video game Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions — a year after his first comic appearance. Despite existing for less than 15 years, Spider-Man has featured already in a few crossover stories and quite a number of video games, but also in television and film (like in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse). No doubt, Spider-Man Noir is photogenic!
Created by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette, Le Transperceneige, or Snowpiercer, is a french post-apocalyptic graphic novel where the last survivors of humanity are locked in a gigantic train that never stops.
Because even when humanity is on its last leg, we can’t get rid of social hierarchy, the train is organized with the rich at the head, in golden wagons going back to the poor at the end of the convoy. Coming from the tail wagons, Proloff is determined to go back up the train in order to understand the situation following some horrible events.
Le Transperceneige has been adapted as a movie in 2013 by Bong Joon-ho and has also inspired a television series (on cable channel TNT). Following the movie’s success, several new albums have been published.
Princess Diana of Themyscira is Wonder Woman, the most famous female superhero in the Patriarch’s World, and a feminist icon. Sometimes known under her civilian identity as Diana Prince, she’s an Amazon from the island nation of Themyscira and a founding member of the Justice League.
With the help of her Lasso of Truth, her indestructible bracelets, and her tiara, she fights deities, mythical monsters, and other creatures—most frequently Ares, Cheetah, Doctor Poison, Circe, Doctor Psycho, or Giganta…
Created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston (inspired by his wife, Elizabeth, and their life partner, Olive Byrne) and artist Harry G. Peter, Wonder Woman made her first appearance in All-Star Comics #8—released on October 21, 1941.
Her origin story has been rewritten multiple times, but it’s always about fighting for justice and treating others with compassion, even her enemies.
Everything usually starts when Captain Steve Trevor’s plane crashes on the island of Themyscira, then Diana won the right to bring him back to the Patriarch’s World. She is awarded a special uniform made by her mother for her new role as Wonder Woman.
She’s a princess, a warrior, and an ambassador. Beautiful as Aphrodite, wise as Athena, stronger than Hercules, swifter than Mercury … she is Wonder Woman!
Where to start with Wonder Woman?
Wonder Woman made her first appearance 80 years ago. So to help you find your path in this rich history, we made a short listing of books that can serve as a sort of entry point in the universe:
Wonder Woman: A Celebration of 75 Years – A collection of the iconic heroine’s best stories, from her first appearance by William Moulton Marston and H.G. Peter, to her mod ’60s redesign by Denny O’Neil and Mike Sekowsky, to her present-day adventures by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang. Other legendary talents featured include George Pérez, Darwyn Cooke, Robert Kanigher, Gene Colan, Phil Jimenez, Mike Deodato, Greg Rucka, Gail Simone, and more.
Wonder Woman Through the Years – Another collection of the iconic heroine’s best stories to celebrate the many colorful eras of Wonder Woman through the decades, with stories ranging from formative Golden Age tales to her current adventures, including Diana taking on spies in the 1950s, Silver Swan in the 1980s, and teaming with Batman and Superman in the 1990s.
Wonder Woman by George Perez – The introduction Post-Crisis of a Wonder Woman for the Modern Era. Princess Diana was reshaped by George Pérez and returned to the public eye in 1986. She was met with such acclaim that Pérez’s original commitment of six months was extended, and extended, until almost five years had passed.
Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia – The most celebrated run on the character (with Pérez’s), I’m talking about Greg Rucka’s, started with this celebrated Graphic Novel in which Wonder Woman must go against Batman.
Wonder Woman: Year One – Greg Rucka came back and wrote a new origin story for the Rebirth Era.
Wonder Woman: Earth One – An out-of-continuity story by Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette, another retelling of Diana’s origin. A three-book story.
Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons – An Exploration of the History of the Amazons, from their inception to the creation of Earth’s greatest guardian!
Wonder Woman: Black and Gold – An anthology series celebrating Wonder Woman’s 80th anniversary with stories by Mariko Tamaki, Tillie Walden, Jamie McKelvie, Marguerite Sauvage, and more
After Annihilation event (see reading order) and its direct sequel as part of the modern Marvel Cosmic saga, Annihilation: Conquest (see reading order), the Marvel Cosmic Universe kept going forward for a good year, then a new crossover storyline written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning titled War of King happened.
Here is the official synopsis: Intending to restore their strength and security in the aftermath of the Secret Invasion, Black Bolt finds he has to lead the Inhumans into direct confrontation with the Shi’Ar Empire and their insane ruler, Vulcan. What happens when an Inhuman-led Kree go to war with the Shi’ar led by the crazed Summers brother Vulcan? When these mighty powers turn their rage upon one another, what happens to those caught in the crossfire? When two mighty rulers wage war, who will rule?
What to read before War of Kings?
A lot happened since Annihilation: Conquest with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Nova, but also the X-Men and the Secret Invasion. In order to go in fully prepared, you’ll want to take a look at those books:
War of Kings Prelude: Road to War of Kings Omnibus
Collects Son Of M #1-6, X-Men: Deadly Genesis #1-6, Silent War #1-6, Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1-4, Guardians Of The Galaxy (2008) #1-12, Nova #13-22, Nova: The Origin Of Richard Rider, War Of Kings Saga.
Created by writer Fiona Avery and artist Mark Brooks, Anya Sofia Corazon is a member of the Spider-Verse since 2004 and is more known right now as being Spider-Girl. But she was Araña when she made her first appearance in Amazing Fantasy vol.2 #1.
She didn’t acquire her abilities following a bite by a spider, but after having her life saved by the mage Miguel Legar from the Spider Society. He performed a ritual on her by giving her a spider-shaped tattoo that endows her with spider-like powers and recruits her to be a Hunter for the Spider Society (a secret society worshipping Spider-Totems, created by J. Michael Straczynski during his run on Spider-Man).
The Latina daughter of a Puerto Rican father and a Mexican mother, she had been the star of her own (short) series and been affiliated with the Spider Society, the Young Allies (during the Heroic Age), the Avengers Academy, and the Web Warriors. Simply put, like all respected members of the Spider-Verse, Anya Corazon has her fair share of adventures, and to discover them, we made this reading order
Launched in 1963, the iconic sci-fi television series Doctor Who evolved to become a multi-media franchise controlled by the BBC. The program depicts the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord — meaning an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor traveled through time and space in his spaceship, the Tardis, a blue British police box, which is much bigger on the inside. Those adventures are shared with a companion, often a human character, which acts as a friend or an assistant, as someone who reminds the doctor of his moral duty and helps the Doctor to combat foes and help people in need.
Today, we are going to explore the Doctor Who comic published by Titan Comics, who obtained the license in 2014 and released plenty of stories since then, mostly about modern incarnations of the Doctor, but also with some classic Doctors and a few crossovers!
Whereas you are new to the Whovian universe, a regular viewer, or an expert, Titans Comics has worked to make it accessible for everyone.
Popularized by her Netflix Show, Jessica Jones started in the pages of her own Marvel comic book. She’s a PI with an avenger past (and future). Created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos, Jessica Jones first appeared in Alias #1 (November 2001), a Max imprint—which means adult content and language.
Once upon a time, Jessica Jones was a costumed superhero—but not a very good one. Now a chain-smoking, self-destructive alcoholic, Jessica is the owner and sole employee of Alias Investigations, specializing in superhuman cases. But when she uncovers a hero’s true identity, Jessica becomes the target of a far-reaching conspiracy.
At first, Bendis introduced her as a former superhero who becomes a private investigator, but she was retconned in the regular Marvel universe, becoming a student who was in school with Peter Parker and an ex-avenger.
Daredevil fans rejoice! The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen hasn’t had an event around him since 2010, with Shadowland. The actual Daredevil team, Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto rectify that with Devil’s Reign, a Marvel event confronting our superheroes to the mayor of the biggest city in America, Wilson Fisk!
Per Marvel’s official Synopsis, Wilson Fisk has risen from Kingpin of Crime to mayor of the biggest city in America. Now he’s going to bring his full criminal and political power to bear on the superheroes who call NYC home!
The man who once destroyed Daredevil has targeted the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and more. Fisk has an army of supervillains at his command — including Crossbones, Taskmaster, Typhoid Mary, Shocker, Whiplash, Rhino, and Kraven — and that’s just his opening salvo. Wait until you meet his Thunderbolts!
But Mayor Fisk isn’t the only one with ambitions…and you know what they say about honor among thieves. From the blockbuster creative team of DAREDEVIL comes the final act in Wilson Fisk’s master plan!
