Firefly is an American space Western media franchise created by Joss Whedon. It includes the TV series Firefly, the film Serenity, some novels and multiple comic books.
The series is set in the year 2517, after the arrival of humans in a new star system, and follows the adventures of the renegade crew of Serenity, a “Firefly-class” spaceship. In this future, the only two surviving superpowers, the United States and China, fused to form the central federal government, called the Alliance, resulting in the fusion of the two cultures.
“Last Remains” is not an event, but a storyline taking place in the continuity of Nick Spencer’s run on Spider-Man (go to the full reading order). That said, there’s a crossover component to it with a lot of adjacent spider-heros joining the story (like Miles Morales, Gwen “Ghost-Spider” Stacy, Silk, Spider-Woman for example).
Here is the official synopsis: Spider-Man just took the beating of his life … but we’re just getting started. Prepare yourself for the horrors of Last Remains! Kindred—the mystery villain who has been plaguing Peter Parker’s life from the shadows—is stepping out on stage for the first time … and Spider-Man is not ready for the havoc that will result. Now, the wallcrawler must seek out the aid of one of his oldest allies—Doctor Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme. But it’s not going to be enough. In order to take the fight to Kindred, will Peter be forced to consider the unthinkable?
What to read before Amazing Spider-Man: Last Remains?
The “Last Remains” storyline is about a new villain known as Kindred. Nick Spencer did a lot of built up around his mysterious identity. The best way to read “Last Remains” is, of course, by being up-to-date with Spencer’s run.
If you only want to read what can just before, you’ll have to take a look at those:
At the time (2013–2014), DC presented Trinity War as the first big crossover event of the New 52, but it turned out to be the prologue to Forever Evil, the real first line-wide crossover since the reboot of the DC Universe. For this reason, we tackle those two events together.
First, Trinity War: When the three Justice Leagues go to war with one another, who’s side will everyone be on? Allies will be born, friends will become enemies and the DC Universe will never be the same.
Friendship to the Max! Comic book series created by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Noelle Stevenson, and Brooklyn A. Allen, Lumberjanes is published by Boom! Studios
The story takes us at Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types, things are not what they seem. Three-eyed foxes. Secret caves. Anagrams. Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together…and they’re not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way!
New 52 was the beginning of a new era for Batman (see reading order), opening with the introduction of the Court of Owls, a mysterious group that run Gotham. Night of the Owls ia a direct following to that storyline.
Written by Scott Snyder, Night of The Owls pits the Batman and his allies against the Court of Owls organization as they attempt to cement their control over Gotham City, which they have been manipulating in secret for centuries.
As evil spreads across Gotham City, Batman’s allies, including Red Robin, Batwing, Robin, Batgirl, the Birds of Prey, Nightwing and even Catwoman find themselves in a battle coming from all sides. The Court of Owls have shown their hand, and it’s up to the collective effort of these heroes, some more unlikely than others, in this sprawling tale of corruption and violence.
What to read before Batman: Night of Owls?
Batman: Gates of Gotham (optional)
Collects Batman: Gates of Gotham #1-5. Not necessary for comprehension, this is a sort of prequel to Court of Owls, where Snyder revisits Gotham history.
Batman: The Court of Owls
Collects Batman Vol. 2 #1-7. The first arc in Snyder and Capullo’s run on Batman, and during which the Night of the Owls takes place, making it a necessary reading.
When Carol Danvers got her promotion (see Carol Danvers reading order to learn more about that) and officially became known as Captain Marvel in 2014, a place opened up for a new Mrs. Marvel. That’s when Kamala Khan became a Marvel superhero.
Kamala Khan is a teenager, Pakistani-American, Muslim, and Inhuman with shapeshifting abilities (mostly elongation, shrinking…) from Jersey City. After discovering her power, she assumes the mantle of Ms. Marvel because Carol Danvers was her idol. Of course, she had to learn how to be a superhero, but she quickly joined famous teams such as the Avengers, the Champions, Secret Warriors, and more (she’s quite popular).
She rapidly got her own series and took part in major Marvel events. She’s young, but there’s already a lot to read. Also, even if she’s still a fairly new character, Kamala has already been killed and resurrected, coming back to life with a new perspective on the origins of her powers (she’s a mutant now!).
Inhumanity is not a proper event, it is the fallout of Infinity and it’s not readable without it. What we have is a 2013–14 crossover storyline, where multiple titles are loosely connected by a mention or a contact with the Terrigen Mists.
More specifically, the actions of Black Bolt have affected not only his people, but the entire Marvel Universe, as a new race of Inhumans rises up!
Here is the official synopsis: For millennia, they were hidden in plain sight – forgotten descendants of a secret race transformed by alien science, living ordinary lives, never knowing their godlike potential. They could be your doctor. Your mailman. Maybe even you. But now the kingdom of Attilan has fallen to Earth. Its royal family has been torn apart. And the Terrigen Bomb has revealed the Inhumans in mankind’s midst.
As individuals across the globe manifest uncanny new abilities, the Avengers, X-Men, Hulk, Spider-Man, and more face a world forever altered. And with her husband gone, Queen Medusa must unite her scattered people and lead them into a new Inhuman Age.
What to read before Inhumanity?
As I said before, you can’t read Inhumanity without Infinity and so I guide you toward the Infinity Reading Order for more details.
Infinity Hardcover
Collects Infinity #1-6, New Avengers Vol. 3 #7-12, Avengers Vol 5. #14-23, Infinity: Against the Tide Infinite Comic #1-2
Infinity Companion Hardcover
Collects Captain Marvel Vol. 7 #15-16, Thunderbolts Vol. 2 #14-18, Avengers Assemble Vol. 2 #18-20, Infinity: The Hunt #1-4, Mighty Avengers Vol. 2 #1-3, Nova Vol. 5 #8-9, Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #3-4, Infinity: Heist #1-4, Fearless Defenders #10, Secret Avengers Vol. 2 #10-11, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 #8-9, Wolverine & The X-Men Annual #1
Wubba Lubba Dub Dub!!! The crazy world created by Dan Harmon & Justin Roiland in their hit Adult Swim animated show Rick & Morty goes beyond the screen and into the comic book world!
Published by Oni Press, the Rick & Morty comic book series expands the universe of the super scientist Rick Sanchez and his grandson Morty—but also his teenage granddaughter Summer, his veterinary surgeon daughter Beth, and his hapless son-in-law Jerry—with a lot of as insane adventures.
What to read before Rick and Morty’s comics?
Reading is not right, watching is more appropriate. Even if you can read the comics without knowing much about the show, you’ll miss a lot. I recommend watching at least the first 2/3 seasons of Rick & Morty before picking up those books. Especially before the third book of the first volume, when the comics became canon (the first two volumes are inconsequential).
Flashpoint is a 2011 comic book crossover story arc written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Andy Kubert published by DC Comics. In its end, the series radically changes the status quo for the DC Universe, ending the continuity of New Earth and leading into the New 52 relaunch.
Flashpoint details an altered DC Universe in which only Barry Allen seems to be aware of significant differences between the regular timeline and the altered one, including Cyborg’s place as the world’s quintessential hero, much like Superman is in the main timeline, with Superman himself being held captive as a lab-rat by the United States government within an underground facility in Metropolis. In addition, Thomas Wayne is Batman, and a war between Wonder Woman and Aquaman has decimated western Europe.
Flashpoint consists of 61 issues, with sixteen separate three-issue miniseries, and a number of one-shots.
What To Read Before Flashpoint?
The Flash: Rebirth
Collects The Flash: Rebirth #1–6. Follows the “rebirth” of the Silver Age character The Flash, real name Barry Allen after the character’s initial return in DC’s 2008 crossover storyline “Final Crisis”. Explains Barry Allen’s current situation in life.
The first big event of the 2020s. It’s an Avengers/Fantastic Four one that takes us on the Moon, beyond, and back on Earth. And here is the official synopsis for the event written by Al Ewing and Dan Slott with art by Valerio Schiti. Old allies make a distress call to the Avengers with news of a terrible enemy that could wipe out humanity. Meanwhile, in the most unlikely of places, the Fantastic Four witness the final conflict of the Kree/Skrull War — and a long-hidden Elder of the Universe stands revealed! With the Kree and Skrulls united under a new emperor, their war fleet charts a course — for Earth!
The Avengers are ready to fight, while the Fantastic Four seek a diplomatic solution. But if they can’t work together, the world may not survive. Either way, both teams will be tested as never before! The new Marvel Space Age begins here!
What to read before Empyre?
The history of the Kree and Skrulls War is quite long, going back to the classic Avengers story “Kree-Skrull War” written by Roy Thomas with art by Sal Buscema and Neal Adams, and the “Celestial Madonna Saga” written by Steve Englehart with art by John and Sal Buscema, Don Heck, Dave Cockrum, and George Tuska.
For the Empyre, it’s probably not necessary to go back this far. All you need to know is in the Empyre Handbook. For more stories, you can also take a look at the Meet The Skrulls miniseries written by Robbie Thompson with art by Niko Henrichon. If you want to know more about the character Huckling, you can read the 2005 Young Avengers series written by Allan Heinberg with art by Jim Cheung.
