Particularly relevant for Secret Warriors, this series by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato sets up the character of Ares and the various “criminal” Avengers.

Much like Secret Invasion, the relaunch of Thunderbolts as Marvel’s new Dark Avengers helps explain the context of Dark Reign. While you certainly could read all of Secret Invasion with the CBH reading order, really all you need to know is that Hickman’s time with Marvel comes in the aftermath of this event. Mighty Avengers #18 – The Secret Warriors train under the tutelage of Nick Fury and Daisy Johnson. Mighty Avengers #13 – Nick puts the team together. Mighty Avengers #12 – Nick Fury discovering Secret Invasion plot. The most important background for Secret Warriors comes in Mighty Avengers, with the entire team assemblage explained. The ramifications of this decision lead to Fury’s eventual exile from SHIELD, and status as a man on the run. In a clear tie to the political environment of 2005, Nick Fury defies orders from the US government and invades the nation of Latveria. Shortly after Avengers Disassembled changed the status quo for Marvel’s Avengers and set up the New Avengers, another Brian Michael Bendis written event (with Gabriel Del Otto) changed the status quo for SHIELD and Nick Fury.

Need More? The Image Comics of Jonathan Hickman! At the end of the guide, I also include picks from Jonathan Hickman’s creator-owned work so the ride never stops. There are a number of coherent visions mapped across the modern Marvel Universe by various creators (Rick Remender, Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron, etc), but none are as rewarding as Hickman’s.ĭue to its expansive quality, interconnected narratives, and near decade long run time, a good reading order can seriously aid the comic book binge experience.īelow you’ll find a complete chronology and timeline for every Marvel comic book written by Jonathan Hickman, as well as background reading that can help provide context for Hickman’s entrance onto a series or set of characters. Working with a roster of incredible artistic storytellers like Esad Ribic, Jerome Opena, and Dale Eaglesham (among many others), the Marvel Hickman-verse is wonderfully plotted and thematically connected from the Dark Reign era Secret Warriors through 2015’s mega-event Secret Wars. Without question, the writing and vision of Jonathan Hickman across the Marvel Universe is my favorite modern run in superhero comics.

Marvel infinity hickman