If you watched this year’s Super Bowl (well, the commercials), then you — and more than 100 million other folks — probably know that this summer will be a big one for comic book movies. Not only are film adaptations for Captain America and Thor coming our way, but celluloid versions of Green Lantern, Cowboys & Aliens and even the X-Men (a new one) are slated to hit the big screen as well. And since we’re highlighting films this issue, I thought it would be a great time to recommend comic-movie reading material — a few books to pick up before you see some of these potential blockbusters. Check ’em out:
Green Lantern: Secret Origin — This one’s pretty much a no-brainer; the upcoming Green Lantern movie explains the origin of the film’s title character, and so does this book. A hardcover collecting the six-issue re-telling of test pilot/space cop Hal Jordan’s early days, Secret Origin features an action-packed, character-driven story by Geoff Johns, the writer credited with resuscitating the emerald-clad hero. (He also worked on GL‘s movie.)
Thor Volume 1 — OK, finding an appropriate comic about Marvel’s favorite Norse god/superhero is more difficult than narrowing down the perfect jumping-on point for Green Lantern fans. Thor is a complicated character, and only a few creators have crafted great stories about him — especially tales that are accessible to new or casual readers. All that said, I’d suggest snagging a copy of Thor Volume 1 — which collects several issues of the amazingly underrated run by writer Dan Jurgens and artist John Romita Jr. This compilation contains some of the biggest, boldest and most universe-shaking tales ever told about the “God of Thunder” … and it also includes some juicy human elements as well. On top of that, the art is bright, funky, kinetic and Jack Kirby-flavored. Buy it.
Captain America Omnibus Volume 1 — Finding a fitting comic about Captain America is difficult, too. My advice is to pick up Captain America Omnibus Volume 1; it collects the first 25 espionage-oriented issues of writer Ed Brubaker’s stint on Cap and offers a pretty thorough look at the star-spangled Avenger’s past and present. This book also introduces important allies, like the Winter Soldier, and spotlights Cap’s arch nemesis, the Red Skull (both of whom are in the soon-to-be-released movie).
Reviewed materials provided by Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find: www.heroesonline.com.
This article appears in Feb 15-21, 2011.
