5 Best Eras of Marvel Teams: MCU Fans’ Guide to Comics

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In the 1960s, Marvel revolutionized the production of superhero stories, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has amplified this popularity in recent years by reaching a broader audience. With the rise of MCU fans curious about the original comic book content, delving into the Marvel Universe is best done through its team books. Marvel has produced some of the most remarkable team comics ever written, featuring talented authors and artists creating both grand, epic narratives and intimate, character-focused stories. Navigating the world of comics may seem challenging even for MCU fans familiar with the franchise, but the most memorable periods of Marvel‘s greatest teams are surprisingly accessible.

For ardent fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe yearning to delve further into Marvel’s iconic comic book history, these five storylines featuring the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four are unmissable!

The Stan Lee/Jack Kirby Fantastic Four Run

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As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but get excited about “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” that’s making waves today! With its teaser trailer sending shivers down our spines, it’s set to make its grand entrance on July 25th. This film seems to be a trip back to the swinging ’60s, and for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) enthusiasts like me, this is just the right time to dive into the team’s origins. The original tales spun by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are the perfect launchpad, as they collaborated on the first 102 issues of “Fantastic Four.” These issues brought to life some of the most iconic Fantastic Four stories ever told!

Lee and Kirby played a significant role in shaping the family dynamic within the team, introducing iconic villains such as Doctor Doom, Galactus, the Puppet Master, the Skrulls, and offering unprecedented superhero stories. During this era, readers were introduced to characters like the Inhumans, the Watcher, and Black Panther, and were treated to some of the finest sci-fi tales in comic book history. However, what truly makes their work stand out is the emphasis on character development. Lee and Kirby skillfully portrayed the family aspects of the Fantastic Four, crafting well-rounded characters, and pioneering a fresh approach to team storytelling. By balancing character depth with action sequences, Lee and Kirby sparked a creative revolution that would influence future creators for years to come. Issues focusing on the Thing in particular shine, capturing the emotional resonance and personal touch that make the Fantastic Four one of the most enduring comic book teams ever created.

Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo’s Fantastic Four Run

From the 1960s to the 2000s, the Fantastic Four experienced a series of highs and lows, with their initial glory fading by 2002, necessitating a fresh perspective. Fortunately, Marvel found the ideal creative duo for a remarkable Fantastic Four series. Mark Waid, recognized for his knack of blending Silver Age comic elements with modern-day flair, was paired with Mike Wieringo, whose cartoonish style combined intricate detail and dynamic movement. They took charge of the book with Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) #60, and during their tenure, the comic reverted to legacy numbering for issue #71, marking the 500th issue at volume three, and delivered captivating Fantastic Four tales until issue #524.

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Wieringo didn’t illustrate every story penned by Waid; he worked on issues #60 to #64, #66 to #70, and #500, #509-513, and #517-524, with occasional breaks. However, even in his absence, the series remained impressive. Waid skillfully blended the lighthearted family dynamic of the team with a more mature comic tone that resonated with contemporary audiences. The pair produced one of the finest Doctor Doom stories of the 21st century, “Unthinkable,” and revitalized the genre of superhero science fiction. Their work on Fantastic Four made it an essential read again, something unexpected in the early 2000s when many had dismissed the team as irrelevant.

Grant Morrison’s New X-Men

In the 1990s, Grant Morrison’s work at DC Comics skyrocketed their popularity, so his departure for Marvel in 2000 was a significant win for Marvel Comics, also known as the House of Ideas. During his tenure at Marvel, Morrison wrote two miniseries: ‘Marvel Boy’ and ‘Fantastic Four: 1234.’ He then took over the ‘X-Men’ series, which was renamed ‘New X-Men’ with issue #114. Morrison wrote for the series until issue #154, collaborating with artists such as Frank Quitely, Ethan Van Sciver, Igor Kordey, Phil Jimenez, Chris Bachalo, John Paul Leon, and Marc Silvestri. Morrison’s work on ‘New X-Men’ reimagined classic X-Men elements like the school, the Phoenix Force, the Shi’Ar Empire, Weapon X, Magneto, dark alternate futures, and more in innovative ways, truly living up to the title of the series and producing some of the greatest X-Men stories ever written.

The book, “Morrison’s Cyclops”, not only delivers captivating storylines and intriguing plots but also develops its characters exceptionally well. Emma Frost, Jean Grey, Beast, Wolverine, and Professor Xavier are given significant plot developments, making them more compelling than ever. Moreover, the introduction of new characters such as Fantomex, Beak, Angel Salvatore, the Stepford Cuckoos, and Xorn adds fresh perspectives to the X-Men universe, offering Morrison an opportunity to explore uncharted territories within this iconic series. This comic book is a prime example of the X-Men at their finest, providing Marvel Studios with an excellent reference when crafting their upcoming X-Men movie scripts.

Joss Whedon and John Cassaday’s Astonishing X-Men Run

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As a dedicated cinephile, I found myself in a cinematic twist when Morrison bid farewell to Marvel amid editorial disagreements. The X-Men saga was left without its leading star, yet Marvel stood prepared with an exceptional ensemble. They introduced Astonishing X-Men, their new flagship title, and assembled the creative team of Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the late artist John Cassaday. For 25 issues, this dynamic duo delivered #1 through #24 and even a Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1, seamlessly continuing Morrison’s storyline and taking it to new heights.

Joss Whedon excelled in his unique blend of witty banter and well-crafted character development, while introducing a fresh extraterrestrial danger to the team. This new adversary was unexpectedly close, originating from within our own realm, alongside an attack by an age-old enemy and a betrayer within their ranks. The climax involved an expansive sci-fi narrative revolving around the newly introduced alien race. The comic boasts an epic atmosphere without compromising on poignant character moments – a quality that defines X-Men tales. The artwork of John Cassaday stands out as the book’s star, with intricate and stunning illustrations reminiscent of renowned X-Men artists like Paul Smith. Each page is visually captivating, leaving an indelible impression on readers. Compared to New X-Men, Astonishing X-Men can be considered a more traditional X-Men series, but it executes every aspect flawlessly.

Kurt Busiek’s Avengers Run

During the 1990s, The Avengers and The Fantastic Four experienced a relatively slow period in popularity. Marvel attempted to rejuvenate them as top sellers by recruiting Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld, renowned artists who had departed from the company to establish Image Comics. However, this move didn’t yield the desired results. In response, Marvel opted to return to their roots, leading to writer Kurt Busiek assuming control over the team with Avengers (Vol. 3) #1. Busiek penned the series until issue #56, taking a brief hiatus for issues #16-18. Busiek’s strategy was to emphasize the elements that made the Avengers exceptional, offering readers thrilling action tales such as “Ultron Unlimited,” while simultaneously providing well-rounded character development for less prominent characters like Scarlet Witch, the Vision, Wonder Man, Firestar, and Justice.

During approximately half of his tenure on the series, Busiek collaborated with one of the most exceptional artists in history, George Perez, who worked on issues #1-15, inked #18 and #19-25, #27-34. Perez’s artwork significantly enhanced every script penned by Busiek. However, Perez wasn’t the only talented artist involved; British legend Alan Davis contributed to five issues, Stuart Immonen had a notable stint, and Kieron Dwyer, an alum of the Avengers, also returned. Busiek’s work on the Avengers is highly regarded by many fans as featuring some of the best Ultron and Kang stories ever written, while also introducing several new characters and concepts. During his time on the series, he also produced the remarkable twelve-issue miniseries titled “Avengers Forever,” working with Roger Stern, a former Avengers writer, and Carlos Pacheco, an artist renowned for his brilliance. This story transported readers through various points in Avengers history, offering a cross-time adventure unlike any other. Busiek’s writing on the Avengers has solidified his position as one of the top writers of the last thirty years, and this recognition is even more impressive when you consider that he also authored the “JLA/Avengers” crossover. While there are many excellent Avengers runs, few can rival Busiek’s.

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2025-02-09 22:10