This is it - the best of the best of All-New, All-Different Marvel. Here we go.
05. All-New Wolverine – Tom Taylor, David Lopez, Marcio Takara
Zachary: I didn’t know too terribly much about X-23 before I started reading All-New Wolverine. I knew a few bits of trivia about her backstory, but nothing too detailed. When I saw the cover for the first issue, I thought it looked compelling. One issue later and I loved it enough to do some research on the all-new Wolverine’s past appearances and check out the volumes at the library. Since then, the series has enthralled me with humor, feminism, and action. From the clones of Laura that represent paths she might have taken if she wasn’t used as a weapon to her burgeoning friendship with Old Man Logan, a shadow of her late mentor, it’s touching and wonderful.
Aranwe: Dare I say I kind of enjoy this more than the regular Logan Wolverine comics? Laura is no less ready to get dark and gory than her predecessor, but it’s her supporting cast that brings out a lighter, more fun side to her. Add to that story arc that are both suspenseful and compelling, and you’ve got a must read.
Dominik: If I were cynical, I’d point out how all the X-Men team books (minus X-Men ‘92, set in an alternate universe) have suffered since the end of Secret Wars - with the sole exception of Wolverine titles. But I won’t, because this book would stand out even in the days when mutants thrived. Laura’s adventures following her taking on the mantle of Wolverine are fun, well-written and drawn superheroics. She’s the best at what she does – and though what she does ain’t pretty, it’s done in her own, unique way.
Marvel Now! 2.0 status: ongoing
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04. New Avengers – Al Ewing, Gerardo Sandoval
Zachary: Al Ewing is one of the most creative comic writers in the business today. Who else could have come up with the American Kaiju, who bellows “YUUU, ESSSSSS, AYYYYY!” in patriotic-colored font? He knows how to combine the wacky antics of the Silver Age with the modern-day interpretations of beloved characters for maximum entertainment value. Every bit of every issue, from the snarky character-descriptor captions to the villains, have something to smile about. Ultimate Reed Richards is an awesome villain and I really like seeing how the plot unfolds with every issue. Along with an ongoing story arc, we also get great character interactions between characters who might never have met in the hands of a different writer.
Aranwe: Speaking of Reed, don’t forget, he comes in slices! I had only a passing familiarity with most of the characters on this team, but I already love them all. The dynamics between the different players, and the constant manipulation and betrayal and double and triple crossing are a joy to read. It’s a comic that has no qualms about going from deadly serious to unbelievably wacky in the space of a few panels, and I love it for that.
Dominik: Who knew a comic following up a subplot from Jonathan Hickman’s run on the Avengers would be so very fun? Aside from those who read Al Ewing’s earlier titles, obviously. Fast-paced, insane and oh so fun (there’s a reason Squirrel Girl’s part of the team), New Avengers quickly rose to the top of Marvel’s most enjoyable titles. Now if only so many of the issues didn’t have Gerardo Sandoval’s annoying faux-manga art.
Marvel Now! 2.0 status: replaced by U.S. Avengers
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03. The Unbelievable Gwenpool – Christopher Hastings, Gurihiru
Zachary: It’s hard to believe that The Unbelievable Gwenpool started off as a Gwen Stacy-themed variant just a year and a few short months ago. In the time since, the character exploded in popularity. I honestly don’t know how much more I can say, given that I’ve been reviewing the comic ever since it began. It has an intriguing mystery and an assortment of cool characters. What happens when you deconstruct a self-insert fanfiction and show the actual consequences? Fun, deadly violence, and emotional whiplash all wrapped up into a fourth-wall breaking package! I am of the opinion that The Unbelievable Gwenpool can only get more interesting as it goes on. A recent issue implied that her universe was ahead of ours by a few months, as the Doctor Strange film had already been released. What’s going to happen when Gwen’s knowledge of the Marvel universe is no longer accurate? When will M.O.D.O.K. make his inevitable return? How is Christopher Hastings so funny?!
Aranwe: What I thought would just be "Pink Deadpool" turned out to be so, so much more. Gwen Poole (who, despite popular belief, is not yet another Gwen Stacy) is one of the weirdest and most fun protagonists we’ve had in some time, as she hides her uncertainly and lack of skill in the Marvel Universe behind a wall of jokes and meta quips. Even so, whether through luck or genre savviness, she’s finding her place there, and is somehow not dead. Probably because she’s the main character.
Dominik: Let’s be honest, nobody expected a comic based on a variant cover to be any good. Sure, Gurihiru’s art was always going to be high quality (as seen in Gene Luen Yang’s Avatar The Last Airbender comics), but the comics itself? C'mon... The fact that it’s this good, this funny – well, frankly it would be annoying if didn’t bring a smile to my face so often. And a lot of it is thanks to Gwen, who makes for an amazing in-universe stand-in for Marvel comics fans. You know, like Superboy Prime, except not a mean-spirited insult at a company’s own clientele.
Do yourselves a favor – check it out.
Marvel Now! 2.0 status: ongoing
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02. The Vision – Tom King, Gabriel Hernandez Walta
Aranwe: For over half of its run, Vision reads more like an indie comic than something set in the wider Marvel Universe. Everything from the premise to the style to the dialogue to the art is pretty unique among superhero comics. Its almost normal suburban setting multiplies the creepiness factor of the whole series, and slowly the ugly secrets and incidents everyone tries to cover up in Vision’s little artificial utopia begin to spill out and affect the world at large.
King does a phenomenal job of injecting each issue with a ton of suspense, which leaves you hooked on the series, desperate to find out what happens next.
An issue I have with the series would be its tendency to prioritize plot over character. Without delving into spoiler territory, creative liberties regarding one character in particular may understandably irk fans of his.
Zachary: The Vision is one of the creepiest comics that I’ve ever read. Despite my aversion to horror and frightful matters, one glance at the first issue’s warped sitcom cover hooked me. The macabre nature of the comic makes it incredibly addictive. Even though Tom King probably wouldn’t kill off Vision himself, due to the character’s popularity and film appearances, that doesn’t mean that his life can’t be horrifyingly torn apart. It’s such a brilliant comic, but utterly disturbing. I just have to keep reading it so I can find out what happens next. For months now, I’ve wanted it to get a gritty television show, preferably in the vein of the Netflix-Marvel collaborations. It’s the perfect fit.
Dominik: I was already a fan of Tom King’s writing after Grayson (admittedly, co-written with Tim Seeley) and The Omega Men he wrote for DC. Vision pretty much solidified my enjoyment of his work. The tension, the amazing atmosphere, Gabriel Hernandez and Jordie Bellaire’s haunting artwork, the fascinating look into one of Marvel’s least talked about character – all of these come together for an unforgettable experience. It’s a damn shame this is the last comic he’ll write for Marvel in a long time.
Marvel Now! 2.0 status: ends in October
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01. Ms. Marvel – G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, Takeshi Miyazawa
Aranwe: Nothing else was going to be the top pick, at least not for me. Ms. Marvel is a deeply personal comic on so many levels– for starters, it’s the series that actually got me into reading comic books when it was first released over two years ago. Since then, the popularity of Kamala Khan has skyrocketed, with the character appearing in games, cartoon, and even rumors of a cinematic debut. But the series has more than just a likeable lead. Not only does it have a brilliant supporting cast, all of whom get their time to shine at one point or another, but because it tells such incredible stories. Each arc intelligently, but not preachily, incorporates a moral message centered around a very important modern day issue, whether it’s gentrification or racial profiling. Add to that a fun set of powers, snappy dialogue, smartly handled cameos from other heroes, and some fantastic artwork, and you’ve got a series that I would put at the top of any list, any day.
Zachary: G. Willow Wilson’s second run on Kamala Khan’s continuing journey is equally as good as the first one, if not better. Not only does it expand on her pre-Secret Wars adventures and continue to develop her character, it pushes her into more and more complex situations. Having simple black-and-white situations is all well and good, but it’s even more interesting when you can see heroes confront real-life issues. This not only helps to expand Kamala’s personality and worldview but also provides a wealth of representation and catharsis for readers of all kinds. Ms. Marvel expertly infuses every story with a synthesis of humor and tragedy. (Especially tragedy, if you’ve been reading the Civil War II tie-in.) I hope that someday, G. Willow Wilson could be the writer for a live-action MCU movie adaptation.
Dominik: I started reading comics on a monthly basis sometime in 2013, after years of primarily enjoying them in collected form (the effect of living in a country without comic book shops). Thanks to digital releases I was finally able to check out comics faster and more regularly. The very next year the first issue of Ms. Marvel came out and it has been a part of my pull list ever since. I’ve followed Kamala’s growth as both a teenage girl, a Muslim and a superhero for almost as long as I’ve been buying monthly comics. There was no way I’d vote for any other comic as my number 1 and I’m overjoyed it ended up there in the final list. If you’re not reading it yet, what are you even doing with your life? It’s the best Marvel comic! It says so on this list.
Marvel Now! 2.0 status: ongoing
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And that’s our list! Thank you for sticking to the very end.
And what, pray tell, are your favorite All-New, All-Different Marvel comics?
Aranwe Quirke is a totally real, definitely not made up name. No, you may not see the birth certificate.
Dominik Zine is a nerdy lad from northeastern Poland and is generally found in a comfy chair with a book in hand.
Zachary Krishef is an evil genius. Do not question his knowledge of Saturday Night Live trivia or Harry Potter books.
