Best Comics of 2020 (So Far): Marvel Comics
By Zack Quaintance — Now that we’re roughly a quarter of the way into 2020, we thought it’d be fun to start taking a look at the best comics of 2020 so far, starting with far and away the most prolific comics publisher — Marvel Comics. To that end, below you will find a list of the best comics of 2020 from Marvel so far, with extra attention given to whether a series is easy for new or lapsed readers to hop onto, pick-up, or just generally understand.
So yeah, Marvel list is below, and we’ll be rolling out similar best comics of 2020 (so far) lists for DC Comics, Image Comics, and a number of other publishers in the weeks and months to come...enjoy!
Best Comics of 2020 (So Far) Marvel
This is a section for readers who want to get involved with Marvel’s current crop of monthly comic books, and as such, it only includes titles that are coming out monthly right here, right now. Some (as we’ll note below) may require some trade reading to catch-up on, but these are the best of the best, so it’s worth it.
1. X-Men
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Main Series Artist: Leinil Francis Yu (primarily)
Most Recent Issue (as of publication): X-Men #8
Next Issue: X-Men #9 is due out March 25, 2020
Why Is This So Good: The hottest thing at Marvel Comics in 2020 (so far) is the X-Men line. You can make a case (and we will) for Immortal Hulk being a better comic, but nothing is doling out the fully immersive, high-concept mosaic of stories that make superhero periodicals so unique, like X-Men. Within the X-Men line, however, it can be tough to know what to read. So let’s get to it.
X-Men is the flagship title for a linewide X-Men reinvention project undertaken by mad superhero comics mastermind Jonathan Hickman and a wide range of very talented collaborators. There is an overarching new world for the X-Titles to now play in, but the guide through the most important matters of that world is the X-Men main title, which mostly features stand-alone episodes, making it more accessible than basically any other title on this list.
Relevant Trades: No matter what you do, you’ll need to read House of X / Powers of X HC to gain a base understanding of the new X-Men status quo. Past that, you have two options. You can read just the collected issues of the X-Men flagship title when that collection hits in April, or you can read trades that collect the entire line, issue by issue, with Dawn of X 1, Dawn of X 2, and Dawn of X 3.
Special Note: While the X-Men flagship title is the only true must read and the main event here, basically all of the auxiliary titles have been strong too (with one exception). The solo titles for Wolverine and Cable both exceeded my expectations. Past that, Marauders is a really well done mutants-at-sea (hear me out!) comic that tackles the geopolitical economic implications of the new status quo, while X-Force is very good too and does the same for national security. X-Men/Fantastic Four has the best small story of the bunch (it’s about family strife because young Franklin Richards is a mutant), while the other must-read title here, to my mind, is Giant-Sized X-Men, which is an artist showcase miniseries that sees lead X-Men writer Jonathan Hickman collaborating with some of the publisher’s best superhero artists.
2. Immortal Hulk
Writer: Al Ewing
Main Series Artist: Joe Bennett
Most Recent Issue: Immortal Hulk #32
Next Issue: Immortal Hulk #33 is due out March 25
Why Is This So Good: While X-Men might be the buzziest franchise at Marvel in 2020, the best individual book is Immortal Hulk. First launched back in June 2018, this is a rare superhero comic that has gotten better and better and better as it has gone. It has a consistent creative team, and it has reached fluidly throughout the Hulk’s long history (all of these characters have long histories now) to find new opportunities to tell haunting stories. Somewhere between an action romp and a horror fest, Immortal Hulk is Marvel’s best individual book in 2020.
Relevant Trades: Immortal Hulk Vols. 1 - 6, are all available now, and they will get you right up to Immortal Hulk #30
3. Avengers
Writer: Jason Aaron
Main Series Artist: Ed McGuinness
Most Recent Issue: Avengers #32
Next Issue: Avengers #33 is due out
Why Is This So Good: Marvel relaunched its flagship team superhero title back in May of 2018, bringing back a lineup that should be familiar to those who mostly just know the Marvel movies (plus also She-Hulk and Ghost Rider). The book got off to a rocky start with a first arc that felt a little bloated and prolonged, but once it found its groove, it’s been stellar ever since. There’s so much going on in this comic, so many good ideas that really play to the inherent absurdities of large-scale superheroics. It’s a great monthly read, and the third best comic at Marvel right now.
Relevant Trades: Avengers by Jason Aaron Vols. 1 - 5 will take you up through Avengers #25, with Avengers Vol. 6 due May 6.
4. Daredevil
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Main Series Artist: Marco Checchetto
Most Recent Issue: Daredevil #19
Next Issue: Daredevil #20 is due out April 1
Why Is This So Good: Daredevil is almost always good, so well-built is this character and mythos that roughly a half-dozen writers have done career-best work on the character, including Frank Miller, Ann Nocenti, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Mark Waid/Chris Samnee, and most recently Charles Soule. The current Chip Zdarsky/Marco Checchetto run is no exception, ranking as one of the best monthly comics at Marvel right now.
Relevant Trades: Daredevil by Chip Zdarsky Vols. 1 - 2 will take you up through Daredevil #10, with Daredevil Vol. 3 due out in April.
5. Doctor Doom
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Main Series Artist: Salvador Larocca
Most Recent Issue: Doctor Doom #6
Next Issue: Doctor Doom #7 is due out April 1
Why Is This So Good: Christopher Cantwell is such a powerful writer that he’s bringing out the best of Salvador Larocca on this book, which is a tale about Doom confronting a prophecy that under the right circumstances he could save the entire world...but at the same time he’s also being framed for a heinous act of terrorism. This entire series has been fantastic. For a taste of what you’re in for, consider that Doctor Doom #6 earlier this month was like the film Paris, Texas...just with Doom and Kang the Conqueror walking and chatting their way through a desert together. Look, I know how it all sounds but this comic is excellent.
Relevant Trades: Doctor Doom Vol. 1 is due March 25, collecting #1 - #5
6. Ant-Man
Writer: Zeb Wells
Main Series Artist: Dylan Burnett
Most Recent Issue: Ant-Man #3
Next Issue: Ant-Man #4 is due out April 1
Why Is This So Good: Look, this series is hilarious...and I don’t even generally like superhero comics that try to be funny. If you don’t believe check out my review of Ant-Man #1 for a longer and (hopefully) more thoughtful argument, and then when you’re done with that check out this weekly feature about some of the funniest panels in Ant-Man #2. If that’s still not enough, let me also advise you that in Ant-Man #3, there’s a scene where Ant-Man refers to Spider-Man as “Captain Dad Joke.” In other words, this book is a blast, and it’s the best light read at Marvel right now.
Relevant Trades: None yet
7. Marvel’s Teen Superhero Comics
The Magnificent Ms. Marvel
Writer: Saladin Ahmed
Main Series Artist: Minkyu Jung
Most Recent Issue: The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #13
Next Issue: The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #14 is due out April 1
Relevant Trades: Ms. Marvel by Saladin Ahmed Vols. 1 - 2, with 2 due out April 1, collects up through The Magnificent Ms. Marvel #12
Miles Morales: Spider-Man
Writer: Saladin Ahmed
Main Series Artist: Javi Garron
Most Recent Issue: Miles Morales Spider-Man #16
Next Issue: Miles Morales Spider-Man #17 is due out April 1
Relevant Trades: Miles Morales Spider-Man Vols. 1 - 2, collects up through #10
Why These Are So Good: By having the excellent writer Saladin Ahmed take on Marvel’s two most prominent teen heroes, the publisher has fostered a sort of continuity among its teen line, and it’s working very well. At the same time, writer Eve L. Ewing is coming on to take over the main teen hero team book, Champions, next month with artist Simone Di Meo, and that book features both Miles and Kamala. Ewing did great work on the RiRi Williams Ironheart series that wrapped up last year, giving Marvel’s line of teen titles a very bright future indeed.
8. Thor
Writer: Donny Cates
Main Series Artist: Nic Klein
Most Recent Issue: Thor #4
Next Issue: Thor #5 is due out April 8
Relevant Trades: None yet
Why Is This So Good: I’ve had a bit of a hangover since Jason Aaron concluded his EPIC run with Thor, but this new one by writer Donny Cates and artist Nic Klein has been pretty bombastic (much like Cates work with Thanos that helped him break-out as a star at Marvel). It also gets extra points on our list here today because you can easily pick-up all four issues to date and get caught up with this one quick. Oh, and expect lots of Galactus! If you find yourself like this book, Cates’ run on Venom may be to your liking as well, though I’m not as enamored with that as am with Cates Marvel cosmic stories.
Honorable Mentions: Amazing Spider-Man (when not bogged down with crossovers), Black Panther, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Conan the Barbarian, Guardians of the Galaxy, Runaways, Valkyrie: Jane Foster, Venom.
Best Marvel Trade Collections for 2020
This next section is dedicated to recent trade collections newly available in 2020 that more casual Marvel comics readers can pick-up (or buy digitally online) and enjoy today. I highly recommend this entire list, all of which can just be picked up and enthusiastically dove into with little knowledge of anything else going on. There is, it should be noted, some overlap with the trade recommendations noted above, as is to be expected.
Black Bolt HC
More Information
History of the Marvel Universe - Treasury Edition
More Information
House of X / Powers of X HC
More Information
Immortal Hulk Vol. 1 HC
More Information
Invaders Vol. 1 & Vol. 2
More Information Vol. 1
More Information Vol. 2
Ironheart Vol. 1 & Vol. 2
More Information Vol. 1
More Information Vol. 2
Punisher Kill Krew
More Information
Finally, a note about the future...as I pointed out in the intro, we’ll be doing this for a number of other publishers in the months and weeks to come. At the same time, I wanted to let site readers know that we’ll be updating this page (likely with a new post) on a quarterly basis throughout the year, leading up to our (very very) low-key famous best of the year lists in late December and early January. See you back here soon!
Check out other Best Comics of 2020 (So Far) Lists Now:
Don’t forget to check out our weekly new comics reviews as well!
Zack Quaintance is a tech reporter by day and freelance writer by night/weekend. He Tweets compulsively about storytelling and comics as Comics Bookcase.