A Beginner’s Guide to Marvel Unlimited

Marvel Unlimited is a digital comics subscription service offering on-the-go access to 28,000 comics—new and old—in the Marvel Comics’ catalog. And the digital library of comics available through the desktop and mobile application continues to grow.

Marvel Unlimited is available on iPhone®, iPad®, and select Android™ devices, as well as desktops. And Marvel Unlimited offers access to its collection of comics for a monthly fee of $9.99, or an annual fee of $69 (or $99 for the new Marvel Unlimited Annual Plus Membership).

In a recent change, Marvel Unlimited is adding the more current series as early as three months after being released for purchase in local comic book shops. And Marvel Unlimited adds older series from Marvel Comics 81 years of history every week.

Marvel Unlimited is like having the Marvel Universe in your pocket—a guided, personalized comics hub that is ideal for new readers and seasoned fans alike.

How to Read 28,000 Marvel Unlimited Comics

I used to work at a Comic Book Store. So, I am guessing that 28,000 comic books and graphic novels sound overwhelming to new readers. Marvel Unlimited has a solution for that, and it is the Reading List section featured on both the website and app.

The Marvel Unlimited Reading List section is divided into several categories to help readers, including: “Characters,” “Creators,” “Events,” “Hidden Gems,” and “Series.” The section helps readers navigate the app once they find a reading list that interests them. Readers can easily pin lists for later to the app homepage or add individual issues to the library queue. By doing this, they can build a Marvel Unlimited digital long box.

Remember, there is no wrong place to start reading comics. It all depends on your interests. But, here are some suggestions based on the types of stories you enjoy:

New to Marvel Unlimited Comics

Marvel Unlimited editors suggest that new readers interested in the multi-verse start here. However, if you ask me, the list is still daunting to beginning readers, so here are my suggestions of a few series to get you started:

1. House of X

2. Ms. Marvel

3. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur

Creators: Brandon Montclare (writer) and Natacha Bustos (artist)

4. Jessica Jones: Alias

Creators: Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Michael Gaydos (artist), Matt Hollingsworth (colorist), Richard Starkings (letterer), Comicraft’s Wes Abbott and Oscar Gongora (letterers), and David Mack (cover artist)

5. Runaways (2003)

Creators: Brian K. Vaughan (writer), Adrian Alphona (penciller), David Newbold (inker), Brian Reber (colorist), and Paul Tutrone (letterer)

6. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl

Creators: Ryan North (writer), Erica Henderson (artist), Rico Renzi (color artist), and VC’s Clayton Cowles (letterer)

7. Miles Morales: Spider-Man

Creators: Saladin Ahmed (writer), Javier Garron (inker), David Curiel (colorist), and VC’s Cory Petit (letterer)

Marvel’s Star Wars Collection

Marvel Unlimited has over 1,000 issues of Star Wars comics collected. Marvel suggests that you enter a galaxy far, far away here. In the Star Wars universe, the comics are places where fans can see themselves in these stories and find some representation. With that in mind, here are some of my favorite Star Wars titles on Marvel Unlimited:

1. Star Wars (2015)

Creators: Jason Aaron (writer), John Cassaday (artist), Laura Martin (colorist), and Chris Eliopoulos (letterer)

2. Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2017)

Creators: Kieron Gillen (writer), Salvador Larroca (artist), Edgar Delgado (colorist), and VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer)

3. Kanan: The Last Padawan

Creators: Greg Weisman (writer), Pepe Larraz (artist), Jacopo Camagni (artist), David Curiel (colorist), and VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer)

4. Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Captain Phasma

Creators: Kelly Thompson (writer), Marco Checchetto (artist), Andres Mossa (colorist), and VC’s Clayton Cowles (letterer)

5. Star Wars: Thrawn (2018)

Creators: Jody Houser (writer), Nolan Woodard (colorist), Luke Ross (inker), and VC’s Clayton Cowles (letterer)

6. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Creators: Ethan Sacks (writer), Will Sliney (artist), Dono Sánchez-Almara (color artist), Protobunker (color artist), and VC’s Travis Lanham (letterer)

Recommendations from Marvel Unlimited Creators

In the “Creators” category, Marvel Unlimited comics fans can enter worlds imagined by Marvel’s top creative talent, including Rainbow Rowell, Natacha Bustos, Dan Slott, Amy Reeder, Christopher Hastings, Chip Zdarsky, Dwayne McDuffie, David F. Walker, Sina Grace, Kelly Sue DeConnick, and more.

The section features reading recommendations from these writers and artists under “Creator Spotlights.” For example, you can find the personal pull lists of the X-23 writer Mariko Tamaki and the Hawkeye writer Kelly Thompson. Tamaki even recommends a comic run that has an amazing cast of wolverines, including Jonathan. So, get ready to snikt your claws with some razor-sharp reading recommendations from Marvels top creators on Marvel Unlimited:

1. All-New Wolverine

Creators: Tom Taylor (writer), Marcio Takara (art), Mat Lopes (color art), and VC’s Cory Petit (letters)

2. Hawkeye

Creators: Matt Fraction (writer), David Aja (artist), Javier Pulido (artist), Matt Hollingsworth (color artist), and Chris Eliopoulos (letterer)

3. Young Avengers

Creators: Kieron Gillen (writer), Becky Cloonan (artist), Ming Doyle (artist), Joe Quinones (artist), and Jamie Mckelvie (artist)

Hidden Gems: A Guide to Marvel Unlimited Editors’ Selections

The “Hidden Gems” list on Marvel Unlimited features some great suggestions selected by Marvel editors. However, to help you sort through their many suggestions, my favorite comics on the list are:

1. Marvel 1602

Creators: Neil Gaiman (writer), Andy Cubert (artist), Scott McKowen (cover artist), Richard Isanove (digital painter), and Todd Klein (letterer)

2. Jack Kirby’s Eternals

3. Moon Knight (2016)

Creators: Jeff Lemire (writer), Greg Smallwood (artist), Jordie Bellaire (color artist), and VC’s Cory Petit (letterer)

4. She-Hulk

Creators: Dan Slott (writer), Juan Bobillo (artist), Paul Pelletier (artist), and Scott Kolins (artist)

5. Vision

Creators: Tom King (writer), Gabriel Hernandez Walta (artist), Jordie BellaireColor (artist), Mike Del Mundo (cover artist), and VC’s Clayton Cowles (letterer)

6. Werewolf by Night (1972)

Creators: Gerry Conway (writer), Mike Ploog (artist), Marie Javins (colorist), Hi-Fi Design (colorist), Janice Chiang (letterer), and John Costanza (letterer)

Follow Marvel Comics Events

Do you remember the event revealing Captain America’s was secretly saying “Hail Hydra” all along? No? How about the Planet Hulk event that inspired Thor: Ragnorak? No?

Then, you can go to the “Events” category to stay on top of the Marvel comics canon’s most recently completed events. Marvel even has the events collected in reading order—although fans do not always agree on suggested reading orders.

Here are some Marvel Comics events to get you started:

1. Civil War

Creators: Mark Miller (writer), Steve McNiven (penciller), Morry Hollowell (colorist), and VC’s Chris Eliopoulos (letterer)

2. Road to Empyre

Creators: Robbie Thompson(writer), Javier Rodriguez (penciler), Alvaro Lopez (inker), Mattia De Iulis (colorist), and VC’s Joe Caramagna (letterer)

3. Planet Hulk

Creators: Greg Pak (writer), Carlo Pagulayan (penciller), Jeffrey Huet (inker), Jason Keith (colorist), and VC’s Randy Gentile (letterer)

4. Secret Empire

Creators: Nick Spencer (writer), Steve McNiven (penciller), Matthew Wilson (colorist), and VC’s Travis Lanham (letterer)

Looking for more recommendations on Marvel Unlimited from MarvelBlog. Stay tuned!

Thanks for visiting MarvelBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Platinum level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!