A MARVEL INSIDER'S READING LIST
Marvel Insider MunVaRay of Texas breaks down his Marvel Favorites, from classic tales like X-MEN: GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS (1982) to the birth of the new Ultimate Universe in ULTIMATE INVASION (2023) #1!
Read MunVaRay's Picks!
Reflection
In Ms. Marvel (2014) #1
As a Pakistani in America, Kamala’s journey of faith, family, and finding her place mirrored mine in uncanny ways. She wasn’t just a hero; she was real. G. Willow Wilson’s writing gave me something I never saw growing up: a story that looked like me, sounded like me, and believed in me.
A Bold Reinvention
In House of X (2019) #1
Krakoa felt like a digital diaspora, mutants making a sanctuary on their own terms, just like we do on Reddit or Tumblr. Jonathan Hickman's bold reinvention of the X-Men hit hard. As someone who's always felt like the odd one out, this was a manifesto of belonging and power. My favorite Marvel era, period.
Rediscovery
In Ultimate Invasion (2023) #1
What happens when you wake up to a world rewritten by someone else? The Maker reshapes the Ultimate Universe and dares the heroes to catch up. Jonathan Hickman asks all the big questions. This story feels like rediscovering life after ADHD, chaotic, uncertain, but also full of potential.
Upping the Stakes
In Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #1
This needed its own space. Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto give us Peter Parker with a family and deeper stakes. Navigating power, responsibility, and fatherhood? That hits different. It's not just a reboot—it’s a reset for readers like me, starting fresh with new tools and deeper insight.
Haunted Mirror
In Immortal Hulk (2018) #1
Al Ewing’s Hulk is all trauma, rage, and buried emotion. This run haunted me—in a good way. It explores the parts of yourself you hide, fear, or don't fully understand. For me, it mirrors the journey of understanding my own mind. Hulk isn’t the monster—he’s the mirror.
The Human Experience
In Vision (2015) #1
Trying to build a perfect life while quietly falling apart inside? Been there. Vision’s story of a synthetic family and emotional unraveling is beautifully human. It captures that constant tug between wanting to belong and knowing you’re different—and the cost of pretending otherwise.
Cosmic Journey
In Silver Surfer: Black (2019) #1
A visually stunning, emotionally deep cosmic journey. The Surfer is pulled through time and forced to confront who he is without Galactus or purpose. That feeling of floating in the dark, trying to reshape your identity? I know that well. This book was like art therapy for the soul.
A Stark Reminder
In X-MEN: GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS (Hardcover)
This one cuts close. Mutants targeted for simply existing—told through the lens of fear, faith, and survival. GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS isn’t just a landmark story—it’s a raw, emotional reminder of what it means to be hated, misunderstood, and still stand tall.