Looking for help for my girlfriend

[chrisnjen]

Hey all,

my fiancee has recently started reading comics with me, which is amazing. I think i finally wore her down after all this time. Shes really enjoyed Scott Pilgrim, New Avengers, Spider-Man, and...thats it.

I cant seem to find anything to give her that she'd like beyond those. She seems to be into light-hearted team stuff. She's also expressed an interest in the mystical Marvel characters like Thor and Doctor Strange.

I tried giving her NorthWorld vol1, which she didnt like, saying "it didnt go anywhere."

So i guess im looking for something indy or from Marvel thats jokey, self-contained, and available in bite-sized chunks.

I was thinking X-Men First Class....would that be good?

Thanks!

[comicbookchris]

Hey all,

my fiancee has recently started reading comics with me, which is amazing. I think i finally wore her down after all this time. Shes really enjoyed Scott Pilgrim, New Avengers, Spider-Man, and...thats it.

I cant seem to find anything to give her that she'd like beyond those. She seems to be into light-hearted team stuff. She's also expressed an interest in the mystical Marvel characters like Thor and Doctor Strange.

I tried giving her NorthWorld vol1, which she didnt like, saying "it didnt go anywhere."

So i guess im looking for something indy or from Marvel thats jokey, self-contained, and available in bite-sized chunks.

I was thinking X-Men First Class....would that be good?

Thanks!

Well if she's into Dr. Strange, definitely find the mini-series Dr. Strange: The Oath. It's really the best take on the character I've seen lately.

Nextwave: Agents Of H.A.T.E. is a really good jokey title from Marvel, and is pretty short as well, being as its only 12 issues, or 2 trade paperbacks.

It also seems she like snarky superheroes like New Avengers and Spider-Man, so she might like Invincible, so give that a shot with her.

[the-mangaman]

Y: the last man.

One of Two things will probably happen:

1. she'll be hooked, openly.
2. she'll tell you she doesn't like it (due to the controversy) BUT find a way to get her hands on more trades without you knowing XD.

*disclaimer: these are generalizations and they in no way represent what will happen. Use advice with precaution.

[chlop]

"light-hearted team stuff" Runaways? the first run (1-18 I think).

[neb]

Two words: Young Avengers. Seriously one of the best team books ever written. The whole series is collected in a beautiful hardcover that you two will fight over. So good.

Might I also recommend Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon? It's not super light hearted, but the team dynamics, action, and characters really make this a special read.

X-Men First Class is a good read as well. Definitely has a lighthearted feel to it.

I like the above recommendations of NextWave: Agents of H.A.T.E., Dr. Strange: The Oath, and Y: The Last Man.

Not to generalize, but I know that there are a lot of females out there that love Fables, so you may give that a shot.

Lastly, if you're looking for more mysticism, you could always get her the Madame Xanadu trade that just came out from Vertigo. It's a really good mystical series and has a female lead.

There...that should about break your wallet. :)

[nilcam]

X-Men First Class is perfect, it seems. I second the recommendation of Runaways volume 1 (1-18.) Also, if she liked Amazing Spider-Man, definitely get Ultimate Spider-Man for her. That book is great. Spider-Man: Blue is my favorite Loeb/Sale take on a Marvel character.

[drakedangerz]

Runaways (BKV's run) and X-Men: First Class are great recommendations.

Top Ten has really good, and funny, team moments. Its about the police in a city full of superheroes and the trouble they have to deal with. She won't catch all the hidden gems in there, but that's OK. I think the story itself is great fun. Also, the Smax mini that is a spin-off. It follows Smax and his partner as they travel back to his homeworld, which is like a fairy tale world full of magic, gnomes and quest. It's good stuff.

My wife loves the Anita Blake novels, so she enjoys it when I get her the comic adaptations. So maybe those, the IDW Doctor Who books, or the many other comic adaptations that Marvel has done over the last few years.

-Pride of Baghdad
-We3
-Proof
-Chew

Hope that helps!

[idleivey]

I'd go for Bone, my girlfriend really liked it and shes not a comic book reader at all. You can pick up the complete edition on amazon for like 12 bucks used too so that's nice.

[jmstump]

If she likes team books I recommend Birds of Prey and Secret Six. Both are fun and there is a lot of Bids of Prey in trades. The Secret Six trade should be out really soon.

[oh_caroline]

X-Men First Class, definitely. Wolverine First Class is equally fun.

Are you just looking at Marvel? Because Young Justice (if you have it or can find it) or Johns' run on Teen Titans might fit the bill. Dan Slott's run on 'She-Hulk,' and the current 'Incredible Hercules' series might fit the lighthearted/team book feel. Also, a lot of my female friends who read comics like 'Cable & Deadpool' but I'm not claiming we're normal ;)

[chrisnjen]

cool. thanks everyone.

we already have worked our way through Ultimate Spider-Man and the Young Avengers. I'll see what I can pick up for her out of your recommendations over the next few weeks. I was looking to not go into DC, as shes really only familiar with Marvel, and that universe, but I'll see if any Vertigo strikes her fancy.

Thanks again.

[jmstump]

cool. thanks everyone.

we already have worked our way through Ultimate Spider-Man and the Young Avengers. I'll see what I can pick up for her out of your recommendations over the next few weeks. I was looking to not go into DC, as shes really only familiar with Marvel, and that universe, but I'll see if any Vertigo strikes her fancy.

Thanks again.

Clearly a reason to pop the DC cherry and dive in. I highly recommend checking some of the DC Books recommended. You're overlooking some really good stories there by avoiding DC.

[winthewonderboy]

I would highly recommend My Faith in Frankie

[jrhall83]

If your gonna head into the indy realm, you might wanna check out Fables. It's kinda "mystical" and I know A LOT of women who read it.

[mharrison]

Consider taking her to a convention. I took my wife to one this weekend and while she liked comics before, she's really getting into it now after getting exposed to a variety of comics at the convention. DC gave out a ton of free comics at their booth, good for sampling a wide variety of stuff.

[sunnyvaletrash]

As far as snarkiness... Scud?

[lantern4life]

My suggestion would be Marvel's Wonderful Wizard of OZ, Fables, and Batgirl or Detective Comics.

[titchard]

I don't know if it has been mentioned but my girlfriend enjoyed the trade Lost at Sea, and is now looking at the Scott Pilgrim stuff - maybe that stuff?

Rich

[bonemachine]

Dan Slott's The Thing mini-series is very good. Also he did an Arkham Asylum mini-series that my mate recommended highly. And his Great Lake Avengers! Basically Slott's very good at writing witty, irreverant, funny stories

Ennis' Marvel Knights Punisher is great too

[racemccloud]

Dammit! I was reading down the thread, and was just about to recommend "Young Justice" as light-hearted team stuff... although it is tough to find. Caroline beat me to it.

But, yeah... USM, Young Justice, Dan Slott's "She-Hulk", or his "Thing", or his "Spider Man and the Human Torch" mini... those are all good.

"Runaways" and "Young Avengers", suggested above, are all great.

But "lighthearted team stuff"... definitely you want to check out "Young Justice" which, BTW, was about a billion times better than any incarnation of "Teen Titans" that has followed it. Just sayin'.

Also, "Invincible" is fantastic... and semi-light hearted (with some serious "OH CRAP!" moments).

Also, Peter David's "X-Factor" from the 90's. (Better than the still very-good current run.)

*ahem*youngjustice*ahem*

[uncommoner]

I know that you want to stay with Marvel, with Runaways being a great title, however, there is so much out there that she might enjoy from other publishers...saying that, I would like to suggest Fables, Bone, and Strangers in Paradise. The new team on Fantastic Four is a good starting point for monthly comics, if that is a desire at all.

[sodapop-ninja]

Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane

[bigbeard1984]

Get Nextwave Agents of H.A.T.E its fun and light. My GF liked it too!

[jackierulesall]

Ooh I love this thread. Let me just say that as a chick, I love the whole Civil War series because it goes a little deeper into the more pop culture comic stuff (the movie ones... Iron Man and Hulk and stuff) so it's not so far off that we don't know what's going on. Plus, it opens up to other books... like for me it was Punisher's War Journals. It totally exaggerates the motherly protective instincts we have, and that's always fun. So maybe she'd like that =)

[sugarsickness]

I'd go for Bone, my girlfriend really liked it and shes not a comic book reader at all. You can pick up the complete edition on amazon for like 12 bucks used too so that's nice.

I second BONE. Though, the color trades are less intimidating than the giant paperback of the whole thing.

[racemccloud]

I second BONE. Though, the color trades are less intimidating than the giant paperback of the whole thing.

Nah, if you're going to read "Bone", read the giant one-volume B&W edition. That's the only way to fly.

[ladytartan]

Empowered is pretty awesome. It's self-contained, the trades are easy to tear through quickly and it's hilarious.

[roachmill]

I have to say that Concrete is awesome. And still a going concern as far as I can tell although new stories have been few & far between. Been loving it for 20+ years and still do. It was the book that broke my wife's geek cherry and she loves it still.