#ComicBytes: Marvel graphic novels that every fan should read
Unlike comic issues, which are often published in a serialized form over a period of time, a graphic novel has a beginning, middle, and end. Both of these use illustration as a medium but are otherwise vastly different. Over the years, Marvel has created several such novels that are highly popular among dedicated fans. Here are the best of these publications.
Previously published in issues, Amazing Spider-Man #121-#122 and later combined in a novel, The Night Gwen Stacy Died is a tragic story. As the name suggests, this story arc focuses on the death of Peter's girlfriend Gwen Stacy, after he fails to save her from a fatal fall caused by Green Goblin. This story was the basis for the film The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
Daredevil: Born Again, which was chronicled in Daredevil #227-231 before becoming a novel, is like a full-on action movie portrayed through graphics. When supervillain Kingpin finds out Daredevil's actual identity, he proceeds to make lawyer-turned-superhero Matt Murdock's life a literal hell. Filled with romance, religion, action, and Captain America himself, this story tears Daredevil down to nothing and lets him emerge stronger than ever.
The gold standard of mutant stories in Marvel is The Dark Phoenix Saga. Here, Jean Grey gains immensely destructive powers when she accidentally becomes the vessel for the Phoenix Force. This not only jeopardizes her ties with X-Men but also puts the whole universe in danger. This is the ultimate turning point in Jean's life as she becomes the Dark Phoenix.
Mutants are the representation of the real world's marginalized communities. And X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills is a brilliant metaphorical commentary on this issue. Here, William Stryker, a bigoted reverend, uses his charm to incite hatred for mutants among his followers and asks them to take humanity into their own hands. This leads to a conflict that brings X-Men and Magneto together.
Every fan should read Marvels at least once in their life. This four-issue series shows the initial years of the Marvel Universe via the lens of Phil Sheldon, a photojournalist. These events are the first emergence of Namor and the original Human Torch, the debut of Captain America, Fantastic Four vs Galactus, the X-Men vs Sentinels, and the beginning of Spider-Man.
