I wouldn't suggest it now but once you've gotten a handle of the majority of 616 Marvel Universe characters, you should check out the Ultimate Universe. Must discuss this more with you.

@theacidskull: If that was part of the Marvel 700 thing I probably have the first issue to read. I think I'd planned to right around the time I swore off Marvel, and when I decided to keep reading some Marvel stuff I just never got around to those first issues again.

@theacidskull: Well, I've heard it's good, for sure. Honestly (don't get angry! I wouldn't like you when...) I've never really been interested in the Hulk. I know he's not just about smashing things but his abilities are still pretty tied into brute strength, and I've never been big on tank-like characters in any medium. Probably also explains why most of my favorites are female.

@theacidskull: Yeah, I know that's not all of who he is. Truth be told while I don't care much for the Hulk, I actually would read a book that was mostly about Bruce Banner. I think that's why I like Batman so much more than I am interested in Superman: not because he's better per se, but because I'm more into intellectual/mystery/brooding kind of things than action. The appeal of a Hulk story for me wouldn't be the action or adventure, but the Jekyll/Hyde dynamic.

@theacidskull: Well then perhaps I will enjoy it and desire to keep reading :P

Awesome list! If I could recommend anything, it would most definitely be Scarlet Spider, Hawkeye, God of Thunder and JLA. Fantastic books so far and all very brilliantly written. Although, I'll make one addition that it always underrated and a personal favourite of mine. Ultimate Spider-Man by Bendis. It is by far my favourite Spider-man book and one of the most interesting and unique books out there. The art is consistently gorgeous and the book is rather unpredictable, which makes it all the more enjoyable.

@theacidskull: Oh, don't worry. I remember someone asking for the best Marvel Now titles a while ago and I actually kept a tally for about a week of responses. Indestructible was one of the top ones.

Alrighty.

Scarlet Spidey is on my will-read list. Not only do I love Yost for creating my favorite character (X-23), but every time I read a story with his name on it, I enjoy it. Heck, I loathe the concept of Superior Spider-Man, but I couldn't help but enjoy the Avenging SM I read. I've just been waiting for trades for Scarlet to catch up with.

TGoT I read the first issue of and appreciated. Truth be told I'm not huge on Thor, though I definitely understand why people like that book. As I've said to a few others (even the rabid fanboys), I just am not hugely intrigued by Thor. I would rather read stuff about Loki or Sif, so JiM or YA are probably higher on my list.

JLA I was excited for until I heard there was going to be a death. Then seeing that death really pissed me off. Now I'll still be reading some issues because I want to follow Trinity War, but depending on what is actually happening there with Catwoman or Stargirl or whoever they decided to actually off so gratuitously, I may pick the book back up.

Now seems like an odd time to pick up USM, considering (I thought) Miles just hung up the uniform? Also I've been thinking about picking up whichever Ultimate book has just introduced Cloak & Dagger. If that's USM then I will try it; if not, then maybe it was UXM? I don't follow the Ultimate verse so I'm not sure.

X-23 huh? Trying to jump into the good graces of Acid and lykopis are we? ;)

Scarlet Spider is beyond brilliant and easily my favourite 616 Spider book. Avenging is also a good book and to most, it's more appreciated than Superior Spider-Man, which I enjoy as well. When the trades are available, I recommend picking up both Avenging(Pre-Superior) and Scarlet!

TGoT I read the first issue of and appreciated. Truth be told I'm not huge on Thor, though I definitely understand why people like that book. As I've said to a few others (even the rabid fanboys), I just am not hugely intrigued by Thor. I would rather read stuff about Loki or Sif, so JiM or YA are probably higher on my list.

See now, I was in the same boat as you. Before JMS in fact, Thor has never intrigued me in the slightest. I never bothered with Fraction's Thor as I couldn't stand his writing with the character during Fear Itself.

I do highly recommend God of Thunder though, the art is top notch and some of the most unique stuff on the market and actually one of the more consistant creative times in NOW! It'd be easier to catch up on and it only continues to get better!

JLA I was excited for until I heard there was going to be a death. Then seeing that death really pissed me off. Now I'll still be reading some issues because I want to follow Trinity War, but depending on what is actually happening there with Catwoman or Stargirl or whoever they decided to actually off so gratuitously, I may pick the book back up.

Meh, the death (which I won't spoil) isn't really even a death IMO. I'd go into more detail discussing why it's not really a death and actually a plot to draw in that huge throw down between the JL and JLA but as I said, spoilers ;) It's a good book though, interesting take on the characters and the back up on Martian Manhunter is the highlight of the book.

Now seems like an odd time to pick up USM, considering (I thought) Miles just hung up the uniform? Also I've been thinking about picking up whichever Ultimate book has just introduced Cloak & Dagger. If that's USM then I will try it; if not, then maybe it was UXM? I don't follow the Ultimate verse so I'm not sure.

I won't lie, it would be hard to catch up on the series as it's on the 23rd issue and continuing. If it already hasn't been evident, I am a MASSIVE Spider-Man fan and I don't know how much weight this will hold but I personally believe that Miles is a fantastic and unique character. I cannot stress how much I enjoy this book and the characters.

@deranged_midget: Heh. I'm gonna avoid the massive quote spree and just use bullets:

1. I get the sense that I've been in their graces for a while :P But she was the character that got me hooked on comics. She's also the reason I'm on CV, because I was so upset (livid, honestly) when I found out the character I cared most for in all of comics was being put into Arena, I needed to express how upset I was in a more public forum than a personal blog no one reads. As for Yost, I think it's safe to say he's my favorite writer in comics right now. But I understand that he has some really bad stuff in his history when it comes to killing off kids, so maybe my opinion of him will change once I've gone back and read New X-Men and such.
2. I definitely liked the first issue and in that same survey I mentioned to TAS where Indestructible was highly praised, God of Thunder was just as popular. Those two were pretty much at the top.
3. The thing is, even if it wasn't a death, it was really quite tasteless in my opinion (I started a thread on that, you probably saw...I don't remember, maybe you even posted in it). Even if it turns out to have been, for example, MM or a shapeshifter who didn't even die for real, it was still a really nasty and exploitative spread. I'd like to believe Johns is better than that, but the way DC has been as of late I won't give anyone the benefit of the doubt until they earn it. And if it was a death, I think it's safe to say it wasn't Catwoman, but that just makes it a great disservice to whoever's death it was. *shrug*
4. I probably wouldn't try to catch up with it if I started. Like I said, I understand after the fallout of the Venom stuff and with his mom, the book is going in a new direction, so I'd probably be starting around the current issue, give or take one or two.

@akbogert: I don't think I remember seeing that thread although I probably did post about it somewhere. The reason why I don't really have a problem with the "murder of Catwoman" is that JLA is intentionally meant to be a darker book in general so it should be assumed that we'll be seeing stuff like that, even if it is limited or intentional to the plot.

As I mentioned, I highly doubt it's Catwoman and simply a reason to cause the JL to descend upon the Secret Society and fight the JLA. I would assume it's somehow going to tie into Trinity War.

As for Ultimate Spider-Man, you could start out with the most recent issue as it kind of "begins" again after the fallout and what-not. Although, if you become interested in the character and the story, starting from the beginning makes it all the more interesting!

@deranged_midget: Understood about Spidey.

I think I actually called it the "obligatory Catwoman/JLA 4 rant thread" or something.

Dark is one thing, but killing one of the company's most established characters gratuitously and without her getting a word in edge-wise is just disgusting. It's even more disgusting when considered as a mere publicity stunt with no actual consequences -- but I'm not going to complain when she's actually live, since she's awesome.

Dark? Okay. But this was just exploitation, tasteless, and honestly a bit hackneyed.

The day that issue came out I actually changed my status to say that I'd been excited about Trinity War but if this was how they were going to kick it off, my excitement had been greatly diminished. I really hope they twist this in a way which actually feels cool.

@akbogert: I agree wholeheartedly with you mate! But in this case, my judgement is held off because I have a strong feeling that it is indeed not Selina herself. If it were confirmed that it was in fact Selina and not some replacement or J'onn standing in, I would definitely be more bothered as that's one brutal way to off a character but I couldn't see DC ever pulling that on any of their heroes.

@deranged_midget: Oh, nor could I. Like I said, I'd still be bothered if someone else died and they didn't even get the dignity of dying in-character. I'll still be upset if it's just J'Onn and no one died, because like I said I think it was a really ugly moment for DC to go down the voyeuristic shock for headlines route, but obviously that's vastly superior to an actual death.

@akbogert: Brilliantly put!

@deranged_midget: Heh. Thanks.

And now we play the waiting game.

@akbogert: Indubitably! Let me know your thoughts once the next issue hits!

@deranged_midget: I believe Trinity War will likely have officially begun by then, yes? My thoughts will likely appear there. Also I'll review this issue along with anything else in my Weekly Pull, I'd suspect.

@akbogert: I believe so yes! Then I'll keep a heads up for your reviews then! I'm sure they'll be brilliant!