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Hello! Welcome to my humble little website where I post reviews to comics that I think had a very profound impact on my life.

I like to think I'm a very casual fan of comics. I'm always reading them.

Thing is, I'm not gonna be able to tell you the weakness of a one off character in some Spider-man comic, but! I could at least tell you
Spider-Man had to team up with one of his greatest foes, Venom, and a little help from
The Fantastic 4 to put down the infamous Carnage. In short my knowledge is pretty average when it comes to comics.

I do however have an undying love for stories, funnies, narratives, and the art that comics have created overall. 
These pieces of art gave so much to me as a person that I think it would be a shame to not give back in some way, shape or form.

So consider this a way for me to recommend some comics, and give little reviews on them in fond remembrance of what they did to make me the person I am today.

Peanuts

God, I can't remember the last time I read peanuts.

I must have still been at least 14 or something. I feel like i aged out of it and I think its a darn shame I thought that because Peanuts is just so wholesome.

I remember this specific comic because I remember being bored out of my mind the first time I got grounded and lo and behold, the only solace I had was in the Sunday paper or drawing in my sketchbook.

If you haven't read peanuts, I want to express my full condolences because its some of the most inoffensive and thoughtful media out there. Its "Joker's trick" as I like to call it, is that it endears you to the characters because of how relatable they are. I mean, everyone's been a kid before. But then, it brings up real world, more philosophical and emotional conversations or even makes fun of it in an effort to make it appealing to others.

There isn't a particular "Book" of peanuts I can recommend outright, only volumes or collections based around things. But if you haven't read a peanuts comic somehow, you can read it just about anywhere. Look it up, find it in the paper, Go into a hallmark store if its still open. You'll find at least something peanuts related.
Go read peanuts if you haven't. Its a cultural staple at this point to have at least read a strip!
Fun fact: 
Linus and Lucy have a little brother named Rerun! 
He's the main character of the TV special, "I want a Dog for Christmas Charlie Brown!"

The Amazing Spider-Man
(1963) #15

It was this comic here that basically convinced me of my love for comics. 

I read it in the Sunday newspaper as a rerun when I was much younger. Probably in the early 2000's when it still made the paper in my local area. Imagine a 5 year old just picking up the newspaper to read something like Dennis the Menace, only to turn the page and find the one and only Spider-Man, facing off against Kraven the Hunter for the first time.

The idea that comics had stories and could be so much more than just one panel punchlines was so new to little Braden that I think that it indirectly inspired me to take up my career in art and explore what I was capable of as a child. Without this comic, I probably wouldn’t have wanted to pursue a career in the arts.

The comic itself is a really good one. Starting with the plot of the Chameleon, who hires Kraven, A Russian hunter searching for "The Greatest Prey of All." That prey being spider-man! Everything story-wise is airtight, Kraven is clearly unhinged and willing to do anything, yet he's calculated and smart enough to study spider-man before doing anything rash. Its a beautiful cat and mouse between the teenage brains of the wall-crawler, and the strength and tools of a hunter who's got him on the backfoot (quite literally) the entire comic.

You can find this issue online pretty easily, or if you have the Marvel app, even easier than that. Everybody knows spider man, and even after all these years, Stan Lee's writing continues to stay strong. Easily making this one of his best comics because of how consistent it is throughout it all.

Fun fact: 
This comic marks the first apperance of Kraven the Hunter in Spider-Man going forward!

Planet Hulk
(2015) #1

Planet Hulk is probably one of my
favorite comics. Enough Said.

While not the original, This was actually the first comic I had ever bought and Already the premise was enough to get me hooked.
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The comic was my introduction to a ton of things too. such as multiversal concepts and the “Secret Wars” Side of marvel. It was also my introduction to Captain America in a much more official capacity since I had seen him only in a few Spider-Man Comics Before.

I’m always revisiting multiversal story-lines in my present works of writing, and the concepts have just stuck with me since I read this comic. in fact, much of my early writing style I can attribute to this book and its themes of fighting against those wishing upon your personal downfall.

Where this story really thrives is with consistency in alternative reality. I think the best part about this comic is Captain America's depiction alone. Despite working for other, arguably more evil people, he holds true to his values is able to put aside emotions and other baggage to get what he needs done. It's a great story of persevering through the ugliest times of your life and dealing with the things you don't know if you have the strength.

Give it a read if you get the chance! It does a good job introducing everything and settling readers in for a good story that I think is incredibly satisfying by the end. You can find it easily on the Marvel app or physically on retailers like amazon. Because of its recency it isn't too much!

Fun fact: 
The strangest team-up in marvel history can be seen here, with Devil Dinosaur and Captain America fighting as a duo.

Ultimate X-Men
(2001) vol.1

Ultimate X-Men's first issue is So freakin' good. Another easy recommend from me.

Forewarning, X-Men always tackles some heavy themes of racism. A given considering everyone super-powered in
X-Men is usually a Mutant. However where
"The Tomorrow People" succeeds is with its writing. I think it's a darn shame that all of the Ultimate Marvel comics can be considered non-canon. There's a level of gratuitous violence in all of these comics that is incredibly supportive to the themes of learning where you belong and how you can support the others around you.

As for the story, The Mutant-murdering sentinels and Magneto and his group of mutant terrorists remain consistently threatening as villains during the entire run. The real star of the writing is All the characters are pushed to their best extremes, and given a lot to do throughout the story.

Wolverine gets to do a ton of really heroic stuff, including saving the president's daughter from the mutant terrorist group created by Magneto. Iceman, one of the more comedic X-Men gets incredibly well developed with his story, Cyclops has a really cool moral debate being on Magneto's side, and the with the Threat of the Sentinels against anyone with the
X-Gene, the stakes have never been higher.

Easiest place to read this one is going to be the Marvel App this time around. Scout a comic book store or online store for a price drop if you want it physical.

Mark Millar easily became one of my favorite writers with this specific comic. He's one of the most notable writers to grace the comic book scene with stuff like Kick Ass, Old Man Logan, Kingsman, and American Jesus.
Don't just read this comic, read his stuff. This is just a good jumping on point.

Fun fact: 
Mark Millar is also famous for writing the #1 Bestselling Marvel comic, Civil War. A Crossover event between the whole marvel universe starring Captain America and Iron Man.

Marvels: Eye of The Camera
(2008) #6

I think that Marvels: Eye of the Camera is probably one of the most unique comics on this list of ones that I feel are personally influential to me, because it made me consider one incredibly important thing with not just my writings, but my actions as well.

Marvels is about a photographer who lives in the Marvel universe. The mainline comic continuity at least. This photographer, while not superpowered like the rest of the usual cast of marvel comics, instead he's just an ordinary man who works a job and has a family. It's not an origin story. It's simply about a man documenting his encounters with the superpowered.
Even losing an eye to it.

To me, this comic serves as the ultimate demonstration of the human will. How humans react to scenarios throughout their lives, how they'll help others in need, and how they might fail as individuals despite the rights they've done. This comic encapsulates some of marvel comic's best moments, through the eyes of the
every-man. Not the hero. But someone like you and me. Showing how much of a difference someone could make with what they do, even if they aren't the most significant.

This is easily my favorite comic on this list and its not even CLOSE.

This is another comic I'd recommend checking out on the marvel app because of it's price. However if you can pick up a physical, I'd recommend it.

It just feels different reading this one physically. Good Different though.

Fun fact: 
The eye of the cameraman in this comic, Phil Sheldon, was lost during the first ever fight between Namor and The Human Torch!