Author: Aaron Couch, Graeme McMillan

Agents of SHIELD won’t return for awhile — and though fans have Agent Carter to keep them busy, is there really such a thing as too much Marvel?  

The Hollywood Reporter has compiled five essential comic book storylines to read until Agents of SHIELD returns to give viewers another dose of Marvel’s most exciting bureaucratic agency. 

For more in comics, also check out THR‘s reading guides for Gotham, Arrow and The Flash.

Inhuman Vol 1: Genesis

As Agents of SHIELD starts to dive into the mythology of the Inhumans and the Kree, this source material should be at the top of a reader’s list. This is the first collection of the current SHIELD series rebuilding the mythology for today’s readers. This gives plenty of background for fans stunned by the Skye bombshell in the midseason finale.

Available in digital and print format.

Read more ‘Agent Carter’ Showrunners Grilled By ‘Arrow’ Producer in Honest, Wide-Ranging Interview

Ms. Marvel Vol 1: No Normal

Why is this essential reading? Not only is it among the best current Marvel series, but it also has big implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It shows a regular character have to deal with suddenly having powers thanks to Inhuman ancestry. 

Available in digital and print format.

Read more ‘Gotham’: What Comics to Check Out Over the Holiday Hiatus

Secret Avengers Vol 1: Let’s Have A Problem

Love the chemistry between Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson)? This arc sees the comic book versions of those two team up with Black Widow, Hawkeye and some other super powered characters to keep the world safe in a spy series with a particularly demented sense of humor. 

Available in digital and print format.

Read more ‘Arrow’: What to Comics to Pick Up Over the Holiday Hiatus

Deathlok

Things haven’t been the same since Agents of SHIELD said goodbye to everyone’s favorite cyborg killing machine. It’s time to catch up with his comic book counterpart in this series, which is only available in single issues as it hasn’t been collected yet. 

Available in digital and print format.

SHIELD by Steranko: The Complete Collection

Don’t mess with the original. This collection of 1960s strips is for those who wish the spy organization was more like James Bond. It’s also packed with background information on the organization destroyed in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. 

What are your favorite SHIELD-related comics? Sound off in the comments!

Agents of SHIELD returns to ABC March 3.

Agents of SHIELD won’t return for awhile — and though fans have Agent Carter to keep them busy, is there really such a thing as too much Marvel?  

The Hollywood Reporter has compiled five essential comic book storylines to read until Agents of SHIELD returns to give viewers another dose of Marvel’s most exciting bureaucratic agency. 

For more in comics, also check out THR‘s reading guides for Gotham, Arrow and The Flash.

Inhuman Vol 1: Genesis

As Agents of SHIELD starts to dive into the mythology of the Inhumans and the Kree, this source material should be at the top of a reader’s list. This is the first collection of the current SHIELD series rebuilding the mythology for today’s readers. This gives plenty of background for fans stunned by the Skye bombshell in the midseason finale.

Available in digital and print format.

Read more ‘Agent Carter’ Showrunners Grilled By ‘Arrow’ Producer in Honest, Wide-Ranging Interview

Ms. Marvel Vol 1: No Normal

Why is this essential reading? Not only is it among the best current Marvel series, but it also has big implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It shows a regular character have to deal with suddenly having powers thanks to Inhuman ancestry. 

Available in digital and print format.

Read more ‘Gotham’: What Comics to Check Out Over the Holiday Hiatus

Secret Avengers Vol 1: Let’s Have A Problem

Love the chemistry between Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson)? This arc sees the comic book versions of those two team up with Black Widow, Hawkeye and some other super powered characters to keep the world safe in a spy series with a particularly demented sense of humor. 

Available in digital and print format.

Read more ‘Arrow’: What to Comics to Pick Up Over the Holiday Hiatus

Deathlok

Things haven’t been the same since Agents of SHIELD said goodbye to everyone’s favorite cyborg killing machine. It’s time to catch up with his comic book counterpart in this series, which is only available in single issues as it hasn’t been collected yet. 

Available in digital and print format.

SHIELD by Steranko: The Complete Collection

Don’t mess with the original. This collection of 1960s strips is for those who wish the spy organization was more like James Bond. It’s also packed with background information on the organization destroyed in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. 

What are your favorite SHIELD-related comics? Sound off in the comments!

Agents of SHIELD returns to ABC March 3.

Diyah Pera/The CW

Speedsters who can’t wait until The Flash returns Jan. 20, fear not. The Hollywood Reporter has assembled some homework (the fun kind!) for during the show’s hiatus, with five must-read comic book arcs for Flash fanatics.

We also have guides for other show as well. Check out recommended reading for Gotham and Arrow, too.

See more ‘The Flash’: Every Major DC Character on The CW Series

Read more ‘Gotham’: What Comics to Pick Up Over the Holiday Hiatus

The Flash Vol 1: Move Forward Arrow Vol 4: The Kill Machine

The first volume of current Flash series, this collection features a host of characters from the CW show, including villains Captain Cold, Heatwave and Grodd, the much-teased super ape.

Available in digital and print format. 

Read more ‘Arrow: What Comics to Pick Up Over the Holiday Hiatus

Flashpoint

This run examines who really killed Barry’s mother, and Flash executive producer Andrew Kreisberg says this is one of his favorites. “It really set the template for the modern version of The Flash that we’re doing,” he tells THR of writer Geoff Johns’ work with the character. “I would definitely say it’s a great.”

Available in digital and print format. 

Crisis on Infinite Earths

If this badass cover isn’t enough to pique your interest, know that it also ties in with future newspaper front page that Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh) keeps looking at, both in terms of The Flash disappearing and the “red skies” headline.

Available in digital and print format.

Firestorm: The Nuclear Man

This arc has strong ties to the show. It examines who Caitlin’s (Danielle Panabaker) boyfriend Ronnie (RobbieAmell) — AKA one half of firestorm — has become. It also gives us the first appearance of two of the show’s villains, Plastique and Multiplex, and is also the origin story of Killer Frost, the super villain who started life as Caitlin Snow in the comics.

Available in digital and print format. 

The Flash: Season Zero  

This has not been collected into a single edition, but is available in individual comic book issues. The comic book prologue to the TV show offers hints of things to come including who and what Harrison Wells is.

Available in digital and print format. 

What do you think of our selections, and what are your favorite The Flash storylines? Let us know in the comments.

Email: Aaron.Couch@THR.com
Twitter: @AaronCouch