Avengers: Endgame: What To Do Once You've Seen The Movie
GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.
Trying to figure out exactly what's going to happen in Phase 4 of the MCU? So are we. With Spider-Man: Far From Home just over the horizon and the possibility of a multiverse brewing, the future of our favorite Marvel heroes is more mysterious than ever.
So, you've seen Avengers: Endgame. You've processed through your feelings about the various endings, you've started trying to wrap your head around all the weirdest parts of the plot, and maybe even decided to try your hand at understanding just what the hell Dr. Strange was thinking.
With all that behind you, the post-movie depression might be starting to set in--after all, for a lot of us, this movie was over a decade in the making, and now it's done. It's over. These characters are probably never going to appear on screen together again in our lifetime--at least, not to this effect. And that's a pretty heavy thought, right? Now that we're a week out from the high of just sitting down in the theater, it feels a little bittersweet.
But thankfully, we've got a cure for the melancholy. The theatrical versions of the core six Avengers may never share another blockbuster moment with one another, but that definitely isn't the case for their comic book inspirations. With over fifty years of stories behind them and more on the way every month, you can keep harnessing all the magic of the MCU without endlessly re-watching your favorite movies over and over again.
Though you can certainly do that, too. We definitely won't try and stop you.
We've curated a list of the best Avengers comics around to cure your post-Endgame blues.
Avengers (2010-2012)
Looking for some good old fashioned heroics? This particular Avengers run lands right at what's known as the "Heroic Age," a period of Marvel history where a bunch of previously indisposed Avengers like Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor were all pushed right back into the spotlight after Norman Osborn (yes, the Spider-Man villain) had created his own "Dark" version of the team and taken over the government for a while.
The start of this run features some genuinely cathartic team bonding, a surprise visit from Kang The Conqueror, and the wonderful, expansive feeling of classic Marvel stories. And if that's not enough, on top of the warm-and-fuzzy good-guys-doing-what-they-do-best feelings, you'll also find plenty of comedy here. If you like the feeling of massive worlds and limitless possibilities in Infinity War and Endgame, but would rather skip the death and destruction, start here.
Infinity
Want to go the complete opposite direction and get even more cosmic in scope and scale? Was your favorite part of Endgame all the crazy sci-fi time travel wackiness? I've got the perfect book for you.
Infinity not only plays a major role in inspiring Endgame and Infinity War's characters and stories--the Children Of Thanos? Yeah, this is where they come from--it also cranks the dial on the galactic conflict up even higher by bringing in the creators of the universe itself--The Builders--and all their assorted alien progeny to face off against not only The Avengers, but the Kree and Shi'Ar Empires and the Skrulls who join forces to bring them down.
It's a beast of a story and, clocking in at almost a thousand pages, it's certainly not something you'll want to pick up in the name of light reading, but it's still a worthy cause. If you're a fan of Captain America playing four dimensional chess with a bunch of intergalactic armies, this is definitely the story for you.
Young Avengers
Not a fan of the complicated and the relentlessly esoteric? Did watching Endgame just make you even more excited about the future of the MCU? You might be able to find some clues in the original Young Avengers run--which features some characters you might recognize from the big screen already.
Though there has been no confirmation of any Young Avengers stories being adapted for either the big screen or for the upcoming Disney+ streaming service, the groundwork is definitely being laid and reading this massively popular, fan-favorite run might give you a headstart when it comes to picking up the clues down the road.
Avengers Prime
If Endgame's many endings didn't sit very well with you, and you're looking for a quick way to make yourself feel a little happier--or, if you're just a fan of Steve, Tony, and Thor being best pals--Avengers Prime is a fantastic place to turn. A limited series that focuses on Marvel's Big Three figuring out how to forgive each other and be brothers after some major drama (i.e. the destruction of Asgard--don't worry too much about that part) drives them apart, Avengers Prime is as fun and funny as it is heartfelt.
This is your one stop shop if the "found family" motifs in the MCU are your favorite things--or, really, if you're just a fan of watching best friends fight bad guys together. Either or.
Captain America (2004-2011)
For some of us, Captain America's story in Endgame left a lot to be desired--but even if that isn't the case for you, there's still no shortage of Cap content in the comics to check out now that Chris Evans' live action tenure is through. Happy with the outcome of the movies or otherwise, there does not have to be a Cap-shaped hole in your life.
Arguably one of the most famous Captain America stories, this run works through the Winter Soldier story, through Civil War, and through Steve's death and resurrection, while fleshing out and building up just about every character in his extended and supporting cast along the way. This is likely going to be a great place to start doing some research if you're excited for the Falcon & Winter Soldier show headed for Disney+ as well.
The Invincible Iron Man (2008-2011)
Feeling sore about Tony's bittersweet demise? Soothe yourself with a fan-favorite Iron Man run which features Tony, uh, suffering a whole lot. Look--Tony's life is usually pretty fraught with chaos and peril, no matter the medium. But at least when you're reading his comics, you've got the Marvel guarantee that he'll eventually make it through one way or another. Kicking off around the time Norman Osborn took over the government and declared Tony Stark a national security risk, Invincible Iron Man examines some of the darkest days of both Tony and Pepper--this series is also the origin of her Rescue armor--and how they're both able to make it through like the superheroes they are.
Siege
Want something more Thor-oriented but feel intimidated by the endless volumes of cosmic mythology informing everyone's favorite God of Thunder? Interested in the citizens of New Asgard? Siege might be the event for you. Focusing on a disaster that befalls a relocated Asgard (the entire city gets dropped right in the middle of a cornfield in Broxton, Oklahoma--a lot like the city of New Asgard in Endgame, except with giant castles) Siege picks up at the height of some Thor-related drama while allowing his extended cast to take the spotlight. This one also features some of Loki's most devious machinations if you're into that sort of thing.
This one might have a bit of a learning curve in terms of the characters used and introduced, but don't let that stop you. Your new favorite non-MCU superhero might be on these pages if you give it a shot.
Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.