Top 3 Short Marvel Runs That You Should Read

Over the years, Marvel has had a multitude of shorter runs to varying success. As a long-time reader myself, I want to showcase three runs I recommend to any Marvel fan, whether new or old. In my opinion, you should put these at the top of your reading list.

RUN MINI-SERIES NUMBER ONE: X-MEN LEGACY: LEGION

To be completely honest, I am not the biggest X-Men fan. I enjoy my fair share of Claremont’s early works and even some of the new(ish) Krakoa stuff, as well as solo runs for Deadpool and Wolverine. However, even though I read it quite a few months ago, this read stood out to me instantly. In fact, it may be one of my favorite X-Men comics in general. LEGION follows the titular character (AKA David Haller), who is Charles Xavier’s son. David suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder, which creates a multitude of split identities in his head, each with their own mutant ability. He is also able to absorb the powers of others around him. In order to “unlock” new abilities, David must “defeat” the personality in his mind. David must learn how to navigate the world with his unique powers, even after the untimely death of his father.

I really enjoyed the concept of this character, especially paired with the writing by Simon Spurrier. Spurrier often takes David and the other main cast of the series on grandiose adventures, which I think were really entertaining to read. Additionally, the series has pretty consistently good art throughout. I also think this series really worked well in the mini-series format. It felt extremely cohesive and gave a very solid finish to David’s arc throughout the run, even if I would like to see the character return in mainline Marvel comics.

RUN NUMBER TWO: DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN

After being recommended this book by a friend, I can say I was extremely impressed, even as someone who has very little experience with the character of Daredevil. Matthew Murdock’s life (both personal and private) is in danger of being destroyed beyond repair by the Kingpin, as he is now aware of Matt’s secret identity. Will he beat the odds and overcome the tragedies plaguing his life, or will he succumb to the Kingpin’s deadly grip?

Obviously, the writing in this story by Frank Miller (during his peak, no less) is very good and quintessential to the Daredevil character. However, David Mazzucchelli’s art throughout the arc is also extremely solid, with panels always having the right level of darkness and gritiness to them. If you are planning to watch the show of the same name, I would recommend reading Born Again first to see the differences in story layouts between the two.

RUN NUMBER THREE: HAWKEYE BY MATT FRACTION

I might sound like a broken record at this point, but Hawkeye has never been one of my favorite characters. I’ve always viewed him as “that one goofy member of the Avengers who doesn’t have any real powers”. Honestly, this run kind of embraces the silliness of the character, but I think it really works. This run was the basis for the Disney+ show of the same name, but I personally believe the comic does everything better than the adaptation. There is a lot to say about this run, but the main dynamic is the relationship between Clint and Kate. The dialogue between the two during the run feels really natural and comedic, which really helps new readers to become fans of the characters. Additionally, the cartoonish art by David Aja is amazing, perfectly fitting the tone of the series. I actually even became a fan of both Fraction’s and Aja’s work through this run. I would highly recommend this run to anyone looking for something that takes itself a little less seriously than normal.

Of course, these three recommendations aren’t the only short runs worth reading. Let me know if you want to see me talk about more Marvel recommendations, or even some from DC!