Secret Warriors #13

Since the creation of the Marvel’s Ultimate Nick Fury, no one really cared about the regular series’ super spy, and I don’t blame anyone; new Nick was just way cooler. Ultimate Nick was created to look like Samuel L. Jackson — this was before the film “Iron Man.” He was a major character in every major event or crossover, and never hesitated to get in on the action himself. If you’re reading “Secret Warriors” you should know old Nick is giving new Nick a run for his money.

After the dissolution of S.H.I.E.L.D. — and the rise of Osborn’s H.A.M.M.E.R. — Nick Fury has been working hard at bringing down Hydra and H.A.M.M.E.R despite being the most wanted person in America, using every trick in the book. We get to see Nick Fury do some actual spy work for the first time in decades; and with rising star Jonathan Hickman writing, this just might be one of the best books out now.

Hickman’s non-linear story telling with complex super powered characters and suspense is able to blend superhero and espionage comics extremely well.

Fantastic Four #576

With Hickman also writing this book, it has gotten lots of attention and even has some people saying Fantastic Four may return to its previous status as one of Marvel’s bestsellers.

Hickman brings back the whole family aspect of this superhero team and adds many sci-fi elements to the series. I read the first arc a few months ago and stupidly decided I should read just one Hickman book, “Secret Warriors,” which proved to be a big mistake. Be sure to start reading this series, and if you don’t know anything about Jonathan Hickman, you should be sure to pick up a few of his graphic novels. “Nightly News,” “Pax Romana” and “Transhuman,” I promise you will not be disappointed.