I quit my job to make youtube videos full time. AMAA!

What's up r/iama! My name is Rob Jefferson/MarvelExplained. I run a youtube channel designed to break Marvel Comics down for people who never read them but want to get into them. I started making youtube videos about 10 months ago and my channel has grown enough to allow me to leave my current job and pursue youtube full time. I wanted to do an AMA to answer questions you might have.

Proof: My channel. Further proof was supplied to the mods before I started this AMA.

Alright everyone, I am heading out. I had a great time answering questions with you all. I really want to do this again sometime but I have videos to produce! Thanks for the support everyone!

EDIT: Some of you have been asking questions about starting points for Marvel Comics. Here is a bunch of stuff I would suggest:

• The Original Galactus Trilogy - March 1966 - Stan Lee/Jack Kirby - This is the story that started it all in Marvel Comics. This story introduced us to the existence of high level cosmic threats to not just the Earth, but the rest of the Marvel Universe. This also introduced Silver Surfer. This is a must read for anyone interested in how the expanded Marvel Universe beyond the planet Earth developed. This story appeared in Fantastic Four Volume 1 #48-50.

• Mad Jim Jaspers and The Crooked World - September 1981 - Alan Moore/Alan Davis - Originally part of the Marvel UK brand, this story was a forerunner to all future stories involving alternate realities and paved the way for stories like Days of Future Past. This story brought us the Omniversal Majestrix Saturnyne, the Dimensional Development Court and centers around British Super Hero Captain Britain and Jim Jaspers, an incredibly powerful villain with the ability to alter reality. To this day, Jim Jaspers is argued to be the most powerful mutant in Marvel history. This story appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes #377–388, The Daredevils #1–11 and The Mighty World of Marvel volume 2 #7–13

• The Days of Future Past - January 1981 - Chris Claremont/John Byrne - Where the Crooked World storyline set the stage for Alternate Realities, Days of Future Past established that with a good writer, an alternate reality storyline can be absolutely amazing. This is one of the best stories to come out of Chris Claremont's run of the X-Men in the 80's and is another must read for any Marvel Comics fan. This story appeared in Uncanny X-Men #141-142. (NOTE: Some trades release the whole story in one comic as Uncanny X-Men 141.)

• God Loves, Man Kills - November 1982 - Chris Claremont/Brent Anderson - While X-Men 2 was based on this story but seemed to fall short, I consider this Chris Claremont's best work regarding the X-Men. This story centers around William Stryker who is a fanatical Evangelical Christian and leads a group called the Purifiers. This story also gives us incredible depth to William Stryker, Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto, something I think X-Men 2 failed to do. Furthermore, the story juxtaposes the struggle between mutants and humans with historical racial disputes in American society. There is a reason this is considered one of the greatest Marvel stories ever told.

• Marvel Knights: Inhumans - November 1988 - Paul Jenkins/Jae Lee - While the Inhumans had previously debuted in Fantastic Four Volume 1 #45, this 12 issue series by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee is hands down the best story of the Inhumans in Marvel Comics. As part of the Marvel Knights imprint, this story can be considered self contained; that is to say it exists outside of the main Marvel Universe but most consider it Volume 2 of the Inhumans. Anyone who is a fan of the Inhumans will most likely have this story listed in their top 3 list of Inhuman events.

• Marvel Knights: The Sentry - September 2000 - Paul Jenkins/Jae Lee - In addition to Marvel Knights: Inhumans, Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee gave us what I consider to be one of the best stories in the Marvel Knights series. Like Marvel Knights: Inhumans, this story is self contained and deals with a man named Robert Reynolds suddenly waking up and remembering that he is The Sentry, an astronomically powerful hero with a very dark side. When Marvel Knights came to an end, the characters was reintroduced with New Avengers Volume 1, something many Marvel fans consider to be a mistake.

• Age of Apocalypse - January 1995 - Various Writers/Artists - Unlike other alternate reality stories, Age of Apocalypse did not crossover into existing groups. Instead, Age of Apocalypse was released with each existing group being replaced with its Age of Apocalypse counterpart. Example: X-Factor comics were replaced with Factor X; Generation X was called Generation Next and so on. This lasted for the entirety of the Age of Apocalypse event and gave the illusion that the existing continuity in Marvel Comics had officially been replaced. In addition, the reading order for this series varies based on the source meaning that for every source that offers a chronological reading order, another source will list it differently. This story centers around Apocalypse seizing control of North America after the death of Xavier by his son Legion, an impending nuclear holocaust and the question of whether or not the main timeline can be restored.

• The Thanos Quest - September 1990 - Jim Starlin/Ron Lim - This 2 part series centers around how Thanos was able to gain the Infinity Gems and are important for a couple reasons. First it demonstrates that Thanos is intelligent, ruthless and cunning. Second, it demonstrates the love Thanos has for Mistress Death and the lengths he will go to in gaining her affection.

• The Infinity Gauntlet - I don't think anything needs to be said here. Everyone knows this story.

• House of M - June 2005 - Various Writers/Artists - After several failed attempts to reduce the mutant population in the Comics, Marvel launched House of M, a story whereby the Scarlet Witch altered reality. With multiple tie-ins which expanded on the main story, we saw a multitude of characters playing different roles, many of which were roles they had always dreamed of themselves playing. Example: Carol Danvers, someone who had always been in search of acceptance, was the most famous Super-Hero on Earth. The close of this event saw a substantial reduction in the mutant population from thousands down to 198. This story gave Marvel the opportunity to go back to the drawing board regarding mutants in Marvel Comics although many look at the current events and see this as a wasted opportunity.

• Civil War - July 2006 - Various Writers/Artists - Considered to be one of the most prolific stories in Marvel, Civil War was a reflection of real world events dealing with the debate between freedom and security. While opinions vary on which tie ins are worth reading, Civil War Frontline is considered worth reading by most people.

• Annihilation - This story is takes place at the same time as Civil War but is a Universal story dealing with Annihilus attempting to eliminate all life in the Universe. This also includes a 6 part story about Ronan the Accuser and is one of only a couple instances of stories based solely on his character.

• The Thanos Imperative - This story centers around Peter Quill/Starlord, Thanos and Nova and deals with The Magus, The Universal Church of Truth and the Cancerverse. While not essential to the Marvel Universe, it is essential to understand why Starlord, Thanos and Nova were gone from the Marvel landscape for a time.

• Secret Invasion - This retcons Civil War and is a little crazy. There is a lot that happens in this story and it can be a bit confusing. The events of secret invasion officially start at the end of House of M but the super hero community isn't aware of the threat until after Civil War.

• Messiah Complex, Messiah War, Second Coming and The Twelve Lights - These stories involve the X-Men and the mutant community and gives us the arrival of Hope Summers. This is definitely an important read going into Avengers vs X-Men because you learn how Hope Summers came to be the person she is during AvX.

• Future Foundation - A lot of people have said they didn't enjoy this story but I felt like it was a great story involving the Fantastic Four and is some of Hickman's best work. In this story we are introduced to the Council of Reeds, the Mad Celestials and the fact that Galactus is afraid of Franklin Richards. Franklin Richards also makes Galactus his herald and the scene when he shouts "Rise! To me my Galactus!" is pretty epic.

• Avengers vs X-Men - Honestly, I felt like this story kinda sucked as it went on. It was awesome in the beginning with the impending return of the Phoenix Force but it seemed like Marvel didn't know what to do and screwed it up. The end of this story brings a return to the Mutant Community with a restoration of their powers.

Other events:

Marvel NOW! is just Marvel's way of allowing you to learn about characters instead of relearning about the all. For example, instead of learning the origins of Magneto in Uncanny X-Men 104/Classic X-Men 12, you learn about his origins in the Magneto solo series during Marvel NOW! Conversely, my suggestion is to read Greg Pak's Magneto Testament.

Son of M - This chronicles the actions of Quicksilver after the House of M. Honestly, this is an optional story and not one I would say is required reading.

Infinity - This story focuses on Thanos traveling across the cosmos to find his offspring. The basis for the story is a little silly but there are some excellent events. My favorite is when Thanos asks Black Bolt where Thanos' son is. Black Bolt screams and Thanos slams his head in the ground.

Inhumanity - This deals with the fallout of the Terrigen Bomb and the awakening of Inhuman genes throughout the world. Not an essential read.