Original Sin- a Modern Classic for Marvel Comics

ORIGINAL SIN. EVERYONE HAS ONE.

Jason Aaron is one of the most prolific writers at Marvel in this modern era. While Aaron is

known mainly for his work on Thor, he has written in every corner of the Marvel universe. I

knew Jason Aaron from his run on Ghost Rider with Tony Moore, where he remixed and

updated canon, as well as retconned several interesting points of Ghost Rider lore that have

stood the test of time. While Aarons’ work on Thor is monumental and groundbreaking for the

changes he made to the character and story of Asgard, I’ll always have a soft spot for his big

event “Original Sin”.

The “Original Sin” main event is written by Jason Aaron with art by the legendary Mike Deodato

Jr. I’ve had my problems with Marvel events in recent memory; I think that they’re overworked

and bloated with too many tie-ins that don’t really do too much to affect the plot. I cannot say

the same about “Original Sin”. Aaron works a true mystery into a twelve-issue event book that

still shocks the reader when its revealed.

Mike Deodato Jr. is a masterclass artist with more experience in the industry than most working

today. Deodato has a true and strong grasp of form and structure for a character, and a style so

distinct that any of his pieces are immediately recognizable.

“Original Sin” follows the entire Marvel universe on a mystery through space to hunt down the

being that murdered the Watcher and stole his eyes. Each twist and turn of the plot bring the

reader closer to the end, but also brings up so many other questions. This book is supremely

underrated for where it places the rest of the Marvel universe before “Secret Wars”. This book

introduces the origin of Unworthy Thor, the Winter Soldier as ‘The Man on the Wall’, and

forever alters Nick Fury’s impact on the universe and the actions he’s committed for the greater

good.

I brought up tie-ins as a pitfall of event comics because in recent memory, they bog down other

individual runs and make them stop in the middle of something good. “Original Sin” is the best

use of tie-ins I can think of in recent memory. “Original Sin” starts with all major Marvel

characters learning something monumental and personal that they did not know before, and

this informs the tie-ins to the event. These tie-ins are responsible for the reveal of Silk in Spider-

Man, reveals Angela as the sister of Thor and Loki, and changes the dynamic of several pillars of

this publishing house. Most notably, it is revealed that Tony Stark seemingly altered the original

gamma bomb test and is partially responsible for Bruce Banner becoming the Hulk. These tie-

ins only add to the story, and I believe they are entirely necessary to understanding the full

scope of Jason Aarons’ plan for this book.

I think that “Original Sin” is one of my favorite events of all time, with relevant stakes and

consequences that matter to the overall universe it takes place in. I give “Original Sin” nine out

of ten D list characters. I recommend this book for new readers looking for a more modern

story, as well as for fans of the more cosmic side of Marvel Comics.

This book and many others are available in trade paperback and in single issues at Comic Spot.

-Jake

Here is the reading order for this event:

https://comicbookreadingorders.com/marvel/events/original-sin-reading-order/