I don’t know if everyone’s heard, but this week we launched Marvel on Comixology Unlimited! In commemoration of this historic event this week’s staff picks will be focused on my favorite Marvel books!

STAR WARS Vol. 2: Showdown on Smuggler’s Moon

In honor of Star Wars Day, I’m going to pick Star Wars Vol. 2: Showdown on Smuggler’s Moon. It’s got a ton of things I really like about Star Wars, and follows my favorite characters. It’s got Hutts, bounty hunters, lightsaber battles, and Han Solo’s shady past, to name a few. In a way this book reads like fan fiction, since it compiles a bunch of the best elements of SW in one story. This collection also features Luke and the gang fighting gladiator style in a pit, which sounds like Episode II but feels totally different since it’s got Stuart Immonen’s amazing art doing the storytelling. To top it off there’s an epic fight scene at the end where Leia, Han and even Chewie go to battle with lightsabers of their own.

STAR WARS Darth Vader Vol. 1: Vader

In honor of today’s Revenge of the Sixth: Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 1: Vader. Growing up I was always a Vader guy (actually, back and forth between Luke and Vader. Today I’m more of a Han guy) so it was amazing to see my childhood hero get his own ongoing. If you’re a fan of the Force Unleashed series this particular story is pretty great. It includes a lot of the same elements (Vader sort of branching off and doing clandestine stuff while taking on a semi-apprentice). It also sees the introduction of a new ongoing character, Doctor Aphra.

THE MIGHTY THOR Vol. 1: Thunder in Her Veins

Ah, finally! A non-Star Wars book: The Mighty Thor Vol. 1: Thunder In Her Veins. I don’t know how the Thor editorial does it. From Olivier Coipel in the J. Michael Straczynski era (Vols 1-3 available in CU!), to Russell Dauterman in the Jason Aaron era, they consistently get artists who make their books look so incredibly beautiful and dynamic. The spectacle and splendor of Asgard especially pops in this volume which sees SPOILER ALERT: Dr. Jane Foster become Thor and travel around the Nine Realms meeting new species and engaging in crazy battles. I’ve been really digging this most recent run, which sees Thor team-up with a mutant, Quentin Quire (another one of my favorite characters) to do some pretty amazing things, which I won’t spoil. But to get to there you need to start here, and start soon!

Jonah Chuang is a Technical Account Manager at comiXology. He wonders if one day he will be worthy enough to lift the hammer. (Editor’s note – we believe in you, Jonah!)