If you’ve been reading comics for a while, then the chances are, you’ve probably hurt of Skottie Young.

He’s mainly known as an illustrator, who’s distinctive style can be seen on many variant covers across many comic runs. Here’s a few examples:

But, you may have also heard of Skottie’s written work, he’s written things like: I Hate Fairyland (Image Comics) and Giant Sized Little Marvel, and they’re all fantastic reads.

So, what I thought I’d do, is give you a guide to his written comic runs, so you can enjoy them too!

Let’s start with the works that aren’t tie-ins to bigger series:

Rocket Raccoon (2014)

As defenders of the cosmos go, Rocket Raccoon has faced his fair share of galactic battles. He’s been a hero to the weak, a champion of good, a protector of the innocent, a heartthrob to the many intergalactic female species and now–a raccoon on the run?!

Rocket is probably one of Skottie’s best known written works, and is an absolutely fantastic read – all you need to know in background knowledge is just who Rocket is. So, if you’ve seen the Guardians Of The Galaxy films, you’ll be fine reading this.

Strange Academy

The Marvel Universe’s first school for sorcerers throws open its doors! The world has mysteriously changed in such an alarming way that Doctor Strange has finally done what he has avoided for decades – established an academy for the Mystic Arts! Young people from around the world with an aptitude for magic are brought together in New Orleans to study under Stephen Strange, Brother Voodoo, the Ancient One, the Scarlet Witch, Magik, Daimon Hellstrom and all your favorite Marvel mages. But with so many new and deadly magical menaces lurking out there, is the Academy too little too late?! School’s in session – and it’s going to be spellbinding!

This one is currently only found in single issues, as the virus paused production for a while, so you’ll have to wait for the bind up. But, if you’re a fan of anyone mentioned in the synopsis (Magik and Hellstrom character profiles linked) then this is going to be perfect for you! I’m personally really excited for this one, and cannot wait for it to turn up on my doorstep, whenever it happens to be released!

Magneto: Not a Hero

The X-Men are shaken when Magneto finally goes villain again – as the Master of Magnetism is caught on video murdering members of an anti-mutant group! Why did he throw away everything he’s earned with the X-Men? Or is this just the only time he’s gotten caught? This new series by Skottie Young (Wizard of Oz) and Clay Mann (X-Men Legacy) will change the way you look at the best X-Villain of all time!

This has been described as a very 90’s X-Men story, and has a reputation of being a bit marmite with the fans. But, I think it’s worth checking out, if you like Skottie’s writing, or if you like Magneto as a character.

Now, onto his work that works as tie-ins to bigger events:

Rocket Raccoon & Groot: Tall Tails

There’s a new criminal mastermind in the galaxy, and it’s – Rocket Raccoon?! How did this happen? Groot knows, but he’s not talking! Well, he is talking, but all he’s saying is – Oh, you know. Diabolical danger, madcap mysteries and astonishing adventure abound in tall tales of everyone’s favorite cosmic double act! Then, Rocket and Groot put the “fun” in “funeral” — but any mirth is only hiding a certain raccoon-like critter’s grief at the death of his mentor in conartistry. And when Captain Marvel enlists her Guardians of the Galaxy pals to fight in CIVIL WAR II, surely it won’t divide these BFFs. After all, they are Groot, right? All that, plus the unbelievable Gwenpool! If you love adventure, animals, outer space and just about anything in between, this is the book for you!

You’ll need to read Civil War II, and should probably check out the original Gwenpool series by Christoper Hastings to get the most out of this.

Howard the Human #1

Spend a day with Howard, a private investigator and the only human living in city full of animals. But not, like, criminals and lowlifes. We’re talking elephants, apes, ducks and kitty cats. Catching a case, grinding a few gears, dodging some bullets and almost getting killed by an anthropomorphic monstrosity. It’s just another Monday for Howard the Human brought to you by Skottie Young (Rocket Raccoon) and Jim Mahfood (Miami Vice Remix). 

This is a one-shot that ties into the Secret Wars Battleworld series (reading order to come, there’s a lot to get through in terms of Secret Wars!). There’s a lot of one-shots involved, but they can be read in any order. As long as you’ve read Secret Wars event, you should be fine reading this.

Giant-Size Little Marvel: AvX Series

Skottie Young brings out the big guns…and the little Marvels…in the series fans have been waiting for! In the Battleworld zone known as Marville, playtime is serious business — and Marville’s pint-sized heroes are working overtime to prove to their new neighbors which crew is toughest! With super-powered dodgeball, high-tech hideouts and eye-puns aplenty, Marvel’s most adorable heroes aren’t pulling any punches in this larger-than-life, fun-sized adventure. Featuring all your favorites (just, you know, shorter) including Cyclops, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Wolverine and more as the toughest, funniest, craziest and most adorable Marvel heroes throw down in a battle of the fittest! The smaller they are, the harder they brawl — this is Battleworld, after all!

This also ties into Battleworld, but also can be read as a standalone – I read this years ago, with no idea what Secret Wars was, and followed along perfectly. It’s a fantastic comic, and one of my favourites to read as a pick-me-up when I need it most. Also, when reading, look at the details in the artwork – there’s a tonne of references throughout!

Deadpool (2018) 

Deadpool is back to mercin’ for a living! It’s been a while since Wade Wilson has struggled to make ends meet, but things are tough all over. While Deadpool tries to get his humble mercenary-for-hire business back off the ground, a catastrophic threat so unfathomably huge – so mind-breakingly cataclysmic that it defies description – is heading toward Earth, and there’s only one person who can stop it! Oh no, wait…it’s not Deadpool, is it? Oh, %$@#. It’s Deadpool. Good thing he has a plan. But what happens when things take a turn for the weird – Weirdworld, that is? Find out as Wade ventures into a realm of monsters, sorceresses, Man-Things…and romance? Is this part of the plan?! Hop back on board the Deadpool train as Skottie Young and Nic Klein reinvent the Merc with a Mouth!

This one is a tie-in to War Of The Realms, between issues 13 and 14.

The last thing I want to mention is not technically something Skottie has written, instead, it’s something he’s drawn.

Color Your Own! Young Marvel

Grab your pencils, crayons and pens and go to town on Eisner Award-winning Skottie Young’s ever-adorable art! Loads of Young’s “Little Marvel” covers, together with unfeasibly cute pages featuring Rocket Raccoon, kiddified Avengers and plenty more, have been stripped down and rendered in crisp black-and-white – ready for your imagination to take over! Chaos or order, it’s up to you! You want an orange and purple Spidey? You got it! You’re turning Black Bolt pink? Fine! You like your Hulks green and red, only both at the same time? Polka-dot yourself out! But swapping Cap’s red, white and blues for yellow, indigo and ceruleans? Why, that’s downright un-American! Rediscover the pure, unadulterated joy of coloring – Marvel-style!

A perfect Christmas present for the budding Marvel artists in your life!

There you have it – your guide to Skottie Young’s written Marvel comics work! Outside of Marvel, I’d also highly recommend his ‘I Hate Fairyland’ series. It’s an incredible run, which I would describe as ‘Deadpool meets fairytales’ – it was my first look at Skottie’s work, and I’ve been a fan ever since!

What’s your favourite Skottie Young comic, and, what are you looking forward to reading now? Let me know down below!