Homecoming (1975-1977) Reading Order

In the days before event-level crossover events, Marvel Comics made the most of their shared universe in a more subtle way. Titles could be followed individually, but there was a bigger pay-off if you read multiple titles which painted a much grander picture. ‘Homecoming’ is a mix of related stories, along with a direct crossover or two thrown in for good measure.

While there’s not necessarily an overarching theme to it all, the Infinity Gems are a common thread. Another is that, one way or another, many of these heroes are just trying to get him… hence ‘Homecoming’ (plus it’s also the title of one of the Warlock issues!). These stories really highlight the pure fun of a shared comics universe while barely officially crossing over!

Drax the Destroyer‘s search for Thanos jumps from Captain Marvel‘s series to Adam Warlock‘s. Warlock himself is strangely affected by his experience with the Star-Thief which then continues into Marvel Team-Up. Both Woodgod‘s debut appearance and Marvel Team-Up Annual also lead into Marvel Team-Up. Meanwhile, Black Goliath‘s feud with the Stilt-Man jumps from his own cancelled series to the equally-doom Champions‘ title. The Stranger impacts the life of Captain Marvel, but he soon has a more intense sense of purpose which leads him to appearances in both Marvel Team-Up and Champions. And finally, there are even more subtle hints about the existence of the six Soul Gems (that will one day become known as both Infinity Gems and Infinity Stones) through most of these titles. Oh, and the Hulk‘s in there, too! Phew!

Crossover: Some of the stories below could be considered individual, shorter crossovers – such as Marvel Team-Up Annual #1 and Marvel Team-Up #53-55.

Related Events: The stories here interrelate more than crossover, though smaller direct crossovers are included.

Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.

Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four. 

Previous events that directly impact this story:

  • THE INFINITY EFFECT – Thanos returns, aiding Warlock against the Magus

See how this story fits into the wider Marvel Universe with these reading orders:

Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:

  • Black Goliath #4-5
  • Captain Marvel #41-46
  • Warlock #12-15
  • Marvel Premiere #31
  • Marvel Team-Up Annual #1
  • Marvel Team-Up #53-54
  • Champions #11
  • Marvel Team-Up #55
  • Champions #12-13

Must ReadsTitle, Issue & Synopsis
Black Goliath #4
Tony Stark finds out that the mystery box he sent to Dr Bill Foster and his team of scientific Whiz Kids was stolen after Black Goliath’s clash with Vulcan, though neither realise it’s in the hands of drug addict Jerry Washington. Jerry refuses to listen to his girlfriend Regina Clayborne when she begs him to return it. Foster vents over Stark’s treatment of him by donning his Black Goliath costume and interfering with Stilt-Man‘s bank job. When Goliath starts losing the fight, his new love interest Celia Jackson rushes in. Stilt-Man zaps Celia, her nephew Keith Jackson and Black Goliath with his Z-Ray, obliterating them…

1st appearance: Geoffrey Ballard, Regina Clayborne
Black Goliath #5
Black Goliath and his friends have been transported to the planet Kirgar and are befriended by the alien Derath’ath Machlan’n who offers them a way home. He takes them to a pyramid that was once home to the last warlord of Kirgar. Deratth’th takes an axe to the back from the pyramid’s protector Mortag that was meant for Black Goliath and Celia. Goliath destroys the robot Mortag, avenging Derath’th and allowing their safe journey home.

1st appearance: A’askvarii
Captain Marvel #41
Captain Marvel and Rick Jones have suffered a series of incredible losses on Earth and relocate to Hala, throne world of the Kree Empire. Their belief that the Supreme Intelligence – the synthetic hivemind ruler of the Kree – is an ally is soon shattered when the gestalt one pits them against the Lunatic Legion. He reveals he’s been manipulatingthemas part of a plan to assimilate Rick’s latent mental powers by merging him with Mar-Vell. But instead of taking them both captive now, the Supreme Intelligence forces Captain Marvel and Rick Jones to fight Ronan the Accuser, then teleports them across space…

1st appearance: Millennia Bloom, Mind Gem (unnamed), Deneb IV
Captain Marvel #42
Now bearing only a Nega-Band each, Captain Marvel and Rick Jones find themselves on a populated Wild West-style asteroid where they take on a band of outlaws who rough up cosmic prospector Shabby Dayes. After encountering a seductive spectral woman, Rick uses his band to generate his own costume and take flight to the OK Space Station’s protective dome when it’s cracked by the outlaws’ big boss, the Stranger. The Stranger defeats Mar-Vell and leaves, though Mar-Vell recovers enough to save Rick when he expends his Nega-Band energy. Rick and Mar-Vell depart on Shabby’s robot mule, Rusty. Elsewhere in space, Drax the Destroyer screams Thanos‘ name…

1st appearance: Fawn
Captain Marvel #43
Mar-Vell becomes frustrated with Rick Jones as they travel through space, partly due to Rick’s accomplishing feats with his innate mastery of his Nega-Band that Captain Marvel hadn’t previously considered. Just then, Drax attacks, wanting to murder Mar-Vell for taking away his purpose by killing Thanos (during THE THANOS WAR). While they fight it out on a desolate moon, the spectral female Fawn appears to Rick again and convinces him to remove his helmet, only to find he can’t breathe the atmosphere. His only hope is Captain Marvel who’s been hurled by Drax in the opposite direction through space…
Captain Marvel #44
Captain Marvel recoups and fights back against Drax, hurling him back towards the moon. Fawn touches Mar-Vell’s mind, alerting him to Rick’s state. Drax notices Mar-Vell has started speaking like Rick and departs when he senses Thanos’ return (fighting alongside Adam Warlock during THE INFINITY EFFECT). Captain Marvel barely gets to Rick in time and takes him to Deneb IV, only to discover the Kree at this outpost have all been murdered. He places the unconscious Rick in a life-support chamber, but soon finds himself taken prisoner by the ancient robotic Kree Null-Trons and their master…

Must ReadsTitle, Issue & Synopsis
Captain Marvel #45
The disembodied Head General convinces Captain Marvel to enter the Mind Gem – one of six Soul Gems – that was recently discovered by Rambu of the Cyborg Underground on Deneb IV. The unconscious Rick Jones is forced into the gem first, with Mar-Vell following. And it’s all part of the Supreme Intelligence’s plan, as he hopes for them to merge identities and utilise whichever one of them survives to advance the Kree race. Rambu turns against the Head General and, with help from Fawn, stops the fight between Rick and Mar-Vell, freeing them from the gem. As war continues to rage between the cyborgs and Null-Trons on Deneb IV, Captain Marvel, Rick Jones, Fawn and Rambu soar through space to confront the Supreme Intelligence…

1st appearance: Bun-Dall
Captain Marvel #46
Arriving in Hala’s orbit, the Supreme Intelligence zaps Captain Marvel down to his chamber and teleports Rick aboard a Kree Imperial Dreadnought, pitting each of them against a cyborg Supremor body which gives physical form to the Intelligence. It takes some time before Rick and Mar-Vell realise that the damage they do to their respective Supremor foe causes harm to their friend. The Supreme Intelligence’s plan to tap into the power of the Millennia Bloom to turn Rick and Mar-Vell to his will is shattered when he kills ‘Fawn’ – who’s simply a creation of Rick Jones’ Destiny Force powers – which allows Rick and Captain Marvel to sense each other and relay a plan to fire the Dreadnought’s nuclear weapons at the Sun. To defend Hala from destruction by solar flare, the Supreme Intelligence turns all his efforts to creating a shield to protect the planet which shuts him down in the process. Having narrowly survived, Captain Marvel and Rick Jones decide to return to Earth.

1st appearance: Kree-Lar
Warlock #12
Following his victory over the Magus days earlier (during THE INFINITY EFFECT), Adam Warlock heads into space to come to terms with that fact that he’s murdered his future self. This leaves a bored Pip the Troll to finds trouble of his own when he agrees to help the beautiful Heater Delight to escape her life as a slave. After recounting how he was transformed from Prince Gofern of Laxidazia into a troll, he frees Heater and risks his life to bury her ‘master’, Pro-Boscis, under a pile of rocks. Heater gives Pip her Pleasure Cruiser (rather than herself as he’d hoped) and heads off with her beloved Eros of Titan. Meanwhile, Warlock notices the stars are disappearing…

1st appearance: Heater Delight, Laxidazia
Warlock #13
Warlock’s vampiric Soul Gem discovers the cause of the disappearing stars as a single human. Back on Earth, Barry Bauman was born without the five senses and developed incredible telekinetic and telepathic abilities which allowed him to explore the world around his unmoving body. As he explored – sometimes by possessing his nurse, Tom Vocson, he was angered by the discovery that humans would rather spend money on war than on curing him. He decided to wipe out humanity, but began taunting them by blinking out distant stars. He quickly realises Warlock plans to stop him and stone creatures against him. Warlock defeats them and begins his long journey to Earth to stop the Star Thief

1st appearance: Star Thief/Barry Bauman
Warlock #14
Warlock defeats more of Star Thief’s creature creations and retaliates against his telepathic taunts by stealing part of Star Thief’s soul. Warlock heads into a black hole to speed up his journey through space and get to Earth before Star Thief can snuff out the sun. When he emerges, he finds the jump from the other side of the expanded universe has brought him to Earth’s Solar System as an intangible super-giant, too big to get to Star Thief’s body and steal the rest of his soul. But Bauman released Tom Vocson from his control to concentrate on Warlock and shoots him dead in revenge for taking over his body.
Warlock #15
Unable to return to Earth or Counter-Earth, Adam Warlock heads back into space. Thanos sends Gamora back out to become Warlock’s unofficial bodyguard, while he secretly focuses on total stellar genocide. But Gamora’s ship is obliterated by Drax as he hurtles through space to destroy anyone connected to Thanos. Pip the Troll robs and steals in his travels through the cosmos. Warlock meets an Interdite prophet who tells him he’ll be responsible for the deaths of everyone he loves before he dies. Having learned his Soul Gem is one of six, Warlock fights his own Soul Gem for control then heads back into space…

1st appearance: Interdites, R’malk’i
Marvel Premiere #31
Bio-geneticists David & Ellen Pace created a being from human and animal genetic material at a secret government base in New Mexico, while also experimenting on nerve gas. The creature grew and learned rapidly, impressing their loving creators. David was keen to watch him change from a ‘beast-boy’ to a ‘woodgod’. But they were seen by a local who encouraged others to storm their home and kill the Paces, smashing the nerve gas containers and killing everyone present. All except for Woodgod who witnessed the murder of his ‘parents’. Woodgod is unaware that he’s being watched by Major Del Tremens of the National Guard who plans on apprehending him…

1st appearance: Dr David Pace, Dr Ellen Pace, Major Del Tremens, Woodgod

Must ReadsTitle, Issue & Synopsis
Marvel Team-Up Annual #1
In New Mexico, an experiment at the top secret government facility known to some as the Nest goes awry, destroying the research station and presumably everyone in it. When a jet containing several key scientific minds from around the world – as well as photographer Peter Parker and mutant specialist Charles Xavier and his students – flies over the site, it comes under attack from the stations robotic workers. Xavier’s students reveal themselves to be the X-Men and are assisted by Spider-Man (when Peter Parker slyly dons his costume) to guide the damaged jet to the ground. When one scientist detects high levels of radiation from the site, the X-Men and Spider-Man risks their lives to investigate and are captured by a group of god-like beings modelled after the Hindu gods. They reveal their intention to take the power of Phoenix for themselves, prompting the X-Men to retaliate. Phoenix realise these Lords of Light and Darkness were the scientists at the former facility. Spider-Man and the X-Men combine their abilities to find a way to save the Lords who are on the brink of death, firing them into distant space to form a new star. Xavier removes the memories of the X-Men and Spider-Man’s involvement in the incident from the other passengers, but the heroes are still stranded in the Arizona desert…
Marvel Team-Up #53
The Hulk finds himself at the New Mexico town where the Paces’ nerve gas was unleashed. Major Del Termens leads a team to the town to capture the Woodgod, attracting the attention of Spider-Man and the X-Men. The X-Men continue their journey home, but Spider-Man investigates further and initially helps Tremens against Woodgod. But Spidey soon realises he’s on the wrong side and is trapped between the Woodgod and the angry Hulk

1st appearance: X-Shuttle
Marvel Team-Up #54
Spider-Man quickly sides with the Hulk and Woodgod, but all three are captured by Tremens’ squad and taken to their base. Spider-Man tricks Tremens and escapes, freeing Woodgod and the Hulk. Tremens intended launching them all into space, but it’s only Spider-Man who’s knocked aboard the rocket in the explosive final battle. Tremens launches the rocket and the Hulk fails to bring it down. Woodgod knocks out Tremens and departs while Spider-Man heads for the stars with his oxygen rapidly depleting…
Champions #11
Black Goliath helps prevent the Champions‘ malfunctioning Champscraft from crashing into their headquarters. They’re soon joined by Darkstar who’s passed SHIELD security and can officially become a member of the team who hear news that Ghost Rider has teamed-up with Hawkeye and Two-Gun Kid to investigate the appearance of a flying saucer near the Mesa of Lost Souls. Black Goliath bids the team farewell as they head out to Arizona to join their spectral teammate in fending off an attack by Warlord Kaa and his Shadow Warriors. Ghost Rider overcomes possession by Kaa to add hellfire to one of Hawkeye’s arrows which he uses to blow up the ship, killing Kaa. Black Goliath contacts the Champions again, asking for their help against Stilt-Man…

1st appearance: Champscraft
Marvel Team-Up #55
The Hulk quickly forgets Spider-Man and departs. Woodgod swears revenge on mankind. Spider-Man’s rocket is intercepted by Adam Warlock who returns to his normal size and takes the rocket to the moon’s oxygenated Blue Area. Out of nowhere, the Stranger attacks and tries to take Warlock’s Soul Gem which he needs to add to his own Soul Gem for an urgent matter on Earth. Spider-Man meets a man who calls himself the Gardener who also wears a Soul Gem and helps Spider-Man free Warlock. The Stranger teleports to Earth. The Gardener departs with his now-corrupted Soul Gem. Warlock helps Spider-Man return to Earth.

1st appearance: Gardener/Ord Zyonz, Power Gem (unnamed), Time Gem (unnamed)
Champions #12
Stilt-Man has been pursuing the box that was stolen from Stark International by Jerry Washington. Regina Clayborne brings it to Champions HQ with Stilt-Man in pursuit. Black Goliath chases Stilt-Man through Los Angeles while the Champions give Regina shelter. The Stranger emerges through a portal, demanding the box. The Champions rally against him, oblivious to the intangible device within the box that has begun to grow and consume Regina. Angel stops the fight and the Stranger explains that he’d created the device – the Null-Life Bomb – some time ago to wipe out mankind, but had come here to prevent it’s activation. The Champions’ actions delayed him and now the Null-Life Bomb threatens to expand then contract, crushing our solar system. The Stranger transports the team to the realm of Kamo-Tharn to obtain his Runestaff which can stop the bomb’s expansion…
Champions #13
Hercules recalls how he’d already stolen Kamo-Tharn’s Runestaff for Thor some time ago and decides this mission is a waste of time. Darkstar transports herself back to Earth using her Darkforce powers on the remnants of the Stranger’s portal. Black Goliath tries to smash the Null-Life Bomb’s core which unleashes robots to defend itself. The Champions realise Kamo-Tharn’s attacks are all in their mind and stop fighting. Darkstar retrieves the Runestaff and causes the Null-Life Bomb to dissipate. The Stranger returns the Champions to Earth and teleports away, impressed with Darkstar’s courage.

Must ReadsTitle, Issue & SynopsisEvent / Crossover
Marvel Tales #262 (1992)
On their way out of New Mexico, the X-Men clash with the Desert Dwellers, delaying their journey home.
Captain Marvel #50 (1977)
Captain Marvel and Rick Jones finally break free of the bond that ties them together.
Ghost Rider #22 (1977)
Johnny Blaze gains the ability to transform into Ghost Rider at will.
Marvel Tales #263 (1992)
One of Del Tremens’ troops corners Woodgod, but allows him to escape when she takes pity on him.
Ms Marvel #9 (1977)
Government agent Geoffrey Ballard – the man overseeing the Null-Life Bomb project at Stark International – is also revealed to be working for a more sinister employer when he reports in to Alpha (a man who could be Mystique or a member of the Council of the Chosen, a group associated with the Hellfire Club).
THE DOOMSDAY CONNECTION
X-Men #104-108 (1977)
The source of Professor X’s apparent malady is revealed to be from an alien named Lilandra Neramani who wishes to call on his help to save the Shi’ar Empire.
Avengers Annual #7 (1977)
Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2 (1977)
Thanos gathers the energies from all six Soul Gems – including the gems with allow control of reality and space – and uses it to create a giant Synthetic Soul Gem which he plans on using to snuff out the stars; Adam Warlock absorbs the souls of Pip the Troll and Gamora into his Soul Gem when they’re laid low by Thanos; Warlock’s soul is absorbed by his past self after he falls in battle with Thanos; the
Avengers, Spider-Man and the Thing destroy Thanos’ Synthetic Soul Gem; Adam Warlock’s soul momentarily returns and transforms Thanos to stone, essentially killing him.
THE FINAL THREAT
Ghost Rider #27 (1977)
Ghost Rider teams up with Hawkeye and the Two-Gun Kid again, this time against the Manticore.
Iron Man #109-112 (1978)
The egg on the moon hatches, opening a portal to a Rigelian Coloniser ship.
Ms Marvel #18 (1978)
Avengers #172 (1977)
The Supreme Intelligence is revealed to be back online; Hawkeye returns to the Avengers with Two-Gun Kid.
THE KORVAC SAGA
Ms Marvel #19 (1977)
The Supreme Intelligence tries to subvert his will over Captain Marvel again; he also turns his attention to Ms Marvel who has combined human/Kree genetics.
THE KORVAC SAGA
Avengers #175 (1978)
Two-Gun Kid is returned to his own time.
THE KORVAC SAGA
Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #17-18 (1978)
Spider-Man learns the fate of the Champions, including how the team disbanded and Darkstar’s decision to return to Russia.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CHAMPIONS?
Captain Marvel #58-62 (1978-1979)
Programming set by Thanos in the event of his death corrupts ISAAC, the near-sentient computer system of the Eternals of Titan; ISAAC pits Drax the Destroyer against Captain Marvel again.
THE DARK CORNERS
Incredible Hulk #247-248 (1980)
The Gardener relocates to K’ai in the Microverse; the Gardener is revealed to be one of the Elders of the Universe; the Gardener briefly loses his Soul Gem when the Hulk uses it to restore K’ai to its former glory.
Marvel Two-in-One #62-63 (1980)
Sphinxor claims he convinced Adam Warlock that he’s grown to an impossible size; flashbacks reveal that Sphinxor also convinced Warlock that Counter-Earth had been destroyed and that the High Evolutionary was responsible, prompting Warlock to ‘kill’ the Evolutionary; the High Evolutionary’s survives by transforming into energy, but this all aids in fulfilling the Interdite’s prophecy; Sphinxor attempts to steal Counter-Earth for the Beyonders.

Must ReadsTitle, Issue & SynopsisEvent/Crossover
Incredible Hulk #251-253 (1980)
Woodgod runs into the Hulk again; Woodgod’s now-advanced intelligence allows him to create more hybrid companions like himself, though a feud develops between them.
Thor #314 (1981)
Drax the Destroyer is reunited with his daughter, Moondragon.
Avengers #219-220 (1982)
Drax the Destroyer and the Avengers oppose Moondragon when she telepathically takes over the alien Ba-Bani race; Moondragon kills Drax.
Thor #335 (1983)
Kamo Tharnn is first referred to as the Possessor.
New Defenders #150 (1985)
Another Star-Thief with similar powers emerges; this Defenders discover this Star-Thief is the comatose Ilse Pterigil of the planet Dreolin.
Silver Surfer #7-9 (1988)
The six Soul Gems are gathered by the Elders of the Universe and used in their plot to assassinate Galactus; the Possessor is revealed to be one of the Elders of the Universe.
WAR OF THE ELDERS OF THE UNIVERSE
Avengers Spotlight #21 (1989)
Heater Delight and Eros (now known as Starfox) are finally reunited after she somehow finds herself a slave again.
COMEDY OF EROS
Silver Surfer #34-38 (1990)
Death resurrects Thanos to wipe out half the population of the universe for her.
REBIRTH OF THANOS
New Warriors #5-6 (1990)
Ditmil Pirvat takes the name Star Thief when a beam of energy from space kills his family and leaves him with superhuman powers; Star Thief focuses on trying to stop humanity from exploring the stars.
The Thanos Quest #1-2 (1990)
Thanos renames the Soul Gems – the Stranger’s gem becomes known as the Power Gem; the Gardener’s gem is named the Time Gem; the gem from Deneb IV officially becomes the Mind Gem; the Soul Gem remains the Soul Gem; the other two gems are names the Space Gem and Reality Gem; Thanos reveals that the gems were once part of a single entity.
REBIRTH OF THANOS
Silver Surfer #44 (1991)
Thanos renames the Soul Gems as the Infinity Gems; Drax the Destroyer finally faces Thanos in direct combat again, but is defeated by the power of his Infinity Gauntlet.
REBIRTH OF THANOS
Infinity Gauntlet #1-6 (1991)
Thanos uses the six Infinity Gems to wipe out half of all life in the universe on behalf of his mistress Death; Thanos’ plans are undone by Nebula and Adam Warlock.
THE INFINITY GAUNTLET
Avengers #346 (1992)
The Supreme Intelligence assigns part of his consciousness to a Supremor robot again, this time as a member of the Kree Starforce.
OPERATION: GALACTIC STORM
Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #37 (1992)
Woodgod’s Changelings are all murdered, leaving him alone again.
Infinity War #1-6 (1992)
Despite ending the timeline that leads to his transformation into the Magus, Adam Warlock faces his evil self again when the Magus returns; it’s revealed that Warlock expelled good and evil from himself while he possessed the Infinity Gauntlet, resulting in his ‘evil’ side taking form as the Magus.
THE INFINITY WAR
Maximum Security #1-3 (2000-2001)
The Supreme Intelligence initiates a new plan to force Kree evolution, using the Forever Crystal to transforming a billion of them into a mutated species called the Ruul.
MAXIMUM SECURITY
Defenders #1 (2001)
Warlord Kaa’s Shadow Warriors are seen fighting Alpha Flight suggesting Kaa himself is still alive.
Hulk #30 (2011)
Woodgod mistakes the Red Hulk for the original and attacks him before disappearing into a portal.
Infinity Wars #6 (2019)
The Infinity Gems – having been renamed the Infinity Stones – are revealed to have come from the Quarry of Creation which is overseen by the Celestials.
INFINITY WARS

Collected Edition TitleIncludes…
Ant-Man/Giant-Man Epic Collection: Ant-Man No More (vol.2)Black Goliath #4-5
Champions #11-13
Marvel Masterworks: Ant-Man/Giant-Man vol.3Black Goliath #4-5
Marvel Universe by Chris Claremont OmnibusBlack Goliath #4-5
Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel vol.4Captain Marvel #41-46
Drax: Guardian of the GalaxyCaptain Marvel #43-44
Guardians of the Galaxy Solo Classic OmnibusCaptain Marvel #43-44
Warlock #15

Collected Edition TitleIncludes…
Adam Warlock OmnibusMarvel Team-Up #55
Warlock #12-15
Marvel Masterworks: Warlock vol.2Marvel Team-Up #55
Warlock #12-15
Thanos War: Infinity Origin OmnibusMarvel Team-Up #55
Warlock #12-15
Warlock by Jim Starlin – Gallery EditionWarlock #12-15
Warlock by Jim Starlin: The Complete CollectionWarlock #12-15
Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Team-Up vol.6Marvel Premiere #31
Marvel Team-Up #53-55
Marvel Team-Up Annual #1
Spider-Man by John Byrne Omnibus vol.2Marvel Team-Up #53-55
Champions Classic vol.2Champions #11-13
Champions Classic – The Complete CollectionChampions #11-13
Marvel Masterworks: The ChampionsChampions #11-13
Marvel Universe by John Byrne Omnibus vol.1Champions #11-13

Reading Order ©OmniverseComicsGuide 2023

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