While we will jump back to the beginning at a later stage, this is the first of our X-Men Family Reading Order entries which takes a look at how the X-Men and their related titles tie together, weaving through the wider Marvel Universe!
While the group of X-Men comics and spin-offs are normally referred to as the X-Books or X-Titles, I’m going to referring to the this as the X-Men Family reading order – a popular term for groups f titles in comics, though not one normally linked to Marvel’s mutants.
The original X-Men had already lost their ongoing series in 1970 due to poor sales. But the group’s failure to resonate with the comic-buying audience wouldn’t stop Marvel from taking the concept and relaunching the X-Men with a whole new line-up.
The results were astounding as the ragtag band of international misfits took comic fans by storm. While the title really took off when artists John Byrne jumped aboard (in X-Men #108), Dave Cockrum, Chris Claremont and Len Wein established at least some of the teams reworked mythology in the first couple of years that followed the launch of Giant-Size X-Men #1.
Original member Cyclops continues to lead the team as they face classic foes like Magneto and the Sentinels as well as facing newer threats, characters and concepts like the Shi’ar Empire, the N’Garai and Black Tom Cassidy.
In this entry, we’ve included appearances from established characters – Sunfire, Magneto and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants – appearing around the Marvel Universe, as well as pre-debut tales of Mystique, Rogue and Wolverine.
Other notable appearances include the debut of Captain Britain and Psylocke, while we say goodbye to Angel, Beast and Iceman as they head out of the X-Men’s corner of the Marvel Universe for a while.
Return to our CHARACTER READING ORDER INDEX for more chronological guides!
I’d like to thank the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators and the Marvel Chronology Project, the Marvel Database for their invaluable assistance.
Chronology: All appearances of the X-Men, New Mutants and other characters from the mutants’ side of the Marvel Universe from this period are included in chronological order, laying out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
Must Reads: Story arcs in bold in the Core List or marked with a ✔ in the Full Reading Order are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a look.
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.
Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
Did we miss something? Let us know!
The reading order covering the X-Men’s origins will follow – how quickly depends on demand!
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the core reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns – just the stories:
- Amazing Spider-Man #92
- Avengers (1963) #88
- X-Men: Deadly Genesis #1 [2/2]
- X-Men: Deadly Genesis #2 [2/2]
- X-Men: Deadly Genesis #3 [2/2]
- X-Men: Deadly Genesis #4 [2/2]
- X-Men: Deadly Genesis #5 [2/2]
- New Avengers: Illuminati (2007) #1
- Incredible Hulk (1968) #150
- Sub-Mariner (1972) #52-54
- Amazing Adventures (1970) #11-14
- Marvel Team-Up (1972) #4
- Amazing Adventures (1970) #15
- Avengers #117
- Spider-Man Family (2007) #8 [2/5]
- Amazing Adventures (1970) #16-17
- Incredible Hulk #161
- X-Men Unlimited (2004) #10 [2/2]
- Avengers #110-111
- Shanna the She-Devil (1972) #5
- Alpha Flight (1983) #9 [2/2]
- Spider-Man Family (2007) #9 [1/5]
- Adventure into Fear #20 [1/2]
- Incredible Hulk #172
- Captain America #172-175
- Marvel Team-Up (1972) #23
- Incredible Hulk #180-182
- Defenders (1972) #15-16
- Iron Man (1968) #68-70
- X-Men Gold (2014) #1 [3/6]
- Excalibur (1988) #-1
- Giant-Size X-Men #1 [1/4]
- Classic X-Men #1
- Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4 [1/3]
- Classic X-Men #44 [2/2]
- Giant-Size X-Men #4 [1/5]
- Classic X-Men #10 [2/2]
- Classic X-Men #5 [2/2]
- Captain America #183
- Classic X-Men #2 [2/2]
- Thor #233
- Avengers #137-140
- X-Men (1963) #94-95
- Classic X-Men #3 [2/2]
- X-Men (1963) #96
- Classic X-Men #4 [2/2]
- Champions (1975) #1-3
- Marvel Fanfare #60 [2/3]
- X-Men (1963) #97
- Amazing Spider-Man #161-162
- Marvel Team-Up #51
- Captain Britain (1976) #1-2
- Classic X-Men #6 [2/2]
- Marvel Holiday Special (1991) #1 [1/8]
- X-Men (1963) #98-100
- Classic X-Men #8 [2/2]
- X-Men (1963) #101
- Classic X-Men #9 [2/2]
- Captain Britain (1976) #8-9
- Marvel Team-Up Annual #1
- Marvel Team-Up (1972) #53
- Marvel Tales #262 [2/2]
- X-Men (1963) #102
- Sensational She-Hulk (1989) #30
- X-Men (1963) #103
- Iron Fist (1975) #11
- Classic X-Men #11 [2/2]
- X-Men (1963) #104-105
- X-Men (1963) #106
- X-Men (1963) #107-108
- Iron Fist (1975) #14-15
- Captain America Annual #4
- Classic X-Men #12 [2/2]
- Super-Villain Team-Up #14
- Champions (1975) #16
- Iron Man (1968) #98-99
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | Amazing Spider-Man #92 (1971) Iceman (Bobby Drake) pursues Spider-Man when he mistakenly believes he’s kidnapped a girl named Gwen Stacy. | |
| Avengers #88 (1971) Professor X (Charles Xavier) assists the Avengers and Mister Fantastic in successfully capturing the Hulk. 1st appearance: Psyklop | THE SUMMONS OF PSYKLOP | |
| X-Men Origins: Colossus #1 (p.11-13) (2008) Professor X first approaches Russian intelligence operative Alexei Vazhin. | ||
| X-Men: Deadly Genesis #1 [2/2] (2006) X-Men: Deadly Genesis #2 [2/2] (2006) X-Men: Deadly Genesis #3 [2/2] (2006) X-Men: Deadly Genesis #4 [2/2] (2006) X-Men: Deadly Genesis #5 [2/2] (2006) Operating behind the scenes, Professor X offers new lives to mutants Petra Kristensen, Armando Muñoz, Suzanne Chan and Gabriel Summers; Emma Frost rejects Xavier’s offer; the Professor allows Cyclops (Scott Summers) to train with Kid Vulcan (Gabriel Summers) but doesn’t reveal his suspicions that they may be brothers. 1st appearance: Sway/Suzanne Chan, Petra/Petra Kristensen, Darwin/Armando Muñoz, Kid Vulcan/Gabriel Summers Note: Do not read until the 2006 era. | DECIMATION | |
| ✔ | New Avengers: Illuminati #1 (pp.1-10) (2006) Professor X agrees to join a secret group of superhumans alongside Mister Fantastic, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Iron Man, Doctor Strange and Black Bolt, unofficially dubbed the Illuminati. | THE ROAD TO CIVIL WAR |
| ✔ | New Avengers: Illuminati #1 (2007) The Illuminati retaliate against the Skrulls for attacking Earth as part of the Kree-Skrull War; their actions backfire, dramatically, and the Illuminati barely escape; the Skrulls obtain DNA samples of the team, including Professor X. | |
| ✔ | Incredible Hulk #150 (1972) Having recently left the X-Men after an argument with Iceman, Havok (Alex Summers) has relocated to New Mexico where he clashes with the Hulk; Lorna Dane convinces Havok to rejoin the team. | |
| Sub-Mariner #52 (1972) Sub-Mariner #53 [1/2] (1972) Sub-Mariner #54 [1/3] (1972) The Dragon-Lord of Krakinowa pits Sunfire against Namor the Sub-Mariner as part of his plan to assault the US; Sunfire realises he’s on the wrong side. 1st appearance: Dragon-Lord/Katsuo Sasaki | ||
| ✔ | Amazing Adventures #11-13 (1972) Amazing Adventures #14 (pp.1-12) (1972) Having left the X-Men, Hank McCoy pursues a career in science with the Brand Corporation; Hank takes an experimental chemical extract that transforms him into even more of a Beast, with a furrier, animalistic form, in an effort to hide himself from the Secret Empire; Beast clashes with Iron Man, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and Quasimodo. 1st appearance: Brand Corporation, Linda Donaldson | SECRET EMPIRE |
| ✔ | Marvel Team-Up #4 (1972) Professor X sends the X-Men to apprehend Spider-Man when he’s accused of killing on an old friend; Spidey and the X-Men team up against Morbius when they discover he’s the killer. | |
| ✔ | Amazing Adventures #14 (pp.13-20) (1972) Angel (Warren Worthington III) tracks down the Beast and sees his blue, furry form for the first time. | SECRET EMPIRE |
| Avengers #102-104 (1972) The Mark II Sentinels return from space and quickly target the mutant Scarlet Witch; the Sentinels begin focusing their attacks on humans as well as the WItch’s fellow Avengers. | ||
| ✔ | Amazing Adventures #15 (1972) Angel helps Beast defeat the Griffin; Angel agrees to relay the story of the Beast’s transformation to the X-Men. 1st appearance: Griffin/John Horton, Number One | SECRET EMPIRE |
| Avengers #117 (1973) Sunfire is caught up between the Avengers and Defenders search for the missing pieces of the Evil Eye, clashing with Namor once more. | AVENGERS/ DEFENDERS WAR | |
| Spider-Man Family #8 [2/5] (2008) Peter Parker (Spider-Man) and Bobby Drake (Iceman) race each other to the last table in a popular Chinese restaurant to impress their respective dates. |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| Amazing Adventures #16-17 (1973) Incredible Hulk #161 (1973) Beast’s battle with the Juggernaut leads to a confrontation with the Hulk which decides the fate of the Mimic. | BEYOND THE BORDER | |
| X-Men Unlimited #10 [2/2] (2005) Cyclops drives the Beast out to his parents’ place so he can reveal his new appearance to them. | ||
| Code of Honor #1 (p.6-7) (1997) Angel cameo; Angel is seen flying above Manhattan. | ||
| Avengers #110-111 (1973) Magneto defeats the X-Men and takes over the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters; the Avengers, Black Widow and Daredevil, Black Widow bring Magneto down and release the X-Men. | THE MARK OF HAWKEYE | |
| ✔ | Alpha Flight #9 [2/2] (1984) Wolverine recruits Aurora to Alpha Flight. | |
| Spider-Man Family #9 [1/5] (2009) SHIELD ask Marvel Girl (Jean Grey) and Spider-Man to monitor Bruce Banner and keep him from turning into the Hulk; Marvel Girl and Spider-Man and Hulk team up against Doctor Octopus. | ||
| Adventure into Fear #20 [1/2] (1974) Flashback: Morbius escapes the X-Men before they can find a cure for his condition. 1st appearance: Daemond, Tara (unnamed) | ALONE AGAINST ARCTURUS | |
| Incredible Hulk #172 (1974) Captain America #172-175 (1974) X-Men cameo; the Hulk pounds the Juggernaut into submission, allowing Professor X, Cyclops and Marvel Girl to defeat him; the X-Men’s search for the missing Angel leads to a battle between Captain America and the Banshee (Sean Cassidy); the X-Men help Captain America and the Falcon locate the missing mutants who’ve been kidnapped by the Secret Empire. | SECRET EMPIRE | |
| X-Men Origins: Colossus #1 (pp.14-24) (2008) The Russian Government make an attempt to kidnap Piotr Rasputin for their own purposes. | ||
| Marvel Team-Up #23 (pp.1-17) (1974) Iceman clashes with the Human Torch when each believes the other is to blame for Equinox‘s criminal activities. 1st appearance: Equinox/Terry Sorenson (full) | EQUINOX | |
| Code of Honor #2 (p.30-32) (1997) Iceman and the Torch’s battle with Equinox is witnessed first-hand by Jeff Piper of the NYPD. | ||
| Marvel Team-Up #23 (pp.17-18) (1974) Iceman and the Human Torch defeat Equinox. | EQUINOX | |
| Free Comic Book Day: Wolverine #1 (p.22) (2009) Wolverine is summoned for a mission to confront the Hulk. |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | Incredible Hulk #180-182 (1974) Wolverine launches himself into battle against the Hulk and Wendigo, but is soundly defeated by the Hulk. 1st appearance: Anvil/John Anvil, Hammer/Leroy Jackson, Wolverine/Weapon X/Logan | |
| Code of Honor #2 (p.6-7) (1997) Warren Worthington cameo; Angel flies over Manhattan, out of costume. | ||
| ✔ | Defenders #15-16 (1974) Professor X assists the Defenders against the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and Alpha the Ultimate Mutant; Alpha reduces his creator, Magneto, as well as the rest of the Brotherhood (Blob, Lorelei, Mastermind and Unus the Untouchable) to infancy. 1st appearance: Alpha the Ultimate Mutant, Cauldron of the Cosmos | |
| Iron Man #68-70 (1874) A Vietnamese Major tricks Sunfire into battling Iron Man on his behalf; the Mandarin uses Sunfire’s powers against his will to restore his mind to his own body; Sunfire and Iron Man join forces against the Mandarin and Ultimo. | ||
| X-Men Gold #1 [3/6] (2014) Banshee and Sunfire meet for the first time | ||
| Classic X-Men #1 (pp.1-4) (1986) Cyclops alerts Professor X to the fate of the X-Men on the living mutant island Krakoa. | ||
| Uncanny Origins #8 (pp.12-14) (1997) Amos Jardine tries to poach Kurt Wagner from Herr Gutmann’s Travelling Circus. | ||
| Excalibur #-1 (1997) While Kurt considers running away from the circus, the demon Belasco taunts his foster-mother, Margali Szardos. | FLASHBACK | |
| Uncanny Origins #8 (pp.13-20) (1997) Kurt Wagner is chased from the circus and hunted by a bloodthirsty mob. | ||
| ✔ | Giant-Size X-Men #1 [1/4] (pp.1-4) (1975) In Germany, Professor X recruits Kurt Wagner into the X-Men. 1st appearance: Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner | SECOND GENESIS |
| Uncanny Origins #8 (pp.21-23) (1997) Kurt accompanies Professor X back to America and selects his codename, Nightcrawler. | ||
| X-Men Origins: Wolverine #1 (p.17) (2009) At Department H in Canada, Wolverine is called to Major Chasin’s office. | ||
| ✔ | Giant-Size X-Men #1 [1/4] (pp.5-6) (1975) / X-Men Origins: Wolverine #1 (pp.18-19) (2009) Professor X offers Wolverine a place among the X-Men, causing him to quit Department H and earn Chasin’s anger. | SECOND GENESIS |
| X-Men Origins: Wolverine #1 (pp.20-28) (2009) Department H try to stop Professor X and Wolverine from leaving Canada, provoking Wolverine’s animalistic side. | ||
| ✔ | Giant-Size X-Men #1 [1/4] (pp.7-9) (1975) Professor X heads to Nashville to recruit Banshee, then travels to Kenya to offer Ororo Munroe a place on the team. 1st appearance: Storm/Ororo Monroe | SECOND GENESIS |
| Uncanny Origins #9 (pp.19-22) (1997) Ororo travels back to America with Professor X. | ||
| ✔ | Giant-Size X-Men #1 [1/4] (pp.9-11) (1975) After convincing Sunfire to join the X-Men, Professor X heads from Japan to Siberia to locate Peter Rasputin. 1st appearance: Colossus/Piotr ‘Peter’ Rasputin, Illyana Rasputina, Nikolai Rasputin, Alexandra Rasputina | SECOND GENESIS |
| X-Men Origins: Colossus #1 (pp.25-29) (2008) Professor X convinces Peter to leave his family behind him and join the X-Men. | ||
| ✔ | Giant-Size X-Men #1 [1/4] (pp.12-13) (1975) Peter Rasputin accompanies Professor X out of Siberia; Professor X makes his final stop in Arizona where John Proudstar takes a little more convincing 1st appearance: Thunderbird/John Proudstar | SECOND GENESIS |
| X-Men Origins: Wolverine #1 (pp.29-30) (2009) / X-Men Origins: Colossus #1 (p.30) (2008) Professor X introduces Wolverine to the other new X-Men. | ||
| Giant-Size X-Men #3 [1/4] (2005) Wolverine tricks the recruits into fighting him in the Danger Room. |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | Giant-Size X-Men #1 [1/4] (pp.14-15) (1975) Professor X and Cyclops brief the new X-Men; Cyclops reveals the fate of the original X-Men. | SECOND GENESIS |
| X-Men Gold #1 [4/6] (2014) During the briefing, Wolverine considers how he’d kill each of the X-Men if he had to. | ||
| ✔ | Giant-Size X-Men #1 [1/4] (pp.15-35) (1975) The all-new, all-different X-Men rescue the original X-Men from the living island Krakoa. 1st appearance: Krakoa | SECOND GENESIS |
| ✔ | Classic X-Men #1 (pp.19-32) (1986) Tensions run high as the old and new X-Men begin to squabble; Wolverine makes a move on Marvel Girl who wonders if the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters is no longer the place for her. | |
| ✔ | X-Men #94 (pp.1-7) (1975) Angel, Lorna Dane, Havok, Iceman, Marvel Girl and Sunfire all leave the X-Men; Cyclops stays behind to train the new team. | SECOND GENESIS |
| Classic X-Men #2 [1/2] (pp-7-8) (1986) Cyclops continues to train the new X-Men. | ||
| ✔ | X-Men #94 (p.8) (1975) Cyclops begins to wonder if he’s cut out to train the X-Men. | SECOND GENESIS |
| Classic X-Men #2 [1/2] (pp.10-12) (1986) Thunderbird begins to compete with Wolverine; Professor X contacts Moira MacTaggert. | ||
| Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4 [1/3] (1975) Professor X helps the Fantastic Four subdue the out-of-control Multiple Man and offer to help him learn how to control his powers. 1st appearance: Multiple Man/Jamie Madrox | ||
| ✔ | Classic X-Men #44 [2/2] (1990) Mystique tries to steer young Rogue away from boys. | |
| Giant-Size X-Men #4 [1/5] (2005) Thunderbird tries to make friends with Storm when he discovers her biggest weakness in a training session. | ||
| ✔ | Classic X-Men #10 [2/2] (1987) Sabretooth stalks Wolverine on his birthday. | |
| Classic X-Men #5 [2/2] (1987) Colossus foils a kidnapping. | ||
| Captain America #183 (1975) Beast cameo; Nomad (Steve Rogers) calls the Xavier School, bur the Beast – who’s only visiting – is the only person home, but gives Steve some good advice. | NOMAD | |
| ✔ | Classic X-Men #2 [2/2] (1986) Storm helps Jean Grey move into her new apartment, but their friendship is quickly tested. | |
| Thor #233 (1975) Cyclops cameo; Cyclops is among the heroes who rise to defend Earth from Loki‘s invading army. | ||
| Avengers #137-140 (1975) Beast assists the Avengers against the Toad, Whirlwind and the Brand Corporation; he and Moondragon apply for Avengers membership. Note: From this point, Beast’s continuity will be tracked in the upcoming AVENGERS READING ORDER and DEFENDERS READING ORDER until he joins X-Factor in 1986. | ||
| ✔ | X-Men #94 (pp.9-18) (1975) X-Men #95 (1975) The X-Men go on their second mission when Count Nefaria and his Ani-Men take over a nuclear base; a member of the team loses their life in the final battle. 1st appearance: Dragonfly/Veronica Dultry, Helen Rachelson (unnamed), Archibald Stancheck (unnamed), Kenneth Sturdy (unnamed) Note: These issues are expanded and amended in Classic X-Men #2-3 (1986) | SECOND GENESIS |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| X-Men and Doctor Doom Annual (p.23) (1998) A time-hopping Doctor Doom witnesses Professor X’s reaction to the death of Thunderbird. | |
| ✔ | Classic X-Men #3 [2/2] (1986) The X-Men return Thunderbird’s body to his family in Arizona; Thunderbird’s brother, James Proudstar, swears revenge. |
| ✔ | X-Men #96 (1975) Colonel Michael Rossi‘s discovery of the anti-mutant Project Armageddon appears to cost him his life; the X-Men battle the demonic N’Garai; Moira MacTaggert arrives at the Xavier School. 1st appearance: Kierrok, Moira MacTaggert, the N’Garai, Stephen Lang, Mark III Sentinels, Project Armageddon, Colonel Michael Rossi Note: This issue is expanded and amended in Classic X-Men #4 (1986) |
| Uncanny Origins #9 (p.22) (1997) Storm poses for a photo alongside her fellow X-Men. | |
| ✔ | Classic X-Men #4 [2/2] (1986) Nightcrawler and Wolverine strike up an unlikely friendship. |
| Champions #1-3 (1975-1976) Angel and Iceman assist Hercules in his fight with Pluto and Ares; Black Widow and Ghost Rider join the fight and the heroes decide to stay together as a team, forming the Champions. Note: From this point, Angel and Iceman’s continuity will be tracked in the upcoming CHAMPIONS READING ORDER and DEFENDERS READING ORDER until they join X-Factor in 1986. | |
| ✔ | Marvel Fanfare #60 [2/3] (1992) Having recruited Pyro, Mystique decides to bring Rogue along on an early mission with her new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, though her youth proves to be a problem. |
| ✔ | X-Men #97 (1976) Empress Lilandra Neramani contacts Professor X for help from across the stars; Eric the Red subverts Havok and Polaris, turning them against the X-Men. 1st appearance: Lilandra Neramani, Emperor D’Ken, Eric the Red/Davan Shakari, the Shi’ar New identity: Lorna Dane as Polaris Note: This issue is expanded and amended in Classic X-Men #5 (1987) |
| ✔ | Amazing Spider-Man #161-162 (1976) Colossus & Wolverine cameo; Nightcrawler investigates the murder of an old circus friend, running into Spider-Man, the Punisher and Jigsaw. 1st appearance: Jigsaw/Billy Russo, Marla Madison |
| Marvel Team-Up #51 (1976) Professor X cameo; Professor X is called to the stand at the trial of the Wraith (Brian DeWolff) and his father, Phillip DeWolff. | |
| Captain Britain #1 [1/3] (1976) Captain Britain #2 [1/3] (1976) In England, Captain Britain makes his debut, opposing the Reaver when he steals experiments from Darkmoor Energy Research Centre. 1st appearance: Captain Britain/Brian Braddock, Reaver/Joshua Stragg, Lady Roma, Dr Hugo Travis, Amulet of Right, Sword of Might, Darkmoor, Darkmoor Energy Research Centre Note: From this point, Captain Britain’s continuity will be tracked in the upcoming CAPTAIN BRITAIN READING ORDER until he joins Excalibur in 1988. | |
| Classic X-Men #6 [2/2] (1987) Settling in to her new apartment (shared with private investigator Misty Knight), Jean Grey anxiously prepares for her fateful date with Cyclops. | |
| Marvel Holiday Special #1 [1/8] (1991) Before hitting the town for Christmas, the X-Men have a run-in with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (Blob, Mastermind, Unus and Toad) in a mall. | |
| ✔ | X-Men #98-100 (1976) The X-Men’s night off in Manhattan is interrupted by attacking Sentinels; the fight takes them to a space station where they face Stephen Lang‘s X-Sentinels (robots built to look like the original X-Men); following the destruction of the Starcore space station, the X-Men find themselves heading towards Earth in a crashing shuttle with Jean Grey offering to sacrifice her life to save the team… 1st appearance: Black Tom Cassidy/Thomas Cassidy, Amanda Sefton, X-Sentinels Note: These issues are expanded and amended in Classic X-Men #6-9 (1987) |
| Classic X-Men #8 [2/2] (1987) The Phoenix Force comes to Jean Grey, places her in a cocoon to save her life and takes her form. Note: It’s better to read this story before X-Factor #1 (1986) | |
| ✔ | X-Men #101 (pp.1-6) (1976) The shuttle crashes into Jamaica Bay, with Jean Grey emerging from the water as the Phoenix having saved the X-Men from almost-certain death. 1st appearance: Phoenix /’Jean Grey’ |
| Classic X-Men #9 [1/2] (pp.7-9) (1987) The X-Men escape from Jamaica Bay to avoid trouble while Jean Grey struggles with her new Phoenix powers. |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| Classic X-Men #9 [2/2] (1987) Nightcrawler has a spooky encounter while Jean Grey recovers in hospital. | ||
| Captain Britain #8 [1/3] (1976) Captain Britain #9 [1/3] (1976) Captain Britain’s twin sister, Betsy Braddock, begins to exhibit superhuman abilities; Jamie Braddock returns home to Braddock Manor while the family are under attack from Doctor Synne. 1st appearance: Betsy Braddock, Jamie Braddock, Doctor Synne, Braddock Manor Note:From this point, Betsy Braddock’s continuity will be tracked in the upcoming PSYLOCKE READING ORDERas well as the X-UNIVERSE READING ORDER when she becomes affiliated with the team in 1986. | ||
| Marvel Team-Up Annual #1 (1976) Marvel Team-Up #53 (1977) The X-Men join forces with Spider-Man against the Lords of Light and Darkness and the agents of Major Del Tremens in New Mexico. | HOMECOMING | |
| Marvel Tales #262 [2/2] (1992) On their way home through the New Mexico desert, the X-Men are attacked by Sunstroke of the Desert Dwellers; Phoenix loses consciousness during the fight and the X-Men rush her to hospital. | ||
| ✔ | X-Men #101 (pp.7-17) (1976) X-Men #102 (pp.1-11) (1976) Storm’s origin is revealed; X-Men are lured to Cassidy Keep where Banshee’s brother, Black Tom Cassidy, has partnered with the Juggernaut to spring a trap. 1st appearance: Eamon O’Donnell, Cassidy Keep Note: These issues are expanded and amended in Classic X-Men #9-10 (1987) | |
| Sensational She-Hulk #30 (1991) Juggernaut is plucked from time by Isbisa to clash with the She-Hulk in the future. | ||
| ✔ | X-Men #102 (pp.12-17) (1977) X-Men #103 (1977) Storm’s origin is revealed; X-Men are lured to Cassidy Keep where Banshee’s brother, Black Tom Cassidy, has partnered with the Juggernaut to spring a trap; Wolverine’s claws are revealed to be housed in his arms rather than his gloves. 1st appearance: Eamon O’Donnell, Cassidy Keep Identity revealed: Wolverine is first referred to as ‘Logan’ Note: This issue is expanded and amended in Classic X-Men #10-11 (1987) | |
| Iron Fist #11 (1977) Cyclops and Phoenix cameo; Cyclops takes the recovering Phoenix back to the apartment she shares with Misty Knight. | ||
| Classic X-Men #11 [2/2] (1987) Storm gives a London journalist a demonstration of her powers when they‘re both stalked by a serial killer. | ||
| Ms Marvel #9-10 (1977) Stopping for on Earth for supplies, Shi’ar viceroy Deathbird finds herself allying with MODOK against Ms Marvel. 1st appearance: Deathbird/Cal’syee Neramani, Tabby Townshend | THE DOOMSDAY CONNECTION | |
| ✔ | X-Men #104 (1977) X-Men #105 (pp.1-17) (1977) Having been returned to adulthood by Erik the Red, Magneto clashes with the new X-Men for the first time; Phoenix battles Firelord, the former Herald of Galactus; Erik the Red continues to use Havok and Polaris against the X-Men; the team pursue Erik the Red into space… 1st appearance: The Starjammers (Corsair/Christopher Summers, Ch’od & Cr’reee) Note: These issues are expanded and amended in Classic X-Men #12-13 (1987) | |
| X-Men #106 (1977) Professor X convinces Firelord to end his attack and recalls the time his dark emotions manifested as the Entity, creating versions of the original X-Men to attack the present team. 1st appearance: Entity | ||
| ✔ | X-Men #107-108 (1977) The X-Men arrive in the heart of the Shi’ar Empire where they’re caught up in D’Ken‘s efforts to kill Empress Lilandra and using the M’Kraan Crystal to claim the Shi’ar throne for himself; D’Ken sends the Imperial Guard to subdue the X-Men; D’Ken’s use of the M’Kraan Crystal begins to threaten reality; Lilandra Nerami returns to Earth with the X-Men; Cyclops is unaware that Corsair of the Starjammers is his father. 1st appearance: Hepzibah, Jahf, Modt, Raza, Shi’ar Imperial Guard (Gladiator/Kallark, Astra, Electron, Fang, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Magic/Magique, Mentor, Nightside, Oracle/Sybil, Quasar/Neutron, Smasher/Vril-Rokk, Starbolt, Tempest/Grannz, Titan, Midget/Scintilla), the M’Kraan Crystal Note: These issues are expanded and amended in Classic X-Men #14-15 (1987) | |
| ✔ | Iron Fist #14-15 (1977) Iron Fist is attacked by an assassin called Sabretooth; a case of mistaken identity leads to Iron Fist battling the X-Men; Wolverine continues to wear Fang’s costume. 1st appearance: Bushmaster/John McIver, Sabretooth/Victor Creed | NIGHT OF THE STEEL SERPENT |
| ✔ | Captain America Annual #4 (1977) Magneto forms a new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, assigning them to kidnap the alien Mister One and Mister Two; Captain America intervenes. 1st appearance: Burner/Byron Calley, Lifter/Ned Lathrop, Peeper/Peter Quinn, Shocker/Randall Darby, Slither/Aaron Salomon | |
| ✔ | Classic X-Men #12 [2/2] (1987) Magneto heads to Paris and recalls his family’s struggles during World War II. | |
| ✔ | Super-Villain Team-Up #14 (1977) Champions #16 (1977) Doctor Doom successfully takes over the world and only the Beast and Magneto are unaffected by his mind-control; the unlikely allies seek help from the Champions against Doom, but things don’t quite go to plan. | DOOM SUPREME |
| Iron Man #98-99 (1977) Sunfire clashes with Iron Man again while working with the Mandarin. |
The X-Men Family Reading Order continues…
- X-MEN FAMILY, 1978-1981 – The Phoenix Saga
- X-MEN FAMILY, 1982-1984 – From Broodworld to Battleworld
Notable alternate universes featuring the X-Men and related characters from this period:
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| What If? #37 [2/3] (1983) EARTH-8320 – The formula Hank McCoy swallows makes him a blue, furry, mindless Beast; the X-Men decide the Beast’s fate. | ||
| ✔ | What If? #31 [1/2] (1982) EARTH-820231 – Wolverine disobeys his orders from Department H and kills the Hulk; in this reality, he’s recruited by Magneto into the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, rather than the X-Men; Magneto finds Wolverine too hard to control. |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| New Avengers: Illuminati | New Avengers: Illuminati #1-5 |
| X-Men Epic Collection: It’s Always Darkest Before the Dawn (vol.4) | Amazing Adventures #11-17 Amazing Spider-Man #92 Avengers #110-111 Captain America #172-175 Defenders #15-16 Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4 Incredible Hulk #150, 161, 172, 180-182 Marvel Team-Up #4, 23 |
| Uncanny X-Men Omnibus vol.1 | Giant-Size X-Men #1 X-Men #94-131 X-Men Annual #3 |
| X-Men Epic Collection: Second Genesis (vol.5) | Giant-Size X-Men #1 Iron Fist #14-15 Marvel Team-Up #53, 69-70 Marvel Team-Up Annual #1 X-Men #94-110 |
| X-Men Epic Collection: Proteus (vol.5) | Incredible Hulk Annual #7 Marvel Team-Up #89 X-Men #111-128 X-Men Annual #3 |
| Classic X-Men Omnibus | Classic X-Men #1-44 [part] Marvel Fanfare #60 [part] |
| Classic X-Men: The Complete Collection vol.1 | Classic X-Men #1-23 [part] |
| X-Men: Vignettes | Classic X-Men #1-13 [part] |
| Astonishing X-Men Companion | Free Comics Book Day: X-Men/Runaways #1 Giant-Size X-Men #3-4 Mythos: X-Men #1 X-Men Unlimited #2-14 |
| Giant-Size X-Men: 40th Anniversary | Classic X-Men #1 Giant-Size X-Men #1, 3-4 What If #9, 23 X-Men: Deadly Genesis #1-6 X-Men Gold #1 [part] X-Men Origins: Colossus #1 X-Men Origins: Wolverine #1 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Alpha Flight Classic vol.2 Alpha Flight by John Byrne Omnibus | Alpha Flight #9 [part] |
| Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: The Death of Captain Stacy (vol.6) Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus vol.3 Spider-Man and the Uncanny X-Men Spider-Man: The Death of Captain Stacy Spider-Man: The Death of the Stacys | Amazing Spider-Man #92 |
| Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Spider-Man or Spider-Clone? (vol.9) Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus vol.5 Punisher: Back to the War Omnibus | Amazing Spider-Man #161-162 |
| Captain America & the Falcon: The Swine Captain America by Jack Kirby Omnibus Captain America Omnibus vol.4 | Captain America Annual #4 |
| Defenders Epic Collection: Enter: The Headmen (vol.2) Defenders Omnibus vol.1 | Defenders #15-16 |
| Giant-Size Marvel | Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4 Giant-Size X-Men #1 |
| Incredible Hulk Epic Collection: And Now… the Wolverine (vol.7) Wolverine Omnibus vol.1 | Incredible Hulk #180-182 |
| Champions Classic vol.2 Champions: The Complete Collection Doctor Doom Omnibus: The Book of Doom Super-Villains Unite: The Complete Super-Villains Team-Up | Champions #16 Super-Villain Team-Up #14 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide, 2024
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