In times of great danger, the Uni-Power – also known as the Enigma Force – grants an individual with the near-limitless cosmic abilities of Captain Universe. But something has disrupted the Uni-Power and it’s about to jump from host to host in an effort to restore itself.
This was all supposed to lead into a Captain Universe mini-series, but it never arrived. Instead, the threads would be picked up during ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST.
Crossover: Following the two-part prologue, this ‘fifth-week’ event ran as a series of interconnected one-shots.
Must-Reads: Issues marked with a ✔are essential to the story.
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 descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- ✔ Amazing Fantasy #13 [2/2]
- ✔ Amazing Fantasy #14 [2/2]
- ✔ Captain Universe/The Incredible Hulk #1
- ✔ Captain Universe/Daredevil #1
- ✔ Captain Universe/X-23 #1
- ✔ Captain Universe/Invisible Woman #1
- ✔ Captain Universe/Silver Surfer #1
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Amazing Fantasy #13 [2/2] The Uni-Power has been granted to Chicago cop Ted Simmons when something escapes the Microverse. But Simmons is almost killed when he opposes a gang of armed robbers and his powers falter. A fellow police officer takes the bullets meant for him. Simmons rejects the Uni-Power… 1st appearance: Cinglet, Ted Simmons/Captain Universe, Xennon |
| ✔ | Amazing Fantasy #14 [2/2] The next recipient, paraplegic war veteran Gabriel Vargas, agrees to help the Uni-Power discover what’s causing it to weaken. In exchange, the Uni-Power restores the use of Vargas’ legs. But first it will bond with select members of the superhuman community and replicate their powers, starting with the Hulk… 1st appearance: Gabriel Vargas/Captain Universe |
| ✔ | Captain Universe/The Incredible Hulk #1 The Uni-Power is bonded to a previous recipient as Bruce Banner becomes Captain Universe. Having replicated the Hulk’s strength, the Uni-Power asks Banner to locate Dr Gilbert Wiles, the first Earthly recipient of the Uni-Power and the foremost expert on its capabilities. But Wiles’ business partner, David Garrett, has been tasked with claiming the Uni-Power for a secret organisation. Knock-off Mandroids attack Banner who turns into a cosmic-powered Hulk and smashes the crooks. Wiles accidentally kills Garrett and is arrested. Without the Uni-Power, Banner is back on the run… 1st appearance: Carl Lombardi, David Garrett, Gilbert Wiles |
| ✔ | Captain Universe/Daredevil #1 Weeks later, Daredevil gains the power of Captain Universe which restores his sight. He learns Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM) have been attempting to claim the Uni-Power. With help from SHIELD agent Derek Khanata, Daredevil tracks down Dr Wiles – now released from prison – who suggests the Uni-Power should return to its point of origin in the Microverse. But DD insists that it stops AIM first… New identity: Daredevil/Matt Murdock as Captain Universe |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Captain Universe/X-23 #1 X-23 disrupts Derek Khanata’s subtle monitoring of AIM’s movements when she barges uninvited through their secret base. She unexpectedly becomes the newest host of the Captain Universe powers and, teaming up with SHIELD’s super-agent the Scorpion, she destroys AIM’s databanks so neither AIM nor SHIELD can have the secrets of the Uni-Power. In deep space, Lilandra Neramani sends Gladiator of the Imperial Guard to retrieve the Uni-Power for the Shi’ar Empire… New identity: X-23/Laura Kinney as Captain Universe |
| ✔ | Captain Universe/Invisible Woman #1 Mister Fantastic is studying the Uni-Power when Gladiator arrives, resulting in a brief rematch with the Fantastic Four. The Invisible Woman is granted the Uni-Power, allowing her to repel Gladiator. The fight causes a tidal wave that can only be stopped by granting Gladiator the Uni-Power. He saves New York and promises to help find the source of the Uni-Power’s problems. On his way back to Shi’ar space, he’s attacked by a mystery assailant and loses the power… New identity: Invisible Woman/Susan Storm as Captain Universe |
| ✔ | Captain Universe/Silver Surfer #1 The alien Krosakis now has the powers of Captain Universe which is unable to return to Gladiator. Sensing a disturbance in the universe, the Silver Surfer arrives and battles Krosakis. The Surfer overcharges him with the Power Cosmic, allowing the Uni-Power to hop from Krosakis’ shrivelled corpse to the Surfer himself whose cosmic energies are enough to stabilise the Uni-Power. The Surfer heads to Earth and returns the Uni-Power to Gabriel Vargas. Finally becoming Captain Universe, Vargas flies off into space to fix the Uni-Power… 1st appearance: Krosakis/Captain Universe New identity: Silver Surfer/Norrin Radd as Captain Universe |
| Must Reads | Issue & Fallout | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | Annihilation: Conquest – Starlord #1-4 (2007) Captain Universe/Gabriel Vargas is revealed to have become a prisoner of the Kree; he’s recruited into Star-Lord‘s squad to oppose the Phalanx invasion, disrupting their Babel Spire; Vargas sacrifices his Captain Universe powers to destroy an airborne Phalanx virus. Annihilation: Conquest #3 (2008) The powerless Gabriel Vargas is killed by Blastarr. | ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST |
| Amazing Spider-Man #627-628 (2010) William Nguyen becomes the next bearer of the Uni-Power, before it passes along to the Juggernaut. | THE GAUNTLET | |
| X-23 #13-16 (2011-2012) The Uni-Power is drawn to X-23 and the Invisible Woman again; X-23 briefly regains the Uni-Power. |
See how this story fits into the wider Marvel Universe with these reading orders:
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Captain Universe: Universal Heroes | Amazing Fantasy #13-14 Captain Universe/Daredevil #1 Captain Universe/Invisible Woman #1 Captain Universe/Silver Surfer #1 Captain Universe/The Incredible Hulk #1 Captain Universe/X-23 #1 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| X-23 Omnibus X-23: The Complete Collection vol.1 | Captain Universe/X-23 #1 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2024
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