2005’s ‘House of M’ had transformed the X-Men’s world, decimating the mutant race. But by 2006, the Marvel writers started working towards a grand crossover that would move the X-books into a new phase – an arc that was finally unveiled in the 2007 event ‘Messiah CompleX’. [Read more…] about Messiah CompleX Overview
Comic Book Herald Reading Orders
Click the following link if you're looking for the CBH Marvel Reading Order. Otherwise, enjoy a smattering of comic book reading orders below!
The Complete X-Men Reading Order Guide: Chris Claremont Era
Chris Claremont turned a failing comic about mutants into one of the most successful comic book franchises of all time. Though, often criticized for being too wordy or having wooden dialogue, Claremont helped create a more literary medium bringing comics into the modern era. Claremont wrote X-men comics for 16 years! Those 16 years form one of the greatest epics ever created. All modern X-men comics use Claremont’s run as a foundation. You won’t be able to truly understand X-Men: Messiah Complex without reading these books first. The good news is a lot of these comics hold up pretty well. In this guide I’ll try to differentiate the *required reading* from the *just for fun*. [Read more…] about The Complete X-Men Reading Order Guide: Chris Claremont Era
X-Men Chronology: Duane Swierczynski’s CABLE
In 2008, the X-Men universe was turned upside-down. A child was born – the first mutant since M-Day, who would come to be known as Hope Summers. This birth kicked off the events of ‘Messiah CompleX’, and ultimately led to Cable travelling to the future with the baby. The idea was to keep her safe; but Marvel chose to ensure the story continued, and passed responsibility for the arc to experienced novelist Duance Swierczynski. [Read more…] about X-Men Chronology: Duane Swierczynski’s CABLE
X-Men Chronology: Paul Cornell’s first Wolverine run
When Paul Cornell returned to Marvel, it was with a pitch that would transform Wolverine’s life. With the benefit of hindsight, this series began an arc that would culminate in Wolverine’s death; and yet, when you read through interviews from the past few years, you don’t get the sense that this was always as inevitable as it now seems. Cornell’s aim was not to kill Wolverine, but rather to change his status quo; to introduce an element of ‘threat’ to Wolverine’s life that had always been missing. [Read more…] about X-Men Chronology: Paul Cornell’s first Wolverine run
X-Men Chronology: Brian Wood’s X-Men (2013-2014)
In 2013, fans were ecstatic when old-school X-Men writer Brian Wood returned to the X-fold to pen a new, all-female, cast of X-Men. It was an unusual launch, full of promise, but sadly it didn’t quite live up to people’s expectations. [Read more…] about X-Men Chronology: Brian Wood’s X-Men (2013-2014)