Ever since Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier hit the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2014, and Secret Empire turned the Marvel Comics universe upside down, Hydra has become the most well-known fictional crime organization this side of Star Wars’ Empire.
Hydra has a long comic book history dating back to the mid 1960’s Strange Tales #135, with many iterations – including, yes, full-blown Nazism – and extensions of the would-be world conquerors ever since.
Below you’ll find a guide to all the essential comics detailing Hydra’s involvement in the Marvel Universe. So cut off one limb, expect two more to take its place, and yes, Hail Sore Shoulder Muscles!
Hydra Comics Reading Order
Hydra vs. SHIELD In the 1960’s!
S.H.I.E.L.D. by Lee & Kirby: The Complete Collection
Collects: Strange Tales (1951) #135-150, Fantastic Four (1961) #21, Tales of Suspense (1959) #78
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Like a large proportion of concepts in the Marvel Universe, Hydra spins from the creative partnership of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, with a SHIELD vs. Hydra storyline carrying through Strange Tales #135 to #139.
These early issues of Strange Tales deliver a shocking amount of introduction for Nick Fury, SHIELD, and of course, the many limbed green & yellow hordes.
At this stage, Hydra is clearly mirroring James Bond’s anonymous secret spy antagonists, without much motivation beyond ruling the world. They also unquestionably have the best synchronized hand motions in all of comics.
S.H.I.E.L.D. By Steranko: The Complete Collection
Collects: Strange Tales (1951) #151-168, Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1968) #1-3 & 5
In addition to featuring Jim Steranko’s revolutionary 60’s art, the Steranko run on Strange Tales reveals Baron Von Strucker’s role as the leader of Hydra. This connects Hydra to the one-time Howling Commandos arch-enemy during World War Two, and means the former leader of the Nazi Blitzkreig Brigade is now fronting Hydra.
Captain America vs. Hydra!
Captain America #111 to #113
Captain America #144 to #148
Captain America #273 to #274
While Captain America #111 to #113 are strong early issues starring Madame Hydra, Cap #144 to #148 are the most essential of the bunch, revealing the Red Skulls ties to Hydra!
Cap #273 to #274 are much later, but bring back Baron Von Strucker and Hydra to attack Captain America once more!
Hydra and The New Avengers
Collects: Spider-Woman Origin #1 to #5
New Avengers Vol. 3: Secrets and Lies
Collects: New Avengers #11-15 & Giant-Size Spider-Woman #1
Spider-Woman
Collects: Spider-Woman #1 to #7
Once Spider-Woman was added to the New Avengers roster during the Brian Michael Bendis run from 2004 to 2010, her brainwashed childhood within Hydra became a recurring plot point.
The five issue Spider-Woman origin story is one of the better 2000’s examples of what it’s like inside Hydra, doing work to explain how an inherently good person like Jessica Drew could think she was on the right side.
Note that the short-lived 2009 Spider-Woman miniseries from Bendis and Alex Maleev is functionally a Secret Invasion epilogue, and will make more sense if you’re familiar with the event.
Collects: Wolverine #20 to #32
Hydra teams up with the Hand and the Gorgon to brainwash Wolverine and use him against the Marvel Universe! From Mark Millar and John Romita Jr, an essential 2000’s Wolverine read.
Collects: Immortal Iron Fist #1 to #16
In addition to creating the best Iron Fist story of all time, Matt Fraction, Ed Brubaker and David Aja also delivered classic Hydra villainy run rampant all over this amazing series.
Hydra vs. SHIELD Forever
Collects: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #36 to #47, Fury #1
Secret Warriors Vol. 1: Nick Fury, Agent of Nothing
Collects: Secret Warriors #1 to #6
Secret Warriors spins out of Dark Reign to deliver the best SHIELD vs. Hydra story I’ve ever read. It’s also one of my favorite Marvel Comics of the millennium!
The series, which ran for 28 issues from 2008 to 2011, marks the start of Jonathan Hickman’s Marvel Universe which runs through 2015 Secret Wars.
Hickman continues to explore the ancient legacy of SHIELD and Hydra, here with artist Dustin Weaver. This is heady sci-fi spy action, so definitely only recommended if you already like Hickman’s writing and have a broad understanding of the Marvel U!
Captain America (2011) by Ed Brubaker
Collects: #1 to #19
Collects: Captain America: Hail Hydra #1-5
Five issue miniseries from Jonathan Maberry covers Captain America vs. Hydra battles throughout the decades.
Captain America: Hail Hydra through Secret Empire
All-New Captain America Vol. 1: Hydra Ascendant
Collects: All-New Captain America #1 to #6
The first Sam Wilson as Captain America arcs round out Rick Remender’s time writing the Captain America universe, and continues focusing on Hydra.
Captain America: Steve Rogers Vol. 1: Hail Hydra
Collects: Captain America: Steve Rogers 1-6, Free Comic Book Day 2016 (Captain America) 1
For good or ill, this will unquestionably go down as one of the most memorable moments in Captain America and Hydra history.
You should only read Captain America: Steve Rogers issues #1 to #3 prior to Civil War 2!
Marvel’s lackluster summer 2016 event does include important developments for the Captain America universe, particularly in the pages of Captain America: Steve Rogers, and Civil War II: The Oath.
If you want the full event reading order, I recommend Comic Book Herald’s guide to Civil War 2.
Captain America: Steve Rogers Vol. 2: The Trial of Maria Hill
Collects: Captain America: Steve Rogers 7-11, Civil War II: The Oath
As noted above, the majority of issues in these collections are part of the Civil War 2 reading order.
Captain America: Steve Rogers Vol. 3
Collects: Captain America: Steve Rogers #12 to #15
Collects: Free Comic Book Day 2017, Secret Empire #0 to #9
You can see all of Secret Empire with tie-ins in the Secret Empire reading order.
Captain America: Divided We Fall
Collects: Captain America: Steve Rogers 16-19, Captain America: Sam Wilson 22-24
Weird Bonus Round!
Bruce Wayne Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 : Mission Destroy Hydra
PETER PARKER SPIDER-MAN (WHO LEADS THE HORDES OF HYDRA?, NO.79
Michael says
November 24, 2017 at 1:08 pmIs there a reliable source for the true and thorough chronological reading order for Dr. Karla Sofen (Moonstone/Meteorite/Ms.Marvel)??
Tazio says
May 29, 2017 at 7:49 amNow you have to make a Shield reading order