When I was first getting into Marvel Comics, reading Earth X was one of the most confusing experiences of my fledgling life. It wasn’t quite Final Crisis
Coming back to Earth X years later as part of My Marvelous Year, I realized that the series is a love letter to Marvel lore (and, uh, Machine Man), speckled with moments of absolute brilliance. The trilogy also features an uncanny ability predict the future of the Marvel Universe. The epic by Jim Krueger, Alex Ross, and John Paul Leon is well worth a read, but only with a few caveats acknowledged!
Earth X, and the ensuing Universe X and Paradise X are absolutely alternate reality Marvel Comics. They do not occur along the standard Earth-616 comics timeline, and can be read removed from the events of Comic Book Herald’s Complete Marvel Reading Order.
I recommend the Earth X trilogy for Marvel fans with a medium to heavy knowledge of the Marvel Universe and history. It will simply be more enjoyable, in my opinion.
Finally, in addition to the crossover issues reading order placement, I also call out Marvel Unlimited oddities below. For some reason, Earth X, which should be quite easy to read in order, includes the last issue of the series as one of the first published issues. Failure to follow this order (as I did!) will lead to tremendous confusion, and possibly cataracts.
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Earth X, Universe X, and Paradise X Trade Reading Order
Earth X Comic Book Reading Order
Earth X (1999) – Publication date of March 01, 1999 in Marvel Unlimited. Do not read Earth X (1999) with publication date of March 10, 1999 at this time!
Earth X (1999) #1 to #12
Earth (1999) – Publication date of March 10, 1999
Universe X Comic Book Reading Order
Universe X #0 – Publication date Sept 01, 2000. This is one of two issues to share that publication date, and the thumbnail screenshot in MU is (currently) wrong. The thumbnail shouldshow Captain Marvel soaring (not Cap leading a group!) and the actual cover you want is with old Angel in the center.
Universe X: 4 #1
Universe X #1 to #3
Universe X: Spidey #1
Universe X #4
Universe X: Cap #1
Universe X #5 to #8
Universe X: Beasts #1
Universe X #9 to #11
Universe X: Iron Men #1
Universe X #12
Universe X #X – This is the second issue in Marvel Unlimited with a Sept 01, 2000 publication date, and shows Captain America leading a group in the cover thumbnail. When you open this issue in MU it will clarify that it is Universe X #X.
Paradise X Comic Book Reading Order
Paradise X: Heralds #1 to #3
Paradise X #0 to #2
Paradise X: Xen #1
Paradise X #3 to #5
Paradise X: Devils #1
Paradise X #6 to #8
Paradise X: Ragnarok #1 to #2
Paradise X #9 to #12
Paradise X: A #1
Paradise X #X
You can find more reading orders on Comic Book Herald’s complete Marvel reading order!
I read Earth X when it was originally released, and I’ve been thinking about re-reading it, but now that I have access to Marvel Unlimited, I’m wondering if anyone has recommendations for older comics and storylines that would provide a good foundation for understanding the X comics?
OK. I’m also trying to read Earth X. So far it seems to be a series featuring talking heads. Anyways, there are two issues that don’t SEEM to be listed here, but may be: #0 and #X. These numbers come from comiXology and list the publication dates. #0 is shown as 3/10/99 and is the ish where Uatu (just realized that that could be pronounced as “You ought to” and wondered if that was the creator’s little jest – but I digress) grabs Aaron Stack and tells him “Naw, that ain’t your name”. So, that seems to be the first to read.
#X I haven’t read yet, so I don’t know if that’s the “other” published 3/10/99. comiXology screwed up and lists the date as 12/31/69. Pretty sure THAT’S not right. But the blurb does say, “The Finale!” Take that for what it’s worth.
Thanks for this! I’m about to start Earth X on MU and I couldn’t figure out how the unnumbered March 1 and March 10 titles fit in.
Hi Dave,
thank you very much for all your reading orders, I quite enjoy them. The Earth X trilogy was no exception. But I had a big problem in the end: The very last issue, Paradise X: X, seems to be missing in Marvel Unlimited. I searched for a while but could just not find it. Just wanted to note that here so other people don’t have to search for it and get frustrated like I did 😉
Best Regards
I have just run into this issue myself! Man, is it ever so frustrating! What happened to Reed and Hyperion?
It’s there. If you note, MU has two issues titled Earth X #0. The REAL #0 has Doc Strange, Spidey, Hulk, Cap America, Thor and DD on the cover. #X – which, if you hone in on the cover, actually SAYS X – has a Nova/Eternity guy (I still haven’t read it) on the cover flying. Hope that helps!
Aaaaaand, I just realized that I answered two comments from 2017. Oh, well…
But you helped me so thanks
My pleasure!