From his bedazzled headgem to his string cheese cape, Mister Sinister is one of the most iconic villains in X-Men comics history. Sinister, aka Nathaniel Essex, is a dark reflection of obsessive eugenics, dedicated to creating the perfect species no matter the cost.
For much of his history, this has meant Sinister’s stalking of the Summers family, invading the lives of Scott Summers and Jean Grey on multiple occasions. In more recent years, though, Sinister’s mad science has turned inwards, as his clones and morally bankrupt ethics run rampant across the world of the X-Men.
Below you’ll find a complete guide to Mister Sinister comics, including the Comic Book Herald logo next to my personal favorite series titles.
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The Debut of Mr. Sinister!
Collects: Uncanny X-Men (1963) 210-214, X-Factor (1986) 9-11, New Mutants (1983) 46, Thor 373-374, Power Pack (1984) 27, Daredevil 238
You could make a case against beginning your Mister Sinister reading experience with the “Mutant Massacre” crossover, given Sinister’s almost entirely behind the scenes for the event at this point. Nonetheless, Sinister’s connections to both the Marauders and the Massacre are relevant parts of the character’s backstory, and sets the stage for the type of villain he’s going to be in the X-Men universe.
Collects: Uncanny X-Men #239-243, X-Factor #33-40, X-Terminators #1-4, New Mutants #71-73 And X-Factor Annual 4
The first major Mr. Sinister story, as the villain reveals his role in the world of the X-Men.
X-Men Inferno Reading Order
Uncanny X-Men #239
X-Factor #33 to #35
X-Terminators #1 to #3
New Mutants #71 to #72
X-Terminators #4
Uncanny X-Men #240 to #241
X-Factor #36 to #37
New Mutants #73
Uncanny X-Men #242
X-Factor #38
Uncanny X-Men #243
X-Factor #39
Collects: Classic X-Men #1 to #44
X-Factor Visionaries – Peter David, Vol. 1
Collects: X-Factor #71-75
Mr. Sinister returns with the Nasty Boys
X-Factor Visionaries: Peter David, Vol. 3
Collects: X-Factor #79-83 & Annual #7
Collects: Avengers (1963) 298-300; Fantastic Four (1961) 322-324; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 311-313; Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) 146-148; Web Of Spider-Man (1985) 47-48; Daredevil (1964) 262-263, 265
X-Cutioner’s Song Reading Order:
- Cable: Blood & Metal #1 to #2
- Uncanny X-Men #294
- X-Factor #84
- X-Men #14
- X-Force #16
- Uncanny X-Men #295
- X-Factor #85
- X-Men #15
- X-Force #17
- Uncanny X-Men #296
- X-Factor #86
- X-Men #16
- X-Force #18
- Uncanny X-Men #297
Collects: Cable #6 to #8
Collects: X-Men (1991) 17-24, X-Men: Survival Guide To The Mansion, Material From Marvel Swimsuit Special 2
X-Men: The Wedding of Cyclops & Phoenix
Collects: X-Men (1991) 26-35, Avengers (1963) 368-369, Avengers West Coast 101, Uncanny X-Men (1981) 307-310, Cable (1993) 6-8, X-Men Unlimited (1993) 3, Uncanny X-Men Annual (1992) 18, X-Men: The Wedding Album, What If? (1989) 60, Adventures Of Cyclops And Phoenix 1-4, Material From Marvel Valentine Special
Note that the mega “Wedding of Cyke and Jean” collection doubles up on the “Bloodties” crossover.
- X-Men #27
- X-Men Unlimited #3
- Uncanny X-Men #308
- X-Men #28
- Uncanny X-Men #309
- X-Men #29
- Uncanny X-Men Annual #18
- X-Men the Wedding Album
- Uncanny X-Men #310
- X-Men #30
- What If? #60
The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix
Collects: Adventures Of Cyclops & Phoenix 1-4, Askani’Son 1-4, X-Men: Phoenix 1-3, X-Men: Books Of Askani, Material From Marvel Valentine Special
The Adventures of Cylcops & Phoenix is worth calling out on its own since it includes the origins of Mr. Sinister!
Age of Apocalypse Into the Early 2000’s!
Collects: Check out Comic Book Herald’s complete reading order
The 1995 alternate reality Age of Apocalypse is a show stealing run for Mister Sinister, as he’s easily one of the strongest characters in the verse.
What If Mr. Sinister Formed the X-Men?
Collects: What If Vol. 2 #74
Collects: Uncanny X-Men (1981) 341-350, X-Men (1991) 62-64, Uncanny X-Men -1, X-Men -1
X-Men: Gambit – The Complete Collection Vol. 2
Collects: Gambit #12 to #25
X-Men vs. Apocalypse: The Twelve
Collects: Uncanny X-Men #376-#377, Cable #73 – #77, X-Men #96 – #97, Wolverine #145 – #147
Collects: See omnibus link above!
House of M – Cable & Deadpool #16
Collects: Cable & Deadpool #16
During House of M.
Mr. Sinister In A Decimated X-Verse
Collects: X-Men: Endangered Species One-Shot, and #1-17 back-up stories
Collects:
- X-Men: Messiah Complex (one-shot)
- Uncanny X-Men #492
- X-Factor #25
- New X-Men #44
- X-Men #205
- Uncanny X-Men #493
- X-Factor #26
- New X-Men #45
- X-Men #206
- Uncanny #494
- X-Factor #27
- New X-men #46
- X-Men #207
X-Men: Legacy – Divided He Stands
Collects: X-Men: Legacy #208-212
Collects: #1 – #6
Collects: Uncanny X-Men (2011) #1 to #4
One of Sinister’s greatest showings, behind the pen of writer Kieron Gillen.
Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen – Volume 4
Collects: Uncanny X-Men #15 to #20
Occurs during Avengers vs. X-Men.
Spider-Man & The X-Men #1 to #6
Collects: Spider-Man & The X-Men #1 to #6
Collects: X-Men: Colossus – Bloodline #1 to #4
Mister Sinister From Secret Wars to Marvel Fresh Start
Collects: Secret Wars 1-9, Free Comic Book Day 2015 Secret Wars 0
Mister Sinister plays a pretty entertaining supporting role throughout Secret Wars, and also dominates one of my favorite short story tie-ins with Daredevil as his chef (those details may be fuzzy, but it’s definitely something like that). For the full guide, check out Comic Book Herald’s Secret Wars reading order.
Extraordinary X-Men Vol. 1: X-Haven
Collects: Extraordinary X-Men #1 to #5
Hunt for Wolverine: Adamantium Agenda
Collects: Hunt for Wolverine: Adamantium Agenda #1 to #4
Collects: X-Men: The End – Dreamers and Demons #1-6, Heroes and Martyrs #1-6, and Men and X-Men #1-6
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