Age of Apocalypse Reading Order

I hesitate to say something over-dramatic like “Age of Apocalypse changed my life,” but Age of Apocalypse CHANGED MY LIFE.

When I started getting into actually reading comic books, A of A was the first collection of trades I bought and read. I spent a winter reading one issue before bed (let’s be honest – one quickly became six before I could say “you’ve got class in the morning you fool!”).

If you’re starting the Age of Apocalypse epic for the first time, I’m excited for you. This is just pure 90’s comic book fun, the way Stan Lee & Jack Kirby intended it. Except you know, it’s an alternate X-Reality where Apocalypse is in control and Professor Charles Xavier…

Well, I’ll just let you read it.

Index:

I) Age of Apocalypse Reading Order

II) Apocalypse Reading Order (All non-AoA Earth-616 Comics)

III) OLD Age of Apocalypse Collected Editions

IV) Bonus: Next up X-Men – Onslaught Saga

V) Bonus: Modern X-Men (1998 to Present)

 

I) New Age of Apocalypse Trade Reading Order (2016)

In anticipation of X-Men: Apocalypse in theaters, Marvel has reissued several new trade collections of the Age of Apocalypse saga.

Below you’ll find the trade reading order, as well as the issues included (in order). Note that if you already have the old collected trades, these new printings offer the same issues, albeit in a different reading order. Most notably, the first volume of AoA collects Legion Quest as well, making it a substantially more logical starting place.

1 — Age of Apocalypse: X-Men – Alpha (Vol. 1)

Excerpts from…

X-Men #38

Uncanny X-Men #319

X-Men #39

Legion Quest

Uncanny X-Men #320 – Legion Quest Part 1

X-Men #40 – Legion Quest Part 2

Uncanny X-Men #321 – Legion Quest Part 3

X-Men #41 – Legion Quest Part 4

Cable #20

*Legion Quest Ends – Age of Apocalypse Begins*

X-Men Alpha #1

Generation Next #1

The Astonishing X-Men #1

Gambit and the X-Ternals #1

Weapon X #1

Factor X #1

X-Man #1

X-Calibre #1

The Amazing X-Men #1

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Ashcan Edition #1

1.1 — Age of Apocalypse: Dawn

Ok – hear me out. Age of Apocalypse: Dawn is a prologue trade that chronicles The Astonishing X-Men and Apocalypse’s rise to power. In short this trade collection offers a number of flashback comics that chronologically occur prior to our first view of the Age of Apocalypse universe in X-Men Alpha #1.

So why not read it first? The comics in Dawn were all published after Age of Apocalypse had already started and generally assume you have some knowledge of the AoA universe. Personally, I think these issues work much better as “flashbacks,” as you take a break from the Age of Apocalypse to see how we get here in the first place. In short, I think the AoA experience should begin with X-Men Alpha #1, and not X-Men Chronicles #1.

As such, Dawn can be read to fill in details from the universe following the first volume of Age of Apocalypse trades. This collection occurs in the following issue by issue order:

X-Men Chronicles #1 to #2

Tales From the Age of Apocalypse #1 to #2

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse One Shot

X-Man #-1

Blink #1 to #4

X-Man Annual ’96

2 — Age of Apocalypse: X-Men – Reign (Vol. 2)

The Astonishing X-Men #2

The Amazing X-Men #2

Gambit and the X-Ternals #2

Generation Next #2

Weapon X #2

X-Calibre #2

Factor X #2

X-Man #2

X-Calibre #3

Factor X #3

The Astonishing X-Men #3

The Amazing X-Men #3

X-Man #3

X-Universe #1

3 — Age of Apocalypse: X-Men – Omega (Vol. 3)

Weapon X #3

Generation Next #3

Gambit and the X-Ternals #3

The Astonishing X-Men #4

Generation Next #4

Gambit and the X-Ternals #4

X-Man #4

X-Calibre #4

Factor X #4

Weapon X #4

The Amazing X-Men #4

X-Universe #2

X-Men Omega #1

4 — Age of Apocalypse: Twilight

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse One Shot

Hulk: Broken Worlds #2

X-Men: Prime

X-Man #53 to #54

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse #1 to #2

Exiles #60 to #61

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse #3 to #6

X-Men: Endangered Species Chapters 6 & 7

Exiles #84 & Exiles: Days of Then and Now

What If? Legion Had Killed Magneto (#77)

What If? The Age of Apocalypse Had Not Ended (#81)

What If? X-Men Age of Apocalypse One Shot

II) Apocalypse (Earth-616 Reading Order)

While Age of Apocalypse gets all the hype, it’s worth checking out Apocalypse as an X-Men villain inside the standard Earth-616 timeline (see also, that bad a-word villain from X-Men the Animated Series).

A) Origins & X-Events (1986 to 1995)

X-Men: The Rise of Apocalypse

Note, these are not the first appearances of Apocalypse in comics (that’s next), but are a collected variety of his true beginnings, and role throughout history.

I would recommend holding off on the “Further Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix” included in this collection until after reading “The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix” listed below.

It’s also worth noting, that the majority of these issues are not available yet on Marvel Unlimited, which will be a recurring theme for Apocalypse.

COLLECTING: rise of apocalypse 1-4, further adventures of cyclops & phoenix 1-4, x-men: apocalypse/dracula 1-4, black knight: exodus, fantastic four (1961) 19

 X-Factor: Genesis & Apocalypse – Apocalypse First Appearance

In one of the stranger Marvel Unlimited gaps, Apocalypse’s first appearance from X-Factor #5 is not included in the library.

Marvel’s reproducing a collected trade of these early issues from Louise & Walter Simonson, and in addition to some Jean Grey set-up in Avengers #263 and Fantastic Four #286, you’ll get X-Factor #1 to #9 and X-Factor Annual #1.

X-Men: Mutant Massacre

1986’s Mutant Massacre is hugely influential in a variety of ways (it essentially launches X-crossovers for the next decade), but some of the most memorable moments are cornerstones of Apocalypse’s role in the Marvel U.

The reading order from our Chris Claremont era X-Men is as follows:

Mutant Massacre Reading Order:

Uncanny X-Men #210, X-Factor #9, Uncanny X-Men #211, X-Factor #10, New Mutants #46, Thor #373, Power Pack #27, Uncanny X-Men #212, Thor #374, X-Factor #11, Daredevil #238, Uncanny X-Men #213

X-Men: Fall of the Mutants

Another shockingly absent major X-Men crossover, with more Apocalypse action in the X-Factor comics from the majestic Simonsons. This collection will get you X-Factor #18 to #26. Issues #24 to #26 are explicitly Fall of the Mutants tie-ins.

X-Men: X-Cutioner’s Song

Did you hear the one about surprising misses in the Marvel Unlimited library? X-Cutioner’s Song – an all-time great 90’s X-Men event – might lead the pack.

X-Cutioner’s Song Reading Order:

Cable: Blood and 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

X-Men: The Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix

There’s a surprising amount of essential details in this collection, with revelations for Cable, Mr. Sinister, Apocalypse, and of course, Cyclops & Phoenix.

Collecting: 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

B) Age of Apocalypse

C) Onslaught

D) Return of Apocalypse (Late 90’s To Mid 2000’s)

X-Men Vs. Apocalypse: The Twelve

Reading Order: X-Man #59, Uncanny X-Men #376, Cable #75, X-Men #96, Wolverine #146, Wolverine #147, Uncanny X-Men Annual (1999), Uncanny X-Men #377, Cable #76, X-Man #60, X-Men #97

X-Men Vs. Apocalypse: Ages of Apocalypse

Reading Order: Uncanny X-Men #378, Cable #77, Wolverine #148, X-Men Unlimited #26, X-Men #98

X-Men: The Search For Cyclops

4 issue miniseries, included on Marvel Unlimited.

X-Men: Blood of Apocalypse

It’s worth noting that “Blood of Apocalypse” occurs in the aftermath of Decimation (which in turn happens in the aftermath of House of M).

Issues: X-Men #182 to #187

E) Messiah Wars, Dark Angel Sagas, and Secret Wars (Late 2000’s to 2015)

Messiah War

Messiah War is an increasingly underrated follow-up to the mega X-event Messiah CompleX. Apocalypse is hardly the focus, but he does play a crucial role. A must read for fans of Cable and X-Force.

Messiah War Reading Order:

X-Men: The Times and Life of Lucas Bishop #1-3, X-Men Messiah War One-Shot, Cable #13, X-Force #14, Cable #14, X-Force #15, Cable #15, X-Force #16

Uncanny X-Force, Dark Angel Saga

Rick Remender’s 35 issue run on Uncanny X-Force is one of my favorite 100 Marvel Comics since 1998, and it has major ramifications for both Apocalypse and the Age of Apocalypse Universe.

The Dark Angel Saga collection will take you through Uncanny X-Force #1 to #19.

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Vol. 1 – The X-Terminated

Following the end of the Dark Angel Saga, a whole new portal into the Age of Apocalypse universe was opened.

Collects: Uncanny X-Force #19.1, Age of Apocalypse #1 to #5

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Vol. 2 – Weapon Omega

X-Men: X-Termination

For the Marvel Unlimited crowd, the above three collections will take you through the 14 issues of Age of Apocalypse (2011 to 2013).

Wolverine & The X-Men – “Kid Apocalypse”

Wolverine & The X-Men, from Jason Aaron and Nick Bradshaw, runs for 42 issues from 2011 to 2014. You don’t have to read all of these issues as part of an Apocalypse reading order, although as a comic fan, I’d certainly encourage you.

For the purposes of “Kid Apocalypse” check out Wolverine & The X-Men #4, which introduces him to the school.

Uncanny X-Force, Final Execution

Issues #25 to #35 of Uncanny X-Force are one cohesive, final storyline from Remender’s time on the title, and they effectively resolve the Apocalypse narrative started all the way back in Uncanny X-Force #1.

Uncanny Avengers

Rick Remender’s Apocalypse Trinity continues in the pages of Uncanny Avengers, although less directly than in Uncanny X-Force. I recommend reading the entire 25 issue run for this, but you could conceivably begin with Uncanny Avengers #6, which begins the Apocalypse Twins story arc.

Avengers & X-Men: Axis

Axis is one of Marvel’s 2014 events, and the unfortunate conclusion to Remender’s Apocalypse Trinity (don’t look that up… I’m the only person who calls it that).

You can check this link for the full Axis reading order.

Secret Wars: Age of Apocalypse

Age of Apocalypse returns for another round as part of Marvel’s 2015 event (and personal favorite event of all time), Secret Wars!

Honestly, you can read the tie-in pretty independently of the whole colossal Secret Wars reading order, but I’d highly recommend the whole shebang.

X-Men: Apocalypse Wars

III) Old Age of Apocalypse Trade Reading Order (Before 2016!)

Dave’s Note (Jan 2016) – The Age of Apocalypse Omnibus is being reprinted this year, and will be released April 2016. These go out of print FAST, so if you’re interested, I recommend jumping on the Omnibus now. It’s actually less costly than purchasing all the trades separately (for the time being).

For the most part, reading A of A through the collected editions is super easy. You’s pick up your trades, and you’s read your comics.

There is, however, one caveat:

The first volume of the Age of Apocalypse epic is not recommended or required reading, at least not to begin with.

This is weird, I know.

For some odd reason, Marvel made Book 1 the least logical starting point this side of Pride & Prejudice. You’ll have the best A of A reading experience starting from Book 2. If you don’t believe me, just check out the Amazon reviews on Book 1. Most of Book 1 is composed of limited series, and additional AoA world-building arcs, so my preference is to read it after you’ve completed Book 4 of the Saga.

That said, there is now a solid Age of Apocalypse prelude that includes the set-up Legion Quest arc that launches AoA. I would start here.

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Prelude

X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 2

X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 3

X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 4

X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 1

Issue by Issue Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited Order

If you’re either collecting individual back issues (good for you!) or trying to read Age of Apocalypse through your Marvel Digital Unlimited subscription, here’s the order each issues appears in the trades.

It’s far from a seamless story, but you’ll do just fine chronologically with this order.

Quick note: the links below will take you to the issues you need if you are reading using Marvel Digital Unlimited. Should make it easy to bookmark the page for quick links straight to the issues.

X-Men Chronicles #1 – #2

To my knowledge these issues aren’t collected in the trades, but they are available on Marvel Unlimited and provide appropriate Age of Apocalypse back story and set-up.

TPB Volume 2

X-Men: Alpha #1

Age of Apocalypse : The Chosen

Generation Next #1

Astonishing X-Men #1

X-Calibre #1

Gambit and the X-Ternals #1

Weapon X #1

Amazing X-Men #1

Factor X #1

X-Man #1

Amazing X-Men #2

Factor X #2

Weapon X #2

Gambit and the X-Ternals #2

TPB Volume 3

X-Calibre #2

Astonishing X-Men #2

Generation Next #2

X-Man #2

Astonishing X-Men #3

Factor X #3

Amazing X-Men #3

X-Calibre #3

Weapon X #3

Gambit and the X-Ternals #3

X-Universe #1

Generation Next #3

X-Man #3

Astonishing X-Men #4

TPB Volume 4

Generation Next #4

X-Calibre #4

X-Man #4

Factor X #4

Gambit and the X-Ternals #4

Amazing X-Men #4

Weapon X #4

X-Universe #2

X-Men Omega

Heroically Support Comic Book Herald!

If you like Comic Book Herald, and are able to donate, any small contribution will help keep CBH alive and full of new comics guides and content. Donate here! Or learn more about easy ways to support Comic Book Herald! Thank you for reading!