A decade after Mark Millar and Steve McNiven’s Civil War became the biggest Marvel event of the 2000’s, Marvel’s throwing hero against hero again for Civil War 2. Please note that all of the trade and comics reading orders below have been updated weekly, as new comics were released!
Previously: Secret Wars (2015)
Previously: All-New All-Different Marvel
Previously: Avengers: Standoff!
Civil War 2 Trade Reading Timeline
Invincible Iron Man: War Machines
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Captain Marvel Vol. 2: Civil War II
All-New Wolverine Vol. 2: Civil War II
Ultimates: Omniversal Vol. 2: Civil War II
Ms. Marvel Vol. 6: Civil War II
Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man
Civil War II: The Totally Awesome Hulk
Civil War II: Uncanny Inhumans
Civil War II: Captain America Sam Wilson
Spider-Man: Miles Morales Vol. 2
Spider-Woman: Shifting Gears Vol. 2: Civil War II
Power Man and Iron Fist Vol. 2: Civil War II
Mockingbird Vol. 2: My Feminist Agenda
Guardians of the Galaxy: New Guard Vol. 3: Civil War II
Squadron Supreme Vol. 2: Civil War II
Squadron Supreme Vol. 3: Finding Namor
Uncanny Avengers: Unity Vol. 3: Civil War II
All-New, All-Different Avengers Vol. 3: Civil War II
Invincible Iron Man Vol. 3: Civil War II
Civil War 2 Issue by Issue Reading Order
Dave’s Note: For those following along in real-time, new comics will be added in bold, italicized font (like so) the week of their release. Same goes for any changes made that week.
If you want to really be caught up, I recommend 1) Secret Wars and 2) Invincible Iron Man: Reboot, which collects the first 5 issues of the run and explains all the Doctor Doom elements you’ll see in the Invincible Iron Man issues. Civil War #0 also very casually references outcomes from Infinity and Inhumanity, so now would be a very reasonable time to check out more Marvel NOW! comics.
This reading order will continue to be updated as new comics are released, and as I read them to determine placement.
The Road to Civil War 2
Invincible Iron Man #6
Invincible Iron Man #7
Invincible Iron Man #8
Invincible Iron Man #9
Invincible Iron Man #10
All-New Wolverine #8
All-New Wolverine #9
Ultimates #7
It is highly recommended you read the first 6 issues of Ultimates prior to Ultimates #7. For starters, it’s one of Marvel’s best cosmic superteams in years, and Al Ewing and Kenneth Rocafort are crafting one of the absolute best post-Secret Wars comics. Perhaps more importantly for Civil War II, issue #7 isn’t going to make much sense without the background of Carol’s vision. You can grab the first collection of Ultimates #1 to #6.
Civil War #0
Civil War II Daily Bugle Newspaper
This is just a simple preview for the tie-ins that will be taking place during Civil War. It’s a free previews magazine, and not essential reading for the story.
Civil War II: Ulysses Infinite Comic #1
This issue was published after Civil War II #2, but after one issue I think it’s going to fit best shortly after Civil War II #0. Highly recommend this Infinite series for 1) Karnak and 2) some interesting uses of the digital Infinite format.
Civil War II: Ulysses Infinite Comic #2
Civil War II: Ulysses Infinite Comic #3
“All buckets are essentially the same bucket.” Infinite series from Al Ewing continues to excel.
Civil War II: Ulysses Infinite Comic #4
Civil War II: Ulysses Infinite Comic #5
Civil War II: Ulysses Infinite Comic #6
Ms. Marvel #7
Great issue as usual from the Ms. Marvel team. If you’ve never read Ms. Marvel, this is as good a time as any to check out one of Marvel’s best new character creations of the 2010’s.
Civil War II Begins
Civil War II #1 – Note the super ultra tight continuity note below FCBD Civil War II below!
Captain Marvel #6
Free Comic Book Day Civil War II
If you want to get REAL tight with your continuity, Captain Marvel #6 and the FCBD Civil War issues both occur about 3/4 of the way through Civil War II #1. Read Captain Marvel #6 and FCBD Civil War II after Ulysses suggests the Inhumans contact the Ultimates – then go back to Civil War II #1 to finish!
Ultimates #8
Civil War II: Gods of War #1
New Avengers #12
Technically, you could stop Civil War II #1 at the 3/4 mark noted above, read Gods of War #1 and New Avengers #12, then read FCBD Civil War II, and then finish Civil War II #1. But that’s a lot of continuity work for not a lot of payoff, so I recommend you just read them after, aware that the majority of each issue occurs during Civil War II #1!
Sam Wilson Captain America #10
Captain America: Steve Rogers #4
Very loose tie-in, that simply will not make sense if you haven’t read Avengers Standoff and Captain America: Steve Rogers Vol. 1.
Civil War II: Choosing Sides #1
Civil War II: Choosing Sides #2
Deadpool #14
Don’t bother with Deadpool #16 if you want comics actually tied in to Civil War II.
Don’t bother with Deadpool #17 if you want comics actually tied in to Civil War II.
Nova #8
Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #8
Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man #1
Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man #2
Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man #3
Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man #4
Spider-Woman #9
Ms. Marvel #8
International Iron Man #4
This is the loosest of possible Civil War II tie-ins. Unless you’ve been reading International Iron Man (and it’s Bendis and Maleev, so there’s ample reason) I see no good reason to include this issue as part of Civil War II. By the time International Iron Man #5 rolls around were completely removed from Civil War II, so I’d advise against including.
The Totally Awesome Hulk #7
Important tie-in explaining the state of the Hulk if you haven’t been reading The Totally Awesome Hulk.
The Seeds of War
Civil War II #2
Uncanny Inhumans #11
Mosaic #6
Civil War II: X-Men #1
Captain America: Sam Wilson #11
Captain America: Sam Wilson #12
Captain America: Sam Wilson #13
Very strong first issue! Wilson Fisk is back in town.
Goodness H. Gracious the “Civil War II” title on this is misleading. Just a Hercules story from Dan Abnett and co.!
First Blood
Civil War II: Choosing Sides #3
Civil War II: Choosing Sides #4
You absolutely do not need this comic. I haven’t felt buyer’s remorse like this since I picked up Weezer’s “Make Believe” at Best Buy the day it came out.
Civil War II: Choosing Sides #5
Guardians of the Galaxy (2015-) #11
Very loosely tied to Civil War II, and will not make very much sense if you haven’t been following All-New All-Different Squadron Supreme from the beginning!
Sides are Chosen
Civil War II: The Accused #1
Ultimates #10 and #11 actually take place during Civil War II #4, in between panels starting on page 12. Your best bet is to simply read them together after Civil War II #4. Also, if it can’t be Jim Starlin every time, I’d like to nominate Kenneth Rocafort for all-time Thanos artist.
As observed by Troy in the comments below, Hulk #9 likely occurs during Civil War II #4, as opposed to strictly after the issue’s conclusion. I’d still read here in one larger chunk.
All-New, All-Different Avengers #13
All-New, All-Different Avengers #14
All-New, All-Different Avengers #15
2099 falls under the “barely a tie-in” category, unfortunately.
Civil War II: Choosing Sides #6
This is your friendly reminder that Deadpool has Bodiddly to do with Civil War II.
War
Captain America: Steve Rogers #5
Captain America: Steve Rogers #6
Final Battle
Aftermath
At the time of release (10.5), we really can’t say how far in advance the final issue in Bendis and Deodato’s Invincible Iron Man is meant to foreshadow. The cliffhanger ending is well executed enough, though, that you can plausibly read the issue here, essentially as it was published, and just know that something big is coming.
Captain America: Steve Rogers #10
This arc of Nick Spencer’s Steve Rogers will be included in Marvel NOW 2.0, but this issue in particular is a directly connected epilogue with Civil War II: The Oath.
Next: Marvel Now 2.0
Next: Secret Empire!
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Sebastian says
As I make my way through this Order, I have now encountered some of the little spoilers and ordering errors SiFL mentioned in his comments above and I want to propose some changes in my feedback so that some spoilers and some continuity errors can be erased or diminished at least:
– Ms.Marvel #9 – #11 should be read after Captain Marvel #8 and not before,
(Reason [BEWARE OF SPOILERS]:
In Captain Marvel #8 you can see Ms.Marvel (and Spider-Miles) working in the Capt. Marvel Team and loving it, they are really excited to do good for the Predictive Justice-Cause. The development in the Ms. Marvel comics shows that Kamala begins questioning Predictive Justice because some of her closest friends get locked up for things that they did not even think of. In the further development Ms. Marvel decides and shows that Predictive Justice can be manipulated and changes sides so that she is then on the side of Iron Man. I think seeing Kamala questioning the good cause of PJ and then again seeing her be that happy in about the work she does FOR it, is an error and should be corrected)
– Venom Space Knight #11 & #12 should be read after Guardians of the Galaxy #11
(Reason [again minor SPOILER warning]: In Venom #11 we see Venom is on Earth doing his thing. But in GotG #11 we see that he is in Space with the Guardians and they decide to fly back to earth on the request of Captain Marvel, what they do in this Issue. You can cleary see the continuity-error here. It is minor, but should be corrected because it reduces the reading experience.)
Mockingbird #8 should DEFINITELY be read after the Trial of Hawkeye, I assume it is “Civil War II: The Accused”, haven’t read it yet unfortunately
(Reason: The Phantom Rider spoils the outcome of the Trial to Mockingbird near the end of the Issue, which is a MAJOR spoiler and made me a little bit angry because seriously, if you make a reading order you have to watch out for this….there is a whole One-Shot-Tie-In for that Trial and it is an important part of the Main Series and the outcome gets spoiled in a very minor Tie-In …NO GO (in that case I can understand SiFL’s commentary in some way). I think there could be Users here who leave because of such Errors in the Reading Order. (So Rant finished, sorry))
That’s it for now, I still have one in mind but I have to be sure in which Civil War Issue the fact is released ( I think it is #4) and then I can propose changes!
And again, this is no major critcism, I just want to help you make your Orders even better and more appealing. “To Err is human” 😉
Sebastian says
TL;DR
Suggested Moves:
(Reason: Continuity (Chronology) – Errors)
– Ms. Marvel #9 & #10 after Captain Marvel #8 (best directly before Ms.Marvel #11)
– Venom: Space Knight #11 & #12 after Guardians of the Galaxy #11
(Reason: Major Spoiler)
– Mockingbird #6 – #8(yes the whole arc) after Civil War II: The Accused #1
(Explanation to why it is best moving the whole arc: Bobbi Morse shows up (and is part of) Agents of SHIELD #8 – #10, she can’t be on a cruise, then with the agents and then again on the ship, makes no sense)
Dave says
Order updated per this quality feedback. Thank you!
JG says
Will there be any other updates to this list? Or is it safe to say it’s complete?
Dave says
Barring any feedback, it’s complete.
Mitchell Clucas says
I just read Guardians of the Galaxy #17 and I feel like thats a Civil War II aftermath tie in as well. well, the whole arc kind of is but yea. it ends (SPOILER) with gamora in a cell and the following issue shes just chillin with angela lol. idk
Mitchell Clucas says
hi I was just wondering which way you meant it when you said ‘Unless you’ve been reading International Iron Man (and it’s Bendis and Maleev, so there’s ample reason’. Highlight on ‘there’s ample reason’. I was just wondering whether you meant theres ample reason to be getting it or ample reason to not be getting it?
Dave says
I like the creative team of Bendis and Maleev, so it was meant as a compliment. The series doesn’t really tie into Civil War 2 very effectively, but if you just want to read it on your own, I’d understand 🙂
Bruce Williams says
Thank you Dave for ALL you do!!! You make catching up on Marvels a lot easier. I’ve been using your reviews, lists and suggestions for the past 3 years or so while trying to make up for nearly 40 years away from Marvel. Between you and Wiki and Marvel itself, it been a fun mostly-mapped journey … with fun sidetrack adventures!
One question on Civil War II: Is it OK to read the graphic novels in the list/order you give, or better to go from the story-by-story list? Or wait three to six months from now and tackle it all then? There’s so many options on things I can/want to do: I still haven’t read the House of M series; just wrapping up all the Infernos, and think I need more Uncanny X-men before tackling Wanda’s Biggest Moment.
Impossible to do everything chronologically, but it’s been fun watching the Marvel Universe grow and shrink, get ugly and get awesome. Feel like Kang time-hopping…
Keep up the great work, Sir! I’ll be somewhere around here…
J.G. says
These lists are very handy indeed.
Dave – Would it be possible to maybe include an excel file of the lists for download? Would serve as an awesome checklist when collecting the multiple books in the storyline.
SiFL says
These order lists are usually put together very well. This time around, though… We get how a dude’s power works before anyone scans him. A huge death before the character actually dies. One of the younger heroes working with one side AFTER they’d said they were done with it. A huge battle on the news before it breaks out.
I guess I’m lucky that I think the whole event has been pretty bad. Because there are more, and some of these misfiles are kind of a big deal.
Sebastian says
Are you talking about errors in the event itself or in this particular reading order ?
If you are talking about the order:
Maybe you should point out the Errors so that Dave can look at them and correct them…
SiFL-but-with-like-a-disguisey-mustache-and-definitely-not-the-same-guy says
Yeah! Eff that guy! Probably just read Totally Awesome Hulk 9 out of order like a jackass. BOOO! Let’s throw snakes! I don’t even care that Hawkeye being acquitted is at the end of Mockingbird 8, that was OBVIOUS and reading the one issue out of order would be stupid just for that! Frankly, I’d blame Marvel for all that Ulysses’s-powers-are-just-a-stupid-percentage-based-thing-missorder. Just another case of some stupid little topic getting spread around a constantly mismatched and tardy release schedule. That first poster is a JERK! Whoever THAT guy even is… Keep up the good work guys!
adree002 says
Bro,Is the last issue in the order supposed to be New Avengers #18 or Uncanny Avengers #18?
Dave says
The final event issue has been added to the Civil War 2 reading order, and I’ve processed all the feedback here and applied as necessary.
Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and help!
There’s an aftermath one-shot to come but for now…
Civil War 2 is finished!
Carson says
So, mid-June should see the last of this available on Marvel Unlimited, by my reckoning?
Alexander says
28.12.2016:
Civil War II #8
Uncanny Avengers #18 (AFTERMATH)
And then… we’ll have to wait until 25 JANUARY for the Civil War II: The Oath release!
David says
So when will this event be complete? End of the year? Because I’m eager to read it, I just want to read it in the best order possible.
Sean says
Civil War II is as good as done. The final issue, Civil War II #9, is released December 28. The tie-ins are also just a small number anymore. I think it’ll be over when we hit 2017. It does seem so that the first comic after Civil War II is Uncanny Avengers, as #15 has a “Civil War II Aftermath” stamp. Also, Inhumans vs. X-Men is getting started in earnest halfway into December, so as that is the next Marvel event, Civil War II should be done within weeks.
Tyler says
Contest of Champions #9 was just released on Unlimited and it has a Civil War cover, but I don’t see it on your list anywhere. Should it be in there somewhere?
Sebastian says
Yes it has a “Civil War” on the Cover but I think it is no Tie-In for this event (which is Civil War [b]II[/b]).
It is rather a Tie-In to the first Civil-War, because the Cover has the same style-art as the Tie-Ins from that Event.