The Green Goblin’s Dark Reign
If your lone exposure to the Green Goblin is Willem Dafoe’s sinister, short-sighted movie version, a Marvel Universe overtaken by good ol’ Gobby might seem like a stretch. Yet in the aftermath of Secret Invasion, the Green Goblin, aka Norman Osborne exacts a systematic political takeover so thorough that superheroes and villains completely reverse roles.
It’s another fantastic concept, one that takes a look at the world of Marvel through the lens of the bad guys on top. With great power comes great responsibility; but what happens when great power is augmented by the power of the people and there’s no responsibility to be found?
Technically speaking, Dark Reign is not another Marvel event. That said it’s a thematically connected segue between Secret Invasion and Siege, and there is without a doubt an order to the reading of these events.
Unlike the issue-by-issue reading lists for Secret Invasion or Civil War, Dark Reign operates in a slightly less connected state. As a result, you can read entire clumps of story arcs at once and not feel like you’re missing much of anything chronologically. This makes trade reading of Dark Reign substantially easier, although there are a LOT of arcs to try and get a handle on.
See below for a complete list by issue & trade reading order. As always, if you have any questions or concerns about this list, I can be reached here.
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Previous: Secret Invasion & Tie-Ins
Dark Reign Trade Collections
You can use the list below, or check out the Comic Book Herald picks for best Dark Reign comics!
- Dark Reign: Accept Change
- Dark Reign: The List
- Collects Osborne’s Hit List issues for the following characters: Spider-Man, Avengers, Daredevil, Hulk, Punisher, Secret Warriors, X-Men, & Wolverine
- Agents of Atlas (vol. 2) #1-5
- The Amazing Spider-Man #595-599
- Avengers: The Initiative #20-25 (seems early) + 26-30
- Black Panther #1-6
- Captain America Reborn #1-6
- Dark Avengers #1-12, Annual #1 + Vol 2
- Dark Avengers: Ares #1-3
- Dark Reign: Elektra #1-5
- Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5
- Dark Reign: Hawkeye #1-5
- Dark Reign: The Hood #1-5
- Dark Reign: Lethal Legion #1-3 + Dark Reign: Made Men #1
- Dark Reign: Mister Negative #1-3
- Dark Reign: The Sinister Spider-Man #1-4
- Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1-5
- Dark X-Men #1-5
- Dark Reign: Zodiac #1-3 – out of print
- Dark Wolverine #75-80 + Vol 2
- Deadpool (vol. 2) #6-12
- Incredible Hulk #601-605
- The Incredible Hercules #126-131
- The Invincible Iron Man #8-24 + Vol 3 + Vol 4
- The Mighty Avengers #21-34
- Ms. Marvel (vol. 7) #35-46 + Vol 8
- New Avengers #48-60, Annual #3 + Vol 11 + Vol 12
- New Avengers: The Reunion #1-4
- Punisher #1-10
- Savage She-Hulk #1-4
- Secret Warriors #1-10 Volume 1 + Vol 2
- Skaar: Son of Hulk #11-12
- Skrull Kill Krew #1-5
- Spider-Woman #1-7
- SWORD #1-5
- Thor #600-606 + Thor: Latverian Prometheus
- Thunderbolts #130-131 – trade includes deadpool tie-ins
- Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men Utopia
- War Machine #1-12 + Vol 2
- Wolverine: Origins #31-36
- Vengeance of Moon Knight #1-5
The Complete Issue by Issue Reading Order List
- Secret Invasion: Dark Reign #1 (One Shot)
- New Avengers #48
- Thunderbolts #126-127
- Invincible Iron Man #8
- Avengers: The Initiative #20
- Avengers: The Initiative #21-23
- Secret Invasion: Requiem #1 (One Shot)
- New Avengers #049
- Dark Reign Files #1 (One Shot)
- Dark Avengers #1
- Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1-2
- Wolverine Origins #33-36
- Thunderbolts #128-129
- Deadpool #6-7
- Avengers: The Initiative #24
- Deadpool #8
- Thunderbolts #130
- Deadpool #9
- Thunderbolts #131
- Dark Avengers #2-4
- Dark Reign: Young Avengers #3-5
- Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5
- Dark Wolverine #75-#77
- Ms. Marvel #35-46
- Dark Reign: Elektra #1-5
- Spider-Woman #1-7
- Captain America #49-50
- Dark Reign: New Nation #1 (One Shot)
- The Skrull Kill Krew #1-5
- New Avengers: The Reunion #1-4
- Secret Warriors #1-6
- Agents of Atlas #1-8
- Black Panther #1-6
- Dark Reign: The Hood #1-5
- Dark Reign: Mr. Negative #1-3
- The Punisher #1-10
- Dark Reign: Zodiac #1-3
- Savage She-Hulk #1-4
- SWORD #1-5
- Vengeance of The Moon Knight #1-5
- War Machine #1-5
- The Mighty Avengers #21-23
- Incredible Hercules #127-128
- MODOK Reign Delay #1 (One Shot)
- Dark Reign: The Goblin Legacy #1 (One Shot)
- Dark Reign: Made Men #1 (One Shot)
- Dark Reign: The Cabal #1 (One Shot)
- Thor #600-603
- Mighty Avengers #24-26
- New Avengers #50-54
- Mighty Avengers #27-#31
- Dark Avengers #5-6
- Captain America #600
- Amazing Spider-Man #595-599
- Dark Reign: The Sinister Spider-Man #1-4
- Dark Reign: Hawkeye #1-5
- Dark Reign: Lethal Legion #1-3
- Dark Wolverine #78-80
- Invincible Iron Man #9-11
- War Machine #6-10
- Avengers: The Initiative #25
- War Machine #11-12
- Invincible Iron Man #12-13
- Avengers: The Initiative #26
- Avengers: The Initiative #27
- Deadpool #10-12
- New Avengers #55-58
- Mighty Avengers #32-33
- Uncanny X-Men Annual #2
- Dark X-men: The Beginning #1-3
- X-Men Legacy #226-227
- Dark Avengers X-Men Utopia #1
- Uncanny X-Men #513
- Dark Avengers #7
- Uncanny X-Men #514
- Dark Avengers #8
- Dark Avengers X-Men Exodus #1
- Dark X-Men: The Confession #1
- Dark Reign The List: X-Men #1
- Dark X-Men #1-5
- Planet Skaar Prologue #1
- Skaar Son of Hulk #11-12 (Skaar vs. Hulk.)
- Hulk #13
- Incredible Hulks #601-603
- Dark Reign The List: Hulk #1
- Incredible Hulk #604-605
- Avengers: The Initiative #28-30
- New Avengers #59-60
- Dark Reign The List: Avengers #1
- New Avengers Annual #3
- Mighty Avengers #34
- Dark Reign The List: Daredevil #1
- Dark Wolverine #81
- Dark Reign The List Wolverine #1
- Dark Avengers Annual #1
- Thunderbolts #132-134
- Secret Warriors #7
- Thunderbolts #135
- Secret Warriors #8
- Thunderbolts #136
- Secret Warriors #9
- Dark Avengers: Ares #1-3
- Dark Reign The List: Secret Warriors #1
- Secret Warriors #10
- Invincible Iron Man #14-17
- Thunderbolts #137
- Dark Reign The List: Punisher #1
- Dark Reign The List: Amazing Spider-Man One-Shot #1
- Invincible Iron Man #18-19
- Dark Avengers 9-12
- Avengers: The Initiative #31
- Thunderbolts #138-140
- Captain America Reborn #1-6
- Invincible Iron Man #20-24
- Thor Giant-Size Finale #1 (One Shot)
- Thor #604-606
- Captain America: Who Will Wield The Shield?
Next: Siege & Tie-Ins
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Dark Avengers: Ares #1-3 isn’t actually part of Dark Reign, though it does occur at the time. It’s also difficult to place but occurs prior to Secret Warriors #7-9, as Ares is still looking for Nick Fury/his son during it.
Secret Warriors #7-10 aren’t actually part of the Dark Reign event, although they do happen at the time
Dark Avengers Annual #1 isn’t part of the Dark Reign event, and due to the appearance of Steve Rogers at the end, it happens after Captain America: Reborn #1-6
Dark Wolverine #80 and #81 aren’t actually part of the Dark Reign event, although they do happen at the time of it.
Steve Rogers’ appearance in New Avengers Annual #3, and dialogue in Mighty Avengers #34 places Captain America Reborn #1-6 before both of these issues.
Planet Skaar: Prologue isn’t part of Dark Reign. Due to Loki still using Sif’s body, it would also be set before Thor #601-603
Skaar: Son of Hulk # 11-12 also aren’t part of Dark Reign, and neither are Incredible Hulk #601-605.
On top of that, Incredible Hulk #602 is prior to all the X-Men issues, due to them not being on Utopia at that point.
The Dark Avengers/X-Men Utopia portion of the reading list should go as follows;
Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men Utopia #1
Uncanny X-Men #513
Dark Avengers #7
Uncanny X-Men #514
Dark Avengers #8
Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men Exodus #1
Dark X-Men: The Confession
X-Men Legacy #226-227
Dark X-Men: The Beginning #1-3
Dark Reign: The List X-Men
Also, also Dark X-Men #1-5 occurs during Dark Reign, it isn’t part of the event
Right after the end of the Dark Avengers/X-Men issues should be Dark Reign The List: Avengers, as it states that it comes right after the end of the crossover issues, and before any of the other ‘the list’ issues, though it does also come after New Avengers #60 and the story from Dark Reign The List: Avengers does continue on into New Avengers Annual #3
Uncanny X-Men Annual #2 happens at the same time, and directly after Secret Invasion: Dark Reign #1, not including the many flashbacks set years earlier that make up the majority of the issue
Mighty Avengers #27-34 occur during Dark Reign, but are not part of the event
Also, Mighty Avengers #32 occurs after Thor #601-603, as Loki has been returned to his true body.
New Avengers #58-60 and Annual #3 aren’t actually part of Dark Reign, though they do happen at the time.
The Hood lost his powers in New Avengers #54, and get’s them back in issue #56 and #57 of that series. Meaning that his appearances in Avengers: The Initiative #25 and #26 occur before New Avengers #50-54, as his powers still come from Dormammu at that point.
Loki is still also using Sif’s body in New Avengers #56, meaning that issue occurs prior to Thor #601-603.
Turns out I was wrong about those Deadpool issues and Lethal Legion, #10-12 involved Bullseye.
Due to Tiger Shark’s dialogue in Dark Reign: Lethal Legion #1, Deadpool #10-12 occurs before the Lethal Legion series, as Osborn had already hired Tiger Shark, which occurs in the Deadpool issues.
Avengers: The Initiative #26-31 do occur during Dark Reign for the most part, but they aren’t part of the Dark Reign event.
War Machine #6-10 features Wonder Man, meaning it would need to occur prior to Dark Reign: Lethal Legion #1-3, when he ended up locked up in the Raft
Dialogue in Avengers: The Initiative #25, and an editorial note, places that issue after War Machine #8 but before War Machine #9-10
Due to Captain Marvel’s appearance in Dark Reign: Lethal Legion, the Lethal Legion series should be placed prior to Dark Avengers #5-6
Captain Marvel is mentioned to still be a member of the Dark Avengers in Dark Reign: Hawkeye #1, placing that series before Dark Avengers #5-6
Dark Avengers #5 occurs at the same time as New Avengers #54, due to the same interview with Osborn, from Dark Avengers #5, being shown in New Avengers #54.
Loki’s appearance in Dark Avengers #6 also puts that before Thor #601-603.
Mighty Avengers #27-31 occur before Thor #601-603, due to Loki still inhabiting Sif’s body.
Also, due to the presence of the ‘Avengers Resistance’ in Mighty Avengers #30-31, with Tigra and others being members, issue #25 of Avengers: The Initiative occurs before issues #30-31 of Mighty Avengers.
The events and dialogue of New Avengers #50-51 put them before Ms. Marvel #35-46 and Dark Avengers #2-4. Loki’s appearance in New Avengers #54 also places that issue before Thor #602-603.
Thor #600 isn’t actually part of Dark Reign. Thor’s Dark Reign ‘storyline’ begins directly after Dark Reign: The Cabal, with the last story from that one-shot stating Loki’s story is set right before Thor #601 and Thor #601 continuing that story. Technically Thor #601-603, Thor: Giant Size Special, and Thor #604-606 don’t actually fall under the Dark Reign banner, although they are involved in the Event more or less.
In addition, the Giant Size Finale issue continues on directly from Thor #603, and Mighty Avengers issue #24 occurs prior to Thor #601-603 as Loki is still inhabiting Sif’s body in the Mighty Avengers Issues.
Although Vengeance of the Moon Knight #1-5 do occur during Dark Reign and do deal with the events that go on during it, they also aren’t billed as being part of the Dark Reign event.
S.W.O.R.D. #1-5 also isn’t included in the Dark Reign event, though it does also occur at the time.
Also, given events in Dark Avengers, even if S.W.O.R.D. was part of the Dark Reign event, it would happen at least after Dark Avengers issue 6.
Also, even if S.W.O.R.D. was under the Dark Reign event banner, which it’s not, the events during it would place it at least later than Dark Avengers #6.
Only issues 1-6 of Punisher are involved in Dark Reign, not 1-10 as you’ve listed.
Agents of Atlas is issues 1 to 7, number 8 doesn’t fall under Dark Reign.
Spider-Woman doesn’t actually fall under the Dark Reign banner, although it does happen during that time, it isn’t actually involved in the ‘event’ itself
Also, Captain America #49-50 don’t fall under the Dark Reign banner either, although they do happen during that time like with Spider-Woman, they aren’t actually involved in the ‘event’.
Neither is Captain America #600, Captain America Reborn #1-6, or Captain America: Who Will Wield The Shield. Also, even if they were included in the Dark Reign event, which they are not, then Captain America #601 would come before the Reborn mini series.
Dark Reign: Elektra happens before Thunderbolts #129, as Paladin appears in Dark Reign: Elektra #1 and Norman mentions recruiting him for the Thunderbolts in Dark Reign: Elektra #2. He first showed up as a member of the Thunderbolts in #129
Ms. Marvel’s Dark Reign story actually begins with issue 34, not 35
Is there any bare minimum list? This is a major list compared to any other event, over 200 issues… going to be a pain in the backside to get hold of them, unless there is some complete release books like a Dark Reign Omnibus:))
From my understanding, this isn’t really a crossover as much as it’s just an “era” for Marvel comics. So I assume you should be fine just reading whatever you were already planning on reading.
Here’s my list, personally:
Dark Reign: The List
*The Amazing Spider-Man #595-599
Dark Avengers #1-12, Annual #1 + Vol 2
Dark Reign: Elektra #1-5
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5
*Dark Reign: Mister Negative #1-3
New Avengers #48-60, Annual #3 + Vol 11 + Vol 12
*New Avengers: The Reunion #1-4
Punisher #1-10
Secret Warriors #1-10 Volume 1 + Vol 2
Spider-Woman #1-7
SWORD #1-5
*Thor #600-606 + Thor: Latverian Prometheus
Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men Utopia
Vengeance of Moon Knight #1-5
Secret Invasion Dark Reign
*Might skip
First I just want to say that this site is amazing; the only reason I started reading comics. I’m fairly new to comics and without your reading orders and recommendations I would have been completely lost. I just finished Secret Invasion and I don’t know if I should read Dark Reign or War of Kings next. I’d prefer to read 1 at a time rather than go back and forth, unless it’s better that way of course. How should I proceed? Thanks!
Hi Derek!
I was wondering how continuity was between “Main Marvel” and Marvel Cosmic and following some research this is what I found out. The order of events, from your requested starting point of Secret Invasion, in the Marvel Universe is as follows…
(- X-Men: Messiah Complex: Added because of what follows)
– Secret Invasion
– War of Kings
– X-Men: X-Infernus
– X-Men: Messiah War
– Dark Reign, Part 1: This is basically the above reading order up to Mighty Avengers #31
– Realm of Kings: The follow-up to War of Kings
– Dark Reign, Part 2: Just pick up the reading order after Mighty Avengers #31
– X-Men: Necrosha
– Incredible Hercules: Assault on New Olympus
– Fall of Hulks, World War Hulks
– Siege: The culmination of Dark Reign
– X-Men: Second Coming: The final of the trilogy started with Messiah Complex and followed with Messiah War.
(- The Punisher: Franken-Castle: If you want to know what’s next for Frank after Dark Reign)
– Black Panther: Doom War
– Avengers vs. Agents of Atlas
– The Heroic Age
This should keep you going for some time, but if you want to know what’s next, do ask!
Sean,
Thanks so much! This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Very much looking forward to jumping right into it. I really appreciate you taking the time to compose a timeline for these events. Take care!
It doesn’t look like Dark Reign Files is on Unlimited.
If case anyone is looking for Incredible Hulk #604-605 on MU, its under Incredible Hulks not Hulk.
Dave, thank you so much for all your lists. I’m relatively new (new as in started 3 years ago) to the Marvel world and your lists have been exactly what I wanted when I started.
Good call, and thanks, I’m glad you’re enjoying!
I am looking for a little help! In all your other reading orders you put the published years for each comic at the end. I don’t know which Captain America run you are referencing when you have the 49-50 listed. Which year run is this? Thanks! Love all of the reading orders, it has helped me get into comics so much more.
James, if i had to guess, itd be the brubacker 2005 run, which ended in ’09 with #50. hope this helps.
Hi,
Really find the list useful, however seem to have found a lot of gaps in the reading due to missing issues such as in the amazing Spider-Man universe a lot of the story is missed where lily is the menace ?
Also found this with the X-men when magik is suddenly back from limbo ? Where does X-infernus fit into all this ?
Hey Josh,
Amazing Spider-Man had an explosion of issues around this period. Three a month, if I’m correct. The X-Men had a period called “Manifest Destiny” before “Utopia” and “Nation X”. Dave hasn’t listed this period in the X-Men reading order. I’ve looking into it for myself, and eventually I got this (this is going to be a long one, so be advised)…
– X-Men: Messiah CompleX (let’s start here)
– Wolverine: Get Mystique (Wolverine #62-65)
– X-Men: Divided We Stand
– X-Force, Vol. 3 #1-11
– X-Men: Manifest Destiny, Part 1: Young X-Men #1-5, Wolverine: Manifest Destiny #1-4, X-Men: Manifest Destiny – Nightcrawler, X-Men: Manifest Destiny #1-5, Astonishing X-Men #25-30
– X-Men: Original Sin: Wolverine: Origins #28, X-Men: Original Sin #1, X-Men Legacy #217, Wolverine: Origins #29, X-Men Legacy #218, Wolverine: Origins #30-32
– X-Men: Manifest Destiny, Part 2: Uncanny X-men #500-503
– Amazing Spider-Man #546-567 AKA “Brand New Day”
– Secret Invasion
– Captain Britain and MI-13 #5-9+Annual #1+#10-15 (continues straight from Secret Invasion, that’s why I’m adding this one)
– Amazing Spider-Man Annual #35, #568-574, Extra #1 (only story 1!), #575-582, Extra #2
– War of Kings (only added this because you might want to know what happens to the Shi’ar, the Starjammers, and Cyclops’s evil brother Vulcan)
– Amazing Spider-Man #583-587, Extra #1 (story 2+3), #588, Extra #3, #589
– X-Men: Worlds Apart (limited series, 4 issues)
– X-Men: Manifest Destiny, Part 3: Uncanny X-Men #504-507
– X-Infernus (you might want to read the “Saga” issue to really get up to speed with Illyana)
– Cable, Vol. 2 #1-12
– X-Men: Manifest Destiny, Part 4: Eternals #7-9, Uncanny X-Men #508-512
– X-Force #12-13
– Messiah War
– X-Force #17-20+Annual #1+X-Force: Sex & Violence #1-3
– Dark Reign:
Secret Invasion: Dark Reign #1 (One Shot)
New Avengers #48
Thunderbolts #126-127
Invincible Iron Man #8
Avengers: The Initiative #20
Avengers: The Initiative #21-23
Secret Invasion: Requiem #1 (One Shot)
New Avengers #049
Dark Reign Files #1 (One Shot)
Dark Avengers #1
Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1-2
Wolverine Origins #33-36
Thunderbolts #128-129
Deadpool #6-7
Avengers: The Initiative #24
Deadpool #8
Thunderbolts #130
Deadpool #9
Thunderbolts #131
Dark Avengers #2-4
Dark Reign: Young Avengers #3-5
– #590-594, Annual #36
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5
Dark Wolverine #75-#77
Ms. Marvel #31-50
Dark Reign: Elektra #1-5
Spider-Woman #1-7
Captain America #49-50
Dark Reign: New Nation #1 (One Shot)
The Skrull Kill Krew #1-5
New Avengers: The Reunion #1-4
Secret Warriors #1-6
Agents of Atlas #1-11
Black Panther #1-6
Dark Reign: The Hood #1-5
Dark Reign: Mr. Negative #1-3
The Punisher #1-10
Dark Reign: Zodiac #1-3
Savage She-Hulk #1-4
Vengeance of The Moon Knight #1-5
War Machine #1-5
The Mighty Avengers #21-23
Incredible Hercules #127-128
MODOK Reign Delay #1 (One Shot)
Dark Reign: The Goblin Legacy #1 (One Shot)
Dark Reign: Made Men #1 (One Shot)
Dark Reign: The Cabal #1 (One Shot)
Thor #600-603 (Beta Ray Bill: Godhunter, concurrently)
Mighty Avengers #24-26
New Avengers #50-54
Mighty Avengers #27-#31
Dark Avengers #5-6
SWORD #1-5
Captain America #600
Amazing Spider-Man #595-599
Dark Reign: The Sinister Spider-Man #1-4
Dark Reign: Hawkeye #1-5
Dark Reign: Lethal Legion #1-3
Dark Wolverine #78-80
Invincible Iron Man #9-11
War Machine #6-10
Avengers: The Initiative #25
War Machine #11-12
Invincible Iron Man #12-13
Avengers: The Initiative #26
Avengers: The Initiative #27
Deadpool #10-12
New Avengers #55-58
Mighty Avengers #32-33
Uncanny X-Men Annual #2
Dark X-men: The Beginning #1-3
X-Men Legacy #226-227
Dark Avengers X-Men Utopia #1
Uncanny X-Men #513
Dark Avengers #7
Uncanny X-Men #514
Dark Avengers #8
Dark Avengers X-Men Exodus #1
Dark X-Men: The Confession #1
Deadpool #15-16
Dark Reign The List: X-Men #1
– X-Nation
Dark X-Men #1-5
Planet Skaar Prologue #1
Skaar Son of Hulk #11-12 (Skaar vs. Hulk.)
Hulk #13
Incredible Hulks #601-603
Dark Reign The List: Hulk #1
Incredible Hulk #604-605
Avengers: The Initiative #28-30
New Avengers #59-60
Dark Reign The List: Avengers #1
New Avengers Annual #3
Mighty Avengers #34
Dark Reign The List: Daredevil #1
Dark Wolverine #81
Dark Reign The List Wolverine #1
Dark Avengers Annual #1
Thunderbolts #132-134
Secret Warriors #7
Thunderbolts #135
Secret Warriors #8
Thunderbolts #136
Secret Warriors #9
Dark Avengers: Ares #1-3
Dark Reign The List: Secret Warriors #1
Secret Warriors #10
Invincible Iron Man #14-17
Thunderbolts #137
Dark Reign The List: Punisher #1
Dark Reign The List: Amazing Spider-Man One-Shot #1
Invincible Iron Man #18-19
Dark Avengers 9-12
Avengers: The Initiative #31
Thunderbolts #138-140
Captain America Reborn #1-6
Invincible Iron Man #20-24
Thor Giant-Size Finale #1 (One Shot)
Thor #604-606
Captain America: Who Will Wield The Shield?
Dark Reign: Young Avengers #3-5
– #590-594, Annual #36
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5
Missed a bit. Of course I’m talking about Amazing Spider-Man #590-594, Annual #36
Dave, I’ve said this before in many other comments all over the lists, but I love your site, and can’t thank you enough everytime you get me out of a tough spot continuity wise. In this case, and only for the sake of completion, Ms. Marvel31 through 34 should be mentioned in the issue by issue reading order, as they give some background to Carol, and tie into the Dark Reign event with her last comment on issue 31 (Not gonna spoil it for anyone), and since they have redacted notes from general Morales to Norman Osborn at the start of each issue. I must point out though that they are not mandatory to unserstand the event, but they do make for a fun read.
did they not do a trade paperback
These lists are ridiculous. You’ve done an incredible job. Seriously indispensable. Can’t say enough good things.
I think you’ve got S.W.O.R.D. listed too early. I just got to that point, its publishing date is way ahead of the other stuff I’ve read and jumps past a lot of Avengers stuff (early 2010 as opposed to mid-2009), and the second issue opens with an “ex-Avenger and fugitive” who I last saw still on the team. I know you listed it as one of your favorites, so people might get the most out of it if you slotted it 5 or 6 months down the list.
Thanks again for all your work.
You’re right, Will! Going with what you’ve hinted at in your comment, I believe S.W.O.R.D. should be placed after Dark Avengers #6.
Hi Dave. First of all thanks for the guide. It’s helped me get my shelves of tpbs in order!
Quick question though.. The Deadpool issues jump from 12 here to 23 in heroic age. When should I read issues 13-22? As 13 is the first issue of the 2nd Daniel way collection, this also determines where the book sits on the shelf. Much obliged.
Right in between Dark Reign and Heroic Age is perfect. Pirate Deadpool!
You can see more Deadpool recs here for the Deadpool reading order.
Savage she-hulk is under all new savage she hulk on marvel unlimited
Unless I’m missing something, int these orders Daredevil jumps straight from #115 ( near but not at the end of Brubakers run), in the run up to Secret Invasion to #508 in Shadowlands. I feel like there should be some here? I guess it might not tie in directly, but not having it anywhere led me to believe it would tie in and reading past 115 would spoil this event or a concurrent one.
Daredevil’s numbering jumps from 119 to 500 at the end of Brubaker’s run before becoming Black Panther: Man Without Fear from issue 513 (post Shadowland) and then restarting with a new Number 1 for Mark Waid’s first run after Daredevil: Reborn.
As far as tie-ins to major events go, 116-119 and 500-507 establish a lot of the characters and settings for Shadowland as somewhat of a prelude to the event as Brubaker leaves and Diggle takes over the series.
It used to be very rare for Daredevil books to actively participate in large Universe-spanning cross-overs because of the nature of his stories.
But yeah, short answer: the issues are useful for buildup to Shadowland but not necessary if you only want to hit the big plot points.
I’m not sure why you haven’t included Punisher #7-#10 as well.
It’s all Dark Reign Era stuff. Not to mention #6 is the first of a five-parter.
Yeah you’re right, thanks for the update.
Even weirder considering I counted all 10 Punisher issues among my favorite Dark Reign stories…
My only issue with this so far is that War Machine #6 is listed twice. I assume the first listing of War Machine, should be #1-#5 and not #1-#6? Can anyone confirm?
My only issue with this so far is that War Machine #6 is listed twice. I assume the first listing of War Machine, should be #1-#5 and not #1-#6? Can anyone confirm?
Also Avengers: The Initiative #27 is listed twice, like right after eachother?
Hey, thanks for all these reading orders. Where should i read New Avengers-The Reunion? Sorry if i missed it :&
I’ve got it after Skrull Kill Krew and before Secret Warriors. Upper third of the deck should work fine 🙂
First off. Excellent job with the reading orders. This is by far the most comprehensive list I have ever seen and thank you greatly for putting the time and effort into this. It is greatly appreciated! I am enjoying comics even more so now that I can keep them in order.
I am catching up on all things X-Men starting from House of M. I just finished Secret Invasion and am getting into the Dark Reign era. I’m mainly focusing on X-Men and purchased Utopia and Nation X. My question is, is it necessary to ready Dark Avengers TPB Vol 1 prior to Utopia? Will I be missing a lot without the Dark Avengers backstory? I also haven’t purchased any other Dark Reign trades yet. Ordered Dark Avengers on Amazon but it’s out of stock and I’m holding off on reading Utopia. Is Dark Avengers a requirement before getting into Utopia?
Thanks greatly,
Phillip
Personally, I think Utopia will make more sense if you know the Dark Avengers first. I’d imagine you’ll be able to get most of Utopia without it (Bad guy Avengers, ok, got it), but if you’re newer to the Marvel U it will help with a lot of “Wait, who’s that?” moments. Plus, Dark Avengers is pretty good on its own.
Enjoy the comics!
Thanks, Dave! I found Dark Avengers on another site since still not on Amazon. I’ll read that first then Utopia. Thanks again for all the help!
Hey should I read War of Kings, or the Dark Reign stuff first?
Really just depends if you want to tackle Marvel Cosmic or Earth first. They’re published over the same time period (2009). To my recollection, not much overlap.
You have three trades worth of Mighty Avengers listed in the trade order, however the middle trade, I believe issues 27-31, aren’t in the individual issue reading order, where should those be read?
Good catch. Adding it right after New Avengers #50 to #54, but just let me know if that doesn’t feel right!
Hey can you give me a definite spot to put the Marvel Spotlight Dark Reign issue? I don’t want anything spoiled by my reading it too soon in the timeline.
I don’t see how Agents of ATLAS #8 is connected…
Just wanted to leave a quick note for anyone who is trying to read through this “event”. I know it says that the “Dark Reign – Zodiac” collection is out of print, which is true, but the mini-series is included in the “Dark Reign – The Underside” trade along with the “Lethal Legion”, “Mister Negative” and “Made Men” minis and one-shots.
Happy reading!
Great add, thanks!
Hi!
Reading this by issues seems like a lot of effort but I feel like I’d miss a lot by going through entire series. What do you recommend?
@Ric I have the same conundrum. I am going to read the Dark Reign books and the Avenger related books.
The Dark Reign books and the New Avengers material will definitely give you a strong feel for the “event.”
I’d also encourage Punisher (it’s a great run rooted in Dark Reign, and I’m not a big Punisher guy), and Captain America Reborn towards the end. Otherwise, it’s more up to you which titles most interest you in general. Amazing Spider-Man is another strong title for relevance to consider here as well.
Hope that helps some!