Following the beginning of Marvel’s Hickman era of X-Men in the Dawn of X and X of Swords event, the X-Men line of comics will move into the Reign of X, what is effectively the second part of life on Krakoa for the mutants.
Previously: Dawn of X
Previously: X of Swords
Reign of X promises an exciting post “Swords” era of X-Men comics, with mutants still living on their Krakoan island nation, but with growing numbers, power, and of course all the problems and villains that arise in the wake.
If you’re looking to get started with this era of X-Men, make sure to check out House of X / Powers of X
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Collected Reign of X Trades:
Collected Reign of X Trades by Series
The below includes all the same comics as the above Reign of X collected editions, except you can pick and choose which series most interest you.
Children of the Atom by Ayala Vol. 1
Issue by Issue Reign of X Comics Checklist!
You can find full comic book reviews, analysis, and explanations via the Comic Book Herald Youtube Channel, and my ‘Krakin’ Krakoa’ series covering all things X-Men! Indented comics just means they aren’t part of our regularly scheduled X-Men line (but the stories include mutants!).
While Cable #7 is published well after SWORD debuts, it makes more sense to me to read prior to the King in Black crossovers.
Technically, major members of the X-Men show up in Marvel’s King in Black event. It’s not worth reading for that reason alone, but given SWORD will tie into the event, it’s worth some awareness around what’s going on.
Again, since SWORD is a King in Black tie-in, I’m recommending reading the issue alongside that event, which includes various X-characters (namely Storm!) who are doing all sorts of other things in other books! So my general thinking is let’s fit all of King in Black in here, and then proceed to the rest of the Reign of X, unless specific moments dictate otherwise.
Iceman, Bishop and Callisto all get to play a role in the Gerry Duggan written riff on Conan and Deadpool’s team-up during King in Black!
King in Black: Return of the Valkyries #2 to #4
Dani Moonstar has a strong supporting role!
Part of Marvel’s “Outlawed” crossover as well!
Wolverine and Pixie show up to take Molly Hayes to Krakoa! The Rainbow Rowell written run is great, and this is a strong crossover.
Storm is present for the main “Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda” storyline written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, but in particular it’s the backup Storm feature by Saint Bodhi X-Fans will want to check out.
Wolverine helps the Powers kids. Technically part of Marvel’s “Outlawed” crossover.
Includes a handful of short stories set on Krakoa. Inessential but enjoyable for fans of characters like Jean Grey, Marrow, and Emma Frost.
This is part 3 of the Steve Orlando written “Curse of the Man-Thing” mini, starring Krakoa’s Quiet Council and Magik and her Dark Riders. Note that the first two parts (Avengers, Spider-Man) don’t include much from mutants, but do include Hordeculture, so there’s some X-relevance!
Hellfire Gala – Official Guide
This link will take you to a reading order for the full Hellfire Gala crossover! Come back here when you’re done for the continuation of the Reign of X.
Elsewhere: Heroes Reborn (a few alternate reality mutant issues!)
Non-essential but features a Wolverine cameo
Part of The Last Annihilation crossover!
X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #1 to #4
Available exclusively via Marvel Unlimited. The first four issues are a short Wolverine story by Jonathan Hickman and Declan Shalvey. Inessential, and could be read pretty early in Krakoan continuity if desired. This approximates when the comics were released.
X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comics #5, #6, #7
The Duggan X-Men can be seen next in a Devil’s Reign tie-in series, Devil’s Reign X-Men
Next: Inferno!
Next: X Lives of Wolverine / X Deaths of Wolverine
X Lives of Wolverine / X Deaths of Wolverine Reading Order
X Lives of Wolverine #1
X Deaths of Wolverine #1
X Lives of Wolverine #2
X Deaths of Wolverine #2
X Lives of Wolverine #3
X Deaths of Wolverine #3
X Lives of Wolverine #4
X Deaths of Wolverine #4
X Lives of Wolverine #5
X Deaths of Wolverine #5
Next: Destiny of X
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X-Force #19
Wolverine #12. How this queue is possible? Hank was unconscious in X-force but suddenly we saw in wolverine healthy.
Way of X #3?
So, is it okay if I just read the collected editions of RoX until 11 and then read hellfire gala and then continue with RoX 12 and go straight into inferno, x lives / x deaths and so on?
the issue by issue stuff just confuses me and I like reading collected editions..
Just letting you know the link to X Lives/X Deaths leads to X Of Swords instead.
I think the X-Corp TPB is missing from the TPB reading order. Where about would that fall?
I put it after New Mutants by Vita Ayala vol 2
Reign of X Vol. 1
Reign of X Vol. 2
Reign of X Vol. 3
Reign of X Vol. 4
Reign of X Vol. 5
Reign of X Vol. 6
Reign of X Vol. 7
Reign of X Vol. 8
Reign of X Vol. 9
Reign of X Vol. 10
THEN :
Reign of X Vol. 11
Reign of X Vol. 11 & Reign of X Vol. 12 = Hellfire Gala red Carpet Edition so If you are collecting all the Reign of X DO NOT BUY HELLFIRE GALA RED CARPET – X Vol. 11 & Reign of X Vol. 12 CONTAINS THE ENTIRE HELLFIRE GALA RED CARPET EDITION.
Reign of X Vol. 14
Reign of X Vol. 15 :
TRIAL OF MAGNETO STARTS WITHIN THIS BOOK SO JUST LIKE HELLFIRE GALA YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY TRIAL OF MAGNETO PAPERBACK IF YOU ARE COLLECTING REIGN OF X
Reign of X Vol. 16:
COLLECTING: Cable: Reloaded (2021) 1, X-Men: Trial of Magneto (2021) 3-5, Wolverine (2020) 14
TRIAL OF MAGNETO WILL END HERE
MY BAD I MADE A TYPO :
Reign of X Vol. 12 + Reign of X Vol. 13 = Hellfire Gala, not 11 + 12
Can I ask why Trial of Magneto is so late in the order? I’m starting it where you said to but it really seems like it’s supposed to be read right after Hellfire Gala.
Looking at the upcoming TPBs, Hellfire Gala runs through Reign of X vol 12-14, and Trial of Magneto in Reign of X vol 15-16. I agree, it should be much earlier in this list.
Can you do one with all the TPBs? That’s the easiest way to buy them all for me. (Set it out like the Dawn Of X TPB section?)
Yeah! That’s just what I was looking for. With all the remembering and new titles and everything, it’s hard to track the tpb reading order. Thanks for your work on this site!
Looks like these are missing from the reading order:
SWORD 11, Wolverine 19, Excalibur 26, X-Force 26, Marauders Annual, and X-Men 7 —I stuck them after the respective previous issue of each series for the time being, but wanted to check and see if you think that’s the best placement. Thanks! And thanks for all the hard work you do here!
Hey thanks for the update! I’ll add them in. Yeah I’m aligned w/ that approach
Anyone know what’s with SWORD 6? I can’t find it, it’s not in the TPBs, anything.
It’s in the Reign of X volume 14 tpb.
Hi, so i was surfing amazion and saw they have reign of x tpb. would u suggest just reading these in order?
So, X-Force 22 and 23 and CotA 6 are not in the reading order and it also seems to have skipped Excalibur 23 but has 24. Everything else looks good. This has been such a great help in keeping up with this whole run. Really appreciate your efforts!
Updated!
Any idea where the X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic fits into all this? I’ve read that it’s canon… I feel like there are probably events in the comic that would timestamp it well, but I’m just starting on my Hickman read-through and would like to get everything in order before I get there.
Thanks!
Where does X-Force #22 fit in on the list?
^^This. Also, Children of the Atom 6?
I would say that would fit in the Hellfire Gala books.
Hello,
I’m reading Hickman’s run essentially on TPB, do you have any suggestion if i need to read a series before or after all the others for Reign of X era and the road to Hellfire Gala ?
I don’t care if it’s minor.
As an example, a significant thing could be to read X-Force 1-3 before any other tpb of DoX period.
Thank you
Are we getting a Post Hellfire Gala Reading Order?
I don’t see anything listed for post-Hellfire Gala lists. Are we considering HFG as a sub-event within RoX or do we expect to kick off another era (House>Dawn>Swords>Reign>Gala>????).
I’m still catching up through Reign, so no spoilers please!
Yeah, I’m wondering the same thing… We’re a few weeks post-Gala now, I’m surprised we haven’t gotten reading orders for the newer stuff yet.
As someone who doesn’t want to necessarily read EVERYTHING on this list, which series (alongside Hickman’s X-Men) would you most recommend to get the full “Reign of X” experience?
Really enjoying these lists and dipping my toe back into some Marvel events after sitting on the sidelines since Hickman’s Secret Wars.
X-Men, Marauders, Excalibur, New Mutants are probably a well-rounded list.
Where it says “X-Men #21” did you mean #20? Since 20 came out today, and 21 is part of Hellfire Gala…
Heya guys, need to know the reading order for Mays issues just finished New Mutants #17
I’m pretty sure all we definitively know is:
Hellions #11
Marauders #20
In any order, Marauders #20 should probably be last, as it is the day before the Gala. The Curse of the Man-Thing mini-series needs to be placed entirely before Marauders as well, but after the Hellions mission, because of Sinister’s place on the Council.
“Way of X” #2 occurs the morning of the Gala, and we now see that “Children of the Atom” #4 takes place the day before the Gala, with Storm delivering an invitation to a member, and with issue #3 and #4 of that book happening back to back I have this leading up to the start of the Gala:
Children of the Atom #3
Children of the Atom #4
Marauders #20
Way of X #2
I have “Hellions” #11 WAAAAY earlier so that she doesn’t have any problem appearing in all the “Excalibur” issues she’s showing up in.
by “she” I mean Kwannon
What’s the ongoing order with xmen, in short is this right?:
1. House of X Power of X – Event
2. Dawn of X – Series
3. X of Swords – Event
4. Reign of X – Series
5. Hellfire gala – Event
I’m assuming I can buy the big HC collected for the events – House of X (I did) and for both X of Swords and Hellfire Gala and I won’t miss anything?
Also assuming I can just buy “Dawn of X” collected books rather than the individual titles (I did) and the same for the Reign of X series and I won’t miss anything?
If true, this is just superior packaging to keep it all together and in order.
Sound Right?
Hi Dave et al,
I don’t see X-Force #18 on here anywhere and it came out in March 2021. Any ideas on where it should go in the order?
So currently this reading order suggests reading Savage Avengers 18 before 16? King in Black complicates the reading order for sure, but would probably switch that around a little bit.
thank you so much for this i always follow this page for updates.
S.W.O.R.D. #3?
Where would you put Wolverine #8?