Since 2018, Marvel has been in the Fresh Start era that started with revolutionary runs of The Immortal Hulk and Venom, alongside new Fresh Starts for Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and Black Panther. Some of these runs will define the characters for years to come, but today, not one of the initial Fresh Start runs is still using the original numbering. All of them have now been relaunched with new creative teams (or creative teams about to start) except one (Thor) which launched over a year after Fresh Start began. As such, jumping into Fresh Start from the beginning no-longer feels like a great way to kick-start your journey into reading the stories currently in comic book shops.
This reading order primarily focuses on books that have relaunched since 2022 and are still going today, and mini-series that have come out in that time-frame. As such certain books (like Thor) are not included in the Reading Order and other books like the 2021 Hulk relaunch are not included as the run has already ended and is getting a new creative team. For the sake of this reading order, I’m going to call this “post-Fresh Start” even though we are still kind of in the Fresh Start era. The reading order is broken up into a couple of different parts: Spider-Man Family, Spider-Verse, Avengers Family, Marvel Magic, Marvel Cosmic, and The Mutant Family. The Spider-Man Family focuses on Spider-Man/Spider-Man adjacent stories that primarily occur on Earth 616. The Spider-Verse focuses on the multiverse of Spider-Man, while the Avengers Family focuses on members who historically have been members of the Avengers (Hulk and Ant-Man) or fight similar types of enemies (Fantastic Four and Nick Fury). Marvel Magic focuses on characters with ties to magic (Ghost Rider and Doctor Strange) or that are magic adjacent (Scarlet Witch and Daredevil). Finally, the Mutants will focus on stories of the X-Men family that specifically began with the Destiny of X stories and after.
Previously: Marvel Fresh Start Part 1
Commonly Asked Questions:
Where can I read these books?
There are many ways to read these books.
1) You can purchase these books via trade paperbacks/hardbacks. The links for these are attached throughout the reading order. This is my personal favorite way to read the reading order because it’s easy to collect, and the experience of reading the trades in book format is so fun. You can buy these trades via the links or go to your local comic shop. If going to comic shop, make sure to call and double check that they have what you want?
Support For Comic Book Herald:
Comic Book Herald is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a qualifying affiliate commission.
Comic Book Herald’s reading orders and guides are also made possible by reader support on Patreon, and generous reader donations.
Any size contribution will help keep CBH alive and full of new comics guides and content. Support CBH on Patreon for exclusive rewards, or Donate here! Thank you for reading!
2) You can buy single issues at a comic book shop. I recommend this format for books that have come out recently. Buying issues as they come out, is the best way to ensure the books you like continue.
3) You can use your local library. It’s a lesser known fact that local libraries tend to carry a surprising number of trades. In most major cities, nearly every book on this reading order will be in your local library system. Also by having a library card, most libraries will let you access Hoopla which has many of the books in digital trade format.
4) Finally, you can also use Marvel Unlimited which lets you read comics up to 3 months after a books come out. So a book that releases May 2023 will be on Marvel Unlimited in September 2023 with occasional exceptions. On top of that, Marvel Unlimited also has a ton of digital-exclusives called “Infinity Comics” that are sometimes in-continuity and are inspired by webcomics.
Do I have to read everything in one section to understand the next part of the order?
Generally speaking? No.
Other than some small references each family can be read on their own. While this order is treated as a sequential ordering of books, Marvel releases most of these books simultaneously. The most relevant books to Spider-Man Family Part 2 are in Spider-Man Family Part 1. Avengers Part 1 will operate almost entirely on its own without being influenced by Spider-Man Part 1 outside of some minor crossovers or guest appearances that may occur. Even within families, every series will matter to different levels when compared to its family members. In some eras, the Avengers is the most influential book to Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, etc. In other eras, Avengers is instead influenced by the events of the latter. The exception to the rule within families is the X-Men family in which almost every X-Men book significantly influences the other X-Men books.
Why isn’t there an issue by issue version?
With the different books releasing simultaneously, an issue by issue order would make sense except that it is a terrible way to read comics. If you were an alien who could view every person’s life from beginning to end, you wouldn’t watch 1 second of a person’s life and then pause to watch 1 second of another person’s life and after 8 billion people, go back to the first person to watch another minute. With the exception of crossovers and events (where there are issue by issue orderings), stories are written primarily with arcs in mind. Even if you are hesitant to read things that way, trust me that you will get more pleasure by reading in order of collected editions than issue by issue. When there is crossover in the middle of a book, it will be noted to ensure that you can enjoy the crossovers as intended. If you really want to read issue by issue, just look up what book came out every week and read all of the issues marvel released that week before moving onto the next week. However, like I said, the collected editions are a better experience. Notably, the X-Men books actually are collected issue by issue in some instances. Though I find that approach doesn’t work well, but the option for X-Men specifically is available.
Do I need to read everything before it to enjoy an event?
Not necessarily.
Event writers almost always know that the start of an event comic could be a reader’s first Marvel comic. Every reader starts somewhere after all. I started reading comics with 2017’s Secret Empire with very little context. It was confusing, but I managed to understand most of it, and here I am six years later, writing reading orders. So if you want to read an event book, feel free to dive right in. That being said, most events are designed to continue stories that have been told before. A.X.E. Judgment Day for example is a continuation of Kieran Gillen’s Eternals, Jason Aaron’s Avengers, and the Destiny of X.
Context and The Road to Post-Fresh Start
As mentioned earlier, Fresh Start began in 2018. It followed a decade with almost a relaunch every year (Marvel Now, All-New All-Different, Marvel Now 2.0, Marvel Legacy, etc.). During this time, Marvel elevated characters to new roles like Sam Wilson becoming Captain America, and introduced many new legacy characters like Ironheart, Kamala Khan, and Amadeus Cho. Many of the heroes elevated by this time frame are now appearing in the MCU. Marvel Fresh Start, however, was a return to the original line-up. Steve Rodgers became Captain America again (after being a Nazi for two years and taking over the world), Iron Man returned to work after being in a coma, and Spider-man was no longer a mega-billionaire and now could barely afford the rent. In many ways, Marvel made a fresh start for the line. During Fresh Start bold new storylines were introduced including the Symbiote God Knull coming to Earth, the Hulk becoming Immortal, and what might be the most significant, transformative work in comics of the last 10 years House of X/Powers of X which elevated the X-Men to the center of the Marvel Universe.
Though you can dive right into most books, there are a couple of particular storylines that you should check out that are both great stories, and are relevant and useful context to the stories that are being told now.
House of X/Powers of X and the Saga of Krakoa
Far and away, the most influential comic of the last 5 years is Jonathan Hickman’s House of X/Powers of X which changed the way mutants exist in the Marvel Universe massively. The shift is so massive that Krakoa serves as one of the best jumping-on points the X-Men have ever had. Not only is it ambitious, ground-breaking, and status quo defining, but the status quo of the X-Men affects almost every major story in some ways. Since House of X/Powers of X, the X-Men have in many ways become the center of Marvel storytelling and to not read the highlights of the Hickman era is both setting you at a knowledge loss, but also results in missing lots of essential details for many of these stories. The storyline is followed up by Dawn of X (a line-up of comics focused on establishing Krakoa) and Reign of X (Stories that follow X of Swords and come before X-Lives of Wolverine/X-Deaths of Wolverine). There are a TON of major story beats that have happened in the last 3 years and it is very hard to not recommend reading most of them. There are significant implications and reading any X-Men story will be tough without the general context as there is very little similarities between the movies/stories of pre-HoX/PoX that you will be able to easily fit into. Fortunately, I also there are some incredible issues here that are WELL worth your time.
Collects: House of X #1, Powers of X #1, House of X #2, Powers of X #2, House of X #3, Powers of X #3-4, House of X #4-5, Powers of X #5, House of X #6, and Powers of X #6
The Essential Dawn of X/Reign of X issues:
There’s so many incredible issues of the X-Men line from 2019-2021, but these are the issues that are essential to understand the X-Men line. I strongly recommend reading more for your enjoyment, but this is the bare minimum. Alongside the main X-Men series, there’s also 3 major events (X of Swords, Hellfire Gala, and Inferno) that are must reads. Hellfire Gala and Inferno only require you to read 4 issues, while X of Swords is longer (but excellent, important, and worthwhile).
– The foundations of the X-Men series.
– The first major story post-HoX/PoX
– Key info about the new team
– To give you a sense of the basics of Otherworld
– Essential Hickman World Building
– The first major event. A 22-part crossover. The event is unique in that most of the issues have some importance, but you could probably skip the hellions issues (They are really fun, but don’t amount to much importance). There will be little details you’ll be missing for some individual chapters, but the order above gives you the basic ideas. If you don’t want to read all 22 issues, then after X of Swords: Creation, you can kind of skip to X of Swords: Stasis. You can see the full reading order list here.
-Krakoa begins plans for its cosmic foreign policy
X-Men (2019) #16, 18-20
-Hickman’s last couple of stories
The mutants throw a ball for their 2nd crossover. Unlike X of S.W.O.R.D.S which is full of important moments, you only really need to read the four essential issues.
(four essential issues): Marauders #21, X-Men #21, Planet-Sized X-Men #1, and S.W.O.R.D. #6
– Key aftermath to the Hellfire Gala
– Get a sense of the new status quo.
Collects: Inferno #1-4
– The finale of Hickman’s time with the X-Men.
Collects: X-Men: Trial of Magneto #1-5
X-Lives of Wolverine/X-Deaths of Wolverine
This is a direct follow-up to Inferno mostly focused on continuing X-Force storylines, but also deals with Moira directly after Inferno. I recommend reading the Moira stuff, but don’t feel required to read the rest.
You can see the CBH full Hickman’s X-Men Reading Order Here and full discussion/coverage about the X-Men over on the CBH Youtube Channel!!
Danny Cates and Ryan Stegman’s Venom
In order to understand the detailed lore behind the new (excellent) venom series, you have to know the key details of Donny Cate’s incredibly influential run. The entire run is collected in the 1352 page Venomibus, but you can also read via trades:
Collects: Venom #1-6
Collects: Venom #7-12
Venom Vol. 3: Absolute Carnage
Collects: Venom #16-20
I skipped Venom #13-15 because they are part of a separate event (War of the Realms) that isn’t particularly relevant. The trade takes place during the event “Absolute Carnage” which is one of Marvel’s best events in the last 8 years. You can check out the full Absolute Carnage Reading Order Here:
Collects: Venom #21-25
Collects: Venom #26-30 and Spider-Man and Venom: Free Comic Book Day 2020
Collects: Venom #31-35
Like “Absolute Carnage,” this trade is a series of crucial tie-ins to the Event: King in Black. You can read the whole reading order here.
Post-Fresh Start: Reading Order
Spider-Man Family Part 1
The Spider-Man family reset in October 2021 with the Spider-Man Beyond Corp. A 25-part weekly Amazing Spider-Man story that focuses on Ben O’Reilly. The events of the story are the main driving factor for 2022’s “Dark Web” event. After the Beyond Corp story, the Amazing Spider-Man series reset with a new #1. Meanwhile, following the events of “King in Black,” Carnage and Venom both have excellent and ambitious new series. The Spider-Man family wouldn’t be complete without the Spider-Verse which in the post-Fresh Start world deserves its own section. The Spider-Verse side of the Spider-Man family opens with the conclusion of the Spider-Verse trilogy of Spider-Verse, Spider-Geddon, and now the lead-in to “End of Spider-Verse.”
Amazing Spider-Man: Beyond Vol. 1
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #75-78, 78.Beyond, and 79-80
Amazing Spider-Man: Beyond Vol. 2
Amazing Spider-Man #80.Beyond, and 81-85
Amazing Spider-Man: Beyond Vol. 3
Amazing Spider-Man #86-88, 88.BEY, and Mary Jane and Black Cat: Beyond
Amazing Spider-Man: Beyond Vol. 4
Amazing Spider-Man #89-92, 92.BEY, and #93
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) Vol. 1: World without Love
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man #1-5
Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 2: The New Sinister
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man #6-8
Issue #9 is a tie-in with the X-Men’s Hellfire Gala (2022) and Issue #10 is a tie-in with Judgment Day.
Read: Venom #1-5
Carnage Vol. 1 (2022): In the Court of Crimson
Read: Carnage #1-5 and Carnage Forever #1
Spider-Verse Part 1
Read: Edge of Spider-Verse #1-5
Read: Spider-Man 2099: Exodus Alpha #1, Spider-Man Exodus #1-5, Spider-Man 2099: Exodus Omega
Read: Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis #1-5
Destiny of X:
CBH already has a very detailed guide of the Destiny of X which you should check out here!
Included in the Destiny of X reading order is a section for the event A.X.E. Judgment Day, which is considered by many the best comics event since 2015’s Secret Wars. Most of the tie-in issues outside of the X-Men stories, tie-in to series that were near the conclusion of their runs and primarily aren’t part of the post-Fresh Start reading order. As such, I recommend you read the main issues as the story is very important, but don’t worry about trying to read every single tie-in.
The Amazing Spider-Man #9-10 are part of the Destiny of X reading order with The Amazing Spider-Man #9 being part of the 2022 Hellfire Gala and #10 being part of A.X.E. Judgment Day.
Avengers Family Part 1
The Avengers Family of stories starts a bit scattered as various Avengers members start new series while the 2018 Avengers storyline wrapped up with the crossover Avengers Assemble. However, much of the set-up for the Post-Fresh Start Avengers story occurs in All-Out Avengers. Meanwhile, Steve Rodgers and Sam Wilson are once again each Captain America with each having their own series. The Fantastic Four starts fresh with a return to an episodic style and each of them grieving a mysterious event in different ways. Also grieving in his own way, Iron-Man is dealing with the loss of his fortune (from the end of the last Iron Man series) and She Hulk finally returns to its roots in a series more similar to the She-Hulk TV Series.
All-Out Avengers: Teachable Moments
Read: All-Out Avengers #1-5
Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty Vol. 1: Revolution
Read: Captain America #0, Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #1-6
Captain America: Symbol of Truth Vol. 1: Homeland
Read: Captain America: Symbol of Truth #1-5
Fantastic Four Vol. 1: Whatever Happened to the Fantastic Four?
Read: Fantastic Four #1-6
The Invincible Iron-Man Vol. 1: Demon in the Armor
Read: The Invincible Iron Man #1-6
Read: Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #1-5
Read: She-Hulk #1-5
She-Hulk Vol. 2: Jen of Hearts
Read: She-Hulk #6-10
Spider-Family Part 2
The Amazing Spider-Man story continues with the lead into “Dark Web.” An event centered around the loose threads of Spider-Man: Beyond Corp and the New Mutants. The Spider-Verse meanwhile begins the event “End of Spider-Verse” in the pages of the new series Spider-Man, which sees the return of the 2nd longest running writer of Amazing Spider-Man to the web-slinging hero.
The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 3: Hobgoblin
Read: The Amazing Spider-Man #9-14
Read: Venom #6-10
Carnage Vol. 2: Carnage in Hell
Read: Carnage #6-10
Read: Gold Goblin #1
Event: Dark Web
The two most Famous Clones of Marvel have vendettas as the stories of New Mutants, X-Men, Venom, and Spider-Man come together. You can see the reading order on CBH here.
Event Trade with most of the issues
The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4: Dark Web
Read: Dark Web #1, Amazing Spider-Man #15-18, and Dark Web Finale #1
Read: Venom #11-15
Read: Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #1-2
Read: Gold Goblin #2-3
Mary Jane and Black Cat Part 1
Read: Mary Jane and Black Cat #1-2
Spider-Verse Part 2
Spider-Man Vol. 1: End of the Spider-Verse
Read: Spider-Man #1-7
Read: Edge of Spider-Verse #1-4
Read: Spider-Gwen: Shadow Clones #1-3
Avengers Part 2:
The new Avengers relaunch arrives with a mini-series Avengers: Beyond and a new ongoing Avengers book. Meanwhile, the Captain Americas begin the crossover “Cold War,” and the Incredible Hulk relaunches with writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson.
Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty Vol. 2: The Invader
Read: Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #6-10
Captain America: Symbol of Truth Vol. 2: Pax Mohannda
Read: Captain America: Symbol of Truth #6-11
Read: Avengers Beyond #1-5
Read: Avengers #1-3
Read: Loki #1-4
She-Hulk Vol. 3: Girl Can’t Help It
Read: She-Hulk #11-15
The Incredible Hulk
Read: Hulk Annual #1’s preview(2023) and The Incredible Hulk #1-2
Nick Fury
Read: Nick Fury #1
Read: Fantastic Four #7-9
Black Panther Vol. 1
Read: Black Panther #1-2
Read: I am Iron Man #1-5
Context: An episodic story focusing on different moments in Tony’s life.
Marvel Age #1000
Context: A miscellaneous collection of silver age stories
Crossover: Cold War
Prelude:
Captain America: Sentinel #11
Crossover:
Captain America: Cold War Alpha #1
Symbol of Truth #12
Sentinel of Liberty #12
Symbol of Truth #13
Sentinel of Liberty #13
Captain America: Cold War Omega #1
Aftermath:
Captain America: The Symbol of Truth #14
Captain America #750
Marvel Magic Part 1:
There isn’t significant shared storytelling between the books of Marvel Magic at the moment, but there is a clear Magic side to the comics line-up right now centered around the magical world of Hell, the Magical realms, and magical Vampires.
Read: Ghost Rider #1-5
Ghost Rider Vol. 2: Shadow Country
Read: Ghost Rider #6-10
Read: Scarlet Witch #1-5
Doctor Strange Vol. 1: The Life of Doctor Strange
Read: Doctor Strange #1-5
Read: Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider #1-5
Read: Daredevil and Echo #1-4
Read: Hellcat #1-5
Read: Ghost Rider #11-16
Blade Vol. 1
Read: Blade #1
Moon Knight: City of the Dead
Read: Moon Knight: City of the Dead #1-5
Scarlet Witch Vol. 2
Read: Scarlet Witch #6
Marvel Cosmic Part 1
Marvel is relaunching the space side of the Guardians of the Galaxy with a storyline called “Grootfall.” Meanwhile, Jonathan Hickman (who wrote Secret Wars (2015) and House of X/Powers of X) has begun work on a new cosmic oriented series called Ultimate Invasion and a full rework of the Cosmic elements/ideas of Marvel called G.O.D.S.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1: Grootfall
Read: Guardians of the Galaxy #1-4
Read: Groot #1-4
Read: Warlock Rebirth #1-5
Cosmic Ghost Rider: Duel Identity
Read: Cosmic Ghost Rider #1-5
Read: Silver Surfer: Ghost Light #1-5
Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest
Read: Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest
Read: Ultimate Invasion #1-4
Spider-Family Part 3
Following “Dark Reign,” Peter tries to get back to normal. Meanwhile, Miles Morales gets a relaunch and Venom/Carnage celebrate the “Summer of Symbiotes”) which includes a Carnage/Miles Morales/Red Goblin crossover.
Read: Gold Goblin #4-5
Mary Jane and Black Cat Part 2
Read: Mary Jane and Black Cat #3-5
Red Goblin Vol. 1: It Runs in the Family
Read: Red Goblin #1-5
Read: Hallows’ Eve #1-5
Miles Morales: Spider-Man Vol. 1: Trial
Read: Miles Morales #1-5
The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5: Dead Language Part 1
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man #19-23
The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 6: Dead Language Part 2
Read: Amazing Spider-Man #24-26 and Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (TBD)
Fallen Friend #1
Read: Spider-Man #8-10
Read: Venom #16-20
Read: Carnage #11-12
Crossover: Carnage Reigns
Carnage Reigns Alpha #1
Miles Morales: Spider-man #6
Carnage #13
Red Goblin #5
Carnage #14
Miles Morales: Spider-man #7
Carnage Reigns: Omega #1
In the Past:
Read: Spider-Man: The Lost Hunt #1-5
Context: This story is a flashback to when Peter lost his powers in Spider-Man: The Final Adventure.
Read: Venom: Lethal Protector #1-5
Context: This story is a flashback to a time period where Venom ate people, and a sequel to the first Venom: Lethal Protector.
Spider-Verse Part 3
Read: Silk #1-5
Read: Extreme Venomverse #1-5
Spider-Man: India
Read: Spider-Man: India #1-4
What if…Dark
Read: What if Dark: Loki and What if Dark: Spider-Gwen
Fall of X Part 1:
The X-Men begin their 4th era of the post-HoX/PoX World, which focuses on the escalation of Krakoa’s enemies to new levels.
Fall of X: Prelude:
Event: Sins of Sinister
Sinister makes a move to take over the Quiet Council which leads into a wild eleven-part alternate-reality storyline. You can see the full reading order on CBH here.
Before the Fall of X:
A series of one-shots will set up the next phase of the X-Men saga.
Before the Fall: Heralds of Apocalypse #1
Before the Fall: Mutants’ First Strike #1
Before the Fall: Sinister Four #1
Fall of X Part 1:
Free Comic Book Day: Avengers/X-Men #1
X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023 #1
Invincible Iron-Man #8
X-Men Vol. 5
X-Men #25-
Immortal X-Men Vol. 3
Immortal X-Men #14-
X-Force Vol. 8
Read: X-Force #43-
Wolverine Vol. 7
Read: Wolverine #36-
X-Men: Red Vol. 3
Read: X-Men Red #14-
Uncanny Avengers
Read: Uncanny Avengers #1-
Astonishing Ice-Man
Read: Astonishing Ice-Man #1-
Realm of X
Realm of X #1-
Dark X-Men
Read: Dark X-Men #1-
Uncanny Spider-Man
Read: Uncanny Spider-Man #1-5
Children of the Vault
Read: Children of the Vault #1-5
Alpha Flight
Read: Alpha Flight #1-5
Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Weapons of Vengeance Crossover
Read: Weapons of Vengeance #1
Spider-Man Family Part 4
Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 7: Armed and Dangerous
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man #27-31
Read: Cult of Carnage: Misery #1-3
Miles Morales: Spider-Man Vol. 2
Read: Miles Morales: Spider-Man #8
Red Goblin Vol. 2
Read: Red Goblin #6
Venom Vol. 5
Read: Venom #21-23
Web of Carnage Vol. 1
Read: Web of Carnage #1
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, support CBH on Patreon for exclusive rewards! Or you can even check out the CBH Merch store and get something nice with a small portion benefiting the site! Thank you for reading!
Why is incoming! Not listed in the fresh start part one, but it’s listed in the Dawn of X reading guide? still wondering where infinite destiny and heroes reborn fits in . Lastly, at what point should I take a break from reading Dawn of X and go back to Spider-Man then into absolute carnage?
Does anyone know if Infinity comics are important?
Kinda? Really hard to include in this guide for a couple of reasons. The important ones tend to get turned into single issues at LCS’s or Trades though,
Anyone have any idea where “infinite Destines“ and “heroes reborn“ fit in in the reading guide?
Hopefully more updates come soon, to part 1 before you switch your focus to continuing to work on part two of the fresh start guide!
Hey, I’ll be doing my best to.go back through part 1. I felt it was a great idea to have the post-fresh start order so that people can have something for the modern Era. I know there’s demand for it and that there’s a gap for rebirth year 3/4 and fresh start after 2019. So I’ll be seeing what I can do, but it could be a while.
Thank you!
Hopefully you can find where immortal hulk: flatline, great power, best defense, the thrashing place, and time of monsters fit in.