It’s recently occurred to me that although I have my comprehensive reading order guide to the Marvel Universe (often imitated, never duplicated), I don’t really have a fast track guide.
You know, for people that aren’t as obsessively inclined to read all of the comics in the history of ever. Wimps, if you will. (Jokes, my little wimpy, jokes!)
So here it is – the fast track guide to the Modern Marvel Universe, giving you all the essential story lines in 25 trade collections. Save money, save time, and get your true believer on all at once!
Two caveats before I dive in:
- This is not a “best trades of the decade” list. I actually have a list of the best 100 Marvel Comics from 1998 to 2015. But this is not that list. These are the trades most essential to giving you the major plot lines and story threads that drive the Marvel U.
- Since this is the fast track, there are oodles of additional stories and comics that will not be covered here (including Marvel Cosmic!). If you find that you’d prefer a more complete guide, well, look what we have here!
1) New X-Men Omnibus (Issues #114 – #154) – Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely
Nearly everything we know and love about the X-Men today can be traced back to Morrison and Quitely’s excellent New X-Men run. The devious presence of Emma Frost, the cat/awesomeness of Beast, Cyclops as something other than a milquetoast boyscout… it’s all here.
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Of course, there’s much more than that, and New X-Men sets the stage for all X-events to come. Even universe-wide events like House of M are fairly reliant on details on developments from within this series. It’s a must read, both for quality comics and influential storylines.
Buy New X-Men by Morrison & Quitely
Read New X-Men on Marvel Unlimited
2) Fantastic Four (Issues #60 – #70, #500 – #524) – Mark Waid & Mike Wieringo
Much like New X-Men, Waid & Wieringo’s run on Fantastic Four finds the intersection of best comics of the decade, and most essential story lines. In many ways, the urge to include this series is because it’s the best Fantastic Four comic arc I’ve ever enjoyed. Until Jonathan Hickman’s more recent run on the title, it was the best recent arc by a wide margin.
So what’s essential about these issues of Fantastic Four? For starters, any guide to the Marvel Universe without Marvel’s first family is flat out going to feel incomplete. And aside from best-in-class characterization and plotting, Waid & Wieringo also give us major developments for the Fantastic Four family. Most importantly, a certain Doctor you may know and love becomes entangled in a certain kind of Doom that will come into play in later Marvel events.
Read Comics!
Buy Fantastic Four from Waid & Wieringo (4 hardcover Ultimate Collections available)
Read Fantastic Four on Marvel Unlimited
3) Daredevil (Issues #16 – #81) – Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev
Daredevil? Daredevil is essential?
Despite the pedigree Frank Miller brought to the character, I can understand some skepticism surrounding the man without fear’s impact on the Marvel Universe as a whole.
Nonetheless, the “Out” story arc, and writer Brian Michael Bendis’ proximity to the character make Matt Murdock one of the major Marvel players. These are great, thought-provoking superhero stories, and Alex Maleev’s shadowy lens on crime make them some of the most interesting books to look at on this list.
A note here that unlike New X-Men and Fantastic Four, the Daredevil issues in this collection overlap several of the trades and stories to come.
Read Daredevil!
Buy Daredevil from Bendis & Maleev
Read Daredevil on Marvel Unlimited
4) Avengers Disassembled (Avengers Issues #500 – #503 + Finale) – Bendis & David Finch
And the age of events begins. It doesn’t take much beyond the story title to make it clear the impact these issues will have on the Marvel Universe as a whole, but the actual story is even more devastating than it sounds. For the curious, here’s my detailed guide to tie-ins and issues in Avengers Disassembled.
Comics!
Buy Avengers Disassembled – (the issues in this trade are also included in the New Avengers omnibus below)
Read Avengers Disassembled on Marvel Unlimited (+ Avengers Finale!)
5) Captain America (Issues #1 – #25) – Ed Brubaker & Steve Epting
Brubaker & Epting’s Cap transformed the character from an easily dismissed boyscout to the leading hero of the modern Marvel Universe. Aside from revitalizing Steve Rogers, this Captain America omnibus also gives us some of the most monumental character deaths, resurrections, and mysteries of the decade. This isn’t the last we’ll see of this outstanding creative team on this list. I’d note that the next item on our list (Secret War) can be read before Cap #16. An additional note that issues #23 through #25 and the Winter Soldier one-shot from the omnibus tie into Civil War.
Comics!
Buy Captain America by Brubaker & Epting
Read Captain America on Marvel Unlimited
6) Secret War (#1 – #5) – Bendis & Gabriel Del Otto
5 issue mini-event about Nick Fury’s covert dealings with Dr. Doom’s Latveria. Secret War often flies under the radar during discussion of major Marvel events, but it has major ramifications for Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. If that’s not enough to convince you it’s important, I’ll just mention that Wolverine gets mad. Like, really, really mad.
Comics!
Read Secret War on Marvel Unlimited
7) Astonishing X-Men (#1 – #24 + Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1) – Joss Whedon & John Cassaday
Aside from being one of the best comic collections of the decade, featuring stories from Avengers director Joss Whedon, Astonishing X-Men goes a long way to explaining the pre-House of M state of the X-Men. Admittedly, Astonishing X-Men is more essential in terms of excellence, and less so in terms of story. Nonetheless, you won’t regret reading, and in many ways, Astonishing begins laying the groundwork for themes explored later in Avengers vs. X-Men.
Comics!
Buy Astonishing X-Men from Whedon & Cassaday
Read Astonishing X-Men on Marvel Unlimited
8) New Avengers (#1 – #31 + Annual) – Bendis & David Finch
You didn’t really expect that Avengers: Disassembled thing to ruin things forever, did you? New Avengers starts putting the band back together, although in a way Marvel’s never seen before. A note that the New Avengers omnibus includes the Avengers Disassembled issues as part of its package. Additionally, you will want to start New Avengers #16: The Collective after reading House of M.
Update: Thanks to Matheus in the comments for the following. New Avengers really runs as a narrative thread running through the Marvel Universe, and is best read in increments: 1-15 – After Avenger Disassembled 15-20 – After House of M 21-25 – During Civil War (tie-ins) 26-37 – After Civil War and then, as it’s not on the list, if you want you can read these like this: 38-47 – ties-in to Secret Invasion 48-60 – Part of Dark Reign 61-65 – Ties-in to Siege
Comics!
Read New Avengers on Marvel Unlimited
9) House of M (#1 – #8) – Bendis & Oliver Coipel
I’m a sucker for alternate universe stories, and House of M is right in my wheelhouse. Quite possibly my favorite Marvel event from the decade, and one frequently referenced throughout the remainder of the decade.
Comics!
Read House of M on Marvel Unlimited
10) Iron Man: Extremis (Issues #1 – #6) – Warren Ellis & Adi Granov
It took Warren Ellis six issues to completely define and revitalize Iron Man for the 2000’s, which is of course why he’s Warren Ellis and we are mere unwashed masses. The story here has played a pivotal role in all three Iron Man movies, as well as Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD. It also goes on to establish Tony Stark’s place in the Marvel Universe to come.
Comics!
Read Iron Man: Extremis on Marvel Unlimited
11) Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk (Issues #92 – #105) – Greg Pak & Carlo Pagualyan
Hey remember the Hulk? Big, green, tear a city apart in a blink Hulk? Well Marvel’s elite minds decided to shoot him off into space. Right, no way that comes back to haunt anybody. Fortunately, it also produces one of the best Incredible Hulk stories in years and sets the stage for the return of a whole new kind of Hulk.
Comics!
Read Planet Hulk on Marvel Unlimited
12) The Road to Civil War (New Avengers: Illuminati, Amazing Spider-Man #529 – #531, Fantastic Four #536 – #537)
Civil War is the most popular Marvel event of all time, so it only makes sense to include some preliminary reading to set the stage. The Road to Civil war trade explains Spider-Man’s connection to Tony Stark, and brings back a few old friends in the pages of the Fantastic Four. Even cooler, the trade introduces Marvel’s Illuminati, the clandestine meeting of the minds that shapes the Marvel Universe.
Comics!
13) Civil War (#1 – #7) – Mark Millar & Steve McNiven
It’s the most popular, best selling, most talked about Marvel event of the decade. It doesn’t get much more essential than this.
Comics!
Buy Civil War from Millar & McNiven
Read Civil War on Marvel Unlimited
14) Captain America: The Death of Captain America (#25 – #42) – Brubaker & Epting
Brubaker & Epting are back with more Cap, although the story title here is a clear indication that things might not be going so well for Steve Rogers. An essential follow-up to Civil War and one of the biggest Marvel stories of the decade.
Comics!
Buy the Death of Captain America Omnibus
Read the Death of Cap on Marvel Unlimited
15) Thor (#1 – #12, #600 – #603, Thor Giant-Size Finale #1) – J. Michael Straczynski & Oliver Coipel
There’s been a sore lack of Asgardian Gods of Thunder on this list so far, and that’s about to change with the return of the Mighty Thor. This is another really fun series with major ramifications on the Marvel Universe as a whole.
Comics!
Buy Thor Omnibus from JMS & Coipel
16) Mighty Avengers, Vol 1: Ultron Initiative (#1 – #6) – Bendis & Frank Cho
Civil War really does a number on the state of all things Marvel. Iron Man is led to create a new Avengers team, giving us the Mighty Avengers in their first ever adventure. Of course, things don’t go smoothly, leading to the return of Ultron, and setting the stage for future Ultron related dealings.
Comics!
Buy Mighty Avengers: Ultron Initiative
Read Mighty Avengers on Marvel Unlimited
17) World War Hulk (#1 – #5) – Greg Pak & John Romita Jr
He’s not happy you guys. He’s just really not happy. One of the most enjoyable action series in the Marvel U.
Comics!
Read World War Hulk on Marvel Unlimited
18) New Avengers: Illuminati (#1 – #5) – Bendis, Brian Reed & Jim Cheung
Of all the major stories and creations from Brian Michael Bendis in the 2000’s, the Illuminati might be my favorite. Reed Richards, Dr. Charles Xavier, Tony Stark, Dr. Stephen Strange, Black Bolt, and Namor, meeting in secret to decide the fate of the universe. It’s the absolute coolest, and of course, it sets the stage for so many major storylines to come.
Comics!
Read New Avengers: Illuminati on Marvel Unlimited
19) Secret Invasion (#1 – #8) – Bendis & Leinil Francis Yu
Although Civil War gets all the accolades for sales, Secret Invasion is actually the climax of the mystery and intrigue set in the pages of New Avengers and the Illuminati. At its weakest point, the Marvel Universe faces a full infiltration from one of its deadliest rivals.
Comics!
Read Secret Invasion on Marvel Unlimited
20) Dark Reign Variety Pack / Siege Prelude
The aftermath of Secret Invasion leads to Dark Reign, a Universe-wide change in the status quo of the Marvel Universe. Suddenly, it looks like the bad guys run the world. While you certainly can dive head first into all of Dark Reign, the simpler solution is this variety of issues collected in trade form. The trade includes: Dark Avengers #1, Dark Reign: The Cabal, Thor #600, Dark Reign: The List – Avengers, New Avengers Annual #3, Dark Reign: The Goblin Legacy, and Marvel Spotlight (1971) #30.
Comics!
Buy Dark Reign / Siege Prelude
21) Captain America: Reborn (#49-#50, #600-#601, + Reborn #1-#6) – Brubaker & Bryan Hitch
Three guesses what this one is about. The culmination of the essential Brubaker Cap story arcs.
Comics!
Buy Captain America: Road to Reborn & Captain America: Reborn
Read Captain America: Reborn on Marvel Unlimited (Road to Reborn starts here)
22) Dark Avengers / Uncanny X-Men: Utopia – Matt Fraction & Mike Deodato, Luke Ross
In the midst of Dark Reign, Norman Osborne’s Dark Avengers clash with Cyclops and the X-Men. An essential update on the state of mutants and the X-Men, and also a lead-in to the events of Siege. Collects Uncanny X-Men #513-514, Dark Avengers #7-8, Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia, and Utopia Finale.
Comics!
Buy Dark Avengers / Uncanny X-Men: Utopia
Read Dark Avengers / Uncanny X-Men: Utopia on Marvel Unlimited
23) Siege (#1 – #6) – Bendis & Oliver Coipel
Dark Reign culminates with Siege, Norman Osborne’s war on Thor’s Asgard. It’s an epic, all-out war that will completely shift the state of the Marvel Universe forever.
Comics!
Read Siege on Marvel Unlimited
24) Avengers: Heroic Age – Bendis & John Romita Jr, Alan Davis, Stuart Immonen
The Heroic Age follows Dark Reign, and nothing will get you up to speed with the new era like the Avengers titles. Avengers: Prime in particular gives us a Cap, Iron Man, and Thor story in the immediate aftermath of Siege. COLLECTING: Avengers 1-6, Avengers Prime 1-5, New Avengers 1-6
Comics!
Buy Avengers: Heroic Age Omnibus
Read Avengers: Heroic Age on Marvel Unlimited (Avengers Prime + New Avengers)
24a) Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade (#1 – #8) – Allan Heinberg & Jim Cheung
Is this totally cheating in order to hit 25 trades? Yeah, pretty much. Nonetheless, Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade is notable for concluding the Scarlet With saga that began all the way back in Avengers Disassembled.
Comics!
Buy Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade
Read Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade on Marvel Unlimited (4th issue is here. No clue why.)
25) Avengers vs. X-Men (#1 – #12) – Various artists
So it’s clear, in getting to Avengers vs. X-Men, I bypassed Fear Itself, Chaos War, and Age of Ultron. While all three of these Marvel events occur before Avengers vs. X-Men, I assure you this is intentional, and not just general carelessness or laziness (although there’s plenty of that in my life). Even though I’m one of maybe 7 Marvel fans willing to admit I kind of really enjoyed Age of Ultron (stop throwing things!), it just doesn’t have much of an impact on the state of the Marvel Universe. Same goes for Chaos War and Fear Itself. They’re varying degrees of worthwhile, but they aren’t the type of events that change the status quo or get referenced moving forward. Avengers vs. X-Men? It gets referenced constantly moving into Marvel Now! While the event title might seem like little more than the Capcom-ification of comics (everybody fights!), this is a pretty interesting story with all your favorite Marvel Characters. And just like they promise: things will never be the same. In the Marvel Universe, that’s always a good thing.
Comics!
Buy Avengers vs. X-Men Omnibus
Read Avengers vs. X-Men on Marvel Unlimited
To continue enjoying Marvel comics, I recommend Comic Book Herald’s Marvel NOW! fast track which will take you through the essentials of 2012 to 2015.
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1 2 3 Next »Hi! Thank you so much for this great work from Siberia.
I have one question. When 43-48 of Captain America should be read? There are not mensioned in your guide.
are there any individual series that set up the storyline? preferably from the more essential avengers characters - i came from your 1998-2004 list which had a lot of series that i wasn’t as interested in, so can you maybe give me some starting points from those characters? thanks!
I've seen Waid's Fantastic Four on a few of your recommendation lists, is it really that essential and/or such a good read?
(Not a huge FF fan except for 1234 by Grant Morrison and Jonathan Hickman's run.)
There are only 4 core Siege issues in the event. Just FYI.
So I just binged the first part of this, the New X-Men saga by Grant Morrison. And there are no words to describe it. I'm fairly new in the comics world, I read the whole Civil War, with all the tie-ins though, and Paul Jenkin's Inhumans, but this New X-Men was phenomenal. Are the other sagas in this "fast track" going to keep up with this level? I hope so.
Should I read Astonishing X-Men 1 - 24 before House of M or should I read 1 - 12 and then read House of M and end with 13 - 24?
Hi Dave, just wanted to thank you for this very useful guide, without which it would be totally impossible for a new reader - as I am - to start in the Marvel U!
I have come to Astonishing X-Men (though not read yet DD) and really liked a lot almost everything! However I want to highlight how delicious is the reading of the FF of Mark Waid & Mike Wieringo! I haven't seen comments on this and would like to say that I perfectly agree with you about the excellence of this run. The story is never too much complicated (as happens often with the X men!!) but at the same time perfectly narrated, with the perfect mix of humor. The part of the origin of Doom is awesome!
thanks again, bye
Great List!!
I'm loving all of it!
I was never a comics reader, but with marvel unlimited I found a way in into this marvelous universe!
So I have lot of catching up to do, so I can get to the All-New All-Different Marvel.
Any chance of doing a similar list for Marvel Now pre-Secret Wars?
Thanks a lot!
I do have a Marvel NOW! fast track guide here: https://www.comicbookherald.com/question-of-the-week-do-you-have-a-marvel-now-fast-track-guide-2012-to-2015/
Thanks a lot dude.DC had a convenient hopping point for new readers (new 52), but I didn't know where to start reading when I saw marvel.This list has proven to be of great use to me .
Thank you.
Hey im a new reader ! So i have watched all the marvel movies and niw id like to start read the comics . so you recommend to start the reading with the comics above ?? Oh your blog rocks btw ;)
I think it's a good starting place, absolutely. I'd also recommend checking out my 100 favorite Marvel stories.
Hi Dave
As a lapsed reader whose interest has been revived by all the recent great films, I'm looking to get back into comics and wanting to catch up on the Marvel universe. Thanks for these great lists but I'm a little unsure on the best way to start and would appreciate some feedback. I'd like to get up to date on back story, enjoy some of the classic events (Civil war for example) and pull out particular character story arcs that I personally enjoy, but of course time is limited! Here are a couple of options I've considered - what do you think would give me the best coverage and overview given the above, without missing anything too major - or do you have a better option?
(I'm considering Marvel Unlimited in order to read most of these and not spend a fortune)
1. Go for the full monty using https://www.comicbookherald.com/the-complete-marvel-reading-order-guide/marvel-now-checklist/ to pull out the major events and also the particular 'other' character arcs that I particularly enjoy. Could take a while!!
2. Fast track on modern events into the current reboot (and use the full list above to visit favourtie characters story arcs)
https://www.comicbookherald.com/the-modern-marvel-universe-in-25-trade-collections-2000-to-2012-fast-track/
https://www.comicbookherald.com/the-complete-marvel-reading-order-guide/secret-wars-reading-order/
3. Best comics (and again full list for favourite character storys)
https://www.comicbookherald.com/best-100-marvel-comics-from-1998-to-2015/
Thanks for the help and again the brilliant site and guides.
Mark
Sorry but I've just also noticed this list:
https://www.comicbookherald.com/the-complete-marvel-reading-order-guide/marvel-now-checklist/
So I think that fits into Option 2 so it would be
https://www.comicbookherald.com/the-modern-marvel-universe-in-25-trade-collections-2000-to-2012-fast-track/
https://www.comicbookherald.com/the-complete-marvel-reading-order-guide/marvel-now-checklist/
https://www.comicbookherald.com/the-complete-marvel-reading-order-guide/secret-wars-reading-order/
Is that right?
That's correct. And I like the approaches you've laid out!
Personally, I prefer the 100 best stories list. It covers a ton and really lets you find what you like, while simultaneously moving through the Marvel U from the early 2000's on.
That said, one thing I always encourage is to jump around as your interest dictates. That list begins w/ 50 issues of Black Panther. I love 'em, but if they aren't working for you, move on to Daredevil!
And as always, enjoy the comics!
Thanks Dave
Thanks for your response and the Top 100 has definitely piqued some interest as Black Panther was one I fancied looking at anyway. Taking that into account I'm thinking of running through your 2 essential lists (1961-2000 and 2000-2012) and incorporating your Top 100 where they aren't already on the essentials.
Quite a lot of reading material there so we'll see how we do, but as you say, not being too precious, if not enjoying something then move on and if a particular character/team/event sparks an interest then look to follow it in a bit more detail :)
I've started on the 1961+ essentials list with the Amazing Spider Man which is a great opener. As as an older reader(not quite as far back as that but even so!) I can appreciate this more simple(?) style and it brings back memories of some of the comics I did buy when little, as well as an introduction of a lot of classic characters such as Green Goblin, Sandman etc. and some good stories.
Bring on the reading!
I am thinking of taking the same approach. Do you have to read the 1961-2000 list first or can they be read simultaneously?
Hi, so glad you've done this list it's been so incredibly helpful in my journey into comics. One thing I did notice was on Thor, shouldn't you include the giant size issue at the end of the run? I simply bring it up since when I got to that point on marvel unlimited I was just like "Wait! What happens?"
Thanks again
Great call, can't believe I missed that! Updated now.
Hi Dave, thanks for putting this together. I've recently been converted to reading comics and can't get enough, so I'm going to make a good stab at the Marvel U and also Deadpool. My question is will I be able to read them side-by side with no continuity, or does Deadpool fit into this list in reasonably neat chunks? Looking at your Deadpool reading order, I should be able to start off around Deadpool Classic Vol. 9 and run parallel to the MU. What do you think?
Thanks
Deadpool slips in and out of Marvel U continuity really easily. You'll see the occasional Civil War tie-in, but the issue will be clearly marked so you'll know to check out the larger Marvel landscape at that time. Enjoy the comics!
I love this site btw but I was wondering if I were to follow the fast track guide reading order where could I fit in marvel cosmic like annihilation?
Right around Civil War, and then keep your eyes open for the Secret Invasion tie-ins on the cosmic side.
Thanks from a "born-again" Marvel Zombie (quit reading in the early 2000s) for the fantastic fast track guide. It's been a great guide for catching up on Marvels tales, keep up the good work!
Awesome, I'm glad you like the guide. Enjoy the comics!