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House of M Reading Order, a Marvel event full of X-Men and Avengers

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After Brian Michael Bendis took over the Avengers (see reading order), the Marvel Universe became a series of events, starting with “Avengers Disassembled.” The second one was “House of M”, a bigger event that changed the X-Men a lot—also, take a look at our X-Men Reading Order for more.

So, The Avengers and the X-Men are faced with a common foe that becomes their greatest threat: Wanda Maximoff!

The unstable Scarlet Witch has rewritten reality—into a world where Magneto is king! In this “House of M,” mutants are Earth’s dominant species, living glamorous lives and reigning over the oppressed Sapien class. But Wolverine, now a member of Magnus’ peacekeeping force S.H.I.E.L.D., remembers how the world used to be. And his quest to find and awaken his former allies in the Avengers and X-Men sparks a revolution that aims to tear down Wanda’s strange new world!

What to read before House of M?

Being a direct follow-up to “Avengers Disassembled,” I recommend the full reading order of this event. In any case, you could read Brian Michael Bendis’s New Avengers, but also Excalibur for a prelude to the event and (more optional) Astonishing X-Men for some background on the X-Men team of the moment.

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Army of Darkness/Evil Dead Comics Reading Order

Hail to the King! Not content with being built around a series of cult classic films, The Evil Dead franchise grew over the years and now consists of movies, comics, games, and a TV Series.

It all began in 1982 when Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell)’s life changed forever after he discovered the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis and accidentally unleashed a Kandarian Demon. Ash’s friends are transformed into zombie-like creatures called Deadites, and he will after that never be the same.

As the king of alternate timelines, our unique hero lived multiple adventures, and we are today in his comic book ones. We have stories in different continuities, published by Dark Horse, Dynamite, and Scape Goat.

What to read/watch before the Army of Darkness Comics?

Let’s state the obvious by pointing out that the movies are must-sees. The movies and the TV series take place in what is considered the prime Evil Dead continuity, even though there are some elements in the films that have been removed from canon with the TV shows.

You can also read The Army of Darkness adaptation in comic, published the first time by Dark Horse in 1992 (and released by Dynamite in paperback in 2006).

What follows are stories that expand the universe in one direction or another, with different continuities.

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Avengers Disassembled Reading Order (aka The beginning of Brian Michael Bendis’s era)

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Avengers Disassembled Reading Order

After Chuck Austen’s run on The Avengers series ended, Brian Michael Bendis took his place and rebooted the series with the “Avengers Disassembled” storyline. This is the start of a new Marvel era full of events. Avengers Disassembled was not supposed to become an event, it was and mostly is a storyline, with tie-ins.

As the official synopsis described it: it begins with the return of a team member thought dead – and by the time it’s over, everything you know about the Avengers will have changed! The event that will rock the entirety of the Marvel Universe starts here!

What to read before Avengers Disassembled?

Being a new entry point, the beginning of Bendis’s run (see the full reading order of The Avengers by Bendis), you can start The Avengers with “Avengers Disassembled,” even if it took the form of a conclusion.

Most of the tie-ins are barely connected to the event, they take place in the continuity of their own series (especially Fantastic Four and Excalibur, at least Spectacular Spider-Man offered a team-up with Cap).

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Superman/Action Comics New 52 Reading Order (with also Superman/Wonder Woman and Batman/Superman)

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Superman/Action Comics New 52 Reading Order

Following the conclusion of the Flashpoint limited series (see Reading Order), the DC Universe has been reset to offer a new entry point to readers. Various changes were made in order to give new takes on familiar characters and attract newcomers.

What does it mean for Superman? We left behind Superman from the Modern era in favor of a younger and brasher version of the character. Superman from New 52 is not married to Lois Lane and his adoptive parents Jonathan and Martha Kent have died. But somewhere still exist another version of Superman who will find his way back to us, helped by Convergence and Rebirth…

During the New 52 period (see the full Reading Order), Superman has been written by Grant Morrison (Action Comics), George Perez (Superman), Greg Pak (Batman/Superman, Action Comics), Charles Soule, and Peter Tomasi (Superman/Wonder Woman), but also Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens, Fabian Nicieza, Scott Lobdell, Frank Hannah, Mike Johnson, and Gene Luen Yang.

Beware, the New 52 Superman is not a very popular Superman among readers!

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Batman Knightfall Reading Order

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Batman Knightfall Reading Order

The famous ’90s saga, during the Post-crisis era, the back-breaking introduction of Bane! “Knightfall” is a 1993–1994 story arc. More precisely, it’s a trilogy of storylines: “Knightfall”, “Knightquest”, and “KnightsEnd”. It’s the Batman equivalent of “The Death of Superman” storyline. An event that was destined to change the hero forever (to sell more comics). It’s the fall of Batman, his replacement by Jean-Paul Valley (a.k.a. Azrael) who ended up tarnishing Batman’s reputation, and Bruce Wayne comeback, with some Robin drama in the middle.

This is how the story started: the inmates of Arkham Asylum have broken free and Batman must push himself to the limits to re-apprehend the Joker, Poison Ivy, the Riddler, Killer Croc, and more. Pushed to the limits, he comes face-to-face against the monstrosity known as Bane, who delivers a crippling blow destined to change the Caped Crusader forever!

What to read before Batman Knightfall?

There are two books you can read before Batman Knightfall. The First is Batman: Sword of Azrael, a storyline from Dennis O’Neil, Joe Quesada, and Kevin Nowlan that introduced Azrael, a prominent figure in the crossover. Then, the aptly named Batman: Prelude to Knightfall.

For more information and readings about the two big characters introduced at this time, check out:

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Miles Morales Reading Order (Spider-Man, Champions, Ultimate)

Spider-Man: Miles Morales Reading Order

If Peter Parker is the main Spider-Man, there are a lot of alternative versions of Spider-Man in the Marvel Universe. Miles Morales is one of the superheroes who wear the Spidey costume.

When the Peter Parker of the Ultimate Universe falls, the world needs a Spider-Man — and here comes Miles Morales! But what’s the secret behind his powers — and can he master them before the Scorpion strikes? Family life gets complicated as Miles learns the truth about his uncle Aaron, and Captain America comes calling when war breaks out! Miles shares a multiversal meeting of the Spider-Men with the Marvel Universe’s Peter Parker, but what tragedy could leave the young hero swearing never to wear the webs again? There’ll be familiar faces, heroic allies, deadly menaces, a startling return and a sprinkling of romance in the complete Ultimate Universe adventures of Miles Morales!

Created by Brian Michael Bendis et Sara Pichelli, Miles Morales made his first appearance in Ultimate Fallout #4 in August 2011 — in the Ultimate brand.

A young kid from Brooklyn on Earth-1610, he follows in the footsteps of Peter Parker in the Ultimate Universe before being made a character in the main Marvel Universe. He was also the star of the animated movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, but we are here today to retrace his comic book history, so let’s go!

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Heroes Reborn 2021 Reading Order, a world without the Avengers

What would be the Marvel Universe without the Avengers? That is the storyline explored in Heroes Reborn, the last Marvel event written by Jason Aaron and Ed McGuinness, which has no relation to the 1996–97 storyline of the same name.

In this Heroes Reborn from 2021, the Marvel Universe was altered so that the Avengers were never formed. Tony Stark never built an Iron Man armor. Thor is a hard-drinking atheist who despises hammers. Wakanda is dismissed as a myth. And Captain America was never found in the ice. So who is the biggest superhero team of this altered Marvel Universe? The Squadron Supreme of America.

But there is one man alive who seems to remember that the entire world has somehow been… reborn: Blade. And so begins his search for the cause behind this ominous shift in reality.

What to read before Heroes Reborn?

The event is pretty new reader-friendly, so you don’t have to read anything before if you want to.

But if you want, this event is actually an extension of Jason Aaron’s Avengers run, and the following is a list of his run in collected editions:

To know more about Squadron Supreme, you can read the limited series from 1985 by Mark Gruenwald:

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Watchmen Reading Order, from the Alan Moore books to the expanded universe

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Watchmen is considered one of the greatest graphic novels in the history of the medium. It is recognized in Time‘s List of the 100 Best Novels as one of the best English language novels published from 1923 to 2005, and for what it’s worth, it is also part of our 50 Best Comics to read!

Published by DC Comics in 1986 and 1987, Watchmen is a science fiction comic book limited series by the British writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins. The story takes place in an alternate world in which superheroes emerged in the 1940s and 1940s, and their actions changed history. The all-powerful Doctor Manhattan has given the U.S. a strategic advantage over the rest of the world. But, by 1977, superheroes became unpopular and they were outlawed by the passage of the Keene Act.

In October 1985, costumed vigilante Rorschach discovered that Edward Blake, also known as The Comedian, a costumed hero employed by the U.S. government, had been murdered. Rorschach uncovered a plot to eliminate costumed heroes and warned some of his old friends. Something bigger is cooking, but the retired heroes have to first discover what it is.

Since its publication, many essays, reviews, and analyses have been written about Watchmen. The Symbol and imagery have been scrutinized and explained as much as the art and structure. Many discussions also emerged about ownership in the comic book field as the disagreements between Alan Moore and DC Comics about that subject are now fully part of history.

The World of Watchmen has also expanded. It has been adapted as a movie directed by Zack Snyder and has also inspired a one-season television series from Damon Lindelof for HBO. DC Comics also explored the universe by releasing Before Watchmen (2012), a prequel, and two sequels…

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Outlawed Reading Order, The Young Heroes Civil War

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Outlawed Marvel Reading Order

Following Civil War II (Reading Order), the young heroes of Marvel decided to form the latest incarnation of the Champions (including Mrs Marvel and Miles Morales) as a reaction to the way the super community was torn apart. So it seems fitting that Marvel uses them to make the teen Civil War.

Our young heroes are facing federal pressure as the United States passes a new law in the wake of a devastating tragedy making superheroes under the age of 21 became outlaws.

This quite discreet Marvel event was a victim of the pandemic. It was actually during Outlawed that a New Warriors limited series was supposed to be launched. But the pandemic delayed the event, and if Outlawed came out in the end, it was not the case for the New Warriors title.

What to read before Outlawed?

The end of Incoming!, a one-shot comic book issue published by Marvel Comics on December 26, 2019, leads to several events, including Outlawed.

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DC Year of the Villain Reading Order

Year of the Villain Reading Order

You catch up on some comic book reading and arrive at the Year of The Villain, a big DC Event from the Rebirth Era published between May 2019 and March 2020. Well, to be honest, it’s more a concept than an event, with the main stories taking place in Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV’s Justice League. For that, it has been compared to Marvel’s Dark Reign. It’s also what I call a mess, with other crossovers and too many tie-ins.

But what is Year of The Villain? Per DC, Evil is winning! Lex Luthor and The Legion of Doom conspire with Cosmic Gods, bending mankind toward a dark destiny. Elsewhere, the scourge of Leviathan spreads unchecked, seizing power in every corner of the world. And all the while the Batman Who Laughs busies himself in the shadows, aligned with no one – yet with sinister plans for all. More precisely, Apex Lex recruits several supervillains to join Perpetua’s cause (an ancient goddess and the most feared being in the greater Omniverse), in exchange for giving them a source of unlimited power. In response, the Justice League recruits heroes around the universe to fight against the new Legion of Doom.

What to Read before Year of The Villain?

As it is more a companion event to Scott Snyder’s Justice League, it’s better to read that run. But it’s a lot of homework if you are not already invested in Scott Snyder’s DC stories.

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