Skip to content

Please note that when you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Thanks!

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks!

The Best of Havok Comics, Our Alex Summers Recommended Reading Order (X-Men)!

It’s never easy being the brother of a more famous X-Man. Just ask Alex Summers, who has often found himself in the shadow of his brother, Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops. While Alex may never reach his older brother’s level of fame, this longtime Marvel character has certainly lived through some wild adventures (and bad editorial decisions) since his debut in 1969!

Before young Alex Summers was introduced to the world of the X-Men, readers already knew that Scott had a brother (there’s a third Summers brother, but it is a subject for another day) who had been separated from him for many years. After their father’s plane was attacked by aliens, the two brothers jumped with the only working parachute. While they survived, they were left orphaned and separated as children. Scott grew up in an orphanage before being recruited to join the X-Men.

But surprise! When Alex made his first appearance in X-Men #54, the two brothers had been close for some time—clearly, this relationship had developed off-panel. Soon enough, Alex was revealed to have powers of his own, capable of generating powerful plasma blasts. He got his famous Neal Adams-designed costume and codename in issue #58. From there, the mutant developed a love-hate relationship with the X-Men and an on-and-off romance with Lorna Dane, a.k.a. Polaris.

Trailing his brother over the years, Havok has stepped in to replace Scott on the X-Men, witnessed his girlfriend turn evil, fallen in love with Madelyne Pryor himself, and even led the X-Factor team. It’s easy to see why Alex might both resent and look up to his “more esteemed” brother!

Alex, often alongside Lorna, has frequently been sidelined or found himself following in his brother’s footsteps. However, he has also had great opportunities to stand out—whether serving as a magistrate on Genosha, spending time in an alternate reality, or living out adventures in space with the Starjammers!

Following is our reading order guide on Havok, taking you through the essential comics and story arcs to read up on Alex Summers.

This reading order has been suggested by one of our readers, ido shaul.

Your Havok Comics Reading Guide

This reading order is focused on Havok, an X-Men character! As always, check out our Complete X-Men Comics Reading Guide For more X-Stories!

Introducing Alex Summers, The Early Years

For most X-Men characters, we generally recommend jumping directly into Chris Claremont’s defining run. However, if you don’t mind reading some old-school comics from the Silver Age, Alex Summers was the focus of several issues following his introduction in X-Men #54, where he graduated from college and was kidnapped by the Living Pharaoh due to their shared ability to metabolize the same cosmic energy.

The Claremont era starts here! You know the drill—this is one of the most important X-Men runs, though Havok is mostly a backup member. To make matters worse, he quickly finds himself mind-controlled.

  • X-Men Epic Collection: Second Genesis
    Collects Giant Size X-Men #1; Uncanny X-Men #94-110; Iron Fist #14-15; Marvel Team-Up #53, #69-70, Annual #1; material from FOOM #10. You’ll find The Phoenix Saga in UXM 101 to 108.

    • Giant-Size X-Men #1 – The New X-Men team is introduced!
    • X-Men #94 – Alex leaves the X-Men
    • X-Men #97 – Alex is mind-controlled to become a villain.
    • X-Men #104-105 – The mind-control subplot is dropped “offscreen” with only a throwaway line here.
    • X-Men #108 – Some recovery time for Alex.
    • Marvel Team-Up #69-70 – This is a Havok/Spidey team-Up.

Alex also became a Defender for a day during the Dollar Bill’s Documentary Disaster arc (Defenders #62-65).

Alex Summers in 1980’s Uncanny X-Men

The eighties transformed the X-Men into superstars with many big stories, including the introduction of Madelyne Pryor, the Mutant Massacre crossover, the Brood Saga, the Phoenix Saga, Inferno, and more! Many classic stories were released during this decade, with Alex Summers playing a role in some of them. However, it starts slowly for Alex, as he returns to Muir Island (X-Men #119) for some X-Men adventures, where he is mostly a supporting character in his brother’s story.

Now, we’re getting into more significant and better stories for Alex, who rejoins the X-Men in issue #218! Not long after, he discovers that Polaris has disappeared (kidnapped and manipulated again!), only to face death, resurrection, and settling in the Australian Outback. As time goes on, Havok grows closer to his brother’s wife, eventually starting a relationship with her, leading us into Inferno!

Alex Summers in X-Factor/Mutant X (’90s)

It’s time for Havok to step into the spotlight in Peter David’s famous first run on X-Factor! Havok, Polaris, Quicksilver, Multiple Man, Wolfsbane, and Strong Guy form the all-new, all-different X-Factor! Sanctioned by the U.S. government to protect humans from mutants—and vice versa—they take on threats including Mister Sinister and his Nasty Boys, the Mutant Liberation Front, and… the Incredible Hulk?! Alex Summers joins the team in X-Factor #71 as their leader and reconnects with Lorna.

The Age of Apocalypse takes place around this time! While it’s not required reading, the sinister Dark Beast from this event becomes a recurring character in X-Factor afterward. The post-AoA stories in X-Factor are generally less well-received, with Havok taking a darker turn.

  • X-Factor Epic Collection : Wreaking Havok
    Collects X-Factor (1986) 112-126, Sabretooth and Mystique (1996) 1-4, Marvel Fanfare (1996) 6, material from X-Men Prime (1995) 1

    • While Alex leaves the team in issue #118, it doesn’t leave the title!
    • X-Factor #125-126 are part of Onslaught
  • X-Factor #127-149 are not collected yet. 

X-Factor concludes with the apparent death of Havok! But our X-Man is actually shunted into the Mutant X Universe, giving us some of the character’s most memorable material.

Alex Summers, Back to the 2000s Reality!

Alex Summers/Havok wakes up from a coma during Chuck Austen’s infamous run on Uncanny X-Men! His private life becomes quite messy, and he makes some questionable decisions. Still, don’t overlook the Exiles storyline, especially if you enjoyed Mutant X

A new X-Men team is formed, with Havok taking charge of a roster that includes Polaris and Iceman. This setup brings some relationship drama (if you’re into that), but it doesn’t offer much in terms of valuable development for the character.

Mutants No More! The world of the X-Men is transformed when the Scarlet Witch rewrites reality in House of M. After M-Day, Alex leaves the X-Men to travel with Polaris.

Alex Summers, leader of the Starjammers! During Ed Brubaker’s run, Alex discovers he has a new brother and steps away from the X-Men once again, this time to lead the Starjammers. This marks the beginning of space adventures filled with family tragedy, rebellion, wars, and team-ups with the Guardians of the Galaxy during the celebrated Modern Marvel Cosmic Saga!

  • X-Men: Deadly Genesis
    Collects X-Men: Deadly Genesis #1-6. Alex learns he has another brother!
  • Uncanny X-Men: Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire
    Collects Uncanny X-Men #475–486.
  • War of Kings Omnibus
    Collects Uncanny X-Men (1981) #475-486, X-Men: Emperor Vulcan (2007) #1-5, Secret Invasion: War of Kings (2009) #1, X-Men: Kingbreaker (2009) #1-4, War of Kings: Darkhawk (2009) #1-2, War of Kings: Warriors (2009) #1-2, War of Kings (2009) #1-6, War of Kings: Ascension (2009) #1-4, War of Kings: Savage World of Sakaar (2009) #1, Nova (2007) #23-28, Guardians of the Galaxy (2008) #13-19, War of Kings: Who Will Rule? (2009) #1, Marvel Spotlight: War of Kings (2009) #1, material from X-Men: Divided We Stand (2008) #2.

Havok in the 2010s

Alex returns to Earth just in time for the X-Men Schism, where he finds himself opposing both Wolverine and Cyclops. After this event and the apparent death of Jamie Madrox, he takes the reins of X-Factor Investigations with Polaris.

When Earth’s Mightiest Heroes clash with the Children of the Atom, Havok fights alongside fellow mutants in the Avengers vs. X-Men crossover event. This leads Alex Summers to become the leader of a new Avengers team created by Captain America to unify mutants and humanity. He also appears as a recurring figure in Cable and the X-Force, as the Uncanny Avengers pursue the outlaw Cable team. During this time, Havok develops a romantic relationship with the Wasp.

AXIS! The Avengers and the X-Men team up against the Red Skull. However, when a powerful spell from the Scarlet Witch and Doctor Doom morally inverts various heroes and villains, Havok is among those affected. This status persists for a while even after the conclusion of the event.

Alex Summers in The Krakoa Era (2018-2024)

Alex Summers is resurrected on Krakoa and joins his brothers and their extended family. After displaying violent behavior during a mission, Havok becomes a member of the Hellions, a team of troubled mutants operating under Mister Sinister.

This era concludes with Fall of the House of X / Rise of the Powers of X (Alex Summers does not participate in this story)

X-Men: From the Ashes (2024-)

A new era for the X-Men has begun, and Havok has just joined the new X-Factor team!

Did we forget an important issue? Did we make a mistake? Let us know in the comments!

X-Men Hickman

Check out More Marvel Reading Order!

Pin
Tags:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *