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Marvel Cosmic Reading Order, The Modern Saga by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (2004-2011)

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Marvel Cosmic Reading Order

What is called “Marvel Cosmic” is mostly every story in the Marvel Universe not connected to Earth. It’s not the perfect definition, because it’s more about what’s connected to Thanos, The Guardian of the Galaxy, Nova, The Silver Surfer, and others. Well, it’s still not a very good definition. Today, we are talking about the cosmic saga that started in 2004 with the crossover event Annihilation. Orchestrated by Keith Giffen, this storyline relaunched most of the outer-space series from Marvel.

It was just the beginning as one crossover event led to the other, from Annihilation to Annihilation: Conquest, to War of Kings, to Realm of Kings to Annihilators. A huge saga that was overseen by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning that reintroduced Nova & the Nova Corps, The Guardian of the Galaxy, and Ronan the Accuser. A captivating and epic story without the usual big names of the Marvel Universe.

We already published individual reading orders for the three main events (Annihilation, Annihilation: Conquest, and War of Kings), but here is a complete guide from that era.

What to read before the Marvel Cosmic Saga?

If you want to take a look back at the origins of some of the main characters used in the coming Annihilation saga, Marvel published a book for you:

  • Annihilation Classic
    Collects Bug #1, Tales To Astonish #13, Nova #1, Quasar #1, Rocket Raccoon #1-4, Marvel Spotlight #6, Logan’s Run #6, Marvel Premiere #1.

You can also explore the previous Marvel Cosmic Sage with our Jim Starlin’s Infinity Saga Reading Order.

Marvel Cosmic Reading Order:

Marvel Cosmic Reading Order: Omnibus Editions

  • Annihilation Omnibus (or the previous edition)
    Collects Drax The Destroyer #1-4, Annihilation: Prologue, Annihilation: Nova #1-4, Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1-4, Annihilation: Super-Skrull #1-4, Annihilation: Ronan #1-4, Annihilation #1-6, Annihilation: Heralds Of Galactus #1-2 And Annihilation: Nova Corps Files.
  • Annihilation: Conquest Omnibus
    Collects Nova #1-12, Nova Annual #1, Annhilation: Conquest Prologue #1, Annihilation: Conquest – Starlord #1-4, Annihilation: Conquest – Quasar #1-4, Annihilation: Conquest – Wraith #1-4, Annihilation: Conquest #1-6, Annihilation Saga.
  • War of Kings Prelude: Road to War of Kings Omnibus
    Collects Son Of M #1-6, X-Men: Deadly Genesis #1-6, Silent War #1-6, Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1-4, Guardians Of The Galaxy (2008) #1-12, Nova #13-22, Nova: The Origin Of Richard Rider, War Of Kings Saga.
  • 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
  • War of Kings Aftermath: Realm of Kings Omnibus
    Collects Realm Of Kings #1; Realm Of Kings: Inhumans #1-5; Realm Of Kings: Imperial Guard #1-5; Realm Of Kings: Son Of Hulk #1-4; Nova (vol. 4) #29-36; Guardians Of The Galaxy (vol.2) #20-25; Thanos Imperative #1-6, Ignition, Devastation; Annihilators #1-4; Annihilators: Earthfall #1-4; Thanos Sourcebook; Material From I Am An Avenger #3.

Thanos - Infinity Reading Order, a Marvel Event

Marvel Cosmic Reading Order: TPB editions

Annihilation

Annihilus, lord of the Negative Zone, has declared war! And as his unstoppable Annihilation Wave swarms into the Marvel Universe, demolishing all in its path, only a handful of heroes can resist the destruction! For a more detailed reading order, go to the dedicated page.

Annihilation Reading Order The Complete Collection

Annihilation Conquest

In the aftermath of the Annihilation War, a devastated galaxy struggles to rebuild. The Nova Corps are destroyed, leaving only Richard Rider. Who will rise to guard the galaxy against the threat of Ultron? When the Kree homeworld is invaded by the techno-organic Phalanx, Star-Lord must lead a ragtag team into battle behind enemy lines with a lineup that includes Mantis, Bug, Groot and Rocket Raccoon! For a more detailed reading order, go to the dedicated page.

Nova Corps - War of Kings Reading Order

War of Kings

Intending to restore their strength and security in the aftermath of the Secret Invasion (reading order here), Jack Bolt finds he has to lead the Inhumans into direct confrontation with the Shi’Ar Empire and their insane ruler, Vulcan. What happens when an Inhuman-led Kree goes to war with the Shi’ar led by the crazed Summers brother Vulcan? For a more detailed reading order, go to the dedicated page.

Realm of Kings Reading Order

 

Thanos - Infinity Reading Order, a Marvel Event

After the end of this Marvel Cosmic era

Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning ended their cosmic saga with Annihilators. You can also stop here. With Marvel Now, Jonathan Hickman took over, bringing back Thanos in the Infinity crossover event (reading order here).

Last Updated on November 5, 2022.

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