In 1991, the first volume of New Mutants (see the reading order) just ended, but Rob Liefield jumped to a new series called X-Force (introduced in New Mutants #100) with the help of writer Fabian Nicieza. In the beginning, this new (and more military) team included Boom-Boom, Cable, Cannonball, Domino, Feral, Shatterstar, Warpath, and Siryn.
But what is X-Force about? Here is the official synopsis of the beginning of the series. Beset from all sides by a growing roster of vicious foes, the New Mutants and their mysterious mentor Cable have no choice but to transform into a proactive, butt-kicking, take-no-prisoners mutant strike team! But can the new X-Force survive head-on clashes with Deadpool, the Morlocks, Proteus, Stryfe and his Mutant Liberation Front, the Juggernaut, the new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and…S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Being part of the X-Men Universe, you can find how to read X-Force with the other X-series in our complete X-Men Reading Order.
X-Force Reading Order
X-Force, Volume 1
- X-Force Omnibus, volume 1
Collects New Mutants #98–100, Annual #7; X-Men Annual #15; X-Factor Annual #6; X-Force #1–15; Spider-Man #16; Cable: Blood & Metal #1–2; material from New Warriors Annual #1, X-Force Annual #1.
Or…
- X-Force Epic Collection: Under the Gun
Collects X-Force #1–15 & material from Annual #1, Spider-Man #16. Wolverine #54.- Or… X-Force: A Force To Be Reckoned With
Collects New Mutants #98–100; X-Force #1–4; and Spider-Man #16 - X-Force: Under The Gun
X-Force #5–15 & material from Annual #1
- Or… X-Force: A Force To Be Reckoned With
- X-Force Epic Collection: X-Cutioner’s Song
Collects Cable: Blood & Metal #1-2, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #294-296, X-Factor (1986) #84-86, X-Men (vol. 2) #14-16, X-Force (1991) #16-19, Stryfe’s Strike File #1, New Warriors (1990) #31 - Deadpool and X-Force Omnibus
Collects X-Force #19-31, Annual #2; Cable (1993) #1–8; Deadpool: The Circle Chase #1-4; Deadpool (1994) #1-4; New Warriors (1990) #31; Nomad #20 - Cable & X-Force Omnibus
Collects X-Force #32-43, Annual 3; Cable #9-20; New Warriors #45-46; X-Factor #106; Excalibur #82; Wolverine #85.- #38 is part of the X-Men Milestones: Phalanx Covenant.
- Cable and X-Force Classic Vol. 1
Collects X-Force #44–48 and Cable #21–28. - Cable and X-Force Onslaught Rising
Cable (Vol.1) #29-31; X-Force (Vol.1) #49-56, X-Man 14 and X-Force/Cable Annual ’95
It’s time for Onslaught. For more details, go read the dedicated X-Men: Onslaught Reading Order.
- X-Men / Avengers: Onslaught Omnibus
Collects Wolverine #104-105; Cable #32-36; Uncanny X-Men #333-337; X-Force #55, #57-58; X-Man #15-19; X-Men (vol. 2) #53-57, Annual ’96; X-Men Unlimited #11; Onslaught: X-Men, Marvel Universe, Epilogue; Avengers #401-402; Fantastic Four #415; Incredible Hulk #444-445; X-Factor #125-126; Amazing Spider-Man #415; Green Goblin #12; Spider-Man #72; Iron Man #332; Punisher #11; Thor #502; X-Men: Road to Onslaught #1; material from Excalibur #100, Fantastic Four #416.
At that point, there’s a hole in the collected editions. X-Force #59 to #65 are not collected yet.
Operation Zero Tolerance was a crossover storyline that ran through Marvel Comics’ X-Men titles during 1997.
- X-Men: Operation Zero Tolerance
Collects Generation X #26-31, X-Force #67-70, X-Men (vol. 2) 65-70, Uncanny X-Men #346, Wolverine #115-118, Cable #45-47, X-Man (1995) #30 - X-Force Epic Collection: Zero Tolerance
Collects X-Force #66-84 and #-1 - X-Force Epic Collection: Armageddon Now
Collects X-Force (1991) #85-100, X-Force/Champions Annual ’98 And X-Force Annual ’99 - X-Men: Powerless
Collects Uncanny X-Men #379–380; Cable #78; X-Force #101; Wolverine (vol. 2) #149; X-Men (vol. 2) #99. - Counter-X, Volume 1: X-Force
Collects X-Force #102–109. - Counter X: X-Force: Rage War
Collects X-Force #110–115, 102 Rough Cut.
For a time, X-Force became X-Statix
X-Statix is a team of mutant superheroes created by Peter Milligan and Mike Allred. They originally assumed the moniker X-Force, but changed it to X-Statix as they distanced themselves from the old team. In fact, it’s a satirical comic, not really connected to the rest. The members of this new team are The Orphan, the Anarchist, Dead Girl, Doop, Venus Dee Milo and U-Go Girl
- X-Statix: The Complete Collection Vol. 1
Collects X-Force #116-129, Brotherhood #9, X-Statix #1-5. - X-Statix: The Complete Collection Vol. 2
Collects X-Statix #6-20, Wolverine/Doop #1-2, material from X-Men Unlimited #41. - X-Statix Presents: Dead Girl
Collects X-Statix Presents: Dead Girl #1-5.
Also available (if you can find it):
- X-Statix Omnibus
Collects X-Force #116-129; Brotherhood #9; X-Statix #1-26; Wolverine/Doop #1-2; X-Statix Presents Dead Girl #1-5; And Material From X-Men Unlimited (1993) #41, I [Heart] Marvel: My Mutant Heart And Nation X #4.
The X-Statix team came back in 2002 with new stories in a series called X-Cellent
- The X-Cellent Vol. 1: Hereditary-X
Collects Giant-Size X-Statix #1 and X-Cellent #1-5.
X-Force, Volume 2
Around the time of the relaunch of Astonishing X-Men in 2004, the second volume of X-Force started, but it was just two miniseries from the original team, Rob Liefield and Fabian Nicieza (for the first one, Brandon Thomas for the second one).
- X-Force and Cable: Legend Returns
Collects X-Force (2004) #1-6. - X-Force: Shatterstar
Collects X-Force: Shatterstar #1-4, plus Shatterstar’s classic first appearance in New Mutants #99-100.
X-Force, Volume 3
After the event of Messiah Complex, a new X-Force series written by Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost and drawn by Clayton Crain started. It’s a new strike-team validated by Cyclops with Wolverine as the leader. The other members are Archangel, X-23, but also Warpath, Wolfsbane, Elixir, Domino, and Vanisher.
- X-Force: Angels and Demons
Collects X-Force, vol. 3 #1-6. - X-Force: Old Ghosts
Collects X-Force, vol. 3 #7–11. - X-Men Milestones: Messiah War
Collects X-Force/Cable: Messiah War (2009) #1, Cable (2008) #13-15, X-Force (2008) #14-16, X-Men: Future History – The Messiah War Sourcebook (2009) 1 - X-Force: Not Forgotten
Collects X-Force (vol. 3) #12–13 & #17–20. - X-Force: Sex and Violence
Collects X-Force: Sex and Violence #1-3. - X-Men Milestones: Necrosha
Collects New X-Men (2004) #32; X-Force (vol. 3) #11, #21-25; New Mutants (vol. 3) #6-8; X-Men: Legacy #231-234; X Necrosha ; X Necrosha: The Gathering ; Material From X-Force Annual #1. - X-Men Milestones: Second Coming
Collects Second Coming: Prepare (2009), Second Coming (2010) 1-2, Uncanny X-Men (1981) 523-525, New Mutants (2009) 12-14, X-Men Legacy (2008) 235-237, X-Force (2008) 26-28.
Also collected in:
- X-Force by Craig Kyle & Chris Yost: The Complete Collection Volume 1
Collects X-Force (2008) #1-13, X-Force Special: Ain’t No Dog #1, and material from X-Force Annual (2010) #1. - X-Force by Craig Kyle & Chris Yost: The Complete Collection Volume 2
Collects X-Force (2008) #17-25, X-Necrosha: The Gathering, X-Force: Sex & Violence #1-3 and material from X-Necrosha And X-Force Annual (2010) #1.
Uncanny X-Force
Uncanny X-Force is a new title by Rick Remender, but it’s the continuation of the story of Wolverine and his X-Force team from the series X-Force, vol. 3.
- Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender Omnibus (new printing)
Collects Uncanny X-Force (2010) #1-35, 5.1, 19.1; Material From Wolverine: The Road To Hell (2010) #1, All-New Wolverine Saga (2010), X-Men Spotlight (2011).
Also collected in…
- X-Force by Rick Remender: The Complete Collection Volume 1
Collects Uncanny X-Force (2010) #1-19 and #5.1 and material from Wolverine: Road To Hell #1. - X-Force by Rick Remender: The Complete Collection Volume 2
Collects Uncanny X-Force (2010) #19.1 and #20-35.
And for a detailed reading order of the Remender era:
- Uncanny X-Force: Apocalypse Solution
Collects Uncanny X-Force #1–4 and material from Wolverine: Road to Hell. - Uncanny X-Force: Deathlok Nation
Collects Uncanny X-Force #5–7 & #5.1 and Astonishing Tales, vol. 1 #25
Event Alert! It’s time for Fear Itself… Because even Marvel’s greatest heroes know fear. And the X-Men play a part in this event. You can find our full reading order for Fear Itself here.
- Fear Itself: Uncanny X-Force/The Deep
Collects Fear Itself: Uncanny X-Force #1–3; Fear Itself: The Deep #1–4. - X-Men: Schism Not an X-Force title, but this miniseries had an impact on the X-Men line.
Collects X-Men: Schism #1-5 & Regenesis. - Uncanny X-Force: The Dark Angel Saga, Book 1
Collects Uncanny X-Force #8–13. - Uncanny X-Force: The Dark Angel Saga, Book 2
Collects Uncanny X-Force #14–19. - Uncanny X-Force: Otherworld
Collects Uncanny X-Force #20-24. - Uncanny X-Force: Final Execution, Book 1
Collects Uncanny X-Force #25-29 - Uncanny X-Force: Final Execution, Book 2
Collects Uncanny X-Force #30-35; material from Wolverine: Dangerous Games #1 and Deadpool #1000
Uncanny X-Force vol. 2: Marvel Now
There are two teams now as Uncanny X-Force became about a team led by Psylocke with Storm, Spiral, Fantomax, Bishop, and Puck. The second title was Cable and X-Force and was about Cable awakening after Avengers vs. X-Men (see reading order) and on the run with his new team of X-Force from the Uncanny Avengers.
- Cable and X-Force Vol. 1: Wanted
Collects Cable and X-Force #1-5. - Uncanny X-Force: Let it Bleed
Collects Uncanny X-Force Vol. 2 #1-6. - Cable and X-Force: Dead or Alive
Collects Cable and X-Force #6-9. - Cable and X-Force: This Won’t End Well
Collects Cable and X-Force #10-14 - Uncanny X-Force: Torn and Frayed
Collects Uncanny X-Force Vol. 2 #7-12. - Cable and X-Force: Vendetta
Collects Cable and X-Force #15-19, Uncanny X-Force #16-17.- Also Uncanny X-Force: The Great Corruption
Collects Uncanny X-Force Vol. 2 #13-17; Cable and X-Force #18-19.
- Also Uncanny X-Force: The Great Corruption
X-Force, Volume 4: All-New Marvel NOW!
As part of the “All-New Marvel NOW!” campaign, the Uncanny X-Force and the Cable and X-Force became one! The new X-Force series came from writer Simon Spurrier and was illustrated by Rock-He Kim and Jorge Molina. It features a team of Cable, Psylocke, Fantomex, Dr. Nemesis, and Marrow.
- X-Force Volume 1: Dirty/Tricks
Collects X-Force (vol. 4) #1–6. - X-Force Volume 2: Hide/Fear
Collects X-Force (vol. 4) #7–10; X-Men: Legacy (vol. 1) #300- Deadpool vs. X-Force
Collects Deadpool vs. X-Force #1-4.
- Deadpool vs. X-Force
- X-Force Volume 3: Ends/Means
Collects X-Force (vol. 4) #11–15
X-Force, Volume 5: Marvel Fresh Start
Written by Ed Brisson and illustrated by Dylan Burnett, this new volume spun out of the events of Extermination, and features a team of young Cable, Warpath, Boom-Boom, Shatterstar, Deathlok and Cannonball. It started with the legacy numbering of #231.
- Extermination
Collects Extermination #1-5 and the Extermination stinger pages. - Shatterstar: Reality Star
Collects Shatterstar (2018) #1-5. - X-Force Volume 1: Sins of the Past
Collects X-Force (vol. 5) #1–5. - X-Force Volume 2: The Counterfeit King
Collects X-Force (vol. 5) #6–10.
X-Force, Volume 6: Dawn of X/Reign of X
The famous Hickman Era! For a more detailed view of the Dawn of X era, go to the dedicated reading order.
- House of X/Powers of X (for context)
Collects House of X #1-6, Powers of X #1-6.
The X-Men have an island home and a bright future at last — but the dangers they face are far from over! That means they need X-Force, the mutant CIA — half intelligence branch, half special ops. Beast, Jean Grey and Sage are on one side; Wolverine, Kid Omega and Domino are on the other. But when the X-Men’s foes launch a devastating strike, Krakoa faces a major security breach — and a staggering loss!
- X-Force by Benjamin Percy Volume 1
Collects X-Force #1–6. - X-Force by Benjamin Percy Volume 2
Collects X-Force #7–12.
Event Alert! All of the X-Titles meet for one big event at the end of Dawn of X. For more information about X of Swords, go to the reading order.
- X of Swords
Collects X-Men #12, X of Swords: Creation #1, X-Factor #4, Wolverine #6, X-Force #13, Marauders #13, Hellions #5, New Mutants #13, Cable #5, Excalibur #13, X-Men #13, X of Swords: Stasis #1, X-Men #14, Marauders #14, Marauders #15, Excalibur #14, Wolverine #7, X-Force #14, Hellions #6, Cable #6, Excalibur #15, X-Men #15, X of Swords: Destruction #1. - X-Force by Benjamin Percy Volume 3
Collects X-Force #15–20. - X-Force by Benjamin Percy Volume 4
Collects X-Force (2019) #21-26. - X-Force by Benjamin Percy Volume 5
Collects X-Force (2019) #27-33. Issues #30-33 are somewhat connected to the A.X.E: Judgment Day event. - X-Force by Benjamin Percy Vol. 6
Collects X-Force (2019) #34-38.