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Astro City Reading Order, Kurt Busiek’s classic comi book series

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Created and written by Kurt Busiek, the Astro City comic book series is an American superhero anthology comics (mostly) illustrated by Brent Anderson (of X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills’ fame), with character designs and painted covers by Alex Ross.

The series debuted under Image Comics’ Homage imprint in 1995 before changing publishers–it moved to WildStorm when Jim Lee’s imprint was sold to DC Comics and, in 2013, it was relaunched as part of DC’s Vertigo Comics before continuing under DC’s main publishing line. Now, it is back at Image Comics.

Composed of three volumes, some miniseries, and special issues, the Astro City comics are about the superheroes of the City, a mid-sized American metropolis, and the citizens who are affected by the many super-beings who live there since the end of World War I. It’s an exploration of the relationship between society and heroes, and how they shape each other.

It was seen as a modern reinvention of the genre, an exploration of the possibilities coming with a shared universe as Astro City is home to an entire original superhero universe, with its own history, legacy characters, and classic superhero archetypes.

While individual issues often tell complete stories, they contribute to a larger mythos. Kurt Busiek uses the comic book series to deconstruct and celebrate superhero storytelling, blending Silver and Bronze Age sensibilities with modern storytelling depth. Due to its anthological format, you can easily jump into the Astro City comics at any point.

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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.

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Harrow County Reading Guide to Cullen Bunn’s Horror series

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Published by Dark Horse Comics, Harrow County is an Eisner-nominated horror fantasy tale created by Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook that originally began as a serialized prose story called “Countless Haints” written by Bunn and released on his website. A lot changed when the story was repurposed with artist and co-creator Tyler Crook, so here is the synopsis:

Emmy always knew that the woods surrounding her home crawled with ghosts and monsters. But on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she learns that she is connected to these creatures–and to the land itself–in a way she never imagined.

The original Harrow County series ended after 32 issues in 2008, but now the series has come back as Tales from Harrow County, and there are multiple editions. Here is a guide to help you navigate all this.

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Invasion! Reading Order, a DC Crossover Event

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DC Invasion Reading Order

Published in late 1988-early 1989 by DC Comics, Invasion! is crossover event plotted by Keith Giffen (from Justice League International) with the main series scripted by Bill Mantlo (with art from Todd McFarlane, Bart Sears, and Giffen). It was the biggest DC event since Crisis on Infinite Earths, and it was about the heroes of Earth facing a massive Alien invasion. It is now known for its introduction of the metagene as the explanation within the DC Universe as to how some people gain superhuman abilities. Also, it’s the inspiration for the 2016 TV crossover event between the series from the Arrowverse on The CW.

Here is the official synopsis: Resilient. Overpowering. Unstoppable. By their very nature, our planet’s superheroes have become a threat to the rest of the universe. Now, an alliance has formed between the fiercest, most calculating alien races (led by the war-like Dominators and Khunds) to pursue a single goal: the elimination of Earth’s guardians. As war erupts all over the world, Superman leads the charge against these would-be alien conquerors. Can our planet’s greatest champions repel an army of invaders, each with the strength to rival the Man of Steel? One thing is certain: surrender is not an option!

What to read before Invasion?

You don’t really need to read anything specific before Invasion!, but these (optional) issues contain minor references to the event to come.

  • Wonder Woman (vol. 2) Annual #1 & #24
  • Adventures of Superman #448
  • The Flash (vol. 2) #20
  • Swamp Thing (vol. 2) #80
  • Spectre (vol. 2) #22

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Azrael Reading Order (aka Jean-Paul Valley)

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Introduced in Batman: Sword of Azrael #1 (October 1992), Azrael is a DC Comics character created by Denny O’Neil, Joe Quesada, and Peter Milligan. When we met Jean-Paul Valley, he was a Gotham University graduate student and his father had just died and made him his successor in the Sacred Order of St. Dumas.

He became their warrior known as the vigilante Azrael. He was not an enemy of Batman and eventually joined him and his allies in their fight to protect Gotham City—he also played a controversial role during the Knightfall event.

We later discovered that Jean-Paul was created by “Mother,’ a villain who worked with the Order of St. Dumas. For a time, Azrael did the dirty work the Order needed him to do, but Nightwing put him on the right path so he could help people. He then started to fight crime.

Azrael is an antihero, a conflicted warrior who fights his violent nature and the twisted sense of justice forced on him by his indoctrination in the Order. Because of that, he had to earn his place in the BatFamily, and he often has to prove he is good enough to keep it.

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Robin War Reading Order

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Robin War Reading Order

Published by DC Comics between December 2015 to January 2016, Robin War is a crossover event featuring most of the incarnations of Batman’s crime-fighting partner, Robin, including Damian Wayne, Tim Drake, Jason Todd, and the original, Dick Grayson. It was set during that time when Commissioner Gordon replaced Batman by using a robotic Bat-suit (see Batman New 52 or Batman by Snyder & Capullo) and the We Are Robin movement put the spotlight on the young crimefighters.

Here is the official synopsis: In a Gotham City turned upside down, Robin has become more than a single hero—Robin is a movement. With Bruce Wayne sidelined and the Batman co-opted by the police, a legion of teens are putting on the yellow “R” and following in the footsteps of their crime-fighting icons. But all it takes is one tragic accident for everything to go wrong. And when it does, the crackdown on the Robins is swift and merciless. Now, all of the original Boy Wonders—Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake and Damian Wayne—are back in Gotham, determined to save the kids who have taken up their legacy.

This Robin War is not as spontaneous as it seems. From their shadowy lair, Gotham’s oldest and most powerful secret society is manipulating all sides of the conflict—and not even those who trained for years with the World’s Greatest Detective can guess the true purpose behind the Court of Owls’ intricate plan—for more information about the Court here.

What to read before Robin War?

As the Robin War event is connected to the Court of Owls, I invite you to take a look at our reading guide dedicated to this secret society. But the essential is:

Before reading Robin War, you may want to be up-to-date with the new “Robins” group. It’s in the pages of the We are Robin series.

Optional, but if you want to know more about Gordon as Batman, take a look at Batman, Vol. 8: Superheavy, Pt. 1.

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Love and Rockets Reading Order, by the Hernandez brothers

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Love and Rockets is a long-running comic book series by brothers Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, launched in 1981 with a self-published issue co-edited by their brother Mario. After the first issue gained attention, it was picked up by Fantagraphics Books in 1982, which has published the series in various formats ever since. The series blends science fiction, magical realism, and slice-of-life storytelling in an anthology format. Each brother works independently, developing separate but occasionally intersecting narratives that follow a large cast of characters across decades.

Jaime’s stories are grouped under the title Locas, an ongoing story centered on Margarita “Maggie” Chascarrillo and Esperanza “Hopey” Glass, two queer women navigating friendship, love, and adulthood in the fictional Southern California town of Hoppers (also known as Huerta). His characters age in real time, and the series traces their evolving relationships and personal growth over the years.

Gilbert’s contributions are more varied in structure, combining serialized stories and stand-alone shorts, often with elements of magical realism. His central narrative, Palomar, is set in a fictional Central American village and focuses on characters such as Luba, a strong-willed bathhouse owner; Chelo, a midwife who becomes the town’s sheriff; and Fritz, a voluptuous actress known for appearing in sexploitation films. These stories branch out into later volumes centered on Luba and her extended family.

Gilbert and Jaime’s stories are self-contained and can be read independently of one another. Together, they helped define the alternative comics movement of the 1980s, pushing beyond the superhero genre with grounded, character-driven stories. Love and Rockets has been praised for its nuanced depictions of Latinx, queer, and working-class lives, as well as its complex female characters. The series has influenced generations of cartoonists and remains one of the most critically acclaimed independent comics of all time.

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X-Force Reading Order (including Uncanny X-Force & X-Statix)

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X-Force Reading Order

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.

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Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers Reading Order

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After his run on the Fantastic Four and a few years before taking over The X-Men, Jonathan Hickman became the main writer on The Avengers titles of the Marvel Now era after Brian Michael Bendis left in 2012.

With the Avengers (Volume 5), Hickman introduced new threats, but also expand the roster and sphere of influence of the team to a global and even interplanetary level. This will lead to a cosmos-threatening event. In New Avengers (Volume 3), he focused more on the members of The Illuminati (Black Panther, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Black Bolt, Mr. Fantastic, Sub-Mariner, and the Beast) who are armed with the six Infinity Gems against an infinite legion of parallel realities. 

Here is the official synopsis: As threats to Earth mount, the Avengers expand! And while Iron Man and Captain America assemble their Avengers World and strive to decipher the meaning of the White Event, Tony Stark secretly tries to solve the biggest crisis of all, along with his influential allies, the Illuminati! While they seek to prevent the collapse of reality itself, the Avengers face a war on two fronts! Protecting Earth from the Builders may only hand it to…Thanos! 

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Wonder Woman Reading Order

Princess Diana of Themyscira is Wonder Woman, the most famous female superhero in the Patriarch’s World and a powerful feminist icon. Known in her civilian identity as Diana Prince, she hails from the hidden island of Themyscira, home of the Amazons, and is a founding member of the Justice League.

Armed with her Lasso of Truth, indestructible bracelets, and razor-sharp tiara, Diana battles gods, mythical beasts, and formidable foes—including her most persistent enemies: Ares, Cheetah, Doctor Poison, Circe, Doctor Psycho, and Giganta.

Created by William Moulton Marston, a psychologist and writer inspired by his wife Elizabeth Marston and their partner Olive Byrne, Wonder Woman was brought to life by artist Harry G. Peter and made her debut in All-Star Comics #8 on October 21, 1941.

Her origin story has been reimagined many times, but its core remains the same: a champion of justice who fights with strength and compassion, even toward her enemies. It often begins with Captain Steve Trevor’s plane crashing on Themyscira, leading Diana to win the right to escort him back to the outside world—the “Patriarch’s World.” To honor her mission, her mother, Queen Hippolyta, bestows upon her a sacred uniform, marking her as Wonder Woman.

She is a princess, a warrior, and an ambassador. Beautiful as Aphrodite, wise as Athena, stronger than Hercules, and swifter than Mercury—she is Wonder Woman!

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