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Fabien

Co-founder of Comic Book Treasury, your Hellboy Specialist and the man behind the Batman Modern Age and the Amazing Spider-Man Guides.

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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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 in her rogues gallery: 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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War of Kings Reading Order, a Marvel Cosmic Event (leading to Realm of Kings and The Thanos Imperative)

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War of Kings Reading Order

After Annihilation event (see reading order) and its direct sequel as part of the modern Marvel Cosmic saga, Annihilation: Conquest (see reading order), the Marvel Cosmic Universe kept going forward for a good year, then a new crossover storyline written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning titled War of King happened.

Here is the official synopsis: Intending to restore their strength and security in the aftermath of the Secret Invasion, Black 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 go to war with the Shi’ar led by the crazed Summers brother Vulcan? When these mighty powers turn their rage upon one another, what happens to those caught in the crossfire? When two mighty rulers wage war, who will rule?

What to read before War of Kings?

A lot happened since Annihilation: Conquest with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Nova, but also the X-Men and the Secret Invasion. In order to go in fully prepared, you’ll want to take a look at those books:

  • 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 Prelude Road to War of Kings Reading Order Omnibus

Or in trade paperbacks:

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The Best Alan Moore Comics to Read

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Alan Moore Best Comics

Alan Moore is the most influential comics writer of the 1980s-1990s. It’s a fact. His work helped to define a new creative era of the medium at a time when it needed a way to grow, to mature. Nobody can deny how important some of his books were and still are for the comic book industry and for a lot of readers. His way to push the boundaries of what superhero comics can be never stopped to amaze and his success is undeniably justified.

Although he became a controversial figure and sometimes a tragic one too, you can not look at his career with anything but respect. In fact, reading Alan Moore’s work is required to fully understand the History of comic books – it helps that he collaborated with some of the greatest artists of his time like Dave Gibbons, Eddie Campbell, Ian Gibson, Stephen R. Bissette, Rick Veitch, John Totleben, Kevin O’Neill and more.

Of course, everybody has something to say about Alan Moore and his work. Us too! That’s why we are here today, to talk about his best comics, in my opinion. Some books are hard to find, a lot of his independent comics are in fact out-of-print, so it’s not easy to read everything he wrote. That said, there’s still enough available out there to enjoy and this is my selection of 10 of the best Alan Moore comics to read. You can write your own suggestions in the comments section.

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Alias Jessica Jones Reading Order

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Popularized by the Netflix television series, Jessica Jones was created in the pages of a Marvel comic book series by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos. She first appeared in Alias #1 (November 2001), published under Marvel’s MAX imprint, which allowed for explicit language, sexual content, and adult themes.

Jessica Jones is a private investigator with a past tied to the Avengers. Once a costumed superhero operating under the name Jewel, she abandoned that identity after a traumatic career marked by failure and psychological abuse. By the time Alias begins, she is a chain-smoking, self-destructive alcoholic and the owner and sole employee of Alias Investigations, a small New York detective agency specializing in cases involving superhuman individuals.

The early storyline follows Jessica as she navigates morally compromised investigations and personal demons, including a case involving the exposure of a superhero’s secret identity, which draws her into a larger and increasingly dangerous conspiracy. Central to her backstory is her history of manipulation and control by the villain Zebediah Killgrave, the Purple Man, an experience that defines much of who she became.

Although Alias was published under the MAX imprint, Bendis moved Jessica Jones to the core Marvel Universe. Subsequent stories fully integrated her into mainstream continuity, establishing that she attended Midtown High School alongside Peter Parker and later became a member of the Avengers during the New Avengers era and started a romantic relationship with Luke Cage. Over time, Jessica Jones evolved from a noir-styled deconstruction of superhero tropes into a recurring figure within Marvel’s primary ensemble of characters.

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Annihilation: Conquest Reading Order, a Marvel Cosmic Event

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Annihilation: Conquest Reading Order

Almost directly after the first Annihilation event (see reading order), Marvel published its sequel as part of the modern Marvel Cosmic saga. Annihilation: Conquest is a 2007-08 crossover storyline that focuses on Marvel’s cosmic heroes defending the universe against the Phalanx, now led by Ultron. 

Here is the official synopsis: 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! Meanwhile, the new Quasar seeks a mysterious savior — and Nova and Gamora are taken over by the Phalanx! Who is the haunted loner called Wraith? Can the New Mutants’ Warlock free Nova? And what are Ultron and the Phalanx really after?

What to read before Annihilation: Conquest?

Being a direct sequel to Annihilation, it is necessary to read that first cosmic event (see reading order). Once this one ended, only three Nova issues were published before Annihilation: Conquest began – they are collected with the rest of the event or here.

  • Annihilation Omnibus
    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.

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Jonathan Hickman X-Men Reading Order – The Age of Krakoa

Welcome to Part 6 of our ongoing effort to compile a comprehensive X-Men Reading Order through the lens of collected editions. If you’re just joining us, you can start from the beginning with Part 1: The Silver Age & Chris Claremont (1963–1991), then follow through Part 2: Age of Apocalypse & Onslaught (1991–2001), Part 3: From the Grant Morrison Era to Civil War, Part 4: The Road to Avengers vs. X-Men, Part 5: Marvel NOW to ResurrXion, and Part.7: The Second Age of the X-Men of Krakoa.

After the Age of X-Man event, Marvel set out to redefine the X-Men for a new era and entrusted writer Jonathan Hickman to lead the charge. He began with the groundbreaking House of X / Powers of X miniseries, which reimagined the X-Men’s place in the Marvel Universe with a bold new premise.

In this story, Professor X unveils the island nation of Krakoa, a sovereign mutant homeland offering humanity miraculous scientific advancements in exchange for recognition. “While you slept, the world changed,” the story begins. Xavier’s dream of peaceful coexistence is over. In its place rises a new vision, one that spans centuries and ambitions to challenge not just human prejudice, but the inevitability of machine-dominated futures.

Following this successful relaunch, Marvel expanded the line under the banners of Dawn of X and later Reign of X, introducing a wave of interconnected series, new mutant teams, political intrigue, and existential threats, all orbiting the fragile promise of the Krakoan dream.

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The Incal Reading Order, The French Comic Book by Jodorowsky and Moebius

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The Incal is a French graphic novel series (“L’Incal” in French) written by Alejandro Jodorowsky and illustrated by Moebius (aka Jean Giraud) that started in 1980 in the pages of “Métal hurlant.”

As the official synopsis explains it, The Incal is about the tribulations of the shabby detective John Difool as he searches for the precious and coveted Incal. John Difool, a low-class detective in a degenerate dystopian world, finds his life turned upside down when he discovers an ancient, mystical artifact called The Incal. Difool’s adventures will bring him into conflict with the galaxy’s greatest warrior, the Metabaron, and will pit him against the awesome powers of the Technopope. These encounters and many more make up a tale of comic and cosmic proportions that has Difool fighting for not only his very survival, but also the survival of the entire universe.

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Cassandra Cain Reading Order (Batgirl, Orphan, Black Bat)

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Created by Kelley Puckett and Damion Scott, Cassandra Cain is a member of the Batfamily who made her first appearance in Batman #567 (July 1999), during the No Man’s Land event. She then became the official Batgirl and got her own solo series. She’s also known as Black Bat and Orphan.

Cassandra Cain is the deadliest member of the Batfamily. The daughter of assassins David Cain and Lady Shiva, she was raised to be a killer. In fact, she was conditioned to become the world’s greatest assassin. To this end, she was deprived of speech and human contact during her childhood, which enabled her to develop an incredible ability to interpret body language to the extent that she could read complex thoughts. In essence, body movement was her first language, and she didn’t speak for a long time. This unique way of communicating has made her a martial artist like no other.

Batman took her under his wing and, with Barbara Gordon’s blessing, she soon became the new Batgirl. This happened before the New 52 era. After being reintroduced in the DCU in the Batman & Robin Eternal series, she got a new origin story.

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Annihilation Reading Order, a Marvel Cosmic Event

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Annihilation Reading Order

At a time when Marvel was all about its Civil War, another massive event took place. This 2006 cosmic crossover storyline was written by Keith Giffen, Dan Abnett, Simon Furman, Javier Grillo-Marxuach & Andy Lanning, with art by Renato Arlem, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Andrea Di Vito, Scott Kolins, Jorge Lucas, Mike McKone, Gregory Titus, and Kev Walker. It was the beginning of the modern Marvel Cosmic saga.

Here is the official synopsis: 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! As Nova learns the ways of war from Drax the Destroyer, the Silver Surfer seeks out his former master Galactus for aid, the Super-Skrull fights for his son’s life and Ronan the Accuser faces Gamora and her woman warriors! Nova and Quasar’s army leads the charge, but as heroes fall and Annihilus rises, the universe’s one remaining hope may be Thanos, the Mad Titan.

What to read before Annihilation?

Most of the Annihilation prelude miniseries are considered part of the event, but one is often not treated as such:

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