You may know Umbrella Academy thanks to its television adaptation by Netflix. Written by Gerard Way (of My Chemical Romance) and illustrated by Gabriel Ba, Umbrella Academy is described as a “dysfunctional family of superheroes” — and part of our 15 Dark Horse Must-Read Comic Books.
All began with an inexplicable worldwide event, where forty-three extraordinary children were spontaneously born by women who’d previously shown no signs of pregnancy. Millionaire inventor Reginald Hargreeves adopts seven of the children and prepares them to save the world from an unspecified threat as the Umbrella Academy.
The members are Spaceboy (Luther Hargreeves), The Kraken (Diego Hargreeves), The Rumor (Allison Hargreeves), The Séance (Klaus Hargreeves), The Boy (Number Five), The Horror (Ben Hargreeves), and The White Violin (Vanya Hargreeves).
Umbrella Academy Reading Order
- The Umbrella Academy – Volume 1: The Apocalypse Suite
Collects The Apocalypse Suite #1–6; “Mon Dieu!”; “…But the Past Ain’t Through with You” - The Umbrella Academy – Volume 2: Dallas
Collects Dallas #1–6; “Anywhere But Here” - The Umbrella Academy – Volume 3: Hotel Oblivion
Collects Hotel Oblivion #1–7
Also collected in Library Edition:
- The Umbrella Academy Library Edition Volume 1: Apocalypse Suite
Collects The Apocalypse Suite #1–6; “Mon Dieu!”; “…But the Past Ain’t Through with You”; an expanded 50-page sketchbook - The Umbrella Academy Library Edition Volume 2: Dallas
Collects Dallas #1–6; “Anywhere But Here”; an expanded 36-page sketchbook - The Umbrella Academy Library Edition Volume 3: Hotel Oblivion
Collects Hotel Oblivion #1–7; and sketchbook
Also collected in Deluxe Edition:
- The Umbrella Academy Volume 1: Apocalypse Suite Deluxe Edition
Hardcover edition with an exclusive lithograph featuring a unique new art piece created by Gabriel Bà exclusively for this edition. - The Umbrella Academy Volume 2: Dallas Deluxe Edition
Hardcover edition with an illustrated slipcase featuring art by Gabriel Bá; also included is a portfolio containing a new unique print from the artist. - The Umbrella Academy Volume 3: Hotel Oblivion Deluxe Edition
Hardcover edition with a portfolio inside the slip-case, with a psychedelic print by Gabriel Ba exclusive to this edition.
- The Umbrella Academy Boxed Set
Collects Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, Umbrella Academy: Dallas, and Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion. Also includes an exclusive Umbrella Academy double-sided poster.
Tales from the Umbrella Academy
Tales from the Umbrella Academy are spin-off series that is set, for what we know, before the main series.
- Hazel and Cha-Cha Save Christmas
One shot not collected yet. - You Look Like Death:Tales from the Umbrella Academy – Volume 1 (also collected in Library Edition and Deluxe Edition)
Collects You Look Like Death #1–6.
Also collected in Library Edition:
- Tales from the Umbrella Academy: You Look Like Death Library Edition
Collects You Look Like Death #1–6, a brand new eight-page Seance story exclusive to the hardcovers, an expanded sketchbook section, and a foreword by Robert Sheehan, portrayer of Klaus in the hit Netflix series!
Also collected in Deluxe Edition:
- Tales from the Umbrella Academy: You Look Like Death (Deluxe Edition)
Collects You Look Like Death #1–6, a brand new eight-page Seance story exclusive to the hardcovers, an expanded sketchbook section, and a foreword by Robert Sheehan, portrayer of Klaus in the hit Netflix series!
The Short Stories
Most Umbrella Academy short stories have been collected in the trade paperbacks. Still, here is a listing with a possible indication of where the story takes place.
- “Mon Dieu!”
During the Apocalypse Suite era. - “…But the Past Ain’t Through With You.”
During the Apocalypse Suite era. - “Safe & Sound”
Published in MySpace Dark Horse Presents Volume 2. During the Apocalypse Suite era. - “Anywhere But Here”
13 years ago, during the group’s teenage years.
Last Updated on September 28, 2023.