You like the X-Men, but when you walk into a comic book store or log into your favorite comics app you have no idea what to pick up. Or, you picked something up and were hopelessly lost. Maybe you don’t even know where to begin!
Uncanny X-Men #534.1 unlettered promo cover
Don’t worry – I’m here to help!
While you can always jump in with any issue or collected edition, there are some jumping-on points in X-Men comics that are better than others – and this page lists them all! If you’re looking for a more chronological review of potential starting points, check out my Instant X-Pert article.
Pick a current title that sounds interesting and then pick up the most current starting point, or start from a past point if you’d like to dig a little deeper.
- All-New X-Men – X-Men from the past time-travel the present day
- Deadpool – A darkly comedic series following the Merc with a Mouth
- Extraordinary X-Men – A new flagship title lead by Storm
- Uncanny Avengers – An official, Avengers-sanctioned team including mutants
- Uncanny X-Men– Feared and hated revolutionaries
- Wolverine – Solo adventures of Marvel’s most-popular mutant
- A+X – Anthology title mashing up Avengers and X-Men
- Amazing X-Men – A throwback classic take on X-Men
- Astonishing X-Men – Began as an all-star creators/cast title; later a team-as-family
- Cable – A time-displaced mutant outlaw and his frequent collaborators
- Cyclops – The first ongoing series for the young version of the original X-Man
- Excalibur & Captain Britain – British mutants and their customary non-mutant leader
- Exiles – A cross-dimensional team of alternative characters that rarely intersect with the main stories of X-Men
- Gambit – Solo adventures of the ladies man and master thief
- Magneto – An ongoing series where Magneto straddles the line between villain and hero.
- New Mutants – The third generation of X-Men, introduced in the 1980s
- New X-Men (Academy) – An entire school of young mutants introduced in the 2000s
- Wolverine and the X-Men – Wacky hijinks with Wolverine and a cast of young mutants
- X-Factor – A corporate team of mutants; previously a detective agency
- X-Force – Teams with a more proactive and violent focus
- X-Men – Flashy, easy-to-follow action
- X-Men Legacy – A single-character focus
- X-Treme X-Men – First a team of fan-favorites on international missions, then a cross-dimensional team (like Exiles)
If you already know about the titles and are looking for more detailed collection info, head to Collecting X-Men: A Definitive Guide.
A+X (2012 – 2013)
What is it? A monthly anthology title featuring short team-up stories that mash-up the Avengers and the X-Men, so you’re guaranteed to know at least one character in each issue.
Where to start? Since these stories are self-contained it’s Easy to pick up anywhere, although a multi-issue arc of stories featuring Captain America and Cyclops begins in #13. In collected editions, try Volume 1 or Volume 3. Read more about collecting A+X.
All-New X-Men, Volumes 1 and 2 (2012 – Present)
What is it? The original five X-Men – Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, and Angel – are pulled from the past as a teenagers to the present day! They have a lot of adjusting to do in a modern world full of technological advances and pronounced discrimination. In a second volume, teen Jean departs but several younger characters are added, including Kid Apocalypse, Idie, and X-23.
Where to start? Pick up the #1 issue from Volume 1 to start from the beginning (collected as Vol. 1: Here Comes Yesterday), or begin with the more-recent Volume 2 #1 (collected as Inevitable Vol. 1: Ghost of the Cyclops). Read more about collecting All-New X-Men.
Amazing X-Men, Volume 2 (2014 – 2015)
What is it? An ongoing title that aped the feel of early-80s Chris Claremont X-Men with a youthful, cartoonish vibe and a corresponding team of older fan favorites like Storm, Colossus, and Nightcrawler, plus a few younger characters, too. Read more about collecting Amazing X-Men.
Why “Volume 2”? A previous volume was an out-of-continuity mini-series.
Where to start:
- Issue #1 – Jason Aaron’s story about bringing Nightcrawler back from the dead
- Issue #8 – The beginning of World War Wendigo
- Issue #14 – The beginning of A Once and Future Juggernaut
Astonishing X-Men, Vol. 3 (2004 – 2013)
What is it? What started as an all-star book of mutants and creators to follow Grant Morrison’s run on New X-Men later turned into a “street-team” of X-Men that handle small issues that sometimes are bigger than they look, as well act as an unlikely family. Read more about collecting Astonishing X-Men.
Why “Volume 3”? The first volume was an out-of-continuity mini-series; the second was a mini-series that was part of a larger story.
Where to start:
- Vol. 3, #1 – Joss Whedon begins his run
- Vol 3, #25 – Warren Ellis begins his run; parallel to Manifest Destiny in Uncanny
- Vol. 3, #44 – First post-Schism/Regenesis issue; Cyclops team arc begins
- Vol. 3, #48 – Marjorie Liu begins her run with the “street team”
- Vol. 3, #62 – A fine standalone Iceman story by Liu
Cable, including Cable & X-Force and X-Force, Vol. 4 (1993 – 2015)
What is it? Cable’s modus operandi is generally returning to the past with dire knowledge that could change the future of mutant-kind, either solo or as part of a team. Read more about collecting Cable and X-Force.
Where to start: Pick up issue #1 or start earlier:
- Cable, Vol. 2 #1 – Cable gets his own series in 1993
- Cable Vol. 2 #79 – Part of the “Revolution” reboot of all titles
- Cable Vol. 2 #97 – Cable takes on a grittier, more real-world tone
- Cable & Deadpool #1 – Cable’s adventures continue in a team-up book with the merc with a mouth
- Cable, Vol. 3 #1 – In the wake of Messiah Complex, Cable becomes responsible for the best hope of mutant-kind
- X-Sanction #1 – Cable returns to the present to try to prevent a horrible future
Cyclops, Volume 2
What is it? A teenage Cyclops heads to space with his father Corsair in a surprisingly solid series that digs into the early psychology of the X-Men’s perennial leader.
Where to start:
- Vol. 2, #1
Deadpool, Volumes 1 through 5 (1994 – present)
What is it? Marvel’s Merc With A Mouth transforms from wise-cracking mercenary to an unlikely hero over twenty-plus years of adventures. Read more about collecting Deadpool.
Where to start:
- Vol. 3 (1997), #1 – The Joe Kelly series that transformed Deadpool from popular guest-star to massive success
- Cable & Deadpool #1 – Deadpool’s adventures continue with his main straight-man
- Vol. 4 (2008), #1 – Daniel Way’s Deadpool series, which was his punniest
- Vol. 5 (2013), #1 – Posehn and Duggan’s series, which cast Deadpool as a reluctant hero with actual depth
- Vol. 6 (2016), #1 – A relaunch under Duggan
Excalibur & Captain Britain
What is it? Mutants with a British flair. Excalibur has always been a place for light-hearted adventures that are less involved in the central mystique of the X-Men. Read more about collecting Excalibur and Captain Britain.
Where to start:
- Captain Britain –
- Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn – The original Excalibur graphic novel, which continues to #1.
- Excalibur, Vol. 1. #42 – Alan Davis takes over as writer and artist
- Excalibur, Vol. 1 #83 – Warren Ellis takes over scripting duties
- New Excalibur #1 – Captain Britain leads a new team in the wake of House of M
- Captain Britain and MI:13 #1 – Captain Britain becomes an official deputy of the British Government
Exiles & New Exiles
What is it? A peculiar, dimension-hopping team of X-Men that includes a few favorites that wouldn’t be feasible in the main universe of books – like Age of Apocalypse Blink and an animated-series style Mimic.
Where to start:
- Issue #1
Extraordinary X-Men
What is it? A new flagship X-Men book for All-New, All-Different Marvel meant to appeal to readers seeking their favorite core X-Men characters and dealing with a new status quo that threatens mutant existence (again).
Where to start:
- Issue #1
Gambit, Volumes 3 through 5
What is it? Gambit is a master thief and ladies man, and he plies both trades in a series that’s equal parts X-Men and James Bond.
Why not “Volumes 1 and 2”? These were a pair of mini-series.
Where to start:
- Gambit, Vol. 3 #1 – Gambit’s 1st ongoing series; 25 issues.
- Gambit, Vol. 4 #1 – Gambit’s 2nd ongoing series; 12 issues.
- Gambit, Vol. 4 #1 – Gambit’s 3rd ongoing series, penned by James Asmus.
Magneto, Volume 4
What is it? A stark, non-heroic take on Magneto.
Where to start:
- Vol. 4, #1 – The beginning of Cullen Bunn’s run
- Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 4, #1 – Magneto’s (and Bunn’s) story continues to this title.
New Mutants, Volumes 1 through 3 (1983 – 2012)
What is it? The first generation of student X-Men grew up in a different world than their predecessors, which left them with more guidance but also a bias towards action. This title ended in 2012. Read more about collecting New Mutants.
Regular Cast: Rotating cast includes Cannonball, Sunspot, Dani Moonstar AKA Mirage, Warlock, Doug Ramsey, Boom Boom, Magik
Where to Start:
- New Mutants, Vol. 1 #1 – The original New Mutants series that introduced these characters.
- New Mutants, Vol. 1 #87 – The tone of New Mutants changes with the introduction of Cable.
- X-Force, Vol. 1 #1 – New Mutants relaunches as the more militant X-Force.
- New Mutants, Vol. 3 #1 – Team’s first mission – to find Legion
- Vol. 3, #15 – First issue after Second Coming, begins a major arc
New X-Men, Volumes 1 and 2, and Academy X (2001)
What is it? First, know that “New X-Men” also refers to Grant Morrisons 2001-2003 run on what used to be X-Men, Vol. 2. After an explosion in the mutant popular the X-Men found themselves with more students than ever before – enough to start a full-time, fully-staffed academy of young X-Men including mutants like Surge, Hellion, Pixie, Rockslide, Elixir, Prodigy, X-23, Dust, Anole. That title, launched as Academy X, eventually transitioned to being called New X-Men.
Where to start:
- New X-Men #114 – Grant Morrison’s run begins
- New X-Men #134-138 – This Grant Morrison X-Men arc sets the scene for the new Academy
- New Mutants, Vol. 2 #1 – The previous New Mutants begin their search for a new generation
- New X-Men: Academy X #1 – Focus shifts from the instructors to the students
- New X-Men #20 -A harrowing gauntlet of trials that decimates the student body
Nightcrawler, Volumes 3 and 4 (2004 – 2006 & 2014 – 2015)
What is it? The solo adventures of the swashbuckling mutant, who is much more cheerful on the page than he is on the screen. His 2004 series was darker and focused on the supernatural, while his Claremont-penned 2014 was a lighter title nearly aimed at kids.
Why not “Volumes 1 and 2”? These were a pair of mini-series.
Storm, Volume 2
What is it? Storm’s first ongoing title showing what life is like for an internationally known mutant who is at once a schoomaster, a thief, and a goddess. This series was wonderful from front to back – start with issue #1
Why not “Volume 1”? Volume 1 was a brief 1990s mini-series.
Uncanny Avengers, Volumes 1 through 3
What is it? After their clash in Avengers vs. X-Men, Captain America reaches out to the mutant community to create a team of Avengers that can handle any threat that presents itself – especially when those threats are aimed at the mutant community. Read more about collecting Uncanny Avengers.
Where to start:
- Avengers vs. X-Men #0 – The story that lead to this title
- Vol. 1, #1 – Captain America assembles a new team of Avengers, including Wolverine, Rogue, and Havok
- Vol. 3, #1 – A fresh team including Captain America, Rogue, and Deadpool
Uncanny X-Men, Volumes 1 through 4
What is it? Uncanny X-Men has been the core X-title since 1963. Currently, it features a team of former villains acting as mutant revolutionaries! Read more about collecting Uncanny X-Men.
Where to start:
- Giant-Sized X-Men #1 – All New, All Different Team debuts; Claremont begins writing a few issues later
- X-Men #129 – The Dark Phoenix saga begins
- Uncanny X-Men (UXM) #171 – Rogue joins the team
- UXM #201 – Storm takes over the team
- UXM #281 – 1991 relaunch; Claremont departs
- UXM #360 – Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, and Colossus rejoin
- UXM #410 – Chuck Austen’s run begins (parallel to New X-Men) [Editor’s Note: Not a fan favorite]
- UXM #444 – Part of Reloaded event; Claremont takes over scripting
- UXM #492 – Messiah Complex! This is the first thing to occur after Astonishing X-Men and kicks off several years of story-telling.
- UXM #495 or 500 – Team moves to San Francisco in the wake of Messiah Complex
- UXM #526 – First issue after Second Coming
- UXM #534.1 – One-shot introduction of the current team
- UXM #544 – Final issue of first volume; first post-Schism issue
- Vol. 2, #1– Relaunch post-Regenesis; team battles Mr. Sinister
- Vol. 2, #4– A one-shot issue versus the Phalanx.
- Vol. 3, #1 – The team as both mutant revolutionaries and a home for young mutants, lead by Cyclops and heavily featuring Magik
- Vol. 4, #1 – A new team lead by Magneto
Wolverine, various titles (1988 – present)
What is it? Wolverine’s solo title – the one place where he gets to be the center of the action as well as the center of the story. Read more about collecting Wolverine.
Where to start:
- Wolverine, Vol. 2 #1 – Wolverine’s solo series debuts in 1988.
- Wolverine, Vol. 2 #75 – Wolverine loses his adamantium.
- Wolverine, Vol. 3 #1 – 2003 title relaunch with a grittier, less superheroic take.
- Wolverine, Vol. 3 #20 – X-Men Reload; beginning of the year-long Enemy of the State arc.
- Wolverine: Origins #1 – New series telling one 50-issue story; begins in the wake of M-Day
- Wolverine: Weapon X #1 – New 2009 adventurous series
- Wolverine, Vol. 4, Issue #1 – Wolverine goes to Hell!
- Vol. 4, #16 – First issue after Schism/Regenesis
- Vol. 5, #1 – First issue in Marvel Now
- Vol. 6, #1 – First issue in All-New Marvel Now
- All-New Wolverine, Vol. 1 – Features Wolverine’s female clone, X-23, as Wolverine
Wolverine and the X-Men, Volumes 1 and 2, and Spider-Man and the X-Men (2011 – 2015)
What is it? Wolverine goes back to basics and re-opens a mutant academy to try to protect and teach the next generation of mutants. Read more about collecting Wolverine and the X-Men. Stars Wolverine, Storm, Fantomex, Broo, Warbird, Quentin Quire AKA Kid Omega, Idie AKA Oya, – with appearances by Armor, Anole, Blindfold, Bling, Cipher, Ernst, Gentle, Glob Herman, Graymalkin, Indra, Match, Mercury, Rockslide, Trance
Where to start:
- Issue #1 – Wolverine opens a new school
- Issue #19 – Year two of the title begins
- Vol. 2, #1 – The 2014 relaunch
- Spider-Man and the X-Men #1 – A clever and self-contained series
X-Factor, Volumes 1 and 3 & All-New X-Factor (1986 – 1998 & 2006 – 2015)
What is it? Across several incarnations, X-Factor has generally maintained one of two themes – a team sanctioned by another body (such as the government) and a team of detectives or hunters. Initially, the title was introduced in 1986 to feature the five original X-Men together for the first time since 1974. Later, in 1991, Peter David relaunched the team as government operatives. Though he exited with issue #89 in 1993, the title has ever since been associated with him thanks to his 2006 relaunch that continued through 2015. Read more about collecting X-Factor.
Why not “Volume 2”? Volume 2 was a mini-series that did not take up the theme of the other volumes.
Where to start:
- Vol. 1, #1 – Debut of the re-assembled original X-Men
- Vol. 1, #71 – Peter David’s relaunch, starring Havok, Polaris, Wolfsbane, Quicksilver, and Strong Guy
- Vol. 1, #110 – First issue after Age of Apocalypse
- Vol. 3, #1 – 2006 relaunch, begins in the wake of M-day. The team is an occasionally-supernatural detective agency.
- Vol. 3, #28 – First issue after Messiah Complex
- Vol. 1, #200 – Renumbering to match Vol. 1 begins; new Fantastic Four arc
- Vol. 1, #207 – First issue after Second Coming; Vegas arc
- Vol. 1, #225 – New arc after resolving several longstanding plot threads
- Vol. 1, #230 – First issue post-Schism/Regenesis; Havok and Polaris join the team.
- All-New #1 – 2014 relaunch with the cast of Polaris, Gambit, Quicksilver, Danger, Cypher, Warlock as a corporate team.
X-Force, various titles (1991 – 2015)
What is it? Ever since its continuation from New Mutants in 1991, X-Force has stood for a X-Men team operating on the margins of the main X-teams and using considerably more force to achieve their goals. Cable has always been strongly associated with this title until a 2008 relaunch put Wolverine at the fore. With 2010’s Uncanny X-Force, Psylocke became a third character strongly associated with the title. Read more about collecting Uncanny X-Force.
Where to start: Pick up issue #1 or start even earlier:
- X-Force, Vol. 1, #1 – The 1991 launch by Rob Liefeld
- X-Force, Vol. 1, #70-71 – The team begins a lengthy road-trip
- X-Force, Vol. 3 #1 – Wolverine’s murderous stealth team begins after Messiah Complex
- Uncanny X-Force, Vol. 1 #1 – Starring Wolverine, Psylocke, Archangel, Fantomex, and Deadpool dealign with the re-emergence of Apocalypse
- Uncanny X-Force, Vol. 1, #8-10 – A pair of stand-alone issues prior to Dark Angel saga beginning in #10
- Uncanny X-Force, Vol. 2, #1 – The first issue of the second volume, starring Psylocke and Storm.
- X-Force, Vol. 4, #1 – A first issue that drops you into the action with a team of Cable, Domino, Psylocke, and Fantomex
X-Men, Volumes 2 through 4 (1991 – 2015)
What is it? A squad of popular X-Men characters initially launched as a second flagship in 1991 to accompany Uncanny X-Men. It was renamed New X-Men in 2001 to highlight Grant Morrison’s now-revered run. Later volumes focused on highly-recognizable teams of popular characters. Read more about collecting X-Men.
Why not “Volume 1”? While the 1963 launch of X-Men is technical X-Men, Volume 1, most comic guides group those issues along with Uncanny X-Men since the run continues to that title
Where to start:
- Vol. 2 issue #1 – 1991 launch of a second X-team
- Vol. 2 issue #30 – Cyclops & Jean get married
- New X-Men #114 – Grant Morrison’s run begins
- Vol. 2 issue #157 – X-Men Reloaded; post-Morrison
- Vol. 2 issue #188 – Rogue takes over the team
- Vol. 3, #1 – First arc (Vampires) begins after Second Coming
- Vol. 3, #7 – Second arc (Spider-Man/Lizard) begins
- Vol. 3, #16 – Fourth arc (FF/Dr. Doom) begins
- Vol. 3, #20 – First post-Schism/Regenesis issue – War Machine arc
- Vol. 3, #30 – Brian Wood takes over as writer
- Vol. 4, #1 – Brian Wood relaunches the book with an all-female team featuring Storm, Rogue, Psylocke, and Jubilee, among others
- Vol. 4, #23 – A single arc by Ms. Marvel creator G. Willow Wilson.
X-Men Legacy, Volumes 1 and 2 (2008 – 2014)
What is it? A version of X-Men that focuses on a single character at a time. First up was Professor Xavier, then Rogue, and finally Professor X’s son Legion in a second volume. Read more about collecting X-Men Legacy.
Why does Volume 1 start with #208? X-Men Legacy continued the numbering of X-Men, Vol. 2, which began in 1991.
Where to start:
- Vol. 1, #208 – X-Men, Vol. 2 is renamed to Legacy; a new Xavier arc begins
- Vol. 1, #220 – Rogue becomes the series focus, Gambit joins cast
- Vol. 1, #238 – First issue after Second Coming, Magneto joins cast
- Vol. 1, #250 – New arc begins after Age of X aftermath, Legion and Frenzy join cast
- Vol. 1, #260.1 – First issue after Schism/Regenesis, cast becomes professors
- Vol. 2, #1 – The beginning of Legion’s 24-issue run
X-Treme X-Men, Volumes 1 and 2 (2001 – 2004 & 2012 – 2013)
What is it? Volume 1 was a team of fan favorites including Storm, Psylocke, and Rogue written by legendary author Chris Claremont. It had an international feel and was heavy on dialog. Volume 2 was a cross-dimensional team lead by Dazzler. Read more about collecting X-Treme X-Men.
Where to start:
- Vol. 1, #1
- Vol. 1, #25
- Vol. 2, #1
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