A reading order for stories starting from Uncanny X-Men #201 in January 1986 and ending with Uncanny X-Men #243 in April 1989 (and X-Factor #40) in May 1989. A part of Crushing Krisis’s Collecting X-Men: A Definitive Guide. Last updated November 2018.
Era #3: New Mutants 
X-Men Reading Order Guide Era #5: X-Tinction
What does Era #4: X-Factor include?
This era of the X-Men Reading Order is focused on the time period where X-Men truly became a franchise, gaining three additional ongoing spin-off titles with X-Factor, Excalibur, and Wolverine – plus Wolverine’s run in Marvel Comics Presents and a handful of mini-series that covered the team’s first real, extended interactions with Fantastic Four and The Avengers!
It’s also the era just before the rise of the superstar artist altered the course of the X-Men. We see Marc Silvestri on some issues here and Jim Lee is still on his initial assignment on Alpha Flight. (Elsewhere at Marvel, Todd McFarlane had just made his leap from Incredible Hulk to Amazing Spider-Man at the end of this era.)
As the X-Men’s comic book footprint widened, so did the scope of their stories. Prior to this era, Chris Claremont had never penned a direct crossover between two X-Men titles, but here we got both Mutant Massacre and Inferno. Also, “Fall of the Mutants” this was the first time an ongoing bannered event ran across multiple titles.
This period saw the introduction or joining of X-Men who have been the primary cast of the franchise over the past thirty years. Claremont introduced Psylocke to American audiences, added Ann Nocenti’s Longshot to the team, finally made Dazzler and X-Men, brought Havok and Polaris into his fold for the first time, and made Forge a full-time cast member.
(At this point, we’re just waiting for the introductions of Jubilee, Gambit, and Bishop before we’ll have the full cast of adult X-Men recognized across all media.)
The story of this era of X-Men is very much about graduation and being an adult. That plays out differently across the three major team titles.
The X-Men largely have to fend for themselves with Xavier and then Magneto gone from an advisor role, and not all of their decisions are wise ones.
That leaves the team feeling more “grown up” than ever before under Claremont. Cyclops loses his leadership to Storm, Rachel Summers is whisked away by Spiral, and the light-hearted pair of Nightcrawler and Shadowcat leave to recover from serious injuries. In the midst of those changes, the X-Men face one of their most-horrific experiences with the decimation of the Morlocks in Mutant Massacre.
Without Cyclops around to butt heads with Wolverine or Storm, team tensions move down a generation to Rogue, Dazzler, and Psylocke. After the necessity of faking their own deaths, they move to a base in the desert wastes of Australia for the first half of the team’s “Outback Era.” They also encounter the island nation of Genosha for the first time, portraying the eventual extreme of anti-mutant discrimination in a situation that reflects both American slavery and the beginnings of the Holocaust.
Meanwhile, X-Factor reunites the original X-Men under their own direction for the first time due to the shocking resurrection of Jean Grey!(Fun fact: Before Kurt Busiek solved the problem of Jean’s resurrection, the fifth member was originally going to be Jean’s sister or Dazzler.)
The team wants to aiding the mutant race, but they pick an unfortunate way of doing it – by impersonating an anti-mutant task-force. Along the way, they introduce us to characters like Rictor, Rusty, Skids, and Artie, and expand the personalities of Boom Boom and Leech.
Finally, New Mutants has the feel of a group of kids who have graduated from intermediate school to college or university. Though they remain under the direction of Magneto for much of the era, they are on their own missions, making adult choices and sacrificing themselves – leading to the death of one member and depowering of another! At one point, Sunspot and Warlock break off from the rest of the team for their own series, Fallen Angels.
Altogether, these themes make for an era dense with story and thematic content.
Flagship X-Series in this era:
- Uncanny X-Men #201-243 & Annuals 10-12 – see Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont
Ongoing X-titles released in this era (listed in order of age of series):
- Alpha Flight (1983) #30-70 & Annual 1 – see Alpha Flight
- Dazzler (1981) #41-41 [end of series] – see Dazzler
- New Defenders (1983) #151-152 [end of series] – see Defenders
- New Mutants (1983) #36-73 & Annuals 2-3 – see New & Young X-Men
- X-Factor (1986) #1-40 & Annuals 1-3 – see X-Factor
- Excalibur (1988) Special Edition & #1-7 – see Captain Britain & Excalibur
- Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #1-17 (features Wolverine and others) – see Wolverine
- Wolverine (1988) #1-3 – see Wolverine
Limited Series released in this era (listed in alphabetical order):
- Mephisto Vs. (1987) #1-4 – see X-Men Limited Series
- Fallen Angels (1987) #1-8 – see New & Young X-Men
- Fantastic Four vs. X-Men (1987) #1-4 – see X-Men Limited Series
- Heroes For Hope (1985) Starring The X-Men
- Secret Wars II (1985) #7-9 – see Marvel Universe Events
- Spider-Man Vs. Wolverine (1987) – see Wolverine
- X-Men vs. Avengers (1987) #1-4 – see X-Men Limited Series
- X-Terminators (1988) #1-4 – see X-Men Limited Series
Later X-titles set in this era:
- Wolverine: Doombringer (1997) – see Wolverine
Notes:
- This era includes the events Secret Wars II, Mutant Massacre, Fall of the Mutants, Evolutionary War, and Inferno.
[Patreon-2017][/Patreon-2017]
Era #4: X-Factor Reading Order
- Freedom Is a Four Letter Word (UXM #201-204 & Secret Wars II #7-9)
- The X-Factor (UXM #205-209)
- Mutant Massacre (UXM #210-214 & Annual 10)
- Old Soldiers and Fallen Angels (UXM #215-219 & Annual 11)
- The Fall of the Mutants (UXM #220-227)
- The X-Men Down Under (UXM #228-238 & Annual 12 + Evolutionary War)
- Inferno (UXM #239-243)
This reading guide is unique in that it values continuity order for stories and characters but prioritizes an enjoyable read. Because retcon stories are placed by continuity regardless of when they are published, this reading order is full of story spoilers. Again, this is a full-spoilers reading order.
When the continuity order of two runs is concurrent or unclear, this guide follows two priorities:
- Recommend the biggest chunk of reading with the least amount of substantial story conflict. A minor crossover point like a phone call or a costume change isn’t enough of a reason to shuffle between two unrelated story arcs.
- Create the longest unbroken block of Uncanny X-Men and place it as early as possible in the order.
Generally, I’m not concerned with switching between single issues of different titles outside of a crossover. Minor appearances and cameos are selectively included. Full, unadulterated lists of character appearances can be found in the respective Reading Guide to each character (specifically, Wolverine).
Freedom Is a Four Letter Word
This section picks up fresh from Magneto’s trial in Uncanny X-Men #200 and in the midst of the heavily intertwined Secret Wars II event.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #201 + Marvel Fanfare (1982) #33
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
UXM 201 features the famous battle between Cyclops and a depowered Storm for control of the X-Men. The Fanfare story is effectively 201.1, showing the team relaxing at Magneto’s Bermuda Triangle base in the wake of this tense moment – I’m not sure why it didn’t fit as a regular issue of Uncanny!
Heroes For Hope (1985) Starring The X-Men
Heroes for Hope is a benefit issue where every 2-3 pages are produced by a different creative team, working from a story edited by Chris Claremont and Ann Nocenti. It’s not required reading.
Dazzler (1981) #41
See Dazzler for collection information
Rachel Summers next appears in issue #41 after Heroes for Hope and before SWII #7 and UXM202.
Secret Wars II (1985) #7
See Marvel Universe Events for collection information
This occurs prior to UXM202.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #202
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
In #202, Rachel takes off to try to kill the Beyonder; she is next in SWII #8. If you aren’t reading Secret Wars II, you can easily continue to UXM203 from there.
New Mutants (1983) #36
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
While New Mutants (1983) #36 fits here per Magneto and Kitty, it doesn’t really attach to UXM202 in any way could be saved to read with the next run of New Mutants below, if you choose.
Avengers (1963) #263 + Fantastic Four (1961) #286
See X-Factor for collection information
These two issues are the return of Jean Grey. They occur sometime between SWII #6 and 8, per Captain America. Mr. Fantastic goes directly from here to New Defenders #152 to X-Factor #1 prior to Captain America #314, which happens roughly at the same time as SWII #7 per Anaconda.
New Defenders #151-152
See Defenders for collection information
Issue #152 is after UXM202 per Beyonder. Technically, this continues directly to X-Factor #1! However, there is no reason to read X-Factor #1 before finishing Secret Wars II unless you are specifically following Mr. Fantastic.
Secret Wars II (1985) #8
See Marvel Universe Events for collection information
This issue has a fair amount of X-Men content. It continues the stories from from both UXM202 and New Mutants #36, with a pretty big moment for Rachel.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #203
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Rachel’s campaign against the Beyonder continues – which is a convenient excuse for her not sensing that Jean is alive!. This story makes sense even if you haven’t read SWII #8, as this confrontation (and the much-longer lead up for Rachel) easily replaces that one.
Power Pack (1984) #20 + New Mutants (1983) #37
See New & Young X-Men or Power Pack for collection information
Prior to SWII #9 per Cannonball.
Secret Wars II (1985) #9
See Marvel Universe Events for collection information
Rachel shows up as the cavalry early in this issue, and the New Mutants participate heavily in the climactic action.
New Mutants (1983) #38-40
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
The immediately follows the climactic conversation in SWII #9.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #204
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
This one-shot Nightcrawler issue explaining his absence from the action in Secret Wars II works as a cheerful epilogue to this fractured era of reading.
The X-Factor
There are two major narratives in the X-books in the wake of Secret Wars II – one of coming together and one of falling apart. The original X-Men reassemble in X-Factor, but for their public cover they pose as mutant hunters. While it’s an effective way to usher new mutants into protection, their public-facing personas only serves to stoke the flames of anti-mutant discrimination.
The X-Men are on the receiving end of that hate, but for them this brief period is more about being dissected by their enemies – literally for Wolverine, in issue #205. They are beset on all sides by Nimrod, Selene, and Mystique’s government-sponsored Freedom Force (the later of whom also comes into conflict with the privately-funded X-Factor).
Alpha Flight (1983) #30-38 & Annual 1 +
Alpha Flight (1983) #39, Avengers Avengers (1963) #272, Alpha Flight #40
See Alpha Flight for collection information
Issue #30 occurs after the end of SWII and marks a fresh start for the team. Issue #33 features the team fresh from the confrontation in SWII #9 (plus Magneto from New Mutants #40 and Nightcrawler from UXM204). Avengers #272 occurs during issue #39. While a significant amount of time passes in this issues, they aren’t interrupted by another other stories and make sense to read as a whole. Note that I disagree with most official placements of Annual 1; I give my full rationale in the Guide to Alpha Flight.
You can read UXM205-207 here if you’d like – it puts their conflict with Freedom Force in the correct order.
Dazzler #42
See Dazzler for collection information
This is technically after X-Factor #1 for Beast, but there’s really no need to interrupt your X-Factor read for it, as his appearance makes no reference to X-Factor or Jean. You could easily assume he stops here on the way to pack up the Defenders mansion in X-Factor #1
X-Factor (1986) #1-7 +
Iron Man (1968) Annual 8, X-Factor Annual 1, Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #282 +
X-Factor (1986) #8
See X-Factor for collection information
Though much of X-Factor #1 occurs above prior to SWII #8, it fits better to read here after all of Secret Wars is wrapped up. Similarly, most of this action really happens after UXM206-207 due to the appearance of Freedom Force there, but it’s simply more satisfying to read both titles in bigger chunks. Reading this first won’t really spoil anything! Most of issue #8 occurs prior to UXM209 per the appearance of Spiral, but there’s no possible spoilers from the result of reading this first. The two supporting X-Factor appearances were collected along with their first Epic volume.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #205-209
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Issues #205 and 206 are effectively one-shot issues from Wolverine and Storm, respectively. They open without any immediate precedent. While UXM207 continues to UXM208 only hours later, it ends on a major cliffhanger that leaves us some room. UXM209 is Rachel’s final issue on the team.
New Mutants (1983) #41-44 & Annual 2
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
While it’s clear that some of this action occurs slightly earlier due to Magneto’s appearances both here and UXM, having this group of issues come second means you will avoid any significant story spoilers from either side. This necessarily precedes Mutant Massacre in order to introduce Psylocke to American audiences in Annual 2.
Mutant Massacre
The X-Men have their first multi-title event, which is possibly their most-brutal and most-confusing event of all time!
Uncanny X-Men #210
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Though this is definitely a part of Mutant Massacre, it’s very much the leading edge, with several other stories occurring between here and the next issue.
X-Factor (1986) #9
See X-Factor for collection information
Concurrent to UXM210
Uncanny X-Men Annual 10
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Must occur prior to New Mutants #45 per Magneto.
New Mutants (1983) #45
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
X-Factor (1986) #10
See X-Factor for collection information
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #211
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Power Pack (1984) #27
See New & Young X-Men or Power Pack for collection information
New Mutants (1983) #46
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
Thor (1966) #373-374
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont or Thor for collection information
Despite what the diagram says, these are best read prior to UXM212.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #212
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Daredevil (1964) #238
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont or Daredevil for collection information
Between UXM212-213 per Sabretooth.
X-Factor (1986) #11
See X-Factor for collection information
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #213-214
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Issue #214 isn’t actually a part of Mutant Massacre, but it has been collected along with the event and acts nicely as an epilogue with the team recruiting Dazzler to augment their decimated lineup.
Old Soldiers and Fallen Angels
This transitional period between Mutant Massacre and Fall of The Mutants, with Chris Claremont working to adjust the team’s line-up even while Marvel begins to co-opt the X-Men into other non-Claremonian appearances. These issues of Uncanny cement new members Longshot, Dazzler, and Psylocke, plus the returning Havok and Polaris, and transitions Kitty Pryde and Nightcrawler off of the team (soon to join Rachel in Excalibur).
There is a tricky bit of continuity in this section having to do with X-Factor, Thor, and Mephisto. Essentially, Mephisto Vs. was released later than these issues and does not take place all at once. While Mephisto #2 occurs sometime after X-Factor #12, it contains an editorial note that it occurs before X-Factor #14-15 and that note spoils those issues! Meanwhile, Mephisto #3 is the next appearance for the the Uncanny cast after #215! The best solution is to read X-Factor first so it cannot be spoiled, then Mephisto Vs., than Uncanny.
Marvel Fanfare (1982) #28 & Alpha Flight (1983) #41-46
See Alpha Flight for collection information
There is no explicit placement for this run save for that it must occur after UXM210.
New Mutants (1983) #47-50
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
This is a self-contained arc that ends in a victorious moment for the team as they are reunited with an old friend.
X-Factor (1986) #12-16, Marvel Fanfare (1982) #40 (1st story), Thor (1966) #377-378, X-Factor #17
See X-Factor for collection information
The Fanfare story is somewhat apocryphal, featuring Angel flying around when the bones in his wings are said to be shattered. While he is clearly injured in the story, there isn’t really anywhere it fits – it almost works best as a sort of nightmare fantasy after the events of issues #15-16. Thor appears in his #377-378 between Mephisto #3-4.
Mephisto Vs. (1987) #1-4
As discussed above, the true placement of this series is slightly more nuanced, but that creates unnecessary spoilers. It’s much simpler to simply read it here where it fits cleanly with no spoilers.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #215-218
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Shadowcat and Nightcrawler leave the X-Men in UXM215. UXM218 seems to end on a cliffhanger, but it’s not picked up directly by UXM219, so it’s fine to save that for later (some time elapses).
New Mutants (1983) #51, Annual 3, 52
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
Fallen Angels (1987) #1-8 + Power Pack (1984) #33
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
This series features the misadventures of supporting characters from New Mutants. Boom Boom, who appears towards the end of this series, first appears in Secret Wars #5 and X-Factor #11-17. Some of this action begins during the run of X-Factor, above, as that explains how Boom Boom joins this cast. However, that would necessitate reading the New Mutants issues earlier, and it’s not worth breaking up the X-Factor run for that. Power Pack is an epilogue to this spin-off story (also written by Louise Simonson).
X-Factor (1986) #17-18 can fit here, but I’m saving them for the next era.
Marvel Super-Heroes (1990) #1 (6th story)
Magneto and Magik appear in a story prior to New Mutants #53 (even though this issue was published several years later, in 1990!).
New Mutants (1983) #53-54
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
Marvel Fanfare (1982) #38 (2nd story) & Strange Tales (1987) #9
Rogue and Dazzler appear in Fanfare #38 prior to UXM219. Dazzler is then in the Cloak & Dagger half of Strange Tales prior to UXM219.
Uncanny X-Men (1981) #219
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Spider-Man Vs. Wolverine (1987)
See Wolverine for collection information
Wolverine subsequently appears in Web of Spider-Man #29 prior to FF v. X-Men.
Fantastic Four vs. X-Men (1987) #1-4 + X-Men vs. Avengers (1987) #1-4
Chris Claremont writes the FF series; Roger Stern the Avengers (with Marc Silvestri on art!). They are both effectively shoe-horned to fit in here back to back, because it’s the last moment where the team is relatively stable prior to Fall of the Mutants.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) Annual 11
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
The Claremont/Davis Captain Britain story in the Annual is a sort of audition for their impending creation of Excalibur.
The Fall of the Mutants
This period is not a crossover or event in the way we now understand the idea. Its much closer to a thematic era, like Dark Reign or Marvel Legacy, where all three X-titles featured similar themes of the teams breaking down.
At the time, only three issues of each book carried the “Fall of the Mutants” cover banner, with a number of tie-ins (Uncanny X-Men #225-227, New Mutants (1983) #59-61, & X-Factor #24-26). However, we now tend to think of the scope of the event as beginning earlier due to how Marvel has collected it – starting from Uncanny X-Men #220, New Mutants #55, and X-Factor #18.
Really each book forms its own complete narrative, and it’s best to read them in big chunks rather than try to shuffle them based on sparse clues of intermingled continuity. Uncanny X-Men provides the definitive end of the era, with the team seemingly dead in the eyes of the public, while X-Factor #26 puts a slightly more optimistic epilogue on things.
X-Factor (1986) #17-18, Annual 2, & 19-20
+ Incredible Hulk (1968) #336-337
+ X-Factor (1986) #21-25 and Power Pack (1984) #35
See X-Factor for collection information
The events of issue #17 place this run somewhat earlier in continuity (roughly, parallel to Fallen Angels #3), but it continues directly into #18 and is the beginning of a massive and operatic arc of X-Factor. To enjoy it in a longer chunk we can read all of this here. Issue #25 ends with a clean break, which allows us to read #26 and other supporting issues as an epilogue to the “Fall of the Mutants” era. This makes some oblique references to some of the events in the following UXM issues, but they don’t spoil them and this needs to have happened prior to New Mutants #61.
New Mutants (1983) #55-61
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
Issue #56 is after UXM219, #58 is before UXM225, and #60 is after X-Factor #23 per Cameron Hodge. You can read issue #61 here, though it really fits into continuity below between UXM225-226 and will spoil the cliffhanger in #225 if you read it here.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #220
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
This one-shot Storm story sets up part of the crisis the X-Men will encounter in Fall of the Mutants, but there are a few more stories between here and the rest of the arc.
Daredevil (1964) #248-249
See Wolverine or Daredevil for collection information
Wolverine is here prior to his appearance in Alpha Flight.
Alpha Flight (1983) #48-51, Annual 2, & 53-54
See Alpha Flight for collection information
Issues #52-53 are between UXM220-221 for Wolverine.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #221-224, Incredible Hulk (1968) #340, & Uncanny X-Men #225-227
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
You can interrupt this read to place New Mutants (1983) #61 between UXM225-226
New Mutants (1983) #62, (Optional: Spellbound (1988) #4), & New Mutants #63-66
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
X-Factor in Daredevil (1964) #252, Captain America (1968) #339, & X-Factor (1986) #26
See X-Factor for collection information
The X-Men Down Under
This era is marked by most of the world assuming the X-Men are dead, including their former students and teammates.
Alpha Flight (1983) #54-60
See Alpha Flight for collection information
This run wraps up the same month as UXM231.
The brief X-Men feature in Marvel Age Annual 4 and Rachel’s appearance in X-Factor Annual 3 forces Excalibur: Special Edition (1988) to fit here, but there’s really no reason to read it this far ahead of Excalibur #1, below.
X-Factor in Fantastic Four (1961) #312
+ X-Factor (1986) #27-29
+ Mutant Misadventures Of Cloak And Dagger (1988) #1-2
See X-Factor for collection information
While it feels like X-Factor #30 picks up directly from issue #29, there are actually several stops between the two for a few of the characters.
Some orders have X-Factor Annual 3 here as one of the earliest chapters of the Evolutionary War crossover. You should read it here if you don’t plan on reading all of Evolutionary War sequentially. If you want to read the whole thing, save it for below.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #228-231
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
UXM #228 is largely a flashback issue that actually falls between #218-219.
Some orders have Power Pack #40 and New Mutants Annual 4 here as one of the earliest chapters of the Evolutionary War crossover. You should read it here if you don’t plan on reading all of Evolutionary War sequentially. If you want to read the whole thing, save it for below.
Wolverine in Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #1-10
See Wolverine for collection information
This occurs after UXM #231. Technically, Wolverine #58 falls between #5-6, but it can also be read later in sequence.
Wolverine (1988) #1-3
See Wolverine for collection information
Wolverine goes from his run of MCP stories directly into his own series.
Wolverine: Doombringer (1997)
See Wolverine for collection information
Though written and released almost a decade later, this OGN fits here after Wolverine #1-3 and prior to the Brood story in UXM232-234.
Marvel Age (1983) Annual 4
This is a five page continuity-lite Wolverine story, mostly useful for establishing the placement of other stories in the period.
X-Factor (1986) #30-32
See X-Factor for collection information
Technically, issue #33 is before UXM234, per Trish Tilby – but, this makes for a clean break prior to the run-up to Inferno in #30-34.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #232-234
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
The X-Men have a one-night brawl with the Brood on Earth
Evolutionary War:
+ X-Factor (1986) Annual 3
+ (Optional: Power Pack #40) & New Mutants (1983) Annual 4
+ Uncanny X-Men (1963) Annual 12
See Marvel Universe Events for collection information
The story of Evolutionary War doesn’t unfold all at once, which means it intersects with about four months worth of Marvel continuity over its full length. However, in terms of a unified X-Men read there’s no particular benefit to reading the annuals earlier – it’s down to your preference. The full running order of this story is X-Factor Annual 3, Punisher Annual 1, Silver Surfer Annual 1, New Mutants Annual 4, Fantastic Four Annual 21, Amazing Spider-Man Annual 22, Uncanny X-Men Annual 12, Web of Spider-Man Annual 4, West Coast Avengers Annual 3, Spectacular Spider-Man Annual 8, and Avengers Annual 17.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #235-238
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
This story introduces Genosha, returning Claremont’s focus to a more macro theme of discrimination and setting up X-Tinction Agenda in the next era.
Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #16 (3rd story)
A one-shot Ann Nocenti Longshot story in the Outback just prior to Inferno.
Alpha Flight (1983) #61-70
See Alpha Flight for collection information
An X-Men cameo in issue #61 helps us place it directly after UXM231, but there’s no other reason we need to read these issues earlier. This wraps up the same month Inferno ends, though Alpha Flight did not participate in that story (by virtue of not being in New York).
Marvel Comics Presents #10-17
Collected in Colossus: God’s Country
When: This story occurs prior to Inferno.
New Mutants (1983) #67-70
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
You can read Annual 4 (2nd story) prior to this run. Issue #70 is after UXM236. It ends with an abrupt cliffhanger that leads directly into the next issue, which kicks off the “Inferno” period of X-Men. However, due to the odd way that time passes in Limbo, that also makes the next issue one of the later Inferno stories, despite happening immediately after this one.
Excalibur (1988) Special Edition (AKA “The Sword is Drawn”) & #1-5
See Excalibur for collection information
While the Sword is Drawn origin of Excalibur occurs around the time of UXM #230, it can be read here with this initial sequence of pre-Inferno issues of Excalibur. There is one slight Inferno reference in #4-5 that place them after UXM241, but it’s a vague hint rather than a specific spoiler.
Inferno
Inferno is a story about the X-Men fighting literal demons over the potential sacrifice of several babies in order to turn New York City into a permanent hell on Earth. That might seem a little silly and off-brand for the X-Men, but if you dig a little deeper into the plot of Inferno you’ll find that it’s the culmination of many long-running plot threads stretching back to the prior era.
It includes the resolution of Illyana’s powers over Limbo (from Uncanny #160), Madelyne Pryor’s storyarc (starting from Uncanny #168), Jean Grey being reunited with the X-Men (after being revived early in this era), learning the true motivations of the Mauraders (from Mutant Massacre) and Mr. Sinister’s strange connection with the Summers family (which Claremont had teased virtually forever), and X-Factor learning the X-Men aren’t dead (from Uncanny #227).
Inferno was also Marvel’s first line-wide crossover event where there was no central event series – a recipe they’d soon repeat for Acts of Vengeance. However, outside of the X-Men titles, there’s little X-story to follow in the other tie-ins – they’re just dealing with generic demons in NYC.
For the full range of Marvel titles participating in Inferno, see Marvel Universe Events for collection information.
Inferno Prologue, Part 1:
X-Factor (1986) #33-35
See X-Factor or Marvel Universe Events for collection information
This arc is effectively an Inferno prelude, maneuvering the plot to intersect with Uncanny X-Men as Archangel confronts Nanny. X-Factor #35 is definitely after UXM239 (thanks to a nominal scene of Sinister coveting baby Nathan Summers in UXM239), but it forms a complete story with the prior issues so I think it’s best read without a break.
Optional: Read X-Terminators #1 between X-Factor #33-34 and UXM239 between X-Factor #34-35. Both are covered directly below.
Inferno Prologue, Part 2:
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #239-240 & X-Factor (1986) #36
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont, X-Factor, or Marvel Universe Events for collection information
From there, we switch to the rapid unravelling of the X-Men team as Mr. Sinister finally makes himself known, adding an additional chapter of X-Factor to bring us to the edge of the direct crossover between the two books.
Inferno, Part 1:
X-Terminators (1988) #1-3 (Optional: Power Pack #42) & X-Terminators #4
See Marvel Universe Events for collection information
The Power Pack issue is optional. The cast of X-Factor appears in X-Terminators #1 between issues #33-34. N’astirh appears in portions of issue #1-2 prior to his appearances in UXM239 and New Mutants #71. Issue #3 visually references New Mutants #71, but the issue is fundamentally unspoilable since it mostly just does exactly what was promised in the cliffhanger of New Mutants #70. And, finally, issue #4 explicitly ends prior to New Mutants #72-73 (and, by extension, after only the first few chapter of Inferno).
If you want to get really granular, you can read UXM241 here.
Inferno, Part 2:
New Mutants (1983) #71-73
See New & Young X-Men or Marvel Universe Events for collection information
Issue #71 begins with the team in Limbo (via Magik’s teleportation gone wrong, as she predicted last issue) and ends with N’astirh having already completely transformed New York into a hellscape – which places it between UXM241 and X-Factor #37. However, this entire chapter of the story wraps up in time for UXM242, which leaves us with four more issues of story yet to read! If you’re really a stickler for spoilers for any issue of Uncanny, just swap this with the next block of issues.
Inferno, Intermission:
Excalibur #6-7
See Excalibur or Marvel Universe Events for collection information
Excalibur’s participation in Inferno occurs after X-Terminators between UXM241 and X-Factor #37. You could make the argument of reading it directly after New Mutants. However, this story is tertiary to Inferno as a tie-in and can be read after the main event.
Inferno, Part 3:
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #241-243 and X-Factor #37-39
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont, X-Factor, or Marvel Universe Events for collection information
This is really the “main event” of the Inferno story. Read this in alternating issues beginning with Uncanny as Uncanny X-Men (1963) #241, X-Factor (1986) #37, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #242, X-Factor (1986) #38, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #243, X-Factor (1986) #39
Inferno, Epilogue:
[The Mutant Misadventures of] Cloak and Dagger (1990) #4 + Power Pack (1984) #44
See Cloak and Dagger and Power Pack for collection information
This is an epilogue to Inferno, and comes after the final action for New Mutants. The team appears more significantly in Cloak & Dagger than in Power Pack, which is more of a cameo.
Era #3: New Mutants X-Men Reading Order Guide Era #5: X-Tinction
I might be missing something here, but I’m pretty sure that X-Factor #1 (maybe Fantastic Four #286, I forget exactly which) happens before X-Men #202/203 when Rachel Summers goes and puts her image in the holempathic crystal. When Jean Grey goes to her parents house, they find (I believe Mr. Fantastic finds it) the crystal and it only has Jean’s image in it. By the time Rachel is done with it, the impression I have is that Rachel’s image has been added to the crystal and therefore it would be in the crystal when Jean and company show up in XF #1. I’m now realizing I’m rambling and should probably get some sleep.
I find the placement of the Return of Jean Grey relative to Uncanny to be hard to peg. In this round of research, I’m almost positive I’ve narrowed it down to the return issues occurring slightly before SWII #7 and the beginning of X-Factor #1 happening during that issue, which means it’s right on the edge of Jean beating Rachel to the Grey’s house in UXM #202.
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These smaller details are good hints at definitive continuity order, but are not my chief concern in this guide. That said, I hope you’ll note that as I make my 2018 revision pass to the guide the continuity is getting *MUCH* more specific than in the prior version – reflecting that there are many more collection formats to read in now, including digital.
Also, I’m pretty sure that X-Men v FF starts before UXM 217 given the editor’s note on page 2 of the latter
This has puzzled me for a while now. Every Marvel source I can find has the placement after UXM #219, which makes sense since that’s where Havok truly rejoins the team. I think the editorial note in UXM #217 simply references his later participation in the mini, as we see when Longshot pulls him out of the water in XMvFF #1.
Marvel Fanfare #40 takes place after Mephisto Vs The X-Factor (or more specifically, during). In Mephisto Vs, Mephisto heals Angel’s wings as part of his attempt to get Jean’s soul. Then, when the team attacks him, he hits Angel, sending him flying away from the battle and into Marvel Fanfare #40 (there’s even an editor’s note for this). Then at the end of that interlude, Mephisto takes away his gift of healing Angel, putting him back on death’s door.
Admittedly, the Mephisto issue does a better job of integrating Fanfare than the reverse (which doesn’t ever really place itself in continuity at all).
(Note: I just read these. I have not been holding on to this information for the past 30 years or anything).
This is some hard-core continuity work, dude. <3
I noticed you listed Cloak and Dagger mutant Misadventures 1 + 2. Are you going to recommend reading more later on or is that really will I need to read?
I wouldnt even read those! It’s a pretty superficial apearance by x-factor and the c&d story is just goofy!
I think I just spotted and error. Excalibur #8, X-Factor #40, and New Murants #74 all seem to have been lost in the transition between eras.
Actually Excalibur #8-11 and X-Factor #40.
New Mutants #74 is in the detail list, but not in the “ongoing” summary.
Reading through using this guide right now and I would DEFINITELY, not optionally, put X-terminators earlier. There’s stuff that’s confusing and doesn’t feel like it makes sense with N’astirh when read in the order as currently presented, meanwhile when I’ve arrived at the official placing of X-terminators I feel like I’m suddenly taking multiple steps back in the story.
Hey, dude. You should switch the placements for Uncanny X-Men 203 and Power Pack 20+ New Mutants 37. The New Mutants issue definitely takes place before Uncanny 203 and Kitty Pryde even references the events from 37 in 203. Also, that’s the way it’s set up in the little blurb at the end of Secret Wars 8, and that’s the order in the Secret Wars II omnibus.
+1 to this
Yeah, and NM 36 should be before UXM 202, because Kitty and Magneto are in San Francisco in 202 and 203, but at the mansion in 36.
I got confused by some stuff happening on Uncanny X-Men on the “X-Factor” section (it’s not exactly a problem with the reading order, I find the whole Spiral plot pretty confusing, and after SWII there are a couple single issues that jump around a bit making it seem like I’m missing some issues that don’t exist). If anyone else feels that way, I think these helped me:
AF33-34 are pretty significant (IMHO) for Wolverine’s backstory, giving both a more detailed flashback of how the Hudson’s found him (confirming he was berserk because of the adamantium implants), and introducing Lady Deathstrike and her relationship with him, making UX205 a bit less confusing to me, so I recommend checking those two issues out before 205 even if you’re not reading Alpha Flight.
The appearances of Spiral still seem confusing to me in any order (does UX199-209 all happen between Longshot 1 and 6?), but I’d like to propose a slight move so it’s easier to understand her(/the Freedom Force) timeline that I think can help the reading flow as a whole:
If we were doing XF/UX chronologically, as the guide says we’d have to alternate a lot more (and start XF earlier), which breaks the reading pacing. Given the idea of this guide around what reads better and keeping full stories together, my suggestion is moving UX205-206 to right before X-Factor 1-8 (note that UX206 definitely happens after XF1-2, but IMHO this works pretty well as a flashback):
As mentioned in the guide, the start of X-Factor happens even earlier, but in 206 the X-Men receive a delayed postcard (with an “ancient postmark”) from Scott and Maddy, and we mysteriously see a short scene of Maddy being admitted in a hospital in SF with gunshot wounds (AFAICT from her list of appearances, it will take a long time for this plot point to be picked up again, so the mystery is raised slightly without a satisfying followup for a while).
Though this is technically a spoiler that something happens to Maddy (and Scott, since they’re not together), to me, this feels like a good entrypoint for a flashback of what Scott has been doing since, and a hint that something bad happened/will happen to Maddy, bringing an extra weight to her appearance in XF1 and her absence from XF2 onwards.
As a bonus, there is a unspecified time gap between 206 and 207 (in which the X-Men return from SF to NY), with 207-209 then happening back to back in a short period of time. With this change, the hook back from XF8 to UX is again a more direct flashback, as we go from the mystery of what was going on in Central Park when X-Factor was fighting Freedom Force (and where Spiral went) directly into the arc it relates to (instead of it being an extensive flashback where we see the FF/Spiral in a previous adventure in SF).
Marvel Fanfare 55 fits in this era as well, between New Mutants 66 and 67. Cheers
In regards to Marvel Fanfare #33, the reason it is not an issue of Uncanny is that it is actually issue #4 of a series called “Questprobe”. Questprobe was meant to be a 12 issue mini-series with each issue focusing on different heroes (Questprobe #1 had the Hulk). But the series was cancelled after issue #3, and issue #4 became Marvel Fanfare $3..