Stories occurring between Uncanny X-Men #281 & X-Men, Vol. 2 #1 in October 1991 and Uncanny X-Men #307 in December 1993. A part of Crushing Krisis’s Collecting X-Men: A Definitive Guide. Last updated January 2013. 
Ongoing X-related titles in this era:
- Uncanny X-Men #281-307
- Alpha Flight #101-127 (ends)
- X-Factor #71-97
- Excalibur #42-71
- Wolverine, Vol. 2 #48-75
- Marvel Comics Presents (features Wolverine) #85-142
- X-Force #1-28
- X-Men, Vol. 2 #1-26
- Cable #1-5
- X-Men Unlimited #1-2
Notes:
- This era includes the events X-Cutioner’s Song and Fatal Attractions.
Excalibur #42-50
Collected in Excalibur Visionaries: Alan Davis, Vol. 1
When: This can also be paired with Vol. 2, as the team has only one point of interaction with the main X-Men line in this edition.
Marvel Comics Presents #85-92
Not collected
When: This features the men of X-Factor plus Professor X and Colossus after Muir Island resolves. It occurs prior to XMv2 #1 and the X-Factor cast changeover in XF #71.
X-Factor #71-75
Collected in Peter David Visionaries, Vol. 1
When: Ends prior to XMv2 #1. If you have that issue as part of the Claremont/Lee Omnibus, shelf this directly after – as it follows Muir Island, collected within.
X-Men, Vol. 2 #1-3
See X-Men, Vol. 2 for reading options.
When: This marquee story features the full assembly of X-Men, which means it must be read as an excerpt from whatever volume you own it in because hardly any of the characters move right on to appear in #4 – and a lot of other stuff happens before then!
Marvel Comics Presents #86-92
“Blood Hungry” – See Wolverine for reading options
Marvel Comics Presents: #93-98
“Wild Frontier” – See Wolverine for reading options
Marvel Comics Presents: #99-100
Two standalone stories. See Wolverine for reading options
Marvel Comics Presents #90-97
Collected in Cable & Ghost Rider: Servants of the Dead
When: Based on Wolverine’s chronology of this same period in MCP, it is likely that this should be read prior to the HoD OGN, directly below.
Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher: Hearts of Darkness OGN
Wolverine #48-50
See Wolverine for reading options
When: Typically I wouldn’t suggest reading such a small slice of issues on its own, but Wolverine’s solo title in this period relates closely to the main X-books.
X-Men #4-7
See X-Men, Vol. 2 for reading options
When: The introduction of Omega Red!
Uncanny X-Men #281-287
See Uncanny X-Men for reading options
When: These issues occur during XMv2 #5-7.
Marvel Comics Presents #101-108
See Wolverine for reading options
When: Wolverine/Nightcrawler: Male Bonding is Wolverine’s next appearance after the Omega Red story in XMv2.
Wolverine #51-65
See Wolverine for reading options
X-Factor #76-78
See X-Factor for reading options
X-Force #5-15
See X-Force for reading options
X-Men #8-9 & Ghost Rider #26-27
See X-Men, Vol. 2 for reading options
When: I suggest saving this to read with X-Men #10-11, below, as that brief two-issue story will otherwise be orphaned.
Marvel Comics Presents #109-116
See Wolverine fore reading options
When: “Typhoid’s Kiss” occurs after the Ghost Rider crossover in X-Men, Vol. 2
Captain America #402-407
Collected in Captain America: Man & Wolf
When: Co-starring Wolverine
Wolverine: Evilution OGN
X-Men: Shattershot
Occurs in UXM, XF, XF, and XMv2 1992 annuals; see Uncanny X-Men for reading options
X-Men #10-11
See X-Men, Vol. 2 for reading options
When: While I am loathe to split hairs down to a single pair of issues, this should be read after the Shattershot. It is Wolverine’s next chronological appearance.
Alpha Flight #101-109
Not collected Excalibur #51-52 and Uncanny X-Men #288-289 belong here, but I suggest reading them in a slightly out-of-chronology order, below.
Infinity War
See Marvel Events: Infinity War
Alpha Flight #110-120
Not collected
When: #110-112 tie in to Infinity War and feature core X-Men characters, including Wolverine.
X-Factor #78-83
Collected in Peter David Visionaries, Vol. 3
When: Ends prior to X-Cutioner’s Song
Hell’s Angel #1-5
Not collected
When: This is Wolverine’s first chronological appearance after the end of Infinity War – yes, prior to XMv2 #12-13. Similarly, for characters in UXM this is their first appearance after Infinity War, falling prior to #290.
Codename: Genetix #1-4
Not collected
When: Placed per Wolverine’s appearance
Death’s Head II #1-4
Not collected
When: Placed per Wolverine’s appearance
Uncanny X-Men #288-293 & X-Men #12-13
See Uncanny X-Men for reading options
When: UXM #288-289 occurs prior to Infinity War and Alpha Flight #111, but that’s only because they leave a reasonable gap for those stories to occur – not for significant story reasons. It’s simpler to read them here, then read UXM #290-293, and finally, read X-Men #12-13 – even though it comes after the following MCP arc.
Marvel Comics Presents #117-122
See Wolverine for reading options
When: Wolverine/Venom “Claws and Webs”, along with Professor X – who appears here directly after UXM #293 but before XMv2 #12-13. X-Men, Vol. #12-13 belong here.
Excalibur #51-58
Collected in Excalibur Visionaries: Alan Davis, Vol. 2
When: #52 is Professor X’s first appearance after Shattershot – even before UXM #288. #57-58 occur directly after X-Men #13. This run ends prior to X-Cutioner’s Song.
Dark Angel #9-10 + Mys-tech Wars #1-4 + Dark Angel #11-12
Not collected
When: These are Wolverine’s next sequential appearances after Excalibur #58. It also includes some of the cast of UXM between #293-294.
X-Cutioner’s Song
See Uncanny X-Men for reading options
When: Occurs in Uncanny X-Men #294-296, X-Factor #84-86, X-Force #16-18, and X-Men #14-16. UXM #297 is an epilogue issue.
Ed Note: The period after #297 represents a significant gap for guest appearances in other titles, followed by an intensely packed series of events from #298 to the end of this era. As a result, the continuity from here to the end of this era includes many cross-references. I tried to err on the side of simplicity of reading when possible, noting how I slightly skewed continuity to get there.
Secret Defenders #1-3
Not collected
When: It is not essential to read Wolverine’s appearance in the first three issues of this rotating cast book centered on Dr. Strange, but this is where they occur.
Spectacular Spider-Man #197-199
Battle-Tide #1-4
Wolverine #66-68 belong here, but are referenced below.
X-Factor #87-89
See X-Factor for reading options
Excalibur #59-67
Collected in Excalibur Visionaries: Alan Davis, Vol. 3
Excalibur #68-70 X-Men #17-19
When: Wolverine’s next chronological appearance after WolV2 #68.
Wolverine: Inner Fury OGN
When: Wolverine’s next chronological appearance after XMv2 #19
Infinity Crusade
When: Occurs in the midst of the build-up to Fatal Attractions, but generally fits best for X-characters after UXM #297.
Alpha Flight #121-130
Not collected
When: #121 includes Wolverine directly after W:IF, above. #122-124 tie in to Infinity Crusade, which also features Wolverine. Archangel appears in #224 sometime after UXM #297. Wolverine next appears in Uncanny in #299.
Cable, Vol. 2 #1-4
Collected in Cable Classic, Vol. 1
When: Occurs around UXM #300.
Deadpool #1-4
See Deadpool for reading options
When: Deadpool’s first limited series!
Uncanny X-Men #298-300 & Annual 17
See Uncanny X-Men for reading options
When: Again, the appearances in this period are so tightly-packed that it is necessary to read UXM in smaller chunks than it appears in collections. There are gaps between each of these issues that allow for other appearances, but they can be read together here.
Nomad #16 + Moon Knight #50-53
When: Gambit appears here after UXM #298 but before X-Men #20.
Marvel Comics Presents #123-131
See Wolverine for reading options
When: Wolverine’s first appearance after UXM #300, though it is prior to Annual 17
Marvel Comics Presents #132-136
See Wolverine for reading options
When: This occurs after Annual #17.
Wolverine #66-74
When: This group of issues is intersected repeatedly with other stories. Ultimately, it is more satisfying to read them consecutively here. Issues #66-68 occur prior to Inner Fury above and UXM #300. #69-71 occur prior to the previous MCP story and XMv2 #23. Jubilee’s appearance in UXM #303 occurs prior to #72.
Wolverine: Killing OGN
X-Men #21-24 & Annual 2
When: This sequence straddles several of the prior stories, but reading one issue at a time is no fun! Annual 2 falls chronologically after X-Men #25.
Wolverine/Nick Fury: Scorpio Rising OGN
Marvel Comics Presents #137-142
See Wolverine for reading options
When: This occurs in the midst of Fatal Attractions, but it is before XMv2 #25, so you should read it prior to the FA sequence.
Marvel Comics Presents #150-151
See Wolverine for reading options
When: Two standalone Wolverine stories
Sabretooth #1-4
Collected in ?
When: Wolverine appears here prior to UXM #304.
Fatal Attractions
X-Factor #87-92 & 93 When: #93 precedes UXM #304 – unfortunately, it is not collected alongside these issues.
Uncanny X-Men #301-306 When: #305-306 precedes XMv2 #25 – unfortunately, #306 it is not collected alongside these issues.
X-Force #19-25 See X-Force for reading options When: These issues cross a lot of the action in UXM leading up to Fatal Attractions. Specifically, UXM #303 occurs between #22-23.
X-Men Unlimited 1-2
Gambit #1-4 When: Really occurs between UXM #304 and X-Men #25.
X-Force 25; X-Men 25; Wolverine 75; & Excalibur 71 When: XMv2 Annual 2 falls between Wolverine #75 and Excalibur #71 – unfortunately, it is not collected alongside those issues.
Die-Cut #1-2 Placed per Beast’s appearance. Spider-Man: The Mutant Agenda #1-3 Collected in trade paperback X-Men/Avengers: Blood Ties Occurs in Uncanny X-Men #307 & X-Men #26; see Uncanny X-Men for reading options
Era #5: X-Tinction X-Men Reading Order Guide Era #7: Onslaught
Hi,
My first time to the website. Fantastic work. i’m going thru my collection and beginning to order them as per your Era lists.
can you please clarify the following noted in Era 6? you wrote
“X-Men: Shattershot
Occurs in UXM, XF, XF, and XMv2 1992 annuals; see Uncanny X-Men for reading options”
i’m assuming this story is covered over the three titles (UXM, XF, XF) and the annual, but in which order? Sorry maybe i’m not understanding this correctly?
I had a look at your last two UXM entries (pre Shattershot line entry #281-287 and post #288-293) but there are no connections to the Shattershot storyline in those issues.
appreciate your help.
thanks
Dave
nevermind i worked it out. cheers
Where does X-Men 17-20 fit in? You have X-Cutioner’s song and then X-Men 21-24 later on, unless I’m missing it. Thanks for your work on this. Very helpful!
X-force 1-4 is missing (along with the spiderman issue) as well as cable 1st series after X-force 15 but before xcutioner song
+1
I just found an old copy of Marvel Comics Presents #174 which is set directly before Excalibur #42.
X-Factor has an appearance in Incredible Hulk #390-392 next before continuing into X-Factor #76
Hey love the work you’ve done on this!
You’re missing Incredible Hulk 391 and 392. 391 occurs before X-Factor 76 and 392 occurs right after it.
Not seeing x force annual 2 here. This is where Adam x is introduced before his return in X force 30 in the next era. Not sure where it falls other than that.
Because this was originally collection-based, that story wasn’t tracked since it wasn’t widely collected. That will get addressed in my rebuild of this era, which should be in the next few months.
Are you still planning to update this era soon? Trying to decide if I should wait for an update or just keep going. Also, what is the specific story in Marvel Comics Presents #85-92 you reference at the beginning of this era? The description doesn’t seem to match the Wolverine story and you already listed Just Friends with Beast last era. Thanks!
I just finished my notes on it last night, finally!
Hi, first I want to say I love your reading order. It really helped me get through Claremont’s era. In a few weeks I will finish X-Tinction Agenda Era and I was wondering if your update to this era is still happening and when. Cause I don’t know if I should wait or just go with the current order. Anyway thanks in advance.
Yes! Also impatiently waiting for the update lol
Your impatient waiting is greatly appreciated!
does Deadpool 1-4 refer to The Circle Chase or Sins of the Past? both came out around this time if i’m not mistaken
I just rad Excalibur 68-70 and they take place after Illyana initially falls ill.
Where should I put X-Force #1-3
While I don’t think this is a PERFECT placement, I say you should read them directly after X-Men #1-3.
Excalibur XX Crossing doesn’t really have ramifications, but happens soon after Excalibur 50 (I’d read it right before 51)
https://www.crushingkrisis.com/crushing-comics-guide-collecting-marvel-comic-books/x-men-reading-order-guide/x-men-reading-order-guide-era-06/
Ordering around Fatal attractions seems pretty weird (and I’m seeing similar issues in all x-men reading orders I found..). Looking at the edit date, from this section on things seem to be more out of date right?
If you’re updating this, my gatherings so far (I’m still reading it, though)
– The weird format of Fatal attractions seems to be the main culprit of making all orders I found bad, as Uncanny X-Men leads up to it (and is often included as a prelude), but each series has its crossover with it in a different month. (i.e. each series has a single chapter that is in Fatal Attractions, from XFa92 to Ex71, but XFa93-95 were published before Ex71, while Ex72-74 were published after XFa92). One possible way around it would be breaking up the Fatal attractions issues, but so far I still think it seems reasonable to try to keep it continuous, as long as the prologue issues are moved up (see below)
– One of the main things bothering me with the guide as it is, is that a lot of issues earlier in the order leading to Fatal Attractions (particularly X-Men 24) have characters reacting to Illyana’s death in UX303 (more generally, the whole plot of the legacy virus reads weirdly in this order)
– X-Fo19-24 also seems a bit weird (though I haven’t reached it yet), as things from it were mentioned by Cable 1-4 and Deadpool 1-4
My suggestion (focusing on the X-Men side) is
– W66-68 Happens right before X-Men go to russia
– X17-19 X-Men arrive late because of W68. Illyana’s parents die and she comes to the US (not seeming sick so far). Also, Revanche starts appearing in the b story
(X20 is a transition issue, establishes Illyana is sick after her return to the US and I believe technically happens here, but to keep the spirit of this reading order I keep it below as it leads directly to X21)
– UX298-300 Acolytes, setting the plot for fatal attractions, and indicating Magneto is alive. Epilogue in 300 reveals legacy virus is a thing and implies it might be the cause of Illyana’s sickness. Would read better after X20 IMO, but seems fine after X19
– W69-71 Wolverine Rogue and Gambit go to the Savage Land in a hunch to see if Magneto might be there after what happened in UX298-300 (his name is not explicitly said here, but their goal is heavily implied, and confirmed in X21-23 below)
– X20 is a transition between 17-19 and 21-23 and can fit with either. As the plot continues directly to X21, think it fits better here
– X21-23 Revanche arrives, with Mr Sinister in the b-plot explaining the origin of the Legacy virus (so this works better after 300, when we first heard about it)
– W72-74 No strong placement, could also fit later, but given Jubilee carefree attitude probably reads better before UX303. An alternative would be grouping with Sabretooth to keep a longer Wolverine-related stride. Wolverine and Jubilee investigate the australian outback base and Jubilee learns about/gets revenge on her parents’ killer- UX Annual 17 could be read fine with 300 above, but I think fits best here because:
– UX301-303 continues directly from the annual (Colossus injured) and leads to Illyana’s death. Mystique and Forge reappear
– X24 reaction to Illyana’s death, and explicitly subtitled as prelude for 304. Since Fatal attractions prevents us from reading directly fits here.
– Sabretooth 1-4 has Mystique and Wolverine and seems to happen after UX301-303 (Mystique having a bit of an identity crisis, introduced in 301 and sabretooth thinking she was with the x-men – possibly something that was shown in the news from 301-303). Also reveals Graydon Creed origin, who has been appearing in UX arcs above. Wolverine seems to be pre-fatal attractions
– Fatal Attractions
– X-Men Annual 2 seems to reference Magneto saying something about the virus, that I’m guessing happens during FA
Wolverine and Sabretooth arcs can pretty much be grouped and read as flashbacks if you really want to keep continuous chunks of each series as large as possible, but alternating between X-Men and Uncanny in this order seems like a much better experience to me.
I haven’t caught up with X-Factor and X-Force, but imagine they probably exist relatively unnaffected/in parallel with the x-men.
From the Cable series references though, it probably makes sense to interleave the post-x-cutioner song X-force with the initial Cable solo issues. (Just like X-Men, Uncanny X-Men and Wolverine form a cluster of stories here, I feel the same applies to X-Force, Cable and Deadpool)
Wow, thanks so much for sharing this, Cesar! this is EXACTLY where I am in re-checking my ordering right now.
Hey there, been using this guide for years, thanks so much! One suggestion for this era – and one I came upon quite by accident – is to place Cable: Blood and Metal 1&2 immediately before X-Cutioner’s Song. I read it incidentally right before X-CS just because it was left unread at the end of the X-Force omnibus and I must’ve missed your placement of it prior to UXM 294. I read it, then started the XCS hardcover, and lo and behold, the recap directly alludes to Cable B&M right before the first issue. I think it made for great kick-off material and put Cable and Stryfe right into frame. Just my two cents, thanks!
Thanks for the suggestion, Gabe! I’m actually DEEP into the revisions to this guide (and not too far ahead of you in my reading order), so I hope you’ll see them soon.
You appear to have left “X-Force” #1-3 out of the mix; then, “Spider-Man” (1991) #16 follows directly on from “X-Force” #3.
i really am enjoying the list/s you’ve created here – makes things SO MUCH easier!! Thanks heaps!
Based on your notes throughout this list for this era, the comments left by others here, & stuff from inside the issues themselves, i’ve made this updated list (it DOES ignore the “need” to not split up individual issues, tho – prioritising chronology as much as possible over everything else).
With the “Cable” entry in this list, you put it as “Cable, Vol. 2 #1-4,” but i’m sure you mean “Vol. 1,” right? The Marvel website lists Volume 2 as being the series from 2008 that start with the story titled ‘War Baby.’
The list as i’ve made it:
Excalibur #42-50
Marvel Comics Presents #85-92
X-Factor #71-75
X-Men, Vol. 2 #1-3
X-Force #1-3
Spider-Man #16
X-Force #4
Marvel Comics Presents #86-92
Marvel Comics Presents: #93-98
Marvel Comics Presents: #99-100
Marvel Comics Presents #90-97 (Collected in Cable & Ghost Rider: Servants of the Dead)
Ghost Rider/Wolverine/Punisher: Hearts of Darkness OGN
Wolverine #48-50
X-Men #4-7
Uncanny X-Men #281-287
Marvel Comics Presents #101-108
Wolverine #51-65
Incredible Hulk #390-391
X-Factor #76
Incredible Hulk #392
X-Factor #77-78
X-Force #5-15
X-Men #8-9
Ghost Rider #26-27
Marvel Comics Presents #109-116
Captain America #402-407
Wolverine: Evilution OGN
X-Men: Shattershot
X-Men #10-11
Alpha Flight #101-109
Excalibur #51-56
Uncanny X-Men #288-289
[Infinity War]
Alpha Flight #110-120
X-Factor #78-83
Hell’s Angel #1-5
Codename: Genetix #1-4
Death’s Head II #1-4
Uncanny X-Men #290-293
Marvel Comics Presents #117-122
X-Men #12-13
Excalibur #57-58
Dark Angel #9-10 + Mys-tech Wars #1-4 + Dark Angel #11-12
X-Cutioner’s Song:
-Uncanny X-Men #294-296
-X-Factor #84-86
-X-Force #16-18
-X-Men #14-16
-Uncanny X-Men #297
Spectacular Spider-Man #197-199
Battle-Tide #1-4
Wolverine #66-68
X-Factor #87-89
Excalibur #59-70
X-Men #17-19
Wolverine: Inner Fury OGN
Alpha Flight #121
Uncanny X-Men #298-300
Uncanny X-Men Ann. #17
[Infinity Crusade]
Alpha Flight #122-130
Marvel Comics Presents #132-136
Wolverine #69-71
X-Men #20-23
Wolverine #72-74
Uncanny X-Men #301-303
X-Men #24
Cable vol 1, 1-4
Deadpool 1-4
Sabretooth 1-4
Fatal Attractions:
X-Factor #87-92
Uncanny X-Men #304
X-Factor #93
Uncanny X-Men #305-306
X-Force #19-25
X-Men Unlimited #1-2
Gambit #1-4
X-Force #25
X-Men #25
Wolverine #75
X-Men Annual 2
Excalibur #71
Die-Cut #1-2
Spider-Man: The Mutant Agenda #1-3
X-Men/Avengers: Blood Ties:
Uncanny X-Men #307
X-Men #26
Edit: upon further review, i’m not sure the original entries (& thus my replication of them) for “Marvel Comics Presents…” #86-100 are correct, so i have reviewed them here:
-Marvel Comics Presents… #85-92 – Wolverine/Cyber (‘Blood Hungry’); unsure of placement
-Marvel Comics Presents… #85-92 – Beast (‘Just Friends’); placed between X-Factor #30-51, per Ship being in flight over the Atlantic Ocean, but before re-landing as a “building” in Manhattan.
-Marvel Comics Presents… #89, last story: Mojo, with no context on placing, except Rogue’s outfit & the presence of Kwannon- Psylocke, placing this story between UXM #258-280.
-Marvel Comics Presents… #90-97 – Cable/Ghost Rider (‘Servants of the Dead’); unsure of placement
-Marvel Comics Presents… #93-98 – Wolverine (‘Wild Frontier’); unsure of placement
-Marvel Comics Presents… #99 – Wolverine (Haunting’); After MCP #84 per Wolverine’s musings
-Marvel Comics Presents… #100 – Wolverine participates from 3rd story on but all 4 are connected; indirectly following on from previous issue, per Nightmare’s presence in both?
Wolverine: Evilution states it occurs before X-Men 25
i know it’s only a small point of semantics, but “Marvel Comics Present”s #150-151 isn’t ‘two standalone Wolverine stories’ – both issues comprise one long Typhoid Mary story guest-starring Wolverine.