Deathlok - Definitive Collecting Guide and Reading Order

The Deathlok comic books definitive issue-by-issue collecting guide and trade reading order for omnibus, hardcover, and trade paperback collections. Find every issue and appearance! A part of Crushing Krisis’s Crushing Comics. Last updated September 2024 with titles scheduled for release through December 2024.

Deathlok has a curious history in the Marvel Universe.

The character was originally introduced in 1974 as Luther Manning, an American soldier reanimated in the future as a cyborg and then sent back to the past Terminator-style (but, years before the first Terminator movie!). This time-displaced Deathlok I has made only limited appearances after his initial run of stories in the 70s and 80s.

After the appearance of a short-lived, all-robotic Deathlok II, third and fourth versions were introduced in rapid succession. Deathlok III was John Kelly, whose human brain interfered with his Deathlok mission and was promptly terminated.

Deathlok IV, Michael Collins, replaced Kelly as the consciousness in that unit and anchored his own series – struggling to contain the more murderous urges of his cyborg body’s programming.

Late in that series, we meet Deathlok V – present-day Luther Manning. An unrelated Deathlok VI is introduced as part of a 1990s X-Men crossover meant as a launching-pad for a trio of tech-focused heroes.

A decade later, Wolverine encounters a potential future seemingly inhabited entirely by Deathlok versions of heroes like Captain America and Spider-Man. Luckily, one self-conscious and seemingly unfamiliar unit stood against them (again, cribbing from Terminator – only this time Terminator actually happened first). This Deathlok VII – known as Unit L17 – joins Wolverine’s covert X-Force team, and later becomes a guest-instructor at the Jean Grey Institute.

With Deathlok appearing in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television show, the core concept of a human soldier made into a killer robot seems to be entrenched firmly in Marvel’s narrative. A new title was launched with Deathlok VIII to more-closely align to the show.

We even met a female version in 2013 – AKA Deathlocket – in Avengers Arena (but she’s not tracked in this guide).

1970s: D-I & D-II
1980s: D-I & D-II
1990s: D- I, III, IV, V, & VI
- Deathlok (1990) #1-4
- Deathlok (1991) #1-34
- Deathlok (1999) #1-11
2000s: D- I, II, IV, V, VI, & VII
- Deathlok (2010) #1-7
Marvel Now: D- IV & D-VII
All-New Marvel Now: D- I, IV, V, VII, & VIII
- Deathlok (2014) #1-10
All-New, All-Different Marvel: D-I, D-IV, D-VIII
Deathlok 50th Anniversary Special (2024) #1

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1970s: Deathloks I & II

1974-1977 – Astonishing Tales #25 is the first appearance of Deathlok I – Future Luther Manning (D-I)

Marvel Masterworks: Deathlok, Vol. 1 (D-I)
Includes Deathlok stories from Astonishing Tales #25-28 & 30-36, Marvel Team-Up #46, Marvel Spotlight #33, Marvel Two-In-One #27 & 54, and Captain America #286-288.

Deathlok The Demolisher: The Complete Collection (D-I)
Includes the same contents as the Marvel Masterworks volume, above.

Astonishing Tales (1970) #25-28 & 30-36 (D-I)
The Deathlok stories from this run are collected in Masterworks and Complete, above, and nowhere else. #25 is collected on its own with Uncanny X-Force, Vol. 2: Deathlok Nation – see Uncanny X-Force.

Marvel Team-Up (1972) #46 (D-I): Essential Marvel Team-Up Vol. 2
Also collected in Masterworks and Complete, above.

What If? (1977) #1: What If? Classic, Vol. 1
While most What If? issues are strictly not in continuity, since Deathlok I is from an alternate future this could be conceived as an in-continuity appearance.

Marvel Spotlight (1971) #33 (D-I)
Only collected in Masterworks and Complete, above.

Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #26-28, 32 & 34 (D-I): Essential Marvel Two-In-One, Vol. 2
Issue #26 includes only a final splash page appearance. Issue #27 is the actual team-up (though it’s more of a fight) and is also collected in Masterworks and Complete, above. Issues #28 and 32 are merely single-panel cameos of an unconscious Deathlok, while #34 devotes a page to getting his plot back in gear (though it would be over a year before that came to fruition). Issue #32 also appears in Essential Spider-Woman, Vol. 1.

1979 – Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #53 is the first appearance of Deathok II – Robot (D-II)

Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #53-54 & 57 (D-II): The Thing: Project Pegasus
Issue #53 is another final-page cameo, and issue #54 is the actual team-up as collected in Masterworks and Complete, above, and in Essential Marvel Two-In-One, Vol. 3. Issue #57 only shows Deathlok in flashback via a video recording. However, the complete Pegasus story is collected here – #42-43 & 53-58.

1980s: Deathloks I & II

1982 – Marvel Fanfare (1982) #4 (2nd story) (D-I) – Though this issue has been re-collected, it did not include the backup.

1983 – Captain America (1968) #286-289 (D-I) (D-II, #287-only) – See Captain America, but also collected in Masterwork, above. Issue #289 is merely a brief flashback recollection – not a true appearance.

1984 – Ka-Zar the Savage (1981) #34 (D-I) – This is a one-off joke and not a continuity appearance.

1985 – Marvel Fanfare (1982) #23 (D-I) – This is a pin-up.

1990s: Deathloks I, III, IV, V, & VI

1990 – Deathlok (1990) #1 is the first appearance of Deathlok IV – Michael Collins (D-IV). Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #62 is the first appearance of Deathok III – John Kelly (D-III), later known as Siege.

Deathlok: The Living Nightmare of Michael Collins
Introducing Deathlok D-IV in Deathlok #1-4 and Marvel Comics Presents #62

Deathlok (1990) #1-4 (D-IV)
Only collected in Living Nightmare, above.

Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #62 (D-III)
Story only collected in Living Nightmare, above. This issue was released after the mini-series above, but it established the continuity of Deathlok III.

1991

Deathlok Special – This series is a straight reprint of the 1990 mini-series, above.

Damage Control, Vol. 3 #4 (D-IV) – Not collected

Deathlok: The Souls of Cyber-Folk
Collects Deathlok (1991) #1-15 & Annual 1

Deathlok (1991) #1-5 (D-IV) – In “Souls of” above

Sleepwalker (1991) #7 (D-IV)

Quasar #27 (D-IV)

Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1989) #30-31 (D-IV) – Classic, Vol. 3
Includes #24-35

Deathlok (1991) #6-7 (D-IV) – In “Souls of” above

1992

Spider-Man (1990) #20-23 (D-IV) – See Spider-Man.

Sleepwalker (1991) #8 (D-IV) – Not collected

Deathlok (1991) #8 (D-IV) – In “Souls of” above

Daredevil (1964) Annual 8 – See Marvel Universe Events: 1992 Annual Crossovers.

The Avengers (1963) Annual 21 (D-I) – See Avengers
Deathlok I appears, possibly in his native future (since this is a Kang story)

Deathlok (1991) #9-15 & Annual 1 (D-IV) – In “Souls of” above

Deathlok (1991) #16 – Part of Infinity War. See Marvel Universe Events for collection information apart from Deathlok collections.

Infinity War – See Marvel Universe Events. Deathlok IV appears in #5.

Silver Sable and the Wild Pack (1992) #6-7 (D-IV) – Not collected

Portions of Deathlok #30 can be read here in continuity.

Deathlok (1991) #17-18 (D-III) (D-IV) – Not collected

Overkill (1992) #15 (D-IV) – This may not fit here in continuity.

1993 – Deathlok (1991) #25 is the first appearance of Deathlok V – Present Day Luther Manning (D-V)

Deathlok (1991) #19-21 (D-III) (D-IV) – Not collected

Digitek #1-3 (D-IV) – Not collected. A Marvel UK series.

Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #11-12 (D-III) – Not collected

Deathlok (1991) #23-25 (D-IV) – Not collected

Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage (D-IV) – See Spider-Man. Deathlok appears in Amazing #379, Spider-Man #36, Web of #103, Amazing #380, Spider-Man #37, Spectacular #203

Deathlok #26-30 & Annual 2 (D-III) (D-IV) (D-V)
Not collected. Annual 2 falls between #26-27. Deathlok III appears in 27-29 and Annual 2. Deathlok V appears in #25-27 & 29. #30 fits into earlier continuity, as noted above.

Infinity Crusade – See Marvel Universe Events. Deathlok IV appears in Infinity Crusade #6 during Deathlok #29.

Marvel Holiday Special (1991) #1992 (D-I) – This may not fit here in continuity.

1994

Iron Man (1968) #301 (D-IV) – See Iron Man

Morbius: The Living Vampire (1992) #18-19 (D-IV) – Not collected

Deathlok (1991) #31-34 (D-I) (D-III) (D-IV) (D-V) – Not collected

Daredevil #321-323 (D-III)- See Daredevil
This was published in 1993 but falls after the end of Deathlok’s series in continuity.

Daredevil #325 & 330 (D-III)- See Daredevil

This is D-III’s final appearance as of this writing.

War Machine (1994) #1-3 (D-IV) – War Machine Classic, Vol. 1
Includes #1-7 and Ashcan edition

Silver Sable and the Wild Pack (1992) #30 (D-IV) – Not collected

1995

Secret Defenders (1993) #22-25 (D-IV) – See Defenders

Spider-Man: Power of Terror (1995) #1-4 (D-IV)
This is a Deathlok team-up story. See Spider-Man

Deathlok IV’s in-continuity appearances end here and resume in 2006 in Beyond.

Daredevil (1964) #335-337 (D-I) – See Daredevil

1996

War Machine (1994) #24 (D-IV) – This may be a flashback or other non-continuity appearance. It is included in Avengers: The Crossing Omnibus. See Avengers.

Marvel Fanfare (1996) #1 (D-I) – Not collected. No primarily a Deathlok story.

1997

Coober Skeber (1997) #2 – ‘The Marvel Benefit Issue’ (D-I) – This peculiar one-shot was released by another company.

1998 – Cable #59 is the first appearance of Deathok VI – Jack Truman (D-VI)

Cable (1993) #59-62 (D-VI) – See Cable

1999

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #371 & X-Men (1991) #91 & Annual 1999 (D-VI) – See directly below!

Deathlok (1999) #1-11 (D-VI) – Deathlok: Rage Against the Machine
Continues to 2000. Also collects a preceding crossover in X-Men consisting of Cable (1993) 59-62, Uncanny X-Men (1963) 371, X-Men (1991) 91, X-Men Annual ’99, and material from Cable (1993) 58

2000s: Deathloks I, II, IV, V, VI, & VII

2000

Deathlok (1999) #6-11 (D-VI) – See directly above.

Avengers Forever (1998) #12 (D-II) – See Avengers

2001-2003

Paradise X: Heralds (2001) #1-3 (D-I)
This story is not in-continuity, but includes the original in-continuity D-I.

Paradise X (2002) #1-4 & 6-10 (D-I)
This story is not in-continuity, but includes the original in-continuity D-I.

2006

Beyond! (2006) #1-6 (D-IV)
Also available in hardcover.

2007

Fantastic Four (1961) #544-546 (D-IV) – See Fantastic Four

Black Panther (2005) #26-27 (D-IV) – See Black Panther

Spider-Man Family (2007) #3 (D-I) – See Spider-Man

New Avengers (2005) #33 & 35-36 (D-II) – See New Avengers

This is D-II’s final appearance as of this writing.

2010 – Wolverine: Weapon X (2009) #11 is the first appearance of Deathlok VII – Unit L17 (D-VII)

Deathlok (2010) #1-7 (D-V) – Deathlok: The Demolisher
Also available in hardcover.

Wolverine: Weapon X (2009) #11-15 (D-VII) – See Wolverine

2011

Uncanny X-Force (2010) #5-10 (D-VII)
See Uncanny X-Force. This is a Deathlok-centric arc!

Vengeance (2011) #1 & 3-5 (D-VI) – Vengeance Oversize Hardcover

This is D-VI’s final appearance at this time.

Avengers Academy (2010) #11 (D-I) – See Avengers Academy

Uncanny X-Force (2010) #14-18 (D-VII) – See Uncanny X-Force. D-VII is a featured character, though not as significant in this arc – the end of the Dark Angel Saga.

Deathloks IV & VII in Marvel Now (2012 – 2013)

2012

Wolverine and The X-Men (2011) #4 (D-VII) – See Wolverine and The X-Men. Deathlok is a teacher at the Jean Grey School, which is usually played for brief gags.

Secret Avengers (2010) #29 (D-VII) – See Secret Avengers

Uncanny X-Force (2010) #28 & 31 (D-VII) – See Uncanny X-Force. D-VIII is a significant character in these issues.

Wolverine and The X-Men (2011) #14-15 & 17-19 (D-VII) – See Wolverine and The X-Men

2013

Wolverine and The X-Men (2011) #24 (D-VII) – See Wolverine and The X-Men

Cable And X-Force (2013) #4 (D-VII) – See Cable

Fantastic Four (2014) #3 (D-VII) – See Guide to Fantastic Four

Deathlok I, IV, V, VII, & VIII in All-New Marvel Now (2014 – 2015)

2014 – Original Sins (2014) #1 is the first appearance of Deathlok VIII – Henry Hayes (D-VIII). He appears nowhere else in the crossover.

Fantastic Four (2014) #3 (D-VII) – See Fantastic Four. This is a brief reference.

Superior Spider-Man #32 (D-VII) – See Spider-Man

All-New Invaders #8 (D-I) & 9-10 (D-V): All-New Invaders Volume 2: Original Sin
Collects #6-10. See Namor for more information.

This is D-I’s final appearance as of this writing.

Fantastic Four (1961) #643 (D-VII) – See Fantastic Four

This is D-VII’s final appearance as of this writing.

Deathlok (2014) #1-5 – Vol. 1: Control. Alt. Delete. (D-VIII)
D-IV and D-V are recurring co-stars. Also includes material from Original Sins #1 – D-VIII’s debut.

Deathlok (2014) #6-10 – Vol. 2: Man vs. Machine (D-VIII)
D-IV is a recurring co-star. D-V appears in #6-7.

This is D-IV’s final appearance as of this writing.
This is D-V’s final appearance as of this writing.

Deathlok VIII, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2016 – present)

All-New, All-Different Point One (2015) #1 (D-VIII – Henry Hayes) – This is a S.H.I.E.L.D. story, collected alongside their subsequent ongoing series.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2016) #1-6 (D-VIII): Vol. 1: The Coulson Protocols
Also collects the Point One material

New Avengers (2015) #8 (D-VIII): See Avengers & New Avengers

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2016) #5-8 (D-VIII): Vol. 2: Under New Management

Power Man and Iron Fist (2016) #7-9 (D-VIII): See Luke Cage

Rocket Raccoon & Groot (2016) #8 (D-VIII): See Guardians of the Galaxy

D-VIII later appears in Absolute Carnage: Lethal Protectors (2019) #2-3 and Absolute Carnage (2019) #5

D-IV – Michael Collins appears in Carnage: Black, White & Blood (2021) #1, Black Panther (2023) #1-4, and Marvel’s Voices: Legends (2024) #1

D-VII – Unit L7 appears in X-F0rce (2018) #1-4 & 7-10