X-Men Reading Order Guide – Era #3: The New Mutants

A reading order for stories starting from Uncanny X-Men #143 in March 1981 and ending with Uncanny X-Men #200 in December 1985. A part of Crushing Krisis’s Collecting X-Men: A Definitive Guide. Last updated October 2018.

Era #2: Second Genesis  X-Men Reading Order Guide  Era #4: X-Factor

What does Era #3: The New Mutants include?

This era of the X-Men Reading Order is focused on the widening of the X-Men’s world beyond the Second Genesis characters from Giant Size X-Men.

It includes Kitty Pryde and Rogue as active team members, X-Men beginning to make wider guest appearances, the spawning of a second ongoing title with New Mutants, the first spin-off books in the form of New Mutants and limited series like Wolverine and Magik. It ends with the X-Men’s popularity exploding and on the verge of Jean Grey’s return and the launch of a third ongoing title, X-Factor.

I’ve always had a hard time deciding where this era ends. While the poetic Uncanny X-Men #198 feels like a natural stopping point prior to Magneto’s trial, the bigger break comes with issue #200.

In that blockbuster issue Cyclops and Maddie are about to have a baby, Magneto is on trial, and a near-death Professor Xavier is whisked into space by Corsair and Lilandra. That sets up the epic fight over the team’s leadership in issue #201 to kick off the next era, “X-Factor.”

Flagship X-Series in this era:

• Uncanny X-Men #143-200 & Annuals 5-9 – see Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont

Ongoing X-titles released in this era:

• Alpha Flight (1983) #1-28 – see Alpha Flight
• Dazzler (1981) #1-40 – see Dazzler
• Defenders (1972) #103-124 – see Defenders
• New Defenders (1983) #125-150 – see Defenders
• New Mutants (1983) #1-35, Annual 1, & Special Edition – see New & Young X-Men
• Captain Britain in: (see Captain Britain & Excalibur)
  • Hulk Comic (1979) #1 & 3-46 and Incredible Hulk Weekly (1980) #47-55 & #57-63
  • Marvel Super-Heroes (1979) #377-388
  • Daredevils [Marvel UK] (1981) #1-11
  • Mighty World Of Marvel, Vol. 2 (1983) #7-16
  • Captain Britain, Vol. 2 [Marvel UK] (1985) #1-14

Limited Series released in this era:

• Beauty and The Beast (1984) #1-4 – see X-Men Limited Series or Dazzler
• Marvel Super Hero Contest Of Champions (1982) #1-3 – see Marvel Universe Events
• Firestar (1986) #1-4 – see X-Men Limited Series or New Warriors
• Iceman (1984) #1-4 – see X-Men Limited Series
• Kitty Pryde & Wolverine (1984) #1-6 – see Wolverine
• Longshot (1985) #1-6 – see X-Men Limited Series
• Magik (1983) #1-4 AKA Storm & Magik – see X-Men Limited Series or Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont
• Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) #5
  AKA X-Men: God Loves Man Kills OGN – see Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont
• Nightcrawler (1985) #1-4 – see X-Men Limited Series
• Secret Wars (1984) #1-12
  AKA Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars – see Marvel Universe Events
• Secret Wars II (1985) #1-5 – see Marvel Universe Events
• Special Edition: X-Men (1983)
• Wolverine (1982) #1-4 – see Wolverine
• Wolverine / Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection OGN (1989) – see Wolverine
• The X-Men and The Micronauts (1984) #1-4 – see X-Men Limited Series
  
• X-Men vs. Hulk (2009) – see X-Men Limited Series

Later X-titles set in this era:

• New Mutants: Truth Or Death (1997) #1-3 – see New & Young X-Men
• Weapon X: First Class (2009) #1-3 – see Wolverine
• Wolverine: First Class (2008) #1-21 – see Wolverine
• X-Men & Alpha Flight (1998) #1-2 – see Alpha Flight
  
• X-Men Gold (2014) One-Shot
• X-Men Unlimited (1993) #39 & X-Men Unlimited, Vol. 2 (2004) #11 – see X-Men Ongoing Series

Notes:

• There is very little guidance on where to place Alpha Flight, Captain Britain, and Dazzler amidst the stories of this era. I did a lot of reading, research, and going with my gut to fit them into a reading order.

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Era #3: The New Mutants Reading Order

• Kitty Pryde & The Return of Magneto (UXM #143-153 & Annual 5)
• The Brood Saga (UXM #154-167 & Annual 6)
• From The Ashes (UXM #168-179 & Annual 7)
• Secret Wars (UXM #177-184)
• Life and Death (UXM #186-194 & Annual 8)
• Secret Wars II and The Trial of Magneto (UXM #195-200 & Annual 9)

As a reminder: This reading guide is unique in that it values continuity order but prioritizes an enjoyable read. When the continuity order of two runs is concurrent or unclear, this guide follows two priorities:

1. Recommend the biggest chunk of reading with the least amount of substantial story spoilers. 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.
2. 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).

Kitty Pryde & The Return of Magneto

This ten issue run of Uncanny X-Men is packed with a lot of action, including the launch of Dazzler’s series and the debuts of Karma, Siryn, and Rogue in the pages of other comics.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #203, Dazzler (1981) #1-2, & Fantastic Four (1961) #217
See Dazzler for collection information
If you chose to read Dazzler as part of your X-Men read, read Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #203, Dazzler (1981) #1-2, and Fantastic Four (1961) #217 here, since Nightcrawer goes from Dazzler #2 to UXM143.

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #143-144
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Issue #143 takes place on Christmas Eve and results in damage to much of the mansion, which the team is busy repairing in #144. There is a significant break in action between #144-145.

Wolverine: First Class (2008) #1-5
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This retcon All Ages series is not required reading and the entire series is a conundrum of continuity. Issue #1 occurs on Kitty’s first day between UXM138-139, but rather than orphaning it in the prior era we can read it here as a flashback. Considering the damage the mansion suffers in UXM143-144, issue #2 likely occur prior to #143 (even though it is anachronistic for Dazzler to be playing a show at Madison Square Garden at that point). Issues #3-4 also occur prior to #143, since Xavier would be unlikely to send Wolverine and Kitty alone on a mission to pursue Magneto after sensing the disturbance in magnetic force in UXM145. The team roster is missing Cyclops in issue #5, likely placing it adjacent to UXM144 (where he begins his shipwreck adventure).

Marvel Team-Up (1972) #100 (1st and 2nd stories)
See Spider-Man or New & Young X-Men for collection information
This key issue is the debut of Karma and her family and is backed up with a story of the first on-page meeting between Storm and Black Panther – which also depicts their earlier meeting in Africa years before either of their debuts! The first story is routinely collected along with New Mutants.

Sabretooth appears in Power Man & Iron Fist #66-67 around the same time as Marvel Team-Up #100.

ROM, Spaceknight (1979) #17-18
The X-Men are the featured team-up in these issues

Spider-Woman (1978) #37-38
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This story features an appearance by the X-Men and the debut of Siryn, Banshee’s daughter.

Weapon X: First Class (2009) #1-3 (1st stories)
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This retcon series is non-required reading. This series occurs sometime prior to #148, despite some anachronistic elements.

Dazzler (1981) #3-5
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Dazzler #5 occurs after UXM #145 (due to Beast) but before #148, where Dazzler next appears. It makes more sense to read them here during the lengthier story gap in Uncanny X-Men for Dazzler’s correct continuity.

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #145-148
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Issues #145-147 are a single story, and then only days pass prior to #148. The b-story with Scott seems to be progressing at a different speed than the primary story, and could be understood to be happening entirely in the break between #149-150.

Wolverine: First Class (2008) #6-11
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Issue #6 has Banshee ready to depart the mansion sometime after UXM147, and issues #7-11 continue to occur between #148-150.

Avengers, Vol. 1 (1963) Annual 10
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont or Avengers for collection information
The debut of Rogue is generally grouped with UXM Annual 5 after UXM150 in collections, but it actually occurs between UXM #149-150. However, reading the team’s brief appearance an issue early does not create any spoilers for UXM149.

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #149-150 & Annual 5
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There is a lengthy break implied between #150 and Annual 5 and then again after Annual 5, with the team relaxing back at the mansion at the beginning of #151.

Wolverine: First Class (2008) #12-15
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Issue #12 fits directly after #150 and prior to Annual 5, but can be read as flashback here. The rest of the stories don’t have a specific placement, but there is plenty of time before UXM151 for them to fit. Plus, it makes sense to try to put as many stories prior to #151 as possible, since Kitty is briefly pulled out of school by her parents there.

Marvel Fanfare (1982) #1-4
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
This is the next story after Annual 5 for most of the team. Weeks elapse at the end of this story, places its resolve later than UXM153 – but there’s really no utility in hold it for that point.

Dazzler (1981) #6-7, Marvel Team-Up (1972) #108-109, & Dazzler (1981) #8-11
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These Marvel Team-Up issues occur almost immediately after Avengers Annual 10. Dazzler only cameos on the final pages of #108 prior to her full team-up in #109.

Wolverine: First Class (2008) #16-21
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This group of issues are problematic for continuity due to the appearance of Professor X at the mansion but with no New Mutants present, the last opportunity for which is prior to UXM151. So basically if you’re going to read them you have to do it here. However, they work better later in continuity for other reasons. Wolverine acts as Dazzler’s bodyguard in #16, which works well following her attempted meeting with Professor X in Dazzler #22. Kitty and Wolverine go to space in #19-20, which seems like it would have to happen after Kitty’s first trip to space in #156-157… yet, you’ve got to make them work here!

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #151-153
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Issues #151-152 are a single White Queen and the Hellfire Club story, and issue #153 says they’ve “just survived” that story and is probably occurring on the next day.

The X-Men appear in Micronauts #37 after UXM #152. Many marvel characters appear in Marvel Graphic Novel #1 – The Death of Captain Marvel – after #153. Then, X-Men Unlimited (1993) #29 (2nd story). The “weeks later” end of Marvel Fanfare #4 fits here. Wolverine: First Class (2008) #16 has to fit here for X-Men continuity, but it doesn’t fit here for Dazzler continuity.

The Brood Saga

The X-Men begin their third outer space saga in this year of issues, which first sees them fighting alongside the Starjammers and soon returning to space for the introduction of the creepy bug-like Brood.

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #154-158
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Issue #154 starts with some of the team decamping to Magneto’s abandoned island (along with Carol Danvers) while the mansion is under repair. Corsair crashes to Earth (more thoroughly destroying the mansion) and teams up with the X-Men in #155 before the team takes off for space in #156-157 (at the end of which Xavier is in a catatonic state). There’s a brief break for the team to return to their new island base in #158. In that issue, Storm, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Carol Danvers pay a visit to the Pentagon – where they run into Rogue.

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #159-160
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This is a pair of stand-alone horror stories – one with Dracula, the other with Belasco and Illyana’s sudden aging. The team is still on the island and Xavier is still comatose.

Magik AKA “Storm and Illyana” (1983) #1-4
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont, New Mutants, or X-Men Limited Series for collection information
This occurs during #160 in such a way that you can put that issue down, read this in its entirety, and then read the end of #160. However, it was released after #179, and has a few brief moments set in that time period (including a panel of New Mutants in #3) and an ending sequence that appears there in reading order and mentions (but does not show) the New Mutants just prior to their issue #14.

(Despite all of that I still prefer to it here, because it explains what occurs off-page in #160 in context and gives mysterious hints of what will happen in the next year of X-Men from Illyana’s perspective in time. If that will be too much of a spoiler for you, you can save it to read below as marked.)

Uncanny X-Men #161 resolves the plot of Xavier in a coma and contains a significant break for other action to occur, but it ends with the X-Men being whisked directly to The Brood Saga. For that reason, I prefer to break after #160 for other stories – even if they do spoil the fact that Xavier has awakened. I don’t think that’s such a bad thing, as it set up additional tension to find out how that happened when you eventually get to UXM161.

Defenders #103-109
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Beast joins The Defenders in issue #103. There is no other intersection between the X-Men and this title.

ROM, Spaceknight (1979) #31-32
This is Rogue’s next appearance after UXM158, and a significant feature for both Rogue and Mystique.

Dazzler (1981) #12-24
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These issues were released from February 1982 to February 1983 alongside UXM154-166. Dazzler #16 is sometime after Defenders #109. Angel joins as a cast member in #17 after Marvel Fanfare #4 and remains until #28. Rogue is in Dazzler #22-24 shortly after UXM158 and ROM #31-32. Angel talks about Professor X and the mansion in #22, although you’d think he’d be aware that the Mansion was currently rubble from #154-164, even if he didn’t know Professor X was in a coma from #157-161. However, there’s no way to force these issues to occur much earlier or later, due to Rogue’s appearances and Dazzler’s participation in Contest of Champions after #24.

Marvel Team-Up (1972) #117-118
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Technically these team-ups with Wolverine and Xavier, respectively, occur during UXM161, but the end of UXM161 continues directly to the next story, so these are best read here.

Defenders (1972) #110-117
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This run concludes prior to Contest of Champions.

Captain Britain in Hulk Comic (1979) #1 & 3-13
See Captain Britain & Excalibur for collection information
This initial run of Captain Britain co-starring with Black Knight occurs after Dazzler #21, though it was released much earlier. It is tacitly prior to Contest of Champions, which professes to fit into the “brief rest” between #13-14, but there’s really no indication that it happened in Captain Britain’s continuity.

If you’d like to get a head-start on Alpha Flight, you can read Alpha Flight (1983) #1 and Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #83-84 here, as the team are next in Contest of Champions and the subsequent Hulk issues. For a full reading order of Alpha Flight guest appearances, see Guide to Alpha Flight.

Marvel Super Hero Contest Of Champions (1982) #1-3
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Many characters appear in issue #1 and then don’t significantly participate in #2-3. Iceman joins Defenders after this event.

After Contest of Champions, many heroes cameo in Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 (1968) #277-279. Then, Sabretooth appears in Power Man & Iron Fist #84.

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #161-166
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
This is the actual “Brood Saga.” The team departs for space without Xavier in the final two pages of #161. The mansion is still being rebuilt in #163. Xavier is living there seemingly alone with Illyana in #164. We see in #165 that Xavier assumes his team is dead and begins to form what will become The New Mutants. Issue #167 begins with the New Mutants living in the mansion, we need to break to learn who they are!

Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) #4 & New Mutants (1983) #1-3
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
Graphic Novel and #1-2 occur between UXM165-166 for Xavier; issue #3 ends “a matter of minutes” prior to UXM167.

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #167 & Annual 6
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New Mutants (1983) #4 & Marvel Team-Up (1972) Annual 6
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
You could certainly save this pair of issues to read with the next chunk of New Mutants without any significant spoilers. Xavier makes a brief appearance in issue #4 to anchor it between UXM Annual 6 and Two-in-One Annual 7. The New Mutants than appear in the Team-Up annual and move on to the second story in Special Edition: X-Men.

Many Marvel characters appear in Marvel Two-In-One (1974) Annual 7 & #96

Special Edition: X-Men (1983)
The first story in this issue is a reprint of Giant Size X-Men. A Claremont/Cockrum backup, “A Day Like Any Other,” features Kitty and Illyana training in the Danger Room but eventually cameos the entire assembled casts of X-Men and New Mutants.

Storm appears in Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) #16 AKA “The Aladdin Effect.” Many X-Men appear in Firestar (1986) #1 at this point in continuity, but due to later events in that mini-series it’s best not to read it here.

Captain Britain in Hulk Comic (1979) #14-46, and Incredible Hulk Weekly (1980) #47-55 and #57-63
See Captain Britain & Excalibur for collection information
This run was released from June 1979 to April 1980 at the same time as UXM #122-133, but it does not begin in continuity until much later – after Avengers (1963) #226 per the participation of Black Knight (which places it significantly after Dazzler #21 per Captain America’s appearance there). This ends with a revived King Arthur sending Captain Britain back to his own time along with Jackdaw the elf. We don’t see him again in UK continuity for a year and a half.

From the Ashes

This period features the team reunited with Xavier and working out of the mansion for the first time in nearly two years of stories. It also involves some major changes – including Storm going punk, Cyclops leaving the team, Wolverine nearly getting married, and Rogue joining the X-Men.

You can read Uncanny X-Men (1963) #168 here to understand why all the X-Men are suddenly on a break, but there’s not much harm in reading it in a bigger chunk below.

Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) #5 AKA X-Men: God Loves Man Kills OGN
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
This landmark Original Graphic Novel is deliberately fuzzy about its placement, but per official Marvel materials it fits best after Uncanny X-Men #168.

Dazzler (1981) #25-30
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We can infer some of the placement of these issues based on their relation to Avengers and Hulk. Issue #28 occurs prior to UXM170. There is a significant break after issue #30 while Dazzler travels to LA.

Defenders (1972) #120-124 & New Defenders (1983) #125
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Iceman joins in issue #122. Angel joins in issue #125. The cover title changes to “New Defenders” with #125, at which point the team is half-X-Men! Beast is in UXM175 after issue #125.

Alpha Flight (1983) #1-5
See Alpha Flight for collection information
Issue #1 occurs just before Contest of Champions, above. Issues #2-5 occur at some point after New Mutants #4, so it’s easy to simply read them here prior to the 1998 retcon mini-series that directly follows them (which occurs in the gap after UXM168).

X-Men & Alpha Flight (1998) #1-2
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X-Men vs. Hulk (2009) One-Shot
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Uncanny X-Men (1981) #168-171
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Really, UXM168 happened before all of the above issues and if you read it earlier you can pick up with #169 here. Rogue joins the team in issue #171 (and Carol Danvers departs)! When we next see the X-Men, it is at the top of UXM172 traveling to Japan for Wolverine’s wedding.

Marvel Team-Up (1972) #135
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Spider-Man teams up with Kitty Pryde; most of the rest of the team also appears.

Wolverine (1982) #1-4
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This explains Wolverine’s whereabouts between UXX168 (and the subsequent Alpha Flight mini) and #172, where he’s suddenly getting married! Read this before New Mutants, as Silver Samurai comments on the events of this series in New Mutants #6.

New Mutants (1983) #5-12
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
Issue #4 occurs directly after UXM167 above, but there’s no reason you cannot save it for here. Xavier briefly checks in on the team and is next in UXM173, but the rest of the story of Magma and Nova Roma keeps moving without a pause through issue #12.

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #172-175 & Annual 7
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Issue #172 begins with the X-Men being greeted in Japan by Wolverine and Mariko. Issue #173 ends with Wolverine’s wedding being called off, with only about a day elapsing before #174. The main story in #175 ends and some time passes prior to the final few pages, which are Cyclops and Madelyne’s wedding.

X-Men Unlimited (1993) #39 (2nd story)
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This origin of Storm’s punk look takes place during UXM173.

X-Men Gold (2014) One-Shot (1st story)
See X-Men Limited Series for collection information
This story helps bridge the small time gap between UXM173-174. It features punk Storm, so it’s after the X-Men Unlimited story.

Wolverine appears with Carol Danvers in a the 2nd story of Marvel Fanfare (1982) #24 after UXM Annual 7 but prior to the final few pages of UXM175. This establishes her departure for space as Binary.

Secret Wars

This is an interesting period for the X-Men. With the team’s popularity still growing, Marvel was beginning to realize their promotional strength – but also that the characters were not as widely known outside of comic fans. That lead to their inclusion in the toyetic Secret Wars alongside the Avengers and several unaffiliated heroes like Hulk, but also the addition of Iceman and Angel to The Defenders to make it a satellite X-Men team!

Meanwhile, a team that used to enjoy its own self-contained adventures is suddenly under siege from every side – pulled away by the Beyonder to his Battleworld, legislated by the government, in conflict with Freedom Force, encountering the Morlocks, and hunted by Selene! 

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #176-179
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
Issue #176 begins with Scott and Maddie on their honeymoon and sets up impending plots involving the Morlocks and the US government’s actions against mutants. Some time passes prior to #177, which opens with a knock down, drag out fight between Wolverine and Mystique and continues directly into #178 as the team fights Freedom Force. Issue #179 continues from just hours later, explaining where Kitty was during the end of their fight.

Between UXM176-177: Wolverine appears in Daredevil (1964) #196, the team guests in Moon Knight (1980) #35

New Mutants (1983) #13-14
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
Issue #14 is where Xavier regains the power to walk.

If you didn’t read the Magic series earlier, you should read it here just after New Mutants #14.

The X-Men and The Micronauts (1984) #1-4
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This story occurs between New Mutants #13-14, but the only conflict in reading it after #14 is that Xavier still uses his wheelchair here.

Dazzler (1981) #31-34
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This occurs very close to Secret Wars per an appearance by Mister Fantastic in issue #32. Since Dazzler does not participate in Secret Wars, it makes sense to read it here.

New Defenders (1983) #126-131
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This issues occur just before Secret Wars based on a brief detour by Beast into Avengers #239.

Captain Britain in Marvel Super-Heroes (1979) #377-388
See Captain Britain & Excalibur for collection information
Captain Britain’s first color comics were released from September 1981 to August 1982, alongside UXM149-160. While #377 picks up directly from the last panel he appeared in, the nature of his time-traveling adventure means he is inserted later in time than he last appeared. These issues have no crossover to non Marvel-UK continuity and generally Captain Britain UK issues occur later in continuity than their US counterparts. He seemingly dies in #388 and was  unpublished for several months – a major cliffhanger

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #180
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This downtime issue reestablishes our cast and their relationships; the final panel leads directly to Secret Wars.

New Mutants (1983) #15-17
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
These issue occur after UXM180 and while the X-Men have vanished into thin air for Secret Wars and follow up on the plot of Kitty being shipped off to Emma Frost’s Massachusetts Academy. I think they’re a stronger read if you don’t know or understand where the X-Men have disappeared to, even though Rogue returns to the mansion while they are still MIA.

Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars (1984) #1-12
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This maxi-series event was released monthly over the course of a year, although most character disappeared from their own titles for only a few panels. The major change in the X-Men was their relationship with Magneto, whose redemption arc begins here.

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #181-184
See Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont for collection information
The X-Men are deposited in Japan in issue #181 after the close of Secret Wars. Issue #182 is a solo feature for Rogue. She flies around the world from Japan, beating the X-Men back to New York. She responds to a note from the New Mutants team detailing their adventure to retrieve Kitty from Massachusetts. Rogue sets off to assist them, but is waylaid by an encounter with SHIELD. Colossus and Kitty break off their (totally age-inappropriate) relationship in #183, which ends with Selene observing the team. Not much time passes before issue #184, with TV reports still focusing on the action from #181. While several other stories occur explicitly prior to #184, I think it makes for a better reading experience to continue to it here.

Alpha Flight (1983) #6-12
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While there’s no explicit continuity placement for issues #6-9, issue #10 occurs during or after UXM183 per triangulation from Captain America’s appearances in the period.

Iceman (1984) #1-4
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This falls directly before New Defenders #132. However, Iceman refers to events of Dazzler’s graphic novel, which falls after Defenders #133! Since that’s just a caption box reference, I still say you should read in this order.

New Defenders (1983) #132-133
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These issues have to end prior to Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) #12 so Beast can meet up with Dazzler on the other side for Beauty & The Beast

Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) #12 AKA Dazzler: The Movie
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Wolverine appears here after UXM183

Several X-Men appear in Firestar (1986) #2 at this point in continuity, but due to later events in that mini-series it’s best not to read it here.

New Mutants (1983) #18-20 [UXM184] & 21, Marvel Team-Up (1972) Annual 7, & New Mutants (1983) Annual 1
See New & Young X-Men for collection information
These issues happen after UXM183 and simultaneous to Firestar #2. By reading UXM184 above, we can get through a bigger chunk of New Mutants here uninterrupted – and UXM184 doesn’t spoil anything other than the brief intro of Rachel from issue #18.

Much of the team appears in Damage Control #4 after UXM #184.

Beauty and The Beast (1984) #1-4
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This Dazzler/Beast team-up series immediately follows Dazzler’s graphic novel and Beast’s appearance in New Defenders #133.

Life & Death

This period expands the X-Men’s conflicts with the government, both in the US and abroad, as well as increases the volume of mutant mini-series. It is bookended with a pair of remarkable Storm and Forge issues illustrated by Barry Windsor Smith.

At the same time, Marvel realized the power of mini-series to expand their line on the heels of Wolverine’s limited series (as well as early-80s minis for Vision & Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and Falcon). That lead them to begin to ramp up X-Men mini-series in this period, although it’s the next one that would really see them explode.

Marvel Fanfare (1982) #40 (2nd story)
This Storm and Mystique story occurs eight pages into UXM185, but it’s better to read it before than after. Don’t read the 1st story, as it occurs much later for Angel!

Uncanny X-Men (1981) #185-188
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This arc is effectively a four-issue Storm mini-series. Issue #185 is the epic tale that see Storm lose her powers at Forge’s hands, though he was aiming for Rogue. It’s followed by the acclaimed Lifedeath by Claremont with Barry Windsor-Smith in #186. In #187-188 she faces the Dire Wraiths, finally reunited with the full team (minus Wolverine and Kitty) at the end of the issue. This gives them some space to make other appearances.

Kitty Pryde & Wolverine (1984) #1-6
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Note that issue 1 begins just after UXM184, but #5-6 definitely occur after #188.

Marvel Team-Up (1972) #149-150
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Spider-Man teams up with Cannonball in #149 and the X-Men in #150 between UXM188 and New Mutants #22

New Mutants (1983) #22-25
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X-Men Unlimited, Vol. 2 (2004) #11 (2nd story)
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Sam and ‘Berto are next in this throw-back story after New Mutants #25.

Flashbacks in New Mutants Special Edition (1985) fit here. Storm has a cameo in Thor (1966) #352

Rom, Spaceknight (1979) Annual 3
Xavier and the New Mutants guest-star in this issue.

Marvel Super-Heroes (1990) #2 (6th story)
Rogue appears in this story between New Mutants #25 and UXM189.

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #189-192
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There is a gap of weeks during UXM192 to allow other stories to occur.

Alpha Flight (1983) #13-22
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This run doesn’t have an explicit continuity placement, but they occur after Marvel Team-Up Annual 7 at the end of the prior period, so they can fit into the weeks gap after UXM188 or during UXM192. Issue #22 occurs before the 1985 X-Men/AF mini, below.

Captain Britain in Daredevils [Marvel UK] (1981) #1-4
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These were released from January 1983 to April 1983 alongside UXM165-168 after a several-months break for Captain Britain after the end of his last story. This tale begins with a chyron that it is September 8, 1982, but we can generally understand these Captain Britain stories as happening 2-3 years after they were originally set due to their integration with American comics continuity. Captain Britain is next in ROM and resumes his own storyline “several weeks later” (and also after his appearance in Captain America #305-307, which came out two years later in 1985; they are generally collected in chronological order with his stories rather than in story order)

Uncanny X-Men (1963) Annual 8
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A wide array of Marvel characters appear in ROM, Spaceknight (1979) #65-66

Dazzler (1981) #35-38
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Dazzler returns to her apartment and her normal life after the flop of her film for four one-shot adventures, each separated by the span of days or weeks. That means they probably began around the same time as UXM185. Wolverine, Colossus, and Cyclops appear in #38 after UXM Annual 8 and ROM #65-66, but before their mini-series with Alpha Flight.

Captain Britain in Captain America (1968) #305-307
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These are Captain America’s last appearances prior to Secret Wars II #1, but if we place them too close to Secret Wars II then there isn’t enough time for Captain Britain to resolve the rest of his story in Marvel UK comics.

Captain Britain in Daredevils [Marvel UK] (1981) #5-11
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These comics were released in May 1983 to November 1983 alongside UXM169-175. They occur within a few weeks of Captain America and prior to Firestar #3-4 per an appearance from Sebastian Shaw in #9. Captain Britain has a significant break after #11 (he is next in Iron Age (2011) #1 (2nd story).

Wolverine / Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection OGN (1989)
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Though published in 1989, this story fits best here in continuity.

X-Men & Alpha Flight (1985) #1-2
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This occurs just prior to UXM193 for most of the team.

Alpha Flight (1983) #23-27
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The remainder of Alpha Flight stories in this period complete prior to Secret Wars. There’s no harm in reading them here before switching back to Uncanny X-Men.

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #193-194
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Firestar’s first appearance is in issue #193, although the stories in Firestar #1-2 precede this.

Firestar (1986) #1-4
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Even though #1-2 are set earlier, this is the time of release for this series, and #4 wraps up before New Mutants #26

Nightcrawler (1985) #1-4
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This occurs between UXM194-195 for Nightcrawler

New Mutants: Truth Or Death (1997) #1-3
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This occurs after Nightcrawler for Magik. However, this point in the timeline is visited by future 1997 version of the characters, so if you read it here for Magik you will get heavily spoilers for the remainder of 80s and 90s X-Men.

Power Pack (1984) #12 & Uncanny X-Men (1963) #195
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A direct crossover, though many Uncanny collections skip the Power Pack issue. Issue #195 says it is continued in Secret Wars II #1.

New Mutants (1983) #26-28
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While it’s possible that New Mutants #26-27 occur prior to UXM195, there’s no direct continuity to prevent you from reading them after.

Secret Wars II & The Trial of Magneto

The second Secret Wars was Marvel’s first event mini-series with line-wide tie-ins, which means it’s the first time that series continuity has been seriously splintered by an event. That said, if you have no interest in Secret Wars II, you can simply skip those issues and still read a complete X-Men story.

Secret Wars II (1985) #1
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Really, this happens in parallel to a lot of other action, and you might prefer to read New Mutants #29 first, then this, then return to New Mutants.

New Mutants (1983) #29-31
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Dazzler (1981) #39
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Uncanny X-Men (1963) #196-197
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Secret Wars II (1985) #2-4
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No X-family characters appear in issues #2-3, but most of Alpha Flight appear in issue #4 prior to Alpha Flight #28.

Alpha Flight (1983) #28-29 (& Incredible Hulk (1968) #313)
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A Secret Wars II tie-in. Issue #29 starts “a bold new direction” for the book, but it directly continues from #28 and is best to read here rather than closer to SWII #9, which follows it. The Hulk issue is not a direct crossover, but shows the action in #28-29 from a different perspective.

Dazzler (1981) #40
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This is Beyonder’s next appearance after SWII #4; he appears only in one more issue prior to #5.

Secret Wars II (1985) #5
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Uncanny X-Men (1981) #198
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New Mutants (1983) #32-34
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Storm is next in this run after UXM198.

Uncanny X-Men (1963) #199
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Spiral has some retconned scenes prior to this in Longshot #1, but that series was published later (and involves time shenanigans). The team is next in the Asgardian Wars crossover

Asgardian Wars: New Mutants Special Edition (1985) & X-Men (1963) Annual 9
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The team disappears at the end of this story to reappear midway through UXM200.

Uncanny X-Men (1981) #200
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New Mutants (1983) #35
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This issue acts as an epilogue to UXM200.

Secret Wars II (1985) #6
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No X-family characters appear in this issue. It occurs directly before UXM201 and is the last Fantastic Four appearance prior to their discovery of Jean Grey in Fantastic Four (1961) #286.

Then, to wrap up this era, read:

New Defenders (1983) #134-150
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There are breaks after #135 and 148 to allow other stories to occur during this long streak, but generally there is very little intersection between Defenders and other Marvel continuity in this period. The final two issues fit into the next era, as they occur after UXM202.

Captain Britain in Mighty World Of Marvel, Vol. 2 (1983) #7-16
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This run was released from December 1983 to September 1984 alongside UXM176-185. However, based on a Black Knight appearance in #13 that occurs between Avengers (1963) #258 and Captain America #310, this entire run occurs in the time between Secret Wars II #1 & 5. However, since this was released prior to Secret Wars II it has no intersection with it. Afterwards, Captain Britain goes unpublished for three months.

Captain Britain, Vol. 2 [Marvel UK] (1985) #1-14
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These issues were released from January 1985 to February 1986 alongside UXM189-202, which means by the end of issue #14 he has finally caught up with present-day American comics continuity! We don’t see him again in continuity until New Mutants (1983) Annual 2 in the next era.

Longshot (1985) #1-6
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This begins just prior to UXM199 and wraps up prior to UXM205.

Era #2: Second Genesis  X-Men Reading Order Guide  Era #4: X-Factor