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X-Men flagship titles (2010 – 2019) – The Definitive Collecting Guide & Reading Order

The definitive, chronological, and up-to-date guide on collecting X-Men flagship title comic books from 2010 to 2019, including Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, Extraordinary X-Men, X-Men Gold, and X-Men Red via omnibuses, hardcovers, and trade paperback graphic novels. A part of Crushing Comics – Guide to Marvel Comics. Last updated March 2023 with titles scheduled for release through August 2023.

This guide follows the main, “flagship” titles in the X-Men line from after “Second Coming” in the Heroic Age in 2010 through Marvel Fresh Start in 2019, just prior to Jonathan Hickman’s takeover of the entire line.

X-Men Disassembled in Uncanny X-Men (2019) #1 Pacheco Variant

X-Men titles had been distinctly separate from the rest of the Marvel Universe for years even before they headed into two years of tightly coordinated stories and crossovers from 2008 to 2010.

It had been since Onslaught in 1996 that the X-Men interacted significantly with other Marvel heroes – or even wider Marvel Universe storylines! – in their own books. They also didn’t get out much. Aside from House of M’s ramifications in Decimation, you’d be hard-pressed to find a non-mutant Marvel hero in any X-Title other than Wolverine!

While that made for thrilling in-continuity stories for big X-Fans, it didn’t help bring new readers into the fold – or to share the wealth of X-Readers with other Marvel titles.

Marvel’s solution began with X-Men (2010). As with Astonishing X-Men before it, this title occurred relatively free of the convoluted continuity of other X-Titles, even though it made reference to outside events. And, unlike the self-contained Astonishing, X-Men, this title frequently featured guests-stars from throughout the Marvel Universe.

In 2011, Marvel ended their longest-running and highest-numbered title when they cancelled Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 1 with #544 to make way for a split in the X-Men between Cyclops and Wolverine explored in Schism. The subsequent Uncanny X-Men (2011) was still written by author Kieron Gillen with a similar tone and cast – just less Wolverine and Kitty Pryde. It was by many accounts (including mine) one of the best runs of X-Men ever written.

This, too, was in the service of steering the X-Men toward more interaction with the wider Marvel Universe – this time in the form of the major event, Avengers vs. X-Men.

In the wake of Avengers vs. X-Men, Marvel relaunched their entire line with nearly every creator shuffled onto a new book. In the shake-up, Brian Bendis hopped from the Avengers franchise to the X-Men franchise, taking over Uncanny X-Men (2013) (as well as a team of time-displaced teen X-Men in All-New X-Men).

Meanwhile, the adjectiveless X-Men volume relaunched a few months later with a primary cast entirely composed of X-Woman! It didn’t feel like a gimmick at all thanks to the X-Men’s legendary roster of women – including Storm, Psylocke, Jubilee, Kitty Pryde, Rogue, and Omega Sentinel, and more. Unfortunately, the title was quickly sent askew by the “Battle of the Atom” crossover and launch writer Brian Wood never quite recovered. Two later arcs by Marc Guggenheim (of TV’s Arrow) and G. Willow Wilson (creator of Ms. Marvel) were well-steeped in X-history, but not terribly exciting.

Bendis promised a lengthy run on X-Men, but another creator shuffle after Secret Wars in 2015 saw him depart the franchise for Iron Man in the All-New, All-Different Marvel.

In his place, Cullen Bunn took over Uncanny X-Men (2016). After a long streak of wrapping up soon-to-be-cancelled series for other writers, Bunn improbably struck gold on a menacing take on Magneto (2014) in his first ongoing series. He brought that villainous tone to his ongoing.

Alongside that, a more-heroic new title – Extraordinary X-Men – launched under the pen of Jeff Lemire and tied in closely to the wider Marvel Universe plot of the Inhumans and their Terrigen Bomb being poisonous to mutants.

After the resolution of the Inhumans thread in Inhumans vs. X-Men, Marvel relaunched the entire X-Men line in “ResurrXion.” This marked the first time since 2013 that there was no ongoing “Uncanny” title serving as one of the flagship books of the line. However, X-Men Gold was effectively “Uncanny,” with a Claremont-esque classic team of Kitty, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Rachel Grey, among others. Meanwhile, Cullen Bunn continued his Magneto thread into the All-New X-Men cast with X-Men Blue. Nearly a year later, Phoenix Resurrection returned Jean Grey to the cast of X-Men, and she launched a third flagship with X-Men Red. And, finally, the period wrapped up with five X-Men Black one-shots focusing on major X-Men villains.

Then, in November 2018, Uncanny X-Men returned with a bang – as a 10-part weekly story arc called “X-Men Disassembled.” That story branched out into “Age of X-Man” – an alternate reality event – while writer Matthew Rosenberg continued the storylines of his past year of X-Men mini-series into a disturbing final run on the title that killed off many beloved characters… only for them to return in Jonathan Hickman’s relaunched Age of Krakoa!

X-Men Disassembled in Uncanny X-Men (2018) #1 David Marquez variant wraparound textless

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The Heroic Age (2010 – 2012)

Heroic Age:
X-Men (2010) #1-41 & X-Men Giant-Size (2011) #1 by Victor Gischler, Brian Wood, & Seth Peck (2010 – 2012)

Begins just after “Second Coming” in September 2010, parallel to Uncanny X-Men #526, X-Men Legacy #238, and X-Factor #207 – and a month prior to the launches ofWolverine (Vol. 4), Daken, and X-23. Presumably, the debuts of both Uncanny X-Force (prominently featuring Wolverine) and Generation Hope occur after the “Curse of the Mutants” arc ends in X-Men #6.

In the Marvel Universe, this coincides with The Heroic Age. Chaos War begins sometime after “Curse of the Mutants.” Fear Itself occurs either before or after “X-Men: FF.”

X-Men (2010) was launched by crime novelist Victor Gischler, who penned the title from it’s initial vampire arc through issue #29, which provided some closure to Jubilee’s ongoing plot. Aside from Jubilee, the cast rotated continuously but usually included Storm. After Gischler’s run, Brian Wood made the jump from writing Ultimate X-Men to this title. Fans were ecstatic with the characterizations in his early stories, including a tough Storm and a rebellious Rachel Summers. [Marvel Unlimited: X-Men (2010), Giant-Size (2011), X-Men: Curse of the Mutants – Storm & Gambit (2010), Smoke & Blood (2010), Blade (2010), X-Men vs. Vampires (2010), Schism, Regenesis]X-Men (2010) #7

#1-6: X-Men: Curse of the Mutants (2011 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785148463 / 2011 paperback, ISBN 978-0785148470 / digital)
Starring Blade and Dracula. This slow-moving arc mostly focuses on Cyclops, Wolverine, and Jubilee, with assists from Emma Frost, Angel, Colossus, and Storm.

The initial issues of Namor: The First Mutant (2010) helps to explain off-panel happenings in this initial arc. See Guide to Namor, The Sub-Mariner.

X-Men: Curse of the Mutants – Mutants vs. Vampires (2011 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785152941 / 2011 paperback, ISBN 978-0785152293/ digital)
A collection of one-shots associated with the vampire storyline, including X-Men: Curse of the Mutants – Storm & Gambit (2010) #1, X-Men: Curse of the Mutants – Smoke & Blood (2010) #1 [originally solicited as “X-Club”], X-Men: Curse of the Mutants – Blade (2010) #1, X-Men vs. Vampires (2010) #1-2, and the classic Uncanny X-Men (1963) #159. The Storm/Gambit one-shot is solid and explains off-panel activity in the main book. Also, see Guide to Blade and Guide to Dracula.

#7-11: X-Men: Great Power (2011 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785148487 / 2011 paperback, ISBN 978-0785148494 / digital)
Starring Spiderman and The Lizard. Mostly focuses on Emma Frost, Storm, Wolverine, Cyclops, and Dark Beast. Also includes a Xavier/Jubilee one-shot story, and reprints Marvel Team-Up (1972) Annual 1.

#12-15: X-Men: First to Last (2011 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785152873 / 2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785152880 / digital)
Also collects X-Men Giant-Size (2011) #1, which is the kick-off of this story-arc.

#15.1 & 16-19: X-Men: FF (2012 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785160694 / 2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785160700 / digital)
Collects a fun, pulpy adventure starring Cyclops, Magneto, Wolverine, Emma Frost, Pixie, and Dr. Nemesis alongside the core members of FF – including Doctor Doom! (Note that despite the seeming paradox in the story, this must occur after Children’s Crusade.)

X-Men: Schism (2012 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785156680 / 2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785156888 / digital)
Collects X-Men: Schism (2011) #1-5 and X-Men: Regenesis (2011) #1. This event reshapes the X-Men line and occurs entirely between issues #19-20.

#20-23: X-Men: War Machines (2012 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785161875 / 2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785161882 / digital)
Also reprints X-Men (1963) #14. This features a team of Storm, Psylocke, Colossus, Warpath, Jubilee, and Domino joined by War Machine.

#24-29: X-Men: The Curse is Broken (2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785161899 / digital)
At this point, this series was no longer collected in hardcover. The resolution to Jubilee’s vampire storyline.

#30-35: X-Men by Brian Wood, Vol. 1: Blank Generation (2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785164593 / digital)
Brian Wood takes over writing duties of the next arc, which stars Storm, Psylocke, Colossus, Domino, and Pixie.

#36-41: X-Men by Brian Wood, Vol. 2: Reckless Abandonment (2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785164616 / digital)
This continues a similar cast from th prior volume. The final two issues by writer Seth Peck explicitly occur after Avengers vs. X-Men. See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Avengers vs. X-Men.

Most of the cast and themes of this title continue directly to X-Men (2013), below.

Heroic Age:
Uncanny X-Men (2011) #1-20 by Kieron Gillen,
X-Club (2011) #1-5, Magneto: Not a Hero (2011) #1-4 , & Avengers vs. X-Men: Consequences (2012) #1-5

Begins after the resolution of Schism, parallel to other “Regenesis” issues of X-Men – including new co-flagship Wolverine and the X-Men #1, X-Men Legacy #259, X-Factor #230, Astonishing X-Men #44, New Mutants #33, X-Men #20, Uncanny X-Force #19, Wolverine #17, & Generation Hope #13.

In the Marvel Universe, Schism & Regenesis occur after the conclusions of Children’s Crusade and Fear Itself.

After a schism in the X-Men, Uncanny retains a powerful and – frankly – villainous main cast of Cyclops, Emma Frost, Storm, Magneto, Namor, Colossus (with his new Juggernaut powers) and his sister Magik, Hope, and Danger – with support from Pyslocke when Emma is indisposed.

Meanwhile, Wolverine returned to New York to open a new school in Wolverine & The X-Men (2011) – see Guide to New Mutants & Young X-Men for collections of that series.

[Marvel Unlimited: main series, X-Club, Magneto: Not a Hero, Avengers vs. X-Men, Consequences]

as recollected in Complete Collections…Uncanny X-Men (2011) #9

Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1
(2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302916497 / digital)
Collects S.W.O.R.D. (2009) #1-5; Uncanny X-Men (1963) #534.1 & 535-544; X-Men: Regenesis (2011), and Uncanny X-Men (2011) #1-3 (but, not Annual 3/2011 or Schism, since neither was written by Gillen).

#4-20: Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen: The Complete Collection, Vol. 2
(2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302922771 / digital)
Also collects Gillen’s Avengers vs. X-Men: Consequences (2012) #1-5, which act as an epilogue to this series.

as originally collected…

X-Men: Schism (2012 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785156680 / 2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785156888 / digital)
Collects X-Men: Schism (2011) #1-5 and X-Men: Regenesis (2011) #1. This event reshapes the X-Men line and occurs entirely between issues #543-544.

#1-4: by Kieron Gillen, Vol. 1 (2012 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785159933 / 2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785159940 / digital)
The first arc of Cyclops’s so-called “X-Tinction” team finds them facing off against Mr. Sinister, with art by Carlos Pacheco, and a rogue Phalanx, with art by Brandon Peterson.

X-Club (2011) #1-5 (2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785164432 / digital)
A series dealing with the more comedic side of Gillen’s “X-Tinction” team written by Simon Spurrier and headlined by the Science Squad of Dr. Nemesis, Madison Jeffries, Kavita Rao, and Danger.

Magneto: Not a Hero (2011) #1-4 (2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785158608 / digital)
Also, see Guide to Magneto. This Magneto arc by Skottie Young could have easily been upgraded to a main arc of the title if it was not under so much pressure to escalate towards AvX. It deals with a longstanding plot-thread from the 90s.

In Uncanny X-Force (2012), “The Dark Angel Saga” concludes at this time.

#5-10: by Kieron Gillen, Vol, 2 (2012 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785159957 / 2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785159964 / digital)
This collects through issue #10, despite some solicit text suggesting otherwise. The second arc of Uncanny X-Men finds Psylocke replacing Emma Frost as they visit the Tabula Rasa environment created in The Dark Angel Saga with well-received artwork by controversial penciller Greg Land. Then, issues #9-10 are a brief arc featuring a prison break by deadly aliens referencing Gillen’s SWORD mini-series. It co-stars the Avengers, with art from Carlos Pacheco. [Ed. Note: Gillen hits his stride here – this is the best Uncanny has been in over a decade!] Issues #9-10 are also recollected alongside Gillen’s Secret Wars: Siege (2015) #1-4 in Secret Wars – Siege: Battlefield (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-0785195498 / digital)

Avengers vs. X-Men (2012) #0-12: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Avengers vs. X-Men for collection options. This event maxi-series intertwines with issues #11-20 of this Uncanny, which Gillen coordinated closely with the authors of the event. Also, issues #11-20 have been recollected across various Avengers vs. X-Men event collections.

#11-14: by Kieron Gillen, Vol. 3 (2012 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785159971 / 2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785159988 / digital)

#15-20: by Kieron Gillen, Vol. 4 (2012 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785165293 / 2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785165309 / digital)
This collection heavily spoils the finale of Avengers vs. X-Men.

Avengers vs. X-Men: Consequences (2012) #1-5 (2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785166467 / digital)
This five-issue mini-series acts as an epilogue to Cyclops’s arc in this volume of Uncanny. It is also collected across Avengers vs. X-Men event collections. See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Avengers vs. X-Men for more collection options.

From here, Colossus and Hope move to Cable and X-Force (2012), Storm and Psylocke to Uncanny X-Force (2013) and X-Men (2013) (below), and Namor to New Avengers (2013). Cyclops, Emma, Magneto, & Magik continue into the next volume of Uncanny X-Men.

Marvel Now (2012 – 2015)

Marvel Now:
Uncanny X-Men (2013) #1-35, 600, Annual 1, & Special by Brian M. Bendis (2013 – 2015)

Uncanny X-Men becomes the Brotherhood of Uncanny Mutants under the pen of Brian Bendis as Cyclops leads a small force of veterans (Magneto, Emma Frost, Magik) to recruit new mutants as they appear and wage a physical and public relations war against the mutant status quo. This volume was primarily drawn by Chris Bachalo, with several fill-in artists including Frazier Irving, Phil Noto, and Kris Anka. Bendis also wrote All-New X-Men (2012) in this period, focusing on the time-displaced team of original teen X-Men – see Guide to New Mutants & Young X-Men.

[Marvel Unlimited: main series, Battle of the Atom, No More Humans, Annual, All-New X-Men Annual, Special]

as oversized hardcovers…Uncanny X-Men (2013) #1

#1-11 & 14-18: Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 1 (2016 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785195320)
This skips Battle of the Atom. Issue #15 is technically 15.INH, but there was not another 15 without a decimal lettering.

#12-13: X-Men: Battle of the Atom (2014 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785189060 / 2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785189077 / digital)
The 2013 X-Men 50th Anniversary crossover. Collects X-Men Battle of the Atom (2013) #1-2, Uncanny X-Men (2013) #12-13, All-New X-Men (2012) #16-17, Wolverine & The X-Men (2011) #36-37, and X-Men (2013) #5-6

X-Men: No More Humans (2014) OGN (2014 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785154020 / digital)
This sequel to Battle of the Atom by Mike Carey fits best between UXM #17-18, but there are no spoilers if you simply read it here at the volume break.

#19-35, Annual 1/2014, & 600: Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 2 (2016 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302901714)
Includes the complete two-part Eva Bell story from Uncanny X-Men (2013) Annual 1 and All-New X-Men (2012) Annual 1, which have only ever been collected here as of this writing.

as originally released…

#1-5: Vol. 1: Revolution (2013 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785168461 / 2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785167020 / digital)

If you are reading both Uncanny and All-New X-Men, read ANX #1-8 prior to UXM #1.

#6-11: Vol. 2: Magik (2013 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785167853 / 2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785167037 / digital)

#12-13: X-Men: Battle of the Atom (2014 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785189060 / 2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785189077 / digital)
The 2013 X-Men 50th Anniversary crossover. Collects X-Men Battle of the Atom (2013) #1-2, Uncanny X-Men (2013) #12-13, All-New X-Men (2012) #16-17, Wolverine & The X-Men (2011) #36-37, and X-Men (2013) #5-6

#14-18: Vol. 3: The Good, The Bad, The Inhuman (2014 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785154310 / 2015 paperback, ISBN 978-0785189374 / digital)
This occurs almost entirely after ANXM #21.

Around this time Magneto ends his full-time cast status and stars in his own series. See Guide to Magneto.

X-Men: No More Humans (2014) OGN (2014 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785154020 / digital)
This sequel to Battle of the Atom by Mike Carey fits best between UXM #17-18, but there are no spoilers if you simply read it here at the volume break.

Annual 1/2014: This story was part one of a tale of Eva Bell traveling through time, which was only ever included in the oversize line, above.

Uncanny X-Men Special (2014): Uncanny X-Men / Iron Man / Nova: No End In Sight (2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785191056 / digital)
Collects all three “No End in Sight” specials. This is primarily an Uncanny X-Men story, though it was not by Brian Bendis and does not connect to the main Uncanny story in any way.

#19-25: Vol. 4: Vs. SHIELD (2014 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785154891 / 2015 paperback, ISBN 978-0785189381 / digital)

#26-31: Vol. 5: The Omega Mutant (2015 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785154907 / 2015 paperback, ISBN 978-0785189398 / digital)
An Original Sin tie-in. See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Original Sin.

Axis: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Axis.

#32-35 & 600: Vol. 6: Storyville (2015 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785192305 / 2016 paperback, ISBN 978-0785192312 / digital)

Marvel Now:
X-Men (2013) #1-26 by Brian Wood w/Guggenheim & Wilson

In a shocking announcement, Marvel brought back their adjectiveless X-Men title as one of the final launch books of Marvel Now – and it included a team of all women!

X-Men (2010) #1

While the opening arc by Marvel superstar Oliver Coipel was a blockbuster, the book almost immediately lost steam (along with losing Coipel, Kitty Pryde, and Rogue) as other X-Men titles and stories vied for priority in the line alongside Uncanny Avengers. It simply didn’t feel as though this book had a reason to exist. Marc Guggenheim and G. Willow Wilson each contributed an arc before the title was canceled. [Marvel Unlimited: main series, Battle of the Atom]

#1-4: Vol. 1: Primer (2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785168003 / digital)
Also includes the classic Uncanny X-Men (1963) #244, Jubilee’s debut.

#5-6: X-Men: Battle of the Atom (2014 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-0785189060 / 2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785189077 / digital)
The 2013 X-Men 50th Anniversary crossover. Collects X-Men Battle of the Atom (2013) #1-2, Uncanny X-Men (2013) #12-13, All-New X-Men (2012) #16-17, Wolverine & The X-Men (2011) #36-37, and X-Men (2013) #5-6

#7-12: Vol. 2: Muertas (2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785168010 / digital)

#13-17: Vol. 3: Bloodline (2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785189725 / digital)
Though some solicits list different contents; I have confirmed this issue range in physical copy. This also includes all of the back-up stories from these issues.

#18-22: Vol. 4: Exogenous (2015 paperback, ISBN 978-0785192336 / digital)
This is a standalone Marc Guggenheim story set in space and featuring SWORD and Deathbird.

#23-26: Vol. 5: The Burning World (2015 paperback, ISBN 978-0785197263 / digital)
This is somber, claustrophobic G. Willow Wilson story focused heavily on the character voices – Storm and Rachel’s, particularly.

Marvel Knights: X-Men (2013) #1-5

A five-issue mini-series with a horrific tinge starring Wolverine, Rogue, and Kitty Pryde that occurs prior to Battle of the Atom; you can read it as Vol. 1.5 of X-Men (2013). [Marvel Unlimited]

#1-5: Marvel Knights X-Men: Haunted (2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785185468 / digital)

All-New, All-Different Marvel (2015 – 2017)

All-New, All-Different Marvel:
Death of X (2016) #1-4

Though released later as a prelude to Inhumans vs. X-Men, this mini-series fills in the blanks of how we got from the status quo at the end of Brian Bendis’s Uncanny X-Men to the beginning of All-New, All-Different X-Men.

However, beware – this story concludes with a major revelation that we did not know while reading the first year of ANAD X-titles! If you prefer to have things revealed to you in publishing order, you should save this series until just prior to IvX. [Marvel Unlimited]

#1-4: Death of X (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-1302903374 / digital)
Told a year after the launch of this era of series, this mini-series explores what occurred in the 8-month gap between the end of Secret Wars and the beginning of All-New, All-Different Marvel.

All-New, All-Different Marvel:
Extraordinary X-Men (2015) #1-20 & Annual 1 by Jeff Lemire

While Cullen Bunn explored the “ends justify the means” side of X-Men, Jeff Lemire wrote their heroic counterparts that were still based out of the X-Mansion (relocated to a surprising destination) in Extraordinary X-Men. This team line-up was anchored by Storm, Nightcrawler, Magik, and Old Man Logan, with other characters including Teen Jean Grey, Anole, and Rockslide. [Marvel Unlimited: main series, Civil War II: X-Men, Annual, IvX]Extraordinary X-Men (2015) #1

This title ended with issues that tied into Inhumans vs. X-Men before the entire line was relaunched in ResurrXion, below.

#1-5: Vol. 1: X-Haven (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-0785199342 / digital)

#6-12: Vol. 2: Apocalypse Wars (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-0785199359 / digital)

#8-12: X-Men: Apocalypse Wars (2016 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302902452 / digital)
Collects three unrelated Apocalypse storylines released in support of the X-Men: Apocalypse film –  All-New X-Men (2015) #9-11, Extraordinary X-Men (2015) #8-12, and Uncanny X-Men (2016) #6-10. (I have personally verified these contents in a digital copy!)

Civil War II: X-Men (2016) #1-4 (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-1302902544 / digital)
Though penned solely by Uncanny author Cullen Bunn, this featured the casts of both flagship books and solidified their impending conflict with the Inhumans. Also, see Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Civil War II.

#13-16 & Annual 1: Vol. 3: Kingdoms Fall (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-0785199366 / digital)
The 2nd story from Annual 1 is also typically collected along with Moon Girl material; see Guide to Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur.

Inhumans vs. X-Men: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Inhumans vs. X-Men. If you did not read Death of X (2016) #1-4 above in story order, read it prior to starting IvX.

#17-20: Vol. 4: IvX (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-0785199373 / digital)
Also collects X-Men Prime (2017) #1, which kicks off the next era.

All-New, All-Different Marvel:
Uncanny X-Men (2016) #1-19 & Annual 1 by Cullen Benn

Uncanny X-Men continued into its third volume at the beginning of All-New, All-Different Marvel – but, with a decidedly different tone. Cullen Bunn, hot off of penning a surprise hit on Magneto, returned to the master of magnetism as he lead a contentious group of morally grey mutants that included Psylocke, Sabretooth, Archangel, and Monet.

Uncanny X-Men (2016) #1

This title ended with issues that tied into Inhumans vs. X-Men before the entire line was relaunched in ResurrXion, below. [Marvel Unlimited: main series, Civil War II: X-Men, Annual, IvX]

#1-5: Superior Vol. 1: Survival of the Fittest (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-0785196075 / digital)

#6-10: Superior Vol. 2: Apocalypse Wars (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-0785196082 / digital)

#6-10: X-Men: Apocalypse Wars (2016 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302902452 / digital)
Collects three unrelated Apocalypse storylines released in support of the X-Men: Apocalypse film –  All-New X-Men (2015) #9-11, Extraordinary X-Men (2015) #8-12, and Uncanny X-Men (2016) #6-10. (I have personally verified these contents in a digital copy!)

Civil War II: X-Men (2016) #1-4 (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-1302902544 / digital)
Though penned solely by Uncanny author Cullen Bunn, this featured the casts of both flagship books and solidified their impending conflict with the Inhumans. This also collects materialf rom Amazing Adventures (1970) #9. Also, see Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Civil War II.

#11-15: Superior Vol. 3: Waking from the Dream (201x paperback, ISBN 978-1302903138 / digital)

Inhumans vs. X-Men: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Inhumans vs. X-Men. If you did not read Death of X (2016) #1-4 above in story order, read it prior to starting IvX.

#16-19 & Annual 1: Superior Vol. 4: IvX (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-1302905255 / digital)

ResurrXion and Marvel Legacy (2017 – 2018)

RessurXion & Marvel Legacy:
X-Men Gold #1-36 & Annual 1-2, X-Men Prime (2017) #1,
& X-Men: The Wedding Special (2018) #1 by Marc Guggenheim (2017 – 2018)

After IvX, the main volume of “Uncanny X-Men” was retired for the first time in X-Men history. Instead, the ResurrXion line-wide relaunch brought us a new pair of flagships – X-Men Blue and X-Men Gold. These titles referring to the team distinctions from the original 1991 split between Uncanny X-Men and X-Men Vol. 2.

X-Men Gold featured a late-80s flavored cast lead by Kitty Pryde including Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Rachel Grey alongside Old Man Logan. It later added a b-squad lead by Iceman and Rogue, and featured others characters including Armor, Ink, Magma, Magik, and a new Pyro.

X-Men Blue featured the All-New X-Men cast as lead by Magneto(!) and Polaris. The cast later added an additional pair of alternate-dimension X-Men (Bloodstorm and Jimmy Hudson), plus picked up the threads of Havok and Emma Frost from Secret Empire. For X-Men Blue collections, see Guide to New Mutants & Young X-Men.X-Men Gold (2017) #1

[Marvel Unlimited: X-Men Prime, Gold, Gold Annuals, Wedding Special]

X-Men Prime (2017): Material from this issue is collected in full in Extraordinary X-Men Vol. 4, above, and the final volume of All-New X-Men (2016) – see Guide to New Mutants & Young X-Men.

#1-6: Vol. 1: Back to the Basics (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-1302907303 / digital)
This collection does not include material from X-Men Prime, an introduction to the ResurrXion period.

#7-12: Vol. 2: Evil Empires (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-1302907310 / digital)
This includes Secret Empire tie-ins.

Secret Empire: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Secret Empire. Plots of this event also played out in X-Men Blue. The X-Men ruled a large portion of the West Coast in this fractured, Nazi-adjacent version of America. The fallout from that status quo was mostly addressed by subsequent arcs of X-Men Blue rather than here in Gold.

#13-15: Mojo Worldwide (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302910891 / digital)
A direct crossover with X-Men Blue (2018) #13-15. This is technically the beginning of Marvel Legacy for both books, but neither title was renumbered with “Legacy Numbering” to reflect prior volumes.

#16-20: Vol. 4: The Negative Zone War (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302909741 / digital)

Phoenix Resurrection and X-Men: Red (2018) Annual 1 must occur here, even though it takes some time before Jean is active in the cast of a team.

Annual 1: This story was released here and occurs here, although it is not collected until Vol. 7, below.

#21-25: Vol. 5: Cruel and Unusual (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302909758 / digital)

#26-30: Vol. 6: Til Death Do Us Part (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302909765 / digital)
Also collects X-Men Wedding Special (2018) #1, which mostly occurs prior to issue #30.

Annual 2: Marvel Universe: Time and Again (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302915971 / digital)
An apocryphal story of a young Kitty Pryde at summer camp. This collection includes all of the 2018 flashback annual stories from Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1, Captain America Annual 1, Daredevil Annual 1, Silver Surfer Annual 1, Spider-Man Annual 1, X-Men Gold Annual 2, and Journey Into Mystery: The Birth Of Krakoa #1

#31-36 & Annual 1: Vol. 7: Godwar (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302909772 / digital)

Marvel Legacy:
Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey (2017) #1-5 and X-Men: Red (2018) #1-11 & Annual 1X-Men (Red) 2018 #10

At the end of 2017, Marvel resurrected one of their longest dead major characters with the return of Jean Grey! While her return had been teased by developments with the Phoenix Force in the teenage Jean Grey ongoing in 2017 by Dennis Hopeless, this Matthew Rosenberg series exists separately from that and features a massive cast of X-Men from the full line of titles.

Out of Resurrection, Tom Taylor launched a third flagship color book with X-Men: Red! This social-justice-minded title featured a team lead by the newly-returned Jean Grey including Nightcrawler, Storm, Gambit, and Wolverine (X-23).

Though X-Men Red ran alongside the final arcs of X-Men Gold and X-Men Blue, in story continuity it occurs entirely after they both conclude (except for Annual 1) and just prior to the new volume of Uncanny X-Men, below. [Marvel Unlimited: Phoenix Resurrection, Red, Red Annual]

Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey (2017) #1-5 (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302911638 / digital)

Annual 1 & #1-5 Vol. 1: The Hate Machine (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302911676 / digital)
Though Annual 1 was released later, it is the first chronological story for Jean after Resurrection and occurs in story continuity just after X-Men Gold #20. Then, the first arc of Red flashes forward over three months from the end of Phoenix Resurrection, placing it after the conclusion of Gold and Blue. Gambit is a team member, here after returning from his honeymoon mission in the first arc of Mr. & Mrs. X.

#6-11: Vol. 2: Waging Peace (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302911683 / digital)
This continues almost immediately from the prior volume, and aside from Nightcrawler none of the cast members appear significantly in other flagships in this period.

Marvel Legacy:
X-Men Black (2018) [various]

X-Men Black wasn’t a single ongoing series, but five villainous one-shots by different creative teams – Magneto, Mojo, Mystique, Juggernaut, and Emma Frost. A single, five-part Apocalypse story was serialized as a back-up across all five issues, which lead into the X-Men Disassembled event in the relaunch of Uncanny X-Men.

This works as a sort of epilogue on some the themes of Gold and Blue – setting Magneto on his own individual path, showing where Mojo wound up after his crossover, and reframing Emma Frost after her villainy in Blue. [Marvel Unlimited: Magneto, Mojo, Mystique, Juggernaut, Emma Frost]

X-Men Black (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302915537 / digital)
Collects X-Men Black – Magneto, X-Men Black – Mojo, X-Men Black – Mystique, X-Men Black – Juggernaut, X-Men Black – Emma Frost.

Marvel Fresh Start (2018 – 2019)

Marvel Fresh Start:
Uncanny X-Men (2018) #1-10: X-Men Disassembled

This fourth volume of Uncanny X-Men launched in November 2018 as weekly title for 10 weeks co-written by the three major X-scribes of the period – Matthew Rosenberg (Phoenix Resurrection, New Mutants – Dead Souls, Multiple Man, Astonishing X-Men), Ed Brisson (Old Man Logan, Extermination, X-Force), Kelly Thompson (Rogue & Gambit and Mr. & Mrs. X). [Marvel Unlimited]

#1-10 [#620-629]: Uncanny X-Men: X-Men Disassembled
(2021 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302915018 / 2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302914868 / digital)

After this arc, much of the line and its core cast broke from reality for Age of X-Man – an altered reality event spinning out of the weekly “Disassembled” storyline. This event was a reversal of the Age of Apocalypse, casting a utopia-obsessed Nate Grey as the villain versus Apocalypse as an insurgent committed to self-determination.

The event had little to no impact on the ongoing reality of the X-books aside from removing Nate Grey from present day continuity and giving Blob a mustache. In retrospect, it existed largely to give editorial a breather from coordinating new in-continuity stories while they prepared for House of X and Powers of X from Jonathan Hickman.

See Guide to X-Man, Nate Grey for details. The characters involved in the event did not return to reality until the final pages of issue #22, below.

Marvel Fresh Start:
Uncanny X-Men (2018) #1-22 & Annual 1 and War of the Realms: Uncanny X-Men (2019) #1-3

Meanwhile, author Matthew Rosenberg continued Uncanny X-Men with a focus on Cyclops, Wolverine, and the surviving new New Mutants – pulling themes and characters from his prior runs on New Mutants, Madrox, and Astonishing X-Men.Uncanny X-Men (2018) #14

It seemed that Rosenberg’s editorial directive was, “break as many of the toys as you can.” That lead to a dark, grim run that full of character deaths that never made much sense… until you realized a few months later that all of the characters would be coming back under Jonathan Hickman’s new status quo.

Trigger warning for graphic self-harm and (thinly veiled) transphobia and transphobic violence. [Marvel Unlimited: main series, Annual, War of the Realms: Uncanny X-Men]

Annual 1: X-Men: Summers and Winter (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302919429 / digital)
Collects X-Men: The Exterminated (2018) #1, Uncanny X-Men (2018) Annual 1, and Merry X-Men Holiday Special (2018) #1. These issues are all linked by appearances from Cable.

#11-16 [#630-635]: Uncanny X-Men: Cyclops and Wolverine, Vol. 1 (2019 paperback, ISBN 9781302915827 / digital)

War of the Realms: Uncanny X-Men (2019) #1-3 [#636-638]: War Of The Realms: Uncanny X-Men (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302919191 / digital)
This mini-series did not interrupt the run of the main title, but its legacy numbers reflect that it was the next three sequential issues of Uncanny. This collection also includes Uncanny X-Men (2018) #17 (which deals with some of the ramifications of this event) and material from War of the Realms: War Scrolls (2019) #2. See Marvel Universe Events – War of the Realms for more collection options.

#17-22 [#639-644]: Uncanny X-Men: Cyclops and Wolverine, Vol. 2 (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302915834 / digital)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jamie B says

    You may want to note that Uncanny X-Men (2011) #5-8 carries on directly from events that began in Uncanny X-Force #14

    Reply

  2. Jamie B says

    Uncanny X-Men Special (2014) comes after Original Sin for both Iron Man and Nova, so it should for the X-Men too.

    Reply

    • Jamie B says

      The crossover annual between Uncanny X-Men and All-New X-Men also comes after Original Sin for All-New X-Men as well.

      Reply

      • Jamie B says

        That’s harder to place though, seeing as the All-New X-Men part seemingly comes after Original Sin and yet the annuals reveal events that happened during issue #17 of Uncanny X-Men

        Reply

  3. Jamie B says

    The Original Sin tie in issues for Uncanny X-Men are actually in ‘Vol 4: Vs. SHIELD’ with issues #23-25, not in ‘Vol. 5: The Omega Mutant’

    Reply

  4. Jamie B says

    Due to the appearance of Eva Bell, the Uncanny X-Men special would have to take place before she travelled through time and aged, so prior to Uncanny X-Men (2013) #17

    The holograms of the Avengers in issue #26, mental illusion of them in #27 and on the cover of #29 are clearly of the team prior to Axis but despite the solicit for Uncanny X-Men (2013) #30 and 31 stating that it deals with the fallout from Axis, the storyline begun in Original Sin doesn’t end until #31 when the events of those issues get erased. #32 places itself very clearly after Axis though.

    Reply

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