A comprehensive guide to every comic book series in Marvel Comics’ 2018 Fresh Start era. Part of Crushing Krisis’s Crushing Comics. Updated May 2018.
What is Marvel’s Fresh Start?
Marvel Fresh Start represents an era of Marvel’s comic line that began officially with Avengers (2018) #1 in May 2018, but also informally includes several series launches in the months leading up to that kickoff.
Titles did not carry an explicit “Fresh Start” banner or trade dress, so for some titles the beginning of Fresh start is approximate.
In continuity, Fresh Start does not coincide with the end of a specific event or an inciting incident.
There are a few specific story beats that precede it, including (roughly in order) the resurrection of Las Vegas in Doctor Strange: Damnation, the return of Hulk in Avengers: No Surrender, the return of Tony Stark at the end of Invincible Iron Man, and the death of Mighty Thor (which is chronologically the final plot beat of Marvel Legacy, since Thor appears in many of those other stories).
Marvel Fresh Start isn’t associated with any specific new storyline, but it mirrors DC Rebirth in that it returns the focus to a recognizable core of Marvel heroes and titles that have mostly been well-known for decades with a few exceptions.
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At the time of this writing, we’re still very early in Marvel Fresh Start with only a handful of titles released and three months of future titles solicited. It usually takes between six months and a year of solicitations for the true scope of a Marvel era to become evident. That could include realizing that some series fit entirely into the prior era, that runs have different breaking points that I’ve chosen here, or that entire lines of titles should be differently grouped.
Avengers Titles: Avengers, Black Panther, Captain America, Doctor Strange, The Life of Captain Marvel, Quicksilver: No Surrender, Thor, Tony Stark: Iron Man, Wakanda Forever, West Coast Avengers
Spider-Titles: Amazing Spider-Man, Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows, Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider, Edge of Spider-Geddon, Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, Spider-Man Annual, Spider-Man/Deadpool, Venom, Venom: First Host, Web of Venom: Ve’nam
X-Men Titles: Astonishing X-Men, Cable and Deadpool Annual, Domino, Exiles, Extermination, Hunt For Wolverine (various), Multiple Man, Old Man Logan, Weapon X, Wolverine, X-23, X-Men Blue, X-Men Gold, X-Men Red, X-Men: Grand Design
Solo Hero Titles: Ant-Man and the Wasp, Cosmic Ghost Rider, Daredevil, Deadpool, Deadpool: Assassin, Immortal Hulk, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, Old Man Hawkeye, Punisher, Sentry, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Weapon H
Team Titles: Champions, Death of the Inhumans, Fantastic Four, Infinity Wars, Runaways
Marvel Fresh Start Titles
Avengers Titles
Jason Aaron’s relaunched Avengers team includes the core members Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Captain Marvel, and Black Panther, so all of their ongoing titles are grouped here as part of the Avengers line. Doctor Strange may be a temporary member, based on initial marketing.
Avengers (2018) #1 (ongoing): Avengers Flagships (2010-Present)
Launched by: Jason Aaron and Ed McGuinness
Continues from: The last preceding story was Avengers “No Surrender,” but as with the start of Avengers in Now and ANAD Marvel, this does not require any foreknowledge to step into. It also connects to scenes from Aaron’s Marvel Legacy #1.
The cast includes a core of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, and She-Hulk, with other heroes rotating in and out of the team – including Doctor Strange and Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes).
Black Panther (2018) #1 (ongoing): Black Panther
Launched by: Ta-Nehisi Coates and Daniel Acuña
Continues from: Black Panther (2017) #172 ended “Season 2” of Coates’s run. This also draws from Black Panther scenes in Marvel Legacy #1 (and also hints as far back as Hickman’s New Avengers #1) in that it launches “The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda.” This comic opens with Black Panther on a deep space mission to avert the conquering ways of Wakanda’s long-lost colony.
Captain America (2018) #1 (ongoing): Captain America
Launched by: Ta-Nehisi Coates and Leinil Yu
Continues from: Captain America (2017) #704. This run starts with a fresh concept – Cap battling the rise of a new group called “Power Elite.”
Doctor Strange (2018) #1 (ongoing): Doctor Strange
Launched by: Mark Waid and Jesus Saiz
Continues from: Doctor Strange (2017) #390 (and Damnation, just before that). Issue #390 was a sort of continuity reset for Strange after his ANAD Marvel adventures – the world is full of magic again, Las Vegas is no longer destroyed, he is back on Bleeker Street as the sorcerer supreme, and his sidekick slash romantic interest is written out of the book. Like Black Panther, Strange is also taking to space in his new book – in his case, to connect to a different kind of magic.
The Life of Captain Marvel (2018) #1-5: Captain Marvel
Launched by: Margaret Stohl and Carlos Pacheco
Continues from: This is an origin story that does not continue directly from the prior volume. In present-day continuity, Captain Marvel is appearing in Infinity Wars.
Quicksilver: No Surrender (2018) #1-5: Avengers Flagships (2010-Present)
Launched by: Saladin Ahmed and Eric Nguyen
Continues from: The Avengers “No Surrender” storyline that ended Marvel Legacy. This series literally takes place in a moment in time for Quicksilver, though it’s a moment that all of his teammates assumed lead to his death! Where did he disappear to? This limited series tells the tale.
Thor (2018) #1 (ongoing): Thor
Launched by: Jason Aaron and Mike Del Mundo
Continues from: The Mighty Thor (2017) #706 and the Mighty Thor: At the Gates of Valhalla (2018) one-shot resolve the story of the female Thor and brought Odinson back to the center of the Thor story. This run finds Odinson back in the starring role as Makelith continues his campaign to rule all ten realms, but it’s not beginning as a direct continuation of the Makelith story. Instead, it begins with Thor chasing down mystical artifacts of Asgard which have been scattered Ecross earth.
Tony Stark: Iron Man (2018) #1 (ongoing): Iron Man
Launched by: Dan Slott and Valerio Schiti
Continues from: Tony Stark’s return in Invincible Iron Man (2017) #600. Riri Williams continues to star in Champions. A freshly-scarred Doctor Doom has yet to turn up as of this writing, but may wind up in Fantastic Four.
Wakanda Forever: Amazing Spider-Man #1, X-Men #1, Avengers #1: Black Panther
Launched by: Nnedi Okoafor and various artists
Continues from: This three-part Dora Milaje story likely begins sometime after Black Panther #172 and will likely give us a view of what is going on for Wakanda on Earth while T’Challa is amongst the stars.
West Coast Avengers (2018) #1 (ongoing): Avengers West Coast
Launched by: Kelly Thompson and Stefano Caselli
Continues from: Hawkeye (2017) #16 for Kate Bishop, “Avengers: No Surrender” for Clint Barton, The Unbelievable Gwenpool (2016) #25 for Gwenpool, and Generation X (2017) #87 for Quentin Quire. This pitch finds the youthful team in something like a mockumentary setting.
Spider-Titles
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #1 (ongoing): Spider-Man
Launched by: Nick Spencer and Ryan Ottley
Continues from: Amazing Spider-Man (2017) #801, the final issue of Dan Slott’s run. Spencer will be starting from scratch with a relatively blank slate, as Slott broke down many of his plots to leave Peter Parker back in a recognizable underdog situation.
Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows (2016) #19 (ongoing)
Launched by: Jody Houser and Scott Koblish
Continues from: Issue #18, which was the end of the previous arc.
Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider (2017) #21 (ongoing)
Launched by: Peter David and Will Sliney
Continues from: Issue #20, which was the final issue of the Volume 4 collected edition. This run continues Ben’s quest to find Kaine.
Edge of Spider-Geddon (2018) #1-4: Spider-Man
Launched by: Various
Continues from: This anthology series is the prequel to a late-2018 Spider-Event.
Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (2017) #308 (ongoing): Spider-Man
Launched by: Chip Zdarsky and Chris Bachalo & Adam Kubert
Continues from: Issue #307, which was solicited as “the end of year one” of this title. This new run begins with a Sandman story.
Spider-Man Annual 1: Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Launched by: Bryan Edward Hill and Nelson Blake II with Mark Bagley
Continues from: Spider-Man (2017) #240, which was the end of Brian Bendis’s run on Miles Morales. Miles also appears in Champions.
Spider-Man/Deadpool (2016) TBA: Spider-Man or Deadpool
Launched by: Robbie Thompson
Continues from: The most-recent collected edition of this title is solicited to include issues #34-39. Until we see those issues (and if an issue #40 is solicited), we don’t know what the beginning of Fresh Start will be.
Venom (2018) #1 (ongoing): Venom
Launched by: Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman
Continues from: Venom (2017) #165 and Venomized (2018) #1-5. This new run explores the revelations that Venom wasn’t the first alien symbiote to land on Earth.
Venom: First Host (2018) #1-5: Venom
Launched by: Mike Costa and Mark Bagley
Continues from: This is a standalone mini-series, though it seems to follow information we learn in Venom (2018) #1
Web of Venom: Ve’nam (2018) One-Shot: Venom
Launched by: Donny Cates and Juanan Ramirez
Continues from: This is a flashback story that expands on information in Venom (2018) #1.
X-Men Titles
All of the X-Men team titles continue into Fresh Start without an announced renumbering, although we are getting new series for Domino, X-23, and Wolverine.
Astonishing X-Men (2017) #13 (ongoing): Astonishing & Amazing X-Men
Launched by: Matthew Rosenberg and Greg Land
Continues from: Astonishing X-Men #12, although this is a completely new team and story from the Charles Soule arc of the first twelve issues. The initial line-up includes Beast, Dazzler, Colossus, Havok, and Warpath. Can the team trust Havok after he spent years with his personality reversed due to Axis? And what do a reformed Reavers want?
Cable and Deadpool Annual 1: Deadpool
Launched by: David F. Walker and Paco Diaz
Continues from: This appears to continue from Despicable Deadpool #300, though not directly.
Dazzler: X-Song (2018) One-Shot: Dazzler
Launched by: Magdalene Visaggio and Laura Braga
Continues from: Dazzler has not appeared regularly in a Marvel Legacy X-Men title. In fact, this was originally solicited as “Dazzler #43” in Marvel Legacy as one of their one-shot continuations of classic series. Now, this likely ties in to (or, at least, promotes) her return in Astonishing X-Men.
Domino (2018) #1 (ongoing)
Launched by: Gail Simone and David Baldeon
Continues from: Domino likely starts here from either Weapon X #16 or #21. This follows her solo mercenary missions with Outlaw and Diamondback, one of which might have been a set-up meant to put an end to Domino…
Exiles (2018) #1 (ongoing): Exiles
Launched by: Saladin Ahmed and Rod Reis
Continues from: None of this team have appeared recently in other comics – Blink, an old version of Kamala Khan, a movie-esque version of Valkyrie, a cartoonish Wolverine, and more.
Extermination (2018) #1-5: X-Men Limited Series
Launched by: Ed Brisson and Peppe Larraz
Continues from: This is the pivotal end-game for the time-displaced original X-Men team, though it’s not yet clear what issue of X-Men Blue it will continue from – some point after the resolution of Venomized.
Hunt For Wolverine (various): Wolverine
This event begins in a Hunt For Wolverine One-Shot before splitting into four concurrent four-issue mini-series – Adamantium Agenda (by Tom Taylor and R.B. Silva), Claws of a Killer (by Mariko Tamaki and Butch Guice), Mystery in Madripoor (by Jim Zub and Thony Silas), and Weapon Lost (by Charles Soule and Matteo Buffagni) before resolving in Hunt For Wolverine: Dead Ends One-Shot.
Multiple Man (2018) #1-5: X-Men Limited Series
Launched by: Matthew Rosenberg and Andy MacDonald
Continues from: Multiple Man was last seen (briefly) in Death of X, and this series follows up on where we left Jamie Madrox – presumed dead!
Old Man Logan (2015) #41 (ongoing): Wolverine
Launched by: Ed Brisson and Franscesco Manna
Continues from: Old Man Logan (2015) #40. This series continues at least through #46 in August of 2018, which is the final issue of the currently-solicited Volume 9. If that proves to be the final issue, I’ll move this entry back to Legacy.
Weapon X (2017) #22 (ongoing): Wolverine
Launched by: Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente and Yildiray Cinar
Continues from: Issue #21 is the final issue before a new team is introduced, as lead by Sabretooth. If this runs only one arc into Fresh Start I will move this entry back to Legacy.
Wolverine (2018) #1 (ongoing): Wolverine
Launched by: TBA
Continues from: Various “Hunt for Wolverine” series, above.
X-23 (2018) #1 (ongoing): X-23
Launched by: Mariko Tamaki and Juan Cabal
Continues from: All-New Wolverine (2016) #35, although Laura also ostensibly appears in X-Men Red #1-5 and some of “Hunt for Wolverine” prior to this series.
X-Classified (2018) #1 (ongoing): TBA
Launched by: TBA
Continues from: TBA. Marvel says we’ll learn more about this title in June 2018.
X-Men Blue (2017) #29 (ongoing): X-Men Flagships (2010-present)
Launched by: Cullen Bunn
Continues from: Both X-Men Blue (2017) #28 and Venomized (2018) #5. With the young X-Men cast seemingly beginning their return home (or other removal) in Extermination, this title will be anchored by Magneto and Polaris, along with their team of mutants including Bloodstorm (Storm from Mutant X), Jimmy Hudson (Wolverine’s son from Ultimate Marvel), Daken, Briar Rose, Danger, and more.
X-Men Gold (2017) #31 (ongoing): X-Men Flagships (2010-present)
Launched by: Marc Guggenheim
Continues from: X-Men Gold #30, the wedding issue. The core team in this title is lead by Kitty Pryde and includes Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Rachel Summers, with frequent additions including Rogue, Iceman, Ink, Armor, Magma, the new Pyro, and more!
X-Men Red (2018) #1 (ongoing): X-Men Flagships (2010-present)
Launched by: Tom Taylor
Continues from: While the first arc of X-Men Red began definitively in the Marvel Legacy period, it is mostly set three months in the future from its earliest events, which likely means we can read it as existing entirely within Fresh Start. In terms of publishing schedule, issue #6 begins the second arc of this title and lines up with other Fresh Start releases. The team is lead by Jean Grey and includes Nightcrawler, X-23, Honey Badger, Namor, and a new character named Trinary.
X-Men: Grand Design – Second Genesis (2018) #1-2: X-Men Limited Series
Launched by: Ed Piskor
Continues from: X-Men Grand Design (2018) #1-2. These are the middle chapters special series by Ed Piskor which streamlines all of the X-Men’s continuity from 1963 to 1991 into a single epic story. These issues cover from Giant Size X-Men to somewhere around Uncanny X-Men #175.
Solo Hero Titles
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) #1-5
Launched by: Mark Waid and Javier Garron
Continues from: Nadia Pym as Wasp last appeared in Avengers “No Surrender” and continues to appear in Champions. Scott Lang as Ant-Man is currently starring in Infinity Countdown as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Cosmic Ghost Rider (2018) #1-5: Ghost Rider
Launched by: Donny Cates and Dylan Burnett
Continues from: Thanos (2016) #18 & Annual 1. This comic seems to be extending Cosmic Ghost Rider’s story from where we last saw him.
Daredevil (2017) #601 (ongoing): Daredevil
Launched by: Charles Soule and Phil Noto
Continues from: While issue #601 is not explicitly part of Fresh Start, it’s the end of a lengthy arc and Ron Garney’s final issue on the title. Unless it turns out that this new run does not extend past one arc, it seems as though it will fit into Fresh Start.
Deadpool (2018) #1 (ongoing): Deadpool
Launched by: Skottie Young and Nic Klein
Continues from: Despicable Deadpool (2017) #300. Based on the end of that Gerry Duggan run, Deadpool is back to basics as a merc-for-hire in this run.
Deadpool: Assassin (2018) #1-6: Deadpool
Launched by: Cullen Bunn and Mark Bagley
Continues from: Despicable Deadpool (2017) #300.
Immortal Hulk (2018) #1 (ongoing): Hulk
Launched by: Al Ewing and Joe Bennett
Continues from: The end of “No Surrender” in Avengers (2017) #690. In that story, we see Hulk cheat death once again, which leads Banner to realize his alter-ego is a different kind of monster – not just a monster made of rage, but one who is literally undead!
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2016) TBA (ongoing): Devil Dinosaur
Launched by: Brandon Montclare and Natacha Bustos
Continues from: This title continues uninterrupted from Marvel Legacy; the Volume 5 collected edition ends with issue #30.
Moon Knight (2017) TBA (ongoing): Moon Knight
Launched by: Max Bemis and Jacen Burrows
Continues from: It is not clear if this Marvel Legacy renumbered run will continue past issue #200, so we cannot yet say if this is a part of Fresh Start.
Ms. Marvel (2015) TBA (ongoing): Ms. Marvel
Launched by: G. Willow Wilson
Continues from: This title continues uninterrupted from Marvel Legacy; the first Fresh Start issue may be either #31 or #35.
Old Man Hawkeye #1-12: Hawkeye
Launched by: Ethan Sacks and Marco Checchetto
Continues from: This series set in the Old Man Logan future began during Marvel Legacy.
Punisher (2018) #1 (ongoing): Punisher
Launched by: Matthew Rosenberg and Riccardo Burchielli
Continues from: Punisher (2017) #228. Matthew Rosenberg is one of the few writers to be continuing his run on a character onto a new #1 in Fresh Start. It promises to take Frank Castle back to basics after he spent Marvel Legacy in the War Machine armor, but also that his time as super-powered anti-hero inspired him to think bigger when it comes to his targets.
Sentry (2018) #1 (ongoing): Sentry
Launched by: Jeff Lemire and Kim Jacinto
Continues from: Sentry last appeared in Doctor Strange #382-385, the final arc prior to Damnation. This series will explore his Superman/Clark Kenth dichotomy for the first time in the present day.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015) #32 (ongoing): Squirrel Girl
Launched by: Ryan North and Derek Charm
Continues from: While issue #32 wasn’t explicitly part of the Fresh Start period, launch artist Erica Henderson’s final issue was #31.
Weapon H (2018) #1 (ongoing)
Launched by: Greg Pak
Continues from: Weapon H launched just ahead of Fresh Start, but for all intents is a Fresh Start series – since it has no obvious connections to Legacy continuity. Weapon H is a new character created from cloned DNA from the Weapon X team and the Hulk just prior to Marvel Legacy in the “Weapons of Mutant Destruction” story arc. He is on the run from the para-military for-profit corporation that spawned him.
Team Titles
Champions (2016) #19 (ongoing): Champions
Launched by: Jim Zub and Kevin Libranda
Continues from: Issue #18 is the final Mark Waid and Humbert Ramos issue, which makes #19 a clean place to pick up this title. It’s also a line-up change! The new line-up is Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Hulk (Amadeus Cho), Nova (Sam Alexander), Miles Morales (Spider-Man), Viv (the daughter of Vision), Ironheart (Riri Williams), Wasp (Nadia Pym), Snowguard.
Death of The Inhumans (2018) #1-5: Inhumans
Launched by: Donny Cates and Ariel Olivetti
Continues from: The two final Inhumans issues prior to this one were Inhumans: Judgment Day and Black Bolt #12. This appears to feature the full royal family and many of the supporting players invented in Charles Soule’s Inhumans, but it is unclear if it will also feature other Inhumans like Ms. Marvel and Moon Girl.
Fantastic Four (2018) #1 (ongoing): Fantastic Four
Launched by: Dan Slott and Sara Pichelli
Continues from: Marvel 2-in-One, though it is currently unclear where that series will end for this to begin.
Infinity Wars (2018) #1-6: Marvel Universe Events
Launched by: Gerry Duggan and Make Deodato JR
Continues from: This major summer event is effectively the Guardians of the Galaxy title to launch Fresh Start, as the entire team appears here – Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, and Nova. This event appears to be mostly self-contained in its own series, as opposed to lead-in Infinity Countdown, which spawned several tie-ins.
Runaways (2017) TBA (ongoing): Runaways
Launched by: Rainbow Rowell and Kris Anka
Continues from: A second arc of Runaways ends with issue #12 with no #13 solicited as of this writing. If the series continues, #13 should mark the beginning of Fresh Start. This version of Runaways stars all of the major characters associated with the team Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Victor Mancha, Nico Minoru, Chase Stein, and Gertrude Yorkes.
