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Your Guide to Comic Reading Orders

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New timelines

Secret Wars

Secret Wars

Marvel Comics
1994-2015

Heroes and villains are drawn into battles on alien worlds, manipulated by cosmic forces, entangled in secret missions.

In 5 parts
440 Issues
128 Essential
Completist Reading Time
198 hours
Dark Nights: Metal to Death Metal

Dark Nights: Metal to Death Metal

DC Comics
2017-2021

A forbidden discovery unleashes the Dark Multiverse, leading to a villain-fueled uprising that fractures the DC Universe and culminates in a cosmic war to reset reality itself.

In 9 parts
265 Issues
85 Essential
Completist Reading Time
154 hours
Fantastic Four by Four

Fantastic Four by Four

Marvel Comics
1981-2012

A timeline of Fantastic Four reading orders centered on four of the most influential FF authors - each a jump on point for any new FF readers. Follow the team’s evolution through Byrne’s character-driven reinvention, Simonson’s cosmic epics, Waid’s emotional re-grounding, and Hickman’s multiversal saga of legacy and destiny.

In 4 parts
182 Issues
182 Essential
Completist Reading Time
86 hours

New event reading orders

Ultimate Universe: Year 1

Ultimate Universe: Year 1

Marvel Comics
2023

Reimagining iconic heroes within a radically altered reality shaped by the Maker, where figures like Iron Lad, Doom, and a mature Peter Parker rise to challenge a world where heroism was suppressed before it could begin.

43 Issues
43 Essential
Completist Reading Time
22 hours
Main Teams/Characters
Ultimate Spider-Man, The Ultimates, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Black Panther, The Maker
Event Type
Arc
Dark Nights: Death Metal

Dark Nights: Death Metal

DC Comics
2020

In a warped, dying universe ruled by the Batman Who Laughs, the heroes of Earth mount a final rebellion to restore hope and reboot the multiverse.

24 Issues
13 Essential
Completist Reading Time
18 hours
Main Teams/Characters
Wonder Woman, Justice League, The Batman Who Laughs
Event Type
Crisis
Secret Wars (2015)

Secret Wars (2015)

Marvel Comics
2015

The multiverse collapses into a patchwork world ruled by godlike power, where remnants of realities clash for dominance and survival.

246 Issues
10 Essential
Completist Reading Time
99 hours
Main Teams/Characters
All major Marvel characters!
Event Type
Crossover
Blackest Night

Blackest Night

DC Comics
2009

The dead will rise as Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps face their darkest hour. To get the full benefit of this awesome event, we recommend you read the whole Geoff Johns' Green Lantern run (full reading order coming soon).

81 Issues
28 Essential
Completist Reading Time
44 hours
Main Teams/Characters
Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps
Event Type
Crossover
Joker: Last Laugh

Joker: Last Laugh

DC Comics
2001

The Joker, believing he is terminally ill, orchestrates a massive breakout from the Slab penitentiary, unleashing a wave of chaos by “jokerizing” fellow supervillains with his venom to spread madness across the DC Universe.

32 Issues
6 Essential
Completist Reading Time
25 hours
Main Teams/Characters
The Joker, All major DC characters!
Event Type
Crossover

New collection summaries

Green Lantern

Green Lantern

This page brings together the key collected editions from across Green Lantern’s history. Each era is a great place to dive in, depending on what you're looking for. Not sure where to start? We recommend kicking things off with the Geoff Johns era (2005) — it's a fan-favorite and a fantastic entry point. Enjoy exploring the cosmos!

Justice League

Justice League

This page gathers the essential collected editions from Justice League history, spanning every major era of the team. Whether you're into multiversal crises, political intrigue, or classic super-heroics, each era is a starting point for you. New to the League? We recommend jumping into the New 52 era (2011) or the Grant Morrison run (1997). Dive in and discover why they're called the World's Greatest Super-Heroes!