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Your Guide to Comic Reading Orders

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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
X-Men - The Krakoan Age

X-Men - The Krakoan Age

Marvel Comics
2019-2024

Mutants rise as a unified nation on Krakoa, forever reshaping their destiny!

In 5 parts
3 parts completed
300 Issues (so far)
167 Essential (so far)
Completist Reading Time
166 hours (so far)

New event reading orders

Trials of X

Trials of X

Marvel Comics
2021

Mutantkind is tested as alliances fracture and secrets surface.

80 Issues
41 Essential
Completist Reading Time
45 hours
Main Teams/Characters
X-Men
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
Hickman's Avengers (2013-2015)

Hickman's Avengers (2013-2015)

Marvel Comics
2013

Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers run is an epic, slow-burning saga where Earth’s Mightiest Heroes expand their ranks and confront escalating cosmic threats, secret conspiracies, and a collapsing multiverse on the road to Secret Wars (2015).

99 Issues
94 Essential
Completist Reading Time
48 hours
Main Teams/Characters
The Avengers, New Avengers
Event Type
Arc
Flashpoint

Flashpoint

DC Comics
2011

A timeline shift caused by the Flash creates a fractured world on the brink of collapse, where familiar heroes are twisted and war threatens global annihilation.

78 Issues
9 Essential
Completist Reading Time
42 hours
Main Teams/Characters
The Flash
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

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!