The Avengers Reading Order

UPDATED: May 8, 2019
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This reading order aims to provide the most comprehensive reading order for the Avengers in the Marvel 616 Universe.  If you are completely new to comics, consider reading our beginner’s guide to comics before going further.

Avengers Reading Order from Thor’s Early Adventures to Marvel Legacy and Fresh Start

The Avengers has been in publication since 1963, with its core members going back even longer, and has seen an incredible amount of various series and volumes since that time.  The table below provides a glimpse of the publication history for this character (though the reading order is fare more comprehensive).

Avengers series Other Avengers series Past Core Member series More Core Member series Important Mini-Series
Current Core Series

Current Members’ Series

Past

 Past

Captain America

Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel

 Iron Man

Thor

Notable Solo Avengers Runs

It is important to note that are other Avengers stories not considered within the 616 Universe that are not included here.  The most notable of which is the Ultimates, a modern but different version of the character that is highly praised, and has its own seperate reading order.

Reading Order Basics

  • – This order was born out of a number of other reading lists and my own experience, which was then extremely influenced by user recommendations and my own back issue reading.  It is fluid and probably never complete.
  • – The order contains a list of issues featuring the Avengers and are considered “canon”, and issues only appear once in the list at the most appropriate place to read said issue.
  • – This list is combined list for the Avengers as well all Captain America, Iron Man and Thor comics.  For issues with only official Avengers appearance, search “Avengers” in the box above the order.
  • – Flashbacks aren’t placed chronologically, but within the timeframe it is best read (usually closer to its actual publication).
  • – Cameos that aren’t essential to the characters aren’t necessarily included.
  • – The numbering of the order is based on their position relative to the effective number of the initial series.  Numbers are subject to change as updates arrive.
  • – Unfortunately, changes aren’t tracked.  Archives of older list can be found here.
  • – If you want a digital copy of this list, you can easily copy by printing to a PDF or copying and pasting the data into your own spreadsheet or text file.
  • – The links on the issue should lead you to that issue’s entry at Mycomicshop.com and is a good place to see the cover and other details.  Buying from that link helps support this site.  Occasionally, we place other links like HC or TP which link to the collected edition containing that issue.
  • – Reprints aren’t included (which is why some issues, like Giant-Size Avengers #5, aren’t present)
  • – New comics won’t be added frequently (too time-consuming and constantly in flux anyways).  No need to ask when I will update to add in the latest releases; it’ll happen sometime, but not in any frequency to depend on the list to read your new issues. If you read new comics, both single issues and trades, then just read them as they come out.
  • – Request, questions and updates: If you have any changes to request, please do so by commenting on the latest blog post or by using the contact form.  You can also ask me a question on Tumblr.

(Am I boring you?  Want to get on with it already? Go directly to the Avengers reading order)

How to Get Started Reading The Avengers

First, it is not recommended to read every issue in this list.

The medium was conceived as being disposable, and the incredible amount of stories created since has left the task of reading everything nearly possible and, quite frankly, unrewarding.  Reading all this would be the equivalent of “binge-watching” General Hospital.  It’s better to consider comics as being modular; each reader has their own “order” based on what they have read or want/expect to read, and they all can base that order on where those issue are found here.

There are different ways to jump in to reading the Avengers depending on your interests and intentions.  We offer a variety of ways to jump in that new readers can use to make their own reading list.  Some may find the original a historical treasure, while others might not be able to get over how dialogue was written in the 60’s.  Some want to jump into current comics, while others just want to read the “good stuff”.  Here are some of our recommendations according to a few key profiles of readers:

Where It All Started A Classic Story Fan Favorite The Last Complete Run The Current Run
Avengers Volume 1 Kree Skrull War Korvac Saga New Avengers by Bendis Avengers World by Hickman

Using the reading order

If you skipped directly to this part, it’s important that I mention again that you should use this list to make your own list rather than try to read everything.  Filters can help you research the list or pare down the list by search for creators, characters or event names (ex: Civil War for that event’s reading order).


Avengers Reading Order

To remove non-Avengers Captain America, Thor and Iron Man stories, search “Avengers” in the box above the order.

15 thoughts on “The Avengers Reading Order”

  2. This is awesome, thanks for the work you have been doing on all these reading orders, they have saved me time for compiling these reading orders by myself.
    I do have several questions, namely:
    – Do you use all 616 continuity mini series?
    – What series outside the “avengers” titles do you use and plan to use? For instance, Spider-Man has been an Avenger, do you use the Spider-Man series in your reading order as well?
    – How do you treat the comics of former “key-members”, do they apply to the reading order as well? Or are they left out?

    Thanks again for the great work you are doing, keep it up and I will try to keep up my reading order to yours 🙂

    Reply

    1. It’s always a work-in-progress, and I am easily swayed by convincing arguments.

      I would never include all of Spider-Man issues because he is member currently, because it is just too much to include. I would, however, include his Avengers issues in his own reading order. I might eventually add in some relevant Spider-Man books to the Avengers reading order (I’m thinking of the arc just before The Other that focuses greatly on Peter moving into Stark Tower).

      I would consider adding “outside” titles that basically feature an Avenger on a solo adventure (i.e. Hawkeye, Black Widow, current Captain Marvel). There’s no hard and fast rule to it. I mostly put myself in the shoes of a collector buying everything “Avengers” and wanting a reading order. All Black Widow and Carol Danvers appearances are tricky, since at different times they were much more associated to another line (Black Widow in Daredevil and Danvers with the X-Men).

      As for “key members”, it mostly depends how much of their time in comics takes place within the Avengers: Captain America, Thor and Iron Man are all so engrained in the team that I include most of their adventures as well, and in fact this reading order can be filtered for their own reading orders. Again, it goes by feeling, and I hope that any major omissions get picked up by the community.

      For mini-series, I try to include as many as I can. If it isn’t there, more than likely I have no idea where to place it. This is where I invite the community to come in and find missing issues and give us an indication of where it goes.

      Reply

  3. Thank you this is very helpful. One thing to note though: you have captain america #43 before secret invasion, even though #43 takes place after secret invasion and has a panel showing a scene from secret invasion. May want to re-arrange order in that section

    Reply

    1. Thanks! I’ll have to go through those captain america issues again. I didn’t read it concurrently with New Avengers at the time!

      Reply

  4. Would it be possbile to add stars (*) like in the Spider-Man reading order please ? I want to read the Avengers since the beginning but reading everything is impossible, so the “essentials” would be helpful !
    Thanks again for your work.

    Reply

    1. I would love to, but those stars in the Spider-Man reading order took up a better part of that summer (or even year).

      For Avengers, I recommend reading Avengers #1, #4, Behold the vision (57-58?), Kree-Skrull War, Korvac Saga and Under Siege. Then, read all of Busiek and Perez’s run, Bendis’s run and currently Hickman.

      Reply

      1. I understand. Well, if you say those are “must-read” comics concerning the Avengers, I trust you ! But if you think there are more, don’t hesitate to tell me !
        And thanks for your answer 🙂

        Reply

  6. Hello there, greetings from Brazil,

    Congratulations on your reading order, it is awesome. I’ve been reading Avengers comics for 6 months now, following this list, starting with Disassembled, and it has been great.
    I have a sugestion, why don’t u add the series “The Sentry – Under the Eye of the Clock”, from 2005-06 ?
    It is pretty relevant, since The Sentry was a member of the avengers at that time and it introduces the “cloc”, which Iron Man uses to “defeat” The Sentry in Execute Program (2006).
    I think it would be a good idea, since it’s not a bad story. The perfect place for it would be just before Execute Program.

    Other than that, thanks, and keep up the good work!

    Reply

  7. Awesome work guys. But just my luck : I was searching when Wonder Man comes back after his breakdown and his fight with the avengers. And I noticed you haven’t an entry for the New Avengers 2nd series Annual or the Avengers Annual that goes with. That or I couldn’t find it… But thank you for all this really useful work!

    Reply

  8. Hi There!

    I just stumbled across the Warriors Three Complete Collection. If you include the Marvel Fanfare #37 in your list, i would suggest, that you also include Fanfare #34-36.
    Even though Thor isn’t in these issues, they all belong to a common story (by the way: Thor’s appearance in #37 is pretty pointless, but the other issues are quite well…).

    Keep up the good work!

    Reply

  9. Hey man, I love the list. I love finding timelines like these. I love how it’s not just a list of the avengers issues, but you include other heroes stories. It puts together a complete and coherent story that people like me appreciate a great deal. The detail and care you wen to pick the issues also shows a great amount of care and passion you have for this project.

    I don’t know if you still wish to update this project, but it would be fantastic if you revisited this and updated. Thank you for what you’ve done and, hopefully, what you’ll continue to do.

    Reply

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