Marvel Modern Age Reading Order
Part 3: Out of the Frying Pan
Fantastic Four #289 Cover
Part 3.1: Beyond the Beyonder
The Beyonder may no longer be a threat but our heroes are still picking up the pieces after he almost destroyed the planet. In these books, taking place in the days and weeks immediately after Secret Wars II, the X-Men have been temporarily displaced in San Fransisco, Thor struggles to regain his humanity, and a threat begins to brew in the corners of the mutant community that will soon make the Beyonder look like a minor annoyance in comparison.
Reading Order:
Uncanny X-Men #204, 206
Vision and the Scarlet Witch #7
Alpha Flight #30 – #34
Uncanny X-Men #205
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #112
Daredevil #227 – #229
Power Pack #20
New Mutants #38 – #42
Longshot #1 – #6
Thor #364 – #366
Balder the Brave #3 – #4
Fantastic Four #289 – #292
West Coast Avengers #6 – #9
Thor #367 – #372
Related Collections:
Amazing Spider-Man #279 Cover
Part 3.2: Missing in Action
It’s time once again to check back in on everyone’s favorite Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, but Peter isn’t feeling so friendly these days. Between an apartment fire, girl troubles, and the revelation that a close friend may be the Hobgoblin, Spider-Man isn’t given a chance to rest after Secret Wars II. What’s more, his supporting cast has to get along without him for awhile as Peter goes missing in action on a photography assignment. All this while his friend and colleague Daredevil deals with the ramifications of Kingpin discovering his secret identity.
Reading Order:
Daredevil #230
Amazing Spider-Man #275 – #277
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #113 – #114
Web of Spider-Man #14 – #15
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #115 – #116
Captain America #316 – #320
The Punisher (1986) #1 – #5
Amazing Spider-Man #278
Web of Spider-Man Annual #2
Web of Spider-Man #16 – #17
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #117
Amazing Spider-Man #279
Web of Spider-Man #18 – #23
X-Factor #2 – #7
Iron Man #205 – #211
Iron Man Annual #8
Daredevil #231 – #235
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #118
Amazing Spider-Man #280 – #282
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #119 – #120, #130, #121
Web of Spider-Man #24 – #28
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #20
Uncanny X-Men #213 Cover
Part 3.3: Mutant Massacre
If the X-Men are distrusted by society the sewer-dwelling mutants known as the Morlocks are downright shunned. And now someone or something is killing them, picking them off one by one in a bloody event that can only be called the Mutant Massacre. This crossover storyline sees all three mutant teams of the X-Men, X-Factor, and New Mutants, converge in the dark depths of New York City to confront a sinister threat that will plague them for years to come.
Reading Order:
New Mutants #43 – #45
New Mutants Annual #2
X-Men Annual #10
Power Pack #21 – #25
Uncanny X-Men #207 – #208
X-Factor Annual #1
X-Factor #8
Uncanny X-Men #209 – #210
Power Pack #26
X-Factor #9
Uncanny X-Men #211
X-Factor #10
Thor #373
New Mutants #46
Power Pack #27
Uncanny X-Men #212
Thor #374
X-Factor #11
Uncanny X-Men #213 – #214
New Mutants #47 – #50
Power Pack #28
X-Factor #12
Power Pack #29 – #32
Uncanny X-Men #215 – #216
Related Collections:
Avengers #272 Cover
Part 3.4: Job Hopping
We take a break from mutants to focus on the Avengers and Fantastic Four as several members find themselves taking on new roles and responsibilities. The Vision and Scarlet Witch take a break from the superhero life to give parenting a try, and Captain America sets up his own hotline to tackle crimes across the country. The Thing gives up his wrestling gig and goes off the grid, and the Fantastic Four make one last attempt to reconnect with him. Meanwhile the Avengers roster undergoes a minor change as Namor leaves the team to meet up with Alpha Flight as they confront the warlord Attuma.
Reading Order:
Vision and the Scarlet Witch #8 – #11
Incredible Hulk Annual #14
Comet Man #1 – #3
Incredible Hulk #314 – #324
The Thing #32 – #36
West Coast Avengers #10
Fantastic Four #293 – #295
West Coast Avengers #11 – #13
Vision and the Scarlet Witch #12
Dakota North #1 – #5
Moon Knight (1985) #1 – #6
Iron Man #212 – #213
Avengers #267 – #269
Alpha Flight #35 – #36
Avengers #270 – #271
Alpha Flight #37 – #39
Avengers #272
Alpha Flight #40 – #50
Avengers Annual #15
West Coast Avengers Annual #1
Iron Man #214 – #224
Incredible Hulk #325 – #335
Captain America #321 – #326
Daredevil #236 – #247
West Coast Avengers #14 – #15
Avengers #273 – #274
Amazing Spider-Man #283
Avengers #275 – #277
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #122
Amazing Spider-Man #284 – #286
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #123 – #127
Amazing Spider-Man #287 – #288
Fantastic Four #296 – #300
Comet Man #4 – #6
West Coast Avengers #16 – #24
X-Factor #25 Cover
Part 3.5: Fall of the Mutants
Still reeling from the events of the Mutant Massacre, the mutant community has little time to breathe as three separate but cataclysmic events cause each of the three significant teams to undergo drastic changes. X-Factor loses a member only to be confronted by them in a deadly new form under the thrall of Apocalypse. The New Mutants attempt to rescue a peculiar mutant only to lose one of their own in the process. And the X-Men confront the evil entity known only as Adversary in a showdown that leaves the planet wondering if the team has been permanently disbanded. Welcome to the Fall of the Mutants!
Reading Order:
Uncanny X-Men #217 – #218
Thor #375 – #376, #383
Mephisto Vs. #1-3
New Mutants #51 – #52
New Mutants Annual #3
Fallen Angels #1
X-Factor #13 – #15
Thor #377 – #378
Silver Surfer (1987) #1
Avengers #278 – #279
Fantastic Four #301 – #304
Avengers #280 – #285
Fallen Angels #2
X-Factor #16
Fall Angels #3
X-Factor #17
Thor #379 – #380
Mephisto Vs. #4
Thor #381 – #382
Silver Surfer #2
West Coast Avengers Annual #2
Avengers Annual #16
Silver Surfer #3
West Coast Avengers #25 – #30
Silver Surfer #4
Captain America #327 – #331
Fantastic Four #305
Fantastic Four Annual #20
Fantastic Four #306 – #307
Captain America #332 – #334
Cloak and Dagger #5 – #11
Doctor Strange #75 – #81
New Mutants #53 – #54
Fallen Angels #4 – #8
Power Pack #33
X-Factor #18 – #20
Incredible Hulk #336 – #339
New Mutants #55 – #57
Uncanny X-Men #219
Uncanny X-Men Annual #11
Daredevil #248 – #251
Spider-Man Versus Wolverine #1
Amazing Spider-Man #289
Web of Spider-Man #29 – #30
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #128 – #129
Amazing Spider-Man #290 – #292
Amazing Spider-Man-Man Annual #21
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #7
Web of Spider-Man #31
Amazing Spider-Man #293
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #131
Web of Spider-Man #32
Amazing Spider-Man #294
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #132
Web of Spider-Man #33
Amazing Spider-Man #295
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #133 – #136
Web of Spider-Man #34 – #37
Amazing Spider-Man #296 – #297
Strange Tales (1987) #1 – #11
Uncanny X-Men #220 – #224
X-Factor #21 – #23
Captain America #335 – #338
Iron Man #225 – #227
Power Pack #34
X-Factor Annual #2
New Mutants #58
Incredible Hulk #340
Uncanny X-Men #225 – #226
New Mutants #59 – #60
X-Factor #24 – #25
Daredevil #252
Amazing Spider-Man #298
New Mutants #61
Uncanny X-Men #227
Captain America #339
Power Pack #35
X-Factor #26
Power Pack #36
Fantastic Four #308 – #312
Web of Spider-Man #38
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #137
Amazing Spider-Man #299 – #300
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #138
Daredevil #253
X-Factor #27
Related Collections: