The Marvel Universe 01: Before Recorded History

The Era of Myth and Legendry

Pre-History:

Devil Dinosaur by Jack Kirby
Reprints Devil Dinosaur #1-9 (April 1978 – December 1978).
There is some dispute as to whether Devil Dinosaur and Moon-Boy’s adventures occur on Marvel Earth, or in an alternate dimension (Earth-78411, a.k.a. Dinosaur World). Assuming that it does take place on Earth-616, this is where it would occur.

The Early Tales of Asgard:

Thor: Ages of Thunder
Reprints Thor: Ages of Thunder (June 2008), Thor: Reign of Blood (August 2008), Thor: Man of War (January 2009) & Thor: God-Size Special #1 (February 2009).
The final story in this volume is set in the current continuity, but the majority of it occurs during previous myth cycles, hence its placement here.
Thor: Son Of Asgard, vol.1: The Warriors Teen
Reprints Thor: Son of Asgard #1-6 (May 2004 – September 2004).
Thor: Son of Asgard, vol.2: Worthy
Reprints Thor: Son of Asgard #7-12 (October 2004 – March 2005).
Thor: Tales of Asgard
Reprints backup stories from Journey Into Mystery #97-125 (October 1963 – February 1966) and Thor #126-145 (June 1966 – October 1967).
These stories occur later in Thor’s life, but still prior to the Modern Marvel Era.
Raven Banner: A Tale of Asgard
Marvel Graphic Novel, No. 15 (1985).
The placement of this story historically is unclear, but it appears to occur in the mythic era.

The Thurian Age

Kull lived at around 16,500 BCE, in an otherwise unrecorded era of human history. The tales reprinted in the Savage Sword of Kull volume are assumed to take place later in his career than the Chronicles volumes.
Although the reprints listed here are published by Dark Horse Comics, all the listed Kull volumes are reprints of Marvel Comics stories that take place in the Marvel Universe.
The Chronicles of Kull, vol.1: A King Comes Riding And Other Stories
Reprints Kull stories from Conan the Barbarian #10 (October 1971), Creatures on the Loose! #10 (March 1971), Kull The Conqueror #1-9 (June 1971 — July 1973) and Monsters on the Prowl #16 (April 1972).
The Chronicles of Kull, vol.2: The Hell Beneath Atlantis and Other Stories
Reprints Kull The Conqueror #10 (September 1973) and Reprints Kull The Destroyer #11-20 (November 1973 — April 1977).
The Chronicles of Kull, vol.3: Screams in the Dark and Other Stories
Reprints Kull stories from Conan the Barbarian #25, 68 & Annual 3 (April 1973; November 1976; Annual 1977), Kull The Destroyer #21-29 (June 1977 — October 1978) & The Savage Sword of Conan #16 (October 1974).
The Chronicles of Kull, vol.4: The Blood of Kings and Other Stories
Reprints Kull The Conqueror (Vol 2) #1-2 (December 1982 — March 1983) and Kull The Conqueror (Vol 3) #1-2 (May 1983 — July 1983).
The Chronicles of Kull, vol.5: Dead Men of the Deep and Other Stories
Reprints Kull The Conqueror (Vol 3) #3-10 (December 1983 — June 1985).
The Savage Sword of Kull, vol.1
Reprints Kull stories from Bizarre Adventures #26 (May 1981), Kull and the Barbarians #1-3 (May 1975 – September 1975), Marvel Preview #19 (Summer 1975), The Savage Sword of Conan #1-3, 7, 9, 23, 34, 42-43, 55, 119-122, 124-127 & Annual #1 (August 1974 – December 1974; August 1975; December 1975; October 1977; October 1978; July – August 1979; August 1980; December 1985 – March 1986; May 1986 – August 1986; Annual: 1975) & Savage Tales #2 (October 1973).
The Savage Sword of Kull, vol.2
Reprints Kull stories from The Savage Sword of Conan #128-140, 145, 147-152, 158, 159, 161, 165, 169, 170, 172, 177, 182, 183, 186, 190-193, 196-199, 202, 213, 215 & 229-233 (September 1986 – September 1987; February 1988; April 1988 – September 1988; March 1989; April 1989; June 1989; October 1989; January 1990; February 1990; April 1990; September 1990; February 1991; March 1991; June 1991; October 1991 – January 1992; April 1992 – July 1992; October 1992; September 1993; November 1993; & January 1995 – May 1995); & Conan Saga #97 (April 1995).

The Marvel Universe Reading Order

Earth 616. The main Marvel Universe. The most popular comics universe of all time, home of Spider-Man, the Hulk, Wolverine and the X-Men, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and Stan Lee.

A partial list of alternate timelines to the Marvel Universe can be found here.

Marvel Earth 9997 — Earth X

Earth 9997 in the Marvel Multiverse

Marvels X
Reprints Marvels X #1-6 (March 2020 – December 2020).
Earth X
Reprints Earth X #0-12, X & 1/2 (March 1999 – April 2000, June 2000 & 2000).
Universe X, Vol.1
Reprints Universe X #0-7 (September 2000 – April 2001); Universe X: 4 #1 (October 2000); Universe X: Cap #1 (February 2001); & Universe X: Spidey #1 (January 2001).
Universe X, Vol.2
Reprints Universe X #8-12 & X (May 2001 – September 2001 & November 2001); Universe X: Beasts #1 (June 2001) #1; & Universe X: Iron Men #1 (September 2001).
Paradise X, Vol.1
Reprints Paradise X #0-5 (April 2002 – October 2002); Paradise X: Heralds #1-3 (December 2001 – February 2002); & Paradise X: Xen #1 (July 2002).
Paradise X, Vol.2
Reprints Paradise X #6-12, X & A (December 2002 – August 2003, November 2003 & October 2003); Paradise X: Devils #1 (November 2002); & Paradise X: Ragnarok #1-2 (March 2003 – April 2003).
Earth X Trilogy Companion
Reprints Earth X #1/2 (2000); & assorted supplementary materials unavailable elsewhere.

The GrimJack Reading Order

John Ostrander and Tim Truman’s legendary comic series

GrimJack: Killer Instinct
Reprints Grimjack: Killer Instinct #1-6 (August 2009 – January 2010).
GrimJack: The Manx Cat
Reprints Grimjack: The Manx Cat #1-6 (January 2005 – June 2005).
These two volumes, although the most recently released stories, are prequels to the original series that is reprinted in the Legend of GrimJack volumes.
The Legend of GrimJack, vol.1
Reprints Starslayer #10-18 (December 1983 – July 1984, Grimjack stories only; also includes a new framing story unique to this volume).
The Legend of GrimJack, vol.2
Reprints Grimjack #1-7 (August 1984 – February 1985, Grimjack stories only).
The Legend Of GrimJack, vol.3
Reprints Grimjack #8-14 (March 1985 – September 1985, Grimjack stories only).
The Legend Of GrimJack, vol.4
Reprints Grimjack #15-21 (October 1985 – March 1986, Grimjack stories only).
The Legend Of GrimJack, vol.5
Reprints Grimjack #22-30 (May 1986 – January 1987, Grimjack stories only).
Munden’s Bar
Reprints Grimjack #2-6, 8, 10, 12-16 & 22 (September 1984 – January 1985, March 1985, May 1985, July 1985 – September 1985 & June 1986; Mundern’s Bar stories only).
Munden’s Bar is a spinoff from the main GrimJack title, and although the stories in it take place in no particular order, there is a reference to one story from this volume in The Legend of GrimJack vol.7. This selfsame story, Phil Foglio’s “Work Ethic”, features characters who later appeared in the DC Universe (in the sadly uncollected “Stanley and His Monster” series, and later still in Foglio’s own Girl Genius series.
The Legend Of GrimJack, vol.6
Reprints Grimjack #31-37 (February 1987 – August 1987).
The Legend Of GrimJack, vol.7
Reprints Grimjack #38-46 (September 1987 – May 1988).
The Legend Of GrimJack, vol.8
Reprints Grimjack #47-54 (June 1988 – January 1989).

The Girl Genius Reading Order


The continuing adventures of Angela Heterodyne!

Although this page lists only reprinted editions, the webcomic itself continues weekly at Girl Genius Online.

Prequels:

Munden’s Bar
Includes a story featuring the Heterodyne Boys, ancestors of the Girl Genius herself. Munden’s Bar is a spinoff from the main GrimJack title, and thus, a crossover with the GrimJack Universe.
If DC ever collect Phil’s awesome Stanley and his Monster series, that would fit in right here too.

Act One:

Girl Genius, vol.1: Agatha Heterodyne and The Beetleburg Clank
Reprints Girl Genius #1-3 (Feburary 2001 – July 2001);
Webcomic: April 11, 2002May 9, 2003.
Girl Genius, vol.2: Agatha Heterodyne and The Airship City
Reprints Girl Genius #4-6 (August 2001 – June 2002);
Webcomic: May 12, 2003December 29, 2003.
Girl Genius, vol.3: Agatha Heterodyne and The Monster Engine
Reprints Girl Genius #7-10 (August 2002 – October 2003);
Webcomic: December 31, 2003October 1, 2004.
Girl Genius, vol.4: Agatha Heterodyne and The Circus Of Dreams
Reprints Girl Genius #11-14 (June 2004; dates unknown for 12-13; 14 never published);
Webcomic: October 4, 2004June 26, 2005.
Girl Genius, vol.5: Agatha Heterodyne and The Clockwork Princess
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: June 27, 2005March 8, 2006.
Girl Genius, vol.6: Agatha Heterodyne and The Golden Trilobite
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: March 10, 2006February 23, 2007.
Girl Genius, vol.7: Agatha Heterodyne and the Voice of the Castle
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: February 2, 2007February 1, 2008.
Girl Genius – Adventures In Castle Heterodyne
2020 video game for multiple plstforms; set during the events of vol.7.
Girl Genius, vol.8: Agatha Heterodyne and the Chapel of Bones
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: February 4, 2008January 12, 2009.
Girl Genius, vol.9: Agatha Heterodyne and The Heirs of the Storm
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: January 14, 2009December 11, 2009.
Girl Genius, vol.10: Agatha Heterodyne and the Guardian Muse
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: December 14, 2009October 22, 2010.
Girl Genius, vol.11: Agatha Heterodyne and the Hammerless Bell
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: October 25, 2010November 4, 2011.
Girl Genius, vol.12: Angela Heterodyne and the Siege of Mechanicsburg
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: November 7, 2011December 19, 2012.
Girl Genius, vol.13: Agatha Heterodyne and the Sleeping City
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: December 21, 2012February 28, 2014.

Act Two:

Girl Genius – The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, vol.1: The Beast of the Rails
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: March 3, 2014January 16, 2015.
Girl Genius – The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, vol.2: City of Lightning
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: January 19, 2015November 23, 2015.
Girl Genius – The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, vol.3: The Incorruptible Library
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: November 25, 2015September 12, 2016.
Girl Genius – The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, vol.4: Kings and Wizards
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: September 14, 2016July 12, 2017.
Girl Genius – The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, vol.5: Queens and Pirates
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: July 14, 2017September 7, 2018.
Girl Genius – The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, vol.6: Sparks and Monsters
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: September 10, 2018June 28, 2019.
Girl Genius – The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, vol.7: The Exorcism Engines
Reprints Girl Genius Webcomic: July 1, 2019April 24, 2020

The Adrian Mole Reading Order

The abstract and brief chronicles of the times

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4
Novel published in 1982
The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole
Novel published in 1985
The True Confessions of Adrian Mole
Novel published in 1989
Adrian Mole and the Small Amphibians
Short story published in 1991
Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years
Novel published in 1993
Mole Cooks His Goose
Short story published in 1993
Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years
Novel published in 1999
The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole, 1999-2001
Novel published in 2008
Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction
Novel published in 2004
Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years
Novel published in 2009
Adrian Mole’s royal wedding diary
Essay published in 2011

The Elric of Melniboné Chronology

Michael Moorcock’s brilliant subversion of heroic fantasy tropes.

Elric: The Making of a Sorcerer
Graphic novel with art by Walt Simonson, set early in Elric’s career.
Elric of Melniboné
The Citadel of Forgotten Myths
Prequel novel published in 2022.
The Fortress Of The Pearl
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate
Elric meets Corum and Hawkmoon in this story; the same story is told from Hawkmoon’s perspective in The Quest for Tanelorn.
The Chronicles of Conan, vol. 3: The Monster of the Monoliths and Other Stories
This story takes place in the Marvel Universe and features a guest appearance by Elric. Its placement here is speculative, however, it can occur no later than this.
Elric at the End of Time
The Weird of the White Wolf
The Vanishing Tower
Elric encounters Corum Jhaelen Irsei in this story; the same story is seen from Corum’s perspective in The King of Swords.
The Revenge of the Rose
The Bane of the Black Sword
Stormbringer
The following stories occur during the second part of Stormbringer:
Michael Moorcock’s Multiverse
Graphic novel containing three stories. The story “Duke Elric” is the only that directly features Elric.
The Dreamthief’s Daughter: A Tale of the Albino
The Skrayling Tree: The Albino in America
The White Wolf’s Son: The Albino Underground
Elric: The Balance Lost, vol.1
Graphic novel written by Chris Roberson. Corum and Hawkmoon also appear in this volume.
Elric: The Balance Lost, vol.2
Graphic novel written by Chris Roberson. Corum and Hawkmoon meet Elric again in this volume. The appearance of the Barbary Rose in this volume is shown in much greater detail at America’s Best Comics Universe.
Elric: The Balance Lost, vol.3
Graphic novel written by Chris Roberson. Corum and Hawkmoon meet Elric again in this volume.

The Guild Chronology

Felicia Day’s breakthru – and hilarious – webseries

The Guild, vol.1
Comic prequel with the origin of Codex.
The Guild, vol.2: Knights of Good
Comic with short stories of the other Guild members.
The Guild, season one
Webseries episodes on DVD
The Guild, season two
Webseries episodes on DVD
The Guild, season three
Webseries episodes on DVD
The Guild, season four
Webseries episodes on DVD
The Guild: Fawkes
Comic one-shot
The Guild, season five
Webseries episodes on DVD
The Guild, season six
Webseries episodes on DVD
The entire video series is also available in a DVD Megaset.

The Milestone Universe Reading Order

The Milestone Universe began as an independent imprint published by DC.

At that point, it was set in its own separate universe. Later, it crossed over with the DC Universe, and later still, it was merged into the DC Universe proper. This timeline largely ignores these universal transitions in favour of listing character appearances in a more or less chronological order.

The Milestone Universe

Icon: A Hero’s Welcome
Reprints Icon #1-8 (May – December 1993)
Hardware: The Man in the Machine
Reprints Hardware #1-8 (April – October 1993)
Static Shock: Trial by Fire
Reprints Static #1-4 (June – September 1993)
Icon: The Mothership Connection
Reprints Icon #13, 19-22, 24-27, & 30 (May 1994, December 1994 – February 1995, April – July 1995, October 1995)
Static Shock: Rebirth of the Cool
Reprints Static #1-4 (June – September 1993) and Static Shock!: Rebirth of the Cool #1-4 (January 2001 – September 2001)

The DC Universe (post-Final Crisis)

After the events of Final Crisis, the Milestone Universe no longer exists as an independent entity, and is now merged into the DC Universe proper. The subsequent stories track appearances of Milestone characters in the DC Universe:

The Brave and the Bold: Milestone
Reprints The Brave and the Bold #24-26 (August – October 2009), Static #12 (May 1994), Hardware #16 (June 1994), and Xombi #6 (November 1994).
Features Static (teaming up with Black Lightning), Hardware (teaming up with Blue Beetle) and Xombi (teaming up with the Spectre).
Terror Titans
Reprints Terror Titans #1-6 (December 2008 – May 2009)
Features Static.
Justice League of America: When Worlds Collide
Reprints Justice League of America #27, 28 & 30-34 (January, February, April – August 2009)
Features Hardware, Icon, Rocket and the Shadow Cabinet. Hardware specifically states that this story occurs after his team up with Blue Beetle.
Teen Titans: Changing of the Guard
Reprints Teen Titans vol. 3, #62–69 (October 2008 – May 2009)
Features Static.
Teen Titans: Deathtrap
Reprints Teen Titans vol. 3, #70 (June 2009), Annual 2009; Titans vol. 2, #12–13 (June – July 2009) and Vigilante #5-6 (June – July 2009).
Features Static.
Teen Titans: Child’s Play
Reprints Teen Titans vol. 3, #71–78 (July 2009 – February 2010)
Features Static.
Superman: Mon-El
Reprints Action Comics #874 (April 2009) and a Mon-El from Annual #10 (March 2007); Superman #684-690 (March – September 2009); and material from Superman: Secret Files 2009 #1
Features Icon, Static and Iron Butterfly in cameos (they are seen on monitors, being watched by a paranoid government agency).
Teen Titans: The Hunt for Raven
Reprints Teen Titans vol. 3, #79–87 (March – November 2010).
Features Static.
Xombi
Reprints Xombi (vol. 2) #1-6 (May 2011 – October 2011)

The New 52 Universe (post-Flashpoint)

It is still unclear how much most Milestone characters have been affected by Flashpoint and the New 52 reboot. However, given that Static and Hardware are both currently appearing in the revived Static Shock title, their story is clearly not over yet.

Flashpoint
Reprints Flashpoint #1-5 (July 2011 – Late October 2011).
At the conclusion of the story, Static appears, presaging his new series.
Static Shock, vol.1: Supercharged
Reprints Static Shock #1-8 (November 2011 – June 2012)
Hardware also appears in this book.
The Savage Hawkman, vol.1: Darkness Rising
Reprints The Savage Hawkman #1-8 (November 2011 – June 2012)
Static teams up with Hawkman in issue #7.