The Jack Ryan Reading Order

Tom Clancy’s popular series of techno-thriller novels.

The adventures of Jack Ryan et al, are now being continued by other writers since Clancy’s death in 2013.

Without Remorse
Set in 1970-73. Novel written by Tom Clancy, published in 1993.
Patriot Games
Set in 1981. Novel written by Tom Clancy, published in 1987, film released in 1992.
Red Rabbit
Set in 1982. Novel written by Tom Clancy, published in 2002.
The Hunt for Red October
Set in 1984. Novel written by Tom Clancy, published in 1984, film released in 1990.
Red Winter
Set in 1985. Novel written by Marc Cameron, published in 2022.
The Cardinal of the Kremlin
Set in 1986. Novel written by Tom Clancy, published in 1988.
Clear and Present Danger
Set in 1986. Novel written by Tom Clancy, published in 1989; film released in 1994.
The Sum of All Fears
Set in 1990-91. Novel written by Tom Clancy, published in 1991; film released in 2002.
Debt of Honor
Set in 1995-96. Novel written by Tom Clancy, published in 1994.
Executive Orders
Set in 1996. Novel written by Tom Clancy, published in 1996.
Rainbow Six
Set in 1999-2000. Novel written by Tom Clancy, published in 1998.
The Bear and the Dragon
Set in 2002. Novel written by Tom Clancy, publishedd in 2000.
The Teeth of the Tiger
Set in 2006. Novel written by Tom Clancy, published in 2003.
Dead or Alive
Set in 2007. Novel written by Tom Clancy, published in 2010.
Locked On
Set in 2008. Novel co-written by Tom Clancy & Mark Greaney, published in 2011.
Threat Vector
Set in 2009. Novel co-written by Tom Clancy & Mark Greaney, published in 2012.
Command Authority
Set in 2010. Novel co-written by Tom Clancy & Mark Greaney, published in 2013.
Support and Defend
Set in 2010. Novel written by Mark Greaney, published in 2014.
Full Force and Effect
Set in 2010. Novel written by Mark Greaney, published in 2014.
Under Fire
Set in 2010. Novel written by Grant Blackwood, published in 2015.
Commander in Chief
Set in 2010. Novel written by Mark Greaney, published in 2015.
Duty and Honor
Set in 2011. Novel written by Grant Blackwood, published in 2016.
True Faith and Allegiance
Set in 2011. Novel written by Mark Greaney, published in 2016.
Point of Contact
Set in 2012. Novel written by Mike Maden, published in 2017.
Power and Empire
Novel written by Marc Cameron, published in 2017.
Line of Sight
Novel written by Mike Maden, published in 2018.
Oath of Office
Novel written by Marc Cameron, published in 2018.
Enemy Contact
Novel written by Mark Maden, published in 2019.
Code of Honor
Novel written by Marc Cameron, published in 2019.
Firing Point
Novel written by Mark Maden, published in 2020.
Shadow of the Dragon
Novel written by Marc Cameron, published in 2020.
Target Acquired
Novel written by Don Bentley, published in 2021.
Chain of Command
Novel written by Marc Cameron, published in 2021.
Zero Hour
Novel written by Don Bentley, published in 2022.
Flash Point
Novel written by Don Bentley, published in 2022.
Weapons Grade
Novel written by Don Bentley, published in 2023.
Command and Control
Novel written by Marc Cameron, published in 2023.
Act of Defiance
Novel written by Brian Andrews & Jeffrey Wilson, published in 2024.
Shadow State
Novel written by M.P. Woodward, published in 2024.
Defense Protocol
Novel written by Brian Andrews & Jeffrey Wilson, published in 2024.
Line of Demarcation
Novel written by M.P. Woodward, published in 2024.

The Post-Crisis DCU 02 – The Twentieth Century

1909

Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan: The Complete Joe Kubert Years Omnibus
Reprints Tarzan #207-235 (April 1972 – February/March 1975).
The licence for Tarzan was only briefly held by DC, but these comics were canon.

1916

The Sandman: Overture  —  Vertigo
Reprints The Sandman: Overture #1-6 (December 2013 – November 2015).

World War One

The Enemy Ace Archives, vol. 1
Reprints Our Army at War (1952) #151, #153, #155; Showcase (1956) #57-58; Star-Spangled War Stories (1952) #138-142
The Enemy Ace Archives, vol. 2
Reprints Star Spangled War Stories (1952) #143-145, #147-150, #183, #200
Showcase Presents: Enemy Ace, vol. 1
Reprints Detective Comics (1937) #404; Men of War (1977) #1-3, #8-10, #12-14, #19-20; Our Army at War (1952) #151, #153, #155; Showcase (1956) #57-58; Star Spangled War Stories (1952) #138-145, #147-150, #183, #200; Unknown Soldier #251-253, #260-261, #265-267

1938

The Last Days of Krypton
Original prose novel by Kevin J. Anderson (2008).
It’s not a graphic novel – and possibly not canonical – but it is very good. It’s placement here is based on the date of Superman’s first appearance, which has been mentioned more than once as the date of Krypton’s destruction.
DC Universe: Legacies
Reprints DC Universe Legacies #1-10 (July 2010 – April 2011).
The story begins in this year, and carries through until Infinite Crisis in Year 20.
Sandman Mystery Theatre Compendium One
Reprints Sandman Mystery Theatre #1-36 (April 1993 – March 1996) & Annual #1 (October 1994).
Takes place from 1938 through to April of 1939.

1940

Madame Xanadu, vol.1: Disenchanted  —  Vertigo
Reprints Madame Xanadu #1-10 (August 2008 – June 2009).
This volume tells the story of Madame Xanadu from the fall of Camelot in 515 CE to her arrival in New York City in 1940, but is best read here.
Madame Xanadu, vol.2: Exodus Noir  —  Vertigo
Reprints Madame Xanadu #11-15 (July 2009 – November 2009).

1942

The Newsboy Legion, vol. 1
This volume covers comics with cover dates ranging from April 1942 to May 1944, and can reasonably be assumed to take place more or less in real time.
The Losers
Reprints Our Fighting Forces #151-162.
Our Army At War
Reprints G.I. Combat #1, Our Army At War #1, Our Fighting Forces #1, Star-Spangled War Stories #1 and Weird War Tales #1.

1943

Sgt. Rock: The Prophecy
Reprints Sgt. Rock: The Prophecy #1-6 (March 2006 – August 2006).
Suicide Squad: The Silver Age
Reprints The Brave and the Bold #25-27 & 37-39 (August/September 1959 – December/January 1960 & August/September 1961 – December/January 1962); & Star Spangled War Stories #110-111, 116-121, 125 & 127-128 (August/September 1963 – October/November 1964, August/September 1964 – June/July 1965, February/March 1966, June/July 1966 – August/September 1966).
The Golden Age portions of this volume (the stories from Star Spangled War Stories) take place during World War Two. Their placement here is an approximation.
Creature Commandos
Reprints Weird War Tales #93, 97, 100, 102, 105, 108-112, 114-119, 121 & 124 (November 1980; March 1981; June 1981; August 1981; November 1981; February 1982-June 1982; August 1982-January 1983; March 1983 & June 1983).
These stories take place across 1942-1944 and their internal continuity does not match that of the actual war. Their placement here is an approximation.
Blackhawk: Blood and Iron
Reprints Blackhawk #1-3 (March 1988 – May 1988); Secret Origins #45 (October 1989) & Action Comics Weekly #601-608, 615-622 & 628-635 (May 1988 – July 1988, August 1988 – October 1988 & November 1988 – January 1989).
Only the Blackhawk and Secret Origins stories take place at this time, the Action Comics Weekly stories are set in 1947.

1944

Sgt. Rock: Lost Battalion
Sgt. Rock: Between Hell & a Hard Place
Vigilante: City Lights, Prairie Justice
Has a prologue set in 1942, but primarily takes place between 1944 to 1947.
JSA: Strange Adventures
Must take place after D-Day.

1945

The Justice Society Returns
Enemy Ace: War in Heaven

1947

Blackhawk: Blood and Iron
Reprints Blackhawk #1-3 (March 1988 – May 1988); Secret Origins #45 (October 1989) & Action Comics Weekly #601-608, 615-622 & 628-635 (May 1988 – July 1988, August 1988 – October 1988 & November 1988 – January 1989).
Only the Action Comics Weekly stories take place at this time, the Blackhawk and Secret Origins stories are set in 1943.

1948

JSA: The Golden Age
Reprints The Golden Age #1-4 (Summer 1993 – Spring 1994).
Although officially an Elseworlds title, large portions of this volume have been implied into continuity by the Starman series.

1950

Justice Society of America: The Demise of Justice
Reprints Justice Society of America #1-8 (April 1991 – November 1991); Adventure Comics #466 (December 1979); & All-Star Comics #57 (February/March 1951).

1957

Madame Xanadu, vol.3: Broken House of Cards  —  Vertigo
Reprints Madame Xanadu #16-23 (December 2009 – July 2010) & House of Mystery Halloween Annual #1 (December 2009, Madame Xanadu story only).

1963

Madame Xanadu, vol.4: Extra Sensory  —  Vertigo
Reprints Madame Xanadu #24-29 (August 2010 – January 2011).

1969

Enemy Ace: War Idyll

1985

The Deadman Collection
Reprints a selection of early Deadman stories.
Suicide Squad: The Silver Age
Reprints The Brave and the Bold #25-27 & 37-39 (August/September 1959 – December/January 1960 & August/September 1961 – December/January 1962); & Star Spangled War Stories #110-111, 116-121, 125 & 127-128 (August/September 1963 – October/November 1964, August/September 1964 – June/July 1965, February/March 1966, June/July 1966 – August/September 1966).
The Silver Age portions of this volume (the stories from The Brave and the Bold) take place at around this time.

The Post-Crisis DC Universe

In 1985, DC decided to combine all the infinite worlds of its multiverse into a single universe.

This Reading Order lays out this combined universe, book by book, guided by the amazing work at The Unauthorized Chronology of the DC Universe. It also includes those books published under the Vertigo banner that nonetheless take place in the DC Universe – such books are marked Vertigo in the Reading Order.

It also, since it didn’t take long for the universe to splinter back into a multiverse again, includes some of those worlds too.

The Main Universe

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The Jurassic Park Chronology

Weaving back and forth across novels, comics and movies, the Jurassic Park franchise is not entirely internally consistent, but it is a lot of fun.
I mean, it has dinosaurs. Sometimes even drawn by Walt Simonson.
What more could you possibly want?

Dragon Teeth
Novel by Michael Crichton.
Included because its subject matter – paleontologists attempting to use fossils for personal gain – is very much of a piece with the Jurassic Park series.
Jurassic Park: Dead Islands
Prequel novel by Fabien Delage
Jurassic Park
Novel: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Film: Jurassic Park
Comic: Classic Jurassic Park, vol.1
Classic Jurassic Park, vol.2: Raptors Revenge
Classic Jurassic Park, vol.3: Amazon Adventure
Classic Jurassic Park, vol.4: Return to Jurassic Park
Classic Jurassic Park, vol.5: Return to Jurassic Park, Part Two
The Lost World
Novel: The Lost World
Video: The Lost World
Comic: Classic Jurassic Park, vol.6: The Lost World
Jurassic Park III
Survivor: Jurassic Park Adventures, Book 1
Prey: Jurassic Park Adventures, Book 2
Flyers: Jurassic Park Adventures, Book 3
Jurassic Park: Dangerous Games
Jurassic Park, vol.1: Redemption
Jurassic Park: The Devils in the Desert
Jurassic World: The Evolution of Claire
Prequel novel by Tess Sharpe
Jurassic World
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Jurassic World: Dominion

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Reading Order


A Victorian Era Justice League

A little series by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, which began as a Victorian Era Justice League featuring the familiar characters of that era’s fiction, but eventually expanded into the modest ambition of eventually including basically every piece of fiction ever. Along the way, it moved from America’s Best Comics (an imprint of WildStorm Comics published under the aegis of DC Comics) to a wholly creator-owned new home at Top Shelf Productions.

That said, a fantastic set of series, with loving attention to detail shining from every panel. This timeline also includes the annotations to the various volumes, since you’ll be missing at least half of the references without them.

Despite its original publisher, it is not a part of the America’s Best Comics Universe.

1898 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume I
Annotations by Jess Nevins: Heroes & Monsters: The Unofficial Companion to the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
1898 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume II
Annotations by Jess Nevins: A Blazing World: The Unofficial Companion to the Second League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
1910 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume III: Century #1
 
1925 — Nemo: Heart of Ice
 
1941 — Nemo: The Roses of Berlin
 
1958 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Black Dossier
Annotations by Jess Nevins: Impossible Territories: An Unofficial Companion to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
1969 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume III: Century #2
 
1975 — Nemo: River of Ghosts
 
2009 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume III: Century #3
 
2010 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume IV: Tempest