Click Here If You Want to Know What X-Books to Pick Up

[alf_to_the_rescue]

Decided to pick up Gambit, Rogue, and Exiles #1's today during the Marvel Monday sale on comixology, these are my first X-Men comics ever. After reading the #1's I'm going to continue reading Exiles and pick up the rest of the series on-sale and drop the Gambit and Rogue comics. Anyways, I'm now interested in looking into some other X-Men comics and Astonishing X-Men and Uncanny X-Men have caught my attention. I see that you should start at #1 for Astonishing X-Men but Uncanny seems to have many points to jump in at. I'm looking to get caught up on what's going on with the X-Men but not in a huge rush. I was wondering if House of M Uncanny X-Men #462 would be a good jump in point for the main series?

I wouldn't start at 462, it's the start of a crossover issue starring Captain Britain more or less. I would either start at the beginning of the run #444 or skip Claremont and go to the start of Brubakers at #475.

[AirKing]

Hey guys, new to X-Men... coming in having not read anything can you guys recommend some essential reading for X-Men, perhaps some stuff to catch me up to speed and then possibly the best ongoing X-Men series.

Cheers

[Emerald_616]

Hey guys, new to X-Men... coming in having not read anything can you guys recommend some essential reading for X-Men, perhaps some stuff to catch me up to speed and then possibly the best ongoing X-Men series.

Cheers

If you are like me and want to know everything, you should either buy or request from the library the Essential X-Men volumes. Essential Classic X-Men 1-3 collect issues #1-66 from the beginning of the title in the 1960s. Essential X-Men 1-10 collect almost all of the Chris Claremont run that lasted from 1975 to 1991! He is the one who made the X-Men as popular as they are. From there you can use Wikipedia and this website to follow the explosion of X-Titles in the 90s.

If you would like to begin with something more modern, you could begin with the first collection of the three main titles in 2001: Uncanny X-Men Poptopia, New X-Men E is for Extinction, X-Treme X-Men Destiny. These can be found fairly cheaply at Amazon.com or in your local library system.

[ksanders]

Hey everyone, I am looking for some advice (new to reading X-men). I told my cousin I wanted to start reading some and I was not sure where to start. I have read Wolverine: Origin and I really liked the story line and it gave me the background info. I also have the Ultimate X-Men (Ultimate collection) 1-2 and he gave me some uncanny x-men editions # 448-480ish. I have not read anything except the wolverine origin and I want to know where to go/what to read. I want the background info on the people because I dont want to be lost. Any info would be much appreciated.

[AirKing]

would Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1: Gifted (joss whedon's run i believe) be a good jumping on point into the world of x-men? what would be the next logical point to carry on from? cheers

[krisis]

would Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1: Gifted (joss whedon's run i believe) be a good jumping on point into the world of x-men? what would be the next logical point to carry on from? cheers

Absolutely a good starting point. Once you are done all of Astonishing (if you are still interested), either jump to the Messiah Complex crossover or to Uncanny X-Men #500.

[AirKing]

Absolutely a good starting point. Once you are done all of Astonishing (if you are still interested), either jump to the Messiah Complex crossover or to Uncanny X-Men #500.

Cheers for the advise its much appreciated! Which is the best ongoing series? To be honest i prefer to stick to core continuity over ultimates and alike... again cheers for the advice.

[krisis]

Cheers for the advise its much appreciated! Which is the best ongoing series? To be honest i prefer to stick to core continuity over ultimates and alike... again cheers for the advice.

Many of us would have many different answers about the "Best" ongoing series. The answer typically isn't Uncanny X-Men (at least, not until very recently), but that is the flagship title - so it's what you can read for "CORE" continuity.

In the post-Astonishing world, the roles of different books to continuity are broadly as follows:

- X-Men Legacy: Side stories that do have impact on Uncanny. Focuses on Professor X then Rogue.
- X-Force: Side stories that have a major impact on Uncanny.
- New Mutants: Starts as a sort of "spill-over" for stories from or affecting Uncanny, though it moves away from this after #25.
- Astonishing X-Men: Involves the main Uncanny cast, but after #25 it explicitly can be read on its own without other titles.
- X-Factor: Aside from Messiah Complex, this is totally separate from the stories in Uncanny.

A great number of posts on the board would say that after you reach the Second Coming story the best book is Uncanny X-Force.

[AirKing]

Many of us would have many different answers about the "Best" ongoing series. The answer typically isn't Uncanny X-Men (at least, not until very recently), but that is the flagship title - so it's what you can read for "CORE" continuity.

In the post-Astonishing world, the roles of different books to continuity are broadly as follows:

- X-Men Legacy: Side stories that do have impact on Uncanny. Focuses on Professor X then Rogue.
- X-Force: Side stories that have a major impact on Uncanny.
- New Mutants: Starts as a sort of "spill-over" for stories from or affecting Uncanny, though it moves away from this after #25.
- Astonishing X-Men: Involves the main Uncanny cast, but after #25 it explicitly can be read on its own without other titles.
- X-Factor: Aside from Messiah Complex, this is totally separate from the stories in Uncanny.

A great number of posts on the board would say that after you reach the Second Coming story the best book is Uncanny X-Force.

Cheers for that mate, I guess I'm pretty lucky with all the possibles reads out there! If you, looking back now, were starting out reading x-men would you read all the comics from 60s first? or start with something newer? sorry to bombard you with questions mate, just interesting to see where you'd start with hindsight.

[krisis]

Cheers for that mate, I guess I'm pretty lucky with all the possibles reads out there! If you, looking back now, were starting out reading x-men would you read all the comics from 60s first? or start with something newer? sorry to bombard you with questions mate, just interesting to see where you'd start with hindsight.

I made it my personal mission to read starting with the 60s - but, I am a lifelong X-Fan who already loves the characters. Many people also decide to start in 1975 with the All New, All Different X-Men - which features much of the cast you'll be familiar with from other media, like Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, and Nightcrawler.

Unfortunately, when it comes to color reprint collections there is a big gap in Uncanny from from #175-210 (though it is collected in B&W), and then sporadic gaps from #308-410 (about a third of which is collected).

Marvel has given many good "Jumping On" points for X-Men in the past decade that are pretty well collected. New X-Men from 2001. Astonishing X-Men from 2003. House of M in 2006. Messiah Complex / Manifest Destiny in 2008. Nation X in 2009. Heroic Age in 2010. Schism/Regenesis in 2011. And, soon, Marvel Now in 2012. It's simply up to you about how far back you feel like going to catch up.

I give many good on-boarding points in the "Where to Start Reading X-Men" link in my signature, as well as covering all X-Men collections, ever.

Never hesitate to ask more questions in this thread! I'm just a tiny fraction of all of the major X-knowledge on this board.

[AirKing]

I made it my personal mission to read starting with the 60s - but, I am a lifelong X-Fan who already loves the characters. Many people also decide to start in 1975 with the All New, All Different X-Men - which features much of the cast you'll be familiar with from other media, like Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, and Nightcrawler.

Unfortunately, when it comes to color reprint collections there is a big gap in Uncanny from from #275-210 (though it is collected in B&W), and then sporadic gaps from #308-410 (about a third of which is collected).

Marvel has given many good "Jumping On" points for X-Men in the past decade that are pretty well collected. New X-Men from 2001. Astonishing X-Men from 2003. House of M in 2006. Messiah Complex / Manifest Destiny in 2008. Nation X in 2009. Heroic Age in 2010. Schism/Regenesis in 2011. And, soon, Marvel Now in 2012. It's simply up to you about how far back you feel like going to catch up.

I give many good on-boarding points in the "Where to Start Reading X-Men" link in my signature, as well as covering all X-Men collections, ever.

Never hesitate to ask more questions in this thread! I'm just a tiny fraction of all of the major X-knowledge on this board.

Ah will check out you link... I grew up with the animated series in 90's so love the characters and have been torn whether to go back to earlier comics. I think I will check out the first few issues from 60s, then possibly jump to 1975 and work my way threw as best I can. cheers for advice mate.

[nsiops]

Is X-factor any good? If so, whats a good jumping on point?

[yvahed]

Is X-factor any good? If so, whats a good jumping on point?

Yes it has a loyal cult following. Recent Jump on points would be the Point one issue #224.1 or you could skip to Regenesis #230.
If you want to go further back you could start with #200.
The initial arcs of the series were great if you like what you see (i.e. X-Factor [2005] #1-50 + The Madrox mini).

[Phantom Roxas]

would Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1: Gifted (joss whedon's run i believe) be a good jumping on point into the world of x-men? what would be the next logical point to carry on from? cheers

If you want to start from the beginning, then there's an omnibus of Joss Whedon's run, if you can afford it.

[AirKing]

If you want to start from the beginning, then there's an omnibus of Joss Whedon's run, if you can afford it.

Yea I've stumbled across it, while I dont mind paying for comics or trades the 25.50 (pounds) seems steep to me, would marvels digital services be a better way to catch up on x-men etc? from what i've read its around the 38 quid mark which seems a good way to read first appearances, early runs, and trades.