MARVEL UNIVERSE: 1968 READING ORDER - Births, Marriages & Deaths

The Marvel Universe reading order continues: Highlighting all the key moments, first appearances, crossovers and events in the ideal reading order. This time around, it's 1968!

MCG Note: These pages are subject to change and will be constantly updated and added to. If you feel a story has been missed or want to know where tale would sit in continuity, I'm more than happy to add these for you, though they may or may not be recommended by me. This guide is aimed more at fans who need help with continuity and the stories they need to read rather than those already obsessed with it.

Marvel end their anthology titles and grant the title headline characters their own series, with Iron Man, Captain America, Sub-Mariner, Doctor Strange, Hulk and Nick Fury all going solo (well, Nick has SHIELD, but you get the drift). Jack Kirby and Stan Lee continue their sterling work on Fantastic Four by adding a fifth member of the family in the form of baby Franklin Richards. Another super-powered duo tie the knot with the Wasp and Yellowjacket's surreal wedding. And the death of the villainous Black Knight makes way for the heroic Dane Whitman to don the armour...

New characters and concepts introduced this year include Annihilus, the Badoon, Big M (Giuletta Nefaria), the Black Knight (Dane Whitman), Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell), Centurius, Lorna Dane, Carol Danvers, Destiny, Doctor Faustus, Dr Dorcas, the Enchanters, Grim Reaper, Jester, Mangog, Mephisto, Mesmero, Walter Newell, Franklin Richards, Randy Robertson, Satannish, Scorpio, Shalla-Bal, George Stacy, Tiger Shark, Ultron, Vision, Whiplash, the Wrecker, Yellowjacket, Yon-Rogg and Zenn-La.

MCG NOTE - your guide to reading comics:

• Issues in blue and black are key stories, introduce key characters or play a key part in the great Marvel history.
• Issues in grey are stories of note that aren't necessarily essential or once-great tales that are no longer considered 'required reading'.

Tales to Astonish #95[1/2]-98[1/2] , 99[2/2] (1967-1968)

First appearance of Walter Newell; Namor the Sub-Mariner attacks the aquatic Dome-City, believing it to be part of a human plot to destroy Atlantis; the Plunderer tries to steal valuable items from Atlantis; Namor is banished from Atlantis.

X-Men #41[1/2]-42[1/2] (1968)

First appearance of Grotesk and the Gortokians; Professor X sacrifices himself to kill the subterranean Grotesk and save the X-Men. 

Avengers #47-49 (1967-1968)

First appearance of the Black Knight (Dane Whitman) and Typhon; the Black Knight gets caught up in Magneto's plot to bring the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver back to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants during WHEN MUTANTS CLASH.

Avengers #50 (1968)

First appearance of Alecto; first modern appearance of Apollo; the Avengers lose another team member when they're dragged to Olympus; Typhon renews his age-old feud with Hercules.

Marvel Super-Heroes #12-13[1/6] (1967-1968)

Captain Marvel #1 (1968)

First appearance of Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell), Carol Danvers, General William Bridges, Dr Walter Lawson, Una, Yon-Rogg, Zarek; the Kree Mar-Vell is sent to infiltrate an army base in preparation for an attack on Earth; Mar-Vell is mistaken for a hero and becomes known as 'Captain Marvel' when he defends the base from a Kree Sentry; Mar-Vell is drawn to security chief Carol Danvers and begins questioning his mission during THE COMING OF CAPTAIN MARVEL.

Tales of Suspense #95[1/2] (pp.1-4) (1967)

Tony Stark returns to Stark Industries after his trip to Vietnam and is greeted by Jasper Sitwell of SHIELD during ALONE AGAINST A.I.M.

Amazing Spider-Man #53-54 (1967)

Doctor Octopus moves into a room a May Parker's house; a confrontation between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus leaves May injured.

Tales of Suspense #95[1/2] (pp.4-12)-96 (1967)

The Grey Gargoyle tries to steal an experimental weapon from Stark Industries, leading to a confrontation with Iron Man during ALONE AGAINST A.I.M.

Amazing Spider-Man #55-56 (1967-1968)

First appearance of George Stacy; Doctor Octopus takes advantage of Spider-Man's amnesia and convinces him her's one of his henchmen.

Tales of Suspense #97[1/2] (1968)

Tales of Suspense #98[2/2] (1968)

Tales of Suspense #-99[1/2] (1968)

Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1[/] (1968)

Iron Man #1 (1968)

First appearance of Big M (Giuletta Nefaria) and Whiplash (Marco Scarlotti); Morgan Stark sells Iron Man out to Maggia boss Big M, leading to all-out war with Whiplash and the agents of AIM during ALONE AGAINST A.I.M.

Tales to Astonish #100 (1968)

The Puppet Master manipulates the Hulk into attacking the Sub-Mariner.

Tales to Astonish #101[1/2] (pp.1-2) (1968)

Loki transports the Hulk to Asgard during WHERE WALK THE IMMORTALS.

Tales of Suspense #97[2/2] (1968)

Tales of Suspense #98[1/2] (1968)

Tales of Suspense #99[2/2] (pp.1-4) (1968)

Avengers #51(p.1-19) (1968)

Tales of Suspense #99[2/2] (pp.4-11) (1968)

Captain America #100 (1968)

Avengers #51(p.20) (1968)

Hawkeye, Wasp and the restored Goliath are reunited with Iron Man and Thor when the Collector attacks; Captain America is so impressed by the Black Panther in the fight against the 'resurrected' Baron Zemo that he nominates him for Avengers membership during THE CLAWS OF THE PANTHER.

Tales to Astonish #101[1/2] (pp.3-11) (1968)

Incredible Hulk #102 (1968)

Loki tries to use the Hulk as a pawn to help him take over Asgard during WHERE WALK THE IMMORTALS.

Strange Tales #168[1/2] (1968)

Nick Fury dreams about an alien invasion.

Captain America #101-102 (1969)

First appearance of the Exiles (in shadow) and the Fourth Sleeper; the Red Skull awakens his deadly Fourth Sleeper robot.

Avengers #52 (1968)

First appearance of the Grim Reaper (Eric Williams); the Avengers are taken down by Wonder Man's vengeful brother; the Black Panther officially joins the Avengers and becomes the key to the Reaper's defeat during THE CLAWS OF THE PANTHER.

Captain America #103-104 (1968)

First full appearance of the Exiles (Angelo Baldini, Franz Cadavus, General Jun Ching, Eric Gruning, Jurgen 'Iron-Hand' Hauptmann & Ivan Krushki); Agent 13's real name is revealed to be Sharon Carter; Captain America and Sharon Carter continue their feud with the Red Skull and his Nazi Exiles.

X-Men #43[1/2]-45[1/2] (1968)

Avengers #53 (1968)

The X-Men uncover Magneto's latest plan, but the Avengers seem more intent on taking the young mutants down than helping them stop him during WHEN MUTANTS CLASH.

Amazing Spider-Man #57-59(pp.1-8) (1968)

First appearance of the Spider-Slayer Mark II; J Jonah Jameson hires Ka-Zar and Spencer Smythe to take down Spider-Man.

Thor #143[1/2]-147[1/2] (1967)

First appearance of the Enchanters (Brona, Forsung & Magnir) and the Living Talisman; Thor, Sif and Balder defend Asgard from the Enchanters; the Circus of Crime put Thor under their spell; Loki's battle with Thor leaves the Thunder God in a fragile state.

Daredevil #35-36 (1967-1968)

Thor #148[1/2] (1968)

Daredevil #37 (1968)

Thor #149[1/2] (1968)

Daredevil #38 (1968)

Thor #150[1/2] (pp.1-15) (1968)

Fantastic Four #73 (1968)

Thor #150[1/2] (pp.15-16) (1968)

during THE LIVING PRISON.

First appearance of the Wrecker (Dirk Garthwaite); after defeating the Trapster, Daredevil is taken prisoner by Doctor Doom; Karnilla accidentally empowers the criminal Wrecker; Hela tries to bring Thor to Hel; Doom switches minds with Daredevil and attempts to infiltrate the Baxter Building, home of the Fantastic Four; Doom battles the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and Thor.

Thor #151[1/2]-152[1/2], 153-157 (1968)

First appearance of Mangog; in his weakened state, Thor faces the Destroyer, suffers a terrible loss in his battle with Ulik and finds his alter-ego attack from Loki; Mangog escapes his imprisonment from beneath Asgard and threatens to bring about Ragnarok.

Amazing Spider-Man #59(pp.8-20)-61 (1968)

Spider-Man has a rematch with the Kingpin when he threatens the lives of Gwen Stacy and her father, police captain George Stacy.

Doctor Strange #169-170 (1968)

Doctor Strange recalls his origins and defends the Ancient One from Nightmare.

Daredevil #39 (1968)

First appearance of the Exterminator (Phillip Sterling); the Exterminator and his Unholy Three find a way to kill Daredevil.

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #1 (1968)
First full appearance of Scorpio ('Jacob Fury'/'Count Julio Scarlotti') and the Zodiac Key; Nick Fury and SHIELD come under attack from Scorpio.

Fantastic Four #74-77 (1968)

The Silver Surfer heads into the Microverse to escape Galactus; the Fantastic Four come to the Surfer's aid, clashing with the Psycho-Man and leaving Earth undefended.

X-Men #46 (1968)

Following a clash with the Juggernaut, the X-Men comply with the FBI's advice and disband.

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #2 (1968)

First appearance of Centurius (Noah Black); SHIELD discover Centurius' island and his plans to 'save' the Earth. 

Avengers #54-55 (1968)

First appearance of Ultron (aka Ultron-5, initially as the Crimson Cowl); the Avengers battle the new Masters of Evil; their leader is revealed to be Goliath's deadliest creation.

Doctor Strange #171-173 (1968)

First appearance of Dr Charles Benton; Dormammu attempts to break the barrier that holds him in the Dark Dimension.

Amazing Spider-Man King-Size Special #5[1/6] (1968) (aka Amazing Spider-Man Annual)

First appearance of Mary Parker and Richard Parker (in photos and flashbacks); Spider-Man confronts the Communist Red Skull (Albert Malik) in an endeavour to clear his parents' names.

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #3 (1968)

Nick Fury's attempt to catch up with an old friend lead to him uncovering a modern-day Nazi plot.

Captain America #107 (1968)

First appearance of Doctor Faustus (Johann Fennhoff); Captain America is manipulated by Nazi psychologist Doctor Faustus.

Silver Surfer #1[1/2] (1968)

First appearance of Shalla-Bal and Zenn-La; the Silver Surfer recounts his origin and vows to find a way to break through Galactus' barrier that keeps him trapped on Earth.

Avengers #56 (1968)

Avengers King-Size Special #2[1/4] (1968) (aka Avengers Annual)

First appearance of Nathaniel Richards/Kang as the Scarlet Centurion; Captain America uses a time machine to confirm Bucky's death during World War II; the Avengers are confronted by their own alternate universe counterparts during DEATH BE NOT PROUD.

Captain Savage #6 (1968)

Sgt Fury and his Howling Commandos #59 (1968)

Back in World War II, the Leatherneck Raiders rescued the captured Howling Commando, Izzy Cohen, helping him return to the Howlers during SAVE A HOWLER.

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #5 (1968)

Scorpio returns and successfully captures Nick Fury.

Thor #158-159 (1968)

The origin of Dr Donald Blake is finally revealed.

Silver Surfer #2[1/2]-3[1/2] (1968)

First appearance of Mephisto, Brother Royal, the Monster of the Badoon and the Brotherhood of the Badoon; the Silver Surfer discovers the Badoon's attempt to invade Earth; Mephisto first tries to corrupt the Surfer's soul.

Daredevil #42-43 (1968)

First appearance of the Jester (Jonathan Powers); Daredevil is drawn back into the crime-fighting game by the Jester, but ends up fighting Captain America.

Ka-Zar #2[2/3]-3[3/3] (1970-1971)

Marvel Tales #30[3/3] (1971)

First appearance of Dazzler (Burtram Worthington); Angel finds himself fighting his mutant uncle, the Dazzler, when he discovers he's a diamond thief during WINGED WRATH.

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #6 (1968)

Nick Fury uncovers plans for an other-dimensional invasion.

Avengers #57 (1968)

First appearance of the Vision; Ultron tries to plant the Vision among the Avengers as an assassin, only for the Vision to turn against his creator.

Daredevil #44-46 (1968)

The Jester frames Daredevil for a crime he didn't commit.

X-Men #49[1/2]-51[1/2] (pp.1-14) (1968)

First appearance of Lorna Dane, Mesmero and the Magneto android the X-Men reunite to stop the mutant threat of Mesmero and rescue Lorna Dane, a woman who claims to be Magneto's daughter.

Doctor Strange #174 (1968)

First appearance of Satannish.

Amazing Spider-Man #66(pp.1-10) (1968)
Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine #2(pp.1-20) (1968)

Amazing Spider-Man #66(pp.10-14) (1968)
Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine #2(pp.20-25) (1968)
Amazing Spider-Man #66(pp.15-20)-67 (1968)
Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine #2(pp.26-58) (1968)
First appearance of Randy Robertson; Spider-Man alternately deals with the return of the vengeful Mysterio and Norman Osborn's Green Goblin persona resurfacing.

Silver Surfer #4 (1969)

Loki manipulates the SIlver Surfer into battling Thor.

Fantastic Four King-Size Special #6 (1968) (aka Fantastic Four Annual)

First appearance of the Richards' new baby (Franklin Richards), Annihilus, the Arthrosians  and the Cosmic Control Rod; the male members of the Fantastic Four travel to the Negative Zone to obtain an element that will save the lives of the Invisible Girl and her baby; the FF first encounter with Annihilus whose Cosmic Control Rod contains the Element X; the Invisible Girl gives birth to a boy.

Fantastic Four #81 (1968)

With the Invisible Girl out of action, Crystal of the Inhumans takes her place as a member of the Fantastic Four just as the Wizard returns.

Tales to Astonish #101[2/2] (1968)

Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1[2/2] (1968)

Sub-Mariner #1-3 (1968)

Captain Marvel #4 (1968)

Sub-Mariner #4-8 (1968)

First appearance of Diane Arliss, Destiny (Paul Destine), Dr Lemuel Dorcas, Ikthon, Tiger Shark (Todd Arliss) and the Helmet of Power (Serpent Crown); first modern appearance of Betty Dean-Prentiss; Destiny obtains the Helmet of Power and plots to use it to take control of America; in his pursuit of Destiny, Namor clashes with Triton, the Plant-Man, Captain Marvel, Attuma, Tiger Shark and the Thing during YEARS OF GLORY, DAY OF DOOM.

Avengers #58 (1968)

The Vision joins the Avengers.

Captain America #109 (1969)

First appearance of Vita-Rays; Captain America's origin is retold and expanded.

Avengers #59 (1968)

First appearance of Hank Pym/Goliath as Yellowjacket; a new costumed 'hero' called Yellowjacket emerges, claiming to have killed Goliath; the Wasp announces her plans to marry Yellowjacket.

X-Men #51[1/2] (p.15)-52[1/2] (1968-1969)

Cyclops carries out a risky mission to free the X-Men and Lorna Dane from Magneto's Mutant City.

Avengers #60(pp.1-8) (1969)

The Avengers try to talk the Wasp out of marrying Yellowjacket; numerous heroes arrive for the ceremony.

Avengers Forever #1-12 (1998-1999)

Yellowjacket is snatched from time to fight Immortus in the Destiny War.

Avengers #60(pp.9-20) (1969)

The truth about Yellowjacket is revealed as he and the Wasp get hitched, despite the actions of the Circus of Crime.

Iron Man #7-8 (1968)

Iron Man learns his love interest Whitney Frost is Maggia boss Big M, leading to conflicting feelings despite her sending Gladiator to kill him.

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