PHOTON READING ORDER: Monica Rambeau (1996-2005)

Monica Rambeau is actually the second character to take the name Photon (the first was a villain who only appeared during WHO KILLED DOCTOR RIDER?), but she wouldn't be the last. She makes relatively few notable appearances under this name and it's not long before the very same person she relinquished the name 'Captain Marvel' to who take the name 'Photon' as well.

After her time as Photon, Monica will go on to take the names Pulsar and Spectrum. I'll be covering both of those periods of her life in future reading orders...

MCG Notes:

• Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Photon stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
• Issue listings in grey: Cameo appearances or stories that are non-essential, not as strong or no longer considered 'required reading'.
• Chronology: Every appearance of Monica Rambeau from this period is included in chronological order, mapping out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
• Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
• WANT TO KEEP IT SIMPLE? Scroll down to THE CORE LIST to see a version of this reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns or less important appearances - just a list of the essentials.

See the reading order below for more on Monica Rambeau's original costumed identity:

• CAPTAIN MARVEL: Monica Rambeau (1982-1994)

Avengers Unplugged #5 (1996)

First appearance of Monica Rambeau/Captain Marvel as Photon; the Controller kidnaps Captain Marvel and uses her to lure the newest Captain Marvel (Genis-Vell, son of the original Captain Marvel) into a trap, pitting the Vision and Deathcry against him as well; the Vision removes the Control Disc from Monica and the group take down the Controller; Genis offers to reliquinquish the Captain Marvel name and let Monica keep it, but she encourages him to keep it believing it's his legacy; instead, Monica changes her name to Photon during THE LEGACY OF CAPTAIN MARVEL.

Avengers #1-3 (1998)

First appearance of Monica Rambeau/Photon as Daystar; Photon is among the Avengers who heed the call to assemble when the core team return from Counter-Earth; Morgan le Fey warps Earth into a medieval reality under her rule; in this reality, Photon is known as Daystar, onf of Morgan le Fey's knight in the Queen's Vengeance; the Avengers break free of Morgan's control and restore reality during HEROES RETURN.

Avengers #16-18 (1999)

Doomsday Man hires the Wrecking Crew to capture Ms Marvel (Carol Danvers, now actually known as Warbird), only for them to capture Photon (remembering her as Captain Marvel) by mistake; Doomsday Man punishes the Crew by banishishing them and Photo to Arkon's world, Polemachus; powered by Photon, the Wrecking Crew take over Polemachus until they're defeated by the Avengers who free Photon.

Avengers: Infinity #1-4 (2000)

First appearance of the Avengers Infinity Team; Photon joins a team of cosmic Avengers who head into space and join forces with Eternity to stop the Infinites from rearranging the planets to make them more energy-efficient.

Thor #30 (2000)

Maximum Security #2 (2000)

Avengers #35 (2000)

Maximum Security #3 (2001)

The Avengers Infinity team learn Earth has been transformed into a prison for intergalactic criminals; the team appeal to the Shi'ar and learn the secret origin of the alien Ruul; the Avengers Infinity Team fall prey to the Supreme Intelligence but soon rejoin their fellow Avengers to save Earth during MAXIMUM SECURITY.

Avengers #36-37 (2001)

Photon rejoins the Avengers as the team splits in half to deal with concurrent threats; Photon is among the Avengers who head to Slorenia where the Bloodwraith has gained near-unlimited power.

Avengers #38 (2001)

Avengers Annual 2001[1/2] (2001)

Avengers #46, 48, 50, 52-53, 55 (2001-2002)

First appearance of Damocles Base and the Avengers Deep-Space Monitoring Station; Photon remains with the Avengers to defend the timeline when Kang arrives, threatening to take over the era; Photon is a part of the squad specifically assembled to tackle the Triune threat during THE KANG DYNASTY.

JLA/Avengers #2 (2003)

Photon cameo; Photon is among the Avengers assembled to battle the JLA in order to save Earth-616.

The Order #5-6 (2002)

The Defenders are corrupted by Yandroth's curse which has been gradually making them more selfish and aggressive, turning them into the Order; Photon is among the heroes who rally to defeat the Order and return them to their sense during ONCE MORE, THE END.

Avengers #58-59 (2002)

Photon cameo; first appearance of the sixth Scorpio; Photon is among the Avengers brining aid to people around the world.

Avengers #501-503 (2004)

Photon is among the heroes Avengers who assemble when it seems as though some of the biggest threats they've ever faced returns to attack them at once; the Avengers are shocked to discover the Scarlet Witch is behind the attacks; due to the fact that some of the Avengers who appear here shouldn't have been available at the time, it's even possible that this isn't Photon at all during AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED.

New Thunderbolts #8 (2005)

Photon cameo; Monica Rambeau finds out another hero is now using the name Photon...

A version of this reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns or less important appearances - just the primary Photon stories:

• Avengers Unplugged #5
• Avengers #1-3, 16-18
• Avengers: Infinity #1-4
• Thor #30
• Maximum Security #2
• Avengers #35
• Maximum Security #3
• Avengers #36-38
• Avengers Annual 2001
• Avengers #46, 48, 50-53, 55
• New Thunderbolts #8

MONICA RAMBEAU:
Monica's adventures continue under two further identities:

• PULSAR: Monica Rambeau (2005-2013)
• SPECTRUM: Monica Rambeau (2013-2015)

PHOTON:

Genis-Vell ends up taking the name Photon himself:

• PHOTON: Genis-Vell (2005-2006)

Captain Marvel: Monica Rambeau

Includes...

Avengers Unplugged #5

Avengers Assemble vol.1

Avengers: The Morgan Conquest
Both include...
Avengers #1-3

Avengers by Kurt Busiek & George Perez Omnibus vol.1
Includes...

Avengers #1-3, 16-18

Avengers: Infinity

Avengers: Infinity #1-4.

Avengers by Kurt Busiek & George Perez Omnibus vol.1

Includes...

Avengers #35-38, 46, 48, 50, 52-53, 55

Avengers Annual 2001

Maximum Security #2-3

Avengers Assemble vol.2
Includes...

Avengers #16-18

Avengers/X-Men: Maximum Security

Includes...

Avengers #35

Maximum Security #2-3

Thor #30

Thor: Across All Worlds

Thor: Heroes Return Omnibus

Both include... 

Thor #30

Avengers Assemble vol.4

Includes,...

Avengers #35-38

Avengers Annual 2001

Maximum Security #2-3

Avengers Assemble vol.5
Includes...

Avengers #46, 48, 50, 52-53, 55

New Thunderbolts vol.2: Modern Marvels

Includes...

New Thunderbolts #8