The new Avengers line-up have been consistently proving their worth in the Marvel Universe and continue to face major threats like the Collective. But war is on the horizon. Iron Man and Captain America are about to go head-to-head, splitting the Avengers in two and forcing the team and the rest of the superhuman community to choose sides. It's an event that can only end in tragedy.
Brian Michael Bendis continues his critically acclaimed run on New Avengers, joined by Mark Millar who spearheads the CIVIL WAR event. If you want to keep things simple and just read the main issues from this era, scroll on down to 'The Core List'!
MCG Notes:
- Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Avengers stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
- Issue listings in grey: Part of the Avengers' chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
- Chronology: Every appearance of the Avengers from this period is included in chronological order - mapping out the timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
- The Divide: Despite numerous characters joining Captain America's Secret Avengers and Iron Man's Pro-Registration SHIELD unit, I'll stick to appearances of the seven New Avengers - Luke Cage, Captain America, Iron Man, Sentry, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman & Wolverine - for this reading order, regardless of whose side they're on.
- Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
- JUST 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.
- 1962-1963: Before the Avengers
- 1998-1999: Avengers Assemble!
- 1999-2000: Living Legends
- 2004-2006: New Avengers
Amazing Spider-Man #530 (2006)
Tony Stark and Peter Parker head to Washington to meet with Congress about their plans for superhuman registration during THE ROAD TO CIVIL WAR.
Union Jack #3 (2007)
Captain America cameo; Cap advises Union Jack.
Amazing Spider-Man #531 (2006)
New Avengers: Illuminati #1 (2006)
Tony Stark and Peter Parker wrap up their trip to Washington; the origin of the Illuminati is revealed as Iron Man's relationship with Namor the Sub-Mariner reaches breaking point during THE ROAD TO CIVIL WAR.
Spider-Man/Araña: The Hunter Revealed #1 (2006)
Spider-Man and Araña team up against the Sisterhood of the Wasp.
Sensational Spider-Man #23-27 (2006)
Spider-Man, the Black Cat and the Puma join forces against the Lizard, Man-Wolf and other feral foes as they slip further out of control due to the machinations of Stegron.
Black Panther #10-13 (2006)
Luke Cage assists the Black Panther, Shang-Chi and Blade against Fu Manchu and a vampire conspiracy.
Friendly-Neighborhood Spider-Man #6-10 (2006)
Spider-Man takes on El Muerto in a wrestling match which turns into an assassination attempt; Spider-Man investigates the apparent return of Ben Parker, leading to a team-up with Spider-Man of Earth-9500.
Spectacular Spider-Man #1000[1/2] (2011)
A college football player starts selling drugs in school, only to find himself caught between the Russian mob, the Punisher and Spider-Man.
X-Men #189[2/2] (2006)
Spider-Man and Wolverine meet Masked Marvel.
Spider-Man Unlimited #12[2/2] (pp.1-5) (2006)
The parents of one of Peter Parker's students are killed by a burglar.
Daughters of the Dragon #4 (2006)
Tony Stark cameo; Tony has Misty Knight's cyborg arm repaired after her disastrous clash with Ricadonna.
Fantastic Four Special #1 (2006)
The Human Torch catches up with Captain America and Spider-Man.
Spider-Man Unlimited #12[2/2] (pp.6-11) (2006)
Spider-Man brings Luke Cage, Iron Man and Captain America to visit the pupil who lost his parents.
Thing #6 (2006)
The Thing and Spider-Man go up against the Trapster and the Sandman.
Black Panther #16 (2006)
Avengers cameo; the Black Panther and Storm invite the Avengers to their wedding during WEDDING OF THE CENTURY.
I ♥ Marvel: Web of Romance #1 (2006)
Spider-Man's missions with the Avengers constantly disrupt his Valentine's plans for Mary Jane Parker during I ♥ MARVEL.
Wolverine #41 (2006)
Wolverine saves a baby in war-torn Africa.
X-Men #186 (2006)
Wolverine and the Avengers take on Apocalypse's Sphinx when it assaults the United Nations building during BLOOD OF APOCALYPSE.
Free Comics Book Day: X-Men/Runaways #1 (2006)
Wolverine and his fellow X-Men meet the Runaways.
Marvel Team-Up #21 (2006)
Wolverine cameo; Spider-Man and Freedom Ring tackle the Abomination, with some extra help from the X-Men.
X-Men: Deadly Genesis #1[1/2]-5[1/2], 6(pp.1-24) (2006)
First appearance of Vulcan/Gabriel Summers; Wolverine and the X-Men come under attack from a mutant Professor X has been keeping secret for years during DECIMATION.
Iron Man: The Inevitable #1-6 (2006)
Iron Man faces a new Spymaster who pits the armoured Avenger against the Ghost and the Living Laser.
New Avengers #16-20 (2006)
First appearance of the Collective/Michael Pointer; the Avengers learn what happened to all of the lost mutant powers after M-Day and face Magneto during DECIMATION.
New Avengers Annual #1 (2006)
First appearance of Yelena Belova/Black Widow as the Adaptoid (though she may be a Skrull); the new Adaptoid is sent to kill the Avengers; Luke Cage and Jessica Jones get married during HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
She-Hulk #7 (2006)
Captain America & Sentry cameo; Cap and the Sentry are approached to appear as character witnesses in Starfox's trial.
Marvel Team-Up #22-25 (2006)
Luke Cage, Captain America, Spider-Man & Wolverine join the fight against the Iron Maniac & Titannus.
Thing #8 (2006)
The Avengers attend one of the Thing's poker nights.
Iron Man #7-12 (2006)
When Iron Man investigates a series of politically-motivated assassinations, the Avengers begin to wonder if Extremis has affected the mind of the man beneath the armour and the Sentry is sent in to bring him down.
Captain America: Theatre of War - To Soldier On #1 (2009)
Captain America is drawn into the war in Iraq.
Marvel Holiday Special #1[1/4] (2008)
Spider-Man and Wolverine's Christmases converge when they both face a rampaging Sentinel.
Claws #1-3 (2006)
Spider-Man cameo; Wolverine and the Black Cat are drawn into a murderous scheme devised by Arcade and the White Rabbit.
Wolverine #42(pp.1-8) (2006)
Civil War #1(pp.1-7) (2006)
Wolverine #42(pp.9-10) (2006)
Civil War #1(pp.8-12) (2006) / Wolverine #42(p.11) (2006)
Wolverine #42(pp.12-15) (2006)
Civil War #1(pp.13-17) (2006)
Civil War #1(pp.18-20) (2006) / Wolverine #42(pp.16-19) (2006)
Civil War #1(pp.29-31) (2006)
Civil War: Front Line #1[1/3] (2006)
Civil War #1(pp.32-33) (2006)
New Avengers #21 (2006)
She-Hulk #8 (2006)
Daredevil #83 (2006)
Luke Cage cameo.
Civil War: Front Line #1[3/3] (2006)
Amazing Spider-Man #532(pp.1-17) (2006)
Civil War #2(pp.1-6) (2006)
Following a devastating tragedy in Stamford, the US Government initiates the Superhuman Registration Act; Captain America opposes the Act while Iron Man publically unmasks as Tony Stark and supports the Act in full, creating a divide in the superhuman community and the Avengers during CIVIL WAR.
Black Panther #17 (2006)
Luke Cage and Wolverine attend the Black Panther's bachelor party during WEDDING OF THE CENTURY.
New Avengers #22 (2006)
Wolverine #42(pp.20-22)-45(pp.1-22) (2006)
X-Factor #8 (2006)
Ms Marvel #5(2006)
Civil War #2(pp.7-8) (2006)
Amazing Spider-Man #532(pp.18-20) (2006)
Civil War #2(pp.9-18) (2006)
Civil War #2(pp.19-22)-3(p.1) (2006) / Amazing Spider-Man #532(pp.21-22)-533(p.1) (2006)
Amazing Spider-Man #533(pp.2-11) (2006)
Thunderbolts #103 (2006)
Amazing Spider-Man #533(pp.12-23) (2006)
Civil War: Front Line #2[1/4] (p.1-5) (2006)
First appearance of the Secret Avengers; when Iron Man tries to arrest Luke Cage, he becomes one of many heroes to join Captain America's Secret Avengers; Spider-Man sides with Iron Man and makes a big decision about his secret identity; Wolverine continues his search for the Nitro and discovers there may have been a bigger agenda behind the explosion in Stamford during CIVIL WAR.
Sensational Spider-Man #28 (2006)
Peter Parker puts his students in jeopardy when he returns to work during SPIDER-MAN UNMASKED.
Heroes for Hire #1 (2006)
Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways #1 (2006)
Civil War: Front Line #2[1/2] (pp.7-14) (2006) / Civil War: Front Line #2[4/4] (2006)
Wolverine #45(p.23) (2006)
First appearance of Misty Knight's Heroes for Hire; Iron Man sends the Heroes for Hire to bring in unregistered heroes while also leading SHIELD's 'Cape-Killer' teams to bring in others during CIVIL WAR.
Blade #1 (2006)
Spider-Man is turned into a vampire, prompting Blade to turn him back before it's too late.
Wolverine #46-47 (2006)
Wolverine storms Damage Control during CIVIL WAR.
Friendly-Neighborhood Spider-Man #11-13 (2006)
Mysterio attacks the school where Peter Parker works, followed by another Mysterio and another during SPIDER-MAN UNMASKED.
Moon Knight #7-8 (2007)
Both Captain America and Iron Man try to recruit Moon Knight during CASUALTIES OF WAR.
Ms Marvel #6-7 (2006)
X-Factor #9 (2006)
First appearance of Spider-Woman/Julia Carpenter as Arachne; Ms Marvel follows Iron Man's orders to hunt down Arachne; Spider-Man is confronted by an angry Jamie Madrox and the Sentry battles the Absorbing Man while struggling to decide which side to take during CIVIL WAR.
New X-Men #28-29 (2006)
Wolverine cameo; Iron Man investigates a series of murders linked to William Stryker.
Black Panther #18 (2006)
First appearance of 'Brother Voodoo'; Avengers from both sides of the Superhuman Civil War attend Storm and the Black Panther's wedding during CIVIL WAR / WEDDING OF THE CENTURY.
Thunderbolts #104-105 (2006)
Captain America #22 (2006)
New Avengers #23 (2006)
Civil War #3(pp.2-6) (2006)
Sharon Carter's allegiance to Captain America puts her in a difficult position; Spider-Woman's role as a double/triple agent leaves her out in the cold; Iron Man struggles to recruit allies during CIVIL WAR.
Spider-Man Family #4[2/5] (2007)
Spider-Man meets the Agents of Atlas.
X-Men: Deadly Genesis #6(pp.25-28) (2006)
The X-Men hold a funeral for their fallen teammate during DECIMATION.
Runaways #24 (2007)
Iron Man tracks down the Runaways.
Black Panther #21 (2006)
Civil War: Front Line #4[1/4] (2006)
Civil War: Front Line #4[4/4] (2006)
Cable & Deadpool #30 (2006)
Civil War: X-Men #1 (2006)
Cable & Deadpool #31 (2006)
Civil War #3(pp.7-16) (2006)
Civil War: Front Line #6[4/4] (2006)
Civil War #3(pp.16-20) (2006)
Civil War: Front Line #6[1/4] (pp.6-7) (2006)
Civil War #3(pp.20-22)-4(pp.1-6) (2006)
Civil War: Front Line #6[1/4] (pp.8-9) (2006)
Civil War #4(pp.7-12) (2006)
Civil War: Front Line #6[1/4] (pp.10-12) (2006)
Civil War #4(pp.13-15) (2006)
Civil War: X-Men #2 (2006)
Civil War #4(pp.15-17) (2006)
New Avengers #24 (2006)
Civil War X-Men #4 (2006)
Black Panther #22 (2006)
Heroes for Hire #2-3 (2006)
First appearance of Codename: Lighting/'Thor'; Iron Man and Captain America's forces agree to meet, resulting in a clash in which Iron Man unleashes a shocking new weapon who deals a deadly blow to the Secret Avengers; the Sentry continues to struggle to choose a side during CIVIL WAR.
New X-Men #32 (2007)
Wolverine cameo; Wolverine attends the memorial service for those killed by William Stryker.
Civil War: #4(pp.17-20) (2006)
Tony Stark attends Goliath's funeral during CIVIL WAR.
Iron Man/Captain America: Casualties of War #1 (2007)
Iron Man and Captain America agree to meet in secret to discuss their issues in the hope of resolving them peacefully during CIVIL WAR / CASUALTIES OF WAR.
Sensational Spider-Man #29-31 (2006)
A number of Spider-Man's foes join forces in an effort to kill him and his family during SPIDER-MAN UNMASKED.
X-Men #189-191, 193 (2006-2007)
Wolverine is among the X-Men defending the Xavier Institute when the Children of the Vault attack.
Civil War: Front Line #5[4/4] (2006)
Iron Man #13(pp.1-11) (2006)
Civil War #4(pp.21-22) (2006)
Amazing Spider-Man #534 / Fantastic Four #539 / Civil War: Choosing Sides #1[2/6] (2006)
Amazing Spider-Man #535(pp.1-2) (2006)
First appearance of Ant-Man/Eric O'Grady; Iron Man chooses some questionable allies; the war continues on the streets of Manhattan during CIVIL WAR.
Giant-Size Wolverine #1[1/3] (2006)
Wolverine chases down Hydra agents in North Dakota.
Civil War: Front Line #9[3/4] (2006)
Civil War: The Return #1[2/2] (2007)
Civil War: Front Line #8[1/4] (2006)
Civil War: Front Line #9[1/4] (2006)
Amazing Spider-Man #535(pp.3-16) (2006) / Fantastic Four #540(pp.18-22) (2006)
Amazing Spider-Man #535(pp.17-21) (2006)
Civil War #5(pp.1-7) (2006)
Amazing Spider-Man #536(pp.1-6) (2006)
Civil War #5(pp.9-17) (2006) / Punisher War Journal #1(pp.25-32) (2007)
Amazing Spider-Man #536(pp.7-14) (2006)
The Sentry finally chooses a side; Ben Urich starts investigating Stark Enterprises; Spider-Man turns against Iron Man and joins the Secret Avengers during CIVIL WAR.
Sensational Spider-Man #32-34 (2007)
Mary Jane Parker and May Parker are taken to a safe-house; Spider-Man is injured again as continues to fight criminals; the Black Cat steps up to fight on Spidey's behalf during SPIDER-MAN UNMASKED.
Wolverine #48 (2007)
Wolverine's recent regeneration from a single drop of blood is explained during CASUALTIES OF WAR.
Captain America #24 (2007)
Iron Man #13(pp.11-21)-14 (2006-2007)
Civil War: War Crimes #1(pp.1-14) (2007)
Sharon Carter is forced to choose between Captain America and her role in SHIELD; Iron Man loses one of his closest friends during CIVIL WAR.
Civil War: Choosing Sides #1[4/6] (2006)
Iron Man assigns USAgent to hunt down super-criminals escaping to Canada.
Eternals #1, 3 (2006)
Iron Man investigates super-human activity in San Francisco.
Blade #5 (2007)
SHIELD hire Blade to apprehend Wolverine during CASUALTIES OF WAR.
Eternals #6-7 (2007)
Iron Man witnesses the return of the Eternals.
Incredible Hulk #100[2/5] (2007)
Amadeus Cho escapes SHIELD's Cape-Killers and gets a message to Iron Man and Mister Fantastic that he knows what the Illuminati did; the Hulk will return an he'll be looking for payback during PLANET HULK.
Thunderbolts #107-108 (2007-2008)
Captain America and Iron Man are among the heroes from both side of the war who assist Baron Zemo and this Thunderbolts Army against the Grandmaster.
Friendly-Neighborhood Spider-Man #14-16 (2007)
Debra Whitman releases a tell-all book about her relationship with Peter Parker, drawing Spider-Man out of hiding and into a fight with the Vulture during SPIDER-MAN UNMASKED.
Punisher War Journal #2(pp.10-15) (2007)
Civil War: War Crimes #1(pp.22-35) (2007)
Civil War #5(pp.18-22) (2006)
New Avengers #25 (2006)
Black Panther #23 (2007)
First appearance of Prison 42: 'Daredevil' is locked-up in Prison 42, confronting Tony Stark as he goes; Iron Man is offered the role of Director of SHIELD during CIVIL WAR.
New Avengers #26 (2007)
Hawkeye is revealed to be alive again; he tracks down the Scarlet Witch to confront her over her killing him.
Black Panther #24 (2007)
Civil War #6(pp.3-5) (2006)
Amazing Spider-Man #636(pp.15-23)-537 (2006-2007)
Civil War #6(pp.6-13) (2006) / Punisher War Journal #2(pp.19-22)-3(pp1-11) (2007)
Civil War #6(pp.14-15) (2006)
Amazing Spider-Man #538(pp.1-2) (2007)
Black Panther #25(pp.4) (2007)
Civil War #6(pp.16-22)-7(pp.1-7) (2006-2007)
Civil War: The Return #1[1/2] (2007)
Civil War #7(pp.8-12) (2007)
Civil War: Front Line #10[1/2] (2006)
Amazing Spider-Man #538(pp.3-4) (2007)
Black Panther #25(pp.5-6) (2007)
Civil War #7(pp.12-13) (2007)
Amazing Spider-Man #538(p.5) (2007)
Black Panther #25(p.7-20) (2007)
Civil War #7(pp.13-16) (2007)
Amazing Spider-Man #538(p.6-8) (2007)
Civil War #7(pp.17-22) (2007)
Civil War: Front Line #11(pp.2-5) (2007)
Civil War: The Confession #1[2/2] (2007)
Civil War: Front Line #11(pp.6-11) (2007)
First appearance of 'Captain Marvel'/Khn'nr; the Secret Avengers assault Prison 42, freeing the imprisoned heroes and pitting them against Iron Man's pro-registration forces; the Superhuman Civil War comes to an end; Iron Man and Captain America come face to face one last time; Ben Urich and Sally Floyd get Captain America's take on the Civil War during CIVIL WAR.
Punisher War Journal #4 (2007)
Spider-Man cameo; Spider-Man briefly attends Stilt-Man's wake.
Amazing Spider-Man #538 (2007)
Captain America #25 (2007)
Civil War: The Confession #1[1/2] (2007)
An assassination attempt on Spider-Man upturns his entire life; Captain America's fate in the wake of the Superhuman Civil War takes an exceptionally dark turn; Tony Stark reveals his true feelings about the war during CIVIL WAR.
Amazing Spider-Man #539-542 (2007)
With a member of his family on the brink of death, Spider-Man dons his black costume to find a way to save their life while also finding out who's responsible; Spider-Man confronts the would be killer on Ryker's Island during BACK IN BLACK.
Black Panther #26(p.1-5) (2007)
Iron Man cameo; Iron Man warns Maria Hill not to antagonise the Black Panther during THE INITIATIVE / FOUR THE HARD WAY.
Civil War: Front Line #11(pp.13-24) (2007)
Phil Urich and Sally Floyd confront Tony Stark over his actions over the course of the Superhuman Civil War during CIVIL WAR.
Ms Marvel #13(pp.1-5) (2007)
Iron Man and Ms Marvel investigate a terrorist attack; Iron Man gets on the wrong side of Ms Marvel during THE INITIATIVE.
X-Men: Phoenix: Warsong #1-5 (2007)
Wolverine and the X-Men deal with the return of the two deceased Stepford Cuckoos and an unstable fragment fragment of the Phoenix Force; the origin of the Stepford Cuckoos is revealed.
Immortal Iron Fist #2, 5-6 (2007)
Luke Cage helps out his old buddy Iron Fist when he's drawn into a fighting tournament on K'un-Lun during THE LAST IRON FIST STORY.
Civil War #7(pp.23-28) (2007)
These pages take pace at various points in time; Luke Cage forms an underground Avengers team to continue to oppose registration; later, Iron Man announces the formation of the Initiative and his own team of Avengers during CIVIL WAR.
- New Avengers: Illuminati #1
- New Avengers #16-20
- New Avengers Annual #1
- Civil War #1
- New Avengers #21
- Civil War #2
- New Avengers #22
- Captain America #22
- New Avengers #23
- Civil War #3-4
- New Avengers #24
- Civil War #5
- Captain America #24
- Incredible Hulk #100[2/5]
- New Avengers 25-26
- Civil War #6-7
- Captain America #25
- Civil War: The Confession #1
- 2007-2008: Avengers vs Avengers
- 2008-2009: Invasion!
- 2009-2010: Dark Avengers
Civil War: The Confession #1
Giant-Size Spider-Woman #1
Giant-Size Spider-Woman #1
New Avengers #11-25
New Avengers Annual #1
New Avengers: Illuminati #1
Civil War
Civil War #1-7
Captain America by Ed Brubaker Omnibus
Captain America: The Death of Captain America - The Complete Collection
Both include...
Captain America #22-25
Captain America #22-25
Civil War: Avengers HC
Captain America #22-15
Civil War: Fallen Son - Daily Bugle Special
Civil War: The Confession #1
Civil War: The Initiative #1
Iron Man #13-14
Iron Man/Captain America: Casualties of War #1
Ms Marvel #6-8
New Avengers #21-25
New Avengers: Illuminati #1
Winter Soldier: Winter Kills #1
Amadeus Cho: Genius at Work
Hulk: Planet Hulk
Hulk: Planet Hulk Omnibus
Incredible Hercules - The Complete Collection vol.1
Marvel Voices: Identity
All include...
Incredible Hulk #100
Incredible Hulk #100
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