SKRULLS READING ORDER: Rise of the Skrulls (1962-1977)

It looks like the Skrulls will be playing a notable role in the upcoming Captain Marvel film, so some of you may be wondering about the history of these shape-shifting alien bad guys. Here's part one of three posts that'll take you right up to the event that had their biggest impact on the Marvel Universe... SECRET INVASION!

As always, I'd like to thank the guys over at the Marvel Chronology Project which I use as a basis and then work out my own version of the Marvel Universe continuity. Those guys have done all the heavy lifting for me.

MCG Notes:

• Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Skrulls 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 of note that are non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
• Chronology: Every appearance of the Skrulls from this period is included in chronological order - mapping out his 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.

Marvel Westerns: Kid Colt and Arizona Girl #1 (2006)
The Skrulls' first recorded invasion attempt is discovered when Arizona Girl and Kid Colt learn the population of Wilcox, Oklahoma are all shape-shifting Skrulls during THE MIGHTY MARVEL WESTERN.

Amazing Adult Fantasy #7 (1961)
A human discovers a crashed alien vessel and desperately searches for a pilot, only to discover a shape-shifter called Zankor with amnesia; Zankor was revealed to be a Skrull in the 'Secret Invasion: Skrulls' one-shot, retroactively making this the first Skrull appearance as the issue predates their first actual appearance.

Marvel: The Lost Generation #1-12 (2000-2001)
Time-traveller Cassandra Locke learns of a failed Skrull invasion; a surviving Skrull, Zuhn, becomes the super-villain Chimera while another Skrull, Velmax, became the super-hero Effigy - a member of the First Line; after run-ins with Dorrek VII and Zankor, the First Line pay the ultimate price while defending Earth during THE LOST GENERATION.

Marvel Premiere #35-37 (1977) 

First appearance of Zirksu (aka Diabolik); during the 1950s, a Skrull conspiracy to inflame the Cold War is unearthed by the 3-D Man; using his special goggles, 3D Man can see disguised Skrulls for what they really are, even when Zirksu disguises himself as Richard Nixon!

Fantastic Four #2 (1962) 

A group of Skrulls commit crimes while in the guise of the Fantastic Four; Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) convinces the Skrull FF imposters to turn themselves into cows and even hypnotises them into believing they really are cows.

Fantastic Four #18 (1963)
First appearance of Emperor Dorrek VII (unnamed), the Super-Skrull (Kl'rt) and Tarnax IV (the Skrull homeworld); angered that his low-key invasion attempt was thwarted by the FF, Emperor Dorrek VII grants Kl'rt the powers of all four members of the Fantastic Four; the Super-Skrull is defeated when the team leave him buried beneath the Earth's surface, unable to access his solar-fuelled powers.

Fantastic Four #32 (1964) 

First appearance of Warlord Morrat (unnamed); Dorrek's next plan to take down the Fantastic Four involves a new villain, the Invincible Man; the FF believe the Invisible Girl and Human Torch's father, Franklin Storm, to be the Invincible Man, but Reed Richards correctly believes him to be the Super-Skrull; Franklin Storm is returned to his family with his name cleared but learns the Skrulls have planted a bomb inside him; Franklin Storm uses his body to contain the bomb, sacrificing himself in the process.

Fantastic Four #37 (1965) 

First appearance of Princess Anelle; the Fantastic Four travel to Tarnax IV, looking for revenge over the death of Franklin Storm; the team face Warlord Morrat (named in this issue) who turns against his own king, but sacrifices his life to save his beloved Princess Anelle; Dorrek claims it was Morrat who wanted to invade Earth.

Fantastic Four Annual #3 / Marvel Heroes & Legends #1 (1965/1996) 

The Super-Skrull is one of the many villains who tries to disrupt Reed Richards and Sue Storm's wedding during THE WEDDING OF SUE & REED.

Fantastic Four #48 (1966) 

Dorrek VII and the Skrulls hide the existence of Tarnax IV from the Silver Surfer and Galactus.

Marvel Comics Presents #18[4/4] (1989) 

A flashback reveals how Willie Lumpkin almost failed to deliver the Fantastic Four's mail thanks to the Super-Skrull.

Thor #142[1/2] (1967) 

Loki manipulates the Super-Skrull into attacking Thor, but he's inevitably defeated and stranded in space.

Captain Marvel #2 (1968) 

Dorrek VII wants to investigate the recent Kree activity on Earth and sends the Super-Skrull to investigate in return for his daughter, Anelle's, hand; the Super-Skrull first battles Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell); the enmity between the Kree and the Skrulls is revealed for the first time.

Fantastic Four #89-91 (1969) 

First appearance of the Kralians of Kral IV; the Thing is kidnaped by Skrull Slavers and taken to the Kral; a world based on America in the 1930s, including mobsters.

Avengers #69-70 (1969) 

First appearance of Doctor Spectrum's Power Prism; the crystal is later revealed to be a Skrull named Krimonn during ENDGAME.

Fantastic Four #92-93 (1969) 

The FF arrive on Kral IV, rescue the Thing from the Skrulls' battle arena and free the other aliens held by the Skrull Slavers before returning home.

Captain Marvel #20 (1970) 

First appearance of the Rat Pack - a group of human looters who are defeated by Captain Marvel.

X-Men: The Hidden Years #16 (2001) 

Zankor emerges in a previously untold tale, clashing with the original X-Men.

Avengers #97 (1971) 

One of the Skrulls transformed into cows by Mister Fantastic is revealed to have escaped and become H Warren Craddock, the head of the Alien Activities Commission; Craddock begins a campaign to discredit the Avengers just as the Earth becomes the beachhead for the next skirmish in the 'Kree-Skrull War'; Captain Marvel meets the Skrull Princess Anelle (which is later revealed to be a more intimate meeting than we thought); the Avengers defeat some Skrull Fantastic Four imposters and defend Earth with the help of Rick Jones and his Destiny Force powers; 'Craddock' is beaten to death by an angry mob! during THE KREE-SKRULL WAR.

New Avengers: Illuminati #1 (2007) 

Iron Man gathers a secret group dubbed the Illuminati and leads them back to Tarnax VII to take down the Skrulls; instead, the group are captured and narrowly escape with their lives.

New Avengers #44 (2008)
Emperor Dorrek creates clones of Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, Black Bolt, Doctor Strange, Professor X and Namor the Sub-Mariner and begins experiments to learn how to avoid being detected on Earth by superhumans; but don't read this now, wait until SECRET INVASION.

Incredible Hulk #155 (1972) 

First appearance of the Shaper of Worlds - a being with the power to make people's dreams a reality; the Shaper looks like a pasty white Skrull up top and a mechanoid from the waist down.

Marvel Team-Up #5 (1972) 

The Puppet-Master discovers a crashed Skrull ship left over from the Kree-Skrull War that contains a Skrull scout robot called a Monstroid (or a Ballox); Monstroid and Puppet-Master are defeated by Spider-Man and the Vision during A PASSION OF THE MIND!

Captain Marvel #25-27 (1973) 

First appearance of Skragg; Thanos initiatites his plan to dominate the universe; among Thanos' alien mercenary army is Skragg, a Skrull who hopes to learn the secrets of the Destiny Force from Rick Jones; Skragg is defeated by Captain Marvel during THE THANOS WAR.

Fantastic Four #136-137 (1973) 

The Shaper of Worlds empowers gang leader Thomas Gideon to help make his dreams come true and take on the Fantastic Four.

Iron Man #63-66 (1973) 

During a protracted battle with Doctor Spectrum (Kinji Obatu), Iron Man learns that Spectrum's Power Prism is actually a Skrull; Krimonn was transformed into a gem as punishment for attempting to overthrow Emperor Dorrek and later granted energy powers by the Grandmaster.

Defenders #13-14 (1974) 

Krimonn is wielded by a new Doctor Spectrum (Billy Roberts) who costumes up and joins the Squadron Sinister to fight the Defenders.

Incredible Hulk #190-191 (1975) 

The Hulk has another run-in with the Shaper of Worlds and his protégé, Glorian.

New Avengers #40 (2008)
Emperor Dorrek sends Princess Veranke into exile; don't read this until SECRET INVASION.

Avengers #133-134 (1975) 

The Avengers learn the origin of the centuries-old Kree-Skrull War during THE CELESTIAL MADONNA SAGA.

Giant-Size Defenders #4 (1975) 

Krimonn is shattered by the Hulk during another conflict between the Defenders and the Squadron Sinister.

Marvel Premiere #24 (1975) 

The Monstroid returns and is destroyed by Iron Fist during IRON FIST MUST DIE!

Marvel Chillers #3, 5-7 (1976) 

The Rat Pack return with a new leader, Joshua Plague, who is revealed to be the Super-Skrull; the Rat Pack abandon their boss to Tigra and Red Wolf's wrath when they learn his true identity; the Super-Skrull tries to steal Tigra's soul using a stick called the Soul Catcher, but it backfires and leaves the Skrull stuck in the stick.

Fantastic Four #173-174 (1976) 

While trying to save Counter-Earth from Galactus, the Fantastic Four encounter Skrulls who are living out a medieval fantasy very similar to the Kralians of Kral.

Marvel Team-Up #61-62 (1977) 

The Super-Skrull escapes from the Soul Catcher and clashes with Spider-Man, the Human Torch and Ms Marvel (Carol Danvers); Ms Marvel screws up and accidentally teleports the Skrull him to an unknown location using a Cavorite Crystal (this is Carol's first clash with the Skrulls in her Ms Marvel persona).

A version of this reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns or less important appearances:

• Fantastic Four #2, 18, 32, 37
  
• Thor #142
• Captain Marvel #2
• Fantastic Four #89-93
• Avengers #97
• New Avengers: Illuminati #1
• Avengers #133-134
• Marvel Chillers #3, 5-7
• Fantastic Four #173-174
• Marvel Team-Up #61-62

The chronological history of the Skrulls continues in these reading orders:

• 1978-1994: Fall of the Skrulls
• 1995-2008: Infiltration

Secret Invasion: Rise of the Skrulls
Avengers (1963) #97

Avengers Annual #14

Captain Marvel (2008) #1-5

Fantastic Four (1961) #2, 18

Fantastic Four Annual #19

Marvel: The Lost Generation #11

Ms Marvel (2006) #25-27

Silver Surfer (1987) #25

PIT-FALL (1986-1987)

On Earth-91274, the G.I.Joe team's most recent battle with Cobra backfired. Badly. Even though they managed to destroy most of the Cobra-controlled town, the newly created master strategist Serpentor manipulated events so that the Joes wouldn't locate any evidence that Cobra were ever there! The specialist military unit now find themselves under investigation for attacking an innocent American town.

As if that wasn't enough, the Dreadnoks have learned the location of the Joe's secret headquarters, the Pit, beneath the unassuming Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island. Hawk knows that Cobra could retaliate against them for the attack on Springfield at any time...

• G.I.Joe #52-56
• G.I.Joe Yearbook #3[1/4]

G.I.Joe #52
Serpentor leads the remaining Cobra troops and citizens from Springfield to Cobra Island and avoids Cobra Commander's attempt to assassinate him while winning favour with the citizens. Zartan and the Dreadnoks reveal to Cobra Commander that they know the location of the Pit before making another failed attempt on Serpentor. Serpentor tries to cement his alliance with Cobra Commander by planning an attack on G.I.Joe's headquarters. Storm Shadow reveals his presence in the Pit, easily defeats Quick Kick and reveals to Snake-Eyes how the process Doctor Mindbender used to create Serpentor also healed him after he was shot by the Baroness. Snake-Eyes gives him the keys to his cabin in the High Sierras to lay low. Hawk announces to the Joes that they've been shut down over their action in Springfield...

G.I.Joe #53
A special committee of generals investigate the Joes' operations in the Pit, wanting evidence that Cobra really exist, only for Cobra to sneak into Fort Wadsworth and send armies of BATs (Battle Android Troopers) into the Pit. To gain some glory over Serpentor, Cobra Commander and Destro lead a platoon of Cobra Troopers down to the lower levels. Flint alerts the Joes above ground to the assault, forcing Serpentor, the Dreadnoks and Cobra troops to flee. Hawk and one of the generals escape to the surface, while two give their lives to save them and the Pit is blown up with Destro and Cobra Commander unable to escape...

G.I.Joe #54
A week passes as the Joes recover from the loss of the Pit, Serpentor starts selling Cobra Terror-Dromes to anti-American governments and Cobra Commander and Destro struggle to survive in the rubble beneath Fort Wadsworth. New G.I.Joe pilot Slip-Stream drops Flint behind enemy lines in Sierra Gordo to infiltrate the country's new Terror-Drome. Tomax and Xamot take the captured Flint to Doctor Mindbender who uses the brainwave scanner to probe his mind.

G.I.Joe #55
Cobra Commander find a tunnelling machine that surfaces in a mall where they unmask in front of each other and disguise themselves as beatniks. Cobra Commander is pulled over by a cop who recognises him as the father of Billy Kessler, the boy who tried to assassinate him. Destro leaves Cobra Commander to reunite with his seriously injured son in hospital. In Sierra Gordo, Doctor Mindbender unmasks 'Flint' and sees Snake-Eyes' severely scarred face. A band of Joes led by Stalker storm the base and free Snake-Eyes, only for Stalker to be shot and Snake-Eyes to cover for the Joes as they make their escape...

G.I.Joe #56
Scarlet leads a team of Joes on a mission to rescue Snake-Eyes, but Cobra whisk him away. The team claim the abandoned Terror-Drome before Tomax and Xamot can blow it up. Despite the win, Scarlet won't stop ntil they have Snake-Eyes back. Destro catches a flight to Scotland.

G.I.Joe Yearbook #3[1/4]
Snake-Eyes is taken to the new Cobra Consulate Building in New York by Baroness and Doctor Mindbender. The brainwave scanner reveals to Mindbender that Storm Shadow is alive. Scarlet and Storm Shadow infiltrate the building while Snake-Eyes overloads the scanner and frees himself. Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow fight their way through troops and ninja, until Baroness escorts them outside, revealing her to be a disguised Scarlet.

G.I.Joe and the Transformers #1-4 (1987)
In the absence of Cobra Commander (though he does appear in error), Serpentor strikes up an alliance with the alien Decepticons during G.I.JOE VS THE TRANSFORMERS.

G.I.Joe #57 (1987)
Destro returns to Scotland to find an imposter posing as him; G.I.Joe help Destro unmask the imposter as Major Bludd.

G.I.Joe #58 (1987)
Crimson Guardsman Fred VII builds Billy a prosthetic leg and a new suit of battle armour for Cobra Commander.

G.I.Joe #61 (1987)
Billy rejects Cobra Commander's efforts to be a better father; Fred VII shoots Cobra Commander in the back and takes his place in the armour; Stalker returns to active duty.

G.I.Joe #62 (1987)
Despite leaving G.I.Joe, Grunt offers to help free Stalker's team when they're captured in Borovia, but Roadblock turns him down.

G.I.Joe #64 (1987)
Fred VII returns to Cobra Island as Cobra Commander; Baroness realises Fred VII is an imposter but decides to use him to her own advantage.

G.I.Joe #67-69 (1988)
It's revealed that the Terror-Dromes can emit Cobra-controlled paranoia waves.

G.I.Joe #74-76 (1988)
Zartan kills Serpentor by shooting an arrow into his eye, ending the Cobra Civil War.

G.I.Joe #78 (1988)
Roadblock ends up calling on Grunt and his girlfriend, Lola, to help save captured Joes after the Cobra Civil War.

G.I.Joe #98-100 (1990)
Cobra Commander returns and buries Fred VII, Billy, Doctor Mindbender, Zartan and others who betrayed him inside a live volcano.

G.I.Joe #114 (1991)
Zartan and Billy are revealed to be the only ones who escaped the volcano alive.

G.I.Joe #138-142 (1993)
Storm Shadow returns, joining Snake-Eye's Ninja Force team and fighting against Cobra during WAR WITHOUT END.

G.I.Joe #145 (1994)
Hawk discourages Grunt from rejoining, despite the other Joes asking him to.

G.I.Joe #150 (1994)
Storm Shadow, Billy Kessler and Baroness are brainwashed into working for Cobra Commander again. 

Classic G.I.Joe vol.6 (IDW)
Includes G.I.Joe #52-56 and G.I.Joe Yearbook #3.

G.I.Joe: The Complete Collection vol.5 (IDW)
Includes G.I.Joe #52-53.

G.I.Joe: The Complete Collection vol.6 (IDW)
Includes G.I.Joe #54-56 and G.I.Joe Yearbook #3.

THIRD GENESIS (1986)

The X-Men's Marvel Girl (Jean Grey) gained the power of Phoenix after a mission in space, but Jean lost control of her new abilities, went insane, destroyed a planet and allowed herself to be killed. Cyclops struggled with the loss of his beloved Jean until he met and married Madelyne Pryor, a woman who looked just like Jean and they had a son, prompting Cyclops to finally leave the X-Men (during THE TRIAL OF MAGNETO) and retire from life as a costumed adventurer.

While all of this was taking place, anti-mutant hysteria has risen, especially since the Dazzler was revealed to be a mutant (during DAZZLER: THE MOVIE), initiating a call for a Mutant Registration Act (during SECRET WARS). Three of the original X-Men have formed a new team of Defenders (during ASHES, ASHES...). The X-Men and their nemesis Magneto appear to be working together (most prominently during SECRET WARS II). And the X-Men's founder, Professor X, has left Earth (during THE TRIAL OF MAGNETO).

It's time for old faces to return, including one we thought was gone forever...

MCG Note: For completeness, I've included tie-in issues, but these are completely optional. The final issues of the Defenders' series explain why Beast, Iceman and Angel are at loose ends. But the reason I've included Dazzler's final issue is because it was originally intended to lead to her joining X-Factor. The decision was made to have Jean return, instead, but it's interesting to think about how it all could've played out so differently!

Previous stories that directly impact this event:

• SECOND GENESIS - introducing the all-new, all-different X-Men
• THE TRIAL OF MAGNETO - Cyclops has a son, loses his bid for X-Men leadership

Crossover: This is a fairly small crossover that launches the ongoing X-Factor series, though I've included the Defenders and Dazzler issues as stories of interest.

• Avengers #263
• Fantastic Four #286
• New Defenders #151 (tie-in)
• New Defenders #152 (tie-in) (also see SECRET WARS II)
• X-Factor #1
• Dazzler #42 (tie-in) (also see THE CHASE)
  

Avengers #263
The Enclave crash their private jet into Jamaica Bay. Captain Marvel investigates the eruption it causes and discovers a strange cocoon. The Avengers believe the Enclave are creating another artificial being, similar to Adam Warlock and Her, but it seems the cocoon has nothing to do with the Enclave at all. The team struggle against it until the Wasp calms it down enough to allow them to take it back to Avengers Mansion. When they leave the room, the cocoon clears to reveal Jean Grey is inside it. Elsewhere, the Scourge of the Underworld kills Melter.

Fantastic Four #286
Mister Fantastic finds a way to release Marvel Girl (Jean Grey) from her cocoon. The stunned Jean learns Professor X has left planet Earth and Magneto now works with the X-Men (as seen during THE TRIAL OF MAGNETO). The Invisible Woman has experienced recent changes herself (during WITH MALICE TOWARDS ALL) and convinces the Fantastic Four to take Jean back home. There, Jean finds a holempathic matrix crystal (last used by Rachel Summers during THE TRIAL OF MAGNETO) that reveals how the Phoenix Force took her place and put her in a cocoon. It was Jean Grey's overwhelming goodness that 'convinced' the Phoenix to commit suicide rather than destroy the universe. Mister Fantastic decides to make some calls...

New Defenders #151 (tie-in)
Some time ago, Odin ordered Valkyrie to take Moondragon to Earth as her guardian and to guide her back to a righteous path (during ASHES, ASHES...). Now, she's coming to kill the Defenders for not trusting her. But first, Manslaughter turns the Defenders' headquarters into deathtrap and destroys most of it to try and coerce them into letting him join the team. The Interloper emerges, apologises for his protege's behaviour and warns them that Moondragon has arrived...

New Defenders #152 (tie-in)
The Defenders battle Moondragon and the Dragon of the Moon in the ruins of their home. Manslaughter messes with Moondragon's mind by kissing her, but the Beyonder arrives and decides to grant her additional power if she agrees to act as his disciple. He disappears again and Moondragon uses her new powers to transform Gargoyle's body into a creature capable of killing the Defenders. She restores Angel's' lost sight and sets him, Beast and Iceman up to choose between saving loved ones or stopping her. Interloper combines his power with Valkyrie, Manslaughter and Andromeda and they all sacrifice themselves to kill Moondragon and Gargoyle, turning their bodies to ash.

X-Factor #1
Scott Summers has retired as Cyclops following his wedding with Madelyne Pryor, the birth of his son and his failed attempt to retake leadership of the X-Men from Storm (during THE TRIAL OF MAGNETO). Against his wife's wishes, he answers the call when Angel learns Jean Grey is alive. Over the next few weeks, Angel, Marvel Girl and Cyclops reunite with Iceman and the Beast to form a new team. Anti-mutant sentiment is rising along with a call for a Mutant Registration Act. Under advice from their public liaison, Cameron Hodge, the five original X-Men pretend to be mutant-hunters as X-Factor, then save the mutants they're called to apprehend as the X-Terminators. Their first mission - rescuing flame-powered naval cadet Rusty Collins from his hateful boss - is a success. But Cyclops hasn't told Jean he's married or seen his wife in weeks...

Dazzler #42 (tie-in)
Dazzler's life has been more complicated since she was outed as a mutant (during DAZZLER: THE MOVIE). Silence has Dazzler and her mother, Barbara London, captive and plans to use her powers to create an army of super-beings under her control, the New Wave. Then she intends killing Dazzler for her role in the death of her husband, Dust. Dazzler uses her powers to project sound instead of light, killing Silence. Beast arrives with bounty hunter O.Z. Chase and help Dazzler escape as the New Wave lose their powers. Beast offers Dazzler membership in X-Factor...

MCG Note: The fallout from the main chapters are all featured in colour.
Fallout from the optional tie-ins are featured in grey.

Fantastic Four #289 (1986)
Basilisk is the Scourge's next victim; the Fantastic Four move into their new headquarters, Four Freedoms Plaza.

Avengers #270 (1986)
Namor the Sub-Mariner leaves the Avengers following angry protests regarding his membership during ASSAULT ON ATLANTIS.

New Mutants #42 (1986)
Dazzler is revealed to have joined Lila Cheney's band, rather than join X-Factor.

X-Factor #2-3 (1986)
Dr Carl Maddicks tries to cure the Beast's mutation, making him lose his fur and costing him his intellect, but not taking his original powers.

Captain America #318-320 (1986)
Captain America catches up with the Scourge of the Underworld, only for the Scourge to be shot dead by another Scourge during SCOURGE OF THE UNDERWORLD.

X-Factor #7 (1986)
Marvel Girl finds out Cyclops is married during MUTANT MASSACRE.

Uncanny X-Men #206 (1986)
A red-headed woman is admitted to a San Francisco hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and listed as a 'Jane Doe'.

X-Factor #9 (1986)
X-Factor see Magneto associating with the Hellfire Club during MUTANT MASSACRE.

X-Factor #10-11 (1986)
Candy Southern mistakenly believes Angel and Marvel Girl are having an affair after he begins to distance himself from her; Boom Boom and Skids are among the mutants rescued by X-Factor; Angel's wings are permanently damaged by the Marauders during MUTANT MASSACRE.

Uncanny X-Men #214 (1988)
Dazzler ends up joining the X-Men during MUTANT MASSACRE.

Classic X-Men #8 (1987)
A previously untold tale reveal the complete conversation between Jean Grey and the Phoenix Force.

X-Factor #13-14 (1987)
Angel's wings are amputated to save his life; Cyclops learns his wife, Maddie Pryor-Summers, and his son are missing.

X-Factor #15 (1987)
Unable to deal with the loss of his wings and the end of his life as Angel, Warren Worthington III commits suicide by crashing his private jet; Rusty Collins and Skids begin to get close during THIS HALLOWED ARMOR.

Thor #377-378 (1987)
Iceman's powers are dramatically increased by Loki during THIS HALLOWED ARMOR.

X-Factor #17 (1987)
X-Factor rescue Rictor during THE RIGHT.

Uncanny X-Men #215 (1987)
The red-headed woman in the San Francisco hospital wakes up, identifying herself as Maddie Pryor-Summers; flashbacks reveal an attempt on her life by the Marauders.

Strange Tales #5-7 (1987)
Doctor Strange briefly gains the ability to summon the souls of the Interloper, Andromeda, Valkyrie and Manslaughter; Strange allows the dead Defenders to return to death after a battle with Nightmare.

X-Factor #19 (1987)
X-Factor and the X-Terminators are publicly revealed to be one and the same; Apocalypse's newest member of the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse, Death, makes his partial debut during THE RIGHT.

Uncanny X-Men #221-223 (1987)
Maddie Pryor is rescued from the Marauders by the X-Men and continues to stay with them; Maddie begins to get close to Cyclops' brother, Havok.

X-Factor #21 (1987)
Cameron Hodge inherits Warren Worthington III's fortune; first full appearance of Death during THE RIGHT.

X-Factor #24-26 (1988)
Death is revealed to be Warren Worthington III, now with metal wings; Death turns against Apocalypse to come to X-Factor's aid during THE FALL OF THE MUTANTS.

Uncanny X-Men #228 (1988)
OZ Chase toasts Dazzler and the X-Men when he, like the rest of the world, believes they're sacrificed their lives to defeat the Adversary.

X-Factor #27 (1988)
Marvel Girl is reunited with her parents during THE FALL OF THE MUTANTS.

X-Factor #30-31 (1988)
Freedom Force try to apprehend Cyclops and Marvel Girl as they've failed to register their abilities as part of the Mutant Registration Act.

X-Factor #33 (1988)
The mutant Infectia restores Beast's blue-furred look and intellect.

X-Terminators #1 (1988)
Rusty Collins, Boom Boom, Skids and Rictor form a new team of X-Terminators during INFERNO.

Uncanny X-Men #239 (1988)
Baby Nathan Christopher Summers - son of Scott and Maddie - is revealed to be in Mister Sinister's care during INFERNO.

X-Factor #34 (1988)
Cameron Hodge murders Candy Southern to get back at Death (Warren Worthington III); Death decapitates Cameron Hodge during INFERNO.

Uncanny X-Men #240-241 (1989)
Madelyne Pryor is revealed to be a clone of Jean Grey created by Mister Sinister; it's revealed that a spark of the Phoenix Force jumped to her when the Dark Phoenix died; Maddie becomes the Goblin Queen during INFERNO.

X-Factor #36 (1989)
Swearing revenge against N'Astirh - the demon who allied with Cameron Hodge - Death (Warren Worthington III) becomes Dark Angel during INFERNO.

Uncanny X-Men #242 (1989)
X-Factor finally come face-to-face with the X-Men during INFERNO.

X-Factor #38 (1989)
Marvel Girl (Jean Grey) and the Goblin Queen (Madelyne Pryor) fight to the death; Marvel Girl wins and absorbs Maddie's part of the Phoenix Force along with her memories and personality traits; Dark Angel becomes Archangel during INFERNO.

X-Factor #40 (1989)
Cyclops gets his son back; the X-Terminators disband during DUST TO DUST.

New Mutants #76 (1989)
Rusty Collins, Boom Boom, Skids and Rictor join the New Mutants.

Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #3-4 (1989)
Interloper, Andromeda, Valkyrie and Manslaughter are resurrected by the Vishanti after a battle against the Dragon of the Moon.

Solo Avengers #16, 18, 20 (1989)
Moondragon and Gargoyle are resurrected with the help of Moondragon's cousin, Sundragon; Moondragon frees herself of the Dragon of the Moon's control and redeems herself.

New Mutants #78 (1989)
Rusty Collins and Skids are apprehended as unregistered mutants by Freedom Force.

New Mutants #87-88 (1990)
Rusty Collins and Skids are released from incarceration and inducted into the terrorist Mutant Liberation Front during HOME!

Fantastic Four #334-336 (1989-1990)
The Fantastic Four reject proposals to expand the Mutant Registration Act to become a Metahuman Registration Act during ACTS OF VENGEANCE.

X-Factor Annual #5 (1990)
Marvel Girl finally meets Rachel Summers (daughter of the Cyclops and Phoenix of Earth-811), the current host of the Phoenix Force during DAYS OF FUTURE PRESENT.

X-Factor #65-68 (1991)
Apocalypse infects Cyclops' son, Nathan Summers, with a techno-organic virus; a woman called Askani takes baby Nathan into the future to cure him, but can't promise his return.

Infinity Gauntlet #1 (1991)
Adam Warlock returns to life in a cocoon as described by Captain America during THE INFINITY GAUNTLET.

X-Men #1-3 (1991)
The five members of X-Factor - Archangel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman and Marvel Girl - officially return to the ranks of the X-Men during MUTANT GENESIS.

Uncanny X-Men #291 (1992)
Stephen Lang is revealed to be out of his coma, but in a vegetative state.

Uncanny X-Men #294 (1992)
It's implied that Archangel's fortune has been restored to him during X-CUTIONER'S SONG.

X-Force #24-25 (1993)
Magneto recruits Rusty Collins and Skids into his Acolytes during FATAL ATTRACTIONS / ASSAULT ON GRAYMALKIN.

Uncanny X-Men #306 (1993)
Cameron Hodge and Candy Southern are both revealed to have been resurrected by the Phalanx as techno-organic beings; Candy dies once again; Hodge appears to die, but continues to operate as one of the Phalanx during FATAL ATTRACTIONS.

Cable #6-8 (1993-1994)
Following a number of heavy hints, the time-travelling mutant warrior Cable is revealed to be an aged Nathan Christopher Summers to both Cyclops and Phoenix.

Quasar #57 (1994)
The Enclave return and are back to their old tricks during STARBLAST.

X-Men #30 (1994)
Cyclops and Jean Grey marry during THE WEDDING OF CYCLOPS & PHOENIX.

Uncanny X-Men #313 (1994)
Stephen Lang is revealed to have been transformed into a techno-organic Phalanx being; Lang renews his war against the X-Men during PHALANX COVENANT.

X-Men #42 (1995)
Rusty Collins is killed during Holocaust's attack on Magneto's space-based mutant haven, Avalon, during THE FALL OF AVALON.

Avengers #4 (1998)
Derek Freeman's brother, Duane Freeman, becomes Avengers liaison during HEROES RETURN.

Defenders #1-4 (2001)
Valkyrie returns to the Defenders when the original line-up returns.

New X-Men #150 (2004)
Phoenix (Jean Grey) gives her life again, this time to save Earth from 'Magneto'.

Civil War #1-2 (2006)
Following a disaster involving the super-powered New Warriors, the US Government initiates the Superhuman Registration Act during CIVIL WAR.

Civil War: X-Men #1-4 (2006)
The X-Men refuse to challenge the Superhuman Registration Act like many of their fellow costumed adventurers as no one stood up for them during the introduction of the Mutant Registration Act which is still in effect during CIVIL WAR.

Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1-5 (2009)
A new Melter (Christopher Colchiss) emerges during DARK REIGN.

Siege #4 (2010)
As the new head of SHIELD, Steve Rogers convinces the US Government to repeal the Superhuman Registration Act following Norman Osborn's attack on Asgard; there's no mention of the Mutant Registration Act following suit during SIEGE.

Avengers vs X-Men #1-12 (2012)
The Avengers and the X-Men clash over how to deal with the Phoenix Force's return to Earth during AVX: AVENGERS VS X-MEN.

See how this story fits into the wider Marvel Universe continuity with these reading orders:

• DAZZLER: Live! Tonight! Sold Out! (1980-1990)
• FANTASTIC FOUR: Revolution (1984-1986)

Essential X-Factor vol.1
Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne vol.7
X-Factor Epic Collection vol.1: Genesis & Apocalypse
X-Men: Phoenix Rising

Each include... 

Avengers #263

Fantastic Four #286

X-Factor #1

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars: Battleworld Box Set

Secret Wars II Omnibus

Each include... 

New Defenders #152

Avengers: The Once and Future Kang
Includes... 

Avengers #263

Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus vol.2

Includes... 

Fantastic Four #286