X-MEN READING ORDER: Before the X-Men

Before I get into the full-on X-MEN READING ORDER, here's some background reading on the five original members of the X-Men that explains how they came to be at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. None of this is necessarily essential, but it's there if you want to know the origins of Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Angel and Iceman.

Unlike the WOLVERINE READING ORDER: BEFORE THE X-MEN, I haven't included every flashback sequence, minor appearance and page-by-page detail, just to keep things nice and simple. If you want to keep it even more simple, there's a section below that just lists origin issues. You don't have to wade through all these random stories in chronological order if you don't want to!

As always, I'd like to thank the guys over at www.chronologyproject.com which I use as a basis and work out my own continuity.

MCG Notes:

• Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read X-Men 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 X-Men's chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that are non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
• Chronology: Every appearance of the X-Men 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!

First X-Men #1, 3-5(pp.1-19) (2012-2013)
Logan looks for an old friend's missing son; despite having help from Victor Creed, Logan fails to recruit mutant telepath Charles Xavier; when Xavier learns about Bolivar Trask's mutant-hunting project, he aids Logan's team against the Sentinels and the mutant Virus.

X-Men #49[2/3] (1968)
After Norton McCoy stops a meltdown at the nuclear power plant that employs him, his wife, Edna McCoy, gives birth to a son with unusually large hands and feet.

Logan: Shadow Society #1 (1996)
Young Warren Worthington enters the Hellfire Club for the first time.

X-Men Origins: Jean Grey #1(pp.1-8) (2008)
Charles Xavier helps young Jean Grey control her powers.

Classic X-Men #41[2/2]-42[2/2] (1989)
Young Scott Summers' only friend at this orphanage is Nate; Toby Rails (the bully who regularly taunts Scott) is encouraged to throw himself from the orphanage roof by Mister Sinister, despite Scott's attempt to save him; Mister Sinister murders the family who plan to adopt Scott; Charles Xavier and a young Jean Grey telepathically reach out to him and he makes plans to run away from the orphanage.

Uncanny X-Men #-1 (1997)
Jean Grey sees a shooting star that's actually Rachael Summers arriving from the future in search of her disciple, Sanctity; she stops Sanctity from preventing the creation of the Master Mold Sentinel, but Sanctity manages to upload a programme explaining The Twleve into its system during FLASHBACK.

X-Men #-1 (1997)
Amelia Voght tries to talk Charles Xavier out of trying to single-handedly save mutantkind; Magneto brings his newest recruits, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, with him when he makes one last attempt to convince Xavier to join his more militant stance against humanity; Xavier refuses and hopes there's still a good man in Magneto during FLASHBACK.

X-Men Forever #3-4 (2001)
Bobby Drake and Jean Grey's bodies are briefly inhabited by their future selves.

X-Men Origins: Jean Grey #1(pp.9-17) (2008)
Charles Xavier continues to help Jean Grey when her powers fully manifest.

X-Men #38[2/2]-42[2/2] (1967-1968)
As Professor X, Charles Xavier finds an ally in Agent Fred Duncan of the FBI and begins his mission to find young mutants and help them control their powers; runaway Scott Summers is recruited by the telepathic mutant Jack Winters; exposing himself to radiation to increase his powers, the Winters becomes Jack O'Diamonds and orders Scott to kill the interfering Professor X; Jack O'Diamonds renaming himself the Living Diamond doesn't stop Professor X defeating him; having refused to kill Professor X, Scott joins his cause instead and is given a visor to control his powers and a costume, becoming Cyclops - the first of the X-Men.

First X-Men #5(p.20) (2013)
Professor X turns his family estate into the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.

X-Men #54[2/2] (pp.1-2) (1969)
Angel: Revelations #1-2 (2008)
X-Men #54[2/2] (p.3) (1969)
Angel: Revelations #3 (2008)
X-Men #54[2/2] (pp.3-5) (1969)
Angel: Revelations #4-5 (2008)
Young Warren Worthington III's powers manifest, giving him wings; as the Angel, Warren protects his friends from an armed religious zealot.

X-Men: Origins: Iceman #1(pp.1-30) (2010) / X-Men #44[2/2]-46[2/2] (1968)
Bobby Drake manifests ice powers; he's attacked by an anti-mutant mob in his own home after accidentally using his powers in public; Professor X sends Cyclops to recruit Bobby; the pair narrowly avoid a lynching and Bobby Drake agrees to join the X-Men.

X-Men Origins: Jean Grey #1(p.17) (2008)
Professor X suggests Jean Grey attends his school for the gifted.

X-Men #55[2/2]-56[2/2] (1969)
The Avenging Angel takes his crime-fighting activities to New York City; he accepts a place among the X-Men alongside Cyclops and Iceman, despite initially refusing.

X-Men #50[2/2]-53[2/2] (1968-1969)
The mutant Conquistador manipulates Hank McCoy into working for him by kidnapping his parents; the X-Men help Hank defeat the Conquistador and he joins the X-Men as the Beast.

Want to know the original X-Men's origins, but aren't fussed about chronology? You've got a couple of options. Uncanny Origins was launched in the late '90s and featured a different character each issue, including members of the X-Men. The X-Men Origins one-shots are more recent and is much slicker, explaining the origins of the key characters and adding some more logical, modern elements. There are also some titles that focus on the team as a whole, including a mini-series and a short, one-shot story.

Uncanny Origins #1, 3, 6 (1996-1997)
The origins of Cyclops, Angel and Beast.

X-Men Origins: Jean Grey #1 (2008)
X-Men Origins: Beast #1 (2008)
X-Men Origins: Iceman #1 (2010)
X-Men Origins: Cyclops #1 (2010)
The origins of Marvel Girl, Beast, Iceman and Cyclops.

X-Men: Children of the Atom #1-6 (1999-2000)
X-Men: Season One #1[1/2] (2012)
The formation of the X-Men and their first clash with Magneto (pick the mini-series or the one-shot - there's no need to read both!)

The X-Men's reading order entries continue:

• 1963-1970: Children of the Atom
• 1971-1974: The Lost Years
• 1975-1977: All-New, All-Different
• 1977-1981: The Phoenix Saga

First X-Men
Wolverine: Prehistory
Include... 

First X-Men #1-5.

X-Men Omnibus vol.2
Includes... 

X-Men #38-56

Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men vol.4
Includes... 

X-Men #38-42

X-Men Epic Collection vol.2: Lonely Are The Hunted
Includes... 

X-Men #38-53

X-Men Epic Collection vol.3: The Sentinels Live
Includes... 

X-Men #54-56

X-Men Classic Omnibus
X-Men Classic: The Complete Collection vol.2
Include...

Classic X-Men #41-42

X-Men: The Trial of Gambit
Includes... 

Uncanny X-Men #-1

X-Men #-1

Angel: Revelations
Angel: Revelations #1-5

Uncanny Origins vol.1: Mutants and Monsters
Includes... 

Uncanny Origins #1, 3 & 6

X-Men Origins vol.1-2
X-Men Origins: The Complete Collection
Include... 

X-Men Origins: Beast #1

X-Men Origins: Cyclops #1

X-Men Origins: Iceman #1

X-Men Origins: Jean Grey #1

X-Men: Season One
Includes... 

X-Men: Season One #1