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Where to start reading X-Men

Pick the X-Men team you actually want

The current Cyclops-led X-Men, the Rogue-led Uncanny X-Men, and the completed Ultimate X-Men are three different starting paths.

THE SHORT ANSWERChoose X-Men by Jed MacKay for Cyclops’s Alaska team, Uncanny X-Men by Gail Simone for Rogue’s Louisiana team, or Ultimate X-Men for Peach Momoko’s completed alternate-universe story.

What to buy

01

X-Men by Jed MacKay

Use X-Men Volumes 1–3 plus Raid on Graymalkin and X-Manhunt, then add the uncovered issues.

02

Uncanny X-Men by Gail Simone

Use Uncanny X-Men Volumes 1–4 plus Raid on Graymalkin, then add the uncovered issues.

03

Ultimate X-Men

Read the four numbered paperbacks for the complete 24-issue Earth-6160 story.

ESTIMATED PUBLISHER COVER PRICE$85–$170 depending on the team

The completed Ultimate route is the least complicated. The two current main-universe routes include crossover collections and recent individual issues.

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What to read, in order

  1. Choose one team first. The three paths are not chapters of one required sequence.
  2. For X-Men and Uncanny X-Men, place Raid on Graymalkin at the labeled crossover point.
  3. For X-Men by Jed MacKay, also place X-Manhunt between issues #12 and #14.
  4. For Ultimate X-Men, read Volumes 1–4 in order.

What comes next

X-Men and Uncanny X-Men continue monthly. Ultimate X-Men (2024) is complete.