Secret Invasion was the big deal Marvel event of 2008. The Skrulls, intergalactic shapeshifters with attitudes (and long time Fantastic Four foes), are just about fed up with Earth (again) and are pulling out all the stops this time.
It’s kind of an Avengers centric event, at least in that there are not as many Mutants involved this time around. Lots of the plot revolves around who is actually a Skrull, when they were, what they did, you know: drama drama drama. Sweet!
I didn’t read it at the time (you know I usually read trades) and it seems that debate is still raging on the best reading order for the issues. I’ve pulled together this list from the original checklist, several forum threads, blog posts, my own feelings about recommended material and chronology, and some stupendous guesswork since I still haven’t read many of the crossover issues.
Like the other orders, we’ll revise as needed according to discussion. I’m especially interested in anything else that might be essential for history and backstory plus better placement for the supplementary material.
In addition, now that the Marvel TPB list is up, you’ll be able to see a nicely sorted trade list for this event at this link.
Here’s the list!
History and Backstory
Fantastic Four v1 2 (First Skrull Apperance)
Fantastic Four v1 18 (Super-Skrull Appearance)
Avengers: The Kree-Skrull War (Avengers Vol. 1 93-97)
New Avengers 1-6
Illuminati One-Shot
Annihilation Vol. 1-3 (collected Crossover Event)
Prelude
1. New Avengers: Illuminati 1
2. New Avengers: Illuminati 2
3. New Avengers: Illuminati 3
4. New Avengers: Illuminati 4
5. Secret Invasion: Prologue 1 (Marvel Digital Comic)
6. New Avengers 27
7. New Avengers 28
8. New Avengers 29
9. New Avengers 30
10. New Avengers 31
11. New Avengers 32
12. New Avengers 33
13. New Avengers 34
Secret Invasion: The Infiltration
1. Mighty Avengers 7
2. Mighty Avengers 8
3. New Avengers: Illuminati 5
4. New Avengers 38
5. Avengers: The Initiative Annual 1
6. Captain Marvel 1
7. Captain Marvel 2
8. Captain Marvel 3
9. Captain Marvel 4
10. Captain Marvel 5
11. New Avengers 39
12. Ms. Marvel 25
13. Ms. Marvel 26
14. Ms. Marvel 27
15. Marvel Spotlight: Secret Invasion Saga 1
Secret Invasion
1. Mighty Avengers 12
2. New Avengers 40
3. Avengers: The Initiative 14
4. X-Factor 33
5. She-Hulk 31
6. X-Factor 34
7. Guardians of the Galaxy 4
8. Incredible Hercules 117
9. Secret Invasion: Inhumans 1
10. Secret Invasion 1
11. New Avengers 41
12. Mighty Avengers 013
13. Thunderbolts 122
14. Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four 1
15. Nova 16
16. Nova 17
17. Guardians of the Galaxy v2 5
18. Secret Invasion 2
19. New Avengers 42
20. Mighty Avengers 14
21. Secret Invasion: Runaways-Young Avengers 1
22. New Warriors 14
23. New Warriors 15
24. Secret Invasion: Front Line 1
25. Deadpool 1
26. Nova 18
27. Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man 1
28. Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man 2
29. Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man 3
30. Secret Invasion 3
31. New Avengers 43
32. Mighty Avengers 15
33. Avengers: The Initiative 15
34. Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four 2
35. Secret Invasion: Runaways-Young Avengers 2
36. Secret Invasion: Front Line 2
38. Deadpool 2
39. Guardians of the Galaxy 6
40. Incredible Hercules 118
41. Secret Invasion: Thor 01
42. Secret Invasion: Thor 02
43. Secret Invasion: Thor 03
44. Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust?
45. Secret Invasion 4
46. New Avengers 44
47. Mighty Avengers 16
48. Ms. Marvel 28
49. Ms. Marvel 29
50. Secret Invasion: Runaways-Young Avengers 3
51. Secret Invasion: Front Line 3
52. Ms. Marvel 30
53. Secret Invasion: X-Men 1
54. Captain Britain and MI-13 1
55. Black Panther 39
56. She-Hulk 32
57. She-Hulk 33
58. Avengers: The Initiative 16
59. Iron Man 33
60. Iron Man 34
61. Secret Invasion 5
62. New Avengers 45
63. Mighty Avengers 17
64. Avengers: The Initiative 17
65. Captain Britain and MI-13 2
66. Secret Invasion: X-Men 2
67. Secret Invasion: X-Men 3
68. Secret Invasion: Inhumans 2
69. Iron Man 35
70. Black Panther 40
71. Deadpool 3
72. Thunderbolts 123
73. Thunderbolts 124
74. Mighty Avengers 019
75. Secret Invasion 6
76. New Avengers 46
77. Mighty Avengers 18
78. Avengers: The Initiative 18
79. Black Panther 41
80. Secret Invasion: Front Line 4
81. Punisher War Journal 24
82. Punisher War Journal 25
83. Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four 3
84. Incredible Hercules 119
85. Incredible Hercules 120
86. Captain Britain and MI-13 3
87. Captain Britain and MI-13 4
88. Secret Invasion: Inhumans 3
89. Secret Invasion: Inhumans 4
90. Secret Invasion: X-Men 4
91. Thunderbolts 125
92. Secret Invasion 7
93. New Avengers 47
94. Secret Invasion 8
95. Avengers: The Initiative 19
96. Secret Invasion: Front Line 5
97. Mighty Avengers 20
Supplementary
1. Secret Invasion: Aftermath: Beta Ray Bill: The Green of Eden 1
2. Secret Invasion: Dark Reign 1
3. Deadpool v4 1
4. Deadpool v4 2
5. Deadpool v4 3
6. Skrulls Vs. Powerpack 1
7. Skrulls Vs. Powerpack 2
8. Skrulls Vs. Powerpack 3
9. Skrulls Vs. Powerpack 4
10. Secret Invasion: What If?
11. Skrulls! (one-shot)
And that’s all I’ve got for now!
So what do you think? It’s a big one. I’ll be reading through in this order and doing more double checking eventually (it’s not high on my to do list at this moment), but if you notice anything weird, don’t hesitate to add your opinion!
Thanks dude. This was a big help.
I was just going to read the Nova, Guardians of the Galaxy and Inhumans issues, but ended up reading the She-Hulk and X-Factor tie-ins (big Super-Skrull fan) and the main series. Your order worked perfectly. GOTG can really be read anywhere since it all takes place on Knowhere. Inhumans can kinda go anywhere but really works best like you’ve got it. Nova, She-Hulk and X-Factor need to be in order.
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I read She-Hulk separately while I was reading through her run and it seemed to make ok sense on its own at least, though I probably spoiled some of the story for myself.
Glad to hear it’s working out. Thanks for the feedback!
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I feel that is among the most important info for me. And i am satisfied reading your article. But wanna observation on few general things, The web site style is perfect, the articles is really nice : D. Good process, cheers
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On the supplementary, should we hold on reading that till the end, read it first, or it doesn’t really matter? Specifically I am having trouble placing the Skrulls v. PowerPack issues.
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Thanks so very much, What is # 37 though?
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Hi,
Haven’t read marvel for many years and want to start up on a few of the big events. Just got myself the infinity gauntlet and secret wars and I want to continue on with Secret Invasion and then move on to the War of Kings and eventually the Thanos imperative i think.
However I am having trouble with figuring out what to get my hands on with the secret invasion, this is a nice huge list. I wonder though, have they published any collected editions ? I prefer huge books or paperbacks to seperate comic issues.
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thank you so much for this. im kinda reading the secret invasion. i just read Captain Marvel: secret invation. was wondering why you dont have it in ur list? thanks again for this post.. :)
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I notice you have The Mighty Avengers #19 listed at #74 and The Mighty Avengers #18 listed at #77. Is this right or is this a typo?
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Incredible Hercules 116 needs to be included. Its 1 of 6 “Sacred Invasion.” Can really go from Infiltration to right before Herc 117. I’d suggest right before Herc 117, you get the series in order.
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Excellent list – I’ve been catching up on Marvel the past few weeks with Marvel Unlimited (great service for any Marvel fan – 9.99 a month an virtually everything in the past ten years is on there). Thanks!
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Thanks for the list. As for the Captain Marvel comics, are tou referring to the Carol Danvers caprain Marvel series or 2002 series? The lost is great btw!!!
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