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Avengers vs. X-Men reading order

The 2012 crossover in which the Phoenix Force returns to Earth and splits Captain America's Avengers from Cyclops's X-Men. Start with Avengers vs. X-Men #0, then follow each round of the main series with its tie-ins.

  1. Prelude: Schism and X-Sanction2011–2012

    10 issues · about 3.5 hours0 essential issues · about 0 min

    Background on how Cyclops and Wolverine split the X-Men, and how Cable's return sets the Phoenix story moving. Useful context, but the main series explains what you need.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Wolverine Goes to Hell Omnibus (2018)Covers X-Men: Schism #1–5Find it
    2. Avengers: X-Sanction (2012)Covers Avengers: X-Sanction #1–4Find it

    Not in these books: New Avengers #24. Look for the single issues.

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. X-Men: Schism (2011)#1–55 issues, optional
      1. #1September 2011
      2. #2September 2011
      3. #3October 2011
      4. #4November 2011
      5. #5December 2011

      Explains why Cyclops and Wolverine lead separate X-Men teams during the event.

    2. Avengers: X-Sanction (2012)#1–44 issues, optional
      1. #1February 2012
      2. #2March 2012
      3. #3April 2012
      4. #4May 2012

      Direct lead-in where Cable targets the Avengers; it adds little the main series doesn't recap.

    3. New Avengers (2010)#24May 2012, optional

      The first New Avengers issue in the event's collected tie-ins; a short lead-in.

  2. Start here

    Round One: The Phoenix Approaches2012

    24 issues · about 8 hours7 essential issues · about 2.5 hours

    The Phoenix Force is heading for Earth and Hope Summers seems to be its target. Cyclops sees salvation for mutantkind; Captain America sees a threat, and the two teams come to blows on Utopia.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Avengers vs. X-Men Omnibus (2022)Covers Avengers vs. X-Men #0–4; AVX Vs #1–2; Uncanny X-Men #11–12; Wolverine & the X-Men #9–11; Avengers #25; Secret Avengers #26–28; Avengers #26; New Avengers #25–27; X-Men: Legacy #266–267; Avengers Academy #29–30Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Avengers vs. X-Men (2012)#0–45 issues
      1. #0May 2012
      2. #1June 2012
      3. #2June 2012
      4. #3July 2012
      5. #4July 2012

      Begin with #0, which introduces Hope and the Scarlet Witch ahead of the conflict.

    2. AVX Vs (2012)#1–22 issues, optional
      1. #1June 2012
      2. #2July 2012

      Extended one-on-one fights from the main series; enjoyable but not needed for the plot.

    3. Uncanny X-Men (2012)#11–122 issues
      1. #11June 2012
      2. #12July 2012

      Kieron Gillen's Cyclops-side story, set during the main series #1–2.

    4. Wolverine & the X-Men (2011)#9–113 issues, optional
      1. #9June 2012
      2. #10July 2012
      3. #11July 2012

      Wolverine's school and the X-Men who stay out of Cyclops's camp.

    5. Avengers (2010)#25June 2012, optional

      Avengers-side scenes running alongside the main series.

    6. Secret Avengers (2010)#26–283 issues, optional
      1. #26June 2012
      2. #27July 2012
      3. #28August 2012

      The Avengers' space mission against the Phoenix; GCD places #28 before Avengers #26–27.

    7. Avengers (2010)#26July 2012, optional
    8. New Avengers (2010)#25–273 issues, optional
      1. #25June 2012
      2. #26July 2012
      3. #27August 2012

      The story of a past Phoenix host in K'un-Lun, which feeds into the main plot.

    9. X-Men: Legacy (2008)#266–2672 issues, optional
      1. #266July 2012
      2. #267July 2012

      Rogue's view of the fighting; a side story.

    10. Avengers Academy (2010)#29–302 issues, optional
      1. #29July 2012
      2. #30July 2012

      The Academy students looking after young mutants; a side story.

  3. Round Two: The Phoenix Five2012

    21 issues · about 7 hours8 essential issues · about 2.5 hours

    The Phoenix arrives and changes the balance of power completely. The Avengers must work out how to stand against X-Men with near-limitless power.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Avengers vs. X-Men Omnibus (2022)Covers Avengers vs. X-Men #5–8; AVX Vs #3–4; Avengers Academy #31–33; Uncanny X-Men #13–16; Wolverine & the X-Men #12–14; Avengers #27–28; New Avengers #28; X-Men: Legacy #268–269Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Avengers vs. X-Men (2012)#5–84 issues
      1. #5August 2012
      2. #6August 2012
      3. #7September 2012
      4. #8September 2012
    2. AVX Vs (2012)#3–42 issues, optional
      1. #3August 2012
      2. #4September 2012

      More extended fight scenes from the main series.

    3. Avengers Academy (2010)#31–333 issues, optional
      1. #31August 2012
      2. #32August 2012
      3. #33September 2012

      Concludes the Academy's side story; read #31 before Uncanny X-Men #13.

    4. Uncanny X-Men (2012)#13–164 issues
      1. #13August 2012
      2. #14August 2012
      3. #15September 2012
      4. #16September 2012

      Follows how the Phoenix hosts change as they reshape the world.

    5. Wolverine & the X-Men (2011)#12–143 issues, optional
      1. #12August 2012
      2. #13September 2012
      3. #14September 2012
    6. Avengers (2010)#27–282 issues, optional
      1. #27August 2012
      2. #28September 2012
    7. New Avengers (2010)#28September 2012, optional
    8. X-Men: Legacy (2008)#268–2692 issues, optional
      1. #268August 2012
      2. #269August 2012

  4. Round Three: The Final Rounds2012

    15 issues · about 5 hours6 essential issues · about 2 hours

    The Avengers regroup and the war heads towards its final confrontation.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Avengers vs. X-Men Omnibus (2022)Covers Avengers vs. X-Men #9–12; AVX Vs #5–6; Uncanny X-Men #17–18; Wolverine & the X-Men #15–16; Avengers #29–30; New Avengers #29–30; X-Men: Legacy #270Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Avengers vs. X-Men (2012)#9–124 issues
      1. #9October 2012
      2. #10October 2012
      3. #11November 2012
      4. #12December 2012
    2. AVX Vs (2012)#5–62 issues, optional
      1. #5October 2012
      2. #6November 2012

      Final batch of fight vignettes, including some lighter strips.

    3. Uncanny X-Men (2012)#17–182 issues
      1. #17October 2012
      2. #18November 2012

      #18 is set during the main series #11.

    4. Wolverine & the X-Men (2011)#15–162 issues, optional
      1. #15October 2012
      2. #16November 2012
    5. Avengers (2010)#29–302 issues, optional
      1. #29September 2012
      2. #30November 2012
    6. New Avengers (2010)#29–302 issues, optional
      1. #29October 2012
      2. #30November 2012
    7. X-Men: Legacy (2008)#270September 2012, optional

  5. Aftermath: Consequences2012–2013

    8 issues · about 2.5 hours6 essential issues · about 2 hours

    The fallout for Cyclops and the people he fought beside, which leads into Marvel NOW!

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Avengers vs. X-Men Omnibus (2022)Covers Uncanny X-Men #19–20; Wolverine & the X-Men #18; AVX: Consequences #1–5Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Uncanny X-Men (2012)#19December 2012

      Cyclops looks back on the event; read after the main series #12.

    2. #20December 2012, optional

      Epilogue that closes this volume of Uncanny X-Men.

    3. Wolverine & the X-Men (2011)#18December 2012, optional

      A later tie-in issue; #17 is not part of the event.

    4. AVX: Consequences (2012)#1–55 issues
      1. #1December 2012
      2. #2December 2012
      3. #3December 2012
      4. #4December 2012
      5. #5January 2013

      Read after the main series #12; sets up Cyclops's role in the X-Men books that follow.

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