Comic CompassEarly access

Early access: things will change and may sometimes break while we build it. What that means

Captain America reading order

The key Steve Rogers stories from the 1960s revival to the current series, built around Ed Brubaker's run, which is where new readers should start.

  1. Lee and Kirby's revival1964–1969

    51 issues · about 17 hours0 essential issues · about 0 min

    Captain America returns to the Marvel Universe as a man out of time, with his solo stories in Tales of Suspense before taking over the numbering. Useful background on the Red Skull, Hydra and Cap's wartime loss, but not required.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Captain America Omnibus (2024)Covers Tales of Suspense #59–99; Captain America #100–109Find it

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

    1. Tales of Suspense (1959)#59–9941 issues, optional
      1. #59November 1964
      2. #60December 1964
      3. #61January 1965
      4. #62February 1965
      5. #63March 1965
      6. #64April 1965
      7. #65May 1965
      8. #66June 1965
      9. #67July 1965
      10. #68August 1965
      11. #69September 1965
      12. #70October 1965
      13. #71November 1965
      14. #72December 1965
      15. #73January 1966
      16. #74February 1966
      17. #75March 1966
      18. #76April 1966
      19. #77May 1966
      20. #78June 1966
      21. #79July 1966
      22. #80August 1966
      23. #81September 1966
      24. #82October 1966
      25. #83November 1966
      26. #84December 1966
      27. #85January 1967
      28. #86February 1967
      29. #87March 1967
      30. #88April 1967
      31. #89May 1967
      32. #90June 1967
      33. #91July 1967
      34. #92August 1967
      35. #93September 1967
      36. #94October 1967
      37. #95November 1967
      38. #96December 1967
      39. #97January 1968
      40. #98February 1968
      41. #99March 1968

      Background on Cap's classic villains; the 1960s style takes some adjusting to.

    2. Captain America (1968)#100–10910 issues, optional
      1. #100April 1968
      2. #101May 1968
      3. #102June 1968
      4. #103July 1968
      5. #104August 1968
      6. #105September 1968
      7. #106October 1968
      8. #107November 1968
      9. #108December 1968
      10. #109January 1969

      Kirby's last 1960s issues on the title, including a retelling of the origin in #109.

  2. Englehart's Secret Empire and Nomad1972–1975

    34 issues · about 11 hours22 essential issues · about 7.5 hours

    Steve Englehart makes Cap question what he stands for, from the 1950s impostor to a conspiracy reaching the top of the US government.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Captain America Omnibus Vol. 3 (2021)Covers Captain America #153–186Find it

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

    1. Captain America (1968)#153–1564 issues
      1. #153September 1972
      2. #154October 1972
      3. #155November 1972
      4. #156December 1972

      Explains the 1950s Captain America and sets the run's tone.

    2. #157–16812 issues, optional
      1. #157January 1973
      2. #158February 1973
      3. #159March 1973
      4. #160April 1973
      5. #161May 1973
      6. #162June 1973
      7. #163July 1973
      8. #164August 1973
      9. #165September 1973
      10. #166October 1973
      11. #167November 1973
      12. #168December 1973

      Mid-run adventures that can be skipped without losing the thread.

    3. #169–18618 issues
      1. #169January 1974
      2. #170February 1974
      3. #171March 1974
      4. #172April 1974
      5. #173May 1974
      6. #174June 1974
      7. #175July 1974
      8. #176August 1974
      9. #177September 1974
      10. #178October 1974
      11. #179November 1974
      12. #180December 1974
      13. #181January 1975
      14. #182February 1975
      15. #183March 1975
      16. #184April 1975
      17. #185May 1975
      18. #186June 1975

      The Secret Empire story, followed by Steve giving up the shield to become Nomad.

  3. Stern and Byrne1980–1981

    9 issues · about 3 hours9 essential issues · about 3 hours

    A short, self-contained run that restates who Steve Rogers is, from his origin to a push to run him for president.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Marvel Masterworks: Captain America Vol. 14 (2022)Covers Captain America #247–255Find it

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

    1. Captain America (1968)#247–2559 issues
      1. #247July 1980
      2. #248August 1980
      3. #249September 1980
      4. #250October 1980
      5. #251November 1980
      6. #252December 1980
      7. #253January 1981
      8. #254February 1981
      9. #255March 1981

  4. Gruenwald's The Choice1987–1989

    19 issues · about 6.5 hours19 essential issues · about 6.5 hours

    The government demands Steve answer to them, and he walks away from the costume rather than comply. John Walker takes the shield.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Captain America by Mark Gruenwald Omnibus Vol. 1 (2024)Covers Captain America #332–350Find it

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

    1. Captain America (1968)#332–35019 issues
      1. #332August 1987
      2. #333September 1987
      3. #334October 1987
      4. #335November 1987
      5. #336December 1987
      6. #337January 1988
      7. #338February 1988
      8. #339March 1988
      9. #340April 1988
      10. #341May 1988
      11. #342June 1988
      12. #343July 1988
      13. #344August 1988
      14. #345September 1988
      15. #346October 1988
      16. #347November 1988
      17. #348December 1988
      18. #349January 1989
      19. #350February 1989

  5. Waid and Garney1995–1999

    34 issues · about 11 hours11 essential issues · about 3.5 hours

    Mark Waid and Ron Garney reset Cap as a hero worth believing in, starting with Steve branded a traitor and on the run.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Captain America by Mark Waid, Ron Garney & Andy Kubert Omnibus (2017)Covers Captain America #444–454, 1–23Find it

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

    1. Captain America (1968)#444–45411 issues
      1. #444October 1995
      2. #445November 1995
      3. #446December 1995
      4. #447January 1996
      5. #448February 1996
      6. #449March 1996
      7. #450April 1996
      8. #451May 1996
      9. #452June 1996
      10. #453July 1996
      11. #454August 1996

      Operation Rebirth and Man Without a Country.

    2. Captain America (1998)#1–2323 issues, optional
      1. #1January 1998
      2. #2February 1998
      3. #3March 1998
      4. #4April 1998
      5. #5May 1998
      6. #6June 1998
      7. #7July 1998
      8. #8August 1998
      9. #9September 1998
      10. #10October 1998
      11. #11November 1998
      12. #12December 1998
      13. #13January 1999
      14. #14February 1999
      15. #15March 1999
      16. #16April 1999
      17. #17May 1999
      18. #18June 1999
      19. #19July 1999
      20. #20August 1999
      21. #21September 1999
      22. #22October 1999
      23. #23November 1999

      Waid's return after Heroes Reborn; enjoyable but less focused than his first stint.

  6. Start here

    Brubaker's Winter Soldier and Death of Captain America2005–2012

    96 issues · about 32 hours77 essential issues · about 26 hours

    Ed Brubaker turns the series into an espionage thriller in which a ghost from Steve's past returns as a Soviet assassin. Self-contained enough to read cold, and the best entry point for new readers.

    Read this stretch in 6 books
    1. Captain America: The Trial of Captain America Omnibus (2014)Covers Captain America #602–615, 615.1–619, 1–10Find it
    2. Captain America by Ed Brubaker Omnibus Vol. 1 (2007)Covers Captain America #1–25Find it
    3. Captain America Modern Era Epic Collection Vol. 3: The Burden of Dreams (2025)Covers Captain America #31–49Find it
    4. Captain America: Return of Winter Soldier Omnibus (2015)Covers Captain America #11–19Find it
    5. Captain America Lives! Omnibus (2011)Covers Captain America #50, 600; Captain America: Reborn #1–6; Captain America #601Find it
    6. Captain America Modern Era Epic Collection Vol. 2: Death of the Dream (2024)Covers Captain America #26–30Find it

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

    1. Captain America (2005)#1–5050 issues
      1. #1January 2005
      2. #2February 2005
      3. #3March 2005
      4. #4April 2005
      5. #5May 2005
      6. #6June 2005
      7. #7July 2005
      8. #8September 2005
      9. #9October 2005
      10. #10October 2005
      11. #11November 2005
      12. #12December 2005
      13. #13January 2006
      14. #14April 2006
      15. #15April 2006
      16. #16May 2006
      17. #17June 2006
      18. #18July 2006
      19. #19August 2006
      20. #20September 2006
      21. #21October 2006
      22. #22November 2006
      23. #23December 2006
      24. #24January 2007
      25. #25April 2007
      26. #26May 2007
      27. #27August 2007
      28. #28September 2007
      29. #29October 2007
      30. #30November 2007
      31. #31December 2007
      32. #32January 2008
      33. #33February 2008
      34. #34March 2008
      35. #35April 2008
      36. #36May 2008
      37. #37June 2008
      38. #38July 2008
      39. #39August 2008
      40. #40September 2008
      41. #41October 2008
      42. #42November 2008
      43. #43December 2008
      44. #44January 2009
      45. #45February 2009
      46. #46March 2009
      47. #47April 2009
      48. #48May 2009
      49. #49June 2009
      50. #50July 2009

      The Winter Soldier, Red Menace and The Death of Captain America; Civil War happens off-page around #22–25.

    2. #600August 2009

      Anniversary issue that leads into Reborn.

    3. Captain America: Reborn (2009)#1–66 issues
      1. #1September 2009
      2. #2October 2009
      3. #3November 2009
      4. #4January 2010
      5. #5February 2010
      6. #6March 2010

      Read after #600; #601 is a standalone wartime story, so Reborn can come before or after it.

    4. Captain America (2005)#601–61920 issues
      1. #601September 2009
      2. #602March 2010
      3. #603April 2010
      4. #604May 2010
      5. #605June 2010
      6. #606August 2010
      7. #607August 2010
      8. #608September 2010
      9. #609October 2010
      10. #610November 2010
      11. #611December 2010
      12. #612January 2011
      13. #613February 2011
      14. #614March 2011
      15. #615April 2011
      16. #615.1May 2011
      17. #616May 2011
      18. #617June 2011
      19. #618July 2011
      20. #619August 2011

      Bucky's time as Cap continues and comes to a head in the Trial of Captain America.

    5. Captain America (2011)#1–1919 issues, optional
      1. #1September 2011
      2. #2October 2011
      3. #3November 2011
      4. #4January 2012
      5. #5February 2012
      6. #6February 2012
      7. #7March 2012
      8. #8April 2012
      9. #9May 2012
      10. #10June 2012
      11. #11July 2012
      12. #12July 2012
      13. #13August 2012
      14. #14September 2012
      15. #15September 2012
      16. #16October 2012
      17. #17November 2012
      18. #18December 2012
      19. #19December 2012

      Brubaker's closing run with Steve back in the costume.

  7. Remender's Dimension Z and beyond2013–2014

    25 issues · about 8.5 hours25 essential issues · about 8.5 hours

    Rick Remender strands Steve in a hostile dimension for years, then brings him home changed. Pulpier and stranger than Brubaker.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Captain America by Rick Remender Omnibus (2021)Covers Captain America #1–25Find it

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

    1. Captain America (2013)#1–2525 issues
      1. #1January 2013
      2. #2February 2013
      3. #3March 2013
      4. #4April 2013
      5. #5May 2013
      6. #6June 2013
      7. #7July 2013
      8. #8August 2013
      9. #9September 2013
      10. #10October 2013
      11. #11November 2013
      12. #12December 2013
      13. #13January 2014
      14. #14February 2014
      15. #15March 2014
      16. #16April 2014
      17. #17April 2014
      18. #18May 2014
      19. #19June 2014
      20. #20July 2014
      21. #21August 2014
      22. #22September 2014
      23. #23October 2014
      24. #24November 2014
      25. #25December 2014

  8. Spencer's Steve Rogers and Secret Empire2015–2017

    55 issues · about 18 hours31 essential issues · about 10 hours

    Sam Wilson carries the shield while a restored Steve Rogers is revealed to be loyal to Hydra, building to Secret Empire.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Captain America by Nick Spencer Omnibus Vol. 1Covers Captain America: Sam Wilson #1–17; Captain America: Steve Rogers #1–11Find it
    2. Captain America by Nick Spencer Omnibus Vol. 2 (2024)Covers Captain America: Sam Wilson #18–24; Captain America: Steve Rogers #12–19; Secret Empire #0–10; Captain America #25Find it

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

    1. Captain America: Sam Wilson (2015)#1–2424 issues, optional
      1. #1December 2015
      2. #2January 2016
      3. #3January 2016
      4. #4February 2016
      5. #5March 2016
      6. #6April 2016
      7. #7May 2016
      8. #8June 2016
      9. #9July 2016
      10. #10August 2016
      11. #11September 2016
      12. #12October 2016
      13. #13November 2016
      14. #14December 2016
      15. #15January 2017
      16. #16February 2017
      17. #17March 2017
      18. #18March 2017
      19. #19April 2017
      20. #20May 2017
      21. #21June 2017
      22. #22July 2017
      23. #23August 2017
      24. #24September 2017

      Sam Wilson's side of the story; read alongside Steve Rogers for the fuller picture.

    2. Captain America: Steve Rogers (2016)#1–1919 issues
      1. #1July 2016
      2. #2August 2016
      3. #3September 2016
      4. #4October 2016
      5. #5November 2016
      6. #6December 2016
      7. #7January 2017
      8. #8February 2017
      9. #9March 2017
      10. #10March 2017
      11. #11April 2017
      12. #12April 2017
      13. #13May 2017
      14. #14May 2017
      15. #15June 2017
      16. #16June 2017
      17. #17July 2017
      18. #18August 2017
      19. #19September 2017
    3. Secret Empire (2017)#0–1011 issues
      1. #0June 2017
      2. #1July 2017
      3. #2July 2017
      4. #3July 2017
      5. #4August 2017
      6. #5August 2017
      7. #6September 2017
      8. #7September 2017
      9. #8October 2017
      10. #9October 2017
      11. #10October 2017

      The event that resolves the Hydra storyline.

    4. Captain America (2017)#25October 2017

      Spencer's epilogue to Secret Empire and the close of his run.

  9. Waid and Samnee2017–2018

    10 issues · about 3.5 hours10 essential issues · about 3.5 hours

    After Secret Empire, a back-to-basics road trip across America that reminds readers why Steve matters.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Black Widow & Captain America by Waid & Samnee Omnibus (2026)Covers Captain America #695–704Find it

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

    1. Captain America (2017)#695–70410 issues
      1. #695January 2018
      2. #696February 2018
      3. #697March 2018
      4. #698April 2018
      5. #699May 2018
      6. #700June 2018
      7. #701July 2018
      8. #702July 2018
      9. #703August 2018
      10. #704August 2018

  10. Coates's Captain America2018–2021

    30 issues · about 10 hours30 essential issues · about 10 hours

    Ta-Nehisi Coates explores a country that no longer trusts Steve after Hydra used his face, with Cap framed and imprisoned.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Captain America by Ta-Nehisi Coates Omnibus (2023)Covers Captain America #1–30Find it

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

    1. Captain America (2018)#1–3030 issues
      1. #1September 2018
      2. #2October 2018
      3. #3November 2018
      4. #4December 2018
      5. #5January 2019
      6. #6February 2019
      7. #7March 2019
      8. #8April 2019
      9. #9June 2019
      10. #10July 2019
      11. #11August 2019
      12. #12September 2019
      13. #13October 2019
      14. #14November 2019
      15. #15December 2019
      16. #16January 2020
      17. #17February 2020
      18. #18March 2020
      19. #19April 2020
      20. #20May 2020
      21. #21October 2020
      22. #22October 2020
      23. #23November 2020
      24. #24December 2020
      25. #25January 2021
      26. #26February 2021
      27. #27April 2021
      28. #28May 2021
      29. #29July 2021
      30. #30September 2021

  11. Straczynski's Captain America2023–2025

    16 issues · about 5.5 hours16 essential issues · about 5.5 hours

    J. Michael Straczynski looks back at young Steve Rogers in 1930s New York and an enemy who has been shaping his life since.

    Read this stretch in 3 books
    1. Captain America by J. Michael Straczynski Vol. 3: Broxton Rising (2025)Covers Captain America #12–16Find it
    2. Captain America by J. Michael Straczynski Vol. 2: Trying to Come Home (2024)Covers Captain America #5–8Find it
    3. Captain America by J. Michael Straczynski Vol. 1: Stand (2024)Covers Captain America #1–4Find it

    Not in these books: Captain America #9–11. Look for the single issues.

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

    1. Captain America (2023)#1–1616 issues
      1. #1November 2023
      2. #2December 2023
      3. #3January 2024
      4. #4February 2024
      5. #5March 2024
      6. #6April 2024
      7. #7May 2024
      8. #8June 2024
      9. #9July 2024
      10. #10August 2024
      11. #11September 2024
      12. #12October 2024
      13. #13November 2024
      14. #14December 2024
      15. #15January 2025
      16. #16February 2025

  12. Zdarsky and Schiti's Captain America2025–present

    15 issues · about 5 hours15 essential issues · about 5 hours

    Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti return to Steve's first days after waking from the ice, in a world of secret wars fought in the shadows, beginning with his first encounter with Doctor Doom.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. Captain America Vol. 1: Our Secret Wars (2026)Covers Captain America #1–5Find it

    Not in these books: Captain America #6–15. Look for the single issues.

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

    1. Captain America (2025)#1–1515 issues
      1. #1September 2025
      2. #2October 2025
      3. #3November 2025
      4. #4December 2025
      5. #5January 2026
      6. #6March 2026
      7. #7April 2026
      8. #8May 2026
      9. #9June 2026
      10. #10June 2026
      11. #11July 2026
      12. #12August 2026
      13. #13September 2026
      14. #14October 2026
      15. #15November 2026

      Ongoing; new issues will appear here as they are released.

Links to buy comics are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Comic Compass earns from qualifying purchases. More in our terms.

Spotted a mistake?