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House of M reading order

The 2005 House of M event, from the Avengers Disassembled lead-in through the eight-issue main series, its key tie-ins and the Decimation aftermath. Start with Avengers Disassembled, or jump straight to House of M #1 if you already know why the Scarlet Witch broke.

  1. Start here

    Avengers Disassembled2004–2005

    11 issues · about 3.5 hours5 essential issues · about 1.5 hours

    The Avengers come apart under a series of attacks, and the cause turns out to be one of their own. This sets up the Scarlet Witch's state of mind going into House of M.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. New Avengers Modern Era Epic Collection Vol. 1: Assembled (2023)Covers Avengers #500–503; Avengers Finale #1; New Avengers #1–6Find it

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

    1. Avengers (1998)#500–5034 issues
      1. #500September 2004
      2. #501October 2004
      3. #502November 2004
      4. #503December 2004
    2. Avengers Finale (2005)#1January 2005

      An epilogue that closes the old team.

    3. New Avengers (2005)#1–66 issues, optional
      1. #1January 2005
      2. #2February 2005
      3. #3March 2005
      4. #4April 2005
      5. #5May 2005
      6. #6June 2005

      The new team forms; useful context for the heroes who confront Wanda, but not required.

  2. Excalibur on Genosha2004–2005

    14 issues · about 4.5 hours1 essential issue · about 20 min

    Professor X and Magneto try to rebuild the ruined mutant nation of Genosha. The final issue sends Xavier and Doctor Strange looking for a way to help Wanda and leads directly into House of M.

    Read this stretch in 3 books
    1. House of M Omnibus Companion (2024)Covers Excalibur #8–14Find it
    2. Excalibur Vol. 1: Forging the Sword (2004)Covers Excalibur #1–4Find it
    3. Excalibur Vol. 2: Saturday Night Fever (2005)Covers Excalibur #5–7Find it

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

    1. Excalibur (2004)#1–1313 issues, optional
      1. #1July 2004
      2. #2August 2004
      3. #3September 2004
      4. #4October 2004
      5. #5November 2004
      6. #6December 2004
      7. #7January 2005
      8. #8February 2005
      9. #9March 2005
      10. #10April 2005
      11. #11May 2005
      12. #12June 2005
      13. #13July 2005

      Slow-burning background on Xavier and Magneto; skip if pressed for time.

    2. Excalibur (2004)#14July 2005

      The direct prologue to House of M #1.

  3. House of M2005

    8 issues · about 2.5 hours8 essential issues · about 2.5 hours

    The Avengers and X-Men meet to decide Wanda's fate, and wake up in a world where mutants rule under Magneto. A handful of heroes start to remember the world as it was.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. House of M OmnibusCovers House of M #1–8Find it

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

    1. House of M (2005)#1–88 issues
      1. #1August 2005
      2. #2August 2005
      3. #3September 2005
      4. #4September 2005
      5. #5October 2005
      6. #6October 2005
      7. #7November 2005
      8. #8December 2005

      Read the tie-ins in the next two phases alongside issues 3 to 7.

  4. Tie-ins: heroes in the new world2005

    15 issues · about 5 hours5 essential issues · about 1.5 hours

    Spin-offs showing how Marvel's non-mutant heroes live under mutant rule. Spider-Man's story is the one that matters most to the main plot.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. House of M OmnibusCovers Spider-Man: House of M #1–5; Fantastic Four: House of M #1–3; Iron Man: House of M #1–3; The Pulse #10; Captain America #10; Black Panther #7; New Thunderbolts #11Find it

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

    1. Spider-Man: House of M (2005)#1–55 issues
      1. #1August 2005
      2. #2September 2005
      3. #3October 2005
      4. #4November 2005
      5. #5December 2005

      Peter Parker's ideal life in the altered world, which the main series returns to.

    2. Fantastic Four: House of M (2005)#1–33 issues, optional
      1. #1September 2005
      2. #2October 2005
      3. #3November 2005

      Doctor Doom and his Fearsome Four rule Latveria; a standalone alternate-world story.

    3. Iron Man: House of M (2005)#1–33 issues, optional
      1. #1September 2005
      2. #2October 2005
      3. #3November 2005

      Tony Stark as a human industrialist in a mutant world; standalone.

    4. The Pulse (2004)#10September 2005, optional

      Jessica Jones and Luke Cage's side of the altered world.

    5. Captain America (2005)#10October 2005, optional

      A single issue on Steve Rogers' history in this reality.

    6. Black Panther (2005)#7October 2005, optional

      Wakanda under the new order; a one-issue detour.

    7. New Thunderbolts (2005)#11October 2005, optional

      The Thunderbolts' one-issue visit to the altered world.

  5. Tie-ins: mutants and outsiders2005

    25 issues · about 8.5 hours0 essential issues · about 0 min

    Ongoing series that dropped into the altered world for an arc or an issue. All are optional and can be read in any order alongside the main series.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. House of M OmnibusCovers The Uncanny X-Men #462–465; New X-Men #16–19; Wolverine #33–35; Mutopia X #1–5; Incredible Hulk #83–87; Exiles #69–71; Cable / Deadpool #17Find it

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

    1. The Uncanny X-Men (1981)#462–4654 issues, optional
      1. #462September 2005
      2. #463October 2005
      3. #464November 2005
      4. #465December 2005

      Captain Britain, Psylocke, Rachel Grey and friends caught in the altered world; leads into New Excalibur.

    2. New X-Men (2004)#16–194 issues, optional
      1. #16September 2005
      2. #17October 2005
      3. #18November 2005
      4. #19December 2005

      The young mutants of the Xavier Institute as Magneto's leaders in training.

    3. Wolverine (2003)#33–353 issues, optional
      1. #33November 2005
      2. #34December 2005
      3. #35December 2005

      S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Sebastian Shaw and Mystique look into Wolverine's past in this reality.

    4. Mutopia X (2005)#1–55 issues, optional
      1. #1September 2005
      2. #2October 2005
      3. #3November 2005
      4. #4December 2005
      5. #5January 2006

      A mutant investigator and a police officer chase human terrorists; self-contained.

    5. Incredible Hulk (2000)#83–875 issues, optional
      1. #83September 2005
      2. #84September 2005
      3. #85October 2005
      4. #86November 2005
      5. #87December 2005

      The Hulk in Australia; self-contained.

    6. Exiles (2001)#69–713 issues, optional
      1. #69November 2005
      2. #70November 2005
      3. #71December 2005

      The reality-hopping Exiles visit a version of this world; skip unless you follow Exiles.

    7. Cable / Deadpool (2004)#17September 2005, optional

      A light one-issue crossover.

  6. Aftermath: Decimation2006

    18 issues · about 6 hours1 essential issue · about 20 min

    The world is restored, but changed for mutants for years to come. These stories show the immediate fallout.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. War of Kings Prelude: Road to War of Kings Omnibus (2017)Covers Son of M #1–6; X-Men: Deadly Genesis #1–6Find it
    2. X-Men: Decimation OmnibusCovers Decimation: House of M - The Day After #1; Generation M #1–5Find it

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

    1. Decimation: House of M - The Day After (2006)#1January 2006

      Sets out the new status quo for mutants straight after House of M #8.

    2. Son of M (2006)#1–66 issues, optional
      1. #1February 2006
      2. #2March 2006
      3. #3April 2006
      4. #4May 2006
      5. #5June 2006
      6. #6July 2006

      Quicksilver after the event; follows on from his role in the main series.

    3. Generation M (2006)#1–55 issues, optional
      1. #1January 2006
      2. #2February 2006
      3. #3March 2006
      4. #4April 2006
      5. #5May 2006

      A reporter covers the depowered mutants; a ground-level view.

    4. X-Men: Deadly Genesis (2006)#1–66 issues, optional
      1. #1January 2006
      2. #2February 2006
      3. #3March 2006
      4. #4April 2006
      5. #5May 2006
      6. #6July 2006

      An X-Men story set in the post-event world rather than a direct sequel.

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