Bendis’ Avengers Reading List
<figure class=“tmblr-full”><img src=“https://40.media.tumblr.com/a48fb3560629d13003d30cb751de931d/tumblr_inline_nmueadjuiT1spvqit_540.jpg” class=“”></figure><p>Welcome back to another guide through Marvel’s most significant runs, this time focusing on all the Avengers releated material written by Brian Michael Bendis. Please check out <a href=“http://comicbooklibrarian.tumblr.com”><b>my blog</b></a> for an archive of the <a href=“http://comicbooklibrarian.tumblr.com/readinglists”><b>previous reading lists</b></a> and other posts, and remember to <b>follow me</b> to subscribe to future content.</p><p>This is a long and involved reading order. The Avengers franchise lead the way for the Marvel Universe (and still does to a large extent), so this run ties heavily into a number of summer events and a few stories by other writers This list will guide you down the road and tell you where each story fits together. </p><p>All of these volumes are available in trade paperback. Everything by Bendis until Siege was released in OHC, including all the events. There is also an Omnibus that collects the first six volumes of New Avengers plus Disassembled. During the heroic age they stopped doing the OHC’s but you can get Premier Hardcovers if you’re that way inclined.</p><p>As usual, here is the key:</p><p> <b>Bold text: Main Series</b><br>Normal text: Supplemental<br>CAPITALS: EVENTS/CROSSOVERS<br><i>Italics: Notes</i> <br></p><p>Now let’s get started.</p><figure class=“tmblr-full”><img src=“https://41.media.tumblr.com/166338f6fc564abe435093a0ab2b7151/tumblr_inline_nmueb3Hp4K1spvqit_540.jpg” class=“”></figure><p><b>AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED - Brian Bendis & David Finch</b><br><i>For more on this story check out <a href=“http://comicbooklibrarian.tumblr.com/post/117094808013/enduring-events-avengers-disassembled”>Enduring Events - Avengers Disassembled</a></i></p><p><b>SECRET WAR - Brian Bendis & Gabrielle Dell’Otto</b><br><i>This story takes place in two time-periods, one before Disassembled and the other after. This is the best time to read it.</i></p><p>Young Avengers V1: Sidekicks - Allen Heinberg & Jim Cheung</p><h2><b>New Avengers</b></h2><p><b>New Avengers V1: Breakout - Brian Bendis & David Finch</b><br><b>New Avengers V2: Sentry - Brian Bendis & Steve McNiven</b><br><i>The first volume picks up right where Disassembled left off, and the second introduces The Illuminati for the first time.</i></p><p>Young Avengers V2: Family Matters - Allen Heinberg & Jim Cheung</p><p><b>HOUSE OF M - Brian Bendis & Olivier Coipel</b><br><i>The first big event story which crosses over with Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men team. For more on this event have a look at <a href=“http://comicbooklibrarian.tumblr.com/post/117527704957/enduring-events-house-of-m”>Enduring Events - House of M</a></i></p><p><b>New Avengers V3: Secrets and Lies - Brian Bendis & David Finch<br></b><b>New Avengers V4: The Collective - Brian Bendis & Steve McNiven</b></p><figure class=“tmblr-full”><img src=“https://41.media.tumblr.com/41944cda642566b6b41daf4ffef04e00/tumblr_inline_nmuebf6Cek1spvqit_540.jpg” class=“”></figure><p><b>Road to Civil War: Illuminati - Brian Bendis & Alex Maleev</b><br><b>CIVIL WAR - Mark Millar & Steve McNiven</b><br><b>New Avengers V5: Civil War - Brian Bendis & Various</b><br><i>Road to Civil War contains an Illuminati one-shot by Bendis that acts as a prelude to Civil War and sets up the Planet Hulk storyline. However you collect this, make sure it includes the </i><b>Confession</b> <i>one-shot by Bendis. </i></p><h2><b>Mighty Avengers</b></h2><p><b>Mighty Avengers V1: The Ultron Initiative - Brian Bendis & Frank Cho</b><br><b>New Avengers V6: Revolution - Brian Bendis & Leinil Yu</b><br><i>From this point Mighty Avengers and New Avengers take place side by side and regularly interact with each other.</i></p><p>Planet Hulk - Greg Pak & Various<br>WORLD WAR HULK - Greg Pak & John Romita Jr<br><i>These books follow up on Civil War: Illuminati, but don’t have any noticeable ramifications for the rest of the Avengers books.</i></p><p>Thunderbolts V1: Faith in Monsters - Warren Ellis & Mike Deodato<br>Thunderbolts V2: Caged Angels - Warren Ellis & Mike Deodato<br><i>These books become relevant after Secret Invasion, and this is probably the best time to read them.</i></p><p><b>Mighty Avengers V2 Venom Bomb - Brian Bendis & Mark Bagley<br>New Avengers V7 The Trust - Brian Bendis & Leinil Yu</b></p><p><b>NEW AVENGERS: THE ILLUMINATI - Brian Bendis & Jim Cheung</b><br><i>This is a series of one-shot focusing on the early adventures of The Illuminati, jumping forward in time each issue and eventually arriving at the beginning of Secret Invasion. </i></p><figure class=“tmblr-full”><img src=“https://40.media.tumblr.com/1500da239e56f2cb4999cd91a03a009a/tumblr_inline_nmuegcqjGJ1spvqit_540.jpg” class=“”></figure><p><b>SECRET INVASION - BRIAN BENDIS & LEINIL YU<br></b><b>New Avengers V8: Secret Invasion Book 1 - Brian Bendis & Various<br></b><b>New Avengers V9: Secret Invasion Book 2 - Brian Bendis & Various<br></b><b>Mighty Avengers V3: Secret Invasion Book 1 - Brian Bendis & Various<br>Mighty Avengers V4: Secret Invasion Book 2 - Brian Bendis & Various</b><br><i>Secret Invasion is the culmination of what started in the first issue of New Avengers. For more details check out <a href=“http://comicbooklibrarian.tumblr.com/post/118893295651/enduring-events-secret-invasion”>Enduring Events - Secret Invasion</a></i></p><p>Secret Warriors by Jonathan Hickman<br><i>This series picks up with the Caterpillar team from Secret Invasion and tells it’s own massive story. Check out the <a href=“http://comicbooklibrarian.tumblr.com/post/117698999709/avengers-reading-list-hickman”>Hickman’s Marvel Reading List</a> for more information about how this fits into the jigsaw.</i></p><p>Spider-Woman Agent of S.W.O.R.D. - Brian Bendis & Alex Maleev<br><i>The character goes through some things in Secret Invasion, this picks up from there. If you like Bendis & Maleev together then here is the time to read this.</i></p><h2><b>Dark Avengers</b></h2><p><b>Dark Avengers V1: Assemble - Brian Bendis & Mike Deodato</b><br><b>Dark Avengers V2: Molecule Man - Brian Bendis & Mike Deodato</b><br><i>This is a spiritual continuation of the Thunderbolts idea, and the biggest ramification of Secret Invasion is explored here. </i></p><p><b>New Avengers V10: Power - Brian Bendis & Billy Tan</b><br><b>New Avengers V11: Search for the Sorcerer Supreme - Bendis & Billy Tan</b><br><b>New Avengers V12: Powerloss - Brian Bendis & Stuart Immonen</b><br></p><figure class=“tmblr-full”><img src=“https://36.media.tumblr.com/1ca39f431fab65df396d880cab7d01aa/tumblr_inline_nmuegaXx1B1spvqit_540.jpg” class=“”></figure><p><b>SIEGE - Brian Bendis & Olivier Coipel</b><br><b>Siege: Dark Avengers - Brian Bendis & Mike Deodato</b><br><b>Siege: Avengers - Brian Bendis & Various</b><br><i>These three books comprise the entirety of the Siege storyline and mark an end to this age of the Marvel Universe. for more information on the Siege event check out <a href=“http://comicbooklibrarian.tumblr.com/post/119634668309/enduring-events-siege”>Enduring Events - Siege</a></i></p><p>Avengers: Prime - Brian Bendis & Alan Davis<br><i>This is a segue between Siege and Avengers, it isn’t necessary to understanding the overall Avengers story, but if you want more Bendis its here.</i></p><h2><b>Heroic Age</b></h2><p><b>Avengers Volume 1: - Brian Bendis & John Romita Jr</b><br><b>Avengers Volume 2: - Brian Bendis & John Romita Jr</b><br><i>At the start of the Heroic Age this book feels more like the flagship title, focusing on the main Avengers team that moves into Avengers Tower,</i></p><p><b>New Avengers Volume 1: - Brian Bendis & Stuart Immonen</b><br><b>New Avengers Volume 2: - Brian Bendis & Stuart Immonen</b><br><i>New Avengers continues to focus on the more street-level characters, lead by Luke Cage after the team moves into Avengers Mansion.</i></p><p>Secret Avengers V1: Mission to Mars - Ed Brubaker & Mike Deodato<br>Secret Avengers V2: Eyes of the Dragon - Ed Brubaker & Mike Deodato<br>Secret Avengers V3: Run the Mission… - Warren Ellis & Various<br><i>These volumes have more to do with Ed Brubakers Captain America and Iron Fist runs, and they’ll appear in future reading lists.</i></p><p>FEAR ITSELF - Matt Fraction & Stuart Immonen<br><b>Fear Itself: Avengers - Brian Bendis & Various</b><br><i>It’s debatable as to whether Fear Itself is essential reading. The ramifications are felt in Thor and Captain America rather than Avengers, but to understand Bendis’ tie-in issues you might want to read the event itself.</i></p><p><b>Avengers Volume 3 - Brian Bendis & Daniel Acuna<br>New Avengers Volume 3 - Brian Bendis & Mike Deodato</b></p><p>YOUNG AVENGERS: CHILDREN’S CRUSADE - Allen Heinberg & Jim Cheung<br><i>This story is a follow-up to Young Avengers by the same creative team. It involves the Avengers and has some lasting impact which is dealt with in AvX.</i></p><figure class=“tmblr-full”><img src=“https://40.media.tumblr.com/56da127654b006009c1732072871990b/tumblr_inline_nmueglTEk31spvqit_540.jpg” class=“”></figure><p><b>AVENGERS VS X-MEN - Various writers & artists</b><br><b>Avengers Volume 4: AvX - Brian Bendis & Walter Simonson</b><br><b>New Avengers Volume 4: AvX - Brian Bendis & Mike Deodato</b><br><i>This event finally concludes the story that started in House of M and ran through the X-Men line for the next several years.>>
AGE OF ULTRON - Brian Bendis & Bryan Hitch/Various
This is the story that finally closes the doors on Bendis’ years long run on The Avengers. It also has ramifications on the time stream which are felt in the Ultimate Universe, and play into Hickman’s Avengers as well as Bendis’ X-Men.
I hope you have found this reading list helpful, please check out the other posts on my blog and remember to like/follow. Thanks for reading. comicbooklibrarian brianmichaelbendis
