The Red Skull’s Onslaught Begins

Marvel has been building up to Axis for a while now, as readers of Rick Remender’s Uncanny Avengers well know. When the Red Skull augmented himself with the brain of the recently deceased Professor Charles Xavier, it was only a matter of time before his immense power meant a genocidal onslaught for the Marvel Universe.

I’ll be updating the Axis reading order weekly as new issues in the March to Axis and ultimately Axis itself are released. The March to Axis began in September 2014 with Uncanny Avengers #24.

Before you begin, I would also highly recommend Remender’s Uncanny Avengers issues #1 – #23 as prologue to the event. And if you’re willing to commit to all of that (perhaps via Marvel Unlimited), then I’d also recommend Remender’s run on Uncanny X-Force. They’re fantastic reads and heavily referenced in the build-up to Axis. The plot will be significantly less confusing if you are familiar with these series (which, again, I also highly recommend just as a great Marvel comics).

Previously: Original Sin

Axis Trade Reading Order

Uncanny Avengers: Axis Prelude

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Includes Uncanny Avengers 23-25, Magneto 9-10, Uncanny Avengers Annual 1. Note that Uncanny Avengers Annual #1 is pretty fun, but has less than zero to do with Axis.

Captain America: The Tomorrow Soldier

Loki: Agent of Asgard – I Cannot Tell a Lie

Note that only issue #6 comes prior to the events of Axis. The rest are post-inversion.

Axis (Main Series)

Collects Axis #1 to #9, and, well, nothing else. Unfortunately, after the stellar and largely complete Original Sin companion collections, Axis got the short end of the stick, meaning you need to dig and dive for a full trade run.

Axis: Revolutions

All-New X-Factor: Axis

Nova: Axis

Deadpool: Axis

Amazing X-Men: Once & Future Juggernaut

Axis: Carnage & Hobgoblin

Avengers World: Next World

Inhumans: Axis

Superior Iron Man

Captain America & The Mighty Avengers

The March to Axis Reading Order

Magneto #9

Uncanny Avengers #24

Magneto #10

Captain America #22 – #24

Technically, only Captain America #24 is marked as “March to Axis,” but it’s the third issue in the “Tomorrow Soldier” story arc, so I’d argue it makes more sense to just read the full arc. Particularly because of the involvement of Arnim Zola and the Red Skull.

Loki: Agent of Asgard #6

Uncanny Avengers #25

Captain America #25

Avengers & X-Men Axis

Avengers & X-Men Axis #1

Axis: Revolutions #1

Revolutions is actually published after Avengers & X-Men: Axis #3, but based on Dr. Strange’s involvement in New York City this issue can be read after Axis #1. As tie-ins go, there isn’t a lot of relevant plot or informational value added here. Instead you get short stories involving Spider-Man and Dr. Strange reacting to World War Hate in New York City. It’s a similar approach to Original Sins during the Original Sin event. Not essential if you just want the story of Axis, but occasionally fun, light-hearted one-off short stories.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 3.5 out of 10

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #2

Loki: Agent of Asgard #7

There’s a fair amount of Loki backstory embroiled in this issue, which may be confusing if you aren’t up to speed on Loki: Agent of Asgard (and also Young Avengers… he’s kind of a teenager now?). Nonetheless, the issue establishes Dr. Doom and Loki’s place in the Red Skull’s Onslaught as the Skull’s hate wave hits Latveria. Sets up the next issue in our reading order…

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 7.0 out of 10

Magneto #11

Technically the bulk of Magneto #11 occurs about 3/4 of the way through Axis #2. So if you’re a true continuity believer, put down your issue of Axis #2 when Magneto stoically refuses Iron Man aid, and pick up Magneto #11. For everyone else, this issue explains Magneto’s (essential) role in the Axis conflict, and also explains how we get to the conclusion of Axis #2.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 9.0 out of 10

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #3

Magneto #12

Although this issue is published after Axis #6, it can be read most appropriately after issue #3. Magneto #12 details the role of Magneto’s army during the events of Axis #3 as well as history between Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto. So far Magneto has been one of the most essential tie-ins during the entire Axis event, and issue #12 is no exception.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 9.0 out of 10

Deadpool #36

Deadpool is shockingly relevant within the pages of Axis, and his first tie-in issue is both funny, entertaining, and adds value to the overall Axis event. It’s everything Deadpool’s turn in Original Sin wasn’t. Amazingly, too, I think Deadpool most clearly explains what is actually happening to heroes and villains at the end of Axis #3, better even than the issue itself. Highly recommend this one.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 9.0 out of 10

All-New X-Factor #15

Like Deadpool #36, All-New X-Factor #15 showcases the impact of the Red Skull’s World War Hate on America as a whole. The new X-Factor team has to manage hate infecting the president of the United States as well as the rest of Washington D.C. It’s a useful tie-in to elaborate on the impact of the Axis event, but if you’re not up to speed with All-New X-Factor this one’s not quite as easy to just pick up and dive into.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 6.5 out of 10

All-New X-Factor #16

Issue #16 was released after Axis #5, but it can be read immediately following the cliff-hanger in X-Factor #15.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 6.5 out of 10

Inhuman #9

This read will be a lot better if you’ve been reading Inhuman since the events of Infinity. As is, it’s very lightly tied in, although I suspect Medusa’s time on Genosha will have a greater impact on Axis moving forward.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 4.0 out of 10

Inhuman #10

I had initially placed these Inhumans issues in line with their publication (after Axis #6), but the read makes the most sense in the aftermath of the battle on Genosha. So far (through Axis #8) the Inhumans are like the F plot of the event, so not hugely relevant tie-ins.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 4.0 out of 10

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #4

Superior Iron Man #1

Pretty enormous impact on Tony Stark spiraling out of Axis, including an all-new Superior series!

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 8.0 out of 10

Axis: Hobgoblin #1

One part weird X-Statix homage, and one part Superior Spider-Man epilogue, Axis: Hobgoblin #1 is pretty much all bewildering. I’m still largely unclear what Marvel is looking to achieve with this book, although it appears intended to showcase Hobgoblin’s new place in the Marvel Universe renting out unused Hero identities to willing civilians. It’s an interesting concept so hopefully we see it grow from here.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 5.0 out of 10

Axis: Hobgoblin #2

Technically published after Axis #5, but I’d go ahead and just continue with the batty, rampant consumerism of Hobgoblin here.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 5.0 out of 10

Axis: Hobgoblin #3

Published after Axis #8, and could be read as late as after Axis #5, but works just fine here.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 5.0 out of 10

Axis: Carnage #1

The “Villains acting as heroes” tie-ins continue with Carnage. This first issue plays a lot more like an intriguing new concept and story than Hobgoblin and actually sets up a continuing Carnage series. Carnage attempting to be Spider-Man is actually pretty funny, and although this issue doesn’t add much to the overall Axis storyline it sets up an intriguing series moving forward.

Both Hobgoblin and Carnage were published prior to Axis #4. Nonetheless I’d place these issues after the start of “Inversion,” as the “villains acting like heroes” component of the story doesn’t really start until Axis #4.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 6.5 out of 10

Axis: Carnage #2

Issue #2 of Carnage’s heroics is published after Axis #6, but I don’t see any reason you can’t just stick with the series here (in fact, it makes more sense if you do). The second issue doesn’t drive much of any Axis plot, so for Carnage fanatics only.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 5.0 out of 10

Axis: Carnage #3

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 5.0 out of 10

Captain America & The Mighty Avengers #1

Captain America & The Mighty Avengers #2

Must occur before Cap/Falcon’s involvement in Axis #5.

How Essential a Tie In Is This? 4.5 out of 10

Captain America & The Mighty Avengers #3

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 5.5 out of 10

Deadpool #37

All-New X-Factor #17

You could also likely read this immediately after All-New X-Factor #16, but the cliffhanger ending applies a little more closely here.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 6.5 out of 10

Amazing X-Men #14

This one’s a little trickier to place, as you could essentially read Mystique tracking Nightcrawler down to Germany at any point after Axis #4. Complicating things, the issue is actually published after Axis #7. You could read it there and be fine, but I actually prefer the story in the immediate aftermath of the inversion. Their surprise with one another just makes more sense. A good read from Yost and co.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 6.5 out of 10

Axis #5

Nova #23

Flows directly out of the pages of Axis #5.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 7.5 out of 10

Nova #24

Published after Axis #6 but you can just continue with Nova’s involvement in the events here.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 7.5 out of 10

Avengers World #15

Occurs before Dr. Doom’s appearance in Axis #6.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 7.o out of 10

Avengers World #16

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 7.o out of 10

Axis: Revolutions #2

Axis: Revolutions #3

You could really read this issue at any point after Axis #4. Short Kitty Pryde and Sandman stories with no real impact on Axis world at large.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 2.0 out of 10

Axis: Revolutions #4

I like the idea of Axis: Revolutions (one-shot stories isolated from the “event” spectacle focusing on singular characters), but man alive these issues are falling flat. Original Sins (Original Sin’s similar counterpart) was a surprise standout during Marvel’s last event, but no such luck here.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 1.0 out of 10

Loki: Agent of Axis #8

Axis #6

Superior Iron Man #2

Slight overlap with some events in Axis #6, and then continues with the fallout. One of the more interesting Axis tie-ins to date.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 8.0 out of 10

Superior Iron Man #3

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 8.0 out of 10

Wolverine & The X-Men #12

Not a particularly time sensitive (or essential) Axis tie-in. You can read really any time after Axis #4, but this is where it’s published.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 3.0 out of 10

Deadpool #38

Deadpool somehow remains surprisingly relevant to Axis, although here it’s not until the very conclusion of the issue.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 7.0 out of 10

Axis #7

I’d just note here that reading the Deadpool tie-ins becomes very relevant for this issue.

Also a note that twice now I’ve seen Guardians of the Galaxy listed as Axis tie-ins, for issue #21 and for annual #1. These comics have nothing to do with Axis. I personally enjoy GoTG more often than not, but don’t get tricked into thinking those are relevant issues for Axis.

Axis #8

Axis #9

Deadpool #39

Resolves Deadpool and Apocalypse following the events of Axis #9.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 8.0 out of 10

Loki: Agent of Asgard #9

Editor’s notes for the issue state Loki takes place during Axis #9, and before Thor #1 (not an Axis tie-in, but clearly related to the aftermath).

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 7.o out of 10

Nova #25

More of an epilogue than an Axis tie-in. Read only if you’re invested in Nova as a regular series.

How Essential a Tie-In Is This? 5.0 out of 10

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