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The Definitive X-Men Order: How To Read The Comics And Watch The Movies In 2025

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Trying to figure out the definitive order of the X-Men is one of the biggest challenges in all of pop culture. Unlike other franchises, the X-Men timeline is constantly being reshaped by time travel, alternate realities, and massive comic book relaunches, making a true chronological order a near-impossible task for new and even veteran fans. This guide, updated for the current date of December 22, 2025, cuts through the confusion, providing two essential chronological paths: the current, revolutionary comic book continuity and the complex, fractured movie timeline. The key to understanding the X-Men universe in 2025 is recognizing the two major pillars of its recent history: the monumental Krakoan Era in the comics, which recently concluded, and the convoluted but beloved Fox film franchise. Whether you want to dive into the current comic book stories or binge-watch the movies before the X-Men officially join the MCU, this is the only guide you need.

The Definitive X-Men Comic Book Reading Order: From Krakoa to the Ashes (2019–2025)

For comic book readers, the "order of X-Men" is currently defined by the *Krakoan Era*, a revolutionary run that began in 2019 and fundamentally changed the mutant status quo. This era, which saw the mutants form the sovereign nation of Krakoa, has a clear, phased structure that is essential to follow. It recently concluded with the *Fall of X* and was immediately followed by a new, major 2024 relaunch: *From the Ashes*.

The Krakoan Era (2019-2024)

This period, led by writer Jonathan Hickman, established the mutant nation of Krakoa and the revolutionary concept of mutant resurrection. The entire era is broken down into distinct, sequential phases.

  • Phase I: House of X / Powers of X (HOX/POX): This six-issue miniseries is the absolute starting point. It introduces the character Moira X, the concept of the mutant nation, the Krakoan Flower technology, and the "Great Works" of Professor X and Magneto. Do not skip this.
  • Phase II: Dawn of X: The initial launch of the ongoing series following HOX/POX. Key titles include *X-Men*, *Marauders*, *Excalibur*, *New Mutants*, and *X-Force*. This phase establishes the new world order.
  • Phase III: X of Swords: The first massive crossover event of the era, involving a tournament between the mutants of Krakoa and their long-lost sister island, Arakko. It's a high-fantasy epic that introduces key new characters and lore.
  • Phase IV: Reign of X: The period following the *X of Swords* event, continuing the ongoing series and leading up to the first Hellfire Gala.
  • Phase V: The Hellfire Gala: A major annual event where the new X-Men team is elected and major plot twists are revealed, often involving the entire Marvel Universe. This event is a crucial checkpoint for the continuity.
  • Phase VI: Destiny of X / Trial of Magneto / A.X.E.: Judgment Day: This phase sees the return of Destiny, a major focus on the Quiet Council's internal politics, and a massive crossover with the Avengers and Eternals.
  • Phase VII: Sins of Sinister: A dark, alternate future storyline that serves as a major inflection point, directly setting up the final arc of the Krakoan Era.
  • Phase VIII: Fall of X: The dramatic finale of the Krakoan Era, where the mutant nation faces its greatest trial, leading to the destruction of Krakoa and the scattering of the mutants. This is the official end of the Hickman-led continuity.

The New Era: From the Ashes (2024-2025)

Launching in July 2024, *From the Ashes* is the current, ongoing X-Men continuity. It is a soft-relaunch that follows the destruction of Krakoa and sees the X-Men operating as classic superhero teams once again, but in a world that hates and fears them more than ever. This is where a new reader should jump in if they want the absolute freshest material, though reading HOX/POX is still highly recommended for context.

  • Core Titles (2024-2025):
    • X-Men #1 (Focusing on Cyclops and his team).
    • Phoenix #1 (Focusing on Jean Grey and the return of the Phoenix Force).
    • NYX #1 (A team book focusing on a younger, grittier team in New York).
    • X-Force #1 (A new iteration of the black-ops team).
    • Wolverine #1 (The ongoing solo series for Logan).

The Chronological X-Men Movie and TV Viewing Order

The Fox X-Men film universe is notoriously messy due to time travel and retcons introduced in *X-Men: Days of Future Past*. The best way to watch the movies is in the internal chronological order of the story, which focuses on the "First Class" era before jumping to the original trilogy.

The Fox X-Men Film Universe (Chronological Order)

This order is based on the timeline of events within the films, not their release date. It provides the most coherent narrative flow, despite the timeline being technically broken by the end of Days of Future Past.

  1. X-Men: First Class (1962): Serves as the origin story for Professor Charles Xavier, Magneto, and the original team.
  2. X-Men: Days of Future Past (1973/Future): The core event that splits the timeline. The past section (1973) follows *First Class*, while the future segments set up the original trilogy. Watch the Rogue Cut for the most complete experience.
  3. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Various/1979): Contains flashbacks to the 1840s and WWI, but the main story takes place just before the original *X-Men* film. It’s best viewed here for narrative flow, though it is often considered non-canon due to retcons.
  4. X-Men: Apocalypse (1983): Follows the "First Class" team in the 1980s, introducing the younger versions of Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Storm.
  5. X-Men: Dark Phoenix (1992): The final film in the "First Class" timeline, focusing on Jean Grey's struggle with the Phoenix Force.
  6. X-Men (2000): The original film that launched the franchise, set in a timeline that follows the events of *Days of Future Past* (though it was made before that film).
  7. X2: X-Men United (2003): The direct sequel to the first film.
  8. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006): The conclusion of the original trilogy.
  9. The Wolverine (2013): A solo adventure for Logan, set after the events of *The Last Stand*.
  10. Deadpool (2016): The first solo film for Deadpool, set in the modern era of the X-Men timeline.
  11. Deadpool 2 (2018): Continues the story of the Merc with a Mouth.
  12. Logan (2029): A standalone masterpiece that serves as a heartbreaking, definitive end for the original Wolverine and Professor X. It is best watched last.

Animated Series Viewing Order

For fans of the classic 90s era, the viewing order is much simpler, especially with the 2024 Disney+ revival.

  1. X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997): The classic five-season run.
  2. X-Men '97 (2024-Present): This new Disney+ series is a direct, canonical continuation of the original 90s show, picking up right where the final episode left off.

Key X-Men Entities and Storylines to Understand

To truly master the X-Men order, you need to be familiar with the core characters and concepts that drive the stories. These entities are the connective tissue across all media.

The Founders and Leaders

  • Professor X (Charles Xavier): The telepathic founder of the X-Men and the school. His dream of peaceful coexistence drives the entire franchise.
  • Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr): Xavier's ideological opposite and best friend, who believes mutants must dominate humanity to survive. His role dramatically changes in the Krakoan Era.
  • Cyclops (Scott Summers): The field leader of the X-Men, known for his optic blasts and unwavering dedication to the team.
  • Jean Grey: A powerful telepath/telekinetic and the host of the cosmic entity known as the Phoenix Force, a key element in both the comics (Dark Phoenix Saga) and the movies.
  • Wolverine (Logan): The fan-favorite mutant with an adamantium skeleton and a healing factor. His solo adventures often intersect with the main X-Men timeline.

Major Events and Concepts

  • Krakoa: The living island that became the sovereign mutant nation in the comics, offering resurrection and a unified front for all mutants. This is the single most important concept in the 2019-2024 era.
  • The Dark Phoenix Saga: One of the most famous storylines, detailing Jean Grey's corruption by the Phoenix Force. It has been adapted multiple times in both the comics and the Fox films.
  • Days of Future Past: A time-travel story involving a dystopian future where mutants are hunted by Sentinels. It is a critical event in both the comic and movie timelines.
  • Mutant Massacre / Fall of the Mutants: Classic 1980s comic book events that represent key moments of tragedy and upheaval for the team prior to the modern era.
  • Sentinels: Giant, mutant-hunting robots created by humans. They are the ultimate symbol of anti-mutant hysteria and a recurring threat in all X-Men media.
  • Moira X (Moira MacTaggert): Her secret, multiple lives are the foundational premise of the *House of X/Powers of X* storyline, revealing a secret history that changes everything.
  • Mr. Sinister (Nathaniel Essex): A Victorian-era geneticist obsessed with mutant DNA, serving as a primary antagonist and manipulator throughout the Krakoan Era.
  • Arakko: The long-lost sister island of Krakoa, home to powerful, war-like mutants, introduced during the *X of Swords* event.

Why the X-Men Order is So Confusing (and Why It Matters)

The X-Men's history is intentionally convoluted, which is a feature, not a bug, of the storytelling. The constant use of time travel, alternate timelines (like the Age of Apocalypse), and parallel universes (Multiverse) means that a single, perfect linear order is impossible. The comic book order prioritizes topical authority and continuity, which is why the Krakoan Era is so important—it provides a clear, self-contained story that a new reader can follow without decades of baggage. The *From the Ashes* relaunch is designed to be a fresh jumping-on point for 2025, but it still relies on the emotional weight of the Krakoan Era's conclusion. For the movies, the chronological viewing order helps to smooth out the jarring transitions between the younger cast (First Class) and the original cast (X-Men 2000). By starting with the 1960s-set films, you get a full character arc for Xavier and Magneto before the original trilogy begins, making the entire saga feel more cohesive. In the end, finding the right "order" is less about strict chronology and more about choosing the path that best tells the story you want to experience.
The Definitive X-Men Order: How to Read the Comics and Watch the Movies in 2025
order of x men
order of x men

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