Marvel Comics released House of M, their first comic book event of the modern era, in 2005. Written by Brian Michael Bendis and art by Oliver Coipel, the event brought the Avengers and X-Men together and put them into an alternate world where mutants were the dominant species. By its conclusion, and with three words, there would be long-lasting consequences for Marvel’s mutants.
Due to its inspiration on the WandaVision Disney+ series, there has been renewed interest in House of M. If you’re one of the many who are interested in reading this classic event, this reading order guide is what you need to help make sense of everything. It has the recommended reading order, collected editions, background reading, and much more.
Do I Need To Read Everything?
House of M is structured like your traditional comic book event. It has a core series and tie-ins that expand the story. Unlike most event tie-ins, House of M’s do not tie directly to what is happening in the core series. Instead, they explore the alternate universe that has been created.
Due to this, you’re able to skip any tie-ins that don’t interest you. You are also able to read the core series on its own without missing any beats.
Background Reading
If you’re looking to do some background reading before you dive into House of M then check out the below comics.
Avenger: Disassembled
Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Art by David Finch, Oliver Coipel, and others.
This is the event that will later trigger House of M. Read Avengers #500-503 and Avengers Finale #1.
Excalibur (2004 series) #1-12
Written by Chris Claremont. Art by Aaron Lopresti Alan Davis.
This series sets up a lot of the X-Men side of House of M.
House of M Reading Order
The following is the recommended reading order for the House of M comic book event. The comics in bold are part of the core series.
Excalibur (2004 series) #13 (Prelude)
Excalibur (2004 series) #14 (Prelude)
House of M #1
House of M #2
Note: House of M #1-2 set up the situation and introduce the new alternate world. After House of M #2, you can start to read the tie-ins.
Civil War: House of M #1
Civil War: House of M #2
Civil War: House of M #3
Civil War: House of M #4
Civil War: House of M #5
Note: Civil War: House of M is a prequel miniseries, which Marvel released after the conclusion of the House of M event in as a way of revisiting the world. It is set in this world and before the events of the main House of M story. It might have Civil War in the name, but you do not have to have read that event in order to understand it. It shares some thematic similarities and Marvel knew they would sell extra copies if Civil War was in the name.
House of M: Masters of Evil #1
House of M: Masters of Evil #2
House of M: Masters of Evil #3
House of M: Masters of Evil #4
Note: Similar to Civil War: House of M, this is another prequel that was released after House of M had concluded.
House of M: Avengers #1
House of M: Avengers #2
House of M: Avengers #3
House of M: Avengers #4
House of M: Avengers #5
Note: Yet another prequel that was released after the conclusion of House of M.
The Pulse: House of M Special #1
Note: The Pulse: House of M Special #1 was a mock-up newspaper that was set in the world of House of M. It gives some early flavour to the world-building.
Incredible Hulk (1999 series) #83
Incredible Hulk (1999 series) #84
Incredible Hulk (1999 series) #85
Incredible Hulk (1999 series) #86
Fantastic Four: House of M #1
Fantastic Four: House of M #2
Fantastic Four: House of M #3
Spider-Man: House of M #1
Spider-Man: House of M #2
Spider-Man: House of M #3
Spider-Man: House of M #4
Spider-Man: House of M #5
Iron Man: House of M #1
Iron Man: House of M #2
Iron Man: House of M #3
Uncanny X-Men #462
Uncanny X-Men #463
Uncanny X-Men #464
Uncanny X-Men #465
House of M #3
Wolverine (2003 series) #33
Wolverine (2003 series) #34
Wolverine (2003 series) #35
House of M #4
House of M #5
New X-Men: Academy X #16
New X-Men: Academy X #17
New X-Men: Academy X #18
New X-Men: Academy X #19
The Pulse #10
Captain America (2004 series) #10
New Thunderbolts #11
Black Panther (2004 series) #7
House of M #6
House of M #7
Mutopia X #1
Mutopia X #2
Mutopia X #3
Mutopia X #4
Note: There is a Mutopia X #5 but that ties into Decimation. See the After House of M section to find out more.
Cable & Deadpool #17
Exiles #69
Exiles #70
Exiles #71
House of M #8
Giant-Size Ms. Marvel #1
Decimation: House of M – The Day After
Note: Decimation: House of M – The Day After is an aftermath issue that bridges the gap between House of M and Decimation.
Buy House of M on…
House of M Collected Editions
Prefer to read your comics in trade paperback? These are the collections you will need to track down.
House of M
Collects: House of M #1-8 and The Pulse Special Edition
House of M: Excalibur – Prelude
Collects: Excalibur (2004 series) #11-14
House of M: Fantastic Four/Iron Man
Collects: Fantastic Four: House of M #1-3 and Iron Man: House of M #1-3
House of M: Uncanny X-Men
Collects: Uncanny X-Men #462-465
House of M: Mutopia X
Collects: Mutopia #1-5
House of M: New X-Men
Collects: New X-Men: Academy X #16-19
House of M: Spider-Man
Collects: House of M: Spider-Man #1-5
House of M: Incredible Hulk
Collects: Hulk #83-87
House of M: World of M, Featuring Wolverine
Collects: Wolverine #33-35, Captain America #10, Black Panther #7, and Pulse #10
House of M: Avengers
Collects: House of M: Avengers #1-5
House of M: Civil War
Collects: House of M: Civil War #1-5
House of M: Masters of Evil
Collects: House of M: Masters of Evil #1-4
As a quick side note, many of these collections are long out of print. You should be able to track most of them down on eBay for an affordable price. Otherwise, digitally on Kindle is probably the way to go.
There’s also a House of M Omnibus, which collects the main series and tie-ins in one massive volume.
House of M Omnibus
Collects: House of M #1-8, Spider-Man: House of M #1-5, Fantastic Four: House of M #1-3, Iron Man: House of M #1-3, New Thunderbolts #11, Black Panther (2005 series) #7, Uncanny X-Men #462-465, Wolverine (2003 series) #33-35, Captain America (2004 series) #10, Pulse #10, Cable & Deadpool #17, Incredible Hulk (2000 series) #83-87, New X-Men (2004 series) #16-19, Exiles (2001 series) #69-71, Mutopia X #1-5, Decimation: House of M – The Day After, Giant-Size Ms. Marvel #1, Secrets of The House of M, Pulse: House of M Special, House of M #1 Director’s Cut, House of M Sketchbook And Material From Hulk: Broken Worlds #1.
After House of M
Have you’ve gotten to the end of House of M and want to know what to read next? Here are a few suggestions:
Decimation
Written and art by Various.
Decimation is the branding for the X-Men comics which address the direct aftermath of House of M. You can find out more about Decimation here.
That being said, the effects of House of M extend much further than Decimation with the X-Men dealing with them for many years later.
Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade
Written by Allen Heinberg. Art by Jim Cheung.
Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade is a miniseries that came out a few years later which begins the path of redemption for Scarlet Witch.
Have Your Say!
Have you found this reading order helpful? Share you thoughts in the comments below or via Facebook or Twitter.
Does avengers Vs X men come before or after this? Or is it a completely separate story? I had heard that AVX is set after house of M.
Also, what\’s the difference between the X-Men \”Mutant Massacre\” and X-Men \”Genoshan genocide\”?
Cheers!
The Mutant Massacre is the first X-Men crossover from all the way back in 1986. You can find out more about it here.
Trevor,
Can you let me know which comic book series has the Genoshan genocide in it? It’s discussed in the beginning of “House of X” when it tells us to see “The Cro-Magnon problem” by Doctor Alia Gregor. She talks about the “humanitarian research into mutant repopulation following the Genoshan genocide, which resulted in the deaths of over sixteen million mutants.”
I would like to read the storyline about the Genoshan genocide.
Thank you and Cheers!
P.S. Keep you website going…it’s fantastic!!!
This happened in a story called E Is for Extinction, which ran through New X-Men #114-116.