Iron Man Reading Order

UPDATED: October 2nd, 2014

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This reading order aims to provide the most comprehensive reading order for Iron Man in the Marvel 616 Universe.  If you are completely new to comics, consider reading our beginner’s guide to comics before going further.

The Complete 616 Iron Man Reading Order

Below you will find a list of comics relating to Iron Man. You’ll find Avengers comics and major guest appearances along with the core titles and mini-series for this character.  table below provides a glimpse of the publication history for this character (though the reading order is fare more comprehensive).

Current Iron Man Core Titles Current Iron Man Member Titles
 Past Iron Man Core Titles Past Iron Man Member Titles
 Important Mini-Series

Reading Order Basics

  • – This order was born out of a number of other reading lists and my own experience, which was then extremely influenced by user recommendations and my own back issue reading.  It is fluid and probably never complete.
  • – The order contains a list of issues featuring Iron Man and are considered “canon”, and issues only appear once in the list at the most appropriate place to read said issue.
  • – Flashbacks aren’t placed chronologically, but within the timeframe it is best read (usually closer to its actual publication).
  • – Cameos that aren’t essential to the characters aren’t necessarily included.
  • – The order number next to the issue is the same number found on the Avengers reading order, based on the number of the issue the main ongoing Avengers title. The list below is a filtered version of the Avengers reading order.  Numbers are subject to change as updates arrive.
  • – Unfortunately, changes aren’t tracked.  Archives of older list can be found here.
  • – If you want a digital copy of this list, you can easily copy by printing to a PDF or copying and pasting the data into your own spreadsheet or text file.
  • – The links on the issue should lead you to that issue’s entry at Mycomicshop.com and is a good place to see the cover and other details.  Buying from that link helps support this site.  Occasionally, we place other links like HC or TP which link to the collected edition containing that issue.
  • – Reprints aren’t included.
  • – New comics won’t be added frequently (too time-consuming and constantly in flux anyways).  No need to ask when I will update to add in the latest releases; it’ll happen sometime, but not in any frequency to depend on the list to read your new issues. If you read new comics, both single issues and trades, then just read them as they come out.
  • – Request, questions and updates: If you have any changes to request, please do so by commenting on the latest blog post or by using the contact form.  You can also ask me a question on Tumblr.

(Am I boring you?  Want to get on with it already? Go directly to the Iron Man reading order)

How to get start reading Captain America

First, it is not recommended to read every issue in this list.

The medium was conceived as being disposable, and the incredible amount of stories created since has left the task of reading everything nearly possible and, quite frankly, unrewarding.  Reading all this would be the equivalent of “binge-watching” General Hospital.  It’s better to consider comics as being modular; each reader has their own “order” based on what they have read or want/expect to read, and they all can base that order on where those issue are found here.

There are different ways to jump in to reading Iron Man depending on your interests and intentions.  We offer a variety of ways to jump in that new readers can use to make their own reading list.  Some may find the original a historical treasure, while others might not be able to get over how dialogue was written in the 60’s.  Some want to jump into current comics, while others just want to read the “good stuff”.  Here are some of our recommendations according to a few key profiles of readers:

Where It All Started A Classic Story Fan Favorite The Last Complete Run The Current Run
Tales of Suspense Armor Wars Extremis Fraction’s Iron man Marvel NOW! Iron Man

Also, check out our 10 Must-Read Iron Man comics.

How To Use the Iron Reading Order

If you skipped directly to this part, it’s important that I mention again that you should use this list to make your own list rather than try to read everything.  Filters can help you research the list or pare down the list by search for creators, characters, or event names (ex: Civil War for that event’s reading order).

List of Iron Man Comics in Reading Order

5 thoughts on “Iron Man Reading Order”

  1. You are missing Avengers Classic #1-12. Each issue has a story that follows the one reprinted at the beginning of the issue.

    For example, Issue #1 has the story “Some Assembly Required!” which directly follows the reprinted story of Avengers #1 in the issue as well as in the chronology.

    Reply

    1. And the reading order for those are pretty self-explanatory. I chose not to add those because they are mostly reprints, and while the back ups can be interesting, they aren’t essential. If someone is reading through this list with those reprints, they will read the back ups.

      Reply

  2. iron man 1st series #295 is on here twice. Once before the infinity crusade event and once after it. Which is the correct placement?

    Reply

  3. Where doe the Van Lente Iron man series fit in here, including Legacy and War of the Iron men? 2009-10? Earlier? And van Lente’s Marvel Age iron Man (Spotlight)? Did I miss them here? Confusing…

    Reply

    1. I was coming for this, but I found out that Iron Man Legacy #6-11 (Industrial Revolution) is set after Iron Man (Vol. 1) #173-188. It is indicated in the issue 9.

      Reply

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