So…you’ve probably got questions about this insane project of mine. (Or maybe you don’t. I’m going to answer them anyway!) So let me start from the beginning.
I’ve been an X-man fan since I discovered the 90’s cartoon when I was younger. (Seriously, that intro alone made it my favorite!) From there, I started collecting the X-men Trading Cards. In fact, for awhile there, I had the entire 1994 Fleer Ultra set! I was obsessed! What I wasn’t, however, was a comic reader. I don’t think I even realized there were X-men comics at that age. Fast forward 10ish years:
I started dating my now husband, C. C is a HUGE comic nerd. Always has been. In the beginning of our relationship, C and his friends would get together almost every Wednesday to read their new comics and discuss what was going on in them. So, every Wednesday, I was totally left out. I decided that just wasn’t going to fly, and started reading my way through C’s back-issues of Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, and a few Vertigo books (mainly Fables) I’d found my new love: Comics!
As an avid, some-what snobby reader, and an English major who spends most of her time reading English lit, I was surprised to find myself falling in love with Marvel comics. I was also shocked at how these comics, and X-Men in particular, seemed to really be tackling real-world issues and problems. I was hooked. I was reading more and more, and spending more and more time at our AMAZING local comic shop, Carol & John’s Comics, discussing continuity with everyone there. I’d found my tribe. But I’d also found a goal. I wanted to know everything there was to know about the X-Men. Naturally, to this reader, that meant I needed to read everything! And thus, my project was born!
I took me almost 2 years to compile my reading list. There was TON of research involved. My goal wasn’t just to read every issue of Uncanny and X-Men, but every comic related to the X-Men and the 616’s main mutants. This meant finding out which issues of Avengers featured a mutant on the team, reading all of Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers) comics since she plays such a large roll in Rogue’s life, and is also a guest of Xavier’s for while, reading all of Namor’s solo books, and also the nearly impossible task of finding all of Wolverine & Deadpool’s 1000’s of solo adventures! It’s been really hard work. I’m still not convinced I found everything! But, I’ve come up with a fairly comprehensive list of every issue, in chronological order by publication month. So, now I’m ready to read!
When I first started the list, I figured I’d start with Giant Size #1. The new Uncanny team. I started my list there, and it grew quickly. Then, just as I was deciding to start this blog, C convinced me that I really should start with X-Men #1 from 1963. How, he pointed out, can I say I’ve read everything and know everything when this is all over if I didn’t even start with the team’s origins. He was right. So, I’m starting from the absolute beginning.
I’ve made a separate page to host my reading list for anyone that’s interested in it. It’s my baby. And it could have never happened without a few amazing sources:
And for all you fellow X-Men geeks out there, if you notice I’m missing something, please let me know! Like I said, I’m sure I’ve missed some issues. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Original Tumblr post: here
Searching For Genosha 