Marvel Comics: How to read the X-Men's Krakoan era in order

X-Men: Fall of X is over meaning the Krakoan age has ended. A new era Marvel is calling From the Ashes will begin. Unfortunately, mutants no longer have an island nation, but I’m glad it happened. It was a time when mutants could boast greatness like Wakanda. They were ahead of the world regarding medicine, progressiveness, scientific advancements, and comfortable living. It could go down as the greatest time in X-Men history.

This writer is jealous of people who didn’t read X-Men throughout the Krakoa age. They can experience everything without waiting for new issues to drop. They can also skip comic books that aren’t important in the grand scheme of continuity. That’s where this article comes in.

This article will give you the order of the X-titles to read to know what happened during the Krakoan era. There will be bulletin points on what made each issue, series, and more important. This way, you'll know what to look for as your reading continues.

House of X and Powers of X

Writer: Jonathan Hickman

This is where it all began. We learn how Krakoa was formed, whose idea it was, and how the Krakoa became a nation. You’ll see the possible future as well. Like a lot of 90s movies, it ends with an AI apocalypse.

Things to pay attention to

• The X-Men's first encounter with Orchis.
• Resurrection
• How Krako became a Nation.
• Charles Xavier’s speech to the world about how things will be.
• Mutants forgive each other for past wrongdoings. Enemies are allowed a second chance
• A lot was foreshadowed in these two series. It was beautifully done.

X-Men

Writer: Jonathan Hickman

This writer suggests reading all of Hickman’s X-Men stories. You may catch things I didn’t and see how characters have changed since joining Krakoa. Plus, it’s great overall. If you don’t want to, here are the most important issues to read.

Things to pay attention to

• Issue No. 6: We learn that Mystique was married to Destiny and what Destiny asked Raven to do if they didn’t bring her back.
• No. 7: The Crucible is brutal and bloody and makes Nightcrawler rethink everything about religion.
• Issues No. 18 and 19: This will be important later. Explaining why spoils a beautiful moment.
• Issue No. 20: Alia Gregor puts her husband into Nimrod. This is the beginning of the end.
• Giant Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost, Giant Size X-Men: Storm: The X-Men help Storm while she's infected by a virus that will kill her. Despite the Resurrection Protocols, Storm refuses to accept death.

Giant Size X-Men: Storm (she refused to die even though she’d be resurrected.)

X-Force

Writer: Benjamin Percy

This version of X-Force was created to be Krakoa’s CIA. Like most things, it was built with good intentions. Everything goes well until Beast realizes no one is checking on him. This leads to him doing atrocious things.

Things to pay attention to

• Charles Xavier is killed in the first issue.
• The lengths humans will go to destroy mutants.
• Colossus starts to act weird.
• Beast’s progression into villainy.

X of Swords

Writers: Vita Ayala, Ed Brisson, Gerry Duggan, Jonathan Hickman, Tini Howard, Benjamin Percy, Zeb Wells, and Leah Williams

Apocalypse tries to return to his former dimension and causes all sorts of havoc. This forces a deadly tournament where lives are changed forever. X of Swords brings in some of the deadliest mutants ever, the Arakki.

X of Swords was better when you could read it all at once instead of weekly.

Things to pay attention to

• Apocalypse is older than we knew.
• The original Four Horsemen were Apocalypse’s children.
• Apocalypse was married.
• Krakoa was once one island made of two (it’ll make sense when you read it).
• The first two mutants leave the Quiet Council.
• Mutants have been around for centuries.

Krakoa's inaugural Hellfire Gala

Writers: Gerry Duggan, Chris Claremont, Benjamin Percy, Zeb Wells, Tini Howard, Jonathan Hickman, Gerry Duggan, Vita Ayala, Al Ewing, Si Spurrier, Leah Williams

This was the event of the year. For the first time, humans are allowed on Krakoa. While the celebrities are partying, the mutants of Krakoa show the world what they’ve been doing. Like most happy mutant moments, this ends in tragedy.

Things to pay attention to

• Mars is terraformed, renamed, given to the mutants of Arakko, and becomes the capital of the Sol System.
• The first X-Men alpha team is voted on.
• There's a murder at the end of the series that leads to…

Trial of Magneto

Writer: Leah Williams

Leah Williams was the perfect person to write this story. Her X-Factor team led the investigation of Scarlet Witch’s murder and shined as characters, fighters, and detectives. She also made Magneto and Scarlet Witch look incredibly powerful.

Things to pay attention to

• Someone is framed for Wanda Maximoff’s death.
• The dead mutant waiting room.
• Wanda forgives herself and makes up for House of M.

Inferno

Writer: Jonathan Hickman

As the phrase goes, “This is the beginning of the end.” It’s where everything starts to go wrong for Xavier, Magneto, and Moira. People will look back at the Krakoan era and see Inferno as an example of how secrets can ruin everything. 

Things to pay attention to

• Krakoa sends Wolverine, Quentin Quire, and Domino to the Orchis Forge to kill Nimrod.
• Moira gets annoyed with Charles and Magneto
• The Quiet Council finds out about Moira. 
• The Hordeculture.
• Mystique’s secret plan.
• This is where everything starts to go downhill.
• Learn how the technology of Krakoa evolves thanks to Douglas Ramsey, Warlock, and the island itself.
• Who created Orchis and why?

Immortal X-Men

Writer: Kieron Gillen

Immortal X-Men highlighted the members of the Quiet Council and their thoughts on what was going on and the decisions made. Normally, a comic book about politics wouldn’t be appealing. Kieron Gillen showed that it can be entertaining and thought-provoking. You'll be shocked by some of the things done.

Things to pay attention to

• Magneto leaves the Quiet Council.
• Learn how the politics of Krakoa works and see the mistakes made.
• This is where the Sins of Sinister begins. Go back and read all the subtle moments that lead to the reality-altering event.

X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine

Writer: Benjamin Percy

All the best X-Men had their moment to shine. X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine were Logan’s. He didn’t just protect Charles Xavier throughout time, he saved the universe from being altered. On a personal level, Logan continued to forgive himself for his past after seeing the things done to him.

Things to pay attention to

• X Lives of Wolverine follows Logan as he travels throughout time to prevent the death of Charles Xavier’s ancestors.
• X Deaths of Wolverine follows Moira as she tries to gain one more life and make mutants pay for what Charles and Magento did to her.
• Moira’s first step to joining the AI revolution (X Deaths of Wolverine)
• A different future is revealed.
• Logan had his big moment by saving the future.

X-Men: Hellfire Gala (2022)

A lot went on during this Hellfire Gala. So much so that every panel had something important. Pay attention to everything. Even the jokes lead to a crucial moment.

Writer: Gerry Duggan

Things to pay attention to

• Orchis learns about The Five.
• A new team of X-Men are voted on.
• Mary Jane Watson is used by Moira X.
• Dr. Doom wonders if David Bowie was a mutant.
• Synch’s powers are coming with a price.
• Cyclops learns one of the Quiet Council's secrets.

A.X.E. Judgment Day

Writer: Kieron Gillen

This was an underrated crossover. In the main title (A.X.E. Judgment  Day) Kieron Gillen does more than highlight the heroes and villains. He shows how the regular people are affected by this event. Unlike some comic book events, the X-Men, Avengers, and Eternals equally star in this series. It’s beautifully done. I suggest reading any of the stories that coincide with this series. You'll see how your favorite characters are judged.

Things to pay attention to

• Thanos’ granduncle Uranos is scarier than the Mad Titan.
• Druig, Iron Man, and the Eternals learn the cost of his hubris.
• See which people are deemed worthy and wanting.
• Orchis helps save the world. Humans start to trust them more than mutants.

Sins of Sinister

Writer: Kieron Gillen

When Charles Xavier and Magneto asked Mr. Sinister to help with the Resurrection Protocols (Powers of X No. 4), they should have known he’d do something nefarious. Whenever someone was resurrected, there was a piece of Sinister inside them. This leads to Nathanial Essex's big attempt at universal domination. However, it didn’t go as he planned it. There was a bigger villain behind the scenes.

Things to pay attention to

• How did Mr. Sinister’s plan start?
• Which council members were affected by Mr. Sinister?
• Who was the biggest threat to the universe?
• Which mutants kept their minds and how?

Comic books to read:

• Sins of Sinister
• Storm and the Brotherhood of Mutants
• Nightcrawlers
• Immoral X-Men
• Sins of Sinister Dominion

Hellfire Gala 2023/Fall of X

Writer: Gerry Duggan

This is where X-Men: Fall of X begins. Orchis has been working on defeating the X-Men since House of X and Powers of X and their plan is set into action. Mutants are killed, captured, and sent to an unknown place (it’s revealed during X-Men: Forever). Witness the first step to the end of the Krakoan Age.

Things to pay attention to

• Orchis was working on stopping the use of Krakoan gates back in Inferno No. 2
• Nimrod kills the newly crowned X-Men
• Which mutants were captured, killed, and escaped Orchis?
• Xavier betrays the X-Men by not trusting them to defeat Orchis.
• How did Jean Grey spend her last breaths and how did it help mutants?

Mini-series to read

• Uncanny Avengers
• X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic (Nos. 112-117)
• Invincible Iron Man (Nos. 10-19)
• Alpha Flight
• Jean Grey
• Children of the Vault
• Astonishing Iceman
• Realm of X
• Dark X-Men
• Uncanny Spider-Man
• X-Men Blue: Origins
• Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant

Iron Man

Writer: Gerry Duggan

Tony Stark’s company was taken by Feilong who uses Tony’s Iron Man technology to create mutant-hunting sentinels (Feilong was working with Orchis). Tony fights back but loses badly. After the 2023 Hellfire Gala, Tony joins the X-Men’s fight against Orchis. 

Things to pay attention to

• Tony Stark’s newest armor.
• The comic book wedding of the year.
• Iron Man’s unlikely teammates.
• James Rhodes goes to jail.

Fall of the House of X, Rise of the House of X

Writers: Gerry Duggan (Fall of the House of X), Kieron Gillen (Rise of the House of X)

This is the end of an X-Men event that started in the summer of 2019. How did the X-Men defeat Orchis and Dominion? Does Charles Xavier redeem himself for everything he did? What leads to the X-Men: From the Ashes era? All of that is right here.

Things to pay attention to

• Do the X-Men win?
• Which of the X-Men returns from the dead?
• Who sacrifices themselves?
• Do any of the villains switch sides?
• How does this lead to X-Men: From the Ashes?

X-Men No. 35/Uncanny X-Men 700

It’s the end of the era, but the beginning of another. You’ll see callbacks to each of the previous stories in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. X-Men No. 35/Uncanny X-Men No. 700 ends with stories narrated by Xavier. While he visits his former students, we see how things lead directly into From the Ashes.

However, the only thing you need to do is read and enjoy a beautiful finale.

What were your favorite moments of the Krakoa era? Are you sad to see it go? Let us know on Bam Smack Pow's Instagram and Twitter.