Expert: J. Spyder Isaacson - 9/16/2007

Question
I want to get a list of all x-men related comics ever released.  I know about the uncanny x-men line but there are so many spin offs, solos, giant editions, and everything else.
I want to get a list of when each one was released and in what order (as well as spin offs and everything else) so I can read them in order.
Any advice?

Answer
This is a VERY difficult undertaking, mostly because of all of the guest appearances, etc. of the X-Men characters in other books.  Nevertheless, I would suggest three different resources, right off the bat:

* The Marvel Universe pages on the Marvel Comics web page (www.marvel.com) can give you a complete list of all characters that have *ever* appeared in an X-Men or X-Men-related comic.
* Robert Overstreet's Price Guide can give you the actual dates each series was published from (and if it ended, when).  Overstreet also provides a rather comprehensive "guest-star" list for each title.  You'll need to spend some *serious* time, but you should get a complete list of everything.
* Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) is also an excellent resource, especially in regard to individual characters and where/when they appeared.  (The links can be a little erratic, so start by searching for "X-Men", and follow the links from there.)

Meanwhile, I'll provide you all of the X-Men and X-Men related titles that immediately come to mind, in (approximate) order of release:

      Uncanny X-Men (the first)
      Excalibur (following a one-shot special)
      Longshot (became an X-Man at one point)
      Dazzler (became an X-Man, now in New Excalibur)
      X-Factor (two different series, one current)
      Generation X
      Wolverine
      X-Force
      New Excalibur
      Cable and Deadpool
      Cable (stand-alone)
      X-Men
      X-Men Unlimited
      Ultimate X-Men
      Exiles
      New X-Men
      Astounding X-Men
      Wolverine: Origins
      New Avengers (Wolverine is a member)
Additionally, there have been multiple miniseries based both on the X-Men teams and individual X-Men:
      Nightcrawler (2 different minis)
      Kitty Pride (2 different minis)
      Starjammers (2 different minis)
      Havok/Wolverine: Meltdown
      Colossus
      Storm
      Bishop
      Bishop and Gambit
      Wolverine and Kitty Pride
      X-Men and Alpha Flight (2 different minis)
      X-Men vs. the Fantastic Four
      Onslaught (major cross-over event)
      X-Men/Star Trek (oversized)
      Rogue
      Origin (Wolverine)
      X-Men: First Class (first a mini, now an ongoing)
      Phoenix: Endsong
      House of M
      The 198
      Phoenix: Warsong
      Civil War: X-Men
      World War Hulk: X-Men
      Supreme Power (Ultimate X-Men appear late in the series)
      Movie adaptations for X-Men I, II and III

It might be difficult to read them in order as many stories published since the late 1980s were actually flashback stories.  For instance, there was a series titled "Classic X-Men" which reprinted early stories, with new backup stories that took place during the same time period as the classic story.

Additionally, you can pretty much count on the X-Men (in one form or another) being active in *any* major Marvel cross-over story from Secret Wars (I) to Secret War (last year) and World War Hulk (currently running).

As I said, a difficult undertaking, but not impossible.  Between the three references above, and with a little cross-referencing between them, you should be able to compile an exhaustive list.

Let me know if you need any additional advice . . . and when/if you manage to complete your list, would you be willing to share it?  I, for one, would be interested.

Good luck!

-- Spyder