Part 09 | Destiny's Quest to Bright New Mourning [2001 to 2004]

The X-line suffered a huge change in 2001, and writers started to "write for the TPB" meaning that stories are much more self-contained and wrapped in 4-5 issues. This is good for the reading order because it's easier to split issues in volumes, but also bad, as it becomes more and more difficult to figure out the correct placement of each book. Still, I'm pretty sure most of this reading order is correct (because I've read it, ah!) but there are some things that could be moved around without impact on the experience.

Vol. 130 - Exiles: Down the Rabbit Hole (optional)

[Since Exiles will crossover with the X-Men further down the line, I figure it is important to at least read about the team's creation.]

Exiles #1-4

Vol. 131 - Destiny's Quest

X-Treme X-Men #1-4

X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #1-4

Vol. 132 - E is for Extinction

New X-Men #114-116

New X-Men Annual #1 (2001)

New X-Men #117

Vol. 133 - Poptopia

Uncanny X-Men #394-400

Vol. 134 - The Godfather

X-Treme X-Men #5-9

X-Treme X-Men Annual #1 (2001) (1st story)

Vol. 135 - Imperial

New X-Men #118-126

Vol. 136 - X-Corps

Uncanny X-Men Annual #25 (2001)

Uncanny X-Men #401-409

Vol. 137 - Invasion!

X-Treme X-Men Annual #1 (2001) (2nd story)

X-Men Unlimited #36 (1st story)

X-Treme X-Men #10-19

Vol. 138 - New Worlds

New X-Men #127-133

Vol. 139 - Hope

Chamber #1 (p. 1-13) (optional)

Uncanny X-Men #410-415

Vol. 140 - Weapon X: The Draft (optional)

[All of Weapon X stories are pretty much optional, but I kinda like the group of secondary characters involved so I will include all the story arcs in the reading order.]

Weapon X v2 #1/2

Weapon X: The Draft - Sauron

Weapon X: The Draft - Wild Child

Weapon X: The Draft - Kane

Weapon X: The Draft - Marrow

Weapon X: The Draft - Agent Zero

Weapon X v2 #1-5

Vol. 141 - Dominant Species

Uncanny X-Men #416

X-Men Unlimited #44 (optional)

Uncanny X-Men #417-420

Vol. 142 - X-Treme Schism

X-Treme X-Men: X-Posé #1-2

X-Treme X-Men #20-23

Vol. 143 - Shadowcat: Mekanix (optional)

Mekanix #1-6

X-Men Unlimited #38

Vol. 144 - Riot at Xavier's

New X-Men #134-137

New X-Men #138 (p. 1-14)

Vol. 145 - Holy War

Uncanny X-Men #421-426

Exiles #28-30 (optional)

Uncanny X-Men #427

Vol. 146 - New Mutants: Back to School (optional)

[It introduces most of the characters that will appear in New X-Men so I find it important. I skip the last issue on purpose.]

New Mutants v2 #1-12

Vol. 147 - God Loves, Man Kills II

X-Treme X-Men #24-30

Vol. 148 - The Draco

Uncanny X-Men #428-436

Vol. 149 - Murder at the Mansion

New X-Men #138 (p. 15-23)

New X-Men #139-141

Vol. 150 - Weapon X: The Underground (optional)

Weapon X v2 #6-13

Vol. 151 - Intifada

X-Treme X-Men #31-35

Vol. 152 - Storm: The Arena

X-Treme X-Men #36-39

Vol. 153 - She Lies With Angels

Uncanny X-Men #437-441

Vol. 154 - Assault on Weapon Plus

New X-Men #142-145

Vol. 155 - Planet X

New X-Men #146-150

Vol. 156 - Prisoner of Fire

X-Treme X-Men #40-46

Vol. 157 - A New Beginning

[This the 2023 mini-series.]

X-Treme X-Men v3 #1-5

Vol. 158 - Here Comes Tomorrow

New X-Men #151-154

Vol. 159 - Bright New Mourning

Uncanny X-Men #442-443

New X-Men #155-156

Exiles #46-48 (optional)

Vol. 160 - Weapon X: Defection (optional)

Weapon X v2 #14-28

Continue to Part 10