Welcome to the Continuity Guide, here to help you find your way through the Marvel Universe!
COGU gives you the big (and small) Marvel Universe story, from the best starting point of the modern era and beyond. It follows all the important characters and events and gives you all important details. The guide is extremely focused on continuity, which means that the timeline and the development of story and characters feel like it’s in the correct order while you’re reading. The guide is also made to be as reader friendly as possible with direct links to Marvel Unlimited.
This is what COGU includes:
All essential issues for the big events.
All essential issues for the main characters (story, development etc.)
All the arcs that are generally considered the best/greats.
All the issues needed to complete started threads and all issues needed for connectivity.
COGU is constructed with these priorities in mind:
The continuity as determined by appearances, costumes, storylines or as directly stated in the comics.
Following release dates as close as possible as long as its not breaking continuity.
Events with Tie-Ins are best read when dividing titles to single issues as little as possible.
Origin stories and flashback issues are included at release dates.
This is the best way to use COGU:
Get your account at Marvel Unlimited to get access to all the Marvel comics.
Click on the “Prologue” poster below, that’s the recommended starting point.
Read the guidelines and move on to the first title.
Check out how many issues you should read and click on the link.
Enjoy the reading! When done, head back to the guide and go to the next title.
- - - - - - - - - -
If you don’t want to read every issue in this guide, check out the Icon System before you begin.
Got any feedback? Notice any continuity errors? Please let me know - Head to the Comment Section.
Want to support the site? Share it :)
Read more about COGU and the latest updates at the bottom of this page.
SILVER age
LATEST UPDATES
Constructing chapter 21: King in Black
- APRIL 2024 -
Thanks to Jason in the comments for noticing that Marvel Team-Up (2004) should be moved to after Breakout. I read through it again and found a new placement for it in the House of M chapter - where it had previously been, not sure what prompt me to move it to an earlier point truth be told, anyways - it’s fixed :) (2024-04-17)
I’m now a good bit beyond the halfway mark of the King in Black chapter, and have solved the hardest part of the continuity puzzle. It’s interesting, I had heard that the titles get more stand-alone at this point, but that’s not true at all. All of them seem to be interconnected pretty much, making the puzzle very challenging, luckily I like that sorta thing. So the chapter is getting there! I’m about to read the event Empyre very soon and then I will do an issue count - might be that the chapter will change name and end after that event instead, but we’ll see. Cheers! (2024-04-11)
- MARCH 2024 -
I have streamlined certain parts of the website, like removing the “continuity dilemmas” as it is something I won’t really have time to commit to fully. I have also removed “buy me a coffee” since they didn’t like the unofficial fan site aspect. They told me via e-mail that people that had donated would get their money back so I hope that’s the case (the money never left their service). The thought of donations was a sweet idea to support the site, but it was never a thing I was going for so it doesn’t matter much. I know I got a lot of images from Marvel on the site, but I just use small banners and have text over them so I hope that isn’t an issue - it’s purely aesthetics :) (2024-03-18)
Moved the Young Avengers Special (2005) #1 to its right position after Young Avengers (2005) #8 thanks to Alec in the comments (2023-03-17)
Added Deadpool vs. Carnage to the Original Sin chapter as it is referenced in the Absolute Carnage event later (2024-03-16)
Hi y’all! I’ve been reading very slowly during February but I’m at it again now and chapter 21 is coming on nicely. I decided to delete my the COGU Instagram, because I wasn’t using it other than the algorithm just taking time from my reading. All the best! (2024-03-11)
- JANUARY 2024 -
Having the trial period of the forum going out, I decided not to pay the substantial fee at this point as the community didn’t really hit of. It was worth a try, and I’ll try again in the future :) (2024-01-31)
Finished the first chapter of the Silver Age - chapter 1: Assemble! (2024-01-17)
Added all the chapters to a continuity topic in the forum, where we can fine-tune the continuity together even better from now on. If there’s anything to fix, we’ll find it (2024-01-17)
Added a forum to the site :) Join the new community here (2024-01-16)
Started a poll about where ya’ll are at in the guide :) (2024-01-15)
I’m almost done with the first chapter of the Silver Age, which is simply named “Assemble”, which takes you from the origin of the Fantastic Four in 1961 to Sue and Reeds wedding in 1965. After this I will head back to King in Black to finish that chapter. And then back to the Silver Age for Kree/Skrull War (2024-01-13)
While continuing building chapter 21, I have now also begun the ambitious undertaking of going back to the very beginning of Marvel superhero comics. This will be a slow process band my recommended starting point will always be the prologue and Planet X. “From the beginning” is a journey you should only take casually, I think (2024-01-01)
- DECEMBER 2023 -
Added the Amazon links to chapter 5: World War Hulk. This will be my focus now until all chapters have them (2023-12-24)
Finished chapter 20: War of the Realms! (2023-12-23)
Just finished the puzzle of the War of the Realms event and all the tie-ins, the chapter will be done sooner than later now :) (2023-12-09)
Moved New X-Men #28-32, in the Civil War event, a few slots to right before Black Panther #18 to correct continuity, after a discovery by Tyler in the comments (2023-12-08)
Moved Daredevil “The Murdock Papers” to after the crossover “The Other” in the House of M chapter because of a continuity error, discovered by OfftheTimeline in the comments (2023-12-04)
Moved Runaways #7-12 to after the House of M event because of a continuity error, discovered by OfftheTimeline (2023-12-05)
Re-ordered the Disassembled crossover after a suggestion by Nate in the comments (2023-12-05)
- OCTOBER 2023 -
Focusing a lot on reading and building the next chapter “War of the Realms” now, so you know what’s going on:) (2023-10-31)
Went back to a Prologue chapter to get away from all the scrolling past that content when you’ve reached Planet X (2023-10-16)
Adding Amazon links throughout the guide, purpose is to help those that want to read physical copies. The Amazon links are so-called associate links, so if you would make a purchase, a small percentage would support the site at no extra cost for you. The guide is not really built after the trades, but I want the Amazon links to be as good as possible - if you got any feedback, please let me know in the comments what you think :) (2023-10-14)
Chapter 19: Infinity Wars is complete! As always, some adjustments might occur during the construction of the next (2023-10-09)
Changed icon on Uncanny X-Men (Austen’s run), X-Treme X-Men, Excalibur, and X-Men (until Carey takes over) to the Mutant icon, as they aren’t as central to the main X-Men story (2023-10-07)
Just got to add better links and checkboxes to Chapter 19: Infinity Wars - and it’ll be done! This was the toughest puzzle so far (2023-10-07)
- SEPTEMBER 2023 -
Put in time to build the foundation for the War of the Realms chapter and what will probably be called the Empyre chapter (maybe) (2023-09)
Minor changes in the late chapters as I’m building Infinity Wars to adjust for continuity purposes (2023-09)
Added Ryan North’s Squirrel Girl to the guide (2023-09-01)
- AUGUST 2023 -
Added character lists to the icons, to give a more clear view of whom belongs where. Still not done updating all the icons placed in the guide yet (2023-08-23)
Implementing a revised icon system, with enhanced “Event” icon, “Symbiotes” icon and some minor tweaks. It will take a minute to get it all into the guide! (2023-08-20)
Ch. 18 Secret Empire finished! (2023-08-17)
Removed Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #36, as it is not a part of the Marvel continuity - it’s a special 9/11 issue, that you can read if you want anyways just read ahead to it from #35. I have pondered removing it before and decided to do it now after the case being made in the comments. This means #37 has been moved slightly lower in the guide to 1 of January 2001 (2023-08-10)
- JULY 2023 -
Added Marvels to the prologue. Removed #1-2 of the History of the Marvel Universe title, as it’s better discovering the world building history in the comics where it’s told instead - this came out of great feedback from a reader. If you follow the guide and think of something that might be worth exploring, don’t hesitate leaving a comment (2023-07-28)
Added a bunch of comics after great suggestions by readers; The Punisher (2000), earlier starting point for Uncanny X-Men, Truth (2003), Marvel 1602, Sentinel Squad (2006), Apocalypse vs. Dracula (2006), Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Spectacular Spider-Man issues, more Punisher War Journal and some single issues here and there. I really appreciate this kind of feedback (2023-07-22)
Removed the Prologue page and integrated it to the Planet X page instead, aiming to add more guidance to the guide during the coming month (2023-07-10)
- JUNE 2023 -
Added Daredevil (1998) #1-15 to Planet X (2023-07-03)
Moved Daredevil #61-66 due to a one panel cameo that sets it before Disassembled (2023-07-01)
Finished chapter 17: Inhumans vs. X-Men! (2023-06-23)
- MAY 2023 -
Finally done with revising all chapters, including better links and checkboxes. It just took five months! (2023-05-27)
Included the HoM tie-in from Thunderbolts, which meant moving #7-9 closer to the event. This was after a request, and it was a good one (2023-05-04)
- APRIL 2023 -
Added checkboxes and progress bars all the way to and including Infinity (2023-04-25)
Added X-Treme X-Men X-Posé and the Annual after a readers request (2023-04)
Started to add drop downs to arcs that’ll give preambles, recaps and a sense of how essential it is, look for arrows by the checkboxes. It’ll be a slow process adding these throughout the guide (2023-04)
Finished updating Fear Itself, not working on Avengers vs. X-Men (2023-04)
- MARCH 2023 -
Added checkboxes and a progress bar to Disassembled (2023-03-14)
Added checkboxes and a progress bar to the Prologue and Planet X (2023-03-13)
Added X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land to Planet X, it’s briefly mentioned in X-Treme X-Men #9, so… (2023-03-11)
Went back to Planet X and fixed a continuity error with X-Treme X-Men (2023-03-11)
Finished Siege and working on Fear Itself, adding a bunch (2023-03)
- FEBRUARY 2023 -
Dark Reign finished, now working on Siege (2023-02-19)
Chapter 1-6 are now fully revisited and revised, next up Dark Reign (2023-02-06)
Switched all links in the Secret Invasion chapter to better ones (2023-02-06)
Shifted many of the arcs in the Secret Invasion and Dark Reign chapters to follow release dates better (2023-02-05)
- JANUARY 2023 -
Finished adding titles to all the arcs in the Disassembled chapter (2023-01-20)
Adding titles to each of the arcs in the guide, based on the trade paperbacks, finished with Planet X (2023-01-19)
Disassembled is now fully revised (2023-01-17)
Planet X is now fully revised (2023-01-17)
Begun a process where I’ll add more issues/arcs/titles that are good/great but not essential throughout the guide (2023-01-16)
ABOUT THE AMAZON LINKS
The Amazon links on this site are commission links, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Which means if you make a purchase after clicking one of these links, a small percentage would support this site, with no extra cost for you. Amazon has nothing to do with this site, but it’s like an ad-system they have, which is pretty sweet.
I began adding the Amazon links in October 2023.
Got any feedback or questions about this? Head over to the comment section.
ABOUT THE COOKIES
This site is built on Squarespace, and like most websites on the internet, this site uses cookies. But just a bit. No adds or stuff like that. If you have agreed to cookies on the site and not use private mode, the site will “remember you”, like if you clicked a link that link will most likely remain the “clicked link color”. That can help you in some manner to see what you’ve already read. The cookies also provides me with visitor stats, that is:
An overview of traffic; how many visits (not very accurate though as I use minimal amount of cookies) and pageviews.
Geography by visits; like “1600 from United States, 500 from United Kingdom” and so on (not more in depth than that).
Traffic sources; shows how many that find the site through search engines, direkt links or social media.
Device type; shows how many that visits with mobile, desktop or tablet.
I get no stats about an individual.
Apart from that there’s the functional and required cookies. Read more about that further down below. That’s it. I only use this to see if my site actually got some visitors or if I’m paying and doing the work for no one but myself. And this is not anything I can turn off, it’s Squarespace’s minimal cookie setting.
More details (copied from Squarespace):
This website uses cookies and similar technologies, which are small files or pieces of text that download to a device when a visitor accesses a website or app. For information about viewing the cookies dropped on your device, visit The cookies Squarespace uses.
These functional and required cookies are always used, which allow Squarespace, our hosting platform, to securely serve this website to you.
These analytics and performance cookies are used on this website, as described below, only when you acknowledge our cookie banner. This website uses analytics and performance cookies to view site traffic, activity, and other data.
If you’re not comfortable with the site using cookies for this, just decline when you see the message at the bottom of the screen.
Got any feedback or questions about this? Head over to the comment section.