Complete ‘Invincible’ Reading Order

As Robert Kirkman was making waves with the book that redefined both indie comics and zombie fiction, he was also taking a stab at invigorating superheroes away from the Big Two. Invincible is one of Image Comics’ longest running series, with many spin-offs and tie-ins with inter-universe characters. The story itself follows a young man who is first receiving his powers, the fallout and alienation as his father turns out to not be the man he thought he was, and as he grows to start a family of his own. It is also the story of alien invaders, superpowered villains, action and adventure with the kind of bright and colorful design that only Ryan Ottley and Robert Kirkman could give you. With the new Invincible Returns reboot coming up, we thought we would jump in a little deeper.

We are actually a little new to Invincible ourselves, and are trying to get caught up by reading trades. We have put together this complete Invincible reading order with a focus on trades, but we will include issue numbers as well. We are going to focus on the paperback smaller trades rather than the deluxe and compendium editions that are also available. We have also looked to the great website, The Centre Cannot Hold, for much of their history on its continuity and reading order. It should also be noted that you can get away with just reading the central Invincible series on its own without a problem, so this is more focused on how to integrate all of the tie-ins. The series is ongoing, so this is also current through July 2015, but will be updated as it progresses.

Invincible Presents. vol. 1: Atom Eve & Rex Splode: Reprints Invincible Presents: Atom Eve #1-2 (December 2007 – March 2008) & Invincible Presents: Atom Eve & Rex Splode #1-3 (October 2009 – December 2009).
Despite the publication dates of these stories, they are prequels to the main tale of Invincible.

Tech Jacket Volume 1: The Boy From Earth (v. 1): Reprints Tech Jacket #1-6 (November 2002 – April 2003)
Occurs slightly before Invincible: Family Matters, but can be read at any point prior to Invincible: A Different World.

Invincible (Book 1): Family Matters (v. 1): Reprints Invincible #1-4 (January 2003 – April 2003).

Invincible (Book 2): Eight is Enough: Reprints Invincible #5-8 (June 2003 – January 2004).

Invincible Volume 3: Perfect Strangers – New Printing (v. 3): Reprints Invincible #9-13 (February 2004 – May 2004).

Invincible Vol. 4: Head of the Class: Reprints Invincible #14-19 (June 2004 – November 2004) and Image Comics Summer Special (April 2004).; Savage Dragon: God of War; #1-4 (Very optional

Invincible (Book 5): The Facts of Life (v. 5): Reprints Invincible #0, 20-25 (April 2005; January 2005 – August 2005; backup story only from #25).
Contains a brief crossover with what appears to be the universe of Y: The Last Man.

Invincible (Book 6): A Different World (v. 6): Reprints Invincible #25-30 (August 2005 – April 2006; lead story only from #25).

Invincible TP Vol 7 Threes Company: Reprints Invincible #31-35 (April 2006 – September 2006) and The Pact #4 (January 2006).

Marvel Team-Up, vol. 3: League of Losers: Reprints Marvel Team-Up #14-18 (January 2006 – May 2006).
This volume features an Invincible story that occurs during Three’s Company. It also crosses over with the Marvel Universe.

Invincible Volume 8: My Favorite Martian (v. 8): Reprints Invincible #36-41 (October 2006 – May 2007)

Capes, vol.1: Punching the Clock: Reprints Capes #1-3 (September 2003 – November 2003) and back-up stories from Invincible #27-31 & #34-41 (November 2005 – April 2006 & July 2006 – May 2007).

Invincible (Book 9): Out Of This World (v. 9): Reprints Invincible #42-47 (June 2007 – December 2007)

Invincible Vol. 10: Who’s the Boss?: Reprints Invincible #48-53 (February 2008 – October 2008)

The Astounding Wolf-Man Volume 1 (v. 1): Reprints The Astounding Wolf-Man #1-7 (May 2007 – July 2008)

Invincible, Vol. 11: Happy Days: Reprints Invincible #54-59 (October 2008 – February 2009) and Astounding Wolf-Man #11 (December 2008).

The Astounding Wolf-Man Volume 2 (v. 2): Reprints Astounding Wolf-Man #8-12 (September 2008 – January 2009), Invincible #57 (December 2008) and Monster Pile-Up #1 (August 2008).

Invincible Volume 12: Still Standing: Reprints Invincible #60-65 (March 2009 – August 2009).

Astounding Wolf-Man Vol. 3: Reprints Astounding Wolf-Man #14-20 (April 2009 – December 2009).

Invincible Volume 13: Growing Pains: Reprints Invincible #66-70 (September 2009 – February 2010) and Invincible Returns #1 (April 2010).

Astounding Wolf-Man Volume 4: Reprints Astounding Wolf-Man #21-25 (February 2010 – November 2010).

Invincible Volume 14: The Viltrumite War TP: Reprints Invincible #71-78 (April 2010 – March 2011).

Guarding the Globe, vol.1: Under SiegeReprints Guarding the Globe #1-6 (August 2010 – January 2011).
Occurs in parallel with The Viltrumite War.

Guarding the Globe Volume 1 TP