Marvel’s Secret Invasion Comics Reading Order
Marvel’s Secret Invasion event was one of the most groundbreaking and game-changing comic book events of the 21st century. Spanning multiple series and titles, Secret Invasion explored the idea that the shape-shifting Skrulls had been infiltrating Earth’s population for years, posing as superheroes and political leaders.
The story had massive implications for the Marvel Universe, and it’s no wonder that fans have been eagerly devouring the comics ever since. But with so many issues and tie-ins, it can be hard to know where to start. In this article, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive reading order for Marvel’s Secret Invasion, so you can experience the full scope of this incredible event.
Secret Invasion reading order – at a glance
Like most grand comic-book events, Secret Invasion was a large-scale event that gathered numerous issues and necessary tie-ins to give the story more depth. With that said, the suggested Secret Invasion reading order is as follows:
- New Avengers (2004) #31
- The Mighty Avengers (2007) #7
- New Avengers (2004) #34
- New Avengers: Illuminati (2006) #5
- Secret Invasion (2008) #1
- The Mighty Avengers (2007) #12
- New Avengers (2004) #40
- Secret Invasion (2008) #2
- The Mighty Avengers (2007) #13
- Captain Britain and MI: 13 (2008) #1
- Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four (2008) #1
- The Mighty Avengers (2007) #14
- Incredible Hercules (2008) #117
- New Avengers (2004) #41
- Secret Invasion (2008) #3
- Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust? (2008) #1
- Captain Britain and MI: 13 (2008) #2
- Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four (2008) #2
- Incredible Hercules (2008) #118
- Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers (2008) #1
- Avengers: The Initiative (2007) #14
- The Mighty Avengers (2007) #15
- Ms. Marvel (2006) #28
- New Avengers (2004) #42
- Secret Invasion: Front Line (2008) #1
- Captain Britain and MI: 13 (2008) #3
- Secret Invasion (2008) #4
- The Mighty Avengers (2007) #16
- X-Factor (2005) #33
- Incredible Hercules (2008) #119
- New Warriors (2007) #14
- Avengers: The Initiative (2007) #15
- She-Hulk (2005) #31
- New Avengers (2004) #43
- Thunderbolts (2006) #122
- Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four (2008) #3
- Ms. Marvel (2006) #29
- Black Panther (2005) #39
- Secret Invasion: Front Line (2008) #2
- Secret Invasion: X-Men (2008) #1
- Secret Invasion: Inhumans (2008) #1
- Secret Invasion: Thor (2008) #1
- Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers (2008) #2
- Captain Britain and MI: 13 (2008) #4
- Secret Invasion (2008) #5
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2008) #4
- X-Factor (2005) #34
- Incredible Hercules (2008) #120
- Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man (2008) #1
- New Warriors (2007) #15
- Nova (2007) #16
- Avengers: The Initiative (2007) #16
- The Mighty Avengers (2007) #17
- She-Hulk (2005) #32
- Black Panther (2005) #40
- New Avengers (2004) #44
- Thunderbolts (2006) #123
- Secret Invasion: Front Line (2008) #3
- Deadpool (2008) #1
- Secret Invasion: Inhumans (2008) #2
- Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers (2008) #3
- Secret Invasion (2008) #6
- Ms. Marvel (2006) #30
- Secret Invasion: Thor (2008) #2
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2008) #5
- The Mighty Avengers (2007) #18
- Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2007) #33
- Deadpool (2008) #2
- Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man (2008) #2
- Nova (2007) #17
- Avengers: The Initiative (2007) #17
- She-Hulk (2005) #33
- Black Panther (2005) #41
- New Avengers (2004) #45
- Thunderbolts (2006) #124
- Deadpool (2008) #3
- Secret Invasion: Inhumans (2008) #3
- Secret Invasion: Front Line (2008) #4
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2008) #6
- The Mighty Avengers (2007) #19
- Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2007) #34
- Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man (2008) #3
- Secret Invasion (2008) #7
- New Avengers (2004) #46
- Thunderbolts (2006) #125
- Secret Invasion: X-Men (2008) #3
- Secret Invasion: Thor (2008) #3
- Nova (2007) #18
- Avengers: The Initiative (2007) #18
- Punisher War Journal (2006) #25
- Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2007) #35
- Secret Invasion: X-Men (2008) #4
- Secret Invasion: Inhumans (2008) #4
- Secret Invasion: Front Line (2008) #5
- Secret Invasion (2008) #8
- New Avengers (2004) #47
- Secret Invasion: Dark Reign (2008) #1
- Avengers: The Initiative (2007) #19
- Mighty Avengers (2007) #20
- Secret Invasion: War of Kings One-Shot (2009) #1
- Secret Invasion (2022) #1
- Secret Invasion (2022) #2
- Secret Invasion (2022) #3
- Secret Invasion (2022) #4
- Secret Invasion (2022) #5
Secret Invasion reading order: main series and tie-in issues fully explained
Now that we’ve covered the main chronological reading order for the complete event, it’s time to explore how everything connects to one cohesive unit. In the rest of this post, we will explain what Secret Invasion is all about and its numerous tie-in issues.
1. Secret Invasion #1-8
The main Secret Invasion series follows the story of the Skrulls, who have infiltrated the highest levels of Earth’s governments, superhero teams, and secret organizations. The series explores the themes of paranoia, distrust, and betrayal as the heroes try to figure out who they can trust and how to stop the Skrulls’ invasion.
2. New Avengers #31, #40-47
New Avengers #40-47 comprehensively explains how the Secret Invasion came about. It also reveals the identity of one of the first heroes that got replaced by Skrulls. It’s an overall exciting intro to this massive event.
3. The Mighty Avengers #7, #12-20
Spider-Woman shows Iron Man the Elektra Skrull corpse to gain his trust and inform him that the Skrulls may be planning another invasion. Despite her teammates’ suspicions of Iron Man being a Skrull, Spider-Woman trusts him, and he asks her to join his Mighty Avengers. The team welcomes Spider-Woman and later responds to a new threat in New York City caused by the Venom Virus. Lindy Reynolds also asks Tony to help power down the Sentry, and the team assembles for battle.
4. Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust? (2008) #1
A one-shot story featuring Captain Marvel and the Beast, both accusing each other of being Skrulls.
5. Captain Britain and MI: 13 #1-4
During the Skrull Invasion, Britain is attacked by Super Skrulls, leading British superheroes to unite under MI:13 to defend their country. The Skrulls block access to the Otherworld through the Siege Perilous portal and instead use another portal to enter and gather magical items to create a Super Skrull.
With all the magic gone from Avalon, Captain Britain is resurrected by Merlin and defeats the magic-powered Super-Skrull, while dark magic beings claim Great Britain, and a new team of superheroes is formed to face future threats.
6. Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #1-3
The Invisible Woman gives a speech in Vancouver and then returns to her hotel room to find a Skrull disguised as her husband. The Skrull traps her in an invisible force field, revealing that the Earth will soon fall. Later, a woman posing as the Invisible Woman enters the Baxter Building and transports it to the Negative Zone. The Thing takes the children to safety while Johnny confronts “Sue” and learns that the Skrulls are invading the Earth by infiltrating every superhero team. Johnny realizes that “Sue” is actually the Skrull spy, and she reveals that Reed and Sue have been captured. The Skrull spy is then revealed to be Johnny’s ex-wife, Lyja.
7. Incredible Hercules #116-120
In California, Ikaris and Thena, members of the Eternals, mistakenly identify Hercules as their brainwashed comrade Gilgamesh. Despite Cho and Athena’s attempt to reason with them, Ikarus engages Hercules in battle. Makkari interrupts the fight and confesses his error, revealing that Hercules is not Gilgamesh. Athena then gathers the Council Elite of the Eternals and presents evidence of the true enemy: a severed Skrull head, revealing that the Skrulls have already taken over the Earth.
8. Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #1-3
The Skrull Queen Veranke assigned Commander Chrell to train her army and eliminate the prince. The Runaways returned from a trip with a new member, Klara Prast, and were exploring New York City when they spotted a Skrull invasion force.
Xavin used her powers to protect her friends while the Young Avengers joined the fight. Chrell saw footage of the incident and thought he saw the elusive Dorrek, while Xavin tried to explain that the Skrulls had already won the war and they needed to run away. In the end, Xavin and Teddy were followed and taken down by three Skrulls.
9. Avengers: The Initiative #14-19
Yellowjacket, a Skrull spy, survives a crash using the powers of the Vision and is amazed that everyone believes his lie about shrinking to subatomic size. He then uses the powers of Black Panther and Quicksilver to escape death again. Crusader, a rogue Skrull, discovers Yellowjacket’s true identity through his meal-time choice of strawberries and pickles.
Meanwhile, 3-D Man receives a package containing a suit from his predecessors and uses its golden goggles to reveal that Magnitude, a member of his new Initiative team, is a Skrull. 3-D Man kills Magnitude in self-defense, and Devil-Slayer teleports him back to Camp Hammond to warn others of the Skrull threat.
10. Ms. Marvel vol. 2, #28-30
Ms. Marvel returns from the Savage Land to find Manhattan under attack by an army of Super-Skrulls. She fights them off, taking out numerous Super-Skrulls single-handedly until she is ambushed by one disguised as World War Hulk. She defeats it by flying it into space, where it suffocates. Carol then returns to the battlefield and continues to fight, saving civilians in the process.
However, the Skrulls disguise themselves as humans, causing Carol to hesitate and allowing them to attack her and kill a civilian. To reveal the disguised Skrulls, Carol hits the crowd with photon blasts and defeats the remaining shapeshifters.
11. Secret Invasion: Front Line #1-5
Secret Invasion: Front Line follows the events of the Secret Invasion storyline from the perspective of the reporters and civilians caught in the middle of the Skrull invasion of Earth. The series focuses on the actions of several journalists, their efforts to uncover the truth behind the invasion, and the experiences of ordinary people affected by the war between the Skrulls and Earth’s heroes. The series explores themes of media manipulation, fear, and journalism’s role in a crisis.
12. X-Factor vol. 3, #33-34
X-Factor Secret Invasion tie-in introduces Darwin and Longshot into the thick of it.
13. New Warriors vol. 4, #14-15
Donyell Taylor questions whether his brother, Night Thrasher, who died in Stamford, was actually a Skrull and sets out to find the truth. Meanwhile, his investigation leads him to cross paths with his former teammates, who are also investigating the same case.
14. She-Hulk vol. 2, #31-33
She-Hulk and Jazinda are trying to stop the Secret Invasion by capturing the Skrull Talisman, Nogor. They are attacked by Jazinda’s father, the Super-Skrull, who wants to kill his daughter for breaking the Skrull law. She-Hulk and Super-Skrull engage in a mid-air battle, with a commercial airliner caught in the middle. Super-Skrull reveals that Jazinda failed her mission to steal the Sy-Torak Gem from the Kree and brought shame to him, which is why he wants her dead. Jazinda’s powers are tied to the gem, making it difficult for her to part with it.
15. Thunderbolts #122-125
Captain Marvel attacks Thunderbolts Mountain, causing uncertainty about who the heroes and villains are among the team. Additionally, an unexpected visitor arrives, putting the Thunderbolts at risk of falling apart from within, and Norman Osborn must work to keep his team together.
16. Black Panther vol. 4, #39-41
The Skrulls reach the Wakanda border to find their sleeper agents’ heads on display. Despite this, they proceed with their attack, resulting in close combat and the Black Panther facing off against a Super-Skrull. Meanwhile, the Skrull commander realizes that not all of their sleeper agents were captured.
17. Secret Invasion: X-Men #1-4
The Skrull invasion fleet takes control of San Francisco, but the X-Men arrive to fight back. However, the Skrulls activate a psychic barrier that cripples the X-Men’s psychics, and the team also faces the threat of the Skrulls’ Super-Skrulls and a small sphere that attempts to convert Kurt to the Skrull religion.
18. Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1-4
The story starts with Tony Stark showing Medusa and Crystal a Skrull wearing Black Bolt’s costume. Medusa demands to know the whereabouts of her husband, but Stark reveals that he was fooled. Medusa takes the corpse and declares finding Black Bolt their top priority before leaving with Lockjaw. On Attilan, the Genetics Council discusses increasing security for the Terrigen Mists, but Medusa interrupts by throwing the Skrull corpse on the floor and demands they strike back at the Skrulls.
Skrull sleeper agents start attacking the Inhumans, and Medusa falls into a trap when she mistakes a Skrull with Gorgon’s legs and her hair for her husband. Meanwhile, a Skrull scientist plans to use Black Bolt’s voice as a devastating weapon.
19. Secret Invasion: Thor #1-3
The Skrulls, a shape-shifting alien race, are planning to attack two different locations: Asgard and the small town of Broxton, Oklahoma. This presents a challenge for Thor, as he must defend both places at the same time. To do so, he enlists the help of Beta Ray Bill, one of his oldest and closest allies. As they battle the Skrulls, Thor, and Beta Ray Bill discover that the alien race has some unexpected allies: the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim.
This complicates their mission even further, as they must now deal with two enemy forces at once. Despite the odds, they fight on, determined to protect their homes and the people they care about.
20. Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, #4-6
Superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy join the fight against Super powered Skrulls.
21. Secret Invasion: The Amazing Spider-Man #1-3
New York City is overrun by Skrulls who have disguised themselves as the city’s inhabitants, creating chaos and confusion. Spider-Man is nowhere to be found, leaving Jackpot to take on the Skrulls, including one who is posing as Spider-Man. Jackpot must now use her abilities to fight the Super-Skrulls and prevent them from causing further damage.
22. Nova vol. 4, #16-18
Nova has been called to help a planet that is in danger of being consumed by a powerful force of nature called the Big G. The challenge is to figure out how to stop the Big G from eating the planet while also trying to save as many refugees as possible. In addition, Nova must decide whether to reach out to his former ally, who has become a feared Herald. Regardless of what Nova decides, he and the reader will face the terrifying entity known as Harrow.
23. Deadpool (Vol. 4) #1-3
Deadpool managed to piece things together and uncovered a large-scale invisible threat coming in the form of Skrulls, who managed to infiltrate almost every pore of society. Does he have what it takes to put a stop to them?
24. Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. #33-35
The Avengers are fighting Skrulls in the Savage Land, and Iron Man’s armor gets infected with an alien force that affects all of his technology on Earth. Iron Man sends a pre-recorded message to Jim Rhodes, who he trusts, and orders him to be Earth’s last line of defense against the Skrull invasion.
Rhodes, also known as War Machine, fights a Skrull delivery ship and a Super-Skrull with the powers of Nova, Drax, Moondragon, and Comet Man. He then heads to a top-secret satellite designed by Tony Stark, where he meets Suzi Endo and interfaces his armor with the satellite’s command center to transform it into a massive battlesuit. Rhodey warns the Skrull Empire to “Bring it.”
25. Punisher War Journal #24-25
Frank Castle’s family was murdered by mobsters, which led him to become the Punisher and vow to rid the world of crime by any means necessary. Now, years later, the Punisher is still on his mission to take down criminals and bring justice to those who have been wronged. However, the world he lives in has changed, and supervillains have become a common threat. Despite this, the Punisher remains undeterred, and he sets his sights on taking down these enhanced criminals with his brutal and uncompromising methods.
26. Secret Invasion: Dark Reign #1
Emma Frost is visited by Thunderbolt agents who take her to see Norman Osborn in New York. She meets Doctor Doom, Namor, The Hood, and Loki at Avengers Tower. Osborn offers them something they want in return for their loyalty and warns them of the consequences if they turn on him. He promises to stop the government from rounding up mutants for Emma, extradite Doom to Latveria, give immunity to The Hood and his gang, and promise Asgard to Loki. After the meeting, Doom and Namor plan to wait for Osborn to self-destruct before dividing the planet between themselves.
27. Secret Invasion: War of Kings #1
In the aftermath of the Secret Invasion, the Inhumans are still recovering from the Skrulls’ attack on their people. Seeking revenge, the Inhumans prepare for a final battle against the Skrulls. They are determined to avenge the harm and damage done to their community. As the battle looms, tensions run high, and the stakes are raised as the Inhumans fight to protect their people and their way of life.
28. Secret Invasion (2022) #1-5
The Secret Invasion five-issue mini-series is more of a spiritual successor to the main storyline. In the story, Maria Hill, a high-ranking member of S.H.I.E.L.D., is alerted to the possible presence of Skrulls, a shape-shifting alien race that has previously infiltrated and attacked Earth. In response, she activates a defensive plan to protect the planet from any potential threats.
Meanwhile, Nick Fury, a veteran S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, is sent to Iowa to investigate a sighting of Skrulls. However, he discovers something unexpected and is thrown into a dangerous situation. The story suggests that Earth is once again in danger from the Skrulls and that previous methods of defense may not be sufficient this time.
