Thread:Jet Becker/@comment-4750091-20130920181711

If you're like me, you're a stickler for universal continuity. I love the way I can pick up a book from a few years back and find references to what else is going on in the 616 universe at the time. Whether it's a throwaway comment to some obscure plot from a less popular title, or a random character's new costume being drawn, I find this attention to detail fascinating and highly effective in creating a layered and complex universe, rich with history and depth that make reading so many different titles worthwhile.

I've been reading a lot of the different titles that have been popping up since the introduction of Marvel NOW!, and, frankly, I'm finding it a little hard to keep up with where different story arcs in different books fit in with each other, universally speaking.

I know this sort of thing is tricky and time consuming, and a lot of the time it can be dependent on subjectivity or what-have-you, but does anyone have at least a rough idea of when the different (major titles, at least) story arcs take place?

For example: does Ragnarok Now take place before or after Infinity? What about all the stuff happening in Secret Avengers? Does that get resolved before RN and Infinity take place? What about Cable and X-Force's clashes with the Uncanny Avengers? And Mystique -- she seems to be popping up everywhere in the main X-titles; any idea as to whether she's working with Kilgore before she's trying to take over Madripoor?

With upwards of eight Avengers titles (I'm sure there's more that I've forgotten about!), to say nothing of the numerous X-titles floating about, it's never been more challenging (and worthwhile?) to try and establish a universal continuity.

I'm looking for anyone's input/assistance in undertaking this challenge.

And, hey, if you think a universal reading order is too tough, I'd be happy for a related book continuity (i.e. -- Avengers titles or X-titles).

Any help would be much appreciated!

Cheers

TL;DR -- I'm happy to hear and discuss people's thoughts on what they think a plausible universal reading order might be since Marvel NOW! was introduced. 