I have been collecting a couple issues so that I can start in on what is the most massive and well regarded cross-over events in recent Marvel memory.  Civil War tells the story of the State’s desire to make those with superpowers register.  Tony Stark(Ironman) generally supports this effort, mainly because he is not superpowered, and Captain America is avidly against this kind of State intrusion in people’s lives.  This split the Marvel universe right down the middle and created an incredible change that we are still feeling.  I am going to be putting down the complete Marvel Civil War reading order, which is one of the more complex and lengthy of the recent Marvel crossover events.  I am going to be using the reading order put together by Comic Book Herald, who are always great and thoughtful when compiling their reading orders.  This is not the final word on what order to read these comics in and different reading orders make some small changes, so if you disagree with parts of this order, please comment and let us know!

The Road to Civil War

• Amazing Spider-Man #529 – #530
• New Avengers: Illuminati
• Fantastic Four #536 – #537
• Amazing Spider-Man #531
• Civil War: Opening Shot #1

Stamford Bomb

• Civil War #1
• She-Hulk #8
• Wolverine #42
• X-Factor #8
• New Avengers #21
• Black Panther #17
• Civil War: Front Line #1
• Amazing Spider-Man #532

The Act Passes / Sides Are Chosen

• Civil War #2
• Amazing Spider-Man #533
• Civil War: Front Line #2
• She-Hulk #9
• Dark Avengers/Thunderbolts #103
• New Avengers #22
• Blade #4
• Sensational Spider-Man #28
• X-Factor #9
• Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #11 – #13

Opening Shots

• Civil War: Front Line #3
• Heroes For Hire #1
• Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways #1 – #4
• Dark Avengers/Thunderbolts #104 – #105
• Cable & Deadpool #30
• Fantastic Four #538
• New X-Men #28 – #32
  • Not direct tie-ins but connect to Storm’s events in Black Panther #18
• Black Panther #18
• Civil War: Frontline #4
• Daredevil #87
  • Another indirect tie-in that explains Daredevil’s appearances during Civil War
• Civil War: Choosing Sides #1
• Black Panther #19
• Iron Man #13
• Black Panther #20
• Civil War: Front Line #5
• Sensational Spider-Man #29 – #31

War

• Civil War #3
• Civil War #4
• Civil War: Front Line #6
• Cable & Deadpool #31 – #32
• Wolverine #43 – #45
• Captain America #22 – #23
• Civil War: Front Line #7
• Amazing Spider-Man #534
• Fantastic Four #539
• Black Panther #21 – #22
• Civil War: X-Men #1 – #4
• Heroes For Hire #2 – #3
• Ms. Marvel #6 – #8
• New Avengers #23 – #24
• Civil War: The Return
• Captain America/Iron Man: Casualties of War
• Wolverine #46 – #47
• Black Panther #23
• Captain America #24
• Civil War: Front Line #8

Introspection

• Wolverine #48
• Fantastic Four #540
• Amazing Spider-Man #535
• Civil War #5
• Punisher War Journal #1
• Fantastic Four #541
• Civil War: War Crimes #1
• Civil War: Front Line #9
• Moon Knight #7 – #10
• Fantastic Four #542
• Amazing Spider-Man #536
• Iron Man #14
• Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #14 – #16
• Blade #5
• Sensational Spider-Man #32 – #34
• Winter Solider: Winter Kills #1

Final Battle

• Amazing Spider-Man #537
• Black Panther #24
• Punisher War Journal #2
• Civil War #6
• Punisher War Journal #3
• New Avengers #25
• Civil War: Front Line #10
• Civil War #7
• Black Panther #25

Conclusion

• Amazing Spider-Man #538 – #539
• Fantastic Four #543
• Civil War: Front Line #11
• Ghost Rider #8
  • Very loose tie-in so passable if you want to get to the real meat below.
• Captain America #25
• Civil War: Fallen Son #1 – #5
• Civil War: The Initiative #1
• Civil War: The Confession

Civil War Trade Reading Timeline

• The Road to Civil War
• Civil War
• Civil War: Front Line
• The Amazing Spider-Man: Civil War
• Civil War: Peter Parker, Sensational Spider-Man
• New Avengers, Vol 5: Civil War
• Captain America: Civil War
• Wolverine: Civil War
• Ms. Marvel: Civil War
• Fantastic Four: Civil War
• Punisher War Journal: Civil War
• Civil War: Thunderbolts
• Civil War: X-Men Universe
• Civil War: X-Men
• Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways
• Civil War: War Crimes
• Black Panther: Civil War
• Iron Man: Civil War

The single issue reading order is collected with using the Marvel Unlimited app in mind.  I personally am not going to be reading it as a complete order.  I am going to be reading the main miniseries, the New Avengers tie-ins, and then possibly Iron Man and a couple of others.  Front Line was recommended, but after reading the first issue I was not overly impressed.  It generally received good reviews, so I am willing to say that it is just not my personal taste.