Avengers: Time Runs Out Reading Order

Avengers issues are from the Vol. 4 series
New Avengers issues are from the Vol. 3 series
Captain America and the Mighty Avengers issues are from the Vol. 1 series
Avengers World issues are from the Vol. 1 series.

Overview

Avengers: Time Runs Out is a major Avengers storyline centered around a countdown to the final days of the Marvel Universe. Part of this deals with a confrontation between the Avengers and the Illuminati, who have been working toward a battle for a while before this point. The other part deals with the decay of the Multiverse, the main plot point from the New Avengers Vol. 3 series. All of this occurs exactly eight months after the most recent issues of the Avengers and New Avengers comics.

The majority of Time Runs Out takes place in alternating issues of Avengers and New Avengers. Readers can understand the entire event by just reading these issues. However, a few tie-in issues from other comics help expand upon what is happening here.

Tie-Ins

1. This issue simply shows the events of New Avengers #28 from a different angle. It gives a bit more perspective on the situation and shows some interactions that would not be seen otherwise.
2. These issues technically take place in the eight month time gap immediately before Time Runs Out, meaning they, chronologically, occur before any of the Main Event issues. However, we suggest reading them after the Main Event. These Tie-In issues spoil some aspects of the Main Event and generally work better if they are read after it. In addition, these Tie-In issues were not published until most of the Time Runs Out issues were already published.

Before Reading

Avengers: Time Runs Out is the cumulation of plotlines extending through the entirety of the Avengers Vol. 5 and New Avengers Vol. 3 series. Technically, the event takes place eight months after the events of Avengers #34, collected in Avengers Vol. 6: Infinite Avengers (Review), and New Avengers #23, collected in New Avengers Vol. 4: A Perfect World (Review).

However, as both major and minor plot points from throughout these comics come into play during Time Runs Out, we suggest reading all of Avengers Vol. 5 (issues #1-34) and New Avengers Vol. 3 (issues #1-23) in order to fully understand what is going on here. 

After Reading

Avengers: Time Runs Out serves as a direct prelude to Secret Wars (Review). The events of Secret Wars take place immediately after the events of Time Runs Out.

All Marvel Event Reading Orders