So why read Milestone this way? These are some fantastic comics that benefit greatly from the interlocking continuity between them. Reading the individual series will not give you the satisfaction that the Milestone world was built to create. This is a superhero comic universe with a definitive beginning, middle, and end. That’s a rare thing. It’s well worth your time, unlike lots of other mid-90′s comic universe experiments. These stories were wildly progressive for their day, and shockingly, remain more relevant than ever today. Contained within is some of the late Dwayne McDuffie’s best work, along with other amazing creators like Denys Cowan and MD Bright.

These issues are presented in (mostly) chronological order, but also preserving internal story arcs. Reading this way, you will see certain subplots unfold in the background. The volumes are all of roughly equal size (~25-35 issues), with the exception of the Long Hot Summer, which can be cleanly split in half for a “prelude” volume. Alternatively, if you prefer ~50 issue omnibuses, just double up the volumes. The volumes are designed to have satisfying break points. No arbitrary cutoffs in the middle of a major crossover event. Important to note that besides the main Volumes 1 through 10, the Xombi series has been separated out into its own special “Volume X”, because its interaction with the rest of the Milestone universe is extremely minimal, and works much better as a standalone. Including Xombi within the main volumes would actively undermine the flow of both Xombi and the rest of the books, as they have almost nothing to do with each other. More details provided in the notes for that volume.

Without further ado, the Complete Milestone!

VOL.1  – THE BIG BANG
23 issues

Hardware 1-4
Blood Syndicate 1-4
Icon 1-3
Static 1-4
Hardware 5-9
Static 5-7

VOL.2 – SHADOW WAR
26 issues
NOTE: Issues with an asterisk end with a Shadow War issue. These issues are not normal crossover issues, but rather have a brief cliffhanger which set up the main crossover in Shadow Cabinet #0. Otherwise the issues deal with the individual series’ plotlines. Don’t make the mistake of putting all the Shadow War issues in order like a normal event. Just follow this guide.

Blood Syndicate 5-10* 
Icon 4-9*
Static 8
Hardware 10-11*
Xombi 0
Shadow Cabinet 0
Hardware 12
Icon 10
Blood Syndicate 11-12
Static 9-13

VOL.3 – WORLDS COLLIDE
25 issues
NOTE: Worlds Collide was a crossover between the Milestone universe (Dakotaverse) and the DC universe. As such, it includes several DC issues, namely from various Superman-related series of the time.

Icon 11-14
Hardware 13-16
Blood Syndicate 13-15
Superman MOS 35 
Hardware 17
Superboy 6
Icon 15
Steel 6
Blood Syndicate 16
WORLDS COLLIDE 1
Superboy 7
Hardware 18
Superman MOS 36
Icon 16
Steel 7
Blood Syndicate 17
Static 14

VOL.4 – THE MOTHERSHIP CONNECTION
24 issues

Shadow Cabinet 1-4
Static 15-20
Hardware 19
Icon 17-21
Hardware 20-21 (fill-in arc, optional)
Blood Syndicate 18-23 (18 is a fill-in, optional)

VOL.5 – RED DEATH
34 issues

Shadow Cabinet 5-10
Hardware 22-24 (optional fill-in)
Kobalt 1-6
Hardware 25
Deathwish 1-4
Hardware 26-28 (direct continuation of Deathwish mini)
Static 21-24
Shadow Cabinet 11-13
Blood Syndicate 24-27

VOL.6 – THE LONG HOT SUMMER
41 issues
NOTE 1: Long Hot Summer is a big crossover event between all the Milestone series. However, it is impossible to create a perfect chronology because the different books move at different speeds and focus on different events. This reading order provides the best possible reading experience by balancing preservation of small internal arcs with the larger ovararching story, avoiding big spoilers where possible. Still, keep in mind that as you change character perspectives, you may move slightly forward or backward in time.
NOTE 2: You may notice that the Xombi issues from this event are missing. That is very deliberate. See “Vol.X – Xombi” for details.

Static 25
Kobalt 7-14
Icon 22-27
My Name is Holocaust 1-5 (Long Hot Summer prelude)
NOTE: If you want to split the volume in two, here is the break point for a “prelude” volume
Shadow Cabinet 14
Blood Syndicate 28
Hardware 29
LONG HOT SUMMER 1
Icon 28
LONG HOT SUMMER 2
Static 26
Hardware 30-31
Blood Syndicate 29-30
Static 27
Shadow Cabinet 15-16
Icon 29
Kobalt 15-16
LONG HOT SUMMER 3
Hardware 32
Icon 30
Shadow Cabinet 17

VOL.X – XOMBI
~29 issues
NOTE: Xombi as a whole must be treated differently from the other Milestone books. It should not be read concurrently with the other books, as it has basically nothing to do with them. It very rarely interacts with the main Dakotaverse, and in fact doesn’t even take place in Dakota! Even when it does explicitly cross over (eg. Long Hot Summer), the crossover is actually very minimal, as the issues remain focused on Xombi’s plotline, rather than LHS. In fact, I highly advise against including Xombi’s LHS issues in the LHS volume, because they hurt the pacing significantly (and that event already has complicated pacing). Xombi really is its own thing, and thus deserves its own volume. Trust me on this. As for when to read it, I would recommend between Vol.6 and 7. But really, any time before Vol.8 is fine.

Xombi 1-11 
Xombi 0 (Published before issue 1, but takes place here. Up to you where to place it. You can also skip it if you just want it in the Shadow War volume.)
Shadow Cabinet 0 (directly continues from Xombi 0, but barely features Xombi himself, optional)
Xombi 12-21 (14-16 are Long Hot Summer issues, but are barely relevant to that story, and much more relevant to Xombi’s story)
Brave and the Bold (2009) 26 (Only include this here if you don’t want to make Vol.9, see “Vol.9 – The Brave & The Bold” for details)
Xombi v2 1-6

VOL.7 – THE WORLD NEEDS HEROES
35 issues

Superman & Batman Magazine 7 (Only the “Milestone for Kids” stories are relevant, featuring Static, Icon, & Hardware. Cut the rest out. These are optional, but fun.)
Icon 32-33 (both fill-ins that take place before 31, buying time for McDuffie to finish writing that arc)
Icon 31, 34-36 (34 continues directly from 31)
Icon 37 (fill-in)
Blood Syndicate 31-32 (fill-in)
Static 28-31
Hardware 33 (fill-in)
Hardware 34-38 (Rozum arc, Xombi makes an appearance)
Blood Syndicate 33-35
Static 32-35
Hardware 39-41
Heroes 1-6 (Direct followup to Shadow Cabinet, plus Static)

VOL.8 – MILESTONE FOREVER
34 issues
NOTE 1: Unfortunately, Milestone died a slow and painful death, and this volume is proof. There are many fill-in writers, dropped plot threads, unfinished arcs, and an overall decline in quality due to the editorial chaos of a dying business. Thankfully, against all odds, the Milestone Forever mini brings it together, giving this universe solid closure. After this point, the Milestone characters were merged into the DC universe, making random background appearances. If you want, you can stop with Vol.8 and ignore everything afterward.
NOTE 2: The “Static: Rebirth of the Cool” mini came out several years after the death of Milestone. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to place in continuity. Milestone Forever picks up right where the various old Milestone series left off, and it definitively ends the universe as a whole. Thus, Rebirth of the Cool cannot come before OR after Milestone Forever. But it is very much worth reading, and the events are canon to SOME unknown degree, so the best option is to simply leave it in publication order. Just do some mental gymnastics and it fits just fine.

Static 36-42
Hardware 42-44 
Wise Son 1-4 (prelude to following Icon arc)
Icon 38-42 
Static 43-45 (ends on a weird cliffhanger, sadly)
Hardware 45-50
Static: Rebirth of the Cool 1-4
9/11 Vol.2 (8-page Static story only, totally optional and of dubious canonicity due to how it incorporates elements from the Static Shock cartoon)
Milestone Forever 1-2 (finishes all dangling plot threads and merges Dakotaverse with DCU)

VOL.9 – THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD
15 issues
NOTE: This volume collects random post-Milestone Forever appearances of various Dakotaverse characters in the DC Universe. It is is entirely optional, but there’s some fun stuff here, and many of the original creators are involved. There are other minor Milestone character appearances you could include, such as other Titans issues with Static standing in the background for 2 panels, or god forbid, the New 52 rebooted Static Shock series, but most of those are dogshit and will only serve to detract from the experience in my opinion.

Justice League of America (2006 series) 27-34 (from McDuffie run, various Milestone characters appear)
Brave and the Bold (2009 series) 24-26 (DCU teamups ft. Static, Hardware, and Xombi)
Teen Titans (2003 series) 79-82 (Static and the Titans go to Dakota and fight Holocaust)
Static Shock Special (a tribute to Dwayne McDuffie by several Milestone creators)

VOL.10 - MILESTONE RETURNS
??? issues
NOTE: These comics are a brand new reboot of the Milestone world, and are still currently being published. Thus I do not know the correct reading order. I will update this when the project inevitably falls apart and ends.

And that’s it! Enjoy! And if you find any mistakes, PLEASE let me know!

Volume 1: (George Pérez)

Wonder Woman 1–13
Millennium 6–7
Wonder Woman 14–16
Adventures of Superman 440*
Action Comics 600**
Wonder Woman 17–22
Wonder Woman Annual 1
Wonder Woman 23–24

* Optional inclusion. The issue is about Superman headed to his date with WW, and ends exactly where AC 600 begins, mid-kiss.
** I left out everything after the Lois story.

Volume 2: (Pérez)

Wonder Woman 25–35
Wonder Woman Annual 2
Wonder Woman 36–57

Volume 3: (Pérez) *

War of the Gods 1
Wonder Woman 58
Superman: The Man of Steel 3
Hawkworld 15
Starman 38
L.E.G.I.O.N. 31
Hawk & Dove 28
Captain Atom 54–56
Doctor Fate 32
Flash 55
Wonder Woman 59
Doctor Fate 33
War of the Gods 2
Justice League Europe 31
Batman 470
Hawkworld 16
Animal Man 40
Captain Atom 57
Suicide Squad 58
Wonder Woman 60
War of the Gods 3
The Demon 17
New Titans 81
Wonder Woman 61
War of the Gods 4
Wonder Woman 62

* This is the entire War of the Gods crossover (in the correct order, safe to say). If you only want to include Perez’s work, just keep the WotG 4-part miniseries and the WW issues, move them to the end of Volume 2, and do a little reshuffling to give yourself equal sized volumes. The “essential” WotG issues are bolded if you don’t want to deal with every crossover issue.

Volume 4: (William Messner-Loebs)

Wonder Woman Special 1
Wonder Woman 63
Wonder Woman Annual 3*
Wonder Woman 64–77
Showcase ’93 11 (WW story)
Wonder Woman 78–84

*It’s an Eclipso annual, but a main character is introduced that will play a very large role for the rest of WML’s run.

Volume 5: (Messner-Loebs)

Wonder Woman 85–90
Wonder Woman 0
Wonder Woman 91–93
Hawkman 16
Wonder Woman 94–100
Artemis: Requiem 1–6
Legends of the DC Universe 4–5*
DC Retroactive: Wonder Woman – The ’90s

* This arc takes place in the early days of Diana in the USA, but it’s a reunion of WML and Mike Deodato on WW.

Volume 6: (John Byrne)

Wonder Woman Annual 4
Wonder Woman 101–104
Showcase ’96 2 (WW story)
Wonder Woman 105–112
Wonder Woman Annual 5
Wonder Woman 113–117
Wonder Woman Plus Jesse Quick
Wonder Woman Annual 6
Wonder Woman 118–125

Volume 7: (Byrne)

Genesis 1–3
Wonder Woman 126
Genesis 4
Wonder Woman 127–133
Adventure Comics 80-Page Giant 1**
Wonder Woman 134–136
Wonder Woman Secret Files & Origins 1
(GirlFrenzy) Wonder Woman: Donna Troy*
Wonder Woman 137–138
Wonder Woman 1,000,000
Legends of the DC Universe 30–32

* Came out around the time of WW #134, but I’ve moved it down a hair so it doesn’t feel so interruptive. It’s a completely standalone story, anyway.
** Just the “Darkness Fallen” story

Volume 8: (Eric Luke)

Wonder Woman Annual 7
Wonder Woman 139
Green Lantern 108
Wonder Woman 140–141
DC Universe Holiday Bash 3*
Wonder Woman 142
Superman 80-Page Giant 2**
Wonder Woman 143–146
Wonder Woman Secret Files & Origins 2
All-Star Comics 80-Page Giant 1***
Wonder Woman 147–163

* Just the “Heathen Ways” story
** Just the “Redemption” story
*** Just the “Way of the Amazon” story

Volume 9: (Phil Jimenez)

Wonder Woman 164–167
President Luthor Secret Files*
Wonder Woman 168–171
JLA: Our Worlds At War (optional, but helps the flow here on Diana’s end)
Wonder Woman 172
Wonder Woman: Our Worlds At War
Wonder Woman 173–177
Wonder Woman Secret Files & Origins 3
Wonder Woman 178–188
Wonder Woman 189–194**

* Just the “Power Couple” story
** Walt Simonson/Jerry Ordway arc

Volume 10: (Greg Rucka)

Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia
Wonder Woman 195–213

Volume 11: (Rucka)

The Flash 219
Wonder Woman 214–218
The OMAC Project 1–3
Superman 219
Action Comics 829
Adventures of Superman 642
Wonder Woman 219
The OMAC Project 4
Wonder Woman 220
The OMAC Project 5–6
Wonder Woman 221
Infinite Crisis 1*
Wonder Woman 222–223
Infinite Crisis 2**
Infinite Crisis 3***
Wonder Woman 224–226

*,**,*** Including these 3 IC issues is probably up to personal preference, but I think keeping #1 is a good idea at least. IC #2 only ties in for 3 pages, but the double-page spread is pretty sweet. IC #3 is the only issue that actually shows Themyscira disappearing from our reality, which I think is worth keeping in. Check out the issues yourself, and see what works best for you.

Kelley Puckett & Damion Scott’s Batgirl

Volume 1:

Batman 567
Detective Comics 734
Legends of the Dark Knight 120
Gotham City Secret Files & Origins – “Night Games”
Batgirl #1–11
Batgirl #13–20

Volume 2:

Batgirl 21–23
Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure
Batgirl 24
Guide to the DC Universe 2001–2002 Secret Files & Origins – “Rematch”
Batgirl 25–26
Batman 600
Batgirl 27–29
Batman 605
Batgirl Secret Files & Origins
Batgirl 30–37

———-
Notes:

Batgirl #12 is part of the Officer Down crossover.

I think Damion Scott would happily have done the art for the Gotham City Secret Files & Origins story, if he wasn’t trying to get the main series off the ground at the same time–I would have loved to see his Catwoman. It is still written by Puckett, though, so it’s part of the run.

Chuck Dixon did a fill-in arc for #30–32, but Scott stays on for art, and it’s a Tim/Steph/Cass/Connor team-up, which I am not going to pass up.

Volume 1:

Nightwing 1–8
Nightwing Annual 1
Nightwing 9–18
Nightwing ½
Nightwing 19–22
Nightwing 24–25
Nightwing 1,000,000
Detective 1,000,000
Nightwing 26–29
Batman Annual 23

Volume 2:

Nightwing 30–35
Nightwing Secret Files & Origins
Nightwing 36–45
Birds of Prey 20
Nightwing 46
Birds of Prey 21
Nightwing 47
Action Comics 771
Nightwing 48–51

Volume 3:

Nightwing 80-Page Giant
Nightwing 52
Nightwing 54–59
Nightwing: Our Worlds at War
Nightwing 60–64
Nightwing: The Target
Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure
Nightwing 65–67
Batman 600 (minus the backups)
Nightwing 68–69
Batman 605
Nightwing 70

————-
Notes:
Batman Annual 23 is part of the JLApe annual crossover, but it’s basically a extended (and pretty fun!) Nightwing one-shot. This is where Blockbuster meets and takes in Grimm the gorilla, which plays a key role in the “Hunt for Oracle” crossover soon to follow.

Nightwing 23 is part of the “Brotherhood of the Fist” crossover & Nightwing 53 is part of the “Officer Down” crossover.

Action Comics 771 is where Nightwing (with Supes’ help) takes down Torque’s Intergang suppliers. Superman/Nightwing team-ups are always fun, and Chuck writes them both perfectly here. This is actually one of the best Nightwing issues he wrote, IMO.

I left in the beginning and conclusion of the Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive storyline so the Nightwing comics during that time made sense. Batman 600 portrays a key relationship change between Dick and Bruce, and with Scott McDaniel back on art duties, it fits right in. I think it definitely needs to be included, even if you leave out The 10-Cent Adventure & Batman 605.

Nightwing Annual 1 chronologically takes place before the entire series, but putting it first would be weird, so I just stuck with publication order. It’s also by Devin Grayson, not Dixon, and is completely standalone, so it could be removed if you really wanted, but it’s a good story and Greg Land seems to actually be drawing people instead of tracing them at this point in his career.

Fall From Grace

Action Comics 689
Superman 80
Green Lantern 46, 48-51, 55
Zero Hour 4-0 (counts down from 4 to 0)
Green Lantern 0, 62-64
Green Lantern Quarterly 7 (just for the fun of it)

Death and Rebirth

Underworld Unleashed 1 (Mongul Death pages)
Final Night 1-3
Final Night: Parallax
Final Night 4
Green Lantern 81
Green Lantern 118
Day of Judgement 1-5
Green Lantern 119
Green Lantern Rebirth 1/2 (from Secret Files and Origins)
Green Lantern Rebirth 1-6
Green Lantern Secret Files and Origins 2005

Continues in Green Lanterns: The Geoff Johns Era

Orion 1-25
Showcase 94: The Joker (New Gods feature written by Simonson)
Secret Origins of Super Villains (Darkseid and Granny Goodness feature)
The New Gods Secret Files and Origins (Simonson pencilled portion)
Uncanny X-Men and New Teen Titans