There are also a few spin off volumes I’m including in this list.  I’m not a completist with the spin-off series, but there are a few arcs and runs I’m interested in, like PAD’s X-Factor.  I’m putting them in this map just to show where they would fit chronologically, but if someone is just interested in X-Men, those volumes can be skipped.

X-Force:  An X-Force to be Reckoned With (HC)
New Mutants #98-100
X-Force #1-3
Spider-Man #16
X-Force #4

I originally planned a bound volume starting with X-Force #1, but opted for the easier to obtain official hardcover after deciding to skip the Kings of Pain storyline.

X-Factor Visionaries:  Peter David Vol. 1 (TPB)
X-Factor #71-75

I got the first three TPBs for PAD’s run, so no need for me to bind.

X-Men:  Mutant Genesis 2.0 (HC)
X-Men #1-7

I originally bound these issues with the issues in the following volume, but redid it after I obtained the recolored version of X-Men #1-7.

Bishop’s Crossing
Uncanny X-Men #281-287
X-Men Annual #1 (diagram pages)

I also copied and included the pages from X-Men Annual #1 with the guide to the mansion and Blackbird.  I found the Shattershot story to be bad, and also a nightmare for squeezing into continuity without completely disrupting the flow of the main series, so I opted not to bind it.  This volume could be combined with the Dysfunctional volume below.

X-Factor Visionaries:  Peter David Vol. 2 (TPB)
Incredible Hulk #390-391
X-Factor #76
Incredible Hulk #392
X-Factor #77-78

Dysfunctional
X-Men #8
Ghost Rider #26
X-Men #9
Ghost Rider #27
Uncanny X-Men Annual #16 (b/u – Storm and Bishop)
Uncanny X-Men #288-290
X-Men #10-11
Uncanny X-Men #291-293
X-Men #12-13
Cable:  Blood and Metal #1-2

It would be possible to combine these last two volumes without having too many problems.  UXM #287 leads right into X-Men #8, where Bishop meets the X-Men for the first time, which is why X-Men #8 and the Ghost Rider crossover is before UXM #288.  Again, the UXM annual backup is something I made copies of.  I added the Cable miniseries here, because I did not want to start X-Cutioner’s Song with it, but had no where else to put it.  And two issues is small for a bound volume.

X-Factor Visionaries:  Peter David Vol. 3 (TPB)
X-Factor Annual #7 (backups only)
X-Factor #79-83

X-Cutioner’s Song
Uncanny X-Men #294
X-Factor #84
X-Men #14
X-Force #16
Uncanny X-Men #295
X-Factor #85
X-Men #15
X-Force #17
Uncanny X-Men #296
X-Factor #86
X-Men #16
X-Force #18
Uncanny X-Men #297
Stryfe’s Strike File

To those thinking of scanning the trading cards that came with these issues, Stryfe’s Strike File includes all of the text and art from those cards, and more.

Legacies
X-Men #17-19
Uncanny X-Men #298-300
Uncanny X-Men Annual #17 (b/u)
X-Men Unlimited #1
X-Men #20-23
Uncanny X-Men Annual #17
Uncanny X-Men #301-303

Cable:  Future Destiny
Cable #1-5

X-Factor:  PAD 4
X-Factor #87-91
X-Factor Annual #8

I am not a fan of how the fourth TPB in this series has the three X-Factor X-Cutioner’s Song issues without any other context.  Plus, this volume will include the first few non-PAD issues and wrap up the plots going into Fatal Attractions.

Fatal Attractions
X-Factor #92
X-Force #25
X-Men #24
Uncanny X-Men #304
X-Men Unlimited #2
Uncanny X-Men #305-306
X-Men #25
Wolverine #75
Excalibur #71
Avengers #368
X-Men #26
Avengers West Coast #101
Uncanny X-Men #307
Avengers #369

X-Men #24, XMU #2, and UXM #305-306 are all in their proper places after much analyzing.  X-Men #24 is listed as a “prelude to UXM #304″.  XMU #2 and UXM #305 help set up plot points in X-Men #25, and UXM #306 clearly states it’s between UXM #304 and X-Men #25.  I added Bloodties to the end of Fatal Attractions to decrease the number of volumes, and it is the cap to the 30th anniversary celebration.

The Ties that Bind
X-Men Annual #2
X-Men #27
Cable #6-8
X-Men Unlimited #3
Uncanny X-Men #308
X-Men #28
Uncanny X-Men #309
X-Men #29
Uncanny X-Men Annual #18
Uncanny X-Men #310
X-Men #30
X-Men Unlimited #4

It’s interesting how the volumes were kind of easy to come up with titles for, because there are a lot of common themes contained throughout the issues within.  Obviously, the title of the book is lifted from X-Men #30, but even that was unintentional.  But we start the book with the Psylocke/Revanche connection getting a little screen time, then the Cable/Cyclops mystery is finally solved.  We go through all of the wedding prep, and then end with the issue detailing the connection between Mystique and Nightcrawler.  The Uncanny annual was difficult to place.  It came out in 1994, but because Jean Grey makes an appearance, it has to take place before the wedding.  After the wedding, she goes into the future in the Cyclops and Phoenix mini-series, returns in X-Men #35, and then immediately jumps into Phalanx Covenant, by which time Jubilee leaves the X-Men to join Generation X.

Life and Consequences
Uncanny X-Men #311-314
X-Men #31-34
Uncanny X-Men #315
X-Men Unlimited #5
X-Men Annual #3

I put the Unlimited issue and annual at the end of the volume so it wouldn’t slow the pace down.  It’s easier to skip stuff when it’s at the end.

Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix
Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #1-4
X-Men #35
Askani’Son #1-4
X-Men: Books of Askani

XMU #6 is a Cyclops/Phoenix/Havok/Polaris story in the Savage Land.  It could go in this book, as it sort of fits the theme of this book, and doesn’t cause too many continuity issues.

Phalanx Covenant
Excalibur #78-81
Cable #15
Uncanny X-Men #316
X-Men #36
Uncanny X-Men #317
X-Men #37
X-Factor #106
X-Force #38
Excalibur #82
Wolverine #85
Cable #16

My original version of this book started with the proper start of the storyline in UXM #316, and also included an epilogue section of UXM #318, X-Men #38, and Generation X #1.  I later added the Douglock Chronicles arc from Excalibur #78-80, and then it’s sort of epilogue in #81 to lead into the crossover.  Cable #15 is placed here because it’s needed as backstory for #17-19 in the next volume.  If I had thought of it earlier, I might have placed the issue in the “Life and Consequences” volume.  The epilogue issues were pushed out so everything in this volume is non-glossy paper, and could more easily accept a glued binding.

Legion Quest
Uncanny X-Men #318
Cable #17-19
X-Men #38
X-Factor #108-109
Uncanny X-Men #319
X-Men #39
Uncanny X-Men #320
X-Men #40
Uncanny X-Men #321
Cable #20 (up to Domino/Cable kiss)
Wolverine #90
X-Men #41
Cable #20 (rest of issue)

The X-Factor issues set up Legion’s return.  Wolverine #90 is referenced a lot post-AOA because of his fight with Sabretooth.  That issue can be problematic for binding because the majority of the issue features gatefold pages.  The True Believers $1 reprint of the issue shrank the art down to print it without the gatefold, so would probably be an excellent option for binding.  Unfortunately, I didn’t discover that until after I bound the book.   X-Men Unlimited #7-9 got dropped from this map because they don’t really fit with the main books.

The mapping continues:
Age of Apocalypse
X-Men 1995-2001
2001-2008
Messiah Era