The
Grandmaster enters into a contest with an unknown opponent, determining to use Earth’s heroes as the pawns. Suddenly, the
Avengers vanish from their training session at the mansion; the
Soviet Super-Soldiers disappear while in confrontation with the Red Ghost; the
Fantastic Four are whisked away from a dinner in their honor. All over the world heroes vanish: from America,
Spider-Man, the X-Men, Hulk, Daredevil…other countries’ heroes as well:
Captain Britain, Japan’s
Sunfire,
Defensor from Argentina, the Israeli
Sabra and the
Arabian Knight, China’s
Collective Man…all to find themselves in a giant sport arena. After puzzled attempts to make sense of their situation, the Grandmaster and the Unknown appear before them. The two immortals explain that they are here to play a game: each being will choose a team of twelve champions to compete for the four quarters of the
Golden Globe of Life. The prize: if Grandmaster’s team wins, his brother, the
Collector, will be restored to life; if not, he joins his brother in death. The immortals choose their teams from among the human heroes assembled, disqualifying gods, immortals, aliens, androids, etc. The Golden Globe of Life is quartered and its pieces hidden around the world. Earth is placed in a time lock for the duration of the contest and should any heroes fail to return, the Earth will remain in suspended animation for all eternity. Let the games begin!
Grandmaster’s Team: Captain America, Talisman, Darkstar, Wolverine, Captain Britain, Sasquatch, She-Hulk, Daredevil, Thing, Defensor, Le Peregrine, Blitzkreig.
Unknown’s Team: Iron Man, Shamrock, Iron Fist, Storm, Arabian Knight, Angel, Sabra, Invisible Girl, Sunfire, Black Panther, Collective Man, Vanguard.