Site Updates Archive

The Latest from Red Hulk and a Japanese Vampire Epic!

The brand new RED HULK #3 has Ross and the team trying to escape from Doctor Doom’s clutches!

TOMB OF DRACULA PRESENTS: THRONE OF BLOOD is a Japanese vampire tale, tied into FEAR ITSELF!

SECRET DEFENDERS #4: Punisher, Namorita, and Sleepwalker team up against Roadkill, a motorized murderer on the highways of the Midwest!

THOR (1998) #8 teams the God of Thunder and Spider-Man for a battle in Manhattan against the weirdest of the Dark Gods!  

CAPWOLF AND THE HOWLING COMMANDOS #4 wraps up this very strange epic!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #187, the team battles the Dire Wraiths, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #83, the Schemer versus the Kingpin, and DAREDEVIL #182, Matt can’t believe Elektra’s dead—with the famous shock ending!

PeterS

Mostly Avengers beginnings but also 1 non-Avengers ending

AVENGERS #25 starts a side-story of the One World Under Doom event as an injured Captain America (Sam Wilson) and the Impossible City's AI reduced to 1 android have to fight off alone an invasion by a Masters Of Evil group. (Not the same as the MOE fighting *with* the Avengers against Doom in OWUD#3, but also anti-Doom.)

T Vernon starts a mere 2-parter in AVENGERS #341 as Rage draws the Avengers into a conflict between the New Warriors and the racist Sons Of The Serpent stirred up by a new Hate-Monger.

WARLOCK (1998) #3-4 conclude the mini-series which pitches ex-Infinity Watchers Adam Warlock, Drax, Gamora and Pip The Troll plus Genis-Vell against Negative Zoners Annihilus, Blastaar and Syphonn. The good guys of course win.

My continued tracking of the Avengers Academy follows them into the backup slot in a split book mini-series called AVENGERS SOLO which is really a new Hawkeye series. Both stories start investigations.

--RobFJ

Doom Rules! and Two Very Strange Caps!

ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM #3 has the Avengers teaming up with the Masters of Evil to take down Doom!

Alternate Steve Rogers 1 is a gladiator with Devil Dinosaur as a sidekick in PLANET HULK #1, an oddball offering from SECRET WARS 3!

And Alternate Steve 2 needs a full moon shave as CAPWOLF AND THE HOWLING COMMANDOS #3 continues this equally strange epic!

THOR (1998) #7 pits Thor against all of Olympus—so where will Hercules stand?  

FEAR ITSELF in NEW MUTANTS (2009) #32 concludes with the young heroes being traumatized by their adventures in Hel (and Hell)!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #186, the classic “Lifedeath” story, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #82, featuring Electro, and DAREDEVIL #181, the even more classic death of Elektra!

PeterS

The past is ever with us, and the future too

2 One World Under Doom tie-ins this week:-

In IRON MAN #7 IM fights Dr Doom's emissary Victorious and Tony Stark persuades her to take a proposition to her master.

And SUPERIOR AVENGERS #1 introduces us to Doom's team of Avengers plucked supposedly from a future where his reign is a success. So why do they secretly want to kill him?

T Vernon reaches 1991's AVENGERS ANNUAL #20, part 1 of a 5-Annual crossover called the Subterranean Wars featuring nearly every underground villain the 60s could invent.

WARLOCK (1998) #1-2 reunites Adam Warlock with his (originally 70s) pals Drax, Gamora and Pip plus Genis-Vell and the animated corpse of his father Mar-Vell as GV's mother Elysius dies (again). And there's a Negative Zone villain in there somewhere as well.

--RobFJ

Presenting the Worst Spider-Man Villain!

But first….the brand new SAM WILSON CAPTAIN AMERICA #4 has Red Hulk joining Sam Cap and the rest in fighting back against the bad guys!

THOR (1998) #6! Thor versus Hercules! Plus Captain America! ‘Nuff said!

FEAR ITSELF continues in NEW MUTANTS (2009) #31 wherein the young heroes battle dream monsters in Hel!

In SECRET DEFENDERS #3, the ad hoc heroes face discover the demonic powers behind the crime spree! 

And we also add the last two Hulk-centered offerings of MARVEL TREASURY EDITION #26 and 27!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #185, Storm is depowered, and DAREDEVIL #180, DD versus a sinister sewer denizen!

And then there’s AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #81, where the ridiculous Aussie baddie Kangaroo debuts! Anthony again!

PeterS

The spotlight issue packs everything in.

The IRONHEART: BAD CHEMISTRY 1-shot is a continuation from a 2023 FCBD story featuring the alchemical villain Khem.

T Vernon has a 1-issue (fill-in) story for a change in AVENGERS #340 where Captain America, Wasp and Jarvis foil a nuclear blackmail plot.

This incarnation of the Ultimates ends in ULTIMATES² #9 & #100 where the Multiversal Eternity is saved from the 1st Firmament with the help of Galactus & his Eternity Watch, a Tiger God and some Ultimates from the old Ultimate Universe plus representatives of all the previous Multiverses. I give the last issue 5.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #662 concludes Spider-Man's stint as a substitute teacher at the Avengers Academy, spent mostly fighting Psycho-Man.

--RobFJ

Bad Day for Banner!

INCREDIBLE HULK #24 has Bruce Banner trapped by hungry werewolves! You will not believe what happens next!

CAPWOLF AND THE HOWLING COMMANDOS #2 in which the Howlers are in shock seeing Captain America become a werewolf! What’s with all the werewolves today?

THOR (1998) #5 pits the God of Thunder against…an obnoxious radio deejay??

In SECRET DEFENDERS #2, the ad hoc heroes face some cool new villains including Macabre, Dreadlox, and Decimator! 

FEAR ITSELF continues in NEW MUTANTS (2009) #30 wherein the young heroes are face-to-face with Mephisto!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #184, first appearance of Forge, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #80, the Chameleon returns, and DAREDEVIL #179, DD versus Elektra!

PeterS

Teams galore

In WEST COAST AVENGERS #6 the team clash with the regular Avengers over their recruit Ultron. It ends when Vision forces Iron Man to fire his secret weapon at the robot - the Wasp.

T Vernon ends the Collector/Brethren story in AVENGERS #339. We learn that the Brethren were bacteria created by the Celestials to wipe out civilisations they didn't like. And Collector was using them against Earth.

In ULTIMATES² #7 we catch up with the team in the Secret Empire event. And in #8 Galactus assembles his Eternity Watch.

And I'm following the Avengers Academy students into AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #661 where Spidey becomes teacher for a day until Psycho-Man turns up.

--RobFJ

A New Thor and a Gallery of First Issues!

IMMORTAL THOR #22 gives the reader a surprising choice in how to follow the heroes in their quest!

Last year’s oddest adventure was CAPWOLF AND THE HOWLING COMMANDOS #1 in which, well, Captain America becomes a werewolf!

In SECRET DEFENDERS #1, Dr. Strange assembles a team for action: Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Nomad, and Darkhawk—some of whom are a bit unfamiliar these days. 

Our FEAR ITSELF coverage resumes with NEW MUTANTS (2009) #29 wherein Mirage goes to Hel (one L) and her teammates go to Hell (two Ls)!

And we have two more Hulktastic editions of MARVEL TREASURY EDITION, #20 and 24!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #183, Colossus versus Juggernaut, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #78, introducing the Prowler, and DAREDEVIL #178, guest starring Luke Cage and Iron Fist!

PeterS

Who are the real villains?

THUNDERBOLTS: DOOMSTRIKE #2 gives Revolution a new anti-Doom mission, a new Ghost Rider ally, and a not-so-new foe.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #338 doesn't quite reveal the Brethren's secret but does reveal who the real enemy is.

KA-ZAR #10-11 finishes the story with Thanos uncharacteristically retreating, and a big change in Shanna.

And I've added AVENGERS ACADEMY #14.1 as a 2nd story in #14, as the students meet a self-made billionaire survivor of Norman Osborn's Dark Reign 'school' who may be the biggest villain yet.

--RobFJ

More Hulk Than You Can Handle!

Brand new THE INCREDIBLE HULK #23 shows us what happens when Charlie’s skin is stolen! It isn’t a pretty sight!

Also new is RED HULK #2, wherein Rulk leads an escape from Doctor Doom’s dungeon!

And we’ve added three offerings of MARVEL TREASURY EDITION, featuring Hulk and the Defenders—which also features Hulk!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #182, Rogue cracks up, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #77, Human Torch guest stars, and DAREDEVIL #177, Matt battles his demons!

PeterS

Kang, Dr Doom, Thanos, Dr Octopus ... and Thane Ector?

The current Avengers successfully beat Kang in their outer space casino heist in AVENGERS #24, but return to Earth to discover that Dr Doom's taken over.

Meanwhile in T Vernon's AVENGERS #337 a much earlier team of Avengers are beginning to learn what Thane Ector and his Brethren actually are.

In KA-ZAR #8-9 the battle in the Manhattan jungle heats up and giant-size Thanos finally takes a direct hand in the action (at least on the cover of #9).

And AVENGERS ACADEMY #14 features Dr Octopus' Sinister Six of Spider-Man villains with no Spidey in sight. And Rhino just can't keep away from my column.

--RobFJ

One World Still under Doom!

Brand new ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM #2 continues the year’s big crossover with a big surprise for the Fantastic Four!

Also new is SAM WILSON CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 wherein Sam Cap and the good guys break out of their brainwashing and set out to face the bad guys!

Valkyrie is in trouble in MARVEL TEAM-UP #35 as Human Torch and Doctor Strange try to rescue her from a cult plotting to sacrifice her!

THOR #4 has the God of Thunder team up with the Sub-Mariner to defeat an undersea villainess!

Fear Itself concludes in BLACK PANTHER; THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR #523 as T’Challa springs his trap on the Hate-Monger!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #181, the team fights a kaiju in Tokyo, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #76, the Lizard lives, and DAREDEVIL #176, first appearance of Stick!

PeterS

Mega-baddies Dr Doom, Thanos and Ultron aren't really in these issues

It's an Iron Man double bill new this week.

IRON MAN #6 starts Tony Stark's campaign against One World Under Doom, with guest star Black Widow ...

... while WEST COAST AVENGERS #5 has a totally different Iron Man armour and no Dr Doom in sight, but with Flag-Smasher, the Avengers and the usual pair of Ultrons.

My man IM plays a minor role in T Vernon's AVENGERS #336 as the Avengers don't fare well against the Brethren ...

... but he's totally absent from KA-ZAR (1997) #6-7 as Ka-Zar and Shanna fight the hirelings (including Rhino) of Parnival Plunder, with some kind of Thanos in the background.

--RobFJ

Hulk and Spidey! It’s Snow Joke!

MARVEL TREASURY EDITION #25 has Spider-Man and Hulk at the Winter Olympics, crashed by Mole Man and Kala!

Fear Itself continues in BLACK PANTHER; THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR #522 as Black Panther meets…the American Panther!

THOR #3: While Thor is still getting the hang of a new mortal identity, he must battle a sea serpent!

Another Defender visits MARVEL TEAM-UP #34 as Valkyrie joins Spidey on his hunt for the Meteor Man!

WIDOWMAKER #4 wraps up the miniseries with Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Mockingbird caught between an erupting volcano and the forces of the new Ronin!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #180, Storm’s mohawk takes center stage, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #75, Silvermane dies…for now, and DAREDEVIL #175, DD and Elektra versus the Hand!

PeterS

2 of these stories have no villains

WEST COAST AVENGERS #4 is a new issue left over from last week. The bad Ultron isn't in it but Tony Stark explains how the good Ultron joined the team. However Firestar's still not happy. (The cover kiss *does* happen but the relationship's not going anywhere.)

T Vernon's AVENGERS #335 is part 2 of The Collection Obsession as some Avengers fight the Brethren while others revive the Collector.

KA-ZAR ANNUAL '97 shows in flashback how the series' story started, and KA-ZAR (1997) #4 gives the 1st hint that Thanos is behind things.

In AVENGERS ACADEMY #13 the Academy hold a Prom Night with other teen heroes as guests. Prior relationships cause problems, but they and current ones get sorted out. No villains allowed.

--RobFJ

Fights, Team-Ups, and a Wedding!

The brand new IMMORTAL THOR #21 features a fight to the death between Thor and Skurge the Executioner! Guest appearance by Thanos!

Fear Itself arrives in BLACK PANTHER; THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR #521 with the advent of a new Hate-Monger in Hell’s Kitchen!

Hulk joins Power Man, Iron Fist, and Machine Man in MARVEL TEAM-UP ANNUAL #3 for some Mayhem in Middle America!

Another team-up in MARVEL TEAM-UP #33 joins Spidey with Nighthawk of the Defenders against the Meteor Man!

In WIDOWMAKER #3, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Mockingbird unmask the new Ronin and uncover his dastardly plan!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #179, the wedding of Kitty and Caliban, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #74, the secret of the petrified McGuffin revealed, and DAREDEVIL #174, first appearance of the Hand!

PeterS

Young superheroines make their mark here

IRON MAN #5 wraps up the Bardas/Iron Sentinel story in time for One World Under Doom, and Ironheart resolves the situation using Pym Particles. Well Henry Pym's not doing much with them lately.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #334 begins the 6-part Collection Obsession by introducing a new set of aliens called the Brethren who have their sights set on Earth. And the titular Collector makes a last-panel appearance.

In AMERICA#5-6 Chavez teams up with Young Avengers pal Kate Bishop/Hawkeye to save an old friend from Arcade, with help from her grandma Madrimar.

And in AVENGERS ACADEMY #12 the current students in their more powerful/experienced future bodies defeat the god-like Korvac, or at least Hazmat and Veil do.

--RobFJ

Rulk Versus Doom!

RED HULK #1 continues ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM with Thunderbolt Ross a prisoner of Doctor Doom—but not for long!

In WIDOWMAKER #2, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Mockingbird take on the Supreme Soviets!

Fear Itself in UNCANNY X-MEN #543 comes to an end as Juggernaut is finally defeated—but at a surprising cost!

THOR (1998) #2 has the God of Thunder gaining another human identity, EMT Jake Olson!

Our Defenders entry this week is VALKYRIE, the other one-shot, from 2010, her second solo adventure with a new identity and enemy!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #178, the X-Men versus the Brotherhood, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #73, Spidey meets Man Mountain Marko, and DAREDEVIL #173, DD tracks down a dangerous serial stalker!

PeterS

Dr Doom and time-travel don't mix

Thunderbolts: Doomstrike is another mini-series where Bucky Barnes as Revolution leads a varying troop, this time as part of One World Under Doom. In #1 he tries to disarm Dr Doom's nuclear arsenal and Doom nukes his hometown in retaliation.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #333 ends Dr Doom's occupation of Avengers Mansion with his plan succeeding but him failing to get what he wants.

In AMERICA#3-4 Ms Chavez time-travels to meet mohawk & leathers-era Storm and the X-Men, and then to team up with herself to capture the Entity from #1.

And AVENGERS ACADEMY #11 sees god-level Korvac defeat all the Avengers (again), and his wife Carina brings future versions of the Academy students back in time to face him.

--RobFJ

Bad News for Charlie and the Beginnings to Some Cool Series!

The brand new INCREDIBLE HULK #22 has Hulk’s sidekick learning the dark side of being a monster!

THOR (1998) #1 kicks off the God of Thunder’s second volume with the Avengers facing the Destroyer!

Our Defenders entry this week is VALKYRIE, the one-shot from 1997, a rare solo adventure for Brunnhilde and her tangled background!

WIDOWMAKER #1 is a spy story featuring Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Mockingbird!

UNCANNY X-MEN #542 and the combined X-Men still cannot stop the overpowered Juggernaut from approaching the city!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #177, with a deceptive cover, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #72, Spidey rocked by the Shocker, and DAREDEVIL #172, conclusion to the classic “Gangwar!”

PeterS

Lots of students here

AVENGERS #332 - as T Vernon described it to me 'One Mansion Under Doom'.

In AMERICA#1-2 America Chavez takes leave from the Ultimates to go to an interdimensional university. She makes friends there, and in WWII and in her Utopian Parallel home. Plus she punches Adolf Hitler, an Entity and some cyborgs.

AVENGERS ACADEMY GIANT-SIZE #1 has some of the students teaming up with some of the Young Allies in Arcade's Murderworld. Then in AVENGERS ACADEMY #10 there are guest lecturers Dr Strange and Protector, plus Speedball takes the students to the Stamford memorial on the site of his biggest mistake.

--RobFJ

One World Under Doom!

Marvel’s latest crossover begins with ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM #1! Doctor Doom is the new Sorcerer Supreme and he has now taken over the world! What’s a superhero to do? What indeed!

Also new: SAM WILSON CAPTAIN AMERICA #2 includes a fight with Red Hulk, as per the cover, but introduces us to a new Super-Soldier: the Shadow Soldier!

Also new: IMMORTAL THOR #20 heralds Thor’s final adventure as his death has been foretold (again)!

This week’s Hulk entry is MARVEL TEAM-UP ANNUAL #2, pitting Spidey against Hulk in a sinister plot by a rogue Soviet General to nuke all of North America!

TIGRA #4 wraps up the miniseries and Tigra’s last solo appearance to date (and our coverage of her solo career), with her finally solving her husband’s murder!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #176, honeymoon horror for Scott and Mads, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #71, Spidey versus Quicksilver, and DAREDEVIL #171, DD versus Kingpin!

PeterS

Grandmaster is in only 2 of these issues

AVENGERS #23 continues Black Cat and Kang's outer space heist with the addition of Gatecrasher's Technet.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #331 ends the interdimensional spat between Ngh and the Tetrarchs.

My Thanos-trek continues with CAPTAIN MARVEL (1999) #14 which explains what happened after last week's CM (1995) #5.
And COSMIC POWERS UNLIMITED #4 includes a Thanos/Warlock-related backup tale which ties up the Drax/Moondragon loose end from the Warlock & Infinity Watch series. (While the main story continues the plot from the Starmasters mini-series.)

And in NEW AVENGERS #13 Nick Fury uses the maguffin from his 1959 adventure to save Mockingbird's life now (and give her superpowers).

--RobFJ

Some Big Team-Ups!

No new comics this week so here are more classics!

The entire Defenders non-team joins Spidey in MARVEL TEAM-UP #111 to battle the Serpent Cult!

In MARVEL TEAM-UP #105, Hulk joins Power Man and Iron Fist to team-up with a team-up against a pack of crazy hillbillies!

For Fear Itself, UNCANNY X-MEN #541 brings the entire mutant hero world together to fight supernaturally empowered Juggernaut!

In TIGRA #3, Greer, now in the Police Academy, joins the secret band of crooked cops to discover her husband’s killer!

And as counterpoint, ASTONISHING THOR #5 wraps up the miniseries with case of sibling rivalry between brother planets Ego and Alter-Ego!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #174-175, Cyclops and Madeliene Pryor marry, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #70, the Kingpin does his thing, and DAREDEVIL #170, Kingpin joins DD’s book!

PeterS