Awwwards

Site Updates Archive!

Previous updates to the Marvel Heroes Library site are listed below. For the latest update, visit the Home page.

The Marvel Heroes Library debuted on May 2, 2017. It is the merger of former superhero sites The Hulk Library, The Captain America Library, The Iron Man Library, and The Mighty Thor Library.
Former sites were online as early as 1997. More info about those sites here


Battles large and small and a dose of paranoia

March 25, 2024

New IRON MAN #16 is a big battle between Tony Stark in his Sentinel Buster machine and the Iron Sentinel army plus Feilong in his War Machine Sentinel.

T Vernon starts a new 5-part story in AVENGERS #286 which begins with a simple fight against the Thinker's Awesome Android and what seems to be the Fixer.

HAWKEYE #11 concludes Kate Bishop's clash with Madame Masque in a clone of her body.
Then the Secret Empire event ends with GENERATIONS: HAWKEYE & HAWKEYE where she's sent back in time to help Clint Barton/Hawkeye fight a bunch of villains in his early days as an Avenger.

In NEW AVENGERS #32 the team get paranoid over which of them might be Skrulls.

--RobFJ



A She-Hulk Special Day! Plus Black Widow! And Mary Jane!

March 21, 2024

For a sparkling special day, we have THE SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK a/k/a MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL #18 wherein John Byrne pits Jen against SHIELD!

We also have BLACK WIDOW (2004) #1 with Natasha discovering that someone is out there killing Black Widows and they are coming for her next!

DEFENDERS #81 sees the male members of the non-team caught up in a revolution in the crazy Tunnelworld!

THOR #487 has Malekith unleashing some very nasty monsters on the Earth! With a hair-curling cover!

TALES TO ASTONISH #77! Hulk battles the Executioner and his army in the 25th Century! Subby battles devastating undersea Earth tremors!

Plus, Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro has a trio of web-slinging delights in the three-part Rhino thriller AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #41-43 with the center issue being #42, introducing the spectacular Mary Jane Watson!

PeterS



Almost completely complete

March 18, 2024

Last week's new THANOS #4 completes the mini-series. The Mad Titan traps Death in a (not Infinity) Stone and leaves with a promise to return later in the year.

T Vernon completes the Olympus story in AVENGERS #285 where Zeus apologises for being a concerned parent and Apollo heals everybody.

HAWKEYE #9 ends the fight club mini-plot. Then in #10 Madame Masque kidnaps Kate Bishop and occupies a clone of her body. Her friends *do* notice the difference.

NEW AVENGERS #31 completes the Revolution arc where the team rescue Maya Lopez, and Elektra turns out to be a Skrull.

--RobFJ



The Debut of Romita Plus Three Sightings of the Hulk!

March 14, 2024

Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro reaches another early Spidey milestone: the first John Romita issues, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #39-40 unmasking the Green Goblin, and ASM ANNUAL #3 with Spidey wanting to join the Avengers so they send him after the Hulk!

The brand-new IMMORTAL THOR #8 has the God of Thunder confronting his mother Gaia--and it isn't happy!

TALES TO ASTONISH #76! Hulk battles the Executioner in the 25th Century! Coronation Day goes bad for Subby!

In SECRET AVENGERS (Vol 2) #11, Sarah Garza, newly minted superhero, is thrown into combat with no training and faces some dire situations!

AMAZING ADVENTURES #8 closes out Black Widow’s first solo series though the Inhumans will continue for a bit! Thor appears with the Inhumans this ish!

DEFENDERS #80 sees the non-team’s female non-members suborned into helping the Big Bad while the guys (including the Hulk!) are still stuck in Tunnelworld!

PeterS



Avengers 3, Hawkeyes 3

March 11, 2024

In new AVENGERS #11 Edwin Jarvis and the Impossible City help fight off an attack by the Mad Thinker and his Man-Slayers.

The Avengers continue to lose against the Olympian gods in T Vernon's #284 but Prometheus is helping them behind the scenes.

The Hawkeye series has a background plot about Kate Bishop investigating her shady father. #7-8 kick this up a notch as she learns that he has a clone body with a superpower courtesy of Madame Masque.

NEW AVENGERS #27 tells us via e-mail what's been happening to Maya Lopez in Japan. Then a new team of Avengers (including Hawkeye disguised as Ronin) go to her rescue.

--RobFJ



A Fond Farwell to Steve Ditko Plus a New Captain America!

March 7, 2024

Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro reaches an early Spidey milestone: the final Steve Ditko issues, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #37 introducing Mendel Stromm and Norman Osborn, and #38 featuring a guy named Joe!

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA #7 ushers us into a strange fantasy world to set up the next story arcs!

AMAZING ADVENTURES #7! Black Bolt becomes an urban terrorist! Black Widow fights a bad guy called the Astrologer!

THOR #486 pits the Thunder God against Malekith’s mighty henchman, Kurse!

DEFENDERS #79 sees the original Defenders stuck in Tunnelworld while the female members of the non-team are captives of the hideous Mandrill!

TALES TO ASTONISH #75! Hulk gains the Ultimate Machine! Subby is in trouble with King Neptune!

PeterS



3 Hawkeye-based issues this week.

March 4, 2024

New this week IRON MAN #15 continues the Fall Of X tie-in as Tony Stark unveils his new armour plus a large Sentinel Buster oversuit/weapon. (Ignore War Machine on the cover.)

T Vernon's AVENGERS #283 pits the team against even more Olympian gods. Some are reasonable but Zeus is intractable (just like Odin).

HAWKEYE #5-6 co-stars Jessica Jones with Kate Bishop against a Terrigen-transformed woman/dragon.

I continue to fill in missing issues of New Avengers and related titles with NEW AVENGERS #26 which has the reborn Clint Barton/Hawkeye searching for Scarlet Witch who killed and resurrected him.

--RobFJ



New Thor plus Some Classic Ditko Spider-Man!

February 28, 2024

The new IMMORTAL THOR #7 continues Thor’s encounter with an authentic Norse myth and some very modern bad guys.

DEFENDERS #78 sees the original Defenders reunite to save the very strange place called Tunnelworld!

TALES TO ASTONISH #74! Subby battles the Faceless Ones! The Leader gets his comeuppance!

In SECRET AVENGERS (VOL. 2) #10, a new Inhuman is born—and immediately recruited for SHIELD in this Infinity tie-in!

AMAZING ADVENTURES #6! Black Bolt has amnesia! Black Widow faces baddies who want to hijack the city’s blood supply (no, not Dracula)! 

Plus, Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro has a trio of web-slinging goodies counting down Steve Ditko’s tenure: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #34 with Kraven the Hunter, ASM #35 with Molten Man, and ASM #36 introducing the Looter (Who?)!

PeterS



Namor and Noh-Varr tie for the most apps prize

February 26, 2024

New GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY ANNUAL completes the Grootfall story and the current series. All the Guardians (including Marvel Boy) are restored to life/normality. Except Mantis still probably has multiple personalities. And Drax dies heroically (again) (but he *was* only a clone of the original).

T Vernon's AVENGERS #282 continues to pit the team (and Sub-Mariner) against the Olympian gods.

In HAWKEYE #3-4 the Hawkeye Investigations team rescue Mikka and deal with Aggregate's Take Back Control cult.

NEW AVENGERS: ILLUMINATI #4 is the only issue of the series we didn't have on the database. The team (including Sub-Mariner) bitch about their other halves and try to persuade Marvel Boy to play nice.

--RobFJ



The Latest Monster-of-the-Month!

February 22, 2024

The brand-new INCREDIBLE HULK #9 introduces us to a scary old lady who is the latest monster encountered by the hapless Hulk, this time in New Orleans!

AMAZING ADVENTURES #5! Black Bolt locks up his brother Maximus for good! Black Widow stars in a bitter Christmas classic! 

In SECRET AVENGERS (VOL. 2) #9, dirty tricks with mind control abound! And this is in SHIELD!

DEFENDERS #77 wraps up the Omega the Unknown saga! ‘Mega, we hardly knew ye!

Last time, Thor fought a mind-controlled War Machine! In THOR #485, the same scenario plays out but with the Thing!

Plus, Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro has a trio of web-slinging goodies: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #31-33, the complete Master Planner story arc, an all-time classic!

PeterS



Nothing new here

February 19, 2024

In last week's THANOS #3 we learn how Death became human.

And TIMELESS 2022 was an important intro to the current Avengers series so I thought it a good idea to go back and add it to our database.

In AVENGERS #281 T Vernon starts a new epic against the Olympian gods.

And Kate Bishop takes over the 5th Hawkeye series solo with #1-2 as an LA PI.

--RobFJ



More Cool Old Stuff!

February 15, 2024

AMAZING ADVENTURES #4! The Inhumans face the Mandarin and win! Black Widow caught between the gangsters and the radicals! 

In SECRET AVENGERS (VOL 2) #8, a disguised Mockingbird is trapped on A.I.M. Island and the good guys are not planning to rescue her!

DEFENDERS #76 lets us know what happens in the Omega the Unknown saga after his series ended! Spoiler: He’s still dead!

TALES TO ASTONISH #73! Hulk heads to another planet for the first time! Sub-Mariner battles the Demon of the Diamonds!

In THOR #484, Thor battles…War Machine!

Plus, Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro has a trio of web-slinging goodies: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #29 with Scorpion, ASM #30 featuring a boring burglar (they can’t all be classics), and ASM ANNUAL #2, teaming Spidey with Dr. Strange for the first time!

PeterS



No more Great Lakes Avengers (as yet)

February 12, 2024

New AVENGERS #10 wraps up the Twilight Court episode with Myrddin stopping Kang helping the team, and Nightmare admitting why he was really involved.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #280 concentrates on gravely injured Edwin Jarvis' years of selfless duty to the team, which he vows to continue.

GREAT LAKES AVENGERS #7 ends Dr Nod's conflict with Big Bertha and the rest of the team. It also ends the series ...

... but the GLA have since had 1 more starring role in AVENGERS UNLIMITED INFINITY COMIC #26 where they stop Rhino stealing a huge diamond.

I now return to chronicling the adventures of Kate Bishop/Hawkeye in the A YEAR OF MARVELS: OCTOBER 1-shot where she and 3 other girls survive a vampire's castle.

--RobFJ



A Brand-New Cap and an Ending for Omega the Unknown!

February 8, 2024

The new CAPTAIN AMERICA #6 concludes its first story arc with Cap defeating the demon-controlled Nazis in two eras!

OMEGA THE UNKNOWN #10 wraps up the offbeat series by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes that needed a couple of Defenders issues to make it make sense!

TALES TO ASTONISH #72! Hulk goes to Rome, courtesy of the Leader! Lady Dorma is fed to the Faceless Ones!

In THOR #483, Thor fights a powered-up Loki—over Don Blake!

AMAZING ADVENTURES #3! The Inhumans face the Mandarin and lose! Black Widow tries to be socially relevant—plus gangsters! 

Plus, Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro has a trio of web-slinging goodies: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #26-27, a two-parter pitting Green Goblin against the Crime-Master and ASM #28, with Peter Parker graduating high school and meeting the Molten Man!

PeterS



2 endings and 2 spotlights

February 5, 2024

The new AVENGERS INC #5 ends the series by installing Vic Sage/Ultron-12 as the latest Avenger Mark Twelve, while Henry Pym and his Lethal Legion continue their hunt for the evil Ultron.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #279 spotlights the team's new chairperson Captain Marvel as the new lineup settles in.

Another series ends in SILVER SURFER REBIRTH: LEGACY #5 as Eve Warlock saves Surfer from Mephisto and takes the Serpent back to the Garden Of Eden (maybe).

In GREAT LAKES AVENGERS #5-6 the spotlight's on Big Bertha as the team take on a new adversary Dr Nod and the Bod Squad. And Doorman/Deathurge gains a ghost sidekick.

--RobFJ



A Brand-New Hulk and a Thor Milestone!

February 1, 2024

THE INCREDIBLE HULK #8 teams the Big Green Guy with World War 2-era Ghost Rider against the gruesome Jinni Dagaal, a monster from the Dawn of Man!

THOR #482 is the 400th issue of Thor’s comic so it’s a larger issue as Thor and the Godpack head into space to fight the New Immortals! Too bad about that cover!

AMAZING ADVENTURES #2! The Inhumans attack the Fantastic Four! Black Widow is caught between activists and the mob! 

SECRET AVENGERS (Vol 2) #7 shows us the dark fallout of the heroes’ raid on A.I.M Island!

In OMEGA THE UNKNOWN #9, a new, nastier Foolkiller arrives in town!

Plus, Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro has a pair of web-slinging goodies: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #24, the classic “Spider-Man Goes Mad!” and ASM #25, with the first appearance of the JJJ-controlled Spider-Slayer!

PeterS



From Grootspace to the Great Lakes via Hydrobase and the future

January 29, 2024

Here's last week's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #10 which ends the series, but the story of Grootspace will be concluded in an Annual next month.

T Vernon returns to the original Avengers series with #278 which initiates another lineup change, with Atlantean villain Tyrak on Hydrobase as a distraction.

In SILVER SURFER REBIRTH: LEGACY #3-4 Thanos fights a future dark Silver Surfer while the real deal meets his old master Galactus and his old flame Nova (Frankie Raye) in a different future.

Finally while the main team bicker in GREAT LAKES AVENGERS #4 newbie Good Boy almost kills the villain Nain Rouge.

--RobFJ



Thor’s Giant-Size Past!

January 25, 2024

The brand new IMMORTAL THOR #6 takes us back to Thor’s brash youth in a tale lifted directly from an authentic myth…but nothing is ever simple in an Al Ewing comic!

TALES TO ASTONISH #71! Hulk outruns a nuke! Subby battles the Seaweed Man!

AMAZING ADVENTURES #1! The Inhumans under fire! Black Widow goes after a loan shark! Both in their own series for the first time!

SECRET AVENGERS (Vol. 2) #6, Taskmaster versus Mockingbird! And they’re on the same side!

In OMEGA THE UNKNOWN #8, our formerly silent hero faces off against the explosive Nitro!

Plus, Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro has a few classic web-slinging goodies: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #21 which features the Beetle, ASM #22, with the Circus of Crime, and ASM #23, a cool Green Goblin story!

PeterS



There's no time like the future

January 22, 2024

The side-branch of Fall Of X rumbles on in IRON MAN #14. The main char only appears as Tony Stark while Forge and Ironheart build a mysterium armada and Orchis scheme.

On the other hand Iron Man *is* in MARVEL TEAM-UP #11 as T Vernon finishes the 3-part future time-fight against Kang and Zarrko, this time dragging in the Inhumans.

Ron Marz' 3rd Rebirth retro-miniseries picks up where Warlock: Rebirth left off. In SILVER SURFER REBIRTH: LEGACY #1 Mephisto tricks Legacy into stealing the Time Gem for him and then throws him to the End Of Time to face the Fallen One, a corrupted Silver Surfer. Meanwhile in #2 the real SS recruits Thanos to help get Legacy back.

And in GREAT LAKES AVENGERS #3 Mr Immortal returns from the grave, Doorman gets dragged off by Oblivion to attend to his Deathurge duties and we get the origin of Flatman.

--RobFJ



Hulk, Subby, and Black Widow!

January 18, 2024

Yes, TALES TO ASTONISH with Hulk was one of this site’s earliest additions, back when it was merely the Hulk Library but now these entries are being expanded! The Ant-Man parts of TTA have been added, with new reviews and commentary! So now it’s the Sub-Mariner’s turn, with his solo series receiving the upgrades, starting with TTA #70! 

And that’s not all: Black Widow started out as an Iron Man villain in TALES OF SUSPENSE, then as Hawkeye’s gal pal in AVENGERS on the margins of heroism! But it was in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #86 that she donned her iconic outfit and became the superheroine we follow to this day!

SECRET AVENGERS (VOL. 2) #5, the heroes invade A.I.M. Island and it all goes badly!

In OMEGA THE UNKNOWN #7, our silent hero speaks for the first time!

THOR #481! The Lava Men are back! With a Living Rock!

Plus, Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro has a few classic web-slinging goodies: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #18-19 which features Sandman and a bunch of guest stars and ASM #20, introducing the Scorpion!

PeterS



It's Kang week

January 15, 2024

In this week's new AVENGERS #9 the team fight the Twilight Court to a stalemate and then realise that Myrddin has gone straight for comatose Kang the Conqueror.

T Vernon continues a 3-parter with MARVEL TEAM-UP #10 where Kang is also 1 of the villains who oppose Spider-Man, Iron Man and Human Torch.

A mini-series ends with WARLOCK: REBIRTH #5 where Eve Warlock gives Adam Warlock his power back and they trounce the High Evolutionary.

And the comedy Avengers return in GREAT LAKES AVENGERS #1-2 with a werewolf recruit to face a Councilman in a devil mask.

--RobFJ



A Historic Debut: The New Ant-Man!

January 11, 2024

No new issues this week so here’s a special offering: MARVEL PREMIERE #47-48 which introduce the new Ant-Man, Scott Lang, who was so cool that the MCU skipped over Hank Pym to get him into movies quicker!  

SECRET AVENGERS (VOL. 2) #4 adds two new members to the team: Iron Patriot and the Hulk!

In OMEGA THE UNKNOWN #6, our silent hero takes on a mad killer known as the Wrench!

THOR #480 features a duel between the two electrically powered gods, Thor and Blitziana!

In HULK #49, Red Hulk meets the Eternals! It doesn’t go well!

Plus, Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro has a few classic web-slinging goodies: the classic AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1 which introduces the Sinister Six and ASM #17, featuring the return of the Green Goblin, with a guest appearance by the Human Torch!

PeterS



The things you do for love

January 8, 2024

This week's new issue is THANOS #2 where the Mad Titan fights his way through the Illuminati and Hulk to be reunited with his love Death.

T Vernon takes a break from the Avengers to follow Iron Man through a Marvel Team-Up trilogy. In #9 he and Spider-Man try to rescue the other Avengers and get caught in a time-war between Kang the Conqueror and Zarrko the Tomorrow Man.

In WARLOCK: REBIRTH #3-4 Dr Strange persuades Adam Warlock to return from Soul World only for him to have to fight his successor Eve Warlock.

DEADPOOL/GLI SUMMER FUN SPECTACULAR is another Great Lakes Avengers 1-shot. The GL Initiative invite Deadpool to join the team and then spend the rest of the issue trying to get rid of him. Meanwhile Squirrel Girl goes to great lengths trying to save her crush Speedball from his fate as Penance.

--RobFJ



Ringing in the New Year!

January 4, 2024

The brand-new CAPTAIN AMERICA #5 has young Steve Rogers fighting Nazis in 1939 New York!

And our older offerings:

THOR #479! What no one wanted to see! Another retcon for Don Blake!

HULK #48 has Red Hulk teaming with his daughter Red She-Hulk against the eerie Zero/One!

Ant-Man (Hank Pym) closes out his series in MARVEL FEATURE #10 by fighting a new baddie called Dr Nemesis!

In OMEGA THE UNKNOWN #5, our silent star uses magic to defeat magic! Or something like that!

Plus, Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro has a few classic web-slinging goodies: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #14 introduces the Green Goblin and guest stars the Hulk, ASM #15 is the debut of Kraven the Hunter, and #16 has Daredevil teaming with Spidey against the Circus of Crime!

PeterS



Continuing what we were doing before we were interrupted

January 1, 2024

AVENGERS INC #4 reveals that Henry Pym and Ultron are back in a plotline that ties together the Ultron Forever event, Tony Stark: Iron Man #19 and the most recent Ant-Man mini-series.

T Vernon ends the Avengers Under Siege story with AVENGERS #277 and a final clash between Captain America and Baron Zemo.

And I pick up where I left off with 'old' issues:-

The GLX-MAS SPECIAL follows on from the 1st GLA mini-series with a humorous multi-part Christmas tale that is their only app as the Great Lakes X-Men.

Warlock: Rebirth is the 2nd of Ron Marz' interconnected retro mini-series. In #1-2 Legacy visits Adam Warlock in time to see the birth of Eve Warlock.

--RobFJ



An End-of-Year Holiday Grab-Bag!

December 28, 2023

So we’ve added all of the new issues that appeared while we were on hiatus and for me at least, it’s all older stuff on this, my last update of the calendar year!

HULK #47 pits Red Hulk against his most dangerous adversary: his daughter, the Red She-Hulk!

SECRET AVENGERS (Vol 2) #3 sees a deadly clash between the SHIELD good guys and the AIM bad guys at a tech expo—and a longtime comic character dies!

Ant-Man (Hank Pym) is under attack in MARVEL FEATURE #9 and the vicious monster is his mutated wife, the Wasp! And one bad cat!

In OMEGA THE UNKNOWN #4, our silent hero faces an unfriendly neighborhood brujo! With more cats!

THOR #478! It’s Old Thor (the familiar one) versus the New Thor (Red Norvell) in Asgard! Who will be victor?

Oh yeah and Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro has a few classic web-slinging goodies: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #11-12 features a two-part confrontation with Doctor Octopus wherein Spidey is unmasked by the baddie, and ASM #13, introducing that trickiest of tricksters, Mysterio!

PeterS



Christmas catchup

December 25, 2023

As a Christmas present to our readers here are all the new issues I've accumulated in the weeks we've been away.

1st off AVENGERS INC #3 takes the detective duo to Valhalla to investigate who managed to kill the already-dead Skurge the Executioner.

In AVENGERS #8 the team get free of Nightmare only to face Myrddin's Twilight Court who want Kang the Conqueror.

IRON MAN #13 continues the involvement with the Fall Of X event as Tony Stark and Emma Frost go into space to get hold of mysterium to build his new armour and an anti-Sentinel armada.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #9 tells the origin of Mantis' current powers as she and Gamora go find the soul of Drax the Destroyer, which they pay for with mysterium.

And this week's UNCANNY AVENGERS #5 ends this Fall Of X mini-series with the defeat of the Hydra Captain America, even though he evades justice.

T Vernon supplied AVENGERS #276 before we went off air so I've included that, the penultimate episode of the Avengers Under Siege story arc. The team fight back but Baron Zemo has 1 last trick to play.

--RobFJ



And We’re Back!

December 21, 2023

The Marvel Heroes Library has been out of commission for a couple of weeks but now we’re pleased to say we’re back and everything should be copacetic from now on! Here’s what we’ve got for you now:

Brand new INCREDIBLE HULK #7 pits Hulk against a new, undead Ghost Rider—and something worse!

Also new is IMMORTAL THOR #5 which has the new Thor Corps facing the proto Thunder God Toranos!

And there’s a couple of brand-new Cap issues! CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 shows us the origin of the demon possessed serial killer called the Emissary and CAP #4 has Cap facing him for the first time! Yikes!

But wait! There’s more!

Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro brings us AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #8, with the Living Brain and guest-starring the Human Torch, ASM #9, featuring the debut of Electro, and ASM #10, introducing the Big Man and the Enforcers!

PeterS



The dead and the dying

November 27, 2023

In new IRON MAN #12 Ironheart joins the IM/X-Men anti-Orchis conspiracy. But only a Sentinel gets 'killed'.

In T Vernon's AVENGERS #275 the Siege of Avengers Mansion gets serious. Hercules is dying and Jarvis gets brutally tortured by Mr Hyde.

Silver Surfer: Rebirth finishes with #5 as Tyrant is (temporarily) killed, Jack Of Hearts is brought back to life and Thanos gets the Reality Gem back.

And the G.L.A. mini-series also ends with #3-4 as Mr Immortal defeats Maelstrom and saves the universe by suiciding at him. And Monkey Joe and Doorman are added to the GLA's death toll.

--RobFJ



Hulk Versus a New Ghost Rider!

November 23, 2023

Brand new THE INCREDIBLE HULK #6 pits Hulk against a newer, nastier Ghost Rider!

Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro continues the early history of Spider-Man with AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #6, introducing the Lizard, and ASM #7, with the return of the Vulture!

THOR #477 has Thunderstrike joining Thor against the Destroyer and it will take both of them to defeat the invincible Asgardian armor!

In SECRET AVENGERS (VOL 2) #2, Taskmaster is recruited for the team while A.I.M. builds up its own deadly lineup!

OMEGA THE UNKNOWN #3 pits Omega against Electro! And James-Michael against school!

Cursed by the Dreaded Deadline Doom, MARVEL FEATURE #8 has Ant-Man reminiscing over the origin of the Wasp, complete with reprinted bits!

PeterS



Death is (nearly) everywhere

November 20, 2023

In new UNCANNY AVENGERS #4 Captain America (the SR one) discovers that Captain Krakoa is Steve Rogers (the Hydra one).

The Avengers Under Siege saga ups the ante in AVENGERS #274 as the Masters Of Evil 'kill' Hercules, courtesy of T Vernon.

In Tyrant's artificial realities in SILVER SURFER: REBIRTH #3-4 SS confronts Galactus and 4 other versions of himself, while Thanos tangles with Nebula and Death.

And in G.L.A. #2 Flatman and Doorman go on a membership drive and wind up with Squirrel Girl, Monkey Joe and Grasshopper. And 1 of them gets killed straight away.

--RobFJ



The Return of the Spider-Fan!

November 16, 2023

We welcome back contributor Anthony Silvestro who is chronicling the history of Spider-Man for the Marvel Heroes Library, resuming with AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #4, introducing Sandman, and ASM #5, pitting Spidey against Doctor Doom! Glad to have you back, A!

The brand new IMMORTAL THOR #4 also arrives this week! Thor faces his greatest challenge so he summons the Thor Corps!

We move on to SECRET AVENGERS (VOL 2) #1, wherein SHIELD creates their own Avengers team for covert activities and begins by messing with their minds! Featuring Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Mockingbird!

OMEGA THE UNKNOWN #2 sees the silent and enigmatic Omega taking on the Hulk!

According to the cover, MARVEL FEATURE #7 has Ant-Man trapped by a green luchador! It’s even crazier inside!

MARVEL FANFARE #17! Some guy named Skywolf has the cover but the real point of interest is the backup story wherein Hulk learns empathy!

PeterS



Guardians Of The Galaxy and Thanos too (twice)

November 13, 2023

In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #8 the team discover what's *really* been going on with Grootfall, Grootspace and the Whitecaps (bet you didn't think they were important).

And now that Thanos has returned from Hyborian Age Niffleheim, in #1 of his new series he's looking for someone who may be the retired Death. And the Illuminati are out to stop him.

T Vernon's next issue is AVENGERS #273 where brave Baron Zemo and his new Masters Of Evil invade Avengers Mansion when they know only Jarvis is there.

Ron Marz has been writing 3 retro mini-series set near the end of Jim Starlin's 2nd tenure at Marvel that I have been chronicling. SILVER SURFER: REBIRTH #1-2 starts the 1st of them where Surfer and Thanos are having reality problems.

--RobFJ



Now We’re Unveiling OMEGA THE UNKNOWN!

November 9, 2023

OMEGA THE UNKNOWN was a strange and offbeat comic when it debuted in 1976 and now you can join us as we add this obscure ten-issue series to the Marvel Heroes Library, starting with issue #1!

MARVEL FEATURE #6 sees the return of Ant-Man’s silliest villain—the Human Top! Only now he’s called Whirlwind and makes for a half-way decent antagonist! Go figure!

THOR #476! The Destroyer is back, stronger and meaner than ever! The giant armor’s appearance is always a Thor highlight!

MARVEL KNIGHTS: HULK #4 wraps up the miniseries with mad assassin Nikoleta Harrow gaining her deep desire: she becomes a Hulk! Guest stars: MODOK and Doctor Doom!

Last and definitely least is ABOMINATIONS #2-3, an ugly and stupid spin-off from FUTURE IMPERFECT! Don’t say we don’t suffer to bring you the hard-to-find stuff!

PeterS



A nightmare and a fairy tale ending

November 6, 2023

New issue AVENGERS #7 starts a new story where Scarlet Witch and Vision face Kang's enemies while the rest of the team are trapped in Nightmare's realm.

T Vernon winds up the Atlantis crossover in AVENGERS #272 while we wait for "Avengers Under Siege" to kick into gear.

ALL-NEW HAWKEYE #6 closes the 2 volume storyline as the Project Communion kids live happily ever after on Barney Barton's Pacific island.

The 2 backup tales in AVENGERS CLASSIC #12 relate the adventures of some Moloids. And that's all they wrote.

So I'm switching my attention to the Great Lakes Avengers starting with #1 of their 1st mini-series where they fight Maelstrom and Dinah Soar dies.

--RobFJ



It's MARVEL TEAM-UP Week!

November 2, 2023

That’s right, all of this week’s additions match up one of our featured characters with Spider-Man for some double hero adventure!

MARVEL TEAM-UP #7 has Spidey joining Thor to battle trolls that control time itself!

MARVEL TEAM-UP #28 is the notorious issue pitting Spidey and Hercules against crooks hijacking the entire island of Manhattan!

MARVEL TEAM-UP #52 sees Captain America and Spidey fighting a big green monster from another dimension! Oh yeah, and Batroc the Leaper!

MARVEL TEAM-UP #57! Black Widow keeps the Silver Samurai busy while Spider-Man prevents a huge building from collapsing!

MARVEL TEAM-UP #104 shakes everything up by giving Spidey a rest and teaming Hulk and Ka-Zar against dinosaurs in the Savage Land!  

PeterS



(Can there be) too much Captain America

October 30, 2023

In the new UNCANNY AVENGERS #3 Captain America makes a rousing speech to the public and then discovers that he needs help from Kingpin.

T Vernon follows the Cap-led Avengers into ALPHA FLIGHT #39 to help Sub-Mariner save his wife Marrina.

In ALL-NEW HAWKEYE #4-5 the Hawkeyes carry out a cunning plan to extricate the Project Communion kids from the clutches of SHIELD.

The backup tale in AVENGERS CLASSIC #11 shows Cap having a chat with Spider-Man after he helped the team defeat Kang in the main tale.

--RobFJ



Cap and Spidey! Thor and Loki!

October 26, 2023

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA #2 shows us teenaged Steve Rogers forming his anti-Fascist views to prepare him to be the Living Legend of World War 2! With a guest appearance (in the present) by Spider-Man!

Also new is IMMORTAL THOR #3 with Thor stranded on an alien world with Loki’s riddles to answer before he can return to Midgard!

In MARVEL FEATURE #5, Ant-Man butts heads with his archenemy Egghead!

DEFENDERS #75 has the Foolkiller pronouncing the Defenders fools he is planning to kill! Is this the end of the non-team? Actually, yes it is!

MARVEL KNIGHTS: HULK #3 sees Hulk under the control of mad assassin Nikoleta Harrow and commanded to wipe out A.I.M.! 

PeterS

 



3 partnerships overlapping 2 Wasp apps

October 23, 2023

New this week IRON MAN #11 continues to be part of the Fall Of X event with the Iron Man and Emma Frost partnership. He retrieves her stash of mysterium from under the noses of Orchis and tests its properties on some of his super-friends.

Also this week in AVENGERS INC #2 the duo stumble on a 'ghostly' murderer while Wasp ropes in Vision to help solve the mystery of Vic Shade.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #271 inches a bit further into 'Avengers Under Siege' as Wasp and Black Knight need Paladin's help to fight Grey Gargoyle, Screaming Mimi and the new Yellowjacket.

In ALL-NEW HAWKEYE #2-3 future Clint Barton and Kate Bishop escape from Mandarin but make a mess of rescuing the Project Commumion 'kids' from SHIELD. While in the present the Hawkeye duo are torn apart by their decision to let SHIELD have them.

--RobFJ



New Hulk Plus Ant-Man, Thor, and the Rest! Including the Oxford Comma!

October 19, 2023

Brand new INCREDIBLE HULK #5 continues the Hulk and Man-Thing team-up, setting them against the fearsome Swamp Witch!

And we return to Ant-Man in Hank Pym’s second shot at an ongoing series: MARVEL FEATURE #4 in which poor old Hank finds himself stuck at ant-size! Spider-Man guest stars (as usual)!

DEFENDERS #74 starts bringing in characters from the defunct OMEGA THE UNKNOWN series as a prelude to wrapping up that cancelled title’s storylines!

In THOR #475, Dr. Don Blake returns—after we were told he was never a real person! Thor is mightily confused! 

Last, and certainly least, there’s ABOMINATIONS #1, a weird Hulkless follow-up to FUTURE IMPERFECT included here for completeness’ sake! First of three issues!

PeterS



2 teams get new homes

October 16, 2023

Another week with 5 different titles.

In the new AVENGERS #6 the team defeat the Ashen Combine and induct the villains' sentient spaceship as *their* new base.

And also new is GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #7 where Hulkling and Wiccan discover that the dead GOTG have been regrown as the Guardians Of Grootspace.

T Vernon begins the 'Avengers Under Siege' epic in AVENGERS #270, but it starts slowly with Moonstone stirring up trouble for Sub-Mariner.

In OLD MAN LOGAN #4 Hawkeye/Kate Bishop and Old Man Steve Rogers show Logan that Wolverine's dead.

And then Kate rejoins Clint Barton in ALL-NEW HAWKEYE vol 2 #1 only to split up their partnership. But they get back together 30 years later to face the Mandarin.

--RobFJ



The Good, the Bad, and the Classic!

October 12, 2023

We’ll leave it up to you, Faithful Reader, to decide which one of this week’s additions is the Bad one:

HERCULES (2005) #5 has Herc completing his modern Twelve Labors with a mission of surprising tragedy!

And A+X #6 completes our coverage of this short-lived title with two more tales of heroic alliances: Wolverine and Captain Marvel plus Thing and Gambit!

THOR #474 features a heroic tale from Thor’s past, involved in an Arabian Nights adventure!

DEFENDERS #73! The sorcerer storyline concludes! The Foolkiller returns! Madness reigns!

MARVEL KNIGHTS: HULK #2 has Bruce Banner falling into the hands of a lady mad scientist who wants the secrets of the Hulk!

PeterS



Double Immortus and double Hawkeyes, and the Darkhold gets a body

October 9, 2023

There are issues from 5 different series this week, as you're used to in Peter's patch.

The newish 1 is AVENGERS ANNUAL 2023 saved from last week. It's the conclusion of the Contest Of Chaos Annuals crossover and Agatha Harkness' plan works, but not in the way she expected.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #269 concludes the contest of Kangs 3-parter, and the winner is Immortus who was yet another Kang.

ALL-NEW HAWKEYE #5 concludes the saga of the Hawkeyes and the Project Communion kids for the time being, and then the multiverse ends.

Then it gets rebuilt, and while Clint-eye is away Kate-eye gets involved with an ex-Wolverine from an alternate future in OLD MAN LOGAN #3.

There's just room for AVENGERS CLASSIC #10 where we learn more about the adventures of Rick Jones and Captain America when Immortus sent them into the past in Avengers #10.

--RobFJ



Nothing New so It’s Back to the Classics!

October 5, 2023

MARVEL KNIGHTS: HULK #1 has an amnesiac Bruce Banner in Paris, pursued by a lot of huge Hulklike baddies!

THOR #473 has the God of Thunder meeting the Godlings, the latest project of the High Evolutionary!

In HERCULES (2005) #4, the Prince of Power continues his new series of Twelve Labors! Guest stars: Captain America, more Avengers, Mole Man, Nick Fury, that monster from the cover of FF #1, and (maybe) Doctor Doom!

A+X #5! Two crazy tales! Iron Fist and Doop! Loki versus Mister Sinister!

DEFENDERS #72 has the non-team lost in the bizarre fantasy land called Tunnelworld, battling mad monsters! 

PeterS



Kangs and continuations

October 2, 2023

My main man Tony Stark continues to be involved in the Fall Of X event in IRON MAN #10 where he doesn't have the big wedding to Emma Frost that this cover and that of X-Men #26 suggested, but he does quietly marry Hazel Kendal in Las Vegas.

Also new this week from my other main title is AVENGERS #5 which continues with the Ashen Combine threat predicted by Kang as the Impossible City threatens to commit suicide.

And Kang's also in T Vernon's AVENGERS #268 which continues the story of alternate timeline Kangs killing each other in Limbo.

Plus ALL-NEW HAWKEYE #3-4 continues the Project Communion story as the Hawkeye duo take the kids back from SHIELD but then have to stop Hydra getting them again.

--RobFJ



A New Thor and Some Older Goodies Including Hulk, Herc, and Hawkeye!

September 28, 2023

Out this week is IMMORTAL THOR #2 wherein the new All-Father faces a massive god out to judge him!

MARVEL FANFARE #7 features Hulk versus some powerful bad guys and Daredevil in a race against time!

HERCULES (2005) #3 sees Herc starting his new series of Twelve Labors! Guest stars: The Inhumans, Ka-Zar, the Abomination, Hydra, and more!

A+X 3! Black Panther and Storm! Hawkeye and Gambit! Another cool pair of team-ups/rivalries!

DEFENDERS #71 has the non-team pursuing the urban terrorist Lunatik into a bizarre fantasy land called Tunnelworld in a startling turn of events! 

PeterS



Kangs and flashbacks

September 25, 2023

In UNCANNY AVENGERS #2 the Unity Squad continue to fight Captain Krakoa and his Mutant Liberation Front. Black Widow joins, and Steve Rogers gets some info from Ben Urich.

Also new this week is GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #6 where the 'dead' Guardians show us in flashback how it all went wrong after the end of the last series. Then they seem to destroy the Grootfall asteroids but possibly unleash something worse.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #267 starts a new Kang The Conqueror story with multiple Kangs backstabbing each other. Plus Colossus and Storm join the Avengers - not!

ALL-NEW HAWKEYE #1-2 has the Hawkeye duo working for SHIELD saving some super-powerful kids from Hydra experimentation. Meanwhile in flashback we get a different view of the early life of Clint Barton and his brother Barney.

--RobFJ



Captain America in a Hot New Series!

September 21, 2023

Just out is CAPTAIN AMERICA #1, written by J. Michael Straczynski and drawn by Jesus Saiz, guest starring the Fantastic Four, and showing us Steve Rogers’ first brush with the Nazis!

DEFENDERS #70 has the non-teammates on the trail of the demented Lunatik on the college campus and you won’t believe what they find! 

HERCULES (2005) #2 shows Herc agreeing to recreate his famous Twelve Labors for a modern reality TV series to restore his heroic credentials!

In THOR #472, the God of Thunder searches for a new mission and meets some very strange people! Guest-starring the High Evolutionary!

And so, in FEAR ITSELF: DEADPOOL #3, ‘Pool’s mad plan goes to pieces with Walrus becoming a real threat and an attack by an army of werewolves! Goo goo ga joob!

PeterS



Another Wasp-busy week

September 18, 2023

AVENGERS INC #1 starts a new series where Wasp forms a small team to investigate super-murders. The only other member is Vic Shade who is probably not the Vision.

T Vernon has an epilogue to Secret Wars II in AVENGERS #266 where Molecule Man undoes all the damage caused by the Beyonder after Silver Surfer fails in the task. PS Wasp leads the team at this time.

WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #33 finishes the Count Abyss story and leaves new writer John Arcudi to take the Watch wherever he wants.

That gives me room for AVENGERS CLASSIC #8-9. The new backup tales show Rick Jones learning that the fight tactics Captain America taught him don't work on the battlefield of love, plus the untold tale of how Wonder Man captured Wasp for Baron Zemo.

--RobFJ



Hulk Versus Man-Thing!

September 13, 2023

The brand new INCREDIBLE HULK #4 gives us the next event in the Age of Monsters with the advent of the mysterious Man-Thing!

THOR #239 marks an achievement: we’ve finally filled in the gap in Thor comic coverage in the 1970s! Next time we’re safely in the 1990s!

DEFENDERS #69 has the heroic non-team facing the Anything Man and anything can happen! 

HERCULES (2005) #1 sees the once mighty Herc hitting bottom! Can his salvation lie in…reality TV?

FEAR ITSELF: DEADPOOL #2! The fearsome Walrus terrorizes a small town with a magic hammer so Deadpool (according to plan) rides to the rescue. And did we mention the werewolves?

PeterS



To be continued in ...

September 11, 2023

This week's new issue is a leap sideways to X-MEN #26 which is part 1 of a connecting covers crossover with Iron Man #10 where Emma Frost and Tony Stark get married. Or do they? And Shadowkat tries to assassinate Firestar.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #265 is a full-blooded Secret Wars II tie-in. Beyonder overwhelms the whole team before the finale in SWII#9. Wasp wasn't there (possibly exhausted after 2 starring roles last week) but I doubt she would have made any difference.

WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #31-32 continue the Count Abyss story but Jim Starlin quits with #31. We learn the Count's origin and see him best the whole Watch and their allies (before his inevitable defeat in next week's issue).

AVENGERS CLASSIC #7's extra tale embellishes the Masters Of Evil's short stay in the dimension that Thor banished them to at the end of Avengers #7. (The original version was a flashback in Av#9.)

--RobFJ



Hercules Comes to a Heroic End!

September 7, 2023

Another handful of classics includes Bob Layton’s HERCULES: TWILIGHT OF A GOD #4, wrapping up his long tenure on the delightfully comic Herc by having him make a sacrifice only he can to save the universe!

In THOR #238, the God of Thunder is forced into the service of Ulik to help him seize the throne of the Trolls! Hercules guest stars here!

FEAR ITSELF: DEADPOOL #1! When the entire world is under attack by the forces of the Serpent and his superpowered servants, who is the only person who could witness the destruction and carnage and ask, “How can I cash in on this?” You got it: the Merc with a Mouth! 

DEFENDERS #68 shows us a war to decide who will rule Valhalla! Hulk fights a mountain—and wins! New and improved entry! 

And Hulk is the big guest star in ADVENTURES OF THE X-MEN #1-2, a title based on the popular 1990s animated TV series! And yes, he fights Wolverine yet again! <--f-- color="#ff0000"> 

PeterS



Wasp gets 2 spotlights

September 4, 2023

It's a week of famine again so T Vernon leads off with AVENGERS #264 where Wasp meets a villainous new female Yellowjacket.

WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #29-30 brings the Count Abyss plotline to the fore as his potion makes Adam Warlock and the mysterious Maya fall in love.

And AVENGERS CLASSIC #5-6 give us an untold tale of Captain America running into Thor in WWII, plus a solo tale for Wasp.

--RobFJ



More Hulk! More Monsters!

August 31, 2023

The brand new INCREDIBLE HULK #3 pits Hulk against a gigantic monster straight from an H.P. Lovecraft tale!

FEAR ITSELF: FF shows us what Reed, Sue, and Alicia do when Ben “The Thing” Grimm is transformed into one of the Serpent’s rampaging monsters!

Bob Layton’s HERCULES: TWILIGHT OF A GOD #3! Galactus has collapsed into a black hole and is even more of a threat to a panicked galaxy! And Hercules? He’s down for the count!

The classic DEFENDERS #67 sees Hulk, Hellcat, and Nighthawk dying and going to Valhalla to help Valkyrie with some afterlife insanity! A new and improved issue!

Ulik and the Trolls (dibs on the band name) are plotting another invasion of New York City in THOR #237!

PeterS



Team-ups and resurrections

August 28, 2023

New this week is IRON MAN #9 where Tony Stark and Emma Frost go (literally) underground and team up with Kingpin.

T Vernon follows the Avengers into FANTASTIC FOUR #286 where Jean Grey literally gets resurrected. (He won't be doing part 3 of the story in X-Factor #1 because our heroes get left behind.)

The conclusion of Cosmic Powers in #5-6 briefly features Morg, Herald Of Galactus, before the other 5 chars team up against Tyrant. Thanos wins, but not as much as he thinks.

Avengers #4 of course featured another resurrection, this time of WWII Captain America. AVENGERS CLASSIC #4 adds a backup tale of Gabe Jones giving Steve Rogers his GI back pay and his old possessions.

--RobFJ



A New Thor Arrives! While the Old Cap Departs!

August 24, 2023

The new IMMORTAL THOR #1 makes its debut, written by Al Ewing who gave us the terrifying classic IMMORTAL HULK, and Thor meets the god who will judge him!

And then CAPTAIN AMERICA: FINALE shows us Cap’s final battle with the Outer Circle!

The classic DEFENDERS #66 sees Valkyrie finally getting a moment to shine as she returns to Asgard for some mythic business! New and improved entry!  

Bob Layton’s HERCULES: TWILIGHT OF A GOD #2 pits the aging hero against a newer, meaner Silver Surfer!

And the new and improved entry for INCREDIBLE HULK: HERCULES UNLEASHED, we find a second helping of Herc, this time against the Hulk!

PeterS




An early Marvel resurrection

August 21, 2023

IRON MAN ANNUAL #1 is part of the Contest Of Chaos annuals crossover in which he has to fight Storm in a (real) Cave Of Giant Crystals.

UNCANNY AVENGERS #1 starts a mini-series in which Steve-Cap recruits a new Avengers Unity Squad to oppose Captain Krakoa and his new Mutant Liberation Front.

T Vernon takes us to AVENGERS #263 where the team begin the rebirth of the (supposedly-)dead Jean Grey (which was a big deal back in those less jaded times).

COSMIC POWERS #3-4 continues Thanos' latest quest with issues featuring Jack Of Hearts & Ganymede and then Legacy, son of the original (to Marvel) Captain Marvel.

--RobFJ



For a Few Classics More!

August 17, 2023

New Thor and Cap issues are coming next week but for now we have more older cool stuff!

To whet our appetites for the new Thor series, here’s THOR #236 from 1975, featuring an issue-long slugging match between Thor and the Absorbing Man!

HERCULES: TWILIGHT OF A GOD #1 shows that even heroic demi-gods don’t last forever as Herc battles dementia in his swansong from Bob Layton’s classic run!

In MARVEL FANFARE #47, an alien parasite turns Hulk into a mindless rampaging monster in New York City and the only one who can stop him is a seriously ill Spider-Man!

The classic DEFENDERS #65! Red Guardian must stop a giant amoeba, Valkyrie goes mad, Hellcat reunites with her oldest friend—Millie the Model!

In FEAR ITSELF: YOUTH IN REVOLT #6, the final issue, the young heroes fail to stop Juggernaut and end up fighting each other!

PeterS

 



Contacts and recruits

August 14, 2023

In the new AVENGERS #4 some of the team continue to fight the Ashen Combine in the cities they've attacked, but Black Panther and Sam-Cap's intent to destroy their orbiting base is stymied when it contacts them to tell them it's alive.

And in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #5 Grootfall asteroids are destroying 2 warring factions in the Manifold Territories when the Guardians fly their ship into the maw of 1 of them in an attempt to contact the Groot they hope is within.

T Vernon continues with AVENGERS #262 where the team relocate their quinjets to Hydrobase and recruit Sub-Mariner to replace Starfox.

Thanos stars in the Cosmic Powers mini-series. In #1-2 he picks Tyrant as an opponent worth testing himself against, and recruits Terrax to help him.

--RobFJ



A Handful of Hercules!

August 10, 2023

Rob has more new issues this week and I don’t so it’s time to showcase more older cool stuff--with Hercules appearing in four out of five issues!

1997's HERCULES: HEART OF CHAOS #3 concludes the miniseries with Ares and his Warhawks seizing control of the SHIELD Helicarrier and Hercules trying to take it back!

HEROES FOR HIRE #1, also from 1997, sees Iron Fist trying to put the team together again and one of the candidates is the Hulk! And another is Hercules!

The classic DEFENDERS #64 wraps up the “Defenders for a Day” arc with an overstuffed roster of heroes and villains! Including Hercules!

THOR #235: Hercules and Sif go on a quest for the Runestaff of Kamo-Tharnn to save the life of Jane Foster while Thor faces the Absorbing Man!

In FEAR ITSELF: YOUTH IN REVOLT #5, the young heroes face the empowered Juggernaut in Las Vegas in a battle so epic, it occupies four issues! And this is only the third!

PeterS



Beyonder and other recycled foes

August 7, 2023

Here are the 2 mini-series ends that between us Marvel and I have delayed 2-3 weeks.

I AM IRON MAN #5 reaches the post-Secret Wars multiverse to give us a tale of cloned Tony Starks and the return of Iron Man's 2nd-ever foe.

In AVENGERS BEYOND #5 the team let the Lost One have his revenge on Beyonder and in return he undoes all the damage and death in this series.

In T Vernon's AVENGERS #261 the team return from space to face the same Beyonder.

WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #27-28 concludes the team's conflict with the Avengers and Warlock has a return bout with his perennial enemy the Man-Beast.

--RobFJ



Another Fistful of Classics!

August 3, 2023

Rob has all of the new issues this week so I’m content with some older issues!

The classic DEFENDERS #63 continues “Defenders for a Day” as all of the Defender wannabes start some trouble while a gang of villains claiming to be the Defenders wreaks even more havoc! With bushels of guest stars!

THOR #234 sees Thor facing a Dormammu-powered Loki in single combat! Guest-starring Iron Man, Hercules, and Firelord!

HULK #46 ends the “Hulk of Arabia” arc with a showdown between Red Hulk and a godlike Dagan Shah!

HERCULES: HEART OF CHAOS #2 from 1997 puts newly-minted SHIELD Agent Hercules through basic training before the main mission against Ares and the Warhawks!

In FEAR ITSELF: YOUTH IN REVOLT #4, the young heroes face the empowered Juggernaut in Las Vegas in a battle so epic, it occupies four issues! And this is only the second!

PeterS



4 new issues in 1 week is too much

July 31, 2023

The 2 issues delayed by Marvel from earlier in the month made the tally up to 4 issues for me to write up this week. They're both ends of mini-series. I'll put them both off again to next week which would otherwise be empty, and deal with the 2 ongoing series this time.

In IRON MAN #8 Tony Stark is involved with side-effects of the Orchis attack on the mutant nation in the latest Hellfire Gala.

And in AVENGERS #3 the team face the 1st Tribulation Event when the Ashen Combine attack 5 Earth cities.

T Vernon's FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #19 explains why the FF were involved in the Avengers Annual he covered last week.

Thanos features in QUASAR #59 where Wendell Vaughn accompanies Eros/Starfox to a Truce-Day meeting with his brother.

Meanwhile in WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #26 the Avengers are compelled into attacking the Watch on Monster Island.

--RobFJ



New Hulk is Back…and He’s Mad!

July 27, 2023

The new INCREDIBLE HULK #2 has Bruce Banner picking up a friend named Charlie while on the run from the vengeful Hulk!

HERCULES: HEART OF CHAOS #1 from 1997 has Herc recruited by SHIELD to battle a band of international terrorists, led by Ares, God of War himself!

In FEAR ITSELF: YOUTH IN REVOLT #3, all of the young heroes are put to the test when they face the empowered Juggernaut in Las Vegas!

And THOR #233 sees the God of Thunder leading the US Military against the forces of Loki with all other Earthly heroes trapped elsewhere!

The classic DEFENDERS #62 features “Defenders for a Day” when the team’s business manager unwisely puts out a call for new members and dozens of heroes show up! With guest stars galore!

PeterS



And in the end ...

July 24, 2023

Another reschedule by Marvel at least left me with 1 new issue to review this week.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #4 shows us what Rocket Raccoon's been doing as the Star-Sheriff protecting the planet Refuge from Grootfall. The other Guardians turn up at the end to re-recruit him.

T Vernon's AVENGERS ANNUAL #14 concludes Captain Marvel's adventure in the Andromeda Galaxy, with the rest of the Avengers in tow. And it ends with all the Skrulls in existence stuck in whatever shape they happened to be imitating.

I return to following Thanos and/or Adam Warlock around. This time Thanos picks a team of villains in SECRET DEFENDERS #12-13 to get something he wants. And he double-crosses them at the end.

Also the extra tale in AVENGERS CLASSIC #3 shows Giant-Man telling Iron Man that he knows he's Tony Stark.

--RobFJ



Defenders Return! Captain Marvel Goes!

July 20, 2023

No new issues again this week so here’s more older classics!

We resume our coverage of classic DEFENDERS with issue #61 which also resumes the heroic non-team’s efforts to capture Lunatik, a Joker wannabe who talks in pop culture references! Guest starring Spider-Man!

Monica Rambeau’s career as Captain Marvel concluded in AVENGERS UNPLUGGED #5 when she ceded the title to the worthier Genis-Vell and became Photon!

In HULK #45, Red Hulk and Machine Man travel into the Earth and discover a whole new world—no, not the place from ALADDIN but an alien microcosm!

In FEAR ITSELF: YOUTH IN REVOLT #2, Thor Girl is arrested by the authorities trying to prove she is one of the Serpent’s baddies!

And THOR #232 sees the mighty God of Thunder going toe-to-toe with Firelord, ex-Herald of Galactus!

PeterS



Firsts and lasts

July 17, 2023

Due to a schedule change I've got no new issues to report on for the 2nd week running.

So T Vernon is 1st up again with AVENGERS #260 where Avengers and Skrulls battle space pirates. But the fight's ended by the Beyonder sending Nebula out of the galaxy.

HAWKEYE VS DEADPOOL #4 is the last issue of the fun mini-series as Wade Wilson crashes Clint Barton's old sky-cycle and Felicia Hardy does a complicated escape.

AVENGERS WEST COAST #92 is the last issue of those missing from the West Coast Avengers series (ie the ones that didn't have Iron Man in). And it's Goliath (Clint Barton) vs Goliath (Erik Josten).

So I've got room for the 1st 2 issues of the next old Avengers series I'm tackling. AVENGERS CLASSIC #1-2 reprint Av#1-2 with new bonus tales.

--RobFJ



A Menu of Older Classics with an Added Helping of Cap!

July 13, 2023

FEAR ITSELF: YOUTH IN REVOLT #1 features a group of teen heroes recruited (by Steve “Cap” Rogers) for the war against the forces of the God of Fear!

Monica Rambeau’s second solo adventure in CAPTAIN MARVEL 1994 sees her in combat against the nasty Sons of the Serpent white supremacist organization! Guest starring Captain America and…Rocket Racer!?!

And THOR #231 features the return of Jane Foster after a five-year (real time) absence from the comic while Thor fights a Neanderthal troublemaker!

MARVEL TEAM-UP #128 teams Spidey and Cap against the hideous Vermin in this issue with a very unusual cover!

In HULK #44, Red Hulk teams up with Machine Man for what is essentially “The Odd Couple in the Desert” if the Odd Couple fought a giant manticore!

PeterS



From Andromeda to Alkhema via Black Cat

July 10, 2023

There are no new issues to cover this week so ...

... T Vernon gets top billing. AVENGERS #259 takes the team to the Andromeda galaxy to join Captain Marvel in helping the Skrulls against the space pirate Nebula.

HAWKEYE VS DEADPOOL #2-3, also including Kate Bishop, has the trio continuing to battle Black Cat's gang. But Clint Barton has been turned to the dark side and Kate discovers the joy of large explosions.

There's also room for 2 more missing Avengers West Coast issues. AVENGERS WEST COAST #90-91 continues a fight against Ultron who turns Mockingbird into his new robotic 'mate' Alkhema. But Bobbi Barton turns up alive and unconverted. Or does she?

--RobFJ



A Cap Milestone! And a Thor Annual!

July 6, 2023

CAPTAIN AMERICA #750 covers Sam Cap and Steve Cap, looking at their respective careers from multiple angles while also preparing for the wrap-up of Steve Cap’s crusade against the Outer Circle!

And THOR ANNUAL #1 (they’re all number 1 these days) shows us MODOK as we’ve never seen him before and ushers us into the next Thor series, THE IMMORTAL THOR!

Monica Rambeau had her first solo adventure in CAPTAIN MARVEL 1989! And it’s after she has lost her powers! But she gets some new ones! Marvelous!

MARVEL TEAM-UP #127 features the unlikely pairing of Spider-Man and the Watcher! For Christmas, no less! And we’ve included it because Captain America makes a guest appearance!

In HULK #43, It’s Red Hulk against the Secret Avengers!

PeterS



1 Guardians issue vs lots of Avengers stuff

July 3, 2023

I've carried over GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #3 from last week, in which the team find a planet that has recovered from Grootfall only to see it killed again by Star-Lord's people the Spartoi.

New *this* week is AVENGERS BEYOND #4 in which the Beyonder's people strip him of his power and cast him down to Earth where the Lost One waits.

T Vernon keeps on truckin' with AVENGERS #258 where the team tie-up various loose ends before they join Captain Marvel in the Andromeda Galaxy next issue.

Returning to the trail of ex-Young Avengers I'm following the 2 Hawkeyes into HAWKEYE VS DEADPOOL #0-1. Despite the title they actually team up with Wade Wilson against Black Cat and minions including Typhoid Mary.

--RobFJ



A Thor Finale! And Maybe One for Sam Cap!

June 29, 2023

THOR #35 sees the end of the series as well as the end of the story arc, wherein everything is wrapped up neatly and waiting for the next writer to throw it all into chaos again!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #14 featuring Sam Cap also looks like a series finale but it’s hard to tell as it will be followed by the landmark CAPTAIN AMERICA #750 next week!

“The Captain is a Marvel!” AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #16 introduces Monica Rambeau, the second (and non-Kree) Captain Marvel, to be featured in this fall’s blockbuster, THE MARVELS, with Carol Danvers Cap M and Kamala Khan as Ms Marvel! So check out the lady’s origin here!

The death of a superhero is usually treated as a joke these days since it will be reversed eventually but TALES OF THE MARVELS: WONDER YEARS #1-2 puts a realistic spin on it by showing such an event from the viewpoint of a die-hard fan! Another MARVELS marvel!

HULK #42 begins “Hulk of Arabia,” an epic pitting Red Hulk against a Middle Eastern superhero!

PeterS



The end of Blood & Thunder and the intro of Nebula, and that's only the old issues

June 25, 2023

I AM IRON MAN #4 has a tale of Tony Stark, Director Of SHIELD which reveals that he has a plan for taking down Dr Strange if necessary.

Also new this week is AVENGERS #2. After defeating Terminus last issue the team have to learn to trust Kang The Conqueror.

In T Vernon's AVENGERS #257 the team fight someone who isn't really Terminus. And it introduces Nebula of will-be movie fame.

It's the end of the Blood & Thunder crossover:-
In WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #25 the assembled heroes arrive in Asgard with imprisoned mad Thor and have to fight everybody up to and including Odin (good job they've got Thanos on board).
And then in THOR #471 Odin takes the blame and sorts everything out.

--RobFJ



A Brand-New Hulk Series Ushers in the Age of Monsters!

June 22, 2023

Starting a new Hulk series, THE INCREDIBLE HULK #1 begins with a call on all the monsters of the world to kill the Hulk!

And to complete a big event: The ghastly tale that began in Jonathan Maberry’s MARVEL UNIVERSE VS. THE PUNISHER and continued with MARVEL UNIVERSE VS. WOLVERINE now concludes with MARVEL UNIVERSE VS. THE AVENGERS! A horrible contagion is turning everyone into monsters and the heroes desperately try to fight it—and then Doctor Doom claims to have the cure but his conditions are intolerable! All four issues have been added for the benefit of the reader!

One final addition this week: PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #17! It’s the coda to that curious team book from the 1970s, the Champions!

PeterS



Crossovers and 88s (or both)

June 19, 2023

New from last week we have X-MEN #23, a crossover from Iron Man in which the Iron Sentinels begin their attack on mutantkind.

T Vernon does AVENGERS #256 where Wasp becomes Avengers chairperson again just in time to lead them into the Savage Land.

The Blood & Thunder 4-way crossover starts it last round of issues here:-
In SILVER SURFER #88 it's Thanos vs Thor and Silver Surfer vs Dark Valkyrie.
Then in WARLOCK CHRONICLES #8 the assembled heroes make a failed attempt to cure Thor/Valkyrie of his madness.

Finally in another #88 AVENGERS WEST COAST #88 finishes the 2-parter with the WCA plus Wolverine vs some Russian baddies.

--RobFJ



The Cold War Cools Down and Chills Out!

June 15, 2023

The Cold War” concludes with CAPTAIN AMERICA: COLD WAR OMEGA as the bad guys are defeated, the invasion cancelled, Bucky’s enigmatic plan is explained, Ian Rogers claims his birthright, and everybody goes home!

In THOR #230, Hercules must overcome his greatest fears to accompany Thor into the New York sewers to face a Lovecraftian nasty!

CHAMPIONS #17 ends the title with the heroes fighting the Sentinels but there’s a coda coming up to give the series a proper send-off! See it here in two weeks!

HULK: GAMMA GAMES #3 closes out this miniseries based on a video game as Bruce Banner regains his Hulk powers and quashes the Leader’s nefarious scheme!

TALES OF THE MARVELS: INNER DEMONS is a tie-in to the classic Busiek/Ross miniseries, this one focusing on the Sub-Mariner!

PeterS



Vote Pip the Troll for hero of the week

June 12, 2023

In this week's IRON MAN #7 Tony Stark and James Rhodes destroy Feilong's Stark Unlimited Iron Sentinel factory. But it only slows rather than halts his and Orchis' plans, and Rhodey is framed for murder.

T Vernon gives us AVENGERS #255 where Vision resigns from the Avengers after his questionable deeds in the last storyline. And Captain Marvel gets taken to the Andromeda galaxy to start a new long story.

Blood & Thunder inches forward:-
In WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #24 the assembled heroes escape from the Rock Trolls, with Pip taking a central role.
Then in THOR #470 they finally all confront Thor and his Dark Valkyrie companion in Asgard and get severely beaten. Until Pip (again) transports the enemy duo along with Silver Surfer to Thanos.

AVENGERS WEST COAST #87 starts a 2-parter where the team and Wolverine face some unreconstructed Russians in Canada.

--RobFJ



The Cold War Heats Up!

June 8, 2023

The Cold War” nears its end with Part 5 in CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #13 as the villain unleashes his forces on the world!

TALES OF THE MARVELS: BLOCKBUSTER is a tie-in to the classic Busiek/Ross miniseries, this one focusing on the Silver Surfer!

THOR #229 pits Thor and Hercules against a nasty out of the pits of Lovecraft!

In CHAMPIONS #16, the heroic team is, like everyone else in the world, under the control of Doctor Doom! And the only hero who can save the day is…Magneto! Guest-starring President Jimmy Carter! Oh and the Hulk, too!

More Hulk in HULK: GAMMA GAMES #2: Bruce is cured of being the Hulk! Too bad it’s a trap by the Leader! Comic book miniseries based on a Hulk video game!

PeterS



Avengers 3, Infinity Watch 2, but Thor plays for both sides

June 5, 2023

In AVENGERS BEYOND #3 the Beyonder betrays the Avengers and traps the cosmic baddie the Lost One on Earth with them.

T Vernon completes the Vision trilogy with AVENGERS #254 as the team persuade him *not* to take over the world.

The Blood & Thunder Thor/Silver Surfer/Infinity Watch crossover marches on.
Adam Warlock and Silver Surfer recruit the aid of Dr Strange in SILVER SURFER #87, and they and the Infinity Watch all head for Asgard ...
... and they arrive in WARLOCK CHRONICLES #7 but are tricked by Sif into fighting Asgardian Trolls.

AVENGERS WEST COAST #65 kicks off a 4-parter featuring Grim Reaper and Ultron as their foes. (The other 3 parts are already synopsised on our database so you can binge read the whole thing.)

--RobFJ



The Cold War Continues with Cap Fighting Cap!

June 1, 2023

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #13 gives us part four of the Cold War crossover and, as often happens in crossovers, the heroes have to fight!

THOR #228 shows us the origin of Ego, the Living Planet—and he’s not Kurt Russell!

TALES TO ASTONISH #69! Bruce Banner dies! The Human Top sets a crazy trap for Giant-Man! And how was your day?

Doctor Doom has conquered the world! SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP #14 shows us the only person who can stop him is Magneto! Who tries to recruit the Avengers! And it’s a crossover with the Champions! Quite a crowded comic!

In HULK: GAMMA GAMES #1, Bruce finds a cure for being the Hulk! Too bad it’s a trap by the Leader! Comic book miniseries based on a Hulk video game!

PeterS



Things continue to just happen

May 29, 2023

The new issue this time is GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #2 carried over from last week. The new small vigilante team continue to try and save the Manifold Territories from Grootfall, and just happen to steal some valuable mysterium.

T Vernon continues Vision's takeover of the world's computers in AVENGERS #253 where he just happens to have to fight Quasimodo.

The Blood & Thunder crossover continues with 2 more issues.
In WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #23 it's Adam Warlock's turn to get beaten up by Thor, alongside Silver Surfer.
Then the Watch themselves are defeated by the Thunder God in THOR #469, where they just happen give him the Power Gem and make his imaginary companion Valkyrie real.

And AVENGERS WEST COAST #64 has very little AWC in it and instead features the Great Lakes Avengers fighting against/with ex-Invaders Captain America and Human Torch.

--RobFJ



Thor Versus Doom—Just Add Thanos!

May 25, 2023

As hinted at for several issues, brand new THOR #34 adds Thanos to this tale of madness and magic!

SHADOWS & LIGHT #3 (last of a set of four!), a showcase in black & white for popular characters featuring HulkSpider-ManSilver Surfer, and Werewolf by Night! Guest artists include Jim StarlinRoger SternJohn BuscemaBob Layton, and Keith Giffen!

HULKVERINES! #3 wraps up the tale with Hulk and Wolverine also becoming Hulkverines for a three-way battle with the original (Weapon H)!

TALES TO ASTONISH #68! Bruce Banner pardoned by the President! The Human Top learns to fly! All in a day’s work!

“Not more bees! More bee flavor!” In CHAMPIONS #15 from 1977, the heroes finally swat Swarm and his buggy armada!

PeterS



A new Avengers series with added Kang

May 22, 2023

AVENGERS #1 claims to begin a new low-key series. But immediately Kang confronts them with a new mega-menace Myrddin, to run alongside Beyonder vs the Lost One in Avengers Beyond and to follow Mephisto and the Multiversal Masters Of Evil in the previous series.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #252 is much more down to Earth(-616) as the looming foe is only their own Vision.

And another Avenger Thor is the foe in the Blood & Thunder event which crosses over into:-
SILVER SURFER #86 where he battles Beta Ray Bill and Silver Surfer and ...
... WARLOCK CHRONICLES #6 where the Infinity Watch attend to personal matters until Eternity sends Adam Warlock and Pip to the last page of the above issue.

And some Avengers get killed off in AVENGERS WEST COAST #59, but it's all irrelevant because it's only an alternate timeline that Immortus wipes out anyway.

--RobFJ



Hulk Returns! Cap’s Cold War Continues!

May 18, 2023

HULK ANNUAL 2023 presents us with a found-footage comic book story, while giving us a preview of the upcoming new Hulk ongoing series!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #12 brings us “Cold War Part Three” as the two Caps and their allies head into Dimension Z! Guest starring Black Widow!

THOR #227: Ego, the Living Planet has gone insane! Galactus sends Thor, Hercules, and Firelord to Ego to see what they can do about it!

“Not the bees! Not the bees!!!” In CHAMPIONS #14 from 1977, we are introduced to Swarm, the buzziest bad guy of the day!

SHADOWS & LIGHT #2 (third in a set of four!) uses a distinctive black & white look to showcase new tales featuring Thing, Spidey, Dr. Strange, and Man-Thing! Guest artists include Jim Starlin, Lee Weeks, and Jill Thompson!

PeterS



2 new but retro Iron Man tales

May 15, 2023

In IRON MAN #6 Tony Stark takes time out to remember an untold confrontation with White Queen set in the 80's.

And I AM IRON MAN #3 takes us back to the 90's for a Japanese-styled adventure with Iron Man and War Machine vs Mojo.

T Vernon's back on the Avengers, really in the 80's, with #251 where Captain America rejoins the team, Vision considers taking over the world and Wasp has a solo adventure/date with Paladin.

And we're back in the 90's for THOR #462 where the Thunder God battles Pluto and Ares in the last of 3 issues beginning the saga of Thor's Madness which ran through Infinity Crusade ...

... and is now in #468 kicking off the Blood & Thunder crossover where Thor has to fight Beta Ray Bill and Sif.

--RobFJ



More Older Classics while Cold War Takes a Break!

May 11, 2023

In CHAMPIONS #13 from 1977, the heroic team fights a pointless battle against imaginary monsters while a very real bomb threatens to destroy the solar system!

THOR #226 sees Galactus return to Earth, not to devour it but to ask Thor for a favor! And it involves a trip to Ego the Living Planet!

TALES TO ASTONISH #67! Hulk smashes Mongolian bandits! Giant-Man faces the Hidden Man, sort of!

SHADOWS & LIGHT #1 (actually the second in a set of four) continues an offbeat look at familiar characters using classy black & white art! Our protagonists are Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and Daredevil! Guest artists include Steve Ditko, Bernie Wrightson, and Brian Stelfreeze!

Greg Pak’s 2019 HULKVERINES #2 continues as Weapon H, Hulk, and Wolverine fight while the Leader stands back to see what happens!

PeterS



Thor misses the end of AWAT because he's too busy going mad in his own mag

May 8, 2023

AVENGERS: WAR ACROSS TIME #5 ends the retro-series with the original Avengers minus Thor confronting Kang and seeing visions of their future(s).

Leftover from last week I have the 1-off GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: BANE OF BLASTAAR which reintroduces us to the paramilitary Guardians just as their new series gives a different version of them a very different role.

T Vernon completes his 2-issue Iron Man sidebar with MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #97 where he and Thing have a humorous misadventure involving monsters on a movie set.

Jim Starlin heavily involved Thor in his Infinity Crusade event but it was all part of an ongoing saga about The Madness Of Thor which he then completed in the Blood & Thunder crossover event. However he began that story in THOR #460-461 which for completeness Peter has encouraged me to cover. So here Thor goes insane due to Odin's messing with his mind during the whole of the preceding Marvel Age, and he winds up fighting his friend Beta Ray Bill and being seduced by a part of his own mind calling herself Valkyrie.

--RobFJ



The Coming of the Hulkverines! And More Crazy Stuff!

May 4, 2023

A Greg Pak miniseries from 2019, HULKVERINES! #1 showed us Clay Cortez a/k/a Weapon H, a combination of Hulk and Wolverine! He just wants to live in peace but Logan and Hulk come calling…!

In CHAMPIONS #12 from 1977, the cosmic being called the Stranger is looking for his Null-Life Bomb which can obliterate the solar system and the countdown has begun!

TALES TO ASTONISH #66! Hulk smashes Commies! Madame Macabre challenges Giant-Man with her own shrinking and enlarging powers!

THOR #225 sees the first appearance of Firelord, facing Thor and Hercules!

MARVEL’S SHADOWS & LIGHT presented an offbeat look at familiar characters using classy black & white art! Our protagonists are Wolverine, Dracula/Blade, Captain Mar-Vell, and Doctor Strange! And it spawned three more issues!

PeterS



Iron Man and the Avengers vie for the top spot this week

May 1, 2023

In IRON MAN #5 Tony Stark gets info on Feilong from Emma Frost and Sunfire, but then discovers that the villain has merged Iron Man tech with the mutant-hunting Sentinels.

In AVENGERS BEYOND #2 Beyonder is back in remote teaching mode as he causes the team to discover someone who can boost their powers.

T Vernon takes time out from Avengers vol 1 to revert to his Iron Man role to cover 2 Shellhead guest apps with Thing in Marvel Two-In-One. This week it's #12 where the duo face Fantastic Four's medieval foe Prester John.

I'm resuming the Thanos/Warlock trail. Jim Starlin immediately followed Infinity Crusade with the Blood & Thunder crossover. But in between Adam Warlock and Moondragon pop in to QUASAR #53.

AVENGERS WEST COAST #49 concludes the 3-parter where Scarlet Witch is possessed by That Which Endures. And the Great Lakes Avengers get involved.

--RobFJ



Hulk Ends! Cold War Continues! Thor Too!

April 27, 2023

The brand new HULK #14 closes out its run with Hulk defeating Titan, his literal dark side!

The current Cap event COLD WAR continues with chapter two in CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #12 with a battle in snowy Alaska!

Also new is THOR #33! Doctor Doom works some magic that defeated Thanos long long ago!

In CHAMPIONS #11, aliens invade! Guest starring Black Goliath, Hawkeye, and…Two-Gun Kid?!?

MARVEL UNIVERSE VS WOLVERINE #4 wraps up the grim miniseries about a world-devouring plague! The story continues (in a few weeks) with MARVEL UNIVERSE VERSUS THE AVENGERS!

PeterS



An Avengers era ends

April 24, 2023

Jason Aaron's 5-year run on Avengers comes to a satisfying conclusion in AVENGERS ASSEMBLE OMEGA with heroic sacrifices made, villains trounced and the multiverse saved (yet again).

T Vernon's AVENGERS #249 is part of Walt Simonson's Malekith/Surtur saga in Thor.

ORIGINAL SINS #5 finishes the Young Avengers/Hood serial. The other 2 tales both feature Original Sin's villain Nick Fury.

AVENGERS WEST COAST #47-48 are the 1st issues with the new title on the cover as Scarlet Witch is turned to the dark side (not for the 1st or last time).

--RobFJ



The Most Horrible Marvel Comic?

April 20, 2023

What is the most horrible comic Marvel has published? My vote is for RUINS, Warren Ellis’ answer to MARVELS! Herein, Phil Sheldon is writing a book on how radiation and genetic changes have created a society filled with, not heroes, but monsters! It’s dark, nasty, and ugly so I’ve put up both issues together and can now forget about it! Pleasant dreams!

The Destroyer returns in THOR #224 and it challenges the combined might of Thor and Hercules!

MARVEL TEAM-UP #54 sees Spider-Man, Hulk, and Woodgod captured by a rogue National Guard faction! Those poor dumb soldiers don’t know what they’re in for!

In CHAMPIONS #10, Hercules causes an earthquake! Which makes Ghost Rider mad!

And Hulk leads his tribe of monsters against the good guys in MARVEL UNIVERSE VS WOLVERINE #3!

PeterS



Teams shrunken and new

April 17, 2023

A new GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1 brings us a reduced team on the run in a galactic Wild West while Groot has become a planet destroyer.

T Vernon concludes the Eternals story in AVENGERS #248 with all but the most well-known leaving Earth. But the villain Maelstrom will continue into the next issue.

ORIGINAL SINS #3-4 continues Hood's conflict with a small group of Young Avengers while Black Bolt and Dr Doom do their own things.

WEST COAST AVENGERS #46 introduces a new team the Great Lakes Avengers who Hawkeye and Mockingbird take under their wings.

--RobFJ



Back in Business, Just in Time for the Cold War!

April 13, 2023

The Marvel Heroes Library has been unavailable for a week or so due to technical difficulties (we blame Thanos) but Rob (on Sunday) and I (Thursday) are back with more comic book goodies old and new!

This week’s big deal is CAPTAIN AMERICA: COLD WAR ALPHA, starting a crossover between the two Cap titles with their current villains teaming up to cause trouble for Sam Cap and Steve Cap!

The new THOR #32 has a misleading cover as Thor doesn’t actually face Doctor Doom in this issue but he does fight an undead dragon! And check out the first Thor/Doom meeting in THOR #182-183!

Also new is CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #11 wherein Steve Cap and his new team of Invaders take on MODOK, AIM, and The Power! Lead-in to the COLD WAR crossover above!

As promised, MARVEL TEAM-UP #53 sees Hulk and Spider-Man joined by the offbeat hero Woodgod against some military crazies! Guest appearance by a bunch of X-Men!

In CHAMPIONS #9 from 1976, the brand-new hero team makes their public debut, only to be clobbered by their enemies at the much-publicized event! Poor schnooks!

PeterS



Help is at hand

April 10, 2023

The website suffered serious problems for 2 weeks that were beyond our control, but now we're back. But that means I've got 2 weeks of new issues to add to the system.

In the 1st week I got:-
IRON MAN #4 where the Golden Avenger beats up Feilong and then goes for help to the White Queen.
AVENGERS BEYOND #1 which continues from All-Out Avengers and we learn who the Beyonder needs help against.

And then this week I had:-
I AM IRON MAN #2 where Shellhead stops a meteor hitting Norway and helps 1 big telepathic sea creature against another.
AVENGERS: WAR ACROSS TIME #4 where the team help Thor get Mjolnir back from Sindri before Kang whisks them off to the future.

Before everything collapsed T Vernon gave me AVENGERS #247 wherein the Eternals discover that Starfox is their long-lost cousin so they invite him to the Uni-Mind.

Peter also added new issues but he'll tell you about them on Thursday.

--RobFJ



An Avengers full house

March 27, 2023

My new issue AVENGERS: WAR ACROSS TIME #3 is carried over from last week. The original Avengers fight Sindri and his allies the Lava Men until they make off with the hammer that keeps Thor from becoming human Don Blake. And Kang reasons that this is the perfect time to attack again.

T Vernon starts a new 3-parter with AVENGERS #246 involving the Avengers with the Earthly Eternals for the 1st time. And Vision meets with the President while Monica Rambeau tells her parents she's a superheroine.

I'm writing up the Original Sins mini-series because it features a bunch of the Young Avengers. In #1-2 Hulkling, Marvel Boy and Prodigy discover the villain Hood hiding some people who have absorbed a lot of the Watcher's secrets and now he wants the YA to help him extract the info.
In addition we get trailers for mini-series for Black Knight and another new Deathlok. Plus humorous shorts starring Lockjaw and Howard The Duck.

Vision Quest ends in WEST COAST AVENGERS #45 with the synthezoid now emotionless and colourless. US Agent takes over as leader causing Hawkeye and Mockingbird to quit (again in her case).

--RobFJ



More Older Classics! With a Woodgod!

March 23, 2023

TALES TO ASTONISH #65! Hulk takes on the Russian Army and wins! Ant-Man battles his cat and nearly loses!

In THOR #223, Thor and Hercules challenge Pluto, God of the Dead, in Hell in a brawl that reaches all the way to downtown Manhattan!

MARVEL UNIVERSE VS WOLVERINE #2 has Logan searching the New York Hellscape for a sample of the pathogen that is turning heroes into cannibalistic predators!

In CHAMPIONS #8, the team is overwhelmed by Russian bad guys! Especially the guy who is a human bomb!

An offbeat addition to the site is MARVEL PREMIERE #31, introducing a bizarre creature called Woodgod! His second appearance teams him with the Hulk and Spider-Man and will appear in the MHL next time!

PeterS



Armies and galaxy destroyers and Vision gone to pieces

March 20, 2023

In the new AVENGERS FOREVER #15 everybody's fighting Doom Supreme and his army of Dr Dooms and the Galactus-size Mephisto. But then the mysterious power starts to seep up through the God Quarry floor, and the devil grows to dwarf the planet-eater and Doom The (barely) Living Planet.

T Vernon pauses for AVENGERS ANNUAL #13 where the team and some other heroes are surrounded by Arnim Zola's army of Hulk clones with their living purple pants.

Infinity Crusade comes to an end with #6 where it turns out Adam Warlock fooled Goddess with an illusion of her intended destruction of the Galaxy. Now her army of believers desert her and Thanos traps her in the Soul Gem.
I've summarised the few partial tie-ins to that issue but the only 1 I have to fully review is THOR #467 where the Thunder God goes back to his Madness and his intent to destroy Asgard (and the Galaxy).

And there's just space for WEST COAST AVENGERS #44 where the team get Vision back in bits and are told that he *wasn't* created from the body of the WWII android Human Torch as they believed.

--RobFJ



New Hulk! New Sam Cap! More Cool Stuff!

March 16, 2023

The new HULK #13 is a mass of nightmare fuel as the monster in Hulk’s psyche destroys Hulk Planet!

Also new is CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #11 featuring the final battle between Sam Cap and the villainous White Wolf!

More older classics:

MARVEL UNIVERSE VS WOLVERINE #1! A dark miniseries wherein a nasty pathogen turns the infected into cannibalistic predators with Wolverine joining the effort to find a cure while not being eaten!

In CHAMPIONS #7, the new team is overwhelmed by a bunch of Soviet bad guys! Introducing Darkstar! Read and find out who she is!

THOR #222 sees Thor and Hercules searching for the Gates of Hell and finding a showdown with Ares, God of War!

Added bonus: The back-up stories have been added to TALES OF SUSPENSE #55-58, completing the entries for these historic issues!

PeterS



Multi-parters from 2 to lots

March 13, 2023

This week in AVENGERS #66 Galactus and the Avengers Mountain Celestial (who is now a Deathlok) arrive in the God Quarry to take on Planet Doom and the multiversal Dr Dooms in part 8 the Avengers Assemble event.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #245 concludes the Dire Wraith 2-parter with fights both in space and on the ground, and SHIELD turn up when it's all over.

The last 2 tie-ins to Infinity Crusade #5:-
In SILVER SURFER (1987) #85 basically Surfer battles Storm and Wonder Man on Paradise Omega.
And there's more Paradise Omega fighting in ALPHA FLIGHT #127 as Shaman watches the conflicts involving all the other Alphans until the Sun goes nova.

In WEST COAST AVENGERS #43 the Whackos discover that Vision has been disassembled in part 2 of the 4-part Vision Quest story. After the battle-heavy issues above it's a bit of a relief to have 1 where hardly anybody gets hit.

--RobFJ



Classic Tales with Two Hulks and Two Hercs! Plus a Pair of Human Torches!

March 9, 2023

Nothing new for my side of the site this week so it’s all older goodies!

The long-lost THE INCREDIBLE HULK AND HUMAN TORCH: FROM THE MARVEL VAULT was released in 2011 with Hulk and Johnny joining forces (as well as Hulk can join anything) against the wacky Wizard!

THE INVADERS (1993) #4 wraps up the WW 2-era miniseries as Cap, Torch (Jim Hammond, the other Torch), Subby, and company defeat the Bundist supervillains and save the day!

THOR #221 pits Thor against Hercules once again! And once again it’s for a dumb reason!

TALES TO ASTONISH #64! More Hulk, battling a horde of humanoids! Giant-Man has an underwater adventure!

In CHAMPIONS #6 from 1975, reluctant super-villain Rampage finds that having the Champions on his tail seriously cramps his revenge scheme! And more Hercules!

Added bonus: The back-up stories have been added to TALES OF SUSPENSE #51-54, completing the entries for these historic issues!

PeterS



60 years since Tales Of Suspense #39

March 6, 2023

Iron Man gains a temporary 2nd title to celebrate his 60th Anniversary. I AM IRON MAN #1 tells a tale that spans from his very earliest days via the present to a future scenario.

T Vernon starts a 2-parter in AVENGERS #244 where the team face the Dire Wraiths, enemies of Rom the Spaceknight.

2 more tie-ins to Infinity Crusade #5 this week:-
WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #22 stars Mole-Man! He and his Moloids defend Monster Island against a UN invasion. Adam Warlock's also here in a last-ditch mental battle against his good side Goddess.
WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #106 shows parts of the superhero fight on Paradise Omega between Goddess' believers and the unbelievers.

And WEST COAST AVENGERS #42 begins John Byrne's run and the slow destruction of Scarlet Witch's life.

--RobFJ



Cap and Guest Hero! Thor and a Kirby Homage!

March 2, 2023

The new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #10 is a showcase for the Destroyer, a Golden-Age hero rejoining Cap against AIM!

THOR #220 has Thor discovering the secrets of the Black Stars in a tale that tries to out-Kirby Jack Kirby in its madness!

TALES TO ASTONISH #63! We meet the Leader! Giant-Man and Wasp take on a protection racket!

In CHAMPIONS #5 from 1975, we meet Rampage, the “Everyman” villain—if every man had a high tech armored suit and unresolved anger issues!

A revised entry for MARVEL TEAM-UP #126, featuring Luke Cage and Son of Satan against some occultist crazies! Plus, Spidey tries to calm down the Hulk yet again!

Added bonus: The back-up stories have been added to TALES OF SUSPENSE #47-50, completing the entries for these historic issues!

PeterS



Savage Avengers ends and the idea of West Coast Avengers begins

February 27, 2023

Savage Avengers vol 2 comes to an end with #10 where Ultron's reign over 2099 is wiped from existence and the team members all return to their proper times and realities.

T Vernon moves on to AVENGERS #243 where the missing Avengers return from Secret Wars and Vision proposes the West Coast Avengers.

I'm back on track working through the Infinity Crusade #5 tie-ins.
But the 1st 1 is another Thor issue #466 which references the fight with Drax in Warlock & Infinity Watch #21 but, despite the cover, is mainly Odin telling a tale of his son's youth.
WARLOCK CHRONICLES #5 has Adam Warlock inside the mind of Goddess discovering his feminine side.

There's just space for WEST COAST AVENGERS #41 which ties up the Mockingbird/Phantom Rider plotline and ends the breakaway WCA group in time for John Byrne to take over the title.

--RobFJ



A Brand New Thor and a Lot of Impersonations!

February 23, 2023

The new THOR #31 presents the Thunder God/All-Father with a surprising puzzle: all the dead in Valhalla and Hel are missing!

TALES TO ASTONISH #62! Chameleon impersonates Bruce Banner! A burglar impersonates Giant-Man! This reviewer impersonates Stan Lee! Revised and expanded issue, Pilgrim! ‘Nuff said?

In CHAMPIONS #4 from 1975, the Mad Scientist of the Week turns the heroes against each other! On the beach, no less!

THE INVADERS (1993) #3 sees the arrival of the Golden Age Vision, an alien named Aarkus! The bad news is…he’s a bad guy!

And HULK: NIGHTMERICA #6 wraps up the miniseries by revealing all the secrets of the scary science base named in the title!

Added bonus: The back-up stories have been added to TALES OF SUSPENSE #43-46, completing the entries for these historic issues!

PeterS



This time Thor's in 4 of the 5 issues

February 20, 2023

There are 2 new issues this week:-

In IRON MAN #3 Tony Stark finally works out who his enemy is, the only candidate that's ever been mentioned.

In AVENGERS FOREVER #14 the mega-assembled Avengers, especially the variants of Steve Rogers, take on the army of Dr Dooms, especially Doom Supreme and Doom The Living Planet.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #242 is 1 of those pauses-for-breath-between-adventures issues which in this case ends with the 1st Secret Wars event.

With THOR #465 I'm still catching up with earlier Infinity Crusade Thor tie-ins. In this 1 he gets sent to deal with the Super-Skrull.

And now I'm caught up and can go straight to WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #21, a tie-in to IC#5 where Thor has to fight Drax of the Watch.

--RobFJ



For Hulk, There’s Some Good News and Some Bad News!

February 16, 2023

In the new HULK #12, everything is finally going well for Ol’ Greenskin on a planet where he is considered a god—but then everything goes wrong inside his brain!

THE INVADERS (1993) #2 sees the titular patriotic team joined by Blazing Skull and Silver Scorpion against the Nazi menace!

In THOR #219, Thor and the gang are on their way to stop the world-devouring Black Stars when they encounter the Stars’ robotic slave class! With a promise of a shock ending!

TALES TO ASTONISH #61! Hulk captured by the Army! Giant-Man faces a gianter man—a huge android! Revised and expanded entry!

In CHAMPIONS #3 from 1975, the offbeat team takes their beef with the Greek gods straight to Mount Olympus!

Added bonus: The back-up stories have been added to TALES OF SUSPENSE #39-42, completing the entries for these historic issues!

PeterS



A bit Thor-heavy this week

February 13, 2023

This week's new issue is AVENGERS: WAR ACROSS TIME #2. The Avengers fail to go after Kang and instead tangle with Sindri, king of the Asgardian dwarves, who is able to steal Thor's hammer.

T Vernon does AVENGERS #241, part 2 of the resurrection of Jessica Drew, who unfortunately can no longer be Spider-Woman.

I'm pausing my headlong rush through Infinity Crusade tie-ins to backtrack and cover THOR #463-464 which I missed out earlier. Thor falls under Goddess' spell but she has competition in his imaginary companion Valkyrie.

Mark Gruenwald is filling in for West Coast Avengers' scribe Steve Englehart who's quit. So in #40 he brings in the Night Shift, a team of villains he invented earlier.

--RobFJ



Multi-parters from 2 to lots

February 13, 2023

This week in AVENGERS #66 Galactus and the Avengers Mountain Celestial (who is now a Deathlok) arrive in the God Quarry to take on Planet Doom and the multiversal Dr Dooms in part 8 the Avengers Assemble event.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #245 concludes the Dire Wraith 2-parter with fights both in space and on the ground, and SHIELD turn up when it's all over.

The last 2 tie-ins to Infinity Crusade #5:-
In SILVER SURFER (1987) #85 basically Surfer battles Storm and Wonder Man on Paradise Omega.
And there's more Paradise Omega fighting in ALPHA FLIGHT #127 as Shaman watches the conflicts involving all the other Alphans until the Sun goes nova.

In WEST COAST AVENGERS #43 the Whackos discover that Vision has been disassembled in part 2 of the 4-part Vision Quest story. After the battle-heavy issues above it's a bit of a relief to have 1 where hardly anybody gets hit.

--RobFJ



A Brand New Sam Cap! More Hulk! More Horror!

February 9, 2023

In the new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #10, Sam Cap fights for his life against his partner the Falcon, now a vampiric birdman!

TALES TO ASTONISH #60! A new and improved entry! Hulk battles an indestructible robot! Giant-Man takes on the Beasts of Berlin—an army of Commie super-apes!

That crazy team returns in CHAMPIONS #2 from 1975, caught up in the scheming of Greek gods and mythological marriages!

In THOR #218, the next big horror is on its way, the universe-consuming Black Stars! Don't you just hate days like this?

And there some great news for Bruce Banner in HULK: NIGHTMERICA #5 at the title sanctuary: they can cure the Hulk!

PeterS



Loki Supreme vs Doom Supreme

February 6, 2023

AVENGERS #65 tells us the history of Avenger Prime, the best/worst Loki of them all. And he easily dispels the minions of Doom Supreme.

I've documented INFINITY CRUSADE #5 and listed its tie-ins. The believers fight the unbelievers while Thanos fails to stop Goddess making all the stars go nova.

In T Vernon's AVENGERS (1963) #240 some of the team visit the hospital bedside of comatose Jessica Drew. With help from Dr Strange and Shroud they try to save her from Morgan Le Fey.

In WEST COAST AVENGERS ANNUAL #3 both WCA teams separately fight High Evolutionary and his minions. Jessica Drew gets 2 shout-outs here too.

And in WEST COAST AVENGERS #39 amnesiac Mantis turns out to be a plant body, but her dead lover Swordsman sets things aright.

--RobFJ



A Brand New Cap! A Bad Old Team! A Lot More Hulk!

February 2, 2023

In the new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #9, Steve Cap and his new team head out to take back New York from the baddies!

Hercules! Black Widow! Iceman! Angel! Ghost Rider! They all come together in CHAMPIONS #1 from 1975, making up Marvel’s craziest team!

In THOR #217, the Thunder God and company return to Asgard to face their exact doubles! It’s a cliché—but a fun cliché!

Hulk makes his debut in TALES TO ASTONISH as issue #59 pits him against Giant-Man and Wasp! Things just get bigger from here! A new and improved entry!

More Hulk in HULK: NIGHTMERICA #4 as Bruce Banner checks in on a religious commune besieged by the Feds!

PeterS



The span of a marriage

January 30, 2023

ALL-OUT AVENGERS #5 ends the series (prematurely?) with an Avengers/Spider-Man scrap, and Captain America figures out that the man behind this series is the Beyonder. And the title of follow-on series Avengers Beyond together with its solicitations and covers suggest he's right

The Infinity Crusade #4 tie-ins this week are ALPHA FLIGHT #125-126 where Shaman leads some AF hangers-on to the land of the dead to defeat a bigger menace who's opposing Goddess for his own reasons.

In T Vernon's AVENGERS (1963) #239 some non-current team-members go on the David Letterman show. And Hawkeye introduces his new bride Mockingbird to the team.

Coincidentally in WEST COAST AVENGERS #37 the duo (and the team) are breaking up as Mantis comes to call.

--RobFJ



A Brand New Thor and a Blessed Event!

January 26, 2023

The new THOR #30 pits Thor and Runa against the undead Draugrs, more familiar to video game fans than the typical Marvelite!

Meanwhile, in VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #12, Wanda gives birth to her and Vision’s twins! Let’s congratulate the happy couple while we pretend we don’t know what happens next!

Cap! Subby! Torch! THE INVADERS (1993) #1 kicks off a miniseries featuring the World War 2 superheroes against a powerful Axis team!

TALES TO ASTONISH #58 sees Giant-Man and Wasp facing an even bigger giant! And a lot dumber!

In HULK: NIGHTMERICA #3, Bruce Banner’s mission to rescue lost mutations takes him to the deadly streets of inner city St. Louis!

PeterS



Everybody needs help sometime

January 23, 2023

Contrary to the cover of IRON MAN #2 Ironheart helps Iron Man here against Living Laser, despite disagreeing about the use of Mandarin's Rings.

In AVENGERS FOREVER #13 the Goddesses Of Thunder with Old Man Phoenix and a lot of Mjolnirs help the multiversal Avengers defeat the horde of Mephistos. But then Doom Supreme and his army of Dooms on Doom The Living Planet turn up. But then so does Avenger Prime who reveals his identity at last.

In T Vernon's AVENGERS (1963) #238 Vision wakes up and expands his mind, which is not going to end well down the line.

Now it's time to start on the Infinity Crusade #4 tie-ins.
In SILVER SURFER (1987) #84 the Surfer Bomb goes off and we glimpse what the Zenn-Lavian afterlife is like.
In WARLOCK CHRONICLES #4 Adam Warlock tries to convince his bad side Magus to help fight Goddess, but then decides he doesn't need him anyway.

--RobFJ



A Brand New Hulk and a Threefold Helping of Spider-Man!

January 19, 2023

That’s right, after a brief hiatus, HULK #11 is here, featuring the Green Giant playing a decidedly impressive sport called godball!

Meanwhile, in VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #11, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange make guest appearances at tax time!

TALES TO ASTONISH #57 also features a guest shot by Spidey, butting heads with Giant-Man and Wasp for no real reason!

MARVEL UNIVERSE VS THE PUNISHER #4 wraps up the miniseries with the Punisher facing the monster Kingpin to save Mary Jane for the ghastly predator Spider-Man!

Sorry, no Spider-Man in THOR #216 where the God of Thunder battles Mercurio the Fourth-Dimensional Man for possession of Xorr, the God-Jewel, about to go nova! Maybe next time….

PeterS



The original Avengers are back again

January 16, 2023

AVENGERS: WAR ACROSS TIME #1 begins a miniseries where the original Avengers tangle with Kang again. This time he sends a robot Hulk against them.

In SAVAGE AVENGERS #9 the team get their flesh bodies back, but Punisher 2099 seemingly dies.

T Vernon gets back on track with AVENGERS (1963) #237, the end of the Spider-Man trilogy where the Government turn down Spidey's application to be an Avenger. He'll make it eventually.

I've moved on to INFINITY CRUSADE #4 and briefly listed its tie-ins. In this issue Thanos coordinates a multi-pronged plan of attack against Goddess.

WEST COAST AVENGERS #36 ties up the adventure involving Quicksilver and a bunch of Ant-Man's old Commie adversaries with everybody piling on Dr Pym.

--RobFJ



Alien Invaders, Evil Magicians, Crystal Gods, and Mutated Heroes!

January 12, 2023

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #9 is an all-action issue, bringing back an alien menace and revealing a surprise villain on the final page!

TALES TO ASTONISH #56 has Giant-Man facing off against…a crooked magician?!? They can’t all be winners and often the lamer the villain, the funnier the issue!

Take a step back from the cover of HULK: NIGHTMERICA #2 as Bruce Banner meets a character called Deadbird!

MARVEL UNIVERSE VS THE PUNISHER #3! The Punisher and the mutated Spider-Man make an uneasy alliance against his nemesis, an equally monstrous Kingpin!

In THOR #215, the God of Thunder and his party face Xorr, the God-Jewel, a literal world of trouble! 

PeterS



Bookended by Dooms but neither of them get the 5

January 9, 2023

In AVENGERS #64 the 2 teams of Avengers defeat the Multiversal Masters Of Evil except for Doom Supreme. But this was all a feint while he leads his army of Dooms on Doom The Living Planet to his own secret goal.

T Vernon fills in another missing original Avengers Annual with #12 starring the Fantastic Four and Inhumans as well in a tale he gives a rare 5/5. Next week he'll return to the regular original Avengers issues.

It's the last tie-ins to Infinity Crusade #3:-
In SILVER SURFER (1987) #83 Firelord is sent to chastise the heretic Surfer, while Thanos waits in the wings.
WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #20 shows what Pip The Troll plans to do with the power of the Cosmic Egg. But then Goddess' backup plan pulls the plug on his dreams.

Finally in WEST COAST AVENGERS #35 the team have escaped from Communist Hungary to crash in Latveria and face Dr Doom. Or is he?

--RobFJ



Some New Mind Games!

January 5, 2023

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #8 has Cap and his new team under psychic attack by a new variation on an old baddie, MODOC: Mental Organism Designed Only for Control!

THOR #214 has Thor and company stuck in the middle of a space war between a mining colony and a band of warriors led by the Fourth-Dimensional Man! 

TALES TO ASTONISH #55 sees the return of Giant-Man’s and Wasp’s silliest enemy: the Human Top!

HULK: NIGHTMERICA #1 has Bruce Banner helping a lady journalist track down some mutated friends from nasty experiments gone wrong with Hulk on hand to keep things from going too smoothly!

VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #10! Crystal’s adultery comes to light and her hubby Quicksilver goes berserk in a strangely soap opera-ish issue of this miniseries! Guest-starring the Inhumans!

PeterS



... and the 1st offerings of the new year

January 2, 2023

ALL-OUT AVENGERS #4 dumps us in the middle of another of the learning scenarios (allegedly arranged by the Beyonder). Jessica Drew is asked out by a member of AIM. And we get a last page glimpse of the imminent big baddie.

THUNDERBOLTS #5 is the last issue. We learn that Nightmare has been messing with Hawkeye for a long time. And that Eegro's secret power is that 'e can grow.

T Vernon opts to fill in some missing Avengers Annuals, starting with the reprint AVENGERS (1963) ANNUAL #3-5 for completeness.

I've added 2 more Infinity Crusade #3 tie-ins:-
WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #19 marks time as we look in on what Adam Warlock, Thanos and the other members of the Infinity Watch plus Silver Surfer are doing.
WARLOCK CHRONICLES #3 is more significant as Thanos and Warlock make a deal with Mephisto to get him to reveal the secrets of Cosmic Cubes.

--RobFJ



The Final Offerings of the Year!

December 29, 2022

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #8 sees Sam Cap and Nomad caught up in the resistance to an evil dictator, the White Wolf!

HULK #41 from 2011: About to be killed by Omegex, Red Hulk’s life flashes before his eyes and it’s a bitter journey!

MARVEL UNIVERSE VS THE PUNISHER #2 continues with the Punisher facing mutated monstrous versions of Hulk, Venom, Deadpool, and Spider-Man!

Taking us to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #9 shows Vision falling under the spell of the Enchantress!

THOR #213 from 1973 has Thor and his pals prisoners on the world of the lizard men but the baddies don’t know there’s no way to hold them! 

PeterS



A lot of learning goes a little way

December 26, 2022

AVENGERS FOREVER #12 is another big battle issue, this time the Red Council of Mephistos vs the defenders of Avengers Tower. And we learn what Mephisto's game plan is.

T Vernon contributes AVENGERS (1963) #236 where Spider-Man asks to join the Avengers but we learn he's not a team player.

Tie-ins to Infinity Crusade #3:-
In DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #56 Stephen Strange takes time out from the Crusade to witness the end of his vampire brother Victor.
In WARLOCK CHRONICLES #2 we finally learn that the guardian of the Reality Gem is Thanos.

In WEST COAST AVENGERS #34 the WCA escape from the trap set by Quicksilver only to wind up in Latveria. And everyone learns Mockingbird's guilty secret.

--RobFJ



An Offbeat Bit of Madness!

December 22, 2022

Jonathan Maberry’s oddball MARVEL UNIVERSE VS THE PUNISHER #1 from 2011 has the population turning into cannibalistic predators, even the heroes—and the Punisher is taking them all down!

Luke Cage guest stars in VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #8, mainly so they can add a reference to the then-new Martin Luther King holiday! Quicksilver appears too but nobody likes him!

THOR #212 from 1973 has Thor and his pals returning to Asgard to discover the place has been taken over by villainous lizard men! 

TALES TO ASTONISH #54 sees Giant-Man and Wasp on a spy mission to a fictitious Latin American country to overthrow a goofy dictator!

HULK #40 from 2011: The battle between Red Hulk and Omegex continues and if Omegex can’t win on the battlefield, he’ll nuke Earth!

PeterS



Ups and downs, starts and ends

December 19, 2022

IRON MAN #1 starts a new series for this column's main man, which begins by making him hit rock bottom.

SAVAGE AVENGERS #8 continues the 2099 adventure, and the issue ends with Ultron turning most of the team into Deathloks.

T Vernon progresses to AVENGERS (1963) #235 which efficiently deals with Wizard but starts a 3-issue guest-run by Spider-Man.

I've synopsised INFINITY CRUSADE #3 and briefly described its tie-ins. Mephisto does a deal with Adam Warlock and Thanos. The unbeliever heroes plan an assault on Goddess. But Pip The Troll beats them all to the punch and seems to have single-handedly ended the whole story.

WEST COAST AVENGERS #33 begins a sequence of issues with titles and villains from old Ant-Man stories in Tales To Astonish. And Scarlet Witch & Vision start their run in this title. Both of these things coincidentally connect to stuff currently in Peter's column.

--RobFJ



Thor and Thanos! Together Again?

December 15, 2022

Held over from last week is the new THOR #29, beginning a new story arc featuring dead Thanos, a black Infinity Stone, and Thor’s kid sister! Will the Big Guy come back?

And more older classics:

A+X 18! Captain America and Cyclops protect the Skrulls from Doctor Doom—and SHIELD! Vision and Kitty Pryde trapped in Murderworld—only now it’s haunted!

HULK #39 from 2011 sees the inexorable alien killing machine Omegex finally catch up with its quarry: Red Hulk!

TALES TO ASTONISH #53: Porcupine returns to face Giant-Man and Wasp with another illogical scheme!

It’s Christmas in VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #7 and Vision goes on a quest to discover his real identity! And then Toad shows up, being formidable for a change!

PeterS



Team-ups, crossovers and tie-ins

December 12, 2022

This week saw AVENGERS #63 continue the Avengers Assemble crossover. The current and 1M BC Avengers team up to fight the Multiversal Masters Of Evil.

T Vernon continues his wander through the original Avengers series with a crossover into DR STRANGE (1974) #60 where Strange helps Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch and Jarvis fend off an invasion of Avengers Mansion by Dracula and a horde of his minions.

And the Infinity Crusade #2 tie-ins conclude with:-
WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #105 continues doubting Spidey's fight with some of Goddess' followers.
MARC SPECTOR, MOON KNIGHT #57 crosses over with that when Goddess doubts MK.
And Scarlet Witch appears in both issues.

Lastly in WEST COAST AVENGERS #32 Wasp comes to stay with the team and her ex-husband while Mockingbird tricks the rest of the team into fighting Yetrigar (who?) while she goes after the man she thinks is haunting her as Phantom Rider.

--RobFJ



Thanos Returns! Sort of!

December 8, 2022

The brand new THANOS: DEATH NOTES which reviews the late Titan’s life, shows up as a Thor tie-in, which would explain why Thanos shows up here rather than on Rob Johnson’s side of the site where he belongs! And no, he doesn’t face an eccentric detective named L or a demon named Ryuk!

There’s also a new Thor issue this week but it will have to wait till next week!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #7 sees Cap assembling his own circle of friends to combat the villainous Outer Circle!

And some older classics:

TALES TO ASTONISH #52: Giant-Man and Wasp face one of their cooler villains, the Black Knight! So cool in fact that Marvel killed him off and gave his act to a good guy!

Thanksgiving can be an awkward time when relatives who don’t get along together gather for a family dinner; it doesn’t get much worse than in VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #6 as Wanda’s father shows up—and he’s Magneto!

HULK #38 from 2011 concludes the FEAR ITSELF crossover with Red Hulk being joined by MODOK to fight the forces of the Serpent in Manhattan!

PeterS



The beginning of the end for the Avengers (again)

December 5, 2022

The AVENGERS ASSEMBLE ALPHA 1-shot starts the crossover which will I understand wrap up the current Avengers and Avengers Forever series. This issue is mainly the Marvel staple plot of heroes meeting heroes (the current and 1M BC Avengers) and fighting each other rather than the enemy.

Meanwhile T Vernon continues the original Avengers series with #234 which is a break between adventures during which Scarlet Witch tells Captain Marvel her history. Until Dr Strange comes to ask for her help.

More Infinity Crusade #2 tie-ins:-
In DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #55 Strange isn't completely convinced the Goddess is right, and Dormammu tries to trick him into releasing him from his pocket dimension prison to oppose her.
And in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #104 Peter Parker also has his doubts about Goddess so her priestess Moondragon attacks him.

The 5th issue this time is WEST COAST AVENGERS #7 where 2 Ultrons fight over their 'father' Henry Pym, because Ultron-12 wants to be a good son.

--RobFJ



The Return of Ian “Nomad” Rogers, Forgotten Hero!

December 1, 2022

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #7 heralds the return of Sam Cap’s former sidekick Ian Rogers a/k/a Nomad who was last seen in 2015 and no one has missed him!

And some older classics:

HULK #37 from 2011 sees the sour Red Hulk getting involved with the FEAR ITSELF event by battling Angrir, the possessed and powered Thing (Ben Grimm)!

In VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #5, Wanda spends Halloween (and maybe eternity) trapped in the Land of the Dead!

In 1973’s THOR #211, the God of Thunder stops the trolls’ invasion of New York City! Insert your own NYC joke here!

TALES TO ASTONISH #51: Can even Giant-Man and the Wasp stop the Human Top? This issue is no flop, ‘twill make your eyes pop!

PeterS



This time it is 3 Avengers issues and 2 for Alpha Flight

November 28, 2022

In AVENGERS FOREVER #11 the All-Rider tries to kill the Multiversal Masters Of Evil on his own. He fails but is rescued by Ant-Man-818 and the Deathlok.

ALL-OUT AVENGERS #3 is another seeming standalone adventure where the Avengers team-up with Red Skull against an army of Red Skull LMDs.

T Vernon moves on to AVENGERS (1963) #233. Up to #232 I had been documenting the Avengers issues because they had Iron Man in them but then he jumped ship and joined the West Coast Av and I followed him. So TV has a mostly clear run from here. This issue is a companion to last week's Fantastic Four #256 as the team fight Annihilus on Earth.

Starting the Infinity Crusade #2 tie-ins:- ALPHA FLIGHT #123-124 are the concluding parts of the Holy Terror trilogy where some of the team have to stop their team-member turned evil Witchfire.

--RobFJ



Decades of Classic Comics!

November 24, 2022

Each of the new comics added today is from a different decade for an odd grouping! 

1963’s TALES TO ASTONISH #50 pits Giant-Man and the Wasp against the silliest of his foes for the first time: the madly spinning Human Top!

In 1973’s THOR #210, the trolls steal Thor’s hammer! Guest starring the North Korean Army?!

In 1986’s VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #4, the offbeat couple are confirmed to be having a baby—but the bad guys want them out of the neighborhood!

1996: MARVEL FANFARE Vol. 2 #2 reunites Hulk, Wolverine, and Wendigo with a revised and expanded entry!

And a big jump to 2014 for A + X #17 wherein Captain America and Cyclops protect the Skrulls from…Doctor Doom! Plus, Iron Man is shadowed by an annoying Broo

PeterS



Monica Rambeau is in 2 issues as Captain Marvel (sort of)

November 21, 2022

This week's IRON MAN #25 is a final issue and simultaneously a 25th and 650th anniversary. It contains 3 celebratory tales and a preview of the next series.

THUNDERBOLTS #4 is mainly a wish-fulfilment fantasy for Hawkeye but in reality the whole team seems to be stricken with something.

T Vernon continues his trek through the latter part of Avengers vol 1 by giving us FANTASTIC FOUR #256 because it's a crossover with the next Av issue involving Annihilus.

Meanwhile I'll contribute occasional issues of West Coast Avengers missing from our database, starting with #6 and Cat-People.

And my Thanos/Infinity Crusade journey continues with INFINITY CRUSADE #2, including summaries of its tie-ins. The unbeliever heroes try to figure out what to do while Goddess enters a Cosmic Egg.

--RobFJ



Bucky has a New Job! The Advent of Giant-Man!

November 17, 2022

Now that Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, has joined the villainous Outer Circle, CAPTAIN AMERICA AND WINTER SOLDIER SPECIAL tells more about that sinister organization in a one-shot full of startling revelations!

In the classic TALES TO ASTONISH #49, the Big Guy makes his first appearance! Hank Pym becomes Giant-Man for the first time, against the Living Eraser, who is surprisingly good at rubbing out his enemies!

In VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #3, Agatha Harkness is burned at the stake in New Salem with Wanda and Vizh next! Oh and we’re starting with issue #3 because Rob Johnson did issues #1 and 2 many years ago because of the tie-in with his favorite WEST COAST AVENGERS!

1973’s THOR #209 pits the God of Thunder against the gigantic Demon Druid who can easily whup his butt on a visit to Great Britain!

Peter David’s HULK: DESTRUCTION #4 concludes with what we’ve all been waiting for: Hulk and Abomination bashing each other silly!

PeterS



T Vernon sneaks 3 issues in this week

November 14, 2022

A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY OMEGA is an epilogue to the AXE:JD event basically telling us how the Eternals adjust to their new status.

AVENGERS #62 is a tale of the 1M BC Avengers, especially Agamotto, with the current Avengers arriving at the end to usher in the next Avengers event Avengers Assemble.

I recently completed filling in the issues of Avengers #1-100 which were missing from our database. #101-200 were already complete. Now that T Vernon has done all the Iron Man missing issues that we know about he's moving on to tackle the missing Avengers after #200.
1st up is a lonely AVENGERS (1963) #209 which was omitted because back in the old days we couldn't include issues in our then-multi-website database that didn't feature Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man or Thor.
So in this issue some of the other Avengers try to save the life of Beast's long-time girlfriend Vera Cantor.

I'll complete my run-through of tie-ins to Infinity Crusade #1 by mentioning some we covered earlier. I wrote-up AVENGERS WEST COAST #96-97 (while some of the team get caught up in the Crusade others fight the Power Platoon and Wundarr) and TV did IRON MAN (1968) #294-295 (Goddess tries to recruit Tony Stark to her army while he battles the Technovore).

--RobFJ



Cap Versus Bucky!

November 10, 2022

Brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #6 features an almost issue-long fight between Steve Cap and Winter Soldier! Object: to keep Bucky from going over to the dark side!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #40 wraps up the series by showing how Vision regained color after his all-white look! And that’s all-white by me!

1973’s THOR #208 introduces Mercurio, the Fourth-Dimensional Man, who has fire powers in his left hand and freezing ability in his right! Or is it the other way around? Even the creators of the comic couldn’t keep it straight, here or on his return!

In the classic TALES TO ASTONISH #48, Ant-Man and Wasp confront the Porcupine! Who isn’t as silly as he looks! Uhhhh, maybe!

Peter David’s HULK: DESTRUCTION #3 shows us the alternate origin of Mercy along with that of the Abomination!

PeterS

 



This time there are Deathloks in both Avengers titles

November 7, 2022

3 new issues this week:-

In AVENGERS FOREVER #10 Ghost Rider's little team scour the multiverse for the best Tony Stark but decide they've already got him in Ant-Man of Earth-818. (So what's wrong with Iron Man of Earth-616?)

SAVAGE AVENGERS #7 continues the war in 2099 against Ultron, ending by recruiting Doom 2099.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: COSMIC REWIND is a 1-shot that reintroduces us to the 5 basic Guardians with the threat of a Celestial foe.

T Vernon's WHAT IF? IRON MAN: DEMON IN AN ARMOUR ends his IM odds and ends, but he'll be back next week with something old but new.

2 more tie-ins to Infinity Crusade #1:-
In WARLOCK CHRONICLES #1 we see where Goddess sent Adam Warlock. We get yet another brief history of the char and his Soul Gem, and meet 2 new ones Darklore and Meer'lyn.
In DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #54 Strange seeks the advice of the Vishanti and Eternity before joining Goddess' Crusade.

--RobFJ



A Visit to Hulk Planet!

November 3, 2022

The brand new HULK #10 shows us a world created by Hulk where he is hailed as their savior!

In the classic TALES TO ASTONISH #47, Ant-Man and Wasp battle an evil jazz musician with a mighty hypnotic horn!

1972’s THOR #207, Thor joins the Marvel staff at the Halloween parade in Rutland, Vermont! With Loki and the Absorbing Man on hand to cause trouble!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #39! Black Knight returns to take on the fanatical Crusader!

A+X 16! Spider-Man rescues a wounded Psylocke! Captain America and Cyclops make a shocking (and disgusting) discovery about the world’s food supply!

PeterS



Persuasion is in 2 of these comics

October 31, 2022

2 more new issues this week:-

A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY #6 brings the mini-series to a close as Ajak persuades the Celestial to undo all the deaths and destruction it has caused and then merges with it to become the Eternals' new 'god' Ajak Celestia.

In THUNDERBOLTS #3 Hawkeye continues to mess up leading the team but they sort-of succeed as usual, this time against the Super-Apes without Red Ghost.

T Vernon completes the MARVEL'S IRON MAN 3 PRELUDE which continues to really star War Machine.

I'm starting on the more significant tie-ins to Infinity Crusade #1.
In WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #18 Drax, Maxam and Pip are left behind when Adam Warlock, Gamora and Moondragon are dragged into the Crusade. Pip kidnaps Mr Fantastic to help them figure out what's going on.
While the main team get involved in the Crusade in ALPHA FLIGHT #122 Beta Flight are attacked by Witchfire, turned demonic by her unknown father who opposes the Goddess.

--RobFJ



Two Helpings of Ant-Man and More Classics!

October 27, 2022

In TALES TO ASTONISH #46, the tiny Ant-Man and Wasp face a giant! Unfortunately, Hank is not yet Giant-Man! Which wouldn’t help!

A+X 15! Dr. Strange and Beast team up to solve an impossible mystery! Captain America and Cyclops discover a Skrull restaurant chain! With Ant-Man (Hank again!) and Emma Frost!

1972’s THOR #206 pits the God of Thunder against the Absorbing Man, always a good time!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #38! “Avengers Reborn” continues by restoring the cat-sized Tigra to her human dimensions! Yikes for the creepy cover!

Peter David returns in HULK: DESTRUCTION #2, offering an alternative history of the Abomination!

PeterS



You can never have too many dinosaurs

October 24, 2022

There are new issues of my 2 mainstay series this week.

IRON MAN #24 ends the Mandarin's Rings story as 'Cobalt Man' turns out to be Ironheart undercover to save Iron Man and War Machine.

AVENGERS #61 focuses on young Starbrand as the team flash through the times of several pre Marvel Age Avengers including a dinosaur Starbrand.

I've also summarised the last Judgment Day tie-in X-Force #33 in A.X.E.:JD#3, where Wolverine fights dinosaurs before an epilogue gives away the ending of the JD event.

T Vernon starts another movie tie-in with MARVEL'S IRON MAN 3 PRELUDE #1, which tells us what War Machine was doing while the 1st Avengers film was going on.

And I return to chronicling the history of Thanos with INFINITY CRUSADE #1. I've been putting this off for a while because the event is such a huge undertaking.

Meanwhile AVENGERS (1963) #92 is the last of the issues missing from #1-100. The 3 founding Avengers sack the 4 newbies.

--RobFJ



Two New Comics Featuring a Beginning and an End!

October 20, 2022

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #6 sets off the White Wolf’s new scheme against his African homeland and Sam Cap!

Also new, THOR #28 wraps up the story arc teaming Thor and Venom against a new and nasty symbiote!

Peter David returns in HULK: DESTRUCTION #1, offering an alternative history of the Abomination!

In TALES TO ASTONISH #45, the super-genius Egghead returns and unleashes his greatest weapon against Ant-Man: an anteater!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #37: No Hawkeye in sight! Instead, Doctor Druid gets a makeover!

PeterS



Judgment Day all over, but not yet

October 17, 2022

 AXE: ETERNALS completes the trilogy of 1-shots. This time Ajak gets judged.

There's been a lot of A.XE: Judgment Day tie-ins which I've summarised in my comments in 3 earlier issues.
In AXE:JD#3 Wolverine #25 concludes the story from #24 before he joins in X-Force #32.
Legion Of X #6 parallels stuff ranging through AXEJD#1-4 so I've mentioned it in #4, along with FF#48 (the conclusion of #47) and the AXE: Iron Fist 1-shot (where the new IF and Loki are judged) plus Captain Marvel #42 (where she and 2 of her cast are judged).
AXE: Death To The Mutants #3 and Immortal X-Men #7 parallel AXE:JD#5 so they go in there along with a summary of AXE:Et above.

ALL-OUT AVENGERS #2 has another standalone story. This time the Avengers are helping a good Dr Doom fight an even worse than usual Dr Doom.

T Vernon finishes the Iron Man 2 movie adaptation with #2.

I've added 2 more old Avengers issues with AVENGERS (1963) #90 (also titled Judgment Day) and #91. This 2-issue part of the Kree/Skrull War has the Avengers, Captain Marvel and Rick Jones stopping the Kree Ronan from devolving Earth back to the Stone Age.

--RobFJ



The Debut of the Wonderful Wasp!

October 13, 2022

So good we’re giving it top billing for another week: TALES TO ASTONISH #44 which introduced the wonderful Wasp, still going strong after sixty years!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #36: Hawkeye discovers the identity of the vigilante Terminizer and wishes he hadn’t!

A+X #14! Superior Spider-Man (you know, Doc Ock) teams up with Magneto against MODOK and A.I.M.! Captain America and Cyclops face Doctor Doom!

In THOR #205, it’s Thor versus Sif and all his friends at the behest of Mephisto!

Last, and maybe least, is HULK-SIZED MINI-HULKS, collecting the adventures of those adorable little guys, the Mini-Hulks!

PeterS



A.X.E. nears the end but Kree/Skrull War is just starting

October 10, 2022

The A.X.E.: STARFOX 1-shot shows how Eros hands the role of Prime Eternal back to Zuras in exchange for the Eternals letting the whole of humanity take refuge in the Great Machine's fractal dimensions.
I've also summarised it and the A.X.E.: X-Men 1-shot (as the heroes invade the Celestial, Jean Grey gets judged) in AXE:JD#5, plus XM: Red #7 (tidying up things on Arakko) in AXE:JD#4.

New also this week is SAVAGE AVENGERS #6 where the team convince Punisher 2099 they're on his side against the 2099 Deathloks, and Punny tells them that the Deathloks' leader is Ultron.

T Vernon provides part 1 of a 2-part adaptation of the 2nd Iron Man film.

I'm still filling in missing items in the 1st 100 Avengers issues.
AVENGERS (1963) #83 has Enchantress pretending to be a char named Valkyrie, and tricking 4 other superheroines into becoming the Lady Liberators (for 1 issue only).
#89 is the opening shot of the Kree/Skrull War epic. Captain Marvel is free of the Negative Zone but his mind is affected. It's up to Rick Jones and some Avengers to stop him.

--RobFJ



New Stuff! Thor! Cap! Hulk!

October 6, 2022

We present three new comics this week, in a rare confluence of publication!

HULK #9 begins a new story arc as Starship Hulk discovers a planet where Hulk is welcomed!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #5 continues with a raid on the headquarters of the Outer Circle and a shocking ending!

JANE FOSTER AND THE MIGHTY THOR #5 ends the miniseries with victory over Ares’ forces and feasting in Asgard! Which is as it should be!

And some older comics:

Hey, remember the Forgotten One? No? I’m not surprised: also known as Gilgamesh, he was a minor Avenger for a few years! Well, AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #35 remembers him and gives him an exciting solo adventure!

Last, and probably the biggest deal on the page, is TALES TO ASTONISH #44 which introduced the wonderful Wasp who, unlike the Forgotten One, is still going strong after sixty years!

PeterS



A whole lot of judging going on

October 3, 2022

A.X.E.: Judgment Day continues with the A.X.E.: AVENGERS 1-shot which follows the expedition from AXEJD#5 into the innards of the Celestial but mainly deals with Progenitor's judging of Iron Man. I've also summarised it in AXE:JD#5 ....

.... along with Amazing Spider-Man #10 summarised in AXE:JD#4. There Peter Parker is judged, and rewarded with a brief reuniting with Gwen Stacy.

In THUNDERBOLTS #2 the team have to fight a small monster named Eegro The Unbreakable, who is immediately adjudged worthy to join them because he appeals to kids.

T Vernon presents IRON MAN: VIVA LAS VEGAS #2 where Iron Man squares off against Fin Fang Foom. But it ends there because the later 2 issues were deemed not worth publishing.

Filling the gaps in the 1st 100 issues of Avengers continues with AVENGERS (1963) #74 which concludes the Sons Of The Serpent 2-parter. Then I've thrown in DAREDEVIL (1964) #69, a tie-in to Av#80-82, where Black Panther reveals his (Luke Charles) identity to DD and tells him that he knows he's Matt Murdock.

--RobFJ



Sam Cap Versus Black Panther! Thor Meets Venom!

September 29, 2022

The brand new THOR #27 sees a surprising visitor to Asgard: Venom, now the King in Black!

Also new is CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #5 where Sam Cap is caught in Wakanda and incurs the wrath of Black Panther!

In TALES TO ASTONISH #43, Ant-Man meets the Master of Time who can turn our tiny hero into an old man in seconds!

HULK: CUTTING EDGE, a special from 1995, explores the madness inside Hulk’s mind with the Ringmaster brought in to try to control it all! By Peter David!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #34! Hawkeye witnesses the mass murder of a street gang! U.S. Agent duels to the death with a mad xenophobe!

PeterS



A bumper Avengers bundle this week

September 26, 2022

A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY #5 sees another attempt to shut down the Celestial. Captain America dies to inspire the world, but the mutants resurrect him.

In AVENGERS #60 the Celestial judges Hawkeye as marginally better than a mailbox. I've also summarised this and Fantastic Four #47 in AXE:JD#4.

This week also gave us AVENGERS FOREVER #9 where a Carol Danvers escapes from a dystopia ruled by Dark Phoenix to join the multiversal Carol Corps.

T Vernon starts documenting another alternate world mini-series with IRON MAN: VIVA LAS VEGAS #1 featuring Elsa Bloodstone and Fin Fang Foom.

Meanwhile back in AVENGERS (1963) #73 Black Panther meets Monica Lynne and begins a fight against the racist Sons Of The Serpent.

--RobFJ



Jane Foster’s Latest Adventure Continues!

September 22, 2022

Out new is JANE FOSTER AND THE MIGHTY THOR #4: the war in Asgard continues, Jane has seen Thor Odinson die, and the ghastly Disir have returned! And how was your day?

And from earlier days:

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #33! The mysterious Terminizer is killing the gangbangers and Hawkeye is the chief suspect! U.S. Agent races to stop a maniac from shooting up a church!

A+X #13 sees Captain America and Cyclops fighting over the death of Professor X! And Black Widow teams up with Emma Frost—to recover the latter’s sex tape! 

TALES TO ASTONISH #42 pits Ant-Man against the Voice of Doom, a more conventionally colored version of the Purple Man!

And the climactic HULK AND THING: HARD KNOCKS #4 answers the big question: Has Thing ever defeated the Hulk?

PeterS



In a packed programme tonight ...

September 19, 2022

A.X.E.: Judgement Day reaches #4 where Starfox becomes Prime Eternal so the ousted Druig unleashes Uranos on Earth. But then the Celestial Progenitor kills everyone in the world (supposedly). And I've added a summary of the X-Men: Red #6 tie-in as well.

In IRON MAN #23 Tony Stark makes a bid for Mandarin's Rings only to discover his old foe Spymaster has already sold them to Cobalt Man.

SAVAGE AVENGERS #5 waves goodbye to Conan as Thulsa Doom is killed and Set is banished. But the rest of the team wind up in 2099 to face that era's Punisher.

T Vernon's next offering is the IRON MAN: TITANIUM 1-shot, an anthology of 4 stories none of which, despite the cover, feature the actual Titanium Man.

In my ongoing mission to fill in the missing issues in #1-100 of the original Avengers run I bring you something which isn't an Avengers issue or even a tie-in. But CAPTAIN MARVEL (1968) #17 is a crucial point in the career of Rick Jones (who I've always had an interest in because he shares my initials) where he changes from being a hanger-on of Hulk/Avengers/Captain America to being the partner of Mar-Vell (who will then keep getting involved with the Avengers).

--RobFJ



Many Familiar Tropes in These Classic Comics!

September 15, 2022

1972’s THOR #204 has Thor and his comrades being exiled to Earth by Odin, which was a cliché even then!

TALES TO ASTONISH #41 sees Ant-Man being kidnapped to another dimension for the first time though not the last!

HULK AND THING: HARD KNOCKS #3: the guys continue to reminisce—about their first battle!

In DOC SAMSON #4, the big green doctor solves the mystery of the Patchwork Killer with help from She-Hulk and Polaris! That’s a lot of green hair for one comic issue!

And  double-header: AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #32! Hawkeye is joined by the vigilante Terminizer in his war on the street gangs! U.S. Agent searches for a vigilante killing illegal immigrants!

PeterS



More tie-ins plus not-so-secret identities.

September 12, 2022

ALL-OUT AVENGERS #1 starts a new series of single-issue action tales with a mixture of current and old Avengers.

I've added summaries of tie-ins A.X.E.: Death To The Mutants #2, Immortal X-Men #6, Marauders #6 and Wolverine #24 to A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY #3. Lots of judging occurs.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN: RAPTURE #4 Tony Stark dies! Which is why it's set in an alternate universe.

I've completed the Egghead trilogy with AVENGERS (1963) #64-65, where we meet Hawkeye's brother Barney and learn his name Clint Barton for the 1st time. But before that I added loose tie-in DAREDEVIL (1964) #52 where Black Panther learns DD's identity.

--RobFJ



Cap Versus Starpoint Round Two!

September 8, 2022

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #4 brings back the shapeshifting assassin Starpoint but this time he’s defeated with words in a talky, politically charged issue!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #31! Hawkeye’s war on the street gangs has collateral damage! U.S. Agent searches for a killer targeting refugees!

With THOR #203, Ego-Prime is defeated—but you won’t believe what comes of that victory!

TALES TO ASTONISH #40 shows us “The Day That Ant-Man Failed!” Yikes!

HULK AND THING: HARD KNOCKS #2 sees the mighty frenemies reminiscing about their first meeting—during a lull in the fighting, of course!

PeterS



It's tie-in week.

September 5, 2022

This week saw the delayed start of the new Thunderbolts series. In #1 Mayor Luke Cage sets the team up but leader Hawkeye has absolutely no control of them.

I've added summaries of X-Men #14 and X-Force #31 tie-ins to A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY #3. Cyclops refuses to be judged (which earns him an OK judgement) while Kraven asks for it but is ignored.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN: RAPTURE #3 War Machine enters the fray.

For the next few weeks I'm going to concentrate on finishing off the missing issues in the 1st 100 of the original Avengers run. I start with #63, the start of a 3-issue story, but then step sideways to include tie-ins SUB-MARINER (1968) #14 and CAPTAIN MARVEL (1968) #14.

--RobFJ



More Classics! Including a Thor Throwback!

September 1, 2022

With THOR #202 we return to an earlier era in the saga of the God of Thunder--1972! Thor and his allies battle Ego-Prime, a humanoid and angry version of the Living Planet!

In the offbeat HULK AND THING: HARD KNOCKS #1, the two powerful frenemies get together for some conversation—which involves apocalyptic punching too!

In TALES TO ASTONISH #39, Ant-Man faces the Scarlet Beetle, a giant irradiated talking genius of a bug!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #30! Hawkeye takes on the gangs of Los Angeles in a shockingly relevant—and violent—tale!

In Dan Slott’s DOC SAMSON #3, She-Hulk has been captured by the Patchwork Killer! And Doc Samson crosses paths with the Punisher!

PeterS



Is *everything* virtual?

August 29, 2022

In A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY #3 Avengers, Deviants, Eternals and X-Men combine to try to shut down the Celestial. They think they succeed but it was all an illusion.

In AVENGERS FOREVER #8 Ghost Rider and Ant-Man recruit an unworthy Thor who has learned to be the God Of Fists.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN: RAPTURE #2 the characters get trapped in a virtual world.

HAWKEYE (2012) #21-22 brings this series to a close as the tenants of Clint Barton's apartment block fight back against Clown and the Tracksuit Draculas, with help from Kate Bishop who's returned from LA.

--RobFJ



Cap Versus Crossbones! The End of a Thor Era!

August 25, 2022

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #4 sees Sam Cap finally take on Crossbones, longtime brutish enemy of all things Cap! With a surprise last page reveal! That isn’t all that surprising!

The DeFalco/Frenz era ends in THOR #459 as Eric Thor and the real Thor duke it out for preeminence!

In Dan Slott’s DOC SAMSON #2, She-Hulk is captured by the Patchwork Killer while Doc S discovers the bad guy has a copycat!

In TALES TO ASTONISH #38, the criminal genius Egghead makes his debut, persuading the ants to betray Ant-Man! Plus, a flypaper trap!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #29! Hawkeye teams up with the maniacal Madcap! Iron Man battles Klaw and Wizard to close out the “Acts of Vengeance” crossover event!

PeterS



2 cyborgs and 2 Hawkeyes

August 22, 2022

AVENGERS: 1,000,000 B.C. tells us how the team disbanded and what connection Phoenix has with Thor's birth.

In SAVAGE AVENGERS #4 cyborg Deathlok regains his heroic Miles Morales identity but not in time to stop Thulsa Doom sacrificing Conan to bring Set to Hyborian Age Earth. And there's a horde of zombie Cimmerians.

I've summarised this week's A.X.E. tie-ins:- Death To The Mutants #1 and X-Men #13 in A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY #2 and X-Force #30 in #1.

T Vernon tackles a new alternate timeline mini-series in IRON MAN: RAPTURE #1 where Tony Stark becomes a cyborg to save his life but is taken over by his AI.

In HAWKEYE (2012) #19 re-deafened Clint Barton assembles his neighbours to resist the attack by Clown and the Tracksuit Draculas.
And in #20 Kate Bishop ties up loose ends in LA and heads back to NY to help Clint.

--RobFJ



The Final Round! Hulk-Thor versus Thor-Hulk!

August 18, 2022

Things are a bit crazy in the long-awaited conclusion to HULK VS. THOR: BANNER OF WAR as HULK #8 shows who really is the strongest of all!

In TALES TO ASTONISH #37, Ant-Man faces a formidable villain who is armed with a water pistol and a vacuum cleaner, both effective against the tiny hero!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #28! Hawkeye and Mockingbird framed as criminals! Wasp and Wonder Man team up against a crazed giant!

In DOC SAMSON #1, we’ve added new comments to a comic that has long been on the site with a view to completing the green-haired psychiatrist’s solo miniseries!

A second helping of the Thunder God comes in THOR #458 as Eric Masterson continues to crack under the pressure of being Thor!

PeterS



How to build your own Celestial

August 15, 2022

In A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY #2 while the Hex attack Krakoa, Iron Man and the good Eternals create a new Celestial. Good news, it stops the fighting. Bad news, it's now going to judge whether the human race deserves to survive.

Meanwhile in AVENGERS #59 the Avengers are also still bouncing through time helping previously unknown bearers of the Legacy Powers against Mephisto. This time it's Reno Phoenix and the Starbrand Kid in the Wild West.

T Vernon's entry this time is the 1-shot IRON MAN: KISS AND KILL with Iron Man in 2 team-ups with Black Widow and Wolverine respectively.

HAWKEYE (2012) #16,18 are both Kate Bishop issues this week because I've done Clint Barton's #17 earlier. Her 2 PI cases this time involve a man whose brother has stolen his music and what's up with Harold H Harold.

--RobFJ



Sinister Cabals and Demonic Dealings!

August 11, 2022

In the new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #3, Steve Cap discovers the secret of his shield and earns the wrath of the Outer Circle!

In the also new JANE FOSTER AND THE MIGHTY THOR #3, Jane Thor battles the demon S’ym, the most powerful creature of Limbo!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #27! Hawkeye versus Boomerang! An all-female team takes on the Awesome Android!

HULK AND POWER PACK #4! It’s Hulk and Power Pack against all the assembled heroes of Marvel! And my money’s on Hulk and the kids!

CIVIL WAR: HOUSE OF M #5 shows how Magneto and his family came to rule the world!

PeterS



A vampire moves over from Peter's side of the site

August 8, 2022

This week's new issue is IRON MAN #22 where Iron Man and War Machine plan to go after Source Control but the villains send Titanium Man to deal with them. Tony Stark continues the plan even after he's been hit with the nerve gas that killed the original Captain Marvel (I don't mean the Shazam one).

I've also added summaries of Immortal X-Men #5 and X-Men: Red #5 to my comments on A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY #1. They give Exodus' POV of the attack on Krakoa, and show how Uranos destroyed Arakko.

T Vernon finishes the adaptation of the 1st Iron Man film in I AM IRON MAN #2.

HAWKEYE (2012) #14 sees Kate Bishop trying to be a PI in LA. And the mysterious stranger she meets is actually Harold H Harold from Tomb Of Dracula.
We're back in NY with Clint Barton in #15 where the attacks by Clown and the Tracksuit Draculas ramp up.

And I've included another missing piece of the original Avengers series. This 1 is CAPTAIN MARVEL (1968) #12 which involves Black Widow in a prologue to Av#63-65.

--RobFJ



Remember Acts of Vengeance?

August 4, 2022

 Acts of Vengeance” was a Marvel-wide crossover from the early 1989-90 wherein villains switched up the heroes they fought! It all began in AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #26 with Hawkeye, Iron Man, and lots and lots of bad guys!

TALES TO ASTONISH #36 pits Ant-Man against the Commies in this Cold War throwback!

In THOR #457, the real Thor triumphantly returns! And Eric Thor is on his way out!

HULK AND POWER PACK #3! The city is destroyed but who’s the bad guy, Hulk or Abomination? The Power Pack kids mean to find out!

CIVIL WAR: HOUSE OF M #4 sees Magneto battling the entire USA! Guest star: President Nixon!

PeterS

 



Avengers 2, Hawkeye(s) 2, Iron Man 1 (plus a bit part)

August 1, 2022

I had no new issues to review this week but I have AVENGERS #58 from last week. The Avengers are still wandering through the past saving previous bearers of legacy powers from Mephisto. This time it's Ghost Ronin in Edo Japan, who needs no saving.

As in previous weeks I've made up the numbers with AVENGERS (1963) #62 where Black Panther fights Man-Ape of the White Gorilla cult.

T Vernon starts a 2-part adaptation of the 1st Iron Man film in I AM IRON MAN #1.

It's the funeral of Grills in HAWKEYE (2012) #13. Then Kate Bishop leaves Clint Barton for Los Angeles and takes Lucky the Pizza Dog with her.
She gets to LA in HAWKEYE (2012) ANNUAL #1 but runs afoul of Madame Masque who hates her.

--RobFJ



Sam Cap On Trial Before Doctor Doom!

July 28, 2022

The new CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #3 sees Sam Cap and Deadpool in trouble, arrested and tried before Doctor Doom! Guest appearance by Shuri!

TALES TO ASTONISH #35 gives us the actual debut of Ant-Man, red costume, cybernetic helmet and ants! Lotsa ants!

In THOR #456, Eric Thor learns a deep dark secret while Dr. Strange battles Bloodaxe and the Earth Force makes their final appearance!

HULK AND POWER PACK #2 has the kid team helping Hulk against Zzzax! Plus an adventure centering on dirty diapers, yikes!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #25! Hawkeye trapped in a sewer by a lot of villains! Rick Jones is targeted by a mass of aliens who want his memoirs!

PeterS



I give something a 5!

July 25, 2022

I had 3 new issues to cover this week.

In A.X.E.: JUDGMENT DAY #1 Druig of the Eternals launches a 2-pronged attack against the mutants on Krakoa and Mars, 1 of which is immensely successful. And the Eternal Priests come to the Avengers and ask for their Celestial god back.

Since this is nominally an Iron Man column I chose IRON MAN #21 for the 2nd slot. Tony Stark discovers a load of black market ultra-hi-tech weapons for sale online and intends to solve the problem by buying them all himself.

(I'll save Avengers #58 for next week's void.)

T Vernon reaches the end of Iron Man: Hypervelocity with #6. The Tony Stark AI defeats the mecha AI baddies and the SHIELD not-so-goodies but probably dies at the end.

HAWKEYE (2012) #11 gives us a dog's-eye view of events in this series, most of which haven't happened yet.
And #12 brings Clint Barton's brother Barney into the mix.

--RobFJ



Behold! Ant-Man! (sort of…)

July 21, 2022

This week we start adding the original adventures of Ant-Man, founding member of the Avengers and the least appreciated of the team! But he’s not a superhero yet: it all began in TALES TO ASTONISH #27 which introduced the hapless Hank Pym and his shrinking formula! The costume would come next time!

HULK AND POWER PACK #1 is an all-ages comic which sees the superhero kids join the Big Green Guy against the Absorbing Man!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #24! Hawkeye versus a mob of baddies hoping to collect the bounty on him! Firebird learns the secret of her origin!

In THOR #455, Eric Thor faces a Mjolnir-wielding Loki! Guest appearance by Dr. Strange!

CIVIL WAR: HOUSE OF M #3: Magneto conquers Genosha and becomes a world leader!

PeterS



Alternates

July 18, 2022

The A.X.E.: EVE OF JUDGMENT 1-shot is a prologue to the A.X.E.: Judgment Day event, but it's really another issue of Eternals in disguise as Druig makes an abortive attempt to destroy Krakoa.

In SAVAGE AVENGERS #3 the team fail to make Deathlok take them back to the present, but they do reveal that he used to be Miles Morales.

T Vernon continues to find IRON MAN: HYPERVELOCITY #5 a cut above most issues he reviews, as Absynthe becomes a female version of the Avengers.

HAWKEYE (2012) #9 shows us what Kate Bishop, Black Widow, Mockingbird and Spider-Woman were doing last issue.
#10 gives us the origin of Clown, also ending up reprising #8.

--RobFJ



The Black Widow is Orphaned Again! And More!

July 14, 2022

BLACK WIDOW (2020) #15 marks the end of Natasha’s latest ongoing series but not to worry, she’ll be rearmed for the next one!

In THOR #454, Loki sits on the throne of Asgard and the Warriors Three die at dawn!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #23! There’s a contract out on Hawkeye’s…arm! Vision appears on THE TONIGHT SHOW with Johnny Carson! Guest stars: Pee-wee Herman and William Shatner!

In DEFENDERS #60, the Day of the Demons finally arrives! With a cameo by Blue Oyster Cult!  Yikes and double yikes!

CIVIL WAR: HOUSE OF M #2: Magneto leads the mutant forces against Genosha and the Soviet Super Soldiers!

PeterS

 



Fire, ice and hurricane

July 11, 2022

This week's new issue AVENGERS FOREVER #7 continues the multiversal trawl for versions of Avengers members. This time we meet a whole load of Steve Rogers.

I've plumped up this week's offerings with another issue of the original Avengers run. In AVENGERS (1963) #61 Black Panther, Hawkeye and Vision help Dr Strange and Black Knight save the world from the Asgardian Surtur and Ymir.

T Vernon's IRON MAN: HYPERVELOCITY #4 involves a conflict simultaneously underwater and in cyberspace.

I return to my Young Avengers obsession with Kate Bishop's apps in Hawkeye series.
HAWKEYE (2012) #7 has the 2 Hawkeyes separately battling the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
#8 restarts the Cherry/Tracksuit Draculas storyline and throws in Clint Barton's gal pals Black Widow, Mockingbird and Spider-Woman.

--RobFJ



Two Weeks in a Row: A New Thor and a New Cap!

July 7, 2022

JANE FOSTER AND THE MIGHTY THOR #2! Asgard is under attack while Valkyrie Jane Foster’s search for Thor takes her to the deadly realm of Limbo!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #2, Cap learns more about the mystery organization fighting him with a surprising revelation as to who is involved!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #22! Formerly SOLO AVENGERS! Hawkeye under attack by the maniacal Brothers Grimm! The secret origin of the long-dead Swordsman!

In DEFENDERS #59, Devil-Slayer joins the Defenders on a mission against the Cult of the Harvesters of Eyes! Sounds like an awful eyeful!

CIVIL WAR: HOUSE OF M #1 combines two major events and shows us just how Magneto came to dominate the world! But don’t tell anyone it has nothing to do with CIVIL WAR!

PeterS



The past is a crowded country

July 4, 2022

The new IRON MAN/HELLCAT ANNUAL is really a Hellcat comic with guest star Iron Man as Patsy Walker's demon-infested past comes back to bite her.

In AVENGERS #57 the Avengers start a time-trip battling Mephisto throughout the past. This time in WWII with Sgt Szardos Soldier Supreme and his Secret Invaders.

The rest of the issues are as usual from the past:-

T Vernon reaches IRON MAN: HYPERVELOCITY #3 as we find out more about Tony Stark 2.0 and he starts to take the fight to his foes.

THANOS: A GOD UP THERE LISTENING #3-4 complete this short mini-series, and we're left wondering how much and exactly what of it was true.

--RobFJ



A New Thor and a New Sam Cap!

June 30, 2022

The brand new THOR: LIGHTNING AND LAMENT is a throwback to the Don Blake era with Thor fighting Trolls and the Absorbing Man!

Also new is CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #2 pitting Sam Cap and Deadpool against the forces of Doctor Doom!

Hulk and Thing! Starlin and Wrightson! Two classic pairings come together in HULK & THING: THE BIG CHANGE, a great graphic novel!

AVENGERS SPOTLIGHT #21! Formerly SOLO AVENGERS! Hawkeye alone against a marauding motorcycle gang ! Starfox goes shopping for a lady friend! Literally!

MARVEL 1985 #6 wraps up Mark Millar’s offbeat adventure with a superhero invasion!

In DEFENDERS #58, Devil-Slayer, Xenogenesis, and…Blue Oyster Cult!?! More cowbell!

PeterS



Introductions, explanations and memories.

June 27, 2022

There are no new issues for me to report on this week so it's 2 issues of original Avengers instead.
AVENGERS (1963) #57 introduced the Vision in the 2nd strike by Ultron.
#59 introduced Yellowjacket who persuaded Wasp to marry him in the space of 1 issue.
Both stories got an explanation in their next issues which are already on our database.

T Vernon's 2nd issue of IRON MAN: HYPERVELOCITY also provides an explanation for what's going on. The Iron Man armour is occupied by an upload of Tony Stark's consciousness.

I'm moving on to the 3rd of 3 mini-series set in Thanos' early career. THANOS: A GOD UP THERE LISTENING #1 has his son Thane wanting to learn more about his father. #2 starts the flashback memory of the Mad Titan's fleet attacking Ego The Living Planet.

--RobFJ



More Comics! More Classics! More Comics Classics!

June 23, 2022

Another week with nothing new so it’s back to the well of older, cooler material!

In DEFENDERS #57, the original Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers) joins the non-team to rescue Hulk from the clutches of A.I.M.!

HULK #36 gives us the shocking return of Zzzax! Pun intended!

MARVEL 1985 #5 sends young Toby on a mission of mercy into a bizarre alternate world—Earth-616!

In THOR #453, Thor and Balder must battle Sif, newly minted minion of Mephisto, for the soul of the Odinson!

SOLO AVENGERS #20! Hawkeye is trapped in Plantman’s secret garden! We witness the origin of that forgotten heroine Sundragon!

PeterS



Mini-series come and go, but super-gorillas will be with us for ever.

June 20, 2022

Just 1 new issue to pass comment on again this week. In IRON MAN #20 a new Stark supercomputer competes against a super-intelligent gorilla in a chess match. The gorilla goes berserk when it loses, and makes Iron Man's armour lose control of everything except its roller-skates. Oh, and Patsy Walker turns down Tony's marriage proposal.

In this situation I've again added another issue from the original Avengers series. #55 completes the 2-parter introducing the robot menace Ultron.

T Vernon begins another Iron Man mini-series. IRON MAN: HYPERVELOCITY #1 starts it mysteriously with SHIELD battling an empty suit of IM armour.

And I terminate a Thanos mini-series with vol 3 #5-6. He and young Gamora confront Magus at the edge of the universe. Magus is temporarily weakened but we know the final showdown won't come until Jim Starlin's Strange Tales/Warlock run.

--RobFJ



Steve Cap is Back!

June 16, 2022

The new volume of Steve Rogers’ adventures debuts: CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY #1 has him back standing for the American Dream against those who would destroy it!

THOR #452 pits Thor against Bloodaxe while Sif bargains with Mephisto for the soul of the Odinson!

SOLO AVENGERS #19! Hawkeye and the Orb find a garden paradise in the desert! Black Panther battles a monster made of sorrow!

Red Planet Hulk” concludes in HULK #35, wherein Red Hulk learns how difficult ruling a world can be!

MARVEL 1985 #4 has Toby and his dad realizing they are the only ones who can stop the supervillain invasion of their world—but how?!

PeterS



The intros of Ultron and SERE-X, but only 1 will be seen again

June 13, 2022

In SAVAGE AVENGERS #2 the dispersed heroes regroup in the Hyborian Age but have to fight Devil Dinosaur. Plus Thulsa Doom pops up.

Again because I've only 1 new comic this week I've added another old Avengers issue AVENGERS (1963) #54. This introduces a new Masters Of Evil, and secretly the Avengers mega-villain Ultron.

T Vernon gives us IRON MAN: HONG KONG HEROES, another 1-shot probably set in an alternate universe - which would explain why we've never seen the new hero/armour SERE-X again.

Thanos' 3rd series continues with #3-4. Young Gamora loses a couple of limbs on Sakaar, and then gets kidnapped for ransom by some mutineers in Thanos' crew.

--RobFJ



Round Four! Thor-Hulk versus Hulk-Hulk!

June 9, 2022

HULK VS. THOR: BANNER OF WAR resumes in THOR #26 with Hulked-out Thor taking on Hulk who is back in control of his own body! Yikes and double yikes!

And for more Thor excitement, here’s JANE FOSTER AND THE MIGHTY THOR #1, coming our way to whet our appetites for the upcoming THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER movie!

In HULK #34, Red Hulk lands on an alien planet that is at war with its neighbor! So of course he becomes king of "Red Planet Hulk!"

MARVEL 1985 #3 sees the assembled villains go on a mad rampage through the town…with nary a hero in sight!

SOLO AVENGERS #18! Shirtless Hawkeye versus a demon-possessed Texas Twister! Moondragon reborn…as a baby!

PeterS



Origin stories 1st and last

June 6, 2022

AVENGERS FOREVER #6 takes us to an alternate timeline where King Killmonger has taken over the Earth and destroyed Wakanda. But T'Challa's parents sent him away in a rocket and he grows up to take on a series of super-identities Sky Spider, Vibranium Man and Star Panther before being recruited by Ghost Rider and pals.

That's the only new issue this week so I've bulked things out with AVENGERS (1963) #53 where the Avengers have to fight the X-Men to rescue Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch from the clutches of Magneto.

T Vernon provides the all-ages 1-shot IRON MAN: GOLDEN AVENGER where a Stark employee jealous of Pepper Potts hires Iron Man villains to make her look good.

Meanwhile I'm moving on to the 2nd of 3 Thanos mini-series set in his early days. It's really an origin story for Gamora and an early clash with Magus. In THANOS (2019) #1-2 he adopts her because she seems to be the only other person who can see Death.

--RobFJ



A Pause in the Battle!

June 2, 2022

HULK VS. THOR: BANNER OF WAR skips a week or two to allow the combatants to rest! Here are some more cool things, new(ish) and old!

The recent BLACK WIDOW #14 has Natasha and her team infiltrating a classy mansion and uncovering a sinister market for mutant parts! And the conclusion is disarming?

SOLO AVENGERS #17! Hawkeye and Sandman versus Doc Ock! Sub-Mariner protects some sub-marine gold!

In HULK #33, Red Hulk finally encounters the ghostly serial killer known as the Black Fog!

MARVEL 1985 #2 makes a startling revelation: Hulk stinks! Click this link to find out what that means!

We know what happens at Fahrenheit 451 but in THOR #451, the brutal hero Bloodaxe arrives!

PeterS



Avengers dominate this week

May 30, 2022

This week's new issue is AVENGERS #56 where Valkyrie meets an alternate Jane Foster who never gave up being Thor.

I can also throw in an extra new issue in the shape of FCBD 2022: AVENGERS/X-MEN previewing Judgement Day, the 2nd Hellfire Gala and Bloodline starring Blade's daughter.

T Vernon takes us to another alternate timeline for IRON MAN: CRASH GRAPHIC NOVEL, billed as the 1st computer-generated comic. And as he says, it shows.

THANOS RISING #5 ends the mini-series with the destruction of Titan and a father/son chat.

Because I've only done 1 issue of TR, I've added AVENGERS (1963) #50 where Hercules saves the Olympians and goes home, leaving the team with only 3 members.

--RobFJ



Round Three! Hulk Versus Thor—and Iron Man!

May 26, 2022

HULK VS. THOR: BANNER OF WAR continues in HULK #7 with Iron Man showing up in a Celestial Hulkbuster armor! And you won’t believe where it goes!

In 2008, Marvel published the offbeat MARVEL 1985 #1 set in a world like ours where Marvel heroes are comic book characters and nothing more—but then Marvel Comics villains start popping up in the real world!

THOR #450 has Eric Thor joining the Warriors Three, the Enchantress, and the cops of Code: Blue  against the traitor Heimdall, the Rime Giants, and the disguised Loki! While Ego is dying and there’s a scary new hero in town: Bloodaxe!

SOLO AVENGERS #16! Hawkeye and Black Widow meet SODAM—the female MODOK! Moondragon returns from the dead—in her cousin’s head!

In DEFENDERS #56, the Defenders are dying of radiation poisoning in Russia while Valkyrie battles the mad Joker wannabe Lunatik back in New York!

PeterS



Thanos and Conan! Whose column *is* this?

May 23, 2022

ETERNALS #12 ends Thanos' reign and Druig is elected interim Prime Eternal. But he makes the 1st move in the Avengers/X-Men/Eternals Judgement Day event to consolidate his position.

In the 1st issue of the 2nd SAVAGE AVENGERS series a new bunch of 'Avengers' assemble around Conan. But this time they get sent back in time to the Hyborian Age.

T Vernon's completism continues as he tells us about the 1993 IRON MANUAL.

In THANOS RISING #3 the Mad Titan joins a pirate ship and eventually replaces the captain by killing him. Meanwhile he sires lots of children on alien women, but then his mystery woman makes him kill them all.
And in #4 she finally reveals herself as Death.

--RobFJ



Round Two! Hulk Versus Thor!

May 19, 2022

HULK VS. THOR: BANNER OF WAR continues in THOR #25 with the revelation of what really went down in El Paso—and then Iron Man joins in!

Zero/One hunts for the dreaded serial killer Black Fog as a weapon against Red Hulk in HULK #32!

In FEAR ITSELF: THE DEEP #4 it’s (nearly) all the Defenders ever against the powered up Attuma!

SOLO AVENGERS #15! Hawkeye and Black Widow versus a giant robot! Wasp versus a different giant robot!

In DEFENDERS #55, the non-team is trapped on a desert island with a radioactive villain with godlike powers—the Presence!

PeterS



Arrivals and departures

May 16, 2022

There are no new issues for me to report on again, so I've thrown in 2 more old Avengers mags.

T Vernon's coverage of Iron Man issues is nothing if not exhaustive. This week he gives us IM By Design, reprinting a load of special variant covers featuring the hero in many guises.

THANOS RISING #1-2 begins the 1st of 3 mini-series I'll be doing next set early in Thanos' life. These 2 issues start with his birth and end with him killing his mother.

AVENGERS (1963) #48-49 conclude a 3-parter featuring the return of Magneto. #48 introduces the new heroic Black Knight, while #49 sees the departure of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch.

--RobFJ



The Main Event! Hulk Versus Thor!

May 12, 2022

HULK VS. THOR: BANNER OF WAR begins a neat crossover between the two heroes’ titles in observance of their 60th anniversary in the comics!

Sam Wilson Cap returns in CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH #1, a new volume and a new challenge!

SOLO AVENGERS #14! Hawkeye and Black Widow versus A.I.M.! She-Hulk faces Titania—and the Supreme Court!

Red Hulk returns to the site in HULK #31—but who is Zero/One!

The Defenders go underwater in FEAR ITSELF: THE DEEP #3 to battle demonic sea monsters!

PeterS



3 endings (2 of them for Iron Man) and a beginning

May 7, 2022

According to GoCollect/ComicList nothing that Marvel published this week was scheduled for this week apart from Collections and 2nd Printings plus Spidey And His Amazing Friends Giveaway Sampler, Spider-Man 2099 Exodus Alpha and Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi #1. And Marvel have already had to concede that a large amount of what was in their July solicitation won't actually come out that month.

IRON MAN #19 ends the Korvac story that's been running since #1. Tony talks him into committing suicide.

AVENGERS FOREVER #5 starts a run of single issues. This 1 reveals Doom Supreme's quest to collect all Dr Doom variants. This time it's Doom-Thing from the Earth of Man-Things.

T Vernon's IRON MAN 258.4 ends the mini-series where Michelinie & Layton give an alternate continuation to their long run on the Golden Avenger. It doesn't quite live up to the 1st 3 issues.

YOUNG AVENGERS #14-15 is also the end of the series. Things are resolved in a 2-issue New Year's Eve party secretly funded by Loki.

--RobFJ



Another Fine Array of Classic Comics!

May 5, 2022

HULK VS. THOR: BANNER OF WAR and one of the two new Captain America books (among other things) will be here next week so today it’s a lot more older goodies!

We have DEFENDERS #54 with the noted non-team roiled by an underwater nuclear explosion!

In THOR #449, Eric Thor is at the scene of a prison break by some Asgardian bad guys! And then he gets in trouble with Odin!

The Defenders go underwater again in FEAR ITSELF: THE DEEP #2 to battle demonic sea monsters!

SOLO AVENGERS #13! Hawkeye faces a baddie on a motorcycle! Wonder Man encounters alien hijinks on a movie set!

Now Nova isn’t a usual visitor to this site but we have NOVA ANNUAL 2015 because the guest star is Doc Green a/k/a the super-smart Incredible Hulk! Plus the Guardians of the Galaxy and the X-Men!

PeterS



No new stuff so more old stuff

May 2, 2022

Marvel's schedule chaos is kicking in again. Every new issue I was interested in this week has been delayed to later. And nearly all of my May stuff has already been marked by GoCollect/ComicList's extended forecast as to be delayed (and replaced by things delayed from previous weeks).

So T Vernon gets pole position this week with IRON MAN 258.3 in which Shellhead battles Dreadnoughts and Mandroids, and Rhodey dons a prototype War Machine armour.

Meanwhile I pause Young Avengers to let Kate Bishop take time out to visit Clint Barton in the title they share in HAWKEYE #6 where Clint defends his apartment block as Christmas nears. Which strangely is immediately followed by #17 where he lets a neighbour's kids watch his TV.

And I'm going to fill the gap in new issues with a couple of issues from the early part of the original Avengers series. Back in 2011 I was writing some of them up but in those days Julio's empire was split into 4 connected websites dedicated to Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man and Thor, and a reviewed issue had to feature to 1 or more of them. These 2 issues didn't contain any of the big guns.
AVENGERS (1963) #39 has the team plus current guest Hercules against the Mad Thinker and 3 justly-forgotten minions.
#41 is part 1 of 2 of a battle with Diablo and Dragon Man. The 2nd part is already on the database because Cap returns.

--RobFJ



A Modern Thor Milestone!

April 28, 2022

While we wait for HULK VS THOR: BANNER OF WAR, we have new comics for both of them!

The milestone THOR #24 is his 750th issue by Legacy reckoning and it’s the 60th anniversary of his Marvel Comics debut, and, as is fitting, a multitude of former creators return to celebrate the occasion!

HULK: GRAND DESIGN: MADNESS concludes Jim Rugg’s epic survey of Hulk’s career!

Filling in tie-in issues to the big Marvel events brings us to FEAR ITSELF: THE DEEP #1 wherein a new Defenders line-up takes on a fearsome foe…underwater!

The traditional Defenders line-up appears in DEFENDERS #53 battling a Russian nuclear villain and a madman called Lunatik (not the same person as the lunatic called Madman)!

SOLO AVENGERS #12! Hawkeye versus the Abomination! The female Yellowjacket has the hots for Black Knight!

PeterS



Replacement, revelation, confession

April 25, 2022

In AVENGERS #55 leader Black Panther quits and recommends Nighthawk (of Mephisto's Squadron Supreme!) as a replacement (reminiscent of how Captain America got BP into the Avengers in the 1st place). And Mephisto turns the Serpent Society feral.

T Vernon does the alternate-reality IRON MAN 258.2 where Michelinie & Layton go big by killing off Erica Sondheim and Rae Lacoste (and revealing her to be Madame Masque).

For Peter Silvestro's nephew Steven here's some more Young Avengers. YA#12-13 conclude the 'Mother' storyline with a 2-issue pitched battle. But it only ends when Loki confesses how he's been manipulating everybody.

--RobFJ



Cap is Back! And in a Double Dose!

April 21, 2022

CAPTAIN AMERICA #0 is the set-up for the launch of two new Cap titles: CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY with Steve Rogers as Cap and CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH with Sam Wilson Cap! I can hardly wait!

The “Smashtronaut” story arc concludes in HULK #6 with an astonishing level of destruction!

BLACK WIDOW #13 shows us the only villain Natasha could never defeat: the Living Blade!

SOLO AVENGERS #11! Hawkeye’s body is taken over by the Mind-Melder! Hercules deals with a suicidal divinity!

Bad day for the hero in THOR #448 as Eric Thor battles Spider-Man, Absorbing Man, and Titania!

PeterS



The Asgardians have spread to everything except T Vernon's offering

April 18, 2022

The Eternals comic continues with #11, and just in case you missed it it includes a summary of the Heretic 1-shot. Thanos invades his father's mind, and Ajak does similar to the ghost of the Celestial who is Avengers HQ. (And Thor's in this.)

Avengers Forever Infinity Comic ends with #4 as the Goddesses Of Thunder come to Earth-5478 to collect its Mjolnir. And we get the 1st glimpse of Avenger Prime (who I think might be King Thor).

T Vernon starts a new mini-series with the strangely-named IRON MAN 258.1 where David Michelinie and Bob Layton show us what they might have done in the original IM series if they hadn't been replaced by John Byrne.

In YOUNG AVENGERS #10 Kid Loki confronts the Mother parasite and we learn how he betrayed her. And Mother captures Hulkling again when his 'therapist' Leah betrays *him*.
Then in #11 the team come up with a plan to defeat Mother once and for all. And Kid Loki gets aged to young adult.

--RobFJ



For a Few Classics More!

April 14, 2022

Yikes! A second week with nothing new to report; he’s another handful of older goodies!

An odd development in THOR #447! Thor teams up with the Absorbing Man! Guest appearances by Spider-Man and Captain America!

An amazing battle resumes in DEFENDERS #52! Hulk versus the Sub-Mariner! Always a goodie!

SOLO AVENGERS #10! Hawkeye awaits the destruction of Los Angeles! Dr. Druid versus Celtic magic in the subway!

Hulk is the catalyst in HULK SMASH #2 for an intense tale of heroism and cowardice! 

RED SKULL #5 concludes the earliest history of Cap’s greatest foe!

PeterS



There's still a strong hint of Asgardian

April 11, 2022

In the ETERNALS: THE HERETIC 1-shot we learn more than we knew about the Uranos civil war, and Thanos learns of a way to destroy Earth if he wants to. I saved this from a few weeks back to plug a hole in the new issues flow this week ...

... but that was before I knew about the Avengers Forever Infinity Comic. In #3 Horus/Thor falls before Ghost Goblin but sends Earth-5478's Mjolnir out into the multiverse to find others.

T Vernon concludes the Public Identity prequel to the Iron Man 2 movie with #3. Nick Fury has his eye on Shellhead, and we know why.

In YOUNG AVENGERS #8-9 the team bop through multiple alternate realities looking for 'Patriot' and Speed. Instead they get trapped in and escape from Mother's dimension, and meet an old friend of Kid Loki.

--RobFJ



A Fistful of Classics!

April 7, 2022

Nothing new on my half of the site so here are some cool things from previous decades!

Mephisto steals Mjolnir in THOR #443 so the powerless Eric Masterson teams up with Doctor Strange and the Silver Surfer to get it back!

DEFENDERS #51 introduces two new villains: Ringer and…Lunatik!

SOLO AVENGERS #9! The Shroud joins Hawkeye in his battle against the vigilante Blind Justice! Hellcat versus her ex-husband, now the vicious Mad-Dog!

Part one of two, HULK SMASH #1 gives us a grittier tale of the Hulk in this Marvel Knights offering! 

RED SKULL #4 continues the earliest history of Cap’s greatest foe!

PeterS



Kid Loki and a Thor stage an Asgardian takeover bid for this column

April 4, 2022

I saved IRON MAN #18 from last week to help fill this week's gap. Tony Stark repents and undoes what he did as the Iron God and then gives up the Power Cosmic. Unfortunately this leaves him with morphine addiction withdrawal just in time to face the returned still Cosmic Korvac. Strangely this issue's title seems more appropriate to the other new offering ...

... AVENGERS FOREVER INFINITY COMIC #2 where 1 of Earth-5478's underground worker class discovers Mjolnir and inherits the power of Thor.

T Vernon's IRON MAN 2: PUBLIC IDENTITY #2 continues the adventures of Shellhead between his 1st and 2nd films (which are of course before he could cinematically be called the Golden Avenger).

In YOUNG AVENGERS #6 we find out what Speed has been doing and meet Prodigy of the X-Men until a mysterious Patriot look-alike makes Tommy Shepherd vanish.
Then in #7 Prodigy tells the Young Avengers what happened and America Chavez reveals the power to create interdimensional portals to follow Patriot who Kid Loki can track using jam! And some Skrulls turn out to be Skifflefuffles.

--RobFJ



Two Hulks for the Price of, uh, Two!

March 31, 2022

In the brand new HULK #5, Starship Hulk battles the gigantic Spider-Hulk! And then things get worse!

Also new is HULK: GRAND DESIGN—MONSTER, wherein Jim Rugg summarizes the career of the Mighty Green Giant to be concluded next month!

THOR #442: Don Blake returns—but from where? Plus, the trial of Beta Ray Bill!

SOLO AVENGERS #8! Hawkeye versus the vigilante Blind Justice! Hank Pym framed for robbery by an old nemesis!

RED SKULL #3 continues the earliest history of Cap’s greatest foe!

PeterS



Avengers Forever double whammy

March 28, 2022

There were 2 issues of Avengers Forever this week.

The main AVENGERS FOREVER #4 concluded the liberation of Earth-818 with help from the Goddesses Of Thunder who are collecting Mjolnirs and bits of the Wolverine/Phoenix.

But then AVENGERS FOREVER INFINITY COMIC #1 showed us another Earth's 1 Million BC Avengers being killed by the Multiversal Masters Of Evil. Narrated by that Earth's Mjolnir.

T Vernon starts a 3-issue prologue to the Iron Man 2 movie with IRON MAN 2: PUBLIC IDENTITY #1 showing us what happened since Iron Man revealed his secret identity in the 1st film.

In YOUNG AVENGERS #4 Kate Bishop and Marvel Boy join the new team but they still can't defeat the goo-monsters of 'Mrs Altman'. So Wiccan gives his power to Kid Loki ... who immediately runs away with it.
But in #5 Loki's new conscience gets the better of him and he returns to save the day (or at least force a standoff).

--RobFJ



Cap! Iron Man! Thor! Hulk! And Hawkeye Too!

March 24, 2022

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA/IRON MAN #5 wraps up in a satisfying manner with a final confrontation with the Overseer and the young heroes called the Paladins!

In the sole issue of its title, HULK TEAM-UP #1 teams Hulk with the X-Men for adventure and Dazzler for fun!

SOLO AVENGERS #7! Hawkeye and Silver Sable versus terrorists! Black Widow makes a journey into her dark past!

THOR #441: The Thor Corps faces their greatest challenge: Loki, at his most powerful and most evil!

RED SKULL #2 continues the earliest history of Cap’s greatest foe!

PeterS



Avengers and SHIELD take over while Iron Man's at the movies

March 21, 2022

AVENGERS #54 ends the Death Hunt. The Deathloks came to warn the Avengers about the Multiversal Masters Of Evil but it turns out the MMOE were only here to kill the Deathloks. But it all becomes another element of this series-long saga simmering on the back boiler.

T Vernon's entry this week is IRON MAN 2: AGENTS OF SHIELD, a 1-shot tie-in to the Iron Man 2 movie with 3 stories featuring SHIELD Agents (reprinting 3 online comics).

In YOUNG AVENGERS #2-3 Kid Loki helps Hulkling and Wiccan escape from the clutches of the interdimensional parasite foe, but she captures the 3 of them again along with America Chavez.

--RobFJ



A Very Odd Collection This Week!

March 17, 2022

SOLO AVENGERS #6! Hawkeye versus a fake Red Skull?! Falcon versus…Scatterbrain?!

A team-up book where everyone fights? A+X #11 has Thor lost in the world of Magik and the Superior Spider-Man battling Cyclops! Who’s the bad guy here? Or there?

HULK: BROKEN WORLDS #2 shows us Hulk in several alternate realities: Age of Apocalypse, the Mangaverse, 1602, and Days of Future Past!

It’s the Thor Corps once more in THOR #440, this time bopping about through time on the tail of Zarrko the Tomorrow Man!

Lastly, perfect for the Marvel Villains’ Library—except we don’t have one: RED SKULL #1!

PeterS



Young Avengers, mini-series and the dead

March 14, 2022

HAWKEYE: KATE BISHOP #5 finishes the mini-series. Ex-Young Avengers America Chavez and Stinger (Cassie Lang) join Kate and Susan Bishop to stop Pascale Tiboldt getting away with the Cosmic Cube fragment, which winds up in the possession of Lucky the Pizza Dog.

The other new issue this week is ETERNALS #10. The Eternals invade Avengers Mountain HQ to ask the dead Celestial for help. Meanwhile Thanos discovers that his long thought dead Eternal parents were automatically resurrected, so he naturally starts to torture them.

There's another mini-series ending in IRON MAN AND THE ARMOR WARS #4, as T Vernon tells us how the Golden Avenger defeats his main foe who's got the Hulkbuster armour.

But I start a new maxi-series with YOUNG AVENGERS vol 2 #1. The remaining original YAers Kate-Hawkeye, Hulking and Wiccan are joined by America Chavez, Kid Loki (the mixed good and bad version) and Marvel Boy (Noh-Varr) as Wiccan attempts to bring Hulking's dead mother back.

--RobFJ



The End of the God of Hammers!

March 10, 2022

The brand new THOR #23 closes out its current story arc with a final battle between Thor and the personified Mjolnir!

SOLO AVENGERS #5! Hawkeye’s final confrontation with his mortal enemy Trick Shot! Scarlet Witch duels with…Death himself!

WHAT IF? PLANET HULK! What if…Hulk died and Caiera lived? World War Hulk suddenly gets much darker!

THE ORDER #6! Dr. Strange! Hulk! Sub-Mariner! Silver Surfer! Versus everybody else in the Marvel Universe!

Filling in some tie-ins to past big events: SIEGE: SPIDER-MAN pits Spidey against Venom with Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers) caught in the middle!

PeterS



You can't get away from Infinity

March 7, 2022

In AVENGERS FOREVER #3 the All-Rider defeats Black Skull and we meet the mysterious Infinity Thing. Not to mention the last page arrival of a multiverse of Johann Shmidt Skulls.

Meanwhile T Vernon's IRON MAN AND THE ARMOR WARS #3 gives us a horde of Russian superchars topped by Omega Red from the X-Men comics.

WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #16-17 conclude the Infinity Watch apps between Infinity War and Infinity Crusade, with new baddie Count Abyss and new don't-know Maxam.

--RobFJ



A Lot of Epic Team-Ups!

March 3, 2022

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA/IRON MAN #4 sees the heroes uncovering the massive machine plot to remake the world!

In THOR #439, the Thor War continues but now Beta Ray Bill joins in!

The sudden appearance of the Hulk jeopardizes the mission of mercy in HULK/WOLVERINE: SIX HOURS #4!

Then there’s THE ORDER #5 wherein the original Defenders go rogue and decide that ruling the world for its own benefit sounds like a good idea! Everyone else disagrees!

Finally, we have SOLO AVENGERS #4 with no team-ups, as per the title! Hawkeye versus Silver Sable’s entire Wild Pack! Black Knight versus his murderous descendant Last Knight!

PeterS



2 for our main man & Dr Doom, but 3 for Surfer with 2 for the Watch

February 28, 2022

In IRON MAN #17 Tony Stark's friends plus Dr Doom and Silver Surfer try to stop the Iron God but he kills them all except Hellcat.

T Vernon gives us IRON MAN AND THE ARMOR WARS #2 where Tony Stark in Dr Doom armour fights lots of Russians in Iron Man armours.

In SILVER SURFER/WARLOCK: RESURRECTION #3-4 Surfer, Adam Warlock and the Infinity Watch fight Mephisto for the soul of Shalla Bal.

--RobFJ



More Older Classics, Including Two Rare Appearances by She-Hulk!

February 24, 2022

She-Hulk isn’t usually featured on this site but we have SHE-HULK: COSMIC COLLISION wherein Jen leads a team of female heroes on a desperate mission! With Mantis, Gamora, and Storm!

Shulkie also shows up in THE ORDER #4! The original Defenders go rogue! So the good guys have to find…a female Silver Surfer?

THOR #438 begins…the Thor War, as two versions of the Thunder God are set against one another!

SOLO AVENGERS #3! Hawkeye versus Batroc the Leaper! Moon Knight versus the Shroud! Plus Werewolf by Night!

The race to save a boy’s life continues in HULK/WOLVERINE: SIX HOURS #3 wherein Bruce and Logan compete with the deadly Shredder to reach their objective first!

Oh, and if you want to see more She-Hulk on the Marvel Heroes Library, feel free to join our project and contribute! And this goes for any hero you like!

PeterS



Villains:- 1 new, 1 really old and almost forgotten, 1 standard issue

February 21, 2022

New issue HAWKEYE: KATE BISHOP #4 is saved from last week to fill a gap. The Bishop sisters and dog escape from Resort Chapiteau but Pascale Tibolt is ahead of them in the race for the Cosmic Cube fragment.

T Vernon begins the alternate-timeline all-ages IRON MAN AND THE ARMOR WARS #1 as the Red Barbarian steals all the Iron Man armours.

And in SILVER SURFER/WARLOCK: RESURRECTION #1-2 Surfer recruits Adam Warlock and the Infinity Watch to help get his love Shalla Bal back from the dead (reported here 2 weeks ago). They confront Death but she redirects them to Mephisto.

--RobFJ



All-New Hulk and Thor!

February 17, 2022

New HULK #4 continues the adventures of Starship Hulk, taking on Thunderbolt Ross’ army in an alternate world!

In the brand new THOR #22, an army of allies joins Thor to take on the combined might of Mjolnir and Mangog!

SOLO AVENGERS #2 presents the secret origin of Hawkeye! Plus, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau) has her energy powers stolen by a baddie!

Previously added THE ORDER #1-3, in which the original Defenders become the offenders, have been enhanced with new comments and reviews!

And another team-up title A+X #10 shows us Black Widow clashing with Fantomex on a mission and Scarlet Witch working with Domino to save the Earth from a Celestial Bomb!

PeterS



Explosion, death, invasion, revival

February 14, 2022

AVENGERS #53 completes a trilogy of attacks by members of the Multiversal Masters Of Evil on Avengers team members. And it ends with the Avengers Mountain Celestial exploding.

T Vernon balances last week's 5 with a 3 for WHAT IF?: FALLEN SON where Civil War ends with Iron Man dying instead of Captain America.

In WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #14 Gamora single-handedly repels an invasion of Monster Island by a UN peace-keeping troop.
Then in #15 Eternity persuades Adam Warlock to pull himself together and come out of his coma.

--RobFJ



Here Comes Hawkeye and the Solo Avengers!

February 10, 2022

Having finished TOMB OF DRACULA (an odd choice for the Marvel Heroes Library), we now pick up SOLO AVENGERS, showcasing various heroes on their own! Issue #1 teams Hawkeye and Mockingbird on a mission against an enemy from Hawkeye’s past! Clint will be a regular for this series and the second tale will rotate among many others!

Meanwhile, Wonder Man has his solo adventure debut in MARVEL PREMIERE #55 where we learn why Wondy was one of the most unappreciated Avengers!

Bruce Banner and Logan race to save a boy’s life in HULK/WOLVERINE: SIX HOURS #2! But there are some bad guys in the way, including the ghastly Shredder!

THOR #437 sees the new Eric Thor versus Quasar! Or is it Hercules? Or maybe the Enchantress!

And in WORLD WAR HULK: AFTERSMASH – DAMAGE CONTROL #3, our favorite fixer-uppers deal with a sentient (and hostile) Chrysler Building!

PeterS



Happy ever after?

February 7, 2022

The new issue this week is AVENGERS FOREVER #2 saved from last week. Basically Black Skull tortures Ghost Rider while the Deathlok tries to keep his spirits up. Then Ant-Man-818 shows up to rescue them.

T Vernon gives IRON MAN: THE END a rare 5. Bethany Cabe persuades her husband Tony Stark to retire in favour of a new Iron Man so they can go off and live happily ever after. But of course we'll never know whether *this* time it sticks.

Back with the Infinity Watch:-
I've added a few comments to WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #13 which Peter did yonks ago because it features a green vs green battle between Drax and Hulk.
Then Moondragon guests in SILVER SURFER: HOMECOMING as Norrin Radd and Shalla Bal at last settle down in a utopia. Of course it all goes wrong and Shalla dies. (Until I'll report her resurrection in a few weeks time.)

--RobFJ



At Long Last, Dracula is Dead!

February 3, 2022

TOMB OF DRACULA #70, final issue of the classic 1970s series, sees Quincy Harker and Count Dracula face each other in a final fight to the death! And Drac loses!

The recent BLACK WIDOW (2020) #12 introduces a villain from Natasha’s past: the Living Blade!

It’s a race against time to save a boy’s life in HULK/WOLVERINE: SIX HOURS #1! And with Bruce Banner on the scene, things can go green any second!

THOR #436: Lovers’ reunions are nice but not when  it’s Absorbing Man and Titania with Thor stuck between them!

And in WORLD WAR HULK: AFTERSMASH – DAMAGE CONTROL #2, our favorite fixer-uppers have a lot of work to do—if only they can get past the Thunderbolts!

PeterS



2 cases of Iron Man (and) a god and Dr Doom. And some history revision.

January 31, 2022

The only new issue I'm doing this week is IRON MAN #16. The Iron God returns home and starts his big plan to fix the world by making everyone in New York as brainy as he is. (Reed Richards complains that he's been made dumber.) In the end Hellcat has no recourse but to call in Dr Doom.

T Vernon ends a story arc with IRON MAN: LEGACY #5. Iron Man teams up with everyone else against Dr Doom's attempted takeover of Transia. Including its Slav and Romani inhabitants who unite under their ancient god Svarog, thus ending the ethnic cleansing.

I now return to chronicling Thanos & co (mainly co), this time between Infinity Wars and Infinity Crusade:-
In WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #11 Eternity tries to persuade the Living Tribunal that he deserves the Infinity Gems more than the Watch do. Which is mainly an excuse to review/rewrite the history of its members.
Then there's #12 (which Peter covered back when the site was mainly Hulk stuff). More history review/rewrite about the Drax/Moondragon father/daughter relationship. And then it's a setup for the Drax/Hulk meet next issue.

--RobFJ



The Gang’s All Here!

January 27, 2022

This week we have new comics featuring Thor, Cap, and Iron Man and some older Hulk-centric issues, accounting for the four main subjects of this site! Dracula too but he’s leaving soon!

The new THOR #21 pits Thor against his most unexpected enemy: Mjolnir!

CAPTAIN AMERICA/IRON MAN #3 sees Cap and Shellhead joining forces against a pair of megalomaniacs, one human, one…not!

One-shot HULK: WINTER GUARD has the Russian superheroes crossing paths with the Big Green Guy and living to regret it!

Despite appearances, there’s no Hulk in WORLD WAR HULK: AFTERSMASH – DAMAGE CONTROL #1, it brings back those lovable fixer-uppers in the wake of yet another destructive Marvel event!

And TOMB OF DRACULA #69 puts Drac in a surprising position: having to protect children from a horde of hungry vampires!

PeterS



Lots of fighting. So what's new?

January 24, 2022

This week's gratuitous link with Peter's column is Deathloks and Caps. He's just finished a Wolverine: Weapon X run co-starring Captain America (Bucky Barnes) facing an invasion of Deathloks from the future ...

... and in AVENGERS #52 Captain America (Steve Rogers) meets friendly Deathloks here to warn him about the Multiversal Masters Of Evil. Of course Cap has to fight the MMOE's Black Skull (Red Skull with a Venom symbiote). And the young Starbrand has another growth spurt.

In ETERNALS #9 our gang help defend the Deviants from Thanos and the Oceanic Watch until Phastos surrenders to the mad Titan. But next time the Eternals are going to take on the Avengers.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN: LEGACY #4 the political wrangling over Transia plays out via superpowered representatives Iron Man, Radioactive Man, Titanium Man and Crimson Dynamo. Meanwhile Dr Doom's behind the scenes manoeuvring is about to steal the prize.

HAWKEYE #4-5 is a 2-parter where Clint Barton goes 'undercover' for SHIELD at an underworld auction in Madripoor. Kate Bishop follows him and takes the place of Madame Masque at the auction. The macguffin this time is an incriminating tape. Of course it all goes very wrong until it all comes out right in the end.

--RobFJ



Two Bruce Banners for the Price of One!

January 20, 2022

The brand new HULK #3 introduces Starship Hulk to an alternate version of Bruce Banner, whose world is much different and a lot worse than the usual one!

The recent MARVELS SNAPSHOTS: SPIDER-MAN reveals the impact the advent of Spidey had on the ordinary two-bit crook without superpowers!

THOR #435: newbie Eric Thor leads a team against Annihilus for the life of Odin!

TOMB OF DRACULA #68: the powerless Drac faces his longtime enemies and his days are numbered!

In WOLVERINE WEAPON X #15, Logan and the Avengers do what they can to rescue the future from the Deathloks—but that’s out of their hands!

PeterS



3 X 3 + 28

January 17, 2022

SAVAGE AVENGERS #28 is the coda to the series (and the only comic this week which isn't a #3) where Conan successfully turns young Kulan Gath into a warrior rather than a wizard, and then Kang returns the Barbarian to his own time in Cimmeria to go on to become King of Aqilonia. But then Kang brings him back to 2022 again for more adventures (possibly leading up to Conan 2099).

HAWKEYE: KATE BISHOP #3 confirms what we already guessed the the Circus Of Crime are behind the villainy, but with a new female leader. And what series is complete without a fragment of a Cosmic Cube as the macguffin? Plus a villain with arrows in her purple wig who was also in Hawkeye #2 that I synopsised last week.

T Vernon's IRON MAN: LEGACY #3 is the only issue with Shellhead in it this week, but makes up for it with armoured foes Dr Doom and Dreadknight.

But Kate Bishop gets a 2nd issue this week co-starring with Clint Barton in HAWKEYE #3. And Peter may have Dracula on his side of the site but we make up for it with the tracksuit Draculas.

--RobFJ



3 X 3 + 28

January 17, 2022

SAVAGE AVENGERS #28 is the coda to the series (and the only comic this week which isn't a #3) where Conan successfully turns young Kulan Gath into a warrior rather than a wizard, and then Kang returns the Barbarian to his own time in Cimmeria to go on to become King of Aqilonia. But then Kang brings him back to 2022 again for more adventures (possibly leading up to Conan 2099).

HAWKEYE: KATE BISHOP #3 confirms what we already guessed the the Circus Of Crime are behind the villainy, but with a new female leader. And what series is complete without a fragment of a Cosmic Cube as the macguffin? Plus a villain with arrows in her purple wig who was also in Hawkeye #2 that I synopsised last week.

T Vernon's IRON MAN: LEGACY #3 is the only issue with Shellhead in it this week, but makes up for it with armoured foes Dr Doom and Dreadknight.

But Kate Bishop gets a 2nd issue this week co-starring with Clint Barton in HAWKEYE #3. And Peter may have Dracula on his side of the site but we make up for it with the tracksuit Draculas.

--RobFJ



Thor, Cap, Wolverine, Hulk, Human Torch, and Dracula for a Full House!

January 13, 2022

In the recent MARVELS SNAPSHOTS: FANTASTIC FOUR, Johnny Storm goes to his high school reunion—but all is not what it seems!

HULK: LET THE BATTLE BEGIN: the battle is with the Wrecking Crew who are about to get wrecked! And then there’s Thor…!

In WOLVERINE WEAPON X #14, Logan and Captain America (Bucky Barnes) discover that Deathlok Prime is the key to the whole time-twisted conspiracy against the heroes!

THOR #434 sees the new Thor making his first visit to Asgard and it doesn’t go well!

TOMB OF DRACULA #67 pits powerless Drac against his vicious vampire daughter Lilith!

PeterS



An Elder God, drones and split-level mobsters

January 10, 2022

DARKHOLD OMEGA ends the Darkhold event. Chthon is of course defeated but this issue also brings back an old character who helps justify its name.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN: LEGACY #2 Shellhead continues to oppose ethnic cleansing in Transia by knock-off Iron Man drones.

Now that I've finished with the Infinity War I'll shift my attention from Thanos to Kate Bishop of the Young Avengers:-

Hawkeye (Clint Barton) started a new series in 2012. In HAWKEYE #1 he rescues Lucky the pizza dog from low-level mobsters the tracksuit Draculas. In #2 they're joined by co-star Hawkeye (Kate) stopping Ringmaster from robbing several high-level mobsters.

--RobFJ



The Big Three in Their Latest Adventures!

January 6, 2022

The brand new THOR #20 sees the devastation the God of Hammers wreaks across the Ten Realms—and the King of Asgard is helpless to stop it!

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA/IRON MAN #2 sets Cap and Shellhead on the trail of a rogue alien ex-hero and a would-be Supreme Hydra!

The final issue of the series, SECRET AVENGERS #37, reveals what happens to the Descendants when their plan of conquest is foiled!

And in TOMB OF DRACULA #66, a powerless Drac is being pursued by a hitman!

WOLVERINE WEAPON X #13: The Deathloks are here, Logan and Bucky Cap are joined by Steve Rogers leading the Avengers into a time-warped battle!

PeterS



Alternatives

January 3, 2022

2 new issues saved from last week:-

AVENGERS FOREVER #1 begins a new series taking Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes) into the multiverse of Avengers, and his 1st stop introduces us to an alternate Tony Stark as Ant-Man.

HAWKEYE: KATE BISHOP #2 is still firmly grounded in Long Island, Earth-616. The missing girl is rescued but on the other hand we're still no closer to finding out what's really going on in Resort Chapiteau.

T Vernon begins another series with IRON MAN: LEGACY #1 where Shellhead interferes in international politics because knock-off Iron Men are committing genocide.

The Infinity War #6 tie-ins end with a Dr Strange 2-parter. In DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #46-47 he and other mystics have been sent back to Earth to oppose the Magus' takeover. After a guest app by Sleepwalker they confront the alternate Dr Strange from Counter-Earth who's allied himself with the baddie.

--RobFJ



A New Thor in All His Glory! The Old Dracula Lacking His!

January 1, 2022

Continuing the landmark introduction of a new Thor in 1991, THOR #433 shows us Eric Masterson taking his first steps as the God of Thunder versus Ulik the Troll champion!

And in TOMB OF DRACULA #65, the reverse happens to the Lord of the Undead as Dracula loses his vampiric powers and has to negotiate the mean streets as an ordinary human!

MARVELS SNAPSHOTS: X-MEN reveals that even a hero needs a hero as Scott Summers idolized Reed Richards long before he had any idea of powers of his own!

WOLVERINE WEAPON X #12: it’s Logan and Bucky Cap against an army of Deathloks!

SECRET AVENGERS #36 sees disaster on the horizon as a nano-mist is turning all humans into cyborgs!

PeterS



Gods and monsters

December 27, 2021

I've picked my 2 mainstay titles to report on this week:-

Iron Man and Korvac have become gods in IRON MAN #15 thanks to Galactus' Power Cosmic. The now Silver Avenger defeats the foe who gets carted off by collection of Marvel's cosmic entities - but they'll be keeping an eye on Stark.

In AVENGERS #51 some of the Multiversal Masters Of Evil invade Asgard to face Thor, Iron Man and Phoenix/Echo plus a load of Deathloks who've arrived too late to warn them.

T Vernon wraps up the Bad Blood story in IRON MAN: BAD BLOOD #4. Cured Tony Stark beards Justin Hammer in his satellite lair. Hammer winds up frozen in space but his cat is saved.

Back around Infinity War #6:-
WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #10 hosts a battle between Thanos and his Doppelganger which Thanos wins by absorbing his dark side.
In WONDER MAN #15 rage-fuelled Wonder Man too defeats his Dop after mistakenly saving a Scarlet Witch Dop from other heroes.
I'll also mention FANTASTIC FOUR #370 which Peter did back when. Invisible Woman secretly helps Thanos beat his Dop and frees Mr Fantastic and Iron Man who have spent the whole IW series replaced by their Dops.

--RobFJ



A New Thor Arrives in a Milestone Issue!

December 23, 2021

In THOR #432, Thor and Loki fight to the death! For real! And Eric Masterson becomes the new Thor! And it’s Thor’s 350th issue by means of some complicated numbering!

The recent BLACK WIDOW #11 pits Natasha and Yelena against a deadly pair of twins! Plus a cool cover by Adam Hughes!

SECRET AVENGERS #35 sees the Descendants triggering their grand plan to turn all humans into cyborgs! Is the human race doomed?

And in TOMB OF DRACULA #64, Dracula takes on Satan himself! And you won’t believe what Dracula loses!

WOLVERINE WEAPON X #11 has Logan and Steve Rogers go out for a night drinking, unaware that the Deathloks are after them!

PeterS



A bit Thanos-heavy this week

December 20, 2021

SAVAGE AVENGERS #27 is the end of the whole Kulan Gath saga where the baddie is disposed of by a combination of magic and time-travel. But we'll get some sort of epilogue in the next (last) issue.

In ETERNALS #8 our heroes are going about their individual concerns in Deviant Lemuria when they learn that Thanos is now Prime Eternal. And he's coming for them.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN: BAD BLOOD #3 Rhodey and Jocasta find out what's been making Tony Stark act strangely. But is it too late?

Peter dealt with INFINITY WAR #6 (where Thanos and Warlock defeat Magus with help from Eternity and Infinity) more than 10 years ago, and now I come along and add brief descriptions of all its tie-ins.

--RobFJ



Hulk in Spa-a-a-ace!

December 16, 2021

The brand new HULK #2 checks in on Starship Hulk and his adventures in a bizarre pocket dimension and things go crazy!

I AM AN AVENGER #5 wraps up the anthology series with Bucky Barnes as Captain America, Eric O’Grady as the new Ant-Man, and the Young Avengers!

In THOR #431, the Wrecker is wrecked! By Loki at his nastiest!

SECRET AVENGERS #34 sees the living Avengers fighting the Avengers of the Undead as the assorted robots seek world domination!

And in TOMB OF DRACULA #63, a tentacled monster forces Dracula and his son Janus to fight to the death! Don’t you hate days like that?

PeterS



Infinity's are popular but Magus sends everyone to sleep

December 13, 2021

Marvel's shifting schedule has left me with no reportable new comics this week so I'm completing the Hulkling & Wiccan Infinity Comic online mini-series from last month. #4 sees our heroes reunited from their private realities and back in the main Marvel timeline. And it *was* Agatha Harkness behind it.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN: BAD BLOOD #2 Tony Stark's strange behaviour has his closest friends worried. But at least Iron Man can whup Spymaster. And we still don't know what Justin Hammer has to do with it all.

2 more Infinity War #5 tie-ins, both involving members of the Infinity Watch:-
Moondragon and 3 other telepaths contact Sleepwalker in his #18 to help free Earth's populace from their Magus-induced trance. But 1st he has to fight some Doppelgangers.
In WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #9 Gamora and Galactus invade Eternity to free *him* from a Magus-induced coma. And Gamora has a flashback to how Thanos transformed her into the Most Dangerous Woman In The Galaxy.
I'll also mention QUASAR #40 which Peter did way back when, where Quasar accidentally deletes himself with the Ultimate Nullifier.

--RobFJ



Cap is Back and Shellhead’s Got Him!

December 9, 2021

While waiting for Cap’s new #1, Marvel is giving us CAPTAIN AMERICA/IRON MAN #1, teaming the Living Legend and the Golden Avenger against…click and find out!

TOMB OF DRACULA #62 asks the question “What Lurks Beneath Satan’s Hill?” Answer: It's not a Starbucks!

I AM AN AVENGER #4 features Thing, Firestar and Justice, Spider-Woman and Ms. Marvel, Stature and Iron Man and a lot of other Avengers!

In THOR #430, Loki makes a deal with the Devil (a/k/a Mephisto) and it spells no good for Thor! Ghost Rider makes a guest appearance!

SECRET AVENGERS #33 introduces the Avengers of the Undead of Earth-666! Yikes!

PeterS



Endings and beginnings

December 6, 2021

The giant AVENGERS #50 (or Legacy #750) is almost 3 issues in 1. It ends the World War She-Hulk story and starts the Multiversal Masters Of Evil arc (also spinning off a new Avengers Forever title). We see some prospective new recruits, and Ka-Zar becomes a Herald of Galactus. And in a separate story Thor meets young King Arthur.

T Vernon's next mini-series is Iron Man: Bad Blood. In #1 Michelinie & Layton bring back their villain Justin Hammer to bedevil our hero again.

I've added my summaries of tie-ins to INFINITY WAR #5 (which as usual Peter covered back when this was just the Hulk Library).
The 1st of them is ALPHA FLIGHT #112 which concludes the tie-in storyline of the Master Of The World's attempt to frustrate the IW villain Magus' plans.

--RobFJ



Another Fistful of Goodies!

December 2, 2021

The recent BLACK WIDOW (2020) #10: Natasha makes her final stand (for now) against the monstrous Apogee! Guest star: Kate Bishop as Hawkeye!

SECRET AVENGERS #32 wraps up the adventure in Bagalia with various heroes turning evil and fighting the good guys in total (but entertaining) chaos!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #61, Drac’s murdered son Janus returns from the dead—as an angelic adult on a mission to kill Dracula!

I AM AN AVENGER #3 puts the spotlight on Spider-Man and Nova, Justice and Firestar, Stingray, and the Hulk!

THOR #429! Thor versus Juggernaut! Ghost Rider vs. the Wrecking Crew! And a surprise villain at the end!

PeterS



Refugees, movie stars and infinity warriors

November 29, 2021

Marvel's schedule chaos continues but at least ComicList now has an extended forecast for them again. Last week's issues were delayed to both this week and next, and this pattern is set to continue through December and the 1st week of January. The schedule appears to calm down a lot after that but I suspect this may be only because that's how far Marvel have announced changes.

Anyway, this week's 2 refugees I have to report on are:-

IRON MAN #14 spends most of the issue on Tony Stark's inner monologue as he transforms into Cosmic Iron Man, and at the end confronts the equally godlike Korvac.

I'm picking up the story of ex-Young Avenger and ex-West Coast Avenger Kate Bishop in HAWKEYE: KATE BISHOP #1 where her sister Susan asks her to investigate strange goings on at a health resort.

T Vernon's moved on to the IRON MAN/HULK/NICK FURY 1-shot with 3 stories set in the early Marvel Cinematic Universe.

My Infinity War #4 tie-ins end with MARC SPECTOR, MOON KNIGHT #42-43 where MK roams the multiverse as his Moon Shade Doppelganger kills off alternate-timeline Moon Knights, and then he returns just to fight other people's Dops.
I'll also mention QUASAR #39 which Peter synopsised in 2010 back when I 1st joined the band. Quasar prepares to use the Ultimate Nullifier.

--RobFJ



A New Volume of HULK for a New Era!

November 25, 2021

We now have the latest HULK #1 by Donny Cates and Ryan Ottley that sees Hulk become a spacefarer! But first he must overcome Iron Man and all the resources of Stark Enterprises!

The “God of Hammers” arc begins in THOR #19 as the new All-Father tries to forestall a prophecy of his own death!

TOMB OF DRACULA #60 unleashes “The Wrath of Dracula!” It is a terrifying sight!

And SECRET AVENGERS #31, the Avengers are mind controlled by Taskmaster in Bagalia and the only heroes to stand against the tide are Venom and the Black Ant!

I AM AN AVENGER #2: this time around, Marvel’s anthology series features Steve Rogers, Justice and Firestar, Wolverine and Jarvis, and an Avengers picnic!

PeterS



Dream lovers, clones and doppelgangers

November 22, 2021

The movable feast that is the current Marvel schedule has left me with no print issues to cover. So I'll slip in the HULKLING & WICCAN INFINITY COMIC #2-3 online issues from this week and last as the duo realise their dream lovers aren't real.

All I can glean from ComicList in GoCollect is the Marvel schedule for this week and next. They've stopped doing an extended forecast for Marvel so I don't know where some issues from these weeks have been delayed to. Marvel's February advanced solicitations reflects a bit of this chaos with some issues repeated from the January listing.

T Vernon finishes Iron Man Vs Whiplash with #4. The real bad guys behind the Iron Man clones turn out to be working for the US Government among others.

2 more Infinity Wars #4 tie-ins:-
In SILVER SABLE & THE WILD PACK #5 Silver fights a Doppelganger of Dr Doom, and the Pack fight a Dop of 1 of their own, Sandman.
And in MARC SPECTOR, MOON KNIGHT #41 MK tries and fails to stop his Dop gaining the power of Franklin Richards.

--RobFJ



More Good Old Stuff!

November 18, 2021

While we’re waiting for the upcoming CAPTAIN AMERICA/IRON MAN and the new volume of HULK to arrive, here are some more classic comics from days gone by!

I AM AN AVENGER #1: Marvel’s anthology series showcasing various heroes and what it means to be an Avenger! This issue features the Young Avengers, Iron Fist, Squirrel Girl, and the Pet Avengers!

THOR #428 brings us a four-way war with Thor battling Excalibur and the cops of Code: Blue taking on the Wrecking Crew! Enchantress and Ulik are standing by to cause even greater confusion!

And SECRET AVENGERS #30 has the heroes going after the Crown of Wolves and Taskmaster has it!

TOMB OF DRACULA #59 sees the Satanist plot to assassinate Dracula finally reach its critical moment!

Last and maybe least is HULK: THE OFFICIAL MOVIE ADAPTATION! You remember Ang Lee’s Hulk film that it seems no one liked? Come see if the comic book version was any better! 

PeterS



Repetition is the sincerest form of flattery

November 15, 2021

The Savage Avengers are still battling Kulan Gath in #26 and this time they throw everything at him including 2 Kang's. But he still wins (again). But there's also still 2 issues of this title to go.

The Eternals series resumes with #7. As Ikaris & co settle in with the Deviants, Thanos kills Zuras (again) and takes over as Prime Eternal. And Druig gets his reward.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN VS WHIPLASH #3 the 2 main chars clash. But the real villains have an army of Iron Man clones waiting in the wings.

Now it's time for some Infinity Wars #4 tie-ins:-
I've done ALPHA FLIGHT #111. While the main team are away in IW fighting the Infinity Watch and Doppelgangers, Gamma Flight in Toronto fight Firebug and Mad-Dog who are maddened by the Ska'r.
In WONDER MAN #14 Simon Williams fights Adam Warlock, and then Galactus shows him his past life which makes WM come to the conclusion that he's just a bunch of energy with Simon's memories.
And FANTASTIC FOUR #369 fits in here which Peter covered some years ago.

--RobFJ



Coolest of the Cool!

November 11, 2021

One of the coolest things Marvel has done in the last year or so is MARVELS SNAPSHOTS, continuation of the classic MARVELS, each issue centered on a different hero or era. Today we have SUB-MARINER, where Namor is reunited with the All-Winners Squad (formerly the Invaders) against a Nazi menace in New Jersey!

And SECRET AVENGERS #29 has the team surrounded by baddies on a cool quest for the Serpent Crown!

THOR #427 has a lot of cool guest stars: Captain America, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Quasar, and Excalibur!

Dracula does not appear in TOMB OF DRACULA #58 but the vampire-hunters are faced with a new sort of vamp in a cool departure from the usual formula!

ALL-NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #4 wraps up with a cool battle between Lyra and the Dark Avengers!

PeterS



The Avengers get hit by Juggernauts and Iron Man suffers Whiplash.

November 8, 2021

All of the comics that arrived this week are issues delayed from previous weeks, and all this week's comics have been shunted to next week and next week's to the week after that. At the moment that's all that ComicList's extended forecast is reporting, but I don't know how long the effect will actually continue for.

1 of the delayed comics that showed up was DEATH OF DR STRANGE: AVENGERS where 4 Avengers, especially Iron Man, fight an invasion of Juggernauts from the Crimson Cosmos.

The online HULKLING & WICCAN INFINITY COMIC #1 was presumably unaffected by all this, as the ex-Young Avengers' marriage is tested by their 1st disagreement and a magic video game.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN VS WHIPLASH #2 Shellhead is imprisoned for a war crime but we learn that he didn't do it. However neither of these things deter Whiplash from trying to kill him.

It's now time for me to add tie-in issue summaries to INFINITY WAR #4 which Peter wrote up some years ago. In the issue itself the heroes decide to use both the Infinity Gauntlet and the Ultimate Nullifier against the Magus.

--RobFJ



A Battle-Filled Set This Week!

November 4, 2021

The fairly recent BLACK WIDOW (2020) #9 has Natasha and her team—White Widow, Spider-Girl, and Lucy—preparing to assault the evil Apogee’s lair!

In DEFENDERS #50, it’s the non-team versus the new, improved Zodiac—to the finish! Plus, Judy Garland on the soundtrack!

TOMB OF DRACULA #57: it’s Dracula against his vampire-hunting foes with the Forever Man as a wild card!

ALL-NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #3 sees Lyra taking on Norman Osborn and his Dark Avengers!

THOR #426 gives us Thor versus Leir, Lord of Lightning, over the hand of Sif while the new Code Blue police unit battles the Wrecking Crew!

--PeterS



Iron Man's in everything apart from where he's just popped out

November 1, 2021

And another week with no new issues to report on. With Champions and Guardians Of The Galaxy gone this will happen more frequently.

But luckily I have in my pocket 2 recent Darkhold issues:-
DARKHOLD ALPHA describes the resurgent threat of Chthon and how Scarlet Witch gathers 5 heroes including Iron Man to fight him. But they have to read in the Darkhold book which turns them into evil versions from alternate timelines.
DARKHOLD: IRON MAN recounts how the alternate Shellhead became evil.
I won't be covering the other 4 1-shots but I'll report on the finale in Darkhold Omega.

The next mini-series from T Vernon is Iron Man vs Whiplash. In #1 the Golden Avenger apparently goes rogue and causes a new Whiplash to swear revenge.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #28-29 end the tie-ins for Infinity War #3. While the Avengers, including our main man, are away the GOTG defend their Mansion from super-villains and Doppelgangers.
I'll also mention WARLOCK & INFINITY WATCH #8 and QUASAR #38 which Peter did earlier.

--RobFJ



Two She-Hulks for Twice the Fun!

October 28, 2021

Nothing new in our purview so another selection of older classics:

ALL-NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #2 from 2009 pits old She-Hulk (Jen) against new She-Hulk (Lyra)!

THOR #425 gives the God of Thunder a new quest: retrieving the Twilight Sword which lies in the Sea of Eternal Night in the Dimension of Death! Oh my!

In DEFENDERS #48, the maniacal Scorpio, Nick Fury’s brother’s LMD (!) is causing trouble for the non-team and in #49, the new Zodiac is ready to wreak havoc but Hulk doesn’t want to play!

TOMB OF DRACULA #56 unleashes the Vampire Conspiracy—thanks to Harold H. Harold!

And if you’ve ever wondered why WW2 veteran Nick Fury never gets old, the answer lies in MARVEL SPOTLIGHT #31!

--PeterS



Eternals and Thanos bracketing 1930's Iron Man

October 25, 2021

It's another of those weeks with no new issues to handle. But I have saved 2 Eternals 1-shots from earlier weeks:-
ETERNALS: CELESTIA reintroduces us to Ajak and Makkari, both resurrected as females (to match the upcoming film), and initiates 2 plotlines for future issues.
ETERNALS FOREVER is a standalone tale of Eternals vs Deviants with somewhat confusing clues as to when it happened.

T Vernon concludes Iron Man Noir with #4 as Tony and Rhodey defeat the Nazis, including the brainwashed Howard Stark.

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #110-111 concludes a Thanos tale where Death asks him to kill Adam Warlock, but for various reasons he decides not to. The issues also feature ongoing tales of Wolverine & Typhoid Mary and Ghost Rider & Werewolf By Night plus standalone stories of Nightcrawler and Iron Fist.

--RobFJ



Captains Four and Froggy Thor!

October 21, 2021

Two new comics this week:

UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA #5 concludes with the four Caps and the Cap Network taking down the villains! Which is how it should be!

THOR #18: Mjolnir has been stolen and Thor wants it back! Who ya gonna call? Frog Thor!

DEFENDERS #47 adds Moon Knight to the non-team just in time for Hellcat to fight Wonder Man in the usual case of mistaken identity!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #55, postpartum depression even affects vampires and fathers!

Did you know Hulk has a daughter? She’s the ALL-NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK appearing in her own comic from 2009!

--PeterS



Pairings familiar and otherwise

October 18, 2021

My 2 main titles are here this week:-

IRON MAN #13 gathers both sides together for a big battle on Galactus' worldship Taa II. But both Korvac and Tony Stark reach for the prize - the power of a god.

In AVENGERS #49 it turns out that the Red Widow set Winter Hulk up to take the blame for gamma bombing Atlantis. But She-Hulk was faking her brainwashing and Widow drinks Hulk blood, leading to a showdown between Winter Hulk and Widow Hulk.

T Vernon continues the 1930s alternate timeline saga in IRON MAN: NOIR #3 as Tony Stark and Rhodey don armour to rescue Pepper Potts.

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #108-109 contain the 1st 2 parts of an Infinity War story of Thanos and Death. Plus tales of Wolverine & Nightcrawler, Ghost Rider & Werewolf By Night, and the Young Gods (who?).

--RobFJ



The Immortal Hulk Ends!

October 14, 2021

THE IMMORTAL HULK #50! An epic end to an epic series!

The recent BLACK WIDOW (2020) #8 sees new team member Spider-Girl enter the jaws of the villain’s lair; will she survive?

The Black Galaxy Saga concludes in THOR #424 with the birth of a Celestial!

A very unusual Christmas issue arrives in TOMB OF DRACULA #54 with the birth of Dracula’s son!

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #41: Hercules stops a coup against his son the Emperor! Plus Wolverine, Wonder Man, and the little-known Freedom Force!

--PeterS



Conan dies but Galactus and Dr Strange regenerate

October 11, 2021

CHAMPIONS #10 ends the run on a down-beat when Roxxon Corp salvage their reputation by 'stopping' their 'rogue' employee André Sims attacking the Champs with his Chaperone robots.

In SAVAGE AVENGERS #25 Conan sacrifices himself by attacking Kulan Gath 1-on-1, giving Kang The Conqueror 'time' to hopefully muster an army for next issue.

T Vernon continues the 1930's adventures of explorer Tony Stark with IRON MAN: NOIR #2 where he dives for orichalcum in sunken Atlantis with the help of pirate Namor. But those pesky Nazis interfere again.

This week's Infinity Wars #3 tie-ins are:-
QUASAR #37 where Wendell Vaughn goes to the Dimension Of Manifestations to find out what's wrong with Eternity and discovers who makes avatar bodies for cosmic beings.
In DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #45 Magus has blown up Galactus' spaceship, and Death tries to stop DrS helping Big G put it and its occupants back together again.

--RobFJ



More Free Comic Book Reviews!

October 7, 2021

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2021 gives us thrilling previews for the upcoming AVENGERS and new HULK volume! Looks exciting!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #53, Blade finally catches up to the vampire that killed his mother, Deacon Frost! Hannibal King is also on the scene!

THOR #423: The Celestials are gathering in the Black Galaxy—and you won’t believe what they’re waiting for!

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #40: Hercules is in his usual trouble! Plus Wolverine, Wonder Man, and the little-known Over-Mind!

DEFENDERS #46 asks “Who Remembers Scorpio?” Fans of Steranko’s run on NICK FURY certainly do and now he’s back!

--PeterS



Following Thanos around again

October 4, 2021

I've no new issues to report on this week, but I saved ETERNALS: THANOS RISES from 2 weeks ago. This is the 1st of 3 1-shots to bridge the months between Eternals #6 and #7. This history lesson tells the story of the Eternal A'lars/Mentor and the birth of his son Thanos.

IRON MAN: NOIR #1 tells the pre-WWII tale of an Indiana Jones type named Tony Stark, alongside versions of Rhodey, Jarvis and Madame Masque. In T Vernon's opinion it's an enjoyable romp but hardly noir.

I follow Thanos into INFINITY WAR #3. Peter previously synopsised this and I now add summaries for its tie-ins.
1 of which is GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #27 where the original Guardians come back from their future to visit the Inhumans and get caught up in the Doppelganger mess.
Peter was very busy back then and already did other tie-ins FANTASTIC FOUR #368, WONDER MAN #13 and SILVER SABLE & THE WILD PACK #4.

--RobFJ



Asgardian Family Feud!

September 30, 2021

The brand new THOR #17 features giant monsters and a lot of bickering among Thor, Odin, Freyja, and Angela! Maybe they should have invited Loki as peacemaker!

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #39 features the return of Bob Layton’s futuristic and fun-loving Hercules! Plus, stories with Wolverine, Wonder Man, and Spider-Man!

In DEFENDERS #44, the mystic Red Rajah kicks the butts of all of the male Defenders! And in #45, the female Defenders come to their rescue!

TOMB OF DRACULA #52 features a new sort of foe for the Lord of the Undead: an angel from Heaven!

And wrapping up this title in the MHL, MARVEL DOUBLE SHOT #3 has both Reed (Mr. Fantastic) Richards and Scott (Ant-Man) Lang facing some tricky moments in fatherhood!

--PeterS



All good things come to an end

September 27, 2021

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #18 is the end of the Last Annihilation event as Rocket Raccoon gets his wish to shoot Dormammu in the head with a very big gun. But it's also the end of the series, with no new Guardians series in sight.

T Vernon's IRON MAN & POWER PACK #4 is also the last issue of the mini-series in which the Power kids get their own Iron Man armour.

The following 2 issues are also the last of the tie-ins to INFINITY WAR #2:-
Galactus and gang are travelling down an interdimensional corridor.
SILVER SURFER (1987) #69 concludes the Khoon 2-parter as Galactus plugs the villain into his spaceship's navigation system to use the map of the corridor in his head.
Then in DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #44 Strange and Nova are kidnapped by Cyttorak to the Crimson Cosmos, and only Juggernaut can save them.

--RobFJ



For a Few Captains More!

September 23, 2021

UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA #4 brings together Steve Cap, Sam Cap, Bucky Barnes, and U.S. Agent to battle a number of familiar Nazi faces!

MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL #37 heralds the return of Bob Layton’s fun-loving Hercules in an epic continuing his far future exploits! Plus there’s an inflatable Galactus!

The classic Black Galaxy Saga continues in THOR #422 as Thor and Hercules meet the High Evolutionary’s new gods!

It’s pure chaos in DEFENDERS #43, with Cobalt Man threatening to go nuclear, Egghead tossing around deadly eggs, and the mystical Red Rajah mystifying!

TOMB OF DRACULA #51 throws “The Wildest Party” with Dracula the guest of honor but vampire Blade comes uninvited!

--PeterS



When is a spaceship a worldship? Size matters.

September 20, 2021

In IRON MAN #12 the Golden Avenger and Avro-X battle a Punisher (not that 1) and Korvac in Galactus' worldship before help arrives.

LA: WAKANDA is the penultimate issue in the Last Annihilation event as the Intergalactic Empire Of Wakanda help the Imperial Guard defend the Shi'ar planet Aerie (and its moon gets turned into a Mindless One).

T Vernon's IRON MAN & POWER PACK #3 is part 1 of a 2-part closer as the team-up fights a museum-load of Iron Man armours.

Infinity War has reached #2 and I add summaries of tie-ins to Peter's earlier synopsis.
And I do SILVER SURFER (1987) #68 where Galactus' spaceship is delayed between dimensions by mechanical space-wolves!

--RobFJ



Seeing Green!

September 16, 2021

More older classics!

A training exercise for the X-Men goes horribly wrong in X-MEN VS HULK when the not-so-jolly Green Giant shows up!

The classic Black Galaxy Saga continues in THOR #421 wherein the God of Thunder needs all of the Avengers to defeat the invader Stellaris! And the baddie has a secret that shan’t be revealed here!

TOMB OF DRACULA #50 features an odd guest star! Would you believe the Silver Surfer?

In NEW AVENGERS (2010) #16, Daredevil, the Man without Fear, saves the day in this FEAR ITSELF tie-in! Seems appropriate!

DEFENDERS #42 pits the new Emissaries of Evil against the non-team for an explosive adventure!

--PeterS



The exception is the rule

September 13, 2021

CHAMPIONS #9 wraps up the whole Outlawed saga as Roxxon is defeated and Kamala's Law is repealed. Except there's a strand left over for next issue.

The final battle against Kulan Gath begins in SAVAGE AVENGERS #24. Except he wins already! Then decades later it's up to Conan in Dr Doom's armour to try to put everything right by calling in the time-travelling Kang The Conqueror.

T Vernon's IRON MAN & POWER PACK #2 has the team-up tackling Blizzard and Speed Demon to rescue the daughter of a pre-Presidential Donald Trump-alike.

This week's Infinity War batch:-
In DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #43 Agamotto takes exception to Strange lending his Eye to Galactus. See Big G fight a giant caterpillar!
And in ALPHA FLIGHT #110 the Master Of The World takes exception to Magus threatening the globe. His solution - unleash another threat!
And I'll just mention that Peter Silvestro already did FANTASTIC FOUR #367 where Thing fights his Doppelganger against a background of IW#1-2.

--RobFJ



The Black Galaxy Saga Continues!

September 9, 2021

Part two of the classic Black Galaxy Saga, THOR #420 has the God of Thunder making a new enemy: Stellaris the Celestial Slayer! And that sounds a bit ominous!

There’s MARVELS SNAPSHOTS: CAPTAIN MARVEL which has Carol and Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan giving advice and counsel to a girl in search of her identity! While battling alien invaders, of course!

TOMB OF DRACULA #49 pits the Lord of the Undead against some decidedly literary adversaries!

In NEW AVENGERS (2010) #15, it’s Squirrel Girl versus Wolverine, in this FEAR ITSELF tie-in! My money is on Doreen!

DEFENDERS ANNUAL #1 wraps up a lot of complicated plot threads while DEFENDERS #41 has the non-team battling an evil sorceress in a hippie commune! It’s a blast from the past!

--PeterS



The mission comes 1st, and last

September 6, 2021

In AVENGERS #48 the Winter (She-)Hulk goes on her programmed mission to assassinate Namor of Atlantis. But Red Widow follows on with an atomic bomb to destroy Atlantis itself.

This week's episode of Last Annihilation is LA: WICCAN & HULKLING where the duo use Nega-Rings to swap places to defeat each other's foe and save 2 planets.

T Vernon starts a new mini-series with IRON MAN & POWER PACK #1. In a timeline where the Pack are still youngsters they and Shellhead defeat Ultimo.

This week's tie-ins to INFINITY WAR #1:-
In DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #42 Galactus comes to demand Strange's help tracking whoever rendered Eternity comatose but accidentally renders *him* unconscious ...
... at which point Silver Surfer turns up in SILVER SURFER (1987) #67 to attack Big G for attacking DrS. But they all team up at the end with Herald Nova to go on the mission.

--RobFJ



The Black Galaxy Saga!

September 2, 2021

THOR #419 begins the classic Black Galaxy Saga! High Evolutionary wants to create a new set of gods! Thor and Hercules have to talk sense into him!

A new villain for the recent BLACK WIDOW #7: Apogee, a crimelord/cult leader whose followers have strange powers! Plus Spider-Girl (Anya Corazon) joins the team!

In NEW AVENGERS (2010) #14, Mockingbird gets some new powers, just in time for FEAR ITSELF!

DEFENDERS #40: a giant assassin! Elf with a Gun! Ruby Thursday for President! All in a day’s work!

TOMB OF DRACULA #48 gives us a change of pace: the tragic story of Marianne, whose path crossed with Dracula’s one time too many!!

--PeterS



2 ends and 2 middles and some Thanos connections

August 30, 2021

AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 is the last of the Infinite Destinies Annuals where an AI/robot gets the Soul Stone. There's still the Mind Stone unaccounted for but the Infinite Fury backup series leads in to the Infinity Score heist in Black Cat #8-10 and a Giant-Size finale involving Thanos. Who at the same time will have become leader of the Eternals. Maybe this is all going somewhere?

Meanwhile the CABLE: RELOADED 1-shot is the next episode in the Last Annihilation crossover where Cable and his team acquire from Breakworld the very big gun that Rocket Raccoon talked about in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #17. And Abigail Brand provides the big bullet to go with it.

T Vernon also provides an ending IRON AGE: OMEGA to the Iron Age story where the timelost alternate Iron Man gathers the heroes from the previous issues to stop his own future from happening.

On the Starlin/Thanos trail I'm now into tie-ins to INFINITY WAR #1. This week's 2 are:-
FANTASTIC FOUR #366 amplifies the fight between Mr Fantastic and his evil Doppelganger in IW#1 while continuing other ongoing FF subplots.
In WARLOCK & THE INFINITY WATCH #7 the gang discover they are on Monster Island and team up with Mole Man. Then Thanos arrives from IW#1 to ask for their help.

--RobFJ



Meet the Captain America of the Kickapoo Tribe!

August 26, 2021

UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 introduces us to another member of the Cap Network, a Native American fighting for his people!

THOR #16 still has Thor going through his midlife crisis, this time with Valkyrie (Jane) and the Wrecking Crew!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #47, Drac is going to be a father! And yes, it’s as strange as it sounds!

In DEFENDERS #39, Valkyrie (Brunhilde) is sent to prison! Oh, those poor inmates!

MARVEL TALES #197: Ignore Spidey on the cover! The real prize is a Hercules back-up story by Bob Layton! A real gem!

--PeterS



3 universe-scale threats and just an Earth-level 1

August 23, 2021

In this week's IRON MAN #11 Iron Man discovers that the alien world colony beset by Ultimos is all a 'great experiment' by Stilt-Man. And then the Living Tribunal pops up to sort everything out and send Shellhead back to the Korvac universe-level menace.

And The Last Annihilation event continues in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #17 where Dormammu creates a galactic pentagram to allow him to step through into this endangered universe with a body to suit the scale of his planet-sized head.

I'm picking up the Thanos/Starlin trail again with another universal threat in 1992's INFINITY WAR #1. Peter Silvestro synopsised this but now I've added comments on tie-ins. Back in the day Peter also dealt with the CAPTAIN AMERICA #408-409 tie-ins as Cap and D-Man face their Dopplegangers.

T Vernon reaches the end of the Iron Age mini-series with #3 but it's not the end of the event. In this issue Iron Man tangles with Dazzler and the early 1980's X-Men. He completes the time machine he needs but Dark Phoenix destroys it. Only the future of the Earth is at stake in this 1.

--RobFJ



Another Fistful of Older Classics!

August 19, 2021

No new comics in this week so here’s THOR #418: the Wrecking Crew returns—to get wrecked!

A+X #8! Spider-Woman and Kitty Pryde against the Absorbing Man! Hawkeye and Deadpool versus pirates!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #46, Dracula gains a bride and becomes head of his very own cult!

DEFENDERS #38 sees Dr. Strange, Luke Cage, and Red Guardian on a hostile planet and Valkyrie in jail!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE 1940S NEWSPAPER STRIP #3 concludes with Cap and Bucky versus Red Skull…and a giant robot!

--PeterS

 



This in order to that

August 16, 2021

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY ANNUAL #1 came out last week but I saved it for this otherwise empty slot. The main story is really Prince Otherone regaling Hercules with his origin (while they fight some bad guys), and the pair disagreeing over who has the rights to the title Prince Of Power. In the ongoing backup Nighthawk has brainwashed Nick Fury Jr to steal a piece of a Cosmic Cube to help them locate the current 'Infinity Watch' in order to use the Infinity Stones to bring back the recent Heroes Reborn world.

In T Vernon's IRON AGE #2 Iron Man is back in the comics of the early 80's seeking the scattered parts of Dr Doom's time machine in order to save his (alternate) future. This time he meets Doom, Human Torch and the cast of Power Man & Iron Fist.

AVENGERS/THUNDERBOLTS #5-6 finishes the mini-series as the joint teams have to reduce Moonstone to a catatonic state in order to save the world. Jolt makes a surprise appearance. And Helmut Zemo gets his face re-scarred saving Captain America!

--RobFJ



Multiple Battles from Older Classics!

August 12, 2021

THOR #417: it’s Thor and Hercules against the ghastly Dark Dweller!

DEFENDERS #37: Plantman suddenly becomes a formidable foe, holding all of the Defenders plus Luke Cage at bay!

In NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 2011, it’s Wonder Man and a team of villains against the Avengers!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE 1940S NEWSPAPER STRIP #2 continues with a familiar hero in an unfamiliar format in search of the Red Skull!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #45, it's Blade versus Hannibal King!

--PeterS

 



Every issue has Avengers in the title

August 9, 2021

In AVENGERS #47 the team come to the rescue of She-Hulk as she's brainwashed in the Red Room. But she escapes on her own as the Winter Hulk.

The other new issue this week is SAVAGE AVENGERS #23 where Conan and Dr Strange give Shuma-Gorath a mercy killing.

In T Vernon's IRON AGE #1 Tony Stark has gone back in time to comics cover-dated 1983 where he's a drunkard and Britain has been taken over by Mad Jim Jaspers.
And even this issue is cover-labelled Iron Age Featuring Avengers (unless you've got the Featuring Captain Britain variant).

AVENGERS/THUNDERBOLTS #3-4 continue the mini-series where Baron Zemo test-runs Project: Liberator but Moonstone gets all the stolen energy while the 2 teams squabble.

--RobFJ



Time is Running Out for the Hulk!

August 5, 2021

IMMORTAL HULK #49! Hulk heads Below to rescue Bruce Banner! Next month is the title’s big finish! I can hardly wait!

The recent BLACK WIDOW #6 has Natasha facing a new villain, crime lord Apogee! Plus, the new White Widow!

U.S. AGENT #5 wraps up John Walker’s most recent mini-series with a kaiju and a confrontation with the new U.S. Agent!

Some older classics:

In THOR #416, the God of Thunder meets the soul-sucking Dark Dweller!

DOCTOR STRANGE #14 has the Master of the Mystic Arts becoming a vampire and Dracula is responsible!

--PeterS



What you were dying for

August 2, 2021

ETERNALS #6 ends the story arc and possibly the series with the revelation that every time an Eternal is resurrected a human has to die.

The Last Annihilation crossover continues with SWORD #7 where we learn that Krakoa's Mysterium may have allowed Dormammu in and SWORD's Abigail Brand is playing a devious long game.

T Vernon's IRON AGE: ALPHA begins the time-hopping Iron Age mini-series with a very old and obscure Iron Man villain and the end of the world.

AVENGERS/THUNDERBOLTS #1-2 has Tony Stark pretending to be armoured villain Cobalt Man to infiltrate the Thunderbolts. But the Avengers have to keep it secret from Hawkeye.

--RobFJ



Meet the Captain America of Harrisburg!

July 29, 2021

UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA #2 gives us another local Cap! This one is Nichelle Wright, a Black female gymnast who protests legally by day and goes out catching crooks at night!

Some older classics:

THOR #415 gives us yet another version of Thor’s/Don Blake’s origin!

It had to happen! TOMB OF DRACULA #44 pits the Lord of the Undead against Doctor Strange!

In DEFENDERS #36, Plantman, Eel, and Porcupine return! To join Nebulon’s new Bozo movement! And that’s not half of this issue’s crazy plot!

And for more bizarre adventure, there’s WHAT IF? WORLD WAR HULK! Anything can happen here!

--PeterS



Villains from other dimensions, the past and an alternate timeline

July 26, 2021

In SAVAGE AVENGERS #22 Conan and Johnny Blaze are trapped in a variety of nightmares, all so Nightmare can give Conan a warning for Dr Strange who's currently treating the demon Shuma-Gorath as a patient.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #16 begins the Last Annihilation event as the planet-sized head of Dormammu unleashes Mindless Ones and Mindless Guns against the capitals of Galactic Empires.

It's a 1-shot from T Vernon this time, the original 1994 IRON MAN 2020 which now has to be relegated to an alternate timeline with a different version of Arno Stark.

WARLOCK & THE INFINITY WATCH #5-6 concludes the High Evolutionary storyline where the bad guy turns out to be the Man-Beast, the villain from Warlock's 1st run on Counter-Earth.

--RobFJ



Thor’s Infinite Destiny!

July 22, 2021

The brand new THOR ANNUAL (2021) continues the Infinite Destinies arc (at least, I think so) with an appearance by an alternate evil Thor!

Some older classics:

Hey, remember CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE 1940S NEWSPAPER STRIP? Neither do we, since it never existed! But that didn’t stop Karl Kesel from creating one in 2010 and Marvel publishing it! Here’s issue #1 of 3!

In DEFENDERS #34, Nebulon, the Celestial Man, brings his godlike powers to Earth—to start a clown-faced cult! And #35 introduces a new Red Guardian, just in time for an insane story of brain transplants and mind transfers! Including one for Bambi!

TOMB OF DRACULA #43 rips off the classic THE NIGHT STALKER! If you’re going to steal, steal from the best!

Last but definitely not least, there’s MARVEL SPOTLIGHT #32! The origin of the original Spider-Woman! And if you’re a big fan of the character and want to write up her appearances for this site, get in touch! We’d be glad to have you!

--PeterS



It was a time of giants

July 19, 2021

In IRON MAN #10 the Golden Avenger is stranded on the planet of giant-robot Ultimos where the big hero is Stilt-Man. Maybe?

And in CHAMPIONS #8 the team's infiltration of Roxxon uncovers that their new plan is teen-hero-hunting giant robots called Chaperone Models (not as catchy as Sentinels).

Plus in FF/IRON MAN BIG IN JAPAN #4 T Vernon tells us how the extremely giant (but not robot) Apocalypse Beast achieves it's destiny to be a space-going home for Moloids (and possibly after generations produce Super-Moloid).

WARLOCK & THE INFINITY WATCH #3-4 passes the time before Infinity War with the 1st half of an adventure in which Adam Warlock defends his mentor High Evolutionary against attackers while 2 mystery armoured guys capture Drax, Gamora, Moondragon and Pip. (Nobody's oversize, but in his #15 Warlock was once bigger than the Solar System.)

--RobFJ



Thor Versus…Mjolnir?!?

July 15, 2021

Last time Thor fought Don Blake and now in THOR #15 the God of Thunder is facing a very uncooperative and even hostile hammer! This one looks epic!

Some older classics:

In the 1998 one-shot HAWKEYE: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST MARKSMAN, our mighty archer takes on Batroc the Leaper, Oddball, and the ghastly Taskmaster! 

TOMB OF DRACULA #42 sees the final duel to the death between Dracula and mad scientist Doctor Sun!

SAVAGE HULK #6 has Doctor Strange trapped in an alien land dominated by the savage Hulk! You won’t believe what’s really going on!

DEFENDERS #32 promises the secret origin of Nighthawk but also delivers the first appearance of the oddball villain Ruby Thursday! And #33 continues the madcap saga involving people’s (and one animal’s) brains being swapped around! Hold on to your hats!

--PeterS



2 trials and several tribulations

July 12, 2021

AVENGERS #46 starts a new story arc as the Winter Guard take She-Hulk from Avengers Mountain to stand trial for messing up Red Square when she fought Sub-Mariner during the Phoenix arc. Then she gets brainwashed in the Red Room. (It's sure taking a long time for the Avengers to come rescue her!)

T Vernon's FF/Iron Man Big In Japan continues with #3 as the supergiant Apocalypse Beast comes through to Earth and heads towards Monster Island.

I'm returning to the Jim Starlin/Thanos trail for Warlock & The Infinity Watch. In #1 the Living Tribunal and a cosmic court persuade Adam Warlock to give up his Infinity Gauntlet godhood, and in #2 to distribute the the 6 Infinity Gems among his Infinity Watch:- himself, Drax, Gamora, Moondragon, Pip and a mystery other.

--RobFJ



End of an Era! And the Clock Winds Down!

July 8, 2021

Author and social critic Ta-Nehisi Coates wraps up his run on CAPTAIN AMERICA (2018) with issue #30, as Cap defeats the Red Skull and can breathe easier—for now!

And the modern classic IMMORTAL HULK #48, counting down to its epic conclusion with issue #50, sees Hulk and Betty try to reconcile—but talk about relationship baggage! 

In DEFENDERS #30, the heroes battle an evil tap dancer! Well, they can’t all be classics! And in #31, the Headmen swipe Nighthawk’s brain! That’s more like it!

In the classic THOR #414, Thor battles Ulik while Eric Masterson faces…his evil ex!

Last, and probably least, John Walker’s latest issue, U.S. AGENT #4, pits him against…I’m not sure!

--PeterS



A whole lotta learning

July 5, 2021

In this week's ETERNALS #5 we learn that Thanos isn't all that he was and he's working for Phastos to destroy the Eternals to save the world. Except I think there's at least 1 more shoe to drop in this story.

T Vernon continues FF/Iron Man Big In Japan with #2 where we learn that the monsters aren't attacking Japan but fleeing from something worse.

AVENGERS/JLA #3-4 conclude the Marvel/DC crossover. We start off in a multiverse with 2 Earths where the Avengers and JLA have always shared a relationship like the Pre-Crisis JLA and JSA. But then they learn that this isn't the real thing and they defeat Krona to restore the true universes, even though some of them know that their fates will be bad there. And in the climax Superman wields Captain America's shield and Thor's hammer! But it's Hawkeye who saves the day, with help from the Barry Allen Flash.

--RobFJ



Happy Anniversary, Cap!

July 1, 2021

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of Captain America, Marvel is publishing THE UNITED STATES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA, looking at the wielders of the shield and those inspired by it! Here’s issue #1!

And there’s also a CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE, sort of a Cap Jam wherein multiple artists reinterpret Cap’s earliest appearances!

SAVAGE HULK #5 sees Hulk return to the Crossroads from a famous story arc as Dr. Strange tries to discover what went wrong!

In THOR #413, Hercules fights Ulik while Thor battles…himself?!? Dr. Strange shows up here as well!

And in TOMB OF DRACULA #41, Drac is back for Halloween—from the dead!

--PeterS



Events and team-ups

June 28, 2021

This week's new comic GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #15 is mainly about Nova and Star Lord attending the X-Men's Hellfire Gala party/event. But then back in the main plot the Big Bad everyone's been worried about turns out to be Dr Strange's old arch-enemy Dormammu, leading into The Last Annihilation event.

Back before everything was an Event, T Vernon takes Iron Man into the next phase in his career with FANTASTIC FOUR/IRON MAN: BIG IN JAPAN #1 where the title chars go to Japan and fight giant monsters in a cartoon style.

I nip a bit further back (into Avengers vol 3) for AVENGERS/JLA #1-2 where Marvel's Grandmaster tries to stop DC's Krona's universes-shattering quest by sucking him into 1 of his team vs team games.

--RobFJ



The Return of All the Reborn Heroes!

June 24, 2021

HEROES RETURN wraps up HEROES REBORN with a big battle and sets everything right again!

The latest CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL continues the Infinite Destinies mini-event as Cap and Black Widow pursue the owner of the Time Stone!

In THOR #412, the New Warriors take the field for the first time, joining Thor against Juggernaut!

And in TOMB OF DRACULA #40: the vampire hunters finally get their wish: Dracula is dead! But maybe that wasn’t such a great idea…!

DEFENDERS #29 sees Hulk and Yondu competing on the deadliest game show in television history! 

--PeterS



End of an era

June 21, 2021

I've no new issues this week but I've added a comment on the last tie-in to Peter's HEROES REBORN #7.

T Vernon also adds comments to IRON MAN (1998) #88-89 which Julio did earlier. Tony Stark defeats the imposter Iron Man, buries Rumiko, resigns as Secretary Of Defence, rebuilds his company and persuades the world that he's handed over the Iron Man job to someone else.

AVENGERS: FINALE is a capstone to the 1998 Avengers series as the team mourn lost comrades, celebrate the good times and decide to call it a day.

With these issues we bring to an end the era of the 3rd volumes of Iron Man and Avengers.

But not only that. TV has completed the Golden Avenger's run from Tales Of Suspense through IM vols 1-3 (filling in around the few issues that were already done) and linked up with the post-2005 runs that I and others have completed. So now Shellhead joins Captain America and Hulk in having all their main titles completely documented (Peter's still working on Thor, and the Avengers have a long way to go).

Still it's not over for the unstoppable T. There are still Iron mini-series and 1-shots undealtwith, and he'll start next week on Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big In Japan.

--RobFJ



All the Heroes are Now Reborn…

June 17, 2021

HEROES REBORN #7 ends with the Squadron Supreme finally encountering the mysterious Avengers! Next week: HEROES RETURN!

And held over from that last Big Event, KING IN BLACK: CAPTAIN AMERICA pits Cap, Sam, and Bucky against a mass of Symbiotes!

For some older classics: SAVAGE HULK #4 gives Hulk intense telekinetic powers! Now no one asked for that!

THOR #411! Thor versus Juggernaut for the first time! Plus, the New Warriors are introduced! Plus, a Beta Ray Bill solo adventure!

And TOMB OF DRACULA #39 gives us “The Death of Dracula” but remember, you can’t keep a bad man down!

--PeterS



Heroes reborn, rebuilt and disassembled

June 14, 2021

I've briefly synopsised this week's 2 tie-ins to Heroes Reborn, but split them between Peter's #5&6.

The current Iron Man series returns (prematurely) after the HReb hiatus with #9. But the Golden Avenger's still not around as we get a recap of Korvac's history and the return (again) and rebuilding of the android Human Torch.

We've reached Avengers Disassembled for which the issues revert to legacy numbering AVENGERS #500-503. Scarlet Witch goes insane. Secretary Of Defence Iron Man appears drunk at the UN. Ant-Man and Hawkeye die (temporarily as Marvel usual). Vision is destroyed (again). She-Hulk loses it (again) and is arrested by SHIELD. Wasp and the new Captain Britain are in intensive care. Yellowjacket is staying by Wasp's bedside. Only Captain America and Falcon are left standing as the team lose their UN status.

Then follows Shellhead's Av Disassembled run, The Singularity, which Julio has already synopsised. This week T Vernon adds comments to IRON MAN (1998) #86-87. While Tony Stark is trying to deal with his UN snafu a fake Iron Man kills the Stark Enterprises Board Of Directors and Rumiko Fujikawa.

--RobFJ



Loki, Loki, Loki!!!

June 9, 2021

LOKI debuts today on Disney+ so we’ve added VOTE LOKI in its entirety as the God of Mischief runs for President of the United States!

It joins LOKI, AGENT OF ASGARD and LOKI (2019), our anti-hero’s two latest solo series which were already on the site to bring us all up to date on the cool and snarky Loki we’ve all come to love! Three Lokis for the price of one!

Oh yeah, there’s the new HEROES REBORN #6: Power Princess bashes heads and encounters Thor!

--PeterS



Who's got the Stones?

June 7, 2021

It's been a busy week.

The current IRON MAN ANNUAL starts off an 8-part Annuals crossover Infinite Destinies which will feature 8 new (or recently new) chars, 6 of whom are the current bearers of the Infinity Stones. Here Quantum has the Space Stone and he wants to get rid of it. It also begins a crossover backup tale starring Nick Fury Jr.

In SAVAGE AVENGERS #21 Conan fights Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze) even though they both hate Kulan Gath. And at the end he finds himself back in Hyborian Age Aquilonia (but presumably not for long).

Plus I've added 2 brief tie-in comments to Peter's HEROES REBORN #5.

T Vernon marks time with IRON MAN: THE COMING OF THE MELTER while he waits for me to catch up on Avengers issues. It's a Marvel Cinematic Universe tale pitting the villain against War Machine as well as Iron Man.

This week's old Avengers stuff is Once An Invader spread across AVENGERS (1998) #82-84 and NEW INVADERS #0. US Agent recruits a selection of old Invaders and newer Invaders-related chars to form a new team to replace the Avengers who've 'defected' to the UN.

Next week Avengers Disassembled.

--RobFJ



Look Out, It’s Bat-Spider-Man!

June 3, 2021

The new HEROES REBORN #5 features Nighthawk in a fun issue that mashes up Batman and Spider-Man tropes into a thing of its own!

The new IMMORTAL HULK #47 pits Hulk against the Avengers and my money is on the Hulk!

The semi-new U.S. AGENT #3. shows us a new U.S. Agent who may not be an improvement over the original John Walker!

In THOR #410, Thor and Hercules enlist She-Hulk in the battle against Doctor Doom! And there’s another Doctor Doom on the scene!

TOMB OF DRACULA #38! Doctor Sun returns! And talks as much as any Bond villain!

--PeterS



Bounding towards Avengers Disassembled

May 31, 2021

I have no actual new issues this week, but I've added comments on 3 tie-ins to Peter's HEROES REBORN #3-4.

T Vernon finishes off the 2-part fight with the Avengers against an Arsenal robot in IRON MAN (1998) #85.

The Marvel Chronology Project puts a whole lot of Avengers stuff between here and Iron Man's Avengers Disassembled issues.

The Avengers/Thunderbolts mini-series fits here but I'll be doing that in a few months time.

For now I'll contribute AVENGERS (1998) #77-81, the Lionheart Of Avalon story-arc. Captain Britain has retired to rule Otherworld and now chooses Kelsey Leigh as his replacement. There's some confusion as to whether she takes the CB name or Lionheart, which will get sorted out elsewhere. Tony Stark appears throughout without his armour, except for a bit with just a jet-boot.

--RobFJ



The First Hulk! And Heroes in Bulk!

May 27, 2021

The new one-shot IMMORTAL HULK: TIME OF MONSTERS shows us there was a prehistoric Hulk and he was terrifying!

The new HEROES REBORN #4 puts its focus on Doctor Spectrum and his endless battle against threats from outer space!

In BLACK WIDOW (2020) #5, Natasha makes her greatest sacrifice: her happiness! Hawkeye and Winter Soldier guest star, along with the White Widow!

THOR #409 pits Thor and Hercules against Doctor Doom!

Our sci-fi epic continues in DEFENDERS #28 as the Defenders and the Guardians of the Galaxy encounter the mysterious Starhawk!

--PeterS



(Nearly) the end

May 24, 2021

New this week is CHAMPIONS #7 where the team infiltrate Roxxon and their new Roxx On social media app.

We're nearing the end of vol 3 of the Avengers and Iron Man with part 1 of the Avengers Disassembled Prologue: Turf War in IRON MAN (1998) #84. T Vernon tells us how Tony Stark's government job has him clashing with his team over an Arsenal robot.

INFINITY GAUNTLET #6 brings us to the end of the mini-series that Peter synopsised years ago, and I've added my usual tie-in comments.
Julio already handled HULK #385 where the Green Giant fits in another tie-in adventure in the middle of the above issue.
In the SILVER SURFER (1987) #60 epilogue the new god Adam Warlock ignores Surfer (and Dr Strange and Thor) so SS goes off on another adventure too.
But then in DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #36 Gamora and Pip ask for Stephen's help because the Infinity Gems have gone to Adam's head. Until Eternity comes to take Warlock away for a Cosmic Trial.
That's the end of the Infinity Gauntlet event but it leads straight into Jim Starlin's next project Warlock And The Infinity Watch. But that's a story for another time.

--RobFJ



Heroes Reborn Continues!

May 20, 2021

HEROES REBORN #3 puts its focus on Blur (who makes it hard to focus) and his battles with the superfast Silver Witch!

CAPTAIN AMERICA #29: Sin, the Red Skull’s daughter, discovers her superpowers! I’m sure Cap and company are thrilled!

TOMB OF DRACULA #37 introduces two new protagonists: Harold H. Harold and Aurora Rabinowitz! And they bring some humor to the title!

THOR #408! The changing of the guard! Eric Masterson becomes the new human identity of Thor!

In SAVAGE HULK #3, there’s a new She-Hulk in town and her name is…Jean Gray?!?

--PeterS



Doomling and Doom Raccoon

May 17, 2021

This week's newie is GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #14 where Dr Doom joins the Guardians, and he's in the body of Hulkling and then Rocket Raccoon!

(I've also added comments on 2 tie-ins to Peter's HEROES REBORN #2.)

T Vernon doesn't think much of IRON MAN (1998) #83, a 1-off fill-in issue where the Golden Avenger fights yet another Titanium Man.

Back in the Infinity Gauntlet event:-
DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #35 sees DrS travel with Clea and Scarlet Witch to the Norse Ginnungagap to restore the Eric Masterson Thor from a bag of glass shards.
Then in SILVER SURFER (1987) #59 Surfer isn't happy about allying with Thanos against Nebula who now has the Infinity Gauntlet. So Strange sends them to a mystic realm to settle their differences in a joust. Dr Doom's in this too.

--RobFJ



Heroes Reborn!

May 13, 2021

Marvel’s latest big event is HEROES REBORN, set in an alternate world where the Avengers never existed because the Squadron Supreme is doing all the heroic deeds. (or, as my son puts it, “Marvel becomes DC!”) So we have issue #1, setting up the mystery, followed by issue #2 wherein Hyperion has to battle multiple bad guys (including the Hulk!) and face Captain America! And it’s a weekly so we’ll see you next time!

And back to our regularly scheduled heroes:

THOR #407 has Thor entering the Black Galaxy to rescue Hercules and the High Evolutionary and having to defuse the Null Bomb! Don’t you hate days like that?

SAVAGE HULK #2 sees Hulk saving the X-Men from the Abomination! Another epic fight scene!

In DEFENDERS #27, our heroic non-team jumps a thousand years into the future to aid the Guardians of the Galaxy against the bad Badoon conquerors of Earth!

--PeterS



3 Doctors but Tony Stark applies the medicine

May 10, 2021

I'm not doing any new comics this week.

But T Vernon's still on hand to conclude the Deep End story in IRON MAN (1998) #82, which Tony Stark resolves without armour but with milk of magnesia.

I've added tie-in comments to Peter's INFINITY GAUNTLET #5.
And 1 of the tie-ins is DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #34 where DrS and Dr Druid bring Dr Doom back to life, but 1st they have to face the menace of Doom's good side.

--RobFJ



The Sixes Have It on the Sixth!

May 6, 2021

No idea how it happened but all of the new additions to the site have issue numbers ending in 6! And it’s May 6! Because I notice things like that!

In the brand new IMMORTAL HULK #46, bad news for the U-Foes: Hulk is back and bigger than before!

THOR #406: War with Wundagore! With a giant missile! ‘Nuff said!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #36, the Lord of the Undead makes his way to the United States for the first time!

Hercules got his first solo adventure in MARVEL PREMIERE #26 in that magical year of 1975!

In DEFENDERS #26, the visiting Guardians of the Galaxy offer up some future history! And it even has a point, leading into the next epic story arc!

--PeterS



Last minute surprises

May 3, 2021

I've uploaded 2 more new issues this time:-

In SAVAGE AVENGERS #20 Spider-Man fails to stop Conan and Rhino robbing a bank. Then Kulan Gath resurrects the shredded Priest Of Sickles.

In ETERNALS #4 suspicion moves away from Druig conspiring with Thanos. So now he feels it's safe to actually do it.

T Vernon gives us IRON MAN (1998) #81 where Shellhead fights Ishtar and her terrorists until Force turns up and attacks both sides.

The Infinity Gauntlet event continues:-

In SILVER SURFER (1987) #57-58 Thanos gets Surfer out of the way by sending him to a very strange dimension where he has to overcome his demons. The last of which is himself.

Julio did HULK #384 some time ago. In IG#4 Thanos shrank Hulk and sent him back to Earth, but that doesn't stop him from saving Abomination's ex-wife from her husband. And then Dr Strange whisks him away to IG#5.

--RobFJ



Marvel Guest Star Week!

April 29, 2021

Every classic issue has an amazing guest star (or four) to liven things up for the heroes!

There’s SAVAGE HULK (2014) #1 which asks the question “can Hulk be cured?” Professor X and the X-Men want to give it a try!

GIANT-SIZE DEFENDERS #5! The non-team joins the original Guardians of the Galaxy for the start of a sci-fi epic!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #35, zombies are on the loose! Who ya gonna call? Brother Voodoo!

In THOR #405, the Thunder God takes time out from battling Annihilus to surprise the Fantastic Four!

And the anthology title MARVEL PREMIERE #26 features a one-shot adventure for the Mighty Hercules!

--PeterS



There's a new Sheriff in town

April 26, 2021

I've got 2 more new issues this week:-

AVENGERS #45 is an epilogue to the King In Black event which makes the vampire base in Chernobyl an official country, but saddles them with Blade as Sheriff. However for the next couple of months Blade will find himself instead in a world without Avengers in the new version of Heroes Reborn.

In CHAMPIONS #6 the team are still illegal, Ironheart isn't happy and Roxxon has redirected its attacks on teen heroes to social media.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1998) #80 where the Golden Avenger comes face to face with the Goddess Ishtar in Iraq. And her followers shoot metal-eating acid from plastic paintball guns.

In SILVER SURFER (1987) #55-56 Surfer has a vision of what the universe will be like if Thanos isn't defeated in the Infinity Gauntlet event (as we weren't calling things then).

--RobFJ



Multiple Mysteries—including the Elf with a Gun!

April 22, 2021

THOR #404 appropriately gives us a 404 error: Asgard not found!

BLACK WIDOW: THE COLDEST WAR: one of Marvel’s Graphic Novels has Nat’s late husband the Red Guardian calling for her! But is he really alive?

In MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA #6, we learn the answer to the biggest Marvels question: what happened to Maggie?!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #34, Dracula crashes the fashion industry! Literally!

DEFENDERS #25 features multiple guest stars: Daredevil, Luke Cage, Yellowjacket, Son of Satan—and the Elf with a Gun!

--PeterS



Where's Iron Man?

April 19, 2021

I've got 2 new issues this week:-

Iron Man's not in his #8. Instead Moondragon takes mental time out from Guarding The Galaxy to boost Hellcat's confidence up to Korvac-busting level via a review of Patsy Walker's life.

Meanwhile back in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #13 she helps part of the new 'official' team defeat a threat to the Kree/Skrull Alliance's Throneworld, while another branch includes 2 body-swapping Quasars. And then Dr Doom shows up.

In IRON MAN (1998) #79 T Vernon starts a new storyline where Tony 'Secretary Of Defence' Stark battles bureaucracy and goes to Iraq, all without ever donning his armour.

Again Peter synopsised INFINITY GAUNTLET #4 a while ago, where Thanos defeats Earth's heroes and Silver Surfer fails to steal the Gauntlet. But now I again add comments on tie-ins.
And I add 1 of those tie-ins DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #33 where the Mad Titan sends Dr Strange out of the way back to Ancient Egypt to meet Cleopatra again for the 1st time.
Oh, and armoured Iron Man *is* in IG#4.

--RobFJ



All Asgard Versus Evil Don Blake!

April 15, 2021

The brand-new THOR #14 pits the armored Thor against his now-wicked longtime alter ego, Don Blake—with all Asgard as witnesses!

Then we have the oddball INCREDIBLE HULK VS VENOM wherein Professor Hulk and the usual demented Venom team up against the Earthquake Master!

In MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA #5, the Marvels are still at it but Phil Sheldon can’t keep up anymore!

TOMB OF DRACULA #33 shows us how Quincy Harker became Dracula’s sworn enemy!

Plus new comments and character listings for DEFENDERS #23-24!

--PeterS



Losers can be winners

April 12, 2021

This week's AVENGERS #44 concludes the Phoenix contest with a surprise result as an earlier loser claims the title.

T Vernon concludes the Best Defence story-arc with IRON MAN (1998) #78 as Tony Stark turns it all around and *does* become Secretary Of Defence in the end.

Back in the Infinity Gauntlet event I've reached #3 where Dr Strange and Adam Warlock gather their forces to oppose Thanos. Peter already synopsised this but I've now added comments on all it's tie-ins.
I'm skipping over Silver Surfer #53 because it just ties up a pre-Starlin plotline involving Kree politics. And even the Surfer in it is a fake.
SLEEPWALKER #7 actually covers the whole of the IG event but it centres around Dr Strange recruiting the hero to help deal with the overflow of Eon into Manhattan.
And Peter has previously dealt with SILVER SURFER (1987) #54 also, where SS takes time out to hang with Rhino.

--RobFJ



More Madness for Hulk!

April 8, 2021

The brand-new THE IMMORTAL HULK #45: Green Hulk and Joe Fixit are fighting hellish monsters, Jackie is seeing Gamma ghosts, Doc Samson’s body is missing, the U-Foes face the shock of their lives, and Red Harpy is flying back! Madness as usual!

Starring Marvel’s newest TV sensation, U.S. AGENT #2, sees John Walker face his fiercest foe—his younger sister!

In MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA #4, Phil Sheldon is on the scene for the apocalyptic events of Secret Wars #2!

THOR #403 pits Thor against the new Executioner in a tale so epic, they needed two exclamation points in the title!!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #32, Quincy Harker lures Dracula into his home which is a death trap for vampires!

--PeterS



Suicides and suspicions

April 5, 2021

In the current SAVAGE AVENGERS #19 some X-Men hire Conan's current gang for a suicide mission to rescue the Knullified Cyclops and Storm. And Conan takes the Hellfire Club mansion as payment.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1998) #77 where Tony Stark's appointment as Secretary Of Defence is rejected by the Senate. But then Sonny Birch commits suicide as his misused Stark tech goes haywire.

I've written up 2 Infinity Gauntlet tie-ins which happen more-or-less between #2 and #3:-
In DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #32 Silver Dagger stirs up IG-fueled mob suspicion of Strange in a bid to get his eye back.
In SILVER SURFER (1987) #52 Drax blames Firelord for the Thanos-caused disappearance of Mentor and Eros until DrS recruits them both for his army.

--RobFJ



Cap Versus Sin, the Red Skull’s Daughter!

April 1, 2021

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA #28 shows us the Red Skull’s latest plan for mayhem! And his nasty daughter Sin is back!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #31, Drac plots to take over Britain’s House of Lords!

In MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA #3, Phil Sheldon loses faith in the Marvels when he encounters the Punisher!

Thor is occupied in THOR #402, as two surprisingly formidable foes, Quicksand and Mongoose team up while Hela, Goddess of Death, waits in the wings!

Also, GIANT-SIZE DEFENDERS #4 sees a murder plot against Nighthawk spin out of control! Guest starring the Squadron Sinister!

--PeterS



Career changes and new beginnings

March 29, 2021

In this week's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #12 the Guardians defeat the Gods Of Olympus and are then made an official arm of the Galactic Council.

T Vernon is still adding comments to issues that Julio previously synopsised. In IRON MAN (1998) #75-76 Tony Stark finds that his reputation is a hindrance to him becoming Secretary Of Defence.

And I get back to following the career of Thanos by adding comments to INFINITY GAUNTLET #2 that Peter did. Adam Warlock teams up with Dr Strange, Dr Doom and Silver Surfer to start an army to oppose the Mad Titan, whose anger at Death spurning his love causes a universal wave of destruction that hits Earth.
Meanwhile in QUASAR #27 Quasar assists the birth of Eon's daughter Epoch, and on Earth a ragtag bunch of heroes deal with Eon's immense dead body invading New York.
I should have time to finish all the tie-ins to the Infinity Gauntlet event before tackling the next bunch of old Avengers issues.

--RobFJ



A Special Comic with a Special Offer!

March 25, 2021

THING AND SHE-HULK: THE LONG NIGHT is a teaming of two of Marvel’s funniest heroes against Dragon Man, Roxxon, and a horde of vampires! The special offer? Here at the Marvel Heroes Library, we are looking for a writer for She-Hulk so we can expand our coverage! Anyone interested in joining our little project can contact us and we’ll be glad to have you!

Also, GIANT-SIZE DEFENDERS #3 sees the heroic non-team plus Daredevil recruited unwillingly for the next round of the Grandmaster’s endless games!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #30, Dracula himself relates the story of his first meeting with Blade!

Thor goes Viking in THOR #401, embarking on a dangerous voyage without his mighty powers to win a bet with Loki! Spoiler: Loki cheats!

And lastly, in MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA #2, Phil Sheldon has a life-changing encounter with Spider-Man!

--PeterS



Tony Stark, Secretary Of Defence on an alien planet

March 22, 2021

2 new issues this week:-

In IRON MAN #7 Iron Man and friends catch up with Korvac and gang in deep space (and mindspace) but suddenly the Golden Avenger is teleported to an alien planet.

And in CHAMPIONS #5 the team liberate the other teen heroes from Roxxon re-education camps, and the government stops it's heavy-handed approach to Kamala's Law.

Meanwhile back in 2003:-

Hawkeye gets caught between Hulk and She-Hulk in AVENGERS (1998) #74-75, and Jack Of Hearts has a dubiously-glorious death in #76.

Then T Vernon adds comments to IRON MAN (1998) #73-74 that Julio synopsised some years ago, in which Tony Stark succeeds Red Skull as US Secretary Of Defence.

--RobFJ



A Brand New Thor and Much Much More!

March 18, 2021

The brand new THOR #13 sees the return of Odin and the rest of the Asgardians to take on supervillain Don Blake!

In the first follow-up to the classic MARVELS, MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA #1 brings back Phil Sheldon for another incisive look at the world of superheroes!

John Byrne gives us a different take on the Hulk in MARVEL FANFARE #29, with an offbeat Captain America story too!

TOMB OF DRACULA #29 sees Dracula taking vengeance against one of his most faithful servants: Shiela Whittier!

Plus, new comments added to the classic DEFENDERS #21-22 with the advent of the weirdo villain team known as the Headmen!

--PeterS



What happens in Vegas

March 15, 2021

In ETERNALS #3 we catch up with Thena who's living with the Deviants. And climate change is exacerbated by the Eternals' Great Machine going wobbly.

T Vernon concludes Tony Stark's Vegas adventure in IRON MAN (1998) #72.

And Wasp and Yellowjacket are also in Las Vegas on vacation in AVENGERS (1998) #71.

Then Iron Man joins Captain America and Scarlet Witch searching for She-Hulk in #72-73. And Hawkeye's back.

--RobFJ



More Hulk and Drac! With Some Widow and Civil War on the Side!

March 11, 2021

The brand new IMMORTAL HULK #44 pits the weakest Hulk against the powerful U-Foes!

BLACK WIDOW (2020) #4: Natasha is a dangerous opponent at the best of times but when the bad guys target her new family? Watch out!

MARVELS SNAPSHOTS: CIVIL WAR shows us what went on behind the scenes of the big hero battles! A battle nearly as heroic: a fight for a conscience!

TOMB OF DRACULA #28! What’s worse than Dracula having the magical Chimera? Doctor Sun having it!

And in the finale of FEAR ITSELF: HULK VS. DRACULA, we see Drac’s last ditch effort to stop the Hulk: the Forgiven!

--PeterS



Running the Gauntlet of Phoenix fighters and alien goo

March 8, 2021

In this week's AVENGERS #43 the combatants are whittled down to 6 in the contest for the Phoenix-prize.

And in this week's T Vernon offering IRON MAN (1998) #71 Iron Man gets yet another new armour which immediately gets infected by alien nano-stuff.

I'm returning (temporarily) to tie-ins to Infinity Gauntlet, to at least finish off #1:-

In QUASAR #26 Thanos gatecrashes Eon's funeral and causes his dead body to invade Earth.

Julio synopsised HULK #383 some time ago, where Rick Jones is among the disappeared and Hulk gets dragged into the IG conflict.

DR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME #31 fits between IG#1 and #2 where Strange channels It's A Wonderful Life to restore Silver Surfer's self-confidence.

--RobFJ



A Marvelous Milestone for Thor!

March 4, 2021

THOR #400 from 1989: the mighty God of Thunder leads his heroic team against the Serpent God in a battle for Asgard! And a lot of other special goodies!

Meanwhile, FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER #5 wraps up the latest adventure for this pair just in time for their Disney+ series!

TOMB OF DRACULA #27, Drac gets his hands on a piece of a powerful magic artifact—the Chimera--and his terrible powers increase!

In FEAR ITSELF: HULK VS. DRACULA #2, it’s all of Dracula’s forces against the fear-powered Hulk; those poor bloodsuckers don’t stand a chance!

In DEFENDERS #20, the mystery of the magic harmonica is solved! With the Thing as guest star!

--PeterS

 



Bishop and Iceman lead a mini X-invasion

March 1, 2021

I saved 2 new issues from last week to fill a void this week:-

In their #4 the Champions take a holiday from being fugitives with Bishop and Iceman and others on the good ship Marauder, but they'll be refreshed and back in the fight next issue.

And Bishop and Iceman also pop up with Callisto in SAVAGE AVENGERS #18 to stop Conan and Deadpool from robbing the abandoned Hellfire Club. Oh, and those symbiote dragons are still around.

AVENGERS (1998) #68-70 concludes the Red Zone story with Dell Rusk exposed as Red Skull and the dangerous disease defeated. But the savage She-Hulk is still missing.

And then T Vernon's back in full synopsis mode with IRON MAN (1998) #70 where Tony Stark goes PI in Las Vegas for the 3-part Vegas Bleeds Neon.

--RobFJ



A Booming Cast of Heroes and a Double Dose of Dracula!!

February 25, 2021

THOR #399: the mighty God of Thunder leads his heroic team against the Serpent God in a battle for Asgard!

A Defenders tie-in in MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #7 teams Valkyrie and the Thing against the Executioner!

Obscure anthology series MARVEL DOUBLE SHOT #4 puts a literary spin on Iron Man and Dr. Strange!

In FEAR ITSELF: HULK VS. DRACULA #1, the scary vampire takes on an even scarier Hulk, with all of Eastern Europe at stake! (Oops, don’t say “stake” in front of Dracula!)

And the Vampire Lord returns in his own book, TOMB OF DRACULA #26, on the trail of a powerful magic artifact—the Chimera!

--PeterS



Iron Man's in 6 out of 7 issues this week, but not with his old team the Guardians

February 22, 2021

I'm doing 2 new issues this week.

In IRON MAN #6 the bad guys set off for Galactus' worldship, War Machine joins Iron Man's merry band, and Tony Stark soldiers on with a broken neck!

The Guardians Of The Galaxy totally forget about the possibility that the new improved Star-Lord could defeat Knull, and instead gather all their forces in their #11 to face the vengeful Olympian Gods.

IRON MAN (1998) #67-69 are 3 more issues that Julio has already done, and now T Vernon adds comments. The Manhunt story concludes and it turns out Mandarin wasn't behind things it was his son Temugin. No wait, it was their lackey Po.

Then in AVENGERS (1998) #66-67 Iron Man joins in the Red Zone story arc with Black Panther as Dell Rusk frustrates their efforts to help. Meanwhile the on-site Avengers discover that the US created the bio-weapon, and She-Hulk succumbs to the disease.

--RobFJ



A Trio of New Issues Just For You!

February 18, 2021

THOR #12 pits Throg, the froggy version of Thor, against Evil Don Blake! With a guest appearance by Valkyrie Jane Foster!

In CAPTAIN AMERICA #27, Cap is cleared of all charges against him! For what seems like five minutes!

Declan Shalvey brings us IMMORTAL HULK: FLATLINE, where Bruce’s old teacher has one last lesson for him and Hulk!

In earlier classics, GIANT-SIZE DRACULA #5 pits the Lord of the Undead against a megalomaniacal millionaire in the 1930s Swiss Alps!

In HERCULES: PRINCE OF POWER (1984) #4, Herc faces his greatest enemy yet—his insane father Zeus!

--PeterS



Conspiracies everywhere

February 15, 2021

New this week ETERNALS #2. Zuras can't be resurrected and his murderer Thanos roams free. And Sersi starts a conspiracy.

IRON MAN (1998) #65-66 are more issues that Julio did a while ago, but T Vernon adds comments. Terrorists and assassins abound, and maybe Mandarin's behind them all.

Iron Man's not in AVENGERS (1998) #64-65 so I'm getting them out of the way here ahead of IM joining in the following issues. For now Falcon and Henry Gyrich conspire against Secretary Of Defence Dell Rusk, and a deadly mist starts to engulf South Dakota.

--RobFJ



New Secret Spy Stuff and Some Classic Goodies!

February 11, 2021

A new series for John Walker begins in U.S. AGENT (2020) #1, pitting the former Captain America against an army of…pizza delivery guys?!

Natasha is planning a wedding in BLACK WIDOW (2020) #3 but a band of bad guys are already on the scene!

MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #6 is a Defenders tie-in! Dr. Strange joins the Thing in a caper that involves a magic harmonica and a giant rat!

In THOR #398, the forces of Seth the Serpent God lay waste to Asgard while Thor is trapped in the Black Pyramid!

HERCULES: PRINCE OF POWER (1984) #3 has our Dashing Demigod trying to rescue Captain Mar-Vell’s Nega-Bands from the wrists of a master criminal!

Wait…a magic harmonica?

--PeterS



A bit of a Thor-fest this week

February 8, 2021

This week's new issue is AVENGERS #42. More fight club matches, and the Phoenix tells Thor she's his mother! (Sounds like the end of a soap opera episode. EastEnders fans will know which 1 I have in mind.)

The oldies this week are a combined effort for the Standoff crossover.
Peter has done THOR (1998) #58, T Vernon covers IRON MAN (1998) #64 and I round it off with AVENGERS (1998) #63.
Thor comes to the aid of his believers in Slokovia. The US sends Iron Man to defuse the international incident which could start WWIII. Captain America tries to calm them both down. And Dr Doom wins.

--RobFJ



The Weakest One There Is!

February 4, 2021

The new IMMORTAL HULK #43 shows Hulk at the weakest he’s ever been, so the arrival of the U-Foes is definitely bad news!

In THOR (1998) #58, the world is on the brink of war and Thor is pitted against Iron Man in part one of a crossover that will appear on the Iron Man half of the site soon!

HERCULES: PRINCE OF POWER (1984) #2 has Herc protecting his newfound Skrull friend Skyppi from the vengeance of Red Wolf!

GIANT-SIZE DRACULA #4, it’s Dracula against a giant bloodthirsty heart!

Reviews and comments added to DEFENDERS #17-19 wherein Luke Cage joins the non-team against the Wrecking Crew!

--PeterS



Team-ups and/or statues

February 1, 2021

In SAVAGE AVENGERS #17 Conan teams up with Deadpool to fight Knull's symbiote dragons. And he gets an offer of assistance from another Klyntar symbiote.

Julio did IRON MAN (1998) #62-63 years ago but T Vernon adds comments now to the 2-part Christmas story with terrorists. And Iron Man gets help from a statue of an angel.

In his #50 Silver Surfer has to fight a statue of Thanos. And we learn about a secret regret from Norrin Radd's past.
(I'm not doing #51 because it only features Galactus and his Herald Nova who remembers a past meeting with SS.)
Then the long build-up ends as we get to the multi-team-up Infinity Gauntlet. Peter already documented this series, but I'm adding some comments on tie-ins to #1.

--RobFJ



Another Basket of Goodies!

January 28, 2021

The recent FALCON & WINTER SOLDIER #4! All of the good guys and the bad guys are getting into place for next issue’s climactic battle!

TOMB OF DRACULA #25 introduces the vampire private eye called Hannibal King!

GIANT-SIZE DEFENDERS #2 sees the heroic non-team bringing in the Son of Satan as a consultant for a special problem: demons!

In HERCULES: PRINCE OF POWER (1984) #1, Herc takes time out from war—to attend a fashion show? That’s our Herc!

In THOR #397, the God of Thunder visits the Dimension of Death! Looks like COVID isn’t keeping everyone home!

--PeterS



This time it's Avengers in every paragraph

January 25, 2021

New this week AVENGERS #41 has various fights in the contest to see who will be the next Phoenix. But the Phoenix Force makes it plain that it wants Black Panther to win the honour, even if he doesn't.

Now I'll tidy up some Young Avengers loose ends:-
Here's DARK REIGN: YOUNG AVENGERS #1 which introduces their foes for this mini-series, the Young Masters Of Evil. I already did #2-5.
I've also already done their next comic, the SIEGE: YOUNG AVENGERS 1-shot.
It just remains for me to complete the Children's Crusade event with the CHILDREN'S CRUSADE: YOUNG AVENGERS 1-shot, which has the future YA tricking Iron Lad into going back in time to do his part in the CC series.
This ends the titles featuring the original YA. But later I'll do YA Vol 2 with some old and new members.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #61 ends the 3-part Arthurian tale with an explanation for how the Sword gets in the Stone and how Iron Man's helmet was found in an archaeological dig with a skull in it. (Hasn't he recently had a similar situation in #22 of the current Avengers series?)

--RobFJ



Bring on the Bad Guys!

January 21, 2021

Nothing new this week so it’s all classic older stuff with some pretty cool villains!

First up, THOR #396 plunges us into Seth the Serpent God’s war on Asgard!

In HAWKEYE (1994) #4, Earth’s Mightiest Marksman is the quarry of a pack of monster werewolves!

In GIANT-SIZE DRACULA #3, we meet an immortal blind woman who has a 400-year vendetta against Dracula!

A+X #2! Black Widow and Rogue against the Sentinels! Iron Man and Kitty Pryde versus the Brood! 

Plus new comments and character lists added to DEFENDERS #15-16, guest-starring Professor X and Magneto! Neat-o!

--PeterS



Eternally Young

January 18, 2021

There are no new issues to report on this week so I'm throwing in ETERNALS #1 from last week, where the permanently teenage Sprite is back. If I need a justification for including it here it's got Iron Man and Thanos in it.

But I'm putting off more old Thanos stuff to return to documenting Young Avengers titles with the complete 3-issue SECRET INVASION: RUNAWAYS/YOUNG AVENGERS mini-series.

However T Vernon offers a modicum of continuity with part 2 of the 3-part Arthurian adventure in IRON MAN (1998) #60.

--RobFJ



Hulk Without Hulk!

January 14, 2021

The brand-new IMMORTAL HULK #42 features heroes, villains, and subplots galore! The only thing missing is the Hulk!

The newish BLACK WIDOW (2020) #2: you can take the girl out of the action but you can’t take the action out of the girl, as Natasha beats up a gang of lowlifes!

THOR #395 introduces a new villain/hero team: the Earth Force!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #24, Dracula stalks a stripper!

In HAWKEYE (1994) #3, War Machine shows up to help Clint against the Secret Empire!

--PeterS



Dr Doom is banned this week

January 11, 2021

IRON MAN #5 ends what they're calling the 1st Act (ie TP collection) of the Books Of Korvac as the villain and his gang head off into space leaving Iron Man and *his* ragtag gang supposedly dead or dying.

But in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #10 Star-Lord comes back from the dead and kills 1 of Knull's dragons.

Nobody dies or is resurrected in AVENGERS (1998) #61-62. But Jack Of Hearts learns that his illness is getting worse. The Avengers get a newish lineup and a new status as UN Ambassadors. And Ant-Man loses custody of his daughter.

Then Shellhead heads back to Arthurian times (for the 3rd time) in IRON MAN (1998) #59 from T Vernon.

And Dr Doom is nowhere to be seen this week, not even to accompany Iron Man on his time trip as he did the 1st 2 times.

--RobFJ



Thors Beware!

January 7, 2021

The brand-new THOR #11 sees the newly-evil Don Blake pursue his quest to kill all the Thors! Jane Foster and a certain amphibious hero guest star!

From the latest set of Marvels, we have MARVELS SNAPSHOTS: CAPTAIN AMERICA, wherein Cap discovers the world doesn’t always need heroes!

FALCON & WINTER SOLDIER #3 sends our heroes against Hydra—and things get very strange!

In HAWKEYE (1994) #2, the Mighty Marksman meets the Wolf-Man and they become partners!

GIANT-SIZE DRACULA #2 pits the Lord of the Vampires against a Lovecraftian nasty!

--PeterS



Dr Doom rules this week

January 4, 2021

In AVENGERS #40 the Phoenix Force kidnaps a load of super-characters to the Savage Land to fight for the right to be the next Phoenix. And 1 of them is Howard The Duck! But the 1st bout is Captain America vs Dr Doom.

KING IN BLACK: IRON MAN/DR DOOM obviously has Doom as well as Iron Man in it as they both fight a Knullified Santa Claus.

I gave T Vernon a week off again from writing up IM vol 3 while I fitted in some Avengers vol 3 stuff. But the Indefatigable One supplied another issue of Marvel Fanfare featuring Shellhead, again by Roger McKenzie and Ken Steacy. And the villain in #44 is also Dr Doom.

AVENGERS (1998) #58-60 concludes the World Trust story, freeing the In-Betweener from the clutches of a Scorpio and the Brotherhood Of The Ankh, and incidentally returning the world's capitals to their places. And would you believe it, Dr Doom sneaks in a small part in #59.

--RobFJ



It’s AMAZING FANTASY #15! No, Not That One!

January 1, 2021

The famous one is already covered on the site! This is the other AMAZING FANTASY #15 from 2002, introducing a lot of characters that Marvel hopes you will like, like Amadeus Cho, the future Totally Awesome Hulk and…uh…other people!

And we pick up Clint Barton’s second miniseries with HAWKEYE (1994) #1, where the heroic archer discovers nefarious doings in the Canadian Rockies!

The knockout THOR #394 uses the pretext of a Thor movie to show the God of Thunder from multiple angles and he’s still a hero!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #23, it’s Drac versus a haunted house!

All new comments added to DEFENDERS #12-14 from the 70s!

And here’s hoping 2021 is better than 2020!



Replacements

December 28, 2020

Making it a bit of a habit I've saved SAVAGE AVENGERS #16 from last week again. Magik gets the Eye Of Agamotto from Sadurang with jaw jaw rather than war war.

In IRON MAN (1998) #58 Tony Stark finally sees the end of Tiberius Stone (but he'll just go and bother Spider-Man instead). T Vernon does the honours.

Iron Man then pops over to AVENGERS (1998) #56 to face the Avengers' accountants in Kurt Busiek's final issue. Geoff Johns takes over for a long run in #57, which is the beginning of the new World Trust story arc.

--RobFJ



Hulk Has a Black Christmas! And Some Giant-Size Extras!

December 24, 2020

A tie-in to the current Big Event, KING IN BLACK: THE IMMORTAL HULK gives the childlike original Hulk a nice little holiday—once the Symbiotes are out of the way!

In the first of Marvel’s 1970s extra-large issues, GIANT-SIZE DRACULA #1 introduces Lilith, Dracula’s nasty daughter!

In another oversized comic, GIANT-SIZE DEFENDERS #1 introduces the new character Valkyrie to the famous guys—Dr. Strange, Hulk, and Subby! As if we needed an intro!

A lot of action in THOR #393! Thor versus Quicksand! Hogun versus Daredevil!

And SECRET AVENGERS #25 gives us apocalyptic madness against a multitude of robots!

Plus, have a happy whatever holiday you observe this time of year!

--PeterS



Stark's preoccupation with women allows Galactus to sneak in 2 mentions

December 21, 2020

New this week, IRON MAN #4 stars Tony Stark and Patsy Walker not being Iron Man and Hellcat. But they start to recruit some below-the-radar allies as Korvac plans to invade Galactus' homebase.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1998) #57 in which we discover that Tony's erotic dream about Pepper Potts is really part of another mind-manipulation plot by Tiberius Stone. But Rumiko Fujikawa in a falling elevator *isn't* imaginary.

In SILVER SURFER (1987) #48-49 Thanos annoys Galactus by deleting from reality the planet he was about to eat, and then creates a monster to delay Surfer bringing his warning to Earth.

--RobFJ



Two New Hulks and an Extra Thing!

December 17, 2020

New today: IMMORTAL HULK #41 gives us another Hulk-Thing matchup—but this one is different: it also has them discussing the Bible!

Also new today: It’s Red Hulk’s turn to shine in CAPTAIN AMERICA #26 as Cap and the team take on all the bad guys!

THOR #392 adds new villainess Quicksand a/k/a What if Sandman were a hot babe?

TOMB OF DRACULA #22 pits the vampire king against Gorna, Lord of the Living Lightning!

SECRET AVENGERS #24 presents us with an enormous number of characters and their affiliations! All the better to occupy the rest of this series!

--PeterS



2 interludes, a triangle and a meeting

December 14, 2020

In AVENGERS #39 we break off the current action for another Avengers 1M BC origin, this time of Lady Phoenix.

And in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #9 we go to the Land Beyond The Sun to learn what happened to Star-Lord after he 'died'.

Back in the here and not so long ago, in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #56 Tony Stark gets back control of Stark Enterprises. But Iron Man's super-heroics are just a distraction from the love triangle in his head involving Rumiko and Pepper.

My Thanos-trail continues in SILVER SURFER (1987) #46-47 where Surfer and Drax meet Adam Warlock and friends in Soul World.

--RobFJ



Black Widow as We’ve Never Seen Her Before!

December 10, 2020

The new ongoing BLACK WIDOW (2020) #1! Kelly Thompson and Elena Casagrande! Natasha is out of the spy business and happy for the first time in her life! What’s going on?

In TOMB OF DRACULA #21, Drac faces the mad scientist Doctor Sun and his pet vampire!

In SECRET AVENGERS #23, Ant-Man dies and Venom joins the team! Double yikes!

In THOR #391, it’s Thor and Spidey versus…the Mongoose! Trust us, he’s bad!

Plus new comments for the classic DEFENDERS #5-6 from 1973!

--PeterS



Iron Man goes public

December 7, 2020

This time SAVAGE AVENGERS #15 has Black Widow, Daimon Helstrom, Elektra, Punisher and Wolverine wading through Shuma-Gorath avatars and Sickle Priest cultists to close down Kulan Gath's (only?) drug factory.

And the Champions are still on the run in their #3 while other teen heroines (no males are featured) are being 're-educated'. But help arrives from Krakoa.

T Vernon is here with IRON MAN (1998) #55 which wraps up the initial storyline of Mandarin's son and heir Temugin. And Iron Man reveals his identity to the world.

I've turned my attention back to the history of Thanos with SILVER SURFER (1987) #44-45 wherein the Mad Titan seemingly kills the title hero and Drax, and then takes over the comic to 'team up' with Mephisto.

--RobFJ



New Thor Issue? Don Blake’s the Bad Guy? Bring It On!

December 3, 2020

The brand-new THOR #10 has the newly insane Don Blake tearing a bloody swath through Asgard!

Another recent addition is the complete EMPYRE: CAPTAIN AMERICA #1-3! Tie-in to the big event showcases Cap leading American forces against the Cotati invaders!

Lastly, here’s SAVAGE HULK (1996) #1 wherein Hulk is being sued by a multitude of people who have been collateral damage in the big green guy’s exploits! This one gets wild!

--PeterS



The Avengers are Marvels

November 30, 2020

As I did last week I've saved something from that week to fill the reporting void that is this week. AVENGERS: MARVELS SNAPSHOTS is part of a bunch of issues showing the Marvel Universe from the POV of normal humans, as Kurt Busiek's original MARVELS series did. This issue is built around Red Ronin's rampage in AVENGERS #197-199.

YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #5-6 finishes the series by reconciling Stature with her family, and the new Hawkeye getting the blessing of the old Hawkeye.

T Vernon gives us IRON MAN (1998) #54 which connects Temugin to the Sleeping Dragon drug to Ayisha. And they and Iron Man will all collide next issue.

--RobFJ



Avengers! Offbeat, Secret, and Otherwise!

November 26, 2020

One of the most unusual Avengers was Tigra, the Were-Woman! So here we’ve added her origin, GIANT-SIZE CREATURES #1, opposite Werewolf By Night!

Then in SECRET AVENGERS #22, we get a new team lineup and a lot of new bad guys! Plus a guest appearance from the Queen! The real one!

THOR #390. returns from outer space to join the Avengers against the forces of Seth the Serpent-God! And Captain America lifts Mjolnir for the first time!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #20, we find the origin of vampire hunter Rachel van Helsing!

And here we’re cleaning up older issues of some titles, so DEFENDERS #3-4 have new comments added to the entries!

--PeterS



Incidental villains (and 2 dragons, sort of)

November 23, 2020

I saved SAVAGE AVENGERS #14 from last week to do here. Conan and Magik recruit Black Knight and Juggernaut to help them against Sadurang the Asgardian dragon. But not before BK disrupts a Ku Klux Klan meeting.

YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #3-4 has Speed and Wiccan trying to find their 'mother' Scarlet Witch, and Vision chatting up Stature. The incidental villains here are Master Pandemonium and AIM.

And T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #53 introduces Mandarin's son Temugin who's inherited the 10 Rings. While Iron Man deals with the purveyors of a new drug called Sleeping Dragon.

--RobFJ



What’s New? Cap and Hulk! Hulk and Cap!

November 19, 2020

The new CAPTAIN AMERICA #25 is out and we finally have the good guys (Cap and company) taking the battle to the bad guys (Red Skull and his crew)!

In the new IMMORTAL HULK #40, Henry Peter Gyrich is back and Joe Fixit is out to get him!

The classic THOR #389! Can Thor outsmart the Celestials? Well, no—and that’s a good thing!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #19, Rachel van Helsing is “Snowbound in Hell” with Count Dracula!

A+X #12! Cap and Jubilee versus Nazi vampires! Beast and Wonder Man get drunk!

--PeterS



2 eras of Iron Man and 2 kinds of young Avengers

November 16, 2020

I've got 2 new issues for you this week.

In Iron Man #3 we have a montage of the Golden Avenger beating up old baddies to indicate time passing, and then Fuller Teilhard/Korvac reveals his dastardly plan.

In CHAMPIONS #2 we visit detained teen heroes in a re-education camp, and then the 3 main Champions get Ironheart into trouble. And Viv Vision's on a road trip.

My trawl through the Young Avengers titles has reached YA Presents. Peter Silvestro has already done #1 featuring Captain America knock-off Patriot, so here's #2 where Hulkling meets his father Captain Marvel. Or does he?

T Vernon's Iron Man (1998) #52 concludes last issue's murder mystery, a very different kind of tale for Shellhead.

--RobFJ



A Monstrous Crossover! And an Item from the Good Old Days!

November 12, 2020

It’s Dracula versus Werewolf by Night in a scary-good crossover in TOMB OF DRACULA #18 and WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #15! Watch the fur fly as the pair goes batty!

And for you Golden Age fans, ALL-WINNERS COMICS #1 from 1941 brings together a bunch of Timely’s Big Names: Cap and Bucky! Human Torch and Toro! Sub-Mariner! And more!

From their 1982 miniseries, VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #4 deal with the thorny issue of Wanda’s and Pietro’s parentage! Here’s it is revealed for the first of many times that Magneto was their father!

Lastly but not leastly, there’s THOR #388 where the God of Thunder boldly goes where no one has gone before: inside the head of a Celestial!

--PeterS



Epilogues and murder mysteries

November 9, 2020

AVENGERS #38 is as much an epilogue to Age Of Khonshu as it is an opener for Enter The Phoenix. And even more it's a resurrection for Mephisto.

But GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #8 is definitely the 2nd half of an Aftermath for Empyre. And detective Rocket has all the suspects together in a (locked) room while he deduces the identity of the murderer.

AVENGERS (1998) #55 is definitely an epilogue to the Kang Dynasty War, tying up loose ends as Kurt Busiek winds down towards his final issue next time.

I'll just mention that the JLA/Avengers and the Order mini-series plus the 1st arc in the Iron Man: Legacy series occur between the issues above and below. Hopefully we'll get round to writing them up some time.

Then in T Vernon's Iron Man (1998) #51 Mike Grell's 2nd issue starts a 2-part murder mystery (which Tony Stark will solve without Rocket's aid next time).

--RobFJ



Back in Blake? Something Old Has Been Added!

November 5, 2020

The new THOR #9 brings back Thor’s longtime alter ego Dr. Don Blake but this time he’s mad!

From their 1982 miniseries, VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #3 has the happy couple caught in the midst of an awkward family triangle: Vision, Wonder Man, and Grim Reaper!

TOMB OF DRACULA #17 sees the Lord of the Undead wandering into a spy story aboard a train!

A quirky tie-in to DEATH OF WOLVERINE has DEADPOOL AND CAPTAIN AMERICA (actually the elderly de-powered Steve Rogers) teaming up to prevent Logan from being cloned! And it’s just as serious as anything else featuring ‘Pool!

And in our quest to improve our coverage of the DEFENDERS, here we have all-new comments for issues 1 and 2 of their original series!

--PeterS



Another and another and another

November 2, 2020

In this week's SAVAGE AVENGERS #13 Dr Strange takes most of the guest stars from previous issues to the Moon to plan another assault on Kulan Gath.

AVENGERS (1998) #53-54 finishes off the Kang Dynasty War as Kang crashes to Earth. His son Marcus rescues him but is rewarded by being executed for treason. After all the Conqueror can always clone another 1.

T Vernon returns to Iron Man (1998) for #50 with a new writer and artist and another new armour. (Although he's already been wearing it in the Avengers issues above.)

--RobFJ



Black in Black Against a Magical Maggia!

October 29, 2020

The new one-shot BLACK WIDOW: WIDOW’S STING pits Natasha against the organized crime syndicate known as the Maggia and now they have magic on their side!

The new IMMORTAL HULK #39 outdoes itself in creating weird and creepy stuff going on in the Hulkscape!

From their 1982 miniseries, VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #2, Vizh and Wanda help her dad Whizzer in a custody battle for his son, the incredibly dangerous Nuklo!

TOMB OF DRACULA #16 pits the Vampire King against a different sort of undead—a restless skeleton!

Bad news! In THOR #387, it’s “Judgment Day” and the Celestials are back!

--PeterS



An Iron Man sandwich with Guardians/Avengers filling

October 26, 2020

In IRON MAN #2 Tony Stark gets heavily injured by a series of villains, and Patsy Walker suggests he's got a death-wish. Meanwhile we get confirmation that the master villain of this arc is (some version of) the old Avengers and original Guardians Of The Galaxy foe Korvac.

In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #7 Marvel Boy represents the Utopian Kree at the Galactic Council and winds up accused of killing 2 of the other delegates. And only drunk Rocket Raccoon can save the day.

In AVENGERS (1998) #50-52 the Triune Understanding plotline reaches its climax, Scarlet Witch and Wonder Man are in a prison camp, and the Avengers start a comeback against the Kang Dynasty.

And T Vernon gives us part 2 of Iron Man vs Doc Ock in MARVEL FANFARE (1982) #23 where Shellhead uses the Doctor's adamantium arms against him.

--RobFJ



Nothing New This Time, Just Some Cool Classic Stuff!

October 22, 2020

In THOR #386, it’s stormy weather when Thor meets his Celtic counterpart, Leir, Lord of Lightning!

From their 1982 miniseries, VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #1, the adorable couple get into the Halloween spirit!

TOMB OF DRACULA #15 has the King of the Vampires being shot out of the sky! Ouch!

GIANT-SIZE INCREDIBLE HULK #1 gets a new synopsis with comments and a review!

Remember the Defenders? Not those guys on Netflix, no, the original Defenders: Doctor Strange, Hulk, Sub-Mariner, to be joined by many others along the way. Well, we are adding improved synopses and comments sections to the series plus adding full records for missing issues. And we start with MARVEL FEATURE #1-3, the first appearances of the heroic non-team!

--PeterS



Arcs old and new

October 19, 2020

This week's new issue is AVENGERS #37 which ends the Age Of Khonshu arc. Moon Knight with the power of the Phoenix Force switches sides and helps the assembled Avengers defeat the Moon God. But then he frees the Force to find new hosts in next issue's Enter The Phoenix arc.

AVENGERS (1998) #48-49 continues the Kang Dynasty arc. Warbird's team kill the Master Of The World and take over his base. But in space Kang defeats Captain America's attack force, takes over the attacking Sentinels and then kills the population of Washington DC (but not the President).

I gave T Vernon 2 weeks off his reviewing Iron Man vol 3 to let me catch up with the Avengers. But he didn't want to remain idle so he's submitted MARVEL FANFARE (1982) #22, the 1st of a 2-part 'arc' featuring Shellhead vs Dr Octopus.

--RobFJ



Bring on the Bad Guys!

October 15, 2020

Bad guys are at the forefront of several new issues!

The brand-new CAPTAIN AMERICA #24 has a hideous cover because the Red Skull is back!

The brand-new IMMORTAL HULK #38 starts out with the Leader in control of all things Hulk but wait for that ending!

In the fairly new VALKYRIE: JANE FOSTER #10, Jane defeats the Rokkva, the latest mythical Asgardian beast to threaten the Golden Realm!

And the new-ish HAWKEYE: FREEFALL wraps up with issues #5-6, where Clint’s campaign against the Hood pays off!

--PeterS

 



Champions of the quiet war

October 12, 2020

The new CHAMPIONS #1 brings the expanded team back to headline the Outlawed event. But who is informing on them to CRADLE?

IRON MAN (1998) #49 ends Frank Tieri's writing stint with the dialogueless issue for Nuff Said month as Iron Man fights Titanium Man. At least the guest art by Chris Batista gets T Vernon's rating back up.

Then the Kang Dynasty War plot warms up in AVENGERS (1998) #45-47. Warbird heads a team against the Master Of The World which leads her to a romantic encounter with Scarlet Centurion.

--RobFJ



A Brand New Thor and a Few Things More!

October 8, 2020

The brand new THOR #8, wraps up the “Hammerfall” arc with Thor and Iron Man bickering over possession of the mighty Mjolnir!

In IMMORTAL HULK: THE THRESHING PLACE, superstar creators Jeff Lemire and Mike del Mundo give us a different look at Old Greenskin!

FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER #2 pits Sam and Bucky against a trainload of Hydra killers!

In MARVELS EPILOGUE, Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross provide a late coda to their classic epic!

INVADERS NOW #5 wraps up the miniseries with a battle against a Lovecraftian nasty!

--PeterS



To Infinity and beyond

October 5, 2020

In AVENGERS #36 the Avengers begin to re-Assemble with the Starbrand baby to face Khonshu. But then Moon Knight ups the ante by accepting the Phoenix Force. Next issue will end the Age Of Khonshu.

And more Assembling is done in SAVAGE AVENGERS #12 as nearly the whole of the previous cast get together in preparation for facing Khulan Gath. But next issue won't be so successful at resolving this situation.

IRON MAN (1998) #48 does end the Sentient Armour/Sons Of Yinsen/Ultron story, permanently for the 1st 2. But T Vernon still continues his low rating of this section of Iron Man's career.

In THANOSQUEST #1-2 Thanos gets hold of the 6 Soul Gems again and renames them the Infinity Gems, thus beginning a whole line of Infinity stuff that will infest Marvel in the succeeding decades. (To be completely truthful he'd already introduced the Infinity Well in SILVER SURFER (1987) #38.)

--RobFJ



The Marvel That is MARVELS!

October 1, 2020

One of the most impressive events in Marvel’s history was the epic MARVELS miniseries! It showed us the familiar superheroes from the viewpoint of the ordinary citizen, exemplified by Daily Bugle photographer Phil Sheldon! Marvel has been celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the event with a lot of hoopla including a large number of sequels and follow-ups!

So we at the Marvel Heroes Library reasoned what would a site dedicated to Marvel heroes be without MARVELS? And so, with no fanfare, we have added our little write-ups for this epic event! Enjoy!

--PeterS



Nobody really dies in the Marvel universe

September 28, 2020

With the end of the 2020 and Empyre events I have no new issues to synopsise this week, but I have mentioned the Immortal She-Hulk 1-shot in EMPYRE #6.

T Vernon continues to hold the fort with IRON MAN (1998) #47 where we discover that Ultron (fresh from his rebirth in last week's AVENGERS: THE ULTRON IMPERATIVE) is behind the Sons Of Yinsen and the reborn sentient armour.

And with the end for now of related Avengers issues I've returned to Thanos stuff with SILVER SURFER (1987) #38 where the Mad Titan tricks Surfer into thinking he's killed him.

--RobFJ



A Thoroughly Despicable Man!

September 24, 2020

IMMORTAL HULK #0 is a special issue bringing us all up to date on Brian Banner, Bruce’s nasty abusive father!

VALKYRIE: JANE FOSTER #9: Val/Jane faces zombie Thor!

In THOR #385, we have another classic Thor versus Hulk battle! Written by Stan Lee himself!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #14, “Dracula is Dead!” But as Ichabod Crane once said, “That’s the problem. He was dead to begin with”!

In INVADERS NOW #4, the heroic team has twenty-four hours to discover a cure for a deadly supernatural virus or else their lives will be forfeit!

--PeterS



Everything old is new again

September 21, 2020

IRON MAN #1 kicks off a new series and new scribe Christopher Cantwell takes Tony Stark in a completely new direction as he abandons Stark Unlimited and the VR armour he only just invented at the end of Iron Man 2020 in favour of a version of a late 60's armour.

In IM#41 Stark gave away his company after which he created a new armour. (Hang on, that sounds familiar.) Now T Vernon has written up IRON MAN (1998) #46 where Tony has regained control of the company. But now the Sons Of Yinsen return in league with the sentient IM armour.

AVENGERS: THE ULTRON IMPERATIVE takes place within IM#46. Alkhema returns and creates a robot race, only to discover it's just a scheme pre-programmed in her to recreate her 'husband' Ultron.

--RobFJ



A Nifty Avengers Line-Up!

September 17, 2020

Each of our mostly new offerings spotlights a different Avenger!  

New! CAPTAIN AMERICA #23 shows us Sharon Carter as the new Iron Patriot, taking on that wicked witch Selene! 

New! THOR #7! The God of Thunder loses control of Mjolnir and now anyone can pick it up—except Thor! And there’s a bizarre Easter egg within!

New! IMMORTAL HULK #37 is an especially gruesome issue with the Leader springing his trap!

Almost new! HAWKEYE: FREEFALL #4 sees the amazing archer dealing with way too many fellow heroes—and an awkward LMD—for comfort!

Part of an older event, FEAR ITSELF: BLACK WIDOW, starts with Natasha’s murder and then moves on from there!

--PeterS



The end of Empyre (or maybe not quite)

September 14, 2020

Here are the 2 1-shot epilogues to Empyre:-

In EMPYRE: FALLOUT FANTASTIC FOUR the Cotati are banished, the FF adopt Jo-Venn and N'Kalla, and the Watcher returns from the dead.

Then in EMPYRE: AFTERMATH AVENGERS R'Klll explains how she avoided dying when Galactus ate her planet, and Hulkling and Wiccan get a big wedding bash. But it ends with an ominous prediction of the future.

I've included brief summaries of these and Captain Marvel #21 in EMPYRE #6.

I'm not sure whether the Immortal She-Hulk 1-shot is an official Empyre tie-in, but anyway it's been delayed for 2 weeks.

In IRON MAN (1998) #45 Tony Stark drops the Hogan Potts alias and gets a new fortune and Company. T Vernon does that 1.

I'm spelling TV for IRON MAN ANNUAL 2001 where Iron Man has an adventure in Sarawak in his new SKIN armour. And there's a 2nd story where Ty Stone gets paid back for #37-40.

--RobFJ



New Team-Up! New Thor! Very Strange Team-Up!

September 10, 2020

FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER #1: The two former Caps team up to face a hot new hitman called “The Natural!” 

With a mighty leap we hurdled over the entire Walt Simonson run, which was already on the site and reached THOR #384! What do we get? A brand new Thor!

Rejoice, Wesley Snipes fans! In TOMB OF DRACULA #13, we get the origin of Blade!

In INVADERS NOW #3, it’s the Invaders against their WW2 enemies the Ubercommandos—in the present day!

Finally, the very odd UNHOLY UNION wherein Hulk and Ghost Rider meet Top Cow’s Witchblade and The Darkness! Why? How? Who knows!

--PeterS




The Empyre War ends but the Kang Dynasty War just takes a breather

September 7, 2020

So Empyre comes to a thunderous conclusion (but there'll be some epilogues next week) in a pair of issues that overlap somewhat.

FANTASTIC FOUR #23 has the substitute FF stopping Dark Harvest from turning the Kree and Skrull forces against each other, but not before they do a bit of it ...

... which has an effect in EMPYRE #6. But then She-Hulk and Black Panther return to life, Mr Fantastic, Thor and BP put paid to Quoi's plant-control, and Tony Stark and the chars from the Kree/Skrull flagship stop the Sun blowing up.

And after having a psychiatric counselling session from a Halfworld Loony in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #6, Nova discovers the new post-Empyre Galactic political situation. Which we'll learn about next week.

And nearly 20 years ago:-

A few Avengers take time out from the Kang Dynasty War to sort out the problem of 2 Henry Pym's in AVENGERS ANNUAL 2001 with help from the Triune Understanding.

And then phase 1 of the War ends in AVENGERS (1998) #44 with Attuma, the Deviants and the Presence defeated.

Iron Man wasn't in those 2 issues, but he too takes time out in IRON MAN (1998) #44 where he finds out who's behind the corporate bombings - Ghost working for MODOK and AIM. T Vernon does the honours again.

--RobFJ



Marvel and Fortnite! Together at Last! And More!

September 3, 2020

The big announcement last week was that Marvel characters would be joining Epic Games new Fortnite Chapter 2 – Season 4—and so here’s Marvel’s introductory tie-in FORTNITE X MARVEL - NEXUS WAR: THOR #1

The final issue before Walt Simonson starts his epic run, THOR #336 sees Thor and Sif splitting up!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #12, Dracula challenges his enemies to find him in his haunted house!

In INVADERS NOW #2, we learn of the WW2 heroic team’s greatest crime: mass murder!

And in another weirder Marvel crossover THE DARKNESS/THE INCREDIBLE HULK, our beloved Green Giant teams up with Top Cow’s sinister denizen of the dark in a subway-bound issue!

--PeterS



1 event ends and another continues

August 31, 2020

It's the end of the 2020 event.

2020 iWOLVERINE #2 is the last of the tie-in issues, and Albert and Elsie Dee fight their way off Madripoor.

And so to the finale IRON MAN 2020 #6 where the Extinction Entity turns out to be a figment of Arno Stark's dying mind and Tony preserves him in a VR where it was true and he saved the world.

Meanwhile Empyre just rumbles on.

I've synopsised EMPYRE: AVENGERS #3 which wraps up the various Avengers' battles. And live Ka-Zar becomes joint spirit of the Savage Land with his wife Shanna.

I've summarised this and other Empyre issues this week in my Comments in EMPYRE #5.

Back before the event horizon T Vernon brings us IRON MAN (1998) #43 where Iron Man fights his way to Avengers Mansion with booby-trapped armour, only to find the bomb's really somewhere else. The art still gets a thumbs-down.

Then he stays with the Avengers for the opening round of the Kang Dynasty War in AVENGERS (1998) #41-43. Kang intends to take over the world for it's own future survival. But the team has to waste their time fighting Deviants, Attuma's Atlanteans and Presence's radioactive minions.

--RobFJ



One Nat, Two Janes, and More!

August 27, 2020

Marvel concludes BLACK WIDOW PRELUDE with issue #2, bringing us all up to date on the MCU heroine in time for her solo film in November!

After a long absence, THOR #335 returned original leading lady and the future Thor/Valkyrie Jane Foster to the comics of 1983 before losing her for another few decades!

Now she’s back again and in her most recent adventure, VALKYRIE: JANE FOSTER #8, Jane joins the Avengers in battling demons in the streets of Manhattan!

TOMB OF DRACULA #11 sees Drac’s vengeance crossed with that of a paralyzed voodoo man!

In INVADERS NOW #1, the Wartime heroes are reunited but it isn’t for a good cause!

--PeterS



2 #35's separated by 30 years

August 24, 2020

The only Empyre issue I've synopsised this week is LORDS OF EMPYRE: SWORDSMAN which shows us how he and his son the Celestial Messiah were turned against meat-life. And it's all the fault of the human Corporation Alchemax.

But I've also summarised this and other Empyre issues this week back in EMPYRE #5.

Also this week I've got AVENGERS #35 where the team fight back against Khonshu and Moon Knight. Including Blade who's back from some time off (probably the Strikeforce series). And Khonshu battles multiple alternate Mephisto's.

In IRON MAN (1998) #42 Tony Stark starts work as menial Hogan Potts. But still finds time to work on a new SKIN armour, and fight Shocker. T Vernon's not impressed with the art.

In SILVER SURFER (1987) #35 Thanos states his intention to kill half the folks in the universe, and tricks Surfer into helping him do a bit. This is the start of the Infinity Gauntlet saga which formed the basis for the plot of the Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame movies.

--RobFJ



Three (Mainly) New Issues and an Old Milestone!

August 20, 2020

The new THOR #6 features the fate of Galactus…and of Thor!

The new CAPTAIN AMERICA #22 sees Cap battle Selene for Sharon Carter’s soul!

In HAWKEYE: FREEFALL #3, new a few months ago, it’s Hawkeye alone against…the women in his life! And he continues to lose!

TOMB OF DRACULA #10! Milestone! In one word: Blade! Add three more words: his first appearance!

And in SECRET AVENGERS #21, the heroes find a basement full of monsters!

--PeterS

 



3 deaths in an Empyre (to the tune of '3 Goons in a fountain')

August 17, 2020

I've written up 2 Empyre issues this week.

EMPYRE: AVENGERS #2 continues its 3 story arcs but also has Black Panther preparing to go defend Wakanda (from Empyre #3 onwards). It reveals that Plantman is unsurprisingly 1 of the Cotati's allies. But it concentrates mainly on the Savage Land battle which ends with Ka-Zar being killed.

And in EMPYRE #5 Panther does defend his homeland but gets killed for his pains. And the already dead She-Hulk tries to add Thing to the list. Meanwhile there are 2 Hulklings facing off against each other.

Non-Empyre GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #5 is left over from last week. It wraps up the Guardians vs Guardians and Moondragon vs Moondragon tale neatly. The 2 GOTGs will probably merge together, and the 2 MDs already have.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #41 bridges the Ty Stone arc and the upcoming Hogan Potts story, as Tony Stark discards his name, his Company and his fortune.

And SILVER SURFER (1987) #34 features the return of Thanos from more than a (real time) decade of death as an agent of Death, as Jim Starlin picks up where he left off.

--RobFJ



More Hulkbusting!

August 13, 2020

The new IMMORTAL HULK #36 is a nearly all fight issue in the aftermath of Hulk’s latest disaster!

In THOR #334 from 1983, the God of Thunder leads a quest to return Jane Foster to the land of the living! Does he succeed? Ask Natalie Portman!

In TOMB OF DRACULA #9, the Count seeks a peaceful rest in a small village [spoiler alert: he doesn’t get any]!

In HULK (2008 series) #30, Rulk and Hulk team up in a bizarre way only the Impossible Man could comprehend! Meet…the Compound Hulk!

And FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2010 teams Iron Man and Nova against the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes! Plus, Hulk, Cap, and Ms. Marvel!

--PeterS



Many ways of ending

August 10, 2020

I've got 3 more Empyre issues for you, but I'll begin with something else.

STRIKEFORCE #9 is the end of the series and wraps up the Vridai story arc with a cage match on Monster Island.

LORDS OF EMPYRE: CELESTIAL MESSIAH has Mantis and her son Quoi reviewing their history while she tries to persuade him not to kill all humans. In the end she fails.

In FANTASTIC FOUR #22 the Richards siblings lose 1 of their young alien charges to the Dark Harvest while the other nearly dies from being stabbed by Wolverine. But at the end daddy Reed still thinks they're doing well.

All these 3 happen some time before EMPYRE #4 where She-Hulk turns out to be dead with her corpse animated by a Cotati, and at the end Billy and Teddy turn out to be married.

From T Vernon IRON MAN (1998) #40 ends the Ty Stone plot inside a VR environment (2 decades before Tony Stark invents eScape).

And AV: CELESTIAL QUEST #7-8 ends the limited series with the revelation that Death and Thanos had a kid (sort of), who they have to destroy for the sake of the Universe. And Quoi's still a nice guy in his last app 2 decades before Empyre.

--RobFJ



At Last, Captain America Returns!

August 6, 2020

After a months-long hiatus, CAPTAIN AMERICA #21 resumes the series with an attempt to recover the stolen soul of Sharon Carter!

HAWKEYE: FREEFALL #2 pits Spider-Man against Ronin but what does all this have to do with Clint Barton?

THOR #333 sees a spectacular battle: Thor versus Dracula over the fate of Sif!

And in his own comic, TOMB OF DRACULA #8, Drac gains the power to raise an undead army from their graves!

In HULK (2008 series) #29, brings Green (i.e. regular) Hulk to tag team with Red Hulk against some monsters!

--PeterS



Captain America Returns!

August 6, 2020

After a months-long hiatus, CAPTAIN AMERICA #21 resumes the series with an attempt to recover the stolen soul of Sharon Carter!

HAWKEYE: FREEFALL #2 pits Spider-Man against Ronin but what does all this have to do with Clint Barton?

THOR #333 sees a spectacular battle: Thor versus Dracula!

And in his own comic, TOMB OF DRACULA #8, Drac gains the power to raise an undead army from their graves!

In HULK (2008 series) #29, brings Green (i.e. regular) Hulk to tag team with Red Hulk against some monsters!

--PeterS



1 small step for the 2020 event, but a giant leap for Empyre

August 3, 2020

It seems like the end of the 2020 event when Tony Stark becomes the new improved Iron Man and defeats his brother Arno in IRON MAN 2020 #5. But then the big bad menace from space turns up.

Empyre has several issues this week but I'm only synopsizing 2 of them.

In EMPYRE #3 the Cotati need Wakandan Vibranium for their Galactic conquest. And it turns out 1 of the prime movers of this story is the not-actually-dead Skrull Empress R'klll. But in the EMPYRE: SAVAGE AVENGERS 1-shot Conan and Venom stop at least 1 Cotati warship/tree making it to Wakanda.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1998) #39 and we at last find out that Tony Stark's real enemy is his friend Ty Stone.

Meanwhile in AV: CELESTIAL QUEST #5-6 at last 1 Avenger encounters Thanos. But with Death and Eternity to contend with, who needs him?

--RobFJ



The Usual Suspects!

July 30, 2020

Nothing new for my side of the site this week so we’ll be filling in the old familiar faces!

In HULK (2008 series) #28, Red Hulk is dropped on Monster Island which sounds like the perfect place for him to be!

TOMB OF DRACULA #7 sees Dracula unleash his greatest weapon on his enemies: an army of children!

Drac also makes a guest appearance in THOR #332, having his eye on Sif’s neck!

Poor WONDER MAN; he’s nobody’s favorite Avenger but this double-sized one-shot from 1986 would have made a perfect ongoing series for him! He got a series a few years later but I think this one was better!

And then there’s MARVEL’S BLACK WIDOW PRELUDE #1, designed to prepare moviegoers for the release of Natasha’s solo film, postponed until November due to the coronavirus!

--PeterS



Emyprically-speaking it's another big week

July 27, 2020

I'm doing 3 Empyre issues this week:-

LORDS OF EMPYRE: EMPEROR HULKLING tells us more about Hulkling's rise to Emperorhood before the event began.

In EMPYRE #2 we learn the the full scope of the Quoi's betrayal. But the Avengers and Fantastic Four escape. And then in EMPYRE: AVENGERS #1 the Avengers try to control the war on Earth until Man-Thing joins the Cotati.

STRIKEFORCE #8 is left over from last week. It has nothing to do with the Empyre event, and in fact the whole series is a coda to the War Of The Realms event. PS Angela fights her mother.

In 2001 T Vernon continues the Ty Stone story in IRON MAN (1998) #38.

Meanwhile in AV: CELESTIAL QUEST #3-4 the battle between Avengers and not-quite-Thanos over the nicer version of Quoi still hasn't actually begun. But Death keeps hovering around.

--RobFJ



Another Set of Cool Stuff!

July 23, 2020

VALKYRIE JANE FOSTER #7: backed by a team of medical heroes, Jane battles a lot of bodily fluids to save the life of Death!

TOMB OF DRACULA #6, the cast crosses paths with the Moorlands Monster!

In THOR #331, Thor meets his match—in a mad Medieval knight?!?

In HULK (2008 series) #27, it’s Namor’s turn to deliver a beatdown on Rulk!

A+X #9 from 2013 teams Captain America and Wolverine to save Dr. Strange’s bacon! Strange bacon? Makes for an unbalanced breakfast!

--PeterS



Celestial Messiah, good or evil?

July 20, 2020

The 2020 event continues its slow wind down with 2020 iWOLVERINE #2 where Albert the android Wolverine goes seeking Elsie-Dee.

But the Empyre event kicks into gear in EMPYRE #1 revealing we've been cheering for the wrong side because it's the Celestial Messiah and the Cotati who are the threat, and they send assassins after the Kree/Skrull kids in FANTASTIC FOUR #21.

In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #4 the 2 Guardians teams clash over a giant Galactus helmet. This isn't part of Empyre but it does mention the Kree/Skrull Alliance and the Galactic economic crisis.

But AVENGERS #34 totally ignores Empyre as Moon Knight and Khonshu take over the world to defend it against what sounds like a multiversal council of Mephistos.

Back in 2001 T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #37 starts a 4-part story featuring Tony Stark's rivalry with Tiberius Stone.

Meanwhile some other Avengers including Thor go to the aid of Mantis and her son the Celestial Messiah in AV: CELESTIAL QUEST #1-2.

--RobFJ



Today’s Special: Added Heapin’ Helpin’s of Hulk and Thor!

July 16, 2020

First up is the new IMMORTAL HULK #35! Something crazy is going on: Hulk is a hero! But this can’t last! And it doesn’t!

GENERATIONS: BANNER HULK AND THE TOTALLY AWESOME HULK was one of a series of similar one-shots from 2017 where the newer replacement hero handed the mantle back to the original star!

In THOR #330, Thor meets a natural enemy in a knight crusading against infidels!

And Thor shows up in HULK (2008 series) #26 to beat the stuffings out of Red Hulk! Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy!

And no Hulk or Thor in TOMB OF DRACULA #5, just Dracula traveling back in time to take revenge upon his killer Professor van Helsing!

--PeterS



Anger issues

July 13, 2020

2 new issues this week:-

EMPYRE: FANTASTIC FOUR #0 has the FF on a galactic road trip where they pick up 2 angry kids, a Kree and a Skrull, who will presumably play a part in the Empyre event.

BLACK PANTHER AND THE AGENTS OF WAKANDA #8 ends the series (possibly only for the duration of Empyre) by helping Fin Fang Foom get his anger (and guilt and selfishness) back.

And from 2001:-

In AVENGERS (1998) #38-40 the team fight Diablo and a Greek town full of raging Hulks.

Then T Vernon is back with IRON MAN (1998) #36 where Shellhead is angry with Nick Fury about being tricked into battling an undersea monster created by Hydra.

--RobFJ



Exit Black Widow, Enter Hawkeye!

July 9, 2020

We wrap up WEB OF BLACK WIDOW #5 with Natasha discovering who has been messing with her mind and why!

But then Clint Barton has his next limited series: HAWKEYE: FREEFALL #1! Clint declares war on the supernaturally powered gangster, the Hood!

And Red Hulk shows up in HULK (2008 series) #25, the first issue of his solo series! Here he is recruited to smash the enemy conspiracy known as Scorched Earth! Plus, Iron Man!

In THOR #329, Thor and Sif face a hapless giant in Chicago with vengeance on his mind!

TOMB OF DRACULA #4 reveals the sinister secret of the Black Mirror!

--PeterS



The Empyre approaches

July 6, 2020

OK, here's last week's EMPYRE: AVENGERS #0 in which the Celestial Messiah calls the Avengers to the Blue Area of the Moon to repel an approaching alliance of Kree and Skrulls. Cue lots of history, with a fight against a Kree Sentry/Skrull mutant hybrid to keep us interested.

Back in the past we've reached 2001 (and we have a space station but it doesn't look like Kubrick's).

In AVENGERS (1998) #36-37 the Avengers are split between fighting Lord Templar and Pagan in Manhattan and Bloodwraith in Slorenia. And 1 Henry Pym takes the place of another.

I gave T Vernon a week off from his Iron Man vol 3 duties while I got some Av issues under my belt before his #36.

And Julio continues updating some older issues with HULK #211, resurrecting old chars Mongu and Maha Yogi.

--RobFJ



Europe’s Open But We Never Closed!

July 2, 2020

Always adding more stuff to the Marvel Heroes Library!

The wrap-up to this limited series, INVADERS (2019) #12, sees Atlantis planning to flood the world! But which side is Namor on?

In THOR #328, Sif and Thor battle the world’s meanest 80s videogame!

TOMB OF DRACULA #3 introduces its second major hero, Rachel van Helsing!

In HERCULES: PRINCE OF POWER #4, Herc meets Galactus! ‘Nuff said!

And Webmaster Julio brings us INCREDIBLE HULK #208 with a classic cover by Marie Severin!

--PeterS



It's 2020 week (and Maximum Security)

June 29, 2020

There are 3 new print comics of interest this week but I'm saving the Empyre event issue for next week. For now I'm getting on with the 2020 event.

In IRON MAN 2020 #4 we learn that Tony Stark's body has survived and his mind is safe in the 13th Floor, and he's finally convinced he's the real Tony. Plus Dr Shapiro the cat is the mole in Baintronics and Friday is 'alive' as the Ghost In The Machine. And Jocasta gets freed from Arno's Obedience OS. Also it turns out he turned Sunset Bain into an AI yonks ago. It's a busy issue!

The 2020 Rescue series ends with #2 as Pepper Potts completes the mission to get DNA from Tony's biological parents so his body can be fixed in IM2020#5.

I did the previous issues of those 2 series back on 16th March.

The rest are tie-ins to the 2000 Maximum Security event.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #35 Shellhead and the Fantastic Four battle the Ego-Spawn that threatens to consume the Earth.

Peter Silvestro has done THOR (1998) #30 which introduces Beta Ray Bill into the MaxSec mix (but probably more importantly into the ongoing Thor series). It also provides a link for the 'cosmic' Avengers team between the Av:Infinity event and ...

... AVENGERS (1998) #35 where they try to get the Intergalactic Council to stop what's happening to Earth. And we get full confirmation that the Ruul are really the Kree and the Supreme Intelligence is behind it all.

--RobFJ



New Stuff is Returning!

June 25, 2020

As the worldwide pandemic is slowing down (mostly), Marvel is inching back to releasing new comics online! And so we have…

The new THOR #5 at last pits the God of Thunder against the Black Winter!

THE IMMORTAL HULK #34 reintroduces us to the Leader, back and with a bigger head than ever!

TOMB OF DRACULA #2 has Dracula greeting his newly discovered relative Frank with a death trap! Some families are like that!

In HERCULES: PRINCE OF POWER #3, Herc investigates who is stealing planets!

In THOR Vol. 2 #30, out of place in the usual additions but it comes with the MAXIMUM SECURITY tie-ins Rob Johnson is adding on his half of the site!

--PeterS



Ironheart avoids being sent to Maximum Security

June 22, 2020

This week brought me a new digital comic 2020 IRONHEART #2. The AI-bashing bad guy is discredited, and Riri Williams and the NATALIE AI cease their illegal Outlawed superheroing. Or do they?

Next week back in 2000 it will be time for the Maximum Security event. This week I'm preparing for it.

Peter Silvestro (who wrote up the original MAXIMUM SECURITY mini-series a while ago) has now added the MAXSEC: DANGEROUS PLANET intro where Ego the Living Planet goes on a rampage, which precedes the Ego-related epilogue of ....

.... IRON MAN (1998) #34 which T Vernon contributes. (It will actually turn out next issue that the villain for this issue and last was also 1 of the alien criminals dumped on Earth in MaxSec.)

And some Reserve Avengers go cosmic in AVENGERS: INFINITY #1-4 against the ultra-powerful Beyonders, sorry Infinites, before they will also get dragged into MaxSec.

--RobFJ



Dracula Lives!

June 18, 2020

By popular demand, TOMB OF DRACULA is the next series to be added in toto to the Marvel Heroes Library—even though the central character isn’t a hero! Issue #1 was previously added to the site but it now comes with a detailed review and comments—being a personal favorite of yours truly!

In VALKYRIE: JANE FOSTER #6, Val and Dr. Strange assemble a team of medical superheroes to save the life of Death!

MAXIMUM SECURITY: DANGEROUS PLANET, prelude to an earlier sci-fi epic, is herein added as a tie-in with some issues Rob Johnson is adding on his half of the site! Here ya go, Rob!

In THOR #327, the Thunder God must stop the Midgard Serpent from crushing Earth!

In HERCULES: PRINCE OF POWER #2, Herc engages in a space chariot race and rescues a lovely hostage from pirates, because of course he does!

--PeterS



A long time ago, before lockdown ...

June 15, 2020

There are no new issues, digital or print, relevant to the report this week.

So I'll just go back to 2000 to finish off the Nefaria Protocols crossover in AVENGERS (1998) #33, THUNDERBOLTS (1997) #44 and AV#34. Madame Masque joins forces with the 2 teams to defeat her father Count Nefaria. Her bio-duplicate Masque dies heroically, and Atlas and Wonder Man take the big risk too.

Then the Golden Avenger turns to IRON MAN (1998) #33 where T Vernon tells us about a villain selling a drug that gives you temporary-superpowers. This story arc will lead in to the Maximum Security event.

And I'll just mention that Julio has written up the Hulk story in SHADOWS & LIGHT #3, as a side-effect of an investigation into Big Green's chronology.

--RobFJ



A Merry MHL Milestone!

June 11, 2020

Herein, we add TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #23, the final issue of Amadeus Cho’s solo series! And the amazing accomplishment herein? Hulk joins Captain America in having every issue of his main series on the Marvel Heroes Library, from the 60s to the present! And wait till you see what comes next! You’ll have to as I’m not going to say yet!

To while away the hours until the BLACK WIDOW solo film arrives in November, WEB OF BLACK WIDOW #4 pits Natasha against her enemy the new Headmistress!

In THOR #326 from 1982, Thor meets the Egyptian national hero Scarlet Scarab to deal with the matter of archaeological theft!

In HERCULES: PRINCE OF POWER #1, the ever-exciting Greek demigod sets out on a wild journey across the stars in his first miniseries!

And our Web Wizard Julio Molina-Muscara has added FANTASTIC FOUR #93, pitting Thing against all comers in an alien arena!

--PeterS



2 ends and a long beginning

June 8, 2020

Marvel have announced a 2nd tranche of digital-only issues, and this week that gave me 2020 FORCE WORKS #3 which is the end of the mini-series. MODOK joins himself to Ultimo to become UltiMODOK, but our team bury him in a fissure created by Quake.

T Vernon finishes off the Sons Of Yinsen/Wong-Chu story in IRON MAN ANNUAL 2000, and Professor Yinsen is revealed to now be a brain in a jar.

Then Shellhead attends an Avengers/Thunderbolts crossover which will be called the Nefaria Protocols. It starts slowly in AVENGERS (1998) #31, THUNDERBOLTS (1997) #42, AV#32 and TB#43 where the teams follow separate tracks with the occasional char wandering between them. (The Avengers, including She-Hulk, take time out after #31 to pop over to HULK ANNUAL 2000 which Julio synopsised some years ago,)

And Julio has popped up again with FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #93 as the FF rescue Thing from a Skrull slave arena.

--RobFJ



And the Hits Keep Coming!

June 4, 2020

Another set of classic comics to fill in the week! And get in touch with us if you’d like to join our comic book project!

VALKYRIE: JANE FOSTER #5 has Jane and Dr Strange versus a whole spate of bad guys including Mephisto!

TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #22 concludes “Weapons of Mutant Destruction” by pitting Hulk and the gang against…Weapon H!

In THOR #325 from 1982, the God of Thunder does dire deviltry dealing with Darkoth the Death-Demon!

DAMAGE CONTROL V.3 #4 presents more cosmic beings in one place than any other comic—all to deal with the problem of Edifice Rex!

And our Web Wizard Julio Molina-Muscara has added CHAMBER OF DARKNESS #2 where we encounter the Red Death!

And Julio’s not done: he also adds reviews to the classic INCREDIBLE HULK #182, #185, #188, and #189!

--PeterS



And now the 1st flower blooms

June 1, 2020

I've got a real new printed comic to report on this week, but I'm actually working from a digital version because my comic shop's not open yet.

In AVENGERS #33 Moon Knight steals the powers of Iron Fist, Dr Strange and Ghost Rider plus Mjolnir from Thor. He and his god Khonshu are going to need them to face Mephisto.

The 2006 CIVIL WAR: YOUNG AVENGERS/RUNAWAYS mini-series pits the 2 teams against each other and then against a mind-controlled Noh-Varr the Kree Marvel Boy.

This will be the end of my Young Avengers and Thanos mythos issues for a while as for the next few weeks I'll be adding lots of Avengers issues to go alongside T Vernon's Iron Man run.

This week TV does IRON MAN (1998) #32 which features the return of Iron Man's very 1st villain Wong-Chu.

And webmaster Julio has thrown in a 1-issue story from CAPTAIN MARVEL (1968) #19.

--RobFJ



Even More Quarantine Goodies!

May 28, 2020

We may be here for a while so we’re adding more stuff each week! And get in touch with us if you’d like to join our comic book project!

First up is LOKI (2019) #5 where Loki’s oddball solo series comes to a close with a guest appearance by Wolverine!

WEAPON X #6 continues “Weapons of Mutant Destruction” with Amadeus Hulk and the team assaulting the Weapon X stronghold!

In THOR #324 from 1982, the God of Thunder battles Graviton! Try to guess what his power is! Hint: it isn’t making gravy!

DAMAGE CONTROL V.3 #3 presents: Damage Control: the Movie!

And our Web Wizard Julio Molina-Muscara has added AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #79, part of the first appearance of the Prowler!

--PeterS



The 1st green shoot of recovery

May 25, 2020

Marvel have released a few new issues digitally, and this week there was 1 of interest to us. 2020 IRONHEART #1 is the 1st of 2 issues which is part of the 2020 event and also the Outlawed event. Teen Riri Williams is reluctant to illegally become Ironheart to go after 1 of Arno Stark's employees who is stirring up AI prejudice to further his career. So her AI NATALIE takes the armour to do the job instead.

In YOUNG AVENGERS (2005) #9-10 the YA including the new Vision are drawn out of 'retirement' when Super-Skrull kidnaps Hulkling and they gain a new recruit Speed.
I already did the rest of the series #11-12 which confirm Hulkling is the son of the Kree Captain Marvel and the Skrull Princess Anelle (and yes, this is a distant precursor to the delayed Empyre event), and also reveal that Wiccan and Speed are reincarnations of the 'sons' of Scarlet Witch and the original Vision.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #31 starts a new story introducing the Sons Of Yinsen (co-creator of the original Iron Man armour), and Tony Stark has to don a fairly old armour because his latest one's buried on a desert island.

I am inching towards the return of Thanos with SILVER SURFER (1987) #7 which brings back the 6 Soul Gems. The recently-revealed Elders Of The Universe want to use them to kill Galactus and end the universe so they can take his place in the next 1.

--RobFJ



More Quarantine Goodies!

May 21, 2020

The recent INVADERS (2019) #11, has Cap and Subby hashing out their differences while stranded on a desert island! Should have brought some records!

TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #21 continues “Weapons of Mutant Destruction” with Amadeus opposing his allies’ plans to slaughter their enemies!

In THOR #323 from 1982, the young God of Thunder faces Fear and Desire!

DAMAGE CONTROL V.3 #2 reveals the amazing fact that the Incredible Hulk is a baseball fan! And a Star Trek fan!

--PeterS



Filling in with the High Evolutionary

May 18, 2020

We may be getting a few new Marvel comics soon but in the meantime I'll continue with more old ones.

1st I'll fill in a gap in the 5-issue 2015 Uncanny Avengers mini-series where Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver went to Counter-Earth to find the High (and Low) Evolutionary to get another version of who their parents were. Previously I wrote the series up for the Captain America Library as was, but #3 didn't have Cap (Sam Wilson) in it. So here it is now.

The YOUNG AVENGERS SPECIAL fits into their 2005 series between #8 and #9, as they tell Jessica Jones what they were each doing before they formed the team.

T Vernon takes his usual slot here as IRON MAN (1998) #30 ends the Mask In The Iron Man story arc with the sentient armour going out a hero.

I'm giving 1980's MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #63 a place in my Thanos mythos sequence, although it's a bit of an outlier. High Evolutionary (again) goes chasing after the stolen Counter-Earth (not the same one), as Sphinxor of Pegasus explains some strange parts of the history of deceased Adam Warlock. And we get the 1st mention of the Beyonders, who much later will destroy the multiverse in the lead-up to Secret Wars III.

--RobFJ



Another Potpourri of Comics Goodies!

May 14, 2020

There’s WEB OF BLACK WIDOW #3 wherein Natasha and Yelena Belova team up against a common enemy: a third Black Widow!

In THOR #322 from 1982, the God of Thunder finds himself having to cover up Odin’s sex scandal!

Our favorite fixer-uppers return in DAMAGE CONTROL V.3 #1, with guest appearances by Spider-Man, Hulk, and the New Warriors!

Weapons of Mutant Destruction” continues in WEAPON X #5, featuring a lot of cyborg destruction, too!

--PeterS



A fresh batch plus some I prepared earlier

May 11, 2020

YOUNG AVENGERS (2005) #5-6 completes the origin story. Young Kang (Iron Lad) kills old Kang (The Conqueror) but then returns to the future to become him. The rest of the team are forbidden to continue superheroing, but naaah!

I already covered #7-8 where it turns out that Patriot's powers come from the Mutant Growth Hormone drug, and they all quit again.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #29 has the crazy sentient Iron Man armour jealous of Tony Stark's girlfriend Rumiko and his other armours.

CAPTAIN MARVEL (1968) #45 and MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #55 tell us that there are actually 6 Soul Gems like Adam Warlock's and introduce us to 3 of them. The 2nd issue also débuts the Gardener who will later be revealed as 1 of the Elders Of The Universe.

I've already done AVENGERS (1963) ANNUAL #7 & MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE (1974) ANNUAL #2 where Thanos gathers all 6 Gems together, and he and Warlock both die.

--RobFJ



Myths, Mutants, and the Monkey King!

May 7, 2020

In THOR #321 from 1982, Thor faces a single villain who goes by three names and can turn the animal people against the God of Thunder! Ain’t  mythology wonderful!

In TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #20, Amadeus joins Old Man Logan, Domino, Deathstryke, Sabretooth, and Warpath in a cyborg hunt to uncover the dark conspiracy against them!

And we wrap up AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES II with issue #8, wherein Vision takes on the Super-Adaptoid to prove…something, I’m not sure!

For an odd entry, there’s FEAR ITSELF: THE MONKEY KING wherein a new character was poised to take Marvel by storm: a martial artist with the powers of an ancient Chinese god! Didn’t work out, though, so here’s his debut, included in a major crossover event!

--PeterS



Version control

May 4, 2020

YOUNG AVENGERS (2005) #3-4 continue the origin story as Iron Lad explains about recruiting teens from Vision's list of potential Avengers and Kang turns up to retrieve his younger version.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1998) #28 where the sentient version of Tony Stark's armour takes over and kills their opponent Whiplash (with no Marvel bring-back).

STRANGE TALES #180-181 has Matriarch's minions trying to convert Adam Warlock to the Universal Church Of Truth, until he finally faces Magus (a future version of himself) himself.

I've already documented WARLOCK (1972) #9-11 where Thanos joins the fight against Magus, and #15 which ends the run with a status check on Starlin's ensemble cast Adam, Thanos, Gamora, Pip and Drax the Destroyer. (#12-14 were not relevant to the Thanos mythos).

--RobFJ



Strange Visitors!

April 30, 2020

VALKYRIE: JANE FOSTER #4 guest stars Dr. Strange as three of his earliest enemies suddenly return!

In THOR #320 from 1982, Don Blake has his hands (and office) full of visiting mythical creatures!

WEAPONS OF MUTANT DESTRUCTION: ALPHA reveals a sinister conspiracy to eradicate all mutants! An out-of-place Totally Awesome Hulk joins Old Man Logan, Domino, Deathstryke, Sabretooth, and Warpath in shutting it down!

Lastly, there’s AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES II #7 in which Black Panther faces the unwelcome arrival of African assassin Death Tiger!

--PeterS



The triple-layered past

April 27, 2020

Now that I've finished Secret Warriors I'm turning my attention to another favourite of mine, the original Young Avengers run from 2005. In #1-2 the boy who will be Kang time-travels from the 30th Century and forms the team to help him avoid his villainous future.

Stalwart T Vernon continues his Iron Man (1998) run with #27 where Tony Stark lives through an illusion that his life falls apart.

And I've returned to an old thread of filling in issues relevant to the Thanos mythos. This time it's Jim Starlin's take on Adam Warlock in STRANGE TALES #178-179, which introduce us to long-running elements the Magus, the Universal Church Of Truth and Pip the Troll.

--RobFJ



Some Cool Stuff for a Quarantine!

April 23, 2020

Hope everyone out there is doing well at home! Here's my stuff for this week!

THOR #319 from 1982 pits the God of Thunder against an offbeat foe: a method actor turned mad monster!

WEAPON X Vol. 3 #4 begins the “Weapons of Mutant Destruction” crossover as Totally Awesome Amadeus Hulk joins Old Man Logan, Sabretooth, Domino and others as the targets of a sinister conspiracy!

And if you like your Hulk Incredible instead of Totally Awesome, here’ s WIZARD HULK ½ pitting Hulk against a souped-up Rhino!

Lastly, there’s AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES II #6! Yellowjacket and Wasp get married—with a twist in the tale!

--PeterS




It's a set-up

April 20, 2020

SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #27-28 end the Wheels Within Wheels arc and the series. And set things up for a reborn SHIELD.

Patsy Walker returned from death and Hell in Thunderbolts Annual 2000. Now AVENGERS ANNUAL 2000 fills in her history and sets things up for her 1st Hellcat mini-series.

The Marvel Chronology Project has the Iron Man: Bad Blood mini-series here. We'll probably come back to cover that later.

What we *have* written up now is Wizard's IRON MAN #½ which sets things up for succeeding issues, starting with ...

... IRON MAN (1998) #26. T Vernon is back with the beginning of the Mask In The Iron Man arc where the armour gains sentience and takes over. Although that isn't what it looks like this issue (because this is only a set-up for the rest).

--RobFJ



Some New Additions to the Site—and Not Just Comics!

April 16, 2020

Julio has posted to the blog a look at what heroes will be immune to the coronavirus! Look for the link on each page (a picture of Invisible Woman will get you there)!

And the movie page has been brought up to date including the most recently announced titles (all postponed)! That’s on the home page!

And never fear, we’ve got more comics added!

WEB OF BLACK WIDOW #2 sees Natasha on the trail of a second, deadlier Black Widow!

LOKI (2019) #4 features a duel to the death between Loki and Nightmare!

INVADERS (2019) #10: Cap and Winter Soldier become water breathers to stop Namor's mad plan!

In TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #19, Amadeus, Old Man Logan, Sabretooth, and others are under attack by a revived Weapon X!

Lastly, there’s AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES II #5! Yellowjacket makes his first appearance and it makes sense now so check it out!

--PeterS

 




A mini-run of Avengers

April 13, 2020

In my 1st week without any new issues to comment on I've brought in a bunch of Avengers issues that fit in between 2 of T Vernon's Iron Man synopses.

AVENGERS (1998) #26 has a bunch of not-quite-Avengers, including Silverclaw, tricked into embarrassing the team by the Triune Understanding.

And when they go to apologise to the real Avengers in #27 they find them in the throes of 1 of their regular reshuffles, which includes having to take in the Triune's superhero Triathlon.

The new team's 1st mission in #28-30 is to help Silverclaw free her South American village from the clutches of Kulan Gath (who would have been annoying the Savage Avengers in their #12 next week if the coronavirus hadn't got in the way).

Webmaster Julio Molina-Muscara keeps us informed about Marvel movies and he's recently done a big update, especially about upcoming films. (But unfortunately they're not quite as upcoming as they were before the virus hit.) Just follow the links below this section, or start by clicking the Movies tab above.

--RobFJ



Still Sitting Quietly Indoors, Reading Comics!

April 9, 2020

Nothing new this week, so here’s a quartet of older issues we’ve added to the site!

In TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #18, Amadeus and the Protectors take the battle to their lien captors!

In THOR #318 from 1982, Loki turns Easter Island into a trap for Thor!

AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES II #4 has a bank robbery, school bullying, and Hank Pym cracking up! Good times!

Lastly, there’s SECRET AVENGERS #15, a FEAR ITSELF tie-in in which Black Widow battles…a tabloid newspaper!

--PeterS



The shape of things to come (eventually)

April 6, 2020

Because I only used to visit my comic shop every other week and spread the issues out over 2 weeks reporting, I've still got a backlog of new titles to cover this week.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #3 splits the team in 2 and sets the stage for conflict between them next issue.

OUTLAWED is a 1-shot issue leading into the Outlawed event and for this column the next Champions series.

ROAD TO EMPYRE: THE KREE/SKRULL WAR is another 1-shot issue leading, not surprisingly, into the Empyre event.

But who knows when we'll actually see all those promised goodies?

Meanwhile back in the safer past AVENGERS (1998) #24-25 we see a sequel to the 8th Day event as the Exemplars take revenge on Juggernaut.

Because of the plethora of Avengers issues to fit in this part of the Iron Man (1998) series I've given T Vernon some time off from cataloguing it. But because of the absence of new issues for the foreseeable future I'll be getting through them faster, so his holiday will be cut short.

--RobFJ



Wizards and Aliens and Adaptoids, Oh My!

April 2, 2020

Marvel 80th anniversary special AVENGERS: LOKI UNLEASHED brings back Roger Stern and Ron Lim for a tale that pits Loki against another powerful sorcerer!

In TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #17, the all-Asian team the Protectors is stranded on an asteroid and ready to make war against the alien invaders!

In THOR #317 from 1982, Mjolnir is shot into space and it will take Thor more than his allotted sixty seconds to get it back!

AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES II #3 shows us some new stuff as the heroes take on a literal army of Adaptoids!

--PeterS

 



The 2020 event and Ultimo share top billing

March 30, 2020

This week I've got 3 issues in the 2020 event to deal with.

In 2020 MACHINE MAN #2 X-51 gets Jocasta out of the clutches of X-52, and the Midnight Wreckers make a truce with the AI Liberation Army ...

... which is broken immediately in the 2020 IRON AGE 1-shot anthology when the ALA come back with X-51. In the other 2 tales Alkhema does her own robot revolution and Dr Shapiro goes for a wander.

In 2020 FORCE WORKS #2 the team are up against Ultimo, but they have help from MODOK.

T Vernon gives IRON MAN (1998) #25 a 5-star rating as the giant-size issue ends an earlier battle with Ultimo.

Then Iron Man is around in AVENGERS (1998) #23 when Vision and Wonder Man go head-to-head over Scarlet Witch.

I'll also mention that Shellhead guest-stars in THOR #316 over in Peter Silvestro's half of the site. And Peter's also continuing the 2nd series of AVENGERS: EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES.

--RobFJ



Still Inside? We Have More Stuff!

March 26, 2020

TAROT #4 wraps up the strange adventure full of mismatched heroes and cartoon villains!

In IMMORTAL HULK #33, things get ugly as Hulk finally takes on the Minotaur and Xemnu!

The recent VALKYRIE: JANE FOSTER #3 gives Heimdall (and us) a grand tour of new mystical realms! And introduces a talking horse!

In THOR #316 from 1982, Beasts and Things are the order of the day as Bi-Beast, Man-Beast, and Man-Thing are guests! And Iron Man too!

AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES II #2: SHIELD wants to know: can Vision be trusted!

--PeterS



Revelations

March 23, 2020

AVENGERS #32 shows us Mephisto manipulating all the Avengers' enemies to work together. But Namor strikes out on his own to summon the Phoenix Force.

While the Avengers are away dragons attack Avengers Mountain in BLACK PANTHER AND THE AGENTS OF WAKANDA #7. And their target is revealed to be a mini-Fin Fang Foom hiding inside.

SAVAGE AVENGERS #11 is a 2-hander with new couple Dr Strange and Elektra. But mainly Strange views the history of Kulan Gath and sees him gaining the knowledge of other mages cannibalistically, even from the Sorcerer Supreme of the Hyborian Age.

SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #26 is a 3-hander with Nick Fury, Baron Strucker and Kraken which reveals what *really* happened in Leonardo da Vinci's tomb in 1961, the origin of LMDs, who Kraken really is and who's been controlling who all this time.

T Vernon is on hand with IRON MAN (1998) #24 where Ultimo rises but Iron Man has to fight past Warbird to get to him. And Ultimo's origin reveals that last issue's 2 villains are really good guys.

--RobFJ



A Public Service!

March 19, 2020

With the coronavirus keeping everyone inside, we at the Marvel Heroes Library are sparing no expense to bring you our reviews of various comics new and classic! So here we are with the latest!

Today’s new CAPTAIN AMERICA #20 has Cap and the team on a mission to recover Sharon Carter’s stolen soul from Selene!

Spitfire returns! The latest INVADERS #9 has the wartime team reuniting to battle Namor’s army as they attack Roxxon!

The recent LOKI #3 has Loki playing chess in the House of Ideas for the right to have more stories!

In THOR #315 from 1982, Thor battles that most two-faced of villains, Bi-Beast, who is now the leader of a gang of pirates!

AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES II #1 takes us back to the earliest days of Vision’s and Black Panther’s tenure with the superteam!

--PeterS



Pepper Potts now and then

March 16, 2020

In IRON MAN 2020 #3 the AI Tony Stark stops Arno's plan for taking over all AIs, but at the cost of his 'life'.

So in 2020 RESCUE #1 Pepper Potts goes in search of DNA from Tony's biological parents so she and Bethany Cabe can create a new body for him.

Meanwhile in STRIKEFORCE #7 the team battle Birgit over Count Ophidian on Deadpool's Monster Island (aka Staten Island) before falling into the middle of an Elf war.

SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #25 tells us (nearly the whole of) the story behind the Great Wheel of Zodiac cabal in 1961. And ties it strongly into Jonathan Hickman's SHIELD series.

T Vernon gets back to the 1998 Iron Man series with #23 in which Stark-Fujikawa start messing around with Ultimo, and Tony starts messing around with Pepper.

--RobFJ



Apocalyptic Events!

March 12, 2020

In the new THOR #4, it’s Thor and Galactus versus the Black Winter!

And IMMORTAL HULK #32 sees everyone in the world convinced that Hulk is the bad guy and Xemnu the Titan is the good guy!

In WEB OF BLACK WIDOW #1, Natasha warns Tony Stark to stay out of her way! Another tricky mission for our favorite spy!

And a look back to FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2010 as Iron Man and Thor have a team up that takes them to the Moon!

--PeterS



Dangerous missions

March 9, 2020

The next 2020 tie-in is 2020 FORCE WORKS #1 where War Machine leads a team of Quake and US Agent to rescue Mockingbird who's gone missing on a mission (but who doesn't actually need rescuing). And then they are all attacked by Deathlok cyborgs.

Meanwhile GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #2 quickly wraps up the Olympian Gods problem, but Nova is fatally wounded and Star-Lord has to sacrifice himself to complete the mission.

SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #24 is the start of the final arc Wheels Within Wheels. Last issue Daisy Johnson's White team was disbanded after losing 2 members, and this time we see Mikel Fury and his Grey team get slaughtered on their final mission.

And T Vernon's JUGGERNAUT (1999) 1-shot ends the 8th Day event with the villain making it his mission to defeat the other Exemplars and save the heroes.

--RobFJ



Black Widow Movie Preview—Sort of!

March 5, 2020

We’re all waiting for BLACK WIDOW to hit theaters in April! The plot will include Natasha’s confrontation with her rival, a second Black Widow, Yelena Belova! The two met in the comics in BLACK WIDOW (1999 series) which was already on this site; their second meeting was in BLACK WIDOW (2001 series) which we have just added in its entirety! Kick back and review where these two lethal ladies came from!

TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #16 finds the Protectors, the all-Asian team formed accidentally by an alien invasion, exiled to outer space!

In THOR #314, the God of Thunder faces a berserk Drax the Destroyer!

SECRET AVENGERS #14 is another FEAR ITSELF tie-in, presenting another poignant incident and the origin of Valkyrie!

--PeterS



Old friends and new

March 2, 2020

AVENGERS #31 is with Iron Man in 1 Million BC being tempted by Mephisto until the devil sends him home - where Mephisto has a new friend, a resurrected Howard Stark.

2020 tie-in 2020 MACHINE MAN #1 has X-51 fighting all the older numbered copies of himself to get to Jocasta. And then he finds her with her new boyfriend X-52, Machine Man 2020.

SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #23 tells us what Sebastian Druid's been doing since he was fired from the team in #16. And he's back to rescue his friends from Hydra, just in time for the team to be dissolved. (So what will the last 5 issues of the series be about?)

T Vernon continues the 8th Day event with PETER PARKER: SPIDER-MAN (1999) #11 in which Spidey sees the origin of the final Exemplar, and teams up with Iron Man and Thor to fight them all.

--RobFJ



Tarot? More Like 52 Pick-Up!

February 27, 2020

The brand-new TAROT #3 continues the Avengers/Defenders crossover with more insane alternate realities including one with cartoon superheroes !

VALKYRIE: JANE FOSTER #2 pits ValJane against Bullseye who is wielding the original Valkyrie’s deadly sword!

TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #15 introduces an all-Asian superhero team, the Protectors!

In THOR #313, the God of Thunder stands trial as to whether he can ever return to Earth!

SECRET AVENGERS #13 is a FEAR ITSELF tie-in, and presents a poignant incident during the carnage of the battle for Washington D.C.!

--PeterS



Endings and origins and a hint of memory

February 24, 2020

BLACK PANTHER AND THE AGENTS OF WAKANDA #6 sees the end of the Livewires LMD uprising. Or does it? And it has nothing to do with the 2020 event.

STRIKEFORCE #6 sees the end of Moonstone's plan to invent a fake digital heaven. But she moves on to a position in the Ravencroft series.

In SAVAGE AVENGERS #0 Dr Strange goes to Krakoa to warn Magik about the return of Kulan Gath. But it's just an excuse for them and us remember Uncanny X-Men #190-191.

SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #22 sees the team lose another member. And Baron Strucker's Hydra falls apart.

And the Eighth Day event has its next 2 issues synopsised this week:-
Peter Silvestro has done THOR (1998) #17 which brings Juggernaut into the plot and creates 2 more Exemplars.
T Vernon follows it with IRON MAN (1998) #22 which creates 3 more Exemplars and tells us what the plot is all about.

--RobFJ



Cap and Peggy Reunited!

February 20, 2020

After many years CAPTAIN AMERICA #19 finally reunites Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter! True, Peggy died in 2011, eliminated just as the first Cap movie hit the theaters, but death never keeps anyone down for long in the comics! And now Cap learns what’s been going on in his own comic behind his back!

INVADERS (2019) #8 sees the creation of the Iron Torch!

The latest LOKI #2 has wannabe Avenger Loki testing the idea on Tony Stark, who can’t believe his ears! And Nightmare lurks in the background!

TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #14 sees Amadeus teaming up with basketball star Jeremy Lin against some bad-tempered robots!

In THOR #17 from 1999 is a bit out of the run on Thor we have been working on but it’s okay. It ties into “The Eighth Day” story arc that’s going on with Rob Johnson and his Iron Man additions! Oh yeah, Thor fights Juggernaut!

AVENGERS ORIGINS: LUKE CAGE? We don’t have a lot of Cage on this site but we do want to complete our coverage of the AVENGERS ORIGINS limited series! And if you want more Luke Cage on the Marvel Heroes Library and are willing to take on the task just get in touch with us and we’ll get you started! Same goes for anyone out there with any other underrepresented character! We’re always here!

--PeterS

 



Unstoppable

February 17, 2020

In IRON MAN 2020 #2 Arno Stark seems to be winning all round. He's exposed Tony Stark as leader of the AI revolution and is about to take control of all AIs. So who or what will stop him? My money's still on Dr Shapiro the cat.

SAVAGE AVENGERS #10 ends the Conan plus Dr Doom and Dr Strange vs Kulan Gath battle. But even beheaded KG still swears to return, and the Drs contemplate calling on Mephisto to deal with him.

In SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #21 the Warriors lose 1 of their number but still haven't escaped from the exploding Hydra base.

There are 2 stories in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #21. Drunken Warbird messes up again. And we get an intro to the 8th Day crossover event which will involve the unstoppable Juggernaut.

And TV has 2 issues this week because IRON MAN ANNUAL 1999 slots in between the 2 parts of IM#21. Some Avengers meet some Thunderbolts as Count Nefaria drains ionic energy from chars like Wonder Man and Atlas. He'll keep going into CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #28-31 which Peter Sivestro did a couple of years ago.

--RobFJ



More Thor Than Ever Before!

February 13, 2020

Three Thor issues from various eras have been added this week!

The brand-new THOR #3 pits Thor against Beta Ray Bill over the future of Galactus!

And now for this week’s non-Thor title…

THE IMMORTAL HULK #31 looks like just another Hulk versus Xemnu rematch but things get very twisty very quickly!

And now back to Thor

In THOR #312 from 1981, Tyr wants to make time with Thor’s lady Sif so he plots to get rid of his rival!

AVENGERS ORIGINS: THOR was part of a semiseries a couple of years ago, this time giving us a great (and coherent) explanation of where the God of Thunder comes from and what he does!

--PeterS



Too many War Machines

February 10, 2020

My only new item this week is AVENGERS #30 where the new Starbrand-wielder is literally born, and the Avengers take her home to change her diaper. Still featuring War Machine Widow.

Meanwhile I'm picking up Secret Warriors again. Peter Silvestro has already done #17-19, the Last Ride Of The Howling Commandos, so it's time for #20 the start of Night, the team's lowest point.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #20 finishes the Machinery Of War story as Rhodey talks down the other War Machine and Tony Stark salvages Jocasta.

--RobFJ



Four All-New Comics Added to the Site This Week!

February 6, 2020

…by me at least; Rob Johnson always has something on his half of the site!

In THOR #2, Thor becomes the Herald of Galactus!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE END sees our hero alone against a world of Red Skulls!

IMMORTAL HULK: GREAT POWER shows what happens when Spider-Man becomes the Hulk!

TAROT #2 continues the limited series with the Avengers and Defenders all under control of the villain Diablo!

--PeterS



Wins the prize for most robots in 1 issue

February 3, 2020

Guardians Of The Galaxy gets another #1 as Nova recruits half the team plus Marvel Boy to fight the reborn Olympian Gods. But will Drax, Gamora and Groot really remain on vacation on Halfworld?

SAVAGE AVENGERS #9 has Conan, Dr Doom and Dr Strange continuing to fight Kulan Gath. But then Strange dons Doom-style armour as the Iron Mage.

I complete the Avengers tales which happen within Iron Man #18 with the end of the Ultron Unlimited arc in AVENGERS (1998) #21-22. The team face hundreds of (inferior) Ultrons until injured Justice arrives to save the day.

This means that now T Vernon can continue with IRON MAN (1998) #19 where Shellhead fights Sunset Bain's minions the villainous War Machine and the reluctant Jocasta.

--RobFJ



New Cap! New Hulk! And an Even Newer Valkyrie!

January 30, 2020

In CAPTAIN AMERICA #18, Steve and his team stop Scourge—or do they?

IMMORTAL HULK #30 finds Hulk in the stomach of a giant monster and I don’t envy him!

The big new deal of the year is in VALKYRIE: JANE FOSTER #1: former nurse, former doctor, former cancer patient, former Thor, Jane has a new vocation!

And we couldn’t get the latest Thor issue up in time for this update so here’s the tragic and shockingly contemporary THOR #311 from 1981!

--PeterS



Birth, death ... and robots again

January 27, 2020

In AVENGERS #29 the Avengers finally find the new host of the Starbrand and she's a very pregnant woman. And the Shi'ar Gladiator is about to kill her.

In STRIKEFORCE #5 the team tangle with Ghost and Moonstone who are experimenting with capturing spirits as they leave the dead.

My massive 1999 Avengers-binge continues with the latest Ultron scheme. AVENGERS (1998) #0 is a Wizard prelude and #19-20 is the 1st half of the saga. The robot destroys a whole fictional Marvel country and kidnaps all the chars he thinks of as his 'family'. But his robot 'wife' Alkhema is determined to mess up his plans.

--RobFJ



Look! Loki’s Back!

January 23, 2020

LOKI #1 is the first installment of Loki’s short-lived series: he is now King of the Giants and that’s a tall order!

In possible one-shot WOLVERINE & CAPTAIN AMERICA: WEAPON PLUS, Cap and Logan uncover a conspiracy behind the super-soldier program!

In the latest of their series, INVADERS #7, Cap and the gang deal with Namor’s conquest of an American city!

In TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #13, Amadeus meets Jeremy Lin for some basketball doings!

THOR #310 sees the God of Thunder going to Hades to face Mephisto on his own ground!

--PeterS



Robots again!

January 20, 2020

IRON MAN 2020 #1 starts the 2020 event featuring the robot rebellion. But we learn that Arno Stark really wants to persuade the AIs to help him fight an Extinction Entity that is predicted to arrive this year, and which he was destined (by Rigellian Recorder 451?) to confront. And we find out who's leading the rebellion.

I continue with the Avengers issues filling the gap in Iron Man (1998) #18. In AVENGERS (1998) #17-18 the team fight the Wrecking Crew who take Photon to Polemachus and overthrow Arkon. Meanwhile some other Avengers help Warbird defeat the robot behind it all.

--RobFJ



Hulk, Thor, Cap, Avengers…What More Do You Want?

January 16, 2020

All older goodies this week! The new cool stuff comes next week!

TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #12 pits Amadeus against a monster who feeds on fear! Black Panther and Hawkeye are guests!

THOR #309 has the God of Thunder taking on bad guys in a rocket car! (The bad guys have the rocket car, not Thor.)

BATTLE SCARS #6: Marcus Johnson joins SHIELD and the Avengers as Nick Fury Jr.!

I AM CAPTAIN AMERICA, an unusual but well-deserved tribute to the real heroes of our nation!

--PeterS



Robots galore! Maybe they've heard about the robot revolution?

January 13, 2020

In BLACK PANTHER AND THE AGENTS OF WAKANDA #5 the team follow Deadpool to investigate an old SHIELD base and run into an old group of LMD robots called the Livewires. Led by Nick Fury (not Jr)!

Back in 1999 T Vernon does IRON MAN (1998) #18 which finishes off the Fin Fang Foom story before starting a new 1 with rival Sunset Bain and drunken Warbird.

In between the 2 parts Iron Man has some adventures with the Avengers.

AVENGERS ANNUAL 1999 tells us how Black Widow tried to keep the Avengers name alive during Heroes Reborn, and then pits the current team against robot Avengers created by their old mechanic Fabian Stankowicz. And Jarvis saves the day.

Then in AVENGERS (1998) #16 the team and Black Knight fight the Wrecking Crew who kidnap Photon for a mystery robot employer.

There are lots more Avengers issues to fit within IM#18 so I've given TV 2 weeks off while I deal with them.

--RobFJ



Hulk Versus Monsters!

January 9, 2020

IMMORTAL HULK #29: Roxxon springs their trap on Hulk: a cadre of giant city-destroying monsters!

Roy Thomas returns to Marvel joining Jerry Ordway in CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE INVADERS: THE BAHAMAS TRIANGLE, a wartime adventure that predates the forming of the Invaders!

THOR #308 sees Thor battle a snow giant during a Manhattan blizzard! And yes, Loki’s behind it!

BATTLE SCARS #5: Marcus Johnson is revealed to be the son of Nick Fury but that won’t help him in the bad guys’ hands!

--PeterS



Spanning 2 decades as we enter a new 1

January 6, 2020

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #12 ends 2019 and this particular series with the villains sent back to the future, Drax returned to his friendly self and Rocket being cured of dying. All just in time for the original Guardians to get back together for the next series in the new year.

Meanwhile in STRIKEFORCE #4 the 'team' tell each other (false?) stories of past encounters with the Vridai while sheltering from a (not real?) storm in Dr Doom's (not really) haunted house.

Back in 2010 Hydra and Leviathan go to war against each other in SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #16. We also discover that Kraken isn't who Baron Strucker thinks he is, and JT James betrays the team to Strucker.

And in 1999 Iron Man fights Fin Fang Foom in IRON MAN (1998) #17. Thank T Vernon for this.

--RobFJ



New Year! New Thor!

January 2, 2020

The new THOR #1 by Donny Cates and Nic Klein heralds a new era of peace across the Ten Realms—at least until Galactus literally drops in!

The new TAROT #1 brings together the Defenders and the Avengers just before it sets them against each other!

In TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #11, Amadeus chases a monster while Black Panther chases him.

BATTLE SCARS #4. It’s Marcus Johnson versus Taskmaster versus Deadpool versus the Serpent Society! But who is Scorpio and who is he after?

PS Have a Happy New Year!

--PeterS



Some unusual Christmas presents

December 30, 2019

In AVENGERS #28 Captain America gets to wield Thor's hammer, Black Widow gets to wear War Machine's armour, and Iron Man gets to meet the 1 Million BC Avengers.

In BLACK PANTHER AND THE AGENTS OF WAKANDA #4 a plant goddess gets a whole new world to turn green, and the Moon is left with a smile on its face.

In SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #15 Viper gets a large octopoid on her head, Nick Fury brings the Contessa flowers and guns, and Daisy Johnson snogs JT James.

And in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #16 Fin Fang Foom gets a new host, and Shellhead gets mobbed by lizards.

I hope you all got better presents than that.

--RobFJ



Holidays Everywhere!

December 26, 2019

But not in the comics! Here’s the next three issues from titles we have been adding!

In TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #10, is Amadeus seeking revenge against Hawkeye? Black Panther thinks so and that’s enough!

In THOR #307, the God of Thunder faces off against the Dream Demon!

BATTLE SCARS #3 sees Marcus Johnson on the trail of Taskmaster—but Deadpool is after him!

PS Have a happy holiday of your choice! 

--PeterS



Iron Man almost makes it into every issue this week

December 23, 2019

TONY STARK: IRON MAN #19 ends the run with Tony admitting he's an AI replacement and Arno inheriting Stark Unlimited and all his brother's toys, setting the stage for Iron Man 2020.

Back in simpler days Iron Man's armour is no longer killing him and he just has to deal with Nitro in IRON MAN (1998) #15. T Vernon does the honours.

Meanwhile Beast comes to see his recently-resurrected old pal Wonder Man in AVENGERS (1998) #14. While he's there he helps fight new baddie Pagan.

Then sick-leave Shellhead rejoins the Avengers for #15 where they get in the middle of Pagan, Lord Templar and Triathlon of the Triune Understanding.

--RobFJ



And That’s It for Jason Aaron and Thor!

December 19, 2019

Jason Aaron wraps up the story of Thor and his seven-year run with the character in KING THOR #4!

In the recent INVADERS #6, Namor’s plan succeeds and he captures an American city!

Captain Marvel and all of SHIELD are concerned about Amadeus Cho in TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #9 and with good reason!

THOR #306 presents the origins of not one but two Heralds of Galactus: Firestorm and Air Walker!

Captain America and all of SHIELD are concerned about Marcus Johnson in BATTLE SCARS #2 so who is he?

--PeterS



2 rescue missions and 2 short deaths

December 16, 2019

In AVENGERS #27 the Avengers go to rescue Majestor Kallark from a Shi'ar prison galaxy(! it's only small and artificial). But things don't go well including Thor getting Broody.

SAVAGE AVENGERS #8 is basically 3-way haggling between Conan and Doctors Doom and Strange over the 3rd Eye Of Agamotto. Until Doom wins and it kills him (but I think that'll only last 1 issue).

We've known for a few issues that Nick Fury's old SHIELD flame Contessa Val was secretly working for Hydra, but now in SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #14 we learn that she's really been betraying them both to Leviathan. And she kills Viper (but that'll definitely only last 1 issue).

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1998) #14 where Shellhead helps the Fantastic Four rescue Invisible Woman from Ronan The Accuser.

--RobFJ



New Cap! New Hulk! New Thor! And More!

December 12, 2019

In CAPTAIN AMERICA #17, Steve and the Daughters of Liberty are on the trail of Scourge—but is he the real bad guy here?

In IMMORTAL HULK #28, Hulk continues his vendetta against Roxxon Corporation!

THOR: THE WORTHY, part of the Legends of Marvel series brings back Walt Simonson, Ron Frenz, Tom DeFalco, and Kathryn Immonen to showcase some of the other wielders of Mjolnir!

And for something a bit older, we have BATTLE SCARS #1, wherein soldier Marcus Johnson wonders why everyone is out to kill him!

--PeterS



Ironheart goes to comic book limbo, and Iron Man's not too well either

December 9, 2019

IRONHEART #12 ends Riri Williams' run with the defeat of the Ten Rings. And with Champions gone too she's got no regular apps left.

Back in 1999 IRON MAN (1998) #13 continues *it's* run and T Vernon tells us how recuperating Tony Stark still manages to polish off old foe Controller in 1 issue.

And then he continues to contribute to the Avengers by video-link in their (1998) #13 as they team-up with the New Warriors against AIM and a new villain called Lord Templar.

--RobFJ



Friends, Enemies—and a Hapless Hydra Agent!

December 5, 2019

In TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #8, Bruce Banner chills out with his best friends and looks like he’s going to live happily ever after—but we know better!

In THOR #305, Thor takes on Air Walker, Herald of Galactus and a little boy’s hero, just in time for Christmas!

Then there’s THE INCREDIBLE HERCULES #115 which features a shooting war between two Helicarriers, with Herc and Amadeus caught in between!

And for a change of pace, we have HANK JOHNSON, AGENT OF HYDRA, a comedy about a working stiff just trying to get along—except he’s a member of an international terror organization!

--PeterS



A series of (un-)connected events

December 2, 2019

AVENGERS #26 tells how a Stone Age gardener became the 1M BC Starbrand wielder, but it turns out he wasn't Earth's 1st because a dinosaur had it before him.

And in BLACK PANTHER AND THE AGENTS OF WAKANDA #3 the Elder Of The Universe Gardener has made the Moon become a living plant and it's hungry.

Plus in STRIKEFORCE #3 the team maybe finish off the invading Asgardian plant-people the Vridai.

SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #13 finishes off Sebastian Druid's time on the team. (Or does it?)

And T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #12 heralds (again) the end of Tony Stark's career as the Golden Avenger because his armour is slowly killing him. (And we don't believe that either.)

--RobFJ



More Apocalyptic Confrontations!

November 28, 2019

In TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #6, Amadeus is caught between Jane Thor and the Enchantress! Check out that cover!

In THOR #304, the God of Thunder takes on the Wrecking Crew!

Then there’s THE INCREDIBLE HERCULES #114 where Black Widow must talk a berserk Herc out of his destructive impulses! He's even smashing up his logo!

And >AVENGERS ORIGINS: ANT-MAN AND WASP gives a nice retelling of the origin of these two stalwart heroes!

--PeterS



Dying and animals and at least 1 dying animal

November 25, 2019

Dr Shapiro the talking cat cures dying Tony Stark's cyborg problem in TONY STARK: IRON MAN #18 by sending the Wasp and a nano-drone Iron Man into his body, where they have to fight a nano-Ultron while James Rhodes battles the full-size version as War Machine.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #11 is chock-full of sentient animals and of course trees:- Groot and his Stablings plus Lockjaw and Cosmo the Space Dog. But at the end dying Rocket Raccoon is left to fight on alone with a big gun he can't lift.

There are no animals featured in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #11 but Tony Stark is also dying but still becomes Iron Man to fight someone else in the War Machine armour.

During that issue Tony offers scientific advice to the Avengers in AVENGERS (1998) #12 as they fight Hawkeye and the Thunderbolts and team-up with them against a leftover robot called Dominex. No animals and nobody particularly dying.

--RobFJ



Comic Book Jackpot!

November 21, 2019

Three new comics and two new-ish issues added this week!

The new CAPTAIN AMERICA #16 has ex-Cap Steve Rogers facing a very angry U.S. Agent!

In IMMORTAL HULK #27, Scary Hulk makes his first move against Roxxon!

In KING THOR #3, it’s Thor versus the God Butcher and he is losing!

And we wrap up the BLACK WIDOW (2019) miniseries with issue #4 as Natasha shuts down the evil website and #5 where she faces off with the bad guy behind it all!

--PeterS



Twice the Savagery, 4 (and a bit) times Avengers

November 18, 2019

In SAVAGE AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 Conan teams up with Black Widow and Daimon Hellstrom and adds them to the heroes ranged against Kulan Gath.

SAVAGE AVENGERS #7 is a Doctor-heavy issue as Dr Voodoo is killed (again) by KG, Elektra consults Dr Strange and Conan gets renditioned to Latveria.

T Vernon has written up IRON MAN (1998) #10 where severely injured Iron Man still defeats Mandarin with a little help from the Avengers. And Madame Masque kills Madame Masque (again).

Then the suffering Shellhead still attends the Avengers Day Parade in AVENGERS (1998) #10-11 and gets caught up in the attack by Grim Reaper and a Legion of Dead Avengers. And Scarlet Witch brings Wonder Man back to life.

I'll also mention that the wounded Golden Avenger also manages to get through IRON MAN/CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL 1998 which Peter Silvestro synopsised a while ago.

--RobFJ



Atlantis Attacks!

November 14, 2019

Namor’s attack plan comes to fruition in INVADERS (2019) #5 and the Avengers are totally outclassed!

In TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #5, Amadeus comes under the spell of the Enchantress and Thor (Jane Foster) wants to know why!

In THOR #303, Thor goes to church! Not a common sight!

INCREDIBLE HERCULES #113 offers up a family feud, Herc versus Ares, God of War!

--PeterS

 



Father issues

November 11, 2019

In IRONHEART #11 Riri Williams has to deal with the fact that her real father is a supervillain. And his name is Riri too.

SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #12 gives us the origin of Hive as Leviathan kidnap Viper and we learn that Stonewall's dad is Absorbing Man.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1998) #9 where Mandarin whups an already near-dead Golden Avenger. And that's only part 1 of 2.

--RobFJ



A New Job for Hulk!

November 7, 2019

The current title takes a sharp turn in IMMORTAL HULK #26; Bruce Banner declares war on the human world and Hulk is his chief weapon!

In TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #4 it turns out Amadeus is the very thing Lady Hellbender is looking for—and that’s not good!

In THOR #302, a villain turns geometry to the cause of evil and Thor is no math major!

And AVENGERS ORIGINS: SCARLET WITCH AND QUICKSILVER gives us another look at the beginnings of a very famous pair of heroes!

--PeterS



The Avengers try to squeeze Iron Man out of this report

November 4, 2019

AVENGERS #25 ends the Ghost Rider race in Hell, and in a cameo epilogue Iron Man gets magicked back to 1 Million BC.

But the 2 new Avengers spin-offs continue:-

BLACK PANTHER AND THE AGENTS OF WAKANDA #2 winds up the 2-part Sentry story with the apparent destruction of his evil half the Void eaten(!) by Fat Cobra.

STRIKEFORCE #2 continues the fight against the Vridai, this time in Satana's Las Vegas club the 2nd Circle, with both Hellstrom siblings duplicated.

Back in AVENGERS (1998) #8-9 we meet 2 new superheroes Silverclaw and Triathlon as Hawkeye leaves to run the Thunderbolts.

Then Iron Man gets the spotlight to himself at last in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #8 where he fights Whiplash and Spymaster in France and at last twigs that Mandarin's pulling the strings.

--RobFJ



Some Big, Batty Battles!

October 31, 2019

Jason Aaron’s KING THOR #2 pits Thor versus Gorr, a fight we can’t ignore!

In TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #3, it’s new Hulk (Amadeus Cho) versus old dragon (Fin Fang Foom)!

In THOR #301, the God of Thunder crosses over with the Hindu pantheon and gets into a fight with Shiva!

And in DAMAGE CONTROL Vol. 2 #4 the company takes on its new owners! With guest appearances by Captain America, Thor, Nick Fury, and the Punisher!

--PeterS

 



Not dead yet

October 28, 2019

In TONY STARK: IRON MAN #17 dying cyborg Iron Tony is beaten by Ultron-Pym, and James Rhodes has to don the hated War Machine armour again. But it's Dr Shapiro the talking cat who saves the day.

Despite the cover Rocket Raccoon doesn't die in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #10. Now the bad guys have an army of Drax's but the good guys have a tweeny Magus.

Last week T Vernon provided IRON MAN (1998) #7 the 1st part of the Live Kree Or Die crossover and I mentioned that Kevin Hollander had already written up CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #8. This week Peter Silvestro has done QUICKSILVER #10 and I finish it off with AVENGERS (1998) #7. Warbird is beginning to accept she has a drinking problem.
I've also slotted in AVENGERS/SQUADRON SUPREME ANNUAL 1998 which caps the recent meeting between the 2 teams, and the Squadron find a way home to their own reality.

--RobFJ



A Regular Bonanza!

October 24, 2019

Just out, THE IMMORTAL HULK #25 is a comic like no other in Marvel history! And there’s no way to explain that!

Warbird (Carol Danvers) is in trouble in the “Live Kree or Die” crossover! Part three is in QUICKSILVER #10 which guest stars Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye!

TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #2 sees Amadeus meeting up with an alien monster queen!

In the milestone THOR #300, the Celestials' judgment day finally arrives! And Thor finds out who his birthmother is!

And in DAMAGE CONTROL Vol. 2 #3 the company gets an assist from She-Hulk!

Webmaster Julio Molina-Muscara gets in on the act by writing up a personal favorite: FANTASTIC FOUR #84 featuring Doctor Doom!

--PeterS

 



3 beginnings and 1 full stop

October 21, 2019

Dr Doom begins to muscle in on the plot in SAVAGE AVENGERS #6, which otherwise just follows Conan and Punisher in the Antarctic.

THANOS: THE INFINITY ENDING ends another Jim Starlin trilogy of Thanos graphic novels, but he says this will be his last Thanos tale.

SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #11 begins the Wake The Beast arc as the Russian Leviathan group comes out of suspended animation to attack Hydra.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #7 begins the Live Kree Or Die crossover which will follow Warbird from here into CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #8 (which Kevin Hollander synopsised for us years ago).

We'll cover the rest of the event next week.

--RobFJ



The Latest from Cap and Bucky--and More!

October 17, 2019

First up, there’s the new CAPTAIN AMERICA #15, putting Cap on the trail of a cop killer!

Then, WINTER SOLDIER #5 wraps up Bucky’s latest shot at redemption and it doesn’t go very well!

INVADERS (2019) #4 offers us the “Secret History of the Sub-Mariner!” Cap and Bucky are there too!

There’s a new Hulk in town and it’s the TOTALLY AWESOME HULK #1! Super-genius Amadeus Cho takes on the emerald mantle and it’s a lot of fun!

In THOR #299, the epic tale of Siegfried and Brunnhilda continues! Kill da wabbit!

And DAMAGE CONTROL Vol. 2 #2 finds the company with new management and the Punisher on their tail!

--PeterS

 

  



Villains mystic or minor

October 14, 2019

CHAMPIONS #10 wraps up this series as Mephisto drags his son Blackheart back to Hell. And we wait to see whether a promised revival in 2020 comes to pass.

Meanwhile STRIKEFORCE #1 starts a new Avengers spinoff with Blade leading Angela plus a load of ex-Avengers against mystical/vampiric foes the Vridai.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #6 has Iron Man and Black Widow vs a 1-off villain Tuatara plus a surprise return of minor villain Iron Hand Hauptmann. Shellhead still doesn't know Mandarin's pulling the strings.

Then the Golden Avenger features in AVENGERS (1998) #5-6 where the Avengers battle the Squadron Supreme, as so often being mind-controlled. And the mystery villain behind *this* is previously 1-off Imus Champion.

--RobFJ



More Good Old Stuff!

October 10, 2019

There were no new issues for me to add to my part of the site so here are a trio of older comics that we’ve just added!

HULK #16 wraps up the saga of Doc Green, the Omega Hulk, just in time for SECRET WARS!

In THOR #298, Siegfried (who looks an awful lot like Thor) battles a dragon for most of the issue! ‘Nuff Said!

And DAMAGE CONTROL Vol. 2 #1 pits DC, fixer of damage in the Marvel Universe against the Wrecking Crew, whose specialty is creating damage to be fixed! Plus, a guest appearance by Captain America!

--PeterS



Ghost Rider Team-Up

October 7, 2019

There are Ghost Riders galore in AVENGERS #24. Cosmic Ghost Rider fights the Avengers due to a misunderstanding and then they team up against the real villain. I think I've read that somewhere before.

In SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #6 we learn that Nick Fury's lover Val de Fontaine is the latest Madame Hydra. But which side is she really on?
This ends the Agent Of Nothing arc. I already wrote-up #7-10, the God Of Fear, God Of War arc, as a Thunderbolts crossover. When I next get a chance I'll start arc 3 Wake The Beast.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1998) #5 also completes the 2-issue intro of the 3rd Firebrand, a political activist like his predecessors.

--RobFJ



He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand!

October 3, 2019

The cover of the new IMMORTAL HULK #24 shows that he is still the Worldbreaker, as he wraps up his battle with Shadow Base!

In BLACK WIDOW (2019) #3 Natasha’s mission sets her on a collision course with Madame Masque, Taskmaster, Baron Zemo, and Sabretooth!

The latest INVADERS #3 has Namor planning to attack the surface world and no one will believe Captain America’s warnings!

In THOR #297 we have the origin of Siegfried, hero of the German national epic, the Nibelungenlied!

And WHAT IF? Vol. 2 #5 asks “What if Vision had destroyed the Avengers?” and “What if Wonder Man had not died?”!

--PeterS



Spanning Okoye's comics career

September 30, 2019

In IRONHEART #10 our heroine discovers that her supposedly-dead father might be 1 of the villainous Ten Rings gang, in a plot harking back to the original New Warriors run.

Black Panther And The Agents Of Wakanda is a new spinoff from the Avengers, and in its 1st issue they run into the not-so-hero Sentry.

Those 2 issues feature Okoye of the Dora Milaje. The next 2 issues were published in 1998 just before she was invented in that year's Black Panther series.

AVENGERS (1998) #4 sees 39 Avengers pruned down to a manageable team, including newbie ex-New Warriors Firestar and Justice.

Then Iron Man returns to his own series as T Vernon gives us IRON MAN (1998) #4 introducing a new Firebrand and a new girlfriend for Tony Stark.

--RobFJ



The Legend of Steve Continues!

September 26, 2019

The new CAPTAIN AMERICA #14 has Steve (not being Cap) discovering that behind the Watchdogs are Sin and Crossbones!

HULK (2014) #15 finally answers the question of who is stronger: <--f-- color="#ff0000">Red Hulk or <--f-- color="#008000">Green Hulk!

In THOR #296 we learn the story of the mortal version of Thor, which has not a happy ending!

And there’s a retelling of a familiar tale in AVENGERS ORIGINS: VISION!

--PeterS

 



Endings

September 23, 2019

In TONY STARK: IRON MAN #16 Ultron does 1 of his usual shticks of kidnapping his 'family', and Iron Man goes through a change in a shock ending which solicits of upcoming issues suggest may be permanent (or as permanent as anything is in comics).

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #9 has a double-punch ending which shows us that the person in the cocoon isn't who we thought it would be and then shows us who it *is*. And it's not the 2nd most likely person on the list either.

T Vernon adds a new synopsis and comments to IRON MAN (1998) #3 which ends the 1st arc of this series without the Golden Avenger finding out Mandarin's behind it all ...

... but he's to busy to think about that because he has to join all the other available past Avengers in AVENGERS (1998) #1-3 when Morgan Le Fay goes medieval on the world. Which ends with Beast wondering what they're going to do with 39 Avengers.

--RobFJ



Seeing Double!

September 19, 2019

Each of this week’s additions features a hero fighting a pretender to their role!

In Bucky’s latest miniseries, WINTER SOLDIER #4, he battles RJ’s dad to see who is the real father figure!

HULK (2014) #14 is an issue-length slugging match between <--f-- color="#008000">Green Hulk and <--f-- color="#ff0000">Red Hulk!

One ring to fool them all! THOR #295 has all the Asgardians and some bad giants and a mean old dwarf fighting over a magic ring (no, not that one) to see who will be the ringbearer!

And in BLACK WIDOW #3 from 1999, the old Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff battles the new Black Widow, Yelena Belova, for possession of a ghastly bio-toxin!

--PeterS



Taking the long way home

September 16, 2019

In SAVAGE AVENGERS #5 the Marrow God is killed but Kulan Gath escapes to plan more devilry. And Punisher decides to walk home from the Antarctic lugging 3 coffins! But it's OK because Conan offers to help.

CHAMPIONS #9 is 1 issue away from the termination of the series and Blackheart, son of Mephisto, pits the new members against the original team.

In SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #5 the HCPMC set out to steal SHIELD helicarriers from HAMMER but Hydra interfere.
I'll be doing 2 weeks of 1998 Avengers before I end the Agent Of Nothing arc with SW#6.

Thanks to the stalwart T Vernon for new synopsis and comments added to IRON MAN (1998) #2 which brings back old characters ranging from Mandarin to Countess Stephanie de la Spirosa.

--RobFJ



The Beginning of the End of Thor!

September 12, 2019

The biggest deal of the week is KING THOR #1 wherein Jason Aaron teams up once again with Esad Ribic to close out his seven-year run on Thor by wrapping up the story of the Thor of the far future, presiding over the end of the universe! And now for some older goodies!

In HULK (2014) #13, Doc Green (that's Smart Hulk) hires Deadpool to locate Red Hulk; object: mayhem!

THOR #294 gives us the origin of Odin!

And BLACK WIDOW #2 from 1999 pits the old Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, against the new Black Widow, Yelena Belova, for possession of a ghastly bio-toxin!

--PeterS 



Possession is 9/10ths of the law

September 9, 2019

At last I've got my hands on a copy of TONY STARK: IRON MAN #15 where robots protest their rights and Ultron returns again.

And in AVENGERS #23 the Celestial body that is Avengers Mountain is possessed by the Cosmic Ghost Rider.

SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #4 introduces Eden Fesi (who will become Manifold) and the Howling Commandos Private Military Company.

Peter Silvestro already documented the HEROES REBORN: THE RETURN mini-series so we're straight into the new Iron Man series where ...

... T Vernon adds a new synopsis and comments to IRON MAN (1998) #1 as Tony Stark rebuilds his life after Onslaught/Heroes Reborn.

--RobFJ



Battle Royale!

September 5, 2019

The new IMMORTAL HULK #23 pits Hulk against his arch-enemy General Fortean as the new Abomination! And Gamma Flight takes on an army!

The latest INVADERS #2 sees the Sub-Mariner planning war against the surface world! Can Captain America talk him out of it? Not this time!

THOR #293 takes the God of Thunder on a magical mystery tour back through his own life and further beyond! With a last-page reveal you wouldn’t believe!

And BLACK WIDOW #1 from 1999 introduces the new Black Widow, Yelena Belova who will be a part of the MCU’s BW solo movie!

--PeterS



Return of the Transformers?

September 2, 2019

In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #8 we learn why Rocket Raccoon is dying, and he gets a Transformer robot.

In SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #3 Nick Fury has dinner with Val de Fontaine, and Yo-Yo has her arms chopped off (decades before her TV SHIELD version does).

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1996) #12 is part of the Heroes Reunited fight against Galactus which occupies #12 of all 4 of the Heroes Reborn series (Kevin Hollander already gave us the other 3 parts). The whole story arc features Dr Doom repeatedly going back in time to try different ways to defeat the world-devourer.

--RobFJ



Various Avengers in Solo Shots!

August 29, 2019

The new CAPTAIN AMERICA #13 begins “The Legend of Steve” as Steve Rogers seeks redemption by battling the nasty Watchdogs!

Equally new THOR #16 wraps up this volume of Thor with a lot of characters, even the froggy Thor is there!

In the new BLACK WIDOW #2, Natasha kicks the butts of various villains, tracking down the source of a gruesome video series!

In HULK (2014 series) #12, Doc Green trails the Gamma Corps to its secret base under Fort Knox!

And the climax of the recent DEFENDERS: THE BEST DEFENSE crossover is (what else?) THE DEFENDERS: THE BEST DEFENSE where the four heroes come together in a space-spanning epic odyssey!

--PeterS

 



A gratuitous mention of Wolverine

August 26, 2019

Tony Stark Iron Man #15 seems to have not been delivered to the UK this week.

So here instead is IRONHEART #9 where Riri Willaims goes to Wakanda and gets off to a bad start with Princess Shuri.

In SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #2 Baron Strucker gathers a cabal to lead Hydra including 2 different Madame Hydra's, the resurrected Gorgon (Wolverine's foe not the Inhuman), and new beings Hive and Kraken.

Kevin Hollander wrote up most of the Heroes Reborn issues but left out Iron Man (1996) #11-12 (unless we lost them). So T Vernon is going to fill the gap, starting with #11 in which Shellhead and Dr Doom go on a confusing-to-them time-trip through events in the main Marvel timeline which they've forgotten about.

--RobFJ



Weird Encounters!

August 22, 2019

A quartet of issues wherein heroes meet some odd and unusual people!

In the new WINTER SOLDIER #3, Bucky faces that oddball villain known as the Spot!

In HULK (2014 series) #11, new Hulk Doc Green is reunited with savage Hulk’s even meaner daughter Lyra!

Once upon a myth, Odin plucked out an eye to gain wisdom—but where is that eye now? The classic THOR #292 shows us that it’s living an independent life on a far planet when Thor comes calling!

And part four of the recent DEFENDERS: THE BEST DEFENSE crossover is SILVER SURFER: THE BEST DEFENSE where Norrin meets a multitude of strange characters on a doomed planet!

--PeterS

 



Ownership issues

August 19, 2019

In SAVAGE AVENGERS #4 Venom, free of any controlling host, joins the group as a large black dragon to fight Kulan Gath and the Marrow God.

Meanwhile in CHAMPIONS #8 Sam Alexander regains his Nova Helmet and won't give it back to the Nova Corps.

After completing Jonathan Hickman's SHIELD issues I can now move on to his related Secret Warriors series with #1 in which Nick Fury discovers that SHIELD has always been a subsidiary of Hydra.

T Vernon adds comments to Heroes Reborn's IRON MAN (1996) #9-10 which feature a battle with Titanium Man and the revelation that Dr Doom is behind all the bad guys including Hydra.

So does this mean Nick Fury works for Doom?

--RobFJ



It’s About Time!

August 15, 2019

In the new CAPTAIN AMERICA #12, Cap is back but not for long as Captain America is dead but Steve Rogers lives!

In the newer IMMORTAL HULK #22, Gamma Flight takes action against Shadow Base but it’s Hulk who will make the difference!

The classic THOR #291 has a free-for-all with the Greek gods battling the Eternals but the main event is Odin versus Thor!

And part three of the recent DEFENDERS: THE BEST DEFENSE crossover is DOCTOR STRANGE: THE BEST DEFENSE where we see a Strange we haven’t seen before--from the distant future!

--PeterS



Whiling away the time

August 12, 2019

In AVENGERS #22 some the team have to fight Ghost Rider's car while others unearth a fossilised Iron Man helmet from 1 Million BC.

In MIGHTY AVENGERS (2007) #18 Nick Fury finishes training the Secret Warriors just in time for Secret Invasion while Maria Hill turns out to be an LMD.

T Vernon has new Comments on IRON MAN (1996) #7-8 as Happy Hogan is killed off and Rebel O'Reilly is brought back from the dead while Doc Samson becomes the Abomination.

--RobFJ



Thor, Subby, Hulk!

August 8, 2019

Reports on the newest issues will be delayed. Meanwhile, here is what we have for this week!

THOR #290 sees the God of Thunder becoming a luchador in the world of Mexican wrestling!

And part two of the recent DEFENDERS: THE BEST DEFENSE crossover is NAMOR: THE BEST DEFENSE wherein Subby is tracking down a long-lost tribe of Atlanteans and finds an undersea ruler meaner than he is!

And we’ve added comments and reviews to HULK (2014 series) #7, 8, and 10, part of the epic “Omega Hulk” storyline!

--PeterS



Star-Lord's father gets religion

August 5, 2019

In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #7 Rocket's dying and Peter's dad is Patriarch of the Universal Church Of Truth.

Going back a few months FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2019: AVENGERS previews stuff that hasn't happened yet in Avengers, and has a prologue to Savage Avengers.

Going back even further to Secret Invasion MIGHTY AVENGERS (2007) #13 has the origin of the Secret Warriors.

And way back in Heroes Reborn T Vernon adds his Comments to IRON MAN (1996) #5-6. #6 is part of a crossover with AVENGERS (1996) #6.

--RobFJ



A Lot of Unusual Confrontations!

August 1, 2019

In the new INVADERS #1, the assembled team (Captain America, Human Torch, Winter Soldier) turn against their teammate Namor (a/k/a the Sub-Mariner) to stop him from conquering the surface world!

HULK ANNUAL #1 from 2014 pits the Doc Green version of Hulk against his former assistant Patty Wolman who has become a giant plant monster called Vista!

It’s not just a lovers’ spat: THOR #289 sees Lady Sif fighting against her beloved Thor—the catch is that she’s in the body of the Destroyer!

And part one of the recent DEFENDERS: THE BEST DEFENSE crossover is THE IMMORTAL HULK: THE BEST DEFENSE wherein it’s Bruce Banner who is the angry, violent, dangerous one and he is against everyone! Oh, and Hulk is investigating the murder of Doctor Strange!

--PeterS

--PeterS



Amazingly 3/4 of the issues this week are Iron Man comics!

July 29, 2019

... and the other 1 has Howard Stark leaving a journal for his son Tony.

In TONY STARK: IRON MAN #14 Tony offloads some memories to cure his alcoholism, and Spymaster steals them.

SHIELD (2011) #6 is the end of the double series + 1, and Leonid gives Newton the future he expects while everyone else gets to live in a better 1.

T Vernon adds comments to IRON MAN (1996) #3-4 as Iron Man tangles with the Heroes Reborn version of Living Laser.

--RobFJ



Natasha and Bucky Together Again?

July 25, 2019

Not really but we have the newest issues for both!

The latest miniseries for Nat begins with BLACK WIDOW (2019) #1 wherein she goes to Madripoor and gets involved in something so heinous that it's a wonder Marvel printed it!

And Bucky returns in WINTER SOLDIER (2018) #2 and picks up a pint-sized version of himself

THOR #288 continues the battle between Thor and the Forgotten One, only this time a Celestial is watching!

And we've added new reviews and comments to HULK (2014 series) #5-6, beginning the epic “Omega Hulk” storyline!

--PeterS



Thievery abounds

July 22, 2019

In CHAMPIONS #7 Sam Alexander goes to the galactic Nova Corps base to steal his Black Nova Helmet back, only to find that someone else has already stolen it and taken it to Earth.

And in SAVAGE AVENGERS #3 Conan offers to give the stolen 3rd Eye Of Agamotto back to Kulan Gath in return for the other heroes' lives, now including Elektra and Punisher.

In SHIELD (2011) #5 the Brotherhood Of The Shield fight Isaac Newton and the Star Child in 3 different futures.

And T Vernon moves on to add comments to the Heroes Reborn IRON MAN (1996) #1-2 where Iron Man witnesses the birth of the Hulk.

--RobFJ



Generally Speaking!

July 18, 2019

The new IMMORTAL HULK #21 shows us how Hulk's nemesis General Fortean got to be the way he is!

Remember the Forgotten One? If so, how? He's an all-silver Eternal later known as Gilgamesh for a stint with the Avengers! And in THOR #287 he goes toe-to-toe with the God of Thunder!

In HULK (2014 series) #1-2 we've added new reviews and comments for the “Who Shot Bruce Banner?” storyline!

<--f-- color="#000000">And in WHAT IF? V.2 29 from 1991 the real Captain America arrives to end the career of the evil Steve Rogers/President of the United States! (This still sounds really familiar?) And check out the all-new Avengers team!

--PeterS



An era fizzles out

July 15, 2019

Top of the report this week goes to a 'celebration' of the end of the long 1st runs of Iron Man and Avengers. But both are just tie-ins to the X-Men's Onslaught event. Which itself was mainly a way to get the Avengers and Fantastic Four into the Heroes Reborn universe.

T Vernon concludes Iron Man with #332 where Teen Tony Stark creates psi-shields while some Avengers fight Sentinels.

Then in their #402 some other Avengers fight Holocaust and Post until Iron Man and co turn up with the psi-shields.

Back in the present:-

Ironheart goes to Dr Strange in her #8 for advice about the Ten Rings.

In AVENGERS #21 the team take a welcome break (mainly in their HQ's jacuzzi) after the War Of The Realms.

--RobFJ



War of the Realms Weird Epilogue!

July 11, 2019

To wrap up Marvel's latest Big Event, there's WAR OF THE REALMS OMEGA which sets up new series for Jane Foster, Loki, and the Punisher!

And that's connected to THOR #15 wherein Thor tries to get used to being the new All-Father!

INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #19 crosses into the Inhumanity event, with one of Bruce Banner's sidekicks finding his life turned upside down! And we've added comments and a new review to issue #20!

<--f-- color="#000000">And in WHAT IF? V.2 28 from 1991 an evil Captain America becomes President of the United States and turns it into a fascist dictatorship! (Wait, why does that sound familiar?)

--PeterS



War Of The Realms ends as Onslaught begins

July 8, 2019

IRONHEART #7 guest stars young Wasp as we meet another member of the Ten Rings. Plus zombies!

AVENGERS #20 focuses on She-Hulk's mental state. Oh, and her fight with Ulik in War Of The Realms.

And in my last visit to WOTR in SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #8 Spider-Octopus and the West Coast Avengers meet Captain America's strikeforce in Svartalfheim.

T Vernon has the penultimate issue #331 of Iron Man's 1st series which ties up last issue's team-up with War Machine. And an epilogue leads into the Onslaught event.

AVENGERS (1963) #400-401 have to fit within that issue just before the epilogue. #400 is an anniversary fight with origin-villain Loki and duplicates of early foes. #401 is actually part of Onslaught as the team go after Magneto - or is he?

--RobFJ



New Hulk and Some Cool Older Stuff!

July 4, 2019

The new issue is IMMORTAL HULK #20 which continues the horrors with Red Harpy (Betty Banner) and Abomination (Rick Jones) and some military action against them!

Meanwhile, THOR #286 sees the hammer of Thor in the hands of the Deviant warlord Kro! The cover says so!

Like a bull in a china shop, INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #16 shows us Hulk in a Mayan pyramid!

And a curio from a few years ago, <--f-- color="#000000">AVENGERS: OPERATION HYDRA features the MCU versions of the characters in battle with Hydra who have Chitauri weaponry!

--PeterS



What's Spider-Octopus doing in this site?

July 1, 2019

We've been following Kate Bishop of the West Coast Avengers in War Of The Realms: Journey Into Mystery which ends with #5 where baby Laussa persuades Ares to play for the good guys again.

And now we find out what the rest of the WCA have been doing in WOTR as guests in SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #7 where the ex-Dr Octopus leads them into battle against Frost Giants.

Keeping well away from WOTR the Guardians Of The Galaxy spend their #6 throwing the partially-resurrected Thanos down a black hole.

In SHIELD (2011) #4 the gang use Leonardo da Vinci's Human Machine to follow Newton and Star Child into 3 different futures simultaneously.

And in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #330 Teen Iron Man teams up with War Machine to keep Tony Stark's armours out of the grasp of Fujikawa Inc.

--RobFJ



The War is Over!

June 27, 2019

WAR OF THE REALMS #6 wraps up with a very satisfying conclusion! Spoiler Alert: the good guys win!

Meanwhile, the tie-in THOR #14 shows us a bit of the final battle from the viewpoint of Viking-era Thor, the callow not-yet-worthy hero!

Last week's new CAPTAIN AMERICA #11 sees Cap teaming up with a bad of villains to escape the Myrmidon, a prison for super-prisoners!

And we've added CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY #621-623, inadvertently omitted when the series first appeared in 2011 and filling in the gaps in the history of Cap's sidekick!!

--PeterS



It's raining frogs

June 24, 2019

Both new issues this week are War Of The Realms tie-ins.

In TONY STARK: IRON MAN #13 Tony Stark defeats the dragon Sadurang with a magical rain of frogs and a non-magical old grey armour.

In CHAMPIONS #6 the team fight the Disir in Brazil and Ms Marvel is shown how she died in #2.

In a mostly-silent SHIELD (2011) #3 the Celestial Star Child goes on a rampage before following Newton to 2060.

T Vernon's entry this week is IRON MAN (1968) #329 where Fujikawa Inc take over Stark Enterprises and Teen Tony gets into frat-boy trouble.

--RobFJ



No Cap But a Countdown!

June 20, 2019

Wasn't able to get my hands on the latest Captain America issue but these should help us over the disappointment:

WAR OF THE REALMS: WAR SCROLLS #3 is part of the countdown to the climax of WAR OF THE REALMS and wraps up “The God Without Fear” and stories featuring She-Hulk and Doctor Doom!

Bucky Barnes is back in WINTER SOLDIER #1, the start of a new series wherein he offers other desperate people a second chance at life!

What could be worse than Hulk on a rampage? INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #15 tells us: Hulk Squared!

In the third installment of the Eternals Saga, THOR #285, the God of Thunder finds himself fighting a huge red mutate!

--PeterS



Picking up where we left off

June 17, 2019

WAR OF THE REALMS: JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #4 continues the adventures of the Babysitters Club as they enter the HenchFest convention for henchman and gang members.

SAVAGE AVENGERS #2 continues the adventures of Conan, Dr Voodoo, Punisher and Wolverine in the Savage Land but adds Kulan Gath as the big bad.

However GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY ANNUAL #1 totally ignores the Guardians and continues from their #1 to follow the adventures of Adam Warlock, Cosmo the Space Dog, Darkhawk and Quasar after they escape from the black hole (plus Nova who wasn't *in* the hole but *has* been in later issues).

But I can at last continue SHIELD (2011) with #2 where Isaac Newton loses control of the Brotherhood in 1960 but escapes to 2060

And T Vernon continues towards the end of the 1st Iron Man series with #328 and Teen Tony Stark defeats Frostbite in a continuation from last issue.

--RobFJ



One Gruesome Comic!

June 13, 2019

That's THE IMMORTAL HULK #19, wherein Hulk battles the new Abomination who defeats him in a way no villain has ever done before—and it's utterly ghastly! Oh yeah, the Red Harpy arrives immediately afterward and what she does is even worse! Ick and double ick!

A bit further back is INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #14 in which Hulk's history goes all crazy right back to the original Gamma bomb blast!

If that isn't enough epic excitement for you, THOR #284 fills us in on the history of the Celestials and their visits to Earth—the latest of which is the big worry of the Eternals Saga!

In HAWKEYE #4, Hawkeye and Mockingbird wrap up his first miniseries by getting married!

--PeterS



Malekith takes over this week

June 10, 2019

TONY STARK: IRON MAN #12 is the 1st of a 2-issue prologue to the invasion of Earth in War Of The Realms. Malekith 'hires' a dragon to get our hero out of the way.

WOTR STRIKEFILE: WAR AVENGERS is another WOTR 1-shot in which Captain Marvel defends Earth with her team (mostly not actual Avengers), and Malekith (again) turns the Venom symbiote into his personal weapon.

In WAR MACHINE (1994) #24-25 War Machine ends his series with a fight against SHIELD's Mandroids, but mostly ties up loose ends ...

... just in time to hear the reading of Tony Stark's will in IRON MAN (1968) #327. And Teen Tony starts a fight with Frostbite, who in true Marvel tradition has a connection to the hero. T Vernon is continuing his race towards the end of this series.

--RobFJ



The Return of Two Hulk Heroes!

June 6, 2019

Former Hulk creators Peter David and Dale Keown are reunited for THE INCREDIBLE HULK: LAST CALL a one-shot presented for the celebration of Marvel's 80th anniversary!

Next up is WAR OF THE REALMS #5, the penultimate chapter in this year's epic crossover as Thor suffers as he seeks a means of defeating Malekith!

Meanwhile, in WAR OF THE REALMS STRIKEFILE: LAND OF THE GIANTS, added by Rob Johnson, we see Cap's team, including Spider-Man and Wolverine, heading into Jotunheim to rescue Thor (who doesn't really need rescuing)!

If that isn't enough epic excitement for you, THOR #283 from 1979 is the first part of the Eternals Saga, a world and time and space spanning story that would occupy Thor's book for nearly two years! The purpose? To connect the world of Marvel with Jack Kirby's mythic and majestic Eternals!

In HAWKEYE #3, Hawkeye and Mockingbird meet Steve Rogers, Cap himself! And they refuse his help on their mission!

--PeterS



First sign of the new Thanos, same as the old Thanos

June 3, 2019

IRONHEART #6 interrupts its regular plot with the 1st of 2 Champions guest team-ups, this 1 with Miles Morales. Many other series are getting interrupted by War Of The Realms issues, but our heroine isn't playing in that game.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy are also also keeping out of that event. In their #5 they finally find out who dead Thanos has possessed.

But this report isn't a WOTR-free zone. WOTR STRIKEFILE: LAND OF THE GIANTS shows Captain America's team finding Thor. But the Valkyries' horses all die.

Back in 1996 after the Crossing event was over the Avengers immediately went into another short crossover First Sign against a version of the Zodiac gang.
Kevin Hollander synopsised CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #449 some years ago.
Peter Silvestro did THOR (1966) #496 a few weeks ago.
Now T Vernon now gives us IRON MAN (1968) #326.
And I complete the sequence with AVENGERS (1963) #396.

--RobFJ



A Number of New Issues!

May 30, 2019

The War of the Realms resumes from last time....

THOR #13 is all about Cul Borson, the Serpent, the God of Fear and we see a surprising side of him in the War of the Realms!

Meanwhile, in WAR OF THE REALMS: WAR SCROLLS #2, we see more of the big war from the viewpoints of Daredevil, Dr Strange, Wiccan, Hulkling, and Loki!

And even in THE IMMORTAL HULK #18 wherein the scary Hulk fights an even scarier Abomination, the War is mentioned as a concern!

--PeterS




2 crossover events for the price of 2

May 27, 2019

TONY STARK: IRON MAN #11 wraps up the eScape story in time for a late entry into War Of The Realms next issue. Jocasta and Amanda are quitting Stark Unlimited, and Amanda may be taking Andy Bhang with her. But Dr Shapiro the talking cat shows no sign of leaving.

In AVENGERS #19 Gorilla-Man narrates a tale which spans WOTR#1-3, and reveals him to be a traitor.

WOTR: Journey Into Mystery continues with #3 and lots of dead Marvel Western characters.

Meanwhile back in 1995-96 Shellhead dragged Avengers, Force Works and War Machine into the Crossing event. This was the 2nd big thing I wrote up (after Avengers Forever) for (the predecessors of) this site, before taking control of the Iron Man side of things.

Start with AVENGERS (1963) #390 and follow the links which will take you in sequence through to the end in Force Works #22. (At 2 points the route will split and then rejoin.)

Along the way James Rhodes gets a new alien armour, Force Works gains a new member Moonraker who everyone seems to think was always there, and Wasp gains a new insectile body. But most significantly Tony Stark is revealed to be under the control of the villain Kang, but dies heroically to prevent his scheme from succeeding. And the Avengers bring a teenage version of Tony from the past to take his place.

Even more significantly all of the above will sooner or later be discarded, reversed or proven a lie! And anyway most of the characters will disappear into the Heroes Reborn universe in a few months.

--RobFJ



A Temporary Cease-Fire in the Realms!

May 23, 2019

There's a break in the War of the Realms so we add some older goodies:

Hulk goes back to the days of King Arthur in INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #13 and meets the original Black Knight, Sir Percy of Scandia!

In THOR #282 the God of Thunder searches Limbo for his missing Mjolnir and comes face-to-face with Immortus!

And in HAWKEYE (1983) #2, Clint faces that strangest of foes, Silencer, a villain who never talks!

--PeterS



Punisher stages a take-over bid but the Avengers are everywhere

May 20, 2019

I've got 2 new titles this week.

As an Avengers fan I had to check out SAVAGE AVENGERS #1 where a cult lures various warriors, not really Avengers, to the Savage Land - and Conan literally drops in from Avengers: No Road Home.

Then there's the WAR OF THE REALMS STRIKEFORCE: THE DARK ELF REALM 1-shot where Freyja inspires various warriors, all Avengers except Punisher, to invade Svartalfheim with her.

But then Punisher's a Savage Avenger so maybe Freyja's team are *all* Avengers, except Freyja of course.

But Iron Man isn't in either title.

I've given T Vernon a few weeks off from Shellhead's original series while I get us through the Crossing.

But before we get to the Crossing itself Force Works need to catch up with their #13-14 where they team up with the Avengers against some Kree and a rogue Rigellian Recorder. At least Iron Man's in *these* issues.

--RobFJ



All-New War and Hulk!

May 16, 2019

Two new comics this week plus a couple of older classics:

First up is WAR OF THE REALMS #4! The latest installment of Marvel's current big event features a lot of violent action as the heroes must hold the Black Bifrost against the forces of Malekith!

THE IMMORTAL HULK #17 features a Bruce Banner who isn't really Bruce Banner turning the tables on a hit man!

In THOR #281 Mjolnir vanishes and Thor must journey to Limbo with the aid of the Space Phantom (remember him?) to recover it!

And for a lesser Avenger, we have issue #1 of Hawkeye's first solo miniseries, aptly named HAWKEYE (1983)! Herein he meets his future partner in adventure and marriage, Mockingbird!

--PeterS



Wars of Realms and Time (and Civility)

May 13, 2019

The Champions join War Of The Realms in their #5, which includes a tender reunion between young Ms Marvel and grown-up Cyclops who now has her young Cyclops' memories.

And in WOTR: JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #2 the guardians of Laussa contend with some Skrulls and the smell from the baby's diaper.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #318 Tony Stark and his departing writer wrap things up before the Crossing.

But there's Lots of other stuff before that Event, some of which I dealt with in the past 2 weeks :- War Machine alerting Force Works, including Iron Man, to the resurgence of the Civil War in Slorenia, and then himself getting involved in a Time War.

WAR MACHINE (1994) #16-17 finish off the WWII Time War, returning history to what it was. But in the process James Rhodes loses his WM armour.

--RobFJ



Cap a Contender?

May 9, 2019

The new CAPTAIN AMERICA #10 features a cage match between Cap and Baron Strucker!

We're adding THOR #496 out of order to tie in with the First Sign event in IRON MAN and related Avengers issues back in the day (1996 to be precise) over on Rob Johnson's half of the site!

THE INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #12 sees the big green dude in the Old West with a bunch of kids: Kid Colt, Two-Gun Kid, and Rawhide Kid! Plus aliens and dinosaurs!

More Cap? Why not? In CAPTAIN AMERICA: DRUG WAR, he teams up with the New Warriors to battle drug pushers from outer space in a public service comic book!

--PeterS



Many endings and 1 beginning

May 6, 2019

IRONHEART #5 ends the 1st story arc but with a bigger picture still to be filled in.

WEST COAST AVENGERS #10 (hurriedly) ends the whole series.

In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #4 it looks like the end for Star-Lord (again!). And hints at the end for Rocket Raccoon too.

T Vernon documents the end of the Russian adventure in IRON MAN (1968) #317.

That issue also saw the end of the Brothers-In-Arms story which occupied the flip books in FORCE WORKS #12, WAR MACHINE (1994) #15 and IM#317, all published that month.

The main stories in FW#12 and WM#15 actually logically follow next week's IM#318 but I've written the books up here to complete the above tale. Force Works ends their Slorenian mission. But War Machine actually *starts* a time-travel story.

--RobFJ



War is Busting Out All Over!

May 2, 2019

WAR OF THE REALMS #3 sends the heroes all over the world and to various realms to fight off Malekith and his forces, including New York, London, Wakanda, Atlantis, Svartalfheim, and Jotunheim!

Thor a thespian? In THOR #280 the God of Thunder goes to the dimension of the Squadron Supreme to play himself in a movie about the hometown heroes! Do you think a big-budget movie about superheroes with a huge number of characters will make any money?

Hulk is sent on a mission through time and space in THE INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #11 and he meets dinosaurs in the Old West!

And in DAMAGE CONTROL #4, the DC gang recalls a terrible encounter with the X-Men's Danger Room!

--PeterS



It's multiple ID week

April 29, 2019

In TONY STARK: IRON MAN #10 Tony Stark breaks out of the eScape VR but his body's stuck in space in an Iron Man armour with no AI. Note that James Rhodes and a Crimson Dynamo have apps here, and that Black Widow in this issue is really Amanda Armstrong.

AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME #10 ends the series as Vision throws the Marvel Universe at Nyx to defeat her in the House Of Ideas.

There are no Avengers in AVENGERS #18 so it's up to the Squadron Supreme to fight the Frost Giants in the War Of The Realms.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #316 Shellhead teams up with another Crimson Dynamo as well as the real Black Widow to try to take down Titanium Man.

James Rhodes as War Machine discovers bad things happening in Slorenia in his #14, and he tells Force Works about it so they head there in their #11. Note that these issues actually belong after IM#318 but I've done them here because there's a lot of stuff to fit in there, and for another reason that will become clear next week.

I'll just mention that the Rhodey version of Iron Man guests in DAMAGE CONTROL v1 #3 over in Peter Silvestro-land.

--RobFJ



That Thor Guy's Back and There's Gonna Be Trouble!

April 25, 2019

Having completed write-ups for THE INVADERS, we're now moving on to fill in some older Thor issues! We start with THOR #279 from 1979, with an eye-catching cover and Ulik and Pluto as bad guys!

THE INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #10 teams the Green Man (Hulk) with the Red One (Daredevil) as they go after a stolen super-weapon in the hands of Hydra!

And in DAMAGE CONTROL #3, the DC team adopts silly uniforms and nearly floods Manhattan! Iron Man (Rhodey this time) is the guest hero!

--PeterS



Avengers get in nearly everywhere

April 22, 2019

The not-really-the-Avengers continue to fight Nyx on the sentient planet Euphoria in AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME #9. And then she enters the House Of Ideas, where only Vision is able to follow.

Iron Man and the real Avengers continue to struggle in WAR OF THE REALMS #2 over in Peter Silvestro's half of this website.

I'm contributing a tie-in to that event as more not-Avengers assemble to protect baby Laussa, daughter of Odin, from Sindr, daughter of Surtur, in WAR OF THE REALMS: JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #1.

In S.H.I.E.L.D. (2011) #1 we learn how the Forever Man (Michelangelo) has been orchestrating the events so far. And a handy Appendix helps us remember what those events *were*.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1968) #315 which starts a Russian adventure with Black Widow (leader of the Avengers at the time) and Titanium Man.

--RobFJ



More Wars! More Realms!

April 17, 2019

WAR OF THE REALMS #2 sees the good guys and the bad guys fighting for control of Manhattan!

THOR #12 explains what happens after Loki was eaten in WOTR #1 (you read that right)!

And WAR OF THE REALMS: WAR SCROLLS #1 follows the fighters on the ground: Daredevil, Wolverine, the Warriors Three, Cloak and Dagger, the Punisher, Howard the Duck! Howard the Duck?

More new stuff coming twice a week! Keep watching!

--PeterS



Steve Rogers became an iron patriot before Norman Osborn did

April 15, 2019

In AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME #8 Conan bites a villain's nose. All the Avengers plus the Cimmerian get back together but Nyx now has 2 of the Night Shards and is homing in on the last 1.

In CHAMPIONS #4 Spider-Man quits and Sam Alexander goes off to get his Nova powers back.

FORCE WORKS #9-10 is a side-adventure in Australia with an Aboriginal hero Dreamguard. With backups around the memorial for Wonder Man.

Then Iron Man heads over to IRON MAN (1968) #314 where T Vernon tells us how he and Henry Pym create a bionic exoskeleton to keep Captain America alive. This crosses over with CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #438which Peter Silvestro documented a couple of years ago.

--RobFJ



The End of the Invaders?!

April 11, 2019

We've added our write-up on INVADERS #41, the final issue of the WW2 hero team's original run! Cap, Subby, Torch and the gang face off against all of their recurring Axis baddies at once! Not to worry, they would be back, both in the comics and on this site but we'll switch gears for a bit and fill in some issues from Thor's majestic run!

And for a real change of pace, INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #9, Hulk teams up with Daredevil on the trail of some nasty munitions dealers!

And an even change-ier change of pace DAMAGE CONTROL #2 shows us what do do when Doctor Doom defaults on a debt! Deflecting dreaded destruction?

More new stuff coming twice a week! Keep watching!

--PeterS



Tony Stark and Peter Quill vie for alcoholic of the week

April 8, 2019

In AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME #7 Nyx accesses the power of the 1st Night Shard and as a parting gift rouses the ghost of his love Bêlit to attack Conan.

In WEST COAST AVENGERS #9 Ramone Watts gives herself a superpower to help rescue her brother and girlfriend from vampires.

In GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #3 1 set of villains is after Thanos' head and another set is after Gamora while our heroes are off to find Rocket Raccoon. (Wait a minute, isn't he in Av:NRH?) And Star-Lord gets drunk.

I'll just mention that some Iron chars are busy in Peter Silvestro-land:- Iron Man is with the rest of the Avengers in WAR OF THE REALMS #1, and Toni Ho (ex-Iron Patriot) is 1 of the Daughters Of Liberty in CAPTAIN AMERICA #9.

T Vernon's entry this week is IRON MAN (1968) #313 where Tony Stark reviews his history of alcoholism at an AA meeting.

Meanwhile War Machine fights a club of armoured thrill-seekers in his #12-13.

--RobFJ



The War of the Realms is Finally Here!

April 4, 2019

After a multiple-year build-up, this year's big Marvel crossover event, the WAR OF THE REALMS arrives! Issue #1 gets us off to a flying start with Thor trapped elsewhere when Malekith and his evil forces invade Midgard—in the center of Manhattan, no less!

In THE IMMORTAL HULK #16, Bruce Banner and Doc Samson search for Rick Jones' stolen corpse and the Hulk does not like what he finds!

And then “Captain of Nothing” continues in CAPTAIN AMERICA #9 with Sharon Carter plotting to rescue Cap from an impenetrable prison!

More new stuff coming twice a week! Keep watching!

--PeterS



Who let Conan and Dracula into Avengers-land?

April 1, 2019

IRONHEART #4 is mainly Riri Williams talking and fighting with Midnight's Fire.

AVENGERS #17 is the end of the Vampire Civil War, which Dracula was bound to win because he was leading both sides!

AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME #6 is mainly Scarlet Witch and Conan in the Hyborian Age.

IRON MAN (1968) #312 concludes the Hands Of The Mandarin crossover with an Iron Man/Mandarin slugfest in Hong Kong. T Vernon is our roving reporter.

When the dust settles the heroes return home to have quiet Christmas celebrations in WAR MACHINE (1994) #11 and FORCE WORKS #8.

--RobFJ



Heroes Aplenty!

March 28, 2019

THE INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #8 wraps up the three-issue story teaming Hulk with a young Thor from back in the day! The first two issues of that story arc (#6-7, natch) were written up years ago by our own web hero Julio Molina-Muscara; we've just added relevant reviews and comments!

In INVADERS #40 our heroes go up against the newest superteam, the evil Super-Axis!

And when superheroes and -villains wreck everything, who cleans up the mess? Why, DAMAGE CONTROL, of course! And here we add #1 of their first self-titled miniseries, guest-starring numerous Avengers plus Spider-Man!

--PeterS



Iron folk where art thou?

March 25, 2019

In AVENGERS #16 the Avengers return Ghost Rider from the Dark Side, all without the aid of Iron Man.

In CHAMPIONS #3 the Champions get involved in X-business and an old foe of Nova returns. But Ironheart is not around.

In AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME #5 Scarlet Witch takes a Night Shard to Conan the Barbarian! Neither Iron hero is in this series at all.

S.H.I.E.L.D. INFINITY fills in some blanks in the history of the Brotherhood. But this issue doesn't even have Iron Man's father Howard Stark in it.

So it's a relief to see Tony Stark get his armour back in Hands Of The Mandarin when T Vernon brings us WAR MACHINE (1994) #10.

--RobFJ



Brand New Hulk and Thor! And Another Pitch for New Writers!

March 21, 2019

In THE IMMORTAL HULK #15, Hulk and the resurrected Doc Samson find out just who is also back from the dead!

In THOR #11, all of the players are being put into place for the upcoming War of the Realms!

And we're always looking for writers to join us at the Marvel Heroes Library! You read Marvel Comics? You have opinions? Get in touch with us! We have a lot of heroes who need coverage! Fan of the Fantastic Four? It's waiting for a reviewer! Thrilled by the recent Captain Marvel and Black Panther movies (or even Ant-Man)? Contact us! Prefer the cosmic types? Nova, Quasar, and more are waiting! Street level heroes more your style? Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist would be glad to hear from you! If it isn't on the site you can add it! Come on, stake your claim!

--PeterS



Such stuff as dreams are made on

March 18, 2019

In TONY STARK: IRON MAN #9 Motherboard offers Tony Stark his dream existence in VR. But is he still really Tony Stark?

In AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME #4 Nyx gets the 1st Night Shard, but Hulk is now lord of dreams.

S.H.I.E.L.D. (2010) #6 brings the 1st series to a close. Leonid can't bring the warring factions together to save the dream of the Brotherhood of the Shield.

And I didn't dream that T Vernon sent me FORCE WORKS #7 to continue the Hands Of The Mandarin story.

--RobFJ



Some Older (Sort-Of) Classics?

March 14, 2019

In THE INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #5, Hulk is sent underwater to save Lemuria from the villainous Attuma! It's easier than you'd think!

In INVADERS #39, the Invaders and the Kid Commandos pull themselves together against Lady Lotus and the U-Man!

And remember the terrible straight-to-video Captain America movie from 1990? Well, in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE MOVIE SPECIAL, Marvel went above and beyond the call of duty to translate it into a readable comic that more-or-less made sense! And if that isn't high praise, I don't know what is!

--PeterS



Turned out nice again

March 11, 2019

In AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME #3 Hawkeye's missing thumb turns out to be a Nightmare, but Scarlet Witch can only see Night Shards.

Meanwhile in WEST COAST AVENGERS #8 the Skrulls turn out to be human vampires.

And in WOLVERINE: INFINITY WATCH #1 Wolverine turns out to have been (sometimes) the future Phoenix version.

Back in S.H.I.E.L.D. (2010) #5 it turns out Nathaniel Richards & co have gone 600,000 years into the future.

And T Vernon turns out to be just the person to handle IRON MAN (1968) #311.

--RobFJ



A Heapin' Helpin' of Hulk!

March 7, 2019

A lot of Hulk happenings this week:

In the new IMMORTAL HULK #14, Betty attends her father's third funeral and reconciles with Bruce!

In THE INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #4, Hulk is sent underwater to save Lemuria from the villainous Attuma!

In IDENTITY WARS Part Three, Sorcerer Supreme Bruce Banner faces a menace from Hell—the Infernal Hulk! It's in INCREDIBLE HULKS ANNUAL #1!

And in our only Hulkless addition of the week, INVADERS #38, the Kid Commandos join the Invaders against a new villain, the slinky and sexy Lady Lotus!

--PeterS



Know your enemies

March 4, 2019

The Avengers are running hot at the moment with the main series gone bi-weekly and the weekly No Road Home series. I've chosen 2 of their issues to present this week.

In AVENGERS #15 we learn the identities of the Legion Of The Unliving.

In AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME #2 we learn the identities of Nyx's children who will fight the ragtaggle bunch of ex-Avengers (plus Rocket Raccoon).

And in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #2 we learn who Rocket's pals Groot and Star-Lord will have to fight.

In S.H.I.E.L.D. (2010) #4 Leonardo da Vinci confronts Isaac Newton and rescues the Celestial Star-Child from the Sun. And Leonid frees Nostradamus.

In T Vernon's WAR MACHINE (1994) #9 Rhodey goes Samurai after Mandarin turns off modern technology (locally).

--RobFJ



Heroes in Dire Straits!

February 28, 2019

In the new CAPTAIN AMERICA #8, Steve Rogers is falsely charged with murder and locked up with a bunch of deadly criminals!

In THE INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #3, Hulk, Agent of SHIELD again faces the Quintronic Man, a deadly robot that takes five men to operate!

In INVADERS #37, it takes all of the Invaders and the entire Liberty Legion to defeat the Iron Cross!

And in IDENTITY WARS Part Two, Deadpool meets his BFF in the alternate world but he's in for a number of surprises in DEADPOOL ANNUAL #i!

--PeterS



Rocket Raccoon, Avenger!

February 25, 2019

In her #3 Ironheart discovers that her current opponent is Midnight's Fire from the old New Warriors/Night Thrasher series.

The Avengers start a weekly mini-series featuring some ex-Avengers and Rocket Raccoon, an ex-Guardian Of The Galaxy, in AVENGERS: NO ROAD HOME #1, by the team that brought you No Surrender.

In CHAMPIONS #2 we learn what actually happened in Dubai last issue. As suspected it was a deal with the devil.

Over in Peter Silvestro-land Tony Stark and Iron Man clash with Bruce Banner and Hulk in 2012's INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #2. And they're all working for SHIELD.

Meanwhile S.H.I.E.L.D. (2010) #3 tells us the secret (Marvel) history of Isaac Newton, head of the Brotherhood of the Shield. And it's not pretty (apart from the artwork).

T Vernon moves on to part 1 of 1994's Hands Of The Mandarin crossover in FORCE WORKS #6. Iron Man and War Machine are prisoners of Mandarin while the rest of Force Works fight his Avatars.

--RobFJ



A Fistful of Goodies!

February 21, 2019

Nothing new so we've added reviews of some older classics this time around!

First up, there is THE INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #2, from when Ol' Jade Jaws was an agent of SHIELD! This time Bruce Banner gets in touch with Tony Stark—for purposes of pounding!

In INVADERS #36, Sub-Mariner seems to have met his match in the Nazi hero Iron Cross!

And a few years ago was the Identity Wars special: Spider-Man, Deadpool, and Bruce Banner were pulled into an alternate reality which contained a number of surprises! Part One was in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #38 where in Spidey discovered that his counterpart, the Amazing Spider, was a more powerful, more popular, and more beloved hero than he could hope to be! It's the other differences that cause it all to go sideways on a pair of Peter Parkers!

--PeterS



Let's all have a drink

February 18, 2019

In TONY STARK: IRON MAN #8 Tony Stark's Mother(board) AI takes him back to the Virtual Reality comfort of his simpler early days as Iron Man where he can relax with a drink.

While in AVENGERS #14 he's fighting vampires in Wakanda with Black Panther and seeing a ghost dog walking through a wall. (Maybe he shouldn't have had that drink?)

Over in Peter Silvestro's side of this site Tony gets a cameo in THOR #10 as Odin turns to him as a fellow alcoholic.

In S.H.I.E.L.D. (2010) #2 Nostradamus has a drink and prophesies. Nathaniel Richards and Howard Stark fight Nikola Tesla and a pigeon, and all 4 disappear into the far future.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1968) #310. Shellhead and War Machine continue their fight caused by something Tony said while suffering from a hangover in his previous issue.

--RobFJ



Family Conflicts! And More!

February 14, 2019

In the brand new THOR #10 Thor and Odin have a tiff—that involves extreme violence!

And then there was THE INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #1 wherein Hulk becomes an agent of SHIELD ready to smash the nation's enemies!

In INVADERS #35, the Whizzer takes center stage! And his name was just as silly in the 1940s as it is now!

And the revived TALES OF SUSPENSE (2018) #104 wraps up with Black Widow dismantling the Red Room (not a case of poor interior design but the nasty Soviet program that once controlled her life)!

--PeterS



2 endings followed by 2 beginnings

February 11, 2019

In WEST COAST AVENGERS #7 the team finally escape Madame Masque's trap with help from Kate's ex, Marvel Boy. Kate's current, Fuse, isn't too happy about that.

EXILES #12 is the end of the series as the team lose Iron Lad in noble self-sacrifice. But at least Khan is given a happier ending.

T Vernon is going to be doing the whole of the Hands Of The Mandarin crossover. He's starting this week with WAR MACHINE (1994) #8, the 1st of a 2-part prologue to that featuring a fight between War Machine and Iron Man.

While he's doing all that I shall be looking at the 1st volume of Jonathan Hickman's S.H.I.E.L.D. series beginning of course with #1. We learn the history of the Brotherhood Of The Shield, and Leonardo da Vinci flies into 1956.

--RobFJ



A Pair of Hulk Conclusions! And More!

February 7, 2019

The brand new IMMORTAL HULK #13 closes up the “Hulk in Hell” arc with a grim thunderclap!

The older THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2011 series) #15 likewise ends with Hulk and Banner together again and none the happier for it!

In INVADERS #34 it looks like their ally the Mighty Destroyer has tuned rogue!

And the revived TALES OF SUSPENSE (2018) #103 shows us how Black Widow returned from certain death during the Secret Empire!

--PeterS



Recovery/resurrection/revival/reclamation

February 4, 2019

We interrupt the regularly scheduled broadcast in AVENGERS #13 to bring you the origin of Iron Fist 1,000,000 BC who kills the sacred dragon of K'un-Lun. But it recovers of course.

The new Guardians Of The Galaxy series starts off as usual with #1 where a gathering of every cosmic player except the Avengers (but including Cosmo the Space Dog and Howard the Duck) learns that 'dead' Thanos has transferred his consciousness into someone else. Meanwhile the Black Order steal his body to resurrect him.

Back in 1994 in WAR MACHINE (1994) #7 War Machine and Hawkeye fight a revived Soviet Cold Warrior. Rhodey's armour is failing so Clint advises him to ask Tony Stark for help.

And in IRON MAN (1968) #309 Tony reclaims his body and the Iron Man armour from VOR/TEX. But the AI left the body drunk, so it's not a good time for Jim Rhodes to make his call. Thanks to T Vernon for this.

--RobFJ



Cap Behind Bars!

January 31, 2019

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA #7: Cap is arrested for the murder of Thunderbolt Ross! But he has some surprising new (and already talked about) allies: the Daughters of Liberty!

The older THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2011 series) #14 pits Hulk against—the Vegetable!

In INVADERS #33 Thor meets Hitler! Invaders meet Stalin! And a surprise villain pops up earlier than expected!

And the revived TALES OF SUSPENSE (2018) #102 sees Hawkeye and Winter Soldier learning that Black Widow is still alive—or technically alive again!

--PeterS



Odin, Agent Of Wakanda

January 28, 2019

In AVENGERS #12 we meet more of Black Panther's secret Agents Of Wakanda. Even Odin is working for him!

Tony Stark's mind occupies a robot body in order to oppose VOR/TEX who's in *his* body and Iron Man armour in IRON MAN (1968) #308. T Vernon does the honours as usual.

Round about this time James Rhodes in WAR MACHINE (1994) #5-6 fights a villain who keeps not dying, until he runs out of lives at the end.

--RobFJ



Hulk! Thor! Cap! And Bucky Barnes!

January 24, 2019

The brand new IMMORTAL HULK #12 is occupied by the rotten soul of Brian Banner, Bruce's abusive father! Ick!

The older THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2011 series) #13 starts the story arc “United” i.e. Hulk and Banner!

INVADERS #32 introduces a new enemy for the Invaders: Thor! Yes, that Thor! And Josef Stalin is (technically) one of the good guys!

And the revived TALES OF SUSPENSE (2018) #101 sees Hawkeye and Winter Soldier meeting up with the second Black Widow (remember her?)!

--PeterS



Introductions all round

January 21, 2019

INFINITY WARS: INFINTY sets up threads for Wolverine: Infinity Watch and the new Guardians Of The Galaxy series, including introducing a new character to hold the Time Stone.

IRONHEART #2 joins its stablemate Tony Stark: Iron Man in being much-delayed. Now it's here it drops the Ten Rings plotline in favour of a new shifty politician thing. But of course they may turn out to be connected.

Iron Man and Force Works intervene in a Balkan civil war in their #4-5, introducing Black Brigade and Ember on opposite sides.

And then in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #307 Shellhead meets a new AI villain VOR/TEX (who admittedly has been behind the scenes in some previous issues).

--RobFJ



Uncapped!

January 17, 2019

The latest issue of Cap's comic has been delayed but we're still adding entries for older classics!

Stay Angry” concludes in THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2011 series) #12 with Wolverine and Thing as guest stars!

INVADERS #31 pits the Invaders against a Nazi Frankenstein Monster!

And the revived TALES OF SUSPENSE (2018) starts with issue #100 as Hawkeye and Winter Soldier team up to learn whether Black Widow is still alive!

--PeterS



Champions expanding, Exiles declining

January 14, 2019

The Champions get a new #1 with an expanded team to deal with multiple problems worldwide simultaneously. But what's Mephisto got to do with it?

Meanwhile the Exiles near the end of their run with #11 as Khan and another group of Exiles try to capture them for the rogue Watchers.

War Machine finishes his Imayan mission in WM (1994) #4, but the friend he came to save dies. Force Works fight off the threatened invasion by the alien Scatter in their #3.

And all that happens before Iron Man faces the Controller in IM (1968) ANNUAL #15, brought to us by T Vernon.

--RobFJ



Something for Everyone!

January 10, 2019

In the brand-new THOR #9, Roz Solomon becomes an Agent of Wakanda!

A few years earlier in THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2011 series) #11, Hulk visits the City of the Sasquatches!

INVADERS #30 has the Teutonic Knight wreaking havoc in a craft called the Flying Death!

And very odd acquisition receives an entry: CAPTAIN AMERICA ASHCAN EDITION which is a promo for last week's odd acquisition!

--PeterS



Stark companies in trouble in 2 eras

January 7, 2019

The very delayed TONY STARK: IRON MAN #7 has Controller packing Stark Unlimited's eScape VR with rule-breaking players and giving them the same weapons in the real world as they have in the VR. (In 'reality' this would just result in them shooting up their own homes, or wandering around the streets firing at random, walking into things and getting knocked down by vehicles.)

In WEST COAST AVENGERS #6 the team are dumped in a pool of sharks. Except for Kate Bishop who is hit (on) by an ex-boyfriend.

T Vernon concludes Crash & Burn with IRON MAN (1968) #306 where Tony Stark takes time out to totally rebuild the tainted Stark Enterprises.

In the interval he also creates Force Works from the old Avengers West Coast and in their 1st outing (FW#1-2) they lose Wonder Man to ionic disintegration but gain a mysterious alien called Century.

Meanwhile in WAR MACHINE (1994) #1-3 James Rhodes, who isn't going to join any team that has Stark in it, goes to the dictatorship of Imaya to rescue his hero Vincent Cetewayo, with 'help' from Cable and Deathlok. Various people including Tony Stark aren't happy about it.

--RobFJ



Hulk Goes to Hell...!

January 3, 2019

...in issue #11 of THE IMMORTAL HULK and it's a pretty bad day for everyone involved!

A few years earlier in THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2011 series) #10, part three of the “Stay Angry” arc, Hulk goes to space and fights cyborg bears!

INVADERS #29 has the WW2 good guys facing as a team a villain each had been defeated by individually—the Teutonic Knight!

And an odd acquisition receives an entry: CAPTAIN AMERICA COLLECTOR'S PREVIEW from 1995! Find out why there won't be any good Marvel movies anytime soon! And on the brighter side, Joe Simon talks about creating Cap!

--PeterS



It's a wrap (and I don't just mean 2018)

January 1, 2019

INFINITY WARS #6 wraps things up rather too quickly (Hulk creates a black hole!), but also confusingly when I thought more about it.

CHAMPIONS ANNUAL #1 also wraps up this series, with a Snowguard special, just so they can start again with another #1.

From the days when #1 really was the start of a new title, MARVEL PREMIERE #1 turns Him into Adam Warlock about a year before his arch-foe Thanos gets invented.

IRON MAN (1968) #305 from T Vernon doesn't quite wrap up Crash And Burn, that's next issue, but Hulk tells Iron Man to calm down and smell the coffee.

--RobFJ



A Lot of Under-Standing!

December 27, 2018

Under” seems to be the theme of this week's additions:

In THE INCREDIBLE HULK #9, part of the “Stay Angry” arc, Hulk is under water battling rogue Atlanteans!

INVADERS #28 sees the heroes in Agent Axis' underground lair fighting the villain with tripolar disorder!

In DOMINATION FACTOR: AVENGERS #4, the Avengers and the FF are under a lot of pressure (as well as under the scary eyes and watchful teeth of Queen Knorda on the cover) to find a way to escape the alternate history created by Loki in this wrap-up to the mini-event!

And I know a lot of you are underwhelmed by that stretch of “theme” but it's hard coming up with clever stuff every week! You don't like it? You offer to write for this site! We'd be happy to hear from you!

--PeterS



Christmas comes early

December 24, 2018

My 2-weekly trip into Liverpool to the comic shop has netted me a bumper bundle of comics to see me through Christmas and the New Year. Here's 2 of them.

In AVENGERS #11 Black Panther holds a meeting, She-Hulk and Thor go on a date and Phil Coulson shoots someone.

CHAMPIONS #27 concludes their Weirdworld adventure and also the series. Except there's an Annual which I'll cover next week. And a new #1 to follow.

Now that I've finished with Siege and the original Avengers West Coast but T Vernon hasn't reached the position where the Force Works and War Machine titles start, I can fill in with the 1st of an occasional series introducing vital elements of the Thanos mythology. This week it's the origin of his nemesis Adam Warlock in FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #67, here known just as Him.

TV himself has got to IRON MAN (1968) #304 which is jam-packed full of guest stars:- Captain America, Hulk, New Warriors and Thunderstrike. And Tony Stark talks about starting the Force Works team.

--RobFJ



Cap and Thor and Hulk! Oh My! (And Spidey Too!)

December 20, 2018

In the new CAPTAIN AMERICA #6, the Power Elite frames Cap for murder!

In the equally new THOR #8, the God of Thunder is reunited with his sister Angela in an angelic prison!

And going back a few years to THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2011) #8, Hulk has to stay angry!Why? Because Bruce Banner wants him to!

In DOMINATION FACTOR: FANTASTIC FOUR #4, the FF and the Avengers are trapped in a world they never made—because it was Loki who created this world in which superheroes never existed!

And Spider-Fan Anthony Silvestro has an entry for AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #3 which introduced Spidey's most persistent foe: Doctor Octopus!

--PeterS



A beginning, an end and a middle

December 17, 2018

WEST COAST AVENGERS #5 starts a new story-arc as Madame Masque and some henchpeople trap the team in an abandoned funfair. The only holdovers from the 1st arc are Brigitte the dragon (and maybe Dutch Oven).

I'm filling in the aftermath of Siege with DARK AVENGERS #16 which ends the series with most of the team in jail. Peter Silvestro previously did some other aftermath issues THOR #610, NEW AVENGERS FINALE and AVENGERS: PRIME #1-5.

T Vernon continues the Crash And Burn arc with IRON MAN (1968) #303 which is split between a catch-up chat between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers and Iron Man's fight with the New Warriors, the next heroes who think Stark Enterprises done wrong.

--RobFJ



Hulk, Invaders, Avengers and Spidey!

December 13, 2018

THE INCREDIBLE HULK #7 has Hulk cleaning up in the aftermath of his battle with the separate (and evil) Bruce Banner!

INVADERS #27 sees the introduction of teen heroes Golden Girl and Human Top!

In DOMINATION FACTOR: AVENGERS #3 Cap and Thor do all the heavy lifting—so heavy, in fact, that the God of Thunder doesn't survive!

And Anthony Silvestro (my son) has written up AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #2 with the first appearances of the Vulture and the Terrible Tinkerer!

--PeterS



A beginning, an ending and a continuation

December 10, 2018

There's a new series begun with IRONHEART #1 which establishes Riri Williams at MIT. This issue's villain Clash is probably only there to introduce the Ten Rings as a background menace.

Peter Silvestro previously did SIEGE #4, the end of the mini-series. Now I've added the only issue in the Siege Event that I think relates to that, INITIATIVE #35 which is also the end of its series and ties up various subplots.

And T Vernon continues the Crash And Burn arc in IRON MAN (1968) #302 as it's Venom's turn to attack Stark Enterprises and Iron Man.

--RobFJ



I Don't Like Where This is Going!

December 6, 2018

Newly released IMMORTAL HULK #10 has a lot of gruesome body horror and everyone ends up in Hell! No thanks, I think I'll just stay home and read!

INVADERS #26 sees the return of Agent Axis, oddball Wartime villain who is the combined personalities of a German agent, an Italian agent, and a Japanese agent! Wonder if he has a lot of trouble deciding on what to have for dinner or what to watch on TV!

In DOMINATION FACTOR: FANTASTIC FOUR #3 the good news is that each of the FF is successful in their quest for the slices of the Golden Apple! The bad news is that everything turns weird as they return to a New York quite unlike the one they left!

And new contributor Anthony Silvestro (my son) adds the classic milestone issue AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1! It's the historic Spidey meets the Fantastic Four plus the first appearances of John Jameson, Chameleon, and the beloved J. Jonah Jameson!

--PeterS




Wrapping up the presents

December 3, 2018

WEST COAST AVENGERS #4 wraps up the opening BRODOK and the giant female monsters arc. But will the team be in trouble for using the name West Coast Avengers without permission? Well Clint-Hawkeye *was* a founding member so that should be alright then.

And EXILES #10 wraps up the Arabian Nights adventure. But not-so-dead Khan has a whole 'nother team of Exiles who aren't pleased to see Blink's lot.

And now that I've wrapped up the old West Coast Avengers I can do the other half of the tie-ins to Siege #3. Here are the SIEGE: YOUNG AVENGERS 1-shot plus THUNDERBOLTS #143 and MIGHTY AVENGERS (2007) #36 to wrap up their crossover and these series' involvement in the Event. Between them they show us what's happening to all the Young Avengers. I'll also mention the SIEGE: CAPTAIN AMERICA 1-shot and THOR #609 which Peter Silvestro did earlier.

T Vernon provides IRON MAN (1968) #301 which doesn't wrap anything up but instead begins a 6-parter in which various superfolk are convinced Stark Enterprises is crooked.

--RobFJ



More Cool Stuff!

November 29, 2018

We've added an entry for INCREDIBLE HULK (2001) #6 where Hulk faces off with the separated Bruce Banner and they tussle over a Gamma Bomb!

In INVADERS #25 the Invaders take on the Egyptian national hero Scarlet Scarab who is more powerful than all of them, plus the Nazis!

We've also written up DOMINATION FACTOR: AVENGERS #2 which guest stars Hawkeye, Goliath, Wasp, Black Panther, a whole lot of X-Men, and Nick Fury, not to mention Bucky Barnes!

--PeterS



The old must give way to the new

November 26, 2018

TONY STARK: IRON MAN #6 starts a new story-arc as Tony Stark releases his eScape virtual reality interface to the general public. Things immediately start to go wrong, and that's before the Controller sticks his oar in.

We've reached INFINITY WARS #5 and Loki's 'Cosmic Avengers' defeat Gamora and become new owners of the Infinity Stones. Except Loki tricks them (who'd a thunk it) and uses the Stones to get into the Quarry Of Creation, which was his plan all along.

In IRON MAN (1968) #300 T Vernon tells us about the new modular armour that weakened Stark can actually occupy, rather than running his old Iron Man remotely. But many other characters wearing even earlier Iron Man armours have to sacrifice themselves before he can enter the fray against Ultimo.

Then Tony takes the new armour to AWC#102 to help preside over the end of the series and the team. But then he makes them an offer they can't refuse.

Next week I can go back to finishing off Siege before I have to pick up War Machine, plus West Coast Avengers under a new name as Force Works.

--RobFJ



Many Familiar Faces This Time Around!

November 22, 2018

The return of a famous villain in IMMORTAL HULK #9 as Hulk faces a new and improved Absorbing Man! Guest appearance by Iron Man!

The Dreaded Deadline Doom struck in INVADERS #24, leaving it to reprint a Golden Age adventure of Sub-Mariner and Human Torch!

The obscure crossover event from 1999 continues with DOMINATION FACTOR: FANTASTIC FOUR #2 as the FF go back in time and face the Frightful Four, the Inhumans, Sub-Mariner (him again?), and Doctor Strange!

--PeterS



In a packed comic tonight ...

November 19, 2018

... the Avengers mix it up with Sub-Mariner's Defenders Of The Deep and the Russian Winter Guard, with the Squadron Supreme Of America waiting in the wings. Plus Odin gets drunk, Phoenix-Wolverine helps Loki escape from the Celestials, and Wasp finds Blade in Dracula's castle. This is because AVENGERS #10 is also the giant-size 700th edition.

Meanwhile in Weirdworld in CHAMPIONS #26 the team mostly reassemble, lose the battle of the Grove Of The Man-Things but prepare to defend the home of the Crystal Warriors.

I'm following War Machine though AVENGERS WEST COAST #99-100 as that team get caught between Satannish and Mephisto, and Mockingbird dies. But it's alright she's only a Skrull. But not so good for Hawkeye as he won't find that out until Secret Invasion (and before then he'll have been dead too).

Peter Silvestro already wrote up AWC#101 as part of the Bloodties crossover. If you want to read the whole thing you can start at AVENGERS (1963) #368 and follow the links.

Then Rhodey moves on to IRON MAN (1968) #299, T Vernon's next issue. But he's still not forgiven Tony Stark for not really dying.

--RobFJ



Love and Pain and a Whole Lot of Other Things!

November 15, 2018

Brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA #5 continues the Cap vs. Taskmaster battle and a surprise reveal at the end!

The latest from the God of Thunder, THOR #7, is a tale of young Thor in love with Erika the Red, Viking warrior!

INCREDIBLE HULK (2011 series) #5 has Hulk trying to turn Bruce Banner's monsters against their creator!

Part 2 of the obscure crossover event from 1999: DOMINATION FACTOR: AVENGERS #1 (trust us, it's part 2), now sees the Avengers mixed up with the Golden Apple and Doctor Strange and a giant wooden viking, this time in the Hudson River!

--PeterS



Count the armoured heroes and villains

November 12, 2018

INFINITY WARPS: IRON HAMMER #2 concludes Iron Hammer's origin as he regains his memory, defeats Malekith with the help of the Warrior Machines Three and chooses to remain mortal.

In AVENGERS WEST COAST #98 Scarlet Witch takes over as leader of the team. Then they join Iron Man, various reserve members and a 1-off hero Raptor in AWC ANNUAL #8 to stop Ultron and Alkhema from causing volcanic winter. And the team including War Machine returns to #98 to start an arc against Satannish and a new Lethal Legion including Coldsteel and Zyklon.

Meanwhile Shellhead nips back to IRON MAN (1968) #298, brought to us as usual by T Vernon, to fight a new villain Earth Mover and an old villain Ultimo.

--RobFJ



The Sum of His Parts!

November 8, 2018

The newly released IMMORTAL HULK #8 starts with the recently dissected Hulk having to pull himself together if he would get back at his enemies!

INVADERS #23: A new villain: the Scarlet Scarab! Scar Scar is the embodiment of Egyptian national stereotypes rather than British or German for a change!

And we've added the info for issue #1 of an obscure crossover event from 1999: DOMINATION FACTOR, featuring the Fantastic Four and the Avengers! There's this Golden Apple and Doctor Strange and a giant wooden viking in the East River and the FF is on the scene!

--PeterS



Straight from the heart of Siege

November 5, 2018

TONY STARK: IRON MAN #5 was out (late) this week and features Arno Stark with no sign of Tony/Iron Man. It suggests that Arno may become an enemy of his brother, or at least an aggressive business rival.

In WEST COAST AVENGERS #3 giant Tigra is joined by other giant female monsters, and Kate-Hawkeye gets turned into the Kate-Hawk.

I'm covering issues connected to Siege #3 this week. As usual INITIATIVE #34 shows the Siege #3 events, the heart of the mini-series, from a different POV plus following the Avengers Resistance attack on Camp HAMMER. THUNDERBOLTS #142 continues their fight with the Mighty Avengers over the Spear Of Odin. And the SIEGE: SECRET WARRIORS 1-shot has Nick Fury in Asgard, and Phobos seeking revenge for the death of his dad Ares. Peter Silvestro synopsised SIEGE #3 a long time ago, and also gave us NEW AVENGERS #63-64, THOR #608 and the SIEGE: LOKI 1-shot.

There are more Siege #3 tie-ins but they'll have to wait until I've covered the last issues of Avengers West Coast.

T Vernon has IRON MAN (1968) ANNUAL #14 where Shellhead faces 1-off villain the Face-Thief with the help of the Masters Of Silence. And Tony's ex-girlfriend Meredith McCall replaces a Master who dies.

--RobFJ



No Theme This Time, Just More Cool Stuff Added!

November 1, 2018

INCREDIBLE HULK (2011 series) #4: Part One of “Hulk vs. Banner” on the island of 1000 Hulks!

INVADERS #22: The true (totally retconned) origin of the Human Torch's sidekick Toro!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: RETURN OF THE ASTHMA MONSTER: A free giveaway comic sequel to a free giveaway comic!

--PeterS



Happy birthday Tony Stark

October 29, 2018

In EXILES #9 the team find themselves in a merge of the 3 most famous stories from the Arabian Nights. And the big bad turns out to be Caliph Doom.

Peter Silvestro documented SIEGE #2 some years ago. Now I've added INITIATIVE #33 which runs parallel to that adding extra detail plus the adventures of the Avengers Resistance in Camp HAMMER.

And T Vernon does IRON MAN (1968) #297 where Iron Man finishes off MODAM and Omega Red in time for his surprise birthday party, with lots of old faces.

--RobFJ



Good Old Stuff—Or Is That Odd Stuff?

October 25, 2018

The odd INCREDIBLE HULK (2011 series) #3 wrapped up Jason Aaron's first Hulk arc “Asunder” wherein Hulk and Bruce Banner are separated and it's Bruce who is the bad guy!

And INVADERS #21 from further back in the day has Cap and the gang wreaking havoc in Berlin as a whiny cowardly Hitler tries to flee! Odd?

And we've added an entry for a rather strange product: CAPTAIN AMERICA #34—DIRECTOR'S CUT! See what odd stuff Marvel has offered to the faithful!

--PeterS



Those pesky Asgardians get (nearly) everywhere

October 22, 2018

INFINITY WARS #4 mainly follows the adventures of Loki as he recruits allies in Warp World by forcibly de-merging them. Wolverine-Phoenix and King Thor pop in from the future (as seen in the excellent recent issues of THOR documented on this site by Peter S) to offer a bit of help.

Current Thor is in AVENGERS #9 which hosts a conflict with Sub-Mariner who declares the seas off-limits to humans. And Stingray is killed (yeah, but for how long).

In between covering tie-ins to Siege #1 and #2 I'm dealing with a crossover beginning in THUNDERBOLTS #141 and MIGHTY AVENGERS (2007) #35. These issues span Siege #1-3. The TBolts are after the Spear Of Odin in Asgard and the ex-Mighty Avengers are out to stop them. Actually MAv#35 is more concerned with Wasp (Hank Pym) fighting off an invasion of the Infinite Avengers Mansion by Ultron.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1968) #296 as Shellhead gets caught between MODAM and Omega Red on AIM Island. No Asgardians in sight.

--RobFJ



The Last Doom of Midgard?

October 18, 2018

The brand new THOR #6! Whoa! Truly apocalyptic in all of its parts! All-Father Thor and Logan-Phoenix versus the most powerful Doom there has ever been! And the last page reveal is a shocker!

INCREDIBLE HULKS #635 wraps up “Heart of the Monster” and Greg Pak's classic run!

And IINVADERS #20 introduces the new Union Jack, British hero of WW2!

--PeterS



3 events, 2 of them infinite and all involving gods

October 15, 2018

The Infinity Wars event continues with INFINITY WARPS: IRON HAMMER #1, the 1st of the 2-part tale of the merged Iron Man and Thor. I've included brief descriptions of other recent tie-ins.

In CHAMPIONS #25 the team seek the missing Sam Alexander and Wasp and find themselves as changed characters in Weirdworld.

Coincidentally both the above issues feature characters kept working at forges by magic collar shackles.

I'll also mention the 2nd part of Hulk's fight against Iron Man and the Avengers in Peter Silvestro's IMMORTAL HULK #7.

Back in Dark Reign I've now entered Siege event proper. Some years ago Peter wrote up the 4-issue mini-series itself and some of the tie-ins. Luckily he left some that fit in my IM/Av area of interest. In particular Avengers: Initiative #32-35 parallels the main series issue by issue, and I'll use those to comment on the event as a whole. This week INITIATIVE #32 matches up with SIEGE #1 as Norman Osborn leads his forces against the Asgardians. In this section of Siege Peter also did NEW AVENGERS #61-62 and THOR #607.

T Vernon has reached IRON MAN (1968) #295 which concludes Shellhead's interactions with Technovore and the Goddess in the Infinity Crusade event.

--RobFJ



Big Battle Week!

October 11, 2018

First up, CAPTAIN AMERICA #4 has Cap versus Taskmaster—and a scarier Taskmaster than ever!

Then the new IMMORTAL HULK #7 has the Avengers versus Hulk—and a scarier Hulk than ever!

And going back a few years—to a '70s comic set in the '40s—INVADERS #19! The guys are all prisoners of Hitler—and he's not as scary as the real life dictator and mass murderer! Thanks goodness for small favors!

--PeterS



Love is in the air, especially for Hawkeye's

October 8, 2018

In TONY STARK: IRON MAN #4 everyone in Stark Unlimited falls in love except Bethany Cabe. But their perfect matches all turn to be robots apart from Tony Stark's rekindled romance with Wasp/Janet Van Dyne.

WEST COAST AVENGERS #2 continues the menace of giant-sized Tigra and the 'help' of BRODOK, Bio-Robotic Organism Designed Overwhelmingly for Kissing, who has a thing for Hawkeye (Kate Bishop).

In T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #294 Goddess tries to recruit Iron Man for her Infinity Crusade but he prefers to battle Technovore. Both plotlines will continue in the next issue.

Meanwhile the old West Coast Avengers star in AVENGERS WEST COAST #96-97. Living Lightning, Scarlet Witch and US Agent *do* heed the lure of Goddess, and Spider-Woman goes to join the opposition. So the remaining War Machine, Hawkeye (Clint Barton) and his love Mockingbird are left to fight Quantum, Wundarr and the Power Platoon.

(Infinity Crusade is an Infinity event we *haven't* yet documented on this site.)

--RobFJ



The Living Legend!

October 4, 2018

In 1995 it seemed like a good idea to Marvel to issue a tribute to one of their greatest heroes! And thus was born CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE LEGEND now indexed and reviewed on this very site!

Plus some wartime action with INVADERS #18! The return of authentic Golden Age hero, the Destroyer! And Cap teams up with him to battle the no-good Nazis!

And THE INCREDIBLE HULKS #634 by Greg Pak has Hulk facing Fin Fang Foom and ending the world as we know it!

--PeterS



New guy(s) on the block

October 1, 2018

A warm welcome to Anthony Silvestro who's adding Spider-Man to our regular coverage.

And CHAMPIONS #24 features 1 of the Spider-Men, Miles Morales, in a story about a High School massacre.

EXILES #8 has the team put on trial by rogue Watchers, but it's probably really a setup for the new additions to their lineup.

This week we *knock* on Siege's front door with SIEGE: CABAL and DARK AVENGERS #15. They tell the same story from different points of view as Dr Doom violently resigns from Norman Osborn's Cabal. This tale has a connection to the beginning of SIEGE: LOKI (which Peter Silvestro synopsised some years ago) and to the end of AVENGERS: INITIATIVE #31 (which I covered at the beginning of this year).

In IRON MAN (1968) #293, written up as usual by T Vernon, Iron Man faces 1 of his perennial baddies the Controller.

--RobFJ



A New Kid on the Block (Times Two)!

September 27, 2018

AMAZING FANTASY #15? Why that's...the first appearance of Spider-Man! And it's also Spidey's first appearance as a regular section of the Marvel Heroes Library! It also marks the debut of our newest contributor to the site: Anthony Silvestro, Spider-Man expert! And yes, he's my son! Make him welcome!

The newest CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL features a wartime adventure wherein Cap and Bucky rescue some concentration camp refugees!

INVADERS #17 introduces the female super-Nazi Warrior Woman!

And THE INCREDIBLE HULKS #633 by Greg Pak has Hulk slinking off to the Dark Dimension to become the love slave of the sorceress Umar!

--PeterS



Loki always laughs twice

September 24, 2018

It was supposed to be Iron Man #3 this week but it's been postponed for 2 weeks. Meanwhile ...

In INFINITY WARS #3 Gamora uses the Infinity Stones get rid of any opposition by putting the whole universe inside Soul World with characters merged in pairs (eg Captain America and Dr Strange as the Soldier Supreme). Loki does the Br'er Rabbit trick to get her to send him there unmerged, and then laughs because now he's free to organise the resistance.

In AVENGERS #8 we see the team's new HQ inside the dead Celestial Progenitor. A flashback shows how the grateful Celestials set it up for them, but also how laughing Loki claims to have arranged the whole Final Host affair to get these Avengers together.

I'll just mention that Iron Man and the Avengers guest in IMMORTAL HULK #6 over in Peter's half of this site.

Dark Reign reaches the front door of Siege. DARK AVENGERS #13-14 claim to be Siege issues but they are really a flashback to earlier where Sentry reacts badly to being shot by his wife in #9, and Void goes all Biblical.

Then for real we have the digital comic SIEGE PROLOGUE where Norman Osborn and Loki discuss invading Asgard (without any laughing).

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #292 tidies away several opponents and destroys Tony Stark's house.

--RobFJ



Some Mighty Marvel Mischief!

September 20, 2018

THE IMMORTAL HULK #6 shows what happens when the government wants the Hulk badly enough: call in the Avengers!

In the far, far future, namely THOR #5, All-Father Thor fights to the finish with Wolverine/Phoenix and the universe trembles! And check out the last-page reveal!

In INVADERS #16, Cap and the gang have to rescue an American comic book artist from the clutches of Adolf Hitler himself!

And then there's THE X-MEN VS. THE AVENGERS #4, conclusion of the mini-series! Magneto goes on trial for crimes against humanity! You won't believe what happens—Magneto sure doesn't!

--PeterS



New(old) team(member)s

September 17, 2018

Hunt For Wolverine concludes with HFW: DEAD ENDS introducing the new villainess Persephone behind it all, and setting things up for the Return Of Wolverine limited series.

Exiles continues with #7 with some deaths, a possible new (old) member and the attack of the Watchers (oooh, scary!).

And there's a new (old) team on the block in WEST COAST AVENGERS #1 featuring both Hawkeye's, Ms America, Gwenpool, Kid Omega and a guy called Fuse against land sharks and a very big Tigra.

THUNDERBOLTS #138-140 has that team vs the Agents Of Atlas, and brings Dark Reign to the brink of Siege.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1968) #291. I jumped the gun (or the shark) last week. It's *this* issue that Rhodey quits as Iron Man, and Tony Stark *gives* him the War Machine armour. So just imagine that I uploaded AWC#93-95 *this* week where he joins the *old* WCA, and Stark continues his generosity by giving the team 2 replacement quinjets.

--RobFJ



Action Packed Updates!

September 13, 2018

THE INCREDIBLE HULKS #632 features a brutal slugging match between the Hulk and the alien warlord Arm'Chedon!

In INVADERS #15, Cap and company race to save King George VI (you know, the king with the speech) from a sneaky assassination plot!

And then there's THE X-MEN VS. THE AVENGERS #3! Herein the Avengers and the Soviet Super-Soldiers are after the X-Men, trying to capture Magneto and bring him to justice!

--PeterS



Swamped by Avengers

September 10, 2018

I've got a double-bill of the latest Avengers this week.

#6 ends the Final Host story with 1 of those 'combine all our powers' gambits. And the Celestials are resurrected (but I think the Eternals are still dead).

#7 tells the origin of of the 1 million BC Ghost Rider.

It's all change in IRON MAN (1968) #290 which T Vernon documents. Angry Jim Rhodes quits as Iron Man but takes the armour to become War Machine. Tony Stark is alive but still paralysed - he creates a new remote-operated Iron Man armour. And battlebots attack, to be continued next issue.

Rhodey goes straight to join the West Coast Avengers in AVENGERS WEST COAST #93-95. Darkhawk joins as well, temporarily, and they all go off to fight Dr Demonicus and the Pacific Overlords again.

--RobFJ



Cap and Black Panther! Hulk and You-Wouldn't Believe Who!

September 6, 2018

It's true: in the new CAPTAIN AMERICA #3, Cap teams up with T'Challa to do battle with an army of Nukes (not atomic weapons but the super-soldier with a flag on his face)! And Okoye joins them for the fun!

Then in THE IMMORTAL HULK #5, there's a massive brawl between Hulk and Sasquatch but you won't believe who is really behind the Canadian hero's sudden turn to the dark side! Check out our write-up!

INVADERS #14 introduces even more WW2-era heroes including Spirit of '76, who would play a significant role in the history of Captain America!

And then there's THE X-MEN VS. THE AVENGERS #2! The Avengers, the X-Men, and the Soviet Super-Soldiers all want Magneto and are willing to fight for him—but what does Magneto himself have in mind?

--PeterS



Version control

September 3, 2018

In EXILES #6 the team go in search of earlier Exiles members and find instead a Wild West version of the Brotherhood Of Evil Mutants.

DARK AVENGERS ANNUAL #1 really stars Noh-Varr. Marvel Boy/Captain Marvel becomes a new version of himself as Earth's Protector. The Dark Avengers are only guest stars in their own comic.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #289 features the Jim Rhodes version of Iron Man's fight with Living Laser. But then Tony Stark turns up not dead and will want his super-job back.

--RobFJ



More Exciting Stuff!

August 30, 2018

In THE INCREDIBLE HULKS #631, Hulk meets Bi-Beast, Wendigo, and...Barack Obama?!?

Then in INVADERS #13 the Golem comes to the Warsaw Ghetto!

And then there's THE X-MEN VS. THE AVENGERS #1! Wait, you say, don't you mean AVENGERS VS X-MEN? (Go ahead, say it, we'll wait). No, not the big crossover event of 2012 but a little-known limited series from 1987, featuring the two hero teams, plus the Soviet Super-Soldiers and it's all over the newly reformed (or is he?) Magneto!

--PeterS



What happens next?

August 27, 2018

HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: ADAMANTIUM AGENDA #4 ends the series with a revelation that may or may not be resolved in Hunt for Wolverine: Dead Ends.

In CHAMPIONS #23 the team fight Man-Thing and some of them get sucked with him through a portal to elsewhere - a cliffhanger that won't be dealt with until #25.

T Vernon is here again with IRON MAN (1968) #288 which turns the Atom Smasher fight into a 3-way with Firepower. Then an epilogue brings in Living Laser to kickstart the next storyline.

But before that epilogue the temporary Iron Man pops in to AVENGERS WEST COAST #89 to offer to join the team, and is turned down. They should have accepted because they're about to face Ultron.

--RobFJ



A Trio of Older Treats!

August 23, 2018

In THE INCREDIBLE HULKS #630, the Fountain of Youth is turned into a wishing well and you know how crazy wishes are in this sort of tale! Add the Hulk and company and things go mad!

INVADERS #12 introduces the newest Invader: Spitfire who moves a high speeds, leaving a trail of flame behind her

And the Living Legend takes on an odd enemy in CAPTAIN AMERICA MEETS THE ASTHMA MONSTER, a doctor's office giveaway with some major star power!

--PeterS



Taking the Turing test

August 20, 2018

In TONY STARK: IRON MAN #3 Tony is never Iron Man but lots of other people virtually *are*. The AIs Jocasta and Machine Man break up, and Andy Bhang gets together with Amanda Armstrong (for jam and burgers). Tony thinks he may be an AI in an artificial body.

In INFINITY WARS #2 Gamora defeats the Infinity Watch and the Avengers, gets all the Infinity Stones, opens Soul World and merges with her stranded fragment. So what's next?

I've upgraded the comments to IRON MAN (2008) #23-24 and the RESCUE 1-shot. Tony is now back from his Dark Reign brain-death, rebooted from a pre-Civil War I backup (the reason he thinks he's an AI above).

In T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #287 the not-yet War Machine faces a new Atom Smasher and Rhodey gets together with Rae LaCoste. Tony Stark's still in cryogenic suspension. No-one's an AI.

--RobFJ



A Celebrated Guest Star!

August 16, 2018

The brand new THOR (2018) #4 wraps up the “Thor in Hel” arc and features Thanos as a guest star!

THE INCREDIBLE HULKS #628-629 concludes the James Bond parody in an un-Bondian (un-Bondish?) way: Hulk fighting a giant monster in the Coliseum!

And then there's INVADERS #11 which introduces a villain called the Blue Bullet who is never seen again—and oh yeah, there's the origin of the newest Invader: Spitfire!

--PeterS



It's Jim Rhodes week - or -The dead and the not-so-dead

August 13, 2018

PUNISHER #228 brings Punisher's adventures in the War Machine armour to an end. He stops Hydra's plan and fends off Iron Man's attack but surrenders the armour when James Rhodes, returned from the dead, asks nicely. He's captured but it only lasts 16 minutes.

I've upgraded more Comments in IRON MAN (2008) #20-22, the 1st half of Stark: Disassembled where brain-dead Tony's friends, including Jim Rhodes, gather to put him back together.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #286 the West Coast Avengers want to know who's in the black & white Iron Man armour now that Tony Stark is (supposedly) dead. (It's Rhodey in what will become the War Machine armour.) And Kathy Dare commits suicide - and she really *stays* dead.

--RobFJ



Some Odd Blasts From the Past!

August 9, 2018

One of the biggest sensations from the 1960s was James Bond Secret Agent 007! When Ian Fleming's superspy hit the world's movie screen in the person of Sean Connery, the planet went crazy for spy stuff, including TV series like THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., kid shows including COOL McCOOL and LANCELOT LINK, SECRET CHIMP (starring monkeys of course) and movie spoofs like OUR MAN FLINT and the Matt Helm series—it even extended to episodes of THE FLINTSTONES and GILLIGAN'S ISLAND! And even the Beatles jumped (briefly) on the bandwagon with their film HELP! And even though the Bond series continues to the present day with Daniel Craig as Blonde James Bond, the phenomenon is distinctly a thing of the past! So that's why THE INCREDIBLE HULKS #626-627 is so odd: it's a sharp Bond parody from 2011 with our hero as “Banner, Bruce Banner” and harking back to the 60s mindset, reminding me that other people miss the 60s too!

And then there's INVADERS #10, a comic book from the 1970s reprinting a comic from the 1940s for a double blast from the past! Captain America faces Hitler's henchman known as the Reaper!

--PeterS



Deaths, requiems and comas

August 6, 2018

Infinity Wars begins with a double-whammy.

In INFINITY WARS PRIME Requiem kills Thanos.

And in INFINITY WARS #1 it looks like she kills Star-Lord.

Meanwhile Loki meets a heroic version of himself, putting the lie to his complaint that he's always painted as the villain. And the meeting of Dr Strange's Infinity Watch turns into a brawl.

I've upgraded the Comments in IRON MAN (2008) #18&19 which bring the 12-issue World's Most Wanted story to a conclusion with Tony Stark in a coma, (Yes, it was done before Civil War II repeated the idea.) I've also added IRON MAN: REQUIEM which is mainly reprints of Iron Man's origin and 1st meeting with Jim Rhodes, but the framing story takes place within #18.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1968) #285. In this issue everyone thinks Tony's dead but he's really in a coma, sorry cryogenic suspension. Rhodey fights his 1st battle as Iron Man in the will-be War Machine armour.

--RobFJ



The Latest Cap and Hulk Issues!

August 2, 2018

In the new CAPTAIN AMERICA #2, good ol' Cap is trying to come to terms with a nation he represents in spite of their distrust of him!

And in IMMORTAL HULK #4, Jackie McGee calls on Bruce Banner's old college roomie for help—and he just has to be Walter “Sasquatch” Langkowski!

And to round out the week here's INVADERS #8-9 completing the Invaders versus Baron Blood arc and introducing us to Union Jack, Britain's WWI fighting hero, who may not survive for long against a Nazi vampire!

--PeterS



It's catch-up week again, and the multiverse was restored again while I wasn't looking

July 30, 2018

Hunt for Wolverine: Adamantium Agenda continues with #3 as the team invade Mr Sinister's DNA store. But the most significant thing may be that in the past Iron Man had a secret he didn't want Wolverine to reveal.

The Golden Avenger (but not at the moment) is also in the last page of PUNISHER #227 as Baron Zemo tries to free the Hydra Captain America (from the pages of Secret Empire).

Ironheart gets a new armour in CHAMPIONS #22. And Amadeus Cho has changed from Hulk to Brawn. And Man-Thing turns up in the last few pages.

EXILES #5 concludes the Time-Eater story arc, restoring the multiverse to existence (again). Khan and a Nick Fury die.

I've resumed Dark Reign with the 2nd half of the long 'World's Most Wanted' story arc in the 2008 Invincible Iron Man series which I synopsised back in 2012. But I've just updated the Comments for #14-17.

And T Vernon announces the death of Tony Stark in IRON MAN (1968) #284.

--RobFJ



A Savage Land for a Savage Hulk!

July 26, 2018

Here's a rarity: a complete story arc added in one solid chunk: “Planet Savage!” It took place in THE INCREDIBLE HULKS #623-625 in 2011! Herein, Hulk and his Warbound visit the Savage Land, meeting Ka-Zar and the usual prehistoric occupants! But this time it's much, much darker! Why? In one word: bugs! Giant bugs! Nasty icky giant bugs! Check out our write-up—but not while eating!

And if you wrote for Marvel Heroes Library, you could do rare and amazing things like this too! Don't be shy, contact us!

--PeterS



From the domestic to the cosmic and everywhere in between

July 23, 2018

In TONY STARK: IRON MAN #2 Friday gets a body, Jocasta gets a lover and Rhodey ditches the War Machine armour in favour of a giant kids' toy.

In more 'serious' mode in AVENGERS #5 we learn the true history of the world and Tony Stark ditches his Iron Man armour in favour of an even-gianter cosmic replacement.

Meanwhile in INFINITY COUNTDOWN #5 concludes as various characters manoeuvre and Dr Strange convenes a new Infinity Watch in time for Infinity Wars. Henry Pym is killed, for whatever value that word has in the Marvel Universe. Plus there are Darkhawk tie-ins.

Our relentless march through Shellhead's 1st series has reached the 'Assault On Armour City' Annuals crossover. DARKHAWK ANNUAL #1 and AVENGERS WEST COAST ANNUAL #7. T Vernon supplied the conclusion in IRON MAN ANNUAL #13.

--RobFJ



More Thor Plus Hulk in Bulk!

July 19, 2018

The War of the Realms continues in THOR #3 as various heroes celebrate a wedding you won't believe! And there's a last page reveal that should knock readers' socks off!

IMMORTAL HULK #3 is a more somber affair, showing a tragic Hulk “incident” from multiple points of view and wondering where the truth lies!

And there are a lot more Hulks in HULK (2008) #24, wrapping up the WORLD WAR HULKS event! Hulks in Green and Red! She-Hulks in Green and Red! And a blue guy named A-Bomb!

And we can't leave out Captain America! There's INVADERS #7, wherein Cap and the gang face the Nazi vampire Baron Blood in his comic book debut!

Is there anything you want to see on the Marvel Heroes Library! Just let us know! Maybe you could even contribute it! We look forward to your contributions!

--PeterS



What's worse, losing a hand or losing an election?

July 16, 2018

I'm catching up with a couple of current issues.

Iron Man is in HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: ADAMANTIUM AGENDA #2 which continues the story as the other Wolverine, Laura Kinney, joins in to chop Mr Sinister's hand off.

Rachna Koul and Iron Doom leave Human Torch and Thing stranded on a devastated Earth in MARVEL 2-IN-ONE #7. And they've just killed that Earth's Dr Strange.

Back in the day Tony Stark concludes his brief War Machine run in IRON MAN (1968) #283 against the forces of Justin Hammer. T Vernon has written that up as usual.

Then Shellhead gets involved in Infinity War, but only in #1. The rest of the time he's replaced by an evil doppelganger courtesy of Adam Warlock's evil side, the Magus. And Thanos can't keep his nose out of it. Peter Silvestro documented this event back in 2010.

But the Armoured Avenger's back in his regular red&gold for AVENGERS WEST COAST #84-86 as Deathweb and their masters try to influence a Presidential election.

--RobFJ



Some Cap and Hulk Odds and Ends!

July 12, 2018

The big question: If you have a box full of odds and ends and you put your hand in and take one out, is it an odd or an end? I can't answer that but here are some quirky tie-ins for a pair of our favorite heroes!

A quirky little event called WORLD WAR HULKS resulted in a number of superheroes and villains exposed to gamma radiation and hulking out! HULKED-OUT HEROES, despite its title (and its cover), focused entirely on Deadpool who becomes Hulkpool and wants to go back in time to kill...Deadpool! He wasn't the most rational of anti-heroes to begin with; getting Hulked doesn't fix the problem!

There's also the time during WW2 when Captain America and the other Invaders turned Nazi! It started in INVADERS #5 and MARVEL PREMIERE #29, added to the site last week now we conclude the story with INVADERS #6 and MARVEL PREMIERE #30! Enjoy!

There's always more stuff to come on the Marvel Heroes Library! And you can join our little venture, just get in touch with us and we'll get you started!

--PeterS




4 out of 5 issues continue from last week's summary

July 9, 2018

In AVENGERS #4 we find out a bit more about Celestials history. And the Eternals commit suicide.

INFINITY COUNTDOWN: CHAMPIONS #2 rounds off the 2-parter with both Ironheart and Nova losing their armour.

EXILES #4 is the only 1 not continuing from last week. But the story-arc still continues and the team discover that the Time-Eater is Kang with the power of multiple Galacti from alternate timelines.

I continue the 2007 Mighty Avengers with #34 which is a single-issue story which finishes off the Loki-as-Scarlet Witch subplot.

T Vernon continues the original Iron Man run as usual with #282 where Tony Stark's War Machine armour sees action for the 1st time.

--RobFJ



Cap and Hulk and Cap AS Hulk!

July 5, 2018

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 debuts naturally on July 4th! Cap is back but his nation has changed, broken by the Hydra takeover; can Captain America truly fight for America?

And then there's IMMORTAL HULK #2, continuing the Hulk horror theme as Bruce investigates a series of weird deaths in a small town so that Hulk can take vengeance!

But the real weird thing is WORLD WAR HULKS: CAPTAIN AMERICA VS WOLVERINE, a tie-in to an earlier mini-event wherein a number of heroes are exposed to Gamma radiation! Here, it's (Bucky) Cap and Wolverine Hulked-out who it turns out have a grudge against one another and duke it out here and in flashback!

There's also the time during WW2 when Captain America and the other Invaders turned Nazi! It happened in INVADERS #5 and only Bucky was left to try to solve the problem! His solution? A new set of heroes! That would be the Liberty Legion, formed and fighting in MARVEL PREMIERE #29, the first two issues in a four-part crossover adventure!

There's always more stuff to come on the Marvel Heroes Library! And you can join our little venture, just get in touch with us and we'll get you started!

--PeterS



It's Champions month ...

July 2, 2018

... if that month is June 13 to July 12. The 2-issue Infinity Countdown: Champions means that the team have a comic out in 4 out of the 5 Wednesdays in that period. In #1 they go after Warbringer of the Chitauri and end up trying to stop him killing his own people. Oh, and Thanos is in there too.

AVENGERS #3 brings all the will-be Avengers together, except Loki takes Captain America to see the ancestor of them all.

In PUNISHER #226 the unstoppable Frank Castle in the War Machine armour almost gets stopped by Hydra, and he suffers the indignity of being rescued by Hawkeye (and some friends).

During Dark Reign the Mighty Avengers fight the Dark Avengers in MIGHTY AVENGERS (2007) #32-33, and Norman Osborn gets hold of a Cosmic Cube until Hank Pym tricks him out of it. But Loki ensures Norman is seen by the public as the hero.

T Vernon is on hand with IRON MAN (1968) #281, and we are introduced to what will be known as the War Machine armour.

--RobFJ



More Thor and As You've Never Seen Him Before!

June 28, 2018

The brand new THOR 2 continues the tale of the Thunder God's journey through Hel as he picks up some familiar travelers in the Realm of the Dead!

And Thor as you've never seen him before: Hulked-Out! It was in WORLD WAR HULKS: SPIDER-MAN VS THOR that the God of Thunder and the Walloping Wall-Crawler were endowed with the powers of the Hulk, which made them less than friendly to one another! Get the details of this oddest of team-ups!

Pop quiz: When did Captain America, Sub-Mariner, and the Human Torch first team up as the Invaders? 1941, right? Well, no, it wasn't until GIANT-SIZE INVADERS in 1975! That's when Rascally Roy Thomas first proposed the team-up and when they first appeared in the comics! It's only that the stories were set during World War II that fooled everybody into thinking they had been around during the Golden Age of Comics! And now that we've added all of Cap's appearances in his main titles, we'll be putting these oft-overlooked classics in the Marvel Heroes Library!

--PeterS



All 3 main current Iron persons have issues this week

June 25, 2018

TONY STARK: IRON MAN (1968) #1 starts a new Stark company and has Iron Man fighting Fin Fang Foom.

Ironheart is in CHAMPIONS #21 where the team fight Alpha Flight until they team up and the villain runs away.

And Iron Doom takes over MARVEL 2-IN-ONE ANNUAL #1 for a meeting with the multiversal Council of Reeds.

Back in the past Norman Osborn/Iron Patriot stars in the last 2 of the Dark Reign: The List 1-shots. In the WOLVERINE issue he sends HAMMER to take over The World. And in the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN issue Peter Parker gets evidence to bring Norman down.

Further back in the past T Vernon returns from his enforced rest for IRON MAN (1968) #280, a filler issue where Shellhead is taken to the future to meet an alien race (from the old Guardians Of The Galaxy series) who worship him.

--RobFJ



The Last of Cap—in More Ways Than One!

June 21, 2018

CAPTAIN AMERICA #704 wraps up the Mark Waid filler series, getting us ready for the new Cap comic coming (appropriately) on the 4th of July!

But that isn't the only way Cap is coming to an end! We've also added CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998 series) #37 and 38, which means...the Marvel Heroes Library now has entries for all of Cap's main titles from 1964-the present day! That's nearly 700 issues (trust us, we counted) to get caught up on what Cap has been doing since he was defrosted back at the beginning of Marvel history!

And, since a one-shot is almost as good as a final issue, we have CAP AND THOR! AVENGERS, a tie-in to the then-upcoming Thor and Cap movies in 2011! Pretty odd going there with Hydra, monsters, and the evil Malekith as guest stars!

There's always more stuff to come on the Marvel Heroes Library! And you can join our little venture, just get in touch with us and we'll get you started!

--PeterS



The 26th Anniversary of Operation: Galactic Storm

June 18, 2018

In PUNISHER #225 the Punisher War Machine fights off a bunch of superheroes led by Captain Marvel and reveals the next stage of his plan - to go after Hydra to redeem himself for working for them during Secret Empire.

Despite the cover Rocket Raccoon and Galactus don't meet in INFINITY COUNTDOWN #4. But Big G and Silver Surfer are brought back to their original partnership.

In the original Iron Man series it's time for the Galactic Storm event. But Peter Silvestro already did the whole of that including IRON MAN (1968) #278-279 and AVENGERS WEST COAST #80-82. Just start at CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #398 and follow the links. PS also did the post-conflict debriefing in CA#401. I now add AVWC#83 as another addendum which explains what the West Coast Reserves were doing while the main guys were off in space.

--RobFJ



A New Thor Series Begins!

June 14, 2018

And the old Thor Odinson is back as the God of Thunder, minus an arm and minus Mjolnir in the new THOR #1! Jason Aaron is still on board, joined now by Mike Del Mundo as is King Thor in a back-up tale with the most unbelievable final page in a very long time! Check out our synopsis and review!

Back a few years there was a small-scale event called FALL OF THE HULKS which had a cadre of villains trying to do some sinister bad guy stuff to the collective Hulk-related characters! One of the tie-in series stood out in the midst of the others: SAVAGE SHE-HULKS #1-3! This one brought Lyra, the Savage She-Hulk from the future, Jen Walters the beloved She-Hulk from the present, and the bad guy Red She-Hulk (not yet revealed to be Betty Ross) together and it was a delight! The complete mini-series now added to the Marvel Heroes Library!

There's always more stuff to come on the Marvel Heroes Library! And you can join our little venture, just get in touch with us and we'll get you started!

--PeterS



2 Galacti (or 3, depends how you count them)

June 11, 2018

MARVEL 2-IN-ONE #6 brings the story of Doomlactus to a universe-changing conclusion.

INFINITY COUNTDOWN #3 is split between the Guardians of the Galaxy saving the Power Stone and Adam Warlock fighting Ultron for the Soul Gem.

Both issues feature Silver Surfer and at the end a Lifebringer Galactus. But from different alternate universes.

I've given T Vernon 2 weeks off while I insert some Avengers West Coast stuff into Iron Man's chronology. #76-79 is a story arc called Infamous Monsters of Hollywood with the team and Dr Strange vs Satannish and his minions Night Shift.

--RobFJ



An All-New Immortal Hulk!

June 7, 2018

Two brand new comics hit the stores this week and we have written them both up just for you!

First up we have THE IMMORTAL HULK #1 and it's a shocker! Writer Al Ewing's new take on the Hulk takes us into new territory, with a more horrific edge and a darker outlook! Check it out!

And heading toward the end of the Marvel Legacy filler series, CAPTAIN AMERICA #703 continues the futuristic tale of Cap's ultimate legacy with his descendant Jack Rogers facing the revived Red Skull!

Then, CARNAGE USA #5 concludes with a battle between the two symbiotes, the ghastly Carnage and the new VenomFlash Thompson

There's always more stuff to come on the Marvel Heroes Library! And you can join our little venture, just get in touch with us and we'll get you started!

--PeterS




You can't tell the bad guys from the good ones

June 4, 2018

In CHAMPIONS #20 the Master of the World claims to be a bad guy doing good, so what does that make Alpha Flight? And who knows which side the Champions will take.

And in PUNISHER #224 Carol Danvers leads a group of superheroes on a mission to take back her dead lover's War Machine armour from bad good guy Frank Castle.

And in INFINITY COUNTDOWN #2 Nova Richard Rider discovers bad Raptor Talonar is his ex-Nova good brother Robbie. And Adam Warlock goes looking for his evil side Magus and finds Ultron instead who recently ejected his used-to-be-good part Henry Pym.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) ANNUAL #12 is part 4 of Annuals crossover Subterranean Wars in which Iron Man's old enemy Kala asks him to help *her* lover general bad guy Mole Man.

And then Subterranean Wars concludes in AVENGERS WEST COAST ANNUAL #6 where Shellhead recruits the AWC to rescue the other Avengers and help several underground bad guys against the even badder Deviants.

And going even further back in time Webmaster Julio has just added the classic TOMB OF DRACULA #1 where the main character is the bad guy. Gene Colan's already on board as artist (as Adam Austin). The 1st 6 issues have a variety of scripters but the aptly-named Marv Wolfman will take over in #7 to complete the iconic duo.

--RobFJ



You can't tell the bad guys from the good ones

June 4, 2018

In CHAMPIONS #20 the Master of the World claims to be a bad guy doing good, so what does that make Alpha Flight then.

And in PUNISHER #224 Carol Danvers leads a group of superheroes on a mission to take back her dead lover's War Machine armour from bad good guy Frank Castle.

And in INFINITY COUNTDOWN #2 Nova Richard Rider discovers bad Raptor Talonar is his ex-Nova good brother Robbie. And Adam Warlock goes looking for his evil side Magus and finds Ultron instead who recently ejected his used-to-be-good part Henry Pym.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) ANNUAL #12 is part 4 of Annuals crossover Subterranean Wars in which Iron Man's old enemy Kala asks him to help *her* lover general bad guy Mole Man.

And then Subterranean Wars concludes in AVENGERS WEST COAST ANNUAL #6 where Shellhead recruits the AWC to rescue the other Avengers and help several underground bad guys against the even badder Deviants.

And going even further back in time Webmaster Julio has just added the classic TOMB OF DRACULA #1 where the main character is the bad guy. Gene Colan's already on board as artist (as Adam Austin). The 1st 6 issues have a variety of scripters but the aptly-named Marv Wolfman will take over in #7 to complete the iconic duo.

--RobFJ



Some Cool Older Stuff!

May 31, 2018

While we're all eagerly awaiting this year's number #1 issues, we've got some cool older stuff to add to the Marvel Heroes Library!

First up we have CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL 2001! Herein, Cap gets to meet President George W. Bush and he learns some eye-opening secrets about his (Cap's) WW2 service!

Then, CARNAGE USA #4 continues the saga of Spider-Man's battle against the ghastly symbiote Carnage in the American heartland—with the new Venom (Flash Thompson) on hand as well!

Finally we have MARVEL PREMIERE #49, the Falcon's first solo adventure in this 70s try-out title, pitting him against the sinister Silencer! And Cap is the guest star!

--PeterS



Bye-bye to Bendis and Byrne

May 28, 2018

The Search For Tony Stark wraps up in IRON MAN #600, and Brian Michael Bendis leaves lots of plot threads for new writer Dan Slott to ignore if he wants to.

And the returned Iron Man is already in action in AVENGERS #2 as we discover that Loki is allied with the Final Host.

Was INFINITY COUNTDOWN #1 really just the next issue of the cancelled Guardians Of The Galaxy mag?

Another writer leaving a series was John Byrne in IRON MAN (1968) #277, but he wrapped everything up. T Vernon does the honours as usual.

After that Shellhead visited AVENGERS WEST COAST #75 for a day out in a theme park. And then he got caught up in the INFINITY GAUNTLET limited series, the inspiration for the Infinity War film(s). Peter Silvestro synopsised this some years ago.

--RobFJ



Hulk Settles Down!

May 24, 2018

The final issue in the current series, THE INCREDIBLE HULK #717, has Amadeus Cho struggling against the Dark Hulk within and winning—for now!

A special one-shot THE MIGHTY THOR: AT THE GATES OF VALHALLA ties together the old series and the new, reintroducing the Goddesses of Thunder and bringing us up to speed on the War of the Realms!

And CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL 2000 gives us the origin of Protocide, Cap's dark counterpart from the early days of the Super-Soldier program, as we wonder why no writer has ever brought him back, not even Ed Brubaker who revived a number of past Cap characters!

Meanwhile, CARNAGE USA #3 continues the saga of Spider-Man's battle against the ghastly symbiote Carnage in the American heartland—with Captain America become a monster!

--PeterS



Overrun by Wolverine's and Captain America's

May 21, 2018

Iron Man's not yet finished his return-from-coma Legacy series and he's in another new series this week - HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: ADAMANTIUM AGENDA #1. I don't know about the other HFW mini-series but at least Logan's *in* this 1, albeit in a flashback to before he was dead.

In EXILES #3 the team keep running through alternate realities just ahead of the Time-Eater. This issue features Peggy Carter as Captain America. Plus of course Li'l Wolvie.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2018: AVENGERS & CAPTAIN AMERICA has an immediate prequel to last week's Av#1. The Cap story is a trailer for the forthcoming CA#1.

I continue playing catchup with INFINITY COUNTDOWN PRIME which brings all the Infinity Stones onto the board and introduces all the players. And Wolverine *is* in this.

I also continue Dark Reign: The List with the PUNISHER issue as he gets hacked to pieces prior to his FrankenCastle run. And Julio already documented the next issue which brings Bruce Banner closer to becoming HULK again.

And in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #276 is Black Widow friend or foe?

--RobFJ



Cap's Return on the Horizon?

May 17, 2018

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA #702 takes us a century into the future where Cap's legacy has changed the world! But with the surprise return of another familiar character, could Cap himself be popping up next time?

CARNAGE USA #2 has several Avengers falling prey to the ghastly symbiote in the American heartland, leaving Spider-Man on his own against the monster!

And the quirkiest addition to the site this time is FALL OF THE HULKS: RED HULK #4, the final issue of a minor tie-in to a forgotten minor event! But it completes the set that was really bugging me!

--PeterS



A variety of team-ups

May 14, 2018

AVENGERS #1 jumps the gun on the new Captain America, Iron Man and Thor series by having them team-up as the core of what will be the new Avengers roster. But 1st they've got to defeat the Final Host of Celestials whose 1st act is to kill all the other Celestials.

I'm going to continue the Infinity Countdown stuff that Julio Molina-Muscara started with IC: ADAM WARLOCK. But 1st I present GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #150 which led into that issue and laid out some of the plotlines for the IC series.

Dark Reign: The List continues with DRTL: SECRET WARRIORS where Norman Osborn reluctantly teams-up with Nick Fury to investigate the threat of Leviathan. Fury gets help from Ares there, and in SECRET WARRIORS #10 we see the other side of their deal as Ares' son Alex gets accepted as a god.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #275 finishes off the Dragon Seed saga as Mandarin teams-up with the 2 Iron Men to see off the alien dragons. And Mandarin's career seems to be over because he loses his Ring hands. (But you know he'll be back eventually.)

--RobFJ



Hulk's Days are Numbered!!

May 10, 2018

Just out this week, THE INCREDIBLE HULK #716 is leading toward Amadeus Cho's being freed of the curse of the Hulk.

In CAPTAIN AMERICA Vol 3 #35, Cap squares off against his nemesis and opposite number Protocide!

And in the sequel to CARNAGE, CARNAGE USA #1 has several Avengers joining Spider-Man in tracking down the ghastly symbiote in the American heartland!

--PeterS



It's the end of an Avengers era (era's are very short these days)

May 7, 2018

In EXILES #2 the team gains the Valkyrie from the Thor: Ragnarok movie (sort of) and Wolvie from the X-Babies. They're really casting the net wide!

AVENGERS #690 is an epilogue to the No Surrender epic in which the cast members go their separate ways, villains included.

This will be my last mention for Iron Man's involvement in the 1st Carnage series as #5 is the last issue. Peter Silvestro saw it through to the end.

I've reached the Dark Reign: The List 1-shots in my slog through that era. Peter gets another mention because he's already done DRTL: AVENGERS and its immediate sequel NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #3. So I now contribute DRTL: DAREDEVIL (DD accepts control of the Hand and starts a war with Norman Osborn) and DRTL: X-MEN (Norman sends Namor's ex-wife (not quite what you think) against him and the X-Men).

And in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #274 it's Mandarin vs a load of alien dragons with 2 Iron Men caught in the middle.

--RobFJ



Cap's Cool Legacy!

May 3, 2018

CAPTAIN AMERICA #701 takes us in an unexpected direction: the far future! It's a world where Cap's ideals have made the world a utopia—but (there's always a “but” in something like this) historian Jackson Rogers (descendant of you-know-who) uncovers a treasonous conspiracy!

And we're adding some missing Hulk-related issues to the site! First up, there's WORLD WAR HULKS #1, kicking off the mini-epic of that title, showcasing some of the event's players including Red She-Hulk, A-Bomb, and (gasp!) Hulkpool!

CARNAGE #5 concludes Spider-Man's and Iron Man's hideous adventure with the sinister symbiote!

<--f-- style="" face="Times New Roman, serif"><--f-- style="" size="3">And AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR now has a synopsis and review on the site! Have you seen it yet? Go see it again!

--PeterS



Cap's Cool Legacy!

May 3, 2018

CAPTAIN AMERICA #701 takes us in an unexpected direction: the far future! It's a world where Cap's ideals have made the world a utopia—but (there's always a “but” in something like this) historian Jackson Rogers (descendant of you-know-who) uncovers a sinister conspiracy!

And we're adding some missing Hulk-related issues to the site! First up, there's WORLD WAR HULKS #1, kicking off the mini-epic of that title, showcasing some of the event's players including Red She-Hulk, A-Bomb, and (gasp!) Hulkpool!

CARNAGE #5 concludes Spider-Man's and Iron Man's hideous !

<--f-- face="Times New Roman, serif"><--f-- size="3">And THE AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR now has a synopsis and review on the site! Have you seen it yet? Go see it again!

--PeterS



Thor No More?

April 26, 2018

The landmark THE MIGHTY THOR #706 shows us the end of Jane Foster's embodiment of Thor, though the end isn't as sad as we thought it would be! No, the really sad bit is the end of Russell Dauterman's run as Thor artist—he is the one who will be missed!

CAPTAIN AMERICA (vol. 3) #34 is all about the cash! No wait—it's Cache, a nasty (and argumentative) AI who will cause no end of trouble for Cap and Falcon!

CARNAGE #4 continues Spider-Man's and Iron Man's battle with the gruesome symbiote!!

<--f-- style="" face="Times New Roman, serif"><--f-- style="" size="3">And (SPOILERS ALERT) we have the synopsis of AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR which comes out in the USA this weekend so go see it!

--PeterS



Quicksilver out, Iron Lad in and the 1st death of Thanos

April 23, 2018

PUNISHER #223 concludes the War Machine arc but Frank Castle will keep the armour for another 5 issues.

In AVENGERS #688 Quicksilver unfreezes the other Avengers by going faster than ever but as a result disappears (into the Speed Force?).

The new kid on the block EXILES #1 introduces a variant version of Iron Lad vs a zombie head of Galactus. And Iron Man keeps on guesting in Peter Silvestro's CARNAGE #3. Tony Stark is back in the armour in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #272 as the Dragon Seed Saga starts (John Byrne's been building up to this since #259).

WARLOCK #15 adds another piece to the early Thanos jigsaw. There are 6 Soul Gems like Warlock's and Thanos means to get them all. The series ended there but Jim Starlin finished the story off in AVENGERS ANNUAL #7 and MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE AN#2, which featured the deaths of both Thanos and Warlock. I wrote those 2 up some years ago. They'll both be resurrected over a decade later. But in between dead Thanos will reappear in Starlin's THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN MARVEL GN, already done for us by Peter Silvestro.

There's 1 more minor part of Thanos' 1st life to be found in a backup tale in LOGAN'S RUN #6. And now we have it all.

--RobFJ



A New Hulk and More!

April 19, 2018

INCREDIBLE HULK #715 sees Dark Hulk and Amadeus Cho fighting for control of the big green body and Hulk fights dirty!

CAPTAIN AMERICA (vol. 3) #33 has Cap and Falcon infiltrating a tech company and facing a deadly AI!

CARNAGE #3 continues Spider-Man's and Iron Man's battle with the grisly symbiote!!

<--f-- face="Times New Roman, serif" style=""><--f-- size="3" style="">AVENGERS: SHARDS OF INFINITY tries to trick us into thinking it's connected to the upcoming INFINITY WAR but it isn't! Instead, a small team of Avengers—Cap, Black Panther, Black Widow, and Falcon—take on yet another fanatical group bent on world domination—but this time the baddies have bits of the Cosmic Cube!

--PeterS



I've got 3 new issues to champion this week ...

April 16, 2018

... appropriately the 1st is CHAMPIONS #19 in which Ironheart starts to bond with her new posse and they investigate something in Northeast Canada.

No Surrender continues in AVENGERS #687 with our Iron representative Toni Ho. Everybody gets ready for the last lap and Quicksilver races ahead on a quest to unfreeze all the other supercharacters.

Lastly I've restarted Marvel 2-In-One with #5 because Iron Doom hasn't actually left the comic. And now they're up against an alternate Dr Doom merged with Galactus.

I'll mention that Iron Man (remember him - Tony Stark) continues to guest in Peter Silvestro's CARNAGE #2.

On a more regular note T Vernon chimes in with IRON MAN (1968) #271 where Iron Man (James Rhodes) faces Fin Fang Foom. And we get a glimpse of Mandarin's aide Chen Hsu's hidden agenda.

My archaeological dig for early Thanos apps brings me to the 2nd phase of his 1st life (after the Cosmic Cube saga) in WARLOCK #9-11. He helps Adam Warlock end the menace of his future self Magus (with the aid of Gamora and Pip the Troll), but only because he has his own plans for Adam's Soul Gem.

--RobFJ



Triple Threat!

April 12, 2018

Three of our favorite heroes have cool stuff now added to the Marvel Heroes Library!

The only new comic added this time is CAPTAIN AMERICA #700, a milestone issue wrapping up the tale of Cap in a near future dystopia, bringing him back in time to have his comic rolled back to #1 like everybody is doing these days!

And then we present HULK FAMILY: GREEEN GENES, a nice one-shot showcasing all of the Hulk's relatives, including a cousin (Shulkie), a son (Skaar), a daughter (Lyra), and another possible daughter (Scorpion)! And Joe Fixit comes back!

And Iron Man and Spider-Man team up again in CARNAGE #2! Because that icky symbiote isn't done yet!

<--f-- face="Times New Roman, serif"><--f-- size="3">Is there anything you would like to see on this site? Get in touch and you can write it up if you so desire!

--PeterS



The search for Iron Man succeeds?

April 9, 2018

Ironheart and others take a back seat in CHAMPIONS #18 where Cyclops leaves the team and human Viv Vision merges with synthezoid Viv 2.0.

In AVENGERS #686 Hulk wins the final Pyramoid for Challenger but then asserts his independence by smashing it. So Challenger takes out his rage on Grandmaster. Ex-Iron Patriot Toni Ho is still in there.

The real Iron Man actually shows up this week in CARNAGE #1 from the Heroic Age. Peter Silvestro uploaded this.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1968) #270. In China while Tony Stark consults a doctor Rhodey subs as Iron Man but finds he's facing Mandarin.

The early Thanos Cosmic Cube saga had a long side arc in Daredevil with Moondragon. I've decided to contribute #105&107 as the most relevant issues.

--RobFJ



A Marvelous Mixed Bag!

April 5, 2018

Three semi-classic tales have now been added to the Marvel Heroes Library!

First up is CAPTAIN AMERICA (vol. 3) #31 wrapping up the tale of Cap versus Count Nefaria in the Savage Land and yes, Ka-Zar and his crew are here as well!

Hulk without Hulk? Is that like GARFIELD WITHOUT GARFIELD (if you don't know what this is, look it up, it's a hoot)? Well, in INCREDIBLE HULK (vol. 3) #112, the series was transitioning to feature Hercules so we close out the Hulk's third series without him!

And then there's CARNAGE #1! Spider-Man's most gruesome enemy is back and Spidey needs the help of Iron Man to stop him! Icky fun!

<--f-- face="Times New Roman, serif"><--f-- size="3">Is there anything you would like to see on this site? Get in touch and you can write it up if you so desire!

--PeterS



Hulk vies with Thanos for guest-mentions in this report

April 2, 2018

IRON MAN #598 continues to follow the adventures of Ironheart and Iron Doom. Doom gets beaten up by Hood's gang and has to teleport out of his armour to the safety of Amara Perera's apartment. Ironheart and her MIT gang are led on a wild goose chase by Stark-programmed Friday until Tony's voice tells them to stop looking for him.

In AVENGERS #685 Iron Hulk probably ends his 2-issue career as green Hulk drains all the gamma energy out of Gen'l Maverick. And Hulk makes short work of the other Avengers who try to stop him getting to Voyager and the 5th Pyramoid.

T Vernon has reached IRON MAN (1968) #269, the 1st of 3 issues building up to Mandarin's Dragon Seed Saga. Black Widow starts another slow-burning plotline while Tony Stark is invited to China for help with his neurological problem.

I'll mention in passing that Julio has written up HULK ANNUAL #8 where Hulk meets (ie fights) Alpha Flight's Sasquatch in Canada.

And continuing filling-in early Thanos issues I've added CAPTAIN MARVEL #25-26 which begin Jim Starlin's Thanos/Cosmic Cube saga. #27-33 are already on the database, plus crossover AVENGERS #125 and tie-in MARVEL FEATURE #12.

--RobFJ



Always make sure your origin is up-to-date

March 26, 2018

In PUNISHER #222 War Machine Punisher takes on the whole Chernayan army plus some armoured SHIELD Agents. Then Gen'l Petrov launches a nuke. What's left for the conclusion next issue?

Mild by comparison, in AVENGERS #684 a few Avengers just tackle the Hulk. And Voyager turns out to be not who she said she was. Plus the intro of Iron Hulk.

Following last week's origin of Thanos' ancestors in CAPTAIN MARVEL #29, WHAT IF? #24-25 updates it to the currently-accepted version.

And the update of Iron Man's origin concludes in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #268, implicating Mandarin.

--RobFJ



The Strongest Avenger!

March 22, 2018

THOR: RAGNAROK taught us that both Hulk and Thor consider themselves the strongest Avenger! So who is correct? I'm not going to take sides which could be dangerous! Instead each of those heroes has a brand new issue here on the Marvel Heroes Library—even though it's not Banner Hulk and Thor Odinson!

THE INCREDIBLE HULK #714 sees Amadeus Cho returning to Earth from Planet Hulk! But there are worrisome factors at hand, namely, the cover says World War Hulk II!

And sadly THE MIGHTY THOR #705 records the last days of Thor (Jane Foster) as she faces the destructive Mangog and it will cost her her life.

<--f-- face="Times New Roman, serif"><--f-- size="3">And we're still looking for interested people to join the team! Get in touch and you can be a Marvel hero too!

--PeterS



Thanos and Warlock stage a takeover

March 19, 2018

Ironheart is among the Champions For A Day in their #17 while Viv Vision is stalked by Viv 2.0.

Time out from the big battles in AVENGERS #683 as Jarvis recovers to tell us that Voyager is a fake.

Site-Supremo Julio starts the march towards the comics' Infinity War with INFINITY COUNTDOWN: ADAM WARLOCK.

The TBolts/Warriors crossover concludes with THUNDERBOLTS #136 and SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #9.

T Vernon has the 1st of a 2-part retiming of Iron Man's origin in IRON MAN (1968) #267.

Julio also contributes HULK #177 which picked up the threads from the cancelled Warlock series (which later returned to host the 2nd Thanos War).

And I add a missing chapter from the 1st Thanos War with CAPTAIN MARVEL #29 which includes an origin for the Titanians.

--RobFJ



A Classic Marvel Moment!

March 15, 2018

A major milestone in Marvel history now has a page in the Marvel Heroes Library! It's AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #100, where Pete ponders whether to remain Spidey or not! And he receives a big shock in the end! This was written up by our Web Wizard Julio Molina-Muscara!

And a little more recently (and less momentous), we have CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998 series) #28: Cap goes to the Savage Land—and it's more savage than usual with marauding dinosaur-men and a missing Sharon Carter! And Cap ends up with an unexpected ally!

<--f-- face="Times New Roman, serif" style=""><--f-- size="3" style="">More stuff added to the Marvel Heroes Library every week! Bookmark the site and stay with us! And if you really enjoy what you see, come join us! Get in touch and you can be a Marvel hero too!

--PeterS



Halfway through 2 things and at the end of another

March 12, 2018

No Surrender has reached its midpoint now we've had AVENGERS #682 . The Avengers claim a 2nd point for the 'obstacles'. But there's a 5th point to play for. And Jarvis seems to know something.

THUNDERBOLTS #135 and SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #8 are the middle pair in the TBolts/Warriors crossover. And Nick Fury turns out to be an LMD with Ares' son inside.

And T Vernon brings us the end of Armour Wars II in IRON MAN (1968) #266. As he says it's a bit of an anticlimax.

--RobFJ



Red, White, Green, and Orange!

March 8, 2018

This week we have CAPTAIN AMERICA #699 still in a post-apocalyptic America where Cap is leading a revolt against the wicked king, aided by none other than the Hulk and the Thing!

And to go back a few years, we also have CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998 series) #26-27 where our star-spangled hero joins the Falcon and Nick Fury to take down the hideous Hate-Monger!

<--f-- face="Times New Roman, serif" style=""><--f-- size="3" style="">More stuff added to the Marvel Heroes Library every week! Bookmark the site and stay with us! And if you really enjoy what you see, come join us! Get in touch and you can be a Marvel hero too!

--PeterS



6 multi-parters in 5 issues

March 5, 2018

IRON MAN #597 is part 5 of the 8-part Search For Tony Stark that will end with #600. But this issue has no Tony/Iron Man and is really about Ironheart and Iron Doom.

AVENGERS #681 is part 7 of the 16-part No Surrender. We get origins for Captain Glory and Vector. The Lethal Legion win their 1st point. Hawkeye and Red Wolf join the fight. And Hulk inches closer to his cover-app in #684.

SECRET WARRIORS (2009) #7 is part 1 of 4 for God Of Fear, God Of War. THUNDERBOLTS #134 is part 2 of 4 of Widowmaker. But they are also the opening salvoes in a 6-part SW/TB crossover. Norman Osborn hatches a plan to kill 3 birds (Black Widow, Nick Fury and Songbird) with 1 stone.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #265 is part 8 of the 9-part Armour Wars II, and Shellhead finally comes face-to-face with the guy who's been controlling his armour.

--RobFJ



In Iron news this week:-

February 26, 2018

In PUNISHER #221 Punisher brings the War Machine armour back to life and goes on the offensive to flush Gen'l Petrov out.

AVENGERS #680 begins round 2 of the Grandmaster and Challenger's game. And the original Wasp is revived to replace the 'dead' Human Torch.

The Dark Reign issues this week are NEW AVENGERS (2005) #59-60. The Avengers draft in a lot of help to get Luke Cage out of Norman Osborn's clutches, only to find his body has been booby-trapped.

T Vernon does IRON MAN (1968) #264. This is part 7 of a 9-issue story arc. (In the days before Trade Paperback collections told us that 6 issues was the perfect length for for a story.)

--RobFJ



Three Hot New Issues!

February 22, 2018

THE INCREDIBLE HULK #713 wraps up the “Return to Planet Hulk,” pitting our Gamma-irradiated hero against the Warlord himself, with the fate of their world in the balance! Will it be saved—or will the Worldbreaker break it?

Then in THE MIGHTY THOR #704, Jane Foster faces the decision that will end her life: if she becomes the Mighty Thor again, changing back to Jane will surely kill her! So it's her life versus Asgardia's! What would you do?

And then there's CAPTAIN AMERICA #698 wherein the Living Legend emerges from the ice a second time to face a post-apocalyptic America where he is the only one who can lead a successful revolt!

And to go back a few years, we also have CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998 series) #25 where our star-spangled hero joins the Falcon and Nick Fury to take down the hideous Hate-Monger!

More stuff added to the Marvel Heroes Library every week! Bookmark the site and stay with us! And if you really enjoy what you see, come join us! Get in touch and you can be a Marvel hero too!

--PeterS



Here's the next issue of everything we did last week!

February 19, 2018

MARVEL 2-IN-ONE #3:- Iron Doom is still trying to find the Multisect while Thing and Torch are persuaded to take someone else with them when they use it to go universe-hopping.

AVENGERS #679:- No Iron Patriot again but I think Bruce Banner/Hulk shows up for the last page.

NEW AVENGERS (2005) #58:- Only 1 Dark Reign issue this week. The New and Dark Avengers actually fight each other, I think for the 1st time.

IRON MAN (1968) #263:- T Vernon tells us how Living Laser returns for a rematch but Dr Pym and Wonder Man pop in to help Iron Man.

--RobFJ



Things continue, especially old Marvel monsters

February 12, 2018

Victor Von Doom as Iron Man continues his guest slot in MARVEL 2-IN-ONE #2 as he competes with Thing and Human Torch to find the device Mr Fantastic left on Monster Island - but it isn't there. But Googam son of Goom is.

Toni Ho/Iron Patriot is only behind the scenes in AVENGERS #678, the continuation of No Surrender, which means it doesn't really belong in the Iron Man Library. But that doesn't mean as much as it used to.

Dark Reign continues with NEW AVENGERS (2005) #56-57 where Jonas Harrow takes down the team to convince Norman Osborn to let him replace Hood as leader of the villain gang. But Mockingbird rescues them. And elsewhere Loki gives Hood the power of the Norn Stones.

T Vernon continues the original Iron Man series with #262 where Tony Stark finds a way to bypass Kearson DeWitt's control of his body. And Mandarin chats with Fin Fang Foom.

--RobFJ



All this and Fin Fang Foom!

February 5, 2018

IRON MAN #596 brings us closer to the return of Tony Stark as Riri Williams seems to give up being Ironheart and others find where Tony's been struggling to recover from his coma.

AVENGERS #677 confirms that Grandmaster's behind the current plot, which this time is a Contest of Villains rather than a Contest of Champions.

In the Dark Reign issues AVENGERS: INITIATIVE #29,31 Penance gets his sanity back and Norman Osborn gives Taskmaster an offer he can't refuse.

T Vernon is here with IRON MAN (1968) #261. DeWitt and the Marrs twins have shut down Iron Man's body. And Mandarin meets Fin Fang Foom.

--RobFJ



Hulk Versus Thor!

February 1, 2018

Just out, THE INCREDIBLE HULK #712 pits the Jolly Green Giant against the unworthy God of Thunder as we “Return to Planet Hulk!

And back in the old days, there's CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL 1999 where Cap faces an old enemy with a new look and new mission, Flag-Smasher!

<--f-- face="Times New Roman, serif">More stuff added to the Marvel Heroes Library every week! Bookmark the site and stay with us! Don't see what you're looking for? Join us and contribute!

--PeterS



Vamping until Tony Stark is ready

January 29, 2018

CHAMPIONS #16 makes it onto this list by having 1 page of Ironheart. They're having a membership drive but I don't think she'll join until #19.

AVENGERS #676 sneaks in by having Toni Ho billed as Iron Patriot. But all the Avengers get blown up at the end so who knows who'll be in the rest of the issues.

DARK AVENGERS #10-12 has the 1st Iron Patriot Norman Osborn and his crew getting outclassed by Molecule Man until Sentry realises he has the same power.

In the times of those comics Tony Stark is missing.

At least Tony's in CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #22 brought to us by Peter Silvestro, as the vibranium problem is solved and Cap gets his proper shield back.

And finally the real Iron Man is in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #260 where he's beaten by Living Laser because the behind-the-scenes villains are remotely messing with his body.

--RobFJ



4 Iron Ages

January 22, 2018

In PUNISHER #220 Punisher/War Machine continues his 1-man war on the Chenayan dictatorship, this time busting open detainment camps and fighting rogue SHIELD Agents.

Nearly all the current Avengers, including Iron Patriot Toni Ho, get assembled in AVENGERS #675 by a mystery woman when the Earth gets transported elsewhere.

We're back in 2009 in Dark Reign after 2 months of Avengers West Coast issues. I'm starting out easy with a single issue DARK AVENGERS #9. It's mainly Ares discovering his son is 1 of Nick Fury's Secret Warriors - and not being happy about it. Iron Patriot Norman Osborn is as usual my excuse to include this.

From 1999 Peter Silvestro contributes CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #21 within which Tony Stark explains that when Cap's shield was destroyed and rebuilt way back in Secret Wars I it gained a flaw in its vibranium which has now infected all the vibranium in the world causing bits to start to explode. When the mound in Wakanda goes it'll be bye-bye Earth.

T Vernon continues 1990's Armour Wars II in IRON MAN (1968) #259. It wasn't really the ghost of Titanium Man it was Living Laser in disguise. But there are 2 bigger villains manoeuvring in the background.

--RobFJ



Introductions all round

January 21, 2018

INFINITY WARS: INFINTY sets up threads for Wolverine: Infinity Watch and the new Guardians Of The Galaxy series, including introducing a new character to hold the Time Stone.

IRONHEART #2 joins its stablemate Tony Stark: Iron Man in being much-delayed. Now it's here it drops the Ten Rings plotline in favour of a new shifty politician thing. But of course they may turn out to be connected.

Iron Man and Force Works intervene in a Balkan civil war in their #4-5, introducing Black Brigade and Ember on opposite sides.

And then in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #307 Shellhead meets a new AI villain VOR/TEX (who admittedly has been behind the scenes in some previous issues).

--RobFJ



Thor's Days Are Numbered!

January 18, 2018

Just out, THE MIGHTY THOR #703 shows us that while Thor may be mighty, Jane Foster is not, as the poignant tale of Thor's last days winds down!

And the new Marvel Legacy CAPTAIN AMERICA #697 pits Cap against the ever-popular Spidey foe Kraven the Hunter!

Meanwhile, heading back to 1999 CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998 series) #21 shows us the time when Cap's shield threatened the entire world with destruction! Not to mention the spectacular cover!

<--f-- face="Times New Roman, serif">More stuff added to the Marvel Heroes Library every week! Bookmark the site and stay with us!

--PeterS



Let's go back to the 90's

January 15, 2018

I have no new issue for you this week.

But in the early 90's Iron Man was involved in the end of the Pacific Overlords story in AVENGERS WEST COAST #72-74 and the rise of a new island nation Demonica.

Shellhead was very busy around this time. Among his apps between the Overlords and his own next issue the Marvel Chronology Project has IRON MAN: LEGACY OF DOOM #1-4 which T Vernon did a few months ago.

And now he gives us IRON MAN (1968) #258 which kicks off Armour Wars II with the ghost of Titanium Man - maybe.

--RobFJ



I come back from my Xmas semi-layoff to find the old Iron Man Library site's gone!

January 8, 2018

Here's IRON MAN #595, better late than never. They're stretching this story out until #600, and it shows here. A large chunk of the issue is a delusion of the man who may be Tony Stark. Other subplots continue.

Stark cameos with shocking news he uncovered while investigating Cap's old shield (I think) in CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #20 brought to us by Peter Silvestro.

T Vernon has IRON MAN (1968) #257, another fill-in before next week when we'll get to Armour Wars II. The 1-off villain is Samurai Steel who shoots down North Korean missiles. Where is he when we need him now?! (Except for the invading bit.)

But before then Iron Man joins the Avengers West Coast for a long storyline called The Pacific Overlords. The 1st half is here in AWC #69-71. Dr Demonicus (previously best known for his involvement with Godzilla) heads a string of new villains (plus Sunfire). The AWC have help from a Spider-Woman (plus Sub-Mariner).

--RobFJ



A Happy New Year to all our readers (yes, we do have more than 1)

January 1, 2018

The latest issue of Iron Man is out but I didn't go into the city this week so I don't yet have it.

I have to content myself with giving you PUNISHER #219 where Frank Castle as War Machine defends a farmer against Chernayan soldiers.

I also haven't written up any old issues again for this week.

But T Vernon saves the day again with IRON MAN (1968) #256. It's another 1-issue story but this 1 wraps up a subplot from some issues back about the Stark space station.

I've space again this week to mention things outside my Iron domain. CHAMPIONS #15 wraps up the Worlds Collide crossover with Avengers by bringing Viv Vision back to this world.

And Peter Silvestro ends the Red Skull/Korvac story in CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #19 where Sharon Carter doesn't react well to Cap telling her he loves her.

--RobFJ



A Merry Christmas to our reader

December 25, 2017

The new Iron issue this week is MARVEL 2-IN-ONE #1, the 1st of 2 guesting Iron Doom. And the starring duo Human Torch and Thing start off on a quest to find the rest of the Fantastic Four and their family.

I've taken time off for Christmas so there are no old issues from me this time.

But nothing stops T Vernon from bringing you IRON MAN (1968) #255 - another single-issue tale where Iron Man and a new Crimson Dynamo swap minds.

Outside of the Iron spotlight I've done UNCANNY AVENGERS #30 where Captain America pops in for the last issue of his old team.

And Peter Silvestro has been busy this week. As well as continuing the 1998 Cap series with #18, with added Korvac, he's covered the new HULK #711 where Hulk meets Thor Odinson as gladiators and the new THOR #702 where Jane-Thor doesn't die yet.

--RobFJ



Iron Man gets busy in the past as the currently IM-less Avengers clan gear up for their weekly event

December 18, 2017

US AVENGERS #12 has those wacky Skrulls imitating Earth movies/TV series again. It's the team's last issue and everything gets wrapped up before they get sucked into the Avengers weekly series.

Back in his original run Iron Man appeared in lots of stuff between his #253 and #254 including:-

The Terminus Factor event in 5 Annuals (Captain America An#9, IM An#11, Thor An#15, Avengers West Coast An#5 and Avengers An#19). Peter Silvestro wrote these up some years ago, and our hero is in all of them. Go to CA An#9 and follow the links.

AVENGERS WEST COAST #63 puts a final spotlight on the android Human Torch as he fights a new villain Living Lightning.

I've skipped #64-65 because Shellhead's not in them. #64 is a fill-in issue. #65 has a backup tale which writes HT out of the series, while the main part is an intro to the next storyline ...

... The Reaper And The Robot in #66-68 featuring a zombie Grim Reaper, and Ultron-13 infecting and infected by humanity.

Then T Vernon brings the Armoured Avenger back to IM(1968)#254 where a new Spymaster impersonates Santa Claus.

There's still no Iron person involved in the Avengers/Champions crossover but I've also contributed AVENGERS #674 where Viv Vision sacrifices her life to save 2 Earths.

--RobFJ



2 Dooms for the price of 1

December 11, 2017

Title:- 2 Dooms for the price of 1 GWENPOOL #23 ends her fight with 2 Victor Von Dooms, the current Iron Man version and the old villainous Dr Doom (sort-of).

Peter Silvestro continues a Cap/Red Skull battle by Mark Waid and Andy Kubert in CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #16, where Tony Stark is still fiddling with Cap's broken shield.

In AVENGERS WEST COAST #60-62 Roy and Dann Thomas close down both of John Byrne's Scarlet Witch subplots with Magneto and Immortus. Next issue they can start on their own plots.

Then Shellhead moves back to his own series as T Vernon recounts IRON MAN (1968) #253, a fill-in issue by Danny Fingeroth. It's the 1st in a series of 1-off issues by different writers until John Byrne (him again) takes over for Armor Wars II.

--RobFJ



Who let Punisher in here?

December 4, 2017

The surprise addition this week is the Marvel Legacy Punisher series starting with #218. Frank Castle earns a place in the Iron-sphere by wearing the War Machine armour, as Nick Fury Jr sends him after a military dictator.

Peter Silvestro continues to fill in a gap in the 1998 Captain America series with #15 which is the start of a new Red Skull epic, but also has a cameo from Iron Man with the broken pieces of Cap's shield.

I've given T Vernon the week off because there's a lot of Avengers West Coast issues to fit in between Iron Man #252 and #253.
#56-57 are the end of John Byrne's run and feature the team trying to pry an evil Scarlet Witch from the clutches of Magneto.
In fill-in issue #58 they get diverted from their task to deal with the effects of a man-made earthquake in Los Angeles.
I haven't done the 2nd fill-in #59 because it takes place in 1 of the alternate timelines that are being deleted by Immortus.
In next week's issues Roy&Dann Thomas will combine and resolve the Immortus/Magneto/Scarlet Witch plots.

Outside the Iron-sphere the current Avengers/Champions crossover continues in CHAMPIONS #14 where they learn that the High Evolutionary intends to destroy both Earth and Counter-Earth.

--RobFJ



The Hulk! Better Late Than Never!

November 30, 2017

We've just added the details for THE INCREDIBLE HULK #709, first issue under the Marvel Legacy banner (no relation) and it's a doozy. Part one of Return to Planet Hulk sees the Hulk's return—but it's not the same old Hulk! This time it's Amadeus Cho as the green giant—will he have the ability to conquer this world as his predecessor once did? Or will he go down to defeat?

We've also got CAPTAIN AMERICA (1988 series) #15! The Red Skull, Cosmic Cube, America a fascist dictatorship, bad stuff foreseen on the Capitol steps, and Captain America responsible for it all? Why does all this seem familiar? Oh right, it's SECRET EMPIRE, about 2 decades early! See how this plot was handled in a previous century!

PeterS



You can't keep good villains down

November 27, 2017

In the 2nd new Legacy issue INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #594 Ironheart and friends fight the Stark Industries board, and Iron Doom fights a lot of supervillains (including Chemistro and Wrecker in significant roles) that he arrested lately. But nobody does anything about finding Tony Stark.

And in the 2nd part of his Acts Of Vengeance tie-in IRON MAN (1968) #252 T Vernon tells us how Iron Man fought Chemistro (after fighting Wrecker last issue).

Then Shellhead moves over to AVENGERS WEST COAST #53-54 to fight more random AoV battles against the U-Foes and Mole-Man. But at least #55 is more significant as it's the wrap-up of the whole Event with lots of Avengers defeating Loki, the man behind it all. But he'll return immediately in the Thor series.

And in other news Peter Silvestro has documented the Red Skull's escape from his Cosmic Cube prison in CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #14.

--RobFJ



The end of Utopia is the beginning

November 20, 2017

This week I give you US AVENGERS #11. I'm continuing with the last 2 issues of this series even though Toni Ho is no longer Iron Patriot. The team are off to rescue MIA member Cannonball from Archie Andrews (who to us British was a ventriloquist's dummy).

In Dark Reign the Utopia crossover ends with DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN: EXODUS. At last an actual fight between the 2 teams. Dani Moonstar has become Valkyrie again to defeat Ares. And Emma Frost persuades Sentry to quit the battle. After that the X-Men can't lose, and they live happily ever after on Utopia island.

T Vernon takes Iron Man into the Acts Of Vengeance event with IRON MAN (1968) #251. Shellhead only just survives the Wrecker but then Chemistro joins in.

In other news AVENGERS #673 continues the crossover with Champions as High Evolutionary explains some of what's going on.

--RobFJ



Unbelievably ...

November 13, 2017

... this week's new Iron issue is GWENPOOL #22. Gwen Poole is a comics geek who's fallen into the Marvel Universe. Using her comics knowledge and the ability to step out of the panels, she's carving a place for herself. Now she goes after Victor Von Doom to prove herself worthy to be in the Avengers. But she doesn't know he's changed his spots and become Iron Doom.

Working backwards through time we come to UNCANNY X-MEN #514 and DARK AVENGERS #8 as the Utopia crossover continues. Cyclops prepares his masterplan and then we see the 2 main elements:- The raising of a sunken Asteroid M to be mutants' new homeland Utopia, and the rescue of Norman Osborn's mutant prisoners from Alcatraz. Plus the Dark X-Men break up.

Peter Silvestro provides IRON MAN & CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL '98 as Steve Rogers and Tony Stark have a clash of ideologies while fighting AIM but come to respect each other's POV. (As Peter suggests, a pre-echo of Civil War I.)

And furthest back of all (in chronological content but not publication date) T Vernon finishes Iron Man: Legacy Of Doom with #4 as Iron Man and Dr Doom team up to save Earth from an extra-dimensional monster composed of eyeballs (that Doom had previously angered).

--RobFJ



Continuing where we left off

November 6, 2017

Just old Iron Man-related stuff again.

The Utopia crossover continues in UNCANNY X-MEN #513 where Emma Frost meets her new Dark X-Men and adds Sub-Mariner to the ranks, and DARK AVENGERS #7 where they go on their 1st mission.

And T Vernon continues Iron Man: Legacy of Doom with #3 where Shellhead fights Dr Doom who has the sword Excalibur in order to win the sword's mystic scabbard.

But in the general arena I've continued the Worlds Collide crossover in CHAMPIONS #13 as the Avengers and Champions stop several large buildings vibrating to pieces, only to discover that the whole world is vibrating to somewhere else.

--RobFJ



3 armoured warriors from the past

October 30, 2017

Just 2 old issues of Iron interest this week.

In DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN: UTOPIA Norman Osborn takes advantage of conflict between X-Men and anti-mutant protesters to declare martial law in San Francisco and as Iron Patriot bring in his Dark Avengers.

T Vernon does IRON MAN: LEGACY OF DOOM #2. Iron Man breaks out of Hell but Dr Doom gets Morgana Le Fey to mystically fuse Excalibur into his armour.

But elsewhere I've added the new Avengers Legacy title AVENGERS #672, the start of the crossover with Champions, and NEW AVENGERS (2005) #55, slightly connected to the Utopia story.

--RobFJ



What's all this about legacy?

October 23, 2017

Our Marvel Legacy series begins with INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #593. The previous Invincible and Infamous titles live on in this 1 with artists Stefano Caselli and Alex Maleev handling the pages for their own characters. I wonder how long that can last? Will Ironheart and Iron Doom never meet? Meanwhile Tony Stark's body has gone and someone is putting on his armour.

T Vernon has just finished IM#249-250 which was the 2nd story in what has become known as the Camelot Trilogy. The 1st tale was in #149-150. Unfortunately the original Iron Man series never reached #349-350, but much later the IM: Legacy of Doom miniseries provided the 3rd leg. It's set back in this period of Tony Stark's life, so TV has decided to write it up now. Here's #1.

While T is doing that I'll be reporting on the Dark Avengers/X-Men: Utopia crossover event. Starting with DARK X-MEN: THE BEGINNING #1-3 - the miniseries which shows Norman Osborn recruiting his Dark X-Men. But it doesn't involve the word 'legacy'.

--RobFJ



Back to the future

October 16, 2017

I've no new titles to report on this week, so it's back to the past.

In AVENGERS: INITIATIVE #28 Norman Osborn's grip on the Initiative starts to slip as the Nevada Heavy Hitters team quit, helped by Tigra's Avengers Resistance.

And T Vernon does IRON MAN (1968) #250 where Iron Man and Dr Doom have been taken to the future by Merlin to aid reincarnated King Arthur against an older Doom and an evil future Iron Man descendant of Tony Stark.

--RobFJ



Everybody's leaving (except Sam Wilson)

October 9, 2017

The US Avengers start to break up in their #10. Sunspot resigns, Gen'l Maverick can't be Red Hulk anymore, Toni Ho's giving up being Iron Patriot, the Government want to deport Enigma, and nobody believes Squirrel Girl could really have done all the things in her comics. But at least Smasher turns up to say Cannonball's still alive.

In the historical section we finish off Atlantis Attacks. I've added comments to Seahammer's THOR ANNUAL #14 where Thor and Dr Strange kick the demon Set out of our dimension. And then everybody gangs together in FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #22 to free the 7 Brides from Ghaur and Llyra, who also disappear.

Then Iron Man goes back to his own series in IRON MAN (1968) #249 to battle Dr Doom over a pair of mysterious artefacts, which ends with them transported to another time as they'll discover next issue. T Vernon's on the case.

In this new site it's easier for me to mention that I've also contributed AVENGERS #11 to the Captain America and Thor sections. Jane-Thor stops Sam-Cap, who's now gone back to being Sam-Falcon, from resigning as leader of the now homeless team.

--RobFJ



Triple whammy

October 2, 2017

This week we have synopses for issues from 3 different Iron Man series (but only 1 of them starring Tony Stark).

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #11 does at least feature Tony in flashbacks as Riri Williams and Mary Jane Watson reveal that they each actually met Stark well before their official introductions. And then AI Friday takes us into the Legacy era when she discovers comatose Tony is missing.

INFAMOUS IRON MAN #12 ignores Stark completely as it concludes the pre-Secret Empire storyline of Iron Doom and Mephisto. But it sows a couple of seeds to grow during Legacy.

These are both the last issues of their series before the Legacy Invincible Iron Man title starts with #593.

And Peter Silvestro brings us MARVEL LEGACY itself. The main line is a story spanning the past million years involving a Celestial, Asgardians, an Infinity Stone, the Avengers 1,000,000 BC and the return of Wolverine (and maybe of Franklin and Valeria Richards). But there are also pages hinting at the upcoming stories in the Legacy titles, including the search for the missing Tony Stark. And Ironheart gets to play Avenger with Sam-Cap and Jane-Thor.

The original Shellhead is of course in T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #248 where paralysed Tony Stark walks again ...

... just in time to take part in 2 of the Atlantis Attacks annuals. AVENGERS ANNUAL #18 has a shedload of Avengers fighting Atlanteans invading the US. And AVENGERS WEST COAST ANNUAL #4 has a cut-down group trying to rescue the 7 Brides of Set and stop that demon manifesting on Earth.

--RobFJ



Team-ups great and small

September 25, 2017

It's another of those weeks where I have no new comics to report on. (Invincible Iron Man #11 came out but I didn't go to Liverpool this week.)

Meanwhile Dark Reign ambles on with MIGHTY AVENGERS #30-31 where we find loads of Avengers from different teams assembling to fight the Unspoken who wants to turn humanity into Alpha Primitives. (But Norman Osborn won't let the Dark Avengers play.)

T Vernon and IRON MAN (1968) #247 give us Iron Man and Gray Hulk separately caught up in the war between Madame Masque & the Maggia and AIM & Hydra.

They then team up to continue the fight in HULK (1968) #361 which Julio Molina-Muscara briefly synopsised a long time ago.

--RobFJ



The once and future Tony Stark

September 18, 2017

In GENERATIONS: IRON MAN & IRONHEART Ironheart gets sent to the future not the past, and meets Tony Stark Sorcerer Supreme not Iron Man.

Peter Silvestro *really* concludes Secret Empire with SE: OMEGA as good Captain America visits bad Cap in prison and we get some clues about upcoming developments.

As SE is wrapped up I've completed and reorganised my tie-in comments in SE#0-8. (SE#9&10 don't have any tie-in issues.)

In Dark Reign's AVENGERS: INITIATIVE #26 we meet some of Norman Osborn's new Initiative teams, and the Avengers Resistance go into action.

And in IRON MAN (1968) #246 T Vernon brings us the start of a 3 (or 4) part arc featuring a war between AIM, Hydra and the Maggia.

--RobFJ



Atlanteans keep attacking

September 11, 2017

It's a quiet week in Iron-land now Secret Empire is over, so I've only got old issues to give you.

In Dark Reign's DARK AVENGERS #5-6 Norman Osborn gives a TV interview, Marvel Boy quits after he discovers that his teammates aren't the good guys, and Sub-Mariner quits the Cabal when Sentry/Void kills some Atlantean terrorists who have invaded Los Angeles.

Even further back T Vernon synopses IRON MAN (1968) ANNUAL #10, the 2nd part of the Atlantis Attacks crossover event. Iron Man and Namor team-up against Attuma's Atlantean invaders in Panama, and Subby appears to get killed.

--RobFJ



Everything comes in 2's

September 4, 2017

Peter Silvestro concludes Secret Empire with SE#10 as good Captain America fights bad Cap and Kobik puts nearly everything right. Except it seems that Black Widow and Rick Jones are still dead.

INFAMOUS IRON MAN #11 reveals that Mephisto is behind the return of Doom's mother, and his motives aren't good.

In T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #245 we get the return of Madame Masque - or do we because another Madame Masque is found dead?

And then Mephisto is in AVENGERS WEST COAST #50-52 as well as it turns out that Scarlet Witch's 2 children were really just fragments of the demon. Oh, and Iron Man returns to the team.

--RobFJ



Replacements galore

August 28, 2017

The wider view from the Iron throne.

Peter Silvestro is here again with SECRET EMPIRE #9. The good guys continue to win, including deconstructing the Hydra Avengers. Kobik seems to have the good Steve Rogers ready to bring him back. But his replacement Hydra-Cap gains a god-like power.

US AVENGERS #9 is an SE tie-in where the split team also win their fights against Hydra. But is Tony Ho going to change from Iron Patriot to another super-id?

Dark Reign's NEW AVENGERS (2005) #51-54 has Brother Voodoo replacing Dr Strange as Sorcerer Supreme. Oh, and the team fight demon-Hood and Madame Masque. Only #54 has Norman Osborn/Iron Patriot in, but in the new system my report isn't so directly connected to the Iron family.

There's yet another replacement Iron Man, but it doesn't take long for crippled Tony Stark to get back in the armour in IRON MAN (1968) #244, brought to us as usual by T Vernon.

--RobFJ



The Queen abdicates

August 21, 2017

In Iron news this week:-

In INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #10 Ironheart resigns as Queen of Latveria but not before making everything OK.

I've added more comments on Secret Empire tie-ins in SE #1,2,8.

In MIGHTY AVENGERS (2007) #24 the team go on a world tour of super-problem outbreaks, much to the annoyance of Norman Osborn.

And in IRON MAN (1968) #243 T Vernon shows us the effects of Tony Stark getting shot.

--RobFJ



Hydra's on the ropes. Yay! Tony gets shot. Boo!

August 14, 2017

I haven't got any new issues for this week but Peter Silvestro comes to the rescue with 2 from Secret Empire.

In CAPTAIN AMERICA #25 Steve-Cap's Hydra successfully attack Wakanda and the mutants in New Tian. But Sam-Cap and the Stark AI get a new fragment of the Cosmic Cube.

Then there's SE #8. Suddenly everything starts going right. The Darkforce Dome and the Planetary Shield are destroyed and the Chitauri invasion is repulsed.

And both issues reveal that Bucky Barnes is alive and working with Sub-Mariner.

The Dark Reign saga continues with THUNDERBOLTS #133 as Norman Osborn recruits a new Scourge, Songbird flies back into action and we learn that Black Widow is working for Nick Fury.

Further back in the past T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #242 has Mandarin fighting in a new suit of armour. And obsessive Kathy Dare shoots Tony Stark.

--RobFJ



This week's guests, the Pretenders

August 7, 2017

In INFAMOUS IRON MAN #10 Iron Doom has a nice chat with his dead mother. And then things go wrong because she may not be who she claims to be.

THUNDERBOLTS #130-131 is part of a Dark Reign crossover with Deadpool, who thinks Norman Osborn owes him for enabling him to be the hero of Secret Invasion. Plus Taskmaster pretends to be another DP, and DP himself has a crush on Black Widow.

Peter Silvestro has completed filling in the missing synopses for the long initial Captain America series. I reckon T Vernon has 1/4 left to do for the Iron Man series. This week he reaches IRON MAN (1968) #241. Mandarin's back again, but this time he's disguised as a businessman named Zhang Tong who's delegated the ring-using to a set of underlings.

--RobFJ



Secret Empire is like buses - if 1 is delayed then 2 come in quick succession

July 31, 2017

View from the Iron throne:-

Peter Silvestro moves quickly to SECRET EMPIRE #7. Spider-Man (Miles Morales) doesn't quite kill Captain America (Steve Rogers) as predicted by Ulysses' vision. And Black Widow dies in the attempt. Deaths like this just tell me that the Cosmic Cube will resurrect everybody in the end, or even make the whole thing to not have happened.

I've added more comments on tie-ins to SE#1, #3 and #7 itself.

In US AVENGERS #8 Iron Patriot has to get sneaky to save Citizen V/Sunspot's life.

Ironheart guest stars in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #2. But so does Peter Parker's sister!

THUNDERBOLTS #128-129 introduces us to the new Dark Reign Thunderbolts as Norman Osborn launches a scam to convince the President that he's no longer Green Goblin.

T Vernon marches on to IRON MAN (1968) #240 where Iron Man defeats Ghost with the untrustworthy help of Blacklash, Blizzard and Boomerang.

--RobFJ



Cap vs Iron Man Round N (I've lost count)

July 24, 2017

News from the Iron camp.

So now Peter Silvestro *can* give us SECRET EMPIRE #6. Hydra and Hulk demolish the Underground HQ, ending in yet another clash between Captain America and Iron Man (the AI version this time).

The 3 weeks of tie-ins I can describe this time all fit within SE#0-5.

Meanwhile (in publishing terms) in INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #9 Ironheart defeats Lucia Von Bardas and becomes Queen of Latveria.

Back in Dark Reign I finish updating the Comments to War Machine vol 2 with #11-12. In the final arc Norman Osborn has James Rhodes prosecuted for war crimes but in the end Rhodey is free with a cloned body in place of his cyborg 1.

And T Vernon takes us back to IRON MAN (1968) #239. Why does Shellhead agree to oppose the Ghost for his old enemy Justin Hammer?

--RobFJ



What, no Secret Empire?

July 17, 2017

No new issues this week, partly because Secret Empire #6 has been delayed until next week, but also because I didn't get to Liverpool this week. We'll have to make do with 2 issues from the past.

Dark Reign continues with AVENGERS: INITIATIVE #25. Norman Osborn tries to get heroes to serve in his Initiative with mixed success - including triggering the formation of the Avengers Resistance.

T Vernon presents IRON MAN (1968) #238 where Iron Man fights Rhino while several subplots bubble underneath.

--RobFJ



2 Iron Patriots but only 1 Iron Man

July 10, 2017

US AVENGERS #7 is a Secret Empire tie-in where Iron Patriot and Red Hulk are captured by Hydra in the battle for Washington, and Enigma and Squirrel Girl teleport to Paris where they join the French Resistance, er ... Champions of Europe.

I've updated comments on WAR MACHINE (2009) #6-10, the Homeland arc where Rhodey and some fellow ex-West Coast Avengers face Ultimo and a different Iron Patriot (Norman Osborn).

And T Vernon takes us back to simpler times in IRON MAN (1968) #237 where Iron Man has to fight an evolving alien on a space station.

--RobFJ



3 Iron Man titles this time but he's only in the oldest 1

July 3, 2017

Peter Silvestro has delivered SECRET EMPIRE #5 in which AI Tony Stark's Underground team give up and return with only 2 fragments of the Cosmic Cube. Mockingbird betrays them and Hydra comes for them with a secret weapon - Bruce Banner.

I've added yet more comments on tie-ins to the SE issues so far.

My 2-weekly journey to Liverpool has this week netted me both current Iron-issues.

In INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #8 Ironheart is sent by Sharon Carter of SHIELD to confront Lucia Von Bardas in Latveria.

And in INFAMOUS IRON MAN #9 she captures Dr Doom in Latveria and brings him back to Carter. And these 2 stories have nothing to do with each other.

For Dark Reign I've just done updated comments again, this time in WAR MACHINE (2009) #1-5 where James Rhodes and his team contend with the Ultimo virus.

T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #236 concludes the Grey Gargoyle story and all the petrified women are restored to health.

--RobFJ



Tony Stark a rebel in 2 eras

June 26, 2017

The Secret Empire bandwagon keeps trundling on as Peter Silvestro brings us SE: UNDERGROUND. Following on from SE#4 the Tony Stark AI's team leave Ultron in the Arctic to gain another Cosmic Cube fragment in the Savage Land (in the Antarctic).

My contribution to Dark Reign this week is just some updated comments for IRON MAN (2008) #8-13 as Shellhead goes on the run from Norman Osborn's forces.

And T Vernon's IRON MAN (1968) #235 is the opening of a 2-parter featuring Grey Gargoyle turning terrified women into stone statues. This was published as slasher movies were passing their high point.

--RobFJ



Teams and team-ups

June 19, 2017

Peter Silvestro gives us 2 Secret Empire goodies this week:-

In SE#4 both sides have sent teams after Cosmic Cube fragments. Ultron/Hank Pym kidnaps them and tells them off, then gives his fragment to the Resistance out of sympathy for the underdogs.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SAM WILSON #23 tells us how Sam helped AI Iron Man's team get where they were going, and got carried along with them.

I've added tie-in comments to all SE issues.

Resolutely still before SE (but only until next issue) AVENGERS (2016) #8 has new pal Iron Doom called in to help them against Avenger X.

In Dark Reign MIGHTY AVENGERS (2007) #21-23 has what looks like Scarlet Witch recruit a new team of Avengers to save the world from Chthon.

And back in simpler times T Vernon tells us how IRON MAN (1968) #234 Shellhead teamed up with Spider-Man for a romp with Radioactive Man.

--RobFJ



Stuck in the past again

June 12, 2017

We've just got 3 layers of past Iron Man-ical history to report on this week.

In 2009's Dark Reign it's *maniacal* history as Iron Patriot confronts the Young Avengers in DR:YA#4-5.

In the 1990's Peter Silvestro tells us how Tony Stark creates an armour to support Captain America's weakened body in CA (1968) #438.

And T Vernon takes us back to the 80's where IM (1968) #233 introduces us to Kathy Dare who will be a deadly new girlfriend for Tony.

--RobFJ



Twists and turns

June 5, 2017

Peter Silvestro follows the latest Event in SECRET EMPIRE #3. Ironheart is part of Black Widow's young team. But this issue follows many other strands including showing us Sam Wilson smuggling people out of Hydra's USA.

PS also gives us SE: UPRISING where Widow's team are out to assassinate Steve Rogers. So of course Amadeus Cho and Nadia Pym infiltrate Hydra's youth choir.

I've added details of tie-ins to SE#0,2,3.

Probably before SE, Ironheart is also in INFAMOUS IRON MAN #8 where she chats with Iron Doom, as Ben Grimm chats with Reed Richards (not knowing he's really the evil Maker). And at the end Tony Stark turns up possibly as a future Sorcerer Supreme.

In Dark Reign FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2009: AVENGERS tells us how the New Avengers have to team up with the Dark Avengers to face Thor's enemy Ymir who's got hold of Odin's Twilight Sword.

T Vernon has the postscript to Armour Wars in IM (1968) #232 (pencilled by Barry Windsor-Smith) as Tony Stark wrestles with guilt, not for what he did during AW but for what the villains had done with his technology.

--RobFJ



2 Iron Men, 2 Iron Patriots, 1 Iron Doom

May 29, 2017

AVENGERS (2016) #7 ignores Secret Empire and tells us how Iron Dr Doom recruits the Avengers because he needs young Nadia Pym to infiltrate a girls' training camp to uncover occult goings-on. But also to check her out to see if she's a mad scientist he'll have to put down.

US AVENGERS #6 is set during SE#0 where Hydra assassinate Sunspot and set Red Hulk against the rest of the team. Iron Patriot (Toni Ho) is in there.

I'm continuing my wander through Dark Reign using appearances of Iron Patriot (Norman Osborn) to justify including them in this Library. This week it's DR: YOUNG AVENGERS #2-3 where the team try to deal with a rival group using their name. Osborn isn't exactly behind these imposters, but he plans to capitalize on their actions.

T Vernon does IM (1968) #231 where Tony Stark 'kills off' the old Iron Man in the Silver Centurion suit, who'd been doing all those naughty things in Armour Wars, and introduces a 'new' IM back in red & gold. Are we fooled?

--RobFJ



What you were dying for

August 2, 2012

ETERNALS #6 ends the story arc and possibly the series with the revelation that every time an Eternal is resurrected a human has to die.

The Last Annihilation crossover continues with SWORD #7 where we learn that Krakoa's Mysterium may have allowed Dormammu in and SWORD's Abigail Brand is playing a devious long game.

T Vernon's IRON AGE: ALPHA begins the time-hopping Iron Age mini-series with a very old and obscure Iron Man villain and the end of the world.

AVENGERS/THUNDERBOLTS #1-2 has Tony Stark pretending to be armoured villain Cobalt Man to infiltrate the Thunderbolts. But the Avengers have to keep it secret from Hawkeye.

--RobFJ



The Avengers are Marvels

November 30, 0202

As I did last week I've saved something from that week to fill the reporting void that is this week. AVENGERS: MARVELS SNAPSHOTS is part of a bunch of issues showing the Marvel Universe from the POV of normal humans, as Kurt Busiek's original MARVELS series did. This issue is built around Red Ronin's rampage in AVENGERS #197-199.

YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #5-6 finishes the series by reconciling Stature with her family, and the new Hawkeye getting the blessing of the old Hawkeye.

T Vernon gives us IRON MAN (1998) #54 which connects Temugin to the Sleeping Dragon drug to Ayisha. And they and Iron Man will all collide next issue.

--RobFJ