Site Updates Archive

Leonardo da Vinci in K'un-Lun and Sinister clones in Victorian London

No new issues this week so T Vernon is 1st up with AVENGERS #384 which abruptly ends a long-running Hercules subplot.

FANTASTIC FOUR #14 has Puppet Master controlling Sub-Mariner to make him kill the FF, but of course Namor can't harm Sue Storm.

In SHE-HULK #8 our heroine bulks up as Jennifer Walters so that She-Hulk has a chance of defeating Champion in the ring. Plus her legal brain points out that the foe is cheating by using the Power Gem.

Avengers vs X-Men continues with NEW AVENGERS #26 in old K'un-Lun as Fongji Wu trains to become an Iron Fist to fight the Phoenix Force. And Leonardo da Vinci is called in to help.
Plus in UNCANNY X-MEN (2012) #15 the Phoenix 5 prepare to take on Mr Sinister in his underground Victorian London full of his clones.

--RobFJ

The Usual Suspects!

Nothing new this week, here’s our regular gallery of series entries!

MARVEL FANFARE #12 pits the Black Widow against six deadly assassins! At once!

THOR (1998) #44 features a wordless issue made up mainly of memories at Odin’s funeral!

THE NEW DEFENDERS #126 has the team and SHIELD battling each other as well as a giant! Guest starring Nick Fury!

STARTLING STORIES: BANNER #4 wraps up the offbeat Brian Azzarello/Richard Corben epic with Bruce Banner asking to die! Not your usual superhero move!

The upgraded CAPTAIN AMERICA #118 has the Falcon joining Cap against the Exiles!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #225, The Fall of the Mutants begins, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #123, guest-starring Luke Cage, and DAREDEVIL #219, guest writer Frank Miller! 

PeterS

The beginning of the (Marvel) universe as we know it

The new AVENGERS #35 concludes the storyline that has dominated this series. Some villains are tricked into taking the Grail to before the 1st Cosmos existed. So there's nothing for it to destroy when it blows up, and its explosion kicks off the whole Marvel series of Cosmos's! But there's still 1 more issue to go.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #383 is another single-issue tale, again involving Crystal and Quicksilver, but with a couple of Fantastic Force guest stars.

FANTASTIC FOUR #13 introduces Red Ghost and his Super-Apes. But more importantly the Watcher and his home in the Blue Area of the Moon. And I've added comments on #12 too.

SHE-HULK #7 starts a 2-parter in this humorous series. Lawyer Jennifer Walters gets tapped for Cosmic Magistrati duty. But 1 of the cases she's going to have to handle involves Adam Warlock & co.

NEW AVENGERS #25 takes a side-step in the Avengers Vs X-Men event to tell us about a previous Iron Fist training to face an earlier visit to Earth by the Phoenix Force.

--RobFJ

A Tribute to the Late Sal Buscema!

Sal passed away last week, only a few days before his 90^th birthday. In his honor we’ve added an image gallery, Original Artwork by Sal Buscema. 
Check it out above: Image Gallery > Original Artwork > Sal Buscema !
Or https://marvelheroeslibrary.com/images/original-artwork-by-sal-buscema.aspx

DEFENDERS: FROM THE MARVEL VAULT #1 is an unfinished tale by Fabian Nicieza and Mark Bagley completed by Kurt Busiek, reuniting the classic Defenders in a weird story!

MARVEL FANFARE #11 has the Black Widow accused of murder and on the run in Moscow!

THOR (1998) #43 has a strange tale featuring Thor Girl and a terminally ill hillbilly!

STARTLING STORIES: BANNER #3 resumes the offbeat Brian Azzarello/Richard Corben Hulk epic!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #224, Storm and Forge reunite, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #122, the classic “Green Goblin’s Last Stand,” and DAREDEVIL #218, guest artist Sal Buscema! 

PeterS

Iron Man's back!

New this week IRON MAN #1 starts the new series off with a bang with old chars, new chars, AIM, Madame Masque and a potential clash with the Illuminati.

Held over from last week is WICCAN: WITCHES' ROAD #2 where Wiccan, a fox and a puppet Hulkling face Fin Fang Foom and a new Demiurge.

T Vernon brings us AVENGERS #382 which ends the Crystal/Quicksilver story but dangles other plotlines, including the 1st hint of The Crossing in the 2nd story.

FANTASTIC FOUR #11 also has 2 stories. The short opener has the team reading fanmail and chatting. The main tale introduces the zany alien Impossible Man, who'll disappear for more than a decade but then return to be a comedy staple of the Marvel Universe.

THANOS #12 ends the series but Keith Giffen sets some stuff up for the Annihilation event.

--RobFJ

One of the All-Time Classics! And It’s in Anthony’s Section!

Brand new this week is THE MORTAL THOR #6 which pits the powerless Thor against one of his oldest enemies: Cobra!

Also new is THE INFERNAL HULK #3 which reveals where Bruce and Betty are now that Evil Hulk is destroying the world!

A showcase for Black Widow in MARVEL FANFARE #10 as Natasha is recruited for a dangerous mission! (Nothing new there!) (Nice cover, too!)

The Return of the Defenders concludes in DOCTOR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME ANNUAL #2 with the reunited heroes defeating the Wild One!

The upgraded CAPTAIN AMERICA #117 is the issue that introduces…the Falcon!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #223, lead-in to Fall of the Mutants, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #121, one of the all-time classics (you know the one), and DAREDEVIL #217, wrapping up the story of the Gael!

PeterS

Everybody learns something, especially Pietro

New this week is NEW AVENGERS #8. We learn a lot about what's actually been going on, but we still don't know who's behind the Killuminati or why.

On the other hand in T Vernon's AVENGERS #381 Crystal & Quicksilver seem to find out all the answers. So what's left for part 3 of this story?

Way back in simpler times FANTASTIC FOUR #10 is all over in 1 issue for Dr Doom. And we learn that Stan & Jack are writing FF comics in the Marvel Universe too.

And the short Thanos series devotes the last 2 issues of its 2nd 6-parter to a fairly separate story. In #11 our 'hero' learns that Galactus is threatened by the 3rd top security prisoner of the Kyln - his 1st Herald (not Silver Surfer).

In AVENGERS ACADEMY #33 Phoenix-powered Emma Frost dismantles Juston Seyfert's Sentinel. But due to Quicksilver's sleight of hand and and a crash-course in robot assembly it speedily gets rebuilt as good as old.

--RobFJ

Armageddon is Coming!

Marvel’s big event of the summer is coming and CAPTAIN AMERICA #6 is where it starts with a search for Doctor Doom’s WMDs!

Also new: HULK: SMASH EVERYTHING #2 pits Hulk against the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs! This writer doesn’t think small, does he?

Black Widow joins Spidey in MARVEL TEAM-UP #98 to find out why all of the city’s criminal gangs are teaming up for a malign purpose!

In THOR (1998) #42, the skeptical Thor sets out to learn if Odin is really dead! He’s been reading too many comic books!

The Return of the Defenders continues with SILVER SURFER ANNUAL #5, with the reassembled heroes witnessing the advent of the Elder God known as the Wild One!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #222, X-Men versus Marauders, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #119-120, Spidey versus Hulk in Canada, and DAREDEVIL #216, the return of the Gael! 

PeterS

The dry period is over

AVENGERS #34 is the 800th 'Anniversary' of Av#1. The bumper issue has 2 stories. The 1st celebrates the achievements of the current team. The 2nd assembles all the Avengers of the pre-Secret Wars universe.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #380 has Crystal and Quicksilver going to Mt Wundagore to visit Pietro's sick nursemaid, Bova the bovine New Man.

In FANTASTIC FOUR #9 Sub-Mariner uses a fortune from the sea to set up a film studio, all really to get Sue Storm to marry him.

In THANOS #10 the Titan neutralises the Maker/Beyonder. So what are the final 2 issues going to be about?

AVENGERS ACADEMY #32 sees Emma Frost with Phoenix power come to destroy the last Sentinel, which is Juston Seyfert's friend. And even X-23 steps up to stop her.

--RobFJ

Descend into the Dungeons of Doom!

DUNGEONS OF DOOM #1 continues the epic ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM as various interested parties uncover the horrors of the late Doom’s lair!

The Return of the Defenders continues with NAMOR ANNUAL #2, with the reassembled heroes battling demons in a New York City business office!

Odin is dead in THOR (1998) #41, so who will rule Asgard? Wait, not Thor?

Black Widow recovers her memory in MARVEL TEAM-UP #85 with Spidey, Nick Fury, and Shang-Chi for a crowded team-up!

The upgraded CAPTAIN AMERICA #116 has Cap trapped in the body of the Red Skull and hunted by his friends and allies!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #221, introducing Mr. Sinister, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #118, Spidey versus Smasher and Disruptor, and DAREDEVIL #215, DD teams up with the Two-Gun Kid! Wait, what?

PeterS

I also have no new comics to report until next week

T Vernon's AVENGERS #379 spotlights Deathcry in the end of the 2-parter featuring aliens on a Scottish island.

FANTASTIC FOUR #8 introduces B-villain Puppet Master and major FF char Alicia Masters.

Keith Giffen continues the Kyln story in THANOS #9 by bringing back 1 of his own creations Skreet.

The Avengers Vs X-Men event continues with:-
UNCANNY X-MEN (2012) #14 between AvX#5 and #6 showing how Mr Sinister is preparing for the Phoenix 5.
AVENGERS VS X-MEN INFINITY COMIC #6 has Cyclops on the Moon early in AvX#6 worrying about the effects of the Phoenix power on him.

--RobFJ

Still No Sign of Land!

Not to worry, we’ll have something new next week! Meanwhile, enjoy these older classics!

In THOR (1998) #40, Surtur the Fire Demon is back causing trouble!

Black Widow is in MARVEL TEAM-UP #84 with an assault on the captured Helicarrier with Shang-Chi the guest star!

STARTLING STORIES: BANNER #2 has an entire army against the Hulk, those poor schnooks!

The Return of the Defenders begins with INCREDIBLE HULK ANNUAL #18, with a guest appearance by the Thing!

The upgraded CAPTAIN AMERICA #115 has Cap a prisoner of an all-powerful Red Skull!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #220, poetic fluff about Storm, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #117, Spidey versus the Disruptor, and DAREDEVIL #214, the end of Micah Synn…finally!

PeterS

No new comics here either, but we do have several Shi'ar

T Vernon finds out what Vision and his rookie team including Shi'ar Deathcry have been doing while the others dealt with the Gatherers. AVENGERS #378 has them on a remote Scottish island that's been taken over by an alien with only another Shi'ar to stop him.

FANTASTIC FOUR #7 is a not-so-classic issue featuring Kurrgo, Master Of Planet X (1 of many planets with that name).

In THANOS #8 the Mad Titan finds himself in an insurrection/civil war within the Kyln prison. On 1 side is the Shi'ar Gladiator and Star-Lord. On the other is a being who used to be the Beyonder.

2 more issues for the Avengers Vs X-Men event:-
AVX: VS #3 has the usual 2 battles:- Colossus/Juggernaut vs Thing (and Red Hulk). And Terry and Rachel Dodson's depiction of Black Widow vs Magik.
X-MEN: LEGACY #268 is a 1-off with Frenzy tidying up after Cyclops 'brought peace' to a war-torn country. And she tells us her origin too.

--RobFJ

New Year, No New Comics!

...At least not on my half of the site so we kick off 2026 with a gallery of older classics!

STARTLING STORIES: BANNER #1 is an offbeat look at Hulk by Brian Azzarello and Richard Corben, two classic creators! And smashing a logo is always a plus!

This week’s classic Black Widow tale is MARVEL TEAM-UP #83 with Nat still amnesiac but even more people in SHIELD trying to kill her! Nick Fury guest stars, of course!

In THOR (1998) #39, everyone is waiting for the next big crisis so to pass the time we deal with a lot of small crises!

GARGOYLE #4 wraps up the solo adventure for the least-appreciated Defender with some philosophizing by J.M DeMatteis!

The upgraded CAPTAIN AMERICA #114 has Cap moping over his love life! 

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #219, wreaking havoc with Havok, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #116, Spidey versus a goofus called the Smasher, and DAREDEVIL #213, DD continues fighting Micah Synn!

PeterS

Back to (nearly) the beginning

New this week is X-VENGERS #3 which ends with more members dead but the enemy trying to start all-out war between humans and mutants revealed to be MODOK.

T Vernon has another 1-shot AVENGERS #377 featuring Quicksilver alone against some 1-off opponents, at a time when he's more of a frequent guest than a member of the team.

Now that I've finished documenting apps of America Chavez, I'm going to be covering all the missing issues of Lee & Kirby's classic run on Fantastic Four, picking up with #6 - Marvel's 1st super-villain team-up.

I'll continue running through the apps of Thanos and/or Adam Warlock but with a change of plan. Instead of alternating chunks of Thanlock with batches of FF I'll do 1 issue of each in each week. So here's THANOS #7, the start of a new storyline which will introduce Star-Lord.

And filling in the Avengers Vs X-Men event continues with UNCANNY X-MEN (2012) #13 showing what some other X-Men were doing while a select bunch and a few Avengers met the Phoenix Force on the Moon.

--RobFJ

Have a Happy Holiday—It is the Will of Doom!

That’s right, THE WILL OF DOOM #1 takes us on the first step into Marvel’s next big event, ARMAGEDDON ASSEMBLES, launching in June!

This week’s classic Black Widow tale is MARVEL TEAM-UP #82 wherein Spidey must help her recover her lost memory while SHIELD is trying to kill her!

In THOR (1998) #38, Thor is at the mercy of the Destroyer who is animated by the innocent Thor Girl! Nifty cover too!

Our solo Defenders issue continues with GARGOYLE #3, wherein Isaac and the Druid must team up to end the reign of the wicked gargoyles!

The upgraded CAPTAIN AMERICA #113 tells us Cap is dead and Hydra plans some mischief at the hero-laden funeral!

And Anthony Silvestro has been out and about this Christmas Eve so he’ll see us next time!

A very Avengers-heavy week, but Defenders get the spotlight

AVENGERS #33 takes a pause in the Myrddin saga to tell us the history of the Impossible City, and what happened to the Twilight Court.

T Vernon interrupts the 1st Avengers series to sidestep into ANNUAL #23 where Loki makes a deal with Pluto. He'll attack Hercules in this issue if the other will attack Thor in his Annual #19.

DEFENDERS BEYOND #5 ends the mini-series as the team reach the House Of Ideas to confront the One Above All (who this time doesn't look anything like Jack Kirby or Stan Lee). This is as far as (comics chars) can go.

More tie-ins to the search for Hope Summers in Avengers Vs X-Men #4. WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #11 covers a lot of ground, but Iceman vs Red Hulk gets the cover. AVX: VS #5 concentrates on Angel vs Hawkeye and Black Panther vs his wife Storm.

--RobFJ

A New Thor and a Pair of Final Issues!

In the brand new THOR #5, the mortal Thor comes face-to-face with the demonic Don Blake, neither guy exactly as we remember him, sad to say!

PLANET HULK: WORLDBREAKER #5 closes out the apocalyptic miniseries with the question: Hulk…worldbreaker or worldsaver! With one of the scariest covers I’ve ever seen! So scary we'e showing you Black Widow to the left!

BLACK WIDOW (2014) #20 ends the ongoing series with the revelation of Natasha’s darkest secret!

Our solo Defenders issue continues with GARGOYLE #2, revealing the secret origin of gargoyles!

The upgraded CAPTAIN AMERICA #112 features a recap of Cap’s career, courtesy of Jack Kirby!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #218, everybody versus Juggernaut, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #115, Spidey versus Aunt May, and DAREDEVIL #212, DD teams up with the Kingpin!

PeterS

A possible future and cosmic realities

IRON & FROST #3 ends this series with the main chars (and potentially a *lot* more) dead. And also a message sent back to warn the past. If either of these are true then this is a rare tie-in series that really affects the main story (Age Of Revelation).

NEW AVENGERS #7 continues the war against the Killuminati with a few identity questions. And it manages to end on a cliffhanger which happens before half of the rest of the issue.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #376 is a 1-off story (for a change) which features only 1 Avenger, the Inhuman Crystal, and some other chars who've never been seen again.

DEFENDERS BEYOND #3-4 take our motley crew to the White Hot Room (to meet the cosmic Phoenix Force and Death) and the Land Of Couldn't-Be-Shouldn't-Be (to meet the Queen Of Nevers and the not-so-cosmic Glorian).

--RobFJ

The Coolest Cap and the Horriblest Hulk!

In THE INFERNAL HULK #2, the title monster heads underwater to invade the kingdom of the Sub-Mariner!

This week’s Defenders issue begins a solo series: GARGOYLE #1, centering on the dark past of the ugliest yet nicest of the Defenders!

THOR (1998) #37 pits Thor against the Destroyer but this time Destroyer has a hidden edge that Thor cannot overcome!

BLACK WIDOW (2014) #19 gives us a flashback to Natasha’s first and bitterest mission as Black Widow!

The upgraded CAPTAIN AMERICA #111 is one of the classic Steranko issues with Cap battling Hydra! And a doubly classic cover!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #217, Dazzler versus Juggernaut, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #114, Doc Ock versus Hammerhead, and DAREDEVIL #211, the return of Micah Synn, the Tarzan rip-off!

PeterS

Every journey begins with a single step

After the Kree/Skrull Alliance fell apart in the Imperial event Wiccan escaped with injured Emperor Hulkling. Now in WICCAN: WITCHES' ROAD #1 he's lost his magic and Baba Yaga sends him down the Witches' Road to get it back.

T Vernon brings the Gatherers saga to a rousing climax in AVENGERS #375 which ends with Black Knight and Sersi going off into what will turn out to be the Ultraverse.

In DEFENDERS BEYOND #1-2 a motley group of Defenders including America Chavez start a journey through layers of Marvel reality. 1st stop the Beyonders.

And in AVX: VS #2 both sides are travelling the world searching for Hope Summers but of course they take time out to fight. Featuring Captain America vs Gambit and Colossus/Juggernaut vs Spider-Man.

--RobFJ

Hulk Smash Everything!!

Brand new HULK: SMASH EVERYTHING #1 offers an entertaining adventure by Ryan North! Guest starring Doctor Strange and Velociraptors!

THE LAST DEFENDERS #6 closes the miniseries with a whole new team line-up—who are soon completely forgotten!

In BLACK WIDOW (2014) #18, Natasha finally gets some time off and it doesn’t feel right!

THOR (1998)#36 sees Loki reviving the Destroyer and sending it against Thor!

The upgraded CAPTAIN AMERICA #110 features Cap fighting Hulk! By Steranko!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #216, Storm is still being hunted, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #113, first appearance of Hammerhead, and DAREDEVIL #210, the return of Crossbow, the Green Arrow rip-off!

PeterS

Jim Starlin leaves but everything else continues

X-VENGERS #2 continues the fight against a rogue Technarch virus. But Revelation believes that the US Government is responsible, and Dani Moonstar must prevent all-out war.

T Vernon deals with the penultimate chapter of the Proctor/Gatherers saga in AVENGERS #374, and we at last learn what's going on.

THANOS #5-6 ends the 1st arc of this series as Thanos and Galactus defeat the Hunger, with a bit of help from Pip The Troll. And Jim Starlin bids goodbye again.

Meanwhile Avengers Vs X-Men continues in UNCANNY X-MEN (2012) #12 as the 2 sides fight again in teams all around the world. This issue spotlights Thing & his team vs Sub-Mariner & his team in Tabula Rasa.

--RobFJ

Enter…the Infernal Hulk!

THE INFERNAL HULK #1! Banner and Hulk have been split and the latter’s body taken over by the monstrous Eldest with a mission of terror around the world! A very dark chapter in the history of the Hulk begins!

Also new is THOR #4 where we see what is going on in Asgard now that Thor is powerless and forgotten! Hint: it ain’t pretty!

From 2008 there’s THE LAST DEFENDERS #5! The ex-Nighthawk sees a crazy vision of what the Defenders could have been—and soon will be!

BLACK WIDOW (2014) #17 has the sinister Prophet tempting Natasha with a vision of how much better her life would be if she joins his group called Chaos!

The upgraded CAPTAIN AMERICA #109 is a retelling of Cap’s classic origin! Again!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #215, Storm is being hunted, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #112, Spidey cops out on crime fighting, and DAREDEVIL #209, exploding little girl robots!

PeterS

Everything continues ... to get worse

IRON & FROST #2 continues to explore the fate of Iron Man, Emma Frost and War Machine in the Age Of Revelation future event. And it doesn't look too good for any of them.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #373 continues the final Gatherers arc. The group from multiple timelines are joined this time by an alternate Jocasta and Watcher as Sersi's madness escalates.

In THANOS #3-4 Galactus' plan turns out to be to blow up a pulsar to create a gateway (to the Ultraverse) so that he can get an Infinity Gem (from Rune) to add to the 4 he's already got. So Thanos calls in Gamora and Pip the Troll of the Infinity Watch.

Meanwhile in the Avengers Vs X-Men event X-MEN: LEGACY #267 continues the tale of how the Avengers are unsuccessful in their bid to stop teachers and students from the Jean Grey School from allying with the Utopia X-Men.

--RobFJ