Site Updates Archive

Can Doctor Doom Be the Real Good Guy?!?

The brand new ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM #5 raises the scary question: What if Doom really is the right person to rule the world? And it results in a verbal clash among the Avengers!

THOR ANNUAL 2000 wraps up the Jake Olson plot and a guest appearance by Thanos and Mangog!

MONICA RAMBEAU: PHOTON #2 sees Monica having a crazy encounter with a new Beyonder!

In SECRET DEFENDERS #9, Dr. Strange recruits the Silver Surfer, War Machine, and Thunderstrike; object: stop Nebula’s conquering army!

PLANET HULK #3 continues the offbeat adventure with Steve Rogers, Devil Dinosaur, and Doc Green!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #193, 100 issue anniversary for Claremont, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #89, more Doc Ock, and DAREDEVIL #187, DD’s powers go wonky again!

PeterS

A grab-bag of oldies, mainly endings

T Vernon's AVENGERS ANNUAL #21 is the finale of the Citizen Kang story (spread across 4 Annuals in 1992) with the Avengers and Fantastic Four teaming up against Kang's minions while he has to fight his love Ravonna/Kang-Nebula/Terminatrix.

AMERICA #12 is the end of the series as Chavez strikes a peace deal between the Fuertonas and La Legion. But how much of this series will be rendered imaginary by her next series?

AVENGERS SOLO #5 is also the end of the Hawkeye mini-series, but he and the Academy chars in the backup strip continue ...

... in AVENGERS ACADEMY #21-22 where loads of new students join the school plus Hawkeye as a new teacher, and Magneto tries to help find out who 'killed' the robot Jocasta.

--RobFJ

The Penultimate Thor!

It’s the brand new IMMORTAL THOR #24 and, well, Thor dies! For real! One more issue to wrap up all the loose threads but that’s it! Immortal Thor is finished!

Also new is RED HULK #5, a tie-in to ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM! And it’s Rulk against every Doombot in the world!

MONICA RAMBEAU: PHOTON #1! So she finally has a miniseries of her own! And everything is going mad!

FEAR ITSELF concludes in THUNDERBOLTS #162 with a horde of water monsters invading Chicago!

In SECRET DEFENDERS #8, Earth and the Death Dimension are merging into one nasty world and the only one who can stop it is…Captain America?!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #192, the coming of Magus, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #88, Doc Ock returns, and DAREDEVIL #186, Turk steals the Stilt-Man armor!

PeterS

Thanos is trying to upstage Dr Doom, but neither of them are actually in their issues

2 more One World Under Doom tie-ins for your delectation.

AVENGERS #26 continues Captain America (Sam Wilson)'s lone fight against Mad Thinker's Masters Of Evil. But just when all seems lost Black Panther turns up.

SUPERIOR AVENGERS #2 reveals the team from the future's plan. They're gathering energy from magic items in this time to replace all the magic defences that went away when they killed future Dr Doom.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #349 is another 1-off interlude where Ares and Hera pit Hercules against Thor (Eric Masterson) just because they can.

In AMERICA #11 Chavez returns to Fuertona to oppose La Legion who've taken her grandmother. She's aided by another Starling and the Crystal Of Uzam.

Returning to the Thanos trail I've added comments to X-MAN/HULK ANNUAL 1998 to explain that this is the last hurrah of the Low-Level Thanosi from the 1997 Ka-Zar series.

And then THOR (1998) #21 follows on from Peter's Thursday #20 to show Mangog and the Higher-Powered Thanosi defeating all of Asgard to take the Map Of All-Ending which will lead them to the Designate where they will gain, you guessed it, ultimate power.

--RobFJ

A Passel of Classics!

SECRET DEFENDERS #7 has Dr. Strange, Spidey and Wanda in the Death Dimension while back on Earth Captain America faces the walking dead!

THOR (1998) #20 jumps over a bunch of issues to aid Rob Johnson in a mad frolic of his own! Check out his side of the site this weekend!

Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau) has a strange night on the town in MARVEL FANFARE #57! Plus, Shanna the She-Devil!

FEAR ITSELF continues in THUNDERBOLTS #161: Juggernaut is gone but now there’s a nuke heading for Chicago!

PLANET HULK #2 Gladiator Steve Rogers and Devil Dinosaur meet Doc Green but as you’ve never seen them before!

And Anthony Silvestro has the week off because he was bitten by a radioactive comic book blogger and we’re nervously waiting to see what develops!

 PeterS

Would you believe it?

2 more One World Under Doom tie-ins this week.

In IRON MAN #8 Union trouble holds up Tony Stark's plan to defeat Dr Doom by giving him weapons. And no, Black Widow doesn't believe the last bit either.

THUNDERBOLTS: DOOMSTRIKE #5 (for the 2nd week in a row) finishes the series with the good guys winning. Well, not losing.

T Vernon presents Vision-centred AVENGERS #348 which suggests there may be some humanity left in the android (after John Byrne dehumanised him in West Coast Avengers).

In AMERICA #9-10 Chavez and friends from around the multiverse roundly defeat Exterminatrix and her Mindless Ones.

--RobFJ

Seeing Double!!

The week features two appearances each by Thor, Spider-Man, and the Scarlet Witch!

Brand new INCREDIBLE HULK #25 pits Hulk against Thor for the life of Charlie Tidwell!

Held over from last week is IMMORTAL THOR #23 wherein Thor takes on one of the Primal Gods!

SECRET DEFENDERS #6 sees the return of Xandu with the Wand of Watoomb! Dr. Strange recruits Cap, Spidey, and the Scarlet Witch to stop him!

Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau) meets Dracula in MARVEL FANFARE #42! Plus, Spider-Man has some banking troubles! Wanda makes a guest appearance!

FEAR ITSELF continues in THUNDERBOLTS #160 with the team finally facing the possessed Juggernaut and regretting it!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #190-191, Kulan Gath’s weirdness, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #87, Spidey unmasked, and DAREDEVIL #185, Foggy Nelson, P.I.!

PeterS

One thing after another

This week's One World Under Doom entry is THUNDERBOLTS: DOOMSTRIKE #4 where Dr Doom tries to persuade captive Revolution to switch sides until Black Widow leads his team to rescue him.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #344 completes the intro of Proctor, Magdalene and an alternate Swordsman before the team go off for Operation Galactic Storm.

In AMERICA #7 America Chavez learns the history of 1 of her mothers. Then in #8 she returns to college to find it's been taken over by Exterminatrix.

In AVENGERS SOLO #4 Hawkeye and allies start to invade the enemy HQ when Iron Man turns up to stop them. And Finesse and Striker are alone against Alkhema and her robot West Coast Avengers.

--RobFJ

Doom Versus Dormammu!

That’s right, ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM #4 pits world conqueror Doom against the former Sorcerer Supreme’s greatest enemy! It’s earth-shaking!

The new RED HULK #4 has Red Hulk returning to the story with a big and very literal bang!

MARVEL TEAM-UP #143 sees Spidey and Starfox teaming up in another dimension to save the life of Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau)!

In THOR #9, the God of Thunder finally learns what has been going on behind his back the entire series so far so the big battle with the Dark Gods starts next issue!

FEAR ITSELF continues in THUNDERBOLTS #159, multiple stories centering on the madness at the Raft during the mass breakout!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #189, Rachel and Magma versus Selene, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #85, the Schemer unmasked, and DAREDEVIL #184, another classic cover: “No more Mister Nice Guy!”

PeterS

What actually happens

In new WEST COAST AVENGERS #7 Wonder Man actually buddies up with Blue Bolt while a 3rd Ultron (The Scorched) shows up and kills the cult-leader version.

T Vernon brings us AVENGERS #343 which starts a 2-parter that introduces the Gatherers, but which is actually just the beginning of a saga that will meander through to #375 2½ years later.

#3-4 concludes the mini-series which actually had Adam Warlock hidden in all issues, but which creates a new female Warlock who's never been seen again.

AVENGERS SOLO #3 continues to get Hawkeye deeper into a scheme to create superpowers for sale. And the Avengers Academy trio face Alkhema.

--RobFJ

Sam Cap! Red Hulk! Thunderbolts! Two Spideys!

Several movie connections here:

The brand new SAM WILSON CAPTAIN AMERICA #5 concludes the miniseries with an offbeat victory, a surprising change for Red Hulk…and a weird fate for the villain!

FEAR ITSELF confronts the THUNDERBOLTS in their issue #158! But first: zombies!

We resume our coverage of Captain Marvel (the unsung Monica Rambeau) with MARVEL TEAM-UP #142 wherein CM teams up with Spider-Man to chase some baddies who want to wipe out half the population! So MCU Thanos wasn’t first!

And Thor joins Spidey in PETER PARKER: SPIDER-MAN (1999) #2 against the mad Tokkots of the Dark Gods on the streets of Manhattan!

SECRET DEFENDERS #5 reveals the bizarre secret of Roadkill, the demonic killer on the legendary Route 66!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #188, the team deals with chaos, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #84, more Kingpin and Schemer, and DAREDEVIL #183, DD meets the Punisher—with that shocking cover!

PeterS

Is anything what it seems?

In the new THUNDERBOLTS: DOOMSTRIKE #3 the team try to stop Doom getting his hands on Wakandan Vibranium but find themselves facing some of the original TBolts. And 1 char has supposedly been brought back from death as a Doombot while another is actually working for the other side.

T Vernon has the concluding part of the Avengers/New Warriors/Sons Of The Serpent + Hate Monger conflict in AVENGERS #342, and Rage leaves the team to join the Warriors.

I've just finished 1 Warlock mini-series so I'll start another. #1-2 of the 2004 series show the Enclave creating a new more obedient Adam Warlock in a world that isn't quite Marvel Earth, but possibly some of the chars are *from* there.

And in AVENGERS SOLO #2 Hawkeye meets a group of victims of the suspect drug study and helps their armoured protector Trace when they're attacked by goons enhanced by their oppressors. And in the backup tale some Avengers Academy chars face robot copies of the original West Coast Avengers.

--RobFJ

The Latest from Red Hulk and a Japanese Vampire Epic!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

Mostly Avengers beginnings but also 1 non-Avengers ending

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

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

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

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

--RobFJ

Doom Rules! and Two Very Strange Caps!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

The past is ever with us, and the future too

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

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

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

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

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

--RobFJ

Presenting the Worst Spider-Man Villain!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

The spotlight issue packs everything in.

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

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

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

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

--RobFJ

Bad Day for Banner!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

Teams galore

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

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

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

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

--RobFJ

A New Thor and a Gallery of First Issues!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

Who are the real villains?

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

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

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

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

--RobFJ

More Hulk Than You Can Handle!

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

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

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

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

PeterS

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

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

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

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

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

--RobFJ

One World Still under Doom!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS