Site Updates Archive

Lots of students here

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

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

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

--RobFJ

One World Under Doom!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

Grandmaster is in only 2 of these issues

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

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

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

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

--RobFJ

Some Big Team-Ups!

No new comics this week so here are more classics!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

Avengers 3, Thanos 2

WEST COAST AVENGERS #3 tells us that the Ultrons here are just 2 of several Ultron clones who have each chosen to pursue their own path in life. And the Illuminati just don't care.

In T Vernon's AVENGERS #330 the team think they've convinced the Tetrarchs Of Entropy to leave Earth alone. Not!

Thanos is the deus ex machina at the end of SPIDER-MAN TEAM-UP #2, taking his Sanctuary spacecraft off Quasimodo which stops his revenge plan against Silver Surfer and the Mad Thinker. The Ben Reilly Spider-Man happens to be there too.
Then in CAPTAIN MARVEL (1995) #5 Grandmaster invites Thanos to a poker game which won't actually be shown until the next CM series some years later.

Lastly in NEW AVENGERS #12 the team are still trying to save/avenge Mockingbird, but they don't realise that Nick Fury found the answer back in 1959.

--RobFJ

It’s Gus Beezer Day!

And who is Gus Beezer?

He’s a kid obsessed with superheroes and comic books and the subject of several all-ages comics published by Marvel! Written by Gail (WONDER WOMAN) Simone! And we are adding his complete story today!

THE MARVELOUS ADVENTURES OF GUS BEEZER: SPIDER-MAN has Gus getting in trouble for playing at being Spidey all day! And then he meets his cousin Peter Parker!

THE MARVELOUS ADVENTURES OF GUS BEEZER: HULK! The Big Green Guy has been sighted in Gus’ neighborhood! Will Gus get a peek at his idol?

In THE MARVELOUS ADVENTURES OF GUS BEEZER: X-MEN, Professor X and company are searching for a new mutant—and Gus hopes it’s him!

THE MARVELOUS ADVENTURES OF GUS BEEZER AND SPIDER-MAN! Gus joins his cousin Peter for Career Day at the Daily Bugle! Will Spidey put in an appearance?

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #172-173, Wolverine’s wedding! AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #69, The Kingpin returns! and DAREDEVIL #169, Bullseye goes nutzoid!

Spider-Man becomes a (reserve) Avenger

In the new IRON MAN #4 Tony Stark, Ironheart and Scarlet Witch start to deal with the dangerous magic left behind in the Iron Man armours, but along the way discover someone's stealing Stark tech.

In T Vernon's AVENGERS #329 it's time for another lineup change, but they don't realise they're still in the middle of a continued story.

When I go back to following Thanos around I find him bedevilling Silver Surfer in the 1-shots GREEN LANTERN/SS: DEADLY ALLIANCES and SS: DANGEROUS ARTIFACTS. That is the last issue Ron Marz will write with Thanos in until the 2022 SS Rebirth mini-series, set back in this period.

In NEW AVENGERS #11 Mockingbird's still at death's door while back in 1959 Nick Fury's Avengers come up against a Red Skull and a Captain America (there's a lot of them about).

--RobFJ

Farewell to the Old Defenders! Welcome the New!

In NEW DEFENDERS #125, the original Defenders take their leave (at least from this book) and a new line-up takes over with a new title!

Fear Itself comes to UNCANNY X-MEN #540 in the person of a supernaturally empowered Juggernaut!

In TIGRA #2, Greer goes undercover at the police academy to fight the conspiracy of crooked cops!

HULK #52 has Red Hulk joining the Legion of Monsters for some sewer-based action!

ASTONISHING THOR #4 sees Thor caught between feuding brothers Ego and Alter-Ego!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #171, Rogue joins the X-Men, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #68, with a “Crisis on the Campus,” and DAREDEVIL #168, the first appearance of Elektra!

PeterS

Is anybody going to save Mockingbird?

New AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #5 ends the mini-series with the Emergency Response Squad defeating the Serpent Society. But the team will continue online in the Astonishing Avengers Infinity Comic.

In T Vernon's AVENGERS #328 the Russian story ends and we learn Rage's origin, but his story and that of the other-dimensional monsters continues.

ULTIMATES² #5-6 give us:- The Ultimates/Troubleshooters battle. The history of the 1st Firmament. And Anti-Man sacrificing himself to save Galactus. Plus America Chavez is off to college.

In NEW AVENGERS #10 Nick Fury recruits his team in 1959 and the current team defeat HAMMER but Superia gets away. And Mockingbird's still bleeding out.

--RobFJ

Double Dynamite! A New Hulk and a New Thor!

Brand new INCREDIBLE HULK #21 pits Hulk against a giant werewolf! Yikes!

Also new IMMORTAL THOR #19 features a story without Thor—but with multiple artists involved!

In DEFENDERS #124, the non-team comes under judgment by the Tribunal as the Elf with a Gun kibitzes from the sidelines! Warning: It’s the final issue of the series!

TIGRA #1 has Greer taking on a cadre of crooked cops to investigate the murder of her policeman husband Bill!

FEAR ITSELF: SPIDER-MAN #3 pits Spidey against an insane Norse hammer-wielding Ben Grimm!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #170, Storm duelinbg with Callisto to lead the Morlocks, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #2, with the Green Goblin, and DAREDEVIL #167, with DD versus Mauler (who?)!

PeterS

From the unspeakable to the unlistable

T Vernon kicks things off with AVENGERS #327 where the Rage/Ramskov story takes a left-turn into a world of monsters led by Ngh The Unspeakable.

In ULTIMATES² #3-4 the Troubleshooters track the team to Galactus' worldship and they fight. Meanwhile Chaos and Order have merged as Logos to replace the Living Tribunal and start reordering the multiverse to their liking, including turning Big G back into the Devourer.

I start a new (double) story in NEW AVENGERS #9 as the team face Superia and her ex-HAMMER Agents, while in 1959 we meet Nick Fury, Nazi hunter. And Mockingbird gets shot.

The above is part of my mission to fill gaps in Avengers series of the Heroic Age. Around that time Marvel scattered extra 'point 1' issues as jumping on points, which unfortunately don't fit into our database well. But we *have* used a trick of adding the .1 as a 2nd story in its parent issue.

To that end I offered to synopsise Secret Avengers #12.1 and add it to Peter's Secret Avengers #12. But he told me he'd already written it but never uploaded it anywhere. So here it is.

--RobFJ

Another Bonanza of Classics!

In DEFENDERS #123, it’s the non-team versus the Secret Empire, with many guest stars!

MARVEL PREMIERE #42 gave Tigra another try-out for her own book, battling a mad scientist with a de-evolution ray!

FEAR ITSELF: SPIDER-MAN #2 sees Spidey driven to the brink by the terror in the city! Guest starring Vermin and…J. Jonah Jameson!

In ASTONISHING THOR #3, Thor is caught between the Collector and the Stranger, as Ego’s secret is revealed!

HULK #51! Red Hulk clashes with the band of vampire heroes known as the Forgiven!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #169, introducing Callisto and the Morlocks, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #1, beginning Spidey’s second (and short-lived) ongoing title, and DAREDEVIL #166, with DD versus Gladiator!

PeterS

3 beginnings and a standalone

New this week is AVENGERS #22 where the team try to steal a maguffin but Kang and the Black Cat are after it too. And they're all actually part of a game between Grandmaster and Myrddin.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #326 starts a new international 6-parter introducing Rage and a Russian who will be called Powersurge.

ULTIMATES² #1-2 picks up where the previous series left off as Galactus press-gangs the team into service to save Eternity while Chaos and Order kill the Living Tribunal to take over the multiverse.

In the single-issue AVENGERS ACADEMY #9 Finesse seeks, finds and fights her probable father Taskmaster, and learns that her superpower may have a downside.

--RobFJ

Can’t Wait for the New Cap Movie? Here We Go!

The brand new SAM WILSON CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 anticipates the forthcoming CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD by bringing together Sam Cap and Red Hulk—but not the Red Hulk you’re thinking of!

In ASTONISHING THOR #2, the Collector wants to add Thor to his collection—and Thor doesn’t want to go!

HULK #50! Red Hulk returns and he is being haunted by literal ghosts from his past!

In DEFENDERS #122, the original non-team confronts…the Elf with a Gun! Madness!

MARVEL TEAM-UP #125 teams Tigra with Spidey to battle a baddie from her past! A second story features Scarlet Witch and Dr. Strange!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #168, the classic “Professor Xavier is a Jerk;” AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #67, wherein Spidey is shrunk by Mysterio, and DAREDEVIL #165, pitting DD against Doc Ock!

PeterS

A deal, a party, 2 Ultron's and a cosmic fist fight

New IRON MAN #3 sees Tony Stark win his takeover war against Roxxon and AIM by business dealing rather than Iron power.

In its companion WEST COAST AVENGERS #2 the team (including an Ultron) face the Hydra Steve Rogers from Secret Empire and then a cult-leading Ultron.

T Vernon brings us a single-issue story in AVENGERS #325 that caps the backup tales in the last 6 issues with a party at Sersi's place.

SILVER SURFER #18-19 finishes the Galactus/Elders Of The Universe/Soul Gems/In-Betweener saga with a punch-up between cosmic entities.

--RobFJ

Some Christmas Cookies! With Extra Spidey and Hulk!

In time for the holiday season, we have ASTONISHING THOR #1 wherein the God of Thunder discovers Ego the Living Planet has a destiny!

The Stranger is in trouble in MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE ANNUAL #5 and recruits Hulk and Thing to save his bacon…not that he needs it!

It’s Tigra versus Spidey in MARVEL TEAM-UP #67 for her second bout with Kraven the Hunter!

In DEFENDERS #121, the non-team meets the Miracle Man, who wants to be a god!

Spidey returns to face sheer chaos in FEAR ITSELF: SPIDER-MAN #1, dealing with the alien terror!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL #5, the classic “God Loves, Man Kills;” AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #66, wherein Spidey faces Mysterio, and new reviews for DAREDEVIL #163-164, pitting DD against the Hulk...and Ben Urich!

PeterS

From the beginning of Timely to the ends of the multiverse

T Vernon's up 1st again with end of The Crossing Line in AVENGERS #324 as the reformed villain(s) head off to explore the multiverse, never to be heard from again.

The Galactus/Elders Of The Universe/Soul Gems story continues in SILVER SURFER #16-17 with the In-Betweener thrown into the mix.

Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Ms Marvel face a Doombot in NEW AVENGERS #8, and Jess decides to become a fulltime Avenger (but not as Power Woman).
And in AVENGERS ACADEMY #8 the students learn what Hood did to Tigra and some of them get revenge for her. But she's not happy about that and expels them.

Julio continues to add the occasional milestone comic. This time it's Marvel (Timely)'s very 1st comic, 1939's appropriately-named MARVEL COMICS #1 and its immediate successor MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #2, introducing Sub-Mariner and the original android Human Torch.
And he's set up a new section in the Image Gallery containing AI Images.

--RobFJ

One Cap, Two Thors, a Pair of Spideys. and Various X-Men!

The brand new CAPTAIN AMERICA #16 closes out the run with Thor and Spider-Man as guests!

And of course, Thor also stars in the new IMMORTAL THOR #18, meeting his new son, Magni!

Tigra teams up with the ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing in MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #19 to fight the Cougar, a cosmic-powered cat-man!

In DEFENDERS #120, we have another issue centering on the Son of Satan! Too bad!

FEAR ITSELF: UNCANNY X-FORCE #3: The cultists are about to detonate a bomb in NYC, leading to an insane mid-air battle!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #166-167, concluding the classic Brood Saga; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #65, wherein Spidey goes to prison, and DAREDEVIL #161, pitting DD against Bullseye!

PeterS

Cosmic news flash! Galactus gets indigestion!

No new titles this week.

T Vernon continues the multi-team conflict in AVENGERS #323. Last issue's nuclear explosion *did* happen, but Alpha Flight's Shaman saved everybody by shunting them to various pocket dimensions inside his magic pouch.

SILVER SURFER #10 ends the 1st phase of the Galactus/Elders Of The Universe/Soul Gems conflict as Big G swallows some of the EOTU and sends other with the Gems into a black hole.
#15 picks up the story again as the unkillable Elders give him stomach ache and he sends Surfer, Invisible Woman and Mr Fantastic into the hole to retrieve the Gems.

It's Reptil's turn to take centre-stage in AVENGERS ACADEMY #6 as he's elected class leader and leads them against Mentallo.
#7 stars Henry Pym as he's persuaded to abandon for now a risky plan to revive his dead ex-wife, while he switches from Wasp to Giant-Man to take on Absorbing Man.

--RobFJ

Hulk Meets the Wolfman!

Specifically, Jack Russell, Werewolf by Night, in the brand new THE INCREDIBLE HULK #20!

MARVEL CHILLERS #7 closes out Tigra’s first solo series by pitting her against Super-Skrull!

THOR: THE DEVIANTS SAGA #5 ends the miniseries by activating the Unbinding Stone, the magical McGuffin that will end the universe! Talk about going out with a bang!

In DEFENDERS #119, enemy weirdo Yandroth makes a comeback—and mind controls the Defenders!

FEAR ITSELF: UNCANNY X-FORCE #2: The cultists terrorize the country with mass shootings and suicide bombings for a very uncomfortable tale

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #164-165, continuing the classic Brood Saga; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #64, featuring the Vulture, and DAREDEVIL #160, wherein Bullseye captures Black Widow!

PeterS

This time it's Avengers 3, Silver Surfer 2

I have 2 new Avengers comics to report on this week.

In AVENGERS #21 the current team clash heatedly with the current X-Men over a baseball match.

Meanwhile the alternative team in AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #4 try to restrain Sorcerer Supreme Dr Doom's abandoned champion/queen Victorious.

And T Vernon continues the multi-team clash in old AVENGERS #322, which ends with a nuclear explosion.

With an Ultimates series (and a short Thunderbolts series) dealt with I'm returning to my Infinity Gems/Thanos/Warlock obsession. Having followed the IG into the Ultraverse I'm back-tracking to fill in the missing Soul Gems (as they were known then) epic that starts in SILVER SURFER #8-9 where the Elders Of The Universe gather them together to use to kill Galactus.

--RobFJ

Meet the Original Hulk!

Before there was a big green angry guy, Marvel called a giant orange furry guy the Hulk! It was in JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #62 in 1960 that this alien invader tried to hypnotize the world! Oh and he came back in JIM #66! Check out the entry for full details of his oddball history!

FEAR ITSELF: UNCANNY X-FORCE #1 has the mutant kill crew after a cult plotting to wipe out humanity!

MARVEL CHILLERS #6 teams Tigra with the unappreciated Native American hero, Red Wolf!

THOR: THE DEVIANTS SAGA #4 has Thor fighting a T. Rex in the Savage Land!

In DEFENDERS #118, Daimon Hellstrom, Son of Satan, meets his evil(er) twin!

And Anthony Silvestro brings us UNCANNY X-MEN #162-163, kicking off the classic Brood Saga; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #63, featuring two Vultures, and DAREDEVIL #159, with a contract put out on DD!

PeterS

Terrorists 3, Red Skulls 2

2 new issues this week:-

In IRON MAN #2 Tony Stark fights back stealthily against Roxxon by hiring a terrorist to blow up an oil pipeline. And openly against AIM in his dodgy new Iron Man armour but with a really big sword.

Meanwhile in WEST COAST AVENGERS #1 he's started a new team to reform supervillains. Starting with Ultron! and involving terrorists taking over a funicular railway.

T Vernon continues the multi-team saga with AVENGERS #321 which ends with terrorists threatening to launch nuclear missiles.

And THUNDERBOLTS #3-4 ends the mini-series with the team fighting a dragon and making Dr Doom kill the latest Red Skull. Making this the only mini-series to kill off *2* Red Skulls.

--RobFJ

A Hulk Milestone! And Anthony Silvestro—Triple Threat!

The new INCREDIBLE HULK #19 is Legacy Number 800 so it’s extra-long and full of goodies including Red Hulk and She-Hulk!

THOR: THE DEVIANTS SAGA #3 has Thor teaming up with Gilgamesh (Remember him? He’s known as the Forgotten One) to invade the Deviants’ stronghold in Lemuria!

DEFENDERS #117 features a rare issue focusing on Over-Mind, the strangest member of a strange team! Check it out!

MARVEL CHILLERS #5 sees Tigra on the trail of Joshua Plague and the Rat Pack!

FEAR ITSELF concludes its stint in AVENGERS ACADEMY #20 with the team holding a post-mortem on their strange adventure! Plus, some weepy goodbyes!

And Anthony Silvestro stakes his claim to greatness, offering UNCANNY X-MEN #161, the first meeting of Professor X and Magneto; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #62, with Medusa as a guest, and DAREDEVIL #158, Frank Miller’s debut!

PeterS

Teams galore

In the new AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #3 the team stop some vampire slayers killing innocent new vampires. And they begin to realise that the Serpent Society are up to something.

T Vernon's AVENGERS #320 adds Alpha Flight to the already complicated clash of super-teams. And a 2nd 'ghost' turns up in the backup serial.

By special request from Julio here's THUNDERBOLTS #1-2 where a team suspiciously like those in the upcoming Thunderbolts* movie kill a Red Skull and destroy a load of his gold under Kingpin's nose.

AVENGERS ACADEMY #5 gives us the background and name of student Striker, and the team have to go public after they're seen fighting Whirlwind.

--RobFJ