Site Updates Archive

One World Still under Doom!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

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

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

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

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

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

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

--RobFJ

Hulk and Spidey! It’s Snow Joke!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

2 of these stories have no villains

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

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

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

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

--RobFJ

Fights, Team-Ups, and a Wedding!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

Young superheroines make their mark here

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

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

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

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

--RobFJ

Rulk Versus Doom!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

Dr Doom and time-travel don't mix

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

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

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

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

--RobFJ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

Lots of students here

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

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

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

--RobFJ

One World Under Doom!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

Grandmaster is in only 2 of these issues

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

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

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

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

--RobFJ

Some Big Team-Ups!

No new comics this week so here are more classics!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PeterS

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