Immortal Hulk, Vol. 1: Or is he Both?


Al Ewing - 2018
    He's quiet, calm, never complains. He's a man who believes he can use the darkest elements of his personality to do good in the world. If someone were to shoot him in the head... All he'd do is die. But the horror lives deeper. A horror that refuses to die. When night falls something other than the man gets up again. The horror is the Immortal Hulk. COLLECTING: IMMORTAL HULK 1-5, MATERIAL FROM AVENGERS: NO SURRENDER 684

Transformers


Bob Budiansky - 1985
    The Autobots are reformatted by the Ark to resemble cars and trucks; the Decepticons take the form of jets, weapons or in the case of Soundwave, a cassette deck with tapes.The Decepticons wreak havoc, steal energy and build a fortress. The Autobots, seen here as very weak underdogs, unsuited for war, fight valiantly to stop their foes.Ultimately, it's the humans that the Autobots befriend that save the day. Buster Witwicky's dad, captured by the Decepticons to formulate a fuel for them, secretly poisons his captors.In the final battle, five Autobots take on the entire Decepticon army. On the cusp of defeat, the tainted fuel concocted by Mr. Witwicky kicks in and the Decepticons fall.The Autobots don't even have time to celebrate, however, as the 4-part mini-series ends with Shockwave making an appearance, blowing the remaining Autobots to pieces. This cliffhanger led directly into the monthly Marvel run, which began 3 months after the miniseries ended. (Issue #4 had a cover date of Mar. 1985; issue #5 had a date of June.)Starting with issue 5, The Transformers had more drastic changes. Before reaching its 30th issue, both Optimus Prime and Megatron had been killed off to make way for newer characters.Starting in issue 35 (cover-dated December, 1987), the events became less Earth-centric, as the Transformers repaired their spacecraft and were able to revisit their homeworld Cybertron and other planets. This aspect was particularly prominent in the Matrix Quest sub-plot.In issue 75 (cover-dated February, 1991), the Autobots and Decepticons had united under one banner after Autobot commander Optimus Prime surrendered to Scorponok, in order to end their civil war. United, they finally faced their ancient nemesis: Unicron. The Transformers won, but with heavy losses, including the deaths of Scorponok and Optimus Prime (again). Peace between the two Transformers factions was shortlived after Unicron's death. Bludgeon, the new Decepticon leader, tried to strand the Autobots on Cybertron, which was apparently destroying itself. His plan failed and the final confrontation between the two factions played out, with the Autobots lead again by Grimlock. Optimus Prime is united with Hi-Q (his Powermaster) and given life by The Last Autobot. He returns to battle to save the Autobots and then exiles the Decepticons forever (until Transformers: Generation 2). After the battle with Unicron, the comic ran for only five issues before being cancelled. The final issue had the mini series banner above the title; "#80 IN A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES".Most of the issues of Transformers Marvel US were written by two writers. Although the first four issues were written by Jim Salicrup, editor Bob Budiansky was the one who contributed the most to the story, writing the character bios and backgrounds for the Transformers, even giving names to some of them. After the mini-series became an ongoing comic, Budiansky was promoted to constant writer. Except for issue #16 (Plight of the Bumblebee, written by Len Kaminski), issue #43 (The big broadcast of 2006, a Transformers cartoon episode adaptation by Ralph Macchio) and the two-part story Man of Iron (imported from Transformers Marvel UK), Bob wrote all the Transformers comics until issue #55.Most famous story arcs and issues are Warrior's school featuring the introduction of the Dinobots and the first clash between Autobot medic Ratchet and Megatron; Prime Time! when Optimus Prime is finally freed from captivity and battles current Decepticon commander Shockwave; Smelting Pool and The Bridge to Nowhere brought the story back to Cybertron where only a handful of Autobots fight an underground war against Straxus's Decepticons, also introducing Blaster, Budiansky's most-used character who was radically different from his cartoon and Marvel UK version. Afterdeath and Gone but not forgotten saw the deaths (for a while, anyway) of Optimus Prime and Megatron, after which Grimlock took control of the Autobot forces in King of the Hill. Starting at issue #28, Blaster and Goldbug (a rebuilt Bumblebee) defected from the Autobots due to Grimlock tyrannical leadership, which ended with Grimlock and Blaster having a duel in Totaled. The next issue, People Power saw the return of Optimus Prime, as a Powermaster. The "Underbase saga" began in issue #47 and ended in issue #50, Dark Star, where Starscream, absorbing the power of the Underbase, kills most of the active Transformers of the time. (Budiansky admitted in an interview that Hasbro was forcing him to introduce new characters so quickly, he had to do an epic to "make room" for them.) Budiansky's last 5 stories were very mediocre, he himself said that he lost the interest in Transformers, and asked Hasbro to hand over the comics to a new writer.From issue #56, the by then well-known writer of Transformers Marvel UK, Simon Furman took over the reins, having been asked by Marvel US. Furman used the characterisation he used at Marvel UK for the Transformers, and introduced many characters to the US comic who have already appeared in the UK comic. He wrote all the issues until the comic's cancellation at issue #80.Furmnan's most famous story arcs include Back from the Dead, the return of Megatron who kidnaps Ratchet to help him in his revenge against both Autobots and Decepticons; Primal Scream! which introduced Primus and re-told the origin of the Transformer race to the US readers too; the "Matrix Quest" which features the Autobots sending numerous teams to locate the Matrix that was lost when Optimus "died" and his body was shot into space; and the Unicron story arc from #67 to #75, featuring the Transformers' ultimate battle against the Chaos Bringer.Sadly the comic was cancelled shortly after issue #75, so Furman had to "wrap up" the ending. According to some interviews with him, he planned to feature the Neo-Knights and the "demons" inhabiting Cybertron's underground more in the never-written issues

Agents of Atlas: Turf Wars


Jeff Parker - 2010
    Disturbing visions plucked from the malignant mind of Norman Osborn lead the intrepid Agents to the darkest depths of the Atlantic Ocean, where Namora must have words with her infamous cousin - the Sub-Mariner! Then, The Agents of Atlas find themselves racing around the world to rescue their leader! Jimmy Woo and M-11 find themselves under the talons of the most terrible power in China...the deadly- and beautiful- JADE CLAW! Plus: the Atomic Age heroes meet the original gamma ray giant and learn the meaning of HULK SMASH!!! Collecting: Agents of Atlas 6-11

Man-Thing by Steve Gerber: The Complete Collection, Vol. 1


Steve GerberRon Wilson - 2015
    Marvel's melancholy muck-monster, by the man who knows him best! With the Nexus of All Realities as the ultimate staging post,prepare for the wildest journeys of your life in this fi rst volume of a complete collection of Steve Gerber's Man-Thing tales! Join the most startling swamp-creature of all in encounters with the Thing, sorcerers Dakimh and Jennifer Kale, and the most far-out fowl ever created, Howard the Duck! Plus existential angst, clashes with the modern world, and the death of a clown! COLLECTING: ASTONISHING TALES (1970) 12-13, FEAR 11-19, MARVEL TWO-INONE 1, MAN-THING (1974) 1-8; MATERIAL FROM SAVAGE TALES (1971) 1, FEAR 10, MONSTERS UNLEASHED 5

Captain America (2004-2011) #1


Ed Brubaker - 2004
    It's a new beginning as four time Eisner-nominated Best Writer Ed Brubaker makes his Marvel debut, joined by white-hot artist Steve Epting! As the new regular creative team, they will take Cap's life in directions fans will never see coming! In just this first issue, the Red Skull lays the groundwork for his most devastating attack ever on Captain America and the land he holds dear...and with the Cosmic Cube in his possession, how can Cap hope to stop him? Find out in the shocking twist-ending that will have everybody in the industry talking!

Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt


J.M. DeMatteis - 2018
    DeMatteis and Mike Zeck craft the ultimate tale of revenge! Kraven the Hunter has stalked and killed every animal known to man. But there is one beast that has eluded him. One quarry that has mocked him at every turn: the wall-crawling web-slinger known as Spider-Man. In his last hunt, Kraven will prove he is the Spider's master - by defeating him, burying him...and becoming him! Plus: DeMatteis and Zeck's soul-searching sequel! Kraven's dazzling debut! And much more! COLLECTING: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) 15, 293-294; WEB OF SPIDER-MAN (1985) 31-32; PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN (1976) 131-132; MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) 128; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: SOUL OF THE HUNTER; WHAT IF? (1989) 17; MATERIAL FROM SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL '96, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1999) 634-637, WHAT THE-?! 3

Captain America (2018-) #1


Ta-Nehisi Coates - 2018
    But in the aftermath of Hydra’s takeover of the nation, Captain America is a figure of controversy, carrying a tarnished shield…and a new enemy is rising! Who are the Power Elite? And how do they intend to co-opt and corrupt the symbol that is Captain America?

Share Your Universe Thor (Marvel Adventures Super Heroes)


Louise Simonson - 2009
    See the origins of the greatest warrior godhood has e'er known: THE MIGHTY THOR! See how the God of Thunder came to our world, and what awesome adversities shaped him into a champion of man!

The Astonishing Ant-Man: The Complete Collection


Nick Spencer - 2018
    But will he continue to be a hero - or return to his former life of crime? Or perhaps both?! Scott has his hands full with a new business, some questionable employees, and a teenage daughter who was once an Avenger herself! Then there are villains like the Power Broker and Scott's archenemy Darren Cross, plus the female Beetle - will she be friend, foe, or something else entirely? Whatever happens, there are many trials in store, as Nick Spencer's entire fast, furious and fun Ant-Man run is collected between two covers! COLLECTING: ANT-MAN (2015) 1-5, ANNUAL 1; ANT-MAN: LAST DAYS 1; THE ASTONISHING ANT-MAN 1-13 [ANT-MAN VOL. 1: SECOND-CHANCE MAN; THE ASTONISHING ANT-MAN VOL. 1: EVERYBODY LOVES TEAM-UPS; THE ASTONISHING ANT-MAN VOL. 2: SMALL-TIME CRIMINAL; THE ASTONISHING ANT-MAN VOL. 3: THE TRIAL OF ANT-MAN, MINUS GUARDIANS TEAM-UP 7

Essential Power Man and Iron Fist, Vol. 1


Chris Claremont - 1981
    A new era of greatness begins for the most unlikely team of all! From a 'Night of the Town' to the 'Day of the Death Machines', Power Man and Iron Fist - Heroes for Hire - face the Living Monolith, El Aguila, the Maggia and more! This collection guest-stars the Uncanny X-Men and the Daughters of the Dragon!

Doctor Who Character Encyclopedia


Jason Loborik - 2013
    Packed with fascinating facts and statistics for characters from the Abzorbaloff to the Zygons, and with large cut-out poses and stunning stills from the program, this is the ultimate compendium of Doctor Who characters.

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty


Kurt Busiek - 2002
    When duty calls, these legendary heroes answer -- fighting valiantly until justice prevails. But Kang is a foe unlike any other. He cares not for material riches; his ultimate goal is nothing short of global domination, to impose his will over all. Collects Avengers vol. 3, #41-55, Annual 2001

Civil War


Mark Millar - 2008
    In the wake of a tragedy, Capitol Hill proposes the Superhero Registration Act, requiring all costumed heroes to unmask themselves before the government. Divided, the nation's greatest champions must each decide how to react - a decision that will alter the course of their lives forever!Collecting Civil War #1-7, Marvel Spotlight: Civil War and Civil War Script Book.

Supreme Power, Volume 2


J. Michael Straczynski - 2006
    In Hyperion, Mark Milton suddenly finds himself both alone and hunted now that the world knows his dark secret.Collecting: Supreme Power 13-18, Supreme Power: Hyperion 1-5

King in Black: Thunderbolts


Matthew Rosenberg - 2021
    Fear and Batroc the Leaper! They have just one job: save the city or die trying. But the secret to doing so means that some of the worst people in the Marvel Universe must head inside the nightmarish Ravencroft Institute! What could go wrong? Plus: the Red Queen Kate Pryde and her crew of mutant Marauders set sail against the forces of Knull! Captain Kate has pledged to fight for the needy…and a global disaster like Knull’s invasion will mean plenty of folks in need!COLLECTING: King In Black: Thunderbolts (2021) 1-3, King in Black: Marauders (2021) 1