Hi everyone. I’m back and I had a nice holiday weekend. Hope everyone else did as well. This week we’ve got a lot of Q/A so it’s going to be a busy column.
Now I’m wondering, who’s with me today? Daron you there?
Indeed I am here and ready to kick”¦err I mean answer some questions.
Ah good to know. Alright then let’s start the fun
Sly_Reference posted
I was thinking about this the other day: which hero has been on the most super-teams? I think it would be Beast (X-Men, Avengers, Defenders, Champions), but I’m a little hazy about more recent line-ups. Is there anyone else who tops him?
Wolverine has been on the most teams actually
1. Wolverine (Wolverine teams: Avengers, X-Men, XSE, Secret Defenders, Horsemen of Apocalypse (Death), Fantastic Four II, S.H.I.E.L.D., HYDRA, Team X, First Flight, Alpha Flight, Weapon X, C.I.A., C.P.B (Canadian Parachute Battalion), Devil’s Brigade, Clan Yashida
The other top 5 not counting villains
2. Professor X: (Excalibur, X-Corporation, X-Men, New Mutants, Starjammers, Brotherhood of Mutants, Cadre K, Defenders)
3. Black Widow (Defenders, Marvel Knights, Avengers, Champions, Lady Liberators, S.H.I.E.L.D., K.G.B.)
4. Cable (X-Force, X-Men, New Mutants, Six Pack, Clan Askani, Clan Chosen, Wild Pack)
5. Namor (Invaders II, Invaders I, Liberty Legion, All-Winners Squad, Defenders, Avengers, Queen’s Vengeance)
Hmmm, and here I thought Maggot would have at least made the top 5″¦considering how popular he was *groans*
James emails
Hey Jim,
With DC about to launch its version of an “Ultimate” line (No continuity? BLECH!), in your opinion, what were the best and worst of Marvel’s Ultimate “makeovers”?
I think actually Ultimates is the best of them. Seeing as it’s the only one I read now. The others just aren’t as good.
Personally, I don’t really like any of them, but that’s just me.
I was recently on vacation and on a rainy day I stopped in a Walden and picked up the trade paperback featuring the first six issues of the most recent Alpha Flight series. Was the rest of the series worth picking up?
Yep the issues 6-12 are worth picking up. The whole series was pretty good. One of those little series not many readers thought about picking up and it got canned way too early.
Or you could look at it without the rose colored glasses on and realize that the dreck of a series wasn’t cancelled near soon enough”¦
Why are there two Pucks?
Yu Zuzha is actually the daughter of Puck I. Which is why she took on the codename.
What happened to the teenaged version of James Hudson?
The Vindicator clone, until recently, believed he was the original, regressed to being a teenager once more. Bestowed with the memories of the original. He was killed by Aim some time during an escape with the real James Hudson. That happened in and an issue of Wolverine I believe
How did Sasquatch get his orange form back?
He actually got his real form back in the original series. After coming back from the dead his mind was in Snowbird’s body remember. Alpha Flight Vol.1 #68 he changed back.
How did Snowbird come back from the dead?
Alpha Flight and Wolverine were battling the forces of A.I.M, they found what seemed to be Snowbird’s body. Walter Langkowski explained this as her divine nature having caused her remains to generate in a form of a hyper-healing factor.
With the 70’s Spider-Woman now appearing in Avengers, whatever happened to the 90’s version(s) of the character?
Spider-Woman II: Julia Carpenter, returned to the life of a normal mother.
Spider-Woman III: Mattie Franklin, settled with her uncle J. Jonah Jameson.
Spider-Woman IV: Charlotte Witter, was defeated by Mattie and institutionalized
Who is the current herald to Galactus?
Actually current Herald is in Stormbreaker: Stardust
What characters have held the power cosmic?
If you mean heralds
Silver Surfer
Terrax
Firelord
Air-Walker
Nova
Morg
Red Shift.
Human Torch Johnny Storm
Stardust
In the 80’s, I remember following a Dr. Strange series that featured Paul Smith art. In that series, Vampires were banished from the earth “forever.” How did they come back and who are the main vampires players on earth?
You know I don’t remember how they brought Vampires back after the Mondesi Formula for some reason. The problem is continuity isn’t to clear on it. There’s a few different things that screw it up. The return of Vernae in Doctor Strange before Drac’s death. There’s a Tomb of Dracula III #1 with Drac’s return.
Many people claim that Moon Knight is the Marvel Universe’s version of Batman. What do you think of this description? And, most importantly to random comic questions, who would win in a fight between the two?
I can see it. I think it’s quite accurate too.
Moon Knight is a rich man like Batman
He’s really got no powers like Bats
He’s got a bunch of cool devices like Bats to.
The only real difference is the white to the black
I’m sorry to say though Batman would kick his ass.
Well at least we agree on that”¦even though I think I like Moon Knight a bit more. I wish we could get a good series with the character.
Who were the members of Team America and are their adventures in continuity? Also, is it true that at one point Sharon Ventura, aka the She-Thing, ran with Team America?
Current Members: Cowboy, R.U. Reddy, Wolf, Wrench, Georgianna Hebb.
Former Members: Sharon Ventura, Thing
Yep She-Thing was there as well as Ben.
In the early 80’s there was a series called “U.S. 1” about a truck driver in the Marvel Universe. What was the plot of the series, how did it resolve and what are the characters doing now?
Actually one of the few series I’ve never read and don’t have any issues of. Could be because it’s not continuity.
In the main Marvel Universe, how many people have taken the role of Captain America? And who were they?
Captain America: of the Revolutionary War, Steven Rogers
Captain America 0: Isaiah Bradley
Captain America I: Steve Rogers, the original Super Soldier
Captain America II: William Nasland, formerly Spirit of 76
Captain America III: Jeff Mace, formerly the Patriot
Captain America IV: “Steve Rogers”, Grand Director
Captain America: anyone from Tales of Suspense #96
Captain America V: Bob Russo
Captain America VI: Scar Turpin
Captain America VII: Roscoe
Captain America VIII: John Walker, now USAgent, formerly Super-Patriot
Captain America IX: The Anti-Captain America
Imposters:
Acrobat
Sensational Hydra
Red Skull I
Taskmaster
Sons of the Serpent member
Current Hydra version in Amazing
3 Captain America Dopplegangers
Didn’t the Guardians of the Galaxy once name a space ship after Captain America?
Yep they did. The ships named after Steve.
What is former Captain America girlfriend Diamondback up to now?
Diamondback came back in Captain America during Avengers Disassembled, renewing old loves and working for the Red Skull
What are your top 10 weirdest Captain America moments in the Marvel 616 Universe?
Some right off my head and off the boards
1. Cap Wolf
2. Cap #222 reanimated statue of Abraham Lincoln
3. Teen Cap
4. The ghost of the Red Skull saves Capt from Dr. Faustus
5. Cap on drugs!
6. Cap in an Iron man esque exoskeleton due to the super soldier serum killing him
7. Cap getting a full blood transfusion from Red Skull
8. Rick Jones Bachelor party in Hulk where he looks away from the porno
And what is Captain America’s connection to the pro wrestling group that was featured in the 1980’s Thing comic?
D-Man is actually. The Demolition Man was a member of the same wrestling group.
Hope you have a great Memorial Day Weekend,
Thanks and you to.
Jon emails
Hey man, I was just reading the Handbook (late, computer died and I forgot to check IP for a few days after securing a temp. replacement), and I had a flash of three words pop into my head, taken from a long-ago memory from my childhood. So I decided to send you those three words, just to see what you might have to say about them. Or even what the DOL has to say about them, for that matter.
Those three words?
“Contest of Champions”
Have fun!
Oh god. Talk old school. As long as it’s the original one.
Elder of the Universe Grandmaster and Death play a game for the fate of the Collector. They use various heroes, mostly from other nations, to collect the four pieces of the Golden Globe. If the Grandmaster’s team collects the most pieces, the Collector will live again. If Death’s team collects the most pieces, the Collector will remain dead.
The Grandmaster’s team was:
Captain America (USA)
Talisman (Australia)
Darkstar (USSR)
Captain Britain (England)
Wolverine (Canada)
Defensor (Brazil)
Sasquatch (Canada)
Daredevil (USA)
Peregrine (France)
She-Hulk (USA)
Thing (USA)
Blitzkrieg (Germany)
Death’s team was:
Iron Man (USA)
Vanguard (USSR)
Iron Fist (USA)
Shamrock (Ireland)
Storm (Kenya)
Arabian Knight (Saudi Arabia)
Sabra (Israel)
Invisible Girl (USA)
Angel (USA)
Black Panther (Africa)
Sunfire (Japan)
Collective Man (China)
These heroes also appeared:
El Aguila, Ajak, American Eagle, Ant-Man II, Aquarian, Aurora, Beast, Black Bolt, Black Knight III, Black Widow, Blue Shield, Brother Voodoo, Captain Ultra, Captain Universe, Colossus, Crimson Dynamo V, Crystal, Cyclops, Dazzler, Devil-Slayer, Doc Samson, Doctor Druid, Doctor Strange, Falcon, Firebird, Gargoyle II, Gorgon II, Guardsman II, Havok, Hawkeye, Hellcat, Hercules, Hulk, Human Torch, Iceman, Ikaris, Jack of Hearts, Jocasta, Karkas, Karnak, Ka-Zar, Living Mummy, Lockjaw, Machine Man, Madrox, Makkari, Medusa, Mister Fantastic, Mockingbird, Moondragon, Moon Knight, Namorita, Nightcrawler, Nighthawk II, Night Rider IV, Northstar, Paladin, Polaris, Power Man II, Professor X, Quasar III, Quicksilver, Razorback, Red Wolf III, Rom, Scarlet Witch, Sersi, Shaman, Shanna the She-Devil, Shooting Star, Shroud, Silver Surfer, Snowbird, Son of Satan, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Sprite II (Kitty Pryde), Stingray, Sub-Mariner, Tamara Rahn, Texas Twister, Thena, Thor, 3-D Man, Tigra, Torpedo III, Triton, Union Jack III, Ursa Major, Valkyrie III, Vindicator, Vision, Wasp, Werewolf by Night, Whizzer, Wonder Man
Actually the first big Marvel character limited series.
Wow, that’s so old school it’s before my time”¦no comment.
Maxtraster emails
Hey, I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to catch this title yet, but Runaways by Brian Vaughan has Dark Hawk, one of the kids from Power Pack, and a few other c-team child stars. The first two issues are out, and while it seems pretty formulaic, you might want to take a look. Vaughn had a run on Ultimate X-Men and did the Hood, which is just plain bad ass
I do read Runaways. I’m a fan of the book as well. Even covered it here a few times as well in the handbook.
Hey Max, have you read the original Runaway series. If not, you really should get it. You should be able to pick up the digest of the entire first series. Past that if you’re interested in any of BKV’s other works you should REALLY check out Y: The Last Man and Ex Machina, his two best books!
JPF emails
I am curious who in the marvel Universe has the strongest or best ray/beam powers. For example if Cyclops shoots his eyes rays at Iron Man and Iron Man shoots his rays at Cyclops, or if Doom shots his beams at Havoc and vice versa, who will get hit or will the beams cancel each other out. So out of all the Maverl Heros and Villians with beams who will be left standing
I’ll bet there’s one guy left you didn’t think of. THANOS! That’s right Thanos. Most the heroes are not willing to kill. Even though the villains are there’s only one villain who could take all the hits and then kill the others. THANOS!
Thanos is indeed the man, but if you’re talking about “human” level characters I’d probably go with Havok. Although he seems to be underplayed lately, do you remember when he turned a desert to glass? That’s some power!
10 years of Daredevil
1995: Fathoms of Humanity continues from last year. Deathlok and Peacekeeper’s help DD stops Bushwacker, Devourer and King as well as defuse the bombs to end the storyline. DD appears in Spider-Man during Back from the Edge as Spidey had to fight a sickness and the Owl. Back in his title DD fights Kruel and the Kingpin starts coming back. DD appears in Ghost Rider to help hunt him down. Kingpin kills Kruel. DD starts having an identity crisis as he saves Fury from Punisher, He then appears in Double Edge Omega as Punisher kills Fury. Matt goes to the funeral in Hulk. He also battles Mister Fear in Over The Edge. During Marvel vs. DC: DD beat the Riddler. Back to his own title Inferno: while fighting his inner demons he fights Sir. He finally gets control afterwards
1996: Paradiso: Stick helps Matt sort himself out. Afterwards he fights Vice Agent, Jigsaw (in Punisher), Purge (with the Green Goblin), Klaw & Kill monger (with Black Panther), Mastermind, Mister Hyde, Shooter, and Pyro. Matt also joins Ms. Sharpe’s firm. He also battles Infamnia, the Enforcers (with Misty Knight), Mysterio, He also fights Venom who goes on Trial, He teams with Spidey to fight Hydra, He then finds out Karen Page is a dj.
1997: DD teams with Batman to take down Hyde & Two-face. He also teams with Shi. He then fights Absorbing Man, Grey Gargoyle, Billy Grippo, Puppet Master (With Spider-Man and Surfer), Insomnia, Mister Fear, Gladiator I, Elements of Doom (with others), teams with Elektra, , helps Kazar, Widow’s Kiss: fights Omega Red, Vanguard, Ursa Major, gets shot by Black Widow. In the end helps free Darkstar, fights Absorbing Man and Titania (with Spidey).
1998: Gets Cecelia Reyes to heal the wound, DD and BW split again, helped the other heroes go after the Thunderbolts, The American Samurai: DD and Elektra fight a Samurai, Meets up with Ghost Rider, Fights Mister Fear, DD and Spidey team up for the Mysterio Manifesto against Mad Jack. Flying Blind: DD works for SHIELD undercover and fights the Kingpin, Ninjas, and Synapse. In the last issue of the original series it’s DD vs. Kingpin, Bushwhacker, and Bullseye. DD fights Synario (with Spidey), DD helps a revived Nighthawk.
1999-00: DD gets involved in Contest of Champions fighting Deadpool. Volume 2 starts: Guardian Devil: a woman leaves her baby in Matt’s care as Karen Page also thinks she has aids. As a few factions come after the baby. Black Widow helps DD threw the story. DD ask Strange for help as Bullseye goes after the baby and kills Karen Page. Mysterio is the main villain revealed as he kills himself. Matt restarts Murdock and Nelson. As Spidey helps him threw everything after he comes back from retirement.
2000: Another DD and Batman team up now vs. Scarecrow & Kingpin. DD also helps Black Widow in her series deal with a new Blond Black Widow. He also defends the FF in court. DD battles Gambit and the Constrictor in Gambit. DD tries to stop the Punisher but is taken care of by him. DD and Spidey help some firemen in a burning building. DD also forms his own team (Marvel Knights) to first fight Trolls. He asks them to help stop Punisher as well.
2001: DD Ninja: DD is taken to Japan to help defeat the Hand. In DD/Spider-Man: They team up as well as Black Widow to fight as a team of villains under the Owl attack Kingpin and his interest. Parts of a Hole: Echo appears in DD’s life at first working for the Kingpin. Kingpin is put on trial as well. Black Widow shows up along the way to help. Echo joins DD to fight Kingpin in the end. Wake Up: Ben Urich and DD try to help the Leap Frog who’s sons imagination is out of hand. DD helps Nick Fury try to help both Black Widows. The Marvel Knights go after Cloak to stop his rampage. DD’s team gets a new member in Luke Cage as they fight Tombstone, Bullet, Bengal, and Big Ben. They also fight Zaran. In the end the Knights break up. Matt also helps Tony Stark. DD Yellow also comes out retelling DD’s origin. Playing to the Camera: Someone wants to hire Mudock to sue DD as the Jester gets set free. Spidey helps Matt by posing as DD in court as we find out Ringmaster is behind it all.
2002: DD tries to help stop Graviton with other heroes, He also helps Spidey fight Doc Ock. DD helps Jessica Jones escape the police. Underboss: Silke and the Rose go after the Kingpin who’s blind as DD is also attacked by Nitro. A bounty is put on Matt’s head as well. Elektra warns him. Bullseye is one of the men who go after him. Kingpin is taken out. DD is one of the heroes who also go after the Order. Out: Daredevil’s secret identity is revealed to the public thanks to Silke. Spidey, Black Widow, Elektra and Ben try to help Matt out. He battles Mister Hyde. Luke Cage is hired to protect Matt.
2003: DD Target issue 1 comes out. (haven’t seen an issue since). The Trial of the Century: Power Man and Iron Fist convince Matt to defend the White Tiger. Many heroes help in the case. White Tiger is found guilty. Lowlife: Stilt-Man retires as he tells Matt The Owl is looking to replace Kingpin. The man who DD sued for putting out his identity is killed and DD. They all go after Owl who did it to frame DD. Kingpin come back to town. Hardcore: Kingpin and Typhoid Mary are back as well as Bullseye. DD has to battle them all with some help from Luke Cage. Matt also helps Jessica Jones get a job .DD also appears in Marvel The End
2004: DD Father issue 1 comes out. Confederacy of Dunces: DD, Spidey and Wolverine go after the Punisher who’s gotten out of hand. He defeats them. Echo: Echo and DD meet again. DD turns her away. She visits Kingpin in prison not finding any answers there. She then meets Wolverine on a vision quest. The King of Hell’s Kitchen: DD takes over as the Kingpin. Many heroes try to stop him from doing it. DD and others fight the Yakuza. Matt also marries Milla along the way. The Widow: DD and BW team up again. They fight Jigsaw and Quinn. Nick Fury also gets involved. 40th Anniversary comes about and we see how DD has impacted Marvel. DD also helps the Avengers during Disassembled.
2005: DD is one of the heroes Nick Fury gets to join his Secret War team. Golden Age: Daredevil deals with how his life has been since his identity has been revealed. The story starts in the past with NY’s first Kingpin. He battles him and Gladiator. DD also turns down a place with the Avengers during Breakout. Decalogue: this is the current story arc going on in DD. Go check it out.
That’s it for today. Pretty good column this week. Keep the questions coming, and make sure to label them Marvel Handbook.
Now let’s see. Daron want to sign off first?
You know one of these times I’m not gonna take you giving me orders and”¦
Now my turn:
Notes:
1. Wizard World Philly is this weekend I’ll be roaming the floor myself. I hope to see you all here.
2. House of M starts this week people. I’ll cover it next week in the column
3. Marvel.com question is still Which is your favorite X team? So go vote and hell write me and maybe we can debate it here.
That’s it for today. Hope everyone enjoyed the column. See you all next week. Reporting from the Marvel Universe I’m Jim Trabold. Have a great week.
