Ultimate Marvel Handbook #218

Features

Hello all and welcome to another Marvel Handbook. My name is Jim of course with my partner and editor Daron. Hey Daron how are things?

Not bad, not bad. Classes just kicking my @$$, but other than that not bad. You?

I‘m good. It‘s a really light week for email though. 1 email. I‘m not holding any at the moment either. So we need the readers to pick it up. But let‘s go with what we have and start it up.

So in other words, easy day for me…yay! I mean send more emails damnit!

Brandon emails

Jim,

I have not wrote in awhile but due to some arguements and things I need cleared up..Need to win these bets and get the money. So I have quite a few questions, spread them out if need be but I know you are the man to answer them.

We‘ll do the best we can to help.

So a buddy of mine has never seen the highlander movies, I was watching parts one and two as well as the robot chicken(rulez!!!) parody and got to thinking, who would you say are the 10 best swordsmen(people) in the Marvel U? And on that note the 10 best marksmen(people) These can be good or evil but I am curious.

Good one

Swordsmen

1. Taskmaster
2. Swordsman I
3. Swordsman II
4. Deadpool
5. Swordsman III
6. Black Knight III
7. Silver Samurai
8. Spiral
9. Nightcrawler
10. Psylocke

Marksmen

1. Taskmaster
2. Deadpool
3. Kraven the Hunter
4. Nick Fury
5. Black Widow (Natasha)
6. Punisher
7. Paladin
8. Winter Soldier
9. Agent Zero
10. Domino

Man, Jim, you are totally a mark for Deadpool. I have a hard time believing he should even be on the Swordsmen list. The Marksmen sure (though I don’t know if he’s that high), but definitely not the swordsmen. I’d pull Deadpool out, move everyone on that list up and insert Wolverine in between Nightcrawler and Psylocke.

For the Marksmen, I’d probably put Deadpool after Widow and before Punisher in the #5 spot.

Then, being a movie buff, finally got around to seeing the Man-Thing movie and realized I am not as familer with Man-Thing. How closely did the movie follow his origin? I know if you know fear his touch burns but in the movie he had many more powers and seemed almost evil, killing ANYONE who came into the swamp? Is that how Man-Thing is? And what is the Nexus of All Realites?

Allow me

1. Man-Thing origin: Ted Sallis first came to prominence in government circles as the chief chemist working on “Project Sulfur,” a U.S. Army research program aimed at developing a means to survive bio-chemical warfare. Sallis developed “Serum SO-2,’ which would have succeeded in immunizing human beings to all toxic biochemicals, but the mutagenic effects of the serum would have transformed people into monsters. The serum was never put into production.

After Project Sulfur was shut down, Sallis was reassigned to “Project Gladiator,” a research program under the auspices of S.H.I.E.L.D., which was aimed at recreating the lost “super-soldier” serum that had spawned Captain America during World War II. Working separately from his colleagues, who included Drs. Wilma Calvin and Barbara Morse (later to be known as Mockingbird), Sallis evidently attempted to use a modified version of his SO-2 formula as the basis for a new super-soldier serum. He was close to success when he was betrayed into the hands of the subversive Advanced Idea Mechanics by his wife, Ellen.

Perhaps already suspecting betrayal, Sallis had earlier destroyed his notes. To guarantee that the secret would not fall into AIM’s hands, Sallis injected himself with the only existing sample of his modified Super Soldier serum, and fled into the nearby swamp. Sallis should have died, but over the course of several hours, mystical forces combined with chemical science to transform him into the monstrous, misshapen creature who would be dubbed the Man-Thing. The substance of Sallis’s body was eaten away and replaced by vegetable matter. Though he mimics the form of humanity to a large extent, he can no longer be considered human. Though he retains Ted Sallis’s soul, and rudimentary vestiges of Sallis’s intellect, he cannot be said to be intelligent in any meaningful sense.

Since the time of his creation, the Man-Thing has served as the guardian of the “nexus of realities,” an interdimensional focal point which has manifested itself in the middle of the Man-Thing’s swamp. Though the Man-Thing’s adventures have occasionally drawn him away from the swamp, he has always returned, and it is said that he is destined to remain the guardian of the nexus on this plane of existence for as long as the nexus continues to manifest itself in this reality.

2. Powers: The Man-Thing is almost invulnerable to harm. Because his body is not entirely solid, but made of porous muck, fists or bullets will either pass entirely through him or lodge harmlessly in his body. Even were a significant portion of his mass to be stripped away or pulverized, his body would reorganize itself and, draw new material as needed form the substance of the surrounding swamp.

Due to the nature of the Man-Thing’s body, he is capable of oozing through or around openings or barriers that would otherwise seem too small for him to pass. He has gone through wire mesh and past steel bars. The smaller the actual physical opening, however, the longer it takes him to re-organize his mass on the opposite side.

The Man-Thing is sensitive to emotion. Psychic forces react in some unknown manner with the “brain” cells that are located throughout the Man-Thing’s body. Mild emotions arouse “curiosity,” and lead the Man-Thing to “observe” events from a distance. Violent emotions, such as fear, anger, and hatred, cause him extreme discomfort, and may provoke him to attack. When the Man-Thing is provoked to violence, he excretes fuming sulfuric acid, while in the absence of violent emotion he produces a soapy mucus that will neutralize the acid.

3. Nexus of All Realites: It’s sort of a gateway that the Swamp holds to time and dimensions. Any time or dimension can be accessed from it. Most anything can come from it as well. Man-Thing is there to make sure to stop anything the escapes and prevent anyone from entering

Which Fantastic Four Member has left the most times? And who has come in as a replacement more then anyone else?

1. Left the most goes to Sue in reality. She left the team twice because of pregnancy and once with Reed to retire and raise Franklin. Of course led to both joining the Avengers

You know, you’d think with so few emails, Jim would actually answer both parts of this question…I guess not though. And I honestly have no idea. I want to say She-Hulk, but that’s probably not right.

Now for the best part. I say out of everyone in the Marvel U that Spider-Man has met everyone created anytime after him, I am pretty sure he has meet everyone in MU that has had more then 2 appearances and the bet also states he has meet more people from other universes then anyone in the MU, He has meet quite a few DC people but also Gen 13 and Prime among others? Am I right here? My buddy says he never meet The Scrooge(spelling) but even then thats one guy and chances are they have meet? So if I am wrong who has Spidey not come across? I know its alot but I have money riding that I am right.

Well in many ways you bring up a good point. Spidey has come across most any Marvel character since he was created. That‘s a lot to do with the sheer amount of Spider-Man titles and that writers have to try a bit of everything. This also helps with Spider-Man being in Marvel Team-Up as well since he teamed up with many of Marvels heroes to face a ton of villains. Now not to say he‘s had the pleasure of meeting everyone. Of course this doesn‘t rule in meeting everyone in other companies as well

Now are we talking Scrooge as in Ebenezer Scrooge? I‘m not certain he‘s appeared in a Marvel Comic in reality. So I can‘t see him having met him.

BUT if you mean Scourge of the Underworld that would be different. Spider-Man has met with him. Amazing Spider-Man 278. Spider-Man stops him from killing Flash Thompson

Now for the Who/What/Where are they now questions.

Team Titans/New Titans? I came across these in a book recently and realized I have no idea who they are in the MU? Where they a knockoff of the DC people? Who were the members of these teams and where are they all now?

Well there is no Titans in Marvel comics. The Teen Titans and New Titans are a DC property. Do you mean the New Warriors or New Mutants?

Agreed. Gonna need some clarification on that one.

Whatever happened to the Darkhold?

The Darkhold, last I saw it, Agamotto, the first Sorcerer Supreme of the Earth dimension, returned the Darkhold to the keeping of Doctor Strange.

Where is Dracula currently hiding in the MU and who has meet/fought him?

Dracula was last in Legion of Monsters: Morbius#1.

As for who he‘s met/fought: Blade, Elsa Bloodstone, Defenders (Dr. Strange, Clea, Gargoyle, Hellcat, Nighthawk, the Son of Satan, and Valkyrie), Frankenstein Monster, gt. Nick Fury and his Howling Commandos, Grandmaster, Baron Blood, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), Howard the Duck, Sif, Storm, Apocalypse, Dr. Druid, Doctor Sun, Frank Drake, Generation X (Chamber, Husk, Jubilee, Skin, Synch), Golden Angel, Hannibal King, Spider-Man, Silver Surfer, Scarlet Witch, Thor, Wong, X-Men (Colossus, Cyclops, Sprite [Shadow Cat], Wolverine, and Nightcrawler), Werewolf by Night, Ms Marvel, Satan, and Topaz

Who/What/Where and what are the powers of Swamp-ooze? What is this guy’s story? Where did he come from and where is he now? What are his powers and who were his villians?

What is a Swamp-ooze? He‘s not a Marvel character I know of at least.

Oooohhhhh. Has Jim been stumped, or does Brandon have no idea what he’s talking about? Tune in next time to find out!

How many other stand alone vampires are there in the MU besides Dracula? Who are they? Any of them still around?

Well Marvel used to be filled with Vampires in reality. Including:
Adze, Afari, Akivasha, Amenhotep, Ancient, Baron Blood I and II, Baroness Blood, Bitsy, Black Baron, Blood storm (not the Mutant X character), Bordia, Brides of Dracula, Brotherhood of Judas, Charniputra, Children of Eternity, Children of Judas, Cilla, Damien, Freak, Deacon Frost, Hrolf, Lamia, Legion of the Damned, Lilith I and II, Lord Ruthven, Madame Angela, Navarro, Nightspawn, Night Terror, Nimrod (not the robot), Nosferatu, Rank, Torgo, Varnae, White Worm Trust me I can go on for while to include Frank Drake, Morbius, Blade and Hannibal King.

Now of course many of the vampires where wiped out of Marvel by the Montesi Formula. Doctor Strange created a massive version of the Montesi Formula to wipe out all vampires in the Marvel Universe

There’s been more vampires since of course.

Final one: Both Lilith: Daughter of Dracula and the Demon Lilith from the old Midnight Sons? Where are they now? They still around and if so what are they up to nowadays?

Lilith (Mother of Demons) last seen in Witches #1-4 as she was one of magic users on Earth assaulted by the Hellphyr and battled Strange and the Witches

Lilith (Daughter of Dracula) was last in Legion of Monsters: Morbius#1 where Lilith completed a feeding, Dracula confronted her, having killed her human familiars, Noelle & Tamsin. Dracula proposed a truce with Lilith alleging to wish to consolidate the vampire clans under his rule. In reality, he knew that his proposal would lead her to slaughter the leaders of the vampire clans, which she did. This left Dracula without rivals and without blame but made Lilith many enemies.

Thanks for everything,

No trouble.

Except the couple questions, Jim couldn’t or didn’t answer. But yeah, thanks for the email. Make sure to stop in again.

One More Day synopsis

Friendly Spider-Man #24: Spidey goes to see Strange for help but Strange is unable to do much. Using his powers to help Spidey see other for help getting the same answers. Strange warns him not to touch the hands of fate Strange is using but Spidey does unable to go back and save May and having to face demons who try to stop him. Strange leaves him in a room only to speak to Peter elsewhere. Pete leaves only to run into a little girl willing to help

Annihilation Conquest synopsis

Nova #7: Nova leads the Phalanx followers to the Spire. Nova recalls Ko-Rel’s death as his body fights off the Phalanx control. Battling his way out of there Nova heads off and his followed by Gamora and Drax. Nova heads off as he finds himself in the middle of no where as Gamora and Drax have followed.

Initiative synopsis

Fantastic Four #540: The creatures from last issue attack the FF ship as the FF fight them off with Sue finally shielding the ship. Panther gets the Surfer to come help who agrees to help. They find Strange battling the creatures before the FF help out. We learn Eternity is infected by these creatures. Uatu appears to help by getting Gravity to come and help Strange preform surgery to save Eternity with Storm’s help. After they succeed Panther and Storm leave the group

New Avengers #35: Tigra goes to stop Jigsaw robbing a bank. Hood gathers his alliance of villains to go under him. Tigra goes home only to be attacked by the Hood. The Wrecking Crew and Deathlok who is now under Hood’s control rob a bank thanks to Chemestro. Hood puts on the tv as we see the Avengers fighting the symbiotes

New Warriors #5: The world watches as another New Warrior dies. The Warriors continue to fight as Sofia joins in to help by saving a kid. She’s attacked as the Zodiac escape. The Warriors leave Sofia in the care of those there as they leave. Kat and Sally meet over the Warriors. Sofia lives. The detectives meet with Panther and Storm about the equipment as Panther will give them everything he can. Thrasher disbands the team.

WWH Synopsis

Heroes For Hire #14: Humbug agrees to host Brood’s offspring. Korg kicks the other Heroes off the ship. Miek tortures Tarantula and Colleen before feeding them to Maggots. H4H meet with Khanda not getting anywhere. Scorpion tells the team Paladin is dead with Cat going after her. The team leaves to find Paladin waiting as he goes and steals a tank to attack the Warbound. As they fight we see Humbug’s mask removed to reveal he’s now half insect

Punisher War Journal #12: Punisher heads to New York saving a child from the insects and taking her home. Micro comes up with a plan to help the family escape but they run into a large warrior insect. Micro comes up with a special suit to protect Frank in a fight with the insect. Punisher takes out the bug in a fight in the end forcing the others to flee as he protects New York

WWH Frontline #5: Sally walks threw the streets as Moon Knight helps her as she’s attacked. CCN reports on the Frontline as Jonah watches. Ben and Sally talk over the phone as a riot breaks out. Sentry shows up in the end.
Korg attacks Danny after what he said as the cops show up with a bum that saw what really happened telling them what he saw. The two have a drink together in the end before going their separate ways.

Endangered Species synopsis

X-Factor #24: Rictor battles the Isolationist best he can, Madrox, Guido and Rahne are stuck in the artic trying to deal with the cold. M and Siryn reunited the family they have been helping. Rictor proves immune to the Isolationist powers. Layla deals with Nicole who was working for the Isolationist. M comes to help out Rictor in the end as X-Factor returns after Isolationist defeat.
Beast goes to see the Inhumans for help in another time line as Strange shows him. Uatu watches as Beast is shown the various realities in which he searches for hope for the Mutants not succeeding. Beast leaves Strange in the end.

That‘s it for today. I do hope we get some more email next week. I love this new format but without some more questions me and Daron are a bit stuck. So send it our way. Even if we get over stocked in email it will be good since we do this more then once a week. So please send some mail or post a question on the forum. Care to sign off Daron?

Agreed. Send us more email to keep this baby afloat!

1. Digital comics Comics you can read online

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3. As always your opinions on anything in the article or out on the shelves is welcome. After all you never know what type of response you will get.

4. Keep those emails coming and make sure to label them Marvel Handbook. The more emails the better the articles are. With the new format we need all the support we can get. Until next time Make mine Marvel.

And make mine shakin, not stirred!