The first few issues of Absolute Green Lantern have been split between telling the story of what happened in the city of Evergreen while Abin Sur kept it trapped inside his green barrier, and the battle between Green Lantern Sojourner Mullein and Black Hand Hal Jordan. In the past, we watched all of the inhabitants of Evergreen slowly be turned into light by Abin Sur, and while at first it seemed like he was killing them, it was revealed that the alien was actually transporting them to Oa to continue their judgement. The end of Absolute Green Lantern #5 saw Hal and Jo entering the previously benign Green Lantern Power Battery, and inside they met John Stewart. But he had obviously changed, as he told them to be without fear and glowed with golden light.

What Happened to John?

John Stewart started this adventure as human and mundane as everyone else, but while the other trapped citizens panicked, Jon studied the barrier. He eventually discovered that gold could diffuse the green light, likening it to how gold represented the color of enlightenment in alchemy. Abin Sur told them that they needed to be without fear, and so the ultimate overcoming of that fear would be to totally understand it and rise above it. Thus, gold negates the energy. Unfortunately, that revelation forced Abin Sur to take notice of John, who smiled as he was transported, understanding that this was all about Abin Sur teaching them to overcome their fear. 

Hal and Jo both assumed that everyone who Abin Sur judged was killed just like Guy Garnder, and came up with a plan to kill the alien. Jo would call him down and distract him, while Hal blasted him with gold-covered bullets. Jo berated Abin Sur and demanded to know why he killed everyone, but Abin Sur replied that nobody was dying, simply being transported to Oa as pure light to continue their judgement. Abin Sur explained that he was conducting these tests in order to find people suitable to be elected as Ain Sur, Ain Rao, and Ain Aur, and he even later confirms that Abin Sur is a position that he has taken up. Unfortunately, everything goes belly up when Jo winds up absorbing Abin Sur’s power into her gold ring and disappearing, leading to Hal killing Abin Sur and being declared the Black Hand, being told to fear the Black Star. That leads us to the present, where we see a very much alive John Stewart powered by golden light. It’s clear that he’s passed his judgement and was granted a title or power of some kind, but even though he’s encased in the yellow spectrum of light, it’s very clear that he’s not powered by fear like the Yellow Lanterns we know. He’s something entirely new.

Read Next

10 Best Green Lanterns, Ranked

What Are John’s Golden Powers?

Based on the fact that John was coated in light and spoke the same line of being without fear that Abin Sur did, it’s easy to assume he passed his judgement and was selected to be one of the Ains. Based on the fact that Abin Sure referenced three different Ain positions, it’s likely that there are just as Abin roles, especially given that one is Ain Sur. This could mean that John Stewart has been given one of these roles, and is now in command of the Yellow Light just like Abin Sur was in control of the Green Light. This would imply that he has the same ability to create constructs and become light that Abin Sur possessed. Beyond that, it’s very likely that he’ll have some special abilities that only apply to him, which would most likely have to do with alchemy in some way. John was presented as the character who had reached a kind of enlightenment, so his powers will likely be tied to that understanding.

Perhaps John will be able to pull out the fear that lives inside of people, either forcing them to confront it or stripping it away. Or maybe his powers will be more tied to connecting information between people, showing them visions or constructs of their fears to either give information or gather it. It’s impossible to know what he can do until we see it, but based on the fact that Hal has the powers of the Black Hand, Jo is the Green Lantern, and future covers and a tease from Jo entering Abin Sur’s mind showed us that Tomar-Re will be a Red Lantern, it’s highly possible that Lanterns of all colors are being chosen to these positions. One very interesting piece of information is that one of the positions is Ain Rao, and Rao is the god of the Kryptonian sun, which is the sector the mainline Tomar-Re protected. It’s possible that the Rao position represents the Red Light, Sur the Green Light, and Aur the Yellow Light. Or even that Ain is pure Yellow, and Abin is Green. Either way, John Stewart is likely able to conclude the judgement of others now, and will be finishing the judgement on Hal and Jo. 

Abin Sur was incredibly powerful, and it’s highly likely that John Stewart is just as strong now. He will complete the judgement for Hal and Jo, and hopefully manage to help free Hal from the Black Hand and Black Star’s influence. Whatever happens now, John is a Yellow Lantern, and even if that isn’t about inspiring fear in this universe, it will definitely be awesome to watch unfold.

Absolute Green Lantern #5 is on sale now!

The post DC Just Gave a Beloved Green Lantern God-Like Powers (But What Are They?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When fans think of Spider-Man’s most hated enemies, plenty of villains likely come to mind. From the Green Goblin to Doctor Octopus to Venom, there’s no shortage of “baddies” dreaming of making Spidey “bend the knee.” Yet none of these infamous foes can compare to the one Spider-Man adversary who has arguably spent more blood, sweat, and tears trying to erase him from existence — and has been doing so since the earliest days of the hero’s debut. In fact, given his almost absurd ability to sway public opinion, it’s remarkable that his relentless efforts haven’t already turned the entire city, country, and world against Spider-Man.

J. Jonah Jameson’s hatred for Spider-Man dates back to the very first issue of Amazing Spider-Man. Beyond his role as the editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle, his animosity toward the webslinger is one of his most defining traits. It’s a passion he’s pursued for decades, a pursuit that has not only strained his relationship with his son, John, but also indirectly led to the creation of some of Spider-Man’s most iconic foes. Given that Jameson is an intelligent, well-informed individual in a world filled with superheroes, it’s worth considering: does his skepticism of Spider-Man have merit?

Why Is Jameson Such a Spider-Man Hater?

After the death of his Uncle Ben, Peter Parker tries, in Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #1, to help his Aunt May make ends meet by continuing his performance gigs as Spider-Man. However, even these modest opportunities dwindle due to J. Jonah Jameson’s smear campaign against him. Under Jameson’s analysis, allowing a “masked menace” to take the law into his own hands sets a dangerous example for young people. Supporting Spider-Man, he claims, would encourage kids and teenagers to mimic his actions — without his skills, experience, or, most importantly, his superhuman abilities.

But Jameson’s hatred goes well beyond this basic frustration. Indeed, as Parker himself observed, in a city filled with heroes “like the Fantastic Four,” why was Jameson so focused on Spider-Man? The answer turned out to be that, unlike those other established heroes who voluntarily expose their identities, Spider-Man was a different breed – one that acted alone, without a clear motive or official imprimatur – and Jameson thinks that “freedom” is dangerous. That is, he felt heroes without rules could not be trusted to act without damaging the city, injuring or killing the innocent, or otherwise causing chaos and havoc. 

Read Next

There Is One Element of Spider-Man: Brand New Day That is Actually Good

Jameson also harbors a deep personal bias against Spider-Man. This largely arises from his belief that Spider-Man was a personal threat to the admiration he believes his son, the famous astronaut, deserves. In his view, heroes should be like John Jameson, who openly and proudly displays his talents. Additionally, hating Spider-Man serves as the Daily Bugle’s strategy to generate clickbait. The more Jameson condemns Spider-Man, the more readers flock to his newspaper. Ultimately, Jameson’s animosity towards Spider-Man is founded on his belief that he’s a troublemaker who gets away with murder by a soft and lenient city government and police force.

For Jameson, Nothing Can Overcome or Diminish the Harm Spider-Man Causes

The fact that Jameson is a loudmouthed blowhard who weaponizes his paper to amplify his personal grievances against Spider-Man doesn’t mean his complaints are entirely baseless. In several instances, his criticisms are more accurate than not. Indeed. Jameson’s “menace to society” claim, which is one of his most popular Spidey diatribes, is accurate. According to his accusation, Spider-Man’s actions are harmful or dangerous because they break the law, contribute to public safety risks, or engage in disruptive behavior. When you compare those accusations to the actual facts on the ground — or across the rooftops — Spider-Man is “guilty as charged.”

First, Spider-Man is a vigilante. Vigilantism is illegal regardless of good intentions or positive outcomes because it promotes disrespect for law enforcement, including police and other official authorities like those superheroes previously registered under the Superhuman Registration Act. Under the “black letter of the law,” Spider-Man is an unrepentant lawbreaker who actively engages in criminal activity at a near-daily rate. Second, getting into fights with villains like the Rhino in a crowded Washington Square Park or chasing the Green Goblin down Park Avenue during rush hour is the definition of reckless behavior that endangers the public, even if the ultimate goal is to protect them. Third, not even Peter Parker could deny that he consistently engages in actions that disrupt public peace. In other words, as Jameson argues, Spider-Man is a menace to society.

Jameson: “Spider-Man, He Creates These Criminals”

Even if Spider-Man isn’t a “menace to society,” he still seems to satisfy the second part of Jameson’s argument: that Spider-Man contributes to lawlessness as much as he prevents it. Jameson argues that Spider-Man’s actions have inadvertently led to the creation or deviancy of many of the criminals he fights. It’s worth noting that Jameson’s stance is somewhat hypocritical, as he has a history of investing in and supporting villains like the Scorpion. Despite this, Jameson’s point holds some weight because the criminality of more than a few of Spider-Man’s enemies is indirectly tied to his or Peter Parker’s actions. These include the burglar who killed Uncle Ben, the Green Goblin, whose obsession with Spider-Man increased his volatility, and – of course – Venom. All of these antagonists have gone on to become major menaces in their own right.

While it’s easy to dismiss Jameson’s anti-Spidey tirades as the ranting of a cranky newspaper mogul with too much time on his hands or a self-serving campaign — to use Spider-Man as a lightning rod to draw attention to himself and his newspaper, a dog whistle to rally the many virulent anti-superhero voices in the Marvel universe — there’s more to consider. When one compares Jameson’s specific criticisms to the facts, it’s hard not to conclude — objectively speaking — that he might actually have a point. Spider-Man, at the very least, is a nuisance. That being said, the logical next question becomes whether Spider-Man, despite the “problems” he may cause, ultimately brings more good, more justice, and puts an end to more evil than a world without him ever could.

What do you think? Is Jameson’s anti-Spidey hate justified? 

The post Has Spider-Man’s Biggest Hater Been Right All Along? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel’s cast of Spider-Verse characters is seemingly ever-expanding, adding new spider-themed heroes every year or two. Overall, that’s great news for fans; however, it does mean that many amazing characters have been left by the wayside. In all likelihood, every devoted Spider-Verse reader has one or two favorite heroes whom they sincerely believe deserve more attention (and they’re probably not wrong). Today, we want to take a moment to raise the call for more time with one mystical spider-hero, Aña “Anya” Corazón. This hero has gone by many names in her relatively short time in Marvel Comics, and we want to see her break new ground.

Anya Corazón is also known as Araña, Spider-Girl, and “The Hero Within.” She’s a seriously underrated and underutilized hero hailing from the farther reaches of the Spider-Verse. Her story began in Amazing Fantasy (2004), and it’s safe to say she’s been slowly working her way across the Spider-Verse. Like many of the variants, Anya took up protecting the people of Brooklyn, though she worked as part of the Spider Society. Her history has taken a few strange turns since then, pulling her into different Marvel events, changing her power sets, and overall not giving her enough time to shine. We want that to change.

Anya Corazón’s Early History

Even though Anya has not gotten the attention she deserves, she has found herself tied to many moments and organizations within Marvel Comics. She started as a member of the Spider Society before joining up with the Sisterhood of the Wasp. Naturally, this was the first of many trials for Anya, as she had to watch one of the team die. This resulted in her stepping back from the Society (perhaps not so willingly), but it let her forge her own path, and that’s a solid step forward.

After branching out on her own, Anya began working with different heroes across the Marvel Universe, even winding up in Marvel’s Civil War. In hindsight, that wasn’t the best move, but she was a young hero, and she was trying to do some good. She took one hit after another during this time, which fans remember all too clearly.

As Spider-Girl, Anya has not been immune to what feels like the Spider-Man curse. She has loved and lost, and is no stranger to grief. She’s watched many allies die in battle, and even lost her supportive father after years of being a superhero. So she knows what it’s like to bear the weight of responsibility.

Read Next

Marvel’s Spider-Verse Comic Introduces the Spider-Society

What Makes Anya Corazón Different

Those who aren’t familiar with Anya Corazón may be thinking that her story, overall, doesn’t sound that different from other spider-themed heroes. After all, she’s faced trials, tribulations, and losses. Sounds familiar, right? Here’s the thing: Anya’s original powers don’t stem from radioactive spider bites. Her power is far more mystical in nature, and that makes her a rarity, even among the sheer numbers of the Spider-Verse.

Anya’s powers came from a spell that was intentionally cast on her, as part of a deal. She may not have organic webshooters or venom blasts, but she did start with something else, something that made her very unique. She had a blue exoskeleton, which covered her whole body and, unsurprisingly, made her pretty durable. Her fans were devastated when she lost this ability, because it was one of many details that made her unique.

The events of Spider Island once again changed Anya’s powers, and yeah, it was getting a bit exhausting for fans. While she mercifully survived those events, she walked away with the basic Spider-Man power set, removing a lot of what made her unique. Marvel would later fix this mistake, teasing at some return to her original state.

Read Next

7 Superheroes That Need Their Own Spider-Verse Style Movies

Her Endless Potential

Anya Corazón is a determined and dedicated hero. She has proven herself time and time again, showing up every time she hears the call. Despite this, Marvel seems content to constantly mess with her abilities, swapping them around and slowly erasing what makes her unique. Over the years, Spider-Girl has been involved in dozens of Spider-Verse events, but she’s rarely taken the center stage.

No matter how we look at it, Anya Corazón deserves a much bigger role in the Spider-Verse, both in the comics and the animated series. The latter probably isn’t likely to happen, given there’s only one film left. However, there’s still hope for the comics. Anya is a proven leader with a compelling backstory. There’s still limitless potential for her story, especially if Marvel allowed her creative team to run with the powers that make her stand out.

The post This Character Deserves a Much Bigger Role in the Spider-Verse appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Superhero families are one of the coolest aspects of long-running comic books. When I say this, I don’t mean teams built around the concept of a family of superheroes like the Fantastic Four or the Incredibles, but groups that have been built up over time around a singular hero. Usually, most or all of the members of this family would have similar powers or skills as the head, with many members often being sidekicks or partners to the head hero. Some of the most famous examples of superhero families include the Batman Family, the Flash Family, and in recent years even the Spider-Man Family. These are groups that have been brought together by a shared goal and inspiration in the hero their family is both named after and centered around. They typically take decades to form, with new members slowly being added over time as side characters or sidekicks, and growing to be even more important and connected with each other.

Superhero families are one of the best ways to show both the development of the hero and their growing impact on the world. Where Batman started as the sole protector of Gotham City, he slowly accrued a veritable army of like-minded individuals who were galvanized by the Dark Knight’s constant struggle to improve their city. Fully-fledged superhero families allow creators to make use of all of the heroic side characters introduced across decades of storytelling and bring out new aspects of their characters that can’t be brought out when they’re solo or in a team with friends or colleagues. And yet, despite all of these advantages, we don’t have any active superhero family comics. Why?

Read Next

Best Fighters in the Batman Family, Ranked

The Problems With Superhero Families

The simple issue with superhero families is that they tend to have too many superheroes for conventional storytelling. Most of these groups wind up having anywhere between six to over a dozen heroes as main members of their group, which is way too many to take active roles in a comic dedicated to a single hero. Just look at the Bat Family, which is often cited as being the most overblown family in comics. There are a lot of heroes with fairly overlapping skill sets. Yes, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses, but when you have eight people who are fantastic detectives and near unstoppable in combat, it can get a bit hard to juggle them all with equal spotlight in the limited pages available. You either have to skip out on beloved characters and make those fans mad, or give every character such little presence that nobody is happy. This leaves fans hungry for content about their favorite heroes, especially when they don’t have their own books and the only way to see them is if they show up in the head hero’s book. These are the exact problems that comics dedicated to the families themselves could solve.

The Strength of Families

Comic books dedicated to superhero families give creators a platform to satisfy the urge fans have to see their favorites interact with the people that lore says they are very close to, but we only get to see interact for two panels every three years. Back in the ‘70s there were Batman Family and Superman Family comics running that focused on stories with different members of each group, and both were massively popular. Superman Family ran for fifty-nine issues, and Batman Family was so popular that they merged it with the then ailing Detective Comics line to boost its sales. Wayne Family Adventures is a massively popular webtoon focusing on the Batman Family, though it is far more comedy focused and tends to have its characters act more in line with the fandom’s interpretation of them then how they actually behave. 

Regardless, superhero family comics can work, and it opens the avenue to have superheroes explore familial drama and relationships in a way that they usually can’t in their own series, which opens the door for so many new stories that we haven’t been able to tell yet. It makes the fans happy and can be structured with a rotating cast of characters, and gives the chance for less popular characters to share the spotlight without dragging attention away from a hero’s headlining book. Family and connections have always been essential in superhero stories, so we should have books dedicated to just that. What superhero family do you want to see get their comic? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Why Don’t We Have Superhero Family Comics? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel has introduced readers to some of the most dangerous heroes and villains in comics. A big part of the fun of Marvel is watching the heroes give their all to destroy the deadliest menaces ever, whether they be Earthbound or from the cosmos. Marvel menaces are a cut above the rest at times, all because the publisher remembers its greatest strength — humanization. Marvel became a force in the comic industry because of its human heroes, and this has extended to its antagonists as well. The real interesting characters, though, are the ones in whom darkness and light are always battling, those characters who are fighting against their own natures to do the right thing. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they fail, but it’s always a wild ride along the way.

That brings us to Marvel’s most conflicted character, the Hulk. The Hulk is one of those characters who has taken the Marvel approach to its apex. Bruce Banner, a child of horrific abuse, created a weapon that opened the Green Door and made him into a pawn for the most powerful beings in creation. Since then, the Hulk has become one of Marvel’s most storied characters, a powerful behemoth that has wreaked as much terror as he’s done good. The Marvel Universe has some dangerous folks, but few of them are as dangerous as Bruce Banner and his alter ego.

The Road to Hell Is Paved with Gamma Radiation

When most people think about who’s more dangerous between Banner and the Hulk, they think of the Hulk and there’s a good reason for that. The Hulk is a rage monster who is known for wrecking everything in front of him. The Hulk singlehandedly beats the Avengers more often than not, and we’re not talking about weak Avengers teams like the ’90s leather jacket crew. We’re talking the big teams, the ones with Cap, Thor, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, and the other heavy hitters. There was an entire Marvel event — the excellent World War Hulk — following the Hulk as he destroyed basically everyone who tried to stop him from killing the Illuminati. The modern classic series The Immortal Hulk had Hulk wrecking the Avengers and government sponsored monsters alike, going after corporations for their environmental records, and revealed that the ultimate form of the Hulk is the embodiment of entropy and will be the last thing that exists in the universe. Being scared of the Hulk is something we in the real world would call “ridiculously smart”. However, the thing about the Hulk, after all of the Green Door/One Below All/Worldbreaker madness, is that all of it is because of the broken human being known as Bruce Banner.

Read Next

6 Best Hulk Smash Moments In Comics

Bruce Banner was exposed to the worst of humanity through his abusive, alcoholic father. His father hated him, and took that rage out on Bruce and his mother. Bruce survived. His mother didn’t. Bruce developed Disassociative Identity Disorder, and would eventually kill his own father in a fit of rage at his mother’s grave. Bruce threw himself into his studies, and created one of the most dangerous weapons imaginable. Bruce Banner is as intelligent as Iron Man and Mister Fantastic, but he is also much, much more broken. His life wasn’t much to crow about before the Hulk but after? A million times worse. The Hulk destroyed everything in Bruce’s life. His peers don’t trust him. The woman he loved died because of him and when she came back, she was scared of him. Not the Hulk, but Bruce. There are things inside his head he can’t control, and at any time he could be replaced by the Hulk. His own feelings are an enemy to him.

The scariest thing about the Hulk isn’t his near-infinite power, it’s that it is all in the hands of a man who has lost everything. Bruce has nothing, can have nothing really, and that makes him so dangerous. If Bruce decides that the world should burn for what it did to him, who can stop him? This is the man who created the gamma bomb and he’s only gotten smarter. The Hulk part of his personality says that it loves him, protects him. If Banner decides that the world isn’t worth it, will the Hulk destroy everything? The Hulk just wants to be left alone, something which comes from the way the world has hurt Banner, and look at the damage he does. If Banner decided that the only way to be alone was to destroy everything, then who could stop the Hulk?

Bruce Banner Holds the Earth in His Hands and He Could Squeeze

Over a decade ago, Hulk fans got a run on the character by writer Jason Aaron for that short period he was Marvel’s golden boy writer. In it, Doom separated the Hulk and Banner, and Bruce became a villain, using his scientific knowledge to create weapons that could hold the Hulk at bay, something that most scientists had always failed at. We’ve seen Banner at his worst, and it’s a scary thing, nearly as scary as the Hulk. In fact, I would say more so, because Banner can create a weapon that would burn away the atmosphere in a firestorm no one could survive. The Hulk and Banner have their differences, but imagine if an insane Banner was able to get the Hulk to go along with his insanity. Nothing would stop him.

In fact, looking at the various evil future Hulks we’ve seen, like the one from “Old Man Logan” or the Maestro, it’s plain to see that these are Banner unleashed. Banner is the most dangerous kind of person you can imagine, a man who learned only pain from the world, and a man with the power, both as the Hulk and as a human, to destroy everything. That’s what makes Bruce Banner so scary.

What do you think about Bruce Banner? Sound off in the comments below.

The post Is Bruce Banner the Most Dangerous Person in Marvel? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

DC Comics and legacy have gone hand in hand for a long time now. It honestly all started nearly a 100 years ago with Dick Grayson’s Robin. The whole point of Robin was that the character was the audience surrogate, and he wouldn’t be alone as the years went on, as characters like Green Arrow and the original Sandman would also get sidekicks. DC kept introducing sidekicks over the decades, with characters like Donna Troy’s Wonder Girl (herself a retconned version of Diana because the original Wonder Girl was Diana a la Superboy), Wally West’s Kid Flash, Aqualad, and more. Eventually, the Earth-Two heroes of the Justice Society’s children would join their fight in the ’70s. DC’s focus on legacy intensified after 1985-86’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, as the various teen heroes of the DC Multiverse were put on one Earth and grew up, with Wally West leading the charge as the new Flash.

Since then, DC has toyed with making its legacy heroes more important. We’ve gotten Dick Grayson as Batman, Kyle Rayner took over as Green Lantern, and Wally West proved to be the best Flash. Donna Troy has taken up Wonder Woman’s mantle. Speedy became Red Arrow. Superman’s son Jon Kent was aged up and eventually became Superman. However, the originals always came back. I think that was a mistake. It’s about time that the next generation took over; however, that doesn’t mean exactly what you think it means.

DC’s Legacy Heroes Can Take Up the Fight but the Originals Don’t Have to Disappear

I started reading DC Comics in the ’90s and it was an interesting time. Superman had died and been replaced by four heroes. Batman’s back was broken and he was replaced. Wally West had been the Flash since 1986, and The Flash was hyper popular. Hal Jordan was turned evil, and replaced, with Kyle Rayner becoming the only Green Lantern left. Green Lantern suddenly became a fan-favorite book. Legacy was important and as the years went on it, became even more important. As the decade was coming to a close, the New Teen Titans had graduated to the New Teen Titans, and a new generation of young heroes was fighting evil as Young Justice. These heroes had all proven that they were more than skilled and powerful enough to save the day, and things were looking pretty good. It was an exciting time, but eventually, it was decided to undo all of the legacy heroes and bring back the old guard. Dick Grayson became Batman during this period, but he came along just as the old guard was ascending again. Since then, DC has paid lip service to the idea of legacy, but it’s never pulled the trigger on it. I think that we’ve reached a moment when you can have the legacy heroes take over, and make the fans of the older heroes happy.

Read Next

7 DC Comics Moments I’m Still Not Over

Wally West is the best Flash, but it was nice having Barry around, as well. So why can’t we have both? In fact, when Barry first came back, he and Wally were both the Flash. Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne were both Batman. There’s no reason that DC can’t pull this off. Right now, characters like Superman and Batman have multiple books anyway. Why not have two Supermen and Batmen? Why not have Wally and Barry? Look at the Green Lanterns — some can have their own books, some can be on the Justice League. Why do the Titans always have to fight the same bad guys every time? For some reason, DC is scared of making the next generation, which at this point is the Silver Age generation of heroes, important, but there’s no reason not to do it. I loved Titans when they were supposed to be the new Justice League team, but what happened? A Brother Blood story by another name. DC is big enough for the originals and the legacy heroes. Beyond that, moving the legacy heroes up in the pecking order would mean that the newest heroes would get to move up. And honestly? Superman could use a break. Bruce Wayne could definitely use a break. The last time Superman took a break, we got “Warworld Saga” and Superman, Son of Kal-El. Do you know how cool it was to have Bruce traveling the world as Batman while Dick was in Gotham? Diana could fight gods and monsters and Donna could be the Wonder Woman of Earth. The DC Multiverse is vast. There’s infinite stories out there. If legacy is going to mean anything, DC has to let it.

The Old Order Changeth

I’ll be honest — I love Kal-El’s Superman and wouldn’t want to live in a world where he retired. However, I also want more Kon-El’s Superboy and Jon Kent’s Superman. I want more Super-Man. Dick Grayson can be Batman alongside Bruce. Or Tim Drake could get his chance while Dick stays Nightwing and gets a sidekick. Donna Troy should be having her own solo adventures. There is room for legacy in the DC Multiverse.

We all love Kal, Bruce, Green Arrow, Hal, Barry, Aquaman, and Diana, but there’s more than enough room for all of them. We can have the originals and the legacy heroes. The Justice Society of America has been doing it for years, creating teams that are partly the originals and partly legacy heroes. DC has proven that they can use legacy heroes in the best possible ways. There’s no reason for comics’ greatest legacy heroes to kept being treated like second class citizens. Let them have some spotlight. It’s worked nearly every time DC was serious about it. And it’s about time they were serious about it again.

What do you think legacy in the DC Multiverse? Sound off in the comment below.

The post It’s Past Time for DC’s Legacy Heroes to Take Over appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Doctor Doom is the Fantastic Four’s greatest enemy, one of the best supervillains in all of comic books. His rivalry with Marvel’s First Family is legendary, and he has gone to cosmic lengths to try and wipe out the people who have foiled his plans of domination at every turn. Recently, Doom took Steven Strange’s title as Sorcerer Supreme, and declared himself the emperor of the world. Obviously, the Fantastic Four didn’t take too kindly to the Latvarian dictator’s new world order, and tried to take him down. They would have beaten him, too, but Doom revealed a new strategy to bring them down for good, and without help, it might just spell the end for the Fantastic Four.

Step One; Time Displacement

The Fantastic Four decided that enough was enough and tried to take down the self-proclaimed Emperor Doom once and for all. However, before they could knock him out, Doom cast a spell to catapult the Four across time. Johnny ended up on Earth before it produced oxygen, the Thing was dropped in a dinosaur-infested jungle, Mister Fantastic was stranded in the medieval ages, and Sue almost burnt up nearly eight billion years in the future. Thankfully, while Doctor Doom plans infinite ways to destroy the Fantastic Four, Mister Fantastic has planned infinite emergency plans to keep them alive. He set up a tracker in the Forever Stone, one of the world’s longest lasting geological formations that is always easily accessible no matter the time period. Once there, they would carve the date they were stranded on and the person farthest in the future would summon the Time-Sled to pick everyone up. The only problem is that Sue was that person and her tracker stopped working, meaning that nobody could summon the sled without her getting lost forever.

Read Next

7 Marvel Problems Even Reed Richards Couldn’t Solve

Thankfully, they managed to solve this temporal problem. Mister Fantastic reasoned out why Sue didn’t instantly appear, then created artificial diamonds which he buried miles beneath the Earth’s surface. He made arrows of diamonds that would never move, all over the Earth, pointing to the Forever Stone. Sue deduced Reed would do something like that and literally made the entirety of the Earth’s crust invisible to see his message. With teamwork that transcended billions of years, Sue called in the Time-Sled and rescued her family. They booked it back to the present to beat the block off of Emperor Doom, and they did, with Doom asking how it was possible they survived. Mister Fantastic explained their failsafe, but then Doom started to laugh. Unfortunately for the Four, Reed had played directly into Doom’s hands, and he was about to unleash his nigh-unbeatable plan. Again.

Save Scumming to Victory

Doom explained that he used an altered version of Doctor Strange’s time magic to create a sort of temporal save state that he could reset to whenever he wished. Every time the Fantastic Four beat him, Doom would simply figure out how they did it and reset, then try and destroy them a different way with the knowledge only he kept. He’d already reset dozens of times by this point, and said that this was the first time the Four used the Time-Sled, which he would account for when he reset and tried to destroy them again. Doom gloated like the malevolent dictator he is, calling Reed a fool for explaining how they survived, and said that he would keep going back to his save point over and over until they were destroyed. No one could stop him.

Unfortunately for Doom, his critical mistake was doing exactly what he just chastised Mister Fantastic for. By explaining his plan, it gave the family a chance to do something before their timeline was wiped from existence. Johnny looked at the Time-Sled, and Sue managed to piece together his idea. It was the one advantage they had over Doom in the moment, and could turn everything around. With her final moment, Sue managed to send the Time-Sled back to the Fantastic Four’s farmhouse earlier that morning, which should tip off their past selves that something is seriously wrong with their plan to take down Doctor Doom. Doom’s plan is absolutely perfect, yet like so many other times, his hubris will be the instrument of his defeat.

Fantastic Four (2025) #2 is on sale now!

The post Doctor Doom Has a Plan to Take Down the Fantastic Four (and It’s Perfect) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Superman is starring in some of the best comics coming from DC right now. Superman has become a huge part of the DC publishing line, tying into the central storyline of the DC All-In era. Action Comics is taking place in Superman’s past as Superboy in Smallville, showing how he became the hero he is today. Superman Unlimited has unleashed the Emerald Age on the Man of Steel, as a massive Kryptonite meteor hitting the Earth changes the balance of powers on DC’s Earth. There have also been several Superman miniseries and one-shots released, with Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum being the latest. This story is brought to readers by Ice Cream Man‘s creators W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo, introducing readers to four new types of Kryptonite, as well as pitting Superman against one of DC’s most dangerous villains: Solomon Grundy.

Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 is a cool comic, introducing readers to four new types of Kryptonite. If there’s one person who would be as interested in new types of Kryptonite, it’s Lex Luthor. Lex unleashes a plan to deal with Superman, using Grundy to go distract Superman, so he can figure out how to take advantage of these new types of Kryptonite. Solomon Grundy is a DC villain with a long history, and is best described as what would happen if the Hulk was a zombie monster villain.

Solomon Grundy Has Been Battling DC’s Heroes for Decades

Solomon Grundy has been around for 81 years. The monster first appeared in All-American Comics #61. He was a foe of the original Green Lantern Alan Scott, and would stay an Earth–Two villains for decades, sometimes making his way to Earth-One to battle the heroes of the Justice League. On one those occasions, Grundy’s cells were left behind and regenerated into a new Grundy, giving both pre-Crisis Earths their own Solomon Grundy. After Crisis on Infinite Earths, Grundy’s Earth-Two origin was brought over to the new Earth. Cyrus Gold was a wealthy Gothamite in the late 19th century, where he was murdered and dumped in Slaughter Swamp, a swamp outside of Gotham City. Grundy was reanimated fifty years later, with the original Green Lantern and the Justice Society battling against him. Solomon Grundy has also been a Batman villain at times, seeing as how he always starts out in Slaughter Swamp. Grundy got his name from a English rhyme, which goes like this: “Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday, christened on a Tuesday, married on Wednesday, took ill on Thursday, worse on Friday, died on Saturday, buried on Sunday, this is the end of Solomon Grundy.”

Read Next

This Is Superman’s Best Origin, But Nobody Talks About It

Solomon Grundy is super strong and nearly invulnerable, but he’s also usually not very smart. Grundy has acted as muscle for groups like the Legion of Doom, the Secret Society of Supervillains, the Injustice Gang. In many ways, he’s like the early days of the Hulk, except he’s a zombie monster. He has a simplistic way of speaking, and was almost always angry. However, as the years have gone on, much like the Hulk, Grundy has also changed personalities. Grundy can be killed, and he always reincarnates in Slaughter Swamp. While he almost always pops out of the swamp as the angry monster with the brains of a monosyllabic child, it’s been revealed that he can come out of the swamp very different. In the ’90s classic Starman, Grundy was reborn as a nicer version of the character and helped out Jack Knight and his friends in battle. In the first story arc of Justice League of America (Vol. 2), known as “The Tornado’s Path” (it’s excellent and you should hunt it down; also spoilers coming up), Grundy comes back as a genius version of himself. Grundy reveals that he can remember all of the pain caused to him over the years, and that’s doesn’t want to die anymore because he doesn’t want to transform into the dumb version of himself. The New 52 comic Earth-2 introduced a new version of Grundy, one who was the avatar of the Rot, a force of decay and death related to the Green (the power of plants) and the Red (the power of animals), although that version no longer exists.

Solomon Grundy Is a Perfect Way to Keep Superman Busy

Solomon Grundy is a physical titan, and has been able to fight it out with Superman many times over the years. The monster is probably stronger than a base level Hulk, which is why Lex Luthor deciding to use him as a cat’s paw against Superman makes a lot of sense. Superman also isn’t fighting at his best, because of his exposure to Purple Kryptonite, a new type of Kryptonite that messes with Superman’s perception of time.

Superman, along with Batman (who was helping test the new types of Kryptonite), tackle the monster. As Superman saves civilians, Batman tries to fight Grundy, and gets injured. Superman is able to overcome his temporal problems to take down Grundy. It’s a great little action scene, and it shows why Grundy is one of the most fun villains in the DC Multiverse.

Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 is on sale now.

The post Superman Faces DC’s Zombie Hulk Thanks to Lex Luthor’s Deadly Plan appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Amazing Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk are two of Marvel Comics’ most popular original characters. Spider-Man made his debut in Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962 and quickly crossed paths with the Fantastic Four before building his impressive rogues’ gallery. Hulk debuted in Incredible Hulk #1 in 1962, and he was part of the original Avengers lineup before becoming one of the comic line’s most popular antiheroes. Three months separated their Marvel Comics debuts, and they crossed paths for the first time two years later in Amazing Spider-Man #14, when Spider-Man accidentally came across Hulk while battling the Green Goblin.

Most of the time, when Spider-Man and Hulk met up, they fought each other since Spider-Man felt the need to stop the rampaging Green Goliath. They have worked together more than once, but when it comes to the two Marvel Comics heroes, they don’t usually get along when they cross paths.

6) Amazing Spider-Man Annual #3

The first time that Spider-Man met up with Hulk, he stumbled across Hulk’s hiding place while Spidey was fighting Green Goblin, and Hulk lashed out to defend himself from the presumed attack. Spider-Man wanted nothing to do with the Hulk and just used his brains to escape the onslaught. However, the second time they met, Spider-Man specifically targeted Hulk. In Amazing Spider-Man Annual #3, Spider-Man was considered for the Avengers, and they had a test. They told him to bring in the Hulk. Wanting to prove himself, Spider-Man raced off before they could explain the mission, and he ended up fighting Hulk. However, a gamma ray explosion transforms Hulk into Bruce Banner, and Spider-Man realizes he is sick. He doesn’t understand why the Avengers would target a sick man, so he leaves Hulk and rejects the Avengers’ offer. What he didn’t realize was that the test was to bring Hulk to the Avengers so they could help him.

5) Peter Parker: Spider-Man #14

One of the best Spider-Man and Hulk stories came in Peter Parker: Spider-Man #14. A plane crash cost over 100 people their lives, including Mary Jane Watson, and Spider-Man blamed Hulk. While Hulk had been cleared of the incident, Spider-Man didn’t care, and he wanted someone to pay for MJ’s death. He lashed out, and this was the one fight between Spidey and Hulk where Spider-Man didn’t hold back and kept fighting until he was exhausted. The best thing about this fight was that Spider-Man began monologuing about his wife being dead and not wanting to let anyone else die, and Hulk stopped fighting back, saying his wife was dead too. Spider-Man wanted to keep fighting, but Hulk stood there taking it until they realized they destroyed a train track and needed to work together to fix it to prevent an oncoming train derailment. Seeing Spider-Man losing control and Hulk reigning him back in was a brilliant subversion of how these fights usually end up.

Read Next

The 10 Best Marvel Comics to Read to Get to Know Iron Fist Better

4) Marvel Team-Up #27

Marvel Team-Up was an ongoing title where Spider-Man teamed up with a different hero in each issue. In the 27th issue, it was Spider-Man and Hulk, but this one was not so much a team-up, and more of a situation where Spider-Man needed to fight Hulk before he could stop the bad guys. The issue sees Chameleon trying to break his friend Joe Cord out of prison, and Spider-Man is there to stop him. However, Chameleon, a master of disguise, disguises himself as Rick Jones and asks Hulk to help break out his friend. Hulk shows up, and Spider-Man fights him. This is how most Hulk fights went in the early years, with someone tricking Hulk into fighting for them and the heroes not knowing any better. It also ended as they typically do, with Spider-Man and Hulk teaming up to fight the villain.

3) Amazing Spider-Man #381-382

This story begins with Doc Samson wanting to take Hulk to a research center, where they are using gamma radiation that could help Hulk finally control his emotions. However, for a change, Hulk knows better and rejects the offer. It’s a good decision, because an accident there causes Doc Samson to go savage, prompting him to leave and attack Hulk. From here, the gamma virus transfers to Hulk, and Spider-Man finds that he has to fight him. There is no way for Spider-Man to beat Hulk in a fight, not even with Doc Samson fighting by his side. This issue shows how Spidey usually deals with these situations, as the gamma radiation caused a virus, and it needs to burn out, so Spider-Man and Samson fight Hulk until it starts to wear off, and then Peter tries to get through to Banner, who is finally able to rid his body of it. These moments show why Spider-Man’s brain is often enough to beat any enemy, no matter how powerful.

2) Web of Spider-Man #7

Web of Spider-Man #7 had what might be the most bizarre and unique Spider-Man and Hulk battle in all of Marvel Comics. That is because this fight did not happen in the real world. Doctor Strange had cursed Nightmare to always be pursued by Hulk in the Dimension of Dreams after Bruce Banner underwent a psychic suicide, turning Hulk savage, and forcing Strange to banish him from this realm. The demon pulled Spider-Man into the realm to save him. Spider-Man spent most of the issue fighting Hulk to protect Nightmare, but then finally realized that he needed to save himself and let Hulk drag Nightmare away so Peter could wake up. It was a fascinating story where Spider-Man did something selfish to survive, but it was something that had to be done.

1) Web of Spider-Man #69-70

Web of Spider-Man #69-70 features a Spider-Man and Hulk battle that throws everything out of whack. A new character arrives named Armand Jones, a man who wants revenge against the Fantastic Four, whom he believes murdered his brother. This was from one of the greatest Fantastic Four stories ever told, “This Man… This Monster,” where his brother was the previously unnamed scientist who switched places with The Thing before sacrificing himself to save Reed Richards in the Negative Zone. Armand had a device that could transfer powers, similar to his brother’s, but he was interrupted by Hulk after using the device on Bruce Banner. Spider-Man showed up and tried to stop Hulk. However, after Hulk almost beat Spider-Man to death, the Green Goliath left, and Spider-Man was blasted with the device. This led to the second issue in the story, where Peter became Spider-Hulk and went on a rampage of his own before the effects wore off. It was great, since it gave Spider-Man a chance to see what it felt like to be The Incredible Hulk.

The post 6 Best Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man & the Hulk Crossovers appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The X-Men have introduced readers to some of the coolest characters in the history of the Marvel Universe. Characters like Wolverine, Gambit, Storm, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Jubilee, and many more have grabbed fans and never let go, and that’s before we even get to villains like Magneto, Apocalypse, Shadow King, Mystique, Bastion, Nimrod, and others. However, there’s one X-men character who is arguably the coolest, even though fans haven’t always thought so — Cyclops. Cyclops is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, leaders in the Marvel Universe and has grown immensely over the years, especially since House of M wrecked the mutant race for years to come. Before, Cyclops was always something of a boring boy scout, but he’s since grown into the perfect version of the character.

There’s a certain battle cry among Cyclops fans, one based off a phrase from the New X-Men classic “Riot at Xavier’s” — “Cyclops was right” (which was based off Quentin Quire’s “Magneto was right” poster and later t-shirt). Over the years, we’ve seen plenty of times when it felt like Cyclops was wrong, but he was proven right, vindicating his fans. Cyclops is the best of the X-Men, and the sooner the people of the Marvel Universe realize that, the easier (and free of painful optic blasts) their lives will be. These five instances show just how right Cyclops was when everyone said he was wrong.

6) Re-Forming X-Force

When X-Force first premiered, they were the former New Mutants, taken by Cable and made into his own personal black ops squad. That team eventually ended and the X-Force name was taken by a group of mutants trying to be celebrities by tackling the most deadly threats. The next incarnation of X-Force came during the early days of the X-Men’s move to San Francisco. The mutant race was down to 198 individuals. Their extinction was something that honestly wouldn’t be hard for humanity to make happen, and Cyclops needed something besides the X-Men to battle them. The X-Men were the public face of mutantkind, meant to help humans and make mutants seem less shady.

Cyclops didn’t need that, though; he needed killers. So, Cyclops went to Wolverine and had him form a team of mutants who would do whatever was necessary. Thus, the new version of X-Force was born. X-Force became one of Marvel’s most important teams; they did the dirty work to keep the mutant race going. Cyclops and Wolverine kept the team and their purpose secret from the rest of the X-Men, who would look down on Cyclops having a kill team. However, there’s no doubt that Cyclops was right. The mutant race was dealing with a world that had been trying to kill them for years, and just doing things the old way — beating up their enemies and leaving them to the authorities — wasn’t going to work. It was a controversial decision, but the correct one.

5) Bringing Magneto Into the Fold

The X-Men’s years in San Francisco are the time that showed just how right Cyclops could be. As leader of mutantkind, Cyclops had to make the toughest decisions imaginable, including which mutants to work with and which ones to turn away. Magneto, having regained his powers after losing them on M-Day, came to the X-Men’s base of Utopia and asked to be a member of the mutant society that Cyclops was building. It just so happened that Xavier was there as well, and he was very much against it. Xavier had experience with being betrayed by Magneto, so he counseled against Magneto joining Cyclops’s side (the funny thing about that was that Xavier wasn’t even a member of the X-Men at the time), as did other mutants on the island.

However, Cyclops didn’t listen to them and allowed Magneto to stay. Magneto made a huge difference almost from the beginning, using his powers to pull back the spacefaring bullet that Kitty Pryde had been trapped in. Magneto would become one Cyclops’s best soldiers during this era, and respected Cyclops and the changes he made to himself immensely. Magneto has been a key part of the X-Men since, proving his decision right in a number of ways.

4) Challenging Norman Osborn and His Dark Avengers

“Dark Reign” was one of the coolest story ideas that Marvel had in the late ’00s/early ’10s. Norman Osborn was given control of the Superhero Initiative after killing Skrull Queen Veranke in Secret Invasion and created the Dark Avengers, a team of villains disguised as heroes, in order to both protect the world and cement his power. When the Friends of Humanity, an anti-mutant group, marched on San Francisco and mutants decided to fight it out in the streets with them, Osborn decided to send in the Dark Avengers in an effort to cow the mutants. Cyclops, instead of rolling over or trying to make a deal with Osborn, decided to make a fool of the villain of the villain and his Avengers.

Cyclops showed his perfect tactical acumen, constantly staying ahead of Osborn and taking apart all of his plans. Osborn tried to use brute strength against the X-Men, using the force of HAMMER (his version of SHIELD), the Avengers, and his own team of X-Men against Cyclops, but Cyclops outplayed Osborn at every turn. Many of the X-Men thought this was the dumbest idea imaginable, but Cyclops stayed the course, and was able to bloody the nose of Norman Osborn. Osborn declared victory after his Avengers were completely outclassed by the X-Men, but he only did that because he was beaten and he knew it.

Read Next

10 Best X-Men Writers

3) Cyclops Was Right in X-Men: Schism

X-Men: Schism was a major change to the San Francisco era of the X-Men. Cyclops had been doing a great job of keeping the mutant race safe and prosperous. He was working with Wolverine at a level that they had never worked at before; while they had always respected each other, there was a lot of bad blood between them. However, the two of them became the perfect partnership; whatever Cyclops needed done, Wolverine was there to do it. All of that changed when a new Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club, this time made up of young, sociopathic genuis children of privileged humans instead of mutants, decided to destroy the X-Men and mutants for stealing the Hellfire Club from the wealthy humans who created it.

They unleashed Quentin Quire on the UN, and sold cheap but powerful Sentinels to governments all over the world. Finally, they made a direct attack on the X-Men when a group of them went to a museum opening in San Fran. This group included heavy hitters like Emma Frost, Magneto, Namor, Colossus, and Iceman, as well as some of younger mutants, but the Inner Circle used their genius and technology to trump the team. The Inner Circle was going to kill everyone at the museum, and Cyclops and Wolverine could never get there in time. So, Cyclops ordered one of the younger mutants, a girl named Oya, to kill the Hellfire goons. Over Wolverine’s protestations, Oya did so. Wolverine was livid, and berated Cyclops, which led to a battle between the two of them. While Wolverine did have a point about Cyclops using child soldiers, there really was no other choice in this matter. Cyclops couldn’t lose his most powerful mutants and he couldn’t allow humans to be killed. It was a hard decision and one that Cyclops didn’t relish making, but it was the right decision.

2) Getting With Emma Frost

Jean Grey was Cyclops’s first love and the two of them became the X-Men’s marquee couple. Young love is grand, but Cyclops and Jean Grey’s relationship had its first stumbling block in the classic story “The Dark Phoenix Saga”. Jean’s death shattered Cyclops and he left the X-Men, eventually meeting Jean Grey clone Madelyne Pryor. The two married and had a child, but the return of Jean Grey saw Cyclops drop his family like a bad habit and run back to his high school girlfriend. The two of them fell right back in love and would eventually be married. Their relationship was the cornerstone of the X-Men, but it often felt like the two of them were only together because they didn’t know anything else and were scared to be apart. Emma Frost changed all of that. Emma joined the X-Men, and immediately decided that she wanted Cyclops.

Emma Frost got what she wanted and she was able to take the cracks in the relationship between Cyclops and Jean, gulfs widened by the time Cyclops spent possessed by Cyclops, and exploited them, with the two of them beginning a psychic affair. Jean found out and there was some drama for a while, until Jean’s death at the hands of Xorneto. Cyclops and Emma Frost got together (partly because the White Phoenix Jean saw that if they weren’t together it would doom the world and pushed them a bit), and the X-Men weren’t exactly happy about it. However, it was the right decision. Emma helped Scott make the terrible decisions he would have to make as the leader of mutantkind, and he grew immensely as a person and a character. Cyclops and Emma Frost are the best X-Men couple, despite what some fans and Marvel editors seem to think, as it allowed Cyclops to become the kind of person he needed to be to keep mutants alive in their most dangerous era.

1) Cyclops Was Right About Hope Summers in Avengers Vs. X-Men

Avengers Vs. X-Men seemingly went out of its way to show the Cyclops was wrong, but by the end proved otherwise. Cyclops had been training Hope Summers, the adopted mutant daughter of his son Cable, making her his granddaughter, to be the savior of mutantkind. When the Phoenix Force decided to make its way to Earth again, Cyclops had a plan. Hope would bond with the Phoenix and use the power to rekindle the mutant race. However, the Avengers also found out about the coming of the Phoenix, and Wolverine, an Avengers and highly critical of Cyclops in the days after X-Men: Schism, warned the Avengers that Cyclops was insane and shouldn’t be allowed to get near the Phoenix.

This led to the war between the two teams, where Tony Stark accidentally split the Phoenix into five while trying to destroy it. Cyclops gained the power of the Phoenix, along with Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus, and Magik, and for a time did good with the power. However, the Phoenix corrupts and the Avengers constantly attacking the X-Men and the Phoenix Five led them to get on the train to darkness. Cyclops would eventually gain the full power of the Phoenix and become the Dark Phoenix. He killed Xavier in the throes of the power and was defeated when Hope Summers took the Phoenix Force from him. Hope was able to use the power, with the help of Scarlet Witch, to rekindle the mutant gene in humanity and then gave up the power. Hope was everything that Cyclops trained her to be, proving that he was right when everyone else was wrong.

Do you think that Cyclops was right in these instances? Sound off in the comments below.

The post X-Men: 6 Times Cyclops Was Right (And Everyone Else Was Wrong) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Green Lantern is DC’s embodiment of the power of will, with that attribute captured in many iconic Green Lantern comic book stories. In the mythos of DC lore, the Green Lantern Corps was formed by the Guardians of the Universe on the planet Oa, who summon recruits from each sector of the universe to oppose evil throughout the cosmos. Upon being summoned into the Green Lantern Corps, a new Lantern is granted the most powerful weapon in the universe known as the Power Ring, which grants the wielder such powers as flight and space travel, universal translation of any language, and the ability to create constructs of pure emerald energy from virtually anything a Green Lantern can imagine.

Many humans have taken up the mantle of the Green Lantern who protects Earth (and by extension sector 2814), most notably Hal Jordan and John Stewart, with others like Kyle Rayner, Guy Gardner, Simon Baz, Jessica Cruz, and Jo Mullein also becoming Green Lanterns. In addition to being a member of the Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern is also one of the founding members of the Justice League, with every Lantern going on many enthralling universe-spanning adventures both as a solo hero and a member of the League. Here are seven iconic Green Lantern comic book stories that every Green Lantern fan must read.

1) DC: The New Frontier

While technically a story the encompasses the involvement of the entire Justice League, DC: The New Frontier also places Hal Jordan firmly at the center of its story in his alternate origin as a Green Lantern. Set during the Cold War with stunning artwork designed to reflect that era, The New Frontier serves as an alternate re-telling of the Justice League’s origin story, with the heroes of Earth uniting to defeat a monstrous creature known as the Centre. The New Frontier zeroes in heavily on Hal Jordan as a pilot haunted by PTSD from his war-time experiences, and how he gradually becomes Abin Sur’s successor in the Green Lantern Corps. DC: The New Frontier has also been adapted into the great animated movie Justice League: The New Frontier, with both being essential stories for Green Lantern fans to dive into.

2) Green Lantern: Rebirth

Virtually every superhero experiences their obligatory death and resurrection story, and Hal Jordan’s arrived in the early 2000’s in Green Lantern: Rebirth. Years after Hal’s turn to darkness after being overtaken by the villainous Parallax, Green Lantern: Rebirth brought Hal Jordan back into action as a hero separated from his bond to Parallax, with Hal finally bearing his Power Ring as a seasoned member of both the Green Lantern Corps and the Justice League again by the end. Hal’s fellow Lanterns John Stewart and Kyle Rayner play pivotal roles in the story, as do many of the Justice League and Green Lantern Corps’ most most well-known members, with Green Lantern: Rebirth bringing Hal Jordan properly back to life in a true love letter to the stalwart space cop.

Read Next

10 Best Alien Green Lanterns

3) Green Lantern/Green Arrow – Hard-Traveling Heroes

Among Dennis O’Neil’s signature contributions to DC Comics was uniting the company’s two Emerald heroes as a duo, with Hal Jordan and Oliver Queen becoming a heroic duo in the book Green Lantern/Green Arrow. Pairing a wielder of the Power Ring with a purely human but highly skilled master of archery was a true pairing of total opposites, but it was really Hal and Oliver’s personalities and ideologies that made him a head-butting superheroic buddy cop duo, especially in the Green Lantern/Green Arrow story Hard-Traveling Heroes. With Hal’s tight-laced approach to justice running up against Oliver’s bleeding heart liberalism, Hard-Traveling Heroes is not only a great ideological riff, but the perfect snapshot of the Green Lantern/Green Arrow era.

4) Sinestro Corps War

No other foe has challenged the Green Lantern Corps like Sinestro, a fitting turn since he used to be one of their own, and Sinestro Corps War brings all the power of fear that its namesake wields. Sinestro Corps War acts as a follow-up story to Hal Jordan’s return in Green Lantern: Rebirth, with Sinestro forming his own Corps consisting of such villains as Parallax and the Anti-Monitor. Sinestro Corps War fully delivers on the epic scope of its title with an epic battle in the stars between Sinestro’s assembly of villains fueled by the power of fear and the Green Lantern Corps opposing them with the power of will. With hundreds of Green Lanterns giving their lives in the showdown, Sinestro Corps War is another powerful, epic must-read for Green Lantern fans.

5) Absolute Green Lantern

With how much DC’s Absolute Universe has set the comic book world on fire, recency bias simply isn’t a factor in ranking Absolute DC as one of the most enthralling DC Comics runs ever, complete with its own new take on the Green Lantern mythos. With the Absolute Universe an alternate reality sparked into existence by the energy of Darkseid, Absolute Green Lantern tells a new origin story for not one but multiple Green Lanterns, namely Jo Mullein, John Stewart, Hal Jordan, and Guy Gardner, who find themselves pulled into the realm of the Green Lantern Corps when a massive Lantern literally falls to Earth with the Green Lantern Abin sure released from within. It still may be in the single digits of its issue count, but Absolute Green Lantern is a superb re-imaging of the Green Lantern mythos that is an invaluable addition to both it and DC’s growing Absolute Universe.

6) Green Lantern: Earth One

Speaking of Green Lantern re-imaginings, DC’s Earth One might not have reached the heights of its potential, but it told some outstanding new origin stories in its time, both volumes of Green Lantern: Earth One being among them. In Green Lantern: Earth One, Hal Jordan is re-imagined from as a former pilot working as a space-faring miner for Ferris Galactic, with Hal happening upon the deceased Abin Sur and finding himself becoming the next inductee of the Green Lantern Corps. Green Lantern: Earth One delivers a wholly fresh new take on the Green Lantern mythology, re-working both Hal Jordan and John Stewart’s origin stories in unexpected ways, and standing as an eternal testament to the unrealized potential of DC Earth One (that Absolute DC has begun rectifying).

7) Blackest Night

The oath of the Green Lantern Corps tasks new Lanterns with combating evil in both brightest day and blackest night, and the latter forms the basis for one of the most seminal Green Lantern comic book stories ever told, Blackest Night. Like Sinestro Corps War, Blackest Night builds upon Hal’s return in Green Lantern: Rebirth, with the villainous Nekron reviving deceased heroes as soldiers in the Black Lantern Corps, with virtually the entire DC roster playing into the story and many of its core heroes pulled into the mix with many being forcibly transformed into Black Lanterns themselves. Arguably the most epic Green Lantern tale in DC Comics history, Blackest Night was instrumental in codifying the Green Lantern mythology into what it has become. Without question, Blackest Night is a foundational Green Lantern story that belongs in the collection of every Green Lantern fan.

The post 7 Green Lantern Stories You Absolutely Must Read appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Legion of Super-Heroes is one of the best superhero teams from DC Comics, yet it is also one of the most neglected. The team has undergone numerous reinventions, making it difficult to keep track. It’s unfortunate because the group represents an optimistic viewpoint of the future, featuring a colorful cast of characters and many iconic stories. Some of the team’s variations were more successful than others, but the group’s most recent reboot was probably one of DC’s worst attempts with the team. Brian Michael Bendis’s attempt to reinvent the Legion fell flat on its face and is likely one of DC’s biggest blunders.

Writer Joshua Williamson and artist Dan Mora have introduced an evil version of the Legion, working for Darkseid. The new evil Legion of Super-Heroes have been recurring characters throughout DC’s All-In Initiative, specifically in the Superman comics. Mora has shared preview pages for the upcoming issues of Superman, revealing that the good Legion of the future have been wiped out. While it’s upsetting to see characters we love decimated, the silver lining is that the most recent incarnation of the Legion of Super-Heroes has been wiped out. This leaves room for a better, and hopefully a more classic, version of the Legion to appear.

The Legion of Super-Heroes Are Wiped Out

The preview pages shared by Mora show Superman in the future, where he sees buildings toppled and the bodies of the Legion of Super-Heroes scattered across the ground. The interesting thing about the image is that the Legion presented in Mora’s artwork appears to be a mix of various designs from the many reboots. Lightning Lad from Geoff Johns’ Legion Threeboot is shown impaled, whereas Bendis’ Chameleon Boy and Saturn Girl lie stiff in the foreground. There are also the skeletal remains of three giants, suggesting it’s the corpses of all three versions of Colossal Boy. Mora’s preview image doesn’t offer any dialogue, leaving only up to the readers’ interpretation of the gruesome image.

Darkseid seemingly perished in a conflict with the Justice League, but his essence was corrupted and formed a new universe that became known as the Absolute Universe. Darkseid has bigger ambitions with the Prime DC Universe, creating his own evil version of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Darkseid and his Legion likely caused the carnage depicted in Mora’s preview pages. It’s theorized that Darkseid is slowly corrupting the Prime Universe and is working his way backward from the future to the present. The corpses of the multiple different Legion teams imply that all versions of the group teamed up to try to stop Darkseid, but failed. Different Legion variants have teamed up before with Geoff Johns’ Legion of Three Worlds comic, with a Legion of Four Worlds storyline being foreshadowed in Johns’ Justice Society comic.

Read Next

Whatever Happened to the Legion of Superheroes (And Can They Be Saved?)

Why The Legion’s Death Is a Good Thing

The Legion of Super-Heroes has suffered from many bad storylines and reboots. When Superman’s past as Superboy was erased after Crisis on Infinite Earths, that essentially rendered a good chunk of Legion lore moot. The team needed to reboot, yet it never seemed as if DC was ever satisfied with where they left the team. They would continuously make changes to the team, several reboots and relaunches that eventually led to DC giving Bendis the keys to the Legion kingdom in the latter half of the 2010s. Bendis gave the Legion of Super-Heroes radical new redesigns to make the team more diverse and better represent the modern-day youths.

While there was some hesitation towards the redesigns, genuine hype surrounded Bendis’ Legion. Bendis was an all-star creator who made Ultimate Spider-Man and Alias bona fide hits. Ryan Sook’s artwork was also phenomenal, with his redesigns, if anything, delivering interesting new aesthetics to the team. There were even announcements that Bendis was going to work on the next major Legion animated series. Bendis’ Legion had all the hallmarks to be a modern classic, but ended up falling short. The new Legion book was mostly a retread of the team’s greatest stories, with nothing necessarily new. The comic also featured too many characters at one time, with no one character’s voice standing out from the sea of dialogue. The addition of Jon Kent over Superman in the Legion also rubbed fans the wrong way, with many not welcoming the aged-up Superboy as quickly as Bendis and DC wanted.

It wasn’t all bad; there were some standout issues, and the artwork was generally terrific. Unfortunately, the Justice League vs. Legion of Super-Heroes comic felt very disjointed, and Bendis ultimately left DC before he could follow through with any of his Legion subplots. The Legion has since been stuck in a weird limbo, with many fans preferring to ignore Bendis’ version of the Legion altogether. It felt like Bendis left DC with a bag of something that they had no clue what to do with. Even though DC could’ve continued where Bendis left off with a new writer, it was probably for the best that the company wiped the slate clean and started over again. It’s clear that fans and other creators want a Legion of Super-Heroes that are closer to the classic version we recognize.

The post DC Annihilated One of Its Best Teams (and That’s a Good Thing) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When it comes to Marvel Comics, there are more teams and team-ups than the average fan can keep up with. To be clear, we’re not complaining about that fact. Having choices is a great part of life, and it’s an even bigger part of comic reading. There’s nothing more delightful than seeing our favorite characters interact on the pages, finding excuses to team up and save the day. While there are many iconic teams and duos out there, it’s safe to say that there are hundreds of potential combinations fans would love to see happen (or happen again). However unlikely it may be, fans would love to see these pairs get a series of their own.

There are so many reasons to root for wacky team-ups in Marvel Comics. Just look at how the Spider-Man/Deadpool series went. That was pretty unforgettable, right? The potential is endless, especially when considering all the possible combinations available. It’s not possible to see them all come to life, so we’ll stick to listing a few of our favorites. These pairs have a lot to offer, from lifelong bonds of friendship to like-minded individuals who need more time together.

1) Richard Rider & Sam Alexander

We love nothing more than seeing multiple generations of heroes come together. Naturally, this means we would love to see Richard Rider and Sam Alexander get their own story. These two may both carry the mantle of Nova, but it’s safe to say they couldn’t be more different.

Richard Rider is a well-known cosmic character in the Marvel universe. He has been around for decades, and he has seen (and survived) some pretty wild stuff. There was even a point when he was the only Nova in the galaxy, forcing him to bear the mantle solo, along with the Worldmind. It’s an important arc for Nova fans, and naturally, this hero has a lot to say about it.

Meanwhile, Sam Alexander is one of the newer heroes to hit the scene. He has worked with many younger teams in Marvel, including the Champions. His story remains largely untapped, leaving considerable potential unexplored. Imagine seeing these two heroes teaming up for a longer-running series.

2) Jessica Drew & Carol Danvers

Jessica Drew and Carol Danvers are best friends for life, and that’s never going to change. These two have been buddies through thick and thin, supporting each other as superheroes, friends, and beyond. It seems like their friendship is an ever-present state, even when it’s only a background detail. Carol went above and beyond to ensure that her best friend was healthy and safe during her pregnancy, and she has continued to be there for the new mother.

Conversely, Jess is always good about getting Carol to come back down to Earth. Carol is a classic workaholic, and that’s not great for any superhero. She’d probably work herself to death if not for Jess. These two are wholesome and endearing, but they can also throw down as needed. Fans have gotten to see them team up a few times, usually in Captain Marvel’s solo series, but we want more. Please give us a series all about these two teaming up to tackle Earth’s villains.

3) Danny Rand & Luke Cage (Reprise)

Danny Rand and Luke Cage are a classic duo, and yes, they have already gotten a series together. That said, fans want more. These two heroes highlight what it’s like to support your best friend through it all, always having one another’s backs. They started the Heroes for Hire together, which is another reason fans would love to see them back for another run. They have a way of tackling street-level heroes unlike anyone else.

Some people in the world bring out the best in others, and that can go both ways. Danny and Luke are like that. Danny has followed Luke from one adventure to the next, joining up with the Avengers when Luke and Jessica were in charge, happily becoming part-owner of the Heroes for Hire, you name it. He even spirited Luke off when Jessica was afraid he would be targeted by the Purple Man. Danny Rand is Luke Cage’s ride or die, and we love that for them.

Read Next

These 5 Marvel Teams Would Also Be Great for MCU Movie Adaptations

4) Kamala Khan & Miles Morales

Kamala Khan and Miles Morales may seem like two very different heroes, but in a way, they’re both the heart and soul of the current generation of heroes. This is true for both the comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), though it’s a much stronger case for the comic side of things. They have worked together on countless occasions, from the Young Avengers to the Champions, plus a few team-ups outside of organized team situations.

At the end of the day, these two heroes are really solid and good friends. They know what it’s like to carry the weight of the world on one’s shoulders, and they can provide support accordingly. More importantly, they are both incredibly committed and passionate, knowing exactly what they want for the next generation of heroes. Naturally, we want to see more of their stories, and seeing how they forge a path forward as a duo would be fascinating.

5) Magik & Scarlet Witch

When it comes to Magik and Scarlet Witch, we’re talking about incredibly powerful characters with vastly different mystical roots. They may not be a traditional pair by any sense, but there would be something fascinating about a solo series following these two characters. Wanda Maximoff has the ability to warp reality itself, and we all know how that has directly impacted mutants on more than one occasion. That brings us to Illyana Rasputina, aka Magik. She’s a mutant who also has access to magic, so it’s safe to say her story is quite complicated.

In other words, these two heroes have pretty different backstories, but both have become famous for their magical abilities. Imagine what sort of trouble they could cause, or resolve, depending on the story at hand. The potential is endless, not unlike their powers.

6) Laura & Gabby Kinney

Laura and Gabby Kinney are sisters of Marvel Comics, though avid fans know their story is a bit more complicated than that. Laura, aka Wolverine, X-23, or Talon, is a modified clone of, well, Wolverine! Her story involves some tragic details, as she was manipulated and raised to be an assassin. She rebelled against her makers, eventually making her way to the X-Men. Conversely, Gabby Kinney is a clone of Laura…it’s complicated. She’s one of many clones created by Alchemax Genetics. She grew up fiercely protective of her sisters (clones), so it’s no surprise she bonded so strongly with Laura.

Much like her sister, Gabby had to survive some horrible things, including the loss of most of her sisters. Together, these two have formed a strong family unit, which is completed with the addition of Jonathan the Unstoppable (a real-life wolverine). Lately, these two are shunted to the backstories of Marvel, especially when they’re working as a pair. Fans would love to see more adventures these sisters would get involved in.

Read Next

5 Best Eras of Marvel Teams That MCU Fans Should Check Out

7) Jessica Jones & Patsy Walker

Jessica Jones and Patsy Walker couldn’t be more different, but that’s why their occasional partnership works out. Fans who have only seen the Jessica Jones Netflix series may have a very different expectation here; in the comics, Jess and Patsy were not siblings (adoptive or otherwise). On the bright side, they do still team up in Marvel Comics. For example, Patsy hires Jessica to help her deal with a publishing rights issue (teenage star and all that), while Jess has asked Patsy to attend her wedding and even babysit her daughter.

Jess and Patsy may not be the BFFs of Marvel Comics, but their team-up still has a ton of potential. Their differing personalities make for easy comedy, and their differing skill sets would ensure that whatever mess they got into would be quite dangerous indeed.

8) Peter Parker & Johnny Storm

Peter Parker and Johnny Storm, aka Spider-Man and The Human Torch. They’re a comedic duo through and through, and honestly, we just can’t get enough of this pair. Some may say they’re Marvel’s original bromance, and we are not here to dispute those claims. Peter and Johnny have a great dynamic, as it’s equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and heroic. They may prank each other as the occasion calls for it, but they also have each other’s backs.

Yes, we know that Spider-Man/Human Torch (2005) exists, but that adventure simply proves our point! Created by Dan Slott, this series brought two of the most charismatic heroes together, and we need more like it. At least these two have had plenty of team-ups throughout Marvel history.

9) Wolverine & Jubilee

Since his introduction, Wolverine has become a (sometimes unwilling) mentor and father figure to many Marvel heroes. This is probably because we love seeing the grumpy lone wolf get forced into a situation that humanizes his character and allows that softer side to shine through. Enter Jubilation Lee, also known as Jubiblee. She’s a vibrant firecracker of a character, and her mutation pretty much embodies that personality.

They’re a classic example of the grumpy dad and firecracker kid trope (think grumpy/sunshine but without the romantic subtext). Their bond was heavily defined by the ’90s animated series, and while the two have changed and grown since then, it still lives in our hearts.

10) Storm & Jean Grey

Storm and Jean Grey are not only iconic members of the X-Men, they’re major powerhouses in their own right. Put them together and they can save the world a hundred times over. This duo could offer a compelling series for all readers, providing a tale full of emotional depth, power dynamics, and sisterhood. They’ve been through it all, from retcons to power boosts and everything in between, but rarely do we get to see these two work aside from the rest of the team. Does it happen? Yes, but a series focusing on just their dynamics and dangers would add some interesting twists and depth.

Part of the reason why we love Storm and Jean Grey is that they’re beyond competition. They’ve reached that point where they only support and uplift, and that’s something we all could use more of, even in the superhero world.

What are your favorite duos you’d love to see in a dedicated series?

The post These 10 Marvel Duos Are Too Good Not to Get Their Own Series appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Wolverine has transcended his roots as an enemy of the Hulk to become one of the most popular heroes out there. Wolverine has teamed up with pretty much every Marvel hero can you name (and a decent amount of non-Marvel heroes, as well) and has battled against some of the most formidable villains out there. Wolverine has fought alongside the X-Men, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the Defenders, SHIELD, and basically any group in the Marvel Universe. He’s helped defeat some of the deadly villains of all time, both on his own and with teams, and has proven his oft repeated catchphrase — he’s the best there is at what he does, and what he does isn’t very pretty — to be true.

Marvel and DC Comics are starting to have crossovers again, with the elderly Wolverine known as Old man Logan taking on the senior citizen version of Batman from The Dark Knight Returns. It’s only a matter of time before the present Wolverine gets his chance to fight some DC villains, and that’s going to be something. While there are lots of DC villains that Wolverine can’t beat, there are also a lot of them that Wolverine would cut to ribbons. These seven DC villains are as tough as they come, but Wolverine would be able to slice them down to size.

7) Ra’s al Ghul

Ra’s al Ghul is one of Batman’s most formidable villains, and has even given the Justice League and the Legion of Superheroes (in the now forgotten Legion series from the late ’90s/early ’00s) a run for their money. Ra’s al Ghul has spent centuries cementing his power base, using the League of Assassins as his personal army. The Demon’s Head has survived this long because of the Lazarus Pits, which allow him to come back to life, albeit in a short berserker rage, and fight again. The Pits have also given Ra’s a measure of superhuman strength and agility. These enhancements have gone well with the fighting skills that Ra’s al Ghul has mastered over the century. He’s a wizard with a sword, and loves to challenge his foes to sword fights. Ra’s al Ghul and Wolverine is an interesting match-up. The Demon’s Head wouldn’t have a lot of respect for Wolverine at first, and would underestimate Wolverine, thinking him little more than a beast. This is going to give Wolverine the chance to take him down. Ra’s al Ghul is one of the few people out there who can say they have more experience than Wolverine, but Wolverine’s unbreakable skeleton and healing factor, as well as his own strength, speed, and fighting skill, are going to be too much for Ra’s al Ghul. It will be a bloody battle, but this is a Wolverine fight; when aren’t they bloody battles? In the end, Ra’s would need a Lazarus Pit.

6) Deadshot

Deadshot is one of the toughest mercenaries out there. Deadshot began his criminal career as a gimmick villain, his being that of a river boat gambling dandy who’s an expert with a pistol. After some heavy losses, Deadshot would change things up, and become the villain we recognize today. Deadshot doesn’t have any superpowers, but his time with the Suicide Squad and the Secret Six have showed that he is more than smart enough to deal with enemies with powers. Deadshot is an amazing shot, and can take a pretty heavy beating. However, in the end, Deadshot is only human, and that’s going to cost him in battle with Wolverine. Deadshot is definitely going to get some shots off on Wolverine, but it’s not really going to matter. Wolverine’s unbreakable skeleton and healing factor are going to allow Wolverine to tank everything thrown at him. Deadshot has the reach advantage, but that’s only going to last so long. Once Wolverine gets close enough, the fight is pretty much over. Wolverine is stronger, faster, and a better fighter, and can survive anything that Deadshot can throw at him. That’s going to allow him to handily win this fight.

5) Merlyn

Green Arrow has had some amazing adventures, but unlike many other heroes with his pedigree, he doesn’t really have a great rogues gallery. However, he does have a few pretty good villains, and one of them is Merlyn. Merlyn started out as a member of the League of Assassins, helping Ra’s and Talia al Ghul in battle against Batman. Merlyn’s a master of the bow and arrow, and that has seen him move over to being a Green Arrow villain. Merlyn, as a member of the League of Assassins, is an expert hand to hand combatant, so even without his bow and arrow, he’s still formidable. However, he really doesn’t have a chance against Wolverine. Sure, he can keep Wolverine at bay for a while, but Wolverine has been an arrow pin cushion before and kept fighting. His unbreakable bones and healing factor means that even if Merlyn hits him in the eyes, the lungs, or heart (those last two would mean making a shot through Wolverine’s ribs, but if there’s anyone who can make that shot, it’s Merlyn), Wolverine is going to keep coming. This fight is going to come down to a one on one fight, and that’s where Wolverine wins. Merlyn is good, but Wolverine is so much better, and he would make mincemeat out of the villain.

Read Next

10 Best Wolverine Stories of the ‘20s

4) Vandal Savage

Wolverine usually has more experience than the people he fights, but there’s one DC villain who has more experience than Wolverine can imagine — Vandal Savage. Vandal Savage was a caveman a 100,000 years ago and found a meteorite. The meteor’s radiation changed Savage forever; he gained superhuman strength, durability, and agility, a healing factor, super intelligence, and immortality. Vandal Savage has spent millennia traveling the world, killing anyone he feels like killing, and mastering the arts of combat. Savage has also created weapons the likes of which no one in the world has seen before, and amassed riches that are quite literally incalculable. Vandal Savage has been fighting people who considered themselves heroes for longer than modern human culture has existed, and tasted the flesh of his enemies. Vandal Savage vs. Wolverine is honestly one of the coolest fights that I could imagine. Savage has the experience advantage and is possibly stronger than Wolverine, but Wolverine is faster and arguably more ferocious. Vandal Savage and Wolverine would tear each other apart, but Wolverine can take more damage than Savage can, and that’s going to make all the difference. Vandal Savage is going to be a name Wolverine never forgets and he’ll shudder at the thought of their battle. However, he’d come out of it with a win.

3) The Joker

Batman doesn’t really fear many people. It’s a very short list, but at the top of it is the Joker. The Joker is the most dangerous criminal in a city full of the most dangerous criminals you can possibly imagine. He’s a master of everything that can kill people, and is especially good with gases and poison. The Joker isn’t a martial artist, but he’s still a wily and dangerous fighter that can give Batman a run for his money in a fist fight. He doesn’t look like much, but he’s preternaturally strong and fast. His insanity hides a clever villain who has figured out a way to win against the greatest of odds. All of that is great, but nothing is really going to help him in battle against Wolverine. The Joker’s mastery of gas attacks is probably going to give him early advantage. Joker gas would certainly have an effect on Wolverine, but then the healing factor would kick in. Wolverine is basically unstoppable in battle against human foes, and unfortunately for Joker, he’s a human. It would be a pretty decent fight, but the Joker is pretty overrated in battle; he’ll get some tricky shots in, but Wolverine is going to take the Joker out.

2) Bane

Bane is a villain that has done something no other DC villain has. He’s broken Batman not once, but twice. Bane broke Batman’s back in battle and later was able to dominate Batman so handily that he kicked him out Gotham City for a time. Those victories are pretty unprecedented, and made Bane into one of Batman’s most dangerous villains. Bane, in a lot of ways, is very similar to Batman. He’s an expert hand to hand tactician, amazingly strong and fast even without the super steroid Venom, and is as smart of a tactician as anyone other villain out there. Bane and Wolverine would have a hellacious fight; Bane and Wolverine are both pretty great fighters. They’re both strong and fast, and that’s going to lead Bane to take some Venom. Wolverine fights super strong enemies all the time — he tangles with the Hulk a lot —so Bane’s strength isn’t going to give Wolverine pause. Wolverine can take more damage, and his claws will be enough to cut Bane up. Bane will certainly do some damage to Wolverine, but there’s no way that he can beat Wolverine in a fight.

1) Deathstroke

Deathstroke is one of the most formidable villains in the DC Universe. Deathstroke became an expert soldier, and was chosen to be a part of super soldier program. Deathstroke was given superhuman strength and agility, and had his mind enhanced. Deathstroke is an expert planner, and has used those skills to score some wins over entire teams of superpowered heroes. Deathstroke always survives and comes back, and that has made him exceedingly dangerous. Wolverine and Deathstroke is one of the coolest fights on this list. They’re both amazing soldiers, known for their strength, tenacity, and skill. Deathstroke is going to hurt Wolverine, but Wolverine is going to keep coming. Eventually, Deathstroke isn’t going to be able to do enough damage to Wolverine, and that’s the end of the fight. Wolverine is just about unstoppable, and Deathstroke is going to learn to fear him.

What DC villains do you think Wolverine can beat? Do you think I’m wrong? Sound off in the comments below.

The post 7 DC Villains Wolverine Can Beat appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Image Comics struck gold when they started the incredible new series Lost Fantasy,  and as the first arc comes to a close, they aren’t simply resting on their laurels. Instead, they are charging ahead at full speed, and that includes the introduction of a spinoff series written by singer, songwriter, and former Disney Channel star Franklin Jonas. Jonas once was a recurring character on the Disney Channel show Jonas, but has also gone on to be an accomplished singer/songwriter, and is making his insane comic book debut as the writer for this absolutely massive project. It all starts in Lost Fantasy #5.

For those that aren’t aware, Lost Fantasy is an Image Comics original set in a world almost like our own, except for the fact that it’s connected to a second, magical world that’s always existed beneath our own. A century ago, the barrier between the two worlds was shattered, and now monsters can pass through into our world. Ever since, monster hunters known as Great Hunters have worked with global leaders to secretly keep the world safe. Unfortunately, something broke through the lines and massacred people in Montana, and now the uneasy safety of the whole world might rest on the shoulders of rookie hunter Henry Blackheart. Written by Curt Pires and drawn by Luca Casalanguida.

Read Next

10 Forgotten Image Comics Superheroes

Lost Fantasy Is Special and Growing

This as of yet unknown spinoff might be Jonas’s first foray into writing for a comic book, but it’s far from his first experience with the medium. Jonas said: “Comics have been my deepest passion since before I even discovered my voice in music. Writing a book was always a dream and having my name attached to such an incredible world as Lost Fantasy is an absolute honor. I’ve been preaching the gospel of Lost Fantasy since day one’s release. When Curt reached out to me about collaborating on this exciting new project, I jumped at the opportunity. Curt is such a massive talent and getting to nestle myself beneath his wing has already been the most inspiring experience. I can’t wait for people to experience what we’ve been cooking up.”

Jonas is obviously excited for what’s coming next, and I think we should be too. Not only is this comic building a massively interesting new universe that is at once original and a hallmark of its genre, but it’s bringing in brand new talent to bring it to fruition. It’s a comic book made for and by massive comic book fans. Lost Fantasy might still be in its infancy, but even now it’s clear that this comic is something special. If nothing else, no normal comic generates a spinoff before its first arc is even finished. The universe it is building is expanding fast, with issue #5 introducing a new character as Henry is forced into solving the murder of a loved one, as well as teasing the brand new series. 

Lost Fantasy #5 and Lost Fantasy, Volume 1 both go on sale Wednesday, November 19th!

The post Former Disney Channel Star Is Writing a New Comic Book Series at Image Comics appeared first on ComicBook.com.

From thrilling lightsaber duels to epic starfighter battles, Star Wars is best known for its daring action and dazzling sci-fi adventures. Yet while its signature style leans toward heart-pounding excitement, that’s not the only way the galaxy delivers compelling content to its fans. Indeed, Star Wars stories have occasionally ventured into horror — a genre that’s well suited to a universe where the supernatural, the occult, and “magic and sorcery” are just as plausible explanations for the inexplicable as advanced technology or the marvels of human and alien biology. Now, Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories — Dark Horse Comic’s simpler, more accessible entry point into the franchise — revives this fascinating yet rarely explored facet of Star Wars storytelling.

George Mann and Michael Atiyeh’s Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories – Tides of Terror tells the story of one Jedi mission to Torbus, an ocean planet that is home to a controversial underwater research laboratory that Jedi Masters Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, and Padawan Nahdar are sent to investigate. However, during their investigation, the laboratory, which is completely isolated in its underwater home, is attacked by strange and unforeseen forces, forces that even Windu and Fisto are at a loss to comprehend. As the title suggests, the situation quickly descends into true terror.

Even Jedi are Afraid of the Unknown

On the one hand, Tides of Terror contains all the elements of a classic Jedi tale. It starts with a team of Jedi sent to a remote location to investigate troubles beyond the scope of traditional Galactic Republic expertise. Upon arrival, the team of Jedi is immediately forced to confront a challenge they never expected. In this case, rather than the standard military, criminal, or insurrectionist-based threat, the story quickly veers into horror, a tone rarely explored in Star Wars but one that fits the narrative perfectly.

On the other hand, Tides of Terror also embodies all the hallmarks of a classic horror story. There’s the claustrophobic isolation of the underwater laboratory, the shadowy threat of unknown creatures lurking in the depths, and the psychological toll the menace takes, even challenging the understanding of seasoned Jedi like Windu and Fisto. Then there are the grotesque, unnatural forms of the monsters, which seem to know more about the Jedi than the Jedi do about them.

Read Next

The Comics That Inspired Star Wars Movies and Shows

Finally, there are the existential stakes: the creeping sense that the attack is not random but tied to some past transgression — in this case, perhaps Nahdar’s earlier, senseless killing of a creature that had assaulted the team when they arrived. The vibe is tense, but not in the typical Star Wars story way. There’s a deeper level of uncertainty and dread that even the Jedi Masters struggle to conceal.

What Tides of Terror demonstrates is that horror is not incompatible with Star Wars storytelling. Rather, it’s a genre that can stay true to the spirit of the Jedi while inviting a new audience, one not typically found within the franchise’s traditional fanbase.

There’s More to Star Wars‘ Dark Side Than the Sith

While action and adventure dominate most Star Wars storytelling, it’s still surprising that more horror-themed stories—like Tides of Terror—haven’t emerged. Despite all the lightsaber battles, political intrigue, and dazzling technology, Star Wars offers a perfect setting for horror.

First, there’s the ever-present dark side of the Force. While it’s often framed through the conflict between Jedi and Sith, its influence is much larger than that. It’s a tormenting, corruptive force that can break, twist, and corrupt people into committing unspeakable acts. And that torment isn’t immediate or overt; in classic horror fashion, it haunts, horrifies, and harasses its victims, slowly eroding their will and sanity. More than just a power, the dark side serves as a metaphor for inner demons, madness, and evil incarnate— core elements found throughout horror history, from Dracula to Event Horizon. So, as stories like Tides of Terror have shown, it wouldn’t take much to fully embrace these horror roots in a galaxy far, far away.

Second, the Star Wars landscape itself is a rich setting for horror. The galaxy is filled with uncharted territories, remote planets, battlefields littered with corpses, gloomy abandoned ships, and isolated outposts. Even bustling planets like Coruscant have their own horrors, from dark alleys to torture chambers. These places provide the perfect backdrop for a terrifying story.

We Need More Horror in Star Wars

Beyond the physical landscape, as the Tides of Terror illustrates, the universe is also teeming with monsters, spirits, and sorcerers. From the Nightsisters of Dathomir to the Witches of Brendock, these supernatural creatures are compelling elements of horror. Their talents are often wasted in stories about war and politics, as their true strength lies in their ability to scare. Finally, the technology of the Star Wars universe is another great source of horror. In a world where droids are sentient and technology is integrated into every aspect of life, there are endless opportunities for tech to become the source of a nightmare.

While horror-themed stories have enjoyed a bit of a renaissance in the comic book universe, its impact has been mixed. Much of that arises from the difficulty of converting stories with no basis in horror into horror tales. This is not the case with Star Wars, however. Star Wars is built on a framework that’s intimately attuned to horror storytelling. As Tides of Terror makes clear, horror storytelling doesn’t betray or pollute the Star Wars style – it enhances it. To be sure, horror is rarely used in Star Wars storytelling—but when it is, it resonates deeply. It’s a genre that deserves far more attention than it has traditionally received.Hopefully, Tides of Terror will open the floodgates, so to speak.

The post This Deep-Cut Star Wars Horror Story Still Gives Fans Chills (and You Should Read It) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For once, the big news coming out of All-New Venom isn’t that Mary Jane Watson is the new host for the alien symbiote. Instead, Mary Jane is making headlines for finally breaking things off with her partner, Paul. Even though Paul is a recent addition to the Spider-Man cast, he’s quickly become a controversial figure. Fans just haven’t loved Mary Jane with Paul the same way they do Peter Parker. Of course, Paul and MJ don’t have the same history together that Peter and MJ do, and fans have always wanted them to get back together. However, looking at his track record, Spider-Man has never been the best boyfriend.

Being in a relationship with a superhero is all sorts of stressful. You have to constantly worry about their well-being, and also be aware that any of their enemies could target you and other loved ones. As longtime Spider-Man fans know, Peter Parker and Mary Jane were once married, but the powers-that-be at Marvel decided to nix it. We’ve been left with Spider-Man swinging from partner to partner, looking for a permanent relationship. Though he tries his best, he can never make things work. Unfortunately, the majority of the blame lands on Spider-Man’s webbed feet.

Spider-Man Is the Worst Boyfriend Ever

So remember how I said that the majority of superheroes make terrible partners? That still holds true, but Spider-Man seems to take it to a whole new level. Not being up front with girlfriends is part of the problem. In order to keep his identity as Spider-Man a secret and not to endanger their lives, Spider-Man has to constantly lie to them. This means making up excuses to miss important date nights and other events, coming off as flaky in the process. Girlfriends want a dependable boyfriend, someone they can count on and who is reliable. Sure, heroes are risking their lives to save others, but if the girlfriend isn’t aware, then they can’t support them.

Also, let’s not pretend that everything would be rosy if Peter and Mary Jane got back together. Especially if you factor in Mary Jane being the new host for Venom. There have been far fewer times that Spider-Man has been in a relationship with another superhero, or someone in the superhero community. The only examples I can think of are with Black Cat, Captain Marvel, and Mockingbird. Typically, Spider-Man ends up dating regular, run-of-the-mill women. Could Spider-Man share the limelight with Mary Jane and Venom? And would he be okay with it?

Read Next

Spider-Man’s 5 Most Fun Team-Up Partners

What fans didn’t like about Mary Jane and Paul is that it appeared we were close to seeing Peter and MJ back together. Right as momentum was building to this happy reunion, here came Paul. To add insult to injury, Marvel seemed hellbent on keeping Paul around, even with the amount of vitriol he generated. But Paul is finally on the way out, so insert all the Peter/MJ speculation.

Spider-Man Needs to Work on His Relationship Skills

Is it possible for Spider-Man to turn things around when it comes to relationships? Possibly. It’s a double-edged sword of needing to be open with whoever he’s dating, and needing to keep his identity a secret. At least Spider-Man doesn’t suffer from the Paul syndrome of being overly needy. Spider-Man has a life of his own to keep him busy, so he doesn’t have to constantly sit around at home wondering what his girlfriend is up to.

I hate to say it, but Spider-Man should probably work on coming up with better lies to tell his girlfriends when he has to dip out on them. It means less rest for him, but Spidey should also consider being more present whenever possible. If he spent more time with whoever he’s dating, then it wouldn’t be such a big deal if he missed a date here and there. Juggling two lives can be difficult, but not impossible. You have to put the work in. If having a girlfriend or wife is something that Spider-Man actually wants, then he has to do a better job of making these relationships work.

The post Paul May be Out But Face It, Spider-Man’s a Terrible Boyfriend, Too appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Superman has shown that the future of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU is bright indeed. The movie was able to find its audience by focusing on one of the most important aspects of Superman — his humanity. Superman is definitely a larger than life icon, and that’s definitely there in the movie, but David Corenswet was able to perfectly capture who Clark Kent was as a person. He was human, and that was the most important part of the character. Clark felt real, like a person everyone knows and likes. One of the best parts of the movie was his trip home to Smallville, where we got to see his relationship with Ma and Pa Kent. We also got to learn something else important about Superman — he loved the Mighty Crabjoys.

The Mighty Crabjoys are a pop punk band from Clark’s youth. They have a song — “The Mighty Crabjoys Theme” — and it’s rather catchy. Sharp eyed buyers of DC Comics may have noticed an ad in their comics in recent weeks for a Mighty Crabjoys reunion concert, scheduled for August, with a code to scan, which takes you to an empty page on the Warner Brothers website (I have a feeling they’ll be doing something with that on August 16th, so be on the look out and scan that day to see). Readers will also have noticed that Superman had the same Mighty Crabjoys poster in his room in Superman #28. A big part of Superman‘s success was its comic accuracy, and the Crabjoys are becoming a part of Superman’s life in the comics. Can a Mighty Crabjoys comic be far behind?

A Mighty Crabjoys Comic Would Be Perfect

Superman‘s success already has people talking about sequels, and one thing that fans, both readers and non-readers, are wondering is the future of the Mighty Crabjoys. DC Comics incorporating ideas from the movies is nothing new; while Marvel is more known for it (and known for angering readers by doing it) than DC, it’s not something out of the ordinary. Superman having a Mighty Crabjoys poster in his room in the comics is a very interesting development, (and if you’re interested, fans are getting more of the young Superman in Action Comics), because it builds the bridge between the movies and the comics. However, it’s time to take the next step. The Mighty Crabjoys need to be more than Easter Eggs in the comics, and there’s actually precedence for this sort of thing. Music and comics have gone together many times over the years, starting with 1977’s Marvel Comics Super Special #1, a series that would eventually also include the Beatles. Of course, there was also Dazzler, when Marvel decided to try to cash in the disco craze in 1980, partnering with Cassablanca Records. There were other connections between comics and music — Rock n Roll Comics from Revolutionary Comics ran from 1989 to 1993 — but the one that we’re going to talk about today is DCYou’s Black Canary.

Read Next

6 DC Comics Characters with Marvel Counterparts

DCYou was the last gasp of the New 52. There were some cool ideas and comics from this time, but one of the most interesting was Black Canary. It took the iconography of Dinah Lance, who hadn’t appeared in the New 52 DC Multiverse up to that point, and used to inform a punk band (who is also in house ads for DC books that we talked about earlier) led by D.D., Dinah Drake. Written by Brendan Fletcher with art by Annie Wu and Pia Guerra, the book ran 12 issues, and went the way of the dodo despite getting good reviews from critics and the fans who read it (a small number). The Mighty Crabjoys could easily slot into this sort of story. Maybe it can be a book about the reunion tour that is being advertised, featuring an unknown part of Black Canary’s life (Black Canary has since been made back into her post-Crisis version). Maybe Lex Luthor learns that Superman loves the Mighty Crabjoys and decides to use them in a scheme to kill the Man of Steel. Maybe Martian Manhunter could pose as a member of the group to protect them, or they could be villains of a sort trying to make one last score. There’s so many places that a Mighty Crabjoys comic can go, and that’s the most important thing about any book — story options.

The DC Multiverse Needs Some Punk Rock

There’s a word that has become associated with Superman — “hopepunk”. Superman is very much a hopeful movie, and learning that Superman and Lois Lane are both fans of punk rock was a great moment. Gunn’s movies always have a rock n roll, and it’s about time we got some of that from the comics.

DC and Warner Brothers seem to have some kind of plans for the Mighty Crabjoys, and those plans need to include a comic. There are so many ways to make a comic about the band work, and most importantly, it could get movie fans into comic stores. DC has been doing a lot to give new readers something to latch onto, and a Mighty Crabjoys book would be the perfect step to take (also remember to keep an eye out for more information and ads about the band in your DC Comics).

Do you want a Mighty Crabjoys comics? Sound off in the comments below.

The post The Mighty Crabjoys Need Their Own Comic, Stat appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Fantastic Four are in dire straits. A battle against Emperor Doom gone wrong left Marvel’s First Family stranded throughout the timestream, billions of years apart from each other, with no way to call for help. Johnny Storm is on the Earth before it developed oxygen and is suffocating, the Thing is fighting for his life against dinosaurs, and Mister Fantastic is trying to keep out of sight in the 13th century. Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, might be in the worst spot out of any of them, stuck seven billion years in the future on an Earth that has lost all life, and would have been cooked by the sun immediately had she not been able to filter out the heat with her powers. She’s the Fantastic Four’s only chance of getting home alive, and to save her family, she just showed everyone that she’s far more powerful than anyone thought.

The Four Lost in Time

In the chance that the Fantastic Four ever got separated and lost in time, they came up with a plan to save all of them. They were all to go to the Forever Stone, one of the oldest and longest-lasting geological formations in the world, which also remained easily accessible for most of history. They would carve their name and the time they were stuck in on the stone, then place it back where they found it. Inside the stone was a tracker that their suits would lead them to, and a beacon that could call the Time-Sled from a space beyond reality. Unfortunately, this device would only work once, so only the person farthest in the future could rescue everyone. That was Sue, but when she spawned the blazing hellscape that the Earth will eventually become, her tracker didn’t work. She had until her powers failed her to find it, or she died and doomed her family along with her. 

Thankfully, Mister Fantastic is always able to think of something when a plan goes awry. When Sue didn’t immediately appear after he carved his name he deduced that either she died or wasn’t able to find the Forever Stone. Given that the first one couldn’t be true and didn’t offer a good solution, he found a way to leave her a message she would see no matter how far into the future she was. He created artificial diamonds and painstakingly buried them miles into the ground to ensure they wouldn’t move, placing them all over the world, all pointing Sue towards the Forever Stone. Knowing how her husband thinks, Sue flew up into the sky and channeled all of her power. With it, Sue managed to transform all of the Earth’s crust invisible at once. Guided by her husband’s labor of love, Sue is able to get to the Forever Stone and go back in time to save everyone, where they reunite to take down Doom once and for all. Of course, before they can do that, we absolutely have to talk about the insane feat that the Invisible Woman just performed.

Read Next

The 7 Strangest Fantastic Four Variants, Ranked

The Incredible Invisible Woman

When she was first introduced way back in the 1960s, Sue Storm was stated to be the weakest of the hero team. However, that was definitely proven to be wrong in the years following. While her initial position on the team was mostly focused around being support for the others to actually do the fighting, Sue showed us her true might in Fantastic Four #280 when she was transformed into the villainous Malice and decimated the rest of the Fantastic Four, which included She-Hulk at the time. Ever since, Sue has shown on multiple occasions that she is wildly powerful, from holding back a Celestial in Fantastic Four #603 to briefly making an entire planet invisible in Annihilation – Scourge Omega. However, this feat is massive not just because of the scale, but because of the incredible control it must have taken.

Sue turned forty miles of rock invisible at once, which is already incredible in and of itself, but she did so while half-dead from exhaustion and on the verge of having a heatstroke, and specifically spread this across the entire planet while only affecting the crust. Instead of just blanket-covering everything with a barrier to prevent all light, she had to concentrate and force light though her planet-sized barrier so that it showed what was beneath the crust, but not the crust itself. This is downright awesome and incredible to imagine! Ryan North’s entire run on the Fantastic Four books has been food for all the Invisible Woman fans, and once again gave them exactly what they want by showing Sue’s incredible power, control, and perseverance in one go. I definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves the Fantastic Four, and especially to people who want Sue to get the respect she deserves.

Fantastic Four (2025) #2 is on sale now!

The post Sue Storm Just Showed Off Her True Powers and Our Minds Are Blown appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Laura Kinney was once trained as the assassin X-23, but now she’s the Wolverine, and her mission is to protect mutantkind above all else. She’s been taking that mission seriously, working on her own and trying to operate in the shadows as much as someone wearing bright yellow can, but in doing that she’s been away from one of the greatest side characters in all of comics; her little sister Gabby. The loveable little clone was missing from the first several issues of Laura’s new run, and has been missing from an actual role in Marvel for quite some time now. But as of Laura Kinney Wolverine #9, the drought is over, and Gabby is back! Unfortunately, she’s back with a pretty terrible problem.

Gabby Is Melting?

The end of the last issue saw Laura going back to her apartment to find Gabby sitting on the front porch, the skin on her face half melted off her face. After Laura and Gabby helped Xarus, the son of Dracula, defend the world from the rampant vampire problem that popped up during the “Blood Hunt” event, Gabby decided to hang around the half-vampire and take down some more supernatural threats. The team took their undead-butt-kicking specialty to the Ossuary in Paris, where they battled the witch Strega and her legion of demon-vampire drones. To Strega, the transformed tourists were like her children, and the insult of Gabby trying to take them was unforgivable. Strega and her ilk vanished, but not before leaving a curse on Gabby, which led to the whole skin rolling off her face business. Worse yet, the curse was spreading even as her healing factor fought it off, taking her arms next.

Laura, for her part, blew up at Xarus for getting her little sister into this mess, and mentally declared that Gabby only needed her to look after her. She was openly hostile to the son of Dracula, but Gabby insisted that he only wanted to help her and that he wasn’t to blame. Laura begrudgingly accepted this, and declared that she knew who could help cleanse Gabby of whatever this was. Leaving the adorable Jonathan the wolverine (the animal) to guard their home, the trio took off for the Sanctum Sanctorum to talk to Clea Strange. The former Sorceress Supreme brought the Kinney sisters inside, but said that the Sanctum would not allow Xarus to cross its boundary. Once within the halls of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Clea cast a spell to purge the curse from Gabby, but warned her that the dark magic that infected her could easily hold some kind of complication. That complication was immediately revealed as Gabby coughed up gunk that transformed into more demon-vampires and Strega herself. 

Read Next

10 Best Wolverine Stories of the ‘20s

Trouble in the Sanctum Sanctorum

Clea called out that Gabby’s curse must have been Strega using her as a host, which let her and her pawns pass through the protective barriers. Strega and her goons attacked, but their enemies were two Wolverine clones and a Sorcerer Supreme, which is the last group I’d ever want to be on the bad side of. They clawed apart Strega’s forces, but the old witch herself was only using them as a distraction. She found the mysterious artifact known as the Sphere of Shooyen, which unleashed magical strands that restrained the heroes, growing tighter the more they struggled. Strega then declared that for the crime of trying to take her children away, she would take Gabby to feed her children with her fast-replenishing blood. Hearing the commotion and deciding to heck with vampire rules, Xarus burst into the room, but not quickly enough to stop Strega from disappearing with Gabby in tow.

Just like that, Gabby is taken away from us once again, possibly permanently. This issue was a lot of fun, any issue with Gabby and Jonathan is, but it definitely felt a tad melodramatic at times, especially with how angry Laura got when thinking of Xarus taking care of her sister. And I am a little confused how Xarus got into the Sanctum Sactorum, especially when the issue of him not being able to enter a building without the resident letting him in was brought up, but it was still fun overall. I’m definitely going to be picking up the next one to see how they rescue Gabby.

Laura Kinney Wolverine #9 is on sale now!

The post Wolverine Reintroduces a Fan Favorite Mutant appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Batman: Dark Patterns is easily one of the best Batman books going on right now. It’s probably the best, and a huge part of that is because it perfectly understands how Batman ticks. The series is centered around three-part mysteries set early on in Batman’s career, and focuses primarily on the Dark Knight’s famed skill as the World’s Greatest Detective. The most recent storyline, titled “Paraeidolia,” focuses on Batman as he battles with a resurfaced Red Hood Gang deep in one of Gotham’s poorest neighborhoods, the Rookery. The last issue ended with Batman being captured by the old man running the scheme, and issue #9 concludes this tale. Beyond being an incredibly engaging mystery with a heartwrenching ending, this issue also beautifully shows us the impact that Batman has on Gotham City.

The Truth Behind the Red Hood Gang

This adventure started with Batman recalling how many fires there’d been in Gotham recently, and trying to convince himself he was seeing patterns that weren’t there. Then another fire started at an old laundromat in the Rookery, and inside the burning washing machine was a dead woman. The killing resembled the old Red Hood Gang who terrorized Gotham over seventy years ago and inspired the Joker’s iteration, the victim’s face burnt off with bleach. Batman attempted to get answers from the Rookery, but nobody came forward to supply answers. Instead, the Dark Knight continuously patrolled around the neighborhood for days, until the old man got the drop on him. He woke up, hands and arms tied behind his back, with the old man in a wheelchair and two young boys with red hoodies pulled up.

Batman immediately realized how stupid he’d been, lost in some magical or evil explanation for a very simple reality. The Red Hood Gang wasn’t back, the old man just wanted everyone to think they were. The reason nobody snitched on them is because they had no idea who did it, and the woman in the dryer was someone murdered by the actual gang and buried beside the laundromat decades ago. The old man and his two grandsons dug the woman up and left her in the dryer to inspire fear, but when nobody noticed they set it on fire, and even then, the only person who cared enough to pay attention was Batman. The old man wanted to make it seem like the gang was back to try and enforce some order in the Rookery through fear, scare them into treating each other better. But in modern Gotham they were just another fire in a city full of arsonists. Based on the fact that they didn’t even take off his cowl, Batman deduced that they never killed anyone before and were terrified to do so.

Read Next

6 Batman Villains in Need of a Makeover

The old man had never even been a member of the Red Hood Gang. He was just a kid who watched the woman be buried. They sent the younger boy, Jake, outside so they could kill Batman, but Bruce intimidated them by breaking down how it would look to watch his face melt and taunting the old man. The other boy, Sam, tried to take the bucket of bleach to kill Bats, but the old man fought him because he wanted to do it, and in the struggle the gun went off, killing Sam. The old man had a heart attack, his final words being that all he wanted to do was improve his neighborhood. It took the exhausted Batman another twelve minutes to escape his ties, and by then it was far too late.

Batman’s True Impact

Batman left, telling Jake not to go back inside until the police arrived. He told Alfred how he accomplished nothing by patrolling the Rookery, how all he brought was pain. But back with Jake, several men approached, poised to attack him, until they saw a shadow on the roof. Paraeidolia is seeing faces or patterns where there are none, and these would-be assailants saw the Dark Knight in a chimney and rags. They took off running, saving Jake. While Batman doubted his own importance, saying that he couldn’t do anything to really help the Rookery, he was unaware that he already had. Those nights he spent relentlessly patrolling one of Gotham’s most overlooked parts left its mark, and the people within felt his presence even when he wasn’t there. He had done exactly what he always wanted; become a symbol of fear to scare criminals into not hurting anybody.

Where the old man thought he could dredge up someone else’s crime to inspire fear, Batman did so himself. Batman can’t be everywhere at once, but nobody ever knows where he is, so the idea that he could come from any shadow and beat you to a pulp terrifies the cowardly lot of criminals. His unending crusade to protect Gotham and solve this crime left a positive impact, even if he couldn’t see it. While Batman the person is the one who deals with crimes and emergencies that are actively happening, Batman the legend prevents countless other crimes from starting up in the first place. It’s easy to forget, especially for the Dark Knight, but he does have an impact, and it is protecting Gotham even when he fails to believe in it.

Batman: Dark Patterns #9 is on sale now!

The post DC’s Best Batman Book Reveals the Hero’s Real Impact on Gotham appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Superman has taken control of the year 2025 in a way that no other superhero has in years. Superman has been a hit with critics and viewers, and DC Comics has been preparing for this moment since the beginning of the year. Superman comics have become a huge focus of the company’s publishing slate, all in an effort to give moviegoers a nice variety of Superman comics if they decide to check them out. Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 is one of those titles, brought to readers by the Ice Cream Man team of W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo. It’s a book with a definite All-Star Superman vibe to it, and the first issue does a great job of giving readers a compelling story with some great moments.

Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 sees Superman find a meteorite that contains multiple examples of new Kryptonite, bringing it to Earth in order to test these new types of the mineral, which gains the attention of Lex Luthor. Kryptonite is a very important part of the Superman mythos, the different colors of Kryptonite having different effects on the Man of Steel. DC has made a Kryptonite a focus of Superman comics lately, and Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum keeps that up. The book introduces four new varieties of Kryptonite, with the issue showing us what two of them do to Superman.

Purple and Cobalt Kryptonite Are Very Different From Other Types of Kryptonite

Kryptonite has long been the most dangerous substances to Superman. It was first introduced in the Superman radio series before making its way to the comics. Since then, it has been used by multiple foes of Superman to get an advantage over him. There is always something tragic about Kryptonite; the pieces of Superman’s destroyed homeworld are deadly to him, the place that should have been his home made into a toxic enemy. Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 introduces four new types of the mineral: Purple, Cobalt, Speckled, and Rainbow. Superman calls in Batman for help, because he needs to test the Kryptonite; while these are the first time he’s encountered these new types of Kryptonite, it almost certainly won’t be the last. Batman is one of the few pople that Superman actually trusts with Kryptonite, as shown by the fact that he allows Batman to carry Green K, Batman tries to talk him out of it, just in case one of them is a type that could kill him instantly or something similarly damaging, but Superman won’t allow Batman to sway him. So, the two of them prepare for the test, and Superman is blasted with Purple K radiation.

Read Next

Superman’s Digital Release Date Confirmed (& It’s Surprisingly Soon)

At first, it doesn’t seem to have any ill physical effects on Superman, but there is a change. Several of Superman’s speech bubbles on the page are purple and he seems to be talking about something that isn’t happening in-panel. Before the two of them can figure out exactly what’s going, they get an emergency call from Metropolis, as Lex Luthor (who has learned that Superman found new types of Kryptonite and wants to get his hands on it) sends Solomon Grundy to attack the city to distract Superman. This is where the effects of Purple Kryptonite become even more apparent. Panels don’t follow a linear flow of time, with events disjointed. Purple K affects the way Superman perceives time. Suddenly, Superman is jumping around the fight with Grundy at different moments, and has to figure out how to make the whole thing work. He saves a little girl, overcoming his messed up temporal sense, and is able to take down Grundy after Batman is injured in the fight.

Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 uses the way that panels set the pace of time wonderfully, something that really couldn’t be done in other types of media. Purple K is more annoying than dangerous to Superman, as he was able to easily overcome its effects to win the fight. Superman and Batman return to the Fortress of Solitude, where we learn that one of the visions Superman has been having about a dinner with Lois has already happened, showing that Purple K can also throw Superman’s perception into the past as well as the future. Before the end of the issue, we get a glimpse of the future, which seems to show the effect of Cobalt K: making Superman grow. However, at this point, we can’t be sure if that is its only effect.

These New Types of Kryptonite Don’t Seem as Dangerous as Other Kinds

Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum has a definite Silver Age feel to it. Back in those wild old days, the different colors of Kryptonite would have vastly different effects on Superman. These new colors seem to be less dangerous than Green K or Gold K (Green is the classic “Kill Superman” variety and Gold takes away his powers), but we’ve only been completely introduced to one and a tease for the other.

Purple K is one of the most interesting types of Kryptonite in existence. What I like about it is that it does have some beneficial uses, as Superman can use it to get a glimpse into the future (but only for a day or two). However, it can also be used to mess with his perceptions in battle, and there’s a chance that if he’s subjected to it for too long, its effects could become permanent. Cobalt also looks interesting from what we’ve seen; making Superman bigger is right out of the Silver Age. We’ll have to wait until the next issue to find out its full effects.

Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 is on sale now.

The post DC Just Got Two New Types of Kryptonite (but What Do They Do?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The next big villain of the Marvel Cinematic Universe may have met their match from a burgeoning magical user. The MCU has been in a bit of flux after it decided to pivot away from Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror, but it found a more than suitable replacement in Robert Downey Jr. The former Iron Man actor is trading in his red and gold armor for the green robes and armor of Doctor Doom. The villain will be the antagonist in the next two Avengers films — Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars — and Doom is currently the ruler of the entire world in Marvel’s One World Under Doom. A tie-in to the event puts a new magic user in Doctor Doom’s crosshairs, and it’s safe to say that his interest is now piqued.

WARNING: Spoilers for G.O.D.S.: One World Doom #1 below.

G.O.D.S.: One World Doom #1 is by Ryan North, Francesco Mortarino, Raul Angulo, and VC’s Travis Lanham. It stars Wyn, the avatar for The-Powers-That-Be, and his apprentice Mia DiMaria. They’re characters from Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti’s G.O.D.S. The-Powers-That-Be hold watch over magic, while their opposites, The-Natural-Order-of-Things, are focused on science. What you need to know about G.O.D.S. is that Mia was originally recruited to The-Natural-Order-of-Things by Wyn’s former wife, Aiko. This meant Mia would never harness her magic potential. However, Aiko sacrificed her eyesight to unchain Mia, allowing Mia to become Wyn’s protege.

You might wonder what all this has to do with Doctor Doom. Well, since Mia DiMaria walks between the worlds of magic and science, that puts her on a path very similar to the one walked by Doctor Doom.

Doctor Doom May Have Found a New Magical Apprentice

As part of Doctor Doom’s duties as Sorcerer Supreme, he’s in charge of safekeeping the sun from hellfire-loving demons. Sigils meant to keep the demons away are starting to deteriorate, meaning the sun could die. Wyn, Mia, and Doctor Doom have to travel to the sun’s core to repair the sigils. While there, Doom requests that Mia cast alongside him and even teaches her some hand formations.

Read Next

Doctor Doom and Mister Fantastic Settle Their Feud in the Strangest Way Possible

Mia is not confident in her magical abilities, which Doom points out. He says that her magic is stunted, and when Mia tries to explain that it’s due to her magic being clipped, Doom won’t hear any of the excuses. Doctor Doom is already acting like a far superior mentor to Mia than Wyn ever has. Wyn can’t even be bothered to remember Mia’s name, only referring to her as “Apprentice.” Doom tells Mia that she has to have faith in her spellcasting. Magic will only work if the caster believes.

Doctor Doom commands Wyn and Mia to keep the demons at bay while he finishes repairs on the remaining sigils. Doom already shows trust in Mia, and she repays that trust by fighting as if her life depends on it. The demons cast one last spell before they’re vanquished, crippling the protective balloon keeping the raging fire of the sun from burning them alive. Luckily, Doom built a device that will keep them alive for three minutes. Wyn and Doom use some of that time to argue, with Doom deciding to leave the immortal Wyn to burn alive while he teleports himself and Mia back to his castle.

Mia wants Doctor Doom to save Wyn, but all Doom wants in return is for Mia to ask him. She considers it but declines. Mia’s reason is that she doesn’t want to owe a favor to Doctor Doom. If you think about it, that choice by Mia makes a lot of sense. Doom would have a level of power and control over Mia if she were to ever owe him a favor. Instead, Mia uses her own magic to save Wyn. They then decide that if they’re going to work together, it’s going to be as partners, and not as mentor/apprentice.

While we don’t know how One World Under Doom is going to end, we do know that the fallout will involve a search for a new Sorcerer Supreme to replace Doctor Doom. Some of the early candidates are Storm, Gambit, Scarlet Witch, Nico Minoru, Shang-Chi, Captain Marvel, Agatha Harkness, Valeria Richards, Magik, and the Goblin Queen Madelyne Pryor. But you never know… Mia DiMaria may toss her name in as well.

The post An MCU Villain Just Met their Magical Match appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The ’90s is Marvel‘s most confusing decade. On the one hand, the publisher put out books like X-Men (Vol. 2) #1, X-Force #1, and Spider-Man #1, massive sellers that changed the course of comic history and cemented the dominance of the greatest artists in comics. On the other hand, the company went bankrupt. The ’90s started with great artists being the focus and ended with great writers being the focus. The highs and lows of Marvel in the ’90s are dizzying. Nowadays, the ’90s are looked upon with nostalgia, but very few people are arguing that it was as good decade for Marvel. The company made a lot of mistakes, and going back to read some of those books can be a chore. However, there were some amazing books, even during the darkest days of mid ’90s Marvel, and the best written book is an extremely surprising one — Wolverine, which was under the pen of Larry Hama.

Wolverine has always been popular, but in the ’90s, Hama’s Wolverine was a top ten selling book and his writing was a huge reason. Hama is one of those writers who you probably haven’t heard of, but he had a much bigger impact on pop culture than you can imagine. Hama is a brilliant writer, and his tenure made Wolverine into the ultimate Marvel hero. However, Hama didn’t just give readers the best ’90s Wolverine stories. He helped create one of the most beloved pop cultural institutions of the ’80s — G.I. Joe.

Larry Hama’s Work on Wolverine and G.I. Joe Changed Pop Culture Forever

Larry Hama is something of a polymath. He’s a writer, an artist, and a musician. He fought in the Vietnam War and studied multiple martial arts. Hama sold his first comic work at 16 to Castle of Frankenstein, a horror magazine, and joined the US Army, fighting in Vietnam from 1969 to 1971. He moved to New York after his discharge, and joined legendary artist Wally Wood’s studio, assisting Wood on Sally Forth and Cannon, while also working in the underground comix scene of the day. He joined Neal Adams’s Continuity Studio, and had his first known work of his own on DC’s Weird World #2. He replaced Gil Kane on the Iron Fist stories in Marvel Premiere, and then worked as an editor at DC in the late’70s. In 1980, he became an editor at Marvel, and eventually pitched a new series for Nick Fury that was called Fury Force. When Hasbro licensed G.I. Joe to Marvel, Hama was given the job by Jim Shooter, modifying Fury Force, and creating the characters that would define a generation of boy’s toys. If you have a favorite G.I. Joe character, there’s a good chance that Hama created them. He even wrote the file cards on the back of each figure. Hama used his experience in Vietnam to create a more realistic type of military comic, while still following the rules of the Comics Code Authority. Eventually, he would create The ‘Nam, a war book about Vietnam that I implore you to find.

Read Next

One of the Best G.I. Joe Comics Returns After More Than 40 Years

Hama wrote nearly every Marvel issue of G.I. Joe, his stories sometimes getting adapted for the cartoon. The greatest strength of Hama’s writing, beyond the fantastic action that used his background as an artist, soldier, and martial artist, was the poetic way he wrote everything. When you got a Hama character, you were getting something special from a man who understood the dangers of war and the joys of life. Hama’s Wolverine used this approach to perfection, redefining Wolverine as the poet ronin that we know and love today. Hama’s sheer creativity has rarely been matched, and I would honestly say that Hama was the best Marvel writer of the ’90s. He was as at home writing realistic war stories like The ‘Nam as he was the most fantastic ones in G.I. Joe, and his Wolverine was spectacular, going in crazy directions at times, and truly making Wolverine into a special character. Hama knew how to work with artists, and understood page real estate. His books had just the right amount of exposition, getting you into the character’s head, and his prose was fantastic. He let his artists work, bringing the stories to life brilliantly. Chris Claremont created the voice of Wolverine, but Hama perfected it, and was able to push the character in new directions. He was immortalized by Hasbro, as the 1987 figure Tunnel Rat’s sculpt was based on him (Hama was an explosive ordnance specialist, just like Tunnel Rat). Hama gave a whole generation of boys their greatest heroes, and did it with a style and skill that no one at Marvel was matching.

Larry Hama Is a Treasure

There’s really nothing out there like a Larry Hama comic. His G.I. Joe work should be enshrined, and if you’re enjoying the current run of G.I. Joe in the Energon universe comics, you have Hama to thank — every G.I. Joe writer after him has been influenced by his work. If you love Wolverine, Hama is the man who took him through his most popular years; your favorite Wolverine writer was influenced by his work (although once you read his work, he’ll be your favorite). Hama is nearly 80, but he’s still going to cons, and meeting his fans. Hama is a true renaissance man, and I recommend basically anything by the man. His G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is being released in omnibus editions by Image Comics. The ‘Nam is unfortunately out of print, but there are issues out there to find. He wrote Wolverine (Vol. 2) #31-43, #45-57, #60-109, and #111-118, as well as the -1 issue and Wolverine Annual 1995, and you can find omnibuses of his work; you should.

Larry Hama worked at Marvel during some of its best years and its worst years, his work never anything short of spectacular. He was so much more important to pop culture than any of us knew, his boundless imagination influenced by a life unlike any other. Larry Hama is a treasure and he deserves to be talked about as not just the best Wolverine writer, not just the man who created the best of G.I. Joe, but one of the greatest creators to ever work in comics.

What do you think about Larry Hama’s work? Sound off in the comments below.

The post This 90s Marvel’s Best Writer Is More Important to Pop Culture Than You Can Imagine appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Once upon a time in the mighty Marvel Comics universe, the origin story was the foundation from which all other narratives flowed. These were more than just tales of a hero’s beginnings. While central to a character’s story — defining their motivations and values — origin stories were also key to a hero’s appeal. They showed how figures as strong and brave as the Hulk or Captain America were, at their core, not so different from us. Moreover, origin stories functioned like primary documents, helping to explain the many diverse yet interconnected parts of the Marvel universe. In short, origin stories held a profoundly important role in the history of Marvel Comics storytelling.

Then came the multiverse — and with it, the possibility for characters to have multiple origin stories, each revealing a variety of personas, some even in direct conflict with one another. The Marvel Comics multiverse is now teeming with clones, resurrections, and alternate-reality heroes. This development has made even the simplest origin story fraught with complexity and confusion. Yet, in a world where the histories of many of Marvel’s most popular characters — like Kang the Conqueror and the Scarlet Witch — have become so convoluted they border on the ridiculous, one character’s origin and history stand above the rest.

Sentry – a Villain Inside a Hero, Wrapped in an Enigma

At first glance, Robert Reynolds’ Sentry may not strike readers as a character with a confusing history. His origin seems straightforward, and his progression from that point appears similar to many other heroes. But as readers encountered Sentry more and more throughout the Marvel Comics universe, his history became increasingly difficult to track. It became harder to understand who he was, where he came from, or even if he ever existed at all. Unlike the bewildering stories of other Marvel heroes, however, the confusion surrounding Sentry was experienced by in-story characters, real-life readers and fans, and – incredibly – by Sentry himself.

Read Next

Marvel Reveals Its New Sentry

A god-like being with the power of one million exploding suns, Sentry is not only one of Marvel’s most powerful heroes, but also — through his dark alter ego, the Void — one of its most deadly villains. If that isn’t confusing enough, there’s also the fact that although he appears to be a relatively new character, he’s supposedly been around for decades, taking part in — or even single-handedly causing — some of the most legendary events in Marvel history. He was even a founding member of the original Avengers team.

And yet, despite all of this, no one — from Reed Richards to Professor Xavier to you, the reader — had ever heard his name before his official debut in 2000. Or maybe, we’ve all simply forgotten one of Marvel’s greatest champions? Strangely enough, Sentry’s history may — or may not — have actually happened. And that is exactly what makes his story so uniquely confusing.

The Sentry Takes Steps To Save Humanity

Created by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee, and debuting in their limited series The Sentry (2000), the story begins when an older, seemingly ordinary Robert Reynolds suddenly recalls his past as a young college student. He remembers discovering his professor’s secret formula and drinking it. As a result, he is imbued with incredible, limitless powers, which he immediately uses to fight evil as the Sentry—the Golden Guardian of Good. During that time, he stood among Earth’s mightiest heroes and was well known within the superhero community. But then, inexplicably, he vanished — and with him, all memory of his existence disappeared as well.

As the Sentry and others — especially the Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards — slowly begin to recall the hero, the central question becomes why he was forgotten in the first place. It is soon revealed that the Sentry had a dark alter ego, called the Void, who was a powerful threat, as dangerous as the Sentry was heroic. To protect humanity from the Void, the Sentry used his powers to erase himself and his alter ego from his own memory and the memories of everyone in the Marvel Universe.

Now, upon his reawakening, the Sentry realizes that the world once again faces the same threat. He makes the difficult decision to erase himself from existence once more. In a unique narrative twist, he transfers his memories and story to the series’ actual author, Paul Jenkins. Jenkins then puts those memories to pen and paper, which is why the Marvel-loving public can experience his tale.

Will the Real Sentry Please Stand up?

This is where Sentry’s history begins to unravel. To support his backstory, Marvel created a series of Sentry comics designed to mimic the style and tone of the Golden Age. These stories depicted the Sentry fighting for truth, justice, and — as was typical of the era — the American Way. However, in the present day, the effects of the second memory wipe start to fade. The mental barriers the Sentry imposed on Bob Reynolds — the identity he adopted after the second wipe — begin to crumble. Soon, his memories return, along with those of the heroes who once fought alongside him.

His history then truly goes off the rails. With the Sentry back in action —so to speak— the original threat of the Void returns as well. But to allow the Sentry to remain active without resorting to another memory wipe, the issue of the Void had to be addressed. Over the years, different writers have offered varying origins for the Void, ranging from a cerebral virus, to a psychological illness, to a cosmic force. Those same creators have also proposed conflicting solutions, including psychological therapy and metaphysical separation. However, these explanations and approaches have never been fully reconciled into a single, cohesive canon.

This all results in a character with a fundamentally confusing history — a history deliberately muddled by the creators themselves, seemingly designed to low-key gaslight the fan base. The creators’ intent works: unless you’re a die-hard Sentry fan, how can you be sure which parts of his backstory are real, illusory, or outright fabricated? Even his dark side remains ambiguous. The Sentry’s history is essentially a patchwork of retcons and reinterpretations, where the truth of who he is — and what the Void represents — depends entirely on which story you’re reading.

The post This Character Has the Most Confusing History in Marvel Comics (and It’s Not Who You Think) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Some duos are so iconic that they transcend the thing they are a part of. Even people who don’t watch or know anything about basketball are aware of how well Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen played together for the Chicago Bulls in the late ’90s. DC Comics’ Dynamic Duo, Batman and Robin, are in the same boat. There isn’t one without the other, but the Dark Knight has been known to leave his sidekick at home from time to time when he teams up with another character. One notable instance occurred over 20 years ago, when Batman decided to fight crime with Image Comics’ most popular anti-hero, Spawn.

Spawn creator Todd McFarlane was making waves in the early ’90s, which put him on Frank Miller’s radar. The acclaimed writer and artist agreed to guest-write an issue of Spawn, which laid the groundwork for the Spawn/Batman one-shot that saw The One and the Caped Crusader come to blows in New York City. Well, after 25 years, McFarlane and Miller are working together again, collaborating on a cover for The Curse of Sherlee Johnson #3.

During an interview with ComicBook, McFarlane explained what the process of working with other popular creators was like a couple of decades ago and how much the industry has changed.

“When we were both back in the late ’80s and ’90s, the formality of doing comic books wasn’t there like it is today in terms of, like, people started getting under exclusive contracts, and you only work with one [company],” he said. “There was a lot of just being friends back then, of like, ‘Hey, I’ll do a cover for you, you do a cover for me.’ And you didn’t really have to get any clearance to some extent through the editors of the company, cause you just swapped pages and did stuff, and it was way easier. And especially when exclusives came around, it got tough.”

Read Next

The 1997 Spawn Movie Is Finally Coming to 4K Blu-ray (Updated)

Todd McFarlane’s Latest Collab With Frank Miller Is Long Overdue

McFarlane also can’t believe how long it’s taken for him and Miller to link back up after the success of Spawn/Batman and their other projects.

“When Frank and I did a couple of things back then, and the big one, which was the Spawn/Batman, you know, again, it was just like, ‘Let’s have some fun together, right?’ I mean, that’s it,” he continued. “Let’s come up with a crazy idea and do it, and here we are now again, 25 years later. And again, it just shoots you back to like, ‘We should’ve done this.’ Like, as you mentioned, it’s been 25 years. Like, why? There’s no good reason it should’ve taken this long for any two friends or collaborators to not have done it over and over.”

The Curse of Sherlee Johnson #3 arrives in stores on September 17th. Miller drew a variant cover for the issue, and then he and McFarlane worked together on another one. McFarlane can’t wait for readers to get their hands on both and decide which one they like better. Let us know in the comments below which one you are going after!

The post Todd McFarlane Details Collaborating With Frank Miller Again After 25 Years (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

As much as Batman gets the praise for having the best vehicles, not all of the best ones are his. Sure, he has a lot of cool rides like the Batmobile and the Batwing, but there are many more vehicles outside of those ones. After all, the Batmobile may be practical and looks cool but that’s not the be all end all of cool comic book vehicles. Giving everyone else a shot, we found the best vehicles that aren’t related to Batman or the Bat Family. As it turns out, there are lots of cool cars, planes, and more in comics and some funny ones, too.

Here are the seven best vehicles that comics that aren’t related to Batman.

7) Thanos-Copter

It may not be the best but this vehicle is, well, iconic. It’s legacy has jumped off the page to screen, even. We’re talking of course about the Thanos-Copter. Why does Thanos need a helicopter? No idea even slightly, but it manages to be hilarious every time we see it. The pure absurdity of it alone earns it a spot on here on this list and, frankly, we’d like to see more of it in the future.

6) Hawkeye’s Sky Cycle

While it may only be number six on this list, it’s definitely taking our spot for what looks like the coolest thing to ride: Hawkeye’s Sky Cycle. The simplicity of it helps with it’s look plus it’s useful as well. Helping him out with some incredible archery shots, this vehicle is as practical as it is cool. Soaring the skies has never looked better than from the Sky Cycle.

The only drawback (no pun intended) is the further into the future we get the more this vehicle looks real. When it first appeared in comics, it looked super cool and kind of futuristic especially with those long foot rests, too. Now, it’s starting to look like something that could leap from page to reality. Which is kind of cool in its own way if you think about it.

5) The Arrowcar

It may be the goofiest thing possible but the Arrowcar has its charm. Doing nothing to debunk the idea that Green Arrow is a Batman copy in emerald, this vehicle is shaped like the end of an arrow and provides an element of Silver Age campiness anytime it shows up. Unfortunately, those times are fewer and further between. We’d love to see another comeback of it in the full someday though. While it might contrast with everything Chris Condon’s set up in his run currently it would be a sight for sore eyes. It may not make a ton of sense for an archer to have a super car, but this one is just too great to not see more of.

Read Next

Marvel’s Most Underrated Ghost Rider Is About to Return (And They’re Not Alone)

4) The Blackbird

One of the best jets in all comics has to be the X-Men’s Blackbird. Able to fly across the world at incredible speeds, it’s as sleek as it is quick. Designed by Beast, it’s one of the best designed ships, too. It gives the Avengers’ Quinjet a run for its money as well. It has even been known to fly in space on top of everything else, making it extremely practical as well. It’s one of the best jets in all of comics but it may be the best one in Marvel. It may not be the most iconic one but it does have its star power at least.

3) The Hell Cycle

Danny Ketch as Ghost Rider has the coolest motorcycle of any Ghost Rider in my opinion. Ghost Rider’s vehicle always changes with his host and becomes “hellified” if you will. As classic as Johnny’s bike is, Danny’s has the best look with the front shape of the bike. The design of this version of the bike makes it look more like a monster itself and it looks incredible, especially with fire. Pretty much any vehicle used by Ghost Rider could have made this spot but this one is just the best.

2) The Invisible Jet

Outside of the Batwing, this takes the cake for the best jet in DC. Does it make sense? Not really, but does it stand out? Yes. It’s another element to Wonder Woman’s mythos that just works for her. No matter what it’s origin is, it’s always going to be one of the coolest things she has. It’s lasted a long time at this point in time but we wouldn’t want it to go away. For quick and easy stealth to jump from coast to coast, the Invisible Jet has a lot of charm. As long as she can tell where it is, it’s good enough for fans.

1) Fantasticar

Whether it looks like a bathtub or the more car-looking versions, the Fantasticar is the coolest vehicle outside of the Batmobile, hands down. Able to hover and fly, it was already cool at that but being able to split into different ships, that adds a ton to it. Taking many different forms over the years it has been a cool vehicle from the jump and continues to be awesome even today. Literally every iteration of the Fantasticar is perfection, which is why it’s our top pick.

What’s your favorite vehicle that isn’t owned by a Bat? Let us know what you’re thinking.

The post The 7 Best Vehicles in Comics That Aren’t Batman Related appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Hulk is widely considered one of Marvel Comics’ most powerful characters, if not one of the strongest, regardless of comic book lines. He is someone who can realistically beat any hero or villain, irrespective of their power level, and he has plenty of ways to get stronger as the fights go on. This is also a case where his powers change as time goes on, although not quite as drastically as Superman’s powers have changed over his existence in comics. Hulk has been shown to live to the end of the Earth, and his powers are a mix of the gamma radiation and his alter ego, as well as his high intellect.

With Hulk remaining one of Marvel Comics’ greatest heroes, here is a look at how his powers make him almost unbeatable in any given fight.

7) Super Genius Intellect

While it doesn’t look like a powerful ability on the surface, Bruce Banner’s intelligence is one of Hulk’s most important abilities, but only in cases where Bruce has control of the Green Goliath. This is because Bruce is a super-genius, so smart that any known intelligence test can’t measure his IQ. Even Tony Stark calls Banner the most brilliant nuclear scientist on the planet. Nick Fury ranks Bruce alongside Stark and Reed Richards, which is high praise. On top of that, Banner has used his intelligence to win fights that even Hulk couldn’t, such as when he fought Maestro in the Future Imperfect storyline. When Hulk realized he couldn’t beat the more capable version of himself, Banner found a way to win the fight by sending Maestro back in time to the original gamma accident that gave him his powers, effectively winning a previously unbeatable opponent.

6) Immortality & Healing Factor

Hulk can’t lose most fights because he can’t be effectively beaten. Even when he is killed, he can return through the Green Door and is therefore immortal as long as that door remains accessible. Hulk has also been shown to live to the end of the world as the last living being on the planet. In battle, enemies have proven they can hurt Hulk, but his healing factor is equal to someone like Wolverine and Deadpool, and his healing powers happen at a rapid speed. It also helps that Hulk heals faster the angrier he gets, which is similar to his strength, making him almost impossible to beat when he completely loses control.

5) Fear Inducement

One of Hulk’s lesser-known powers is also one of his scariest. He has what is known as Fear Inducement. This started after Devil Hulk took dominance of the alters in Bruce Banner’s mind after years of remaining dormant. He then possessed a power that the regular Hulk didn’t have, and he was able to induce fear in everyone he crossed paths with. While everyone usually feared Hulk on some level, this takes that power to another level. Using his Fear Inducement powers, he struck fear into other monsters and even gods.

Read Next

Hulk’s 7 Greatest Battles Against Other Superheroes

4) Can Absorb & Emit Radiation

While Red Hulk is best known for this, Hulk also has the ability to absorb and emit radiation, which can be deadly to anyone around him. This is especially true with gamma radiation, as Hulk’s body functions as a gamma battery, constantly generating and radiating energy. He showed this when he went to save New York City by absorbing all the radiation leaking out of a reactor, which seemingly killed him, but turned Amadeus Cho into a new version of the Hulk. He has even used the ability in fights to syphon energy out of Red Hulk and Sasquatch on two separate occasions to win the battles. As a bonus, he can grow even larger the more radiation he absorbs, which is how he can become a monstrous Hulk.

3) Thunderclap

The Thunderclap is a fun Hulk offensive move, but it is a lot more powerful than some might believe. Hulk has superhuman strength, which is great when punching a villain, but it can also cause immense damage and destruction when he smashes his hands together, known as the Thunderclap. He once clapped his hands together so powerfully that it caused a hurricane that flooded a South American country. His clap has dispersed Sandman completely during an attack and even put out Human Torch’s flame. He has hit the ground so hard on one occasion that he caused two firing tanks to flip into the air and blast attacking helicopters, effectively bringing down four enemy attackers at once.

2) Hulk Can Punch Holes In The Fabric Of Reality

The Thunderclap is extremely powerful, but Hulk is also able to do something with a similar attack that can destroy the entire universe. He can use his strength to create a shockwave powerful enough to punch a hole in the dimensional fabric of spacetime. This was shown in The Incredible Hulk #135 from 1970, where Kang became trapped in a time storm and transported Hulk forward in time, knowing from past knowledge that Hulk could realistically break through a time storm. With one massive punch, Hulk ended up punching his way through time into 1917 and the middle of a battle during World War I.

1) Unlimited Strength Based On Rage

Undoubtedly, the most significant example of Hulk’s power is his unlimited strength. The upper level of his strength is limitless, and it only grows when he gets angrier. This means that the longer the fight goes on, and the angrier Hulk becomes during a battle, the stronger he becomes and the easier it is for him to beat almost anyone. In World War Hulk, Reed Richards said that his strength at that time was off the charts, and he couldn’t measure his power. Bruce Banner’s influence lessens his strength, but that is even able to be surpassed, as shown in Onslaught. No one could beat Onslaught, so Hulk had Jean Grey shut down Banner in his brain. With this, he was able to fight Onslaught head-on and finally end the fight. Some people believe that Hulk could break the entire Earth if he gets angry enough.

The post Hulk’s Most Devastating Powers in Marvel Comics, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Punisher has become one of Marvel Comics’ most popular antiheroes, and his first appearance came in the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man. It all started when Jackal tricked Punisher into believing Spider-Man was a villain, prompting him to try to gun the hero down. When he learned Spider-Man was not a villain, but a hero, it set up an uneasy future between the two. Punisher later gunned for Spider-Man again when he thought the Wall-Crawler was drifting, and Spider-Man went after Punisher when he felt Frank Castle was using his family’s deaths as an excuse to be a murderer.

With the two Marvel Comics characters randomly looking at each other like villains, it has caused the Punisher vs. Spider-Man battles to look drastically different, while remaining entertaining almost every time.

10) The Amazing Spider-Man #129

The first appearance of The Punisher came in the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man #129. In this issue, Jackal was still trying to ruin Spider-Man’s life and decided he would use a new vigilante in New York City to do his dirty work for him. He convinced Punisher that Spider-Man was a common criminal. However, this was also the issue where Punisher proved to be an honorable vigilante. He will kill criminals, but he has a code he follows, and it doesn’t align with Jackal. Punisher had a chance to kill Spider-Man, but the fight ended with no winner, as Punisher realized Jackal was lying to him and allowed Spider-Man to live and began to go after the real villain instead.

9) Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15

Spider-Man and The Punisher also had a battle in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15 when Spider-Man goes after Punisher after he kills a man and leaves a little girl to possibly die as a result. It was all a misunderstanding since the little girl was poisoned, and Punisher knew he could get a cure if he found it. Luckily, Spider-Man gets his hands on it and can save the girl and stop Punisher. However, this issue is even more important than that. Punisher found himself surrounded by police and surrendered without a fight since he wouldn’t kill cops. The last sight of The Punisher here is chilling, as he sits in the back of the police car and asks how many criminals he will have access to while in prison.

8) The Amazing Spider-Man #134-135

In The Amazing Spider-Man #134, a new Spidey villain shows up called Tarantula, and then The Punisher returns. In this case, Punisher believes that Spider-Man is the villain Jackal previously hinted he was and thinks that the Wall-Crawler has taken a boat hostage (when it was really Traantula). The two fought, but it ended up stopping when Punisher realized what was going on. By the time they figure out the truth, the two offer to work together. The Punisher shockingly helps Spider-Man stop Tarantula and his men without killing them. It was a rare Punisher story where he acted more like a regular hero, and was one of the few times he and Spider-Man worked together without any conflicts (outside the opening scene on the boat).

7) Punisher War Journal Vol. 2 #13

After years of Garth Ennis refusing to allow his Punisher to interact with superheroes, Matt Fraction did a complete 180. He brought in heroes and major villains for Punisher to go after. In Punisher War Journal Vol. 1 #13, Rhino is coerced into helping with a bank robbery, and a guard dies during the heist. Punisher kills the criminals and then starts to try to kill a remorseful Rhino with a rocket launcher and missiles. Spider-Man then shows up to save Rhino before having to fight the villain himself. Punisher is fun here with his reactions to Spider-Man saving the villains, only to find them trying to kill him. Spider-Man ended up stopping Punisher from killing Rhino by webbing him up. While Spider-Man only appears in this one issue, it does lead Punisher into a battle with Kraven in the following two issues.

6) Amazing Spider-Man #201-202

The Amazing Spider-Man #201 began a two-issue storyline with Spider-Man and Punisher teaming up. At this time, Punisher still used mercy bullets (rubber ones) on common criminals, and saved his real bullets for the main bad guys. When Spider-Man first encounters him here, he learns Punisher is gunning for a drug dealer named Lorenzo Jacobi and wants to kill him. When Spider-Man says he is not okay with this, Punisher shoots him with a mercy bullet and flees. Soon, though, both men are fighting on the same side after Punisher admits that Jacobi was responsible for murdering someone Punisher saved once, and he has a score to settle. Punisher and Spider-Man worked together after their initial battle, and the Wall-Crawler even stops him from killing Jacobi. However, the drug dealer dies in a car accident anyway, allowing Punisher to see justice without pulling the trigger himself.

Read Next

10 Best Marvel Antiheroes, Ranked

5) Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 1 #81-83

One of the most shocking Punisher storylines came in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 1 #81-83. In this three-issue storyline, Spider-Man is busy trying to stop Cloak & Dagger from murdering Kingpin. However, while he is working so hard to stop them, he has to worry about The Punisher, too. Spider-Man takes a beating here, almost finding himself consumed in the darkness of Cloak’s powers while also getting beaten down by Punisher. However, the best part of this story came when Punisher got to Kingpin first and threatened Vanessa Fisk. Kingpin showed his power by beating Punisher almost to death. The most significant moment came in the last issue of the storyline, where Punisher was tried in court and had a nervous breakdown when he realized no one could see that his way was the only one he thought would save society. It was sobering and showed the level he had fallen to.

4) Punisher Vol. 6 #32-34

Garth Ennis hated adding any superheroes to his Punisher stories, and it was clear when he had them in the stories that he hated them. In Punisher Vol. 6 #32-34, Ennis added three Marvel Comics heroes to his series with Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Wolverine. However, Ennis made sure to show that Frank Castle was always in control, and that the three heroes were mostly buffoons to be made fools of. By the end of the storyline, all three of the heroes ended up looking like idiots. Punisher suckered Wolverine into trying to kill him, knowing that Daredevil and Spider-Man wouldn’t let him, and as the three fought, he slipped out and killed the sex traffickers he was targeting all along.

3) Punisher: War Zone Vol 3 #1-5

Punisher: War Zone Vol. 3 was a five-issue miniseries that saw Spider-Man finally tired of watching Punisher kill people. A member of The Avengers now, Spider-Man convinced them to help him bring in Punisher. None of them cared to help, but by the time they agreed and started approaching Frank, they all wanted nothing more than to stop him by the fifth issue, since he proved too much for most of them to handle. Spider-Man was unhinged here, and this was the series where he called Punisher a murderer who only used his dead family as an excuse. This was also a case where Spider-Man won (with The Avengers’ help), but it wasn’t that easy. Punisher helped a person find freedom by delaying the Avengers and only surrendered when Captain America stepped u,p since he refuses to fight Cap.

2) Giant-Size Spider-Man #4

In Giant-Size Spider-Man #4, Spider-Man was able to hunt down Punisher after Frank had saved Spidey’s life in a fight with some kidnappers. However, when Spider-Man learns that Punisher would have let the kidnapping victim die if it meant following a lead, he attacks. Punisher quickly proved to be more than enough by shooting Spidey with a tranquilizer. However, as with many early stories with Spider-Man and Punisher, their fight always led to them teaming up in the end. In this case, they were battling a terrorist named Moses Magnum, a man planning to sell a lethal gas to the highest bidder. This was one of the most shocking team-ups with the two because Punisher shot a canister of poison gas at Magnum, and Spider-Man helped seal the room closed, likely killing all the terrorists. It was the only time Spider-Man willingly helped Punisher kill someone.

1) Ultimate Spider-Man #157

The most tragic Spider-Man and Punisher fight happened in the Ultimate Universe. This came during the Ultimate Avengers vs. New Ultimates storyline. Nick Fury’s Avengers (Black Widow, Hawkeye, War Machine, Punisher, and Blade) battled the New Ultimates (Captain America, Carol Danvers, Iron Man, Giant-Man, and Thor). Things were getting violent, and then Spider-Man showed up. Fury had ordered Punisher to take out Captain America. Punisher refused to kill Cap, and aimed his bullet to incapacitate Cap, but not kill him. Spider-Man didn’t know this and sacrificed himself, throwing himself between the two and taking the bullet. Despite the gunshot wound, Spider-Man returned home to save Aunt May from the Ultimate Goblin and then died after the fight from blood loss. In this storyline, Punisher killed Spider-Man.

The post 10 Times Spider-Man & Punisher Battled in Marvel Comics (And Who Won) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Spider-Man isn’t Marvel’s most powerful hero, but he’s got it where it counts. Over the years, Spider-Man comics have given readers some of the coolest fights in comic history. Spider-Man is a character who lends himself well to motion, his dynamic costume making him look like a red and blue whirling dervish of action. He’s faced off against some of the most formidable villains in the Marvel Universe, both those of his own rogues gallery, and those from other heroes’. He’s battled alongside the Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and basically every other Marvel team out there, and has helped fight against the most dangerous threats in multiple major events. Spider-Man is extremely formidable.

Marvel is crossing over with DC Comics again, and it’s only a matter of time before we get some team-ups between Spider-Man and the heroes of the DC Multiverse. This is going to open up a whole world of villains to Spider-Man. Now, there are some DC villains that Spider-Man would be able to beat, and beat handily. However, there’s also a lot of DC villains that Spider-Man wouldn’t have a chance against without help. These seven DC villains would defeat Spider-Man, doing something many villains have tried but never succeeded at.

7) Mongul

Mongul is the master of Warworld, and one of the most feared villains in the DC Universe. There’s been multiple versions of Mongul over the years; it’s more of a title than a person. Basically, one of the Warzoons, the name of the beings that live on Warworld, rises through the ranks and then kills the last Mongul, becoming the new one (there’s also Mongal, who was played as a sister of Mongul, but that was before the survival of the fittest, multiple Mongul thing was established). Mongul is Superman level strong, and that’s going to be a big problem for Spider-Man. Modern Superman isn’t throw planets like beachballs strong anymore, but he’s still mind-numbingly strong. Mongul can punch it out with Big Blue, so Spider-Man really doesn’t have much chance against him. Honestly, it’s highly doubtful that Mongul would even feel Spider-Man’s attacks. Spider-Man’s speed would allow him to keep away from Mongul, but eventually, he’d get tired or make a mistake, and that would be that. Mongul could kill Spider-Man with one good punch. Spider-Man has to be flawless the whole fight; Mongul just needs to get lucky once.

6) General Zod

There are few actual threats to Superman, but one villain has proven able to get the drop on Superman — General Zod. Zod was Krypton’s greatest tactical mind, and was actually friends with Jor-El in some versions of his story. However, all versions of the characters have the same fate — they try to take over the Kryptonian Science Council and fail, thrown into the Phantom Zone. As a Kryptonian, General Zod has amazing power under a yellow sun and has combat training on top of that. Zod is much, much stronger than Spider-Man. He’s also vastly faster. That’s basically going to be it for Spider-Man. Spider-Man can usually beat enemies stronger than him because he’s faster, his spider-sense allowing him to avoid attacks from anyone. That’s not going to work with Zod, as even with the spider-sense, Spider-Man couldn’t avoid attacks from Zod. General Zod has every advantage over Spider-Man, and there’s really no way for Spider-Man to win without getting his hands on some Kryptonite or creating a red sun gun.

5) Doomsday

Doomsday is one of the most feared villains in the DC Multiverse for one big reason — he killed Superman. The monster has changed a lot over the years (Doomsday is currently the Time Trapper, a time powered titan trying to get Superman to kill him so he can become a god), but one thing that hasn’t changed is how powerful he is. Doomsday is basically the Hulk; an indestructible being with titanic strength, which allowed him to overpower Superman. He can’t be killed the same way twice, so he can never be bludgeoned to death ever again. He’s probably actually stronger than the Hulk which would be a big problem for Spider-Man. There’s no doubt that Spider-Man could easily avoid Doomsday’s attacks, but there’s really nothing else that he could do. Webbing wouldn’t work on Doomsday — he’s too strong to be held by it long — and all of Spider-Man’s usual tricks against vastly stronger combatants wouldn’t work either. Much like the fight against Mongul, Spider-Man would have to be able to avoid every blow, but Doomsday only needs to get lucky once.

Read Next

Can The Amazing Spider-Man Really Be Good Again?

4) Gorilla Grodd

Gorilla Grodd is an extremely dangerous villain. Grodd is the Gorilla City equivalent of Green Goblin in a lot of ways. He’s a super genius who has become twisted with rage and greed. He’s a titan of physical force, but his greatest power is his Force of Mind, a telepathic skill that allows him to control and assault minds. Grodd usually battles the Flash, which means that he’s more than ready to deal with fast opponents. All of this is going to be a problem for Spider-Man. Grodd and Spider-Man are probably pretty even on strength, and Spider-Man is faster than Grodd. However, Grodd is smart and his telepathy gives him a huge advantage over Spider-Man; he’d quickly discover that Spider-Man has some kind of spider-sense and would be able to use his mental powers to mess with it. This would probably be a pretty close fight, but Grodd’s mental power and tactical know how would mean this is a fight that Spider-Man would lose in the end.

3) Reverse Flash

Reverse Flash is one of the most dangerous and powerful villains in the DC Multiverse. The master of the Negative Speed Force, Reverse Flash is obsessed with destroying Barry Allen. He’s used his time travel powers to wreck Allen’s life, moving up and down the timestream in order to make the man he hates the most suffer. Reverse Flash may not be as strong as Spider-Man, but he’s many magnitudes faster than the Wall-Crawler. That’s going to be a huge problem for Spider-Man. His spider-sense only works if he’s actually faster than the opponent. Spider-Man is nowhere near as fast as Reverse Flash, and that’s basically going to be all she wrote for this fight. There’s a chance that Reverse Flash will mess up and allow Spider-Man to tag him a few times or a webbing trick will work, but in the end, it’s not going to be enough to win. Reverse Flash can end this fight anytime he wants.

2) Lex Luthor

Lex Luthor is Superman’s greatest enemy. The two of them are complete opposites; where Superman is physically strong, Lex is intelligent. Where Superman is selfless, Lex is selfish. Lex Luthor is the smartest villain on Earth (he might be the smartest person on Earth, but DC goes back and forth on whether Lex is smarter or Batman is), and it’s this intelligence that has allowed Lex to hang with the most powerful heroes and villains. Lex Luthor and Spider-Man are an interesting match. Spider-Man is obviously more physical powerful (unless Lex is wearing his armor), but Luthor is vastly more intelligent. This is going to make a lot of difference. Lex Luthor isn’t going to walk out and just start fighting Spider-Man, he’s going to study him first. Lex will be able to figure out that Spider-Man has spider-sense, and then will be able to figure out how to use that against Spider-Man. Lex is only going to go after Spider-Man after that, and that’s going to be a huge problem for Spider-Man. See, Lex is only going to actually fight Spider-Man in his armor. Lex’s armor in much more powerful than any suit of armor that Spider-Man has ever dealt with before. It gives Lex enough strength to fight against Superman, so it is much more powerful than Spider-Man. Lex would be able to devastate Spider-Man in this armor, and that would be that.

1) Darkseid

Darkseid is basically the Thanos of the DC Multiverse, and Spider-Man would have no chance against. Darkseid is the God of Evil and the lord of Apokolips. Darkseid was able to defeat his father, Yuga Khan, and take his throne. Since then, Darkseid has battled not only the New Gods of New Genesis, he’s also fought all of the greatest heroes in the multiverse. Darkseid is stronger than Superman, and has been known to battle entire teams of heroes by himself. His body in nearly indestructible, and his Omega Effect eye beams can kill just about anyone with one hit, and tracks its quarry where ever they go. So, Darkseid is much stronger than Spider-Man, although Spider-Man has the speed advantage, and can take way more damage. The spider-sense isn’t really going to matter too much in this fight. Sure, Spider-Man can avoid everything thrown at him for along time, but he’ll get tired. However, the real problem for Spider-Man is going to be the Omega Effect. It can follow Spider-Man anywhere and it’s eventually going to get him. Darkseid is much too powerful for Spider-Man, and the Web-Slinger can’t win.

What DC villains do you think can beat Spider-Man? Do you think I’m wrong with any of these? Sound off in the comments below.

The post 7 DC Villains Spider-Man Can’t Beat appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Green Lanterns have one of the coolest power sets in all of comics. With their rings they can quite literally make just about anything that they can imagine. From a giant sword to an army of cattle ranchers, the various Green Lanterns have all put their minds to the test to create some wild and utterly baffling constructs throughout the years. Today we’re going to take a look at what I think are five of the most creative and coolest constructs that the GLs have willed into existence. There are hundreds, even thousands of different constructs to choose from for this list, but the ones I’ve chosen here are stand-outs against plenty of the bog standard constructs that are effective, but far less fun than they could be. So with that said, let’s get started.

7) Multiversal Symbol of Terror

This beautiful tribute to Gotham’s symbol of fear came about in one of the DC/Hanna-Barbera crossovers, Green Lantern/Space Ghost. After responding to a distress signal took him to a different dimension, Hal Jordan got into a fight with Larfleeze, but Space Ghost arrived and thought the Green Lantern was a villain himself. Hal was knocked down planetside, where he was surrounded by the heavily-armed local militia. He was desperate to find a way out without hurting anyone due to this obvious misunderstanding, so he tried to think of what he could use to scare everyone off. He dug deep to imagine the most terrifying thing he’s ever seen that could scare you off no matter what universe you were in. Having battled against agents of Death and been possessed by the literal Entity of Fear, Hal naturally decided his only option was a giant Batman construct. And hey, it worked! Even people in an entirely different universe know not to mess with Batman.

6) Eva GL-01

Each Green Lantern has their own strength, and Kyle’s is his boundless creativity. He’s an artist, and that special perspective has helped him create some of the funnest, most creative constructs imaginable. Like this one which appeared in Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #48, where Kyle makes an actual Eva armor from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Giant robot armors are hardly out of the ordinary for our green-wearing space cops, because I mean seriously, who wouldn’t have that be one of the first things you make when you need to beat down on some big problems? But what’s special about this one is that it’s so clearly a reference and it is a treat to see. It’s a reminder that this type of referencing is exactly what a ton of Lanterns would do if they didn’t have to worry about copyright. It’s always neat to see, and Kyle putting his own spin on it is just awesome. Who doesn’t love giant robots? Personally, I would have made a giant Megazord, but an Eva is definitely just as awesome to see.

5) Universe’s Biggest Pinball

Yet another Kyle construct, this one came about when he was helping to train Simon Baz, specifically to show him that their powers aren’t limited by real world objects. Simon had a habit of creating normal machines like drills and cars, so Kyle trapped him in a giant pinball machine being played by a giant Kyle to demonstrate that one of a Green Lantern’s greatest strengths is being weird. Everyone knows how to react to a giant hammer coming at them, but suddenly trapping them in a ball that’s being knocked every which way against pillars that make ding sounds? That’s the type of thing that can throw someone off their game and give the Lantern a chance to end things before someone gets hurt. Creativity is one of a Green Lantern’s greatest strengths, and this is the perfect example of thinking outside the box. This construct is so great not just because it’s a creative use of the ring, but because of how it is the perfect teaching tool in the moment. It’s both awesome to see and narratively satisfying, which are both massive plusses in my book. 

Read Next

Lanterns: What Is a Green Lantern’s Power Ring? Explained

4) Lobo’s Main Man

The Injustice 2 comics bridged the gap between the first and second Injustice: Gods Among Us video games, and it went wild whenever it could. One of the coolest arcs it held was a war between the Green and Red Lantern Corps, where the Reds recruited Starro the Destroyer. To combat the planetary conqueror and fill their weakened ranks, the GLs decided that the main man himself, Lobo would temporarily serve as a Green Lantern. It went about as well as you’d think. Lobo set his eyes on Atrocitus by kicking Dex-Starr halfway across the solar system and creating the absolute funniest construct ever. Lobo is one of the crassest, dirtiest guys in the DC Universe, so you can imagine the type of horrors he has locked away. So what did he build when his imagination was given shape? A giant penis. Lobo smacked Atrocitus with a giant green penis, and it was amazing. Give Lobo a ring again, do it now. This is not an impressive construct, it’s actually about as creative as making a giant rock, but dang if it isn’t the perfect thing for Lobo to make. It’s also so gosh darn funny. Is it smart humor? No, but I don’t care.

3) The Space Ship

While most Green Lanterns just fly wherever they need to go, when Kyle travels, he goes in style. Case in point, Kyle once made an entire to-scale pirate galleon to sail the stars. He made a literal space ship, and I want to give it first place just for that spectacular pun. This is one of the clearest examples of Kyle just having fun with his wish-granting ring, which is exactly what makes his style of constructs so fun. Any other lantern would just launch blasts at someone who attacked them, but when Captain Kyle’s ship comes under fire he verbally directs the construct wench to light a construct fuse with a construct match to fire a construct cannonball from the construct cannon. There’s so many unnecessary steps here and it’s incredible, and also demonstrates the sheer lengths Kyle will go to complete the logic of the idea in his head. This is Kyle at his absolute best, and comes from Green Lantern volume three #87.

2) Hal Recreates Coast City

There are few feats more impressive than when, upon finding his home Coast City blown off the map by Cyborg Superman, Hal recreated all of it, down to the tiniest detail. The constructs were powered by the memories of his town, and each one acted exactly as Hal remembered them. Of course, these were all facsimiles of how they really were, but still, this is an entirely functional city operated by sheer force of will, running hundreds of thousands of different actions all at once, from one person taking out the trash to a car starting when the key is inserted. Of course, this scene came about in Green Lantern volume three #48, the infamous “Emerald Twilight” storyline that assassinated Hal Jordan’s character for no real reason at all. That definitely drags this construct down a bit in context, but overall, this is still incredibly impressive, and demonstrates the simple, indomitable will that Hal Jordan is so well known for.

1) John Stewart Remakes His Sister

Like I said, every Lantern has their strength, and John Stewart’s is that he is easily the most methodical in what he creates. He’s an architect, so when he makes something he imagines every little piece coming together from the ground up. He makes every little piece and fits them together instead of just making a whole object from the start. Without a doubt, one of the most impressive Green Lantern feats ever was when John Stewart created a construct copy of his deceased little sister, Ellie in Green Lantern War Journal #1. This isn’t just a puppet either, but a fully sentient copy of her built from John’s memories. He initially created her to help keep his mother happy while she battled dementia, but she has become so much more as she evolved. Now she is entirely independent, a construct given sentience, sapience, and a will all her own. John Stewart literally created life with his ring, which is absolutely insane and should probably be outlawed in the Corps, but massively impressive nonetheless. Ellie is living proof of the power of will and love, and stands as the most creative and impressive construct to date.

So there’s my list of seven of the best constructs the Green Lanterns have ever thought up. Like I said at the start, there’s literally thousands to choose from here, and limiting it to just a few from Kyle was already difficult enough. I also desperately wanted to pay tribute to Jessica Cruz’s fantasy inspired choices, but we only have so much space on this list. Which constructs would you include on this list, and which one would you have stand as number one? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 7 Best Green Lantern Constructs, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Damian Wayne is the son of Batman and the grandson of Ra’s al Ghul. Ever since his introduction, he has struggled to reconcile the legacies he will inherit. Eventually, Damian chose to align himself with his father and the good-natured legacy of Batman, but recently he’s been faced with a new branching path. Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s run on Batman and Robin has Damian learn more about Thomas Wayne’s history as a doctor. Now Damian’s standing at a crossroads where he questions if he wants to continue fighting for Gotham City as Robin, or find a way to help it in the daylight as only Damian Wayne can. Unfortunately for him, the villain Memento has arrived in Gotham to wreak havoc, and Robin. He only just managed to escape with the aid of some of Gotham’s lost youth, but now the killer has taken Batman and detective Katherine Lautrec captive. Damian is finally forced to make a choice.

Memento Is Here to Punish Gotham

Memento is a creature of nightmare and very real mystery. He is either a supernatural creature that possesses a host to torture humanity for their worst actions, or a madman who uses drugs to drive people insane and is obsessed with recreating cities’ crimes. He recreated several monstrous events in Gotham City, but it was all just build-up to his true purpose; recreating the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne using Batman and Lautrec as stand-ins for the parents, and Damian in his father’s role. Memento believes that Gotham fell to its darkest pit after the murder of the Waynes, the last good family in power who truly believed their home could change for the better. He has Batman and Lautrec tied to a pole in the drug-induced hallucination and possibly magical realm version of Crime Alley, and waits for Robin to arrive to murder them in front of him.

Read Next

Does Batman Really Have a Robin Problem?

Damian, for his part, has been on a journey of self discovery this entire time. Being forcibly separated from Batman and saved by the young street urchins of Gotham has opened his eyes to the fact that the good work the Waynes do is essential to Gotham City, but so are Batman and Robin. People need to be healed by doctors, but they need heroes to save them from the villains to be healed. With renewed determination, Damian charged back to save his dad and new friend in a makeshift mask made of civilian clothes and a clothesline rope. With Robin fully determined to be a hero and distracting Memento, Batman managed to free himself and join the fight. Memento’s identity, or host, was revealed as Daniels, the student of master detective Blye, who studied alongside Lautrec and Bruce. In the end, Memento was shot by Blye, who made his way to Gotham to get revenge for all of Memento’s victims. Memento was shot and disappeared in a crowd of his victim’s spirits, and everyone was saved. His cycle had ended, and Damian started a new one.

The New Damian Wayne and Robin

Damian has finally put all of his demons to bed, and is ready to move on with full confidence of who he is. By day he will help Gotham in its hospitals and as a Wayne, and by night he will be Robin, bringing justice however he can. Instead of being forced to inherit something, he is choosing this destiny himself. Besides, this isn’t something he has to do on his own. Not only does he have Batman to stand beside him, but he also has a brand new partner in the form of the little monkey he adopted near the start of this run. In the drawing Damian made in the final part of the issue, he drew the little gal in her own Robin costume. Obviously this doesn’t imply that the monkey will become a brand new super-pet, but it’s definitely possible, and Damian has already adopted plenty of other super-pets, so there is a definite chance we’ll be seeing her sometime in the future.

To signify that he has finally rejoined his father emotionally and accepted his position as Robin, Damian also created a brand new Robin costume. It’s far more reminiscent of his classic Robin costume with a hood, and has the traditional green, red, and yellow that has been missing from his gray version these past few years. Damian has fully accepted every part of himself, and the criminals of Gotham better look out, because a fully realized Robin is a very powerful thing indeed.

Batman and Robin #24 is on sale now!

The post Robin Just Made a Major Life Choice (and Got an Adorable New Partner, Too) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Action Comics is in the middle of recounting Clark Kent’s first days as Superboy, and quite frankly, it’s not going well for the Boy of Steel. His identity was all but immediately uncovered by his teacher Mr. Blake, who in actuality was the long-forgotten superhero Captain Comet. Unknown to Clark and his family, Comet had been watching Superboy for some time now, and for better and worse he was moving to be a bigger influence on the fledgling hero. Unfortunately, his motives aren’t anywhere near as clean as they appeared, and they didn’t look very clean at all. Clark is going to have to learn fast, because Captain Comet has set his eyes on Superboy.

Surprising Revelations

Mr. Blake showed up at the Kents’ door and outright asked if Clark was Superboy, and given that this was the first time something like this had ever happened, Clark picked the worst possible answer and asked if Blake was from the government.

With that all but confirming his suspicions, Blake revealed that he was actually Captain Comet, a mutant with powers similar to Clark’s, only with some psychic abilities like clairvoyance. Superheroes had completely disappeared decades earlier, so it was a definite shock to see one show up out of the blue, but he wasn’t here to talk about himself. He told Clark that he thought he was reckless and needed to make sure he could trust him. He recounted stories of other young heroes from across the universe, all of which ended in failure and decimation because of their lack of experience. The narrator, modern day Superman, noted how everything about what Comet said should have been several red flags. Captain Comet promised he’d talk to Clark soon, then vanished.

Understandably upset by what Captain Comet said, and following a very bad morning, Clark hoped that his schoolday would only be filled with sneaking glances at Lana Lang, but he could never be that lucky. Comet embarrassed him all through class, and when it finally let out Clark’s usual bully decided to double down on making his day worse. Clark just about lost his temper and shoved Braverman, then flew away before he went off the handle. He planned to smash through a mountain to make himself feel better, but Captain Comet grabbed him out of the air and forced him into a lesson. A plague of locusts was about to hit Smallville, so how could Superboy stop them? Before Clark could ask any questions, Comet was gone, and he was alone with the bugs.

Read Next

5 Times Superboy Prime Deserved His Redemption

Superboy’s Problems Keep Getting Bigger

First he tried to blow them away or send them flying with a sonic clap, but that only scattered them for a second. Superboy panicked, trying to think of a way to save Smallville’s crops without burning them all to a crisp, when he remembered that locusts were very perceptible to high frequencies. He used his greatest power of super-whistling to stun all the bugs, then flew fast enough to cart them away in a slipstream. He guided the swarm back north, where the cooler temps returned them to normal grasshoppers. Clark celebrated his first win of the day, but was secretly being monitored by Captain Comet and General Lane, who decided that Superboy was dangerous enough to move onto some kind of next phase.

Clearly, there’s a lot going on that Superboy doesn’t know about. Not only do Captain Comet and the government think he’s a threat, but they’re planning to take him down. Except, if he was really an enemy, Comet could just tell them who Superboy is and be done with it. Things definitely aren’t what they seem, and it probably all harkens back to the mysterious reason that superheroes disappeared overnight all those years ago. Captain Comet could be an enemy working to bring Superboy down, a misguided mentor who thinks he’s too dangerous as is, or someone who has deeply laid plans involving the legality of superheroes, and is working towards a goal that Superboy’s existence undermines. I’m willing to bet that Comet isn’t actually an enemy, but Superboy’s debut might be causing way more waves than he could ever have anticipated.

Action Comics #1089 is on sale now!

The post Superboy’s Mentor Is Not Who You’d Think (and He’s a Surprising Threat) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

If there’s one thing we can count on with Marvel, it’s entertainment. Readers dive into the world of superhero adventures for a variety of reasons. Sometimes we want to be inspired or feel our hearts swell with hope. Other times, we want to step in and begin rooting for the underdog, because who doesn’t love that? Then, there’s the comedy of Marvel Comics. Marvel certainly knows how to write a funny character, creating characters that possess a sense of irreverence, frivolity, or relatability. These are the heroes who make us spit out our drinks and break into a fit of giggles, as the need arises.

We all know what heroes to read about when we need hope and inspiration (looking at you, Captain America and Spider-Man), and realistically, most of us also know who to go to for a good laugh. These heroes run the gamut, breaking the fourth wall or throwing themselves headfirst into the strangest of antics. It’s all for our sakes, so it’s easy to appreciate the effort.

10) Hawkeye

Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, is often the butt of jokes (particularly those about heroes lacking powers), but he’s also a bit of a comedian in his own right. Over the years, he has developed a strong, sarcastic wit, to put it mildly. This can be seen shining through in pretty much every version, from the comics to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and even his animated appearances. If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that Barton will save the day and have some colorful commentary about having to do so.

Hawkeye used to be worse about creating clever (and sometimes mean) nicknames for his teammates. He’s mostly mellowed out on that front, but the self-deprecating humor is still going strong. On the flip side, he is the first hero to laugh when those around him are trying to brighten the mood.

9) She-Hulk

Jennifer Walter, aka She-Hulk, is the infamous Attorney at Law in Marvel Comics. She was the first hero in Marvel to dive into fourth-wall-breaking humor (even though Deadpool gets more credit for this). She’s a self-aware character who isn’t afraid to poke fun at herself, her writers, and even her fans. Right off the bat, She-Hulk became known for her often lighter and more fun tones, as it stood in stark contrast to her cousin’s stories. Undoubtedly, that was by intent, helping to provide even more differences between Hulk characters.

Even modern comics have allowed She-Hulk to embrace her more comical side of life. Her series is known for visual gags, romantic drama (to the nth degree), and an incredibly sharp wit. Even her MCU series ran with this tone, though it was met with some confusion, mostly by people who were not expecting that from this hero.

8) Human Torch

Johnny Storm is an incredibly brave soul and an adventurer at heart, and nothing will ever take that away from him. Also known as the Human Torch, this character also has a strong foundation in humor, and thank goodness for it. He may often be seen as the comedic relief of The Fantastic Four, but we all know that it is a vital role in any series. Comedy can remind us of the best parts of life, and thus Johnny reminds readers and heroes what they’re fighting for.

Does Johnny enjoy more than his fair share of pranking? Well, yes. That’s probably exhausting for those around him, at least at times. His favorite target seems to be Ben Grimm, though he’s made a few prankster allies/enemies (namely Spider-Man). When left unsupervised, this pair will offer nonstop banter, jokes, and pranks.

Read Next

10 Weakest Marvel Characters, Ranked

7) Rocket Raccoon

Rocket Raccoon may be a hero of the universe (well, a Guardian of the Galaxy, if you want to get specific), but that doesn’t stop him from cracking a joke. Both the MCU and comic versions of this hero showcase a brash character full of acerbic wit. Yes, that does mean his humor leans heavily into the sarcastic and snarky side of things, but that’s to be expected. It works to keep most people at arm’s length, with a few iconic exceptions.

Rocket is a violent character with a sharp tongue. Those who get on his bad side will hear about it. Honestly, even his allies are spared from his sharper wit, but they know that Rocket is unceasingly loyal to those he cares about, so that makes it easier to bear the brunt of his commentary. There are a few things Rocket is especially known for. First, he loves poking fun at Earth culture (possibly because Quill always feels compelled to defend it). Two, people love to compare him to different animals on their home planet, much to his chagrin.

6) Squirrel Girl

Doreen Green, aka Squirrel Girl, is one of the kindest heroes in Marvel Comics, and that’s saying something. Her ability is a little bit out there, and yet, it is the subject of many jokes from fans. She has a few squirrel-based abilities, including a tail and the magical ability to communicate with her fluffy little friends. It may not seem like an awesome superpower, but she’s survived battles against Galactus and Thanos with that ability set.

It doesn’t hurt that she is as cheerful and hopeful as they come. Nothing can get Doreen down, and thus she considers anything possible. She has embraced the slightly goofier side that Marvel has to offer, and yes, that does mean she’ll team up with other comical heroes as needed. Readers looking for lighter moments and good laughs always know to check out whatever adventure she’s involved in.

5) Slapstick

When you hear about a character named Slapstick, you’re obviously going to assume they’re funny, right? Thankfully, Slapstick does not disappoint on that premise. He debuted in the ’90s, which means he has more of that classic era of humor seeping from his design. Thanks to a strange experiment, Slapstick became the embodiment of cartoon physics. In other words, he can mimic cartoon damage, jokes, and gags. Think of Spider-Ham, and you’re not far off from what Slapstick can do and survive.

Slapstick was originally designed to be a sarcastic parody of Marvel heroes. He’s since changed a little bit, but he’s mostly still just a practical joker. He may not properly take down villains like other heroes, but he’ll certainly mess with them!

Read Next

7 Most Overpowered Marvel Characters, Ranked

4) Gwenpool

Gwenpool is a complicated and chaotic character. She hails from a world not all that different from our own, and thus grew up loving the same comic book adventures as we did. So when she got ported into Earth-616, she knew what she had to do. Well, more like what she wanted to do. She wanted to become a hero, but she’s a wee bit too chaotic for that. Gwenpool takes fourth-wall-breaking to the extreme, as her powers (which are sometimes nerfed) allow her to turn pages and jump panels.

In the beginning, Gwenpool became a mercenary for hire, and in a short stint of time, she had made quite a name for herself. It wasn’t really a good name, but that’s part of the humor. She’s goofy and impulsive, but she’s also full of heart and passion. It makes for a unique character, even in Marvel Comics.

3) Scott Lang

Scott Lang is better known for being the second Ant-Man. He’s been in both the comics and the MCU, though the latter has him as more of the primary hero of that side of Marvel. He’s a bit of a reluctant hero who can be awkward in teams. Despite this, he has a heart of gold and a surprisingly comical center, and that makes him easy to love.

Much like a few other heroes (and anti-heroes) on this list, Scott Lang has the tendency to create running commentary. That means he isn’t afraid to break the fourth wall, especially if it’ll help him land the joke. His humor style feels a bit more sitcom-y than the rest, letting him stand out a bit.

2) Spider-Man

We’re certain that nearly every Marvel reader expected to see Peter Parker on this list, and we’re not here to disappoint. Spider-Man is an iconic hero of Marvel Comics, one who is famous for his quips and sharp wit. He’s also a bit known for his constant barrage of comments, jokes, and commentary…even in the middle of a fight. It’s a whole thing, and we love him for it.

Peter Parker has been through some of the worst that Marvel has to offer, and he’s retained his humor despite it all. He’s got a heart of gold, a brilliant mind, and perfect comedic timing. What more could readers ask for?

1) Deadpool

Deadpool is often called the Merc with a Mouth, and he’s earned that title. This character does not stop, ever. He’s a fourth-wall-breaking character with no limits or boundaries, which is part of how he’s become so famous. He was originally created in response to a DC character (it probably isn’t hard to guess who), though it’s safe to say he’s changed and evolved quite a bit since then.

Wade Wilson may have tragic elements in his past, present, and future, but that has never held him back. His series are always full of action and humor, and he’ll often drag that into any series he appears. Naturally, Deadpool has a few favorite heroes, who don’t always feel compelled to return the affection (cough, Spider-Man, cough).

The post 10 Marvel Characters Who Always Make You Laugh, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Hulk has been one of Marvel Comics’ most powerful heroes since the company’s earliest days. He is also one of Marvel’s most tragic heroes, as Bruce Banner’s alter ego, the Hulk, is out of his control. Hulk just wants to be left alone, but he always has to fight back to get people to let him live in peace. With that in mind, there have been other times where people have pushed him too far, or in some cases, he was manipulated to lash out and for at least a short time, Hulk became one of Marvel Comics’ most dangerous villains.

With almost unlimited strength and the ability to withstand untold amounts of damage, here is a look at the times when Hulk nearly destroyed the Marvel Universe, and at least one time when he mostly succeeded.

7) The Horseman War

When looking at the history of Apocalypse and his Horsemen, the stories are almost always in the mutant comics and limited to the X-Men and their teams. However, there was one time when Apocalypse decided to offer the position of War to Hulk. In The Incredible Hulk #456, Apocalypse convinced Hulk to become War in exchange for removing the pain and suffering from Hulk’s mind, which amounts to his father Brian’s torment. As War, Hulk was more powerful than ever, with the voices in his head gone, and he went toe to toe with Absorbing Man (whom he beat easily) and Juggernaut (whom he almost killed). However, when he almost killed Riock Jones, it snapped Apocalypse’s control, and Hulk ended up going into hiding.

6) The Immortal Hulk

Marvel Comics took Hulk in a new direction in 2015 when Hulk stopped a radiation leak and detonated himself, stripping him of Hulk’s powers and transferring them to Amadeus Cho, who became the Totally Awesome Hulk. However, things were not finished for Bruce Banner. The scientist started experimenting on himself with gamma-irradiated cells, and when the Avengers learned about this and confronted him, Hawkeye killed him. Unfortunately, he ended up resurrected no less than three times (by The Hand, Arnim Zola, and the Challenger). Each time he returned, he was savage and almost unstoppable. However, it finally ended when Banner realized Hulk couldn’t die and just went to the Green Room before returning to life through the Green Door. Once he learned the truth, Banner regained control and went into hiding.

5) Savage Hulk

Savage Hulk is the name given to Hulk when he loses all control of his faculties and goes into a rage. Whenever he would become the Savage Hulk, he had no control over what he did and reacted to things out of anger and deep emotion. What makes this version of Hulk so deadly is that he has reverted to this state numerous times over his existence. One of Hulk’s most defining powers is that the angrier he gets, the more powerful he gets. Hulk knows he is more powerful when Banner is in no way in control. To defeat Onslaught, Hulk had Banner shut down in his brain, and that was the only way he could take down the monster. However, before this, he was always one of the most destructive forces of nature when the Savage Hulk took control.

4) Heroes Reborn: The Return

After Hulk beat Onslaught, the world changed. Two different Earths existed, with the dead heroes (Avengers, Fantastic Four) on one Earth and the surviving heroes (Spider-Man, X-Men) on the other Earth. However, there was an anomaly. Hulk was on both Earths, one with Banner and the other without, and this was killing both of them. On one Earth, Hulk was giving off so much radiation that it threatened to destroy the world. On the other Earth, Hulk was losing control and was mostly the Savage Hulk. It wasn’t until the two Hulks ended up on the same Earth that they could fight, merge, and help save the Earth so Franklin Richards could bring all the heroes back home.

Read Next

10 Best Marvel Antiheroes, Ranked

3) Old Man Logan

The Hulk has been a hero in almost every iteration. However, this is not true on alternate Earths. One of his most disturbing versions came on Earth-807128, which was the world where Old Man Logan took place. In this world, the villains finally decided to join forces and beat the heroes, conquering the entire United States and splitting it up between them. Hulk ended up defeating Abomination and took California for himself. He settled down there, married his cousin, She-Hulk, and they had several children, all of whom had horrific mutations. Known as the Hulk Gang, they brutalized anyone still living near them. The Hulk Gang also became cannibals, and that proved to be “Pappy Banner’s” downfall. After Hulk had Logan’s family murdered, the former Wolverine responded by killing Hulk’s children and then coming for Hulk, who then ate him. Of course, Logan healed up and then burst out of Hulk’s stomach, “killing” the monster.

2) World Breaker Hulk

World Breaker Hulk was the most powerful Hulk of them all. This is because he showed up in World War Hulk full of rage and wanted revenge on his former friends who betrayed him. The Illuminati tricked Hulk and sent him into deep space, aiming for a barren planet where Hulk could live out his days in peace. He overshot it and ended up on a populated planet where he became a hero, fell in love, and got married. When a bomb killed his wife and allies, he returned to Earth, blaming his former friends. Hulk then went on to beat every single member of the Illuminati, including Iron Man, Black Bolt, Reed Richards, Doctor Strange, and more. No one could beat him, and when Sentry showed up, Hulk even survived that attack. He was never stronger and only lost because he surrendered at the end, after he proved his point.

1) Maestro

Maestro is the Hulk who conquered the world, or at least part of the world in the United States. In this timeline on Earth-9200, a nuclear war destroyed the world, but Hulk had locked himself away because he had no desire to help protect a world that constantly feared and attacked him. When he came out, he tried to find a place to go, but he saw that the world was no different with the survivors, so he decided to take over. He achieved this and became the ruler of one of the few surviving cities in America. Calling himself Maestro, he then killed several surviving heroes, including Hercules, and he only fell in defeat to a time-traveling version of himself, who tricked him and sent him back to the Gamma explosion that created him to begin with.

The post 7 Times Hulk Turned Into Marvel Comics’ Most Dangerous Villain appeared first on ComicBook.com.

On the cusp of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars arriving in theaters, it’s fun to look back at the Marvel Cinematic Universe and what has led to this moment. While the entire slate that started way back with Iron Man in 2008 has been lauded over the years, there are plenty of threads and characters that have popped up only to disappear. A few of these have been understandable, since they are the major villains of their respective films and TV shows. Others have only gotten one appearance to this point, but could appear again in the future, with some guaranteed to come back at this point.

For the sake of this list, we’re not going to include any of the out-of-universe shenanigans like Marvel’s What If? on Disney+, even if there are parts that could be considered a piece of that MCU tapestry. That could always change, but keep in mind that we’re talking comics, and it is supposed to be fun.

But we’ve seen quite a lot of one-and-done characters to this point, and they’ve helped to establish the power rankings within the MCU. Some have pushed the limits higher, like the Celestials in The Eternals or Howard the Duck in his small scenes in Guardians of the Galaxy. We’ve seen the literal bedrock of the Marvel Universe down to a low-level humanoid alcoholic duck. We won’t be ducking on the low end with this list, but we will start at the bottom and work up to the strongest to date. Scroll down to see the power unfold, ranked, and be sure to disagree in the comments.

10) Man-Thing

Ted Sallis, better known as Man-Thing, was introduced with Disney+’s Werewolf by Night special and even landed on Sakaar at some point, at least according to his bust’s presence among the Champions at the Grandmaster’s arena. He’s a recurring prisoner throughout the MCU, being locked up three times if we count Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Hydra uprising.

It lands at the base of this list because it seems that the MCU’s Man-Thing is almost indestructible. His body’s composition makes him able to slip through any hole, survive most physical attacks, and gives him superhuman strength and stamina. He also lands here due to his ability to detect emotions and his trans-reality powers that allow him to open portals. His sensitivity to emotions can cause him to secrete acid if he detects negative thoughts or emotions, making him a deadly force against evil.

9) Namor

One of the MCU’s first mutants, Namor, was first introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as a villain declaring war on Wakanda to protect his kingdom, Talokan. He demonstrates several powers on screen during his war on the African nation, and they place him firmly in the listing.

Namor can fly, breathe above and below the water, and has super everything. He can also use underwater telepathy, can speak several languages, and has had centuries to master physical combat. He’s strong enough to be a powerful hero or an Avengers-level villain for these reasons.

8) Xu Wenwu

The power of the Ten Rings fuels this mythical villain from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, allowing him superhuman powers and much more as long as he’s wearing them. As a result, Xu Wenwu has existed since at least the Middle Ages and grew to become a mythical figure who conquered most of Asia under the banner of the Ten Rings. The power of his rings is seemingly derived from some of the same powers within the multiverse, to the point that they rival the Infinity Stones in sheer power. Once in Shang-Chi’s possession, we also see that they can defeat the Dweller-in-Darkness with one hit.

Xu Wenwu adds to his power with his physical mastery, knowledge, and experience beyond what most can achieve in one lifetime. As a human who ascends, he earns this spot on the list. With the Ten Rings, Xu Wenwu is possibly the strongest human in the MCU.

7) Cassandra Nova

If Xu Wenwu is the strongest human, a competitor for the strongest mutant is Cassandra Nova. She’s the main villain in Deadpool & Wolverine and is an Omega-level mutant with powers similar to Charles Xavier, her twin brother. With no sense of duty to be benevolent, she has all of his powers with no incentive to hold back. She can regenerate herself with her telekinesis powers and can enter someone’s mind after initiating physical touch with them. She also has Paradox on her side, giving her access to the Time Variance Authority and more power within the Void.

On top of her powerful mutant powers, she has also acquired her gang and several tools from variants she has slaughtered in The Void. This includes a sling ring belonging to Doctor Strange that ended up in the void. This allows her to travel through different realities and take control of the Time Ripper after it is introduced in the climax.

6) Hela

The third and oldest of Odin’s siblings, and the ruler of Hel in Asgardian lore, Hela made quite the impact with her MCU debut. Crushing Mjolnir in her hands, handily beating up Thor after he returns to Asgard. This comes after she’s summoned countless dead warriors, slaughtered the Warriors Three, and unleashed the giant wolf Fenris on Asgard.

Hela was also the first to wield Mjolnir in the MCU, which she lost after being banished. Even Odin was only able to banish her after binding her with his lifeforce. Once he died in Thor: Ragnarok, her imprisonment was undone, and she returned to claim the throne. With Odin dead, there was only one force she couldn’t defeat.

Read Next

7 Most Wasted Villains in the MCU’s History Who Deserve Another Shot

5) Surtur

The mythic lord of Muspelheim was introduced at the opening of Ragnarok, taking Thor prisoner and outlining his powers if the Crown of Black Fire was combined with the Eternal Flame. The fire was left inside Odin’s vault and remained there until Thor and Loki decided to unleash the fire demon and fulfill his role in the Ragnarok myth.

Using the Twilight Sword, Surtur can lay waste to Asgard and destroy the realm, taking Hela’s life in the process. The Hulk almost screws up the plan for Thor by attacking the large fire demon. The last time we see him, he has thrust the sword into the heart of the city as it explodes.

4) The Grandmaster

The ruler of Sakaar in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is seemingly still one of the strongest Elders of the Universe if we get more information in the future. But as it is, the Sakaar ruler is the host of the Contest of the Champions until he is eventually overthrown by his subjects after the events of Thor: Ragnarok. He is also the brother of the Collector, a fellow Elder of the Universe in the comics.

We have to assume he has some powers similar to his comic book counterpart, so that would be enough to land him on the list. He’s nowhere near the power of Galactus, but does have similar immunity to aging and other diseases. He can also apparently “will” the death of another being, while also showing the power to resurrect others despite the severity of their injuries. There isn’t a guarantee this transfers over to the MCU, but we’re considering him part of the cosmic pantheon.

3) Galactus

One of the latest additions comes from The Fantastic Four: First Steps and the introduction of Galactus. Similar to his version from comics, he is fueled by the Power Cosmic and the galactic scales that help to direct his hunger. Galactus must feed on planets for sustenance and acts as a balancing force for the universe.

Galactus can bestow his powers onto any number of heralds, can survive in space without oxygen, and has other tools. He also has incredible strength and is so far the only character to almost hit a character out of the atmosphere and into space.

2) Mistress Death

Introduced in Agatha All Along and played by Aubrey Plaza, this version of Mistress Death is somewhat different from the force of nature from Marvel Comics. Still, this is Death. She is a cosmic entity that holds firm over life and death in the universe. She can kill, resurrect, and tap into the infinite knowledge of the universe. While she’s not involved in the major cosmic happenings and universe-hopping, controlling life and death makes her one of the most powerful.

It should also be noted that the version of Death that portrays Rio Vadal in Agatha All Along is actually a step down in her powers. She only takes on a human form to deal with lesser beings, leading to her desire to kill Billy Maximoff and undo his second life. So she can get so much more powerful.

1) Arishem the Judge

And finally, the strongest of the MCU’s one-time characters is Arishem the Judge. He is the prime Celestial, creator of the Sun, the Deviants, the Eternals, and the one who plants all of the Celestial seeds in their respective planets. Outside of the embodiment of Eternity in Love and Thunder, this is the closest the MCU gets to literal gods. He is also the closest we’ve gotten to the One Above All in the MCU.

Thanos with the full Infinity Gauntlet is likely the strongest being we’ve witnessed during the Infinity Saga, but he’s also not one-and-done. He’s also augmenting his power, whereas the Celestials are just naturally at their power levels and born that way. An anomaly versus a force of nature.

Do you agree with the ranking? Are there any strong one-timers in the MCU that deserved a spot over our choices? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll keep it in mind for the future.

The post 10 Most Powerful Marvel Characters With Only One MCU Appearance, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Batman is quite possibly the most popular fictional character ever. Batman has been fighting evil since 1939, and his adventures have become ingrained into the imagination of multiple generations. Batman has teamed up with just about every hero in the DC Multiverse (and some from other universes as well) and has helped them battle some of the most powerful and dangerous villains in fiction. Batman has trained himself to perfection; he can do things that are physically impossible for anyone but superhumans and has a mind that has allowed him to figure out plans to beat gods and create technology that evened up the odds with his sometime superpowered foes. Batman wins. It’s just what does.

Marvel and DC Comics are having crossovers for the time in ages and of course, Batman is involved. He’s going to have a crossover with Deadpool, and the elderly Batman of The Dark Knight Returns is going to have a battle with Old Man Logan. Batman has taken down pretty much every villain in the DC Multiverse you can imagine, so giving him a whole new universe of villains to battle is going to give readers some amazing fights. While there are plenty of Marvel villains that would give Batman trouble in a fight, these seven Marvel villains wouldn’t. Batman would be too much for them to deal with, his tactics and skills giving him the win.

7) Batroc the Leaper

Batroc the Leaper seems like a silly villain, and truth be told he can be. The French mercenary is known for his corny jokes and French-accented English, and isn’t known for his great victories. However, he’s a ridiculously skilled fighter. Batroc is a master of savate, the French martial art that combines boxing and kicking (yes, I could have just said kickboxing, but that’s not completely accurate). Batroc is known for fighting Captain America and while he hasn’t really won any of those fights, he’s put up a much better fight than most would have thought he would. Batroc vs. Batman is a cool fight. Batman won’t need any of his gadgets or his tactical wherewithal, this would just be the two of them beating on each other until one of them falls. Batroc will definitely gets some good jokes in during the fight, but Batman is a much more skilled fighter, and that’s before we get into how strong Batman is. Batman would win this fight, but he would gain the respect of Batroc in the process, just like Captain America did after fighting Batroc so many times.

6) Taskmaster

Taskmaster is the king of the henchmen. Taskmaster’s claim to fame is his photographic reflexes, which allow him to copy any thing he sees. So, he’s a master shield fighter like Captain America, a master archer like Hawkeye, a master swordsman like Swordsman, and basically anything else you can imagine. Taskmaster has fought against basically everyone out there, so he’s memorized more fighting styles than you can shake a stick at. He carries an amazing arsenal, allowing him to take advantage of everything he’s learned. Taskmaster started a special school for henchmen, training the next generation of cannon fodder, and in recent years has been less of a villain than he was before. Batman and Taskmaster is one of those fights that everyone wants to see. Batman is technically a better fighter than Taskmaster, having devoted himself to training for ages, but Taskmaster is no slouch. This is going to be an amazing fight. Batman will quickly realize that the best way to win this fight is to disarm Taskmaster. This will take a bit, and Batman will definitely take some hits, but eventually, this will come down to a fistfight between the two of them. Taskmaster is good, but Batman has him beat; he’s stronger, faster, and smarter. Taskmaster can copy anything, but Batman’s inventiveness will definitely give him an advantage. The bright side for Taskmaster is that he’d learn some great new fighting techniques.

5) Baron Zemo

Baron Zemo is a second generation supervillain, and he’s easily outclassed his father. Baron Zemo has one of the coolest villain costumes in the Marvel Universe, but he’s more than just an amazing looking villain. He’s a hand to hand combatant that can hang with fighters as skilled as Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, and Sam Wilson. He’s a master tactician, and has led the scrubs of the Masters of Evil to victory over the Avengers. Zemo is smart and dangerous, but Batman has him beat in every way. Zemo’s best hope against Batman is his tactical skill, but even then, that can only get him so far. As good as Zemo is at planning, he’s not as good at improvising. Batman, on the other hand, is a master of improvisation, and that’s going to allow him to take this fight. Anything that Zemo throws at him, he’ll be able to overcome, getting closer and closer to a hand to hand showdown. Once this happens, the fight is over. Zemo is a crafty, skilled fighter, a master of many different weapons. However, he doesn’t have anywhere near the skill that Batman has in battle. Plus, Batman is much stronger than Zemo. Zemo will give it his all, but there’s no way he’s getting out of this fight with a win.

Read Next

These Are the 7 Best Grant Morrison Batman Stories

4) Red Skull

Red Skull is one of the most hated supervillains in the Marvel Universe. Red Skull has been a homicidal maniac since his youth, his first kill being a little girl who had the temerity to be nice to him. Skull’s viciousness caught the attention of Adolf Hitler, and he made the Red Skull into his servant, unleashing him anywhere Hitler wanted to cause the most death. Red Skull met Captain America during this time, and the two became bitter enemies. Red Skull has changed a lot over the years, always surviving to fight Cap again. Red Skull is an expert combatant, and is made all the more dangerous because he’s taken to transferring his mind into clone bodies created from Captain America, meaning that he’s just as fast and strong as Cap. Red Skull isn’t a martial artist, but with Cap’s strength and speed, he doesn’t need to be. However, this isn’t going to be a problem against Batman. Red Skull is almost certainly stronger and faster than Batman, but Batman is a much better fighter. Red Skull is pretty vicious, so he’s definitely going to get some hits in on Batman. However, Batman has shown that he can survive pretty much anything that isn’t a one-hit kill. This would be a hard fight for Batman because of Red Skull’s strength and speed, but he’s the better, smarter fighter. This will allow him to win the fight, taking Red Skull down like the Nazis he loves so much. Batman always wins; Nazis don’t.

3) Bullseye

Bullseye is one of the most dangerous mercenaries in the world. Sure, Batroc and Taskmaster are tough, but neither of them take the glee in their work that Bullseye does. Bullseye can hit anything with anything; he can kill people with a paper clip if he wants to. He’s an amazing fighter, and can take pain at a level that even most superhumans can’t. Bullseye has an adamantium spine, and has had other bones of his replaced with the metal (this was in the days before Marvel established adamantium poisoning was a thing, and we all just sort of accepted that Bullseye wasn’t affected by it because reasons), making him extremely durable. Bullseye fights Daredevil, one of the most OP heroes in the Marvel Universe, and gives him a run for his money and has challenged heroes like Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hawkeye, Punisher, and more. Bullseye and Batman is going to get hardcore. However, while Bullseye’s insanity has helped in battle against other heroes, Batman is more than used to that sort of thing. Batman is stronger and faster than Bullseye, and Bullseye likes to play with his food. Instead of killing Batman quickly, he’s going to want hurt him first. This is going to give Batman the chance to defeat the villain.

2) Kingpin

Kingpin is the most dangerous crime lord on Earth. Kingpin is as ruthless as they come, and has risen through the ranks of the criminal underworld because of that and his intelligence. Kingpin knows when to use the carrot and when to use the stick. He’s basically untouchable by the authorities, which is why superheroes have had to deal with him so much. Kingpin is Daredevil’s greatest enemy, but he’s also challenged basically every other hero residing in New York City. Kingpin doesn’t like to get his hands dirty, but when he does, he’s just as dangerous. He’s able to go toe to toe with super strong heroes, and is a Sumo master. Batman and Kingpin is one of those confrontations that every fan of Marvel and DC wants to see, but we all know how it’s going to go. Kingpin is going to hurt Batman, but Batman is faster and a better fighter. It’s going to be a hard fight, but Batman has the skill to beat Kingpin.

1) Green Goblin

Green Goblin is going to be a tough fight for Batman, but he can handle it. Norman Osborn is an Avengers level villain, an evil genius who can out think his enemies, while surprising them with his tenacity. Green Goblin’s Goblin formula gives him superhuman strength and durability, and his Goblin Glider and pumpkin bombs give him advantages that his physical capabilities don’t. However, Batman is used to fighting enemies who are more powerful than him. Green Goblin’s insanity isn’t going really be an advantage against Batman, either. He fights the Joker all of the time, so he’s used to enemies like Green Goblin. It’s going to be a tough fight for Batman, but he knows how to take advantage of someone as controlled by his anger as Green Goblin is. He’s going to take a beating in this fight, but in the end, Batman is going to do what he does best — win.

What Marvel villains do you think Batman can beat? Any I’m wrong about? Sound off in the comments below.

The post 7 Marvel Villains Batman Can Beat appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel’s journey through the X-Men‘s history results in the formation of a new team… with a surprising leader. It’s an interesting time to be a fan of the X-Men. Marvel continues to move past the Krakoa era, and new threats to the X-Men are always around the corner. Case in point, take Legion, the mutant hive mind that’s separated itself from David Haller and is rewriting history to gain unlimited power. Legion is close to getting everything they’ve ever wanted, but one of the newer X-Men is working to stop them. And they’ve called in some heavy hitters for reinforcements.

WARNING: Spoilers for Giant-Size X-Men #2 below.

The main story in Giant-Size X-Men #2 is by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Adam Kubert, and Laura Martin. It brings the action back to the present day after Legion and Ms. Marvel traveled to historic moments in X-Men history. One of Legion’s last acts is to use Ms. Marvel as a Krakoan gate to enter the White Hot Room. Luckily, Ms. Marvel’s new mutant powers are able to keep Legion out, but that doesn’t mean the villain is giving up. Legion, with they’re vast power, doesn’t believe Ms. Marvel has any hope of defeating them. But she doesn’t have to fight alone.

Ms. Marvel Forms a New Team of X-Men

It seems Ms. Marvel made some friends during her time-traveling adventures. Each Giant-Size issue took Ms. Marvel and Legion to different eras in the X-Men’s history. For example, fans got to revisit Charles Xavier’s second class of X-Men, which included Wolverine, the Age of Apocalypse, the Dark Phoenix Saga, and House of M. Each story featured Ms. Marvel meeting a different member of the X-Men, and she’s brought them all together in the present day to help her stop Legion once and for all.

The members of Ms. Marvel’s X-Men team include Cyclops and Wolverine from Giant-Size X-Men, Rogue from Giant-Size Age of Apocalypse, Jean Grey from Giant-Size Dark Phoenix Saga, and Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat from Giant-Size House of M. Ms. Marvel even got them set up with their current-day costumes. Since Ms. Marvel is the person to bring them all together, she gets to say the X-Men’s legendary battle cry, but with a Kamala Khan twist: “To me… my Marvelous X-Men.”

Read Next

Ms. Marvel’s Giant-Size Adventures May Be Marvel’s Best Idea Yet

The Marvelous X-Men stop Legion together. But in true Kamala Khan fashion, she shows Legion compassion. She knows they just want to reunite with their host, David Haller, and wants to help make that happen. But only if Legion is brave enough to say the real reason why. Legion admits that they just want to go home to the person they love. So Ms. Marvel turns herself into a Krakoan gateway, and with the Phoenix’s help, they allow Legion and David Haller to reunite in an emotional scene.

Even though Ms. Marvel stopped Legion from drastically changing the past, the X-Men still retain their memories of meeting Ms. Marvel in the past. It’s a small gift, and one that will hold a special place in Ms. Marvel’s heart. She also takes these experiences with her back home, where Kamala finally tells her family that she’s a mutant. It’s worth noting that she doesn’t tell them that she’s Ms. Marvel… just that she’s a mutant.

It’s a big deal that out of all the X-Men to come to Ms. Marvel’s aid, including leaders like Cyclops, Kitty Pryde, and Rogue, they all take orders from her. Ms. Marvel may be a new addition to the X-Men, but she has quickly learned what it means to be a mutant and an X-Man.

The post The X-Men Reveal a New Team Lineup (and You’ll Never Guess Who Their Leader Is) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

DC Comics codified what superhero costumes could be. Way back in the Golden Age of comics, superhero costumes shared a common design language, one that would change as the years went on. There are some early gems from this period, but right off the bat, there were already bad costumes. It’s one of those things that you can’t get away from; sometimes, artists want to try something different and it just doesn’t work. Over the years, fans have gotten a lot of great superhero costumes, but they’ve also gotten a lot of terrible ones. Usually, you take the good with the bad, and hope that the next costume is better.

Everyone has a different idea of what makes a bad costume. Sometimes, it’s the colors. Sometimes, it’s the cut. Other times, the costumes are so of their time that they just don’t work at all outside of a specific era. There are loads of bad DC costumes out there (I would honestly say that DC has more bad costume changes than Marvel, but that’s just because most DC costumes are iconic and any change to them doesn’t work for fans), but these ten are the worst.

10) Golden Age Mister Terrific

Mister Terrific II is finally getting a chance to be seen the greater pop culture, and it’s awesome. His costume is very cool, and people might expect that the first Mister Terrific would have a great costume as well. However, this isn’t the case. From the “Fair Play” emblem on his chest to the weird overcoat, it just feels like a costume that is much too busy for being so simple. The red and the green go together, but it’s just a lot of weird design choices that don’t really work together.

9) Silver Age Elongated Man

Elongated Man hasn’t really had a lot of great costumes, but his worst is his first. It’s just a simple purple fully body suit with a domino mask. Sometimes, simple is good, but sometimes it’s not, and this the latter. There’s nothing to remember about it, nothing that really sticks out. Superhero costumes need to grab the reader’s attention, and this costume doesn’t do that at all. It’s so bad and boring, that it’s not even worth insulting.

8) Justice League Europe Power Girl Costume

Power Girl has one of the most eye-catching costumes out there. However, even beyond that, it’s the perfect example of a simple costume that works. After Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC tried to change Power Girl’s costume and that’s where we get this ’80s nightmare of a costume. Because it’s Power Girl, it still had to have a “boob window,” but every other decision they made with the costume was bad. The shoulder pads and tiara scream ’80s, and the blue just doesn’t feel right on Power Girl. Also, changing the color of her cape is a mistake. There’s really no eye-catching colors to the costume, and this is a huge problem with it. It’s a boring, badly designed costume that forgets the timeless aspects of her original costume and makes something that would never work outside of the decade in which it was created.

7) Cosmic Boy Swimsuit Costume

There have been a lot of weird costumes changes, but Cosmic Boy’s swimsuit costume is one of the weirdest. Look, there’s nothing wrong with sexy male costumes; nearly every female costume gets sold by sex so what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, but there’s something about this costume that just doesn’t work. Sure, it shows a lot of the beefcake, but that doesn’t mean that it’s good. In fact, this costume is honestly pretty unsexy when it comes right down to it. It’s hard to even think about why they changed Cosmic Boy’s costume for this. It didn’t even keep any of the design elements or colors from Cosmic Boy’s other costumes. It wouldn’t be much better if it did, but at least it would look like a Cosmic Boy costume. This one doesn’t have any elements that scream Cosmic Boy, and that’s what makes it so bad.

6) Lex Luthor’s Bronze Age Costume

Lex Luthor is DC’s smartest villain, and he’s honestly had some great looks over the years. His green and purple armor is one of the coolest armors in the history of comics, able to fight it out with Superman who at that time could throw planets while looking great. However, in the late Silver Age and Bronze Age, Lex Luthor had this extremely lame costume. First off, it has the disco collar, which ages it immediately. The purple and the green coloration does work, but there’s just something about the way the purple overpowers the green that just doesn’t work. The cylinders all over the costume are meant to be pouches, I guess, but they feel really weird on this costume. The bandoliers at least break up the purple, but they don’t really feel like anything Lex Luthor would wear. Lex was on the right trail with his costume, but it never gets anywhere near the destination.

Read Next

7 DC Comics Moments I’m Still Not Over

5) ’80s Black Canary

There have been very few costume downgrades as huge as the ’80s Black Canary costume. Black Canary’s original costume was basically perfect; even her current costumes use it as a guiding light and they look great. However, the ’80s happened to DC and they were trying their best to “modernize” their characters. Unfortunately, those “modern” costumes just never really worked. Black Canary’s is easily one of the worst of all time. Everything about it is bad. It has the ’80s headband thing that never looked good at all and the shoulder pads. I get that they were trying to give her a symbol of some sort with the shoulder pads/black section, but it’s just very ugly. Black Canary is a tough as nails fighter, but this costume doesn’t get that across at all. It threw away perfection and replaced it with complete and total garbage.

4) Earth-Two Dick Grayson’s Batman Homage Costume

DC’s Earth-Two has a lot of great costumes, and a lot of bad ones. Some of the bad ones stick out and this Dick Grayson costume is one of the worst of the bunch. Now, Earth-Two Dick Grayson had some great costumes, ones that used the red, green, and yellow colors of Robin and but changed the cut and design (the costume he wore in Crisis on Infinite Earths, for example, is awesome). However, this costume is completely terrible. One of the problems with DC back in the day (and still in the modern day at times) was that no one ever got to move up in the ranks. So, when Earth-Two Batman retired, Dick wasn’t going to become the new Batman. Instead, we got his costume, which took some of the design of the Batman costume and some of the design of the Robin costume and just smushed them together. It’s basically a way of saying, “Sorry, Dick, you’re never getting promotion, but we will give you this monstrosity.” Now, there’s a certain campy appeal to the costume (I personally like it; not because it’s good, but because it feels like The Room of superhero costumes), but that doesn’t change that it’s such a bad costume.

3) New 52 Tim Drake

The New 52 is full of terrible costumes, but the Teen Titans easily have the worst. The New 52 was a horrible time for the Teen Titans in general, but there are several especially bad costumes, and Tim Drake’s Red Robin costume is one of the worst. Tim Drake had been having a hard time of things since Damian Wayne debuted; Tim was still popular enough to stay around, but no one seemed to know what to do with him. They gave him the Red Robin name, the name that Kingdom Come Dick Grayson took on, and the Red Robin costume, which was excellent. However, the New 52 had to change everything, and that meant that Tim’s costume had to change as well. This costume kept the red and black colors that were part of the original Red Robin costume, but took away the full head mask for the Robin-style domino mask. From there, they made the design way more busy, with the red section on the chest not looking good at all. There’s the ’90s style bandolier and arm pouches that shouldn’t have still been a thing in the early ’10s. Finally, it took away his cape to give him wings. They seem to have done this to change Tim’s gimmick as a superhero, gliding instead of swinging through the city, but it just doesn’t fit who Tim ever was at all. It’s an all around terrible costume. Tim Drake earned being Robin, but he definitely didn’t deserve this eye sore of a costume.

2) New 52 Superboy

Superboy is one of the biggest failures of the New 52, and that’s saying something. Superboy has changed a lot over the years, but the New 52 tried to do something completely different with the character and fell right on its face. Of course, we all should have known that was going to happen when we saw this terrible costume. Black and red had been Superboy’s colors since he joined the Teen Titans in the ’00s, but this one took away the coolness of t-shirt and jeans Superboy, and went in a direction that didn’t feel right. There’s a grimness to this costume that Superboy costumes never had before, and it just doesn’t work at all. The red piping at least breaks up all that black, but that doesn’t save this costume because the piping design is ugly. It’s a bad design right from the rip, and it’s thankfully been relegated to the dust bin of history along with everything else about New 52 Superman.

1) Azrael’s Batman Costume

The ’90s have been called the decade of extreme, and there are a lot of examples among that in superhero costumes. For exhibit A, I present to you Azrael’s Batman costume. It takes all of the bad designs choices of the ’90s — high tech armor, pouches, blades, and full face masks — and throws them up all over the Batman costume. One of the things that people don’t always realize is that Azrael was meant to be a critique of the grim and gritty heroes of the ’90s, a parody of the trends. His costume is a perfect example of this. It takes everything that was bad about ’90s costumes and put them all together into a terrible package.

What are your least favorite DC costumes? Sound off in the comments below.

The post 10 Worst DC Superhero Costumes Ever appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Spawn Universe continues to grow with the addition of a new hellspawn. One of the most impactful stories in the early days of Spawn involved the murder of a seven-year-old girl by the child serial killer Billy Kincaid. Released in 1992, Spawn #5 featured the first appearance of Billy Kincaid, who would later become a recurring villain throughout the series. But while most Spawn fans have focused on Billy Kincaid, there was another character that went overlooked, who is now getting the spotlight. That character is the little girl that Billy seemingly killed: Sherlee Johnson. Her story is being explored in a Spawn spinoff, and it will include another debuting character.

ComicBook spoke to Todd McFarlane, Daniel Henriques, and Jonathan Glapion about The Curse of Sherlee Johnson #3, with the creators revealing that the issue introduces a new hellspawn. “This is a pretty cool issue, and I say that as somebody who keeps seeing all of Jonathan’s pages,” Henriques said. “So we have a lot of new settings, a lot of new stuff happening because it’s been a lot of running and surviving. Things kind of calm down a little bit. And with that, we start getting into the ecosystem of Hell and new characters start showing up.”

He added, “I’m not going to get into a lot of crazy details about it, but there’s this new hellspawn showing up in Issue #3, that’s one of the coolest splash pages that Jonathan ever drew in my life in all of this. So I’m very excited for people to see that one.”

The Curse of Sherlee Johnson Explores Untold Spawn Story

In an earlier interview, Daniel Henriques discussed what drew him to create this story that expanded on Sherlee Johnson’s fate at the hands of Billy Kincaid. As Henriques pointed out, while Spawn sought justice for Sherlee by killing Billy and dropping his body off with the cops, he never stopped to see if she was still alive.

“We don’t actually know that she’s dead,” he said. “What if she’s not? What has Spawn just done — or what he has NOT done, which is actually save the victim that got him there in the first place.”

Read Next

Todd McFarlane: Brutal Comic Issue Proved Spawn “Is Not Batman” (Exclusive)

He noted that if Sherlee was alive and conscious during Spawn’s confrontation with Kincaid, she would have seen “him beating he crap out of Kincaid, maybe this giant flash of him teleporting away, and that’s it, and she’s left to die alone. I was always like, ‘This has to go somewhere, what happens next?”

To his credit, Todd McFarlane loved the idea and how it also shows Spawn as a hero with flaws that are ripe for exploration.

“The problem with the hero playing judge, jury, and executioner is, there are ramifications for it, right?” he said. “So, we’ve tried to turn over those rocks on the Spawn character. You have to assume most heroes think they’re doing good, but at times you can ask, ‘Did this actually make things worse?’ Because there was no vetting, it was like, ‘Oh, he killed kids, I’m going to kill him,’ and he walks away. He didn’t really dig any deeper than that, he was just being very simplistic in his actions, that now are going to cause complications here.”

The final order cutoff for The Curse of Sherlee Johnson #3 is August 25th, so make sure to pre-order your copy at your local comic book store. Comic book legend Frank Miller is also providing a variant cover. Let us know your thoughts on the book and the entire Spawn Universe in the comments below!

The post Spawn Spinoff Series Curse of Sherlee Johnson Introduces an All-New Hellspawn (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

There have been several variations of the Hulk over the years, but his most terrifying form yet is about to debut. Hulk is the heroic monster of the Marvel Universe, the gamma-radiated giant that also serves as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on the Avengers. After a somewhat recent turn at being Immortal, Hulk returned to his Incredible roots under the creative team of writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson and artist Nic Klein. They introduced horror elements to The Incredible Hulk, and the next phase of the book continues this path, but increases the horror to a whole new level of fear.

The next chapter of Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein’s Hulk saga begins in November’s Infernal Hulk #1. Marvel calls this “a monstrous new chapter following their bold run that debuts the most terrifying Hulk in comic book history!” Those are pretty bold words considering all the versions of Hulk there have been over the years, including the Immortal Hulk, Joe-Fix-It, Gladiator Hulk from Planet Hulk, Maestro, and many more. Nic Klein’s cover of Infernal Hulk #1 and a character design sheet reveal a massive grey Hulk that appears to have a crack running down his face through his chest, with the crack glowing green with gamma.

Infernal Hulk Will Have Massive Repercussions for the Marvel Universe

Infernal Hulk picks up after Hulk’s epic rematch with the Eldest, the powerful firstborn of the Mother of Horrors, in October’s Incredible Hulk #30. The Eldest’s long-seeded plan comes to fruition as it uses the power of the Strongest There Is to usher in a new Age of Monsters, unleashing a dark destiny for the entire Marvel Universe and declaring war for its very soul.

The promotional piece by Nic Klein focuses on the crack that goes down Hulk’s body. When it’s a close-up shot of the crack, it looks like a flowing river of gamma. But when you pull the camera back, we now know it’s the Infernal Hulk’s body. This new series continues to push the boundaries of horror storytelling, and it’s a welcome change that helps the book stand apart from Immortal Hulk and Incredible Hulk.

“I’ve been promising Hulk fans the biggest, boldest status quo change in Hulk’s history, and that time is finally here,” Johnson said. “The next few issues of Incredible Hulk give fans all the answers they’ve been waiting for about Eldest and the Mother of Horrors, and INFERNAL HULK is the beginning of a terrifying new normal, not just for the Hulk series but for the entire Marvel Universe.”

Read Next

Hulk’s 7 Greatest Battles Against Other Superheroes

“Working on Hulk whether it be ‘Incredible’ and now ‘Infernal’ with Phillip has been a dream,” Klein said. “Phillip is not only an amazing world builder and craftsman who pours so much heart into this book, but he has also become a great friend and fantastic collaborator throughout this. INFERNAL HULK is where the journey was always going to go all along, and I’m excited to see reader’s reactions to it. I know I’m putting a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into it, as always.”

Johnson also elaborated on what readers can expect out of this new era. “There are monsters way worse and more powerful than anything we’ve seen so far, bigger and stronger than Hulk with origins that go back to the foundations of the Earth. It’s time to take this story to the next level, and no corner of the Marvel Universe will be left untouched before the end.”

INFERNAL HULK #1

• Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
• Art and Cover by NIC KLEIN
• Virgin Variant Cover by NIC KLEIN
• Promo Variant Cover by NIC KLEIN
• On Sale 11/26
• INCREDIBLE…IMMORTAL…INFERNAL!
• The evil known as Eldest has literally torn Bruce Banner and the Hulk apart and taken the Hulk’s body as their own. This new, unstoppable Infernal Hulk is ten times the monster that everyone always feared Hulk would be. Their diabolical plan is to plunge the world back into ancient horrors by transforming our heroes into nightmarish beasts! Meanwhile, the indomitable Bruce Banner, though powerless, will stop at nothing to thwart their evil schemes!

Infernal Hulk #1 goes on sale Wednesday, November 26th. Let us know your thoughts on this new Hulk form in the comments below!

The post Marvel Reveals the Hulk’s Terrifying New Form (and It’s Extremely Infernal) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Batman is one of the world’s oldest and greatest superheroes, and has starred in more books than a lot of heroes put together. He’s been one of DC’s headliners for the vast majority of his existence, and in that sense, has been on an awful lot of comic book covers. Some of the greatest, most creative, and most dynamic covers of all time have come from Batman comics, so today we’re going to look at ten of the ones that have stuck with us the most from the first time we saw them. Believe me when I say that narrowing this list down to ten was beyond difficult, as there could easily be fifty plus entities, so don’t be surprised if covers that definitely deserve to be here unfortunately aren’t present. There are thousands to choose from, so this list contains a broad range of covers that are iconic, creative, and just plain awesome to look at to cover all our bases (pun always intended). With that established, let’s dive right into ten of Batman’s most memorable covers of all time.

10) Detective Comics #367 – by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson

While this is probably the least iconic of all the covers here, this is probably the most unique of them, maybe of all of Batman’s covers. I mean, how many other comic books can you name that added a jigsaw puzzle? I’ve always been a big fan of when comic books make use of the fact that they’re personal magazines meant for one person and talk directly to that reader. Nowadays there are plenty of characters that break the fourth wall, but especially back then this type of behavior was very rare and basically delegated to a character winking at the reader at the close of a story. In contrast, the authors would directly talk to the reader a lot more, and this is one of the funnest ways they’ve ever done that. This cover is fun and truly unlike anything else, and we have to appreciate the courage to ask “How weird can we get?”

9) Death in the Family TPB – by Jim Aparo

While the original “Death in the Family” storyline had incredible covers in its own right, the art chosen for the trade paperback is truly haunting. The image of Batman holding the broken, mangled form of Robin, knowing that he failed to save the young man who relied so much on him, hits you right in the heart every time. This is Batman at his most defeated, and you can see the indescribable grief etched onto his face even through the shadows covering him. The black space all around them only makes the tragic scene stand out all the more, and provides a great contrast and sense of fading color from Robin’s bright costume, to Batman, to the darkness. It’s sadness personified, and is one of the best uses of negative space of all the covers of all time.

8) Legends of the Dark Knight #50 – by Brian Bolland and Rachel Birkett

No Batman cover list could be complete without art from Brian Bolland, and this one was massively competing against the cover for The Killing Joke. I wound up picking this one because this one features the classic Joker and Jokerized cat smiles, which are equal parts unnerving and funny. It’s the detail that really elevates this cover art. Between every line on the Joker’s face and inhumanly large smile to the white makeup plastered across the cat, this cover seems more like a picture than a piece of art, which is the classic form for Bollan’s Joker covers. The extreme detail in the foreground only makes the visage of Batman in the background, a shade of pure shadow with glowing white eyes, stand out even more, like he’s a ghost here to rain down vengeance on the Clown Prince of Crime. 

7) Detective Comics #38 – by Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson

We have to include at least one of the phenomenal character debut covers in this list, and what better one to bring in than the introduction of the Boy Wonder? Like most classic covers, this one has been referenced and paid homage to dozens of times, and it’s easy to see why. The image of Robin bursting through the ring simply explodes with energy, and the smile on Batman’s face says that he is so proud to be able to introduce the young crime fighter. It’s great to see one of the very first takes on both Batman and Robin’s costumes, and this cover especially gives us details that you don’t normally see in the pages, which were far less detailed back in the day. The too-large belt on Robin perfectly captures that he’s supposed to be such a young man, and personally I really love the blue on Batman’s utility belt. I think the imperfections on this cover only add to the greatness, like how the background color bleeds into Batman’s face. It’s a great reminder that you don’t have to be perfect to be iconic.

6) Batman #423 – by Todd McFarlane

This era of Batman saw massive exaggerations taken with his profile, especially with the flow and shape of his cape. Nobody made use of this sheer physics-breaking style better than Todd McFarlane, shown so masterfully with Batman and the woman he’s holding. The woman has entirely normal proportions, but everything else about this cover bends reality. The sky is blood red in contrast to the bright yellow sun, with bats fluttering all around the pair like a storm. Batman himself looks like a creature of nightmare, with his cape resembling sharp, cutting limbs that stretch out without bones, but you can see the single human hand wrapped around the woman, protecting and comforting her. This depiction of Batman is at once a monster that belongs in Spawn and a human man offering comfort. It’s fantastical and deeply human, and is downright awesome to look at.

Read Next

9 Heroes Who Could Be the Next Batman, Ranked

5) Batman #244 – by Neal Adams

Neal Adams is one of the most influential and important artists to ever draw the Dark Knight, playing a huge part in defining his modern style. This cover is one of his greatest hits, which makes it a diamond among chunks of gold, but still. This image is so full of life and action. Batman’s fallen form is massive as it stretches out to the reader, while Ra’s al Ghul looms like a specter of death, which he might be, considering the blade that is stuck in the ground beside Batman and the fact that the immortal villain clutches his costume in his hands. A huge amount of detail is also paid to depicting Batman’s shirtless form, to the point where you can literally count the hairs on his chest, and you have to respect the dedication it took to craft that. This art promises a duel that can reach intensity like nothing else, and the desert ambiance is spectacular in setting the mood.

4) Batman #9 – by Fred Ray and Jerry Robinson

This is easily one of the most referenced Batman covers of all time, and Batman has a lot of referenced covers. This one is very simple, just having Batman and Robin illuminated in a spotlight against a dark wall, but that’s all it needs. Not only is this cover fantastic at creating drama on its own between the dynamic poses of the Dynamic Duo and the shadows, but it provided the perfect template for plenty of other covers to look back and emulate. So many covers for Batman alone recreate this iconic pose, but plenty of other heroes have tossed their hats in this ring too, posing with their partners against a black backdrop while they’re under siege by the law. It’s simple but perfect, and there’s really not much else to say.

3) Detective Comics #31- by Bob Kane

Even to this day, this comic cover is one of the coolest ones that’s ever been put to print. The villain dragging the captive up to the mist-covered castle already creates this oppressive, horrific atmosphere, which is brought up to eleven by the visage of Batman overseeing it all. Batman is a massive, imposing figure that literally looks down upon the villain with nothing but contempt and judgement on his face, promising to deliver justice above all else. The ears on his cowl stretch up so high that they overtake the lettering of the title, which is such a cool visual piece. It’s always awesome when cover artists play around with the title, and to see this one done so early in Batman’s career is really cool. This is a masterclass in building tension with just a cover, and is always awesome to look at.

2) Batman #251 – by Neal Adams

I said Neal Adams is one of Batman’s most important artists, and this cover more than proves it all on its own. The Joker returns to fight Batman once again, and this art gives him all the terrifying charisma such an event deserves. The Joker is a giant that looms over Gotham City, cackling maniacally as he traps the Caped Crusader against the massive ace of spades, and the terror Batman feels is so palpably shown through his face and body language. This whole cover is pure comic book delight, and I’ve seen more posters and wall-ornaments made of this one image than I have of any other comic book cover. This cover is a gold standard that beautifully captures so much so perfectly, from the dread the Joker causes to the flow of Batman’s costume. One of the best Batman covers of all time with ease.

1) Dark Knight Returns #1 – by Frank Miller

The most memorable Batman cover can only come from one of the most memorable and important Batman comics of all time. It’s so simple, but does so much with so little. That dark silhouette of Batman is illuminated by the crashing of lightning behind him, which lights up the sky but only serves to highlight the Dark Knight’s shadow. The pose he strikes is incredibly dynamic and screams power, both showing off Batman’s larger frame and the fact that being a bit bigger will never slow him down. Batman is leaping boldly through the dark and the elements into the fight of his life in Gotham City below, and he does so with all the acrobatic joy only a character like Batman can have. This cover is pure iconicness from the ground up, and left an impact on all of us when we first saw it. It says that this is going to be a Batman adventure like no other, and the book behind the cover more than delivers.

So there are ten of the most memorable Batman covers of all time. Like I said at the start, this is far, far from a comprehensive list, and I could easily include over fifty more entries on this list before I start to have to dig to find ones that have earned a place here. From The Killing Joke to Batman #404 to Detective Comics #457 and many more, there are hundreds of incredible covers for Batman’s many comics, and they all deserve their praise. You should never judge a book by its cover, but covers are often what sells someone on a comic, and make a beautiful argument for all of the action inside the pages. Covers are an essential and often overlooked part of comic book history, and we should give them all the dues they are owed. Which Batman covers would you include on this list? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 10 Most Memorable Batman Covers appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In all of Marvel Comics, few characters have grappled with the complexities of humanity quite like The Vision. A synthezoid forged from vibranium and programmed with artifical intelligence, Vision has long been the embodiment of pure logic; an android whose every action and thought is dictated by cold, hard reason and numbers. Yet, in the pages of The Vision and the Scarlet Witch #3, written by Steve Orlando with art by Jacopo Camagni and Lorenzo Tammetta, Vision’s steadfast dedication to logic is shattered by the most powerful and illogical force of all: love. Orlando crafts a poignant and gut-wrenching tale of a father’s grief and guilt and a love that transcends the boundaries of life and death.

Vision, while evolving through the pages of the comcis, comes to the heartbreaking realization that sometimes, even for a being of pure reason, the heart has the final say.

A Snthezoid Father’s Heart Is Not Made of Steel When Faced With a Second Chance

Upon entering Graverealm, the domain of the menacing Grim Reaper who “killed” Vision in issue #1 (only for Wanda to quickly revive as White Vision), Vision and Wanda are immediately confronted with the impossible. Standing before them is Vision’s son, Vin, the synthezoid boy Vision created to be part of his ideal family in Vision (2015), written by Tom King with art by Gabriel Hernandez Walta. During that seminal work, Vision longed for a “normal” life and family, creating a synthezoid family consisting of a wife (Virginia), and twin teenage children – Vivian (Viv) and Vin. Vision’s attempt at created a family goes terribly awry, resulting in Virginia and Vin’s deaths by the series’ end. Since that pivitol arc, Vision has carried the scars that his own creation led to, now moving forward with his life with only Viv as his family.

For Vision, the sight of his son is a direct contradiction to everything he knows to be true. Logic dictates that Vin is gone forever, a memory preserved in data but physically erased from existence. Yet, here he is, a living, breathing (though still very much dead) paradox in the underworld. This emotional shock immediately short-circuits Vision’s logical framework. He isn’t calculating probabilities or analyzing the physics of the Graverealm; he is simply a father, desperate for a second chance. His analytical mind, his most defining trait, is completely sidelined by the raw, unadulterated need to be with his son again, to hold him and tell him he loves him. He becomes a paradox himself—a synthezoid whose emotions are more human than any man’s. He readily abandons his mission to defeat the Grim Reaper and instead, wants to dedicates every moment to enjoying this stolen time with his son, consequences be damned. Wanda, however, realizes that Vin is just one of the Grim Reaper’s tools, reanimated to cause Vision pain and confusion. But Wanda is also a mother who lost her children and understands Vision’s visceral need to be with his son again.

Read Next

Vision and Scarlet Witch Make a Shocking Return to WandaVision (And We’re Sad All Over Again)

This sudden shift from Vision’s decades-known stoic reason to deep and overpowering emotion is not just a temporary lapse; it is the ultimate fulfillment of Vision’s lifelong quest to understand humanity. For years, he has processed and analyzed human behavior, but here, he is no longer an observer. He is a participant. The grief and love he feels for Vin are irrational, incalculable, and completely real. This single moment of pure, illogical feeling (for an android) is a more significant testament to Vision’s humanity than any logical conclusion he could ever reach with binary calcuations. His programming has been irrevocably altered not by a virus or a system error, but by the overwhelming power of a father’s love.

A Father’s Sacrifice Is a Testament to the Powerful, Illogical Nature of Love

Vision’s newfound emotionality is not just a temporary lapse; it is a fundamental shift in his character. He is driven by a powerful desire to protect and stay with his son, even if it means risking his own existence with whatever the Grim Reaper has in store for him. He argues with Wanda in a way he has rarely shown before, not because of a strategic necessity, but because he simply wants to stay with his dead child. The logical decision would be to prioritize the mission, to figure out the Grim Reaper’s ultimate goal and escape the Graverealm, but Vision’s heart won’t allow it. He understands the fragile, temporary nature of this reunion and is well-aware that Vin’s reanimation is somehow a trap. He knows that once they leave Graverealm, Vin will be gone forever. This understanding, rather than compelling him to further investigate his and Wanda’s circumstances, makes him cling to every single moment. He chooses to prolong his an Vin’s time together, even if it means great peril to himself and Wanda.

The Vision and the Scarlet Witch #3 powerfully illustrates that love, for Vision, is not a variable to be calculated or a weakness to be overcome. It is the very essence of his being, the one force that can truly overpower his logical mind. In the end, he is faced with the heartbreaking reality of knowing that by continuing with the mission he and Wanda are on, he will have to say goodbye to Vin again sooner rather than later. Continuing on through Graverealm and playing the Grim Reaper’s twisted games is a decision born not of logic, but of love—the ultimate proof of his humanity. The final act of going forward and ultimately letting go is not a simple, logical deduction; it is a conscious, agonizing decision to relinquish his deepest desire for the greater good, for the safety of his ex-wife and the return to the land of the living. He must consciously choose to re-engage with the world where his son is gone, a choice that confirms his identity not as a perfect machine, but as a flawed, grieving, and deeply human father.

The post Only One Thing Could Overpower Vision’s Logic (And It’s Heartbreaking) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The deadliest team of Avengers to ever exist is going to quickly find out that one of them is a traitor. The newest addition to the roster of Avengers comics was originally titled New Thunderbolts*, meant to piggyback on the theatrical release of Thunderbolts*. Just like the asterisk in Thunderbolts* was meant to hide the team’s official name of New Avengers, the New Thunderbolts* comic was really a stealth New Avengers series. But instead of a squeaky-clean lineup featuring Captain America, Thor, or Captain Marvel, this is a team full of killers. And one of them is destined to turn their backs on the New Avengers.

New Avengers #6 by writer Sam Humphries and artist Ton Lima begins a new story arc that will expose one of its members as a traitor. The Winter Soldier, Black Widow, Namor, Clea, Carnage, and Wolverine (Laura Kinney) are six of the deadliest loners in the Marvel Universe. After their brutal first mission against the Killuminati, one of these six characters will turn their back on the others. With a lineup of questionable heroes, it will be hard for readers to figure out who the traitor really is. If that wasn’t bad enough, this traitor is the person responsible for creating the Killuminati, twisted clones of the original Illuminati.

Who Is the Traitor in the New Avengers?

New Avengers is a spiritual successor to Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch’s decade-defining New Avengers run. It also comes after Winter Soldier attempted to rebuild the Thunderbolts, which had disastrous results in a One World Under Doom tie-in series. The first mission for the New Avengers pits them against the Killuminati. “In the aftermath of their first outing, this volatile group forges a mighty alliance, but tensions are higher than ever—especially after they learn one among them is the individual responsible for the Killuminati’s creation!” the Marvel press release reads.

“I’ve fallen in love with these characters and this team so much, and I thought, hey, let’s mercilessly tear them apart from the inside!” Humphries said about the second arc. “The New Avengers and the Killuminati are on a collision course, but secrets are plaguing both teams. There’s only one person with the big picture. Which side are they on?

“Couldn’t be more thrilled to be collaborating with Ton Lima on this arc,” Humphries continued. “His artwork is absolutely sizzling right off the page.”

Read Next

The MCU’s New Avengers Are Nothing Like the Comic Books

NEW AVENGERS #6

• Written by SAM HUMPHRIES
• Art by TON LIMA
• Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
• Variant Cover by PACO MEDINA
• On Sale 11/12
• WHO IS THE TRAITOR?
• A catastrophic piece of intel reveals that the mastermind behind the creation of the Killuminati is a member of the New Avengers! As the team musters to stop Iron Apex from creating more Illuminati doubles, paranoia threatens to tear them apart. Can this unstable team hope to survive a traitor in their midst?

It’s not easy to decide which hero is the most likely traitor. We can go ahead and cross off Black Widow and Winter Soldier, since they’re the ones that formed the team. Namor was recently incarcerated for his terrorist acts in Jason Aaron’s Avengers run. Clea is the Sorcerer Supreme of the Dark Dimension, and Carnage is a serial killer, even if he has Eddie Brock as a host.

New Avengers #6 goes on sale November 12th. Let us know who you think is the traitor in the comments below!

The post A Deadly New Avengers Team Already Has a Traitor Among Them (but Who Is It?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Kryptonians are some of the most powerful beings in all of DC. Just one of them has the capability to alter the course of an intergalactic battle, or protect a planet like nobody else can. Superman is the world’s greatest hero for a reason, after all. One of its other greatest defenders is Supergirl, and she recently fought hard to prove she was who she said she was in her old home of Midvale. The end of that adventure directly led into the introduction of a brand new Kryptonian superhero, and while that is an incredible addition to the forces of good on Earth, the catch is that she is the supervillain that Supergirl spent the entire last arc taking down. Lesla-Lar is Luminary, and she is the world’s newest hero, for better or worse.

Luminary, the Probationary Hero

After the chaos she caused in Midvale, Lesla was taken back to the Bottle City of Kandor to be judged for her crimes. Supergirl, deemed a bad influence on Lesla, was tried as well. Supergirl was sentenced to community service that she already did, but Lesla was to be locked away for years. Instead, Supergirl argued for Lesla to serve her sentence making up for her mistakes. She offered to serve as Lesla’s probation officer as she did hero work on Earth, and the Science Council agreed. The two Kryptonian girls headed back to Earth, and Lesla decided on a brand new identity to fight alongside her idol and former-rival; Luminary.

Supergirl and Luminary flew around Midvale, saving buses and rescuing people from fires, but neither woman was comfortable with the arrangement. Kara wondered if she could be a proper mentor to someone, especially someone who had no idea how to be a hero. She remembered how strict Superman was with her, and sees herself doing the same overbearing teacher she hated when she was younger. Lesla, meanwhile, believes that she’s totally unworthy of working alongside the legendary Supergirl, especially after everything she’s done. Supergirl stuck her neck out for her when she had been given every reason not to, and as much as Lesla wanted to repay the kindness, she was sure she was too incompetent or worthless. Both women felt they were going to fail the person that was supposed to rely on them, but they decided to put that fear behind them when Lena Luthor suggested that they all attend a party at Midvale’s local goth club.

Read Next

Supergirl’s Introduction to DC Comics Was Completely Bonkers

Dancing With Danger

The three women gave themselves some goth makeovers and headed over to the dance, hoping to give Lesla some perspective on humanity and show Kara a new side to the town she thought was boring to its core. They tried to get into the music, but Lesla saw the local douchebag Howard harassing Luna Lustrum, yet another alliterative L-name for the cast. Lesla scared the drunk off, and tried to make a new friend in Luna. Kara, meanwhile, immediately wound up falling for a strangely familiar looking man on the dance floor, but trouble brewed before she could learn his name. Howard tried to hit Lesla for roughly throwing him off of Luna earlier, and to compensate for her ability to turn his head into playdoh, she covered her fist with some thought activated super-substance she snuck out of Kandor. It cushioned her punch, but unfortunately the goop got into Howard’s mouth, and immediately reacted to his drunk rage, transforming him into the monster called Decay.

Supergirl and Luminary battled him while Lesla apologized for already breaking her probation by keeping some of her super-substance. Decay kept absorbing people, and Luminary realized that the goop was responding both to Howard’s anger and the civilian’s fear, which only made him more unstable. Kara decided to let herself be absorbed to counteract their negative emotions with her positive ones, and with some extra assistance from Luminary’s belief in the Girl of Steel, Supergirl rescues everyone from Decay. In the end, Luna becomes Lesla’s friend and is discovered to have psionic powers. Unbeknownst to everyone, they failed to gather all of the super-substance, and a little cat swallowed a little bit. This comic reads like a Silver Age slice of life, and frankly, I love it for what it is. Let’s just hope Lesla’s hero arc lasts!

Supergirl #4 is on sale now!

The post DC’s Got a Brand New Kryptonian Superhero (But There’s a Catch) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A legendary cover from the DC Comics archive has been recreated with a hilarious twist. The two largest comic book publishers, DC Comics and Marvel Comics, are collaborating to bring an anticipated crossover featuring their legendary roster of heroes and villains. The headliners will be Batman and Deadpool in two separate one-shots, though there will be short stories featuring other major team-ups across publishers. Covers for Batman/Deadpool #1 by some of the biggest names in comics pair the fan-favorite characters together. Still, one in particular goes a step further by having the Dark Knight and Merc With a Mouth homage an unforgettable DC event.

A cover for Batman/Deadpool #1 by Ryan Sook is a homage to Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 by Marv Wolfman and George Perez. The legendary cover from 1985 originally had Superman holding Supergirl’s bloody body as tears stream down the Man of Steel’s face. The issue famously sees Supergirl sacrifice herself to stop the evil Anti-Monitor from destroying the multiverse. Crisis on Infinite Earths was DC’s first big event series that helped to streamline its ever-growing multiverse. The success of Crisis on Infinite Earths gave DC the confidence to continue doing more events, with the story arc being adapted on the small screen in The CW’s Arrowverse and an animated movie.

Batman/Deadpool #1 Cover Leaves Batman Smiling Over Deadpool’s Death

The Batman/Deadpool #1 cover has Batman holding Deadpool’s body, but instead of grieving, Batman is uncharacteristically smiling, something that fans have hardly ever seen him do before. Batman isn’t the only hero smiling, as other Marvel and DC heroes stand in the background cheering Deadpool’s death.

This cover is an example of the type of comedy that can happen when characters like Deadpool and Batman are paired together. Batman is much more straight-laced compared to the wisecracking Deadpool, so to see Batman with a big grin on his face is something you don’t see every day. It also goes in line with the comedic tone that DC is taking with Batman/Deadpool #1. The main story by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora is described as “a reality-bending saga that’s equal parts cosmic horror, slapstick noir, and metafictional therapy session. It’s the kind of comic book that knows it’s a comic book, revels in being a comic book, weaponizes its comic bookiness—and dares you to keep reading anyway!”

Read Next

First Look at Deadpool and Batman Crossover Will Make Hollywood Jealous

This isn’t the first cover from the Batman and Deadpool team-up to honor a comic from the past. Ryan Stegman’s Homage Variant Cover for Marvel’s Deadpool/Batman #1 reimagines Todd McFarlane’s iconic Incredible Hulk #340 cover with Deadpool and Batman in the place of Wolverine and Hulk.

The other team-ups fans can look forward to in Batman/Deadpool #1 include Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, and Joshua Williamson joining forces with Hayden Sherman to conjure a spellbinding Constantine meets Doctor Strange saga. Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo deliver a kinetic, emotionally-charged encounter between Nightwing (Dick Grayson) and Wolverine (Laura Kinney), where acrobatics meet adamantium in a story that cuts deep. Mariko Tamaki and Amanda Conner unleash chaos and charisma in a riotous Harley Quinn vs. Hulk showdown, while G. Willow Wilson and Denys Cowan electrify the page with a high-voltage tale starring Static and Ms. Marvel.

Batman/Deadpool #1 goes on sale Wednesday, November 19th. Let us know your thoughts on the crossover in the comments below!

The post Batman & Deadpool Recreate a Beloved Crisis on Infinite Earths Cover in Hilarious Fashion appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Predator‘s crossover with the Marvel Universe sets its sights on the home of the X-Men. One of the many positive things to come out of Disney acquiring 20th Century Fox is that it allows Marvel Comics to release comics featuring 20th Century assets like Predator and Alien. We’ve seen Predator paired with several Marvel heroes like Wolverine, Black Panther, and Spider-Man, but the Yautja are now going big-game hunting in Predator Kills the Marvel Universe. The first issue is in stores now, and things aren’t looking good for our Marvel heroes. The next stage of the Predator assault brings the action to the X-Mansion.

ComicBook has the exclusive first look at Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #2 by Benjamin Percy and Marcelo Ferreira. After facing the Guardians of the Galaxy and Fantastic Four in space, the Yautja turn their attention to an Earth attack. They already know that in order to secure a victory, they’ll have to take out the likes of the X-Men and Avengers. The Predators decide to focus on the X-Men first, who are in the middle of a Danger Room session with the attack begins.

Predator Looks to Wipe Out the X-Men at the X-Mansion

X-Men founder Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto are playing a quiet game of chess when Xavier receives a psychic alert. The message he gets is so overwhelming that Xavier buckles and falls out of his wheelchair. We see images of the Fantastic Four in Xavier’s mind, and Marvel’s First Family appears to be in peril. Next, we get a glimpse outside the X-Mansion, where the Yautja assault is taking place. The Predators descend from their ships in the dead of night as rain falls from the sky.

Read Next

The Predator Franchise Is Quickly Becoming Everything Marvel and DC Want to Be

Inside the X-Mansion, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Beast, and Storm are in the middle of a Danger Room session against the evil robotic mutant-hunting Sentinels. The only problem is that a Predator isn’t part of the Danger Room programming, and Cyclops catches one trying to sneak up on him from behind as the first look at Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #2 ends.

“Over the past few years, I’ve been having the time of my life writing the Predator Vs. series,” Percy told IGN. “The Yautja have hunted Wolverine across the decades. They’ve battled Black Panther and plundered Wakanda of its vibranium. And they’ve faced off against Spider-Man and Kraven during a blackout heatwave in New York. These stories have been patiently building toward something epic. Their interconnectedness will be revealed in this explosive, blood-drenched, five-part story.”

“That title? It’s not misdirection,” he continued. “This one’s gonna hurt. Your favorite heroes and villains will fall — even as others rise up against this extinction-level event. The Predator King is here — the Yautja are armed with vibranium — and Earth is now a hunting preserve.”

The post X-Men Battle a Yautja Army in Predator Kills the Marvel Universe First Look (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Scarlet Witch is inching closer to another heel turn. To the surprise of many WandaVision fans, Marvel Studios turned Scarlet Witch into a villain in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This villainous turn was caused by her reading of the Darkhold, also called the Book of the Damned. Meanwhile, in the comics, Scarlet Witch is currently the human host of the Darkhold, but she’s been able to keep its evil influences at bay. But when Vision and Scarlet Witch are pitted against the villain that has caused them so much grief and loss over the years, the temptation of the Darkhold comes calling.

ComicBook has the exclusive preview of The Vision & The Scarlet Witch #4 by Steve Orlando, Jacopo Camagni, Ruth Redmond, and VC’s Travis Lanham. We find Vision and Scarlet Witch in Graverealm, a dimension that the Grim Reaper commands. He’s planted “Death’s Doors” all across the globe, dangling the carrot that people can reunite with their deceased loved ones. However, once the living step through the Death’s Doors, they are quickly killed. Last issue saw Vision reunite with his dead son, Vin, who had the heroes perform a series of tasks that ultimately brought them closer together. Now, with those out the way, Grim Reaper returns to confront them.

Scarlet Witch Uses Her Living Darkhold Powers Against Grim Reaper

Grim Reaper begins taunting Vision and Scarlet Witch, trying to make them angry and unfocused. This plan seems to be working on Vision, who was saved from the brink of death by Scarlet Witch’s chaos magic. The result transformed Vision into a new white form who is even more in touch with his emotions. Vision uses this anger to lash out at Grim Reaper, but Scarlet Witch holds him back.

Not one to let Grim Reaper get the upper hand, Scarlet Witch begins harnessing the Darkhold to torture Grim Reaper with all of the lives he wasted and that never were. We see images of Grim Reaper as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., an ionic superstar, and a firefighter… all echoes of the good paths he could have taken, that Grim Reaper only looks at as nightmares. The preview of The Vision & The Scarlet Witch #4 ends with Grim Reaper looking legitimately terrified at the ghosts of himself. Meanwhile, Scarlet Witch’s head starts to form devilish horns, most likely from the Darkhold influence inside her.

“BEHIND DEATH’S DOORS! It’s a spellbinding showdown in GRAVEREALM as the Grim Reaper prepares his final trap for Vision and Wanda!” the description of The Vision & The Scarlet Witch #4 reads. “Can they make it out alive even after they encounter the Reaper’s TRUE benefactor? After all, you can’t cheat Death…”

The Vision & The Scarlet Witch #4 goes on sale Wednesday, August 20th. Let us know your thoughts on the preview in the comments below!

The post Vision & Scarlet Witch Harness the Dark Magic That Turned Wanda Into an MCU Villain (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

What to do with a problem like Donna Troy? The story behind the original Wonder Girl’s creation is notorious among comic book fans, coming about because of a misunderstanding among the editorial staff. For a long time, DC writers and editors have attempted to make sense of Donna’s confusing backstory. Yet every attempt to fix Donna only made things worse in the long term. The issue stems from how little DC Comics values in keeping the Wonder Woman and Teen Titans mythologies in check through the various retcons. However, one of the best comic book creators in the business has finally given Donna the respect she rightfully deserves.

Artist and writer Phil Jimenez rocked the comic book industry by illustrating the first issue of Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, delivering one of the all-time best Wonder Woman comics. Jimenez has not hidden his love for Donna Troy and set out to give the character the definitive origin that reconciles the multiple conflicting origins within the pages of Titans Annual #1 (2025). The comic is a love letter to Donna Troy as a character, and rather than playing into the character’s convoluted past, the story instead simplifies everything.

It All Started Because Wonder Woman Used Time Travel

The confusion began when the DC editors and writers decided to add Wonder Girl to the company’s then-newest teen superhero team, the Teen Titans. The problem is that there was no Wonder Girl. It turns out the creators got their wires crossed with some Wonder Woman stories, believing a Wonder Girl character already existed. However, it turns out those Wonder Woman comics had Diana teaming with past versions of herself, including a teenage version of herself named Wonder Girl, who was not a separate character. Nonetheless, the Wonder Girl character, who appeared alongside the Titans in The Brave and the Bold, was based on the teen Diana design from the Wonder Woman comics. Eventually, DC would recognize its mistake, and writer Marv Wolfman would construct a new origin for this new Wonder Girl.

Donna Troy’s origin by Wolfman was simple, establishing Donna as an infant orphan saved from a fire by Wonder Woman, who then delivered her to Paradise Island to be adopted by Hippolyta. It was a basic yet effective origin story that worked fine as is. Unfortunately, Donna’s backstory got increasingly complicated in the aftermath of Crisis on Infinite Earths. The event completely changed Wonder Woman’s history, with the hero only making her presence known to the world in DC Comics’ present time. Because Diana no longer had a pre-established history with the outside world after Crisis on Infinite Earths, Donna’s backstory no longer made sense. Since Diana was a vital character in The New Teen Titans books, a new backstory was created for her that replaced Wonder Woman saving baby Donna from a fire with the literal Titans of myths, who implanted her memories with Wonder Woman.

Read Next

DC’s Titans Have a New Leader…and It May Surprise You

DC Couldn’t Keep Things Simple

For some reason, Donna’s origins were rewritten again in the late 90s, where it was retconned that she was a magical duplicate to be a playmate for Diana. Donna would soon perish in the Graduation Day storyline, before resurrecting in The Return of Donna Troy by Phil Jimenez. The Return of Donna Troy was Jimenez’s first attempt to reconcile Donna’s many conflicting histories, revealing her as a multiversal anomaly and a survivor of the pre-crisis universe. All her origin stories were valid because of her status within the multiverse. Jimenez’s first attempt to streamline Donna was not nearly as successful as Titans Annual #1 because The Return of Donna Troy leaned so heavily into Donna’s behind-the-scenes baggage. DC doesn’t need to focus so much on Donna Troy’s confusing backstory. All the company needed was to simplify everything. Making Donna a multiversal anomaly only makes the character more puzzling and off-putting.

Donna was reintroduced in the New 52 as a clay warrior used to usurp Wonder Woman. Nevertheless, that new origin was completely contradicted by the Titans Hunt mini-series, which was published at the time. Titans Hunt unveiled that she was part of the long-lost Teen Titans team from the past. Donna’s backstory was left ambiguous in DC Rebirth, with her golem origin from the New 52 being accepted as her current origin. Infinite Frontier decided to have all DC history, including the contradicting lore, canon, with every character having different memories of various timelines.

Donna Finally Has Her Original Backstory Back

Jimenez decided to forgo the every backstory being canon when writing and drawing Titans Annual #1, instead bringing back Donna to her basics. Rather than untangling the confusing yarn that is every Donna Troy origin story ever, including the writer’s own The Return of Donna Troy comic, Jimenez chose to give back Donna her classic origin story from Wolfman. She is once more an orphan child rescued by Wonder Woman and went to live with the Amazons on Paradise Island. The Annual is a loving tribute to Donna Troy, detailing the character’s many ups and downs throughout her life, including her controversial marriage to Terry Long and the death of her infant son. The comic even brought back long-dormant elements of the character’s history, including Donna reconnecting with her former adopted family before living with the Amazons.

Jimenez was able to nicely piece together Donna’s life, finding the correct chronological events of the character’s history. The writer-artist smartly avoided bringing up the conflicting lore of Donna Troy, keeping the story focused on Troy’s emotional journey throughout her life. The only acknowledgement of the confusing history is Donna overhearing some train passengers remarking on false information about the Teen Titans. Jimenez realized that trying to fix Donna only caused more problems, and instead went back to the origin that worked best for the character. It’s a beautiful comic that truly understands what makes a character like Donna Troy work. While Titans Annual #1 has the same potential danger of being retconned in the next major reboot, we hope that the history of Donna Troy will be taken into consideration.

The post How DC’s Best Creator Gave Wonder Girl the Origin She Deserved appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Superman is the world’s most recognizable and first superhero, having created the genre that all other heroes have spawned from. He shocked the world when he first debuted in Action Comics #1, and became an instant sensation. Even people who don’t read comic books have at least a vague idea of what Superman gets up to on the daily through cultural osmosis. However, as awesome and iconic as Superman is, he’s certainly changed a bit since his first ever adventure. In fact, the story of Action Comics #1 is very different from what’d you’d expect, and far more wild than the average Superman story today. 

Champion of the Oppressed 

When Superman first started his heroic career, he didn’t fight villains or monsters like Brainiac and Bizarro, but societal injustices. In fact, the very first thing we see Superman do is arrive at the governor’s house with a tied-up woman in his arms, who he leaves in the yard while he goes inside. The butler attempted to keep Superman out, but the Man of Steel simply tossed him away and ripped his way through the governor’s excessively secure steel door, although in this instance I guess it wasn’t enough. Superman actually did all of this to bring the governor evidence that the woman in the yard had committed murder and framed someone else, who was about to be executed. After saving the innocent woman’s life, Superman leapt away. 

This introduction perfectly set the stage for who the Superman of the Golden Age was as a character. He would stop at nothing to deliver justice to those who need it, and he could be particularly mean about it to the people who got in his way, be they evil or not. He was outright a hero, but a wee bit harsher than the boy scout we all know and love today. Case in point, the rest of the issue.

Superman Was an Actual Menace (It Was Hilarious)

Having saved the woman, Superman makes a quick detour to terrify an abusive husband into unconsciousness before he could kill his wife. After returning to the Daily Star, mild-mannered and cowardly reporter Clark Kent asked Lois Lane to go out with him. She agreed, but only out of pity. The two went out dancing, only for some ruffians to harass and make passes at Lois. She demanded Clark stand up to them, but he had to act spineless as to not risk his secret identity, so Lois slapped the man and marched out on her own, which Clark secretly praised her for. The men abducted Lois to get revenge for their wounded pride, only for Superman to arrive and smash their car to smithereens, which gave us the classic scene on the cover. After making sure that Lois was safe, and asking her not to print this little adventure, he hopped away. 

Read Next

Krypto Is Great, But Everyone Forgets Superman’s Wildest Super-Pet

The next morning, Clark was given an assignment to go to the war-torn South American republic of San Monte, but instead headed directly to the Senate Building in Washington, D.C., where he overheard the corrupt lobbyist Alex Greer trying to convince the US to get into a war in Europe, which Clark figured meant he was connected to the people propagating war in San Monte. Superman proceeded to kidnap Greer and race across the city with him, running along telegraph wires that would shock Greer to death if they touched the poles, and leaping to the top of the Capitol Building and threatening to let the man go splatt if he didn’t tell Superman who he was working for, which would get resolved in the next issue.

Superman, like he always has, stood up for the little guy and fought to save the day, but back when he first started he didn’t care at all about being nice. He had four whole adventures in this first issue, in which he proceeded to; smash through the governor’s house and toss his men like baseballs, threaten to beat a man so badly he passed out, positively wreck some villains’ car and leave it in the middle of the street, and kidnap and psychologically torture someone. Now, all of the people Superman messed with were clear bad guys, but still, the modern Superman wouldn’t go anywhere near as far as his past self did. Golden Age Superman wasn’t going around killing people, but he was certainly way harsher and way less caring for the wellbeing of the villains he fought. Superman was a downright menace to the bad guys, and believe me this is nowhere near as crazy as some of the other things he would get up to in just a few issues. Some include forcing a man to join a war and constantly reminding him how close he was to death, and trapping dozens of rich partygoers in a mine for a full day to teach their host a lesson about not cheaping out on the safety measures.

In Superman’s first adventure and most of his earliest ones, he was an outright beast, and it’s hilarious to look back on. It was definitely all for the right reasons, however, and even when he was at his meanest, he was indisputably being a hero to everyone, even the guys he was tossing. Don’t worry, they’re fine, just stunned a little. Superman has changed a lot over the years, mostly for the best, but his start will always be awesome, no matter how much time has passed. Which era of Superman is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Superman’s First Adventure Was a Lot Weirder Than You Rememberent appeared first on ComicBook.com.