Retro Comic Recap: The Champions #5

Happy Friday, folks!

Today's topic is the fifth issue of Marvel's The Champions. The cover showed Hercules, the Black Widow, the Angel, and Iceman battling a new foe called Rampage in the middle of a busy city street. The tale was titled "The Economy is So Bad That..." The issue had a publication date of April 1976.

The tale began inside the offices of Emerson Bale. Warren Worthington III (the Angel) and his teammate Bobby Drake (Iceman) were waiting for information about Warren's inheritance. The matter had been up in the air for a while due to Worthington's costumed identity, which was revealed in the debut issue of this series to the public. The papers Bale provided to his client showed just how much money Warren had inherited, which was more than enough to bring a smile to the lad's lips.

Elsewhere, a man named Clarke was drowning in debt. He argued with an associate named Crawley about how he'd gotten into such a mess. Clarke left his lawyer's office, determined to find some way to pay his creditors back.

At a local football field, Natasha Romanov (the Black Widow) was discussing her new group with her friend Ivan, as her fellow Champion Hercules instructed the players on the field about the finer aspects of their sport. Hercules plowed through the student athletes and made his way to the end zone, much to the laughter from the sidelines.

A few moments later, Professor Fenster arrived with the news that he'd been dismissed from UCLA after being blamed for the damage that Pluto, Ares, Hippolyta, and their minions wreaked on the campus (in the first three issues). The Angel swooped and picked him up, asking if the professor would like to be their team's finance manager. 

While the Champions were in a celebratory mood, the owner of Clarke Futuristics was anything but happy. He entered his company's headquarters and made his way to an exoskeleton that he started putting on. As he donned the gear, he had an idea to save the company. Moments later, he was flying away to take a step toward accomplishing that goal.

Warren and his friends (minus Johnny Blaze/the Ghost Rider, who was otherwise occupied with events that were occurring in his own title) were having a dinner to enjoy their good fortune. Some time later, Bobby walked along on his own, contemplating whether he would stay with the team or continue to be a superhero in general. Along the way, Drake peered into a nearby bank window to see a costumed character trying to rob it.

The Iceman instinctively leapt into action and was the first of the Champions to tackle Clarke, who now went by the moniker of Rampage. His exoskeleton was impressive, and the founding X-Man was about to be knocked out until the Angel came to the rescue. Hercules took on the challenger, but underestimated his new enemy. 

Natasha and Warren joined the battle, but none of the quartet was quite enough to defeat the mysterious villain. Even Ivan attempted to assist, but was swept aside by Rampage. The issue ended with the heroes standing in shock as their rival threatened to punch a hole through the top of the Angel's skull.

This was the first time this title's creative team attempted to devise a villain who was unique to this group. Rampage was an interesting concept, and his alter ego might have been able to stand toe to toe with people like Tony Stark or Obadiah Stane at some point. Unfortunately, he's largely viewed now as not much more than a blip on the Marvel Comics radar over their long history. 

That's all from me for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the second part of this saga, which was chronicled in the sixth issue of the Champions. We'll learn Warren's fate and see how his teammates adjusted to this new menace. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Champions #4

Happy Thursday, folks!

It's time for me to talk about the fourth issue of the Champions. The cover showed Ghost Rider, the Angel, Black Widow, Iceman, and Hercules squaring off against each other. The story was called "Murder at Malibu!" The issue had a publication date of March 1976.

The tale began with Hercules and the Black Widow walking together along a beach. Hercules was still upset at Pluto for his treachery (as shown in the previous three issues). The Widow was trying to console her friend and fellow former Avenger.

The pair had barely walked a few more steps before they were attacked from behind by a large man. We soon learned that their assailant was a man named Billy, an older gentleman who had the strength of someone a fraction of his age. He wore a uniform from the San Marino State Hospital, and a sextet of armed guards from that very same institution soon surrounded our heroes. A few blasts from their pistols knocked out Billy's new protectors.

The Widow and Hercules awoke in the office of Mr. Ed Lansing, who was behind the efforts to recreate the same serum that gave Captain America his abilities. Lansing decided to use patients like Billy as his guinea pigs, and swiftly subjected his new captives to the same treatments. 

A short while later, at the beach home of Warren Worthington III (aka the Angel), Worthington and his former X-Men teammate Bobby Drake (Iceman) were conversing with Ivan, a friend of the Black Widow (Natasha Romanov). They were wondering about her whereabouts when Hercules burst through the wall, with the Widow and others enthralled by Lansing's serum close behind.

Ghost Rider joined the fray right before Lansing tried to use his control device against the Iceman. Romanov was the one to defeat Lansing, smashing his control box and leaving the madman at the mercy of the mutates which he now had no control over. Afterward, the Champions were glad that the conflict was over, although Hercules wished they could do more for those affected by Lansing's treatments. The Angel brought the group together, reminding his comrades that the world still needed champions.

This was an okay one-off issue, especially for a team that was so new. They had just finished their first significant challenge in the previous three issues and were still learning to work together. I always felt that if the Champions had been given enough time to gel, they could have been far more than just a footnote in Marvel Comics history. 

That's all for now. Tomorrow, I'll conclude the work week with an analysis of the fifth issue of the Champions. The new supergroup works on ways to peacefully coexist and encounters their first foe, who would be a recurring danger to the team. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Champions #3

Well, we're halfway through the week already, folks!

Today's topic is the third issue of the Champions. The cover depicted Hercules, the Black Widow, Ghost Rider, and Iceman taking on Olympian warriors while Pluto and Zeus looked on. The tale was titled "Assault on Olympus!" The issue had a cover date of February 1976.

The story started at a beach house, where the Angel, Iceman, and the Black Widow were resting after their recent battle (depicted in the last issue). Iceman (Bobby Drake) was enjoying making a smooth coating of ice beneath his feet for him to skate back and forth upon. Drake used his quiet time to think about his former X-Men teammates and his new group's recent failure.

The arrival of the Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze) disrupted the Iceman's reverie. He reminded the group of the ice mountain that his new teammate had made. He realized that it kept the portal to Olympus open after the Black Widow pointed out that fact to him. 

Meanwhile, in that fabled land, Zeus lamented the impending nuptials of his son Hercules to Hippolyta with his friend, Dionysius. Pluto, Ares, and Hippolyta were not far away. Pluto noted that the pending weddings of Hercules and Zeus would follow their laws that neither party may go against their spouse, therefore giving the villains a way to ensure Zeus' downfall.

Hercules was swarmed by guards and dismayed by the fact that his father could not intervene in the matter. Outside Olympus' woods, the Huntsman neared the artificial mountain and was surprised to see it burning. The Ghost Rider's hellfire allowed the Champions to arrive, and they immediately engaged in battle with Olympus' defenders. 

During the confrontation, Pluto's true intentions were revealed to Zeus. Ghost Rider pointed out the falsehoods to the Olympian god, who finally realized the error of his ways. He ordered Pluto to leave, effectively ending the struggle right then and there.

Although the wedding bonds were no longer valid, Venus still chose to marry Ares. She left her human identity behind, as Zeus bade farewell to his son and his friends. The quintet soon returned to the world of Hercules' mother: Earth.

Not a bad way to end the first storyline for this series. Pluto would resurface from time to time to menace other heroes. Ares would even serve as a member of Earth's Avengers for a while. Reading this issue again, I thought it would have been interesting to pair the Champions with the Defenders. Could have been an interesting team-up.

Well, that's it for now. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the fourth issue of the Champions. The team returns to Los Angeles to take on another threat. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Champions #2

Happy Tuesday, folks!

Time for me to talk about the second issue of the Champions. The cover depicted Hercules, surrounded by Pluto, Ares, and Hippolyta, while Ghost Rider, the Black Widow, the Angel, and Iceman fought foes in the background. The story was called "Whom the Gods Would Join..." The issue had a cover date of January 1976.

The tale began with Iceman, Venus, Ghost Rider, Angel, Hercules, and Black Widow standing in front of the recently arrived Ares, Pluto, and Hippolyta. The heroes were in disbelief after listening to the villains' assertions (as announced at the end of the last issue). Pluto repeated that Hercules was supposed to wed Hippolyta, and that Ares would wed Venus.

This started a brawl between the Olympian gods, a conflict that the other heroes avoided until it appeared that Hercules had been defeated. The Ghost Rider then rammed his motorcycle against Pluto, giving the others time to drag their friend to safety. Iceman then sealed the portal that the Olympians had entered from with a casing of ice before using an ice slide to lift the Black Widow and Hercules away, as the Angel flew close by with Venus in his arms. 

Their opponents tried to break the ice door until Pluto decided to send them all back home. There, they had an audience with Zeus to plead their case. Pluto did all the talking for his allies, concluding with the oath that Hercules had to abide with. Zeus concurred with that statement, but warned his guests not to commit any further wrongdoings.

While Pluto, Ares, and Hippolyta celebrated, the heroes had regrouped just in time to be attacked by the Huntsman. The Ghost Rider's hellfire dispatched that enemy, but not before their foe had knocked out Venus and Hercules. The remaining Champions strategized under the advice of the Black Widow. Ghost Rider stayed behind while she, the Angel, and Iceman went to renew their conflict with the Huntsman and his ally, a large humanoid called Menoetius. 

Iceman and the Widow's teamwork enabled them to defeat their larger opponent, followed almost immediately by the Huntsman. Angel grabbed his rival's staff to prevent him from bringing forth other dangers. As it turns out, the Huntsman didn't need his weapon to cast spells. He then made the Ghost Rider strike at his new teammates, thinking them to be the Olympian gods they'd fought earlier. He used that distraction to spirit Venus and Hercules away.

The four human Champions were left behind in Los Angeles. Johnny Blaze (Ghost Rider) was sorry for attacking his friends, but the group now had bigger concerns. They had to figure out how to venture to Olympus to free Hercules and Venus. 

For a new team that wasn't formally named or aligned as of yet, this wasn't a bad second issue. There were stil some rough parts in the plot and artwork, but not too bad for a brand new team. It featured villains that I wasn't familiar with upon first read, and it kept me interested in wanting to know what happened next.

I'll cover the finale of this trilogy tomorrow, with a discussion of the third issue of the Champions. We'll find out what happened to the kidnapped Olympians, and if their new colleagues were able to prevent Pluto's plans from reaching fruition. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: The Champions #1

Happy Monday, folks!

Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend. Today's topic is the first issue of Marvel's series called the Champions. The cover of the debut issue featured Hercules leading his teammates Ghost Rider, the Angel, the Black Widow, and the Iceman onward. The tale was titled "The World Still Needs...The Champions!" The issue had a cover date of October 1975.

After the splash page, the story began on the campus of UCLA, where students Warren Worthington III and Bobby Drake were discussing their collegiate life. Neither of them was impressed with where they were in life at the moment, but neither of them wanted to return to the X-Men, either. They were talking about their old colleague Hank McCoy (the Beast) and his success with the Avengers when a portal opened before them.

A quartet of winged women emerged from the portal and began attacking students on campus. Drake was the first to take action against the strangers, using his Iceman abilities to send a blast of ice at one of the attackers. He held down the fort while Worthington changed into his Angel superhero duds. Together, the longtime friends and teammates were able to effectively tackle the intruders.

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the college grounds, a woman named Natasha Romanoff was pacing nervously awaiting an interview for a position that she'd hoped would be enough for her and her friend to afford to be able to afford life's necessities. It had been some time since the woman also known as the Black Widow had cut ties with her former partner and lover, Daredevil (aka Matt Murdock). 

While Natasha and her friend Ivan waited, a horde of female warriors emerged from another portal and demanded the return of a woman named Venus. Inside her office, humanities professor Dr. Victoria Starr was anticipating interviewing Romanoff when she heard the commotion outside. She opened her door, and the attackers' attention then focused on her. 

The Black Widow managed to escape with the professor and assured her that Ivan was safe. At the same time, Johnny Blaze was riding his motorcycle onto the campus when he was warned of the goings-on. He barely had time to duck a mace that missed his head by inches. That near-accident prompted Blaze's change into the Ghost Rider. The hero rode into the fray, only to be confronted by a large warrior who called himself Cerberus. 

After being blasted by hellfire that was emitted from the Ghost Rider, Cerberus swiftly transformed into a large purple dog. This form proved more threatening to the hero, who tried to ride away. In yet another part of campus, the god known as Hercules was preparing to give a speech. However, that would have to wait, as the Olympian was accosted by a swarm of mutates. 

It didn't take long for that particular melee to crash through the building Hercules was in. The Ghost Rider noticed the commotion and offered Hercules a ride, after assuring him that he was friendly. Before they could drive much further, the duo came across the same winged warriors and female soldiers that the Angel, Iceman, and Black Widow were still fighting.

As the Angel carried the professor in his arms, she changed her guise and disclosed that she was the god Venus whom the strangers had arrived on campus to find. A simple love spell dispelled many of the invaders so that the sextet of heroes had enough time to converse. Hercules and his new allies dug into why his cousin Venus had been attacked when a bolt struck her from behind. He and his companions turned to see Pluto, Hippolyta, and Ares standing before them. Pluto declared that Hercules was to wed Hippolyta and Venus was supposed to marry Ares, or risk the end of the universe if they should refuse such unions. 

Much like the Super-Villain Team-Up title, the Champions was an interesting concept that wasn't given much time to really prove that the series could stand out on its own. Part of the reason again, was a rotating cast of writers and artists, like SVTU. Another complaint was that this group didn't really have many established rivals, and only a few were created specifically for this title. The group's demise wasn't even properly chronicled before this title was cancelled (a 2-part wrap-up was later published in the pages of Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man). I liked the idea of this group, although I thought it would have been nice to have more guest stars and maybe rotating team members, especially featuring heroes who either had their own short-lived series or were only featured in one-offs or other short story arcs. 

Well, that's all I have for you today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the Champions' second issue. We'll see if wedding bells rang in that story and the dangers that this new supergroup faced along the way. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up #17

Good afternoon,

Winding down a nice weekend with a summary of the seventeenth issue of Marvel's Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover for this title's final issue depicted the Red Skull holding a cosmic cube in one hand, flanked by the Hate Monger and Arnim Zola. The story was called "Dark Victory." The issue had a publication date of June 1980.

The tale began on Exile Island, as the Skull and Hate Monger were welcoming A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) scientist George Clinton to their base of operations. As he was led inside their complex, George's hosts recounted the first time that a cosmic cube had been developed, and its eventual destruction (in stories told in the Tales of Suspense and Captain Marvel titles).  Clinton noticed that several prisoners were connected to the device that would be used to create the cube.

He noted that receiving so much information in a relatively short period of time could significantly damage the test subjects, but soon saw that the Nazis had plenty of prisoners at their disposal to serve as unwilling guinea pigs. One such captive was a man named Yousof Tov, who unsuccessfully tried to escape from the island (in the previous issue). His plight had been observed by a fellow prisoner named Rachel. She managed to flee on her own and alert American authorities, unaware that the villains' telepath made sure that his master, the Hate Monger, knew of the potential plans to disrupt their operations.

The Hate Monger was visiting the telepath when a subordinate entered the room to inform him that the Red Skull demanded his presence. The man who was born Johann Schmidt soon welcomed his ally to view their progress in creating a second cosmic cube. Meanwhile, Rachel had finally convinced leadership at S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law Enforcement Division) to gather the troops for an assault on Exiles Island.

Some time later, the Red Skull had some time to himself in his private quarters on the island. He talked aloud about his intentions, knowing that he was going against his original superior. He had little time for reminiscing afterward, as the S.H.I.E.L.D. forces were soon within striking distance. The Hate Monger, Arnim Zola, and the Skull gathered their forces to mount a defense, but it soon became clear that the villains' hired men were relatively inexperienced in comparison to the battle-hardened. S.H.I.E.L.D. officers.

During the confrontation, the Hate Monger ordered Zola to obey his commands before tearing off his mask and revealing that he was Adolf Hitler. The brain of the evil Nazi leader had been transplanted into the cloned body that he now occupied. His goal now was to integrate with the cosmic cube. 

Rachel and her allies soon reached the room where the cosmic cube was being crafted. She freed the prisoners who were attached to the device, including Tov himself, who was now a shell of his former self. Moments later, the heroes fled the scene right before the compound exploded. Several miles below the surface, the Red Skull examined the small cube that had been produced. Hitler accomplished his goal. On the last panel, we saw the former Nazi mastermind screaming for help as he was trapped within the bauble that his former underling, the Red Skull, had left behind. 

After this title ceased its bimonthly publishing schedule, Marvel created these annual issues to keep up the Super Villain trademark in efforts to discourage rival companies from doing the same. This was a satisfying conclusion to this storyline and series. MODOK (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing) would have his own version of a super-villain team-up in a five-issue series in 2009, followed by Doom's alliances with other villains in a four-issue limited series a few years later. I wonder who would be featured if Marvel ever decides to reboot this title. 

That's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll begin another series, starting with a discussion of the first issue of the Champions, a short-lived superhero team from the 1970s that featured a few former X-Men and Avengers. Until then, have a great week, and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up #16

Good morning, folks!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween. It's time for me to talk about the sixteenth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover depicted the Red Skull and his associate, the Hate Monger, before several captives on Skull Island. The tale was titled "Shall I Call Thee Master?" The issue had a cover date of May 1979.

The story started with the aforementioned villains sitting down across from one another at a dinner table, about to toast their alliance. The Skull soon retired for the evening and went to his private quarters. The next morning, the man who was once Johann Schmidt went to the pistol range for target practice and got in a few exercises, with his faithful lackeys at his side.e He rejoined his comrade in time for the morning's procession, swearing allegiance to their masters as they passed by their balcony.

Elsewhere in the estate, a man named Yousof Tov was finishing his breakfast, although it was one he completed while under captivity. The Shin Bet commando was at the mercy of his host, who reminded him of the neuro detonator that had been placed in his neck (in early issues of Captain America's title). He walked past others from his home country. One of them was a woman who chastised Tov for joining the enemy. Yousof tried to explain that he had little choice in the matter, but his words weren't very effective.

He soon made his way to where the Red Skull was practicing his aim. The Skull then led Tov to his underground chamber, where he was preparing to develop a second cosmic cube. The first one had slipped from his grasp, and the German villain wasn't about to let the same happen with this one. 

The Skull then explained that Tov could procure security clearances and secrets from S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage and Law Enforcement Division) and A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics). Tov was reluctant to play along, until his host offered him the chance to eliminate the Hate Monger. Upon hearing that, Tov was more than willing to kill his adversary. The Skull then depressed a button on the remote control in his hand, sending Tov into instant unconsciousness.

Some time later, the Red Skull walked in on the Hate Monger, who was now unmasked and focused on his paintings. He talked about rescuing the Skull from his entrapment on the moon (in SVTU #12) and their initial partnership agreement. The Hate Monger recalled introducing the Skull to Arnim Zola and the Red Skull's subsequent plots against his hated rival, Captain America (chronicled in Cap's own mag). As he stared out the window, we saw the face of the Adolf Hitler clone that was the Hate Monger.

Back in his own quarters, Tov faked pain from the neuro implant. His guard quickly neutralized the effect, which gave Tov the opportunity to knock the man out and burst through the doors. Tov grabbed a rifle from one of the soldiers outside his room who had fallen, and ran for freedom. 

Before Tov left the grounds, he shot the lock on the cage containing other prisoners. He announced they were free to flee, but none of them opted to leave until Tov himself was shot. The woman that he'd quarreled with earlier ran to his side, and a fight broke out between the prisoners and mansion guards. 

Tov managed to escape during the melee and ventured toward the pier where he commandeered a small speedboat. He sped toward a U.S. naval vessel, but when he came aboard, he soon realized that the Red Skull and the Hate Monger were right behind him. Tov was returned to the base. As he walked back, he saw the prisoners whom he'd freed were back in their cage, including the woman named Rachel, who had fought with and against him. 

This was one of two Super-Villain Team-Up issues that were published on an annual basis by Marvel to retain the Super-Villain Team-Up trademark. I'm not a big fan of Carmine Infantino's artwork, but Peter Gillis' script gave me more insight into the Red Skull, a character that I'd only known from his earlier appearances in this title and in Cap's monthly series. I still prefer Dr. Doom over the Red Skull, but Schmidt is still a character to be wary of. The Hate Monger has also made his mark on multiple Marvel characters over the years, including an upcoming storyline in the Fantastic Four several years later. 

That's it for now. Taking a break to enjoy some NFL football on TV. I'll be back this afternoon for a synopsis of the seventeenth and final issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. In that one, we'll learn if the Skull was successful in his efforts to develop another cosmic cube. Until then, have a great Sunday and don't forget to be kind to one another.