The Indestructible Hulk, Woes of Eiderdurm

SUMMARY PAGE: HULK, PART 2, MARVEL NOW!

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Indestructible Hulk #6 (Starts a new chapter where Banner is still working for SHIELD. Banner equips his team and, using a sliver of the enchanted Uru metal, they create a portal to the mythical realm of Jotenheim, home of the Frost Giants. While there, he hopes to find and acquire a legengary substance known as Eiderdurm. After traveling a few minutes, though, they are met with Thor Odinson, who appears in a much older version of his costume. Thor warns them that the giants will attack soon, but - too late - they attack. Banner is frozen, but soon Hulk's out. Thor is knocked away from his hammer at some point and Hulk struggles, eventually lifting it. Now worthy, he wields the power of Thor.)
 Indestructible Hulk #7 (Continues from the previous issue. Mjolnir lifted, Hulk and the Frost Giants believe he has Thor's power. It turns out to be a farce; the weapon, called by Thor, is returning to its master. Then the battle takes hold again. Preparing to lose, the Giants capture one of Bruce's team and creates an illusion to stay with them. Patricia, another member of the team, is secretly preparing suicide by staying around the Hulk, but is thwarted when he saves her. After the Giants flee, Bruce realizes why Thor doesn't recognize him. They didn't only travel to Jotenheim, but moved into the past. Their portal is now destroyed or closed by SHIELD, but Bruce isn't sure. He tells the team to continue on their mission, not knowing that they are being watched in secret.) 
Indestructible Hulk #8 (Continues from the previous issue. While resting, Banner tells Patricia that he's learned her secret: she's dying of a brain degeneration and is with him hoping her demise will be accidental for insurance purposes. This doesn't sway Patricia at all and she stalks off. Later, using special bottles to hold the Eiderdurm, and with the help of Thor's hammer, they open a portal back to Earth. That's when the Frost Giant reveals himself and calls on his clan to start the Midgard invasion. Unfortunately for them, SHIELD is waiting on the other side with guns. Thor, and now a Hulk-out Banner, join forces as they take out the Frost Giants. Patricia and the rest of the group seem very intent now on surviving the ordeal. And once the battle is over, they return to their domain, leaving the God of Thunder to await new adventures.)

Marvel's Guide To Destroying Time

OP-ED

Re: Where Are They Now?

 

Above: Stark tries to convince Wolverine not to go back into the future again. Or course, he doesn't listen. Excerpt from Age of Ultron #9 (2013).

I rarely criticize Marvel, DC, and the many independent superhero comic books publishers. That's a slogan I've followed for four decades and still believe is important. If you want to see good art, strong stories, and great events in the future, they have to be supported with positive encouragement.

There's two reasons why I won't, typically, speak negative about them. First, the "suspension of disbelief" is inferred. Complaining that "a story about a hero with powers not being true to physics because he beat the villain by doing something that shouldn't work" is disingenuous. You have to assume a) the character's powers are possible, and b) the character then performed impossibly. And so why stop there? It's all not true; you probably shouldn't be following comic books.

Second, comic books writers like to leave loose ends. I've often been confused by some element appearing in one issue that conflicts with another. Maybe a villain has two completely different origins (also known as a retcon) or perhaps an extremely powerful superhero is toned down when facing another favorite (take, for example, a match-up between Batman and Superman or Spider-Man and Hulk). This happens a lot. But the key is to be patient; most of the time the reasons are explained in a later issue; sometimes, the answer can be part of big event. And that's when I say Whew! glad I waited.

This time, unfortunately, will not be one of those times. I'll let you decide if I'm acting too soon.

My accusation involves Marvel Comics, the Timestream, and their mishandling of Time Travel. It starts with the Marvel NOW! event from October 2012 with their release of All-New X-Men #1 (2012), moves through the Age of Ultron event, and continue on to this day while following the Age of Ultron Aftermath and the Battle of The Atom story arcs. It might not be a coincidence that mutants are all involved here, but that's not important for the purpose of my argument.

The problem is how Marvel is screwing with time. It's so bad now that temporal problems are spreading everywhere:

1. In All-New X-Men #1 (2012), Beast snatches the early versions of Iceman, Beast, Cyclops, Angel, and Marvel Girl. Bringing them to the present, his goal is to reform our time's Cyclops with the original concepts of the late Professor X. The problem here is known as a paradox. If you remove a person from the past, he is no longer in the present. Present-day Beast should have disappeared immediately;  Cyclops, as well. Mutantkind would be dramatically different if the original X-Men were gone.
2. In Age of Ultron #1 (2013), we learn Ultron destroyed our populations from the future. Although intuitively this could be a paradox, it can be conceivable that a brilliant machine, watching every change to his future, carefully alters the past (our timeline).
3. In Age of Ultron #6 (2013), Wolverine kills Henry Pym. When he (and Susan Richards) returns to his timeline, reality has changed. This is not a paradox. It could also be explained as an diverging timeline-alternate reality.
4. By Age of Ultron #10 (2013), Marvel shows us time is broke. Once Wolverine learned that killing Pym was a bad idea, he goes back again and stops himself. One Logan then kills the other and then heads to his present timeline. This creates another paradox, but not the one that was portrayed. The two Wolverines were from different times, not present day. Present day Wolverine (Subj. A) died and had "present day minus a few hours" Wolverine (Subj. B) return to his own time. Once A was killed, A no longer existed, but he also wouldn't have existed once B returned, because B never would have left. So guess who is REALLY in our present timeline?
   • A)Susan Richards A who returned to the present timeline,
   • B)Susan Richards B who never knew of The Age of Ultron and never left,
   • C)Wolverine B who experienced The Age of Ultron, decided NOT to kill Pym, returned, and
   • C) Wolverine C who never experienced the Age of Ultron and never left.
   So guess what, we're screwed!
5. Let's not forget Reed Richards and The Fantastic Four. All they've been doing since creating "The Bridge" is jumping around time and space. They've been to creation, the end, and all over the place.

But okay, let's forgive them. Suspension of disbelief, right? Marvel, rightfully showed us that all this time traveling screwed us up and finally broke. Here are some of the results:

1.  In the New Avengers title, the Illuminati are facing Incursions. These dimensional events are causing alternate Earths to be destroyed.
2. There's the Age of Ultron Aftermath event where Indestructible Hulk has to beat up "Chronarchists" from the future and our Galactus wants to destroy Earth-1610, part of The "Ultimate" Universe.
3. We just recently learned in Uncanny X-Men #13 (2013), part of Battle of The Atom, that the past versions of the five original X-Men can't return to their timeline, even if they wanted. Although the reason hasn't been officially given, we can't ignore that time has already been broken.
4. And then, there's the Infinity event. The ancient race known as "The Builders", who are currently credited with the creation of humans, wants to kill us in every dimension. Complete termination! They blame us for destroying the "Superflow", a device they created to make everything orderly.

 As you can see, time is messed up everywhere. Can it be fixed? I assure you: it will. Brian Michael Bendis, at the helm of Infinity, is likely governing the healing of temporal mechanics. Maybe he'll make Time Travel near-impossible from now on. Maybe he'll lead Marvel in a completely thrilling and unexpected direction. It's all worth the waiting.

But it doesn't change all the violations of consistency. When Wolverine allowed Pym to live in AU#9, making sure Age of Ultron would never occur, ALL time-traveling versions should have been wiped out. In the Battle of The Atom, the past version of Cyclops almost died in X-Men: Battle of The Atom #1 (2013); at the same time, present-day Cyclops almost faded away.

What your seeing is a true conflict. Either there are two Susan Richards and Logans in New York right now, or the five original X-Men have disappeared for decades. Beast took them from the past; their present day counterparts shouldn't be here.

I'm not judging which temporal result is right or wrong. My point is to say the inconsistency is true. It may be confusing to follow all this time traveling, but once you jump on the belief bandwagon, it should be a good ride.

Ms. Marvel Meets The Enemy Within!

SUMMARY PAGE: AVENGERS THE ENEMY WITHIN, MARVEL NOW!

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~Excerpt from Avengers The Enemy Within #1 (2013).

Analysis: The Enemy Within is a 5-part story arc which loosely follows The Avengers, but mainly focuses on Ms. Marvel. She's already been diagnosed with a lesion on her brain in her own title series and this picks up from there. As a consequence, she's supposed to avoid flying; breaking that essential rule could cause her death.

Avengers The Enemy Within #1 (Starts the story arc. Rose, a disabled, elderly character in the Ms. Marvel stories, is missing. With Spider-Woman acting as a sort of babysitter, Carol and her embark on a quest to find the lady. At the same time, Carol is unable to fly...simultaneously, someone is manipulating her from the background, throwing obstacles in her path. As tempers flare due to her restrictions, three super-hero wrestler-ladies attack. Ms. Marvel and Spider-Woman defeat them, but not before tricking Carol into flying. At the end, one of the wrestlers give them a clue to where Rose is held; Ms. Marvel races there with Thor and finds two dinosaurs guarding the lady. Taken down, Rose is then rescued. When Carol arrives back at her apartment, she's worried that a clue she recovered suggests something is happening to the rest of the residents. She has them evacuated, but finds that only her room has been tampered. Someone is clearly raising the stakes in this manipulative game, and now Ms. Marvel is mad. We know that it's an old nemesis, Yon-Rogg, behind all this; he has stolen parts of her Psyche-Magnitron, the device which empowered her.)
Avengers Assemble #16 (Chapter 2. Takes place an undisclosed time period later. On the SWORD spacestation "The Peak", a Brood force has appeared and begins descending on the planet. The Avengers go into action and begin taking out the aliens; when the fight is over, Captain Marvel and Captain America deduce that her enemy is behind this. Meanwhile, having gathered the last piece he needs of the Psyche-Magnatron, Yon-Rogg makes a plea for Kree extraction, but is ignored. Seeing he has been fully abandoned, he transforms into "Magnitron" and begins his next phase of attack. And with that activation, Kree Sentries have also activated...)
Captain Marvel #13 (Chapter 3. Occurs a brief time after the events in Avengers Assemble #16. Most of the issue covers what previously happened. Bruce Banner is brought in to Carol's apartment and all of her friends do over the data. While this is going on, Kree Sentries are attacking all over the world; Avengers are heading them off. Carol and her associates learn that a Kree signal was made during the Brood invasion; this gives her a big clue. As her Avenger's team is brought to battle, they take out the Sentries, but now she's certain she knows who the secret villain is behind all this. She heads to New York, ready for a battle.)
Avengers Assemble #17 (Chapter 4. Starts outside the New York limits. Short timespan. As Carol makes her way for the dead center of the trouble, Kree Sentries are landing in calculated locations; her allies, The Avengers, are fighting them down and taking them out, but many are arriving as fast as they can be destroyed. Ultimately, a set number of Sentries lock in their positions, suddenly creating a "star" perimeter. Carol and Captain America are in the dead center as a ship begins to materialize overhead. Carol then falls, her head aching. She realizes that Yon-Rogg somehow merged with the Psyche-Magnitron when it was destroyed and merged with the pieces...some of which may be in her skull. Regaining her composure, she vows to fight to the end.)
Captain Marvel #14 (Chapter 5. Continues immediately from Avengers Assemble #17. Arriving towards a materializing beam, Cap and Carol face Magnitron, Yon-Rogg's new incarnation. With effortless power, he creates obstacles while materializing Kree-Lar, a city of the Kree, over New York; he plans on dropping it and killing eight million New Yorkers. Agent Brand figures out that they have to disconnect their power source, but the Sentries, now locked in, are basically unstoppable. That's when Carol learns that she's the source of power, surrounded by a Sentry amplification pattern. She flies up into the sky and outer space until the small sliver of the psyche-magnitron in her head - the one that ultimately kept Yon-Rogg alive, alights the lesion in her brain. She passes out, but Yon-Rogg is defeated. The story ends, but no one knows if there will be a Captain Marvel anymore.)

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

Wolverine Begins Hunting Season

SUMMARY PAGE: WOLVERINE, PART I, MARVEL NOW!

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~Wolverine realizes he's facing something greater than a simple psycho. Excerpt from Wolverine #1 (2013).

Analysis: Since Wolverine is one of Marvel's most successful superheroes, he's getting a lot of attention in the Marvel NOW! event. This title, simply called "Wolverine", is his second solo (after The Savage Wolverine). The story arc is called "Hunting Season", and puts Logan right in the middle of an alien encounter. The uniqueness of the plot is that his super-senses will be put to the test.

Wolverine #1 (The beginning issue. It has no chronological markers. A fast-paced story, Wolverine appears to be a mall-setting where a middle-aged man is standing over him with a powerful, unknown weapon. Wolverine is already damaged, but healing fast. Many dead people are already scattered about the area and the police, while trying to negotiate, are having no luck. The man's son is also there and his life is also in jeopardy. After taking another shot, Wolverine manages a few seconds to recover and slices the man up, killing him. The boy is traumatized, but after the police walk in, asks to see Wolverine. The child then asks some strange questions, grabs the gun and begins going psychotic. Wolverine goes after him. The kid runs him over with a car and gets away. But now, Wolverine senses that something far stranger is going on and goes on the hunt.)
Wolverine #2 (Continues from Wolverine #1, with almsot no lapse in time. (Also starring Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD, Logan continues hunting the child, but at the same time, whatever alien is controlling the boy also leads him on a chase. They finally have a detailed encounter and our hero learns that something is manipulating the boy's mind and switching hosts. Before Logan can catch him, the gun and alien switch bodies. That's when Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD appears and disarms the new host. The gun flies off and the two heroes collaborate. Wolverine believes he may have some important evidence: a bullet still lodged in his arm. As they are talking, though, things go from bad to worse when The Watcher appears.)
Wolverine #3 (Continues from the previous issue. Logan finds some local allies skilled with super-human interaction and has the alien bullet removed; it is scanned and nothing unique detected. Meanwhile, Fury tracks the gun to Blenkins Pharmaceuticals and drops Logan into the fray. Although protected by MANDRIODs, he slashes his way through and stops the mind-controlled human, but not before a craft escapes with tech. It ends up at Port Reading where another group of mind-controlled humans start severing their hands and putting them into an advanced incubator, newly arrived from the previous battle.)  

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

The Uncanny Avengers vs. Kang and The Apocalypse Twins

SUMMARY PAGE: UNCANNY AVENGERS, PART II, MARVEL NOW!

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~Kang laments over his master plan. Excerpt from Uncanny Avengers #6 (2013).

Analysis: With the second story arc of the newly-formed Uncanny Avengers, Kang the Conqueror becomes their next super-villain. He's bent on a world-dominating super-plot and gathering extremely powerful forces to take on the heroes. Early on, he acquires Thor's first weapon, Jarnbjorn, a magical axe. Later, he manipulates the heirs of Apocalypse.

This also introduces us to the Apocalypse Twins, Eimen and Uriel. Eimen's power is the ability to emit augmented acid which can "burn through time itself"; she is also blind. Uriel, the male, is a chronomancer can create artificial pockets of time. Together, they are central to Kang's plot.

Uncanny Avengers #6 (Continues from Uncanny Avengers #5, but has no defined chronology. Centering on Thor, God of Thunder, and Kang The Conqueror, this story spans across centuries. As a young god in early Scandinavia, Thor is attacked by Apocalypse; about to be killed, he flees to Odin, asking his father for a weapon suitable to pierce the villain's armor. Odin denies him, saying it would harm the future. Secretly though, Kang, who is posing as Loki, gives Thor a charm for his weapon, Jarnbjorn. In there next encounter, Apocalypse's Horsemen are about to kill the ancestor of Wolverine, but Thor slays them. The villain arrives and Thor almost kills him. Odin, upon knowing this, is enraged, but the die is cast. At the end of the issue, we find out why; Kang travels to Brazil in the present and takes the Jarnbjorn from the skull of Baron Mordo to enact the next part of his evil plan.)
Uncanny Avengers #7 (Continues from Uncanny Avengers #5, with an undefined, short break. Starting with Genocide, the son of Apocalypse summoning a Celestial and preparing to receive the Apocalypse Seed. He's then ambushed by the Apocalypse Twins, Uriel and Eimin, wielding Jarnbjorn. Using this weapon, the Celestial is assassinated and the seed stolen. Meanwhile, back on earth, Rogue is cleared from Grim Reaper's death, but the damage is done. Havok asks her to stay on the sidelines and she's offended. Anti-mutant acts are occurring all over the world and it appears the Red Skull's tactics have had some success. Elsewhere, Captain America and Sunfire are briefed of the Celestial murder at the SWORD station speaking to Agent Brand when the news of a ship approaching them at ramming speed alerts them. Cap escapse but Sunfire stays behind; he alerts the Havok's team before the station explodes. Thor and Wolverine are noticeably shaken as the weapon, Jarnbjorn is recognized, and the god of Thunder takes off on his own, remembering the warning Odin gave him so long ago about the weapon.)
Uncanny Avengers #8 (Continues immediately from the previous issue. Thor blasts the wreckage falling on Rio De Janeiro while Sunfire emerges unscathed. The two of them head to the Apocalypse vessel while Wolverine, Havok, and the rest of the team fly towards the Apocalypse-loyal city of Akkaba; trust between the mutants and super-humans is becoming shaky. Meanwhile, Captain America survives the escape pod trip and realizes that it was sabotaged for Sunfire. He arrives at a secret location and receives a strange message. Back on the spaceship, Thor and Sunfire meet the Apocalypse Twins; everyone is now over Akkaba. The twins first move is to incinerate all the citizens of the city in an act of mercy. They also relay that Wolverine is a traitor and Thor's previous weapon has aided them to this point. Unleashing an explosion of nuclear proportions, they leave Thor, Sunfire, and the approaching Uncanny Avengers in the wake of its destruction.)

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

Deadpool and The Demonic Contracts

SUMMARY PAGE: DEADPOOL, PART II, MARVEL NOW!

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~Wade argues with Vetis. Excerpt from Deadpool #9 (2013).

Analysis: Starting with Deadpool #7, an odd thing happened. Apparently, they didn't have a story ready for March 2013 - or the issue wasn't fully written. Either way, Marvel Editor Jordan D. White says he pulled the first issue of this story arc from a filing cabinet; it had been penned somewhere back in the 70s or 80s.

Centering on the demon, Vetis, Deadpool #7 acknowledges an agreement - a pact - between the he and the hero. Slingshotting to the immediately future, Veritas then returns to Wade in Deadpool #8 and begins exacting fulfillment of said terms of agreement. Wade, still sharing his brain with Agent Preston from the previous issues, has to comply. At the same time, he's also still dealing with the Necromancer who just happens to be involved with the demon. Vetis wants the spellcaster dead, but Wade needs him alive to figure out how to separate him and Preston.

Deadpool #7 (Has no chronological bearing. An issue which centers on nothing but strangeness, it diverges from any relevant event or point in current history. It has a few different chapters in it, but mostly slingshots back to the era when Tony Stark had his "Demon In A Bottle" story arc with alcoholism. The Writer states in the beginning that the team didn't make their deadline and that this is issue was already penned from way back. The only element to transcend this issue is the appearance of the demon, Vetis, who gets Wade to sign a contract.)
Deadpool #8 (Occurs at least 30 years after Deadpool #7, putting it into the present time here. Otherwise, there are no chronological bearings. Wade and Agent Preston are now sharing Wade's body. They visit Preston's family in the dead of night. After some incidents, the demon, Vetis, appears and exacts his contract with Wade. He gives him a list of people to kill from previous contracts. Wade and Preston decide to agree and first kill an invulnerable New Jersey thief named Corrado Coloruno by suffocating him. After that murder is over, Deadpool spots a pretty woman, but gets ambushed an knocked out. The girl and her cohorts then steal a kidney and two pints of his blood and run off.)
Deadpool #9 (Continues from the previous issue. Wade's next assassination continues with an Aquaman-spoof hero. In the same issue, he, Benjamin Franklin, and the Necromancer, learn that the book they need to separate him from Agent Preston is in an ancient library below Styker's Island. They "break" in and head below and gather some manuscripts they think can help. Wade, however, is now concerned the demon Vetis will trick them all. In a brash move, he slices the Necromancer's neck, hoping it will send him to Mephisto, the demon who will set things right.)
Deadpool #10 (Continues from the previous issue. Wade teams up with the Superior Spider-Man in this issue to take on a whole host of villains like Stilt-Woman, The Trapster, and Batroc The Leaper. Once they finish, though, Spider-Man webs him up and leaves him. The story is precluded with Michael in Hell, attempting to gain an audience with Mephisto. The demon taking his request eats him up and prepares to administer his request.)

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

The X-Men Ballad of Legion and Blindfold

SUMMARY PAGE: X-MEN LEGACY, PART II, MARVEL NOW!

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Analysis: Having taken on Luca Aldine, the disembodied eyeballs and also the brother of Ruth aka Blindfold, David begins a journey with her that takes him to the edges of his personality. In truth, she is everything to him: Lover, Nemesis, Advisor, and perhaps the only one who can save him. Their lives are entertwined in the strangest of ways, but without her, he cannot go on. This story arc centers on their inescapable relationship.

X-Men Legacy #7 (Continues from X-Men Legacy #6, after an undefined lapse in time. Somehow, the spirit of Charles Xavier is now a backstory. David now travels to a church after doing some research on Luca's past. All the while, he's aware of Blindfold following him astrally. Once inside, he's surrounded by lots of weirdos and tells them he is in love with a mutant. They're all mutant-haters and attempt to purify him. Once he's left alone in his own room, he confronts Blindfold and the two have argument. It turns out Luca was also a member here and wrote a Book of Prophecy. The church members retrieve David again for a ceremony, but before it can continue, Abagail Brand breaks into the room and attempts to arrest or find the source of an Dire Wraith problem. She spots Haller, but in the exchange, the church people realizes she associates with mutants and spit on her. In the next scene, she's arrested all of them and leaves. Blindfold leaves Haller on amicable terms and now he has the Luca's book.)
X-Men Legacy #8 (Continues from the previous issue, but occurs at a later undefined period. In an astral date with Blindfold, David and her observe a mutant teenager with the power to take credit and positive praise for things he doesn't do. They both try to figure out a way to help him make a difference in the world, but can't agree how. During the date, though, David's mind lashes out, expelling Blindfold from the dimension, and nearly incapacitating him. To his rescue comes Charles Xavier, the mentally-linked version created by his mind. Afterwards, David leaves comments on a web page telling Blindfold how she was right about the mutant boy.)
X-Men Legacy #9 (Continues from X-Men Legacy #8, the time break is undefined. David takes Ruth on another date. This time it starts as a movie, milkshake, and so on. Suddenly, he turns philosophical and explains a story to her. It's about an alien named Aarkus who erroneously ends up believing the mutants must be destroyed. At the end of his story, they all die. Then he tells Ruth that he has seen this future and that it will happen. Ruth believed his story by the end, but is stunned to realize that it hasn't happened yet. David then tells her he could rewrite this story and take Aarkus out, but Ruth won't have it, she's horrified he would kill a creature that hasn't yet done anything wrong. That's when David reveals Aarkus to Ruth and turns his, still breathing body over to her. The date ends and Ruth leaves. David, on the other hand, ponders if he is a monster.)
X-Men Legacy #10 (Continues from the previous issue. While David is sleeping, Ruth dons Cerebro, silently stalking him. David, fearing the future prophecy of Luca's book, speaks with the Xavier entity in his mind. He makes a deal: one minute of complete control if the entity lets him look into the future. Once agree upon, David witnesses two possibilities, him destroying everyone and the world, or him being destroyed by Blindfold. In response, he teleports to the San Francisco Institute of Bio-Social Studies and meets with Mr. Marcus Glove. David has discerned that this man is the most dangerous person to mutantkind; he's fashioned a cure and was indirectly responsible for the Church of The Happy Host tragedies. A mutilated man, Glove believes that mutants will destroy everything including themselves. But David, instead of destroying him, asks for the cure. Ruth, still stalking him, is astonished.)
X-Men Legacy #11 (Continues immediately from the previous issue. David continues to search the Institute of Marcus Glove for tricks, but he finds none; he's prepared to take the pill, fearing he'll do worse if he's allowed to continued with his mutant powers. Blindrfold now senses what David is about to do and runs through the school attempting to recruit mutants to help her extract the man she loves. Meanwhile, back at the Institute David encounters his own psyche, using his dad's image, but maintains his willingness to use the pill. As the issue closes, the true villain reveals himself. Dr. Marcus Glove is actually a manipulation of The Red Skull, now endowed with Xavier's powers. Too late, though, David doesn't care and still plans on taking the pill.)

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

Mobius is WANTED!

SUMMARY PAGE: MORBIUS THE LIVING VAMPIRE, MARVEL NOW!

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Analysis: Michael Morbius, now freed during the preceding issues of Spider-Man, attempts to regain some semblance of life. He hates what he has become and ends up in Brownsville, New York during his adventure.

Optional Amazing Spider-Man #699.1 (There are no chronological markers in this issue. Although not officially part of the Marvel NOW! event, this issue starts with Michael Morbius breaking out of prison. It then goes into his past, becoming friends with "Emil", and the both of them working on a Nobel-based prize from research that will cure his blood disease. Michael, however, is impatient and forces his friend to test the cure on him, turning him into a living vampire. He turns and feeds on his friend, killing him in the process. At the end of the story, Michael has decided to flee into the mysterious unknown and a new title that will be called Morbius #1.)

Morbius, The Living Vampire #1 (Follows ASM #700, where his origin and prison breakout are explained. The story of Michael Morbius starts off with the many truths, lies, and myths about his vampire-like powers. We then learn that to avoid super-heroes, he takes the subway to Brownsville, where he walks the street homeless. Basically, everyone there, including cops, ignores the crime. That's when Michael meets Noah St. Germain, a sort of "Boss" or Bully of the thugs in the town. From the beginning to the end of the issue, Michael tussles with this figure until he's shot in the chest and expected to die.)
Morbius The Living Vampire #2 (Continues from Morbius #1. Michael comes to after having been mortally wounded. But then, he isn't mortal in the truest sense. He meets Becky, a homeless that helps him move to an abandoned theatre, and relates the story of how he ended up tusseling with Noah. Becky takes Morbius to Noah's hideout and they go at it again, all to save a young boy from being inducted into the gang. And although Noah has heightened strength, Michael finally unleashes his bloodlust and slashes his throat.)
Morbius The Living Vampire #3 (Resumes from the previous issue immediately. While Noah lays dying, his girlfriend goes berserk; she orders them to kill him, finally shooting Michael in the neck herself. But he survives and awakens, chained upside down. Becky and the boy, Henry, have escaped in the confusion, but Noah's girlfriend has a tail on them. Michael buys his freedom, proclaiming he can help Noah because he was a medical doctor. She warns him and lets him attempt to save her boyfriend's life. During the process, it appears Noah might make it, but suddenly he awakens and goes berserk. Michael shoves him down while flailing, and appears to kill him outright. And now his girlfriend is really mad.)
Morbius The Living Vampire #4 (Resumes from Morbius #3 immediately. Having enough of playing with mortals, Michael disarms Noah's girlfriend and bites her gunman. She then warns him about the truth behind Brownsville; it's a staging ground for crime waves and has been fought over for years. Noah's origin is also part of this issue; his original name was David Brill when he was rolled and "upgraded" at a place called the North Brother Island by a mysterious benefactor. This turns out to be a super-villain called The Rose, who secretly manipulated Morbius' arrival in the town. He plans on using Michael for his schemes. Meanwhile, the fights have just gotten worse, with thugs of The Rose firing on them all and whisking Noah's body away.)
Morbius The Living Vampire #5 (Resumes from the previous issue. The Gang War has intensified and Micheal decides to "clean house". He goes in, feral, and incapacitates everyone, including Noah's former girlfriend. In the aftermath, the citizens of Brownville, now aware of his flavor of vampirism, bind the wounds of the victim, ensuring their survival. Micheal hears a gunshot and returns to the house to find The Rose. In his introduction, the super-villain explains his plans and Micheal's part; he then shoots our hero in the chest and reveals a picture of Micheal's mother...a bound captive that will be killed unless the vampire does what he says. Later, The Rose calls an investor and states that everything is going as planned; ironically the person on the other end appears to be Micheal's father.) 

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

The Troubled Mind of The Superior Spider-Man

SUMMARY PAGE: SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN, PART II, MARVEL NOW!

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Analysis: The second story arc of Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man's body takes place starting with Superior Spider-Man #7, but is effectively a good lead-in with issue #6. People are starting to sense things are different with the Web-Slinger and now there's going to be trouble.

Optional Avenging Spider-Man #18 (Electro returns and wants revenge on Thor. He makes a deal with AIM and in converted to an anti-matter form. Confronting the God of Thunder, he's now immune to Thor's control of electricity. Spider-Man, though, contructs a device and with Thor's help, gets rid of Electro. Thor believes him dead, but at the end, we learn Spider-Man captured him and has him contained next to Sandman in Doc Ock's lab.)

Superior Spider-Man #6 (Continues from Superior Spider-Man #5, but after Avenging Spider-Man #18. Thor comments that he's teamed up with Spidey and that he's different. Captain America is in his new threads. Featuring two internet buffoons, The Jester and Screwball. These two play some antics on Mayor Jameson for their website and get away. Jameson calls in Spider-Man to apprehend them; at first Spidey declines, then he decides to deal out some revenge against the bullies. His Spidey "bugs" eventually find them and he goes into fighting mode. Jester and Screwball decide to turn this into a web event; it starts off funny, but Spidey gets mad and beats them to a pulp. The viewers watching now realize Spidey is different.)
Superior Spider-Man #7 ( This issue completely skips the events in Superior Spider-Man #6AU as if they never happened. You'll have to read the Age of Ultron event to figure out why. The events here follow Superior Spider-Man #6. The beginning and mid-stream of this issue is about Cardiac using his powers to save people. He infiltrates a police lot to acquire a life-saving device originally created by Doctor Octopus. Spider-Man, however, arrives on the scene to stop him. The original Peter Parker's psyche and influence have slowly been more powerful, and he can now move his body while Doc Ock is sleeping; we also find out that Ock can almost "hear" him. When Spider-Man prepares to severely strike Cardiac, Parker mentally yells "NO". In the confusion, Cardiac gets away. Spidey is then called to Avengers Tower, where Captain America and the rest decide to give him an intervention; they have noticed he's not acting right. They tell him to get a physical, proving he's the real Spidey, or else. Spidey decides his answer is "Or Else", and fights back.)
Superior Spider-Man #8 (Closely follows the previous issue. Notably, Spidey comments that Iron Man is in space. Of Spidey's close contact, Carly and The Avengers are most suspicious. Carly calls in help from a mysterious stranger, and The Avengers force the Web-Crawler into submission, knocking him out. When he wakes up, their scanning his physiology completely. Unfortunately for Peter, trapped in his own brain, they detect nothing out of the norm. They let Spider-Man go, but warn him. As soon as he's free, he assaults Cardiac's hideout. He makes a path to his helmet and then finds out that his past exploits have caused a young girl's dying condition. Instead of ripping the helmet off her, he completes her diagnosis and performs the surgery to save his life. He then offers Cardiac his support and leaves. Once he's back at Horizon Labs, though, we find out the sobering truth. Doc Ock now knows that Peter is still alive and residing in his head. Now he can hear him, and now he plans to get rid of him completely. Is that confusing or what?)
Superior Spider-Man #9 (Follows the previous issue, with a short, undefined break. Otto now uses his brain scanner and locates the memory fragment of Peter Parker in his head. He then attempts the extraction of the last vestiges of the true Spider-Man. Parker isn't going down willingly, though; as his thoughts crumble, he fights back with all his strength. Suddenly, the battle goes into the psyche with Otto and Peter facing each other like never before. Each hurls weaknesses at each other as they ploy their mental strengths. Each believes they are the better Spider-Man. The fight goes to near extinction for each, but in the end, it appears Otto gains the advantage. On the last panels, it appears he's beaten Peter Parker completely. The original Spider-Man may be gone for good.)
Superior Spider-Man #10 (Continues from the previous issue with an undefined break. There is a reference by Mary Jane that Peter has changed over a period of months. It seems like the original Peter Parker is now gone, purged. Spider-Man, no unbridled, first goes after White Dragon and The Owl, but not after letting them thin themselves out in a gang war. In the midst of earning his Doctorate, Peter now ignores Mary Jane, but begins to have a relationship with his tutor. As all this is happening, a new villain is lurking other the streets of New York City. He's called the Goblin King and he's learned how to get around all the Spider-bots watching.)
Superior Spider-Man #11 (Continues from the previous issue, but there is an undefined break in time. Starting with J. Jonah Jameson's call to spidey, the issue focuses on the execution of Alistair Smythe aka the Spider Slayer. Expecting a break-out, the web-crawler uses his "superior" tech to be ready. Once the execution commences, true to form, Smythe attempts to escape and Spidey is ready. At the end, though, there is one thing he may have not realized; Scorpion, Vulture, and Boomerang are also nearby and Smythe has them fixed up and freed. His request is simple: I helped you, now help me kill Spider-Man!)

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

Fearless Defenders, Facing The Doom Maidens

SUMMARY PAGE: FEARLESS DEFENDERS, MARVEL NOW!

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Analysis: Marvel comes up with an all-female alliance, heralding a new brand of justice with Valkyrie, Misty Knight, and more deadly ladies of power. These first few issues do not follow a distinct story arc, but represent the origin of the characters coming together as their first villain attempts to revive an ancient Asguardian legend.

Fearless Defenders #1 (Has no chronological markers. Misty Knight has been retained by Annabelle Riggs to acquire Asguardian artifacts, but when she stops the smugglers, she assaulted by mercs with high-tech weaponry. She manages to escape with a piece. Once she gives it over to Riggs, it turns on, emitting an ancient song, and calling the dead in the area to undeath. Misty goes into action, but is surprised when Valkyrie on her winged Aragorn land and take to battle. Valkryie destroyed the artifact the end zombied-warriors fall. Searching for wisdom, she tells Riggs and Knight that she will consult with All-Mother. Riggs decides to go with her, and Misty plans on staying around as a bodyguard. By the end of the issue, we learn that a plot is hatching to awaken Doommaidens.)
Fearless Defenders #2 (Continues from the previous issue. This issue begins with mercenaries attempting to capture Dani Moonstar. She's ready for them and takes most of them out, but is eventually caught. When she awakens, she's in a stone encasement, captured by a woman who says she wants to become a Valkyrie. The story then cuts to Broxton, Oklahoma where the Misty, Annabelle, and the last Valkyrie are approaching Asgardia. When the reach the All-Mother, the learn about the Doom Maidens and their possible return. Hela, goddess of Death, appears, and Valkyrie goes immediately into a frenzy, attacking her. During the battle, though, Hela has her own champion: Warrior Woman, Hippolyta.)
Fearless Defenders #3 (Follows immediately from Fearless Defenders #2. Now that Hippolyta has appeared, Hela announces that she's chosen her as her champion. The All-Mother staves her command though, stating that Hippolyta, The Valkyrie, Misty Knight and Riggs will all go together to the source of the Doom Maiden trouble. That turns out to be Washington State. As they search, Dani is caught in the middle of a ritual, awakening the ancient Maidens. The girls arrive just in time to battle. The endgame is uncertain, but the female legends stop when they assume The Valkyrie is one of them.)
Fearless Defenders #4 (Follows immediately from the previous issue. Valkyrie is confused, but fights on. Something strange has her distracted. During the battle, though, the rest of the team manages to retrieve Dani and escape. They make a strategic withdrawal to one of Misty's safehouses. Valkyrie, having one of her visions, realizes the truth, that she is a Doommaiden and the rest will come for her. She splits the team up, leaving Misty and Annabelle behind. Misty has other plans, though, and calls on her Heroes For Hire resources.)
Fearless Defenders #5 (Follows immediately from the previous issue.  Valkyrie, Hippolyta, and Dani are fighting for their lives and the Doommaidens come in on flying dragons. About to be beaten, Misty shows up with multiple super-women, everyone from Thundra and She-Hulk to Black Cat and Black Widow. As the tide of the fight turns, though, Valkyrie herself unleashes. She's becoming consumed with her Doommaiden heritage; she's now in a rage.)

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

It's Reverie for The Secret Avengers

SUMMARY PAGE: THE SECRET AVENGERS, MARVEL NOW!

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Analysis: Compared to this series, X-Force and the previous Secret Avengers were child's play. Now building a true espionage force to accomplish their dirtiest missions, SHIELD has recruited a task force that forgets almost everything - who sent them, their objectives, and secrets that could implicate the organization. Main characters are Mockingbird, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD.

Secret Avengers #1 (Currently placed here because there are no chronological markers. Hawkeye and Black Widow team up with the latest Nick Fury incarnation to go on a mission involving the attempted assassination of The President. The target is Andras Bertesy, a drug-dealer and practitioner of the mystic arts. Surrounding the story is the strange case of memory lapses and redacted information. It turns out SHIELD is using specialized nano-tech on Natasha and Clint to keep them from remembering the truth should they become captured or a threat. At one point, Clint remembers be shot by three thugs, but it turns out it was actually Fury; they just manipulated the memory to make it acceptable. Andras is captured by the end of the story, and his plot was to use Darkforce energy to teleport a terrorist into the White House. When the plan finally enacts, though, Fury is waiting and kills the killer.)
Secret Avengers #2 (Continues after Secret Avengers #1 with an undefined lapse in time. Starting off with the focus on AIM and the new Scientest Supreme, they are having a breakthrough at one of their facilities, and moving forward in their plans. The story then shifts to the new Nick Fury in the villain-nation of Bagalia. He's buying Taskmaster out of prison there and gets double-crossed by the villain Crossfire. They manage to escape with the help of Mockingbird, Coulson, Black Widow, and Hawkeye, later offering him a job. Bagalia appears to be a consortium of super-criminals running the government, with villains also in the citizenry. As the AIM Scientist Supreme begins conversing with their Department Heads, though, we notice that Taskmaster, obviously a SHIELD double-agent, is now their Minister of Defense.)
Secret Avengers #3 (Continues from Secret Avengers #2, but there is an undefined time lapse. As Agent Fury and Director Johnson visit a tech expo, they are surprised to see that an Iron Patriot version of Iron Man is being shown and will be used as drones. AIM, now a diplomatic organization with their own country, arrives and begins to get into an altercation with Daisy. She strikes and then a fight begins. They kill a Senator and steal the Iron Patriot before leaving. Meanwhile, Maria Hill is tasking Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Mockingbird to unofficially breach the AIM headquarters. They take out a number of scientists and find a copy of the JOCASTA andriod. Or is it? At the end, The Scientist Supreme has some plans for Mentallo, and it involves the new Iron Patriot they acquired.)
Secret Avengers #4 (Continues from the previous issue. Using their new armor, AIM grabs the rest of the Iron Patriots and uses Mentallo's power to make them sentient. SHIELD brings in Bruce Banner aka Hulk to help them. As the behemoth, he jumps in to a mess of the Iron Patriots and destroys everything. Quickly after, though, they wipe his memory and make it look like it was a rampage of the monster of his own volition. Near the same timeframe, Mockingbird and her team are breaking into AIM Island; the plan is to assassinate the AIM Scientist Supreme.)

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

Iron Man is GodKiller

SUMMARY PAGE: IRON MAN, PART II, MARVEL NOW!

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Analysis: The second story arc from Iron Man is the AvX: Godkiller plot. Now Iron Man is out in space; he's had interaction with the Guardians of The Galaxy and he's been exploring. Uniquely, this is also important to the Avengers vs. X-Men story arc, as it has some implications to the disappearance of The Phoenix.

Iron Man #6 (Has no chronological bearing at the time. This placement may be temporary. In Iron Man #5, the story ends that this suit will be built "weeks later". New "space suit" and new "PEPPER" a.i. After fighting and finishing up space pirates, Tony ends up on a ship with the Voldi, an ancient race whose teachings have reached the Kree and Shi'ar. It's his birthday and he tries to hook up with a Voldi princess, but she's disgusted by his hair. As his day gets worse, though, he's attacked by robots. Destroying them, he learns that they are cops and he's under arrest. He turns himself in to find out that they are arresting him for the destruction of "The Void Falcon", which you and I know as "The Phoenix". This issue has multiple banners. It is also part of an event called AvX Aftermath.) 
Iron Man #7 (Continues from Iron Man #6 after a short period. Tony is now a prisoner of the Voldi and has been called on to answer for crimes against their people and their god, which turns out to be the Phoenix Force. The issue is built a lot like a Star Wars movie, but ultimately the robot, or droid, supplying him with drinks reveals itself to be Recorder 451, a Rigellian creation unique to its kind because of a programming malfunction. Explaining it's origin, it tells Tony of a play to invoke Shay-Tah Run, a Voldi rite of combat. In Star Trek-like Captain Kirk fashion, Tony issues the challenge during his trial and ends up in an arena like a pit fighter. Fortunately for him, the Voldi suck at fighting; Tony beats them all up. At the same time, the Recorder is searching for Tony's armor, getting closer by the moment. But as Tony tires, the goal is for him to stay alive long enough for this plot to work. Getting worried, though, the Voldi Supreme Justicar begins to consider that Stark's success in combat may cause a problem. Her advisor comes up with a solution, and on the last page Tony meets his final opponent, Death's Head the Bounty Hunter.)
Iron Man #8 (Continues immediately from Iron Man #7. Death's Head begins attacking and all Tony can do is run. Elsewhere, Recorder 451 reaches the Iron Man armor and convinces the Pepper AI to rescue him. In the meantime, he steals the Voldi "Heart", a very special device. Back at the arena, Tony is saved as a moments notice when his armor flies in, knocking Death's Head away. He suits up and rockets back to his mobile armory. While gearing up, Pepper tells him something bad is happening back at the Voldi base. It the Celestials: they are now destroying the ancient race. Before Iron Man can turn and help them, Recorder 451 displays his image saying that they heart was a device they used to siphon power off The Celestials. Once he removed it, The Celestials killed them like a tick. It turns out all this was Recorder's idea: to lure Stark to The Voldi and use him as a distraction while he stole The Heart. Thanking Iron Man, he disappears.)

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

Here's The New Nova!

SUMMARY PAGE: NOVA, MARVEL NOW!

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Analysis: Sam Alexander isn't Richard Ryder, but he's an unofficial member of The Nova Corps nevertheless. Inheriting the helmet from his often-absent father, Sam is now one of the youngest heroes around. He's fast and quantum-equpped, he's Nova!
  
Nova #1 (An origin story starring a young kid named Sam Alexander. His dad, a previous member of the Nova Corps, is now a janitor as Sam's school. Although he tells Sam and his sister stories from beyond the stars, Sam is skeptical. It's this same attitude, though, that gets him into trouble at school. After getting banged up one day, he's out for three days in the hospital. He wakes up, though, and is confronted by Rocket Racoon and Gamora, two Guardians of the Galaxy!)
Nova #2 (Continues from the previous issue without any breaks. Startled by the appearance of Gamora and Rocket Racoon, Sam runs out of his room for help; when he returns with a nurse, they're gone. Somehow Sam gets out of the hospital and tries on the helmet they left behind, though. That's when he gets a message from his dad about the burden and responsibility of using the Nova powers. Sam tries them out for a bit, and then returns to leave the hospital next morning. Later, he works on testing out the powers again, but forgets how to slow down. He eventually hits, or ends up, on the moon, before the presence of one of the Watchers.)
Nova #3 (Continues immediately from the previous issue. The Watcher refused to speak, but shows Sam the image of a coming fleet of warships. When Sam returns to earth, Rocket Racoon and Gamora appear once more. They explain their mission and begin training him. Later, they tell him of the coming threat and the Chitauri Armada. That's when Sam acknowledges the vision The Watcher gave him. Thinking they can plot their location, they send him on a "space jump" to find the fleet. Sam treks out in space; when he arrives, he's virtually in front of the Chitauri fleet. And they've just fired their weapon, The Ultimate Nullifier!)
Nova #4 (Continues immediately from Nova #3. Sam fights back, weaving and dodging with the power of the Nova Force at his command. He breaks into one of the Chitauri ships and comes face to face with a character known as Titus. It turns out Titus was once a friend of Sam's dad, but is now calling him a traitor. Sam and Titus argue about Jesse Alexander, but it doesn't change opinions; Sam blasts through the ship and finds the Ultimate Nullifier. He then returns to Earth, looking for Gamora and Rocket Racoon. There's no sign of them so he hides the device. Heading to the shed, he thinks his friends have returned, but it turns out to be Titus, the former Black Nova, who tracked him.)

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

The Guardians Of The Galaxy In The Wake Of War

SUMMARY PAGE: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, MARVEL NOW!

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Analysis: Ever since the announcements and speculation of the 2012 Avengers movie, The Guardians of the Galaxy have been gaining in popularity. These aren't the Guardians of the 70's, they've been rebuilt in the last decade with Starlord, Rocket Raccon, Drax, Groot, and Gamora. Also integral to the silver screen and the Marvel NOW! reformation is Iron Man's appearance in space. He's going to play a part of their adventures as you'll soon see.

Guardians of the Galaxy #0.1 (An origin issue of sorts, it delves 30 years back when J'Son of Spartax acccidentally lands on earth in a rural setting, meeting Meredith. She nurses him to health, but they also fall in love. Before he leaves, he gives her a special weapon designed only for him. The issue then moves to the younger years of Peter Quill, the child of Meredith and J'Son who never got to meet his father. His days growing up are tense, finally exploding on the night two brood soldiers kill his mother, invading his house. He manages to pull a shotgun and kill them first. In the tussle, he also finds the special gun his father left behind long ago. The issue ultimately closes with an adult Peter Quill, relaying his story to none other than Tony Stark, Iron Man, while on the Guardians ship. Iron Man then says "he's in" and prepares to join them in their fight.)
Guardians of the Galaxy #1 (It's clear Iron Man has met with Peter, so this occurs after Guardians of the Galaxy #0.1 and the recent Iron Man issues. Peter's dad, King of the Spartax Planetary system, warns him that Earth is now off limits to all others. The story then breaks to Iron Man, once out in space, who runs into a Badoon Phalanx and is targeted. While fighting, the Guardians come to his aid. But as ferocious as the Badoon are, they realize they are beaten and explode their ship. From the wreckage, they can see another ship heading towards earth. At the end, Peter suspects that his father knew this was going to happen; we see London under attack.)
Guardians of the Galaxy #2 (Continues immediately from the previous issue. Starlord and his team, with Iron Man joining them, go into action against the Badoon invasion of London. They attempt to radio for help, but all communications are blocked. One by one, each of the Badoon ships are taken out until the team stands alone with few wounds. Suddenly, Spartax forces appear and order Peter and the rest to drop their weapons for violating the Earth Directive of non-interaction with the planet. Throughout the issue, there is also a meeting of the galaxy's leader's, including the All-Mother of Asgardia, who warns the rest that they should not attack the planet because it is under her protection. The King of Spartax uses this threat as a means to set up the Directive.) 

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

Thanos Rising

SUMMARY PAGE: THANOS RISING, MARVEL NOW!

Click Here: The Marvel NOW! Reading Order

Analysis: With the end of the Avengers Movie of 2012, we got an Easter Egg glimpse of their next big super-villain: It's going to be Thanos. He's always been popular since the Infinity Gauntlet story, having swooned Death and the near-destruction of the Universe. In Marvel NOW!, they're rebuilding his fandom. This 5-part mini-series is designed to draw new readers and prepare us for the next Avengers movie installment.
  
Thanos Rising #1 (Part 1 of a 5-part story. Thanos walks on his homeworld, Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, and begins remembering his childhood. He was born with a genetic mutation that made his skin purple; when his mother first saw him, she became insane and tried to kill him. She ended up in a solitary mental institution. As he grew, he became one of the smartest students; he also became frinds with Argus and Cythera. Later, a strange young girl approaches him one day and tells him about a cave; he takes his two friends there and it collapses on them. Buried alive, he tries to claw his way to freedom for days. Once he gets to an opening, he finds his friends eaten to the bone by lizards. He makes it back to civilization and the strange girl is there again, convincing him that he has something he needs to do. Thanos later returns to the cave and begins enacting retribution, killing all the lizards in the cave.)

Thanos Rising #2 (Part 2. Now in his teenage years, Thanos cravingly looks for the answer to life's mystery: a purpose. He's become the most gifted, most brilliant, in the school's history, even surpassing his teachers. But the strange girl is ever watching, influencing, and advising; even though he dissects small creatures, it isn't enough. He doesn't understand love. Convinced or manipulated, he captures two youths engaged in romance. He dissects them, completely the first murders on Titan since times long past. As people begin disappearing, no one truly suspects a crime, but his mother broods that she knows him. The same strange girl, whom he feels may offer him love, rebuffs him and says that he's actually found what he needs. He denies it at first, but later realizes that killing is what makes him complete. At the end of the issue, he plans on searching that aspect of his life more fully; he captures his mother and prepares to dissect her.)

Thanos Rising #3 (Part 3. After killing his mother, Thanos leaves to the outer rim of the galaxy and begins looking for "truth". He ends up joining a group of Space Pirates, using his wits to help them gain loot. Unfortunately, the Captain of the group hates him because he won't kill. Throughout the issue, Thanos mates and makes offspring with many alien races, but never finds love. Near the end, the Captain attempts to kill him, but Thanos in a moment of bliss, opens his eyes and realizes he's killed his enemy. The issue then resumes to where Thanos is walking on the dead moon Titan, staring over his mother's grave. The woman who has always haunted him from youth, surprisingly, is also there. Thanos professes his love for her, but she says he'll have to give himself to her fully. There can be no others. And that's when Thanos begins tracking down all his previous mates and children, killing them for her.)

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

The Return of Cyclops

SUMMARY PAGE: UNCANNY X-MEN and Cable And X-FORCE, MARVEL NOW!

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Analysis: Although the story of Scott Summers has already commenced, this section deals intrinsically with his plans. It actually begins in AvX: Consequences #1-5, but unfolds in Marvel NOW! through Uncanny X-Men, where he begins recruiting new mutants to train. Unlikely alliances follow his guidance with the likes of Magneto and Magik. Scott and those mutants who once held the Phoenix Force are now changed. Also provided here is Cable and X-Force issues where the appearance of Cyclops is part of the story.

Uncanny X-Men #1 (No chronological markers in this issue that set it anywhere except past Scott's escape from prison. Maria Hill of SHIELD is visited by a mutant whose face we can't see until the end. This character then tells her all the details of Scott Summer's rise to cult fandom in the nation, as well as his missions to gather awakening mutants. But he also relates how Scott's power is on the fritz and acting unpredictably. By the end of the issue, the character is revealed to be Magneto, now playing a new role, and preparing to betray Scott.)
Uncanny X-Men #2 (Continues after Uncanny X-Men #1, and noticeably at the end, you have the armored-up Hulk and new-costumed Captain America. Mostly an issue about resolving differences, Scott and Emma talk about their past and how they are coming to terms. Emma decides to stay with Scott because she's a good teacher, but she's not sure about the Revolution. Scott shows the new mutants the Sentinel threat and explains the grand scheme of mutantkind, but some of the kids still want to make amends at home. Scott has Magik teleport them to Australia, leaving Magneto behind. Big mistake: Magneto warns SHIELD of their location. When the X-Men appear, Captain America and the Avengers are jumping in to take them down.)
Uncanny X-Men #3 (Continues immediately from Uncanny X-Men #2. Starting from the showdown, it's mostly a contest of words. Captain America attempts to place them under arrest, but Scott will have none of it. As a matter of fact, they place some of the blame on the Avengers, for breaking the Phoenix Force. At some point, though, a fight almost occurs when suddenly, one of the new mutants creates a time bubble and freezes the Avengers. Scott's team leaves and teleports back to their hideout. There, they find out Magneto gave away their position. But surprisingly, he also explains he did it to get in good with SHIELD and others to learn more about their plans against mutantkind. His excuse is that he needed everyone ignorant in case psychics attempted to learn the truth. In that last few pages, Scott gets an idea and teleports with Magneto, Magik, and Emma to the Jean Grey School, preparing for some unrevealed confrontation.)
All-New X-Men #9 (Continues from All New X-Men #8, but has a scene at the end which correlates to the scene at the end of Uncanny X-Men #3. Kitty has the team train in their Danger Room while testing their powers. Jean continues to show her new talents and eventually uncovers that Scott has met with Mystique. Scott won't talk, though, and keeps quiet throughout the issue. Meanwhile, Mystique disguises herself as Maria Hill, taking Sabretooth to The Raft and freeing Lady Mastermind to join her group. Elswewhere, Angel queries the newly-mutated Beast about the Mutant Genocide and he responds that this is what he's trying to avoid. Tempers rise and fall throughout the issue, but all are stunned when Scott Summers - this era's Cyclops - appears with Magneto, Magik, and Emma Frost, at their front door.)
All-New X-Men #10 (Continues immediately from All-New X-Men #9. (Centering around Cyclops' appearance at the Jean Grey School, he and his team tell everyone that they are opening their own school for mutants, preparing them for harsher realities to come. There's a lot of back and forth animosity and explanations over Xaviers death and the fact that Summers is naming his center the "Xavier School". At the end, though, the Cuckoo triplets leave and one other mutant, who no one expected. Elswhere in the issue, Mystique and her group continue their exercises and make an 18 million dollar grab. SHIELD is now alerted the Mystique's attack which freed Sabretooth and the Lady Mastermind, and they check in with the Jean Grey School, alerting them.)
All-New X-Men #11 (Continues immediately from All-New X-Men #10. Kitty, Jean, and the rest are stunned that Warren would want to leave. Jean attempts to force him psychically, but the Cuckoo triplets face off against her. She's untrained and loses the fight. With tempers flaring, the present version of Cyclops, with the past version of Warren, leave. The members of the school are sad and confused with Angel's decision. Kitty warns Jean that she can't use her powers to force people anymore; she has to be responsible for her actions. Later on there's an attack of mutants on a Stark Resilient factory. It's actually Mystique and her team, but they are appearing like the young X-Men. Kitty, Logan and the past X-Men head to investigate it, but their aircraft is downed. When they step outside to meet their aggressors, it's Havok, Captain America, and the Uncanny Avengers.)
All-New X-Men #12 (Continues immediately from All-New X-Men #11. Young Scott meets his brother Havok like its the first time, learning lots of history in the process. Meanwhile, Jean, upon seeing Scarlet Witch, finds out how she destroyed the mutant race. This causes her to lash out at the Uncanny Avengers. Fortunately, no one takes to battle. Captain America tells them about the black-and-gold X-Men sightings, but Wolverine defiantly says it's Mystique behind the ruse. The groups break off on better terms, but Wolverine directs his team to go after the mutant shape-shifter.)
Uncanny X-Men #4 (Continues from the previous issue, but for syncronicity, works best after All-New X-Men #11. Most of this issue involves the encounter between Cyclops' team and the team at the Jean Grey School, which is detailed in All-New X-Men #10, #11. What's new is Emma Frost's telepathic conversation with the Cuckoo triplets. Once they encounter ends, the story goes into much of the training and integration of the new mutants. It also begins alerting us that Magik is starting to have demonic problems of her own.)
Uncanny X-Men #5 (Continues from Uncanny X-Men 4. The word is out now; Magik reveals that her powers are starting to break apart and become unpredictable like everyone else who once held the Phoenix powers. She relates how she was summoned to Limbo and had to fight Dormammu. She also reveals that the Darkchilde took hold of her to win the battle. As the new members, the Cuckoo triplets and young Angel, are meeting the rest of the team, Magik has another attack and everyone is transported to Limbo. Scott attempts to get her to focus, but her Darkchilde personality is now in control.)
Uncanny X-Men #6 (Continues from the previous issue. Dormammu is now using Magik as his focus as he attempts to take over Limbo and become its ruler. He prepares to kill all the X-Men, but Emma convinces the Cuckoos to make the newest members brave and fight. The battle is still ongoing as the issue ends. Meanwhile, Agent Hill is dealing with all the anti-mutant tech after all the events of the past and decides that a mutant expert - one who is also a mutant - will be needed. She enlists Dazzler as an Agent of SHIELD.)
Cable and X-Force #6 (Continues after an undefined break from the previous issue. Cyclops is noticeably in his new costume, and we're currently not sure where this happens during the Uncanny X-Men titles. So it may be moved in the future. Peter is no longer in Mexico, but imprisoned on The Raft, escorted by Wolverine. Logan reminds him that they'll probably throw away the key. During his stay, which could be days or weeks, Kitty uses her powers to spy on him. She wants to make amends, but doesn't know how to approach him anymore. Near the middle to end of the issue, though, Domino and Boom Boom stage a breakin; ironically, it's not to free Pete, but to grab an incarcerated alien. While Cable is preparing their escape, though, he's met by his father, Cyclops, who wants to speak.)
Cable and X-Force #7 (Continues immediately from the previous issue. Cyclops appears to have no other purpose but to help Nathan stick a thorn in SWORD's side. While they are talking, the organization sends a ship to attack. Meanwhile, Forge and Dr. Nemesis are attempting to pilot the alien's craft towards the place where it is imprisoned. Domino pleads with Pete to walk free, but he's stubborn and wants to pay for his previous crimes against humanity. Down at the bottom of the installation, Boom Boom attempts to free the alien; some difference in understanding causes a struggle, but eventually the ship and it's master meet up. The alien creates a huge portal for Pete to head towards freedom, then leaves.)


This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

Wolverine and Shanna are Savaged!

SUMMARY PAGE: SAVAGE WOLVERINE, MARVEL NOW!

Click Here: The Marvel NOW! Reading Order

Analysis: With Marvel NOW!, Wolverine is going to get a lot of titles. Savage Wolverine just happens to be one of them, the main theme being his more bestial nature. In this first story arc and plot, he's dropped into The Savage Land and meets with Shanna, the She-Devil and Amadeus Cho. Their character development is also important to the evolution of this huge event.

Savage Wolverine #1 (No chronological markers, but this appears to be an encounter best left towards the end of this event.. This issue could be moved at a later date. Guest-starting Shanna of The Jungle, Logan plops into The Savage Land and finds himself on a cursed island that won't let him leave. He tracks his way to a downed SHIELD aircraft and encounters Shanna who tells him that she was aiding a mapping mission when they lost power. For eight months, she and the SHIELD operatives have been trying to survive. Now, she is the only one left. She also tells Logan that they located an ancient machine in the mountain that they were going to explode. He takes the explosive and pockets it, suddenly they are attacked by "Reapers". Wolverine takes one out, but is plummeting to earth as this issue ends.)
Savage Wolverine #2 (Continues immediately from Savage Wolverine #1. After Logan hits the ground, he and Shanna still have to fight their way to survival. The issue goes indepth into how well the two work together. In the meantime, Amadeus Cho appears in the Savage Land out of nowhere and begins to "survive" his way to a tribal chief, where he can learn what's happening. He uses his technical powers to appear as a diety.)
Savage Wolverine #3 (Continues from the previous issue with an undefined break. Cho questions the tribal elder and learns that the Forbidden Island houses a sleeping creature called a "Dark Walker". The tribe, throughout the ages, has been tasked with killing interlopers who might try to awaken it. Cho also learns of Wolverine's and Shanna's presence; he leads part of the tribe to them while they are engaged in battle, just as Shanna gets a mortal wound and Wolverine gets thrown over the cliff. Cho attempts to rescue Shanna, but the elder's medicine is not powerful enough. He suggests a special ritual. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the cliff, Wolverine gets up and is furious, threatening to kill everything on the island.)
Savage Wolverine #4 (Continues from the previous issue. Cho and the tribal chief move Shanna's body to a sacred area and finds a Man-Thing resting within. Using part of it's natural power, Shanna is resurrected; now she is bonded to the Savage Land with increased strength, speed, and powers. Slightly confused, Cho explains to her the reason the island exists; that's when she takes off, worried that Wolverine might detonate the bomb and free the imprisoned alien. Arriving just in time at the pyramid, she stops Wolverine from making a fatal error. But in the midst of their victory, another being appears: The Hulk!)
Savage Wolverine #5 (Continues immediately from the previous issue. No one knows from what place or time the Hulk came from, but he does seem to recognize Cho and the others. Amadeus convinces both Hulk and Wolverine to stand down; as they back away, though, a huge ape attacks Hulk. Shanna takes out the gorilla and Logan stabs Hulk in the head. You have to wonder if something like that would kill the green guy, but it doesn't. Because of the battling, the monstrosity within is now freed. Hulk reappears and grabs the bomb from Shanna; he leaps with it towards the monster, but is smacked away towards the ocean and eaten by a huge sea creature before he lands. The Cthulu-like creature than flies towards the sky and is seen leaving the galaxy where it arrives on a planetoid-like craft. We then learn it is a herald of the god-like creature Visher-Rakk, and has found its master a new galaxy to devour.)

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW

An Uncanny X-Force Reborn

SUMMARY PAGE: UNCANNY X-FORCE, MARVEL NOW!

Click Here: The Marvel NOW! Reading Order

Analysis: Led by Ororo and Psylocke, the offshoot success that followed Uncanny X-Force in the past has now been revitalized with a face-lift. The jury will be out for awhile as these two femmes recruit Puck, bring back Fantomex and his clone lover, and maybe even recruit Bishop and Spiral, to the fold. Please note the first issue in this arc is Wolverine and The X-Men #24. This is intentional because it establishes Storm's old, but new, Mohawk hairstyle.

Wolverine and The X-Men #24 (Occurs after the events in All-New X-Men because Beast is now mutated and the time-travelled X-Men have decided to stay with The Jean Grey School of Higher Learning. In an attempt to reveal a series of relationships, this issue shows Ororo attaining the Mohawk and getting romantic with Wolverine. Kid Omega finds telepathic friendship, and some desire, when he finally meets Jean Grey. Bobby and Kitty go out, but it's so boring that they decide to switch gears and use their powers to have one of their best dates ever. And lastly, Idie is still heart-broken about Broo's critical condition, but suddenly he wakes up and attacks!)
Uncanny X-Force #1 (The key element from this issue is Storm's haircut. She's now sporting the mohawk. Also, Betsy asks her about her romance with Wolverine. Right now, the best placement for this is behind Wolverine and The X-Men #24. An origin-based issue, it starts off centered on Betsy Braddock aka Psylocke who can't find her place among the world's mutants anymore. Wolverine prompts her to leave the Jean Grey school and Storm decides to play babysitter and follow her around while she follows a mission. She ends up at a California bar where Puck, formerly of Alpha Flight, is residing. He points her to the dealer of a new drug called Tao. When Storm and Psylocke look, they realize it's Spiral. Psylocke immediately goes on the attack while Storm and Puck check out her vault. As these events transpire, the issue cuts to France where Fantomex and his clone, Cluster are in the middle of a job. They escape and we see that he and her are romantically involved.)
Uncanny X-Force #2 (Continues immediately from Uncanny X-Force #1. They fight continues with Spiral attempting to get away with the newest mutant. This girl appears to have some form of psychic influence and the six-armed ninja doesn't want to let her go. Meanwhile, across the city, Bishop has appeared from the end of time. He's more feral - something's really changed in him. Betsy and Ororo continue their fight with Puck at their side and finally find where Spiral has holed up. Suddenly Bishop explodes unto the scene. And he's after the new mutant girl, as well.) 
Uncanny X-Force #3 (Continues from the previous issue. Betsy wakes up next to Storm and Bishop is gone. After a quick debriefing, though, they have Puck free Spiral and teleport to Ginny's location. It turns out to be a subway. From the darkness, Bishop strikes. Spiral uses the battle to grab Ginny and teleport into a Subway train. Betsy hits Bishop with her psychic knife attack, but suddenly enters his mind. Inside, it's a confusing world of psychic dangers. She's trapped.)
Uncanny X-Force #4 (Continues immediately from the previous issue. Betsy fights a strange Owl and Bear in Bishops mind, but is knocked out before she can truly arm herself. Meanwhile, Spiral and Ginny are found; the enraged Bishop faces her as explosions go off. Fantomex and his female clone are not far off; they're about to arrive in the area until Dark Fantomex appears and begins battle. Storm revives Betsy as she's expelled from Bishop's mind; they locate the battle but are too late; Bishop wins and Ginny disappears. They all witness a "Ghost Owl" visage in the wake. Puck knocks a newly-aware-but-confused Bishop out, but no one truly understands what just happened. At the end, Ginny is at a bar; the Ghost Owl image burns on her forehead and she calling herself a  four thousand years old.)
Uncanny X-Force #5 (Continues from the previous issue. With Storm at her side, Betsy psychically enters Biship's mind and reveals a "past future" where he becomes a member of "The Order". Revenants, vampire-like creatures who infect humans, run rampant and he becomes a hunter. In this mind, which Betsy and Storm are trying to repair, Bishop is trapped by the Ghost Owl who turns out to be the Queen of the Revenants. Learning this, Betsy reveals the Demon Bear, which is a crucial entity and element in repairing Bishop's mind. All this is going on while, externally, Puck gets drunk with Spiral. As they are getting liquored, Dark Fantomex steals Betsy's body.)

This is a Story Arc Summary Page provided by The Superheroes List. If you're just arriving, Marvel NOW! is a reformation of the Marvel Comics Publishing Group, reinventing and revitalizing their great superheroes and villains to the latest era. Are you interested in what's happening with Marvel NOW!? Well you're not alone. You can find the Reading Order and more information at The Marvel NOW! Reading Order. Twitter #MarvelNOW