AOM 03-2021

AGENTS OF A.R.C.A.N.A. #28

Plot by NX01A

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

Theme Song: Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water

"IF I BE WASPISH, BEST BEWARE MY STING."

•Everyone in the US wondered where the murder hornets disappered to back in 2020. When a small swarm of them appears in Saitama, the locals aren't worried by these familiar so-called 'sparrow insects'. But when the swarm takes the shape of a hornet which grows to the size of a skyscraper? If anyone knows how to flee from giant monsters, it's the Japanese.

•After a quick X-Jet jaunt from the mutant-run island of Krakatoa, the SCARLET WITCH hexes NIGHTCRAWLER's brimstone to envelop and placate the murder swarm but it only makes the hornets more agitated. Luckily, her hex inadvertently opens a portal to another dimension! Enter THE VISION! Generating his own smoke, the entity known as AARKUS calms the swarm before freezing its constituent hornets solid. As they fall and shatter like hail, Nightcrawler realizes he may have competition for the Scarlet Witch's affections.

•Who would weaponize murder hornets? As DOCTOR STRANGE investigates, it may be the same people who made them disappear from America in the first place... and they may make him disappear, too!

32 PGs./ Rated M...$3.99

AGENTS OF FURY #7

Writer: CHRISTOPHER PRIEST

Artist: STEFAN CASELLI

Plot: MARVELL2100

“I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE!” Part 6

Nick rushes back to America after the warning from Madam HYDRA and the message he received from Diamondback. Rachel believes Nomad has been compromised and is a willing follower of Sen. Kelly. He's risen in the ranks of her organization and is now the deputy campaign manager. If Jack has been converted then the entire team is in jeopardy! Elsewhere, Scorpio and Roz Solomon are following a lead on trail of dark money behind Kelly's sudden rise. One name keeps coming up over and over in their investigation: Shadow Cabinet! A tip has led them to one of the Senator's offices in a high rise in Chicago. They pose as a couple wishing to contribute to her re-election when armed men burst into the room surrounding them. They hear the sound of heels walking across a high polished, slick floor getting closer. Viper, one of the most dangerous people on the planet and leader of various terrorist organizations enters the room and smiles. It's not everyday you capture a couple of Fury's flunkies and even better when you get to kill them!

32 PGS./Rated T+...$3.99

BLACK PANTHER: KING OF WAKANDA #20

Written by MALCOLM JONES

Plot by MARVELL2100

Art by ADI GRANOV

“STURM AND DRANG!” Part 4: “ALWAYS AIM FOR THE HEAD!”

Military Installation outside of Denver, CO: Kasper Kole and the HZ team have rescued Okoye and Kyen and are trying to make their escape. But things have turned south real quick when the U.S.Agent and a squad of elite soldiers arrive! Everyone else has gotten out except for Kasper and Okoye. Outnumbered and out-gunned the two try to fight their way free but the odds grow increasingly against them! Suddenly one of the soldiers turns against the others, quickly taking down six of them. This gives Kasper and Okoye the chance to escape, leaving the lone soldier to face Walker and the remaining squad members. Walker tells him that he will face court martial for his actions but is stunned when the soldier removes his helmet to reveal...The Black Panther!

In Europe, Viper returns from her trip to the U.S.(see Agent's of Fury #7) to meet with Adrienne. She has a problem with Killmonger having a seat in the Hellfire Club and says that he can't be trusted. Adrienne laughs and tells her not to worry. She plans for Killmonger to get her to the Wakandan throne and once he does that, he will be as dead as The Black Panther!

32 PGS./Rated T+...$3.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA #28

Plot by EXCITER

Written by FRANK MILLER

Art by SEAN GORDON MURPHY

“I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE SHAREHOLDERS”

Steve Rogers is no stranger to waking up in a world he doesn’t recognize, this being the second time he’s been frozen and thawed out decades later. The second time, however, is decidedly not a charm. So much has changed in the year 2099... so much for the worse. The planet is run by megacorporations - Alchemax, Google, Apple, Amazon, etc. They control everything: what you see, what you read, what you eat, and what you think. Any deviation is considered dangerous villainy - the kind superheroes fight. And foremost among superheroes are the colluding Corporate Avengers! Steve has to avoid them at all costs while trying to find a way back to 2021.

His only ally? Jake Gallows, a former member of Nueva York’s privatized police force - a corporate enforcer, known for brutalizing criminals. Raised Thorite, a faith disfavored by most big boardrooms due to controversial male empowerment beliefs, Jake nonetheless wouldn’t change his ways until finding old War Journals from Frank Castle. For all his other faults, Castle’s refusal to compromise inspired Jake to realize that his corporate overlords were the real criminals all along. He became... the Punisher 2099!

Jake plans to lead Steve to the only group who may be able to help him: the Free Radicals. They don’t 100% agree with approved corporate positions and want to see, read, eat, and think what they want. For that crime they’re condemned to eek out a meager existence on the fringes of society; in the sewers, in the darkness. However, they might be able to locate one of the old, dead heroes’ time machines - and when Steve finds out who their leader is, he has hope for the first time since being defrosted. She’s 96 years old but still spry due to Feurtona biology. She wears the banned colors: red, white, and blue. She calls herself Ms. America and she’s an old ally! But plot twist: she blames Steve for letting everything go to hell! Can Cap survive the wrath of America Chavez??

Little do they know, Google Android was tracking their every movement... and now they’ve led the Corporate Avengers right to the Free Radicals’ leader!

Plus: A Frontlines Op-Ed by Sally Floyd, “If You Don’t Like It, Build Your Own 2099: Why Private Companies Can Do What They Want with Their Platforms in The Future.”

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

FANTASTIC FOUR #28

Written by KELLY SUE DECONNICK

Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN

Art by TOM GRUMMETT

Surprises for all the members of the FF as they discover…

“THE SECRET ORIGIN OF THUNDRA!”

As we saw last issue, Ben found Amazonian Thundra with a swastika laden uniform and punched her through a wall. Seeing how we create stories, we figured Thundra should have a chance to explain. On her Earth, adolf hitler was assassinated in 1941. The next level of nazis decided to take things a bit easier and not do anything dumb like attack the Soviet Union. In a few years, the Germans not only developed an A-Bomb, they had the rockets to launch them almost anywhere on the planet. By the turn of the millennium, Earth was an ugly nazi run world.

In the year 2431, some of the last few surviving minorities had stolen an atomic bomb and exploded it in Germania, killing tens of millions. The government’s only hope was sending one of their superhuman Valkyrieguild, Thundra back in time to save the martyred and idealized Hitler and bring him forward in time to reinvigorate the German planet. Hitler’s life was saved in 1941, and he was willing to accompany the statuesque Thundra 500 years in the future. But her return device did not work and she spent the next few decades on this Earth.

As the story went on, the FF assembled to hear it and on the penultimate page, we see Thundra drop to her knees and kiss the hand of Susanne Storm. Susanne has been making contact with Rhona Burchill and her brand new beta version of a next level Baintronics Doombot. Susanne has also taken a meeting her rival and political opposite Sharon Kelly.

And there’s a big surprise on the last page. Well, technically two surprises. One big, one tiny.

This arc is based heavily on an idea from whitecrown.

32 PGs./ Rated T...$3.99

FANTASTIC FOUR volume 3: “GOVERNMENT, GRAVITY, AND A GORILLA”

Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick

Plot by CaptCleghorn

Art by Tom Grummett

New US Senator Susan Storm, MD is discovering that although her plan to get Gregory Gideon out of the US Senate succeeded, she now has an actual job to do which does not allow for much of a learning curve.

Sue finds herself replaced by Josephine, a telepathic gorilla formerly in the thrall of Ivan Kragoff, the Red Ghost.

A mad scientist has gotten control over gravity and in his agitated state poses a threat to the entire planet.

Baintronics CEO and founder Sunset Bain is selling humanoid like robots called Doombots to both Latverian chancellor and dictator Victor Von Doom as well as the US Government which finds itself dealing with robots almost indistinguishable from actual humans.

Also featuring…

FRANKLIN RICHARDS – SON OF A GENIUS: “I’m Going to Disneyland”

Written by CHRIS ELIOPOULOS

Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN

Art by CHRIS ELIOPOULOS

Soundtrack: Dizz Knee Land by Dada

Franklin Richards’ adventures with trying to hack into Disney + have led him to the conclusion that he must go to the fabled “happiest place on Earth”, Disneyland. Can HERBIE talk Franklin out of this, and if not, can he at least get a discounted ticket? #robotsgotpriorities

Reprints Fantastic Four issues 13-18 with an all-new Franklin Richards story.

160 PGs./ Rated T...$4.44

HULK IN HELL #3

Plot by EXCITER

Written by MATT KINDT

Art by RON GARNEY

“SINS OF THE FATHER”

“You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?” - Acts 13:10.

The Hulk has nearly smashed his way to the final Circle. Only Mephisto’s children stand between the green Goliath and their demonic father. Blackheart would battle him. Jezebel would seduce him. But the Hulk has never been angrier and is ready to smash both their brains out in different ways!

His damned father, Brian Banner, smiles. It’s only a matter of time before the monster he created throws down with Mephisto himself. And the beauty is, no matter who loses, Brian wins! His revenge is fated either way, for both of those devils are responsible for sending him to Hell!

On Earth, the Ghost Rider stares deep into Bruce Banner’s soul - to a memory long ago suppressed. A bruised boy, scared and suffering, praying to anyone who could make the abuse stop. He didn’t remember, but the angry part of him did strike a bargain that night. The beatings ended... because Mephisto killed young Bruce’s father in exchange for his soul.

As Bruce is wrought with guilt, the Rider encourages him to think more like his lawyer cousin. A child can’t consent to a contract. Indeed, Banner is quite fortunate that the “One More Day” Event “killed” the Hulk. It allowed the earthbound Spirit of Vengeance to discover that the contract was void ab initio before Banner’s entire soul was sent to Hell - and the exploitation of innocent children just so happens to be what the Rider likes avenging the most! It’s time to blaze a path into Hell and bring the Hulk back - and Banner’s riding bitch!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

INFINITY WATCH #6

Plot by KALAI

Written by RICK REMENDER

Art by FRANK QUITELY

“THE STARHAWK NATION” part two

The Nation of Dark Starhawk rules the whole universe in Year 3021,

the suns are being caged for energy, black holes are mined by gravity mining ships for hyper-material.

They are building a mighty Legion of Starhawks, greater than anything seen in any timelines.

The Dark Starhawk is preparing for something, something far more terrible than Death.

Eros uses his powers to hide him and Starhawk when they infiltrate the Nation's Home world.

Starhawk is trying to find out how the future changed, and Eros seems to realize something.

Meanwhile, Thane is welcomed into the Library of Worlds, the Church of Black Swans,

a hyper-structure in the pan-dimensional corridor and a nexus to all realities.

The Starhawk Legion begins to build a dimensional door into the Library of Worlds.

Using the remains of the Thanes they have hunted from different future timelines,

they were able to lock onto and track Thane beyond the veil of time and space.

The Church of Black Swans believes Thane will lead them into the Second Golden Age of Swans.

He will become a new Rabum Alal and that is why the Legion of Starhawks is coming after him.

Thane believes there is a way for him to protect himself, but he will need a more concentrated strain of Terrigen Mist.

Genis-Vell and Pip decide to travel to a Kree for Terrigen, Hyperion and Angela decide to go after the Inhuman.

On Kree, among the ruins of the cities, Ronan the Accuser awaits with a mysterious hooded figure.

Revelation! Mar-Vell, the first Captain Marvel!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #20

Written by JOSHUA DYSART

Plot by MARVELL2100

Art by SALVADOR LARROCA

“I DON'T NEED YOUR WAR MACHINE!”

For the first time in over a year, Rhodey is back in the War Machine armor! And it couldn't come at a better time as he takes on Sunset Baines and her Iron Raiders so that Tony can go after his brother Arno, The Superior Iron Man. But after so much time not wearing the armor, how can Rhodey hope to stand against Baines and her team? Tony, in his newest armor, is going after his brother after everything he's done to ruin his life. He attacked his friends, tried to destroy his business and tried to kill him. There's only one place where Arno would go after all of this, the one place he would go to for approval: The graves of their parents, Howard and Maria Stark!

32 PGS./Rated T+...$3.99

LIONHEARTS #4

Plot by KC

Written by DAN SLOTT

Art by TY TEMPLETON

“TOUGH TASK”

The Team has to fight the Taskmaster but they are not yet a top fighting unit. Add in the civilians around and this fight is way more difficult than normal. And the Taskmaster manages to get his hands on the Toad. Is the Toad loyal to his new team or will he sell them out to the Taskmaster?

32 Pgs./ Rated T...$3.99

THE MIGHTY THOR #28

Plot by EXCITER

Written by ALAN MOORE

Art by MIKE MIGNOLA

“THE TRIAL OF THE ALL-MOTHER” part two “WRATH OF THE DRAUGR KING”

The god of lies, Loki, serves as prosecutor. He trades stinging barbs in legalese with Ráð Slimetongue, a dark elf defense attorney of ill repute. The eclectic jurors, a smattering or species from all Nine Realms, listen with rapt attention as King Thor, uncharacteristically quiet and detached, overseas the proceedings. The “Traitor Queen,” the former All-Mother Frigga, born and reborn as Freyja, stands on trial for high crimes: treason, attempted genocide, attempted regicide, and attempted mariticide to name but a few. Yet her betrayal did not spring forth from a vacuum... and none understand this better than her father.

He was born Frey of Asgard. He became a leader of gods when his mentor, Njord, was killed by Bor and his people were exiled to Vanaheim. Over time, they became strong. They became Vanir. Then came Bor’s son, Odin, with an uncompromising vision to reunite the gods under his rule. And so, Frey warred with Odin. It was a war he could not win. To end the conflict, his daughter Freyja acquiesced to Odin’s plan for divine unity. She wed the All-Father, becoming Frigga, and Frey himself was cast out from both Vanaheim and Asgard. In the cold wastelands of Niffleheim, he struggled and suffered and eventually found death... but also rebirth. Afflicted by the curse of unlife, he became Thrain the Draugr King! And he did gather his legions. Gods, elves, trolls, men... their mortal rivalries set aside when raised as “again-walkers” and suborned to his will. With his newfound power, he formed alliances and reached out to his daughter, instigating a revolution. The Götterdämmerung War was his vision. His legacy. And he would not see it end in defeat! For he has one final card to play...

Thor was quiet and detached at the trial because he wasn’t there. It was an illusion. The real Thor was transported to Niffleheim, alongside his now estranged father, the born-again wanderer Odin. These two would pay. These two against an entire frozen world of the undead, outnumbered by hundreds of thousands. For now the wretched Aesir leaders will face the ultimate wrath of the Draugr King!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

NEW GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #4

Plot by KALAI

Writer MARK MILLAR

Artist GREG CAPULLO

“PAX GALACTICA” part four

Once known as Kosmos, the Maker, the sentient Cosmic-Cube,

defeated at the hands of the Mad-Titan and captured by the Bug-King during Annihilation,

now, weakened and drained in the N-Zone, the Silver Surfer finds this being.

And Norrin shares his Power Cosmos with this being in chains.

The Onslaught Wave began to consume all the star systems around Praxis-II,

Phylla-Vell is the only one standing against the hordes of Onslaught.

Luckily for her, Ex-Nihilo and Abyss has opened portal into the Superflow,

and using the lost Builder System, they were able to bring the other Gardeners from other dimensions,

and together, the Gardeners of the Multiverse protect their creations from the death of Onslaught Wave.

But they still have to stop the Onslaught and his heralds, Starbrand, Quasar and Molecule Man.

And at this moment, with a flash of lightening, the Silver Surfer returns from N-Zone with Blastaar and a powerful ally.

The Beyonder returns to save the day.

But even the power of the Beyonder is not enough to stop the mighty beast,

for Onslaught was the one who drained the Beyonder.

Only Phylla holds the key to saving the universe, she clashes the Nega-Band to send Onslaught back into the N-Zone,

but there is always a cost.

Phyla can never use Cosmic-Awareness again, because if she does, she will unleash Onslaught back into this world!?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

PETER PARKER, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #2

Written by J.M.DEMATTEIS

Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN

Art by SARA PICHELLI

“SPIDEY NIGHT LIGHTS”

Peter Parker’s last few months have been extraordinarily interesting and different. From being bitten by that spider to his Uncle Ben being killed, his experiences have been more and more outside the box. Now he does something he NEVER thought he’d do. Go to his High School’s opening day football game. You see, Pete’s frenemy Flash Thompson is one of NYC’s most promising athletes and one highly recruited for an athletic scholarship. He’s even been called the next Ben Grimm. This Friday night, Flash and the Ditko High Objectivists go up against Grimm’s alma mater’s team, the Kirby High School Krackles. Jonah Jameson wants pictures and film of not only the game but the HS fans acting crazy. Can Pete deliver something Spidey-free?

Rognar and Dr. Damian are there as well. Rognar appears to be gaining a larger and larger following of young people who seem almost hypnotically attracted to him. This makes the Spidey-sense go off. Those thuggish looking thugs talking to Flash before the game? Also setting off Petey’s Spidey-sense. And is Flash about to get sacked on a third and eleven? I can’t look.

Aunt May also learns about Uber so she can go visit

32 Pgs./ Rated T...$3.99

SORCERERS OF THE STARS #20

Written by JEFF PARKER

Plot by H-E-D

Art by DUSTIN WEAVER

"REVENGA"

The Galactic Council, the Shi’ar among them, begin to receive reports of strange readings emanating from the Crunch. The Kyln isn’t sure what to make of them, but the last time strange things happened at the Crunch, the Annihilation Wave poured through.

This, and the scryers on Ciress begin detecting pockets of Anti-Magic throughout the galaxy. But amidst the rebuilding efforts, there’s no one to spare for investigation.

That includes the Sorcerers of the Stars, who are off hunting for the despicable dire wraith named Hybrid!

Their quest has brought to the distant world of Lemista.

As they’re hunting shape-shifting dire wraiths, they aren’t confused when they encounter him pretending to be their fallen teammate, Krugarr.

What they lack in shock, they make up for with rage. None more so than Moondragon, who feels the burden of Krugarr’s death most strongly.

The power her rage unleashes will be Hybrid’s undoing – and if she’s not careful, Lemista’s as well!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

THUNDERBOLTS #8

Written by ALEX DE CAMPI

Plot by H-E-D

Art by CARMEN CARNERO & GABRIEL HARDMAN

Radioactive Man and Songbird are pinned down in San Jose by the cybernetic terror known as Zero/One.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Songbird’s secret ward – the half-Asgardian known as Troll – has followed her into the battlefield.

Chen Lu thinks he can manage to disable Zero/One’s techno-slaves with a powerful EMP blast. The question is if he can do that without irradiating the entire Silicon Valley.

How is Melissa supposed to keep her teammate safe while also taking care of an extremely rambunctious (some would say rabid) half-troll Asgardian teenager?

As Norah Winters pursues her investigation into Archangel, she finds Worthington International distinctly uninterested in the fate of their namesake. But she does score a mysterious new source, going by the name “Ramses”.

Meanwhile, Agent Carnage, Archangel and Moonstone are on the hunt for the Ladykillers in... Dubai.

They’re just two base-level humans. It should be a slam dunk for the Thunderbolts, right? Surely the Ladykillers don’t have wealthy connections in the city? And if they did, surely they wouldn’t be wealthy enough to supply them experimental ordinance. Right?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

THE ULTIMATES #20

Written by KIERON GILLEN

Plot by H-E-D

Art by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO (main story); ARIELA KRISTANTINA (backup)

“DARK ULTIMATES” Part 2 – "RESCUE ME"

When he exiled himself from the Earthly Plane, the Sentry thought he was at least free from machinations of Spellbreaker.

He was wrong.

Now she’s used her curses to tear his power out, away from any of his heroic impulses. Her new ally isn’t a person, but the absence of one. A Void.

Now the Void stands beside Spellbreaker, Skirn, Imogen and Dario Agger as the new Ultimates.

At the United Nations, they announce the new way of the world. The Ultimates get to do anything they want.

The first objection, surprisingly, comes from the proud island dictatorship of Myridia. Within an hour, the Ultimates have erected a moment to their power atop the bones of its people.

While the nations of the world are cowed into submission, its heroes fight on. Aghast and enraged by the atrocity committed under a banner they once called their own, the Three Marvels are outnumbered as they confront the Dark Ultimates in the ruins of Myridia. As Blue Marvel takes on the Minotaur and Skirn, Captain Marvel faces Imogen, still empowered by the Siege Insidious. it’s up to Spectrum to handle the Void and Spellbreaker herself!

But what twisted ritual is Spellbreaker casting amidst the ashes?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

UNCANNY X-MEN #28

Plot by NX01A

Written by KURT BUSIEK

Art by PEPE LARRAZ

Theme Song: Chaka Khan - Through the Fire

“THE FLAMES THAT PURIFY”

•As the fallout from the US capitol anti-mutant insurrection continues, the most militant rioters have been arrested. Fortunately for them, they may escape prison if they agree to become part of black budget operation Z-TOL.

•PROFESSOR X tries to maintain order on Krakatoa as 72 demon-mutant hybrids from Limbo take up residence there as part of MAGIK's efforts to acclimatize them to Earth. If that wasn't enough, the gray-furred Dr. HENRY 'HANK' McCOY claims to have been SINISTER's slave and to know how to return the thousands of animal-mutant hybrid XENTAURS to their original forms. The problem is that Xavier can't read his mind, a failsafe Dr. McCoy claims Sinister put in. Can the grieving X-Men trust this man whose smile and dead eyes remind them of a true beast?

•As her family bury JEAN GREY in upstate New York, the mutant-demon hybrid PHENEX explosively arrives at the graveside. Even though Phenex's demon death touch killed Jean, the fiery woman claims that Jean isn't dead... because she is Jean!

32 PGs./Rated T+...$3.99

AOM QUARANTINE SPECIAL #12 (of ?????)

Written by IAN WILLIAMS

Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN

Art by IAN WILLIAMS

“FIRST, DO NO HARM”

Stephen Strange was a brilliant surgeon with a somewhat inflated opinion of himself and of his own self-importance. After gaining mastery of the mystic arts and eventually achieving the rank of Sorcerer Supreme, he fights for mankind in another, more altruistic fashion. The sorcerer sees how the COVID virus has taken 2.5 million lives worldwide and half a million of those in his home country of the United States. His attempts to eradicate the virus have put him in conflict with his morals in that he is out to eradicate an entire species.

Join the founder of GraphicMedicine.org for a strange tale of morality and caring.

Plot by EXCITER

Writing and Art by ROB LIEFELD

“TWO WEEKS TO ETERNITY”

Celebrating one year of two weeks to flatten the curve! Zarrko the Tomorrow Man’s meddling with time mechanics have caused a temporal anomaly! Will two weeks... last forever?

32 PGs./Rated T... $One Roll of Toilet Paper