AOM 09-2022

AGENTS OF A.R.C.A.N.A. #46 \*Fear Itself Aftermath\*

Plot by NX01A

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

Theme Song: The All-American Rejects - (Hope It) Gives You Hell

'INFINITIVE GAUNTLET' Part 9 'HOPE ITSELF'

•With Earth slowly recovering from the Horror God invasion, the most traumatized communities along the Aegean Sea find themselves optimistic and cheerful. Something sinister is obviously at work, and MAGIK won't let her responsibilities as Queen of Earth & Limbo lapse again.

•After millennia shackled, ELPISPES walks free, and where she walks blackened earth sprouts new life, hardened hearts become upbeat. The power that flows from her wormwood box soothes and regenerates but the hope contained in the Pyxis of Anesidora is finite, intended for all the world, not just where the minor goddess claims as her own. CHTHON's rampage freed her but she's locked in the same deific thinking that made ancient Augures imprison her: her chosen will not suffer, and she will drain hope from the rest of the planet to ensure it!

•Magik could merely cut Elpispes down with her twin Soulswords but gods are notoriously difficult to kill. Illyana may opt for making Elpispes someone else's problem. As Hesiod wrote, "Thus it is not possible to escape the mind of ZEUS!"

•In nearby dimensions, DOCTOR STRANGE and CLEA are entwined in other divine diplomatic wranglings. SHUMA-GORATH tussles over dozens of innocent souls with their other owner: the Elder God of All That Slithers, SET! This minor war of tentacles and scales may provide the chance to fray the weakened anagogic weave binding the innocents to the two evil entities. Even if successful, the souls gone to their true final destination won't be the ones to suffer the wrath of two dark gods; Doctor Strange and Clea will!

•ABDUL ALHAZRED has some of the Star Stones but some aren't enough to power the Gauntlet of Shuma-Gorath and open the way for the MANY-ANGLED ONES. AGATHA HARKNESS and her little coven have the remaining pearls of power, and the Mad Mage will have them!

32 PGs./ Rated M...$3.99

AGENTS OF FURY #25 \*Anniversary Issue!\*

Plotter: MARVELL2100

Writer: CHRISTOPHER PRIEST

Artist: STEFANO CASELLI

“THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE”

It's Election Night and the votes are in! The ticket of Kelly and Storm have won their party's nomination and will challenge for the Presidency of the United States in a few short months in November! And the polls show that Kelly is currently slightly ahead in a close race. Now she's just received news that the two spies in her campaign have been captured and taken to a secure location! Since the death of her husband and the mystery around it, things are looking up for Sen. Sharon Kelly. In a matter of months she will become the most powerful person in the world.

However, there are still loose ends out there that need to be dealt with. Yes, Fury's spies have been captured but he is still out there and he knows, he knows. Years ago, the death of Sharon Kelly's husband was a tragedy. He was a rising star in U.S. politics and was on track to make a run for the Presidency. But he died under mysterious circumstances and she vowed to continue his work. Yes, his death was tragic but it was no accident! Sharon Kelly was behind the death of her husband and Fury knows because he's the one who helped her kill him!

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

BLACK PANTHER: KING OF WAKANDA! #38

Written by MALCOLM JONES

Plot by MARVELL2100

Art by ADI GRANOV

“NEXT IN LINE”

Okoye and K'Yen's report about strange activities in the Artic has T'Challa concerned that a new threat to Wakanda has emerged and that it maybe connected to what's happening in N'Gabo. An infusion of new technology has made N'Gabo a powerful new threat on the African continent almost rivalling that of China and Japan! T'Challa suspects that someone is providing that new tech. His spies have informed him that Moses Magnum and Markus Zulu have formed a partnership but there is another unknown player involved. He wants Okoye and K'Yen to find out who this new threat is and report back to him.

At the Hellfire Club, there are still those who have a problem with T'Challa killing Killmonger. Gorgon, Moses magnum and Viper say that he she be held accountable for killing one of their own and should stand trial. Medusa, Yelena Belova and Adrienne Frost feel that The Panther was well within his rights as a King defending his nation. But there is another matter that needs to be resolved: Who will fill the role of Killmonger? Who will be the new Red King?

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

CAPTAIN AMERICA #46

Plot by EXCITER

Written by FRANK MILLER

Art by SEAN GORDON MURPHY

“ALL CAPS” part one “WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD”

Arkady Rossovich’s tenure as Captain America has been… less than inspiring. This may be because, at his core, he’s still Omega Red. But his massive failure during FEAR ITSELF, with his team defeated and fractured early in the event, has caused approval ratings to plummet lower than ever. Not even his allies in television and social media, Mojo and M.O.D.O.K., can fully suppress the pictures and videos of Arkady transformed into a werewolf and fighting other heroes (see THE UNCANNY WOLF-MEN #1-4). He needs to do something…

…and decides America Chavez will be the fall guy! He personally accompanies numerous O\*N\*E\* agents to arrest her on vague charges that suggest she was responsible for Chthon’s actions.

Bucky Barnes, for one, has seen enough. Omega Red will not wield that shield or desecrate Steve’s legacy for even one more day unopposed. To protect the legacy of Captain America, Bucky must become Captain America! Unfortunately for him, he’s not the only one to reach that same conclusion…

It’s enemies have called the United States “the Great Satan”… so why not make that literal? Daimon Hellstrom may be the Son of Satan, but his mother was all American! That means he inherited a strong rebel streak and sense of independence. Plus, now he’s popular, having helped defeat Chthon, which leads the Five-Pointed-Stars and Stripes Sorcerer to believe that he should be the one to take the shield from Rossovich!

But Arkady isn’t giving it up… and if they want it, they’ll have to pry the shield from his cold, dead carbonadium tendrils!

Plus: A Frontlines Op-Ed by Sally Floyd, “O\*N\*E\* Love: How Any Criticism of the Federal Agency Endangers Our Heroes.”

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

DARK INTELLIGENCE #16

Writer: ED BRUBAKER

Artist: STEVE EPTING

Plotter: MARVEL2100

”NO REST FOR THE WICKED!”

John Apostle! The name brings back painful memories for John Strongbow, after all, Apostle was responsible for the death of his brother Ward! And now he's back with a new group of disciples, The Red Death, who are killing in his name. This is far beyond what John and his partner Monica Chang can handle on their own but he doesn't trust his current agency ARROW to deal with Apostle. He needs the help of the one person he swore that he'd never deal with again, but sometime a dangerous threat can create strange bedfellows. Monica tells him to make the call, they need Nick Fury!

Meanwhile Max Fury, Coal Tiger and Toni Stark meet in secret to discuss the progress of their plans. Toni has infiltrated the company of a rival to Tony, The Coal Tiger is supplying technology to the enemy of Wakanda. Max reveals that the LMDs are in place and ready. He reminds them to be careful, the men they're going after are all smart and dangerous, one mistake could ruin everything. They must play the long game and be patient. He's also reached out to potential allies who may be helpful as well. But there is one among them who has a secret agenda and a plan to betray the rest!

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

DEVIANT #9

Plot by NX01A

Written by AL EWING

Art by JOSÉ LADRÖNN

Theme Song: Dick Dynamite and the Doppelgängers - Deviant

'DEVIANTS vs. X-MEN' Part 5 'TIME-INVARIANT'

•The beautiful brain dead body of RANSAK the REJECT is the perfect vessel for KRONOS, the Eternal scientist who stole Deviant knowledge to further empower the Eternals while becoming a god himself. The freeing of UBBO-SATHLA the Unbegotten Source awakened him from his spacetime slumber.

•The mutant-Eternal-Asgardian AXE released the cosmic energy-spewing entity so the X-MEN could use it to power Asteroid X while Warlord KRO sees the Unbegotten Source as a replacement for Found Lemuria's stolen Star Stone. If either side hesitates, the other will get the power.

•While demon-mutant body-swapped JEAN GREY tackles SERSI, Cyttorak-enhanced CYCLOPS goes toe to toe with usually gentle giant KARKAS! WOLVERINE takes blasts from LUCIAN the BLACKWULF's Shadowlance as STRØM's lightning strikes THENA! The gestalt XAVIER-MAGNETO-ONSLAUGHT focuses on retrieving the Unbegotten Source but Kronos has other plans!

•DvX concludes in this month's UNCANNY X-MEN #46!

32 PGs./ Rated M...$3.99

F² #13

Written by Kieron Gillen

Plot by CaptCleghorn

Art by Jamie McKelvie

“SIZE DOES MATTER!”

It’s war between the dimensions. Or more accurately, war between realities with different numbers of dimensions. Five and six dimensional beings have taken Hank Pym prisoner for unknown reasons. Pym shrinks down very small, unsure of how his size will be detected by beings with more than three dimensions. He takes off his helmet and shrinks even further to enter the lab inside the helmet to take a deeper look into his “Pym Particles”. The particles allow him to expel excess mass into a dark matter while shrinking state which seems to have dimensions not seen in our space. The alternative is to absorb the dark matter and grow. Might the ingested dark matter have a clue as to his importance in this war?

Back in 3D space, Johnny and Wyatt coordinate world and satellite timepieces to find the slightest differences in the passage of time to attempt to spot any other TVA appearances.

Reed and Nadia examine Nadia and her Pym Particles to find clues there as well.

She-Hulk and Doc Samson work on motive for the five and six dimensional beings. Is it just counter-attacking the incursions of the four dimensional TVA? Or is there something else?

Paste Pot Pete and Josephine are using an experimental device to propel themselves into multi-d space to work reconnaissance. Basically, they’re spying. Hopefully, Josephine telepathy can get by beings who are 5 and 6D.

Ben and Moon Girl are babysitting (according to Ben). Reed and Johnny phrase it as protecting the family. H.E.R.B.I.E. is with them, God help it.

The Dimension War has begun.

32 PGs/ Rated T...$3.99

HAWKEYE AND SPIDER-WOMAN #12

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN

Art by JEROME OPENA

Plot by FFJAMIE94

"FATE OF THE FUTURE: COUNTDOWN IN 2..."

Detective Lewis comes face to face with a Symbiote, one from the future. Hawkeye remains unaware of how close he is to the alien creature as Venom begins his chase to save him.

Meanwhile, Spider-Woman is missing and Hawkeye is trying to find him. But is this all a trap?

The great hunt continues as we reach closer to the ultimate showdown.

32 PGs/ PARENTAL ADVISORY...$3.99

HULK IN COLLEGE #1

Plot by EXCITER

Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN

Art by MATTEO SCALERA

“IS THIS IN THE SYLLABUS?”

To overcome his possession by the vampire god Vanthirius during FEAR ITSELF, the Hulk had to establish control over his multiple personalities… and it worked better than ever! Now he’s got the brains of Dr. Bruce Banner, PhD, and the brawn of the Hulk, all in one incredible package. He is… Professor Hulk! And now is his opportunity to make a smash in academia!

After a positive meeting with Chancellor Richard Gorman, Adjunct Professor Hulk is tapped to teach Physics at Empire State University. But can years of battling super-humans, aliens, and gods possibly prepare him… for a college campus?!?

Bruce must somehow bring the love of science to the raucous frat boys of Gamma Gamma Kappa, deal with the jealously-fueled antagonism of Assistant Football Coach “Brolick” Bobby Bostock, and navigate the entitled student activism of the Super-Important Social-Issue Society. But of all the faculty and students he encounters, one stands out: Uatu Jackson. Clearly brilliant, the shy young man named after the Watcher inexplicably refuses to fully apply himself and is in danger of flunking out. Can Professor Hulk reach this distracted young genius and find out what is holding him back?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #38

Written by JOSHUA DYSART

Plot by MARVELL2100

Art by SALVADOR LARROCA

THE TRIAL OF TONY STARK!

The shockwaves rock the globe about the news that the American billionaire Tony Stark has been charged and indicted of defrauding the the U.S. gov't! SDNY Prosecutor Kate Elsworth has brought evidence to a grand jury that Stark did not deliver on his promise of making weapons for the gov't, which caused grave harm to the security of the U.S.! With his legal troubles mounting, Tony has placed Pepper Potts, Rhodey and Bethany Cabe in charge of Stark Int. and hired the powerful legal team of Crane, Poole and Schmidt (Boston Legal anyone?) for his defense!

With Tony dealing with severe legal issues, The Hammer Girls think that now is the perfect time to test out their new high-tech weapons for the gov't. They've outfitted a team with some of the most advanced lightweight armor and weapons and they've already picked out the best target: Stark International!

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

THE MIGHTY THOR #47

Plot by EXCITER

Written by ALAN MOORE

Art by MIKE MIGNOLA

“EPILOGUE ITSELF”

The hero of FEAR ITSELF has emerged… and it’s Balder the Brave! He lead the Midnight Sons and restored Asgard to our universe, helping the Realm escape the grasping branches of K’Lay… and used the Darkhold to burn that Dark World Tree down! Now he formally requests that his sentence of exile, imposed as punishment for siding with his mother Freyja during the Götterdämmerung War, be lifted. But with Thor gone, that request is made to the Thunder God’s widow: Queen Sif. Will she have mercy? Perhaps, if Balder can complete one more quest…

The first of the younger gods, Atum, has had his morality restored following Gaea’s noble sacrifice - but he is deeply ashamed of his unforgivable actions while compromised: he slayed Thor and freed Chthon! Although Atum was ultimately the one to also kill Chthon, that act was not enough to balance the scales. He now desperately seeks redemption. Will Balder work with Atum to obtain it for the both of them?

The two heroes-turned-villains-turned-heroes-again embark on the quest bestowed by Sif: to force the escaped monsters and Horror Gods of Dhampiraj, Varúlfur, Allograft, Iping, and Yacuran back into their respective Realms and contain them there… or otherwise send them to Hel. Can they clean up the mess of FEAR ITSELF?

Hercules doesn’t think so… and doesn’t trust either of them. He’ll be watching them closely and looking for any excuse to break them in half!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

NO MORE THUNDERBOLTS #0

Written by ALEX DE CAMPI

Plot by H-E-D

Art by CARMEN CARNERO & GABRIEL HARDMAN

BY ORDER OF UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF DEFENSE HELMUT J. ZEMO, THE THUNDERBOLTS ARE NO MORE!

The official position of the United States is that the group known as Thunderbolts, under the direction of rogue liaison Dallas Riordan, violated international law. They are to be apprehended at once, arrested on sight.

I REPEAT, THE THUNDERBOLTS ARE TO BE ARRESTED ON SIGHT.

If they resist: contact the Redeemers.

YOUR LOCAL REDEEMER IS AUTHORIZED TO USE ANY AND ALL MEANS NECESSARY TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY.

Property damage will not be reimbursed, but may be tax deductible. Used form 1099-TBX if you qualify.

AGAIN, THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS ARE TO BE APPREHENDED ON SIGHT.

Melissa Gold. Aka Songbird. Now identified as known criminal Screaming Mimi. Her voice is a deadly weapon.

Chen Lu. Aka Hazmat, or the Radioactive Man. Wanted for extradition to Beijing.

Warren Worthington III. Aka Archangel. Wanted in connection to the AKKABA cult case.

Gunna Sijurvald. Aka Troll. Interdimensional fugitive. Eligible to be tried as an adult under the terms of the Aesir-Vanir Assessment, Terminology and Release (AVATAR) Act.

Agent Dallas Riordan. Wanted for insubordination, espionage and treason. Likely armed and dangerous.

LETHAL FORCE AUTHORIZED.

CITIZENS OF AMERICA, YOUR NEWEST AND TRUEST HEROES, THE REDEEMERS

MACH-X - Champion of the skies, master of speed!

TECHNO - The cybernetic centurion!

WARBIRD - The power of the sun, in the palm of her hands!

ATLAS - Size-shifting sentinel!

SCARLET SPIDER - Welcome back!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

NO MORE THUNDERBOLTS #1

Written by ALEX DE CAMPI

Plot by H-E-D

Art by CARMEN CARNERO & GABRIEL HARDMAN

“NO GOOD DEAD GOES UNPUNISHED”

Once, they were the THUNDERBOLTS, but no more. Now they are fugitives, hounded for crimes they did not commit. (And maybe a few that they did.)

Hunting them are the REDEEMERS, America’s newest scheme to repackage supervillains as heroes!

Col. Helmut J. Zemo, the one who framed the Thunderbolts, is now Secretary of Defense – sixth in line for the Presidency!

Dallas Riordan’s spy skills have kept them one step ahead of the Redeemers… for now. But they know they need a plan beyond running.

They assess their options:

1. SONGBIRD’s instincts tell her she should stay and fight, to bring Zemo to justice.

2. RADIOACTIVE MAN could risk asking the Nüba Jituan for help.

3. TROLL wants to go home. Home is Zanadu, the Mystic Mountain, province of Vanaheim. Yeah.

4. ARCHANGEL is confident that his old friend, fellow billionaire Cameron Hodge, can help. Maybe even arrange for a trip to Krakatoa.

5. DALLAS RIORDAN has a contact that can smuggle them to the rogue nation of Sharzhad.

As the de-facto leader, Riordan makes the call. (She choses her own suggestion, don’t be shocked)

But when they arrive at the contact point, the inevitable occurs.

The Redeemers attack!

Will the heroes formerly known as the Thunderbolts survive the experience?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

PETER PARKER, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #20

Written by J.M.DEMATTEIS

Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN

Art by SARA PICHELLI

“SPIDER-MAN: WANTED!”

Spidey has barely managed to escape from the Kingpin’s clutches and has also gotten some evidence linking him to the ring harassing Flash and other student athletes. As Peter swings away, he hears sirens and is thankful he got out in time. Wanting to do the right thing, he goes to Capt. Stacy’s home to give him the evidence and start a good relationship between the NYPD and the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Now Peter Parker is well into double digits of his own book and one would hope he’s have a clue and not screw up badly two issues in a row. No such luck. Offering the documents and files to George Stacy results in Stacy refusing them as they are illegally obtained evidence. Stacy says, “Peter, son, you should have known better.” It takes Pete a minute to realize his identity’s blown.

Meanwhile, at Fisk’s office, he makes his statement to the police, of course blaming Spider-Man and saying nothing of value was taken. “We’ll be looking for him, Mr. Fisk,” is the response and Fisk smiles. After the police leave, four or five shadowy figures enter the office.

Back at the Stacy house Peter and Capt. Stacy discuss possible immediate future developments in Peter’s life and career, few of which seem good for our hero.

32 Pgs./ Rated T...$3.99

SIGIL #1

(CROSSGENESIS #7)

Written by MIKE CAREY

Plot by H-E-D

Art by JORGE JIMÉNEZ

Sam Andahl-Rey was just a normal girl from South Carolina.

Then, one day, bugs rained from the sky, and a magic mark attached itself to her.

Now this SIGIL dictates the course of her life.

So, when she wakes up to find her on a pirate ship in the year 1695, she’s not surprised. Maybe a little annoyed. Okay, very annoyed.

One thing that does surprise her, though, is the fact that the pirates are also fighting alien lizards called the Saurian.

To get home, she’ll have to swashbuckle her way to the Saurian’s treasure!

And maybe also solve the mystery of why the Saurians are fighting pirates three hundred years in the past!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

SPELLBOUND #10

Written by VITA AYALA

Plot by H-E-D

Art by PEACH MOMOKO

“SCIENCE / VISIONS” – Part One

AFTERGLOW

Jennifer Kale, the SPELLBINDER, and her ex, TOPAZ, joined forces to defeat Taboo!

But is this reunion a one-time thing... or something more?

A kiss in the heat of the moment has them confused... and intrigued.

But they’ll have to sort that out on the job, as a new adventure begins!

Taboo’s experiments have awakened Yagzan’s focus to it’s true nature as the BIO-GEM!

What does that mean? They’re about to find out, as the Bio-Gem opens a portal to parts unknown — dragging Spellbinder and Topaz with it!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

UNCANNY X-MEN #46

Plot by NX01A

Written by KURT BUSIEK

Art by STUART IMMONEN

Theme Song: Dick Dynamite and the Doppelgängers - Partners in Crime

'DEVIANTS vs. X-MEN' Part 6/Finale 'REFACTORING RECURSION'

•500,000 years ago, the power of UBBO-SATHLA the Unbegotten Source was stolen from its Deviant creators and used to magnify the might of their great enemies, the Eternals. Now the thief, godlike Eternal KRONOS, finally plans to return what he took.

•Can the X-Men and Eternals stop Kronos before he dissipates the Unbegotten Source to empower the entire Deviant race with its cosmic energies?

•And which side will Warlord KRO, LUCIAN the BLACKWULF, and KARKAS support? The last two uses of the Unbegotten Source nearly destroyed both Deviant and Eternal civilizations. Can these Deviants trust an Eternal to do right by his enemies and not exterminate them all?

•In space, Asteroid X's low Earth orbit is rapidly decaying.

•Further in space, something fiery and skeletal just left Mars... and it's famished!

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