AOM 05-2020

<poem>AGENTS OF A.R.C.A.N.A. #18
Plot by NX01A
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art by JEROME OPEÑA
Theme Song: Demons & Wizards - Fiddler On The Green
“D.O.A.” Part 5 “ALONE AND DAZED ON THE EDGE OF THE SWAMP”
•The DEPARTMENT OF OCCULT ARMAMENTS has defeated Miskatonic University's winning water polo team/security service to get their hands on grimy, grim grimoires.
•Made of palm leaves bound in ancient, now-extinct cycadean wood, the Ponape Scripture contained a spell necessary to turn the remaining Deep One hybrids and their electrified tridents into the D.O.A.'s servants.
•Most thaumaturgic tomes are eldritch enchantments and evil equations written on dead plants. The MAN-THING is a living eldritch plant. Can he hold off the D.O.A. and their Fighting Cephalopods until the other AGENTS OF A.R.C.A.N.A. arrive? Will they arrive?
32 PGs./ Rated M...$3.99

All-WINNERS SQUAD vs. LIBERTY LEGION #1 of 4
Miniseries
Plot by EXCITER
Written by JOE KELLY
Art by RYAN OTTLEY
“CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS”
The Grandmaster, an Elder of the Universe and consummate gamesman, has taken a keen interest in two other elders competing for the Presidency of the United States! Using his power primordial, he summons Donald Trump and Joe Biden to Battleworld, where he insists they choose a team of heroes to compete in a contest of champions!
Trump tweeted his response in a multi-tweet thread.
@RealDonaldTrump: Lightweight Grandmaster is a cosmic LOSER. Has he ever won a Contest of Champions? I’ll pick a GREAT team of Americans for my ALL-WINNERS SQUAD!...
... My good friend @USAgent is stronger than Captain America, more patriotic, and has never been portrayed on film by the very dishonest and unfair Chris Evans. GREAT LEADER! ...
... Legal immigrant @SilverSable was handpicked by FLOTUS. Both beautiful Eastern Europeans but Sablinova is even tougher! ...
... LEO from the future, @Punisher2099 is Tough on Crime and has my full support! ...
... finally, @Yellowjacket has a great company in Cross Enterprises that he started with a small loan from his father. Job Creator! Can become very very small but is best when YUGE! Invoke P!
Joe Biden responded in an off-the-cuff, impromptu manner.
Listen, Jack. Grandmaster is bluer than Paul Bunyon’s ox and twice as ornery. I have a record of taking down cosmic entities and this... this’ll be no different.
I promise the leader of my Liberty Legion will be a woman, but one with government experience who’s not afraid to box your ears. She’s the first female director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Marcia... Maria, Maria Hill!
Here’s the facts, I got hairy legs. But Werewolf by Night’s legs are even hairier, and he can smell better’n me too!
Now there’s a lotta hullabaloo about this next guy in Tinsel Town. They’re saying he’s the like Rock Hudson but made from ionic energy. I mean, c’mon, they call him Wonder Man!
Finally, my own son has had drug demons but otherwise succeeded completely on his own with no help from dad - just like this guy! Harry Osborn! But he ain’t a green goblin, he’s orange like the two timin’ huckster I’m up against!
The teams are in place and the Grandmaster is ready... to let the games begin!!!
32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

AMAZING FANTASY #6
Written by J.M.DEMATTEIS
Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN
Art by Sara PICHELLI
“OCTOPETEY, part 1” starring Spider-Man
Peter’s won his fight with Vermin but has suffered some painful wounds from that incredible battle. With video and pictures sold to J. Jonah Jameson, Pete’s free to skip school to visit the local medical clinic for care and possibly shots. Rats, you know. Pete would stay home, but explaining it to Aunt May would be at best, awkward.
Gwen Stacy’s interviewing for her internship with Dr. Otto Octavius at the U.S. Atomic Research Center. The research is with radioactive materials and Octavius has invented mechanical arms/tentacles to handle the dangerous substances remotely. The quartet of arms has cause Octavius to be christened “Dr. Octopus”. Will Gwen’s personality and academic background make her a shoo-in for the position? And if so, what will Peter do?.
And in our Fantasy/Horror back-up…
Written by GILBERT HERNANDEZ
Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN
Art by JAIME HERNANDEZ
“WHAT IF I’M THE EVIL TWIN?”
Another Amazing Fantasy short story. Daniel David Haskins is a punk rock musician living in Oxnard, CA. Kevin J Ash is a financially well off businessman from a Central American village. The two are seemingly nothing alike, yet they are identical in looks. And they both believing the other is out to get them. But, get this, there’s a twist.
32 Pgs./ Rated T...$3.99

ASTONISHING ANT-MAN AND THE WASP #16
Plot by KC
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Art by DAN MORA
Cover by DAN MORA
The terrifying power of Whirlwind is unleashed on a building and the Wasps need to save the civilians inside and stop the building from doing any major damage. The Whirlwind is more powerful and dangerous than he has ever been, Can Nadia and Janet stop him?
32 PGs./Rated T …$3.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA #18
Plot by EXCITER
Written by FRANK MILLER
Art by SEAN GORDON MURPHY
“TO BOLDLY GO” part three, finale “CAPTAIN ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER”
”God help thee, old man, thy thoughts have created a creature in thee; and he whose intense thinking thus makes him a Prometheus; a vulture feeds upon that heart forever; the vulture the very creature he creates.”
-Herman Melville, Moby Dick.
Defeated in the present, Khan Noonien Singh escapes back to the future with the help of M.O.D.O.K. Unwilling to let the madman go, Captain America pursues his enemy into darkness... and once again finds himself a man out of time in an undiscovered country.
Earth is part of a United Federation of Planets, adhering to the beliefs Captain America always stood for: freedom, cooperation, and integrity. But when Khan hijacks the Federation starship U.S.S. Reliant, a vessel involved in developing a Genesis Device capable of reforging entire planets, it’s up to Cap and Starfleet to stop him before he uses it as a weapon!
S.H.I.E.L.D., it seems, has evolved into an agency known as Section 31, and they have a strike force assembled for Steve to command: a genius engineer, an angry doctor, and a tactical marksman. Moreover, they’re willing to provide Steve with a ship: the U.S.S. Avenger! Can he save the universe? Can he trust his new crew? Shields up! Red, white, and blue alert!
Plus: A Frontlines Op-Ed by Sally Floyd, “Why Mere ‘Peak Humans’ like Captain America are Nonessential Superheroes and Should Stay Home.”
32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

DAREDEVIL #2
Writer: MATT WAGNER
Plot by LEE STONE
Artist: MICHAEL LARK
"THIS WAS YOUR LIFE!"
While investigating the new Vertigo drug, Daredevil comes across a person so familiar that he knows everything about him.
A boxer named Matt Murdock. A man who gave up law school to follow in his father's footsteps as a champion boxer. A man who never lost his sight.
But how can this Matt Murdock be here while Daredevil exists?
Something isn't right, and DD is determined to find out what's going on.
Even if he has to take himself down to solve it!
32 PGs./ Rated T...$3.99

FANTASTIC FOUR #18
Written by KELLY SUE DECONNICK
Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN
Art by Tom GRUMMETT
The fabulous FF’s face a frantic fight…
“THE MENACE, THE MONARCH, AND MESHUGAS!”
Over the California countryside, the Fantastic Four and the Invisible Woman, Graviton, Doctor Doom, Sunset Bain, and two battalions of Doombots face off. Alliances are formed and broken quickly as the aim is for a single victor (Dr. Doom pun unintended).
We wish we had more to say, but this issue is a huge fight scene.
Wait, “It’s Clobberin’ Time!”
32 PGs./ Rated T...$3.99

THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #10
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Plot by MARVELL2100
Art by SALVADOR LARROCA
“SUPERIOR!”
An undisclosed facility in Washington state: Federal agents reluctantly bring in Tony to talk with Maria Bullski, who says she will only speak to him. Unsure of what he motives are Tony asks why she attacked him. She tells him that she didn't mean to, that the armors' AI is programmed to attack Iron Man no matter what. He then asks why she wants to speak only to him. She says one word that sends Tonys' mind racing: Extremis!
After saving Rhodey, Scott and Beth in her Rescue armor, Pepper Potts is leaving New Mexico and on her way back to San Francisco when she is suddenly attacked, concussive blasts knocking her out of the air! As her armor scans for threats, she calls Tony only to realize her transmission are being jammed. She rises to her feet in time for an armored figure to uncloak, a figure that looks shockingly like Iron Man! Next issue: Metal Mayhem!
32 PGS./Rated T+...$3.99

MARVEL SWIMSUIT SPECIAL #18
Written by CHIP ZDARSKY
Plot by PERSONAMANX
Art by KRIS ANKA
"OCEAN'S SIX"
- The ultimate heist is on! Our motley crew of mutants, space wizards, and merfolk are ready to take what they need to save the world. Everyone is in position, watches are synced, and the target has arrived on schedule.
- Having made it inside, NORRIN RAD continues to stall the corrupt executives at MOEBIUS INTERNATIONAL. The only one not buying it is the legendary JD ROCKEFELLER IX, but this heist might prove to be just the distraction he needs.
- NAMOR, and NAMORELLA have acquired the drill-bits needed to tunnel into the underground vault. But will a sudden betrayal cause them to deal with their greatest failures?
- Back from MADRIPOOR, and armed with an ancient codex the dynamic duo of ROGUE/TIGRA start to deactivate the necessary security measures. If things all go right, very few will be any the wiser.
- Finally, after last issue's shocking conclusion LOA must reach her teammates before they succeed in this endeavor. What she knows will change everything.
32 PGs./ Rated T+...$3.99

M'BAKU: WARLORD OF WAKANDA! #10
Written by MALCOLM JONES
Plot by MARVELL2100
Art by ADI GRANOV
“NEW WORLD ORDER!” Part 3
At the request of The White Queen Adrienne Frost, T'Challa has joined The Hellfire Club Europe as it's newest member The Grey King! His first move to choose the Inhuman Karnak as his Grey Knight. His second is to secretly choose an ally against the others in the Club! Who will he choose to have his back? Elsewhere, Okoye and Kyen have followed Killmongers' trail to New York City. What is he doing in an American city and who does he plan to meet with? The NATO warship Churchill lies at the bottom of the Indian Ocean, 2500 souls lost! As the Western powers blame Wakanda for the attack, world leaders gather at the UN to prepare a response for this blatant act of aggression! As the world unites against a lone Wakanda, a surprising ally rises to stand by its' side, The League of Nations, the same nations defeated by Wakanda less than a year ago! Next Issue: Worlds Collide!
32 PGS./Rated T+...$3.99

THE MIGHTY THOR #18
Plot by EXCITER
Written by ALAN MOORE
Art by MIKE MIGNOLA
“FOOM IS DEAD. LONG LIVE FOOM.”
King Thor’s Járngreipr Offensive succeeded in Alfheim, liberating the Light Elf realm and driving the serpentine Jormungandi and their Vanir allies out. This victory could not have been achieved without slaying the reptile’s leader: Fin Fang Foom. But, like the gods of Asgard themselves, the great dragon was a creature of mixed myth and science. His death, therefore, carries unforeseen consequences... and Thor becomes trapped within visions of Foom’s life.
A dragon war on the world of Kakaranthara.
A diaspora into space.
The subjugation of Shang Dynasty China. A betrayal that would cost centuries of imprisonment.
A cycle of death and rebirth.
This is a story of love and hate. This is the story of Fin Fang Foom, told in all its brutality and glory for the first time.
Yet, discovered within the green leviathan’s body... an egg. Embraced by Thor’s young offspring, Magni and Modi, will a new Foom with a new destiny emerge? Or must gods and dragons be doomed to forever be foes?
Elsewhere, the severed head of Malekith has been a potent magical energy source for Loki, enabling him to lead his Frost Giant legions in pushing back the encroaching hordes of Musphelheim. The head would be an excellent weapon... if it would only be silent! Constantly poking at his insecurities. Constantly trying to make him second guess his deeds or betray his family. Alas, Loki is too strong-willed to ever let that happen.... is he not?
32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

MOON KNIGHT #10
Written by MATT WAGNER
Plot by LEE STONE
Art by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
"MARLENE BY MOONLIGHT"
Marc is confronted by the one person he never expected to ever cross him: his love, Marlene.
She's been convinced by the Rose that he's a menace and she knows who he is.
Now that secret may kill him.
He'll have to persuade Marlene back over to his side, but that may prove difficult when he finds out someone else is controlling her!
32 PGs./ Rated T...$3.99

RUNAWAYS #18
Written by KELLY THOMPSON
Plot by PERSONAMANX
Art by DAVID LAFUENTE
"HORIZONTAL LINES"
- It's all over folks. LORNA DANE's dark conspiracy against P.R.I.D.E has finally reached a triumphant climax. With LOS ANGELES under the thumb of the "Mistress of Magnetism" is there any point in familial reconciliations? Certainly not when she has control over VANESSA FISK's expansive network of criminal resources.
- Having been freed from captivity by NICO "LAMASHTU" MINORU, and their family from TOPANGA VALLEY the RUNAWAYS must make a difficult choice. Return to LA as freedom fighters, or move to Portland and fight fairy tale monsters. Luckily they're a democracy.
- Meanwhile VICTOR MANCHA struggles over his powers. Having lost control he ventures out into the dessert to determine if he really does have a soul. GERT tries to come with him, but her bicycle tire pops.
- Nobody is truly innocent in MARVEL's RUNAWAYS.
32 PGs./ Rated T+...$3.99

SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK #17
Plot by KC
Written by CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS
Art by GURIHIRU
Cover by GURIHIRU
Jennifer is on a quest to restore her lost powers and she will do anything to get them back... Including teaming up with supervillains.
Jennifer travels to the Bar With No Name to find some people to help her with her mission. It is a dangerous plan but she has to do it as she has to get her powers back.
32 PGs./Rated T …$3.99

SONS OF DITKO #1 (Crossover between AOM-NU and DC Next Dawn)
Written by J.M.DEMATTEIS and MARK RUSSELL
Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN
Art by BRENDAN MCCARTHY
BOOK 1: “A=A”
The Amazing Spider-Man takes part in the latest generation of CBR universal crossovers.
Peter Parker is privileged, along with Lunella Lafayette (aka Moon Girl), to be interviewed by a professor from the elite Hub City University, Dr. Aristotle Rodor.for possible admittance.
J. Jonah Jameson also interviews a reporter from Hub City named Vic Sage, a tough, rebellious controversial independent. Just the type Jameson hates, but Sage does do nice stories and pulls off being on screen.
And yes, there are more than just interviews in this historic issue. Sage is secretly a masked vigilante called “The Question” and is in NYC to search out a former acquaintance suspected to be up to no good, Rex Graine. Graine and Vic met in college nd eventually drifted as Vic lost focus and Graine became hyper-focused.
Pete’s Spidey-sense is also going off around a quiet student, not unlike himself. How does a troubled High Schooler tie in with a reporter’s troubled friend? That’s a good question.
Rated T+, 40 pages, $3.99

SORCERERS OF THE STARS #12
Written by JEFF PARKER
Plot by H-E-D
Art by DUSTIN WEAVER
“HYPNOTIZE”
Remember when we said Krugarr’s new friend coming to Ciress couldn’t be a bad thing? We might have gotten a little ahead of ourselves.
Unbeknownst to Krugarr, this friend is actually Hybrid, a telepathic Dire Wraith mutant that’s been stalking the team ever since their adventure of Eoduun.
They’ve made a deal. He’ll gift Krugarr the powers of telepathic magic. All he needs to do it is the Star of Catalax, an ancient artifact held within the Vaults of Ciress.
Meanwhile, Star-Lord is remitted to R'lalmis, home of the Order of the Sun, for final judgment. Will he forge himself a new destiny, or will sorcery be a new addition to his long list of failures?
And then, everything changes when Moondragon figures out the shocking true identity of the one orchestrating the Hell Lord conspiracy.
32 PGs./Rated T+...$3.99

THE ULTIMATES #12
Written by KIERON GILLEN
Plot by H-E-D
Art by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO (main story); ARIELA KRISTANTINA (backup)
“APOTHEOSIS” Part 3 “IN THE GAME”
The Ultimates have returned to Earth – but the Sentry has stayed behind, going into self-imposed exile for falling victim to Spellbreaker’s manipulations.
All Jennifer Kale had to do to accomplish that was give a psychopathic sorceress free reign over the multiverse.
It’s a problem for another day, as Nul and the Worthy continue to occupy Hanoi!
With the element of surprise on their side — as well as their unmatched powers — the heroes begin to turn the tide
Betrayed by his allies and failed by his peers, Nul is apoplectic.
What desperate price is he willing to pay for ascension — and what will the God Machine manifest in him?
THEN,
As Odin goes to war against the All-Father, the Serpent puts together his honor guard, the Worthy. Nul, Breaker of Worlds, is given a place of pride among them; but the hulking warrior nurses a wound from the rejection of his brother, Ond, a rising general in Odin’s coalition. But in the deepest pits of Muspelheim, the Serpent shows Nul the mind-controlling parasite known as Angrir. The time has come for Ond to join the Worthy – whether he likes it or not!
32 PGs./Rated T+...$3.99

UNCANNY X-MEN #18
Plot by NX01A
Written by KURT BUSIEK
Art by PEPE LARRAZ
Theme Song: The Birds
“THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR ESSEX” Part 3 “SUPERINFECTION”
•It started when an American beg-packer in Indonesia ate the eggs of a bird-mutant hybrid from Krakatoa as part of the viral Eat Strange Sh\*t Challenge. Now the highly contagious Corvid-20 virus is sweeping the world! With a virtually undetectable incubation period followed by psytokine storms, explosions of psionic energy that kill the infected and those nearby, it's a possible extinction level threat to humanity. With cases spreading exponentially, advanced detection and isolation methods are required.
•To fight the virus in America, the SOCIAL DISTANCE WARRIORS are on the case. Dressed as Plague Doctors, the SDWs tag people with miniature force field generators to keep them as far apart as possible. And the solution to finding and isolating the infected is the rushed mass production of artificial intelligences: robots called SENTINELS!
•And on Krakatoa... WOLVERINE and X-23 have a volcanic father-daughter reunion as they stealthily avoid the mutant-animal hybrid XENTAURS while searching the island for missing NIGHTCRAWLER. Little do they know that something sinister is stalking them!
32 PGs./Rated T+...$3.99

AOM QUARANTINE SPECIAL #2 (of ???)
Mail Order and Digital Only! #StayHome
“SOCIAL DISTANCING” PART TWO
Plot by H-E-D
Written by MIKE CAREY
Art by CLAY MANN
Masks are increasingly a mandatory part of any going out outfit — but mutants like Chamber and Zeitgeist have had to cover their mouths for a long time already! So, forgive them if they don’t appreciate the complaints about the masks.
“PANIC BUY” PART TWO
Plot by H-E-D
Written by G. WILLOW WILSON
Art by ADRIAN ALPHONA
Ms Marvel has been distributing pilfered PPEs and important supplies to poor households and medical centers alike — but the vultures won’t take this lying down! With Dario Agger missing, Roxxon has appointed a new CEO, known for unorthodox problem solving - Norman Osborn!
“AT RISK PERSON”
Plot by EXCITER
Written by ALAN MOORE
Art by MIKE MIGNOLA
Steve Rogers was born in 1920. He’s 99 years old... and that means, according to New York’s Governor, he’s prohibited from leaving his apartment because he’s an at risk person. But surely that executive order doesn’t apply to him... does it?
“NOTHING GETS WITHIN SIX FEET OF THE JUGGERNAUT!”
Plot by EXCITER
Written by ALAN MOORE
Art by MIKE MIGNOLA
Can Cain Marko use the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak to expand his personal forcefield far enough to comply with social distancing guidelines?
“THE KIDS IN THE PLASTIC BUBBLE”
Written by KELLY SUE DECONNICK
Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN
Art by TOM GRUMMETT
Starring the Invisible Woman and the Human Torch
Suffering from a rare mutated virus, a young twin brother and sister are isolated in plastic bubbles at Area 44. At a critical point in research, all the doctors and scientists can do now is wait. It’s up to Johnny and Sue Storm to bring some sort of comfort to two kids who may not survive the week.
Sue’s MD won’t be much help here, but stories of her and her brother trying to inspire and cheer up two sick siblings may do the trick.
32 PGs./Rated T... $One Roll of Toilet Paper