AOM 04-2020

AGENTS OF A.R.C.A.N.A. #17

Plot by NX01A

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

“D.O.A.” Part 4 “THE HOUSE OF STARRY WISDOM”

Theme Song: Metallica - Dream No More

•Welcome to Arkham in Essex County, Massachusetts. Arkham is home to Miskatonic University, best known for its winning water polo team, costly research expeditions, and rare books collection. What happens when you combine those three?

•The DEPARTMENT OF OCCULT ARMAMENTS has gained access to the most unspeakably vile tomes on the US eastern seaboard thanks to unhinging the SCARLET WITCH's mind. Now the only thing that stands between them and works like Friedrich von Junzt's Unaussprechlichen Kulten and the fragmentary Book of Eibon is a team of fish-man hybrids wearing speedos and wielding electrified tridents.

•While the D.O.A. deal with the Fighting Cephalopods, DOCTOR STRANGE deals with Wanda's broken probability ability. What if MAGIK forgot magic, AGATHA HARKNESS was burned at the stake 400 years ago, ELSA BLOODSTONE was a pacifist, and DOCTOR VOODOO was only a doctor of psychiatry? If Stephen can't contain the chaos, he'll find out what it's like to have lost his head in a certain car accident.

32 PGs./ Rated M...$3.99

AMAZING FANTASY #5

Written by J.M.DEMATTEIS

Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN

Art by SARA PICHELLI

“RATS!” starring SPIDER-MAN

When we left Spider-Man last issue, he was involved in a fight with a superhuman who seems to be part rat. He calls himself Vermin and can reason about as well as you’d imagine someone who thinks Vermin is a good name would reason. Spidey’s only option here is to fight. Which usually works out well for our hero, but this time, his opponent’s got super-strength and a feral thirst for battle. Can Spidey win? And will his phone get good video?

While Peter’s off fighting rat-dudes, his pre-powers plan to get a sweet summer internship has fallen by the wayside. Can Peter manage a battle against possibly his strangest foe yet? Because Gwen Stacy is after the U.S. Atomic Research Center position herself, and she’s not busy fighting super-villains to take up her free time.

And in our Fantasy/Horror back-up…

Written by LOUISE SIMONSON

Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN

Art by WALT SIMONSON

“I’M JUST A CAVEMAN”

Another Amazing Fantasy short story. Archeologist Margo Damian is the daughter of famed, but deceased, archeologist Daniel Damian. She’s been struggling to make her own career with a journey deep into the African jungle where she may have found another species of prehistoric man. These early humans seemed to be unusually intelligent for the time, possibly rivaling modern Homo Sapiens. As she documents the work that could make her career, she turns to see Rognar, a living example of this species.

32 Pgs./ Rated T...$3.99

ASTONISHING ANT-MAN AND THE WASP #15

Plot by KC

Written by CHRISTOS GAGE

Art by DAN MORA

Cover by DAN MORA

Nadia and Janet Van Dyne go out for a little bonding time, but it is interrupted as the Whirlwind is back and is more dangerous than ever. It is now up to the Wasps to stop him.

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA #17

Plot by EXCITER

Written by FRANK MILLER

Art by SEAN GORDON MURPHY

“TO BOLDLY GO” part two “THE BEST OF TYRANTS”

”For there is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men.”

-Herman Melville, Moby Dick.

With the help of a future version of M.O.D.O.K., Khan Noonien Singh has travelled to our time... with superior ambition. He’s identified Captain America as an obstacle that warrants elimination, and his plan is bold: as he once ruled most of Asia and the Middle East, he now seeks to unify Captain America’s enemies from those regions: the Mandarin of China; Omega Red of Russia; and Sultan Magus of Sharzhad! But can even the genetic “superman” Khan assemble these deadly foes to work in unison against their common enemy?

With disparate forces aligning against him, Steve Rogers might also have an unexpected new ally. The current M.O.D.O.K. takes aim at his future self, his ego unwilling to except any timeline where he becomes a failure!

And as all this is happening, Khan remembers how he defeated Rogers the first time... How in his timeline, Dr. Erskine wasn’t killed and his super soldier serum birthed a superior class of humans: the Augments. Rogers was the first, but his mind was weak. He believed his inferiors could governor themselves, that they were competent to take care of their world. Looking at what they had done, this was obvious folly. Khan tried to show him this, but Rogers stubbornly clung to his democratic ideals. Thus began... the Eugenics Civil War!

Plus: A Frontlines Op-Ed by Sally Floyd, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Racist: How Cap’s Reference to Fin Fang Foom as a ‘Chinese Dragon’ Stigmatizes the Asian Community.”

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

FANTASTIC FOUR #17

Written by KELLY SUE DECONNICK

Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN

Art by TOM GRUMMETT

The FF’s junior members are forced to face a…

“TRIAL BY FIRE!”

Over the past few months, we (and other characters) have often made jokes at Johnny Storm’s expense. But with Graviton’s actions, there are many asteroids, comets, and meteors heading for our planet. Reed and Ben need to take the Pogo Plane into space in order to prevent extreme damage and possibly an extinction level event. Johnny and Josephine are left to hopefully defeat the power of the man called Graviton. However, Graviton is getting more and more familiar with his ability to truly warp physical relationships. Can a flaming man and a telepathic gorilla stop the threat of someone who can possibly destroy the planet by himself with a random thought?

On the other side of the country, in Washington, DC, Victor Von Doom is concerned with Sunset Bain reneging on her promise to make him the exclusive buyer of the new “Doombot” product. Can he and Senator Sue Storm (the Invisible Woman) work together to uncover how deeply the human appearing “Doombots” have infiltrated the US political hierarchy? And should Doom and Sue solve the DC dilemma, there still remain the “Doombots” Victor currently has on Alcatraz.

32 PGs./ Rated T...$3.99

THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #9

Written by JOSHUA DYSART

Plot by MARVELL2100

Art by SALVADOR LARROCA

“IRON MAIDEN”

Washington State in an undisclosed location: Maria Bullski, granddaughter of the original Titanium Man, sits in a federal interrogation room facing charges of terrorism after her attack in San Francisco! FBI agents Scully and Mulder demand answers about her reason for being in America and if she has any accomplices! Maria refuses to answer any question and will only speak to one man: Anthony Stark! The fate of the world depends on it! Elsewhere, Arno Stark and Sunset Baines continue their work on their latest creation! The Mark L armor will soon be ready and they've got the perfect target in mind to attack!

Next Issue: Rescue Operation!

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

MARVEL SWIMSUIT SPECIAL #17

Written by CHIP ZDARSKY

Plot by PERSONAMANX

Art by KRIS ANKA

"OCEAN'S SEVEN"

- After several months of nonsensical sub-plots, the crew of the MARVEL SWIMSUIT SPECIAL are back under the same roof. Having forgotten their goals, and now working for a former adversary the team is ready to pull off the ultimate heist.

- Disguised as elderly miser, the SILVER SURFER will infiltrate the headquarters of corrupt hedge fund MOEBIUS INTERNATIONAL. But will a rudimentary knowledge of finance be enough for him to get in through the front door.

- Contacting an old WWII buddy NAMOR, and NAMORELLA must secure the equipment to get things done. But will this reunion prove useful, or will there be a 4 page flashback to JUNO BEACH?

- TIGRA, and ROGUE uncover a global conspiracy in the jungles of MADRIPOOR. But who would believe such a pair? It's frankly ridiculous.

- Lastly LOA spends some quality time with WALTER LANGOWSKI, and MARRINA SMALLWOOD in their mobile lab. If They can't get what they need for the job, they'll have to invent it.

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

M'BAKU: WARLORD OF WAKANDA! #9

Written by MALCOLM JONES

Plot by MARVELL2100

Art by ADI GRANOV

“NEW WORLD ORDER!” Part 2

The NATO battleship Churchill sits in international waters off the Eastern African coast! M'Baku sees this as a threat to Wakandan security and immediately demands NATO removes it's forces or else!

Okoye and Kyen are on the trail of the renegade Killmonger who has stolen enough Vibranium to destroy a city! Why has he betrayed Wakanda and what is his ultimate plan?

The League of Nations gather to discuss an opportunity that has presented itself. They may have lost the Six Month War(see issue #1) but they may end up the victors once all is said and done!

Shuri and W'Kabi have tried to contact T'Challa to keep him aware of what is going on but have failed to reach him! What has happened to the Black Panther?

Reports spark around the globe of a massive explosion in the Indian Ocean! The NATO battleship Churchill has been destroyed by the rogue nation of Wakanda!

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

THE MIGHTY THOR #17

Plot by EXCITER

Written by ALAN MOORE

Art by MIKE MIGNOLA

“OFFENSIVE”

In a betrayal that still reverberates through the Nine Realms, Odin was stabbed by his own wife, Frigga - now returned to her maiden name, Freyja. Critically wounded, his sons Thor and Loki spirited his prone body away in retreat. For more than seven months, Odin has been convalescing as he and his family have been constantly harried by Freyja’s forces. And for more than half a year, the treacherous All-Mother has been sitting upon his throne in an Asgard utterly conquered by the unholy alliance of Vanaheim, Svartalfheim, Musphelheim, Niffleheim, the draconian Jormungandi, and Midgard’s United States of America. No more.

There was hope that when healed he could right this wrong, but Odin now understands that he will never again be what he once was. His weakness is holding his people back. There must be a new All-Father, young and capable of leading the Asgardians in this time of crisis. And there is only one choice...

Reluctantly assuming the crown, King Thor vows to avenge his father! He’d tirelessly assembled his own alliance of Asgardian refugees, Jotunheim, Nidavellir, Alfheim, and Rock Trolls and the time has come for them to cease retreating and to finally strike back! The Járngreipr Offensive has begun and it’s first objective is to cast the serpents out of the Elven realm of Alfheim! But to do this, the God of Thunder must bring his power to bear against the reptilian Jormungandi and their leader, “He Whose Limbs Shatter Mountains and Whose Back Scrapes the Sun” - Fin Fan Foom! He must slay the dragon or die trying... but has Thor too quickly forgotten the prophecy that he would fall at the hands of a serpent from Midgard?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

RUNAWAYS #17

Written by KELLY THOMPSON

Plot by PERSONAMANX

Art by DAVID LAFUENTE

"TOPANGA!"

- Having been captured during last month's shocking cliffhanger, The RUNAWAYS must come to terms with the darkest aspects of their personalities. This has been a long time coming, but apparently this is what you get when you piss off a lawyer and a film student.

- CHASE STEIN is forced to come to terms with his mental inadequacy as well as his slowly developing psychopathy. He'll never be the detective he wants to be, and is lucky to be a free man.

- Having over-ridden NICO MINORU'S personality months ago, LAMASHTU announces her triumphant return to a lack of an audience. How will an ancient Mesopotamian demon adjust to living openly as a teenager?

- ALEX WILDER continues to do nothing wrong.

- MOLLY, GERT, and VICTOR remain at large. But how will they rescue their comrades from the oddly ingenious combination of lawyering, and film trivia? They might have to get their parents to help.

- Fearing for their future, P.R.I.D.E agrees. But we all know they'll only do it for a price. Find out what that may be within the pages of this solicited, monthly, print periodical.

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

SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK #16

Plot by KC

Written by CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS

Art by GURIHIRU

Cover by GURIHIRU

So... fighting the Blob did not go as planned. And now Jennifer and Gwen have the world’s largest couch potato refusing to move unless they help him get his apartment back.

32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

SORCERERS OF THE STARS #11

Written by JEFF PARKER

Plot by H-E-D

Art by DUSTIN WEAVER

“LONELY DAY”

Peter Quill has fallen low before, but he may have finally hit rock bottom this time.

His unfaithful ways exposed, Giselle Villard has gotten the two-timing (three-timing?) Star-Lord imprisoned on spurious grounds. Even on a world of magic, money is power.

To everybody’s surprise, Magique and Gamora get along swimmingly. Is Star-Lord’s spot on the team about to get filled?

The Master of the Sun arrives with the imprisoned Star-Lord, about his future.

As Ika and Mantis set off on a couples retreat, a heartbroken Moondragon throws herself into her work. She has a realization of dire consequences.

One Hell Lord was a freak accident. Two Hell Lords, a worrisome coincidence. But Three? Too much of a pattern to be accidental. There’s a conspiracy at work.

Meanwhile, A lonely and isolated Krugarr accepts a fateful offer from his new friend, who is still definitely on the level and not sketchy.

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

THE ULTIMATES #11

Written by KIERON GILLEN

Plot by H-E-D

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

“APOTHEOSIS” Part 2 – “BREAK IT”

A possessed Sentry has trapped the Ultimates in the Cascade, an extra-dimensional sinkhole!

How, you ask?

It’s simple; using the Golden Guardian of Good, the nefarious Erica Fortune – Spellbreaker – cast a ritual to spread a curse to the entire team!

It’s not just any curse – it’s the curse that Jennifer Kale placed upon Erica to banish her from the mortal realm. The only thing keeping the mad sorceress from wrecking havoc on their world.

Now the only way for the Ultimates to get home is to have Jennifer lift the curse – freeing Spellbreaker in the process!

She doesn’t have much choice in the matter, as Nul and the Worthy launch an assault on Hanoi!

Nul intends to harvest humanity’s fear to power his God Machine – and it’s working!

The timing is just as Nul and Spellbreaker planned. (Though latter neglected to tell the former that the Ultimates might get back in the game.)

This is an endgame that Spellbreaker has been working towards since the beginning – ever since the damage caused Roxxon’s cosmic fracking allowed her to free Nul from his prison! Are the Ultimates just trading one catastrophe for another?

This is a trip one Ultimate won’t be coming home from!

THEN,

Under the tutelage of the Serpent, Nul has harnessed the power of fear to go from undergrown runt to a mighty hulk. Ond had sworn to always stand by his brother’s side, but Nul’s directives from All-Father Cul grow increasingly cruel; and he seems all too willing to follow them. When the Serpent orders the extermination of an entire realm, Ond is determined to get his brother to see reason. But can he possible stop his brother from being consumed by the thrill of power, or has he already become the Breaker of Worlds?

32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

UNCANNY X-MEN #17

Plot by NX01A

Written by KURT BUSIEK

Art by PEPE LARRAZ

Theme Song: Bloodhound Gang - The Bad Touch

“THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR ESSEX” part 2 “ARE WE NOT MEN?”

•Mutant-animal hybrids now control the island of Krakatoa. Led by a winged thunderbird who doesn't remember once being ORORO MUNROE, these XENTAURS violently refuse to let PROFESSOR X, WOLVERINE, and the X-MEN on the island.

•Only NIGHTCRAWLER finds acceptance thanks to his unique physiology, and it's up to him to figure out who or what mutated these mutants. Inside a now dormant volcano, a ruby palace holds answers... if Kurt can survive the eXperience!

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

AOM QUARANTINE SPECIAL #1 (of ???)

Mail Order and Digital Only! #StayHome

“SOCIAL DISTANCING”

Plot by HED

Written by Mike Carey

Art by Clay Mann

Coronavirus has hit the mutant population — but social distancing is nothing new for some mutants. What tips do Rogue and Wither have for their mutant brethren?

“PANIC BUY”

Plot by H-E-D

Written by G. willow Wilson

Art by Adrian Alphona

When a decent person looks at the coronavirus, they see a humanitarian crisis. But all Roxxon sees is profit! They’re hoarding the supplies health workers and immunocompromised people need, and price gouging like mad. One hero won’t stand for this. Enter Kamala Khan — Ms Marvel!

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