AOM 05-2022

FEAR ITSELF #1

Plot by EXCITER

Written by ALAN MOORE

Art by MIKE MIGNOLA

“OUTBREAK OF FEAR”

Imprisoned in another dimension for millennia, Chthon is unleashed! The elder god invented black magic and authored the Darkhold, the most famous (and accursed) spell-book in the universe. His writings resulted in the creation of vampires, werewolves, Frankenstein-style monsters, creatures from black lagoons, and invisible men. And in his dimension, he created K’Lay - a Dark World Tree filled with legions and Pantheons of these abominations!

Their initial influx into our reality was swift and devastating. The “dark” Avengers were quickly overwhelmed, with “Captain America” Arkady Rossovich inflected with lycanthropy… transforming into Omega Capwolf! UCWF champion Super Smash Brother (the latest incarnation of Bruce Banner’s Hulk) was sired by the supreme vampire god to become the Insatiable Hulk! Our heroes are falling and without Thor to defend us… the Earth is griped by Fear Itself!

Yet who better to confront fear… than Balder the Brave?! The Asgardian exile was headhunted by Chthon but, upon whispered advice from the skull of the slain dark elf Malekith, ultimately chose to turn against the evil elder god. Now Balder is using the knowledge he gained of the Dark Worlds to redeem himself and save the universe… but he can’t do it alone! He’ll need a cadre of heroes (or anti-heroes… or villains) uniquely equipped to deal with these monstrous threats. Midnight Sons, assemble!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

ADVENTURE INTO FEAR ITSELF #1

Written by VITA AYALA

Plot by H-E-D

Art by HAEMI JANG

ASKING FOR A FRIEND

Straight from Yacuran, Creatures of the Black Lagoon are infesting the Everglades!

Ordinarily, these swamp demons would be right at home in Florida.

But these nasties are under the direction of the DARKHOLD DWARF, the Right Hand of CHTHON himself!

For untold eons, he’s spread mayhem in his master’s name on Earth.

Now, the Dwarf aims to claim the Nexus of All Reality for his cursed master, unleashing madness on the multiverse!

In the past, defending the Nexus would be the job of MAN-THING.

But he’s busy, so his northern cousin APOCALEDON is filling in!

Jennifer Kale, aka SPELLBINDER, knows they can’t hold off the Darkholders forever.

So, she seeks out the old nemesis of the Dwarf: Victoria Montesi and the DARKHOLD REDEEMERS.

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

AGENTS OF A.R.C.A.N.A. #42 \*Fear Itself Tie-In\*

Plot by NX01A

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Art by JEROME OPEÑA

Theme Song: Coldplay - 42

“INFINITIVE GAUNTLET” Part 5 “LIFE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING”

•Giant-size movie tie-in!

•DOCTOR STRANGE and CLEA escaped from DOCTOR DRUID and his Druids of Black Moors but they and two dozen Irish men and women they saved from flaming Wicker Men have been transported by the Star Stone of Xander to a bizarre realm the spellslingers know far too well.

•Life, the universe, and everything in the Chaos Dimension \*is\* SHUMA-GORATH! The gauntlet bearing his name is part of a still unknown plot by a still unknown enemy which requires it and the Star Stones but what does The Unclosing Eye know of this? Shuma-Gorath is willing to tell... if Stephen and Clea surrender the humans to Devourer-God of the Eternal Ever-Was in body, mind, and soul!

•The SCARLET WITCH and AARKUS the VISION's search for DOCTOR VOODOO and ELSA BLOODSTONE has also led to another dimension: a pocket reality of nightmares created by K'un-Lun mystic QUAN-ST'AR and succubus illusionist DREAMQUEEN!

•Aarkus is smoke trapped in a bottle forever drifting on an endless sea!

•Wanda: trapped in a fantas... Wait. She's been here before, done this before. Being trapped in a nightmare is sadly nothing new for the her or Elsa and Jericho, the pair having already broken free of the delusion. Now it's time for them to break Quan-St'ar and Dreamqueen!

•As MAGIK gains the upper hand in a Soulsword fight with WITCHFIRE for the lordship of Limbo, the being known as THANATOS finally reveals himself! As even the Dimensional Lords are caught off guard, Thanatos kills the plant-animal-mineral avatar of KATHULOS the Living Planet and steals its Starstone before disappearing! Illyana can't worry about that, though. Witchfire used to distraction to gain the upper hand, and she intends to plunge the Soulsword it holds down into the current Queen of Earth and Limbo's heart!

•With the few surviving members of SHADOWFORCE ALPHA added to the ranks of DIABLO and her other geased house staff tasked with cleaning up their invasion's mess, AGATHA HARKNESS finds MAN-THING and newborn BOG BOY watching a bad monster movie. If only Ted Sallis had the heart to tell her it isn't a movie; it's the news.

42 PGs./ Rated M...$4.20

AGENTS OF FURY #21

Plotter: MARVELL2100

Writer: CHRISTOPHER PRIEST

Artist: STEFANO CASELLI

AGENTS OF SOMETHING IV: King-Maker

Rachel overhears Sen Kelly arguing with two other people in her office when she is grabbed from behind and pulled into the shadows. Nomad warns her that she has to be more careful and that she could have easily been spotted. Just then, the two people arguing with the Senator leave her office but neither Rachel or Nomad can get a good look at them but one of them is definitely a woman. They hear Sen. Kelly make a call and tell the person on the other line that the Lukins are becoming and issue and that they need to find funding for her campaign from another source. She also says that the need to keep Susan Storm in the dark about their dealings with the Lukins, maybe have her campaigning around the country to keep her busy. She then sees a newsflash on her phone about the return of a once prominent businessman. She smiles and tells the person to make arrangements for her to have a meeting with Howard Stark!

Speaking of Stark, Scorpio and Roz continue digging into the events surrounding Howards' return and so far they haven't come up with anything, no records, no social media footprint, no money or digital trail, not anything. And that's what really concerns them. It's as if prior to his return, Howard Stark ceased to exist! Even if he went into hiding, there has to be payouts and cover-ups, even if he scrubbed his social media trail, there would still be evidence of that! So how exactly did Howard Stark seemingly return from the dead and where has he been all this time? Elsewhere, a phone rings and a voice on the other end relays some surprising news and also some very disturbing information. As he hangs up, Howard begins thinking. He would definitely like to meet with Sen Kelly as she could become a useful ally. But then the news about Fury digging into his past has him deeply concerned. It looks like the man who once helped make Fury head of SHIELD will be the same man who brings about the end of Nick Fury! Next Issue: Stark Warning!

32 PGS./Rated T+...$3.99AMAZING FANTASY #28 \*Fear Itself Tie-In\*

Featuring Conan the Barbarian, Red Sonja, and Elric of Melniboné!

Plot by EXCITER

Written by MICHAEL MOORCOCK

Art by JIM LEE

“FEAR IN THE AGE OF SWORD & SORCERY”

His name is Thulsa Doom. He is the infamous skeletal mage that bedeviled Kull the Conqueror during his legendary reign as king of ancient Valusia. The fiend came from humble origins, beginning life as an evil but primitive early man . Eventually, he would become one of the first human acolytes of Chthon and, as reward for loyal servitude, his dark master would transform him into an immortal lich. Yet that gift came with a price: he could never rest until Chthon was freed from imprisonment. And though it took millennia, he came very close during the Hyborian Age…

Conan, the barbarian who became king by his own hand, sits upon his throne with gigantic melancholy. Two unlikely allies have come forth, passing through the gates of his Aquilonia, with grim tidings.

The she-devil with a Sword, Red Sonja of Hyrkania, fought and slew men turned into savage undead monsters. Those responsible for the transformations were, allegedly, warlocks operating from… within Aquilonia.

Elric of Melniboné, the pale prince and wielder of the soul-stealing cursed runeblade Stormbringer, crossed into Conan’s realm following a skirmish with fiendish cultists using chaos magic to weaken dimensional boundaries. Their ultimate goal… reaching a realm known as K’Lay.

King Conan suspects these two threats are related. As the three ride out to confront them, they are unprepared for the scope of Thulsa Doom’s scheme… and the nightmare he’s about to unleash! And in the battle to come, though Sonja is a proven confederate, can Conan really trust Elric?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

BLACK PANTHER: KING OF WAKANDA! #34

Written by MALCOLM JONES

Plot by MARVELL2100

Art by ADI GRANOV

“ENEMY NO MORE!”

The death of the Wakandan ex-patriot N'Jadaka also known to the rest of the world as Erik Kilmonger has sent shockwaves throughout Wakanda and those shockwaves have echoed into the chambers of the Inner Circle of The Hellfire Club! Yes, a traitor who betrayed his own people has been dealt with but some in Wakanda feel that the punishment may have been too harsh and that N'Jadaka should have appeared before the Wakandan Council for a trial. There are those that even feel that perhaps T'Challa has too much power, abusing at every turn and needs to confer with The Council before making such rash decisions! Is there a power-play at hand and are there those within Wakanda who are only seeking power for themselves? Do the jackals and hyenas see an opportunity to attack and bring down the King?

In London, the Hellfire Club convenes to discuss the event surrounding the death of one of it's members, a King no less, by the hands of one of their own! T'Challa stands before the Kings and Queens of the Inner Circle as they each give their views on what should be done next! There are those who agree with T'Challa's actions while others believe that what he did was unforgivable and that he should be held accountable for what he has done. T'Challa looks around the room as the others argue over what fate should befall him, as if he were some mere villain in a criminal proceeding! He silences the room by clearing his throat, as they look upon him, some of them stunned by his arrogance. He returns the mask of the habit over his head so that they may see the true face of The Black Panther.

In a bold, forceful voice he declares that before he sat in a chair in this chamber, he sat on a throne in Wakanda! Before anything else he is King of Wakanda and he will do whatever is necessary to protect his nation, from enemies abroad and at home! And as King of Wakanda, no court shall hold judgement over him when it comes to Wakandan matters! So debate what you will but no judgement of this circle will hold sway over The Black Panther and anyone who would attempt to intervene in Wakandan matters may well find themselves a companion to a dead man! T'Challa turns to leave the gathered members and if he were to look back, he would see the smiling gaze of Adrienne Frost who is even more determined to win her prize!

32 PGS./Rated M For Mature...$3.99

CAPTAIN AMERICA #42 \*Fear Itself Tie-In\*

Plot by EXCITER

Written by FRANK MILLER

Art by SEAN GORDON MURPHY

Suggested music: Helloween - “Dr. Steen”

“ESSENTIAL PARTS OF US”

Still trapped in time during World War II, Steve Rogers stumbles upon a wartime monster… a ghoulish mad scientist stealing bodies of fallen soldiers from both sides. This madman, Dr. Steen, is a professed scholar with forbidden knowledge of the fabled textbooks penned by Dr. Demogag of Allograft (whatever that means), and he must be stopped… but can Cap thwart his vile plans while also preventing the plane explosion that nearly killed his sidekick Bucky and allowed him to fall into the hands of the Soviets?

Meanwhile, in the present, the Vault - the super-max prison where Bucky Barnes, Natasha Romanoff, Barbara Morse, and Bonebreaker have been detained, without trial, since the end of Negation - is breached in silence. The infiltrators, on a specific mission, are uniquely skilled undead abominations. Stitched together from deceased members of the Red Room, the composite spy/assassin is… Blackest Widow! And with parts collected by Dr. Steen from the deadliest battlefields in living memory, including an arm of particular interest that was lost in a 1945 plane explosion, the Franken-commando is… Wintery-Mix Soldier! And he likes the arm so much, he’s looking for the complete set!

Can Bucky, Nat, and the rest, in their cells and with no weapons, survive this stealthy attempt at organ harvesting by the unholy spawn of Allograft?

Plus: A Frontlines Op-Ed by Sally Floyd, “Howling Your Truth: Why, Despite the Invasion, it’s Time to Retire the Offensive Term ‘Werewolf.’”

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99THE DEADLY FOES OF THE CORPORATE AVENGERS: ORIGINS #1

(CORPORATE AVENGERS: ORIGINS #4)

Plot by EXCITER

Written by CHUCK DIXON

Art by CLAY MANN

Chromium Variant Cover

Gatefold Variant Cover

Indestructible Tyvek® Variant Cover

Scented Ink Variant Cover - Scratch to smell Fritos original corn chips!

In the year 2099, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are the Publicly-Traded Corporate Avengers! This is the story of…

“THE FREE RADICALS”

As the likes of Google, Pfizer, and Amazon took over the nation (and the world), the American Dream began to look more like a Corporate Vision. One corporation in particular took special interest in heroes. The Mouse, living avatar of the Walt Disney Company (DIS), had a vision for the Avengers - and the complex, layered and nuanced characters that comprised the team didn’t fit its goal of having soulless advertising icons to put on merchandise without any unique “personality” to interfere. The heroes would have to be replaced…

Slowly, the Mouse got to almost every hero that ever mattered, even scraping the bottom of the barrel to find those that few people knew or cared about. But the next generation, angry at what had been taken from them, began to oppose the Mouse. They resisted.

Magni and Modi Thorson, the twins of Thunder, gods of strength and wrath respectively. Ivan Barnes, the Widow Soldier. Silvia “Silvermane” Manfredi, the Iron Mobster. And their leader, one of the original avengers that defied death. He’s been known by many names, but due to his masterful guidance in this imperfect future… they call him Maestro!

If, together, these Free Radicals can slay the Mouse, then they just might be one step closer to their goal of re-establishing a constitutional republic governed by and for the people rather than one ruled by and for the stockholders…

As the lines between government and corporations continue to overlap until they no longer exist, the Mouse become the authority on all superheroes… and on a day in the future unlike any other, the Corporate Avengers assemble! And the Free Radicals stand against them!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

RUSE #1

(CROSSGENESIS #6)

Written by RYAN NORTH

Plot by H-E-D

Art by JACOB PHILLIPS

Simon Archard WAS… Victorian England’s worst detective!

But then he was granted a mysterious Sigil, granting him enhanced cognition.

So now Simon Archard is England’s greatest detective!

He’s arrived in the township of Partington to investigate foul murders, accompanied by his overqualified assistant Emma Bishop.

Simon’s Sigil-enhanced senses tell him that the culprit of these murders is similarly supernatural.

Partington is rocked by mysterious murders most foul… and magical!

His investigations lead them to the palatial estate of the wealthy and powerful Miranda Cross… what secret does the beautiful baroness hold?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

DARK INTELLIGENCE #12

Writer: ED BRUBAKER

Artist: STEVE EPTING

Plotter: MARVEL2100

“DEATH DAYS ARE COMING!”

The death of Kilmonger at the hands of the Black Panther has caused a huge setback for the White Queen Adrienne Frost in her quest to take Wakandan and possibly the heart of it's King. But death is not enough to stop her from her goals and she plots her next moves! Someday, Wakanda will be hers, hopefully with it's king to rule beside her on her throne! In the meantime, plans must be made to replace the deceased Black King. She views possible candidates, Howard Stark being an intriguing choice since his seemingly return from death. His son Tony would be a fun choice given their history but she doesn't need another hero in her circle. As she continues to look through possible choices, one name begins to stand out among them all! She tells herself that this would be a perfect choice and that it would also cause major issues for some of the other members. Later, she calls for a meeting of The Inner Circle to announce changes to the group. First, Moses Magnum will move from the position of Red King to that of the Black King, a move that he is very pleased with! In his place, a new member will step in to become The Red King of The Inner Circle! Born in the wastelands of Siberia and daughter of the Red Room, the Hellfire Club would like to welcome it's newest member, the new Red King - The Red Widow!

In the desert of Mexico near the U.S. border, a nothing place with a population of less than 700, has been found slaughtered. ARROW Agents Jason Strongbow and Monica Chang have been working this case for months. This is the fourth reported incident of a small town with it entire population wiped out, some in the most gruesome manner while others look like they've been struck by a plague. With so many means of death, officials are having a hard time trying to pinpoint exactly what is happening to these people. Even worse, the national news isn't giving it much attention since these are towns on the outskirts, mainly migrants and indigenous people. Even with the chaotic scenes, Jason senses a familiarity, like this is something that he has experienced before. But he can't quit put his finger on it as Monica tells him to focus on the clues before them. They have to figure out what's going on stop whoever is behind this before they go after a target with a much bigger population!

32 PGS./Rated M For Mature...$3.99

DEADPOOL #10 \*Fear Itself Tie-In\*

Written by CHIP ZDARSKY

Art by Juan Cabal

Plot by FFJAMIE94

A Fear Itself Tie In!!!

Deadpool awakens as Chaos erupts on the Marvel Universe.

Zombies, Vampires and Werewolves attack as an army of Deadpools fight for their lives.

But what about our Deadpool? He battles his evil clone as he learns what has happened to Invisible Man, he is trapped in the place of no return, where the secrets of the Universe will be revealed.

It's a race to the finish as Deadpool kills everyone.

The greatest battle of Deadpool's life is here in this special issue.

48 PGs/ PARENTAL ADVISORY...$4.99

DEVIANT #5 \*Fear Itself Tie-In\*

Plot by NX01A

Written by AL EWING

Art by JOSÉ LADRÖNN

Theme Song: Spice Girls - 2 Become 1

“GREEN-EYED MONSTERS”

•As our unlikely heroes hear the psi-psalm of the Ψσ, their minds are slowly overwritten by the entities' viral consciousness! Only one thing might be strong enough to stop it but THENA KNOWS forming a UNI-MIND between Eternals and Deviants isn't stable to begin with.

•Some minds were easier to sublimate than others, KARKAS being the most serene while SERSI was too weak to give her usual protests. Thena and occasional lover KRO balanced each other nicely but the real trouble came between RANSAK the REJECT and LUCIAN the BLACKWULF. Ransak's jealousy, unleashed by the mind meld, will settle for nothing less than the obliteration of Lucian. Lucian's tenuous hold on the negative emotions feeding his destructive powers is also unfettered, and his young challenger will have to be taught to heel!

•Even as that struggle rages, creatures slink from the waters surrounding Sunken Mu. These man-fish seem unbothered by the Δσ, slaughtering the bloated beasts with bathypelagic magic as they pass. They are the DEEP ONES, denizens from the blackest lagoon Y'ha-nthlei in extradimensional Yacuran, and they are finally free!

32 PGs./ Rated M...$3.99

F² #9

Written by Kieron Gillen

Plot by CaptCleghorn

Art by Jamie McKelvie

“Trial of the Torches! Part 3 – The Judge”

While an adult Valeria Richards is shown to be the judge in the trial, the baby Valeria on trial needs her diaper changed. Jenn’s smirk as she argues that the adult Valeria needs to change her own diaper is priceless. Arguments go poorly as the point of did the F² members move about in the timestream is a fact and neither cause nor intention matter here.

Readers of Old Moon Crone (both of you) may remember that a mature adult Lunella Lafayette had a voice of Valeria in her head. Jim Hammond, part of that cast, remembers that also and he consults with Jenn about their chances. Truthfully, they aren’t looking good.

Back in our linear time, the team in Latveria is searching through Dr. Doom’s notes and devices when they are attacked by TVA agents who feel (in their defense, rightfully so) that the F² Foundation members are looking to break Johnny and crew out of custody. The fight goes poorly when the team is saved by a tall woman with a huge head and a yellow greenish skin. She has come out of nowhere and is mainly interested in Hank Pym, accepting that the others “may be of minor importance”. “I am Tana Nile,” she states, “you will come with me as you are needed.” just before they all fade into a fold in space.

32 PGs/ Rated T...$3.99

FEAR ITSELF: EVEN MORE THUNDERBOLTS #1

Written by ALEX DE CAMPI

Plot by H-E-D

Art by TRAVEL FOREMAN

The THUNDERBOLTS in PYRAMIDS OF TERROR!

As official government liaison to the THUNDERBOLTS, Dallas Riordan thought her life was plenty hard already!

But that was before CHTHON unleashed their MADNESS upon the universe.

Now Washington D.C. is being threatened by...

Wait... really?

Wow.

Okay... Washington D.C. is being threatened by KHUFU, a MUMMY who is also an ALIEN from the PLANET HOTEP.

Wow.

So. With a fleet of Pyramid Ships under his command, even Dallas can admit that the Thunderbolts are needed now more than ever!

What’s that? Khufu has used... Pyramid Power... to transform the Thunderbolts into mummies?

Uh oh.

The only way to defeat them is to... disrupt their pyramid shapes.

Yes, really.

If the Thunderbolts can’t help, Dallas is going to find unexpected help... in the Wrecking Crew!?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

FEAR ITSELF: FEAR AND LOATHING IN ALLOGRAFT #1

Writer: WARREN ELLIS (Transmetropolitan)

Artist: RALPH STEADMAN (Rolling Stone)

Gardening Editor: CaptCleghorn

“A SAVAGE JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE!”

The realm of Allograft has opened to the planet.

Buy the ticket, take the ride. A land of Gods and Monsters and the students of science that create them. But these are not the idealized scientists of our world. No, these are those who would pervert the rules God set up and exploit them for their own selfish desires. Intellectual madmen like Frankenstein, Jekyll, Griffin, and Moreau. Creation without restraint is the practice of these sociopaths.

Dr. Reed Richards has long been on the heroic side of science and the introduction of these madman using their education to exploit the masses need to be stopped. But Richards is different now. He chooses not to stop them, but to out do them. To show them as uneducated children playing in a sandbox while he lorded his superiority over them.

He was never proud of what he had learned, but he never doubted it was worth knowing.

40 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

FEAR ITSELF: THE INSATIABLE HULK #1

Plot by EXCITER

Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN

Art by MATTEO SCALERA

“YOU WOULDN’T LIKE ME WHEN I’M A VAMPIRE”

As creatures of the night invade Earth, the planet’s foremost vampire hunter springs into action. The daywalker Blade declares it open season on all blood-suckers! But not even he is prepared for their new vanguard, a vampire Hulk… though perhaps Blade’s more scientific associate, Dr. Michael Morbius, may be available for a consultation!

Banner had just found some semblance of peace, earning the UCWF championship through his orange “Super Smash Brother” persona. Then Fear Itself arrived. Against his better judgment, he confronted the threat, smashing many an undead foe - but the head of the Ampir Pantheon of Dhampiraj himself, the All-Sire Vanthirius, eventually got his fangs into him. Now a thrall to an evil vampire god, the Insatiable Hulk is commanded to do Vanthirius’ bidding…

And his bidding is to subjugate all earthly vampires to his will, consolidating power! Yet, one notable Nosferatu refuses to bend the knee. The legendary Dracula defies the long-lost vampire god, defending his position as the sole Lord of his kind from a fortified castle in Transylvania! This proud fiend, once known as Vlad the Impaler, may have once turned back the Ottoman Empire… but can even he stop the incredibly vampiric Hulk?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

FEAR ITSELF: TALES OF SUSPENSE #1

“DARK AVENGING”

Plot by EXCITER

Written by GEOFF JOHNS

Art by SALVADOR LAROCCA

After the rift in the superhero community caused by the CIVIL WAR, there was a resolution to present a more unified front in the face of threats no single hero could withstand. On that day, the Avengers were born! Headquartered in Fort Kirby, their first chairman was Bruce Banner. But he was unable to maintain that position (see HULK IN HELL #1-4). The establishment crept in and began taking over. When Steve Rogers was “disappeared,” a new Captain America was installed: Arkady Rossovich, f.k.a. “Omega Red.” Soon an entire team of dark replacements was appointed and clashed with some of the original heroes while also fighting the Lawbringers during NEGATION. The replacements won. Bucky Barnes and Natasha Romanoff, amongst others, were imprisoned.

As a result, along with “Omega Cap,” the official Avengers at the time FEAR ITSELF erupts are: Black Widow (Deadly Nightshade), Winter Soldier (Steel Serpent), Hulk (Red Hulk), Spider-Man (Tarantula), and Ms. America Chavez (blackmailed on to the team). They are not prepared…

With Cap quickly turned into a werewolf, what happens to the others?

“FRONT LINE: INTERVIEW WITH THE DARK SIRE”

Written by ZOE THOROGOOD

Plot by H-E-D

Art by ZOE THOROGOOD

NORAH WINTERS is a hard hitting journalist whose reporting just helped take down the nefarious cult AKKΔBA!

How has the investigative reporting scene in Washington D.C. changed since CHTHON took over?

Turns out, not much.

Now, Norah has her eyes set on a major scoop: an exclusive sit-down with Chthon himself!

Can she manage it without dying, going insane... or worse?

66.6 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99FEAR ITSELF: THE UNCANNY WOLF-MEN #1

Plot by EXCITER

Written by RICK REMENDER

Art by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL

“THE LEADER OF THE PACK”

In a wolf pack, the strongest member is the alpha. Alpha Prime is the strongest member among the werewolf gods of Varúlfur - and his allegiance is to Chthon.

Jack Russell, the Werewolf by Night, long ago traced his condition to a curse originating from Chthon’s Darkhold spell-book. His research led him to stories about Varúlfur and werewolf gods, but these were just rumors that he didn’t believe… until Fear Itself struck and those “rumors” began attacking his planet.

Now Jack thinks the best way to wrest control of Varúlfur’s packs from Chthon’s grasp is for an earthly werewolf to defeat Alpha Prime and, by werewolf law, assume leadership. Jack just needs to assemble a pack of his own to make that happen….

To me, my wolf-men!

He calls upon:

John Jonah Jameson III, a.k.a. Man-Wolf, son of a newspaper publisher, astronaut extraordinaire, went to the moon and came back a werewolf; former captain of the U.S.S. Excelsior!

Rahne Sinclair, a.k.a. Wolfsbane, Scottish mutant believed to have some experience with wolf gods herself.

Vic Marcus, a.k.a. Warwolf, an ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that served in the Howling Commando unit.

One of these mighty lycanthropes must find and defeat Alpha Prime… somehow. But before they can, there’s a new wolf on the prowl that needs to be domesticated! Captain America was infected in the first wave of the invasion, but this isn’t the currently time-displaced Steve Rogers… it’s the much more brutal Arkady Rossovich, f.k.a. Omega Red! And Omega Capwolf smells blood!

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

HAWKEYE AND SPIDER-WOMAN #8

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN

Art by JEROME OPENA

Plot by FFJAMIE94

"THE IRON AGE: PART FOUR”

The Iron Age reaches a breaking point as a three way war begins. Hawkeye retreats as he is given a brand new suit of armour, creating Ironeye.

Meanwhile, Spider-Woman and Eddie fight their way through a symbiote war. But tragedy strikes as death comes for Eddie.

In the present, Eddie gets a vision of his own death at the hands of Knull's forces.

Don't miss this penultimate chapter in "The Iron Age"

32 PGs/ PARENTAL ADVISORY...$3.99

THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #34

Written by JOSHUA DYSART

Plot by MARVELL2100

Art by SALVADOR LARROCA

THE HOUSE THAT STARK BUILT

Mad Money Matters Breaking News! Howard Stark, Founder of Stark Industries has just agreed to join the Board of Directors of the upstart new company Force Works! In a move that has shocked the entire business world including his own son, Howard Stark has agreed to join Joe Broke-It at his company Force Works! With Stark just recently returning from the dead and into the life of his son, why would he do something like this? This is the same question that Tony is asking his father as they sit in his office at Stark Ent., why would he leave to join a rival company when he just reunited with his family. Howard tells Tony that the Stark business is his now and that he doesn't his father at his side.

At that moment, Howard gets a call from Joe Broke-It who welcomes him to the team and invites him to come to their new HQ which is only a few blocks away from Stark Ent. Howard arrives at Force Works to an excited Broke-It. Joe tells him that he's admired Howard for years and tried to emulate everything that Howard has done. As he gives Howard a tour of the facility, he introduces him to the top scientist at the company, twenty-something genius Morgan Hogan. Howard is impressed with the credentials that she has on the wall in her lab but there something else that is nagging in the back of Howards' mind. For some reason, Morgan seems vaguely familiar to him, like he knows her from another life. But that's impossible after all, he's been dead for the past 15 years, right?

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

THE MIGHTY THOR #42 \*Fear Itself Tie-In\*

Plot by EXCITER

Written by ALAN MOORE

Art by MIKE MIGNOLA

“ABANDON ALL HOPE…”

The King is dead. The Kingdom is lost.

Thor has fallen, swallowed by Atum the Demogorge. Monsters are unleashed as part of Fear Itself, and our gods - and seemingly any hope for salvation - are banished. Asgard, along with Olympus and Heliopolis, have been transported into the prison dimension once occupied by Chthon - trapped as captive realms in the Dark World Tree of K’Lay. In this time of unfathomable crisis, who will step up and lead in Thor’s absence?

Gaea, Mother Earth, whose powers are all but gone due to being separated from her home planet?

All-Mother Queen Sif, now a widow, struggling to protect Asgard and her two-year-old children, Princes Magni and Modi Thorson?

Loki, the trickster who sees an opportunity to be a hero?

Former All-Father Odin, who yielded his power in what he may now view as a mistake?

Former All-Mother Freyja, languishing in prison for treason, who may see this as an opportunity to attain release?

Hercules, the Olympian seeking to prove himself as worthy a hero as Thor? Ares, the war god with the same goal?

Or… Atum, Thor’s half-brother and slayer. He ruled Heliopolis as Ra before disappearing. He is the only one able to pass in and out of K’Lay, but why did he side with his uncle Chthon over his mother, Gaea? Why did he enable Chthon to unleash Fear Itself? And does he now regret his actions… or will he double down and attempt to eat the rest of Asgard while the eating is good?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

MISTRESS OF KUNG FU #6

“Family Reunion” (season 1 conclusion)

Plotter: CaptCleghorn

Writer and Layouts: Cynthia Von Buhler

Artist: Nicola Scott

Shen-Qi had her butt handed to her by Taskmaster last issue. Given that and the fact that Taskmaster picked up her moves from that fight, why is our heroine so intent on a rematch? The simple answer is that the moves she used last issue contained flaws that were only perceptible by a truly great fighter and not just someone who “knows the moves”. Shen drives into the overwhelmed Taskmaster who was tricked into using the faulty style.

As Taskmaster falls to the ground Anastasia Kravenoff smiles and hugs Shen. Also coming into range are Clive Reston, looking to take Taskmaster into custody for MI-6. Phil Coulson is there looking to apprehend the brigand for Arrow. Shang Chi steps out of the darkness, seeking custody “for my father.” Shen finds the use of “my” somewhat disturbing.

Who will Taskmaster go home with tonight? Only by buying this issue will you learn.

32 pgs Rated T+/ $2.99

PETER PARKER, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #16

Written by J.M.DeMatteis

Plot by CaptCleghorn

Art by Sara Pichelli

“The Party’s Over!”

Rognar’s emotional control over the tribes of the Savage Land has started to wear thin and crumble. While there is still strife and conflict between them, they do agree that they dislike Rognar’s control more than they dislike each other. Peter, Ant-Man, Wasp, Zabu, and Ka-Zar join forces to overthrow Rognar and his few remaining followers. Rognar escapes into the depths of the Savage Land. Ka-Zar and Zabu smile, knowing they will find him.

Dr. Margo Damian had put much time and effort into what turned out to be mostly a ruse. But she has found enough pieces and signs to reignite her research and her career. Military guards at the Antarctic base confiscate most of the items gathered, but allow all to pass to the base and home to the Northern hemisphere. Peter and Gwen decide that neither archeology nor paleontology are career paths for them.

32 Pgs./ Rated T...$3.99

SPELLBOUND #8

Written by VITA AYALA

Plot by H-E-D

Art by PEACH MOMOKO

“UNFORBIDDEN” - Part Two

BOW DOWN

1947. Partition.

He found the gem somewhere between the freshly divided India and Pakistan.

An arcane focus of untold power.

A brilliant topaz.

Then. Sanctum Sanctorum.

Stolen from her family as an infant, Topaz had known only the stern control of Taboo. As his familiar, she unlocked power on his focus in ways he never could. Thus, her name. She was a tool, one used for evil.

But now, after far too long, freedom. She fled his wickedness, given sanctuary by the master on Bleecker Street. There, Topaz met one of the sorcerer’s colleagues. The new Spellbinder.

Now. Chaukhandi.

It was difficult enough for Topaz that her ex-girlfriend showed up unannounced. Lots of unresolved emotions there. She kept that to herself.

But now TABOO, her former master, has stolen Yagzan’s Focus right out from under Jennifer Kale's nose!

Combining the onyx focus with his old topaz focus, Taboo brings the entire Zheredian community at Chaukhandi under his heel!

Topaz vowed never again to serve him - can she resist?

32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

UNCANNY X-MEN #42 \*Fear Itself Tie-In\*

Plot by NX01A

Written by KURT BUSIEK

Art by STUART IMMONEN

Theme Song: Gustav Holst - Mars

“DEEP THOUGHT” part 1 “PHOBOS”

•Even though the Crimson Pirates suddenly abandoned their attack on Asteroid X, the X-Men still fight to right their paradise as it spins apart uncontrollably. It would take several days to travel the 384,000 kilometers from the L5 Lagrange point to Earth but the Crimson Pirates have thrown it on a perfect trajectory. As the XAVIER-MAGNETO gestalt ONSLAUGHT wraps the station in mento-magnetic fields to slow it, several large objects approach from Earth.

•Behemoths, titans, horrors of patchwork flesh and bone and scale and tentacle are coming, sending waves of dread ahead of them! With Onslaught keeping Asteroid X together, STRØM's Asgardian magic-enhanced weather manipulation keeping the atmosphere from escaping, and JEAN GREY using the empathic powers of the PHENEX demon-mutant body her consciousness inhabits to keep the population as calm as she can, it's up to SCOTT SUMMERS and LOGAN to deal with the incoming.

•Empowered by the Crimson Cosmos, CYCLOPS is nigh-invulnerable, his eye beams able to blast through planetoids. The arcane power in WOLVERINE's claws lets them slice through matter, energy, and magic, and his overclocked healing factor lets him handle hard vacuum and hard radiation. They've come to an understanding since Scott regained control of his powers which Wolverine's claws damaged, and they fastball special via optic blast at the looming leviathans!

•En route to the rendezvous with their client in orbit of Proxima Centauri d, Crimson Pirate infiltrator SANGUINE SILENCE thought she'd gotten away unnoticed with JEAN GREY's frozen dead body. Engine trouble forced her to land on Phobos but Sanguine can't determine exactly what's wrong. There were dual solar flares washing over Mars but shields weren't compromised. As she begins diagnostics in the engine room to find the cause, the undead thing clawing its way from the cargo hold toward her may ensure she never finds out.

42 PGs./Rated T+...$4.20

UNCANNY X-MEN: FEAR ITSELF #1

Plot by NX01A

Written by ZEB WELLS

Art by MARCO CHECCHETTO

Theme Song: Florence + The Machine - Hunger

“HATED AND FEARED” Part 1 “FAMINE”

•The invasion of Ukraine halted when APOCALYPSE and his HORSEMEN took Moscow, the Red Army turning to defend their home soil. The fear was that the Russian government would order a nuclear strike against their own capitol but what they sent was perhaps worse.

•War is Hell. The mechanical colossi with beating whale hearts and hemocyanin blood flowing through their valves lumbered through portals around the city. Their every step, every neutron beam was powered by leeching the population's life force, leaving human husks behind. Russia's rulers have allied themselves with one of dark Allograft's techno-organists, and DOCTOR FRITZ's meat-machines march on the mutants in the metropolis!

•Standing in their way is ALEX SUMMERS, a mutant who draws power from ambient radiation and converts it into plasma bolts that now burn as hot as a star. He has burned the flesh from men's bones, and he is FAMINE. Alex found in Apocalypse's vision the direction he needed in his aimless life, in Apocalypse's Celestial technology levels of power he never dreamed possible. Their work was just beginning, and nothing would stop them. Not humans, not Sentinels, not meat-machine monsters, and not the HORROR GODS... Nothing!

•Watching in horror from the penthouse of One Tower in the heart of Moscow's business district, NIGHTCRAWLER prays for the dead and dying. LADY MANDARIN, EMMA FROST, and X-23 have more pragmatic concerns: do they begin their mission to stop the Horsemen or let the heralds of armageddon kill all the scary monsters? Not much of a question, is it?

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