The Amazing Spider-Man #147

(MARVEL)
August 1975



Good Guy: Spider-Man
Bad Guy: Tarantula

Cameos: The Jackal, Mary Jane Watson, May Parker, Anna Watson

Overview

“The Tarantula is a very Deadly Beast!”

Writer: Gerry Conway
Artists: Ross Andru

The Tarantula escapes from jail with the aid of The Jackal and proceeds to attack Spider-Man in the street.

The Tarantula leads Spidey onto a bus driven by a driver who appears not to realize what is going on. The passengers all flee the bus as a Gwen Stacy clone hops on. The bus driver reveals himself to be The Jackal.

They reach the Brooklyn bridge and The Jackal and Gwen get out of the bus. Spider-Man turns his back on the Tarantula to stop The Jackal and is stabbed with the Tarantula's deadly poison tipped boot.

When Spider-Man regains consciousness he is chained on top of the bridge. He is pushed off and that is where our story concludes.

Rating: 8/10

Plenty of action in this one.

Favorite Panel:

Mister Miracle #22

(DC)
December 1990



Good Guy: Mister Miracle/Shilo Norman
Bad Guy:

Cameos: Scott Free, Big Barda, Oberon, Highfather

Overview

“Passing the Miracle”

Writer: Doug Moench
Artists: Joe Phillips & Bob Dvorak

Scott Free hands over the reigns of Mister Miracle to Shilo Norman... and that's about all there is to it.

Rating: 6/10

Great art. Fun seeing Shilo communicate with his new mother box and some fun scenes with Barda and Oberon, and Shilo and Scott.

Favorite Panel:

The Defenders #49

(MARVEL)
July 1977



Good Guys: The Defenders (Nighthawk, Valkyrie, Hulk, Hellcat)
Bad Guy: Scorpio

Cameos: Moon Knight, Clea, Jack Norriss

Overview

“Rampage”

Author & Colorist: David Kraft
Artists: Keith Giffen & Mike Royer

Nighthawk has been captured by Scorpio, who is the brother of Nick Fury the head of SHIELD.

The Scorpio holds the Zodiac Key and with it the power of the Zodiac.

Moon Knight, who has recently fought Scorpio, tells the Defenders that Nighthawk has been captured and that heavy back up will be required. That’s where the Hulk comes in.

Valkyrie, Hellcat and MoonKnight find the Hulk eating food at a picnic table in Central Park. The Hulk will not help his friends so they are forced to taunt him into following them.

The Hulk follows leading a trail of destruction…



… the above image was put in the bulletin page which I found amusing.

The story ends with Hulk confronting Scorpio and the Zodiac.

Rating: 5/10

I found it hard to fathom that three heroes would entice the Hulk on a rampage through New York causing all kinds of property damage and risking innocent lives in the process. It is a comic after all! Still good to see the Hulk smashing things!!


Favorite Panel:

Love the Hulk rapping his fingers on the pavement … waiting patiently.

Thunderstrike #13

(Marvel)
October 1994



Good Guy: Thunderstrike/Eric Masterson
Bad Guy: The Bison

Cameos: Luke Cage, Stellaris, Black Widow, Edwin Jarvis, Mongoose, Quicksand, Special Agent Alex DePaul

Overview

“Man and Beast”

Plot & Script: Tom De Falco
Art: Ron Frenz

The Bison has intercepted a SHIELD convoy demanding a package. Luke Cage intercepts the Bison trying to save “Billy” (The Bison is Billy Kitson a former friend of Luke Cage’s) from doing something he will regret.

The Bison escapes. SHEILD and Cage have a disagreement. SHIELD place a homing device on Cage.

SHIELD call in the Avengers, namely Thunderstrike, to capture Cage.

We find out that the package the Bison was trying to secure was a cylinder of Inferno-42. That cylinder could lay waste to the entire island of Manhattan. The Bison is trying to acquire it from SHIELD and give it to an unknown evil-doer in return for a second chance at being human again.

Cage catches up with Bison, but before he can confront him Thunderstrike catches up with Cage. Bison gets away, and Cage and Thunderstrike have a fight. Afterwards Cage explains the Bison’s story and Thunderstrike begins to have doubts about SHIELD and in particular Special Agent De Paul.

Cage and Thunderstrike track down the HQ of this SHIELD operation and in doing so unwittingly lead Bison, Mongoose and Quicksand to the hideout and to the cylinder of Inferno-42. Our story ends.

Rating: 7/10

Great artwork from Ron Frenz. Good plot, surprisingly good read from a short lived series. Wouldn’t mind reading #14 if I can find it.

Favorite Panel:
Thunderstrike v Luke Cage

The New Defenders #126

(Marvel)
December 1983



Good Guys: The New Defenders (Iceman, Angel, Gargoyle, Beast, Valkyrie, Moondragon)

Bad Guy: Leviathan

Cameos: Nick Fury, The Mutant Force (Mad Dog, Burner, Lifter, Slither, Shocker), Odin

Overview

“State of the Union”

Writer: J M De Matteis
Art: Alan Kupperberg

The New Defenders have apprehended the Mutant Force and handed them over to Nick Fury and SHIELD. It is apparent that there are spies that have infiltrated SHIELD.

The New Defenders have an altercation on who should lead the new team. The Angel flies out and encounters Leviathan, who just escaped from SHIELD headquarters, in the streets of New York. The New Defenders catch up with him and a fight ensues.

Under the leadership of Angel the New Defenders defeat Leviathan. While, Nick Fury and SHIELD are securing Leviathan, the Mutant Force escape.

Rating: 6/10

Good read, not action packed but as is the norm for DeMatteis an enjoyable, sometime comedic read.

Favorite Panel:
The Valkyrie puts forward her case for New Defender leadership.