Back Issue #65 by TwoMorrows Publishing

J ul y 2 0 1 3

No.65 $8.95 Bronze Age B-Teams, featuring

CHAMPIONS DOOM PATROL GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY INHUMANS LEGION OF SUBSTITUTE HEROES TEEN TITANS WEST

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PETER DAVID’S X-FACTOR

THE RETRO COMICS EXPERIENCE!

Edited by MICHAEL EURY, BACK ISSUE magazine celebrates comic books of the 1970s, 1980s, and today through recurring (and rotating) departments like “Pro2Pro” (dialogue between professionals), “BackStage Pass” (behind-the-scenes of comicsbased media), “Greatest Stories Never Told” (spotlighting unrealized comics series or stories), and more!

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Bronze Age Mystery Comics! Interviews with BERNIE WRIGHTSON, SERGIO ARAGONÉS, GERRY TALAOC, DC mystery writer LORE SHOBERG, MARK EVANIER and DAN SPIEGLE discuss Scooby-Doo, Charlton chiller anthologies, Black Orchid, Madame Xanadu art and commentary by TONY DeZUNIGA, MIKE KALUTA, VAL MAYERIK, DAVID MICHELINIE, MATT WAGNER, and a rare cover painting by WRIGHTSON!

“Gods!” Takes an in-depth look at WALTER SIMONSON’s Thor, the Thunder God in the Bronze Age, “Pro2Pro” interview with TOM DeFALCO and RON FRENZ, Hercules: Prince of Power, Moondragon, Three Ways to End the New Gods Saga, exclusive interview with fantasy writer MICHAEL MOORCOCK, art and commentary by GERRY CONWAY, JACK KIRBY, BOB LAYTON, and more, with a swingin’ Thor cover by SIMONSON!

“Liberated Ladies” eyeing female characters that broke barriers in the Bronze Age: Big Barda, Valkyrie, Ms. Marvel, Phoenix, Savage She-Hulk, and the sword-wielding Starfire. Plus a “Pro2Pro” interview with JILL THOMPSON, GAIL SIMONE, and BARBARA KESEL, art and commentary by JOHN BYRNE, GEORGE PEREZ, JACK KIRBY, MIKE VOSBURG, and more, with a new cover by BRUCE TIMM!

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“Licensed Comics”! Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Man from Atlantis, DC’s Edgar Rice Burroughs backups (John Carter, Pellucidar, Carson of Venus), Marvel’s Warlord of Mars, and an interview with CAROL SERLING, wife of ROD SERLING. With art and commentary from ANDERSON, BYRNE, CLAREMONT, DORMAN, DUURSEMA, KALUTA, MILLER, OSTRANDER, and more. Cover by BRIAN KOSCHACK.

“Avengers Assemble!” Writer ROGER STERN’S acclaimed 1980s Avengers run, West Coast Avengers, early Avengers toys, and histories of Hawkeye, Mockingbird, and Wonder Man, with art and commentary from JOHN and SAL BUSCEMA, JOHN BYRNE, BRETT BREEDING, TOM DeFALCO, STEVE ENGLEHART, BOB HALL, AL MILGROM, TOM MORGAN, TOM PALMER, JOE SINNOTT, and more. PÉREZ cover!

JENETTE KAHN interviewed by ROBERT GREENBERGER, DC’s Dollar Comics and unrealized kids’ line (featuring an aborted Sugar and Spike revival), the Wonder Woman Foundation, and the early days of the Vertigo imprint. Exploring the talents of ROSS ANDRU, KAREN BERGER, STEVE BISSETTE, JIM ENGEL, GARTH ENNIS, NEIL GAIMAN, SHELLY MAYER, ALAN MOORE, GRANT MORRISON, and more!

“JLA in the Bronze Age”! The “Satellite Years” of the ‘70s and early ‘80s, with BUCKLER, ENGLEHART, PÉREZ, and WEIN, salute to DICK DILLIN, the Justice League “Detroit” team, with CONWAY, PATTON, McDONNELL, plus CONWAY and GEOFF JOHNS go “Pro2Pro” on writing the JLA, unofficial JLA/Avengers crossovers, and Marvel’s JLA, the Squadron Supreme. Cover by McDONNELL and BILL WRAY!

“Toon Comics!” History of Space Ghost in comics, Comico’s Jonny Quest and Star Blazers, Marvel’s Hanna-Barbera line and Dennis the Menace, behind the scenes at Marvel Productions, Ltd., and a look at the unpublished Plastic Man comic strip. Art/comments by EVANIER, FOGLIO, HEMPEL and WHEATLEY, MARRS, RUDE, TOTH, WILDEY, and more. All-new painted Space Ghost cover by STEVE RUDE!

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“Halloween Heroes and Villains”! JEPH LOEB and TIM SALE’s chiller Batman: The Long Halloween, the Scarecrow (both the DC and Marvel versions), Solomon Grundy, Man-Wolf, Lord Pumpkin, Rutland, Vermont’s Halloween parades, and… the Korvac Saga’s Dead Avengers! With commentary from and/or art by CONWAY, GIL KANE, LOPRESTI, MOENCH, PÉREZ, DAVE WENZEL, and more. Cover by TIM SALE!

“Tabloids and Treasuries,” spotlighting every all-new tabloid from the 1970s. Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man, The Bible, Captain America’s Bicentennial Battles, The Wizard of Oz, even the PAUL DINI/ALEX ROSS World’s Greatest Super-Heroes editions! Commentary and art by ADAMS, GARCIA-LOPEZ, GRELL, KIRBY, KUBERT, MAYER, ROMITA SR., TOTH, and more. Wraparound cover by ALEX ROSS!

“Superman in the Bronze Age”! JULIUS SCHWARTZ, CURT SWAN, Superman Family, World of Krypton miniseries, and ALAN MOORE’s “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?”, art & comments by ADAMS, ANDERSON, CARDY, CHAYKIN, PAUL KUPPERBERG, OKSNER, O’NEIL, PASKO, ROZAKIS, SAVIUK, and more. Cover by GARCÍA-LÓPEZ and SCOTT WILLIAMS! Edited by MICHAEL EURY.

“British Invasion” issue! History of Marvel UK, Beatles in comics, DC’s ‘80s British talent pool, V for Vendetta, Excalibur, Marshal Law, Doctor Who, “Pro2Pro” interview with PETER MILLIGAN & BRENDAN McCARTHY, plus BERGER, BOLLAND, DAVIS, GIBBONS, STAN LEE, LLOYD, MOORE, DEZ SKINN, and others. Fold-out triptych cover by RON WILSON and DAVE HUNT of Marvel UK’s rare 1970s “Quadra-Poster”!

“Bronze Age Backup Series”! Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Metamorpho, GOODWIN and SIMONSON’s Manhunter, PASKO and GIFFEN’s Dr. Fate, “Whatever Happened To…?”, Nemesis, Rose and the Thorn, Seven Soldiers of Victory, art and commentary by CARY BURKETT, JOHN CALNAN, DICK GIORDANO, MIKE GRELL, ELLIOT S! MAGGIN, DAN SPIEGLE, cover by GRELL and JOE RUBINSTEIN.

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Volume 1, Number 65 July 2013 Celebrating the Best Comics of the '70s, '80s, '90s, and Beyond!

Comics’ Bronze Age and Beyond!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Eury PUBLISHER John Morrow DESIGNER Rich Fowlks COVER ARTIST Kevin Nowlan (art from the collection of Eric Delos Santos) COVER DESIGNER Michael Kronenberg PROOFREADER Rob Smentek

BACK SEAT DRIVER: Editorial by Michael Eury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Phil Hester Tony Isabella Paul Jenkins Dan Johnson Barbara Kesel James Kingman David Anthony Kraft Paul Kupperberg Erik Larsen Paul Levitz Alan Light Steve Lightle Marvel Comics Sean McKeever Doug Moench Fabian Nicieza Luigi Novi Don Perlin Bob Rozakis Jason Shayer Roger Stern Roy Thomas Jim Valentino Karen Walker Kevin West

If you’re viewing a Digital Edition of this publication,

FLASHBACK: The Not-Ready-for-Super-Team Players: The Defenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 An issue-by-issue look at Marvel’s non-team, with creator commentary galore FLASHBACK: “We’ll Keep on Fighting ’til the End”: The Champions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Why did this Marvel super-group struggle to maintain an audience? FLASHFORWARD: Explore the Marvel Universe of the 31st Century with the Guardians of the Galaxy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 A cavalcade of stars discusses Marvel’s futuristic fighters—soon to become a major motion picture! THE DOOM PATROL INTERVIEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Behind-the-scenes chats with four storytellers of DC’s World’s Strangest Heroes Arnold Drake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Paul Kupperberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Steve Lightle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Erik Larsen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Bonus Pinup by Richard Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 FLASHBACK: Go West, Young Heroes: Titans West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Teen Titans in La-La Land FLASHBACK: Inhuman Nature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 The genetics, social science, and superhero evolution behind the Fantastic Four spin-off WHAT THE--?!: The Legion of Substitute Heroes in the Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 These wannabes play second fiddle to Bouncing Boy, for goodness sake! OFF MY CHEST: X-Factor vs. X-Factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 A look at the role of identity in Peter David’s X-series

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BACK TALK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 Letters on BI #60

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BACK ISSUE™ is published 8 times a year by TwoMorrows Publishing, 10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614. Michael Eury, Editor-in-Chief. John Morrow, Publisher. Editorial Office: BACK ISSUE, c/o Michael Eury, Editor-in-Chief, 118 Edgewood Avenue NE, Concord, NC 28025. Email: euryman@gmail.com. Six-issue subscriptions: $60 Standard US, $85 Canada, $107 Surface International. Please send subscription orders and funds to TwoMorrows, NOT to the editorial office. Cover art by Kevin Nowlan. Incredible Hulk, Dr. Strange, Valkyrie, and Defenders logo TM & © Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All characters are © their respective companies. All material © their creators unless otherwise noted. All editorial matter © 2013 Michael Eury and TwoMorrows Publishing. BACK ISSUE is a TM of TwoMorrows Publishing. ISSN 1932-6904. Printed in China. FIRST PRINTING.

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Logos TM & © Marvel Characters, Inc. and DC Comics.

SPECIAL THANKS Dan Abnett Alex Boney Jonathan Rikard Brown Michael Browning Jarrod Buttery John Byrne Timothy Callahan Chris Claremont Bill Colosimo Peter David Daniel DeAngelo Tom DeFalco J. M. DeMatteis Scott Edelman Steve Englehart Beth Fleisher Chris Franklin Michael Gallagher Keith Giffen Peter Gillis Grand Comic-Book Database Bob Hall Ed Hannigan Heritage Comics Auctions

OUR FAVORITE C-TEAM Hey, DC’s Inferior Five would consider being called a “B-Team” a promotion!

Michael Eury

Writer E. Nelson Bridwell’s hilarious superhero send-up premiered during the Batmania craze of the mid-1960s and ran through most of the rest of the Silver Age. DC repackaged two of their earliest tales in the fall of 1972 in a two-issue reprint series titled Inferior 5; those issues predated the spate of DC reprint reboots (including The Doom Patrol) mentioned on page 37. The I5 also made one new appearance during the Bronze Age, in the character-jammed Showcase #100 (which we’ll cover in BI #69). Being products of the Silver Age, they’re not a part of the mix this issue, but we did want to give them a nod by showing this Joe Orlando cover from the first of those two 1972 reprint editions. (And are there enough of us out there who remember these wacky wonders to warrant a Showcase Presents: The Inferior Five volume?)

JOE KUBERT’S THE REDEEMER Better-late-than-never announcement: Installments from Joe Kubert’s longunpublished series The Redeemer, which Dewey Cassell ever-so-ably covered in our “Greatest Stories Never Told” department in BACK ISSUE #26, were published late last year and early this year in DC Comics’ Joe Kubert Presents #2–4. If you missed those issues, either seek them out or wait for the inevitable collected edition. And if you read those issues but missed Dewey’s article, chock full of insights from Mr. Kubert himself, BI #26 is still available, in both print and digital editions, at twomorrows.com.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES BACK ISSUE is on the lookout for the following comics-related material from the 1970s through the 1990s: • • • • • • •

Unpublished artwork and covers Commissions (color or B&W) and professional-quality specialty drawings 1970s–1990s creator and convention photographs Character designs and model sheets Original art: covers and significant interior pages Little-seen fanzine material Other rarities

If you have any of the above materials, please query the editor via email prior to submission. Art contributors will be acknowledged in print and receive a complimentary copy of the issue. 2 • BACK ISSUE • B-Teams Issue

Since BI is a full-color publication, preference is given to color artwork. Random convention sketches and “quick sketches” that do not reflect an artist’s best work and were not intended for print will no longer be considered for publication. BACK ISSUE does not read or consider unsolicited manuscripts. However, we routinely welcome new writers to our magazine, and have done so since day one! If you’re interested in writing for BI, please request a copy of the BACK ISSUE Writer’s Style Guide by emailing the editor at euryman@gmail.com. Contact BI at: Michael Eury, Editor-in-Chief, BACK ISSUE 118 Edgewood Ave. NE Concord, NC 28025

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Kubert.

TM & © DC Comics.

If superheroes were real, and if you lived on either Earth-DC or Earth-Marvel, ask yourself this: If your world was being threatened by, say, Darkseid and his Parademons of Apokolips or a Skrull invasion, who ya gonna call? No one would hope, “Gee, if only the Titans West would come to our rescue,” nor would anyone pray, “Lord, please send the Champions to our aid!” But those two superteams—those “B-Teams”—and the other groups explored in this issue weren’t intended to be “The World’s Greatest SuperHeroes” like the Justice League of America or “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” like the Avengers. No, the creators behind the Titans West, the Champions, plus our cover stars, the Defenders, and the other B-Teams under the spotlight this issue had reasons in mind other than world-saving when they came up with these teams. The Doom Patrol, the Inhumans, et al. may be B-Teams in terms of massmedia visibility (future movie stars the Guardians of the Galaxy aside), but they’ve often been graced with A-list talent, and we’re happy to share those creators’ stories with you this issue. In case you haven’t heard, one of those creators, X-Factor’s Peter David, writer of stuff, suffered a stroke a few months after being interviewed for this issue. He is on the mend and you can follow his progress, and perhaps help his recovery, by visiting www.peterdavid.net. Peter, God bless and get well soon!

Long before there were multiple teams of Avengers, and their membership expanded to include such “loner” heroes as Namor the Sub-Mariner, Dr. Strange, Valkyrie, and (after his brief stint as a founding Avenger) the Hulk, these outsiders formed the crux of the Defenders: a loosely connected group with no official members, leaders, headquarters, or rules—“heroes called together only when the need arises … to battle menaces that threaten the security … or the very life … of the planet Earth!”

STRANGE ORIGINS

Daniel

Although the Defenders first appear as a group in Marvel Feature #1 (Dec. 1971), their genesis goes back to a storyline that began with Dr. Strange #183 (Dec. 1969), written by Defenders creator Roy Thomas, in which Strange learns of “The Undying Ones”—an evil race of demons that once dominated Earth and now seeks to reclaim it. However, Dr. Strange was abruptly canceled, and Thomas was forced to continue the story in other DeAngelo books he wrote. Strange would seek help from Namor in Sub-Mariner #22 (Feb. 1970), and later the Hulk in Incredible Hulk #126 (Apr. 1970). When the threat of the Undying Ones is ended, Strange retires to a normal life. Later, Thomas had Namor join forces with the Hulk and Silver Surfer as the “Titans Three” in Sub-Mariner #34–35 (Feb.–Mar. 1971) to prevent the United Nations from testing a weather-control station that may threaten all life on Earth. The U.N. calls in the Avengers and a battle ensues, until a flaw in the machine is discovered that could cause it to explode. After the trio of outsiders parts ways, Namor contemplates: “An alliance of three titans that might have altered the course of history! But perhaps we shall meet again one day—perhaps!” Thomas began to consider the idea of making the “Titans” a regular team, but there would have to be some changes. At the time, Stan Lee had some exclusivity with the Silver Surfer and asked other writers not to use roy thomas him. “Stan suggested Dr. Strange as a guy who could hold this group of volatile personalities together,” Thomas recalls. So Thomas brought Strange out of retirement in another story in Marvel Feature #1. It was also Lee who apparently coined the group’s name. “The ‘Defenders’ is far too passive a name for my taste,” Thomas claims. “I prefer more aggressive-sounding names like the ‘Avengers’ or the ‘Invaders,’ so Stan probably came up with that one.”

THE DAY OF THE DEFENDERS Finally, the Defenders made their official debut in that same comic, written by Thomas with pencils by Ross Andru and inks by Namor’s creator, Bill Everett—with

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Defenders “Assembled” The roots of the Defenders, via Roy Thomas-written stories: (top left) The “Undying Ones” storyline from Dr. Strange #183 (Dec. 1969, cover by Gene Colan) was resumed in Marvel Feature #1. (top right) Doc Strange crossed over into Sub-Mariner #22 (Feb. 1970, cover by Marie Severin and Frank Giacoia). (bottom left) Two months later, the Master of the Mystic Arts guest-starred in The Incredible Hulk #126 (Apr. 1970, cover by Herb Trimpe), which featured the first appearance of Valkyrieto-be Barbara Norriss. (bottom right) Sal Buscema’s cover to issue #34 (Feb. 1971) of Namor’s title served as a prelude to the non-team which would officially premiere in a matter of months. © 2013 Marvel Characters, Inc.

Dr. Strange replacing the Silver Surfer (who appears briefly but is knocked unconscious while attempting to escape Galactus’ barrier that traps him on Earth). Strange is summoned to the deathbed of his old foe, the alien scientist Yandroth, who reveals that he has created a doomsday device called the Omegatron. When Yandroth dies, it will activate and begin its final countdown. Strange enlists the aid of Namor and the Hulk again, who attempt to destroy the Omegatron by force, but the computer reveals that it had anticipated Strange’s interference and intended to harness the power of his two allies to destroy Earth. With seconds left, Strange slows down the passage of time around the Omegatron, so that each moment becomes an eon.

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Afterwards, Namor notes, “We all but caused the Earth’s destruction— while we sought to be its valiant defenders!” and Strange exclaims, “Defenders! A fitting name for such a grouping as we—if ever we’ve need to meet again!” And meet again they would in Marvel Feature #2 (Mar. 1972), also written by Thomas and penciled by Andru, with inks by future series penciler Sal Buscema. Worshippers of the Dread Dormammu plan to sacrifice Dr. Strange’s body so Dormammu can possess it and enter Earth’s dimension. Strange’s disciple, Clea, summons Namor and Hulk to battle Dormammu’s followers, as Strange’s astral spirit drives Dormammu back to his own dimension. In Marvel Feature #3

(June 1972), Bill Everett returns as inker when the group reunites to THE NEW DEFENDER battle Xemnu the Titan, an alien who creates a popular children’s TV The first newcomer to the Defenders joins in #4 (Feb. 1973): the show in order to lure youngsters to his now-deserted home planet so Valkyrie. Originally the leader of the valkyries from Norse mythology— he won’t be alone anymore. who would escort mortal warriors’ souls into Valhalla—Brunnhilde When The Defenders received their own bimonthly series cover- the Valkyrie ran afoul of the Enchantress, who captured her spirit dated August 1972, Thomas became editor and brought in Steve and would graft its personality and powers onto various female Englehart to take his place as writer. “I had gotten started writing pawns throughout the ages. In Avengers #83 (Dec. 1970), Roy Thomas ‘The Beast’ in Amazing Adventures,” Englehart says, “and Roy was the introduced the Valkyrie as the Enchantress herself in disguise, and then editor, and he apparently liked what he saw.” Sal Buscema also began reintroduced her as a mortal pawn named Samantha Parrington in a long run as penciler. Englehart comments, “Sal is a great Incredible Hulk #142 (Aug. 1971). When the Enchantress— storyteller. I could come up with anything and he could along with the Defenders and her latest pawn, the Black draw it. I really liked working with Sal. It helped me Knight—is captured by the evil sorceress Casiolena, develop as a writer.” she fuses Barbara Norriss’ now-mindless body with In the first issue, Necrodamus intends to sacrifice the spirit of the Valkyrie to aid in their escape. Namor to the Undying Ones to repay the Defenders Once Casiolena is defeated, the Enchantress turns for their past interference. Since Necrodamus the Black Knight into stone with a kiss and departs, must wait for the stars to be in alignment, Strange leaving Valkyrie behind. Strange vows to restore attempts to slow down time again, unknowingly the Black Knight to life, while Valkyrie—having no weakening his earlier spell on the Omegatron. other purpose in her life—adopts the Knight’s Afterwards, Namor reveals that he was captured winged horse, Aragorn (along with his mystic Ebony because the Silver Surfer attacked him. “I called Blade), and decides to join the Defenders. Stan and said, ‘I’ve got this idea for a Silver Surfer Valkyrie’s addition was Englehart’s idea, as he felt story,’ so he gave me a shot at doing it,” Englehart the group needed a female presence. “By making it steve englehart recounts. “Once he was in, I took advantage of Valkyrie, you’ve got a woman with a convoluted that to bring him back once in awhile, but it was backstory that offered a lot of possibilities,” he basically up to Stan. If Stan had said, ‘No more Surfer!’ that would explains. “She didn’t like men, and here are these totally alpha-guys! have been it.” Sub-Mariner is certainly alpha, and Hulk is alpha on steroids!” While she In the next issue, the Defenders learn that the sorcerer Calizuma is allowed to stay at Dr. Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum, Valkyrie is told and his Warrior Wizards took control of the Surfer and made him attack that the Defenders is not an actual team that one can “join,” but she Namor. In #3 (Dec. 1972), Strange attempts to free the Surfer from his soon proves her worth to the others when Namor and Hulk mysteriously Earthly imprisonment by transporting him to another dimension, where disappear in #5 (Apr. 1973). Val tracks them to the Omegatron, which Galactus’ barrier will not exist. However, the Defenders are accidentally is again finishing its countdown (now at a somewhat faster speed transported to the Undying Ones’ realm instead and find that their after Strange’s spell was weakened), once more using Namor and leader, the Nameless One, has mated with a mortal worshipper named Hulk’s strength to empower itself. When the Omegatron transforms Barbara Norriss. Dr. Strange attempts to free Norriss from the demon’s into a giant robot, Valkyrie chops its head off with her sword. At the influence, which accidentally leaves her insane. To make matters worse, time, Valkyrie’s true Asgardian heritage was unknown. She was believed when they return to their own dimension, they find themselves back to be merely a creation of the Enchantress, who now inhabited on Earth where a frustrated Surfer is still a prisoner and departs. Norriss’ body and possessed no memory of her past. She was also unable to use her strength against other women without experiencing pain. The search for Valkyrie’s past would become a recurring subplot in future issues. In #6 (June 1973), the Surfer returns and helps the Defenders battle the evil dreams of Cyrus Black.

THE AVENGERS/DEFENDERS WAR With the seventh issue, Defenders went monthly. Ex-Avenger Hawkeye— who quit in Avengers #109 (Mar. 1973)—teams with the Hulk in Incredible Hulk #166 (Aug. 1973) and follows him to Dr. Strange’s doorstep, where he learns of the Defenders’ existence. The idea of a “non-team” suits Hawkeye’s current attitude and he decides to hang around, just as Namor learns that Attuma and the Red Ghost are attacking the surface world. In the next issue, Hawkeye helps the Defenders thwart Attuma’s invasion. “When I had Hawkeye quit the Avengers, I liked him; but I wanted to try a different approach, so his leaving fit in with what I was trying to do,” Englehart says. “But when he was gone, I wound up missing him, [so] I thought I could put him in Defenders. Then, when I came up with the ‘Avengers/Defenders War,’ he fit into that perfectly.” Dr. Strange discovers a way to restore the Black Knight to life by using the Evil Eye—a mystic object of great power that has been disassembled into six pieces and hidden throughout the world— unaware that he has been deceived by Dormammu and Loki. Dormammu wants the Defenders to gather the pieces of the Eye so he

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books were on the verge of cancellation when they got given to me, and both were steadily gaining a following.” Defenders #148 (Oct. 1985) is a fill-in with art by Sal Buscema, in which the Beast and Gargoyle join forces with Daimon and Patsy Hellstrom to help Cutlass and Typhoon track down another missing shipment. In #149 and the double-sized #150 (Nov.–Dec. 1985), Cloud is revealed to be an actual cloud nebula that became sentient and assumed a human form when it came to Earth, seeking help because the stars are vanishing. Journeying to outer space, the Defenders find out that a villain called the Star-Thief is responsible— who turns out to be a comatose alien child whose subconscious removed the stars because their light frightened her. Manslaughter returns in #151 (Jan. 1986) and decides that he wants to join the Defenders—even if he has to kill them to be accepted. “I fell in love with Manslaughter as much as Don did,” Gillis says. “He was definitely going to stay a member.” A mysterious being called the Interloper— who fought the Dragon of the Moon centuries ago—arrives and tells the Defenders that they will need all the help they can get because Moondragon is returning. In the double-sized final issue, Moondragon’s powers are increased by the Beyonder (in an obligatory Secret Wars II crossover), enabling her to rip Isaac Christians’ soul out of the Gargoyle’s body, making it a new host for the Dragon. Interloper joins his life-force with that of Valkyrie, Andromeda, and Manslaughter to destroy the Dragon, which reduces all of them—including Moondragon and the Gargoyle—to dust. Although killing off the rest of the group was, according to Gillis, “pretty much the directive issued from above [to] free up Angel, Beast, and Iceman for X-Factor,” he wasted little time in bringing them back in the pages of Dr. Strange – Sorcerer Supreme and Solo Avengers. “Defenders [was] the book that Marvel shoved its weirdo writers onto: Gerber, DeMatteis, and the Gillis guy,” Gillis notes. “The result was real, true superhero adventure, because all of us took that aspect quite seriously—but decidedly off-center. I think I was true to that part.” Perlin concludes, “I got to do a lot of different things. Sometimes, you get lucky.”

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THE END? Although the series came to an end, the Defenders would return— both individually and as a team. The original Defenders reunited in a crossover between the 1992 Annuals of Dr. Strange – Sorcerer Supreme, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Incredible Hulk, and Silver Surfer, in which the Tribunal’s warning was revealed to be a hoax. Secret Defenders ran for 25 issues, featuring a rotating group of heroes summoned by Dr. Strange to battle various menaces. Nighthawk survived the explosion that supposedly killed him, but he remained in a coma for years before returning in the 1998 Nighthawk limited series. Patsy’s marriage to Daimon Hellstrom went bad, and Hellcat found herself trapped in Hell before returning in her own limited series in 2000. Kurt Busiek and Erik Larsen began a new Defenders series in 2001 that lasted 12 issues and led into a six-part limited series called The Order. The Justice League International team of DeMatteis, Giffen, and Kevin Maguire brought their “bwah-ha-ha” style of humor to a five-issue limited series in 2005. The Last Defenders spun out of “Civil War” in 2008 and featured Nighthawk, Colossus, Blazing Skull, and She-Hulk in another six-part limited series. Busiek later finished off an unpublished story by Fabian Nicieza and Mark Bagley in a Marvel Vault one-shot (2011). Most recently as of this writing, another new ongoing series by Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson lasted 12 issues. Marvel has already announced a new all-female version of the team to be led by Valkyrie and Misty Knight called The Fearless Defenders by Cullen Bunn and Will Sliney. Whether this version will be successful remains to be seen, but with so many different groups of Avengers holding down their own titles these days—and so many Defenders having since joined one or more of those groups—perhaps the best idea would be to revive the group as … “The Avenging Defenders”? DANIEL DeANGELO is a freelance writer/artist in Florida. He would like to thank Michael Eury, Roy Thomas, Steve Englehart, Sal Buscema, David Anthony Kraft, Keith Giffen, Ed Hannigan, J. M. DeMatteis, Don Perlin, and Peter Gillis for their assistance with this article.

Karen Walker

Sometimes you like a comic-book series and you can’t really say why. Usually it’s a book that is marginal, one that isn’t doing too well. You know it has flaws, maybe major ones, but something about it draws you in. For me, that book was The Champions. Debuting in 1975, The Champions was a team book with a seemingly arbitrary lineup and no real reason to exist. Yet as an 11-year-old comic nut, I was thrilled by this team and wanted more of them, so much more. It’s not like any of the characters (Angel, Iceman, Hercules, Black Widow, and Ghost Rider) were favorites of mine. I was familiar with all of them, but none of them held the status in my mind of Spider-Man or Captain America or the Hulk. But the idea of a brand-new team was exciting. I hadn’t been there when the Fantastic Four, Avengers, or X-Men debuted, and I only became aware of the Defenders after their first issue. So this was a chance to get in on the ground floor. Of course, I loved team books. What kid didn’t? Multiple superheroes in the same book? Even today that makes me a bit giddy. On top of that, unlike the rest of the Marvel Universe, with its heavy New York focus, this team was situated in Los Angeles, California. I was living just a two-hour drive from Los Angeles! This could be my team! It was almost like when baseball moved to the West Coast. Finally! But the Champions never caught on. The title had a total of 17 issues to its name. That’s it. Yet even today, when I mention the book to other fans, I’ll get some nostalgic reactions, usually followed up with something along the lines of, “If only it had been better” or “If only it had lasted longer.” So, why did the Champions fail as both a title and a concept? In retrospect, it seems to me that they were actually doomed to fail. The reason for this can be boiled down to four factors: 1. Lack of a consistent creative team. 2. Lack of a consistent publication schedule. 3. Lack of an A-list character in the book. 4. Lack of team chemistry or a reason for the team to exist. In the following article, each of these factors will be discussed as we examine the history of the book.

CHAMPIONS OF THE COMMON MAN In 1975, Marvel already had six regular team books. But each of these teams had their reason to exist: the Fantastic Four were a family of adventurers; the Avengers were the heavy hitters, there to take on “the foes no single hero could withstand”; the X-Men were united by their mutant status; the Inhumans were an

The Ill-Fitting Five Could there be a more mismatched super-team than the Champions? Still, for the Bronze Age Marvelite this offbeat group strikes a nostalgic chord. Cover to The Champions #1 (Oct. 1975) by Gil Kane and Dan Adkins. © 2013 Marvel Characters, Inc.

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Kneel Before Pluto! (left) The God of Hell and hellions raise— oh, you know… in Champions #2 (Jan. 1976). Cover by Ron Wilson and Joe Sinnott. (right) Teammates turn against each other in issue #4 (Mar. 1976). Cover by Rich Buckler and Frank Giacoia. © 2013 Marvel Characters, Inc.

entire race of beings; the Invaders were fighting a war. And then idea. Cage belonged in New York City. I offered Ghost Rider as the fifth there were the Defenders, whose shtick was that they had no reason member, since he was already in Los Angeles and I was writing his title. to be together—they were the non-team! “Black Goliath wasn’t discussed during the meeting. However, Champions #1 (Oct. 1975) would premiere that summer, bringing in the back of my head, I figured I’d add both him and Tigra to the yet another team into the Marvel Universe. One might well question, team in the future. I was scheduled to write both of their series and Why another team book? Marvel seemed glutted with them. wanted to keep them out of the hands of other writers.” There were also teams that did not have their own books, like the Isabella’s initial idea was a novel one for Marvel at that time (the Guardians of the Galaxy, roaming around the edges. The original pairing of Luke Cage and Iron Fist was still years away). Asked if he intention for the Champions, as it turns out, was not a was influenced at all by Neal Adams and Denny O’Neil’s Green traditional team book. Arrow/Green Lantern series, Isabella responds, “I thought Although the letters page of issue #6 (June 1976) the GL/GA stuff that Denny and Neal did was outstanding. details the creation of the book, I went straight to the I loved it a lot, even wrote a full-page article on the man who should know, creator Tony Isabella. When Speedy issues for The Cleveland Plain Dealer before I asked about his initial idea for the title, Isabella says, moved to New York to work for Marvel. But it wasn’t “The original concept was Angel and Iceman. Route an overt inspiration for my Angel/Iceman pitch. As you 66 with good-looking superheroes and a touch of figured out, my intent was to do something more The Odd Couple, what with Warren being wealthy and lighthearted that combined action and comedy.” Bobby being middle class. I really wanted to write that So the Champions went from a fresh idea to a book. Alas, then the editors got involved and things cookie-cutter super-team. It was as formulaic and got wacky. My recollection is that both Len Wein conventional as could be. By issue #6, it’s established and Marv Wolfman were in the room at the time. that Angel’s vision for the team is to look out for the “I was told superhero teams must have five Average Joe. But that concept never really came to tony isabella members,” Isabella continues. “This from the guy fruition in a team that featured a demi-god and a who was writing Fantastic FOUR. Once I knew I’d Hell-spawned demon as members. have to add more members, I also had to deep-six my heroes-onthe-highway concept. That’s when I came up with the idea that the A ROCKY START Champions would be heroes for the common man, a cool idea I In Champions #1, written by Isabella, penciled by Don Heck, and inked by Mike Esposito, the team comes together in the most incredible never managed to pull off during my stint on the title. series of coincidences. All of our heroes just happen to be on the “I was told, though I can’t remember the order, that all superhero teams must have a strong guy and a woman. I always liked Hercules, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus at the same he was sort of Thor as a frat boy, and I’d just written the Black Widow time. Angel and Iceman are there as students, although neither is out of Daredevil so she was available. I didn’t know how I would get feeling content as such. Both miss the superhero life. Hercules has them together, but it was around this point in the pitch meeting that come to campus as a guest-lecturer (!) for a mythology class. The Black Widow and her constant companion, Ivan, are there because the I placed the new team in Los Angeles. Widow is applying for a job as a Russian instructor. (Yes, they’ve hit “The wackiness continued when I was told all superhero teams needed a member who had his own series as well,” Isabella relates. rock bottom.) The final member of our quintet, the Ghost Rider, in “Luke Cage was suggested, but I thought that was a spectacularly bad his human form of Johnny Blaze, is apparently just joy riding. 18 • BACK ISSUE • B-Teams Issue

All sorts of Hell—literally—breaks loose, as the campus is invaded Olympus itself and persuade Zeus to fight back against Pluto. by mutates from Hades, harpies, Amazon warriors, and Cerberus, Hercules and Venus are freed and all seems right with both the Pluto’s watchdog. It turns out they’re all after Hercules, and Venus, godly realm and the mortal one. who had been working at UCLA disguised as a mortal. Our five The next issue appears to be a fill-in, written by Chris Claremont, heroes fight their separate battles and are all united at the end when with the Tuska/Colletta art team—creative team number four, in they discover that Pluto, Ares, and Hippolyta are behind the the course of four issues! “Murder at Malibu!” deals with a chaos. Pluto declares that if Venus does not marry Ares, crazy scientist using poor, old folks at a nursing home as and Hercules does not wed Hippolyta, “The guinea pigs for his super-soldier formula. The scientist Universe dies!” A cliffhanger ending to be sure. also finds a way to mind-control Hercules and the Unfortunately, readers would have to wait Black Widow, and they battle their new teammates. three months for the next issue. Champions #2 At the end of it, Angel gives the first indication was cover-dated January 1976. On the letters of why these five should be a team: “To help those page of issue #6, it was stated that the delay was who can’t help themselves, the innocents, the victims because the book was originally planned as a of people like Lansing. Because … the world still Giant-Size title, but Isabella says this is not so, that needs Champions.” Champions was always intended to be a regularWith the next issue, the Champs would face a foe sized title. “The best possible face I can put on whose origin was inspired by current events, namely this is that they didn’t want it to seem like anyone the economic recession. In “The Economy is So Bad was missing deadlines,” Isabella says. “But with That…,” military contractor Stuart Clarke, sort of bill mantlo the books weeks behind schedule from the a third-rate Tony Stark, goes a little bit crazy after moment they were green-lighted, there were finding out that his business has gone down the going to be missed deadlines.” drain. He puts on an exo-skeleton designed by his company for This was a trend that would continue over the course of the title, police and soldiers and tries to rob a bank, only to have the as it would bounce back and forth from monthly to bimonthly status Champions intervene. On the splash page of the issue, a caption in its short 17-issue run. After the delay between issues #1 and 2, exclaims, “Presenting: the everyman of super-villains … the first based on the cover dates, the book came out monthly from issues #2 menace born of the recession … Rampage!” While obviously an through 5. Then there were a string of one-month gaps between attempt to bring the book down to earth, the idea that bankruptcy issues from issue #6 (cover-dated June 1976) through issue #9 could drive the average person to become a supervillain was quite a (Dec. 1976). The indicia for issue #9 stated the title was monthly, stretch. Issue #6 would see the resolution, with Clarke nearly blowing and from issues #9 through 12, it was published on a monthly basis. himself up in an attempt to avoid prison. But the book went back to a bimonthly schedule with issue #13 and stayed that way until the final issue, #17. Irregularity in publishing makes it difficult to build a following. With the book appearing erratically on spinner racks and newsstands, it couldn’t have helped sales for the fledgling title. Issue #2 would pick up the Champions vs. Greek gods story, with Isabella and Heck still in place, and a new inker, John Tartaglione, joining them. This was just the first in many creative team changes for the book. In fact, over the 17-issue run, there were 12 different writer/penciler/inker combinations! This lack of consistency, especially when it came to the artwork, was noticeable and likely frustrating for readers. Back in the ’70s, it was not uncommon for creative teams to stay together for years on books. To have so many changes in such a short period of time did not bode well. In issue #2, we begin to see the emergence of the Black Widow as team leader, although Angel seems to be the one most dedicated to having a team in the first place. More battles with the Olympians ensue, and all seems lost when Venus and Hercules are taken back to Olympus through a mystical portal. We get an abrupt shift in the art as George Tuska and Vince Colletta come aboard for issue #3. This issue also features Bill Mantlo’s first contribution to the title, as he is credited as “scripter” over Isabella’s plot. The Champs manage to get to

Kirby is Our Champion! Original cover art, courtesy of Heritage Comics Auctions (www.ha.com), for the cover of Champions #6 (June 1976), featuring super-crook Rampage. Signed by its penciler, Jack Kirby. Inks by Frank Giacoia. The published version is inset. © 2013 Marvel Characters, Inc.

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Marvel Studios has announced that its Guardians of the Galaxy movie will be released in 2014. The movie will feature the most recent incarnation of the team, but the Guardians of the Galaxy have a long history … and future!

MARVEL SUPER-HEROES In February 1966, Marvel published the first issue of the reprint series Fantasy Masterpieces. The title changed to Marvel Super-Heroes as Captain Mar-Vell debuted in issue #12 (Dec. 1967). Issue #18 (Jan. 1969) introduced the Guardians of the Galaxy. In the 30th Century, Earth had colonized the solar system. Humans living in cloud cities in the skies of Jupiter had been genetically engineered—increasing their strength and mass—to withstand the Jovian gravity. Miners on Mercury could regulate their body temperature to compensate for the planet’s heat. Colonists on Pluto were silicon-based humanoids, able to dispense heat or cold. Opening in the year 3007, Charlie-27 returns to his native Jupiter after six months of solitary Space-Militia duty. After losing radio contact, Charlie is unaware that Jupiter had been invaded by the alien, lizard–like Badoon. Barely managing an emergency teleport, Charlie arrives on Pluto—only to find the same invasion forces. Meeting lone survivor Martinex, the two escape by teleporting to Earth. Earth, too, has been conquered, and we meet Major Vance Astro and Yondu, the last Centaurian, in the clutches of Badoon captors (Centauri IV also falling to the Badoon). Vance is forced to relate his story: We learn that in 1988 Vance was the first human to be sent into deep space, cryogenically frozen for a millennium for his trip to Alpha Centauri, his entire body forever completely sheathed in foil, else he would age 1,000 years in a heartbeat. However, upon his arrival, Vance discovers Earth colonists waiting to greet him! Humanity had discovered faster-than-light travel after Vance left Earth. His sacrifices, his journey, were all for nothing. During the voyage, Vance had developed mental powers, which he manifests as psychokinetic blasts. On Centauri IV, Vance formed a friendship with Yondu, a weapons-master, who favors the bow. His arrows were made of Yaka metal, which could be sonically controlled; Yondu achieving this by whistling. Vance and Yondu “coincidentally” (see below) meet Charlie and Marty, and the four escape together—vowing to rout the invaders and find Earth’s lost colony! This origin story was written by Arnold Drake with art by Gene Colan. In 1969, Stan Lee was still

Final Frontiersmen The sporadically seen Guardians of the Galaxy— Starhawk, Charlie-27, Yondu, Martinex, and Vance Astro—were launched into their own series by writer Steve Gerber in Marvel Presents #3 (Feb. 1976). Cover by John Romita, Sr., working from a sketch by interior artist Al Milgrom. © 2013 Marvel Characters, Inc.

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Jarrod Buttery

editor-in-chief, with Roy Thomas his assistant. Thomas that time used to sit around and talk about the comics remembers, “‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ started out as we were writing and I recall most being very generous an idea of mine: about super-guerrillas fighting against with their suggestions. I remember being excited about Russians and Red Chinese who had taken over and Marvel Super-Heroes in general and the Guardians of divided the USA. I got a sort of general approval out of the Galaxy in particular. I was disappointed that Stan (I think), and gave the idea to Arnold Drake, since Marvel only did the one GOTG story, [but] once I was I had no time to write and research it. Arnold went in on staff, it became easier to push for them.” for a conference with Stan, and Stan (maybe Arnold, Responding to numerous queries, the letters page too) decided to change it to an interplanetary situation. in MTIO #7 (Jan. 1975) attempted to explain Vance’s All the characters and situations in Guardians were all-enclosing lifesuit: “He feeds intravenously. Martinex created by Arnold and/or Stan.” has invented a device by which the feed-tubes can It is not inconceivable that Stan saw this as an be inserted utilizing a dimensional probe that passes opportunity for a follow-up to one of his own, recent through his metallic body-sheath without piercing it. stories. Silver Surfer #2 (Oct. 1968) featured an attempted His bladder is alleviated from stress in a similar fashion.” invasion of Earth by the Badoon. Repelled DEFENDING THE EARTH— by the Surfer, the Badoon vow to return. TODAY AND TOMORROW Thanks to Stan, Arnold, and Gene, the Gerber obviously enjoyed working with Badoon did indeed conquer the solar the GotG, as the characters travelled system—albeit 1,000 years later. back to our time in Giant-Size Despite a favorable response to Defenders #5 (Aug. 1975). The story the debut, it would be five years continued in Defenders #26–29 before a follow-up in scribe Steve (Aug.–Nov. 1975) as the Defenders Gerber’s Marvel Two-in-One #4–5 return with the Guardians to the year (July–Sept. 1974). Therein, Captain America, Sharon Carter, and Ben Grimm travel to the year 3014 and meet the Guardians. This is a particular thrill for Vance Astro, who gene colan admits that Cap was his boyhood idol—the Guardians’ ship is even named the Captain America. Together, the heroes free New York from the Badoon. The letters page in issue #4 credits Tony Isabella with suggesting that the Guardians appear in MTIO. “While I have no specific memory of Steve and me discussing the Guardians, I’m sure his letters-column comments are accurate,” says Isabella. “Many of the Marvel writers of

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Early Outings (below) The Guardians as they appeared in their debut, in Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (Jan. 1969). Cover art by Gene Colan and Mike Esposito. (left) Back in action in Giant-Size Defenders #5 (July 1975), with a Ron Wilson/Al Milgrom cover. © 2013 Marvel Characters, Inc.

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Jim Valentino had intended to continue writing GotG up to at least issue #51. Guardians fan Bill Colosimo has commissioned covers from Valentino for some stories that “could have been.” (top left) GotG #33: Guest-starring Captain America and Marvel Boy. Starhawk is simultaneously struck by the same shield from two points in its own timeline. The resultant temporal feedback sends him back in time into his own infant body, thus restarting the time loop that is his life. (top right) GotG #34: Major Victory becomes Major Astro, and meets new team members Yellowjacket, Killraven, and Gladiator. Inks by Chris Ivy. (bottom left) GotG #44: Doctor Doom arrives to warn of the threat of the Protege. Inks by Rick Veitch. (bottom right) GotG #52: A revamped team arises from the ashes of the Protege War. (Penciled version incorrectly numbered as issue #51.) BACK ISSUE thanks Bill Colosimo for sharing these wonderful pieces. Bill is always on the lookout for Jim Valentino GotG art! © 2013 Marvel Characters, Inc.

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For right of reply, Fabian Nicieza was asked about the two Vance Astros: “I don’t remember the details of the conversations Jim and I had at that time, but Jim is right that I was hesitant to have them meet. It was nothing against what Jim was doing, since I thought GotG was a really well done, fun book back then, it was more that I felt we were simply writing two different characters. I thought that the GotG had become part of an ‘alternate universe’ for Marvel and having Vance Astro meet Vance Astrovik too early in the younger character’s ‘heroic process’ would just complicate things unnecessarily. I’m sure had each of us continued on our books for a few more years, they would have eventually met. I just thought the first few years in was a can of worms I didn’t want opened.” Valentino’s blog at imagecomics.com details his plans had he stayed with the series. Killraven would have joined the team, Vance and Aleta would have married, Dr. Doom (in a robotic body) would appear—not to fight, but to warn of a greater threat. This would have heralded issues #45–50 as the Protege, Malevolence, the Universal Church of Truth, and the Stark invade the Earth—and win—resulting in large-scale destruction and the death of a Guardian. But ’twas not to be.

BACK TO THE FUTURE With Valentino’s dismissal, editor Craig Anderson offered the book to writer Michael Gallagher and penciler Kevin West. Gallagher had been active with Star Comics (50 issues of Alf) and had recently written What If? #42 (Oct. 1992), “What If Spider-Man Had Kept His Six Arms?,” with pencils by West. Gallagher explains: “Based on that, Craig took a chance and brought me aboard.” West was also recruited by Anderson: “One of the earliest things I did for Marvel was Avengers Annual #20 (1991). Craig offered some suggestions about my pages and shortly after that he offered me a three-issue run on Silver Surfer. Craig asked if I wanted to do the Guardians Major Victory records a video disc for Marvel Boy a couple of months after I finished the Surfer story arc.” (issue #32, Jan. 1993). “I remember this as a plot Both creators enjoyed the freedom of a futuristic point that Fabian Nicieza distinctly wanted me to book, but there were limits as to what could be done: make,” Gallagher notes. “I think that disc was about “It was very cool to have the ‘past’ Marvel Universe to to be given to Marvel Boy in his title. [New Warriors play with in such a unique way and bend it to my #36, June 1993.] Their editorial desk wanted to will,” admits Gallagher, “and Kevin’s pencils were cement it through an exchange between Cap and to die for. But the characters you inherit arrive with Vance in GotG, which was fine with me.” personalities, powers, and quirks which must (and fabian nicieza Returning to the 31st Century, the Guardians should) continue. And in this case, several vital encounter Dormammu, who destroys Drydock and subplots and storylines were still in progress. West finally kills Dr. Strange! This was followed by a batagrees: “I definitely enjoyed my time on the series and it’s true, there was a What If? feel to it. I would disagree that we were unconstrained, though. tle with Loki—who had enslaved the Inhumans of that era in a bid Craig insisted that every story had to link to a current Marvel character— to invade Asgard—and a team-up with Woden, the son of Thor and that was the ongoing theme: the impact current heroes could possibly Sif. After an encounter with the Beyonder, who gives Vance a new black have on the events of the future. After a while you start to run out of lifesuit, the Guardians finally return to Earth. There they meet Cuchulain—the Celtic Hercules—and witness a battle between characters that would conceivably still be alive after 1,000 years.” Gallagher commenced his run with issue #29 (Oct. 1992), and West Rancor and Dr. Doom, whose brain is housed within Wolverine’s joined with issue #30 (Nov. 1992): “Mike and I worked very closely and adamantium skeleton. “Any 20th-Century villain still making waves after a millennium had to quickly became good friends,” Kevin says. “I loved that his stories had a be from the ‘A’ list,” states Gallagher. “When I meet GotG fans, the thing great old-school style of pacing and action. We worked Marvel-style; plot first, dialogue after the pencils were finished. I’ve always been a fan of that. I usually hear about is Doom using Wolverine’s skeleton to remain ‘alive’ I think it creates the best collaboration between the artist and the writer.” into the 31st Century. I thought it worked well because Doom, a mortal The Guardians were in the 20th Century and some members of in spite of himself, had to find/customize/maintain a survival vehicle the team saw the opportunity to launch a pre-emptive strike against instead of simply having immortality like Loki or Dormammu. It merited the Badoon homeworld, hopefully preventing Earth’s invasion. “I think a foil-embossed cover (issue #39, Aug. 1993) which literally made the everyone has experiences he or she would like to have back,” Gallagher ‘Doomverine’ skeleton pop off the page.” West had fun with the concept: says. “It’s a fundamental part of the human experience. So it seemed “Of the two enhanced covers we did, I was really happy with the way #39 only natural that, given the extraordinary opportunity the Guardians had came out. I think it had a solid design and the drawing was pretty good.” DeFalco had envisaged a galaxy-wide peacekeeping force. presented to them and the gut-wrenching personal tragedies they had Valentino laid the foundation for this when Martinex formed the suffered, they’d jump at the chance to ‘fix’ it.” While in the 20th Century, B-Teams Issue

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