Roy Thomas

Fantastic Four enters a new era as Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway take the reins. Thomas begins where it all began--with the Mole Man. This time, paired with Kala, Queen of the Netherworld, and topped off with a retelling of the FF's origin. The drama remains at its peak as the Human Torch's relationship with Crystal runs head on into Quicksilver. Meanwhile, the Frightful Four launch a surprise attack that pushes Reed and Sue to the breaking point. In the aftermath, Medusa will become the FF's newest member. Then, it's into the Negative Zone for the origin of Annihilus. Also featuring a new look for the Torch; classic battles with Thundra and the Hulk; the return of Doctor Doom; and the world's creepiest babysitter, Agatha Harkness. COLLECTING: Fantastic Four (1961) 126-146, Annual (1963) 10 (cover only); Giant-Size Super-Stars (1974) 1; material from FOOM (1973) 1, 4, 5

From here to Infinity As Earth's heroes reckon with Thanos and his universe-altering Infinity Gauntlet, Doctor Strange takes on vital mystical missions to bolster their forces -- but will his greatest threat be Doctor Doom, or the inscrutable Adam Warlock? Stephen is attacked by his old friend the Silver Surfer and his old foe Nightmare -- before the full horror of the gathered Lords of Fear is unleashed Then, the Doctor enlists in the Infinity War...and crosses paths with Galactus An urgent quest leads Strange and his allies into encounters with the godlike entities Agamotto and Cyttorak -- and don't forget Cyttorak's champion, the unstoppable Juggernaut Plus: Wolverine, Spider-Man, the Scarlet Witch, a reunion of the dynamic Defenders -- and more COLLECTING: Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988) 34-47; Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme Annual (1992) 2; Silver Surfer (1987) 67; Spider-Man/Dr. Strange: The Way to Dusty Death (1992) 1

A stunning comic book adaptation of the classic Elric: Bane of the Black Sword novel by Michael Moorcock. This is the fifth book in the bestselling fantasy series. The Bane of the Black Sword is the fifth volume in the saga of Elric, the albino sorcerer who wields the terrible, soul-eating magical sword, STORMBRINGER. This book is a comic adaptation of the collected, interconnected, five novellas of the original novel. The first four stories 'Old Wounds', 'Three Kings in Darkness', 'The King Beneath the Hill' and the 'Flame Bringers' tell of the continuing, eternal struggle of Elric against the elder gods of chaos as Elric finally brings Stormbringer home and finds peace at last in the arms of his true love Zarozinia. Meanwhile in the last story, 'To Rescue Tanelorn', Elric's friend Rackhir the Red must travel through the five gates to seek aid from the Grey Lords in an effort to save the besieged city of Tanelorn from a horde of unimaginable evil.

Tony Stark's life takes a turn for the extraordinary when his ESP-empowered fianc e, Marianne Rodgers, is tormented by visions of Iron Man's death. As if that wasn't drama enough, the Stark Industries' Board of Directors vies to force Tony from his company as protesters riot at the gates. Then, Iron Man goes cosmic with the first appearances of Thanos, Drax the Destroyer and Moondragon. Next, a gauntlet of classic villains--from the Mandarin to Whiplash--push our hero to his limits. It stands against the backdrop of an increasingly tense love triangle between Tony Stark, Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan. An Avenger vs. Avenger battle and Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith's stunning retelling of Iron Man's origin top off this epic era COLLECTING: Iron Man (1968) 47-67

The Kree/Shi'ar War When two of the galaxy's most ancient and powerful races clash, it's up to Earth's Mightiest Heroes to play cosmic peacekeeper With Earth in the crossfire, the Avengers are drawn into the conflict -- and end up as alien invaders on war-torn worlds of wonder Assemblers East and West are embroiled in an epic too big for even two Avengers titles -- one that will shake the team to its very foundations Super heroes from three galaxies clash in a war filled with incredible action -- including Thor vs. Gladiator of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard -- and the Avengers will face repercussions that will haunt them for years COLLECTING: Avengers (1963) #345-347, Avengers West Coast #80-82, Quasar #32-34, Wonder Man (1991) #7-9, Iron Man (1968) #278-279, Thor (1966) #445-446, Captain America (1968) #401 and material from Captain America (1968) #398-400

The Avengers battle the Defenders in comics' first great crossover battle royale It's hero against hero in the sensational summer hit of 1973: Cap vs. Namor Thor vs. Hulk It's the original, and there's never been another one like it. All this, plus the origin of Mantis; an all-hands-on-deck battle with the Zodiac; the Avengers vs. Thanos and the Cosmic Cube; a Giant-Size adventure alongside Golden Age heroes Miss America and the Whizzer; the wedding of Quicksilver and Crystal; the return of Ultron; and an increasingly tense love triangle between the Scarlet Witch, the Vision and Mantis And as an added bonus feature, rare Avengers pinups, profiles and more from the pages of the '70s fanzine F. O. O. M. COLLECTING: Avengers (1963) 115-128, Giant-Size Avengers (1974) 1, Defenders (1972) 8-11, Captain Marvel (1968) 33, Fantastic Four (1961) 150

The Warners are your typical American family. Dad works at Stark Enterprises. Mom works in a senator's office. The girls are students at Standford High. The only thing that makes them different is...they're shape-shifting alien Skrulls who have infiltrated our society to pave the way for invasion But what could leave them as a house divided? And will the mysterious Man in the Hat be their exterminator -- or their salvation? Plus: Meet the Skrulls all over again in their classic first encounter with the Fantastic Four, as well as more momentous events in Skrull history -- including the Super Skrull's debut, the Kree/Skrull War and the final fate of their Throneworld COLLECTING: Meet The Skrulls (2019) #1-5; Road To Empyre: The Kree/Skrull War (2020) #1; Fantastic Four (1961) #2, 18; Avengers (1963) #93; New Avengers: Illuminati (2007) #1; Material From Fantastic Four (1961) #257

Spider-Man sagas don't get more dramatic than the Death of Captain Stacy. After the heroic father of Gwen Stacy becomes collateral damage in a throwdown between Spidey and Doc Ock, it forever changes the life of Peter Parker. That's not the only iconic moment in Spidey's life chronicled in this amazing Epic Collection: The Black Widow makes her debut in her classic, black costume, Iceman shows up to give Spidey the cold shoulder, and the first appearance of Morbius, the Living Vampire, portends death for Peter Parker Norman Osborn descends into the private hell of drug addiction, while the demonic shadow of the Green Goblin looms over the proceedings. Plus: You haven't seen Spidey til you've seen him with six arms COLLECTING: Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 86-104, Annual (1964) 7-8 covers only