Avengers Forever 2

Avengers Forever 2

Jan 1999

Now Is the Time for All Good Men…

by Kurt Busiek, Carlos Pacheco, Jesús Merino, Steve Oliff, Richard Starkings, Albert Deschesne

The assembled Avengers join Kang in the fight against the forces that Immortus has assembled for the purpose of killing Rick Jones. The Avengers turn to Kang for answers once Immortus’ troops have been dispatched. He tells them to take care of Rick while he goes after Immortus, his future self. 

The hooded figure from the previous issue steps in to help the Avengers make some sense of what is going on. His name is Libra. He was once a member of the criminal organization known as Zodiac. This is not the first time he has met the Avengers. They are wary of him but decide to hear him out. 

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld (1983) 4

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld (1983) 4

Aug 1983

Dark Journeys!

by Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn, Ernie Colón, John Costanza, Tom Ziuko, Karen Berger

Princess Amethyst/Amy arrives back in Gemworld in Castle Amethyst. Citrina is still there but she has a glass eyed look. Her spirit has been captured by Dark Opal. Amethyst doesn’t know what to do. Fauna suggests that she should use her magic to help Citrina. She leans in to examine Citrina. A lizard like creature leaps from Citrina’s mouth and drags Amethyst away. 

Amy’s mother comes home and finds Herb, her husband, distraught over Amy’s disappearance. He explains that he saw her vanish in front of his eyes. 

Secret Origins (1986) 6 (1)

Secret Origins (1986) 6

Sep 1986

The Golden Age Batman

by Roy Thomas, Marshall Rogers, Terry Austin, Carrie Spiegle, Bob Greenberger

This story retells the origin story of the Golden Age Batman. Most of the elements of the story seem to come from Detective Comics 27 (May 1939) and 33 (Nov 1939). Detective Comics 27 was the first appearance of Batman and most of the crime fighting portion of this story was lifted from there. The first two pages of the story from Detective Comics 33 presented the first appearance of Batman's origin story. There are a number of other comic books mentioned in Roy Thomas’ notes on the letters page. I have not read most of these issues and cannot comment on how much comes from each of the comic books mentioned. 

This is as much a Bruce Wayne story as it is a Batman story. Bruce’s Uncle Philip appears briefly in one panel of the story. He is in the shadows and his face is not shown. Alfred does not appear in this story. I don’t believe he was introduced until a little later in the Golden Age Batman’s continuity. Commissioner Gordon and Julie Madison, Bruce Wayne’s love interest, are the two members of the supporting cast who play the biggest roles in this story. 

Avengers Forever (1998) 1

Avengers Forever 1

Dec 1998

Destiny Made Manifest

by Kurt Busiek, Carlos Pacheco, Jesús Merino, Steve Oliff, Richard Starkings, Albert Deschesne

Prologue

26th Century. The city of Zatoa on the 4th planet in the Beta Centauri system is hit hard by an army of men who resemble the Avengers (Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Ant Man) and led by Jonz Rickard who resembles Rick Jones. It is in retribution for an attempt at rebellion. The retribution does not go unnoticed. 

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld (1983) 3

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld (1983) 3

Jul 1983

Tangled Web

by Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn, Ernie Colón, John Costanza, Tom Ziuko, Karen Berger

Dark Opal learns about Earth and Amy Winston from Sardonyx. Granch is revealed to be Dark Opal’s eldest child. Carnellian, it turns out, was taken from Earth and adopted by Dark Opal. 

Amy returns to her home on Earth only to discover that two days have passed since she left home. Her parents were worried sick and ground her. She tells them that she knows she was adopted but nothing else. She cannot return to Gemworld right away because her gemstone needs to replenish itself.

Granch goes on a quest to find and free his siblings. Dark Opal has disowned them and will not acknowledge them as his. 

Kane (1993) 8

Kane (1993) 8

Mar 1995

The View from Here

by Paul Grist

Kane tries to talk Brent Wade, the actor who played Megaman on the old TV show, down off a ledge. Wade is dressed as Megaman and convinced that he really is Mark Morris, aka Megaman. Kane is scared of heights but he climbs up to the top of the chimney where Wade is standing. 

Kane, in the past, confronts Dennis Harvey. He wants to arrest him but he winds up shooting and killing him. He suspected that Harvey was crooked, on the take. It is Captain Dexter’s first day on the job. He is forced to suspend Kane and call in Internal Affairs.

Kane later confronts mob boss Oscar Darke. It doesn’t go well, for Kane. He leaves empty handed. Two men with batons beat him up in the alleyway outside of Darke’s club. 

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld (1983) 2

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld (1983) 2

Jun 1983

Cat and Mouse

by Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn, Ernie Colón, John Costanza, Tom Ziuko, Karen Berger

Thirteen year old Amy Winston becomes twenty year old Princess Amethyst, once again, when she returns to Gemworld. She is captured by Carnelian, Dark Opal’s son. He takes her gemstone thus depriving her of her magical abilities. Holding a dagger to Princess Amethyst’s neck he urges Citrina to cast a spell that will temporarily prevent any one from following them. Carnelian and Amethyst depart for Fortress Opal on his mechanical, black-and-white striped cat. 

Kane (1993) 7

Kane (1993) 7

Dec 1994

The Bunny Wore Pink

by Paul Grist

Mister Floppsie Whoppsie finds himself backed into a corner. He is forced to help the New Eden Police Department by wearing a wire and meeting with gangster Louis Gordo. Mister Floppsie Whoppsie owes Gordo money.

Frankie, the mob hit man from the previous issue, shows up and kidnaps Mister Floppsie Whoppsie while he is talking to Gordo. Frankie is working for Rico, another gangster. Rico got a package that was intended for Mister Floppsie Whoppsie and assumes that the bunny man must have the package that he was expecting to receive. 

Terry and the Pirates (29.B.1)

Vol. 4: 1941-1942

By Milton Caniff 

 

Rouge

Aug 23, 1942 - Feb 14, 1943

This is the third of twelve stories in what Carl Horak, author of the Terry and the Pirates Companion, considers to be the fourth era of Caniff’s run on the strip. This era begins in late Jan 1942 and ran through early Nov 1945 and is called The War Years in the companion book. 

The Wikipedia article on Terry and the Pirates breaks the entire series down into 60 arcs. It breaks this arc down into the following arcs:

39 - "Terry the Spy" (8/22/42 to 12/19/42)

40 - "Flip Solo" (12/20/42 to 2/19/43)

04/08/23

Dec 20, 1942 - Terry tries to explain his relationship to Rouge but Rebel doesn’t want to hear it. Flip continues to talk to the Japanese pilot, who doesn’t seem to understand anything he is saying. Flip mumbles something about meeting a beautiful girl just as Rouge shows up on a camel looking half dead.

Terry and the Pirates Vol. 4 - Extras

Terry and the Pirates Vol. 4

by Milton Caniff

Preface

by Dean Mullaney

Milton Caniff went to great lengths to get the colors just right for the Sunday strips. Those same strips have been cleaned up for the collected editions like this one but they have not been recolored.

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld (1983) 1

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld (1983) 1

May 1983

The Birthright

by Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn, Ernie Colón, John Costanza, Tom Ziuko, Karen Berger, Dave Manak

Amy Winston’s life changes forever on her thirteenth birthday. She receives a gemstone as a gift and is kidnapped by an ogre who takes her through a dimensional portal to Gemworld. She magically transforms from Amy Winston into Amethyst when she arrives in Gemworld.

Amethyst escapes from the ogres and Sardonyx, their human boss, with the help of Granch. He takes her to Citrina, the faithful servant of Amethyst’s parents. Citrina whisks Amethyst away to Castle Amethyst while Granch stays behind to deal with the Death Hounds that have picked up on their scent.

Teenage Temptations 2 (4/5)

Teenage Temptations 2

Jun 1953

My Dance with Danger

by ??

4 pages

Donna isn’t ready to get married to Derry, her dance partner, and settle down. She wants to enjoy life for a while longer. Mike, a theatrical agent, introduces her to Lyle who is also looking for a new dance partner. She starts a career dancing (and possibly more) with Lyle at nightclubs, despite still being engaged to Derry, who doesn’t approve of her career choice.

Terry and the Pirates (29)

Vol. 4: 1941-1942

By Milton Caniff

Rouge

Aug 23, 1942 - Feb 14, 1943

This is the third of twelve stories in what Carl Horak, author of the Terry and the Pirates Companion, considers to be the fourth era of Caniff’s run on the strip. This era begins in late Jan 1942 and ran through early Nov 1945 and is called The War Years in the companion book.

The Wikipedia article on Terry and the Pirates breaks the entire series down into 60 arcs. It breaks this arc down into the following arcs:

39 - "Terry the Spy" (8/22/42 to 12/19/42)

40 - "Flip Solo" (12/20/42 to 2/19/43)

02/08/23

Aug 23, 1942 - Terry and Taffy chat while they are aboard the air transport taking them from the bomber base to the Chinese fighter airplane base where they will be stationed. They are unaware of the work Flip and the other fighter pilots escorting them do to protect the air transport.