Heroes Reborn puts the Avengers title—and its members— on ice momentarily. And in Captain America’s case, that can be taken literally. So, with the Avengers relying on cameo appearances to start the month, plenty of other characters took their shot and we add eight new characters to the Fantasy Comic League scoring database. The Squadron Supreme of America heroes, the stars of this new twisted Avengers-less world, finally get their appearances tracked. Jennifer Kale, a minor magician character associated with Man-Thing since her debut in 1972, makes her first appearance in exactly six years and gets added to the database. The Prince of Orphans and Wolf Cub respectively make their 36th overall appearances and thus meet the minimum appearance cutoff for scoring.
Book the Week – X-Men: Curse of the Man-Thing #1 (Review score: 103 Points; 30 Characters). With each issue of this miniseries, Man-Thing keeps pulling more characters into his orbit and into his green leafy husk. First it was Captain America, then Spider-Man, and this time it’s Magik. The Queen of Limbo gets absorbed into Man-Thing and reveals how Belasco, her predecessor, aided Dr. Ted Sallis in creating the SO-2 serum. Curse of the Man-Thing‘s finale takes another top book title with 30 separate characters appearing in the finale.
Hero of the Week – Storm (Review score: 15 Points/2 Appearances; 7.5 Pts/App). The Marauders experience the calm before the ‘Storm’ that is the upcoming Hellfire Gala. The X-Pirates enjoy a relaxing dinner at sea where they reflect on their favorite Storm memories—and the number of hidden knives on Ororo’s person—as it is revealed Storm is leaving the crew following the Gala. Storm’s abrupt exit in Marauders combined with her strong role in Curse of the Man-Thing earns her the “Hero of the Week” title over Spider-Man, who also scores 15 points, but in three appearances.
Antagonist of the Week – Carnage (Review score: 8 Points/1 Appearance; 8.0 Pts/App). Speaking of pirates, Carnage strikes again thanks to the latest issue of his Black, White & Blood series which features an alt-universe story set at sea with Carnage and Venom playing the part of dueling captains. Two other stories, which account for Carnage’s eight points this week, involve the trauma one may experience after surviving a Carnage attack, and the trauma one may experience when cosplaying as your favorite psychopath goes to far.
Performance of the Week – Man-Thing (Review score: 12 Points/1 Appearance; 12.0 Pts/App). Man-Thing ends his mini anniversary celebration on a high note. Dr. Ted Sallis accepts his role as the man inside the monster with the help of the Avengers, Spider-Man and X-Men. He defeats the Harrower and puts an end to her misuse of his powers, and even gets a bit of payback as he gives the devil his own due when he comes face-to-face with Belasco.
Top Characters (by review score). Spider-Man/Peter Parker, Storm (15); Man-Thing (12); Blade (11); Okoye, Pyslocke, Thor (9); Carnage (8); Hyperion, Magik, Mr. Sinister, Ms. America, Nighthawk (7)
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For those keeping track of their own review teams, full statistics can be found in the below character reviews. Please use these results to determine your score and let us know how you performed. To become a Sanctioned Review Agent you can support us via the Fantasy Comic League’s Patreon page. Make sure to tweet any questions or comments to @FantasyComicLG on Twitter while using the #FantasyComicLeague tag!
Key: TU – Team-Up; LT – Lead Team; SC – Save Civilian; CD – Character Development; DA – Defeat Antagonist.
| Amazing Spider-Man #65 (50) |
| Hawkeye (CB) Iron Fist Jessica Jones Luke Cage Spider-Man (PP) – Agility, Creature, Ensnare, Melee, Webs, TU (The Syndicate), DA (Crime Master) Spider-Woman Wolverine Antagonist(s) Baron Mordo – Magic Offensive, TU (Kingpin) Beetle – Energy, DA (Madama Masque) Boomerang Bullseye Green Goblin – Business, Sense Hammerhead Kindred Kingpin – TU (Baron Mordo), LT Lady Octopus – Appendage, Appendage Offensive, TU (Tombstone), DA (Goons) Madame Masque – Melee, TU (Crime Master) Mirage (DC) – Deception Mr. Negative Tombstone – Durability, TU (Spider-Man), LT White Rabbit – Gun, Melee, TU (Tombstone), DA (Goons) |
| America Chavez: Made in the USA #3 (7) |
| Ms. America – Durability, Energy, Flight, Melee, Strength, CD (Learns her upbringing in the Utopian Parallel was fabricated) |
| Carnage: Black, White & Blood #3 (18) |
| Human Torch – Flames Offensive, Flight, TU (Spider-Man), DA (Carnage) Spider-Man (PP) – Sonics, Webs, TU (Human Torch), DA (Carnage) Antagonist(s) Carnage – Appendage, Appendage Offensive, Assassin, Blade, Influence, Melee, Weapon |
| Hellions #11 (33) |
| Havok Psylocke – Blade, Melee, Telepathy Defensive, Telepathy Offensive, Weapon, Will Power, LT, DA (Ms. Locke) Antagonist(s) Arcade – TU (Mastermind), LT Empath Greycrow – Gun, Melee, Will Power Mastermind – Influence, Sense, Telepathy, Telepathy Offensive, TU (Mr. Sinister) Mr. Sinister – Deception, TU (Mastermind), LT, CD (Blackmails Psylocke using her daughter) Nanny Orphan-Maker Wild Child – Melee |
| Heroes Reborn #1 (33) |
| Blade – Blade, Melee, Sense, Weapon, TU (Nighthawk), CD (Realizes the world is broken), DA (Hydra) Blur – Speed, Speed Defensive Dr. Spectrum – Durability, Energy Offensive, Flight, Sense, Speed Hyperion – Durability, Energy, Energy Offensive, Flight, Melee, Strength Nighthawk – Explosive, Melee, Projectile, Suit, TU (Blade), DA (Hydra) Power Princess – Suit |
| Immortal Hulk #46 (35) |
| Black Panther Blade Captain America Captain Marvel – Flight Doc Samson Harpy Hulk (BB) – Absorb, Durability, Melee, Strength, Toxin Hulk (JW) Iron Man Puck – LT Shaman Thor – Blunt, Durability, Lightning, Projectile Antagonist(s) Ironclad – Melee Vapor – Flight, Morph, Toxin Vector – Energy Offensive, Telekinesis Offensive, LT X-Ray – Flight |
| Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon #5 (27) |
| Fat Cobra – Melee, Strength, TU (Okoye) Iron Fist – Durability, Melee, TU (Okoye), LT Luke Cage – Durability, Melee, TU (Okoye), DA (Brenda Swanson) Okoye – Absorb, Agility, Blunt, Durability, Flames, Weapon, TU (Iron Fist), CD (Absorbs the Heart of Heave Chi) Prince of Orphans – Durability Sunspot – Melee |
| Marauders #20 (22) |
| Bishop – Deception Callisto Emma Frost Iceman Kate Pryde – Creature Nightcrawler Stepford Cuckoos – SC Storm – Blade, Lightning, Melee, Precision, Projectile, SC, CD (Leaves the Marauders), DA (Hate-Monger) Antagonist(s) Pyro Sebastian Shaw Shinobi Shaw |
| Strange Academy #10 (5) |
| Lady Sif – Teleport Volstagg Antagonist(s) Enchantress – CD (Reveals that Alvi and Iric are her sons) |
| Union #5 (17) |
| Britannia – Melee, Possession, Telepathy, LT Choir – Sonics Defensive, Sonics Offensive Kelpie Snakes – Melee, Strength, SC Union Jack – Melee, Vehicle, DA (Steve Darwin) |
| X-Men: Curse of the Man-Thing #1 (103) |
| Black Panther – TU (Spider-Man) Blade – TU (Spider-Man) Captain America – TU (Spider-Man), LT Captain Marvel – Energy, Flight, TU (Spider-Man) Cypher – Business Emma Frost – Business Ghost Rider (RR) – Vehicle, Whip, TU (Magik), DA (Spore bats) Hulk (JW) – Strength, TU (Spider-Man) Iron Man – Flames, Flight, TU (Spider-Man) Jennifer Kale – Teleport, TU (Man-Thing) Kate Pryde – Business Magik – Business, Teleport, Teleport Defensive, TU (Man-Thing), LT, CD (Forms the Dark Riders) Magneto – Business Man-Thing – Absorb, Blade, Ensnare, Flames, Melee, Morph, Reality, Teleport, TU (Dark Riders), CD (Accepts his place inside Man-Thing for the betterment of the world), DA (Harrower) Marrow – Blade, TU (Man-Thing), CD (Joins Magik’s Dark Riders), DA (Spore bats) Nightcrawler – Business Professor X – Business Shark-Girl – Claws Offensive, TU (Man-Thing), CD (Joins Magik’s Dark Riders), DA (Spore bats) Spider-Man (MM) – Crawl, TU (Black Panther) Spider-Man (PP) – TU (Captain America) Storm – Business, Flight, Lightning, Wind, TU (Thor) Thor – Elements, Lightning, TU (Spider-Man) Wolf Cub – Claws Offensive, TU (Man-Thing), CD (Joins Magik’s Dark Riders), DA (Spore bats) Antagonist(s) Belasco Exodus – Business Forearm – Melee, TU (Man-Thing), CD (Joins Magik’s Dark Riders), DA (Spore bats) Krakoa – Plants Defensive Mr. Sinister – Business Mystique – Business Sebastian Shaw – Business |
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