Alan Kupperberg

"Blues for Lonesome Pinky!" At a shady dive in Brooklyn, one of Peter Parker's friends and one of Spider-Man's enemies cross paths under surprising circumstances! Tonight Lonesome Pinky makes his singing debut at the rundown nightclub! And like a good neighbor, Peter attends to support his friend! But Ramrod plans to use this evening to take revenge on the bar owner... by poisoning all of the patrons! When the wall-crawler realizes what's going on, he enlists Pinky's aid to calm the crowd! And that leaves the menacing cyborg to the Amazing Spider-Man! Can the web-slinger throttle down Ramrod? Cameo appearance by Debra Whitman. (Note: Spider-Man previously battled Ramrod in Daredevil 103.)

Gang War: Part 2 of 5 -- "The Arranger Must Die!" Guest-starring the Punisher.The gang war takes a turn for the worse for the bad guys as the Punisher enters the fray! Frank Castle doesn't care where the Kingpin is or isn't. Or which crimes bosses have formed alliances with one another. He's planning to nail them all! When the Arranger calls a Midnight meeting of the crime lords, the Punisher adds himself to the guest list! But instead of a battle breaking out among the Hobgoblin, Jack O'Lantern, Rose, and Hammerhead; the furious fight erupts between Spider-Man and the Punisher! Is that any way to stop a gang war? Cameo appearances by Vanessa Fisk, Richard Fisk, Ned Leeds, Joe Robertson, and Ben Urich. (Notes: The initial subplot of the Spider-Man vs. Wolverine (1987) one-shot occurs in this story. This issue features a full-page ad for the Strikeforce Morituri (1986) series with art by Brent Anderson and Scott Williams.)

Gang War: Part 3 of 5 -- "Thy Father's Son!" New York City is on fire! Specifically in Jackson Heights where a meeting between the Rose and the Blue Boys has turned into a disaster! And the situation on the ground is suddenly every man for himself! The Rose, Hobgoblin, and Jack O'Lantern try to escape the fiery chaos while New York's finest and the wall-crawler attempt to restore order! Both Spider-Man and the Rose have the power of life and death in their hands! One will choose life. The other will not. A powerful story! Appearances by Mary Jane Watson, Sergeant Tork, and Lance Bannon. Cameo appearances by Aunt May and Vanessa Fisk. (Note: This issue features a full-page ad for the Fallen Angels (1987) Limited Series with art by Kerry Gammill and Tom Palmer.)

Gang War: Part 5 of 5 -- "Gang War Rages On!" Guest-starring Daredevil and the Falcon. The final act of the gang war draws near as the Kingpin plans to liquidate his organization! And he's not talking about selling off the furniture! At Midnight the Kingpin gathers his most distrusted lieutenants and leads them to the slaughter! But a quartet of heroes interrupts the premeditated massacre! Will the web-slinger, Black Cat, Falcon, and Daredevil finally corral the corrupt crime boss? Or will the Kingpin of Crime remain his usual one step ahead? Appearances by the Rose, Hobgoblin, and Sergeant Tork. Cameo appearances by the Punisher, Hammerhead, Jack O'Lantern, Arranger, Mary Jane Watson, Lance Bannon, Flash Thompson, Betty Leeds, Vanessa Fisk, and Aunt May. (Note: Elements of the story continue in the Spider-Man vs. Wolverine (1987) one-shot.)

"The Hobgoblin Revealed!" Death of Ned Leeds (aka the Hobgoblin). Story continues from the Spider-Man vs. Wolverine (1987) one-shot. Finally! The mystery that began over 50 issues ago is at last revealed! Who is the Hobgoblin? Or perhaps better asked now: Who was the Hobgoblin? Sadly the story opens with Ned Leeds' body being returned to New York following his murder in Berlin. Jonah, Peter, Betty, and Robbie are in shock...and completely oblivious to what really happened to Ned overseas. But the Kingpin knows what took place! He's furious that the Foreigner and Jack O'Lantern (aka Jason Macendale) made the hit without his approval! To retaliate against Macendale (aka the new Hobgoblin), the Kingpin tells the web-slinger where to find him! And in very short order a new era of Spider-Man vs. Hobgoblin battles begins! Cameo appearances by the Rose, Black Cat, and Flash Thompson. Flashback cameo by Wolverine. (Notes: The story in Web of Spider-Man 29 occurs during this issue. Ned Leeds first appeared way back in Amazing Spider-Man 18. The web-slinger settles the score with the Foreigner in Spectacular Spider-Man 129. Additional details about who was operating as the real Hobgoblin are revealed in the Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives (1997) Limited Series written by Roger Stern.)

"Shadow of the Claw!" Part 2 of 2. The Avengers have returned home following their overseas encounter with the Yellow Claw on his island fortress. But Captain America remains suspicious about the aging villain and his operations in the South China Sea. When one of the Claw's repentant henchmen shows up at Avengers Mansion, Earth's Mightiest Heroes blaze a trail back across the Pacific Ocean to Australia! However, the Bludgeoner, Transformer, and Compressor are lying in wait for the heroes down under! While Cap, Shell-head, and company duel with the killer cyborgs, the Vision takes the battle directly to the Chinese mastermind himself! Can the Avengers scratch and claw their way to victory? Or will the Yellow Claw and his offspring rule the world? (Notes: The Yellow Claw appears next in Marvel Fanfare 31. This issue includes a full-page ad for the first issue of the Dazzler series.)

"The Resurrection Stone!" It's a happy day at Avengers Mansion as Hank McCoy is reunited with his former girlfriend Vera Cantor. But joy quickly turns to horror when a Skrull (disguised as Jarvis) poisons Vera! The devious Skrull will revive her, but only if the Beast, Wanda, Vision, and Wonder Man retrieve the resurrection stone! However, the stone has been split into two halves...and sent back in time! The four avengers' first stop is 14th century London during the gruesome bubonic plague outbreak. And the second...Dachau concentration camp near the end of World War II. Earth Mightiest Heroes witness human suffering at its absolute worst. And in the end Hank McCoy will hold the power of life and death in his hands. What will the Beast do? An excellent story featuring the four avengers who would depart the team two issues later. Cameo appearance by Mr. Fantastic. Flashback cameo by the Hulk to recap the events of Incredible Hulk 161. Avengers Lineup: Beast, Scarlet Witch, Vision, and Wonder Man. (Note: This issue includes a full-page ad for Marvel Treasury Edition 28: Superman and Spider-Man vs. Doctor Doom and the Parasite.

"Men of Deadly Pride!" The Avengers' new lineup goes into action for the first time in the nation's capital! A strange couple apparently lost in time appears in Washington D.C.! When the police accidently shoot her warrior husband, the powerful Elfqueen attacks the city! After a brief battle, Captain America convinces her to stop fighting. But in an attempt to reestablish his prominence on the team, Yellowjacket fires an after-the-fact disruptor blast at the Elfqueen! Beginning next issue Hank Pym is going to regret his foolish action. Avengers Lineup: Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Tigra, Wasp, and Yellowjacket.

“Kings are ever plagued by enemies.” The words of the Aquilonian ruler Conan are never more true than when a dark cabal of sorcerers threaten the throne and the lives of the royal family. But even against horrors from beneath the earth, murderous demons from beyond the grave, or ancient baleful gods summoned from dark dimensions, courage, love, and a good sword are formidable proof against evil when wielded by the mighty hand of the barbarian king! *Featuring early work of superstar artist Marc Silvestri. *Continues the re-presentation of the long-out-of-print Conan titles from Marvel Comics.

From September 4, 1978, until April 12, 1981, thousands of readers across the country thrilled to the daily adventures of everyone's favorite barbarian, Conan! Now Dark Horse Comics is proud to present the Conan newspaper strips collected for the first time in a handsome hardcover volume. Readers will once again enjoy the talents of Roy Thomas, Doug Moench, John Buscema, Ernie Chan, Alfredo Alcala, Rudy Nebres, Pablo Marcos, Alan Kupperberg, and Tom Yeates as they artfully unfold the continuing saga of Conan in these daily comic strips! * Conan remains one of the most popular licensed comics, with newly created Conan stories and an extensive reprint program, both from Dark Horse! * Collects daily newspaper strips from September 4, 1978, through April 12, 1981.

"...And Lose His Own Soul" Guest-starring Stunt Master. Story by Tony Isabella. Art by Jim Mooney and Jack Abel. Ghost Rider chases Taurus through the streets of San Francisco, but can even the Spirit of Vengeance stop a man that has the power of the entire Zodiac at his disposal? 32 pages, FC. Cover price $0.25.

Johnny Blaze stops off at a gas station in a small Indiana town. He then gets attacked by several townsfolk upset that he is using their water to drink and clean his bike. After using the power of the Ghost Rider to fend off his attackers, he discovers that the town is experiencing a water shortage. Eager to help those in need, Blaze devises a plan to bring up water from an underground river. The problem is that he needs the Water Wizard and the Water Wizard is currently being held in the Rosedale Sanitarium, and there are others also looking for the Water Wizard.

In a lonely compound surrounded by the zombie apocalypse, one girl remains unchanged. A slight garden mishap means a supply run to the outside where she makes a life-changing discovery—they only eat the males. Now Mara Mitchell is on a mission; make friends with the undead, or kill them all.

Collects Star Wars (1977-1986 Marvel) #39-55, Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Weekly (1980 UK) #149, 151 and 153-157, and Star Wars Monthly (1982 UK) #159. The Empire Strikes Back! Marvel's classic Star Wars saga continues with the official adaptation of the second film in the original trilogy - and Darth Vader's ruthless revenge! In the wake of Luke Skywalker's deadly duel with the Dark Lord, the rebels' adventures continue - and a living nightmare stalks the universe! But can R2-D2 and C-3PO beat terrible odds to survive Droid World? With everyone's favorite smuggler lost, the rebel crew is on a search for Solo - but Han will have to wait when the Crimson Forever poses a more immediate problem! And so will the Empire's latest, greatest super-weapon! Can our heroes take the Tarkin? Plus: Rarely seen Star Wars tales from the United Kingdom!

Collects Star Wars (1977-1986 Marvel) #1-44 and Star Wars (1977-1986 Marvel) Annual #1. As the phenomenon dawned in 1977, Marvel Comics published the very first STAR WARS comic-book series. Now, the House of Ideas is re-presenting those original adventures in its wampa-sized Omnibus format! It's the return of the Jedi to Marvel in an opening volume that begins with A NEW HOPE and ends with THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. In between, the rebels face a wealth of new perils - from space pirate Crimson Jack to the bounty hunter Beilert Valance, as well as a surprisingly svelte Jabba the Hut (one "t"). Luke goes back to Tatooine, Leia battles alone, Han and Chewie play the deadly Big Game, and Darth Vader hunts for answers! With all your old favorites and plenty of new faces - hello, Jaxxon! - there's no doubt, the Force is strong with this one!