Dan Adkins

"Five Dooms to Save Tomorrow!" The first 100 issues of Earth's Mightiest Heroes are in the books! And the next one hundred begin with an original story from Harlan Ellison! The Avengers serve as honor guards for a special man vs. machine chess match! However, after the Eastern European grandmaster collapses during the match, chaos erupts and finger pointing starts! Did someone poison the European champion? It appears an unassuming man named Leonard Tippit did. Why? What exactly is going on? The Watcher knows! And that means the Avengers' adventure is only just beginning! Avengers Lineup: Captain America, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Thor, and the Vision. (Note: The letters page includes a letter from comics writer Paul Kupperberg.)

"On the Matter of Heroes!" Part 1 of 2.A new era for 'Earth's Mightiest Heroes' begins, and the first order of business is selecting the seven members of the new roster. But this time the federal government is going to help the Avengers choose! Peter Gyrich announces the selections: the Beast, Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Wasp,...and the Falcon! Hold on, is the Falcon even an avenger? That's what Hawkeye would like to know! Meanwhile, the old man from Vladivostok, Django Maximoff, finally arrives in New York City. And the lives of Pietro and Wanda will never be the same again. Cameo appearances by the Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Black Widow, Hercules, and Moondragon. Note: John Byrne begins his 1-year stint as the regular artist on the series. Note: First appearance of Scott Lang (the second Ant-Man).

"Nuklo: The Invader That Time Forgot!" Guest-starring the Golden Age Whizzer. The Whizzer (aka Robert Frank) invades Avengers Mansion looking for the Chrono-Module. After a brief battle with the Avengers, the Whizzer begins to explain his motives; but suddenly the module breaks open...and Nuklo emerges! The Avengers battle Nuklo throughout New York City; and the Scarlet Witch makes the team's final stand against the runaway nuclear child! During the story Robert Frank reveals that Nuklo is his son, and he also states that Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are his children; however, the Yesterday Quest storyline in Avengers 185-187 will disprove the Whizzer's statement about Wanda and Pietro. The All-Winners Squad (Bucky, Miss America, Original Human Torch, Sub-Mariner, Toro, Whizzer) appears in a 5-page flashback. Avengers Lineup: Captain America, Iron Man, Mantis, Scarlet Witch, Thor, and the Vision. This issue includes a one-page write-up from Roy Thomas describing the plans for the Giant-Size series. Back up story #1: Reprint of Human Torch 33 from November 1948. Guest-starring Captain America. Back up story #2: Reprint of Tales to Astonish 58 featuring the Wasp. 1st Modern Age appearance of Miss America

A young Conan is arrested and falsely accused of a king’s murder, and the Cimmerian is tortured, stabbed, dragged through the streets, and thrown into a river. He is found by his closest allies, but they discover they are too late. Conan is dead! Collects Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian #233–#240.

 The X-Men are given a weekend off and head out for some fun; Cyke and Angel visit Jean in college and find her engaged with brothers Ted and Ralph Roberts; Ralph, who used to work for Tony Stark, takes them all to his lab where he puts on his new Cobalt Man suit to impress his brother; Going a little batty, Cobalt Man wrecks the lab and heads out to Stark Industries to confront his old boss; The X-Men assemble to battle him before his suit becomes radioactive and blows up; Iron Man and Juggernaut cameos.

 Ted Roberts warns Jean that her brother has been captured; Angel and Iceman help her find him; Mole Man attacks the X-Men.

 Banshee calls to the X-Men for help against a mysterious spider creature, and when the young mutants run across Spider-Man, they mistake him for their foe and a battle ensues.