Sam Grainger

Reprints Giant Size X-Men 1.

Collects Giant-Size X-Men #1 and Uncanny X-Men #94-97. It is a changing of the guard at Xavier's School for the Gifted. Professor X's original students are replaced by an all new team of X-Men. The demonic acrobat Nightcrawler, the weather controlling Storm, the iron-skinned strongman Colossus, the shrieking Banshee, the tribal warrior Thunderbird, and the dangerous Wolverine have been gathered together from the four corners of the world to defend mankind from the forces of evil, and to vanguard Xavier's dream of mutants and humans co-existing in peace and harmony. Includes original character designs (for costumes and characters that didn't make the book), how to draw X-Men hints, and unused ideas.

"Mightier than the Sword?" Part 3 of 3. After the tragic death of his brother last issue, Clint Barton vows revenge against Egghead! And auspiciously for the new Goliath, his first opportunity comes very soon! Upon returning to Earth, Egghead dispatches the Swordsman to Avengers Mansion to capture his old foe Henry Pym! But neither super-villain knows that Hank has recently changed his identity to Yellowjacket! Amid the confusing battle, the Swordsman grabs Clint instead and takes him back to Egghead! And for the vengeance-seeking avenger... that's right where he wants to be...for payback! Partial origin of Hawkeye (aka Clint Barton). Flashback cameos by Barney Barton and the Swordsman. Avengers Lineup: Black Panther, Goliath, Vision, Wasp, and Yellowjacket. (Notes: The Swordsman previously appeared in Captain America 105. Egghead returns in Marvel Feature (1st series) 5.

"And We Battle for the Earth!" Part 3 of 3. Inside Ultron's underground fortress, the Avengers halt the adamantium robot's plan to turn New York into a nuclear wasteland! Unfortunately though, the metal despot escapes and remains a deadly threat! So Hank Pym and Dr. Myron MacLain set a trap for Ultron-6 at the United Nations Headquarters. But the powerful robot storms into the U.N. as a full-bodied robot! Uh-oh, Earth's Mightiest Heroes were not expecting that! Will Thor and Goliath be able to keep the awesome Ultron at bay while Yellowjacket's plan takes time to develop? The world is holding its breath! Avengers Lineup: Black Panther, Goliath, Thor, Vision, Wasp, and Yellowjacket. (Notes: Ultron returns (as Ultron-7) in Avengers 127 and Fantastic Four 150.

"Let the Game Begin!" Part 1 of 3. Fate of Tony Stark: Part 3 of 4 - After the events of Iron Man 18, Earth's Mightiest Heroes rush to the hospital to check on the condition of their benefactor, Tony Stark! While waiting in Tony's room, the Wasp notices a small doll lying on the floor. But it's not a small doll; it's a small man…the Growing Man! And in a matter of minutes the alien stimuloid surges to thirty-feet tall and grabs Tony! The Avengers begin pursuing the Growing Man, but are suddenly halted and whisked away to another place and time! Wow, who could have done that? Who else…but the Master of Time! Kang the Conqueror has transported the Avengers to the 41st century to fight as his pawns in the game of the galaxies! And the game starts next issue vs. the Squadron Sinister! First appearances of the Grandmaster, Kyle Richmond (cameo), and the Squadron Sinister (cameo). Additional cameo appearances by Ravonna, Doctor Spectrum, Hyperion, Nighthawk (aka Kyle Richmond), and the Whizzer. Avengers Lineup: Black Panther, Captain America, Goliath, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Thor, Vision, Yellowjacket, and the Wasp. (Notes: This is the first appearance of Kyle Richmond who would eventually become a long-time member of the Defenders. The Whizzer is a new villain not to be confused with the golden age Whizzer (aka Bob Frank). Kang and the Growing Man previously appeared in Thor 140. The Avengers last fought Kang in Avengers 23 & 24. )

"When Strikes the Squadron Sinister!" Part 2 of 3. The galactic game between Kang and the Grandmaster begins! And the opening round pits Earth's Mightiest Heroes vs. the Squadron Sinister! Captain America vs. Nighthawk on Liberty Island! Iron Man vs. Doctor Spectrum at the Taj Mahal! Thor vs. Hyperion in Egypt! And Goliath vs. the Whizzer in London! The Avengers need four victories to win the first round for Kang! The Conqueror's team appears on track for a worldwide sweep until the Black Knight unwittingly interferes with Goliath's duel at the Big Ben Clock Tower! The Grandmaster is furious about the knight's interference! Have Dane Whitman's good intentions accidentally doomed the Earth to destruction? First full appearance of the Squadron Sinister (and Kyle Richmond aka Nighthawk). Avengers Lineup: Black Panther, Black Knight, Captain America, Goliath, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Thor, Vision, Yellowjacket, and the Wasp. (Notes: The Squadron Sinister returns in Defenders 13. Shell-Head and Dr. Spectrum battle again in Iron Man 63. Nighthawk appears next in Daredevil 62.)

"Endgame!" Part 3 of 3. Guest-starring the Invaders (first appearance). The Avengers battle the Invaders in 1941 occupied France! Cameo appearances by Ravonna and the original 6th century Black Knight (aka Sir Percy). Notes: The plot of Avengers 71 overlaps with Invaders Annual 1 published eight years later in 1977. The last page is a pin-up featuring the Avengers. Kang returns in Incredible Hulk 135. This is the second appearance of the original Human Torch in Silver Age/Bronze Age continuity.

"Did You Hear the One About Scorpio?" Guest-starring Captain Marvel and Nick Fury. Captain America calls a late night meeting at Avengers Mansion! Three New York City officials have been kidnapped in recent days by Scorpio! And the disappearances are connected somehow to SHIELD and Nick Fury! Rick Jones tries to provide some answers at the meeting, but in stunning fashion Scorpio cuts down Rick and the Avengers with one powerful blast from the zodiac key! After the quintet of avengers are taken to Scorpio's hideaway, they come face-to-face with the twelve houses of the Zodiac! And shortly thereafter the no-holds-barred battle begins! The Avengers vs. the Zodiac! Can Earth's Mightiest Heroes defeat the celestial super-villains? Perhaps the stars will be aligned for victory! First appearances of the Zodiac, Libra, and Taurus (aka Cornelius Van Lunt). Cameo appearance by Dum Dum Dugan. Flashback cameo by Jake Fury. Avengers Lineup: Captain America, Goliath, Vision, Yellowjacket, and the Wasp. (Notes: Elements of the story from Nick Fury Agent of Shield 15 continue in this issue. The Avengers battle the Zodiac again in Avengers 120. The letters page includes a letter from comics artist Keith Pollard.)

"The Sting of the Serpent" Part 1 of 2. The Sons of the Serpent prowl New York City once again! And the venomous hate group has a new target! An up-and-coming singer named Monica Lynne! But fortunately for the talented vocalist, she has a guardian angel or perhaps better yet…a guardian panther! The Black Panther successfully stops the serpents' abduction attempt of Monica! However, the next day when T'Challa hunts the serpents on his own, he falls prey to the radical supremacist group! The Sons of the Serpent have the panther! Will the Avengers be next? First appearance of Monica Lynne. Flashback cameos by Bill Foster and Captain America to recap the serpents' previous encounter with Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers 32 & 33. Avengers Lineup: Black Panther, Goliath, Vision, Yellowjacket, and the Wasp. (Notes: This issue features a classic Marie Severin cover. Her most well-known Avengers cover and one of the very few she penciled for the Avengers series.)

"The Only Good Alien... " Part 1 of 9. Guest-starring Captain Marvel. The classic Kree/Skrull War storyline starts with a bang as Earth's Mightiest Heroes and Rick Jones pursue Captain Marvel on the streets of Miami! Wow, why are the Avengers chasing the Kree Warrior? Especially after Wanda, Pietro, and the Vision just fought alongside him several hours ago in the Baxter Building vs. Annihilus! Dangerously though, the cosmic superhero's body is teeming with deadly radiation after spending too much time in the Negative Zone! Once the Avengers capture Captain Marvel, they take him to Cape Canaveral in hopes of saving his life! Meanwhile on Hala, the Kree homeworld, Ronan the Accuser leads a rebellion against the Supreme Intelligence! Ronan's actions will have immediate and far-reaching effects on the Milky Way Galaxy and of course Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Cameo appearance by Sentry 459. Flashback cameo by Mr. Fantastic to recap his escape from the Negative Zone in Fantastic Four 110. Avengers Lineup: Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and the Vision. (Notes: Captain Marvel's participation in the Kree/Skrull War occurs while his own series was on a 2-year hiatus. Ronan previously appeared in Captain Marvel 16. Annihilus appears next in Marvel Team-Up 2. The full Kree/Skrull War saga was reprinted in 2000 in the trade paperback: The Avengers -- The Kree-Skrull War.)

"Right Between the Eons!" Part 3 of 7. Guest-starring the Two-Gun Kid. After stopping the Pecos Train robbery last issue, the Western riders along with Hawkeye, Moondragon, and Thor are ready to end the menace of Kang the Conqueror forever! To that end the three Avengers plus the Two-Gun Kid invade Kang's majestic palace! In 1873 Tombstone, Arizona, can Earth's Mightiest Heroes finally stop the master of time's reign of terror? It's an awesome battle for the ages! Meanwhile inside the Brand Corporation's plant, the Vision helps the Avengers and Patsy Walker escape from Doctor Spectrum's prison. Now the five heroes are on the loose...looking for the Squadron Supreme...and looking for payback! Cameo appearances by Kid Colt, Night Rider, Rawhide Kid, Ringo Kid, and Immortus. Flashback cameo by the Pharaoh Rama-Tut. (Notes: Following this issue Kang does not return to the pages of the Avengers until issue 267 many years later. The Conqueror appears next in the first issue of the Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars Limited Series. The monster depicted on the cover fights the Avengers who are in Kang's citadel not the ones inside the Brand Corporation. The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp series B #17 Captain America by Jack Kirby.)

"20,000 Leagues Under Justice!" Part 6 of 7. The Avengers' battles against the Squadron Supreme continue in the streets of Other-Earth! On the undercard: Hellcat and the Beast vs. Tom Thumb, Amphibion, and Cap'n Hawk! And the main event: Captain America and Iron Man vs. Doctor Spectrum and the Whizzer! Wow, a sensational action issue! Can Earth's Mightiest Heroes finally defeat the Squadron Supreme and find a way back home? Cameo appearances by Thor, Moondragon, the Wasp, and Yellowjacket. (Notes: Although depicted on the cover, Thor is not with the Avengers on the Squadron's world. The Squadron's Earth was later designated Earth-712. The Squadron Supreme's next adventures take place in Thor 280 and Defenders 112-114. The letters page includes letters from comics historian Peter Sanderson and comics writer Mary Jo Duffy, respectively. A 30-cent cover price variant exists for this issue.)

"20,000 Leagues Under Justice!" Part 6 of 7. The Avengers' battles against the Squadron Supreme continue in the streets of Other-Earth! On the undercard: Hellcat and the Beast vs. Tom Thumb, Amphibion, and Cap'n Hawk! And the main event: Captain America and Iron Man vs. Doctor Spectrum and the Whizzer! Wow, a sensational action issue! Can Earth's Mightiest Heroes finally defeat the Squadron Supreme and find a way back home? Cameo appearances by Thor, Moondragon, the Wasp, and Yellowjacket. (Notes: Although depicted on the cover, Thor is not with the Avengers on the Squadron's world. The Squadron's Earth was later designated Earth-712. The Squadron Supreme's next adventures take place in Thor 280 and Defenders 112-114. The letters page includes letters from comics historian Peter Sanderson and comics writer Mary Jo Duffy, respectively. A 30-cent cover price variant exists for this issue.)

"The Gods and the Gang!" Part 7 of 7. The Avengers return to the Brand Corporation facility on Long Island! And waste no time jumping into a brawl with Brand's private army! But Hugh Jones and Buzz Baxter have a secret weapon waiting for Earth's Mightiest Heroes...Orka, the human killer whale! Fortunately though, Moondragon and Thor have returned to New York following their Wild West adventure, and the two god-like avengers join the fight against Orka! Two fantastic battles will determine if the Avengers live or die: the thunder god vs. Orka...and Hellcat vs. Buzz Baxter! An awesome conclusion to the Serpent Crown saga! Cameo appearance by the Squadron Supreme. (Notes: Orka previously appeared in Sub-Mariner 67. This seven-part story was reprinted in 2005 in the trade paperback, Avengers: The Serpent Crown. The letters page includes a letter from comics artist Richard Howell. A 30-cent cover price variant exists for this issue.)

"The Gods and the Gang!" Part 7 of 7. The Avengers return to the Brand Corporation facility on Long Island! And waste no time jumping into a brawl with Brand's private army! But Hugh Jones and Buzz Baxter have a secret weapon waiting for Earth's Mightiest Heroes...Orka, the human killer whale! Fortunately though, Moondragon and Thor have returned to New York following their Wild West adventure, and the two god-like avengers join the fight against Orka! Two fantastic battles will determine if the Avengers live or die: the thunder god vs. Orka...and Hellcat vs. Buzz Baxter! An awesome conclusion to the Serpent Crown saga! Cameo appearance by the Squadron Supreme. (Notes: Orka previously appeared in Sub-Mariner 67. This seven-part story was reprinted in 2005 in the trade paperback, Avengers: The Serpent Crown. The letters page includes a letter from comics artist Richard Howell. A 30-cent cover price variant exists for this issue.)