House of M is a follow-up to the events of the “Planet X” and “Avengers Disassembled” storylines, in which the superheroScarlet Witch suffered a mental breakdown and tried to alter the fabric of reality to recreate her lost children. Scarlet Witch’s father, Magneto, and her twin brother, Quicksilver, played major roles in the series. Like the 1995–1996 “Age of Apocalypse” storyline, “House of M” replaced the Earth-616 as the main reality for a brief time until Scarlet Witch reverted it to normal. The events of the storyline were later indicated to have occurred on Earth-58163.
The series debuted with issue #1, dated January 2009, as part of a multi-series story arc entitled “Dark Reign.” In the premiere, writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mike Deodato (working from a continuity begun in a previous, company-wide story arc, “Secret Invasion,” involving an infiltration of Earth by the shape-shifting alien Skrulls and that race’s eventual defeat) chronicled the aftermath of the U.S. government’s disbanding of the federally sanctioned superhero team, the Avengers. Bendis described the thinking behind the team: “These are bad-ass, hardcore get-it-done types. They’ll close the door and take care of business and he’s dressing them up to make them something that the people want. This is in contrast to the changes Norman Osborn is shown making to the Thunderbolts, where, according to writer Andy Diggle, he turns that team into “something much more covert and much more lethal: his own personal hit squad”.
The series ended with Dark Avengers #16, at the culmination of the Siege storyline.
The Thunderbolts comic book was renamed Dark Avengers beginning with issue #175, but the creative team remained unchanged. Dark Avengers ended with issue #190.
The setup of the series is that a para-military group called Black Flag is formed and funded by April Imoto, aka Geisha, who inherited her father’s billion dollar empire after he was executed. One of the members of Black Flag is Raiden, a master of mysticism. Using his powers, he sees a young boy in trouble, fighting to escape Hades, and a purple gorilla who was the subject of numerous experiments to make him a genius fighting machine. Raiden senses and imbalance in the universe due to these events and Black Flag rescues both of these characters and begin their adventure together as a team.
After saving the universe from Thanos and ultimately acquiring his prize, the Infinity Gauntlet, Adam Warlock finds himself on trial, judged by the very cosmic beings who supported him in the conflict. Presiding over the trial is the Living Tribunal, and the one making the case that Warlock is not fit to be the supreme master of the universe is Eternity. Eventually, the Living Tribunal rules against Warlock, and he is forced to surrender his godhood by dividing the six Infinity Gems.
The 1980s included a run by writer Roger Stern and artist John Byrne. Stern had Rogers consider a run for President of the United States in Captain America #250 (June 1980), an idea originally developed by Roger McKenzie and Don Perlin. Stern, in his capacity as editor of the title, originally rejected the idea but later changed his mind about the concept. McKenzie and Perlin received credit for the idea on the letters page at Stern’s insistence. Stern additionally introduced a new love interest, law student Bernie Rosenthal, in Captain America #248 (Aug. 1980).
Writer J. M. DeMatteis revealed the true face and full origin of the Red Skull in Captain America #298-300, and had Captain America take on Jack Monroe, Nomad, as a partner for a time. Around this time, the heroes gathered by the Beyonder elect Rogers as leader during their stay on Battleworld in the 1984 miniseries Secret Wars. Homophobia is dealt with as Rogers runs into a childhood friend named Arnold Roth who is gay.
Mark Gruenwald became the writer of the series with issue #307 (July 1985) and wrote 137 issues for 10 consecutive years from until #443 (Sept. 1995) the most issues by any single author in the character’s history. Gruenwald created several new foes, including Crossbones and the Serpent Society. Other Gruenwald characters included Diamondback, Super Patriot, and Demolition Man. Gruenwald explored numerous political and social themes as well, such as extreme idealism when Captain America fights the anti-nationalist terrorist Flag-Smasher; and vigilantism when he hunts the murderous Scourge of the Underworld.
Hit-Girl spins off into her own blood-soaked series by the sales-busting creative team of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. This story takes place between Kick-Ass Volumes 1 and 2 as Mindy McCready tries to settle into life as a regular school-girl, but wants nothing more than to be dispensing hot justice to the scum of New York City. Her mother and step-father think she’s doing her homework, but in reality she’s taken Kick-Ass on as her sidekick and is training him up to punch, shoot and stab … just like Daddy would have wanted.
In 2011, DC Comics relaunched all titles under the umbrella, The New 52, which rebooted the DC Universe continuity. Catwoman’s new monthly title now focused on Selina’s earlier days as Catwoman, but not her origins. The series begins with Selina frantically escaping from unknown masked men who are invading her apartment. After flitting from rooftop to rooftop, Selina looks back just in time to see her apartment blown apart by explosives. She turns to her informant, Lola, who often supplies Catwoman with information and various jobs. In this instance, Lola tips Selina off to an unoccupied penthouse where Selina can lay low for a few weeks, as well as a job stealing a painting from Russian mobsters. For this job, Selina infiltrates a Russian club by posing as the bartender. There, she recognizes a man who murdered a friend of hers, and she takes her revenge. Once her cover is blown, Selina dons her Catwoman outfit and fights her way out of the club. It is revealed through Selina’s inner monologue that she and Batman are lovers, and the premiere issue ends with the first sex scene between the two. Her revised origin in Catwoman #0 draws from Batman Returns.
The Incredible Hulk returns as an ongoing series written by acclaimed PLANET HULK and WORLD WAR HULK scribe Greg Pak! Get ready for Bruce Banner as you’ve never seen him, the Son of Hulk in a whole new world of smash, and an insane new adventure that changes everything for everyone’s favorite Green Goliath!
Blade Runner Ash hunts the streets of Los Angeles for renegade Replicants. She finds her loyalties and humanity challenged by two Replicants… one offering her salvation, the other deadly damnation.
Thirty years ago, a fellowship of legendary adventurers saved their world by slaying the demonic tyrant Mol Uhltep—The Last God. Following his downfall, the realm entered a new age of peace and prosperity. But a generation later, when the leader of the original fellowship dies, their children and successors learn their terrible lie:
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