Heros for the common man

Champions #4 “Murder at Malibu” Claremont and Tuska

The series takes a noticeable turn for the worst with the forth issue. I was really hoping for more from it especially seeing as Chris Claremont was in charge of the story. Herc and Widow are seen strolling the Malibu beach some foreshadowing for their future romance. They are attacked and captured by a crazed scientist Edward Langley a two bit villain that has created a team of insane super powered mutants out of mentally ill patients at his hospital (they look like bad henchman from an old Scooby-doo cartoon). He then uses a mind control device that is never explained to take over the minds of Herc and Widow and forces them to attack the remaining Champions. They overcome the thought devices and end the fight rather quickly. The finally settle on a team name and decide working together to help the common man is what they should do. This is pretty much the last time they help the common man. If you consider crazed mental patients to be common.

World Threat: 3 Villain Rate: 4 Issue Grade: D+

Champions #5 “The Economy is So Bad…” Isabella + Heck/Tartag

First off Ghost Rider is absent for the next few issues, no real reason is given unless you own some early GR issues. Angel learns he is worth several billion dollars and decides to fund the team on his own. He hires a new business manager and also lets his family lawyer in on their plans. Meanwhile the young Bobby Drake is tired of being a super hero and decides once Ghost Rider is back that he will leave the team. The villain…Rampage is a Tony Stark wannabe that in order to pay off creditors uses his battle suit to rob a bank. He fights off most of the team on his own until Herc lays a beating on him. He makes a hasty retreat to rethink his plans. He here is a plan…you made a suit that can fly and is able to fight Hercules…sell it to the highest bidder you ass.

World Threat: 2 Villain Rate: 5 Issue Grade: C+

Champions #6 “Mad Dog and the Businessman” Isabella+Tuska/Colletta

Black Widow is officially named team leader, Hercules is thrilled uses it as an excuse to lay his hands all over her. Not much else happens. Ghost Rider is still absent, Iceman is still mopping around. The team battles Rampage once again. Once again most are useless until Herc
gets in the mix. He lends the light weight Angel his mace that does a number on Rampage who elects suicide over jail and explodes his suit. Iceman puts out the fire before it kills him proving he is a better fire fighter then he is superhero.

World Threat: 2 Villain Rate: 5 Issue Grade: C+

Champions #7 “The Man Who Created the Black Widow” Isabella+Tuska

Angel sticking true to his words of helping people who need it most offers Rampage a defense lawyer. While at the hospital Rampage is broken out by Darkstar and Griffin who seems to have a real hard on for Angel. Alexei Bruskin, Widows former mentor tries to warn her of impending danger with a rocket launched into their new headquarters that can only be traced back to him. I know they didn’t have text messaging back then but there are easier ways to send a message. Behind it all is Widows drivers son, Yuri Petrovich who is now the new Crimson Dynamo. He is in charge of the Russian squad that also features Titanium Man.

World Threat: 2 Villain Rate: 6 Issue Grade: B-

Champions #8 “Divide and Conquer” Mantlo + Hall

We now learn what Rampage was rescued for. He delivers photos to the Champions of the recently kidnapped Black Widow. When attacked by the team he hits a button his suit that he had assumed had been installed in order to help him fight…however it was a setup by Crimson Dynamo, the resulting explosion almost kills him. The team splits up with Iceman and Ivan taking off to find Widow while Herc and Angel prepare for the teams unvailing at an upcoming press conference. Not a lot happens in this issue and the series stalls a bit.

World Threat: 2 Villain Rate: 7 Issue Grade: C

Champions #9 “The Battle of Los Angeles” Mantlo + Hall

Ghost Rider is making his way back into LA to be in time for the big press conference, as he arrives he finds Herc and Angel under attack from Titanium, Crimson and Griffin. Herc is handling himself fine while Angel is doing well enough against Titanium. The good guys seem to have the upper hand until Angel knocks Titanium into Hercules knocking him out. The three villains make quick work of Angel and GR. Iceman and Ivan finally find Widow and break her free only to be attacked by the other villains. The 4 heroes minus Widow and Ivan find themselves trapped in a box of unknown location.

World Threat: 2 Villain Rate: 7 Issue Grade: B

Champions #10 “One Mans Son is Another Mans Poison” Mantlo+ Hall

The team wakes up trapped in a metal box that has been sunken into the earth by Darkstar up against the San Andreas Fault line. If they try to break out they are sure to set off a huge earthquake…wow when did they dream that one up. Widow and Ivan are on their way back to Russia to face charges of being traitors. There is a long back story about Ivan and his son that I am sure would be interesting if you are a really boring person. After hearing the true story of what happened all those years ago in Russia Darkstar turns on her comrades and helps free Widow and Ivan. She also frees the remaining champions who quickly steal a jet from a local air force base and give chase. Always a good sign when million dollar jets are handy for a rescue mission whenever the Champions need one.

World Threat: 7 Villain Rate: 7 Issue Grade: B

The Start of Something Medicore

Just finished up reading the 17 issues of The Champions…its really not that bad. I mean for the time period . Compared to comics written more recently the story and the illustrations don’t match up very well. But when you compare it to the other crap that came out at that time it wasn’t the worst thing.

The Champions #1 “The World Still Needs the Champions” Tony Isabella and Don Heck

Hercules is the cover boy with the team in the background, same goes for the 1st page.

So the team gets together under pretty bizarre circumstances, Hercules is on some sort of lecture tour, Iceman and Angel are looking to enroll at UCLA, Black Widow is applying for a job as a Russian language teacher and Ghost Rider just happens to be motoring thru town. The gang of 5 starts of fighting a various mish mash of opponents, Amazon woman, harpies, some freaks called the Mutates and another massive creature. They for the most part fight on their own but eventually meet up in the center of the campus to find that this was all put together by Pluto and his allies Ares/Hippolyta queen of the amazons. By no means is this a great start to any team. Ghost Rider is at his best when he is a lone wolf. Herc and Widow could be a fun combo having them work for S.H.I.E.L.D or something. Iceman and Angel actually seems like a fun idea as well. Both looking for a fresh start after leaving the X-men, Iceman wanting to be takenseriously and Angel dropping the secret identity and also the idea that he might be straight.

World Threat: 2 Villain Rate: 6 Issue Grade: C

The Champions #2 “Whom the Gods Would Join” Isabella and Heck

Hercules and Pluto are the main focus on the cover and Herc dominates page 1.

We finally find out what Pluto is up to…kind of. He has worked out some deal with the demons of the underworld, Mephisto, Nightmare and some other freaky looking creatures to seize control of Olympus. By forcing Hercules to marry Hippolyta and Venus to marry Ares he will somehow be able to force Zeus to step down. He has convinced Zeus that them marrying is the only way to save the earth. Hard to believe after this many years that Zeus is really that naïve. The team initially beats back the gods and Widow is nominated as an unofficial as of the yet unnamed team. Hercules is rather surprisingly a big fan of a woman in charge. Tensions run high between Ghost Rider and most of the team as he is thought of as some what of a freak due to his appearance. Surprising since the team features two mutants. In the end some jack ass named the Huntsman helps Pluto snag Herc and Venus and cart them back to Olympus. The art work is rather lacking for the second straight issue.

World Threat: 8 Villain Rate: 8 Issue Grade: C+

The Champions #3 “Assault on Olympus” Isabella/Mantlo and Heck

Hercules is the main man on the cover again while to add some sex appeal Angel and Black Widowwear bathing suits on page 1.

Issue starts with Hercules trapped in Olympus pleading with his father to not make

him marry the Queen of the Amazons. The rest of the “TEAM” is back at the beach trying to find a way to help their comrade. Ghost Rider shows up with a plan and the team jumps into action. There is some mild flirting between Widow and Iceman and even the still very gay Angel. Iceman really needs

to get laid. Once in Olympus they really don’t accomplish a whole lot. It’s not till Ghost Rider smells a rat and figures out Plutos plan. He informs Zeus who puts a stop to the wedding. They bu

st it back home unsure of what will become of this newly formed team of superheros.

World Threat: 8 Villain Rate: 8 Issue GradeC+

All in all its not a bad start, the artwork is awful but the characters have enough going on to keep it interesting.

It all started with Hercules

So about twenty-five years ago I used to collect comic books. Not really collect but beg my mother to buy and then read until the covers would fall off. Now in my thirties I have some how become obsessed all over again with them. Last spring I started buying issues in conjunction with a co-worker. When we started I had about 150 issues from my old collection, most in rather rough shape. Now in about a year’s time my collection has grown to well over 1600 issues. Using a website http://www.stashmycomics.com/ to help catalogue my collection of comics and the website http://thecentrecannothold.net/tpb-timelines/ to keep up on my trade paperback reading. My goal is to read everything I buy….but only as I complete the whole series. So that means for me to read Captain America I need to have every issue ready to read before I start. Side mission, start at the beginning timeline and buy every trade paperback in the Marvel Universe and read in chronological order. So that is what this is all about…me reading and then telling about it. What I thought of it, where I got it from, and how much I paid. I have chosen The Champions to start with…yup The Champions, Hercules, Black Widow, Ghost Rider, Ice-man and The Angel. The often mocked group of costumed adventurerers is first up on my reading list. Check back in a few days for a full synopsis.