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.
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