Top 5 Team-Up Books: Super-Villain Team-Up

Whenever I could I would buy a team up book.  I loved reading about unfamiliar characters and how they interacted with more established heroes such as Spider-man or Batman.  If it was a Marvel Comic they would obviously fight first and then join forces to beat the villain.  If it was The Brave and the Bold, written by Bob Haney, all you knew was that absolutely anything could happen even if it contradicted everything previously written about a character. Here is the first of my top 5 team up books:

5 - Super-Villain Team-Up (Marvel Comics)

Pencil art by John Buscema, inks by Frank Giacoia

Hulk Foes: Captain Omen

Although I love Sal Buscema's work on Incredible Hulk I am nailing my colours to the mast and stating that Herb Trimpe is my favourite Hulk artist.  I believe that the strip did not blossom until Herb took it over from the legendary Marie Severin and it became one of the most consistently enjoyable books Marvel published as the Silver Age slipped into the Bronze.  It didn't hurt to have some stellar writers on the book such as Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, Steve Englehart and Len Wein, however, it was Herb Trimpe's superb artistry and ability to tell a story that provided the consistency that propelled the book to greatness.  There were many standout issues but I want to focus on a two-parter (#164 and #165, June and July 1973) that introduced Captain Omen.  At this point Steve Englehart was writing the book, a writer who could do no wrong as far as I was concerned, and Sal Trapani was on inks.

Incredible Hulk #164 June 1973 Cover by Herb Trimpe

Avengers: Greatest Stories Ever Told

Here it is Avengers fans, the greatest stories ever told about Earth's Mightiest Heroes as selected by yours truly.  Dig them out and read them again or track them down and read them for the first time. Thirty tales listed in chronological order:

The Coming of the Avengers, #1, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, September 1963

Hulk and Sub-Mariner ,#3, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, January 1964

Captain America Lives Again, #4, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, March 1964

Avengers Assembled

If you had to pick six Avengers to be on the team who would you pick?  The Avengers Assemble movie has gone with Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye.  Mostly obvious choices for the movie audience, Hawkeye being the exception.  Hardcore comics fans will always have a favourite line-up but I am betting most would not favour this six.  Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch's Ultimates updated and re-booted the Avengers in an alternate ultimate Marvel universe in 2002 and the movie takes its tone from their re-imagining.  Samuel L. Jackson may be fanboy heaven as Nick Fury but for this Silver and Bronze Age fan this is not really the Avengers.

The Avengers Pencil Art by Jack Kirby, Inks: George Roussos
Avengers #4 (March 1964)

Devil Dinosaur

Devil Dinosaur
Pencil art by Jack Kirby
Inks: Frank Giacoia

Jack Kirby returned to Marvel Comics in 1976 and created the ongoing series Devil Dinosaur in 1978.  The comic lasted nine issues before cancellation.