Getting Into Comics: Scarlet Witch Starter Stories

Published on May 12, 2025May 11, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

Today is Miss Kyra’s birthday. I asked her which comic book character’s history she wanted Geekly to cover today, and she picked another character with a complicated past, Scarlet Witch. Yes. Today will be covering comic books for new readers of the Scarlet Witch.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. Like many X-Men characters, Scarlet Witch has played jump rope with being a villain and a hero. Wanda Maximoff has even had moments of turning into an otherworldly being. She’s been a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, the Avengers, and Defenders. Scarlet Witch blurs the line between superpowers and magic. She has the power to bend reality.

Single Issues

We’ve split this list into single issues and longer stories. Let’s begin with single issues.

The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (Uncanny X-Men #4, written by Stan Lee/art by Jack Kirby; March 1964)

Magneto proved a worthy adversary to the X-Men when he took on the team alone (Uncanny X-Men #1). The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants marks the team of the same name’s first appearance. Toad, Mastermind, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch join Magneto. But the team already shows cracks.

Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch want nothing to do with the Brotherhood. Magneto coerced them into joining. He reminds them of when he rescued the twins from an angry mob. The citizens of a small European town want to kill the Scarlet Witch for burning down a barn with her mutant powers. Magneto reminds the pair that humans would continue to hunt them for their abilities, which isn’t a complete lie.

The X-Men track down the Brotherhood to a palace in Santo Marco. The X-Men’s actions reinforce Magento’s claims that humanity will hunt down mutants. Mutants are hunting down other mutants who disagree with them. A quick battle ensues. Once the X-Men enter the palace, Magneto arms a series of bombs meant to destroy the palace and Santo Marco with it. Bystanders would be killed. Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver can’t abide by this plan, so as they escape, Quicksilver disarms the remaining bombs that would’ve taken the country. The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants shows Scarlet Witch’s tenuous relationship with Magneto.

The Old Order Changeth (Avengers #16, written by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby/art by Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, and Carl Hubbell; March 1965)

Scarlet Witch makes good on her threat of leaving Magneto’s employ. It took her one year—almost to the day—from debuting as an X-Men villain to becoming a card-carrying member of the Avengers. The Old Order Changeth does what it says. The Master of Evil (the Avengers’ main antagonist team at the time) disbanded after burying their leader Baron “Heinrich” Zemo. (Note: the current Baron Zemo is Heinrich’s son, Helmut.) Wasp, Giant-Man/Ant-Man, Iron Man, and Thor leave the Avengers. Naturally, Hulk is missing. So, Captain America is chilling at the Avengers Mansion advertising that the team needs new members.

Hawkeye and Black Widow flip sides and join the Avengers. They had been duped into helping the Russians who wanted to disrupt the Avengers. Mission accomplished, I guess. Scarlet Witch and her twin brother Quicksilver also want to redeem their past as members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and join. It may not seem like much but the Avengers changing their roster in just over a year (this issue is the sixteenth of a monthly comic) shook up the Marvel landscape.

What was Scarlet Witch’s role in this comic book issue? She doesn’t have a large role. While living in Switzerland, she learns about the Avengers needing new members. She travels by cruise ship to the U.S. and auditions for a spot with Tony Stark. The Old Order Changeth marks Wanda’s first step as a hero, and the first step is often the most important.

New Faces (The West Coast Avengers #45, written by John Byrne/art John Byrne; February 1989)

We jump a couple of decades to our next single issue New Faces. Surprise! The Avengers add a new member or two. US Agent (John Walker) joins the team which causes Hawkeye and Mockingbird to depart. This storyline has many layers and is worth the read, but we’re more interested in another storyline, the one between the Scarlet Witch and her husband Vision.

By the time of New Faces, Wanda and Vision have twin sons, Tommy and Billy. There’s a whole issue of Tommy and Billy going through a series of nannies who can’t manage to care for them. The nanny introduced in this issue, Mrs. Hunter, loses the twins in the nursery. We never see Mrs. Hunter again, so there’s a chance she got fired off-camera. The bigger issue rests with Vision. Vision needed to be reprogrammed. Unfortunately, while Vision has all the information, he lacks an emotional connection with that information. When Wanda hugs Vision, he asks her why. He no longer feels love.

Hank Pym explains that Vision misses one element, his brother Wonder Man’s brain patterns. Manipulated by Baron Zemo and then Black Talon, Wonder Man’s brain patterns had been used for Vision without his permission. Wonder Man refuses to help Vision because he had no control over his life for many years. While Wonder Man’s reason is understandable, Wanda is heartbroken when she sees the new Vision speaking monotonously, like he did when they first met. New Faces is the first time Vision wears all white. The MCU adopted a version of this costume with its current iteration of Vision.

Story Arcs

The Witch of Wundagore Mountain (The Avengers #185-187 written by Steven Grant, Mark Gruenwald, David Michelinie/art by John Byrne 1979)

The Witch of Wundagore Mountain is the first attempt at Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver’s origin story. The twins’ origin has been twisted and changed so many times, but this story marks the first real attempt at a Scarlet Witch origin. She wasn’t Magneto’s daughter. She even believed that her parents were the Whizzer (a Golden Age comic book hero with superspeed like Quicksilver) and Miss America. But the pair found that to be fiction.

A man named Django Maximoff claims to be her father, but she will soon learn that he’s her adoptive father. She was born on Mount Wundagore in the laboratory of the High Evolutionary. One of the High Evolutionary’s earliest creations, an anthropomorphic cow named Bova, cared for her. This is a bizarre story, and it takes many turns. Outside of flashbacks, Scarlet Witch becomes possessed by Chthon who, with the help of Scarlet Witch, holds the other Avengers prison.

We just scratched the surface with The Witch of Wundagore Mountain. It’s a harrowing tale.

Darker Than Scarlet (Avengers West Coast #56-57 & 60-62, written by John Byrne, Roy Thomas, and Dann Thomas/art by John Byrne and Paul Ryan; 1990)

After being a hero for most of her Marvel Comics tenure, Scarlet Witch hops over to the dark side during Darker Than Scarlet. She joins her would-be father Magneto, and at first, it seems like she isn’t the only one. The end of this storyline’s first issue shows Quicksilver joining Magento too. Toward the end of the story, we find that Quicksilver remained loyal to the Avengers, only joining his family to convince Scarlet Witch to reconsider and stop Magneto’s evil schemes.

While Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver have been on opposite sides before, Darker Than Scarlet is one of the few times that the twins have acted as enemies for a prolonged time. Typically, one of the twins would have a lapse of judgment before the other one eventually saved them, but Darker Than Scarlet shows Scarlet Witch reaching new levels of evil.

House of M #1-8 (written by Brian Michael Bendis/art by Olivier Coipel; 2005)

While Darker Than Scarlet was Scarlet Witch’s first big heel turn, House of M is her most infamous and had a profound impact on the greater Marvel Universe. Wanda becomes unhinged when she realizes that her children aren’t real. She loses control and uses her reality-altering powers, killing Vision, Hawkeye, and Scott Lang. These deaths cause the Avengers to fracture.

This new reality is unlike any other in the Marvel universe to that point. Wanda utters, “No more mutants,” which returns the world to the reality it had before, but with one significant change. Nearly all people who were mutants become normal humans. Only 198 mutants remain.

While Scarlet Witch plays a key role during House of M, Quicksilver works behind the scenes. He convinces Scarlet Witch to use her powers to reshape reality, and it is Quicksilver’s injuries at the hand of Magneto that inspire Scarlet Witch to wipe out most of mutantkind.

Avengers: Children’s Crusade #1-9 (written by Allan Heinberg/art by Jim Cheung; 2010-2012)

House of M and Avengers: Disassembled led Scarlet Witch into a dark period. Avengers: Children’s Crusade is Wanda’s first step to redemption. The story revolves around Speed and Wiccan, who believe they’re Wanda’s lost children. The Disney+ series Agatha All Along borrows aspects from Speed and Wiccan’s story here. Accompanying Speed and Wiccan is their grandfather, Magneto.

When the kids find their mother, she’s lost her memories and powers and is about to marry Victor Von Doom. When Scarlet Witch’s memories begin to return, she learns that her powers had overloaded when she worked with Doom to bring her children back from the dead. Scarlet Witch’s children redeem her. Once reunited, she seeks redemption for the chaos and destruction she had caused.

Rumors persist that Scarlet Witch may not have died during the events of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The MCU could reintroduce the character following the events of Agatha All Along and a subsequent series with Speed and Wiccan. If that happens, she will have a lot to atone.

Witches’ Road (Scarlet Witch #1-5 written by James Robinson/art by Vanesa Del Rey; 2016)

Witches’ Road has a simple premise: witchcraft is broken. Joined by Agatha Harkness’s spirit, Wanda travels the world to fix witchcraft. If this premise sounds familiar to MCU fans, a similar journey may be hinted at the end of Agatha All Along. Scarlet Witch had the moniker of witch but seldom associated herself with witchcraft until the events of Witches’ Road.

Thanks, Agatha All Along. Now all I hear when I say Witches’ Road is the song from the Disney+ series. Anyway. During the comic book storyline Witches’ Road, Wanda solves magical crimes and pieces witchcraft back together. She must solve the mystery of who broke magic.

I lost count of how many Scarlet Witch stories missed the cut. I added Witches’ Road at the last second or it could’ve been one more storyline. Scarlet Witch has had so many great stories. Let me know which Scarlet Witch stories you’d add to the list. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Top 5 Thunderbolts Rosters

Published on April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

Thunderbolts* releases this week with a new cast of characters. Some of the characters we’ll see in the upcoming film have been members of one of the various incarnations of the group. Others are new faces. The Thunderbolts team has seen plenty of new faces since its inception in 1997, so begs the question, Which Thunderbolts rosters are the best?

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’re doing something different with today’s Top 5 in comics. As of this post, there have been thirteen iterations of Marvel’s Thunderbolts. With that many rosters to choose from, which rosters have had the best storylines? We intend to cover that with today’s list. Buckle up. These are the top five Thunderbolts rosters.

5: New Thunderbolts

First Appearance: New Thunderbolts (Vol 1) #1; written by Fabian Nicieza & Kurt Busiek; art by Tom Grummett (2005-2006)

Notable Members

MACH-IV
Songbird
Atlas
Donnie Gill/Blizzard II
Radioactive Man
Joystick
Speed Demon
Andreas von Strucker/Swordsman II
Genis-Vell/Photon

Marvel launched New Thunderbolts in the wake of the Thunderbolts’ first era. Original Thunderbolt Abe Jenkins reformed his ways as The Beetle and became MACH-I. Jenkins made a new suit for himself, becoming MACH-IV, and wanted to give other villains the same chance and reformed the new Thunderbolts. MACH-IV’s New Thunderbolts earned the respect of the Avengers.

The New Thunderbolts stopped Purple Man from enslaving New York City by drugging the water supply with his pheromones, the same ones that allow him to control his victims. Before the team could interrogate the Purple Man, he was teleported away by his boss, Baron Zemo. Zemo would eventually take control of the New Thunderbolts. The New Thunderbolts would lose their chance at redemption and became an army of villains used against Captain America’s Secret Avengers during Civil War.

Ultimately, New Thunderbolts was a solid iteration of the team. I always liked the basic Thunderbolts premise of supervillains pretending to be superheroes but ending up adopting the roles of heroes. Thunderbolts prove that no one’s beyond redemption.

Unless Baron Zemo’s in town. He loves to play the role of spoiler.

4: Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts

First Appearance: Thunderbolts (Vol 1) #144; written by Jeff Parker; art by Kev Walker (2010-2012)

Notable Members

Songbird
MACH-V
Moonstone
Fixer
Ghost
Juggernaut
Satana
Boomerang
Centurius
Mister Hyde
Shocker

In the years before Luke Cage assumed control of a new Thunderbolts team, the Thunderbolts had a run of horrible leadership, notably Norman Osborn. The team had become villainous. Captain America himself tasked Luke Cage to front a new Thunderbolts team, and this started a great run of comics. The team repurposes the heavily fortified superprison known as The Raft and uses Man-Thing as a form of transportation.

Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts are one of the odder iterations of the team. This team has a long time, too. At one point, the team splits off to become two separate groups. The Thunderbolts serviced the Americas, while the “Underbolts” had a European jurisdiction. These Underbolts get lost in time, specifically the World War II era, and pass themselves off as the American Thunderbolts, fighting beside Captain America (pre-frozen) and Namor. The team continues its fight with the Nazis and Human Torch androids that were created by Baron Heinrich Zemo (the current Baron Zemo’s father). Yes. Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts’ stories got wild.

3: Norman Osborn’s Thunderbolts

First Appearance: Thunderbolts (Vol 1) #110; written by Warren Ellis; art by Mike Deodato Jr. (2006)

Notable Members

Songbird
Moonstone
Swordsman
Radioactive Man
Mac Gargan/Venom
Bullseye
Robbie Baldwin/Penance

Yep. Norman Osborn may have been a horrible Thunderbolts leader, but his complicated leadership led to some great theater.

Osborn’s Thunderbolts occurred after Marvel Comics’ Civil War event. These new Thunderbolts were tasked with tracking down and arresting individuals avoiding the Superhuman Registration Act. This Superhuman Registration Act appeared in the MCU and sparked a similar story of the same name Civil War. Just imagine Norman Osborn, struggling with his Green Goblin persona, leading a team of villains to track down any superhero he dared not to register.

Times got rough, to say the least. This Thunderbolts team would lead Osborn to create his first Dark Avengers roster.

2: Red Hulk’s Thunderbolts

First Appearance: Thunderbolts (Vol 2) #1; written by Daniel Way; art by Steve Dillon (2013)

Notable Members

Red Hulk
Agent Venom
Punisher
Elektra
Deadpool
Red Leader
Mercy

Red Hulk’s Thunderbolts happened on the heels of Luke Cage’s. The government disbanded the Thunderbolts program, but General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Red Hulk) formed his team of anti-heroes. This new Thunderbolts served as a covert super-powered strike team. This sounds like the team’s premise in the upcoming Thunderbolts*.

Red Hulk’s Thunderbolts had a short but memorable run. Even the small moments are great. My favorite was when Deadpool’s name gets pulled for a mission, and he wants to kidnap actor Ryan Reynolds. Ha! At the time of this moment’s publication, Ryan Reynolds had not yet redeemed himself as Deadpool—way to go, Thunderbolts.

Getting back to the larger storylines. Ross started with former Code Red mercenaries and began adding a few villains. It’s this addition of villains that led to the team’s downfall. The team tracks down Doctor Faustus. The Punisher wants to kill Faustus for murdering high school children. Instead, Red Hulk recruits Faustus to join the Thunderbolts. The Punisher leaves the team and then takes them down. Womp, womp.

1: Original Thunderbolts

First Appearance: Thunderbolts (Vol 1) #1; written by Kurt Busiek; art by Mark Bagley (1997-2000)

Notable Members

Baron Zemo/Citizen V
Moonstone/Meteorite
Fixer/Techno
Beetle/MACH-1
Goliath/Atlas
Screaming Mimi/Songbird

The original is often the best. The original Thunderbolts introduced the idea of supervillains pretending to be superheroes (to gain access to their foes) and then liking the recognition and feeling good about doing good deeds. This differs from the Suicide Squad. Suicide Squad villains are looking for reduced sentences or perks in their prison accommodations. Except for their founding member Baron Zemo and one or two others, the Thunderbolts genuinely wanted to reform.

I also love the Thunderbolts’ reveal at the end of the first issue. This scene is iconic.

Did we get the list right? Let us know which Thunderbolts teams you would add or remove in the comments. Thank you for reading and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Top 5 Members of the Suicide Squad

Published on April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

We covered Marvel’s Illuminati members last month, and this month we’re doing the same for DC Comics rag-tag team of oddballs the Suicide Squad. Also referred to as Task Force X, the Suicide Squad takes on missions so dangerous that trying to complete them would mean that someone has a death wish. Brought back in the 1980s with this concept, the Suicide Squad was run by Amanda Waller, who installed explosive devices inside the heads of hardened criminals. Cue over-the-top antics.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’re back with the first Top 5 list. Today we’re tackling DC’s lovable gang of miscreants, the Suicide Squad. Who made our list of the Top 5 Suicide Squad Members? Let’s find out.

5: Rick Flag

Rick Flag is the OG Suicide Squad member. Someone by the name of Rick Flag has been around since 1959. There have been three generations of Rick Flags; each one has served as one of the Suicide Squad’s leaders. Rick Flag stands out from most other Suicide Squad members because he isn’t a former criminal. Most iterations of Rick Flag portray him as a skilled military special ops member. This makes sense. The Suicide Squad began as a military/government outfit. It wasn’t until Amanda Waller revived the project that the Suicide Squad included criminals.

Typically, Rick Flag serves as Amanda Waller’s right-hand man within the group, helping keep the rest of the Suicide Squad in line. Amanda Waller is on to something. It would take more than a bomb in one’s head to stop certain members of the Suicide Squad. You need a man on the inside. Rick Flag is that inside man.

4: Captain Boomerang

We go from the most wholesome member of the Suicide Squad in Rick Flag to the least wholesome in Captain Boomerang. Let that sink in. Within a group of psychopaths and hardened criminals, Captain Boomerang is the least wholesome.

Boomerang joined the Suicide Squad in exchange for a pardon. So far, so good. But his grating personality and blatant racism cause more than a little strife within the group. Nobody likes this guy. He causes friction within the team and most team members consider him to be the most dangerous and least dependable member. This also causes Captain Boomerang to have some tasty storylines. He’s one of those villains you love to hate.

3: Harley Quinn

Harley Quinn was going to make this list, but I struggled with where to place her. She’s the highest profile character on this Top 5 list, but she’s also the newest Suicide Squad member. The third spot sounds right.

This isn’t the classic Harley Quinn. The original Harley Quinn, found in Batman: The Animated Series, needed a makeover before joining the team. The Harley who joined the Suicide Squad is the one with the revamped origin story where Joker pushes Harley into a vat of chemicals, granting her superpowers. This new Harley Quinn breaks the fourth wall like a popular merc with a mouth from a different comic book universe. I don’t know which version of Harley I like better, but there’s no denying that after her makeover, Harley Quinn molded the Suicide Squad in her image.

2: Deadshot

Besides the character in our number one spot, Floyd Lawton as Deadshot is who I think of first when I think of the Suicide Squad. Waller recruits Lawton because of his skills as a marksman and the fact that his mandated therapy sessions revealed that he has a “death wish,” hoping a skilled enemy will end his life in a dramatic battle. This death wish leads Deadshot to wear a costume featuring a target on his chest.

Deadshot often clashes with Captain Boomerang—who doesn’t—and field leader Rick Flag. But Deadshot and the latter share a begrudging respect for each other. Deadshot is a classic Suicide Squad member. His backstory lends himself to inclusion on the team and on this list. Lawton may be the only member of the Suicide Squad with a death wish.

1: Amanda Waller

I mentioned Amanda Waller in several write-ups leading to our top spot. Her spot at number one was inevitable. Waller is the woman in charge. She’s the one who resurrected the Suicide Squad. She’s the one who thought installing bombs in criminal’s skulls and forcing them to do government work was a good idea. In short, there would be no Suicide Squad without Amanda Waller.

The woman nicknamed The Wall makes up for her lack of superpowers with her ruthlessness, guile, intimidation, and political connections. Waller is the proverbial person who knows where the bodies are buried, and she’s not afraid to use that knowledge to her advantage. The Wall can even make members of the Justice League, like Superman and Batman, blush. She’s not to be taken lightly. She had to take the number one spot.

Did we get the list right? Let us know who you would add or remove in the comments. And wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Top 5 Members of Marvel Comics’ Illuminati

Published on March 29, 2025March 27, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. The MCU introduced Marvel Comic’s Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. I don’t know if the Illuminati will continue in the MCU, but they’ve done a lot of work behind the scenes during major Marvel Comics crossovers. The Illuminati’s first appearance (New Avengers #7, July 2005) features each member of the group protecting one of the Infinity Gems. The Illuminati also factor into 2015’s Secret Wars. So, there’s a chance we’ll see more of them on the big screen. Who are the best characters from this group of Marvel Comic’s most powerful beings working in secret, shaping the superhuman world and protecting Earth from catastrophe?

But first, an honorable mention or two. I like Tony Stark/Iron Man a lot as a character. He’s also done a lot with the Illuminati, but he’s not the first name I think of when discussing the Illuminati, even though he’s a founding member. You’ll find another major exclusion on this list: Doctor Strange. His story may have introduced the Illuminati to the MCU, but I think the Illuminati works best when it’s composed of people who represent different demographics, kind of like a Marvel Comics version of the United Nations. And most of the Illuminati’s members fit this bill.

Let’s see who made the list.

5: Black Bolt

The Inhumans occupy an important part of the Marvel Universe. They may have existed before humanity or at least they had a higher level of intelligence and awareness before humanity during Earth’s earliest history. This history also involved extraterrestrial and cosmic encounters. Enter Black Bolt. He’s the Inhumans’ current monarch and boasts incredible power. Black Bolt was born with a voice so strong that it can obliterate planets. Since this is the case, he seldom speaks, opting to have Medusa, another powerful Inhuman, speak on his behalf.

Fortunately, the Illuminati’s creator, Brian Michael Bendis, shared his reasoning for each of the original member’s inclusion. Here’s what Bendis has to say about Black Bolt (I’m paraphrasing to some extent):

“King of the Inhumans, who are an important part of Marvel history and play an important part in events that have not yet come to pass. He also represents a ruler/king archetype.”

The Inhumans television show didn’t fare well, but let’s hope the Inhumans will find new life in some other form. They’re too important to vanish from the MCU entirely.

4: Namor

Namor is yet another monarch. He rules the underwater nation of Atlantis and adds a different perspective for the Illuminati. The ocean claims more area than land on Earth, and Namor is its unquestioned ruler. He’s a member of another ancient civilization, one featured in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but missing from the Illuminati’s brief stint in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Like the Inhumans, I hope we get to see more of Namor in future MCU projects.

Let’s see why Bendis included Namor in the original Illuminati:

“Namor is the King of Atlantis and the Seven Oceans and represents the antihero mindset.”

He certainly does that. Namor is an ally to none. His only wish is to have his people’s voices heard. Namor served on Norman Osborn’s Cabal at the same time as his stint on the Illuminati. His role in the Illuminati mirrors his earlier team-up with the Invaders. The Invaders signaled Atlantis’s desire to be known to the outside world, the world of the land dwellers. The Invaders could be another group that could factor into the MCU’s future.

3: Black Panther

Black Panther is the only member of the Illuminati (on this list) who wasn’t in the original roster, but that wasn’t from lack of trying. Tony Stark recruited T’Challa to become an original member and the representative of Wakanda, but T’Challa turned Stark down. Black Panther would later join the Illuminati to face the Incursions.

Wakanda is one of the most prosperous nations on Earth and the main supplier of the world’s Vibranium. Black Panther is calm, fair, and reasonable while boasting no ego. In short, T’Challa differs from most members of the Illuminati. You can call Tony Stark, Mr. Fantastic, and Dr. Strange many things, but ego-less is not one of them.

T’Challa’s relationship with the others in the group can get strained because of the others’ lack of control. Black Panther isn’t easily manipulated. Again, Black Panther is another character I’d like to see more of in the MCU. If that includes a second incarnation of the Illuminati, so be it.

2: Professor X

Professor X needs no introduction. He’s the founder and leader of the X-Men and fights for equal rights for mutant-kind. Charles Xavier boasts a level of intellect and wisdom that’s rarely matched. His ability to read minds, while usually not used against members of the group, proves vital when obtaining intelligence. Because of his role as peacemaker and arbitrator, Professor X often takes a prominent leadership role in the Illuminati.

Eventually, future events in the comics prevent Xavier from participating in the Illuminati, which leads to the group’s gradual demise. Yeah. The comic book version of the Illuminati didn’t dissolve because an omega-powered mutant turned rogue and killed them all in a fit of rage. Spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Let’s have Bendis weigh in on why he included Professor X in the Illuminati:

“Leader of the X-Men, Charles Xavier is in the group on behalf of the mutant community.”

Fair enough. And with mutants playing a larger role in the MCU going forward, Professor X’s inclusion in a second Illuminati could prove fruitful.

1: Mister Fantastic

Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic) is the one entry that doesn’t represent a group of people, a country, or both. Reed is only one of the smartest minds on the planet and the leader of the Fantastic Four. He has a long history in the Marvel Universe. Richards’s scientific capabilities are almost unmatched and his desire to see a better tomorrow makes him a prominent member within the Illuminati. He meshes well with Tony Stark, but the two can often butt heads because they can’t put aside their egos.

Reed even reasoned with Iron Man’s original proposition for the Illuminati as a “United Nations” of superheroes. Richards argued that the idea presented too many logistical and bureaucratic issues, but he also acknowledged the need for efficient information exchange between the world’s greatest minds. Mister Fantastic represents the scientific community of the Marvel Universe. He knows more about alternate realms and the cosmos than most, usually because he conducts reckless experiments and kicks a hornet’s nest or two. Annihilus wouldn’t know humans or Earth existed if Reed hadn’t bumbled into the Negative Zone. Thanks, Reed.

I can’t wait for the Fantastic Four to make their MCU debut. I wouldn’t mind more Mister Fantastic screen time. A second Illuminati could give us more FF goodness.

Which member of the Illuminati do you think should’ve made the list? Let us know in the comments. And wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Getting Into Comics: Punisher Starter Stories

Published on March 17, 2025March 12, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

Do you want to get into Punisher comics and don’t know where to start? Geekly has you covered. Daredevil: Born Again continues its run on Disney+ this week, and Geekly is celebrating with yet another comic book starter stories list. Today’s list features the Punisher.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. While Frank Castle (The Punisher) may not have been around as long as Matt Murdock (Daredevil), he has an extensive catalog of comic books. We’ll have a mix of story arcs (stories composed of multiple comic book issues) and single-issue stories (which will only have one comic book to the story). The Punisher has a nice split between single-issue stories and story arcs. We’ll begin with the story arcs. Enjoy!

Story Arcs

Circle of Blood (The Punisher #1-5; written by Steven Grant and Jo Duffy/art by Mike Zeck and Mike Vosburg 1986)

The Punisher spent the first decade as a side character. His first appearance (which we’ll mention in the single issues) in Spider-Man established the Punisher as a mysterious figure, but Circle of Blood established the Punisher as a character. Originally, Marvel intended to make Circle of Blood a four-issue limited series. That changed with the series’ popularity. Circle of Blood became so popular that the Punisher became a monthly comic. Within this mini-series, you’ll find the Punisher’s origins. Frank is a Vietnam veteran who watches his family die at the hands of a gang war. Motivated by anguish he becomes a one-man army of revenge.

Circle of Blood gives readers everything they need about the Punisher as a character. There’s no better place to start reading Punisher than with Circle of Blood.

War Zone (The Punisher War Zone #1-6; written by Chuck Dixon/art by John Romita Jr., John Buscema, and Joe Kubert 1992)

During the early Nineties, The Punisher had two monthly titles. The original Punisher series was strong enough, while Punisher War Journal devolved into “Punisher make things go boom and die.” Punisher War Zone’s first storyline breaks from the norm—at least the first half of the storyline does, which is why I included #1-6, instead of #1-11. The Punisher goes undercover and unearths a mob plot. Throw in someone who may or may not be Kingpin, Kingpin was in hiding at this time, and Punisher War Zone is a great place to see the Punisher working with the police on the down low and flexing his detective and heroic muscles.

Welcome Back, Frank (The Punisher #1-12; written by Garth Ennis/art by Steve Dillon and Jimmy Palmiotti 2000-2001)

Marvel produced this twelve-issue limited series in 2000-2001. First-time Punisher scribe Garth Ennis made a huge splash with Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe (which almost made this list) and this series gave him a second opportunity to write for the character. This won’t be Ennis’s last entry; Ennis will dominate this list. Welcome Back, Frank continues to depict Frank as a Vietnam War veteran. He announces his return to New York City by taking on the Gnucci crime syndicate. Publicly, the NYPD opposes Frank’s actions. Secretly, the police condone the Punisher’s actions. With the help of the police and his neighbors, Frank dismantles the Gnucci’s crime operation. Welcome Back, Frank showcases the Punisher’s tenuous relationship with the police and highlights the smaller good deeds, that I won’t spoil here, that make Frank Castle who he is. Welcome Back, Frank is a Punisher must-read.

Born (Born #1-4; written by Garth Ennis/art by Darick Robertson and Tom Palmer; 2003)

I warned you. Garth Ennis will dominate this Punisher reading list. Born is another great Punisher mini-series; a lot happens in this four-issue run. Born follows Frank Castle as he serves in the United States Marine Corps during his final tour in Vietnam in 1971. Half of Frank’s fellow Marines are addicted to heroin. Their commanding officer is an apathetic alcoholic who pretends he has malaria whenever the superiors plan an inspection of the base, Valley Forge. Of course, we see military combat. One by one, Castle’s unit falls, and he finds himself surrounded by the enemy. I won’t spoil any more of this heart-pounding series. If you’re interested in what made Frank Castle the man he is, you should read Born.

Barracuda (Punisher #31-36; written by Garth Ennis/art by John McCrea and Steve Dillon 2003-2004)

Barracuda refers to the man who could be the Punisher’s greatest villain. Screen Rant said this about Barracuda. “Far and away the most popular villain from the Punisher MAX comics, Barracuda has become one of the most iconic enemies Frank Castle has faced.” Barracuda is every bit the Punisher’s equal. Honestly, he may be more terrifying. Barracuda didn’t need a tragedy (like losing his family) to become a killer. While in elementary school, he shoved his thumbs into a classmate’s eyes. He castrated someone while in a youth detention center. This propensity for violence made Barracuda the perfect Green Beret. So, now he has special ops training and a massive frame to back up his nastiness.

There’s no better place to start with getting to know one of the Punisher’s greatest enemies than with this comic book run. The last thing you want to see is a smiling Barracuda.

The Slavers (Punisher #25-30; written by Garth Ennis/art by Leandro Fernandez and Scott Koblish 2006)

The Slavers storyline shows Frank Castle’s softer side. As the title implies, this story revolves around slaves and the people who keep them in bondage. Specifically, The Slavers is about a forced prostitution ring. I won’t get into too much detail here. On one hand, I don’t want to spoil the story. On the other hand, The Slavers is not for the faint of heart. While this story arc is one of the Punisher’s best (and of course, it’s written by Garth Ennis), it comes with a strong trigger warning. The Slavers proves that the Punisher has a heart of gold, even if his methods are savage.

Single Issues

“The Punisher Strikes Twice!” (The Amazing Spider-Man #129; written by Gerry Conway/art by Ross Andru, Frank Giacoia, and Dave Hunt; 1974)

“The Punisher Strikes Twice!” marks the Punisher’s first appearance. Narratively, this Punisher looks very different from the one we see in any other Punisher story on this list. Punisher is little more than a hired gun. A new costumed character called the Jackal hires Punisher to slay Spider-Man. Antics ensue.

After this first appearance, the Punisher would team up with Spider-Man. Eventually, he would make cameos in other titles, teaming up with Captain America and Nightcrawler until Frank Miller would contrast Daredevil’s crimefighting style against the Punisher’s. “The Punisher Strikes Twice!” may not be the character we know of as the Punisher, but a Punisher fun should read the comic that started it all.

“The End” (Punisher: The End #1; written by Garth Ennis/art by Richard Corben; 2004)

And we’re back to another Garth Ennis-penned Punisher story. “The End” is a Punisher one-shot story set in the wake of World War III. This post-apocalyptic story is a product of its time. Frank is tasked with finding a hidden bomb shelter beneath the former site of the World Trade Center. With the War on Terror in full swing, “The End” mirrors American fears.

“The Cell” (Punisher: The Cell #191; written by Garth Ennis/art by Lewis LaRosa; 2005)

Within the darkest corners of Riker’s prison, old men control their criminal empire. These old men are given a new neighbor on their cell block: Frank Castle. The Punisher uses a prison riot to weaken the crime lord’s defenses. When they attempt to wait out the chaos, the Punisher strikes. “The Cell” shows a Punisher who can play the long game. This Punisher bides his time and waits for the perfect moment to attack.

This list is by no means exhaustive. We could’ve added a few other Punisher stories. Let us know which Punisher stories you’d add to this list in the comments. And wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Top 5 Flash Villains

Published on March 15, 2025March 12, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

I can’t believe Geekly has been doing Top 5 Villains lists for superheroes and we haven’t covered Flash’s rogues gallery. Flash has one of the most extensive rogues galleries in comic book history. He may not have villains with the same name recognition as Spider-Man or Batman, but his rogues gallery is one of the best.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’re back with another Top 5 Villains list. Many of the Flash’s most iconic villains have superspeed, so we’ll be limiting this list to the top speedster. Let us know if you’d like a Top 5 List of Villainous Speedsters. In the meantime, here’s our list of the Top 5 Flash Villains.

5: Killer Frost

Flash’s top 4 villains were a breeze to compile. I knew who they were the instant I sat down. His fifth villain could go in several directions. I may have said that about more than one superhero, but that’s the truth. Killer Frost beats out the rest of the would-be Top 5 Flash villains if for no other reason than she used to be a Flash ally. She spends part of her time as an anti-hero, having spent stints with the Suicide Squad and Justice League. But whenever Caitlin Snow decides to turn evil, it spells doom for the Flash. Her connections with Flash and Firestorm add to her lethality. Cold powers prove effective against the Flash; cold can slow the speedster. Killer Frost’s freezing ability, as we’ll see with another Flash villain on this list, makes her dangerous.

4: Mirror Master

Mirror Master fills a similar role in Flash’s Rogues that Mysterio does in Spider-Man’s Rogues, and Mysterio ended up as Spider-Man’s fourth-placed villain. Hmm. Looks like the fourth spot is the perfect place for a villain designed to confuse their nemesis. Unlike Mysterio, Mirror Master possesses powers. His mirrors can hypnotize, turn him invisible, generate holograms, change his physical form, and travel into other dimensions. That final ability separates Mirror Master from Mysterio. One of my favorite recent stories Mirror Master showed him trap Flash within a parallel dimension of his creation.

Don’t let the high-speed fool you. Flash is one of DC Comics’ most powerful heroes. He can turn back time and alter the past. Brute strength doesn’t often work against the Flash. Mirror Master takes a different route. And I’m a sucker for a villain with a mischievous streak.

3: Gorilla Grodd

Gorilla Grodd is one of my favorite Flash villains. I wanted to place him at the one or the two spot, but two other villains narrowly beat him. Gorilla Grodd has superhuman strength, telekinesis, telepathy, a super genius-level intellect, and has a connection to the Speed Force. As his name suggests, he’s a gorilla. He hails from Gorilla City and is the sometimes leader of the metropolis led by super-intelligent gorillas. Gorilla Grodd not only has a laundry list of abilities, he has an army at his disposal.

Marry all of this up with Grodd’s connections with most of DC Comics’ supervillain organizations like the Legion of Doom, the Secret Society of Super Villains, and the Injustice League, and Gorilla Grodd has a plethora of allies he can summon. Grodd is one of Flash’s most formidable enemies.

2: Captain Cold

You can take everything I said about Killer Frost and her freezing powers and apply it to Captain Cold. But instead of Captain Cold being a personal friend of the Flash’s, he’s the man he instituted the Flash’s Rogues, Flash’s version of the Sinister Six, and serves as their leader. I had to put Captain Cold above Grodd because Grodd can get distracted by other heroes, and Captain Cold keeps his animosity toward the Flash. He knows which buttons to press and isn’t afraid to press them. His freezing abilities are only matched by his intellect. In short, Captain Cold knows how to use the Flash’s strength against him and that makes him deadly.

1: Reverse-Flash

Eobard Thawne (also known as Reverse-Flash and Professor Zoom) takes the top spot. He’s another speedster, so if we were to create a list of Top 5 Villainous Flash Speedsters, he’d be the top spot there as well. Thawne is one of the few characters in the DC Comics Universe who can travel back in time with little to no ill effects, and he uses this to his advantage. He’s erased characters to torment and destroy the Flash’s life. He even went back in time to kill Barry Allen’s mother. Reverse-Flash is plain evil.

He too has connections with the Legion of Doom, the Injustice League, and the Rogues. He had to take the top spot. Despite others’ attempts, no one has tortured the Flash more than Reverse-Flash. He does what his name says, he is the Flash’s antithesis.

Did we get the list right? Let us know who you would add or remove in the comments. And wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Top 5 Daredevil Villains

Published on March 10, 2025December 25, 2024 by KyraLeave a comment

While Daredevil: Born Again is ongoing, let’s discuss the best villains the Man Without Fear has ever had. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’re back with the first Top 5 Villains List. Daredevil doesn’t have the most robust rogues gallery, but he does have a handful of standout villains. Here’s our list of the Top 5 Daredevil Villains.

5: Mr. Fear

Frankly, the top four Daredevil villains are set in stone—for the most part. The only variable I could find was at the fifth spot. I’ve said it a lot in previous Top 5s, but I could’ve gone in several directions. I almost feel like the bottom villain in a hero’s Top 5 villains must bring something a little different. Mr. Fear does that. You’d think that a villain whose gimmick involves fear would be no issue for Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, but Mr. Fear has posed a threat on more than one occasion. My favorite version of the Mr. Fear must be Matt Murdock’s old classmate, Larry Cranston. Cranston once gave Matt’s ex-wife Mia Donovan an overdose of a fear-inhibiting drug that led her to take an innocent’s life. Mr. Fear does more than hold his own with Daredevil’s typical martial arts-savvy characters.

4: Typhoid Mary

Ann Nocenti created Typhoid Mary. She’s a deadly and intriguing villain. Mary’s a mutant with telekinetic abilities and suffers from dissociative identity disorder, which gives her three different identities, a soft-spirited one (Mary), a violent one (Typhoid), and a sadistic one (Bloody Mary). Mary was once a soap opera actress and briefly in a relationship with Matt Murdock. One doesn’t know which one of Typhoid Mary’s personas is in control. Mary’s condition makes her unpredictable. Her mutant powers coupled with her innate mutant abilities make her a force. Season three of the Netflix Daredevil series included a version of Typhoid Mary. Typhoid Mary could make for an interesting foil with the MCU heading toward a Mutant Saga.

3: Elektra

Elektra Natchios is arguably the love of Matt Murdock’s life. Daredevil may have had a lot of girlfriends throughout the years—including the previous entry Typhoid Mary—but Elektra stands alone as Matt Murdock’s most iconic lover. Elektra’s the Catwoman to Matt’s Batman. As the daughter of a Greek ambassador to the United States, Elektra could’ve been anything. She chooses to be a villain for hire. Like Catwoman, Elektra always seems on the cusp of redemption, before showing Daredevil her ruthless nature. Elektra constantly switches sides. And her death at the hands of Bullseye remains one of the most iconic moments in Daredevil comics history.

2: Bullseye

No villain may have caused more pain and suffering for Matt Murdock than the contract killer Bullseye. This is the man that Daredevil tortured by playing Russian Roulette with an empty gun. Bullseye’s hands make anything a lethal weapon. He’s built his reputation on his perfect aim, throwing knives and other sharp objects with insane accuracy. He also helps that Bullseye’s skeleton is coated in adamantium, like Wolverine’s. Despite his physical prowess, Bullseye strives to inflict emotional pain. He’s taken away two of the loves of Matt Murdock’s life, Elektra and Karen Page, and joked about it afterward. Bullseye is the worst kind of villain. He takes pleasure in what he does, and what he does can be sickening.

1: Kingpin

Kingpin started as a Spider-Man villain, but Frank Miller’s run on Daredevil changed the course of the villain’s life. Since Miller’s run on Daredevil, the pair love to hate each other. In the “Born Again” comic book series, Fisk learns Daredevil’s identity and dismantles every aspect of his life, stripping Matt of his law license and even blowing up his apartment. Kingpin’s actions drove Matt Murdock to the brink of insanity. But Fisk has always managed to outsmart and maneuver his way around Daredevil. During the “Return of the King” storyline, he weasels his way into an alliance with Daredevil. He does so intending to betray the Man Without Fear at the most opportune moment. Kingpin may be one of Marvel’s greatest villains, but over the past several decades, he’s been a thorn in Daredevil’s side and worthy of the top spot.

Did we get the list right? Let us know who you would add or remove in the comments. And wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Getting Started With Comics: Daredevil Starter Stories

Published on March 3, 2025December 24, 2024 by KyraLeave a comment

Daredevil: Born Again begins its run tomorrow, and Geekly is celebrating with another comic book starter stories list. Today may be the best day to begin reading Daredevil comics. We hope this list will help you decide where to begin your journey with the Man Without Fear.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. Daredevil has been around for a long time and has had plenty of brilliant runs throughout his time in Marvel comics. We’ll have a mix of story arcs (stories composed of multiple comic book issues) and single-issue stories (which will only have one comic book to the story). Daredevil has a nice split between single-issue stories and story arcs. We’ll begin with the story arcs. Enjoy!

Story Arcs

Punisher Versus Daredevil (Daredevil #183-184; written by Frank Miller and Roger McKenzie/art by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson 1982)

This is the first of several Frank Miller entries. Miller made his name writing for Daredevil, so it’s inevitable. This two-issue story called “Child’s Play” shows the difference between Daredevil and the Punisher. While Daredevil refuses to kill, the Punisher has no problem killing.

The pair team-up after a young girl on drugs takes a dive out of her school window and dies. Yeah. Miller’s Daredevil pushed the envelope of what the Comics Code Authority would allow in a story. Getting back to this story, with the help of the dead girl’s brother, Daredevil and Punisher track down the dealer responsible for selling her drugs. Daredevil and Punisher get into a fight over how they’ll handle the dealer after they find him. Daredevil #183’s cover showcases this fight; it’s iconic.

Born Again (Daredevil #227-233; written by Frank Miller/art by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli 1986)

The Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again gets its name from a Frank Miller-penned comic book story arc, and the final season of the Netflix Daredevil series borrows a lot from Daredevil Born Again. It’s a classic.

Daredevil Born Again follows Daredevil’s descent into insanity and destitution at the Kingpin’s hands. Daredevil’s ex-girlfriend Karen Page becomes a heroin addict. Strapped for cash, she sells the information that Matt Murdock is Daredevil for a shot of heroin. This information is then sold to the Kingpin, and the Kingpin does all manner of things to destroy Daredevil’s personal life. Matt’s life becomes hell.

I hope the Disney+ series goes further than the Netflix series and dives deeper into Born Again’s storyline.

Last Rites (Daredevil #283-300; written by Ann Nocenti and Dan G. Chichester/art by Mark Bagley, Lee Weeks Greg Capullo, Kieron Dwyer, Ron Garney, Butch (Jackson) Guice, Don Hudson, Larry Alexander, June Brigman, Al Williamson, Doug Hazlewood, Fred Fredericks, Tom Morgan, and Roy Richardson; 1990-1992)

Last Rites is the longest story arc included on this list, but it’s a Daredevil essential. This storyline concludes Ann Nocenti’s epic run on the character (we’ll see more of Nocenti’s work later). Last Rites is a whirlwind. The Kingpin falls. An amnesiac Matt Murdock is no longer Daredevil. Instead, another person swings around New York wearing a red jumpsuit, committing surgically precise crimes.

Matt thinks he’s the boxer Jack Murdock, while Kingpin builds a media empire. Eventually, a reborn Daredevil is determined to deliver the last rites to Kingpin’s reign of terror. There are a heap of guest stars in this massive Daredevil story: Captain America, Taskmaster, Tombstone, Baron Strucker, The Punisher, and Ghost Rider. But at its heart, Last Rites is Daredevil and Kingpin battling to the death.

Daredevil: Man Without Fear (Daredevil: Man Without Fear #1-5; written by Frank Miller/art by John Romita 1993-1994)

If you can’t tell, Frank Miller will dominate this list. I tried to keep Miller’s number of stories at a minimum, but he will repeatedly show up. Daredevil: Man Without Fear was a miniseries from the early Nineties. The series explores Matt Murdock’s childhood, the accident that caused his blindness and powers, as well as his father’s death. The series features pivotal scenes that have become staples in the Daredevil mythos: Matt’s mentor Stick, his college flame Elektra, his best friend Foggy Nelson, and his primary nemesis Kingpin. Fans of the Netflix Daredevil show will see plenty of familiar scenes. Daredevil: Man Without Fear is a must-read.

Return of the King (Daredevil #116-119; written by Ed Brubaker/art by Michael Lark and David Aja 2009)

A story arc from Ed Brubaker’s historic run on Daredevil had to appear on this list. I chose Return of the King because it shows Kingpin—easily Daredevil’s greatest villain—at his backstabbing and conniving best. Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) flees to Europe to escape his life of crime, where he meets a woman and befriends her children. Fisk views this family as his own until they are killed by the Hand. Lady Bullseye, one of the Hand assassins, claims Daredevil sent her. And all hell breaks loose with Kingpin reclaiming his reign as king of the criminal underworld.

The Omega Effect (Avenging Spider-Man #6, Punisher #10, and Daredevil #11; written by Greg Rucka and Mark Waid/art by Marco Checchetto 2012)

Mark Waid’s run on Daredevil could be summed up in one word: fun. The Omega Effect joins this list because it features Daredevil teaming up with two of his most common allies: Spider-Man and Punisher. But you don’t get one Punisher. Frank Castle trains a second Punisher, Rachel Cole-Alves. This makeshift team crumbles when one of the members turns backstabber.

Single Issues

“Last Hand” (Daredevil #181; written by Frank Miller/art by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson; 1982)

“Last Hand” is another classic Frank Miller comic. It’s a simple concept. Bullseye escapes from prison and plots his revenge against Daredevil. But Bullseye also discovers Daredevil’s secret identity and figures the only way to hurt Daredevil worse than killing him is to go after his lover Elektra. “Last Hand” ends with Elektra’s iconic death.

“Roulette” (Daredevil #191; written by Frank Miller/art by Frank Miller and Terry Austin; 1983)

The title “Roulette” may come from Daredevil playing Russian Roulette with a helpless Bullseye (he’s paralyzed from their previous battle), but the reason for Matt Murdock playing Russian Roulette stems from another encounter. “Roulette” uses Daredevil torturing a hospitalized Bullseye with an empty gun as bread in a narrative sandwich. This narrative’s filling comes from Daredevil’s interactions with a father and son.

The father is bullied at work just as the son is bullied at school. There’s a hint that the father may be abusing his child at home, too. The kid idolizes Daredevil, even pretending that he is Daredevil at school, but he becomes disillusioned when his father pulls a gun on a coworker who’s blackmailing him, and Daredevil beats up the kid’s dad before he can shoot. This traumatizes the kid. Later, the kid brings his father’s gun to school and when he gets picked on again, he shoots the kid who’s bullying him. “Roulette” is a bleak story. But it’s a story that may have even more relevance today than it did when it was first published.

“A Beer with the Devil” (Daredevil #266; written by Ann Nocenti and John Romita Jr./art by John Romita Jr.; 1989)

“A Beer with the Devil” is easily the oddest entry on this list. Ann Nocenti’s run on Daredevil is one of the most daring. Pun intended. She takes plenty of risks and takes Daredevil to some bizarre places. She’s the one who introduced the antagonist Typhoid Mary (Daredevil #254, which almost made this list) and the demon Blackheart (Daredevil #270, which is another standout issue). But we’re going with “A Beer with the Devil.” It puts the devil in Daredevil. Matt Murdock spends Christmas in a seedy bar with Satan’s cousin Mephisto.

The stories on this list are just the tip of the iceberg. Daredevil has seen so many reboots and stellar story arcs that we’re bound to miss one or two of five hundred. Let us know which Daredevil stories you’d add to this list in the comments. And wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Getting Into Comics: Sam Wilson (Falcon/Captain America) Starter Stories

Published on February 17, 2025February 15, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. Captain America: Brave New World was released yesterday, so we figured we would compile a list of Sam Wilson (Falcon and Captain America) starter stories if you were interested in getting to know Sam better as a character. Today’s post will feature one story with a single comic book issue. The rest will be story arcs composed of multiple comic books. Enjoy!

Single Issue

Sight Unseen (Avengers #64, written by Geoff Johns/art by Ivan Reis; 2003)

The events of Sight Unseen mostly take place in Avengers #64. Falcon has recently been drafted into the Avengers. Sam Wilson serves as a diversity hire—the rest of the Avengers more or less make him feel this way—so Sam never truly feels like he’s part of the team. Sight Unseen shows Sam finding his voice and cementing himself as a member of the Avengers. He gains a lot of respect, and this becomes a defining moment in his Avengers career. I don’t want to spoil too much of the plot, but let’s say that Henry Gyrich and Scarecrow make an appearance.

Story Arcs

The Coming of…The Falcon (Captain America #115-119, written by Stan Lee/art by Gene Colan; 1968)

The Coming of…The Falcon technically starts in Captain America #115, but Falcon doesn’t make his first appearance until #117. Before Falcon steps into the action, there are some Cosmic Cube shenanigans where Captain America and Red Skull have a Freaky Friday situation and swap bodies. Sam Wilson sees beyond the exterior and teams up with the Red Skull body-trapped Captain America. Cap teaches Sam some fighting skills and encourages Sam to take on a hero identity. Sam impresses Captain America enough that he becomes Cap’s new sidekick Falcon.

Falcon Miniseries (written by Jim Owlsey/art by Paul Smith; 1983-1984)

The Falcon Miniseries marks the first time Falcon stepped out of the sidekick role. Sam Wilson returns home. He witnesses a peaceful march resulting in protestors dying. Incensed, Sam shows the world that he is a hero to everyone, even those the government and police refuse to protect. Though written in the 1980s, the Falcon Miniseries remains culturally relevant.

The Burden of Dreams (Captain America #31-36, written by Ed Brubaker/art by Steve Epting; 1990)

Relationships aren’t the only thing that breaks in the wake of Civil War. Despite surrendering, a gunman kills Steve Rodgers before he can stand trial. Afterwards, Sam Wilson registers his identity per the Superhuman Registration Act, but that’s immediately followed by a new Captain America program, and the person tasked to fill this role is Bucky Barnes. But no one knows where Barnes is; Wilson must find him. When he does, he finds the Winter Soldier in the grip of the Red Skull and Doctor Faustus. It’s up to Falcon to rescue Bucky.

American Psycho (Captain America and The Falcon #13-14, written by Christopher Priest/art by Dan Jurgens; 2005)

Sam Wilson usually assumes the role of a hero in Marvel Comics, but in 2005’s American Psycho, his loyalty gets called into question. During much of this series, Sam gets involved in criminal activities when something happens that reverts him back to his pre-hero way of life. As one of Captain America’s greatest allies, Steve tries to stop Sam but can’t. When someone shoots Falcon, he snaps out of his trance. The damage has been done, and Sam begins a redemption arc.

Not My Captain America (Captain America: Sam Wilson #1-6, written by Nick Spencer/art by Paul Renaud; 2010-2011)

Not My Captain America is the first storyline that features Sam Wilson as the new Captain America. Much like the end of Avengers: End Game, Steve Rodgers rapidly ages and can no longer continue as Captain America. Sam Wilson is the obvious choice to replace Steve as Cap. Throughout the story, fewer and fewer people accept Sam, adopting the slogan, “Not My Captain America.” Like many other great Sam Wilson stories, Not My Captain America didn’t flinch when addressing racism in America.

Falcon and Winter Soldier Miniseries (written by Derek Landy/art by Federico Vincenti; 2019)

The Falcon and Winter Soldier Miniseries was released in 2019 to prepare fans for the 2021 Disney+ series of the same name. It serves as a fun buddy cop series. While Falcon and Bucky don’t tend to click as well as Bucky and Hawkeye, the Falcon and Winter Miniseries provides a great look at the odd couple. An assassination attempt on Winter Soldier prompts Bucky to call Sam Wilson for help. The two seek out the new leader of HYDRA before the organization can regroup.

I’m sure I missed a story or two on this list. Let me know which Sam Wilson stories you’d choose instead and make sure you note whether the Sam stories are ones of him as Cap or Falcon. And wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Top 5 Captain America Villains

Published on February 15, 2025January 24, 2025 by KyraLeave a comment

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’re preparing for the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World with another Top 5 Villains List. Captain America has an interesting group of villains, to say the least.

We’ll have two official honorable mentions, but I’m going to cheat a bit and add a few in this introduction: MODOK, Batroc, and Adolph Hitler. MODOK stands for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing. I’d shorten it to MODOK, too. MODOK is a floating head. Batroc’s full name is Batroc the Leaper. He leaps. And Adolph Hitler needs no introduction. Cap spent most of his early days punching Adolph Hitler in the face. With those villains out of the way, let’s get to our official honorable mentions.

Honorable Mention 2: Winter Soldier

Spoiler Alert for one of the MCU’s best films Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Steve Rodgers’ old friend Bucky Barnes is the Winter Soldier. He didn’t make the top villains list properly because even though he was the title villain in one of the greatest Captain America stories and recontextualized Captain America’s past, he became a hero. And he’s stayed a hero for the most part. The Winter Soldier even became Captain America in the comics for a time.

Honorable Mention 1: Serpent Society

The Serpent Society is a supervillain group rather than one villain, but they deserve a mention, especially since they’ll receive their MCU introduction in Captain America: Brave New World. Several factions exist within the Serpent Society. That’s to be expected since the group consists of dozens of snake-themed villains. Sidewinder, Princess Python, Anaconda, Constrictor, Fer de Lance, Puff Adder, Death Adder, Bushmaster, Asp, Cottonmouth, Rattler, and many, many more are part of the Serpent Society. We’ll have to see what the Serpent Society’s plot will be in the upcoming movie, but I wager it won’t be poisoning Washington DC’s water supply to turn everyone into Snake-People. That happened in the comics once. It took Diamondback rebelling against Madame Hydra’s rule to put an end to the plot.

5: Crossbones

Crossbones is often viewed as a Red Skull henchman—another spoiler, Red Skull will make the list—and he often gets attributed as a Sharon Carter villain. But Crossbones instigated Captain America’s assassination in the comics. Crossbones takes pleasure in murder. He even laughs when the Winter Soldier and Falcon take him down following Cap’s death. In the MCU, Crossbones (Brock Rumlow) was the one who hinted that HYDRA may have infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. Near the beginning of Captain America: Civil War, he laughs about the torture he put Bucky through when Captain America apprehends him. Crossbones wears a suicide vest, and Scarlet Witch hurls him toward a building filled with Wakandan relief workers, which causes a rift within the Avengers. Crossbones is more than your average henchman.

4: Arnim Zola

Originally a HYDRA scientist, Arnim Zola conducted numerous biochemical experiments. He messed around with the genes of human subjects and even brought back Adolph Hitler. Zola has a mean streak. He doesn’t care who he teams up with so long as he can continue his experiments. Most of what Zola does is in service of these experiments. He even uploaded his mind into a robot body, granting himself a type of immortality. Don’t let Zola’s goofy appearance of a giant TV screen with arms and legs fool you. Zola is one the deadliest villains in comic book history.

3: Baron Strucker

It was Baron Strucker all along. Baron Wolfgang von Strucker founded Hydra in the 1800s. He fought for Germany during World War I and brought the Red Skull into the fold during World War II. It was Strucker who recruited Arnim Zola. Following the end of World War II, Strucker became near-immortal by obtaining the Satan Claw, a strength-enhancing gauntlet. Strucker infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. with HYDRA agents. For years S.H.I.E.L.D. fell under HYDRA’s corruption, feeding the villainous group all its information. Decade after decade, Baron von Strucker earned his place as one of the greatest criminal masterminds in comics.

2: Baron Zemo

Two characters have taken the name Baron Zemo, a father-son tandem of Heinrich (father) and Helmut (son). I’m cheating—a little—by combining the two characters for this entry. Father Heinrich Zemo was one of the most despicable figures of the Third Reich. He, like Zola earlier on this list, loved testing inventions like ray cannons and disintegration guns on innocent people. He founded the Master of Evil, a thorn in the side of the early Avengers, and eventually killed—or at least we believed he killed—Steve Rodgers’ best friend Bucky Barnes. Following Bucky’s “death,” Captain America kills Heinrich Zemo. Heinrich’s son Helmut Zemo swears vengeance on Captain America. Where Captain America wants to make the world better for everyone, Zemo strives to ruin it because of his vendetta against one man. Helmut Zemo formed the original Thunderbolts, which were villains masquerading as heroes.

1: Red Skull

Red Skull appeared in the first-ever Captain America comic book. No other villain has come close to capturing the menace and imagination as Johann Schmidt, the Red Skull. The Red Skull is the antithesis of Captain America. He’s the super soldier experiment gone wrong. His imagery of a bloody skull dressed in a black coat contrasts the symbology of Captain America’s outfit. While Captain America represents the American ideal, the Red Skull did the same for Nazi Germany. Post World War II, the Red Skull has joined forces with HYDRA, a Nazi stand-in, and he continues to clash with one of the oldest comic book characters. No Captain America villain has ever reached the Red Skull’s status and malice.

Who is your favorite Captain America villain? Let us know who you would add or remove in the comments. And wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.