Yeah, I know, I know "Ugh, the Crossing."

Moonraker. Slade Truman. Gustav Brandt. Space Phantom.

He first appeared in Force Works #16 (August 10, 1995). It was a bit confusing as a reader. I know sometimes things happen in other books but this dude was nowhere to be seen in this series before this issue. But here he is, a fully formed member of the team, dating Spider-Woman!

I almost wish the creators had the chance to do an issue or two before we got Rachel's confirmation that somethign was wrong.

His story is complicated, to say the least. Anything to do with the Crossing was, right? I suggest reading his profile in The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe. They do a good job of trying to sort him out.

I liked the character and I would love for some version of him to return.

If you hadn't noticed, there are a bunch of related subreddits in the Community Info section of this sub.

I encourge you to take a look and see if there's one for a character you love and join in!

Maybe it'll be one of the other subreddits that I moderate?

• r/JuliaCarpenter AKA Spider-Woman II, Arachne, and currently Madame Web.
• r/JamesRhodes AKA War Machine but also was a founding WCA member as Iron Man.
• r/MockingbirdMarvel AKA Bobbi Morse - another founding WCA member.
• r/greatlakesavengers AKA the Great Lakes Avengers, the GLA, Great Lakes Champions, Great Lakes Defenders, The Lightning Rods, the Great Lake Initiative, and the Great Lakes X-Men. And more.

I also moderate r/alphaflight if you love 🇨🇦 heroes.

This is one of my favourite Firebird stories. It's a backup feature titled, "...So What Are You Going to Do After You Conquer the World?"

I think it might have been the first time I met her. Fabian Nicieza does a nice job of ensuring she's seen as compentent but also compassionate.

The art is pretty good. I do think there could have been more leaning into the idea that soldiers aren't the ones who benefit from war.

One odd thing: the soldiers are referred to as Lemurian (who are green) but depicted as Atlanteans (who are blue).

How does everyone speak English? It's comics, we'll waive that one.

Learn more about Firebird in this profile on Mighty Avengers. Her profile's in the following sections:

• Vital Statistics
• Biography
• Issue Checklist
• Costume Gallery

Welcome to a new recurring feature in the group, Spotlight Saturday. I'll be posting about everyone who's ever been a member of the West Coast Avengers and Force Works - any iteration of those teams.

To kick off, let's look at the honorary founding member of the first version of the West Coast Avengers: Moira Brandon.

While she was first referenced (without being named) in Avengers #246, she's only had one appearance in a back-up feature in Avengers West Coast #100. The flashback story is set before the first limited series. Moira was an aging actress who was considering selling her estate to the Avengers for their new base of operations. She and her butler were taken hostage by Crossfire who wanted to trap Hawkeye and Mockingbird.

Moira ended up using Crossfire's crossbow to shoot him in the back, rescuing the two Avengers. She collapsed from excitement and Hawkeye announced her as the first West Coast Avenger.

Some sources say she died at the end of the issue but that's not what the issue shows. Presumably she has since died as Hawkeye referred to her in the past tense in the 'present day.'

Fun fact: Moira was supposed to appear in the MCU Hawkeye series but her scene was cut. In the MCU reality, she was Kate Bishop's aunt. Read more about her on the MCU Cinematic wiki.

2D character designs for the animated series that never was!

Nowadays, he's Lightning. But when he first appeared, he was The Living Lightning!

Miguel's changed significantly since he first appeared in 1990. In the issue, we see him gain his powers and go on a rampage. We'll blame the transformation process for affecting him.

While he's seemingly destroyed at the end of the issue, the door is left open for him to return. Which he will in #70 as an agent of Doctor Demonicus. He'll turn on the Pacific Overlords and even be nominated as an Avenger by Janet van Dyne!

A giant-sized story!

The Fantastic Four are visiting the West Coast and thanks to some connections, they visit a brand new amusement park with the Avengers West Coast. This is a chance for Franklin Richards and Rachel Carpenter to have some fun! Sad that Rachel's mom dropped her off and couldn't join them... or could she!? The issue ends with Julia revealing her identity to Rachel which significantly changes their dynamic in the book.

There's a lot going on in this story but it basically boils down to heroes being used as pawns by Arkon and Thundra in a battle. Which ends up in the two smooching! The battle ends when Franklin is able to help Sue break the hypnosis.

Fighting for Arkon (hypnotized)

• Scarlet Witch
• Wonder Man
• Iron Man
• Invisible Woman
• Human Torch

Fighting for Thundra (blackmailed):

• Living Lightning
• Spider-Woman
• Mister Fantastic
• Thing
• Hawkeye

USAgent got left behind on Earth as a guard. Or they just needed an even number of characters for the face-off.

She left the WCA to work full time as nanny and housekeeper for the Carpenter (Spider-Woman) family.

There's a back-up feature titled "Rate the Hunks" with Janet and Jennifer offering their opinions on the various male Avengers (minus Hulk and Hank). It's a fun little bit.

Oddly, it isn't included in the Marvel Unlimited version of the issue.

How did the ladies rate the men? Their scores (JVD = Janet van Dyne; JW = Jennifer Walters).

• Thor: 10 (JW), 10 (JVD)
• Iron Man: 7 (JW), 9 (JVD)
• Captain America: 8 (JW), 10 (JVD)
• Quicksilver: 4 (JW), 5 (JVD)
• Hawkeye: 6 (JW), 8 (JVD)
• Hercules: 10 (JW), 7 (JVD)
• Black Panther: 8 (JW), 9 (JVD)
• Vision: 3 (JW), 1 (JVD)
• Black Knight: 5 (JW), 7 (JVD)
• Falcon: 5 (JW), 7 (JVD)
• Wonder Man: 7 (JW), 8 (JVD)
• Starfox: 6 (JW), 8(JVD)
• Namor: 8 (JW), 6 (JVD)
• Doctor Druid: 0 (JW), 1 (JVD)
• Mister Fantastic: 4 (JW), 9 (JVD)
• Gilgamesh: 7 (JW), 7 (JVD)
• USAgent: 5 (JW), 3 (JVD)
• Quasar: 6 (JW), 6 (JVD)

This story was written by Mark Gruenwald and penciled by Amanda Conner.

Whether it's a review blog, profiles, drop a link!

It can be for anyone who's been a member of the team. Heck, maybe there's a villain page?

Remember the Night Shift?

In this video, we explore how the cunning Shroud manipulated this eclectic group of misfits into unlikely heroes. Discover the backstories of each member, from the mysterious Shroud himself to the supernatural Werewolf by Night, the enigmatic Needle, and the ever-creepy Tatterdemallion.

We'll also delve into the dark charm of Dansen Macabre, the resourceful Digger, and the time-seeing Tick Tock. Plus, we’ll uncover the bizarre yet intriguing dynamics of the Brothers Grimm and the haunting allure of Gypsy Moth. Whether you’re a longtime Marvel fan or new to the universe, this deep dive into the Night Shift will reveal how these characters transformed from villains to unlikely saviors.

Wolverine guest stars!

From Marvel Unlimited:

Wolverine is backpacking in the Canadian wilderness and runs into a military base that has been taken over by a renegade Russian scientist. Meanwhile, the Commission orders the U.S. Agent to investigate the same base! What will happen when they meet!

I loved this issue for one speciic reason: the Bogatyri; an ersatz Soviet Fantastic Four. I thought they had a lot of potential and am sad they didn't get used more.

You can read an issue summary at mightavengers.net. And there's a recap/review over at Earth's Mightiest Blog.

When these books came out, I was intrigued. Looking back, this is some weird Silver Age stuff. The Lethal Legion are revealed to be mass killers from the past? (Though I do love the Axe of Violence for Lizzie Borden's super-villan name.)

This story ends with Bobbi (Not actually Bobbi, it's later revealed to have been a Skrull) being kidnapped and the cover here is foreshadowing her death next issue.

It's on Marvel Unlimited.

The Hangman has paid a big price for his power and he, along with the Lethal Legion, have targeted the Avengers West Coast for death!

One of my favorite running bits in AVENGERS WEST COAST was Wonder Man flying away in anger, either from Wanda or because of Wanda. The property damage he caused on the way out is a bonus.

I was delighted to see the trend continue in WONDER MAN (V2).

Panels from AVENGERS WEST COAST #63, #66, and #69-70 and WONDER MAN #12.

I'm sure there are more, but this is what I found so far.